GRANDMA GOT TO BABYSIT!!!

Caleb is actually able to sit up on his own as of yesterday. Still a little tipsy but almost there. I didn't take any pictures while tending him last night because I was so busy just holding and cuddling with him. This was taken last week when they came over to watch the ill-fated BYU-TCU game - see the sad look on his face. His dad has already made him into a major football fan!!!

Come on in folks . . . . .

One year ago, today . . . .moving day. I can hardly believe it. A year . . . . and what a year! So I will write my thoughts and tiptoe around the giant elephant in the room. You know the one big thing standing there representing the fact that we have ANOTHER house that is STILL on the market after having caught on fire and blah blah blah. I'm going to just leave that and talk about our NEW house and our NEW ward and our NEW life. This house has 6 bedrooms which accommodated the 6 of us very well on October 27, 2007. Ken and I, Lindsay, J, Mark and Spencer (oh don't let me forget Spade) all had plenty of room and privacy in this house. There is even a built-in dog kennel out back. Little did we know that Cody and Lindsay would get married in April and Mark and Spencer would move out in July. Now Ken, J and I each have TWO bedrooms! Just Kidding. We now will have an exercise room, craft room, guest room etc. We love the space when all the kids come home for Sunday dinners. We are just a little short on furniture but will remedy that . . . . uh . . . . whenever.

We have been truly blessed in so many ways. Our ward is great. It's been a wonderful place for me to heal and adjust. The sisters here and pure and kind. I feel very lucky because I also see my longtime friends from Sandy once or twice a month and they are the BEST. Of course my mainstay is being able to work with my sister Juli every day. We have our own separate bad days . . . I kid you not . . .it always works that way and we bear each other up. Anyway I am so glad tonight that I am not surrounded by boxes and faced with the drudgery of moving in. We are here and hope to be here to stay for a good long time. I went around and took a few AFTER photos of some of the little things we've done around the house and yard. Ken will beg to differ about the word little - - he has busted his tail in the yard and since funds are a bit low, most of it has been just plain old hard work. So grateful for him and all he has done.

Before: Master Bath.
After: RED bathroom - - - Ami I need some sheers like yours above that tub window.
Before: J's "cute" pink room - - no after photo of the nice brown and tan room we made it - - sorry J it was a tad messy when I was taking pics yesterday - - -She's been busy guys!!!!
Before: Nice bedroom - - a little colorless for Lindsay.
After (once removed) - -this was Lindsay's statement - she loved it so much, we painted her and Cody's room that same color. See the bed - - it's a guest bed - hint hint - we welcome Spokane visitors.
Before: That fireplace wall just begged for some color - - I am not a decorator AT ALL - just heard that fireplace wall begging.
After: Just had to have a brown wall of some sort - - -you all might remember I fell off that ledge where the big brown jar is, scraped my shin a good one. All better now.
Before: Giant cottonwood trees - the shade looks nice but you should've seen the roots growing every which way in the lawn - - messy, messy, messy.
After: Cottonwoods gone - purple smoke trees - - - grass greener - lots of weeds gone.
Before: Lots of big aspen trees and their little babies growing in the lawn.

After: Aspen forest gone, replaced by little maple tree!

Check this Out.

Okay I am hooked on this blog. This girl is an amazing writer, very real and open with her life. She should write a book for sure. Here is the link.
http://10019musings.blogspot.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINDSAY GIRL

Well Lindsay started her birthday off with a BANG today. Here's the story: She was over at the house on Sunday for the big family birthday party dinner. We were just hanging out after eating when we heard a big crash. Lindsay had tumbled down quite a few stairs. She was shaken up a bit and it was apparent she was going to be sore. Sure enough, yesterday (monday) she was sore. Anyway by Monday night, not only sore but feeling really rotten and Dr. said to head to the hospital. Sure enough, having some mild contractions. Baby looks fine, all the tests on Lindsay are okay so far. She just needs to take it easy. Dr. felt like that fall just shocked her whole little pregnant body. She joked with the doctors and nurses that exactly 21 years ago, she was in the hospital with her mom. I'll never forget that crazy night - - - had her after one hour of labor! Our prayers are with you Lindsay Sparkle!!!!!!

ODE TO . . . CAKE!!!!!

I can still taste it . . . sitting on Quinn's trunk lid. Lemon, lemon, lemon in all it's flavors, textures and glory. Would've put those fancy shmancy Market Street Grill desserts to shame. That's why they wouldn't let us bring it in for Jacque's party. We know the truth! So we just had our own tailgate party in the parking lot with all looking on . .. envious. It will get me through this long winter of NO SWEETS. Yes, it's true. Me and sis are on a SWEET RETREAT until the Christmas Holidays are over. No candy corn, no popcorn balls or donuts, no pumpkin pie or cookies, no trifles or truffles, no orange sticks, peppermint sticks or dipped pretzel sticks. No colds or flu or sinus infections either (we hope). That memory of lemon cake will see us through. Mmm Mmm Mmm!

WAIT . . . . WHERE DID SUMMER GO?

It was just spring, wasn't it?
Weren't we just planning a wedding?
Next thing you know, we are grandparents,
And expecting a second grandchild . . . .
Time sure flies!