way too long!!

OK....it really has been a LONG time since I posted on here!!! EEEsh...where to start!? My mom fell and broke her hip! Yep 87 years old and this is the first time she has broken a bone!!! The surgeon said her bones look really strong for someone her age. But, if I am not at work, I have been down at my mom's. I really think that I can now just go down once a week. There are so many things I have put on hold that remain to be done. But, hey! they didn't go anywhere...they are still here and waiting for me! ha! funny about things like that! She is doing very well. What a blessing.
OH>>>and my oldest grandson, Peter just turned 13!!! holy freakin' cats!!! a teenager! He is such a dear little thing! ha! JK Peter!! But, I do think you are awesome!!

First Cutting

why can't I just keep it simple?

I always feel like I need to post pics with my posts! Why can't I just write something? (needless to say, I am jealous of Michael and "five a day") I think I am interesting....but maybe not.
The comings and goings here are pretty mundane. This past weekend, Alyssa went to Zion's on a camp out with some of the people of her singles ward. She came home with out a voice, with a sore throat and cough. Last night she was so bad she felt like she needed a blessing. With Ames down in Provo and Ken gone, I asked if she wanted me to get someone from the ward. She said no and then tried to contact some of the guys from her ward. None could come...(kinda strange??) So I asked her if she knew anyone else she felt comfortable asking....she got a hold of someone from her old singles ward...and he came right away! He had a fellow with him and they were both in church clothes. I had goosebumps when I opened the door and they were standing there. With tears in my eyes, I asked them to come in. Gosh! I love the power of the Priesthood! They gave Sis a blessing and come to find out Jaman knows Emily (Ames's True love). Small world. I am so thankful for those young men. They will never know how they impacted my night!!
Now I am drinking Airborne cause I feel the same thing coming on!! O boy!! Ames is just getting over it too....and Alex has had it! Can't we just enjoy the summer??

Amazing!

I can not wait to see this show!! Singing In The Rain at Hale Orem Theater.

Boy, I tell ya...sometimes life is tough and then you die! That is what my daughter Aubry used to say to me growing up. But this week has been tough in more than one way. It was like I kept hearing her little voice saying that inside my head! But, thankfully I have this amazing daughter living with me and even though she herself has gone through refiners fire this weekend...she has remained positive and upbeat. Cheerful, in fact! she is yet again someone I look up to! You go girl. And I think we both have felt very grateful we have temples close by to run to so that we can be spiritually uplifted and close. We are never alone. I watched "The Other Side of Heaven" last Sunday and got this phrase stuck in my head....Hazzah for Israel!! That is all I can say, for I know this is certainly not the last trials I will face, yet I can now say.....bring it on cause I will be fine. Hazzah for Israel!

Long Weekend

So....I usually have Monday's off anyway, but I was so tired this Monday...really didn't do much. Just chilled! Went to see Night at the Museum 2 with Alex and Alyssa and then went out to lunch. Fun times! Here is one of my favorite pics of Ames and Emily....Amesily! And it actually was raining! ha! Go figure....

Absolutely Adorable

This is a table and stools that I painted for the Nursery in our ward. I got the table for a whole $5 and the stools for less. I cut down the legs and painted it from a Mary Englebreit book I have. The kids LOVED it and were so surprised when we opened up the door to the toys! Let the tea party begin!!
(you can check out our Nursery blog @ nurserywonderings.blogspot.com)

Making the Greatest Stuff!!!

We did it again!! We did it in about an hour and a half this time!! (Last time it took 2 1/2 hours! ) But this time it will be so much better!!! Looks and smells delish! Alyssa is getting really great at rolling out the dough. She did them super thin this time. The sauce is the best in anything I have ever had before!!! So, this precious Lasagna is for Sunday dinner and we can't wait!! Alex, Ames and Emily will be here and Ken is here for the day!!! It is so fun to cook with Alyssa. I think we laugh more than we cook! ha! (2 tsp. Tsp?)(2 eggs...gently fold...fold?) Unfortunately I took video instead of photos! Silly...I know

17...Again!

Alex took me to the movie today. We saw "17 Again"...we both loved it a lot! Alex even said he underestimated Zac Efron! ha! The movie is hilarious and moving....I mean we laughed the whole way through! Zac proved that...yes! he CAN act.....he just needed a great script. Alex said it is receiving great reviews...but I never concerned myself with that. Those reviews are deserved and the guy who wrote it did a fabulous job! Be sure and stick around for the credits when it is over....it's worth it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW9TkWY6Cng

Ames and his true love, Emily!

For some reason I cannot get the Valentine template off my blog! but for this post, maybe it works! Cause Ames is ENGAGED!!!!! to Emily Dabczynski. We love and adore her and they are a perfect match!

Spring Fever??

Tulips are starting to poke through the ground . Trees are starting their process of evolving into leafy grandeur. Sometimes the sun IS shining! Kids are getting more hyper as "nice" weather comes and gos. More people are getting out and walking or jogging or starting the work in the yard. But, the one thing, to me, that signals spring is really coming is.....MARCH MADNESS!!! Print out those brackets, baby, and lets get ready to rumble!!! (hypervintillating going on here!) And am I bummed that Utah lost to BYU Saturday....ha! I hope this is a wake-up call for them! They play NM in the "pitt" tonight.....o boy! Come on guys! You can do it! This is the time to hit hard and not lose steam! But, I gotta say....UCONN is looking pretty tight right now. Sunday, March 15th can't come soon e-nough! (selection announcement) ha! My hands are shaking and ready to print out the brackets! O yeah...... and for those who don't know me well and are surprised by my addiction to this basketball frenzy that is absolute madness.....it started when I was growing up in Calif. with UCLA winning 7 straight titles with John Wooden! (Gotta love those Bruins!) But I will say, right now....today.....Go UTES!!

I Love to See the Temple

Alyssa and I went to the Jordan River Temple today to do baptisms. I love doing that with her!! We were told there would be a 3 hour wait! YIKE!!! But, Alyssa forgot her recommend and we decided to go back home and get it. On the way home I asked her if she still wanted to go back knowing how long the wait was.....she didn't want to decide, so I said let's go back and see. When we got there they said the wait wasn't quite so bad now and asked if we wanted to do family names. We jumped on that! And we were out of there in 1 1/2 hours! not too bad....plus we got to watch these adorable little deacons get baptized by their YM leaders. How cute is that???

Flower Power!

Ames and Emily came and spent Saturday night and Sunday with us. It was so great having them. Emily was so thoughtful. She even brought me flowers! I love that girl!!

Shhh, I'm Reading

I just read an e-mail from my beautiful daughter, Aubry about reading...so I thought I would update this blog with what I have been reading lately. Working in a library at an elementary school, I try to read at least a book a week.....sometimes it is many more than that due to some being picture books. But I noticed over the last school year there is a series of books that hardly ever are on the shelves in our library. Students are forever looking for it and then placing holds on it. SO, I thought "why haven't I read this series?" I started on the first book of Fablehaven last Wednesday and am now on book 3. The characters are so easy to get attached to and I actually laugh out loud at some of the antics and sayings of Seth...the younger brother of the heroine and a 6th grader! (That says it all right there! ha! Especially if you have a 6th grader anywhere near you!) Very good books! Good over evil and all that. Magical creatures that live on magical preserves! and of course...there are the fairies!

Presidents Day Concert

Every year Midvale Arts Council sponsers a Presidents Day Concert at Hillcrest High School. The Youth Ambassadors were there handing out programs and welcoming people. Then they lead the Pledge of Alligence. It was a good concert and was nice and short! Yay!

Valentine Pixie

At work we draw names to be a Valentine Pixie all week. Either we make something or spend only a dollar. Each person fills out a questionaire about their likes and the one drawing a name will use it to help them in getting something each day to surprise that person. Then on Friday--today-- you let the person know who their pixie is. It is way fun and everyone really gets into it! My pixie is the mom of a really good friend of Alyssa...Julie Daye. She works here too. Well today was the last day and she got me this fabulous mug. I love it. She pegged me (no pun intended!!) so well, cause I read a lot.....and the mug is perfect!

It's a Hard Knock Life!

Yesterday is one of my tough days at work. It was made especially long as two of my classes had substitutes. The students really took advantage of that...in a big way!!! They were very disruptive and noisy. One class was so bad that I hit the counter to get their attention and told them that I was very dissappointed. It isn't how we behave when our teacher is here ...it is how we behave when she is NOT here that is important! The last class of the day was Kindergarden....precious and adorable! They are so good and quiet. They quickly get their new books and they actually listen to their teacher! What a concept. (Sometimes I think that the 4-6th grades need to come in and observe the Kindergarden students to see how to behave in the library!) So as this class was leaving...one little girl whispered to me " I fixed your pillows" and she had a huge grin on her adorable little face. We have 2 sofas and 2 rocking chairs in our library....I know, I know...kind of unusual. But she had put 3 pillows on each couch and a pillow on each rocker. We really never put the pillows on the rockers but I left them right where they were! What a reminder ..."out of small things come that which is great". That one act cheered up my day like none other! That one simple act of thoughtful kindness! I love it!! Thank you ,Thank you little Kindergarden girl!

Sunday Dinner

Ames came home for Sunday Dinner. It's the first time he has been home since he moved right after New Years!! It was good to have him. He brought his "friend" Emily. We fell in love with her. She is so cute and adorable. Ken was able to be here as well. And Alex and Alyssa...it was so fun! We even had turkey and mashed potatoes!! We talked and talked at the table then did dishes and watched Court Jester!!! so fun

Lovin' My Blog

Ariella put me onto "thecutestblog" and I am having sooooo much fun with it! yay! And Alyssa showed me playlist.com.......well actually I had an account already cause I have a playlist on FaceBook! ha! Maybe now I will post more regularly! The opperative word is "maybe", Ha!
We are all good. Ken is driving truck all over. Ames moved to Provo and is going to UVU (which he really LOVES). He is in the musical "All Shook Up" and has the part of Dennis at Hale Center Theater Orem. We are excited to see him in it!
Alyssa decided not to move. After praying and fasting ...and much "wrestling", she said she just got the feeling she shouldn't move....that she should be here. Well, I am glad she is!
She is working at Macey's Grocery Store and going to SLCC. She also loves going to the temple and does that quite often. She swears she has the best Institute teacher ever!!!
Check out Alex's blog......he has put up some new stuff!!

New New Day Dawning

I don't think I have been more inspired by a President of the United Sates than I have been by Pres Barrack Obama. I truly believe in his sincerity. I think he really believes he can make a difference. He is smart and hard working. He is only one man though. I pray that he will put people around him that has the interest of the nation and not of themselves. I pray that he is protected and that he will make time for his wife and two little girls! Hail to the Chief!!