Valentine's Day 2019

Today I found out the gender of my grandchild to be! YES a new baby is on the way- no details can be spilled at this moment-- except yes we will have our 9th grandchild this year.

It's FANTASTIC and we could not be happier! Honestly- I am just overwhelmed with joy about this new baby.

Then I lost my new prescription glasses somehow on the way home. 

@#*$(!+^!?#%!

I've back tracked all my steps- even to the post office and Walmart...

about my last post

I realize my last post could be offensive to some people- I have options- I have choices.

I am lucky- blessed - whatever you want to call it. I'm not complaining- just stating my experience. 

I will say that I have a lot of responsibility. Most I have never discussed on this format.

Of course, No one's life is what it seems on social media. 

I want to be better about that but I am still scared to be 100% truthful.

For Valentine's Day this Year 

Brett left this little note below on the kitchen counter for me to find in the morning.

AND

Brought home the box of Ruby Snap Cookies above - after work!

HE IS THE BEST

I love him...

and now I can't see without my glasses...

a busy May 2014

Still catching up

In May we were so busy-

Who Isn't?

May & December are the two busiest months of the year for us.

We had our annual YW graduation fireside on the Bountiful Temple Grounds.

I'm so proud & happy for these two friends.

Hailey was in the chalk art festival for the first time!

SERIOUSLY! So fun & so exciting- Hooray for Hailey going way outside her comfort zone & doing something she has always wanted to do.

We went to Baccalaureate with Chloe & friends.

Its such an exciting time. 

Trent has been in a Social Dance class this whole year.

They had their spring recital - dance concert- at the University of Utah.

IT WAS HANDS DOWN AMAZING

We are so grateful for good teachers!

It was a lot of time sitting in a theater for mom- brought back memories.

Chloe flipped over it & was wishing her school had a program like this!

Brett & I celebrated 28 years of marriage!

Chloe & friends graduated from Seminary!

Busy - Busy - Great - Month

it had to go...

 One of the things we love about our home

 is the big beautiful deck & tall trees in the back yard.

 It is so fun to eat & play outside.

 But.... the deck is old now.

 It was built long, long, even really long... before we moved in.

 We kept up the paint etc. but it is time- time for it to go. Several spots have started to rot out.

 Yep- it's gotta go.

Brett & Trent spent Friday & Saturday tearing it out and- next week 

(ha ha, that's what the builder says- but we shall see?) 

new stairs and railings will be built & a new cement patio will be poured.

We are really excited!

Our back yard is already looking so much bigger.

The big boys have real jobs so it was just Brett & Trent for this job.

Thank goodness for Trent- he has really been a big help.

It's a long way down from the back door- EEK!

Thank goodness they left the back steps from the other back door- yes there are two.

I am terrified someone will forget & in the middle of the night step out & break their legs!

So we have the kitchen table pushed up against the door.

Wish me luck-- you gotta know I'm kind of a klutz.  

Let's all cross our fingers that our builder comes sooner than later!

really... so long between posts?

It's been a seriously... 

busy busy

month here for me people!

In November-

I started redoing Hailey's room.

She moved into the boys old room in the basement & we (okay it was me) decided to turn her room into a guest room. We frequently have guests & it is only difficult because we always put them in Trent's room. That is a nightmare for me. So much work & it throws him off his schedule. So- In changing this room to a guest room-- my life will eventually be easier- right?

I have to say- all the wallpaper is down & I haven't even walked into the room since the friday before thanksgiving. No time.

One of Jack's best friends---

SETH CAME HOME FROM HIS MISSION!!!

So lucky for us Jack was home a little bit. 

He is so fun to have home.

Great News-

Hailey got a job at Cafe Rio!!!

FREE MEAL

-Oh ya-

She doesn't get to bring home free food I just love to yell free meal like they do.

Are you just sick about the whole Hostess going under business?

I may have ate my last raspberry filled powdered sugar donut?

I don't want to live in this kind of world? A world without twinkies?

Dear me--- can it be so?

SOMEONE FIX THIS!

A little update:

We LOVE having Brittany close & think she should eat dinner here every night.

Laura is on bed rest now-- she's 26 weeks--- much too soon for these little buggers to be wanting to come. So down she is!

I've been working nearly 30 hours a week & haven't had a day off in 10 days straight!

sigh- Christmas time + retail = crazy busy.

I've been in the last two Sunday nights after the store closed putting up Christmas floor sets.

Fun really-- but so tiring.

my window

ISN'T IT GORGEOUS!!!

I'm just a little over the top - proud of it.

I've also been making capes for Christmas- remember the super hero capes I made for Charlie & Joey?

Well-- I have had some orders & made 5 capes now! you know, just in my free time - still it's great for a little extra Christmas money & they are really fun to make!

Thank Heaven's for Brett- he is such a huge support & truly my sweet heart. 

I love to see him with his "other girls" Lavern & Shirley.

It just cracks me up!

They run to his as soon as he opens the back door. 

Thanksgiving Post 

(it was so much fun!) 

coming soon

better days

I'm working at least 4 days a week.

It's a joy to work around so many beautiful things.

(a lot to juggle these days... but I really like working there)

Last week I made lots of pumpkin dessert squares, mashed potatoes & gravy & several batches of stuffing!

YES Thanksgiving is less than three weeks away!

I am so excited for Thanksgiving! It is Brett's favorite holiday so I try to make it extra special. This evening I put up the Thanksgiving decorations - I have a few - and we are expecting 25 people for dinner this year.

 I love that.

Today after work & lunch at home with the family

Brett & I went out on the town down to City Creek to the new 

West Elm store.

West Elm is really fun-

 a Gorgeous store & fantastic addition to Salt Lake City. 

It's a sister store to my work place and one of my favorite friends from work moved over there 

(Hi Emily-- miss you!) 

so I've been dying to get over there & visit.

Finally made it today-

Afterwards we headed to Kneaders for treats & to work on our Christmas list.

We've got a good start!

Actually I hate to brag but.... I've already sent off two gifts- impressive, I know!

Mr. Messer, thank you for being my date today.

I like it that you always open doors for me & carry packages.

I like that you like to see me get excited about things like a new store in town & bakeries.

I just like being with you.

cody post part 2

This is the view from at Grandma & Grandpa's house outside the door & across the yard.

It's the corral. The horses are gone (very hard for Grandpa) but it's still a great place.

Trent spent the entire time - every possible moment available that he was allowed.

right here

riding Grandpa's tractor (lawn mower.) 

He hooked up the trailer to the back & moved some stuff out of the corral.

He's helpful that way.

Chloe & Brett spent a good part of the morning Friday looking at treasures in the garage. 

This garage is a serious treasure chest.

Chloe found some chaps-

these Relief Society magazines from the 1960's

George's shoes with dates

and Bandos' shoes. 

We really loved & miss George & Bandos.

One of Grandpa's old hats.

And- a fan that his parents had & used when he was a baby & on!

That fan is at least 80 years old & still works- plus it's in perfect condition. 

Grandpa explained to Chloe what a Ne-Hi was

and also showed her some of his old treasures from his Navy days.

 

Holy Moly 

this place is cool. 

chicken update & more!

Last week I had BIG plans for this ol' blog-- 

lots to blog about.

Then- it happened.

On the 4th of July Wende's husband- Rich (our computer expert) asked how our PC was doing-

 GREAT! I replied

 that did it.

 The next day it started acting all weird... by July 10th it wouldn't turn off or on- just one blank screen.

UGH 

Happy Day- Last night he brought it back to me all fixed up, shiny, no more problems. It runs like a gem. Fast-- I had no idea how slow it had gotten? Aw Rich- you are the best!

So- this week- I have big blogging plans. Lots to share-- photos from Girl's camp-- Stories & photos from Trent's first week long scout camp-- my birthday (which is today by the way.)

So if you are a reader- stay tuned. I promise to catch up.

Chickens

Have I told you how much Brett loves our chickens? 

He does. It's so sweet! I wanted chickens- he didn't- and with good reason.

 We got them & HE LOVES THEM.

 He visits them every morning & night and he calls them his - ladies. They know his voice, run to him & sometimes even jump into his arms... he doesn't really love that. He even spent all of his birthday money that he got from his parents on our new chicken coop. It's the perfect little coop for our two chickens

 (we are hoping to introduce two more chicks to our coop next spring.)

He & Trent put it together a week or so ago.

(Doesn't our new fence look so pretty?)

In the right hand corner you can see the old coop (which we need to return to it's owner- thanks for letting us borrow it Kevin!) Also loads of paving bricks that another neighbor gave us. We have been using those pavers over the years to build some (one- we have good intentions, okay) walkways in the yard. Brett & Trent made a fire pit & have been working on camp fire building. Plus our garden- it's growing! 

Our coop has a pull out tray to make it easy to clean.

Plus on the left there- that box- is where they nest & hopefully lay eggs.

The top lifts up & you can take out those eggs.

We hope to have fresh eggs soon.

Brett says by October- I think we should have some by September.

We shall see?

I have loved our little garden this year.

It helped that we didn't go crazy planting.

Next year- ya- we might go all planting crazy next year.

For this year- it's just right.