Results and FHE

So if any of you were wondering.  The wall turned out amazing.  Thank you Stephanie for the great idea.  Thank you Clarissa for doing all the work and designing it.  Thank you Heather for taking all the pictures to put on the wall. Thank you family for giving me subject matter to show on the picture wall.  I would add a picture but I don’t own a camera. ( I hope Santa realizes this and remedies that problem.)

Last night we again played hide and seek for FHE.  I looked around at the four of us and said it won’t be fun with only four of us.  But it was Daniel’s game and so we played.  It was hide only upstairs in the dark.  I hate in the dark because I always feel so jumpy.  I had to be it first, because everyone laughs at how bad I am.  I found everyone pretty good, but Daniel grabbed my leg before I actually found him hence, a scream.

The good news is, I won.  My husband had to give up on finding me.  I was crouched in Will’s closet behind some clothes ( not sure if my legs have recovered yet) but it was worth it.  Then the game ended with the husband scaring the daylights out of Daniel.

Great times.

Surprises

Today was a surprise day.

Surprise number one: the lady I visit teach with Parkinson’s disease calls and says she needs to be to the doctor in twenty minutes.  I was all settled in for a day of projects.  I told her I would be there.  One look in the mirror and I knew no respectable(or even un respectable person) could go in public with the frizz ball on top of their head I had this morning.  Some mornings aren’t too bad, this morning: SCARY.  So I hurried stuck my head under the tub, threw on jeans and left, so we could sit in the Doctors office for an hour and  half and wait.

Surprise number two: While sitting in the office, I got a text from Will. “Guess who was nominated for Macdonald’s All American.”  Yes it was him.  We have no idea how that happened, other than he is a pretty amazing bball player.

Surprise number three: Clarissa painted my wall where the pictures are going, and the color looks just awful, but hopefully after another coat and some drying time and her amazing work at faux finishes,  this will be a happy surprise- still waiting.

Surprise number four: I got a letter today telling my that I was receiving the scout second miler award.  This is kind of funny because I barely work in scouts anymore. I’m on the cub committee but that’s it.  I think it was turned in a year ago and now I’m getting it.   I was hoping for some great event to be on my calendar so I couldn’t go to the awards night, but upon looking it was just plain empty.  So I guess I’ll have to go get it.  I also have to turn in a bio for the program.  Not sure if this was a good or a bad surprise, but definitely unexpected.

Here’s wishing you very happy surprises!

 

Piano Lessons

Today I started teaching a friend  piano.  She knows a little but wants to learn to really play.  It was great fun.  She first asked if I taught and I said I had in the past but after watching by daughter, I knew I really wasn’t the teacher the kids needed me to be.  The conversation continued and I found out it was her that wanted to learn and I said sure.

I have really enjoyed teaching adults over the years.  They just want to learn and don’t need recitals , group lessons and all the wonderful things that make kid lessons better.  So we just learn together and it is fun.

I thought it was funny as she was leaving she said that this was the one thing she couldn’t do at church and she really wants to be able to everything.  I thought to myself that this could be dangerous because sometimes you end up doing everything.

Reminds me when I was Primary president many years ago.  One Sunday is etched in my memory.  I was missing both my pianist, chorister and councilors so I ended up playing the piano and leading the music at the same time sort of. And conducting and doing sharing time.   That was a day when being capable of it all was really kind of a drag, if I hadn’t been able to play I probably would have searched the halls and found someone to come in, but no I just did it all.

Back to piano. It really was fun and I’m looking forward to more.  It made me start wondering if there was  something I wanted to learn and maybe had put off we’ll see what comes of that.

Life behind a lawnmower

I think I did something for the first time in my life yesterday.  I mowed my lawn in November.  Something quite unheard of in these parts, but it was 70 degrees and the lawn needed it so there I was.  I did this after I finished pulling the tomatoes ( if I start planting 18 plants again next year will someone please restrain me) removing plastic and winding up soaker hoses from the garden.

I like mowing the lawn.  I think it is because there is nothing else to do while mowing.  I observed several things some good some bad:

Nothing warms a heart faster than having Farmer Jack drive by in his old green truck, give you a toothless smile and wave.

Boys on motorcycles who see you then gun their bike hard are rather silly.

When hungry in the middle of the job nothing tastes quite as wonderful as a fresh picked golden delicious from the orchard.

Dog poop is THE most annoying thing on the lawn, especially when you don’t even own a canine.

Warm November days feel like an absolute gift from heaven.

Did we really need to buy a half acre of ground to live on?

A nice strong son who gets out of his car after school grabs the lawn mower and finishes the job is really sweet.

Well off to watch my niece and my neighbor play in state volleyball.  Different teams but same time on courts right next to each other. Should be fun.  Then tonight the opening of my college son’s basketball season. Way excited for THAT!

 

This and That

We had a great week-end, or maybe I should say youngest son Daniel had a great weekend.  He started Saturday off by going golfing with his friend and friend’s dad.  I have scout leaders to thank for turning my son into a golfer wannabe.  They went for the golfing merit badge and he loved it.   Between Saturday one and Saturday two he  convinced me that he needed clubs.  After pursuing the online classifieds, we opted for a trip to DI where for 13 dollars he has a bag and most clubs he needs.  I told him I didn’t know when he was ever going to use them no one here ever golfs.  His brother told him some people golf and some people fish, too hard to do both.  So the husband and older brothers fish but this one would rather golf.

So after the golf game he got to go with me to the first round of the Real soccer game.  We went last year so now we have a tradition Mom and son to the playoffs.  The game was won with a goal scored in the 87th minute, so it was fun.

Before we went we had a visit from Liz, Joe and Peter.  Nothing like having grandson at grandmas.  He is adorable. (Not that I’m biased or anything)

Then Daniel went trick or treating with his big bro. William and friends.  Now I know these boys were way too old for trick or treats, but they had a great time.  It was like I heard from the announcer at the soccer game; “there are no rules for Halloween so if your 36 and want to go trick or treating, go for it.”

I spent part of the evening at Wal-mart.  Husband needed hand sanitizer for the boys and clerks and him at church.  So I went to hurry through and grab it and leave.  But Wal-mart at 7:30 on Halloween is quite empty, so I leisurely wandered around.  Not a bad store when no one ’s there.

Then I finished off the week-end watching the CES fireside.  ( I know I’m over 30 but it was sure good) I loved when Pres. Uchtdorf said that we don’t have to find our one and only soul mate, but once we have found someone they become our one and only soul mate.  Sure grateful I have had mine for all these years.

Have a great week everyone.

Shoes

With basketball players in the family shoes take on great meaning.  It is all about the shoes.  I watched oldest son Ben play in an inner squad scrimmage the other night and his shoes didn’t match the rest of the team.  He had to have his own special ones.  The reason  is one size didn’t support his once broken foot enough so it hurt.  He went down a size and ended up with an ingrown toe nail.  Not pleasant. So he had to ditch the team Nike’s for Adidas. ( Maybe if shoe people realized that even though your feet are big you can still wear a half size life would be easier)

Next son also needed, well at least wanted, new shoes for the up coming basketball season.  I tried the outlets while visiting my parents but no size 14 to be found.  So Saturday we drove 30 miles north to the big city.  Yes, there are plenty of places to buy shoes around here but not this one famous place, that does nothing but sell shoes.  Upon arrival I couldn’t believe all the bars and security of the place.  You would have thought they were selling high priced collectables, but no, just moderately priced shoes.   The perfect shoe didn’t come in a 14 even at shoe mecca so another was found and purchased.

Now here is the real reason I have been droning on about shoes.  I just returned from my second trip this week to the high school to deliver these new sneakers.  At first I was thinking that  it was ridiculous that the  son drives a car to school and then asks me to bring forgotten shoes.  But my next immediate thought was how grateful I am that I can be home, can help out, and hear right in the middle of my rather boring day, “thanks mom I love you”   Now that’s worth a pair of shoes or two.

Funny story

Thought this was worth sharing.  My sons Ben and William went on a double date last Saturday night.  They were both on a first date.  Ben had met his date at church.  She was headed out before meetings were over and he asked her where she was going and she said “the Dallas Cowboy’s are on TV I have to go watch.” He convinced her to stay to church, then asked her out.  When he told me this I said, “that sounds like the kind of girl you want to be the mother of your children.” He said he knew it wouldn’t go anywhere but that she was really cute.

Anyway forward to Saturday, the boys planned and decided to go up the canyon and make dutch oven peach cobbler. Quite a feat for young men that have pretty much only watched their dad do it.  They gathered all the ingredients and tools needed.  One item had been forgotten, a can opener, but somehow with a really dull swiss army knife and pliers the can of peaches was opened ( I saw the empty can, not a pretty sight.)

They proceed and got the dessert done.  Ben’s date sat with it in her lap and said, “I don’t like peaches.” So being the chivalrous man ( he really isn’t) he took all the peaches off, gave it back to her and she said “It still tastes like peaches.”

Now I haven’t been on a first date in over 25 years, but even I know that was BAD FORM.  He said he saw her on campus after and thought, “she really is cute.” But immediately, the word peaches came to his mind and was brought back to his senses.

Grandson

I don’t know where to begin in expressing my gratitude and joy of the new little man in my life.  Having him snuggle up to my neck and be just absolutely perfectly content makes me feel like I have a bit of glimpse into eternity.  True joy definitely comes from family.

I am also grateful for a daughter who is strong and willing to invest herself completely into motherhood.  She is amazing.

Simple Smiles

I was just thinking about all the simple things in life that bring a smile to my face.  Thought it might be fun to jot some down and share.

• Finding mates to the socks in the sock box.
• Having the overdraft amount read $0:00 when logging on to the bank account.
• Getting up early and spending a few minutes alone before the day starts.
• Getting a cleaning project done. ( today was the stove and my dresser)
• Seeing my daughter with a very cute and very round tummy.
• Watching the sons-in-law treat the daughters as good as their dad treats me.
• Hearing a good story when I ask “how was your day.”
• Helping someone find the perfect gift at the toy store and
• Seeing the smile on their face when I ask if  ”I can wrap this for you? and yes it’s free.”
• Enjoying fall ( my favorite season)
• Seeing moms really enjoying their young children.

I just realized this list could go on forever.  Reminds me that the small things in life really are the most important.

Dance

I just returned from something I never thought I would do.  I watched one of my children compete in ballroom dance.  Our high school ballroom team did a fund raiser “dancing with the athletes.” Ten athletes from the school were partnered with ballroom people and competed in two dances.

My middles son the senior was voted to participate.  He has been waltzing and swinging pretty constantly the past two weeks.  Tonight he got to show his stuff.  His first dance was a waltz.  He wowed everyone as his partner ran to him and he lifted her high overhead.  It was beautiful and I couldn’t believe that was my basketball playing fish loving son up there.  His next dance was a swing, and boy can he move.  They were fast and amazing.

The end of the competition came and it was announced that there was a tie for first place.  He and the amazing drama boy who also happens to golf had tied for first.  It was decided to have a dance off.  I got to see the waltz again, it is just amazing.  The other couple did great too.  In the end he took second place by a point.

But the good thing is that he learned to dance and will probably continue to do it when he can.  His prize for second place was a backpacking tent.  Something he can use.  All and all it was a great night.