Two down, one to go

We were going to shop for the big grandsons in St. George when we get there next week. Still unsure what we were going to get them. Corinne suggested robes because the boys have been coveting the one that she wears every night around the house. Well I thought to myself I have all today, Sunday (yes I enjoy sewing on the Sabath) and if I need Monday morning I still have time. So I made the first one for Spencer who will be four on Jan. 1st. He is very much into Batman right now. Next is Spiderman for Garrett and Superman for Richard.

I noticed that even though I was hungry, the challenge of the sewing project won over my need to eat. Hmmm maybe I need to start sewing everyday!

I finished Richard's.....so I'll make Garrett's spiderman tomorrow.

Freshly painted white interior doors

The fine painting and door handle installation by Fred and door molding installed by my Dad.

 How many doors did Fred work on and finish you ask? Let's count them, one, two, three....... 15....

Thank you Fred for getting this project done. It was a project that we had no idea would be so time consuming and actually a lot of work. If we were to do it again.....we would buy doors already primed and painted! But in the new house I do not anticipate this ever being a project for Fred again.

Holiday Pops

Fred bought discount tickets for the Seattle Symphony from Costco a while back. I found the Holiday Pops performance and the music on the program sounded inviting. I don't enjoy listening even the best musicians if they don't perform pieces that are familar.

Sleigh Ride , What Child Is This?, Winter Wonderland, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Christmas Song / Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, The Little Drummer Boy, Joy to the World, The Night Before Christmas,  Carol of the Bells, We Need a Little Christmas, White Christmas, Let It Snow, O Holy Night, and then a sing along Deck the Halls , O Christmas Tree , Jingle Bells & We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

 No photography allowed during the performance, of course, so I took a few pictures just to give you an idea of our view. I had to wear my glasses down on my nose so I could see out of the top. We sat at the highest level. The sound was amazing.

 The Northwest Boys Choir apprentices sang. I would say these boys were aged 7 to 12 or so. Heavenly voices. There was also Christiane Noll & Doug LaBrecque were guest soloist. His voice was heavenly and he was a wonderful entertainer....she not so much.

 I would recommend you to attend if you had the opportunity. I hope Fred and I will do more things like this. Seemed a perfect empty nest kind of evening for us.

My Mom

I'm missing my Mom. I'm surprised how much deeper that feeling grows the more time passes without her. I just didn't grasp the depth of her presence and her influence in all that I do. Her death has brought about this realization for me.

I wish she were here. I think one of God's gifts to Mothers is the ability to make our children feel safe and loved no matter what.

November things

At the beginning of November a group of my friends got together to clean the kitchen at the church. This is the clean freezer.

This is the clean refrigerator. It was very therapeutic for me to toss old food.

It was actually pretty fun to get together and take care of a much needed service.

We got down to the nitty gritty of it.

The next time we got together we did something a little more fun.

We made pie bites. We had lots of cute cookie cutter shapes for the pie crusts. 

Lots of flavors...coconut cream, chocolate, pumpkin and white chocolate.

Chris was the head chef that night. Here she is with Rowena.

Here is Tina and Rowena cutting out the pie crusts.

We didn't have enough time to let the fillings set, so ours didn't turn

out as beautiful as these that were pictured on line. But it gives

you the idea.

Thanksgiving Day.

It was just Fred, my Dad and me for Thanksgiving.

Dad always carves the turkey and makes the gravy.

We get along pretty well together in the kitchen.



I always set the table with my Grandma Waldron's china & stemware.

My Dad sent home his paycheck while he was in the Navy to his mom so

she could purchase this china.

It makes me happy to be able to use it.

Bliss

Catching up

Here are my big grandsons....I don't see any toddlers here. All growing up.

 Corinne in a corn bin....

 The entire family during their Las Vegas trip to see Shannon & Family.

 Where can I buy one? Looks like it would be very handy to own one of these.

 Little Buddy made new friends. Richards his oldest Daly cousin.

All three boys seemed quite smitten with him.

 Bundled up and prepared for Utah's winter.

Oreos

I think you will understand once you watch the video.

Little Buddy's First Halloween Costume

 Shannon made Little Buddy's Halloween R2D2 Costume...pretty cute I must say.

I think perhaps there might be Football on the telly...they sure start young.

Don't I wish!

My big boys

Corinne and Ben took the boys on a hike up to the Y on the mountain behind BYU. It was a cool, drizzly day, but that didn't phase them as they are both Washingtonians by birth.

 Garrett always cheerful and Spencer tends to be more moody....wonder where he gets that from?

 Here is Richard.

More of Little Buddy

This photo of Shannon and Little Buddy makes me happy. Isn't she just beaming & beautiful?

 This is a funny one....

 Shannon says Little Buddy is getting better at sitting up on the couch....he likes to sit between them while they eat. Brian & Shannon will have to break their habit of eating while watching TV.

My girls

Today I was moving photos from old albums to new albums. I came across this photo of Shannon & Corinne. This was taken March 1986. Both of my girls loved the silk edge of their blankets. They would wrap them into a point and then stick that point of the binding in their eyes and noses as you can see from this photo. Aren't they so innocent and sweet here.



I ran into a friend at Fred Meyer last night that moved away probably 15 years ago give or take. It was so fun to see her, but I instantly grew sad for that time "when life was good way back then". Why do I always think that life was better long ago....but then when I see a photo like this....it makes me sad too.

By the way, the General Conference talks just make me feel inadequate. I know God loves me despite my weaknesses and He knows what I struggle with in this mortal life. I know the Atonement of Christ will make up for the rest because I'm doing the best I can.

Oct. 4, 1922

Today would have been my Mom's 90th birthday. She passed away in July of 2010. I thought of her today as I sat down at my desk at work. I have a Mary Englebreit desk calendar and when I tore off yesterday's page....this is what was today's. I thought it was very special. I do miss my Mom. She was always cheerful and happy.



Relief Society Broadcast

Thoughts that came to me during the broadcast that I want to put into practice....my newest attempt at daily scripture study was reading the scriptures listed for each hymn. I started at the beginning of the hymnbook....but I'm going to take it up a notch (in addition to getting back to it) and sing the hymn first, then read the scripture. This will replace my morning facebook & blog time. Then if I have more time after everything else that is more important is done....exercise...getting dressed, eating breakfast and making my lunch...then I get to spend time on facebook & my blog.

Other comments that "I heard" were being spiritually there for other sisters (i.e. or family etc)....I don't always feel that I can do things. Other good friends are more doers in service...actually getting in and doing something for someone else. I'm not very good at that. But I do truly love ferociously the sisters in our ward. I have become especially fond of our young mothers. I admire them so much. They are so much better equipped to raise their children now. So much better educated, spiritually leaps and bounds ahead of where I was in my day. I want to be their personal cheerleader and in their head everyday reassuring them that they are awesome and being such competent and perfect mothers for their children.

I like this new General RS Board....no funny hairdos or accents that are distracting...isn't that awful? Anyway, I am very grateful that I went and for my date and for the moments I had to connect with so many of my wonderful friends from other wards. I do love people...I forget my worries and woes when I engage with my friends. What a blessing friends are!

A pocket full of little boys

It's hard to believe that we have grandsons this BIG!

When did this all happen?

12/17/2003 it all began.

Little Buddy is growing up

Red hair glow and looking more like a baby to play with instead of just feed, burp and change.

I forgot to blog about my birthday

I'm 55 -

The events of my actual birthday celebrations were inspired by the events of this photo.

You ask how?

 On Sunday a friend suggested we get a group together to go out to eat for my birthday. I said that sounds great and I started "inviting" people to dinner the next day. I told Fred what was going on and he said "well then I guess we aren't doing anything?".....I said "oh"..... thinking that I have been to Las Vegas twice, Ross Lake, always spending money somewhere AND we go out to dinner all the time so what's the big deal about going out to eat one more time?" Well then I felt bad....and I think he did too. SO I changed the girl's night out to Tuesday.

This is when my story gets good. I called Fred on Monday morning at work and said "It's my birthday and I get whatever I want. I want to ride the ferris wheel in Seattle today". Fred said okay and arranged to take time off work.

 Here we are approaching the waterfront.

 Ferris Wheel - $13 per adult - maybe 10 minutes in line. Five revolutions. Total time 35 minutes.

 Here's my Fred. I love him.

 We weren't sure what to expect for waiting in line etc.... so we grabbed Ivars on the waterfront. These were our dinner companions. Very Very Noisy. They can sure catch fries mid air!

 Jumbo Prawns for me!

 This is looking up at the ferris wheel. It's white and shiny!

 The gondola holds six people. We were with a young couple from UW on a date and a guy all by himself ?....

 This is a photo of the umbrellas at the restaurant below.

 Water/ferry view.

 Bremerton out there somewhere....

The end.