Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Holly on her throne

 

"Fifty years from now, it won't matter what kind of car I drove, or what kind of house I lived in... .  Fifty years from now, my life will have meaning only if I've taken the time to be a positive influence in the life of a child."

-Janene Wolsey Baadsgaard

 

I semi-cleaned the pantry today.  There was lots of gum stuck to the floor.  I washed the walls, but they need to be painted.  James says it looks 1,000x better. 

Nothing fancy

Notice front and center Holly's

Beggin Strips.

 

James cut off the shower controls with a hacksaw so now he has to fix it.  He went for parts and came back and sprayed water all over himself and caused a flood.  Now the water is shut off and he's out buying more parts. 

Gettin' down and dirty

Looks gross, but it cleaned up pretty well.



 

I'm glad Michael has a track meet today because he usually comes home from track practice and heads straight for the shower.



Go Michael!

 

I picked up Ben, Evan and Joshua from school today.  Sheri is in Prescott at science camp with Max.  Here is how they felt about going:

 

Right now it's 4:30 in the afternoon.  I am supervising Joshua doing his homework while Stacy takes Dorothy to her doctors appointment.  Dallin is playing his guitar and singing.  I have a BBQ chicken in the crockpot and rolls in the oven.  It's 70 degrees outside and a good day except for the plumbing problems.  Oh yes, James's phone got wet and now it doesn't work.  I told him I would get him some rice tomorrow when I go to the store.

 

Stacy had a Dorothy story to tell when she got home.  After the doctors appointment Dorothy had Stacy take her to Krispy Kreme where she bought four cream filled donuts, and then she asked to go to Sweetie's where she bought an assortment of candy.  One more stop at the grocery store for Cheetos, ice cream, and three huge Mr. Goodbars.  This is a woman in her late sixties who lives by herself.  She only weighs about 90 lbs., and wears dentures. I'm not sure I understand why she only weighs 90 lbs.

 

 



Located on Chandler Blvd right across the street from the drive-thru Krispy Kreme.

 

Look what's coming to the San Diego County Fair:

This is just weird and wrong.

I hope Dorothy doesn't hear about it.





 











Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Dallin at the mic with his band

"Harrison Fiord"

 

"There is no substitute for obedience to the commands and demands of the gospel, of doing what we are supposed to do as disciples of Jesus Christ.  We can never truly be happy or have great hope unless we follow Heavenly Father's plan for our happiness."

-David S. Baxter

 

Another beautiful day with lots of clouds and the high around 66 degrees.  It was just about perfect. 

 

 

This is the 8th week since I have had my last Remicade infusion and my knees, especially the right one, are swollen and hurt.  I am scheduled for another infusion on Friday and I can hardly wait!

 

With have three realtors coming to look at the house this next week.  One is this Friday, Ken Van Vleet on Monday, and someone from Keller-Williams on Tuesday.  There is lots I want to get done before Friday.  I worked in the Christmas closet today and washed baseboards.  I looked in the pantry and decided that would be my main priority tomorrow.  James cleaned the dining room fan for me today.



A real man helps his wife around the house.

 

For Taco Tuesday we went to Elmer's.  We have been going to Elmer's since he came to Chandler in 1974.  We love their soft machaca tacos!  They are delicious.  Other favorites are: machaca burros, the bean and cheese burros, and a large order of strips.  They are located directly across the street from Chandler High but we also remember their original location which was right next to where James had his downtown office.  It was also across the street from the high school.

Can I just say yummy!

Good choice James!

 

Some women collect fabric, others collect dolls.  Right now I am in to collecting notebooks.  My favorite brand is Studio C, especially the polka dot series, but they are hard to find so I have had to branch out.  Here are some of my favorites.



I know, I am a little obsessive compulsive

but I promise these will all be used!

 

 



 











Monday, March 2, 2015

 

 "It is when God's will becomes my will that power begins to break like the sunlight in the morning, that the daystar arises in the heart."

-M. Catherine Thomas

 

Rainy days and Mondays, and Karen Carpenter's 65th birthday.

Happy Birthday Karen!

 

A few weeks ago I read a post about how the original Gerber baby was retiring and they had chosen a new baby to take it's place.  There was a picture of the new baby and she wasn't nearly as cute as Lola.  I told Trina we should have sent in an application for Lola, but of course we couldn't because we didn't know about it.  Trina sent me this picture today:

The most adorable baby in the world!

 

Alex and Seth want to invest in the stock market.  Alex was talking to Sheri about it the other day and mentioned the word corporation.  Evan wanted to know what a corporation was and when Alex told him it was like a business Evan says: "Well I already have a business.  It's called Robo", and then he ran into the computer room and texted: "How do I start my own corporation."  What 8 year old kid does this?  Alex asked him what he wants Robo to do and he said: "Make robots."  Alex said, "Well, let's think of something a little smaller" and Evan says: "Sell cookies and lemonade."  I love Evan and how his brain works!

 

Michael ate roast with us this evening.  He said a hot meal tasted great after running in the rain. 

 

For FHE James and I watched "The Miracles" section of our Bible DVD.  These are the miracles we saw the Savior perform: Changing the water into wine, raising Jairius's daughter from the dead, healing a woman with an issue of blood, healing the palsied man, and healing the man on the Sabbath.  I love the quality of these videos and especially like the actor who plays the Savior.





 







Sunday, March 1, 2015



The Agony in the Garden

by Frans Schwartz

The priest who spoke at Frans Schwartz's funeral said "his art was divinely endowed and seemed worthier than many a sermon."

 

Instead of going to our church, Emmy and Jared went to Darrel ad Trina's ward so Emmy could go to class with Addy.  Before they left for church and then Texas, they read scriptures together:



 

James and I spent the morning preparing for our Primary lesson on the Priesthood.  How do you teach four year olds about the priesthood? 

 

I bore my testimony in fast and testimony meeting and so did Sheri.

We had ten kids in our Primary class, five girls and five boys: Taylor, Ivy, Brielle, Brooklyn, Callie, Liam, Ryder, Malachi, Isaiah, and Shade.  Sheri came in to help us.  At one point James had four little boys in the bathroom all at once. 

It was hard, but we did it!  We were exhausted afterwards and came home and took a two hour nap. 

I guess Stacy hurt her back yesterday or last night and didn't come to church.  Ian and Alex weren't there either. 

 

Evan started reading the illustrated Book of Mormon's and read three today.  Sheri said he had lots of questions.  The 4th book was at Darrel and Trina's so James and I drove over to get it.  As soon as we returned Sheri texted me that Evan needed book 4.  This kid is on fire!

 

James and I broke our fast around 5pm.  I lasted about 22 hours and James 28. 

 

We had some fun news today.  Adam tried out for a community play last week with his friend Kaitlyn Booth and ended up getting the male lead.  The name of the play is Pirates and he has to grow a beard.  Congratulations Adam! 

 

Michael tried to give his friend Alexis a Book of Mormon and a picture of the Gilbert temple today.  He told her, when he handed her the temple picture: "Here, take this, it's where we are going to get married someday."  Way to go Michael!



 

 



Saturday, February 28, 2015

One of the most fun places to be on a Saturday morning is at a soccer game with family.

Lola makes a cute bundle.

 

Addy is older, but Emmy is taller.

Ruby did a face plant and hurt her lip the other night at practice.

I love this picture of Trina!

Darrel, Jared, Sheri, and Stacy were all at the game, as well as Paul, Trina and I.  It was overcast and cool.  Addy let me snuggle in the purple blanket we got her for Christmas.

 

The team played well, they seem to be getting a little better every week.  Sheri kept stealing Lola from me.  After the game Jared and Emmy went to Darrel & Trina's and so did Evan.  Sheri had breakfast at Kneader's with Drea and Adrienne.  She invited me but I had already eaten a bagel before the game. 

 

Jared and Darrel took the kids to Extreme Air.  Emmy said it was fun but she liked Amazing Jakes better. 

 

James didn't come to the soccer game because he had a little job to do for Greg Hatch at the airport.  He took Alex and Seth with him and they spread some granite.  Afterwards he took them to lunch at Jersey Mike's. 

 

I came home and made a big pot of chili using Wendy's Restaurant recipe.  It turned out pretty good.  James and Jared both like it. 

 

This evening Jared, Emmy and I played a game of Clue.  Emmy won and then they went to visit grandma and grandpa Wallen.  I was in bed when they got home. 

 

This afternoon Stacy and Joshua went to the Legos Expo at Cardinal stadium with Josh's friend Bryce and his mom Elska.  Joshua had a blast!

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, February 27, 2015

Snow and fog at the Grand Canyon.

 

"If an error has been made in our parenting, the best course is to recognize it, correct it, and move forward, grateful that repentance is available and aware that perfect parents do not exist."

-Susan Noyes Anderson

 

Today would have been my dad's 84th birthday.

Happy Birthday Dad.

 

I have had two bad falls in the past two weeks.  One when I was standing on a chair in our bedroom turning the fan on.  I leaned to far and the chair tipped over.  I landed on the soft carpet so I wasn't hurt too badly.  Today around 5am I had just come out of the bathroom and tripped over a basket I had set in the hallway.  I landed hard on the hardwood floor and immediately a huge purple grapefruit sized bruise formed on my left hip.  No pictures please!

This one is going to be around for awhile.  At least I can still walk.

It's a little difficult to sit though so during scripture time I laid down on the bed and James read to me.

 

Jared and Emmy got here around noon today.  Jared is spending the weekend with her doing whatever she wants.  Her cousins Addy and Brianna are still in school so they had a little time to kill.  The three of us played a game of Five Crowns and Jared won.  After the game they went shopping to get Emmy some new shows before picking up Addy and Brianna and going to Amazing Jakes.

  Emmy and her cousins Brianna and Addy

at Amazing Jakes.  Emmy's favorite things was the laser tag.

 

Well, we did it.  Joshua's room is finished and he's all moved in and the living room is ready for Jared and Emmy.  I was beginning to wonder if we would ever finish but we did and both rooms look pretty good.  Jared is sleeping on the comfy couch in the living room and Addy and Emmy are sleeping on the air mattress.  Brianna couldn't spend the night because she has a dance competition in the morning.

 

The girls and Joshua watched Big Hero Six until about 10pm and then they went to bed because we are all going to a soccer game that starts at 8 in the morning.

 







Thursday, February 26, 2015

Happy Birthday to Adam & Joe

Adam turned 25

He wants a conure bird but there aren't any available right now.

We gave him some money and a Disney bag:

Adam loves Disney and Jack Skellington

 

Joe turned 18 today

Joe loves Scooby Doo and vans, so along with his cash I

got him a remote control Scooby Doo van.

 

James and I used our last Christmas gift card today.  This one was for Rudy's BBQ. 



I had the pulled pork sandwich and James had the dry brisket.  We had coleslaw, beans, and a three bean salad for our sides.

 

This afternoon I went shopping at Target and Walmart and to the bank to get money for Joe and Adam. 

 

I was so excited to get Joshua moved into his room that I tried moving his Lego Hobbit set and it fell apart just as I walked into his room.  Joshua was very sweet about it when he got home from school, but later I found him in his room crying.  It took me over an hour but I got it put back together again.

You almost need a college degree to put these sets together.

The rolling cart we got for Joshua to put his Legos in.

Stacy put this together.  It wasn't nearly as hard as the Lego set.

 

 

Trina brought me cookies and a card for watching her kids this past weekend.  Not necessary, but very thoughtful.



Thank you Trina!

 

Stacy and Paul took Adam out for his birthday.  I made macaroni and cheese for Michael and Joshua.