The annual Women’s Church Wide Broadcast

We were in charge of the refreshments to be served after the broadcast.  We had fruit cups and sugar cookies.  The hall was sent up in semi circle of chairs and with the decorations in fall colors it was very festive looking.  We counted 96 sisters who attended. 

Jaden’s football game

It was one of those Saturdays when both Neal and I could attend one of Jaden’s football games.  Perfect weather.  We are having absolutely gorgeous weather for fall.  The news says things will be changing soon but we’ll enjoy the ‘perfect’ weather while we have it.  I’m certainly not looking forward to winter.  Here are some fun pictures I took at the games.  Boston was his grandpa’s boy and loved having Neal throw him high in the air so he could fly.  Huge trust issue, wouldn’t you say?

Tucker found Neal's Street

My newest counted cross stitch project.

I just love doing these samplers.  I have no idea what will become of them or who if anyone will end up hanging them on a wall in their home, but it makes no never mind to me, I just love doing them.  I have about 10 more waiting to be done so my guess is that I will NEVER run out!  It is good therapy and I believe the old saying that “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop”.  My hands are rarely idle! 

Fall is here which brings the first holiday of the season and decorations.

The witch was made by Lynda Ann years ago.  She looks great on our kitchen table adding to the atmosphere of the coming month.

Saturday shopping and lunch

Mary, Lynda and Lila Mae all have birthdays during September and October so we all got together for lunch and shopping.  We met at the Cheesecake Factory and enjoyed a delicious lunch and visit.  Lynda Ann and I had purchased a darling Halloween candy bowl and a plate for Mary.  I also had Lila Mae’s present and had put them all on a chair next to me.  We were visiting and all of a sudden heard a crash that sounded suspiciously like a lot of glass breaking into a million pieces.  I looked down on the floor under the table and sure enough Mary’s present had slid off the chair and crashed onto the floor.  We had her open them anyway so she could see what she would have had.  It was very sad, but rather funny.  (We did replace them when shopping later that day at Quilted Bear.)

In case you don’t know who these people are:  From left to right – Lilas Mae, Dallas (Mary’s daughter), Mary, Emmi (who is letting her bangs grow out) Lynda Ann and non else but me.  Susan is with us, but she HATES her picture being taken and so I totally respect her for that and so didn’t include her in the picture.

We had a delightful afternoon getting caught up on family stuff and shopping.  All of us came out of the Quilted Bear with some items that we just couldn’t live without.  Emmi even purchased a pair of BYU glasses and a tie bracelet that had BYU sewn in it.  Like her Gam, she is a true cougar fan and proud of it. 

Fun Friday afternoon with Brock and Boston

Neal and I had the fun opportunity to watch the two little boys while Maren did her intense exercise program.  She had dropped them off just before I got home from work and the minute I came in the house, after the hugs and hellos they informed me that they were hungry.  Of course, nothing in Gam’s fridge would quite take care of their hunger and when McDonalds was mentioned it seemed that all would be well.  So we hopped in the car and off to McDonalds for two cheeseburgers with only ketchup.  On the way Brock informed me that he was 6 and in Kindergarten, which he really liked, and that he would soon be getting two new “parent” teeth.  Maren explained to me later that “parent” teeth are permanent teeth.  I thought that was a pretty good twist on words.  Boston chattered away non-stop to and from McDonalds.  I seriously had no idea what he was saying most of the time but found that an acknowledgement of “really” and “wow” and “is that so” seem to satisfy him that I not only understood his conversation, but that I also was listening intently.  Of course, the new toy is the highlight of any McDonalds meal.  Boston was very observant and noticed that we had a house decoration on our patio wall just like his dads.

Neal had an appointment and came back just as the kids were finished eating.  I might add the Brock cleaned up everything in his meal and ate half of Bostons as well.  He was hungry.  We cleaned up the table and headed over to the new playground and there played with the kids until Maren came to pick them up.

One of my favorite spontaneous pictures of Brock hugging the pumpkin.

A RED letter day in more ways than one!

Last night was the annual BYU / Utah game and BYU just could not pull it off yet another year.  Utah ended up beating us by a field goal.  We had a chance in the last second but the final ball kicked hit the goal post and bounced out of the bars instead of in.  A little divine intervention would have been nice there, but that wasn’t to be.  Boy, I do hate losing.  Tucker is a good sport and doesn’t rub it in and I appreciate that. Congratulations to all my Utah children and grandchildren.  I took a picture of Neal just before the game dressed and surrounded by his precious red and white flower pots, and making his “U” sign (which, by the way, I had to show him)!!!

One thing good about the day is that I FINALLY finished Derek’s counted cross stitch!  I have never been so glad to take a final stitch in any project I’ve worked on as I was with that one.  I will be happy – ecstatic – to get it cleaned, pressed and framed.  It will be nice to give to Derek when he comes next summer to the family reunion and he can haul it back to China.  You wouldn’t even want to know how many mistakes there are in the work of art!  So many I quit counting.  But they say, a good seamstress is one who can cover up her mistakes!  I became a pro!!

Lynda Ann celebrates her 41st birthday!

She didn’t like any of the pictures that Emmi took of us so I just had to pick the one that I liked the best!  Do any of us really ever like what we look like in pictures?  Probably not so much.  I always think I’m much cuter than the picture and that I don’t have near as many wrinkles as the camera seems not to miss!

Annie came by the office last week and while we were visiting she met a few co-workers who wandered by my desk.  After Lynda left one of the co-workers came by my desk and said “Was that your daughter?”  I told her it was and she said, “Wow, she sure looks a lot like you.”  I just smile and say thanks.  I often wonder if people just say that because it is something to say, or if they really mean it.  When they don’t know the history it always makes me wonder.  What do you think, Annie, do we look alike? 

This picture of the teenagers didn’t get posted. Wow, they are all growing up!

A fun Sunday gathering

Jeff and Lynda Ann had a regional conference on Sunday at the conference center down town.  Because not of the kids had been in the conference center they decided to come in.  I decided with them in the city we would have a family dinner.  I think one of my favorite things about the family gatherings is the adults chattering away at one table and the teenagers (Hayley and up) chattering away at the other table.  The noise level is unbelievable but it is usually a ‘happy’ noise.  We could not get Boston to smile.  It just wasn’t his day for showing off. 

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I had to take a picture of the progress of Taylor’s orthodontic work. It is amazing what can be done with the jaw and the positioning of teeth to make a beautiful straight smile. 

These balloons were left over from Neal’s 50th class reunion so we let the kids play with them and send them off into the atmosphere.  It was fun to watch how excited Boston got when he saw them floating high above the trees.

Thunder storms in the making.

I don’t think these two pictures really show the intense color and size of these clouds but I just had to snap a picture of them.  I was out by the pool with Mindy last week and happened to look up at the sky over Mt. Olympus and was awed by this gorgeous cloud formation.  As we looked to the South West we could see the thunder and rain clouds moving in.  This formation was the first part of the storm.  It was absolutely breath taking.  The contrast between the black cloud in front and the huge brilliantly white cloud behind it was almost unreal looking.  Can I just say here how grateful I am to Jamie for encouraging me to get a camera and start a blog.  I absolutely love journaling with pictures.  Best thing ever!! 

A fun surprise from Tucker. A ‘just because’ present.

Neal got a package in the mail the other day and he set it down with all the other mail.  I waited as long as I could and finally said, “Open it!”  I don’t know what he was waiting for, but I was as curious as could be.  Isn’t there a saying that goes something like, “Curiosity got the cat!”  Anyway, I couldn’t stand the suspense and was going to open it myself if he didn’t get to it.  It was a new tie and he loved it!  He sported it the very next morning and kept saying how much he liked it.  Tucker, you did great.  I’m glad that someone dares pick something in the clothing department for Neal.  He is not an easy person to please.  I’ve learned that over the years and will not even buy him a t-shirt.  As the old saying goes, “You’re a brave man, Charlie Brown!”  I guess we could have chosen a better place to take the picture.  Dad was on his way to school and I happen to have the phone in my hand and told him to stand still for a minute so I could take his picture.  Didn’t think about the fact that we were in the bathroom!!  Too funny.  A big THANK YOU Tucker.  Dad loves the tie!

September has arrived.

September has arrived bringing with it the cooler nights, temperatures mostly in the lower 80’s, grandchildren back in school and strawberry and raspberry Gam’s Jam making completed.

I love the fall as much as I do summer.  People say that January is their new beginning for a fresh new year but I’ve always thought of fall as the beginning of another ‘new year’.  There are so many changes taking place with preparations for a new school year, loading up our food storage with summer produce, sewing projects now in full swing and anticipation for the three holidays that are coming up in the next four months.  It is a busy time of year with time limits and schedules and I love how it feels!