SURPRISE!!!

Another major birthday for Aunt Mary.  My little sister has turned 60.  Dang! She looks really good for her age.  I wish I were up to having some of her young pictures here to compare.  But just so you know, she has only gotten better.

Kristie, Andrea, Joe, Ben and Uncle Animal surprised her with a party with her grandchildren and a few friends and siblings.  Jimmy Dean and Elvis were also in attendance. The little girls provided the entertainment with one of their favorite dances that they have been practicing  for a long time.

This is Bubba (Ethan) dressed in his jeans and t-shirt with a pack of gum rolled up in the sleeve.  Love the hair.
Mary and Joe
Ben, Andrea, Joe, Mary and Kris
Andrea, Mary , Joe

Olivia, Anna, and Sophia
Andrea and Mary

Mary and her granddaughters

Can't forget Alex in his leather.

Mary opened her silly gifts.  Family joke about sharks.  Someone found shark slippers.

Life magazine from the week she was born.
Laurie, Dave and Mary

Joe, Mary, Kris and Lil' Joe

We enjoyed the best hamburgers in town along with fries and root beer.  Shakes to follow.  We had a wonderful time going down memory lane.  I gave Mary Aunt Norie's green cookie jar.  The 3 of us remembered that there were never any good cookies in it because Aunt Norie didn't bake but we looked into that noisy jar every time we went over, just in case.  Thanks kids for having us over to enjoy our memories.  I had some cuter pictures that Andrea sent to me but was unable to figure out how to get them into iphoto.

SUE AND O.D.

This couple deserve an award for being lifelong friends of ours.  Sue and O.D. have weathered the last 35? years with us.  I wish I could say that I had introduced them but I can't.  Sue became a member of SDC (Sacre Dulce Choir) around 1969? She was our new pianist and at first was just a little shy but that wore off quickly.  She was a home economics teacher at Olympus High School.  She had her Masters and had traveled.  I was quite impressed.

O.D. (Olan Dale) I met a few years earlier in 1967? at BYU.  He lived in the King Henry Apartments where I was also.  I found out that their apartment was in desperate need of a cook and when I say desperate, they hired me on the spot.  Now there was an experience.  I don't remember how many weeks I lasted but this group of characters were quite unique.  I won't go into more.  I brought all my favorite recipes out and cooked and shopped and cooked and shopped.  After a few weeks, I knew this was not "my cup of tea".  But the "boys" continued to be my friends.  After graduation and a couple of years teaching I ran across O.D. again when he was introduced as a friend of Sue's.  They were actually married before Lee and I.

The four  of us became close friends.  Sue and OD made sure that we attended the temple once a month for many years.  We loved board and card games.  OD thinks he can beat me at dominoes, Mormon Rummy, Ticket to Ride, and/or Settlers of Catan.  I always give him a run for his money.  Lee and Sue surprise us with a win once in a while.  OD was always in the circle when our children were blessed.  Sue could tell when she was needed.  When I was having a rough week she asked to take Sandie, Jane and Andrew to the zoo.   I was delighted and the children were prepared.  Not having children of her own Sue thought she could handle the 3 of them at the zoo.  We got the girls in the car but Andrew wouldn't have any of it.  He screamed and threw a fit but at 3 years old and leaving his mother was not a good thing.  I waved at them as they drove down the street.  Andrew's face was smashed against the window in a scream.  I took myself back inside to have a rest.  Thank you Sue for those 3 hours of peace.

Through the years it was Sue who I went to for advise, a shoulder and lunch.  My heart is full of gratitude for this wonderful couple who has been with us throughout our lives.  We spent last Saturday Night with them at the OC Tanner concert.  We love you both dearly.

Aren't they cute?  You will often see them serving in the Salt Lake Temple.

Dinner and Dominoes

Wayne and Sue Brent and Diane 
Lee and Laura Dave and Terrie

The above couple have moved from our neighborhood but we have kept in contact with them.  We do dinner and dominoes and talk.  Mostly talk!!!  We have a good time keeping up on children and grandchildren.  We won't go into who cheats to win or who whines the most when they don't win or who is sooooo slow with his moves that sometimes he gets skipped and doesn't notice until it goes around again.

State Fair

Lee and I headed off for the state fair grounds.  It was a beautiful day, the kind of day that reaches out to your senses.  We grabbed some money from our little "at home stash" to pay for anything we might want.  We just wandered around to find the buildings that held our interests.  Of course, the people and their attire were the most interesting.

We found the goats and sheep.  These are beautiful animals but they sure are stupid.
My pics are out of order again.  We found these delicious navajo tacos.  But at nine bucks a piece we only got one which was more than enough.  This is Mr. Mill enjoying all that gooshiness. (is that a word?)
He leaves a bigger mess than his kids ever did!!
This is one of the goats

These cows? were huge.
This is why you go to the fair.  The horse was made out of horseshoes.  The rider was supposed to be a robot playing the guitar.  Pretty good too!  He didn't smile, move or anything while we watched but he did have sunglasses on so he could blink.  There was a camera in the barrel with a person looking out so he could talk to you.
This was a lion and tiger show that we were unable to see but before it started this tiger was just stretched out in the sun taking a snooze.


GOATS
GOATS
GOATS

We hit the 4-H building and the canned goods and the crafts and handiworks.  And the scrapbook pages.  There were a couple hundred pages on walls, easels, chalkboards.

What we didn't see were pigs, chickens or rabbits.  

My favorite of course was the double dip ice cream cone.  Its a good thing that Lee isn't into taking pictures because it  would have been hideous watching me suck up those drips.  I had to bend my head every which way trying to keep it from dropping.  By the time I was done my shirt, pants, hands and face were covered.  Anyone watching would just have seen this old woman trying her best at making faces.

Mother's Advice

It's been too long since my last post but nothing important has taken place.  Yesterday I wrote up my thoughts and feelings about 9-11 and then accidentally deleted the whole thing.  I'll do it another time.

Today I am going to just put down some rambling ideas for my children and nieces if you are browsing.

1.  Smiths had some spices they are getting rid of this week.  They put them in baskets around the store.

2.  My last batch of towels got left in the washer for 2 days and without thinking I dried them and put them away.  PPPUUUU!!! the smell was awful.  After using the first 2 I put the rest back in the washer with clorox.  You would think that I had learned this lesson already.

3.  We are going to the fair today.  Lee and I are going through all the buildings and look at ALL the stuff without the little bodies telling us how  boring it is.  

4.  I remember going to the fair with my parents and siblings.  Our favorite thing in the whole world was picking up all the brochures we could find.  We filled our arms with this paper and carried it throughout the fair.  When we returned home Peggy, Mary and I would begin to play secretary (not school).  I don't know how Mom and Dad put up with us doing that but I don't ever remember them getting after us for it.

5.  Weather is spelled with only 1 h.

6.  Laurelee came over yesterday to help me put some software on my computer.  She spent 2 1/2 hours trying to get it  to work.  Finally, we took it back to the store only to learn that I had picked up the wrong program.  Thanks Laurelee

7.  She and I are planning to go to the art museum at the U.  Our husbands aren't interested so we'll go by ourselves on trax.

8.  Girls, let's go to lunch.  I'll buy! Cousins, you are welcome to come and bring your little ones but it has to be on a Friday.

9.  On her blog, Janice mentioned an clothing store called hannaanderson.com.  Girls, they had really cute children's clothing.  Just passing on the info.

10.  Kids, don't forget that your Primary program is coming up.  I want to be able to sit back and see each of my grandchildren doing their parts.

Swiss Days Conversation

I had to save this conversation for our family history.  This is an email conversation with instructions for the day.

Kris:  Hi guys, I'm not sure I included everyone who is going to Swiss Days in my email.  So if there is a member of your family that is coming, will you please contact them and let them know the plan.

We are going to meet at my house at 6:45.  This way, people can leave their cars in my driveway(they'll be safer here than in the parking lot and nobody will get a ticket).  So we'll adjust for carpooling when we get here and then hit Einstein's for a snack.  My mom can take her Explorer, Sandie is bringing her Expedition and Jill has her Sequoia.  If there are so few of us, we may be able to get four in each car and take only two cars.  I know, I know, the stuff.  I am counting only 7-8 people going.  I think we might be able to get away with two cars.

We plan to shop and then hit Loco Lizard in Park City on the way home.

We will divide into two groups this year.  There will be the "fast" group that will be directed by Lori.  Then there will be the "slow" group that will be directed by Brittney (she's a very thorough browser).

Please come prepared to state which group you'd like to be in.  We'll divide up accordingly.  I will have nametags that say, "Fast Ones" and "Slow Ones".  Either way, it sounds bad.

See you in the AM.

Tara, we'll miss you this year.  Best wishes this weekend.  Tell your mom that we're thinking of her, you, and the entire family.

Jen:  Ohh, my gosh!  I am r olling with laughter!  I for sure want to be in the "fast group".  However, if there is a spot I feel requires more attention I may break off and temporarily join the "slow group".  Of course, I will be rejoining the "fast group" ASAP.  I will see you at 5:45.

Mary:  Jen you crack me up!  I'm debating my group...fast? slow? Hmmmm...let you all know tomorrow.  I just know for sure I don't want Lori mad at me!

Brittney:  WHAT?!! Nobody consulted ME about being the designated leader of the SLOOOWW group!  I am highly offended!  Am I really that slow?  I think once again Kris is assuming things!  Fine!  I guess since everyone else thinks it's below them to be in the slow group I'll just be in my OWN group!  I'm not slow, I just have better taste than the rest of you and know when to stop for a good deal!!  Magnet boards?!  Please!!  Give me a break!  How much have THOSE changed in the last 5 years?!  But guess who's gonna stop and stare this year, AGAIN!?

By the way, was Mary telling me to meet at Kris's at 6:30 not 6:45 because she thought I would be so slow I would be late and really arrive at 6:45?  "Oh, just tell her 6:30, that way she'll be there at 6:45." Nice.

See you all tomorrow at 7:00 when you all decide to show up!!

Lori:  You guys are safe this year.  Unfortunately I can't take the time off of work and Andrew wanted to attend.  So we are going up in the late afternoon.  I am going with my three "small" children, slow husband, and crippled mother.  I will be the only one of this group in the "fast group."

Have fun ladies and let me know of any good finds.  I will probably cross paths with the "slow group" around 4ish!!

Mary:  Lady Brittney, you are not only just killing me, I'm dead!  I must have slipped when I said 6:30...NOT!

And I too am so over the magnet boards...those are so last year. First, you will be in the FAST group behind Jen who will be fastlly moving towards the Ghosts(the broomsticks of last year), then you might want to ove to the SLOW group, which may consist of you.

Group:  No staring at magnet boards!  Let's not embarrass ourserves!  See you at 6:30! (others at 6:45)

Jane:  Ladies..just wanted to say that I had a great time today and yes, I was in the slow group with Jen...It was so great to see all of you, it's been awhile for me.  Anyway, I will see you at the cabin for scrapbooking, thanks Kris for setting it up for us, and Mary, thanks again for lunch!

Laurie: (aside)  Mary must feel slower now that she is getting OLDER!!!!! YEAH!!! FINALLY!!

Kris:  I think we need to set up a phone tree for Aunt Laurie next year to remind her about SWISS DAYS.

New Post

Girls (the cousins) and anybody else following along like Mary (the aunt)  I have added a new box of blogs I follow.  I found this one - the Executive Homemaker- that has a lot of good information. You need to register at no cost but I thought it would a good one for young mothers and some of us in-betweeners.  Just explore!!  She has some incredible tips that I thing are worthwhile.  Enjoy your Labor Day.  Dad and I are going to a movie after he goes golfing in the rain.