My lunch date today

I had some business in Orem and Provo today so arranged lunch with my
sister. Her two litle girls warm my heart. All four of us enjoyed
our lunches and two drinks. I took my drink with me when I left and
by the time I got to AF I was near the bottom of the cup. I actually
strawed up a little piece of rice that had *somehow* gotten on my cup.
Very suspicious. It made me laugh out loud.

Another one of her hanging out while I fold clothes

Another cat post

So, we have cats. I am allergic to cats, kinda. Meaning that if the
scratch me or the dander gets in my eyes there are obvious reactions.
Whatever
Nonetheless, Sweetie Kitty is really a good little pal. She hangs out
with me. She waits for me when I shut the door to the bathroom. If she
meows I let her in and she'll sit on the edge of the bath. She is very
interested in looking at all the water in the bath. She really loves
to watch it to down the drain.
Here she is sitting on some humanitarian quilts I volunteered to bind.
She came to hang out while I was finishing another nightgown for the
play. She thought the quilts were her spot.
She is my favorite kitty.

Just to give it a try

Dave had to go to dinner with some uppity ups at work tonight. They
are going up to Sundance, poor fella ; ) . We at home are having
leftovers. Tasty leftovers though. Actually one of dh's favorites. So
just for the heck of it, I thought I'd try a new way to make rice
crispy treats. I read about it on a blog. To kind of make dinner
exciting, ya right.

It worked out! The recipw, not making dinner exciting. I laughed
at this technique since making the origional recipe is sooo
difficult... Just kidding on that. A change my mom always makes to the
origional recipe, and now I do too, is to double the sauce part. I
call um "double marshmellow"

I was tagged

I cant believe how funny/weird this is.

I was tagged by my friend Nikelle to do the picture thing. But just before this, I was catching up on the blogs and read Tabby Gray and Lorna Doones blogs. They both had this picture tag thing going on which I loved reading. I then went to read Nikelles blog and she had the same picture tag going on, AND she tagged me. So I dutifully log in and look for my fourth folder, and fourth picture and here it is.

Last spring Dave and I went to a wedding reception of a girl that grew up with our girls. Our daughters couldn't make it to the reception, so I brought my camera, so I could bring them home all the pictures of her dress and cake and all that info girls like to see. This is a picture from that reception. So sweet.

This bride and her family have lived near us since we moved here. They are such a great family and great examples. We never really got close to them, but I consider them great friends anyway. I know they are always there if I need help.
One day the mom of this family noticed that we had some strange people coming in our house. She can see around my house area from her home. She called to make sure I was home and that everything was okay. (it was workers finishing our basement) She' a good sister that way.

The reception was beautiful and we saw lots of people that had been in our ward but had moved. It was a good time.

I am so happy this little bride found her prince charming.



So, now on to tagging. you need to post the 4th picture from your 4th photo album on your computer and blog about it :)
I only know of two people that follow my blog so of course its

Laura
Sylvia
and how bout Robin

How dh makes me forget he was away

Dh came home late last night :). After nightmares and worrying about the dress all night, I got the demon dress back and made it look somewhat better. Today we took the family to the Draper Temple Open House. It is beautiful, and a beautiful experience with my dh and kids. Later David took me to Thanksgiving Point for a wonderful dinner. They had butternut squash soup! Yum! I could have soup and bread all winter. We shared one soup, one spinach salad and one entree of halibut. I then force Dave to share a creme brulee with me. It was very good and he did not regret it. It was a beautiful meal really. The picture shows Daves raspberry lemonade too.

It was a quiet lovely dinner to end a busy and satisfying day.

The dress from outter darkness

Well I guess you could say I finished the dress. It did not turn out acceptable in my opinion. But after a week of working on it, I am ready to just make do. Here's a picture of Kim trying on the dress for me. Its a "maiden dress" for the Pirates of Penzance play at the jr high. Jacob is a pirate but his costume is provided. I volunteered to sew for others if they needed me. The dress is a regular pattern, but with some alterations and add ins. That part was tricky. I did put in an admirable zipper though and I was impressed with that.
Hopefully the gal that asked me to sew for her will be okay with it. It's time for a warm bubble bath AND for dh to come home from his business trip!!

While Dh is gone

I sit and sew and the sweetie and the visiting kitty hang out with me.
It's pretty awesome.

I asked Jacob to take the lights off the tree. We had moved it to the
death trap garage so the dry dropping needles would not be all over
the house. He wasn't happy to do the job, but he sure did it!! The
garage smells like Christmas and the beat up tree makes me laugh every
time I see it.

Winter 08 & 09

This winter has been pretty intense. I know it's not over, bit here
are a few shots of December and Januarys winter glory. First an
impressive icecicle by our front door.

The sidewalks and street. Thankfully it does not stay ice packed
forever.

During the altering

I forgot to post this picture of kim trying on the pants as I was
trying to figure out the saggy bottom. She was the only one in this
house that was close the the person I was sewing for, so she had to be
my model. We laughed and laughed at this "alteration". Was not what
we were going for. Don't worry. I fixed it.

Pirate pants AND sailor pants

Last week I was asked to sew some of the costumes for the upcoming Jr
high school production of pirates of penzance. The mom of one of the
leads isnt a big sew-er. I was happy to take the challenge. The two
patterns were a little tricky but I was able to figure them out. We
even altered the brown pants a bit so the bum wasn't so saggy. Kinda
difficult but I DID IT!! And yes I'm rather surprized and shocked :)

The pants

The sweet reward

A favorite place to pick up a sandwich

Many days, when I am out getting things done, I have to bribe myself
to get the most annoying things done. My very awesome dentist told me
about this great little place in American Fork. That is where I stop
in for a sandwich now and then. At peak times parking is a little bad,
and there is a line but the food is yummy. They are open late and I
keep thinking I will take dh there on a date. They also have some fun
hot chocolate going on there. It's the mouse type kind, steamed milk
with a mound of chocolate mouse stirred in. Kinda fun.

An odd cure for a headache

Today I got a huge headache from being teased so much by ds#2. The teasing was a form of annoying terrorism and "the 12 days of Christmas " song. Please don't ask... Anyway, as a way to forget the said torture I volunteered to go get stuff at home depot for dh. (for the ever fun of finishing the basement fun) I started listening to Brian Regan on my iPod, and before I knew it, my pains disappeared. I was actually enjoying home depot. It was very strange and mysterious.

It's my girls b day!!

For about 15-20 years I've been trying to make some awesome pulled butter mints. Dh's grandma made them to perfection when I knew her. Now she is gone, and I do not know anyone else that makes them. However, you can buy them at Deseret Book or The Lion House.

My first attempt so many years ago was a dismal failure. I ended up with a bunch of powdered candy on my cookie sheet. Never one to give up, (generally speaking, that is a big fat lie) I have endured and continue to make these mints. It has sadly and luckily gotten to the point where the nephews actually like to eat the many failures more then the rare successes. The smartest thing I did in this mint goal is to get my mom involved, and the sista s. Here is our latest attempt. Later today I will make a bunch of "ruined" mints, so the faithful encourager's of this goal are happy, even if the candy does pull out their teeth, that part makes them so happy.

the reunion

With Kim being home she gets to reunite with a few of her favorite people. It took a minute for the younger ones to warm up to her, but by the end of the night, Kim was back to being a princess to those little girls. cute cute

My girl returns

How cub and I begin our Christmas shopping

Hot cocoa!!

the jolly holly ride

There is an odd tradition that my family has. This has been the first year I have actually joined in the silliness.
One of my least enjoyable things to do each year is to trade out the hard top on the jeep to the soft top, and soft top for the hard top. It takes muscle and co-ordination. We hoist the hard top onto a wood frame and raise it to the top of our garage ceiling. The timing of this twice a year event always depends on the weather.
Last Saturday it was time to get the hard top back on the jeep. Thankfully the boys and cub and dh did all the lifting and such.
Right before the actual placing of the hard top, when all the soft top hardware is off, the people go for a ride around the neighborhood one last time, even in bad weather. Neighborhood kids have enjoyed the yearly event, as well as my own children, but this year I hopped in. For some reason, the boys brought poor little sweetie kitty. She did not like it at all. Here are some pictures, the jolly holly ride is done for 2008.

Grandma hood and my 100th post

I just logged in and saw I was at 99 posts on my blog. Awesome. How appropriate it is that it is for a great announcement.
I am about to enter a new phase of life. The night before Thanksgiving our big family went out to eat. We were all sitting down, I was between Laura and Dave. I remembered I had to tell my Dad something so, I got up and went to talk to him. When I got back, I saw a gift at my place setting. This wasn't too much of a surprise because November IS my birthday month. I sat down and realized it was from Laura and Steve. I, of course, hoped it was a tiny soft baby outfit to announce a new baby in my future. I quickly looked in the bag, and seeing that it was not a baby color or texture, I for some reason, guessed that it was an "Edward" t-shirt, and one for Dave too. Obviously I didn't think too hard on my thoughts, cause why would they get an Edward shirt for Dave? I knew that Laura and Steve had seen the movie, so that is just what I guessed, if it wasn't a baby item.
I pulled out two shirts and the first one I unfolded said.
"Don't I look too young to be a grandma?" yay!! I knew what the message was and squealed loud enough to earn a free delicious chocolate cake. Many hugs and a few tears were shared by the multi generational group there. It was so awesome. I think Laura and Steve have a video of the squeal. Should have used a different word then squeal.. The second shirt was "Grandpa '09" for Dave, but sadly I was shocked and stoked and I didn't get his reaction. I hate it when that happens. I quickly put my new shirt over the one I was wearing. The picture by myself looks a little freaky, I really didn't mean for it to look so odd.
Anyway, I look so forward to seeing my daughter become a Momma, and her dear husband a Daddy.


Sadly, I never knew either of my grandmas. I remember wishing I had at least one when my little friends would refer to theirs. Thankfully I got married to a man with two grandmas! what a bonus. Grandma Ruth and Grandma Faye. I've also been able to watch my own mother and mother in law be grandmas. And watch my sisters be grandmas as well, so maybe I am more qualified then I first thought.


It will be a great adventure I'm sure. I am so excited.

The pirates booty

Isnt that what they call the stash of goods a pirate collects? Aub came home for the night to party with us. She asked for some money for some shoes. Well, each of my dollars already had a place to go. I told her I did have a stash of change she could have. I thought it was about 20-30 dollars. She counted it. It was in one quart sized baggie. It ended up to be $99.83!!! What a pirates booty!! Time for shoes for the cub!! Next time I will count my own booty before I give so freely :)

An opportunity and an honor

The last few days I've been a stand in mom for my sister in law. Her son entered the MTC today, but came in from out of state yesterday. We had him in our home for about 24 hours. Dh and ds joined us at the MTC. It was a great spiritual experience. Elder CP is going to be an excellent missionary. I'm so proud of him.

My awesome chocolate cake

So we met the family at macaroni grill tonight. It was great. I even
got free chocolate cake.

Aub and I see another Beauty and the Beast

the reason behind a few of my songs

When ever I want to check out some of my fellow bloggers, I first check the ones on the side of my own blog. I love checking on everyone and love finding out about other friends that have blogs too!

So I get to hear my song list songs about once a day. Some of the songs on my list are really close to my heart.

I wrote about the Encore songs awhile back so today I'll tell you about 2 more songs.
"Better When We're Together" and "The Luckiest" They both have to do with the acquisition of my son in law Steve.

When Laura and Steve got together she was very happy and twitter patted. I remember the night she stopped by from a clinical in nursing school. She had received some flowers at the hospital that day. We knew she was seeing someone, but didn't know this was the one that was going somewhere. She was so happy that night and laughing and hugging her daddy and I, we changed our thinking THAT night!

So fast forward through the engagement and up to getting the announcement pictures taken. When the CD was mailed to us, I slipped it into the computer and heard this song. Better when were together... Then I saw my Laura and her Steve so happy.. it was so great. This song was also on the cd at the reception, right by me, so I heard it through the night. It never got annoying. It was so connected to happiness, how could it?

The next song is The Luckiest. I had heard the song before, but I wasn't really familiar with it. The day Laura and Steve got married, Steve sang this song to my girl, at the luncheon. I wept through the whole thing. How blessed I am to have a son-in-law that adores my girl, now his girl, like that?

I love the music and it really does mean alot to me.

While the boys camp on a cold night

Faced with an empty Friday night, I took matters In my own hands. At 3:56 pm I walked into the theater and bought one of the last three available seats to see the new big rage, Twilight. I got there just as the previews started. I was really happy to see the teaser for the new Harry Potter. While I gave reading the book Twilight a 4/10, I rated the movie 6/10. It could have been higher but certainly the comments and screams and cheering from the crowd were really annoying. So annoying in fact that I did'nt feel too guilty texting Krista during the movie. The movie was a little long too, but I do now see the allure of Edward. I think it's his good looking, self denial/self control protective-loyal nature that is so attractive. And really, who wouldn't want a boyfriend that could run and climb trees so fast? After the show I went to LHS fall musical "Beauty and the Beast"
By far, my favorites were Gaston and Lumiair- they stole the show. I had thought ahead and turned the electric blanket on inside the sheets of my bed before I left, so climbing into my lonly bed was actually very cozy. That's my Friday night alone.

A new website I like

I consider myself a pretty fair cook, yet I have never oven roasted
ckicken before. Today I read a blog that really lit a fire under me. I
decided to make this chicken to wow the house of boys I live with. So
far, two thumbs up from ds #2.
I'm not sure the picture is all that great but it was pretty good
eats. The chicken baked all afternoon and was more then fork tender. I
think I should have spiced it up more, so I'll do that next time. Take
alook at this blog. It is actually the sister in law of my own sister.
She is a cute spunky thing, even if she is an Obama supporter.
Hobblecreekkitchen.blogspot.com

Fried pickles with cub

a favorite of mine

I recently got to spend some time with this little chicka. sometimes the carseat would be too much for her. Grandma would work the magic by singing, and I caught her on my camera. Talk about a powerful patronus ala harry potter.

Sisters day in California

My cell phone makes it easy to put pictures on my blog, but its tricky to put in much text.
I snapped this picture just after we got to Westminster Ca. for my aunts funeral. It was the next day. But finally all 5 sisters were together, and the patriarch was in attendance as well!! It was a great moment to catch a picture, me with my best and truest friends, my sisters. And my parents and a few nieces too :)

I finished the top

Look what I finished! My thanksgiving hanging. I started it in
January. I'm going to figure out how to quilt the top and be done by
the 22nd. The leaf fabric on the side will go on the back.
I am going to another appliqué class this afternoon. Can't wait to
start!

How did this happen?

I just looked over at what Dave was doing on the computer and this is what I found. How did such an intelligent man hook up with such a funny fun girl like me? With a massive numbered up brain like he has, it's a good thing he has someone like me in his life hua?

A new toy?

We ended up with a free coffee maker. I have no idea what to do with
it. Taking it to d i is my only plan. Is there anything else I can do
with it?

The magic of Book on tape

During this last few months I have been kinda worried about many things. Of course, one of the major ones is the so-in-your-face- political stuff going on. I made a decision early on to fill my mind with other things besides the ever present politicial garbage. So I am here to tell you that if you find yourself wanting to stay away from anything, the answer is to turn to Book-On-Tape or CD. I first turned to Harry Potter and listened to the last 3 or 4 books. It was awesome. So much is lost in the movies. The reader is the best reader for book on tape. Some BOTs I have to take right back to the library because the reader is just way too boring.
When HP was over, I turned to another series. The Children of The Promise series was perfect for me. years ago, I read these books as they came out, about one a year. It really made WW 2 seem as long as it was. This time, I flew through the 4 volumes with in a month. It seems Wally didn't have to suffer as much, but I know its just cause I blew through the books so fast. This series was so good for me to hear in these political rocky times. It gave me hope and courage to face what is before us. I thought, I'm really not a wimp, I just need to look in the right places.

Prop 8 hits Salt Lake

I just heard on the news that there will be a protest or demonstration at the SL temple tonight. It will be from many that disagree with the Church's stand on the California prop 8, the redefining of marriage prop. Regardless if prop. 8 passed or not, where is the freedom OF religion? Its not freedom FROM religion.

I was just thinking.... so those that want "marriage" for homosexuals want it approved of by God? is that the bottom line? A "civil union" gives these types of relationships all the civil rights they would have under marriage. They want the name 'marriage'?

Am I missing something here? I think it is fairly well known that the Bible and most major religions consider homosexuality acts wrong in the sight of God.

So isn't it mocking God to say, "um well God, we know this is wrong by your word in the Bible, but we don't believe you and ya, we want to be married, anyway." ?

I understand the desire to be married. I just don't get the whole God/Marriage for something God doesn't allow thing. But then again, atheists can get married.. don't know if they would get married in a church...hummmm.......

Do you think the homosexual community can understand our confusion?

I'm usually not that vocal in my opinions, and not much of an argue er. But I have some great people that can talk with you if you oppose my opinion and want to spar. He know karate too.. thus the 'spar' term. :)
I continue to be surprised at the signs of the last days, and I pray these are the last days.

From Hawaii

Look what came for me!! From kimmie.