Saturday

Today was a more relaxed day.  Neal and Tucker went to Boston and Brocks football game and Jamie, Peyton and I went on a couple errands and Jordyn Lyn and Lexi stayed back and did homework and read a book.

We stopped at a makeup place and Peyton tried on some bright red lipstick.

The lipstick lasted until she got out of the store and then off it came. 

More Pictures

A continuation of pictures of Friday night.  This picture is of Annie and I cutting paper getting ready for Pictionary.  Funniest game ever.  Lynda Ann is amazing.  She can guess almost anything you can draw.  She even guess "frisking" from a picture Neal drew.  Amazing.  No one else would have ever been able to come up with that word.  Tucker, Neal, Lyndsy, River and Lynda Ann were on one team and Abby, Jordyn Lyn, Emmi and me were on the other team.  Peyton played with our team for a while and then gave it up. 

 Cute picture of Tucker and family heading for Utah.

Day 2 of my vacation days

Friday morning I got up bright and early to get the turkey stuffed and in the oven.  Then I peeled all the potatoes, cut them up and put them in the pan to soak until it was time to cook them.  I also peeled the carrots and got them cut up and in the pan ready to be cooked.  I made the Jello salad and the tossed green salad and got those in the frig.  Then I made the rolls for dinner and set them aside to raise.  After all this dinner preparation was done I started setting the tables.  I was through about 11:30, just in time to get cleaned up and head over to Granite Bakery to pick up the cake I ordered for Mallory.

You can't see it on the pictures I took but they misspelled Tennessee.  I didn't notice it until I got home and I was not a happy camper.  I paid too much for the cake to have them misspell a word.  They spelled Tennessee with one 'e'.  How dumb is that! 

Tucker and Jamie and the girls arrived about 5:15 and about 1/2 later we had Gertsons and Culters added to the mix.  Lyndsy joined us along with River and Desmond. 

We had a delicious dinner and played games until about 2:30 a.m.  Just like old times.  It was so fun.  I love all the laughing and joking that goes on. 

Two Vacation Days

I decided that I had so much to do that I would take a couple vacation days so that I could get everything done before the arrival of Jamie and Tucker and the girls.  Thursday morning I got up and began decorating the tree.  If  you remember a few years ago, Peyton was helping Pa and I decorate the tree and she accidently dropped a Christmas bulb and Pa got a little over excited.  Well every year since then when we decorate the tree it seems that Pa always drops a Christmas bulb.  This year was no exception.  Picture of proof:

Way to go Pa.  Caught again!

But even with the mishap of a few broken bulbs we finally got the tree decorated and ready for Christmas and Mallory's mission celebration.

After we got the tree decorated I did a few projects and then I headed up to Midway to make bread with Lila Mae and to take some stuff to her and visit with her.  Tucker's wish for his arrival was home made bread and today was the only day I had to make it. 

My bread turned out just perfect.  Maybe I should make it more often at Lila Mae's.

Lynda Ann being creative again!

I can't believe that Annie is busy making things for our Thanksgiving dinner this Friday when she has so much going on in her life getting ready for Mallory's farewell.  She is amazing and I love how she always makes something fun to add to our holiday family gatherings.  These name tags made from autumn leaves are beautiful.  Thanks Annie!

Salt and Pepper shakers

Can't quite figure out what my obsession is with salt and pepper shakers but I love them.  I went over to Kneaders to get a sandwich for lunch and found these Halloween ones.  Just had to buy them.  Abby will love them.  She always notices them.  She will probably inherit them all some day.

Fun trip to St. George

Our trip to St. George was great.  We left Wednesday evening about 6:30 and got to St. George about 11:15.  We ran into some heavy traffic because there was some bridge repair going on just before we hit Fillmore.  As you can see from the picture, the traffic went on forever in front of us..

As soon as we got past the bridge the road was wide open in front of us. 

Thursday morning the men went golfing and Judy and I went shopping.  We both found things that we wanted and some things we didn't need.  We always have a good time shopping.  We finished up at the grocery store just about the time the men called that they wanted to be picked up.  We picked them up and on the way back to the condo Neal wanted to stop and see what the guy on the side of the road was selling.  Neal bought a piece of "art".

Friday morning we all went golfing and had a fun time.  The wind was blowing most of the day but we powered through it!

Saturday Judy and I made cookies and delivered them with a thank you note from me for the great care given me at the hospital the last time I was in St. George.  It was fun to take them over and surprise the ER and the 3rd floor people.

This is just a  picture of Neal relaxing while watching the football game. 

While Judy and I were delivering the cookies and picking up the pie for Ron's birthday dinner, Ron and Neal went out on the golf course to chip a few balls.  While out there, they found each found their own handful of golf balls.  These are the ones Neal found.

Sunday morning we went to church and then breakfast and then back to the condo to clean things up, pack and head for home.  We left about 5:00 and got home about 10:00  The delay was caused again by the construction on the road.  Luckily we found some people who knew where the back roads were.  We stopped in Fillmore for a bathroom break and that is when we heard that the freeway was nearly at a standstill because of the volume of traffic combined with construction.  A couple in a pick up truck who were headed to Mona area said for us to follow them.  We did and it saved us almost 4 hours of time by going on the frontage roads from Fillmore to Mona.  The pictures below are looking at I 15 from the frontage road we were on.  We clipped along at about 65 mph and the freeway was going at about 5 to 10 miles an hour from just outside Fillmore past Nephi!!

One funny thing that happened.  While on this dark side road we just about hit a stupid pelican just standing in the road.  Seriously, the dumb thing had landed there, right in our lane and acted like he owned the whole road.  We were able to dodge him but I sure worried about him getting hit by someone else.  It happened too fast for me to get a picture.  But, it was sure a funny thing.

It was a great trip and we had a fabulous time!

New project

I have finished Mallory's counted cross stitch as far as I can go for now.  I'm waiting for Mallory and her mom to decide how they want it finished.  In the mean time I've started a new one.

This will go with my Polly Wolly Doodle all the Day sampler. 

New Family Game

Lynda Ann and her family had an opportunity to play a new game at some friends home and they fell in love with it.  They said it was a lot like What Were You Thinking, only the answers are there and you chose the person who matches the answer.  You can't buy it in the stores any more but thanks to the internet I found it and was able to send for it.  It is called Imaginiff.  Can't wait until the family gets together so we can play it.  I've read through the directions and it really looks fun.

Mallory turns 19!

Mallory turned 19 which makes her the official age to now go on a her mission.  She and Ellie, her best friend, and Annie drove in to Salt Lake to run some errands and take ride up Millcreek Canyon to gather some leaves.  Mallory wants to make some luggage tags for her luggage so she can identify them more easily.  Cute idea! 

They met me at work and I went with them to The Cheesecake Factory for lunch.  We had a fun time talking and laughing and had a delicious lunch and topped it off with a slice of cheese cake. 

After lunch Mallory showed me a new coat, blazer and some other stuff she got for her mission.  I don't think I've ever seen or experienced anyone so excited about their mission.  I feel like I'm heading out on a new adventure and it isn't even my mission.  You just feel Mallorys excitement and love for the gospel.  Happy 19th birthday Mallory Sue Gertson.  We LOVE you!!

Mallory's Mission

There will probably be lots of post from now on about Mallory and her preparations for her mission and her farewell and her mission.  This is such an exciting time for all of our family and especially for the Gertsons.  We are so excited and so proud of this granddaughter of ours.  Annie made these darling invitations to send out to family and friends.  I'm anxious to see all the pictures that Mallory had taken that day, but for now these are the three on the invitation.  LOVE the invitation and love the pictures chosen to go on it.  May favorite is the one with the Book of Mormon in front of Mallory and all you can see is her beautiful eyes.

RS handouts

Annie saved me once again.  It seems that every month my lesson makes me think about a handout that would be fun to give my gathering at the rest home.  This lesson was on being of service to others.  What a perfect time to do something with "Helping Hands" t-shirt after the sad happenings in Texas.  There were many articles about how the church members came in their yellow helping hands t-shirt to assist as many people as they could.  So Annie made these cute handouts for me to give out.  I'm also going to order some cute Halloween cookies from Granite Bakery.  Should be a fun lesson.  Dang, I wish I knew how to turn these pictures.  Jamie, where are you when I need you?  :-)

Fall has come to our home

It is about this time of year when I change out the closets from summer to winter clothing, put quilts on the bed and get out the Fall decorations and put the Christmas dishes in the china closet.

 This is always Neal's project to put the china in the hutch.  He is very methodical about it and knows just how he wants it to look.  He stands back and surveys his work as he goes along and moves dishes around until it looks just perfect.

Just got out this quilt from the cedar chest.  I love this quilt.  So happy Annie made it for us.  It brings memories and lots of warmth physically and emotionally.  Thanks Annie.  We love this quilt.

Taylor's 17th birthday

Taylor turned 17 and wanted to go out to dinner to Buffalo Wild Wings.  Neal and I met the Cutlers at the restaurant out by Sheels Sporting Goods Store.  We had a fun time visiting with everyone. 

Maren and Taylor decided on what we were going to order as Neal and I had never been there before.  We had a variety of wings with different flavors and different sauces.  The dinner was delicious.  After dinner we walked over to Sheels to look around.  I ended up buying a t-shirt and Greg bought some football stuff for Brock and Boston.  It was a fun evening and fun to be with the Cutlers.  Happy 17th Taylor!  We love you!!

Mallory's project coming along

I'm getting close to having the Tennessee cross stitch done.  Here is the latest picture as of October 1.  Still waiting for Jamie to teach my how to turn the pictures around.  So you'll just have to look at it sideways :-)

Random Post

I sent this picture to Tucker.  Ashley and I had to sit in a booth at the U of U job fair.  I just had to take a picture for Tucker.

Maren sent me this cute picture of Boston at his football game on Saturday.

Sunday thoughts

First of all, I love General Conference.  This October Conference was amazing and I loved every talk I heard. 

Here is something I learned recently.  In the hymn #193, we sing, 'I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me . . ."  I've always wondered what the word proffer means.  And the part about being confused . . . what's this all about?  Here's what Brad Wilcox said . . . "The word confused can mean perplexed and disoriented, but it can also mean overwhelmed.  Indeed, we should feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of Christ's grace. "

Proffers is more than a synonym for offers.  Adding the prefix pro to offers indicates that instead of simply extending a gift to someone, the giver takes initiative to proactively place the gift before the receiver.  Think of the emblems of the sacrament.  They are not simply offered to the congregation.  Latter-day Saints don't approach the front of the chapel to take them.  Rather, the bread and water are proffered to us - literally placed before each of us individually, even when we are late and standing in the foyer (don't ask me how I know that).  ?This teaches us much about how lovingly the gift of grace is given."  I still have my agency.  Nothing is being forced on me.  I choose whether or not to partake.  That's how it is with His gospel, He offers everything to us with all the love we can imagine.  Will I partake?  Will I take His name upon me one more week?  Will I try to keep His commandments for seven more days?  Yes, because the trade-off is so valuable to me - - - to always have His Spirit to be with me.  Something to think about the next time I reach for the sacrament.

Sunday visit.  Neal and I drove out to Maren and Greg's home to take the jam I had made for them and to see them and Taylor.  We went in between conference sessions and had a nice visit with them.  Greg and Maren had us go downstairs to see if we could notice a smell.  I immediately smelled stale urine.  Come to find out that when Maren moved Brock and Boston downstairs the two boys decided it was easier to pee in a hole in the wall rather than go upstairs to the bathroom.  They have been down there for a couple months and by the time Maren and Greg discovered what was going on, the boards in the wall were soaked with urine and the pee had actually worked it's way out on the carpet.  They had to rip up the carpet and Greg will have to pretty much take down the whole wall in that area and put new wood in sheetrock in there.  Needless to say the two boys will be moving back upstairs again where they can be kept under closer watch.  I do remember that I caught Spencer peeing in the corner of his closet and sometimes out the window.  Thank goodness I caught it after he had only done it a couple of times.  I just don't understand why boys would do that. 

Maren and Greg said it has been a hard journey since Taylor came home.  Maren said that just getting her out of bed for 2 hours a day was a real trial but now Taylor is finally moving forward with more of a positive attitude.  She is going to school for two classes a day and had therapy every week where she is working hard to strengthen her body and help her to be more and more independent.

Maren also talked about her relationship with her mother and said that she was just like Taylor and would have been just as bad had her mother lived.  Lots of other things were expressed but this is their story not mine.  I'm just grateful that things are getting a little better for their whole family as each day goes by.

On the way home as we were coming into our complex I glanced up at Mt. Olympus like I always do and had to top and take these pictures.  The mountain is absolutely breath taking.