December 2015

I believe in the magic of CHRISTmas

Here is my annual poinsettia for my sweetie. 
I am always grateful that his plans to marry someone else were scrubbed.
Lane reminds me that my first red-potted gift - 20 years ago - 
left a very good impression.

This month we are delighted to make visits to see 13 of our shared 14 kids.  

Sorry Britni.  We are sad to miss you.

First off, an invitation to join Cameron in Oregon for a banking conference.  

We arrive a few days early for some hiking, a shepherds dinner and...

Graham Cracker houses!  

AND...

 a detour slightly northwest to hug these charming rascals.

More graham cracker creations...

Back home we treat the youth to a stake dinner, not steak but chicken fettuccine.  

We love and support these outstanding young people.

It was good to get closer to our 

5 neighbors as we counted down 

With Stephanie's extra flight privileges we flew 'home for the holidays'.

I was giddy being with my mother on Christmas Eve and 

waking up to share Christmas morning with her and David.

My dear Mother surprised us with another epic quilt.  

And Jami creates a quilt for her baby - due in late March.

The Kelley Family stopped by for snuggles before they left town, 

as did Greg with his kids.

We checked in with Callie as the baby-watch begins.

This happened!  

Missing Cathleen.

Countdown to 2016

Party at Lincoln & Carrie's new home!

(Delivered hats to Gerber's earlier in the day.)

Happy New Year!!!

Meanwhile back home in Miami, our lonely house awaits,

while I await a new granddaughter in Magna.

November 2015

Full of THANKS!

1)


2)
Lane's brother Ron and S.I.L. Phyllis Sue visited.


3)
Purple spuds are fine!



4)

5)

Took a walk on the wild side with a swamp walk into 

Big Cypress National Park

I fashioned YCL camp beads out of homemade claydoh for those who braved the swamps.

6) 

It took most of this month to create my first website.

7)  
No kids translates into our first turkey day OUT.

Lane says you can never have too much whipped cream...until today!

8) 

A super creative gender reveal from the Hansen's.

(baby boy due in April 2016)

9) 

I nearly cried but did have hysterics when I unboxed last years white faux branches...which 1/2 turned brown in storage.  

Four cans of white spray paint later and voila!  Relief!

This is the earliest I've ever displayed a tree.  
It's due to our planned travels in December.

Bring it on!!!

October 2015

Hodge Podge

I found Jami & Chris in Cedar City, Utah!  It was my delight to visit them, 
tour their town, play a little qwirkle and see my radiant expectant daughter.  


I also created this flip-a-gram for Lane
(unable to share it here)

Enroute back to stay with Callie I stopped in to see my 
sister Cecile who had moved to Utah from Arizona the 
month after I moved from Utah to Florida (terrible timing!).




I was lucky enough to have several more days with Callie.  
The girls helped clean, sat still for hairdos, and I had a date with Raylie.



Once back in Miami, the youth camp leaders met to plan girls camp 2016.
With camp held in March, during spring break, it's time to get things rolling.
Camp begins the week Jami's baby is due.  Yikes!  
Guess who's probably gonna miss camp?



Although I currently abhor halloween, I decided to 
tape up ghosts similar to those I'd traditionally hung when 
my children were young -- and add a few orange accents .

Finally, somebody came for tapioca night.  Uncle Mac!

And the youth showed up for face-to-face with 

The Piano Guys -- a live broadcast.

(with sugar cookies)

I then tried making sugar cookies for our 19th anniversary.
(Britni's wonderful soft sour cream sugar cookie recipe.) 

Our anniversary is October 24th.  

I plan the odd years and Lane plans the even years.  

He is a better planner than I am, because I use a budget.  

I planned 4 parts:  Beachfront-ish apartment (with Pie-face), 

a temple session, an Outback lunch, and a pumpkin festival.

Lane felt ill so we skipped the Pumpkin Festival.

But within a week he was in top form...as a scarecrow at the office work party.

We prepared snacks, and although horrible in appearance, they were popular.

Glad that's over with for another year.

I haven't a clue what's coming in November but I can hardly wait!!!

September 2015

Autumn in Florida                                                                      

As I look back on each month I continue to be amazed at the fun things we manage to find.  September was no exception.  Over Labor Day we collected 2 young friends and proceeded to Everglades National Park.  But first, a stop at a local fave for shakes, produce browsing, and animal harassing.

Now, this is getting personal.  My backyard is revolting.  

I'm determined to beat it.  Just you wait!

It was decided that we would host an end of summer 
pool party for the youth.  My two great helpers showed 

up early to form candy sushi, and decorate cupcakes.                                                                                 

Egg roulette was enjoyed(?) by all and there were roof top divers to entertain us.  

Oh my!  Lane has a new calling - as a counselor to Pres Diaz.  

He'll be great...because he already is!

This is how I know my hunny loves me...he teases me.

I just found out all three of my daughters will produce a child in 2016!

Britni gets mighty ill so I popped up to assist.  See the dishes?  

That's how I know she needs me.

Followed closely by a stopover to be with Callie and her girls.

Rayson started Callie's project for the girls and I got to help. 

Another month of a lifetime!

Coming in October:  

A quick visit to see Jami and our anniversary rolls around.  

#19.