January 2016

We are excited to announce that we are expecting --

6 grandchildren in 2016

(2 due this month)

And so the baby watch begins.

Callie's 4th daughter is overdue.

What to do when the crocheting is done?

Bake cookies.

Braid.

Nibble on muffins.

Housework.

Waddle to church.

Cuddle and laugh. 

Early January 5th Rayson tapped on the quest bedroom 
door where I was sleeping with Raylie and Chloe.  
"Callie had the baby 1/2 hour ago.  Oh, and the midwife missed 
the birth again (referring to Callie's self-delivery of Sophie in 2014)."  

Callie is ah-mazing!

What an absolute doll!

4 Generations 

I was thrilled to be in town for a baby shower for Jami Lyn 

- baby girl due in March.

And I stick around for more fun with the Gerber girls...

My time is up.  

I gifted Lane concert tickets for Christmas.

And the concert is in 2 days.

A sentimental farewell to Callie. 

 Thanks for a great visit!

The concert was momentous!  

We didn't have to wait long for this sweet baby boy --

Thatcher Jordan Kelley

January 21st, 2016

We are excited to meet you.  

(We were traveling in Costa Rica when you were born.)

We hosted MaryLou and Ken before and after their 

40th anniversary cruise out of Miami.

I've been procrastinating my assignment to prepare 

4 camp certification classes.  

Finally finished!

4 more babies due in the next 5 months. 
Bring on the baby yarn... 
and a trip to Costa Rica, yeah, that makes sense.

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!!!