One of My Favorite Things

We got to tend Jaxon and Madi last night while Carson and Ashley are out of town. It reminded me that one of my very most favorite things is to cuddle a baby after their bath. I miss that part of raising kids.

A Reason Why I Look The Way I Do

A couple of weeks ago I sat beside a friend who was visiting our ward for a missionary homecoming. She is always dressed up, looking her best whenever you see her. Her hair and makeup are flawless, even when the wind blows...her clothes are fashionable and when she washes her windows she still looks good. As I sat beside her that day, I looked down at our feet. She had stylish pointed-toe shoes with heels. I had flat, rounded toe shoes. I felt flat and rounded sitting there beside her. Today I tore off this page on a calendar another friend gave me. I had to laugh out loud because now I may have a reason why I look the way I do...

Bathroom Update

The tile work is taking forever!!! The floors are done, however, so yesterday they installed the framework of the cabinet. The doors and drawer fronts have to be installed still. Here's a look at the latest progress. Also, when we built this house originally, we were just one year out of college. My dad shopped for the best deals for us to build it. The KMart by their house use to have a lumber yard (can you believe that?) so we bought louver doors for all our closets there. They have fallen apart many times through the years and glued and screwed back together often. We just replaced them with new doors while we are doing the remodel. I was sentimentally sad to see them go (can you believe that?) Lots of memories in those old things.

Holy Eighties!

I found this cute picture the other day while cleaning. Love those glasses on Tristan. Love that hairdo on Lara. Love those socks on Parker. The good old days weren't always the best were they?

Some Tangible Proof

A couple of years ago Lara asked me if I would get a job when Kaitlin went to college. I replied, "I hope not!" She then asked what I would do with all my time. I tried to tell her all the things that keep me busy. It sounded pretty lame. Last summer I spent a couple of days with Chris after he had surgery. MiKell had to be gone each day for a harp institute that she had committed to before they knew Chris would have to have surgery. As we visited during those days, Chris thanked me for coming to help him and for taking time out my busy life. Then he asked, "Just what do you do all day long?" The awful thing was that I couldn't think of anything to tell him. I just replied, "I don't know what I do, but at the end of the day whatever it was I didn't get it all done."

I have thought about what kind of things I do. I have kept really busy with no one at home. There are always unlimited household chores to be done, people to help, grandkids to spoil, a husband to enjoy, and family to worry about. But I decided that I should take time to learn new skills so I have something visible to show and something concrete to think about when someone asks me what I do with all my free time.

I signed up for a beginning pieced quilt class. I have pieced quilts before, but after taking this class I learned that just because you can sew doesn't mean you can piece quilts correctly. It has been great to learn the secrets and shortcuts of quilt piecing. And, I have something I can show you!

Also, I am taking an Adobe Photoshop class at Snow College. I don't know how much of it I will use, but hopefully I am learning and stimulating my brain!

A Kodak Moment

These aren't good pictures at all, but they do record a great moment. Here are all of our current grandchildren together with their great grandmas, Alta and Stella. Lucky children to have great grandmas...

MY (guitar) HERO!

This past weekend, we took a washer and dryer to Rockville. It was a stormy weekend, so Carson wanted to take the Wii. Tristan and I were finally able to learn how to play Guitar Hero (on the easy level!) It was a lot of fun. Tristan could really rock out to Creedence Clearwater Revival. I would have been really impressed if he just hadn't worn that strap around his neck!

So Long, Farewell

After two long years and four months, we bid farewell to "Ancient Copper" (which through the years was called anything from orange to salmon and even pink) and WELCOME "Latte" chocolate. There were times when we did like Ancient Copper. In the fall when the autumn decorations were out, it was beautiful. At night, when the sun went down, it toned down and looked softer and not so intense. There were times when my house was clean that it looked "put together" like a page out of a magazine. For the most part, however, it is hard to live on a page in a magazine. It got too intense and closed in on me. So while the painters are here painting the bedroom we put them to work in the kitchen/family room. Looks better, huh? Do you think I will ever get my house back to normal after all this construction mess????