The Passage of Time

So,

here it is.

2012.

Am I the only one that feels like the year 2000 DID NOT begin 12 years ago.

It seems like last year.

Or maybe 2 or 3 years ago,

but not 12.

Things have changed a lot since then though.

Now all the kids that were wild young 'uns then

are starting to have young 'uns of their own.


They think they are old enough to put OUR puzzle together


and don't leave us any room at the table.

It was actually kind of fun though,

to have our daughters want to do puzzles with us.

It meant they were close by

and not hundreds of miles away.

My mom used to always say

that the person who put the last piece in the puzzle

was going to have the next baby.

That is another good reason to start

including the daughters in the puzzling.

The last piece in this puzzle was missing.

The oldest daughter spent some time

under the table seriously searching for it.

At this point she is trying anything that might get her a new baby.

She did find it

so we're still holding out hope

for a new member of their family in 2012.

We missed our friend that got to welcome the arrival of 2012

in a hospital bed facing a new challenge along with a new year.

Here's praying that her cancer disappears

as quickly as the past 12 years have.

Talking to Santa

A Day at Disneyland

For a complete recap and lots of cute pictures of our day check out the oldest daughter's post.

11/11/11 11:11 AM

Today we had a Relief Society activity to work on some of our unfinished crafts. It wasn't too well attended - way too many things to do on a day off from work and school, but those of us that were there enjoyed ourselves immensely. One of the sisters set her alarm to go off just before 11:11 so we could all make a wish. Here are the wish makers. I love all the intense thought that is going on.

I still had time to make my own wish. 11:11 does last for a whole minute you know. Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of my thoughtful face.

This is the project I was working on today.

I bought this sewing at a thrift store before last Thanksgiving. I just think the children and animals giving thanks are so sweet. Now it is almost Thanksgiving again and I have not made much progress toward my goal of turning it into a pillow. Well actually, my friend's cat thought it made a perfect pillow just the way it is.

It has been awhile since I did any crewel like this and my eyes and my glasses had a hard time working together to do it. I find it is easiest to take my glasses off and hold it close to see, but then I get a big kink in my neck and I can't sew and watch TV with my glasses off. Getting older is full of so many challenges. Maybe by next Thanksgiving I will actually have this pillow on display.

Today I am thankful for

brakes that actually work on my van even though it took 9 months, 3 attempts, over $1,000 and 2 establishments to finally get it right.

women who know me and still like me.

Fall weather.

all the men and women who have sacrificed so much so I can enjoy life as I know it.

Cat and Mouse

Worf had a difficult night so today she is sticking pretty close to me.

Today I am thankful for

phone conversations with both of my sons.

the opportunity to visit teach and build friendships with two Relief Society sisters that I might not get to enjoy otherwise.

hamburger on sale.

a checker at Walmart that price matched for me without me even asking. "Someone has nectarines and bananas 3 pounds for $1.00 and I price match so that's what I'll charge you."

Empty Nest

I can totally relate to the mother in this video right now.

Should I be sad or go celebrate?

Today I am grateful for

a daughter who created a blog to keep me connected to the grandson.

good choices.

a phone call from my sister.

new blogs from the youngest daughter.

Major Upgrade

Today one of the items on our to do list was a trip to the grocery store since there wasn't a whole lot to eat in the new house. While traveling through Albertsons, all of the sudden the grandson got really excited and started chanting something over and over again. I stopped to figure out what had gotten his attention and what he was saying. It was pretty obvious that he was intrigued by a balloon flying over one of the checkout counters. It was a Disney Castle complete with princesses.

and the words he was repeating over and over again were "Shad's house, Shad's house!"

Apparently he thinks this new house

is a big improvement over the old, 2 bedroom apartment. Or maybe he just thinks his mom and I resemble some very beautiful young ladies and since we were waving out the windows it must be his house.

Today I am grateful for


friends to go walking and talking with.
light, especially right when it begins to drive away the darkness.
a wonderful family home evening lesson on scripture study taught by the youngest son.

Historic Haboob

Last night we were hit by a massive dust storm. The meteorologists and my hubby like to refer to this type of storm as a haboob. It was pretty amazing even though I didn't venture outside until it was over. Even then the air was thick with dust.

Here are some photos of what the storm left behind at the oldest daughter's apartment.

She might want to get her car washed when she gets back in town and her backyard needs a little clean up as well.

Our Family Motto?

Perhaps you remember that some time,

a long time ago,

we started a "family tradition"

of going out to breakfast on patriotic holidays.

At least that's how the story goes.

Well, this morning

when I asked the hubby

what he was going to make me for breakfast

he replied, "IHOP".

I voted for Village Inn.

I knew from past experience

that the other members of the family

needed to be invited.

Luckily, for our bank account,

the majority of our family

were out of town today

so we were a small family of four.

I haven't been to Village Inn in a long time

and they had done some redecorating.

I actually thought it was fun.

We were seated right next to this wall.

I'm thinking this is the perfect decoration

for my dining room

since it very easily could be our family motto.

Happy Independence Day!

I hope you had a Happy Fourth

enjoying your own family traditions.

Today I am grateful that

I have friends and family to barbecue and celebrate the 4th with. Even though we are getting less and less festive as the years go by. No one took a single photo and we all wimped out on going somewhere to watch the fireworks. Fireworks lose their appeal for me when it is HOT.

I wasn't the grandma having a nervous breakdown every time a little boy stayed under the water a little too long in the pool.

my hubby cleaned the family room to make up for not making me breakfast.