New Friends.

Yesterday I took Mar to Costco with me.

She was a sweetheart to go immediately following a long day at school + play practice.

Usually she says no, but yesterday I was pleasantly surprised when she agreed to keep me company.

I remember the days when I looked forward to shopping alone... uninterrupted...

but I think I got so used to always having one... or two... or three companions, that it's been a long and difficult transition for me to shop by myself.

Anyway, I know an invitation to take Mar most likely means a few unintended purchases made along the way. Yesterday was no exception.

Meet Slim.

He is ready for the haunting season to begin.

Hopefully Mic doesn't get too freaked out - she doesn't like scary stuff.

Bill and I also chuckled at how Mar occasionally still comes into our room at night when her mind starts working overtime, psyching herself out that someone... or something... is out to get her. Slim just might start those wheels turning.

I feel happy of myself for the purchase. I like him.

Mar wanted to name him Slim Jim, but since I am the purchaser and prefer shortened names, I told her we would stick with "just Slim." (She said SHE would nickname him Slim Jim. Nice compromise.)

For dinner we had my favorite Costco rotisserie chicken, mashed reds, and these:

 Straight from our not-so-prolific-but-at-least-we-have-carrots-and-zucchini garden.

I cut them up and roasted them.

Since my camera battery died after this picture (AND because I simply forgot - we were all anxious to eat at 8pm), I neglected to snap one of the finished roasted carrots. 

Let it be written that they were yum-o.

For our late (late) FHE, we went with Mic to see the horses she is caring for.

Meet Buster.

Doesn't he look like such a sweet guy?

Scout is the tiny fat horse next to Buster.

And this is Charlie.

When we were talking to Buster and Scout, Charlie made sure his presence was known by stomping his hoof on the ground (and he might have relieved himself... loudly). He wanted some love and attention, too.

Then my phone battery died, so we snapped a few more with Bill's phone.

That means, of course, that they are... on Bill's phone. That doesn't help me much.

It was a great FHE.

This week is LHS's Homecoming week. Mar is looking for someone to attend the parade with, as I have a fully booked schedule at the salon, and Michaela has work that day too. Bill and I are hoping to attend the game Friday night, so that will have to do as far as festivity participation this year.

Here's a quick pic of Mic (that rhymes, btw) for tie-dye/toga Tuesday:

I'm super ticked that my quick pic of Mic is... blurry.
{pic gypped}

Lesson learned = take at least two pics
so you won't be ticked
at being pic gypped.

Homecoming Date.

The other day as we were sitting down for dinner, a knock came at the door.

(For fond memory's sake I must mention that we were trying have a blessing on the food. The knock at the door was the second interruption of that short-and-simple prayer that evening.)

It was Michaela's friend Haven.

I love this.

Haven had asked another friend, Anna, too.

She said she wanted to have a senior-girls-night and didn't want boys asking them to the dance to mess it up.

Best idea ever.

That Homecoming date stuff can be... messy... at least around here. (Reminder here and here.)

Details.

Just a quickie post today to count a few more blessings.

Taylor told us last night on our video chat that he got the new job he had hoped for.

In the accounting department of his current employer.

Good-bye call center and weekend shifts!

Britt told us on our video chat that she and Scarlett are coming for a visit in Oct.

Hello Grammy's house!

Mar found out yesterday that she made the cast of the school play The Princess King.
Head Servant.
I told her she would be great at that since she's had so much practice {wink}.
She was thrilled, since a boatload of students tried out for the small cast of 30.

I'm not sure if I posted pictures of Mar's Christmas gift last year - I probably have, but I'm posting again anyway. Her vintage typewriter has found a home on the desk in our kitchen.

Lately there have been inspiring messages left on it.

What a super fun way to leave love notes, don't you think?

I think we'll keep it there indefinitely.

I noticed, however, that there is not an exclamation point on the keyboard.

Can you imagine life without exclamation points?

I've decided that surely, back in the day, they must have created an exclamation point with an apostrophe-backspace-period. Perhaps somewhere back in the far recesses of my mind I recall a time when I did that on a typewriter once.

I have recently been informed by my children that exclamation points are more polite in texting than smiley faces. Smiley faces can seem.... sarcastic, they told me. I told them that when I use exclamation points in texting it makes me feel demanding or loud. I sometimes find the differences between generations fascinating. Perhaps back in the day (of the vintage typewriter), exclamation points were viewed as demanding or loud... and obviously more unnecessary than fractions or a cents symbol (not on our current-day keyboards). Nonetheless, I have made a concerted effort to use more exclamation points (or periods, if an exclamation point is too strong) and less smiley/winky faces.

I love this message:

(source)

Feeling grateful.

The Rest Of The Story.

I've posted a lot about what I've done the past few weeks, so I thought I would catch up on what everyone else around here has been doing. It's been pretty darn exciting, too.

Back on August 30th, Bill and Mar had the amazing opportunity to go...

Up, up and away

In [a] beautiful, [a] beautiful balloon

at the Colorado Balloon Classic in the Springs.

The Don Bates arm of Bill's company was a balloon sponsor, so he was given two tickets to ride Sunchaser.

Note: Bill and I had planned a hot air balloon ride for our 20th wedding anniversary, but received a call at 4am the morning of that the wind was not cooperating, therefore our scheduled flight was a no-go.

After hearing about Bill and Mar's landing adventures, I think I'm okay not taking ride... ever. I prefer to watch and admire.

So glad they made it down, safe and sound.

After going with the fram to a movie and lunch on Labor Day, Mic had a session for her senior pictures.

I asked if I could tag along to assist. Syd has done the pics for all my girls, so it was like old times (reminder here, here, and here - I must not have snapped pics during Britt's). 

This was even the same park Lex's first session was taken in.

After tagging along on many sessions with all my girls, I could tell instantly that Mic is a natural at posing.

I can't resist having a little fun with it, so here's a quick example from yesteryear:

These girls? Not so natural

Does this girl look like a natural, or what? Circa 2006

The park was absolutely beautiful.

As I watched a few families enjoying the holiday and celebrating the end-of-summer with picnics and games (croquet even), I determined that I would bring my family here. I was feeling nostalgic as I thought of the many holidays my family had spent at a park when I was growing up. I even craved the macaroni tuna salad my Grandma G. would always bring (I didn't love it when I was young - I thought the tuna ruined it). Good times.

Things I've Learned: Ketring Park on Labor Day in the afternoon = quiet, serene, uncrowded, and beautiful. Go there.

This past weekend was our ward's Father/Daughter campout at Lake Dillon.

This was where our ward campout had taken place a couple of weeks earlier.

The last ward campout of Bill's Bishopric, per the Ward Council, due to lack of interest.

The Father/Daughter campout was only slightly more successful.

{Sigh}

The adage "if you plan it, they will come" doesn't seem to ring true anymore.

I've decided that society is changing, plain and simple. We are just too busy. Ward activities are somewhere at the bottom of the list of things to do. Where once your ward family was your... family, social families, business families, sports team families, and dance/performing arts/any-other-interest-you-or-your-children-have families are taking over (using the term family as "a group of [people] united by significant shared characteristics"). And those families often don't have the same values, purposes, and eternal objectives you (and your children) do should have.

I've thought a lot this week about parents and their roles in their children's behavior, dress, actions, and religious observance. IT'S IMPORTANT. I appreciated this article, and have thought often about the following statement: "Sometimes [the] pressure to be able to brag about how well our children are doing in school or in other activities or awards they have received can blind us to what will actually help them learn and grow.... I hope we can all take the long view and help our children... become more than they imagine of themselves. I hope we help our children progress by adhering to righteous principles that are connected with the powers of heaven. We need the powers of heaven in this sacred work. It can't be done without them." (Elder Paul V. Johnson)

(source)

Sometimes, when I think it's a sorry sad world we live in, I am reminded that it's also a glorious, beautiful and awesome world we live in, as displayed in these pics of the Father/Daughter campout:

Bill and Mar had a great time.

It was a little cold, and only rained on the way up, but the company was good, the food was good, and the fishing was fun, if unproductive.

Bill took up a couple of girls from the ward whose dads couldn't make it to the campout - so glad they wanted to go. 

Mic didn't go because she had another senior picture session scheduled, but when it got canceled at the last minute due to weather I think she wished she was going. Instead she chilled with me, studied tirelessly for the ACT, and went horseback riding.

There you have it - the rest of the story.

A little before, in-between, and after of the past few weeks.

It's a great day for a great day!

Joyful Confidence.

(source)

Lolo just called.

She got the job.

The one she had hoped for and I had prayed for 

at the Independent Study building just across the way.

Lexee called me two days ago.

She got the job.

The one she had hoped for and I had prayed for

at Young Living in Lehi.

They both start Sept. 15th.

I would be amiss if I didn't thank those who 

encouraged

recommended

suggested

referred

and supported.

(Britta and Hailey in particular.)

I view it as a tender mercy.

No, life is not easier,

or less busy,

or stress-free.

But I feel so, so blessed today.

Congratulations Lex and Lo!

You can do it.
I know you can believe in yourself.