Well life has made some radical changes in our family, some good and some not so good. Last time I posted, Tara and Ryleigh had just flown in to spend a few weeks with us but as it turned out, they ended up staying. Mat has a traumatic brain injury from Iraq and after Tara had been here for 2 weeks he decided he didn't want them to come back. Total shock! A roller coaster ride to say the least, don't know what happened in his head but he didn't want his family any more. Tara is such a strong young woman, and hard as the last year has been, she made it through, beautiful Ryleigh has grown even more beautiful and is now 20 months old. Tara landed a job as an accountant for Shane Chance, a CPA in Aztec. It's been hard for her to leave her baby at daycare and work but she has done very well. Tara met a good friend of Holly's, Kelly Small. They were friends first but it developed into more and on December 31, 2011 they were married. Tara inherited 2 beautiful daughters, Gracie who is 11 and 6 year old Glory and Ryleigh has a daddy who truly adores her and she him. She loves her big sisters and they love her. I can't believe how smoothly this little family has meshed.

It's August 14th and the month is half over already and I haven't made a post so guess it's time. It hasn't been as hot as July was and we've had more rain than New Mexico's use to which is good, except for the flooding we had a week ago. We didn't have any damage but a lot of Farmington did. It's pretty green these days which is nice. Holly and Kaylee were gone for about 10 days to North Dakota for Megan's wedding. It was a 20 hour drive (once they got to Utah) so it was pretty rough but they were glad they went. They traveled from Utah to North Dakota with Brandon which a great relief to us. Major and I would like to have been there but we had to go to the Bookshow since we missed it last year. Tara and Ryleigh will be flying in on Tuesday to spend almost 3 weeks with us while Mat is in the Red Phase of his second cycle of Boot Camp as a Drill Sgt. He is gone a lot and especially during the first 3 weeks so he suggested she come and spend some time with us. We are excited to say the least. Tara and Ryleigh will get to spend a day and night with Tony and J.L in Denver before they fly in to Durango on Tuesday. They are the only family members who haven't met Mat yet but they will be the first to meet Ryleigh. Pam and the kids have done some traveling this summer, first to Utah for her class reunion, then her grandfather passed away so they stayed an extra week. This week Pam and Morgan were invited to fly to Wisconsin to visit a friend for a few days. School starts on Monday here in Farmington (although Devin and Chase started already last Friday because they are beginning High School and Middle school) Mark and Brittani home school their kids so I'm not sure when they begin for the new school year. Mark and Pam both begin school the following week. I think Brett and Heather's kids begin next week as well (along with Dad and Mom!) They are a busy family. Elise doesn't start school in NY until September, but then she didn't get out until June either. That pretty much sums up the things we've done and are about to do this month! Whew!

It's July, well actually July is clearly almost over and I haven't posted anything for July. We spent 2 1/2 weeks in South Carolina loving on the newest granddaughter Ryleigh and hated to have to go home but reality is reality! (We get to Skype and see her everyday so I will live through it) It has been hot, wait....stifling.....102 (but feels like 112). I got into my car to go home from work the other day and my car said it was 117! Of course when I got the air going and the car running down the road it went down to 102, but 117!!!! Yeah and it felt like it was too! Major had another blood draw yesterday morning and I overnighted it to Houston. Did you know it costs $43 to overnight a spinned blood sample to Houston by Fed Ex? I'm looking for an alternative way to overnight it and hopefully find it a little cheaper! We won't have any results back for a week or two. Cross your fingers that his numbers are still down! I had my yearly check up yesterday and was told I am the picture of health (well with an elevated white blood count but told it was nothing to be alarmed about and we will re-check in about 4 months). My triglycerides are still at a normal number and Dr. Harmon says it's pretty amazing that I could get it down from 1021 to a normal 157! Does he realize what #**# I went through to get it there? ha ha It took a little over 4 years to do it but my daily fish oil cocktail plus tricor plus slo-niacin plus lots of hives are what finally did the trick! But it's worth it to feel safe from a "stroke waiting to happen" outcome. Pretty proud of myself! So all in all we are doing very well. Major hasn't felt very good the last few days, doing quite a bit of bleeding (which was expected by the way) but he is doing really good too. We have gotten 2 phone calls from the Albuquerque Temple President asking us to come to see him when we can, so who knows, we may be working in the temple soon if all checks out with Major and his check ups. We have to return to Houston in October for a thorough check and that will tell the tale. It will be 1 year in October so again, cross your fingers!!!

Well it's June 29th and I haven't posted anything for June. We left Farmington on June 17th and headed to Denver where we were scheduled to catch a plane (Jet Blue thanks to Gary and Kayelyn! thanks guys). We flew the red eye (which I swore the last time we did that coming home from Hawaii that I would never do again!) beginning at 11:00 pm and landed the next morning at 5:30 in Boston. From there we flew to North Carolina and then Mat and Tara picked us up and we drove 1 1/2 hrs. to Columbia, South Carolina. Tara's dr. told her we should head on out because she was dilated to a 3 and wouldn't last until Monday. It was fun to see the kids. Tara certainly looked "ready". However to make a long story shorter, she did last until Monday. (We did get to attend their ward here in Columbia and they certainly do live up to their pledge, to be "the friendliest ward in the church." I feel much better knowing what a great bunch of people there are here to watch after "my kids". ) Monday morning at 6 am we were at the hospital for Tara's induction. After a 15 hour labor (which is another whole story) a beautiful little girl, Ryleigh Lucinda Kale Rigg was born. She weighed in at 7# 5.8 oz. and was 20 inches long. I love being there when a new little one makes their way into our hearts. The kids were thrilled to say the least. Now today she is 8 days old and is such a good baby. I am so grateful for that because with Mat's schedule as a drill sgt. she will be alone from about 4 am to 8 or 9 each night 6 to 7 days a weeks for the next 2 years. On Sunday Ryleigh was blessed. Tara can still barely sit so she was blessed at home. They wanted Major and I to be there and this was the last Sunday Mat could guarantee he would not be working. She looked beautiful. Tara asked me to make Ryleigh's blessing dress and had actually picked out the pattern when they were in Farmington in December. Most babies are blessed after a month or so and have had a chance to grow a little. Little Ryleigh was less than a week old so her dress was a little big. I found a needle and some white thread and was able to take it in by hand so that it didn't drown her! Anyway time is flying by so fast and before you know it we will have to return home and it's going to kill me to have to leave. They are hoping to come and spend a couple of weeks in Farmington the first part of December but she will be so changed! All in all it has been a wonderful time!

On this Memorial Weekend I just wanted to say "thank you!" to all the service men and women who serve or have served. My Dad, my sons, Todd and Mark, my son-in-law Mat and all those who have given all for our country. As bad as it is sometimes, it is so much better than any other country out there. God Bless America.

I also want to remember my Mom, My Mom and Dad in-law, my sister Sharon and my angel twins Eli and Cayden! We love and miss you all!