BEFORE
AFTER
I know, I know. This is a vacuum. I was cleaning on Friday night, and my good old Kenmore that I'd had for about 10 years bit the dust. (Ha! cute joke there) so I had to buy a NEW vacuum. It was actually quite surprising how much DIRT that thing picked up from just the family room. I guess the old one wasn't working so well for a while. This is one of those new-fangled bagless jobs.
Left home at 5:30 AM to take these two girls to the airport. I was VERY sad to drop them off. We had a great visit - too short!
After church today, we went outside to enjoy the beautiful day and try our hand at sidewalk art. I just love those little hands. Look how sweet they are.
We then walked around the block for a wagon ride. She crashed and burned. I can't believe she can sleep with her face jammed against the wagon like that!
Tubby time! I just love those big brown eyes.
Look who's here to visit! I got to pick up these two cuties at the airport this morning. I was so excited I sat there a bawled while I was waiting for them to arrive. I will treasure every minute of this weekend. We don't get to see Ava and Julie very often.
Merry Christmas to me! This is a new wall arrangement finally in place (thanks Rod!). Katie made the top half and gave to me for Christmas. There is a variety of wooden signs with different phrases on so I can keep having a new look with each change of season or holiday. Julie gave me the darling shelf (for which I have coveted ever so long). Doesn't it look great! Now, what would look good in the three sections of the jut-out shelf? I was thinking may be some herb planters or something like that. Any ideas?
Each afternoon as I walk out to my car from work, I am enveloped with the sweet scent of the Elysium that is in the front planter of the school. It smells so heavenly and it boosts my spirits as I head for my favorite place - home!
Went to the AZ Broadway Theatre with Momma Myrt, Nancy, and Lynne. Nancy and Myrt have season tickets and they take a friend when they go. What a wonderful treat this fantastic evening was. Fabulous food, and an amazing rendition of Fiddler on the Roof. During the performance the thunder was rolling, and as the cast was performing the closing scene "Anatevka" the rains came and absolutely pelted the roof. The stage players did not seem to notice, however, and the performance was stellar. Thanks, Momma Myrt and Nanc, for a wonderful evening of elegant dining and exceptional theatre. 'Twas a much needed reprieve.
I try to set the table every night for dinner with a table cloth and napkins. I am trying to teach my family a little bit of etiquette and refinement, I guess. But the family dinner hour is really sacred to me. And it is something I refuse to sacrifice to the other demands on our time.
I'm sure I have said all of the things portrayed in this clip. It is hilarous! And I know my mom said some of them to me. I am most guilty of "Your I-pod is mine, if you don't......) and "No more computer time tonight!" I do throw in the "I love you" every day, too.
This is where I spent my morning and then part of the evening. We had a very sad tragedy in our Ward. A 9 week old baby was on life support and they unpluged the machines at 5:30 this evening. The family is devastated, of course. And there are some circumstances overshadowing this event that make it even harder to understand and bear. I just hope and pray that this family will overcome this huge tragedy and feel the arms of the Lord supporting them through this difficult time in their lives.
Each month we go out as a Relief Society Presidency and visit the sisters who have a birthday that month. We have one sister that makes beautiful cards for every person, and then we also take a small gift. It is a good way for us to get acquainted with the ladies, and especially those who do not attend. We divided our list of 15 and set out. I went with Kathy. We had some really nice visits, and found someone home at every address. The second to the last was an interesting one - we told her who we were, that we were from the church and wanted to wish her a happy birthday. She said in a rather loud voice: "the Church can go to hell!" and slammed the door. Happy Birthday to you!
I know this is wierd, but it's part of my life. Almost every day this week, including today, someone has asked me about my hair. "Is that your curl, or is it a perm." "Your hair is so cute." "Is that your natural color?" "Your hair is so beautiful." It has been quite interesting that so many people have asked me about or commented on my hair the last few days. It has been a conversation piece throughout my whole life. Just let me say this: I have fought, hated, endured, accepted, and then in my last decade of years learned to enjoy the ease of having naturally curly hair. About the color, only my hair dresser knows for sure! I did say I would never color the gray (I think that mindset came from my mom, who never did color her gray), but as it got more and more prevalent I sort of ate my words on that one!
It was our "finish the pantry" Saturday. Nick helped Rod build the wooden shelves to fill in the wall space to the side of each of the rotating canned goods shelvles. They turned out beautiful!
A perfect fit - and everything looks way organized.
More rotating shelf parts. Rod got the whole thing assembled Thursday night while I was at my Relief Society dinner. It was our celebration dinner for all those who read the Book of Mormon during the month of January - a very special evening of sharing sacred feelings and experiences.
Each weekday morning I get up at 4:50. I wake the kids up at 5:30. Becca is usually up and fixing her hair when I go to wake her up. She then comes out and sleeps on the couch until about 7:00. She is my sleeping beauty every morning. Why is it that we feel something special when we see our children asleep, no matter how old they are?
My fingers are so sore! I snapped on several of these little puppies to align the slots for our rotating shelves. Got one unit done tonight and loaded up with cans. Rod put the frame up for the other one after mutual. Guess I'll try to "snap" some more tomorrow if my fingers can stand it!
We had a huge rainstorm today. Driving home from work, I went to Costco to get Rod a birthday cake and was on my way to Home Depot to get a paint roller. I stopped at a red light, rolled down my window and took this shot of a brilliant rainbow that stretched clear across the northeast end of the valley. It was so beautiful!
Yep, that's right. The Glendale Stadium where the game is being played is only 4 miles from our house. We go to that complex to see movies, hockey games, and other stuff. There were tons of policemen, but the coolest thing was the mounted police. 
How could I take just one picture of this amazing event? The little ponies were so cute. And then the big guy behind them was just so mammoth! Cool contrast.
These chickens roasting were so interesting. The spits just kept turning over and over. You could see the flames jumping as the juices dripped. It smelled heavenly! Mmmmmmmm
How colorful this grill was. There was a big line up for these tasties, but for some reason the poor lady didn't look to cheerful.
Then these guys showed up. They are still puppies, are small (according to the owner) for their breed and they were giganti! They had long hanging jowels with drool dripping off. I thought they were going to eat the children.
This was a welcome break from all the Saturday work that consumed many hours today. Can't have all work and no play!
Books Are Fun came to the school this week and I picked up my order today. Also, someone donated a bunch of books and we were told we could take any that we wanted (that's the pile that is stacked up.) I can never pass up a good recipe book. I love buying books for my grandkids. Okay, I am just a sucker for books.
