Neighbor Gifts

We had our friends, the Yoshikawas, over for dinner last night.  You don't want to know how pitiful my dinner offering was, but let me just say that it involved frozen hamburger patties, frozen hot dogs, and frozen buns.  Shilo kindly scrutinized each eventually-defrosted bun, checking for hard freezer-burned OR soggy-from-freezer-ice edges.  We put those particular buns aside, and I made some delish bread pudding this morning.  Waste not, want not.  I won't mention how Bill nearly burned down the house at the backyard grill.  

While visiting over our not-so-delicious meal, Zoe mentioned that they had chosen to simplify the past couple of years, and have NOT sent Christmas cards OR given any neighborhood gifts.  Hmmmm.... I kind of like the idea, but think I may be too stuck in my old ways to change.  The topic was only broached because she had noticed our counter covered with bottles of sparkling apple cider.  Bill and I, in a whirlwind of a brainstorm, decided that something simple and cheap would be best this year.

I'm still torn about the Christmas cards.  Or New Years cards, as our case would most likely be.  YES, I have already invested a boatload of dough into stamps for Tay's wedding invites, and will be yet again investing even more in a few short weeks for Britt's.  Maybe I will skip the cards this year.  

But then I might be removed from Christmas card lists in the future (I love, Love, LOVE getting Christmas cards).  Ah, the conundrum.  

Back to my original quick post.  I just spent the past hour-and-a-half figuring out some way to present our rather unoriginal neighbor gifts, and I am quite please with the results, so I thought I would share.

Printed on some ivory paper, cut to size, and double-stick-taped to the original label, these turned out pretty darn cute.

Good enough.

Important Today

“Let us then continue on in this important work of recording the things we do, the things we say, the things we think, to be in accordance with the instructions of the Lord. . .  Those who keep a journal are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives. . . Journals are a way of counting our blessings and of leaving an inventory of these blessings for our posterity. . . Begin today and write in it your goings and comings, your deepest thoughts, your achievements and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. I promise you that if you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to you, each other, your children, your grand-children, and others throughout the generations.” Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball

I am busy today.  Super busy.  But I had to get on the computer anyway, and thought I would quickly post a few pictures I missed this past week.  I'm worried more and more about my memory capability, and want to remember some of these small, insignificant (or not so insignificant) things.  "Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."  I gave myself 5 10 15 minutes, so please excuse the typos or grammatical errors :-)

Last Saturday:

 Bill and Mar attended our ward's Breakfast with Santa activity.  They left bright and early to assist with the pancakes.

 Bill's most impressive stunt, which he performs whenever there is pancake batter around AND an appreciative audience.  He paid for it the rest of the day with digestive grumblings.

 There's probably not a lot of these pictures left to be taken... I had to share.

And I couldn't let this picture pass -- getting Tay's invitations together.  

Despite the craziness of the past week, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude for my blessings, to the point of near-weepiness.  I can't cry today -- no time.  In the words of a somewhat corny poem (those are the best), 

"I'm drinking from my saucer, 'cause my cup has overflowed."

  

Time's up.

Take Heart

On Monday my father-in-law went in to the hospital for a procedure that turned into open heart surgery on Tuesday.  Bill flew out late Monday afternoon to be there in support of his family.  I stayed home with our working/swim-meeting/finals-taking children, offering support through our thoughts and prayers.  Thankfully, things went well, and my FIL should be out of the ICU by tomorrow.  We are so grateful that, despite the fact that things don't always work out as planned (we're so sad he will miss Taylor's wedding), the discovery of the need for the extensive heart surgery couldn't have been more timely.  And he's still here to prove it.  Hallelujah.

Just a few short weeks ago, he was here at our house -- and we certainly kept him entertained:

 he mod podged pumpkins (it may have even been his first mod podge experience)...

 ...washed endless dishes...

...I even caught him baking.

We definitely know how to entertain around here.

We love you Dad, and pray for your speedy recovery.

In the meantime, Shilo had another LHS swim meet.

She took another second off of her backstroke -- only three more to qualify for State.  My favorite excellent mom words of encouragement:  "If you just take a second off each event at every meet, someday you'll be a gold medalist at the Olympics."  (I mean, what's a SECOND??)

She loves it when I tell her that :-)

Her response yesterday:  "Yeah, and when I'm down to 0 seconds, I'll say, 'Hey, did you see that?'"

But the biggest news is that her 400 Free Relay qualified for State.  Woot! Woot!

Too bad State will be held on the day of Britt's CO Open House.

We'll just have to excuse Shi's absence here, and cheer her on in spirit.

Super Girl Lives Here

She eats here, too.

I spent the entire day yesterday scanning pictures.  Tedious.  Time consuming.  Slow.

Mar came home from school and told me she needed to make a shirt for Super Hero Day at school.  Since she is one of her class representatives, I figured she probably should participate in those Student-Council-initiated-and-implemented activities... but frankly, I don't have much time to squeeze in extra things (like blogging, cough, cough).  Mauri already knew I was tight on time, so she had pre-planned her approach.  What if we used that ink-jet-printer-iron-on paper that we've had for years (Taylor purchased it to make t-shirts to ask a girl to a dance way back in high school), print out a Super logo, and iron it on a shirt we already have?  Nice thinking, Mar.

It all went according to plan, however, when Mar put the shirt on, it cracked the logo a little (probably because we put it on a long-sleeved all-cotton shirt - the kind with tiny ribbing - rather than the poly/cotton blend that was recommended).  And the center of the "S" is slightly yellow, due to intense ironing (just trying to follow the instructions -- 3 minutes of heat -- I'm making a note for future use).  

But Mar was thrilled, and I thought it looked pretty cute, too.

With or without the shirt, she is a Super Girl.

Freak Out(s) and Tender Mercies

I have a minute.  I was just sitting there, amidst the final two batches of folded laundry, mindlessly watching a Toddlers and Tiaras rerun while waiting for chicken to defrost for dinner.  "I should blog," I thought.  So here it is... the post that replaced a few minutes of mindlessness... perhaps a quick nap... I hope it's good :-)

Only moments before I had had a freak out.  Not the kind where I rant, yell, stomp and cry (thank heavens... I try to have those as infrequently as possible), but the kind where some little minor thing sets off a flurry of internal panic and stress.  Like changing a water filter.

This is one of those tedious chores that in reality isn't so bad, but I tend to put off.  Today, the water filter was looking dingy, and the date sticker said it was due for a new filter.  I soaked the new filter, cleaned the tank thoroughly, and put it all back together.  Then I changed the date sticker.  Freak out.  By the time another new filter is needed, BOTH weddings will be over.  It seems like that filter changing stuff rolls around super quick.
And that's without three weddings and two major holidays.

Freak {OUT}.

Note:  The invitations for this cute couple are not out yet.  We are still waiting for them.  The wedding is in 22 days. Some people in our ward are worried (we think) that they were not on the invite list, resulting in the question asked us over and over, "Now exactly WHEN is Taylor getting married?" 

Minor double freak out.

To balance myself, I have thought of some of the tender mercies that have come my way the past few days:

1)  I requested two flower quotes online (can I just say, I love that I don't have to actually GO anywhere to order the flowers?).  One establishment immediately responded, and after some internet correspondence, I had a quote.  I was going to put the check in the mail yesterday, but didn't get around to writing it amidst the chaos of the day.  Later yesterday afternoon, the 2nd establishment finally contacted me.  Again, internet correspondence (and a few actual phone calls) resulted in another quote.  $100 less.  More of what was wanted by the bride.  Closer location to the temple, so pick-up is more convenient.  Tender mercy!

2)  Bill's big Stake event of the year is the New Member Reception, scheduled for January 15th (I know! Right in the middle of everything).  He had asked if I could help with the invitations -- he needed about 75, and wanted them the first couple weeks of December.  I designed, printed, and hand-trimmed the invites last year, but I just didn't know how I was going to squeeze it in this time around.  Then a thought came to me -- I truly believe it was divine thought-intervention.  I should look online.  Maybe I could get them printed somewhere relatively inexpensively (I swear the ink alone last year cost a good $40).  I had tried making an invite on Power Point in the past (Mauri's baptism), and was very unhappy with the results when downloaded as a picture, and printed by a 1-hour photo mass producer (Walmart).  That just wouldn't do.  So I checked a site or two online, and found a company that would print a you-design-it card, with font, and include envelopes... for half off, since it was the week of Cyber Tuesday.  I designed and ordered 100 5x7 invites for somewhere around $35 (including shipping).  The order came yesterday.

These are way better than last year's invitations, and sooooo much easier.

I certainly wasn't smart enough to come up with it on my own, and then to be so lucky to order them within a two-day window of a 50% off deal.  Tender mercy!

3)  I have felt the need to check out the clubhouse where we are having Taylor and Lynnea's luncheon.  I have been in it numerous times, but haven't really paid attention to some of the little details, like exactly how big are the round tables?  It's been quite difficult to have direct communication with anyone who knows anything about it, since all the arrangements are made through a distant "this-isn't-the-only-community-we-manage" management company.  Yesterday Bill and I decided that we would go see if the sales office people had a way to get into the clubhouse so we could take a look around.  When we arrived, the sales office was closed, and the parking lot deserted.  I figured I would have to call the management company and schedule a date to meet with someone (who obviously would know nothing) to check it out (such a pain!).  Billy-my-hero decided to try the door of the clubhouse.  It was open.  We went in, and quickly tried to find where the tables would be stored.  No luck.  Then a guy appeared out of nowhere.  He asked how we got in.  When we told him, he said, "That door should be locked."  He was, however, most friendly and helpful.  He knew where to find the tables (behind a locked door, and he had the key).  He lived in the community, had hosted a few events there, and had some great advice and tips to share.  Just as I had suspected, the tables were NOT 60" tables, they were 48" tables.  Critical to know when you are renting linens and figuring out how many people to sit at one table. Tender mercy!

Things are coming together.  I am blessed with amazing friends and family that are willing to serve and share time, talents, and energy.  It's going to be {awesome}.

Six Sick Hicks Nick Six Slick Bricks with Picks and Sticks

This past week has been crazy.  

1)  I've tried to finish getting up the Christmas decorations -- we opted to simplify a bit this year, since we will be pulling it all down promptly on the 26th.  We even got an early start on it -- Bill had the house lights hung more than a week prior to Thanksgiving, and we had the trees out of their boxes, erected, fluffed, and fixed (those pesky pre-lits that are a pain when you suddenly have a strand of lights go out) before turkey day as well.  But I've piecemealed the rest.  Here a little, there a little.  I think I'm calling it good.

2)  I've spent time working on Primary Singing Time {stuff} -- I hope I have this calling next year, since it will be cake once I have all the visuals done and filed away.  You can see what I've been doing here.  Posting on that blog is super quick -- I don't know why this one takes me so long.  Probably because it takes time to collect my thoughts (a LOT of time, since they are literally all over the place these days), then to share them in complete sentences, in a way that can be understood (I hope).

3)  Wedding stuff.  I'm telling you, it's never ending.  I can totally see why people who have experienced the wedding-planning process say, "Get it catered," and "Hire out."  Bill and I decided that, to be {fair} to each of our 5 children, we would give the same amount to each of them for their wedding expenses.  We determined an amount that we felt would provide a nice "hired out" wedding (not a "super sweet" one, just nice), but we also told our children that they could choose how they would like to spend their budget, with any remaining monies going into their own personal bank accounts to use however they would like.  I thought the idea was {brilliant}.  I have, however, discovered the flaw in the plan.  Both Tay and Britt OF COURSE want to have as much money at the end of their big events as possible.  That means that I am running myself silly spending countless hours online searching for bargains, printing endless craft store coupons, and running to the nearest Michaels and Hobby Lobby nearly every day.  And I'm out the money either way.  I might rethink/retool/revise this plan before the next three girls' big events.  I may, however, pay myself back by re-selling all the wedding crap stuff I've been working so hard to collect.  It's the perfect economic plan, don't you think?

4)  Shilo started her school swim season.  Her first meet was Wednesday, and she swam great.  I, on the other hand, had some issues.  Coach-related issues.  Like wondering why he pulled her from a relay that she's been talking about since last season.  The relay that they were less than 2 seconds away from a State-qual time in last year.  A relay that, had Shi been swimming instead of one of the two girls she out-swam all summer, would have very likely qualified for State on Wednesday.  A fast incoming freshman was added (rightfully so), and Shi was pulled.  They finished .08 seconds away from that State qual time.  The coach will not give Shi a chance to swim it at the next meet because "it wouldn't be fair" to not give that relay team "another chance" to qualify.  He also put her in the B relay of another event, when she has better times than two of the A-relay girls (the same two girls in that first relay I mentioned).  She out-swam one of them by over 6 seconds, for goodness sake.  It's been thought-consuming and frustrating, and I don't have time or energy for that.

I am excited that they have a great team this year, and know things will eventually work out.  Billy-my-hero is on it. He's agreed to be the keeper of the splits.  I'm all for fair... let the fastest girls swim in the fastest relays.

5)  I've had several anxiety attacks, which I attribute to PMDD (self-diagnosed, my specialty).  I just hope it doesn't flare up again a month from now, in the midst of Tay and Lynnea's wedding celebrations.

6)  In desperate need of a trim, I tried a new hairdresser yesterday.  A guy.  He told me I was pretty (seriously, I looked so haggard the comment was laughable).  That's why men hairdressers can charge the big bucks.  

I think I'll go back.

One More Thing

(Yes, the blogging is taking a back seat... I actually wrote this post yesterday BEFORE logging off.)

I thought I would quickly post a few pictures from the Bridal Shower these awesome ladies threw for Britta over the weekend.  I love these gals.

 (Austin attended via Skype for a while... as part of a fun question/answer newlywed-type game.  Can you spot him?)

This was really the only time Britt would be in CO before her wedding except for Christmas/Tay's wedding in late December.  I appreciate my wonderful friends for going to so much work and effort on a holiday weekend.  You ladies are the best, and I am truly grateful for your friendship.

Thanksgiving and Backseat Blogging

The blog is taking the back seat.  I know I've said that before, but this time I'm serious.

But before I make it climb over the seat and shut up be quiet for a while, I thought I would briefly share about our Thanksgiving weekend.  Why not, since I'm already logged on (which is why I am drastically reducing my regular Blogger visits from here on out... at least until I'm through the impending BIG EVENTS going on around here).

Bill's Mom and Dad made the long drive from SLC to visit for the holiday.  They also packed their car to the brim with wedding items I had purchased for Tay's big event while I was in UT a few weeks back.  AND they brought Britt along, too, who needed to be in town by 1 pm for a doctor's appointment, requiring an oh-so-early start time (3am!!).
They are the best.

On Thanksgiving morning, I arose early to get that big, defrosted bird in the oven.  We were planning on eating around 1 or 2 in the afternoon.  I checked the turkey temp a little before 11am... that baby was done.  Pull-it-out-of-the-oven-immediately done.  Maybe even slightly over done.  That put a firecracker under my (and everyone else's) behind to get the rest of the dinner together as quickly as possible.

 The turkey may have been a little dry, the gravy a little under seasoned, the jello a little runny, the cheese a little spicy, and the apple pie a little mushy (my MIL's sweet potatoes were the best dish of the day), but the family togetherness, joke-telling, and conversation were, as always, awesome.  And we all walked away full.  To the brim.

Later that evening, the Yoshikawas came over for a dessert buffet.  Yum-o.

Tay, Shi and Mar headed out late that night to check out some deals at Walmart, Target, and Game Stop.  Bill, his parents, and I stayed home.  Away from the crowds.  Away from the frenzy of consumerism.  Away from people yelling at you for using a perfectly good unlocked door, just because they didn't notice it first (remember last year).  Instead, we played a few rousing games of Pinochle.

We headed out to a few stores later in the day on Friday, and found the shopping to be most pleasant.  The stores (and roads) were nearly deserted.  Those hoards of people that pulled an all-nighter were home sleeping, I'm sure.

We ate leftovers for two solid days, until everyone begged to stop.

I'm such a good hostess.

Feasting for the Last Time

Last Wednesday Bill and I met Mar at school for the annual FVE Thanksgiving Feast.

(You can see the past couple years here and here.)

When I mentioned I was going, and it would be the very last one ever, Bill postponed his temple session an hour or so to join us.  He certainly did not want to miss out on the delicious pressed turkey, reconstituted potatoes (we like them around our house, remember?), chewy stick-in-your-teeth corn-on-the-cob, communal salad with pumped-on dressing, and spice cake.

Mar, of course, was delighted that he came.

I clearly remember the day Bill and I attended one of Taylor's middle school parent nights (it was here in CO, so it couldn't have been the first, which would have been in UT -- where perhaps the phenomena would not have been so distinct).  As we shuffled into the gym with a myriad of other parents, I felt so young.  I think we may have even commented to each other about how young-ish we were (some of those other parents looked so gosh darn old)... and how someday, when we were going to Mar's middle school parent's night, we would be on the other end.
The old-ish parents.

That's less than a year away.

I already feel old-ish, so bring it on.

Patch-make-it-work

I have spent the past two days diligently sewing away on Taylor and Lynnea's wedding gift... a quilt.  I enjoy piecing quilts together and feel so darn creative, knowing that no other quilt in the world will look quite like mine.  I purchased the fabric last week, then washed and ironed it in preparation for the fun to begin.  Yesterday I spent the entire day cutting and piecing the blocks, and today was spent sewing all those blocks together.

Except...

I'm not sure I like the end result.  I loved the fabric I chose, but now that those fabrics are side-by-side, all together in one solid piece... I'm not so sure they "go."  I have a {sinking} feeling in my stomach that it looks a little too "Hollie Hobbie" (to steal a phrase used on the Project Runway marathon I watched listened to today as my sewing machine hummed all day long).

The pieced quilt top actually reminds me of a dress:

These dresses that my sister and I are wearing here.  I think my mom had one to match, too.

Those were the days of the patchwork revolution.  It was stylish.  With it.  In.

(Here we are obviously ready for church... my sister is in that same lovely dress we wore on Halloween.)

Patchwork was everywhere.

On tablecloths...

Pre-printed on polyester and cotton...

(My grandma wore this top all the time)

And in quilts (of course)...

 After two days of tireless cutting, pinning, laying out, and sewing...

I pretty much ended up with that dress.  In quilt form.

Hmmmm....

I  may have to start over.

Shhh... don't tell my family, who already think I'm nuts for sewing like a madwoman the past two days.

My biggest worry is {time}.  I don't think I can find another two days +
(for measuring, edging, backing, and binding).

An Anniversary

Twenty four years ago today, Bill and I got engaged.  With all the engagements and wedding plans going on around here, I can't help but reminisce.

This is the only picture taken the night Bill asked me to marry him.  It was at my sister's house, and thankfully she had the presence of mind to pause amid all the excitement and snap one.

This is where it all happened.

(On our 12th wedding anniversary we brought the kids along and snapped a few pictures.  March 2000)

I knew it was coming.  Bill had called and said he hadn't gone to work that day, and I immediately suspected that he had spent the day shopping for a ring.  He asked if I wanted to go out that evening.  Of course I did.  After a stop here and there (I think we went to the mall so I could buy my dad a birthday gift), we ended up here.  At the Old Farm.  A little community of town homes off of 700 East.  We were going to feed the ducks, he said.

We got out of the car and went around to the trunk.  He had two brown grocery bags full of popcorn, with the tops neatly folded over.  He handed me my bag (I noticed that he was careful to give me the "right" one).  We walked over to this little dock, and started feeding the ducks.  It was getting dark as we chatted and tossed our popcorn.

I felt the box at the bottom right away, but I played along, wanting to drag it out as long as possible.  Then I had a thought.  Wouldn't it be funny IF... I put my hand into the bag, held on to the box the ring was in, and then just dumped the popcorn crumbs into the cold, dark pond??  Bill would totally panic thinking I had just dumped that ring in right along with the crumbs... he may even try to go in after it... it would be funny, wouldn't it?

I decided I had better not, and instead played surprised as I finally pulled the box out of the bag and said, "What's this?"

Of course, I said yes.

Then we drove by my sister's house (she lived the closest, and remember... this was WAY before cell phones -- we are so darn old) to share the news.  Afterwards, we stopped by Bill's parents, and then made the long drive back to Bountiful to get my parents out of bed to give them the good news.  

They were as thrilled as two-parents-being-pulled-out-of-bed-late-at-night-to-find-out-their-daughter-is-marrying-a-guy-she's-only-known-for-2-months-and-it's-only-been-8-short-months-since-their-last-wedding could be.

Happy engagement anniversary, Bill!  

If I had to do it all again...

I would have pulled that nasty trick ;-)