Goodbye 2008

As I look back on this year of sadness, (loss of my father-in-law) and the joy of birth (new babies born and announcements of pending births.) Life is rich with the complexities it offers.  My resolution for the coming year is to have a positive outlook on the my little world and the huge world in which we all live.  See you in the "09". :)

The Best Interest Rates in 50 years!

That's the lowest rate in 50 years...that's what the Realtors and the FED are saying..ahh..

 that fifty something again. It really, is not, bad, now is it?

WHEW..!

I have been incredibly busy the last weeks of this holiday season.

I wonder every year when I will not have anything to make or do or go to...(hopefully never).

It will take me into the end of January to blog all the events and fun stuff that happended over the Christmas season. So get ready set GO..

Here is the Fun, Happy and Interesting Book Group of women that I belong to, and the blog site you can follow.

Don't we look festive in our seasonal attire?

Senatetress (royal political princess)

Could that be the title given to 

Caroline Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg?

She just turned 51 (Nov.27)

She has the political ancestry

She has  a law degree

She authored these New York Times Best sellers: 

~

*A Patriot's Handbook

*The Best-Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

*A Family of Poems: 

*My Favorite Poetry for Children

*Profiles in courage for Our Time

~

She may be a liberal but I would vote for her.

Go Caroline!

For more info

Snow is Falling

Winter is officially here!..It is 5 days early, but whose counting at this point of the year.. 

We want a White Christmas right?...

We do need a water supply to quench the thirst of all those Southern Californians, not to mention they have to water all that lush 

beautiful green landscapes they view at this time of year!

Oh, do I sound a tad bitter?  

NO

*I get to go ski twelve minutes from my home!

*The sledding park 3 minutes from my home!

* 10 minutes to the lake, where we can ice skate!

*Sliding down the driveway..

Isn't this why I moved to Utah?

......bring it on!!

Let there be JOY!

Today I viewed this beautiful music video.  If you haven't caught the spirit of the season.

click here.

I bet that made you feel pretty good? 

I think I'll relax with one of my favorite books.

Ring Around..

Last night I was out late on a date with the swede and saw the most amazing sight..

Can you see the ring?

What does this mean?

Beautiful, yet we know what is coming...a white christmas! 

Yeah..

Mary

Mary, mother of the Christ child was an elect woman. 

 Scriptures and Scholars from different religious backgrounds 

have had these thoughts about her.

-"One does not have to wonder at her declared "favor with God."-Richard Dana

~

"and behold, he shall be born of Mary, ..she being a virgin, a precious chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the son of God."(Book of Mormon/Alma 7:10)

~

" Can we speak to highly of her whom the Lord has blessed above all women? There was only one Christ, and there is only one Mary. Each was noble and great in the preexistence, and each was foreordained to the ministry he or she performed. We cannot but think that Father would choose the greatest female spirit to be the mother of his Son, even he chose the male spirit like unto him to be the Savior.. (Bruce R. McConkie)

Thank you Mary for your devotion, sacrifice and the love and care of the Savior.

Kirk Richards

Liz Lemon Swindle

Joseph Brickley

??

Which picture do you like best?

I love Dr Ozz

Today I learned from Dr Ozz that when you turn 50 yrs of age you control of 80% of your longevity by your lifestyle! 

He gives a checklist for anti aging. Check it out.

I am trying to include 9 handfuls of fruits and veggies,

along with eating a spoonful of tomato paste each day...I''ll let you know if my skin improves... YUM!

Family Picture Day

Because I am 50, I have experienced many family photo sessions.  

I first took my daughters to Olin Mills studio's.  For some weird reason, the girls never wanted to go and take the "glamour shot" portraits? Go figure, with the high level of estrogen that flows in this house and the dozen or so mirrors around?(not to mention the ego's that abound..)

We have had the expensive professional sessions, the beach & ocean scenes, the back bay scenes.We have had the park backgrounds, the fake screen backgrounds, whatever it takes to make us look beautiful and happy!

Here is the latest photo shoot we took while in Texas. In previewing these photo's I laughed till I cried. It was a family memory NOT to be forgotten.

*Did I mention that it was a windy day?

*This how we felt after 20 different poses,

*The #1 Best in Show

 It was a Great Day!

I really have loved and cherished the holiday season that is upon us.

Here are some images that I remember as a 

child growing up in the 60's.

Journey to Texas

There were mixed emotions from the "girls" about our 2 day down and 2 day return trip to Texas. 

 It was a loooong road trip, we did have an adventure and I thought it was well worth the time and the effort to go and see some of our countries beautiful and miraculous National Parks..

Cave & Rock Dwellers of Mesa Verde National Park

 I am standing in Four Corners: Utah/Arizona/New Mexico/Colorado

Delicate Arch/Arches National Park

Joel, Katlin and Dallas

Home Sweet Home

I'm back but wow am I busy with the holiday decorating...

I'll return later with some fun happenings of the trip and maybe a "sneak peek" at the festive decor.

Oh yea..what happens when you leave home for 9 days??

Give up?

I'm sending off an old friend..my GE Eterna Refrigerator

and getting a new GE Refrigerator(no name yet) 

Deep in the Heart of...

TEXAS

HERE WE COME......

Blogging out for a week.

Smurfs celebrate their 50th birthday

Ok, I might be a little late on this one..

 Oct. 22 was the real date for this 50th birthday celebration.

I do remember watching this cartoon in the 70's. My younger siblings were the ones who grew watching the SMURFS!

I could never seen the cuteness of these blue pixie's. :(

Football Fever

My Top Reasons why I love BYU Football

1. The energy and enthusiasm I feel in the La Vell Edwards Stadium.

2. Hearing - "That will be another Cougar".... and Saying- " First Down" 

3. Sharing a "Cougar Tail"...(Rectangle donut with maple glaze).

4. Watching the continuing saga on the big screen of Cosmo fighting EVIL.

5. Sharing Warm Kettle Korn with my family.

BYU's ranking is 14th in the nation..not to shabby for a "Mountain West College"!

Cougars Beat The Utes! 

RAH

!

Y verses U

Whos' gonna Win this weekend?

RED or BLUE?

Cosmo that who...

GO COUGARS!

Thanksgiving Trip

Guess where our family is heading off on the road, for a family style Thanksgiving??

Hint: * It will take us 23 hours.

           * We will visit Two National Parks(to and from our visit.)

           * The weather is forecast to be in the 70's!

Here is the city center

This is the state flag

Houston here we come..

RIP

It finally happened..the mouse is dead..that took three days to happen.

My version of Tom & Jerry

On Sunday this week, late at night, Joel was up watching late night TV when he heard a squeek..he looked down on the floor to see "Buddy" (kitty) with a mouse in his mouth! (the cat comes in from the outside thru the "doggie"door.)

Joel then moved a little to fast..Buddy got scared and released the mouse, the mouse ran under the sofa....and here is where we begin the Tom & Jerry saga!

For the past five days we have a mouse living under the stove. We set two mouse traps with peanut butter..this mouse is a great escape artist, he managed to gobbled up the pb without a SNAP!

Buddy holds vigil by the stove everyday...

Today is "dooms-day" for little mouse, we bringing the big guns in...Decon mouse trap hotels!

Sorry to all mouse lovers but this ones got to go...:(

 

The Little Women of Marmee (Melanie)

Dallas, Katlin, Me, Aubry, Ariel

~~~~~~

Aubry Ann is my first born. 

She is going to have her third child.  

She looks most like me. 

She is a full time mom and part time employed. 

She loves to volunteer at school and her kids sport activities. 

She loves to shop, craft, eat, and be on the move. 

She loves her husband Todd

She loves to read

 (currently the Twilight series.)

She watches pro wrestling 

~

Katlin Kay is daughter two.

She's the college graduate in English

She is my protege.

She is an organizational whiz..loves to clean

Her side-kick is her apple lap-top

She is Single 

(it's time to start the husband search)

She has read all the Twilight series.

~

Ariel Terry is our blond disguised as a brunette

(I might take a hit for that one..) 

She is currently attending  Utah Valley University.

She is an optimist that see goodness in all.

She is our Fashion Diva, loves expensive things.

She has a voice and passion for every cause.

She is obsessed with Face book. 

She is a good conversationalist.

~

 Dallas Sophie knows how to hold her own with all the big sisters.

She loves soccer

(she is in her ninth year of playing)

She is a Disney Kidcaster

She is very determined to get a "Juicy Couture" outfit.

She is playful with her dog "Biscuit".

(he loves her.)

She loves to collect and keep lots of little junkie things.

As I laugh and cry with these daughters over their everyday pranks and problems... sigh, with them over their dreams of wealth, fame, homes and families of their own, or just "being good".  I cherish these moments of living with these "little women" if only for a few moments in time.

LOVE MOM

Mission Accomplished

There is nothing better(well, ok, maybe there are some things that are better) than finishing a project and seeing the end results.  I can become very obsessed to get to the end results.

 This quilt is on it's way to be machine quilted. 

I think I may hang this on the wall during the Holidays.

1000 piece puzzle

Creative insanity

I'm twit tiling my fingers, my mind is racing because I have started sooo many projects and I need to finish at least ONE, so that I can get a grip!

I started a 1000 piece puzzle last night at 9:30 p.m...what does this all say about me?

a. maybe manic

b. Christmas is approaching

c. the weather is getting colder

d. just expressing my creative side

e.maybe need therapy  

YO YO MA

He is a super talent

He is friendly, approachable, great personality

and has and new CD! 

If you have never heard of him or listened to his music..

DO IT!

Breakfast at Tiffany's..

Happy 50th birthday 

to the novel" Breakfast at Tiffany's."  

It is said that this was Truman Capote favorite write.  

Audrey Hepburn was at her best...don't you just love her?

The Living Dead..

This may be the last year that I get to help make-up and dress my last child for Halloween.

Dallas was inspired by Thriller's zombies! 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Four Little Gouls..

I teach 5 years on Sundays. I guess because I'm 50 and a grandmother I seem to enjoy these wonderful kids.

I asked them one Sunday if I could have a party for them to

celebrate all their birthdays..this was their response..

"We want a Halloween party!"

 So we dressed up and had a wild time and even 

Frankenstein made an appearance.

Before Christmas

I have been sewing this strip quilt for 10 months. This is my second official quilt. Thanks to Kathrine at Joanne's Fabric who knew I needed one more project! It was great to meet so many talented and long time quilters in this "Block of the Month" quilt class.

I must now put it all together! 

Stay tune for the the end results...

Tribute to Merrill E. Swenson

I have been away from home for several days in So. Calif. 

We went to see my father-in- law, who is passing on to the next phase of eternal life.

He leaves behind (for a short while) a close and loving family.

 I know he is going to a better place. 

He will have a joyous reunion with those that have passed on before him.

I will miss his smiles, his happy countenance and the tapping of feet on my wood floors!

God Be With US..till we meet again.

1 0 0 !!

I have a hundred times entered trivial, meaningful, silly, serious stuff on my Blog. 

Happy 100

to

Lefty & Fifty. 

This young man is on his way to become a great Humanitarian! When I heard and followed this story I knew that I would have to blog about it.

John Thomas Robertson

He got a big message out to some people who could make his dream come true..

Extreme Makeover

I  honor great and good kids like J.T. Robertson

Something Profoundly Beautiful..

I love Netflix. 

I really appreciate those individuals that produce,  and direct many great documentaries that Netflix carries to viewers out there.

Last night I watched a doc that is called "A Walk To Beautiful." (not to be confused with A Walk to Bountiful.)

This is about women(in this film about Ethiopian women) with serious health challenges. It will open your mind and give you an understanding of problems we cannot comprehend living in this great country. This is a touching and moving story of several women (in fact..thousand Ethiopian women.) who have Fistula.

This is Dr. Cathrine Hamlin

She and her husband were the

founders of this Women's Hospital.

I believe they are candidates for Saint Hood!

This is a must see experience.

Getting Ready for that Boo-ful holiday

The Unveiling

Halloween is fun and thrilling at my home, 

here is what I have been doing for the the past two weeks..

Exterior

Witches hats made of brown board and modge podge scrape booking paper.

More to come.....

Trick or Treat!

The Apples Runneth Over..

What a harvest of apples. Get out the apple cookbook. Pile high the bushel baskets, tell all the neighbors to come pick to their sick! 

We have red delicious and granny smiths.

If you need an apple bag, here is a great tutorial..

Red Riding Hood Jacket GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Red Riding Hood Jacket GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Just in time to win a hoody for your little RED!

MAX-Robot Man

My daughter Katlin, is sooo.. very creative. 

She has this creative talent in many areas of visual "hands on art." As a young girl, she would create things out of paper, she loved art classes in high school, scrapebooked her life and her friends and has lately taken to the sewing machine. 

HERE is MAX

her newest felted wool doll.