This is a Gingerbread house that Paxton made during school. We were at the Monfredi's house celebrating Maren's and Conner's birthday and Paxton tried all night long to get at his gingerbread house. Maren finally gave in and let him have at it. He was so excited before this picture was taken but kind of shut down when the camera came out.

Christmas morning a time for grandparents to sleep in for a change, unless you are married to Karen Olsen. We had to get up at 6:30 and hot foot it over to the Monfredi clan to see the action of Christmas wrapping flying and the excitement on the faces of the grandkids.

They have been having trouble with Paxtron staying in bed so Santa brought him a Lightning McQueen sleeping bag in hopes that he will stay in bed longer and not climb out. As you can guess by now he loves Lightning McQueen.

Conner with his scooter that Santa brought him. To bad they are not made for 240 lb kids, I may just ask for one for my birthday and modify to fit my big heavy frame. Looks like fun with the grandkids.

Paxton being helped by Mark with opening some more Christmas presents.

Ryder is very intense on opening his present not like the other kids who just rip and tear.

Here we are at Kurtis's and Rosalie's house, thinking we would just see what the kids received for Christmas but fininding that the fun had just begun. It seems like the Olsen family likes to sleep in and did not start opening presents till 9 am. I guess we did not train our kids so good. I remember beating them back to bed at least two or three time during the night of Christmas.

We finally made it back to our house to open our presents. Next year aI think I will take an UnChristmas break and not buy presents for each other but go on a little trip just the two of use. A Cruise to someplace warm or maybe a trip to Yellowstone to see the wolves might be fun too.

My three little Angels decorating our Christmas Tree - Kara, Elise and Grandma

It has been quite a while since I put something on the blog. I just need to remember and take my camera with me at all times so I can get good pictures to post.

I had a great time with the family at Thanksgiving. We cut trees on Thursday and went to the cabin on Friday I think. I do know we went to the cabin but can not remember what day it was. There was about 6 inches of snow on the flats. We went up Clear Creek and came down the Beaver Creek Trail .

We were the first one on this trail since it snowed. I would hate to have tried to come up the trail with all the snow and the steep terrain. We were lucky that we made it down and that we did not have to turn around and try to get back up the trail.

Just got back from Mayfield and cutting trees with Todd's family and a neighbor in his ward. But iot is time to go to bed. See you next week sometime. Love you all. Dad.

Well looks like the oldest boy and his family along with grandpa getting their annual Christmas Tree. This was a week after Thanksgiving, the weather was fair but cold, cut three trees one for Todd, one for Todd's friend and one to give to someone in need. Looks like elise did not want to be in the picture, she had cold feet and wanted to stay in the truck.

This is the herd bull for Wanlass Elk Ranch in Aurora. This is a 10 x 11bull booked out at 437 in the velvet this spring.

Some of Elden and Elayne's grandkids up Pole Canyon getting our annual Christmas tree.

'the grandkids and my two boys told and Kurtis on the haystack in the fields and look they found the litle baaby cats.

More grandkids out by the pigs.

Halloween - Island in the Sky

This picture is at night on the road in Island in the Sky National Park almost to the end by Grand Point View area.


This pictures is at dusk by the Grand Point looking out towards the Southeast. We like the moon in this picture.

The following picture is of Karen and Elden with our backs to Corona Arch, This is the hike we did on Saturday Morning.

A quick trip to Moab for Halloween

Moon through the trees

Karen at Mesa Arch at Island in the Sky

Look at the monster staring at Grandma.

Can you grand kids see the monster?

This is our Halloween picture for 2009.

A quick trip to Moab for Halloween

Sunset at Island in The Sky

Mesa Arch at Island in the Sky.

Corona Arch on the Colorado River

Bow Tie Arch just West of Corona Arch

MOnday October 26, 2009

This past week has been a busy one for me. I worked six days in a row, which is a little unusual for me. Tuesday was a Tele Commute day, or a day that I stay home and work on my computer. Time sure flew by. I got on the computer around 5 am and when I looked up it was after 2 PM.

Wednesday and Thursday were meetings and Friday I had an all day test for Backflow Protoring - getting recertified to test other applicants on how to test backflow assemblies. This really weighed on me but I think I did ok. At least I had every assembly marked right ,we will just have to see what Ernie Havalina says.

Friday night I drove to Mother's and spent the night. Then got up early and drove to Torrey Utah to do some backflow training with a water system and their employees. I then made a long drive through the desert and came back through Cathedral Valley.

Sunday Karen and I went to Austin and Maddisons' primary program. Then we had our annual Halloween Party at our house later that night. Karen invited Dale, Candy and Gena over along with all of the kids. We had fun.

October 18, 2009

This last week was a fun week. I went to work on Monday and took Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday off to play and help mom. On Tuesday and Wednesday the Mapleton Gang went to the cabin . Rode around a little bit, then fixed dinner and had a cozy night at the cabin. The Belts, Harmers, Alberts's brother and myself were in attendance.

On Wednesday the Mapleton Gang went for a little ride up on the Lower Ratville Road and then up past Woods Lake to Gunnison Valley. We were going to try and go around to Twelve Mile Flats but up by the Corner it got to misty and we could not see 50 feet infront of us. We decided to turn around and go down Willow Creek. This was a better choice. The clouds cleared up, it quit raining (we had been in a light drizzle most of the morning about 3 hours worth), and warmed up so it turned out to be a decent day after all.

Took a short cut home up Willow Creek Canyon where we used to hold Easter picnics a long time ago and ended up in South Hollow. Then climbed the hills above the fields and made our way back to mother's house.

Thursday I ended up helping mother diggin potatoes and raking leaves. I got a load of turkey mulch, spread this out on the garden and then roto tilled her garden. I cleaned the rain gutters out and turned off all the drain lines on the sprinkelr system.

Thursday night Karen came down and then we got up early to do a site visit on Kolob Mountain on Friday. We spent the night in St. Geoge where Karen finished her trip with a lot of shopping at the Outlet Stores in St. George. Boy women can sure shop. She spent nearly two hours in the Dress Barn and only bought three things. What a waste of time on my part, but then Karen had fun and that is what it all about when you get rid of the kids and do things for your wife.

We ended up driving back to Mayfield and did a few more things for mom then made it home late Satruday night. It was good to get away with Karen for a short little trip, to just talk and visit since I have been gone the past three weeks.

Perks of UVU Executive Secretary

Karen and Kurtis in their Black Hawk 15 minute helicopter ricde up Provo Canyon , the east side of Timpanogas, and down American Fork Canyon then back home to UVU. I wish I could have gone. She just did not have enough pull to make it happen for me.

Fall colors on a weekend trip to do a water inspection on Kolob Mountain between Cedar City and Zion National Park. Karen went with me on this trip so it was like a little honeymoon for us.

Blue Spruce Lake up on Kolob Mountain.

Turkey Vulture on rocks to the left overlooking a view down towards Zion National Park.

On the road again.

Sunday September 27, 2009
Here it is Sunday night and I am sitting in another motel room in Richfield Utah. Isn't it funny that work does not start until Monday and I am off again for another week away from home on Sunday night.

I am helping out a new employee and training him on how to do a sanitary survey of a water system. We have two systems lined up on Monday: Venice Ward Church and Frying Pan Campground up by Fishlake and Johnson Reservoir. Then on Tuesday we have two surveys lined up : Torrey - Thousandlakes RV Park and Hanksville - Hollow Mountain Gas station.

On Wednesday I have to be in Moab to do a training session with Rural Water Association of Utah about the new Ground Water Rule. Then travel home that night so John can leave to go to an ABPA conference.

I am hoping that we can meet John somwhere between Green River and Price so Gary does not have to drive to Moab and then back home to Salt Lake City. If all goes as plan I will have my 80 hours in by Wednesday night and will not have to go into work at all on Thursday or Friday. A four day weekend sounds great to me.

Not much else has happened this month except for being on the road each week and all week for a month.

Maybe I will have some pictures to show you next time I post even if they are water pictures.

Time flies by when u r busy working!

Slipper Arch in North Coal Wash on the North side of I-70 by the old ZCMI mine.

Swasey's Cabin area their Icebox where they kept the meat cool during the summer. Surprizing enough it was about 20 degrees coooler than out in the sun.

An Arch just east of the Eagle Canyon Bridges

September 8, 2009

Has it been over a month and a half since I posted anything on my blog. I guess it is true. Between work and work and seminars for AWWA and RWAU and play time I have been busy.

We just got back from a Geo Caching trip to the San Rafael Swel over Labor day weekend. We Went on a couple of long rides and a couple of short rides. Spent church in Ferron and basically just rested on Sunday with one little ride to Cobber Globe area.

I am not even going to try and catch up on the lost month and one half. Just plan on being better from now on.

Not much has happened this last week. Both Karen and I have been busy with work. On Tuesday I took the day off to go visit with my old employees and do a Dutch oven lunch for my workers and the bosses. They helped me and the Division of Drinking water out by letting use borrow some equipment and de-root Peoa Pipelines Water spring collection lines. The dinner was as much to say thanks for loaning use the equipment, but also to visit with some old friends. I did some training on the new Ground Water rule with the management and helped them with their new sampling site plan that is required with this new rule. I also cooked a meal for Dynamic Auto, who helped me out of a bind with a car repair.



Wednesday of last week the Ground Water Rule team members had a training session in Richfield. This is number two of many. My part was to talk about significant deficiencies and sanitary surveys. A significant deficiency is any mean by which contamination could get into the water. Sanitary surveys are a tool or program the Division uses to rate each water system in Utah. To make sure they are providing safe clean water to their customers.



Friday I spent the day doing odd jobs around the house and watering the dry spots in our lawn. That night Todd, Elise and I went to Mayfield to help cousin Doug build fence on the mountain for the Gunnison-Mayfield Cattlemans Association. We built 100 feet of drop down fence and cut 25 logs for a pole fence and drug them up to the fence area that needs to be rpaired. The chain gang crew and others will be building this portion of the fence next week. After lucnh we got rained out and headed for home. Two weeks earlier my son Kurtis, his boy Austin (8) and Doug's two boys built a pole fence below the saddleclose to 300 feet in one day. It helped to have most of the poles cut before hand. That is not a bad days work for two old men and three youg men and one child.



When we arrived back in Mayfield we helped mother cut and prune here trees and shrubbery around her house. It is apparant that I need to spend some more time sharpening chain saws and her small electric chain saw. After two weeks of cutting logs on the mountain and woking at mothers house, I need to do some maintneance on the equipment.



Earlier this yearI had started a new diet plan. One not so much for dieting but to help get off of the acid reflex medicne I have been taking for quite a number of years. It is amazing what a little diet or change of eating habits can do for you. I have not had any reflex medicine since February 09 and I feel great. The side benefit to this plan is that I have lost some weight too. I topped out at a whooping 270 lbs. I got a little mad at the cabana boys in Can Caun. I fell asleep on the beach and they thought I was a beached whale and tried to thow me back in, but I am over that now. I am down to 225 lbs. I feel great.



What was funny years ago when the Doctors diagnosed the acid reflux they said I had to give up tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic horse radish, all spicy foods, especially Italian foods, chocolate and other stuff, and take a pill for the reflux. Well you might as well give up eating. With this new plan you just combine your foods better. I can eat everything and anything, but it has to be in the right order. I do not take any medicines and the side effect is I have lost over 40 lbs in 6 months and I feel great. I will not be mistaken for a beached whale again. Just think what I could have done if I would exercise. Which I do not except for work on the weekends.

Grandpa and Mason watering a dry spot own our lawn. It is amazing how all kids seem to like the water. My two oldest grandsons would fight over who gets to water the flowers. This meant we had to buy more hoses and a spitter so each boy had his own separate hose.

4th of July annual Cabin Trip

July 2-5, 2009
We spent our annual trip to Ken's cabin (my Grandfathers Cabin) during July 4, 2009. We have been doing this for quite a number of years. We take extra time to deep clean the cabin. Probably the best cleaning it get every year.

My grandfather and his brother-in-laws built the origanl cabin in 1935. It is still standing. They built the newer cabin in 1955/56. This is probably my most favorite place to be of anyplace I have been to. I really enjoy spending time at the Cabin.

We had 32 people attending the family outing this year. All of Elayne and Rogers family were here except Jared a Doctor in Texas. Elden and Karen's family had everyone here except Kurtis's wife Rosalie and Mason, and Kyle, Rachael and kids. Of course my mother Rae Lou was there too.

Had a great time. Hat to go home. A shower shore felt good.

Maddison catching a fish at the fish pond. She had just thrown it out and Kurtis was getting Austin's bait on when she said she had a fish on the line. I am not sure who was more excited, Kurtis, Austin or Maddison.Todd and two of his daughters up on the Saddle overlooking the twelve mile canyon. The picture behind the kids is Musinia Peak (Mary's Nipple).

Karen and Elden with some grandkids on top of the Saddle to the North with Mt Baldy in the background.

All of Rae Lou's great grand kids and some grand kids holding the little babies. Picture taken on the Saddle fence by the cattle guard back ground is of twelve mile canyon area.

Last spring we bought a little four wheeler. One that we could have the grandkids ride around camp and learn how to be good riders. So far we have just used it in the back yard of our home. The kids really enjoy taking rides an this toy.

Austin is the designated driver to give all the grandkids a turn on the bike.

We love Paxton. How could you not love this little guy. We feel so blessed having Paxton in our family. I cannot wait until he can go with us on our trips on the ATV's. He loves going for rides.

Grandkids in one of our two wading pools.

We have had a little pond and water fall for the last past seven years. Karen decided she needed to make it safer for the grandkids. So we filled it in and made a wading pond with water only an inch deep. Needless to say it is a hit with the kids. We have another wading pond but it has a hand pump with water running over flat rocks and the water depth is less than 1/8" deep. Kids just seem to like water.

Todd and two of his girls.

Paxton on the left, Mason on the right.