Two Of My Favorite People!

Actually, now that I walk down memory lane, all of the people in these pictures are on my favorite people list. But, for today I just want to focus on 2 of them. This is a picture of my Dad and Mom, Max and Mae Blazzard, and their 5 children, Sharon, Dave, Kenneth, Sandra and Susan.

I heard my Dad say once that he started out with nothing and he still has pretty much of it left.

My Dad asked my Mom once why she married him and she said "because you had a job and a car." They like to laugh and tease each other like that. He has many other fine qualities too, but there is certainly nothing wrong with a job and a car.

You would have to click and enlarge this picture to see what I am talking about, but my parents have always been there for us. They were there when each of us got our own start in marriage and they have made every effort to be there for the many grandchildren that came along too.

They love to travel and have been to almost all of the 50 states and Canada. They have wonderful memories of a rich life (I'm not talking money here people) shared with each other through thick and thin. We love you Mom and Dad! Happy 62nd wedding anniversary!

TRUE Love

Do you see this man? Well, he LOVES me. Do you want to know how I know? It is Wednesday and the garbage man just came. On Saturday night at about 9:30 p.m., I discovered that the refrigerator in our garage had stopped working. (I know SRP, I am a bad person for having a refrigerator in the garage, I'm trying to become a better person.) Finding out that your refrigerator/freezer has stopped working in August is second only to finding a dead and decomposing body, in my opinion.

Needless to say, everything in the refrigerator/freezer had to be thrown out. So, four days later, we have a REALLY disgusting garbage can. (Even though we did place everything in sealed bags, honest, City of Mesa.) This garbage can was 1,000 times worse than any stinky diaper in the history of babies. The man that you see in this picture may not be holding a dozen roses or riding a white stallion, but, he is aces in my book because he exhibited truly, unselfish love when he voluntarily grabbed a bottle of bleach and turned on the hose to clean out that smelly garbage can today. My hero!

Adventure Of A Lifetime!

Here is Meg at the bus station in Puebla, Mexico waiting to travel by bus to the town (Tehuacan)where she will teach English for 2 1/2 months. This picture was taken at the end of May and at the start of her adventure. She looks a little scared. I think I would have been terrified!

It doesn't look like this town is going to have a McDonald's.

This is San Cristobal, a town where Meagan stayed on vacation.

Here she is seeing the sights and looking a little feisty.

She stuck out just a little bit. This isn't deleted footage from the film Monsters vs. Aliens, this is Meg in Mexico and the people around her are considered average height.

Here is Meg visiting more ruins and looking like she is standing on top of the world.

Here is a street parade/fair in Mexico. We wondered where the cotton candy and snow cones were.

Meg e-mailed Richard while she was away letting him know that she had met someone while she was in Mexico. At the bottom of the e-mail she had attached this picture of her and her beloved. I think she actually had her Dad worried for just a minute. Way to go Meg!

Meagan said that most food is cooked in oil and in Mexico they put a lot of mayonnaise on things. In this picture she is feeling "chunky".

This is one of the beautiful gardens that Meagan was able to see while traveling through Mexico.

It's a jungle out there - even in Mexico.

Meg was able to go to the Mexico temple while she was there.

Here is a yummy recipe that you can try if you are able to translate. Meg said the food was good, but different. Usually very spicy.

Here is Meagan playing with her host "sister" and "brother", Ximena and Diego. They are 7 and 4 years old.

Meg was able to visit Acapulco with her host family.

It was tricky at times, but Meagan managed her trip to Mexico with style. She flew back into Arizona last Thursday and will be here another week before she leaves to go back to Utah and start her senior year of college. Way to go Meg, we are so happy that you are back!

First Day Of School Fun

One of our Cluff traditions is to go to Denny's for breakfast on the first day of school every year. That requires that we get up at 5 a.m., but some traditions are just worth a little sacrifice.

Decisions, decisions.

Everyone loves this tradition. We used to wonder why we didn't do first day of school dinner instead of breakfast because some years, some of the kids were so nervous that they would actually throw up after they ate and while we were driving to school. Yuck!

We are happy to report that we must be growing up because no one has thrown up (on the first day of school ) in at least 2 years now.

Here is the amazingly, patient man that makes it all possible.

Some of us are happier about the first day of school than others.

Allie is especially happy because school won't be starting for her for another 2 weeks.

Kaylee ordered chocolate chip pancakes, not weevil cakes as they may look like in this picture and yes, she did eat all of them. Another successful start of a school year for the Cluff family.

Teaching!

So, you probably all think that the only thing I do here in Mexico is go on vacation. Here`s the proof that I HAVE been teaching.

When you`re a teacher EVERY day is an adventure.

Kids are always full of surprises. For instance, you never know when one of them is going to bring their pet snake to class. Ahh! I tried really hard not to show how scared of snakes I am. Fake it ´til you make it, right family!?

Today was the last day of teaching and we`re leaving for the beach tomorrow. I`ll see you all soon...in less than a week!!! Woo-hoo!!!

Laughter Is The Best Medicine

Allie, Matt and Paige went to the cardiologist for their semi-annual check-up yesterday. This is Paige hooked up to all of the electrodes that are used to test her defibrillator. The kids are starting to understand how Frankenstein felt. The bad thing about having a defibrillator is that it tells the doctor absolutely everything, like if you have been taking your medicine or NOT.

Here they are at the end of the visit. Allie and Matt give thumbs up because the doctor was pleased with them. (Don't ask me why because they are not that faithful about taking their medicine.) Paige gets a thumbs down because the electrodes that never lie reported that she had 60 "episodes" over the summer where her heart rate got too high. (I told her that is because she is more active than the other two couch potatoes.) Really, when you think about it, Paige is an over- achiever. A hit t.v. show makes maybe 20 episodes per season, so if Paige is having 60 "episodes" in 2 months she is really working overtime. Oh well, they all committed to do a better job remembering to take the medicine.

Kaylee went with us to the doctor because there are always suckers and stickers at the end and who doesn't love suckers and stickers? Wouldn't you know it, they were out of both! What kind of a doctor runs out of suckers and stickers?

On the way home Allie snapped a picture of this house that she said would be perfect for me to live in because it is purple, my favorite color. I don't think that is an approved HOA color.

We stopped at Pruitts on the way home and Allie thinks this is the perfect bed for her. Her birthday is next month. (hint, hint) I told her "in your dreams."

Here is Matt sitting on a comfortable sofa while he waits for us reading A Tale Of Two Cities. Could it be that school starts in a mere 7 days and he still hasn't finished his summer reading project? And, what is that yellow book he is trying to hide under the pillow? Could it be Cliff Notes, I wonder?

Paige and Kaylee said that if they were re-decorating their bedroom this would be the perfect rug for them.