I'll Have a Blue Christmas?

Thanksgiving is over and with Steve's parents here it was cozy and fun. They've left us this morning and now Christmas is upon us. I've spent hours trying different backgrounds for the blog and coming up with something I was happy with (a very OCD/ADD morning!). I felt accomplished and then remembered I'd forgotten to post anything new! What a day.

The Christmas decorations are up and it's beginning to feel festive. I had an emotional time with the decorating. I looked over old ornaments I've been given from my Mother and little things the kids have made us over the years. I started feeling very blue and missed my family so much my throat ached. I guess it's a good thing we have so many good memories of Christmas past but it's hard not getting to see those we love so dearly and miss so much.

I appreciate SO much reading all your posts; it helps chase the blues away. So let's keep it up and keep Christmas red and green, not blue! Steve's in the kitchen making peanut butter cookies so I think my blues will alleviate when that dough is ready for quality inspection!

Love you all!

p.s. you'll all be relieved to know the cookie dough has passed inspection

Happy Birthday Marianne!

When my sister was born our brother, Richard, asked our mother what they were going to name her. Helen responded, "Mona Lisa," explaining it was one of her favorite songs. Richard came back with, "I like the song 'Marianne' better." (All day, all night, Marianne, Down by the seaside sifting sand,...). Marianne has been thankful to him ever since. I searched the web and couldn't find a recording to share of "her" song (neither The Brothers Four or Harry Belafonte) but I thought "Mona Lisa" was appropriate too.

I'm really glad we didn't kill each other when we were younger because I don't think I could do without her in my life. Do you have someone you've looked up to and wished you were more like them? Marianne is that person for me. I've always wanted to be a sweet, gentle, non-swearing woman who has ankles. You are a steady presence and a loving listening ear. I'm so glad you are my big sister!

I love you, Marianne. Happy Birthday!

Happy Anniversary Steven!!!

It's been 24 years to the day since Steven took me to the Provo Temple and married me for time and all eternity. I can't believe he's put up with me for so long! He can still look at me and tell me I'm beautiful which I'm very thankful for. I'm looking forward to growing old(er) with such a sweet, loving husband. So, to Steve who rarely looks here but I'll make him this time, Happy Anniversary Baby!!


November 23, 1984









Please excuse me as we're going to celebrate with Michael, Alli and Em and a heart shaped Red Velvet Cake with a Diet Caffienated Beverage... I didn't have the fortitude to get out the cake decorating tips so sprinkles it is!

p.s. Does anyone want to share the secret of adding a simple collage of pictures in a post without having to go to slideshow.com? I've seen it on many a blog and want to know how to do it!

It's Almost Here

I've been teaching so often lately that the weeks have slipped past me. Next week is Thanksgiving! I need to get a turkey! As I was doing dishes and wondering what to put on my list my eyes glanced over at my Mary Engelbreit calendar (I love her). The title of this years calendar is "Celebrate! It's a Good Life!!" Above you'll find one of my favorite "months" illustrations. It put my worries about shopping lists and baking into perspective!

Sunday Six on Monday

1. Brittany's Suprise Visit! What a huge, wonderful, happy Saturday morning! My only regrets are not taking lots of pictures and that she didn't wake me up on Friday night so I could have more time to play.

2. Our freakish Indian summer (snow last Thurs., 75 today and tomorrow). It's giving us one last shot at fixing a few more things outdoors in pleasant weather.

3. Having parents who love us! Helen, Bette, Tony, you rock!

4. Getting to keep up with and get to know everyone better because of their blogs.

5. Still getting lots of sub calls. I got to be a librarian last week... kind of fun.

6. As always, my husband and kids. It helps to love and be loved.

and

7. Gasoline... $1.87 a gallon! Yippee!

Veteran's Day and Mom's Memories Music

I had planned a posting for Veteran's Day and then noticed my sister, Marianne, had placed most of the same pictures I had put aside. I'd like to thank her for that. I started searching for other photos and it turned into a project with Mom bringing me about 100 photos that I've just finished scanning into my files.

Daddy didn't like to talk about the war much. He was asked once in my presence if he'd been in any combat. He was. I've seen awards for his shooting skills and the practice book where he passed off all his marksmanship qualifications in less than a page for each skill. He really wanted to forget that part of his life. He shared with me the people he knew. Even two years before he died he could name all the men in the pictures he had of them. He was even threatened with demotion by General MacArthur once for not allowing the General's plane to land before a plane carrying much needed supplies that was on final approach.

He arrived in Africa by way of South America. He was in Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Iraq, Burma, India and China. He saw many places and things that people pay thousands of dollars to see. He saw them because he believed in good over evil and that the right should prevail. Never did he say he resented having to go. He only ever said he worried he'd never see Mom or Sharon again.

We have many members of our family who have served in the military. I'm grateful for each of them. Thank you.

P.S. Daddy is in the photo above on the far left with his chin in his hand. He's in Kano, Nigeria and he's the only one in the bunch not "soused." They were celebrating VE Day, May 8, 1945.

This Week's Sunday Six

In random order, how my mind has been working lately.

1. Gas prices are down to $2.10 a gallon!

2. No further signs of mice around my house! I, like my nieces, hate and despise clowns but mice are way scarier to me; if I hear or see one I cannot uncurl my toes or put my feet on the floor. I have been known to scream. It provides no end of entertainment for my family so I guess I can be glad to make them happy too!?



3. These shoes have saved my life a few times. They allowed me to survive working on the cement floors of Home Depot and my week of hiking up and down a mountainous campground at 10,000 feet last summer. This week for a sub job I spent an entire day walking with K-6 graders in a American Diabetes of America Walk For The Cure. All day. In wind gusts of up to 40 mph and wind chill of 30. Through gravel around a fifth of a mile track surrounding playground equipment. Other than a blister on a pinky toe I did fine. Oh, by the way, earrings really conduct cold through the lobes.




4. These two women, Deb Mouselite and Pam Portie, have been the guardian angels who got me into elementary schools. Pam, a member of our church, heard of me from Steve and asked me to teach her class. Deb, her teammate, has hired me several times too. They have spread the word to everyone they know and I am so grateful for them giving me a chance and believing in me.



5. I love my children so very much. I feel often that I'm not the mother I should be. It's gratifying to see what great adults they are becoming in spite of my mistakes. They love each other, do things together and have close relationships that I can see carrying into their adulthood which fulfills one of my fondest hopes for them.



6. I'm so happy to have my Mom with me. Here I am a 45 year old woman and I don't think I've ever needed her more. Here she is an 85 year old woman and she still wants to be here for me. I know this is hard for you all to believe but I'm not always the most stable person and she is always there for me. Thanks, Momma.

p.s. I feel like I always talk about my great husband so I thought I'd give it a break for the week.

The Amazing Techincolor DreamCouch

Once upon a time there was a woman named Gena who was moving into a new home. There were some simple furniture needs for the new home, a few end tables and some seating for the children's gaming area, so off to her favorite consignment store she went. Happily Gena's husband wanted to join her. Quickly they found some pretty little tables for the living room and started browsing for something for their little darlings to sit on as they zoned out on video gaming. As she turned a corner Gena saw a sofa. A hideous striped thing in greens and plum. She thought, "who would buy such a disturbing couch?" Around another corner Gena and her husband found something they knew their children would love... a reclining sofa that would be hidden in the basement and let them game their brains to mush in comfort. As Gena turned to find a salesman her husband, his eyes aglow, told her he'd found the perfect sofa for their new sun room. Yes, it was the striped green and plum sofa. Their sun room had about 30 feet of 80's bright peach horizontal blinds and the walls were painted an ever so pale pink. Gena's husband just knew that the slight rusty peach stripes in the upholstery would go well with the blinds until they could be replaced. And the plum... why, there are hints of plum flowers in the Waverly kitchen valances, so, another plus! What was she to do? Gena has free reign in the decorating of her home and only once in a while did her husband have an opinion about any of it. In light of her husband's enthusiasm she relented.

On to the present... it's four years later, the sun room is used more than the family room and living room combined and here "it" sits. At times Gena is still disturbed by "its" presence as in the picture of Emily and Charlie above where the pattern threatens to nauseate her. But she sighs, smiles and remembers how much she loves her husband and how happy the sofa made him that day. "It's" not an uncomfortable piece of furniture just unfortunate in the choice of fabric. So she vacuums "it," cleans "it," fluffs "its" pillows and dreams of a day "it" can be donated to someone who will appreciate and love "it" much more than she can.

Anybody want a couch, free, in great condition?