Live imperfectly with great delight!

Cocoa and Karaoke

2012-01-30T12:52:00.002-07:00

We had our first...hopefully not our last.....Cole Family Cocoa and Karaoke night to celebrate January birthdays. We have many January birthdays; Garret Brown, Ryan Call,Wayne, Truman, Laila and Christine Cole.

I set up a cocoa bar with many types of Cocoa to choose from, whip cream a variety of Marshmallows, candy bars and cinnamon mix ins. Everyone concocted their own nummy treat.

Laila and Ryan opened presents first. Laila's birthday just keeps going and going. She loves her 'U" hat, fingernail polish, jewelry, drawing poster and cupcake maker!

Then the singing began!!! Landon and Megan started us off with a highschool musical rendition....

Preston was totally into it. He helped me out with "Love Shack'

Jenna kept us entertained with the latest hits including....Lady Marmalade.

Pretty soon we dumped the microphones and just all sat around singing our guts out. Big Girls Don't Cry, Sweet Caroline, Can't Take My Eyes off of You......... I'm sure it all would have sounded better if our audience was drunk......

Phantom of the Opera, Abba, some country and of course Broadway show tunes!

It was so much fun for everyone...singers and listeners. It was a Rockin and Dancin' good time!!!

Lessons Learned

2012-01-29T17:35:00.001-07:00

Five lessons learned this week.

1. If you want to succeed in the school spellingbee…you have to practice. Laila got outin round 2 with the word “obsequious.”

2. If you want Monson to call from the airport…sendclear instructions so he knows how the phone is to be used. Monsonheaded to Michigan on Wednesday. Waynesent him a pre-paid go phone so he could call us as soon as his bags werechecked in and he wouldn’t have to be ata pay phone. Well our plans weren’tMonson’s plans. I was in St. George andWayne was home. At 5:30 am I set myalarm to wake up and wait for the phone call. I couldn’t wait to ask him questions about the MTC and people there andwhat he’d learned and his feelings about the gospel…..all good “mom”stuff. At 6:30 I was still waiting. I finally called Wayne and he gave me the gophone number to call… I called it, no answer. At 6:45 Monson called me…. And said all is great but he only has 5minutes cuz they have got to board the plane ….What?!? I couldn’t believe it. I asked him if he had talked to Dad andLaila…he said no… So I quickly told him to be good, and that I loved him… GrandmaSheri was with me in St. George, so she said the same things to him. Then wehung up so he could have a few minutes with Wayne, Laila and Landon. It was a 3 MINUTE phone call…no lie. When Wayne talked to Monson, he found outthat Monson had given his phone to all of his district missionaries to use tocall home…and he had just a few minutes left when it got to him. I couldn’t believe it. Wayne just thought it was so nice ofMonson. I think it’s nice , but I wanthim to call his mother first…then share. I brought him into this world, and I changed his diapers, and I am the Mother…..you get my drift. It was disappointing at best… but he didsound happy and ready to take on the Michigan natives. Iasked Laila what she thought of the phone call, she said, “Monson sounded thesame, just sweeter.”

3. Good work leads to promotions and raises. Landon is moving onward and upwardat Legacy Prep. He is now the behaviorspecialist at the elementary and secondary schools.

4. The Teachers I work with like me much better asa yellow personality than a red. When Iam red they don’t think I’m allbusiness…they just think I’m allmad.

5. If a Celebration is going to happen.... I have to be the instigator. We have a Cocoa and Karaoke party tonight!!!

2012-01-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

I love this quote --

I don’t want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.

I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor’s children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone’s garden.
I want to be there with children’s sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.”
― Marjorie Pay Hinckley

But.....true confession......that's not me........I want the good hair and clothes, no scouts, yes helping others, but not getting messy, yes children's kisses and a shoulder to cry on, but not yard work.....and I want to sing in shows and do art and create beautiful spaces and have a faithful heart and family togetherness and I want to learn the scriptures and then the Lord will know I was really here and that I really lived.

What's New?

2012-01-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

We have been working on transforming Laila's room....but we have had other "new" things happening around our home as well. It's fun for me to re arrange and change things up.

I put my "Old King Cole" shelf in my walkway where the green bench used to live. I love the cubbies and the music notes on the side.

And when you see it on the front, there's a pic of my dad....Old King Cole... across the bottom I have the words to the nursery rhyme. I made this years ago thinking I would put it up in the garage, but then it ended up in Monson's closet storing his jerseys and undies. This new home suits King Cole far better. It's filled already, so my dad's face isn't really noticeable, but I know he's there and it makes me smile.

We have taken the old big Map down and placed it up on the blue wall of Monson's old room. It looks fabulous there, and the new WAVE canvas really brightens up the space.

We have been Valentine Decorating. This is my entry table...............

Laila and I created this canvas for her room. We mod podged on old book print, then painted up a heart in her room's colors.

I haven't had any time for knitting lately, but my sister-friend Laura has... I have three new scarves that are just gorgeous, and fun to wear.

My Sweetie brought me home beautiful roses to lift my day and brighten my dining room table. I love this kind of NEW!!!

Laila's Conversation

2012-01-23T15:45:00.002-07:00

My Friend Kathleen Newman sent this to me...
Walking down the hallway leaving church yesterday, who do I spot but your sweet Laila. She was so beautiful and had her hair so cute! Here's the conversation.
"Laila, I hear your mom's gone for the week"
"Yep"
"Well, if you need anything, please call. I'd do anything for you."
"Well , I'm 10 now, so there's not anything that I can't handle."
"Well, I've been 46 for a long long time and I still need help sometimes."
"Hmmmm, well I only have been 10 for 8 hours...if anything comes up, I'll let you know."

What a kid.

Birthday Weekend

2012-01-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my Truman.... he is 21 on Jan 21st. This is his Golden Birthday. I won't get to see what a 21 year old Truman looks like until the end of March when we go and pick him up from his mission in England. I can't wait. We sent him some "foot" type things for his birthday-- all with a "Lengthen your stride," "Put your best foot forward" type of theme.

Maybe Tru looks something like this.....................?

Laila turns 10, Jan 22nd. I get to see what a 10 year old Laila looks like.... She is petite, spunky, moody, funny, kind, loving and beautiful. We celebrated all weekend.

5 Things Laila liked about her birthday:

1. Getting her Bedroom Makeover

2. Having a cousin sleep over to watch movies with and play Just Dance 3

3. Getting even more presents, even though I told her the Room re do was IT.

4. Going to the Jazz game for the first time with her dad....and out to Arctic Circle before the game.

5. Starting to do her own laundry. 10 is the magic age in our home where this responsibility kicks in. She is excited and hoping she is tall enough to reach everything. That's where stools, and her monkey-like abilities will come in handy.

Laila's new room

2012-01-21T11:32:00.000-07:00

For Laila's Birthday we re-did her room. She has had a purple and green room with butterfies since she was 5. It was time for something new.

Becca, Laila and Landon all help Paint.

I made a pink and Brown quilt, we painted the top half of the room light pink and the bottom half dark pink...then added brown accents to make it not so sweet. Grandma and Grandpa Cole gave her two pink lamps.

We rearranged the furniture...put the bed on risers, added curtains, a heart canvas that we made and a paper banner border....

It looks Great.... Laila Loves it.

Let's hope that she can stand all of the pink for 5 more years. Happy Birthday!

Momma's hair

2012-01-17T12:28:00.003-07:00

1980's hair

My Mom has always had AMAZING hair. She has always had big, blonde hair. It is her signature.

Momma is always put together and won't leave the house without her hair done and makeup on. This comes from being raised as a hair dresser's daughter.

17th year anniversary photo-- 70's hair

1990's Hair

With Mom's new cancer treatment she has lost all of her hair. It's been quite the experience for all of us. Mom looks great in her wigs. She has blonde, brunette, red.....and looks cute in all of them. Many people don't even know they are wigs.

Momma in her blonde wig

My dad had to help momma cut off her hair in December. It was a tangled mess of hair falling out caught up with hair struggling to stay in.... Momma was laughing and dad was crying through this ordeal. My brother Adam, helped with the hair shaving act and finished getting rid of the loose stragglers, giving mom a bald pate....just like his..... ( I need a picture of that)
Through all of this my mom has been positive and grateful. No lie.
There is something awe inspiring about a bald head on a cancer patient..............

MY sweet niece, Rachel wrote this about mom's hair.......

"Her hair being gone means she is willing to fight no matter what. It means she is going to be bigger than life by fighting death, just like her hair. And that's how I know everything will be ok. Because she is powerful like her hair. She is important. She is strong. She is amazing"

I agree with Rachel................ Mom is amazing, with or without her hair.

Beauty and the Beast

2012-01-15T10:47:00.002-07:00

Nephew Hayden played an egotistical Gaston.....loved it, and i love how sweet he is with Laila.

Chelsea Marsden as Belle and Colton Keddington as the Beast

Laila, Mackenzie Hess, Caleb and John Sandorff...they have been in the last three shows together.

Beauty and the Beast at BHS has filled our days and nights since the New Year. This is a huge undertaking and is all in the family. Sister Angela is the Director, I do choreography along with niece Megan, and sister Marcie does the costumes. The show looked great. We even rented 3 drops this year and figured out how to make them work on our "no fly" stage.

B&B closed last night, and it was really fun and well received.It just got better and better.
Mondaynight Holly went to see it. She is the best to watch these type of shows with, because she getstotally caught up and just believes. Sheloved every part, except the wolves coming down the aisle and stopping right ather seat. She let out a huge scream! She knows what is coming up and tells you... and she laughs at all of the appropriate and sometimes inappropriate places.

By the end of the show, Holly stood up andclapped wildly for Laila's bow and stayed standing, cheeringand clapping down the aisle for all of the kids. She bounced down 10 rows and was at the front of the stage by the timeBelle and the Prince came out. Then Holly booked it upthe aisle and was first in line for pics with Belle and the Beast/Prince. She knows how to work it.

Laila is sad we are at the end of another show. She loves her high school time. IT makes her feel independent and she is great on stage.

Wayne...Prehistoric but not Extinct!

2012-01-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

Wayne turned 50....and we celebrated Caveman style.

Wayne and Melinda in 1987 for a Halloween Cousin's party.....

Wayne was late for his own party. Our adult Stake conference meeting on Saturdaynight was the longest one on record—this was only because I had planned Wayne’s50^th party to be from 8:30- 10. We had guests arrive but no Birthday boy until 9:15. He opened thedoor and yelled "surprise" to all of the guests…the surprise was on them, theyhad no idea we would be so tardy to the party. Oh well…it was still fun and awesome to have so many wonderful friendsand family tell Wayne "Happy Birthday." Weused a caveman…prehistoric but not extinct theme for the party....something different than "over the hill."

Add and Bre

Add and Bre painted a funny caveman and wife poster that we had people put their faces through and took many hilarious pics. The food consisted of food that would have been around in caveman days…nuts and berries, fruit and veggies, shrimp, chips and salsa...(I guess the caveman was from South America?!?)….you get the idea.

Wayne and Melinda

Add and Holly

Landon and cousin Emily

Christian Farley and Laila

Lyle and Sheri

Wayne got a recliner for his Birthday so he can recline in his old age. He is a happy -old- man!

Happy Birthday to my WAYNE!! Now I get to be the young wife for 6 months.

a little secret

2012-01-08T16:21:00.001-07:00

Wayne and I share a sock drawer.
Wayne and I also share socks. (His feet are average for a man, and mine are large for a women.)
For the past couple of months I have been able to open our sock drawer about 5 inches, either take a sock out or shove a sock back in and then swiftly push down on all of the remaining socks with all of my might and slam the drawer quickly shut before the socks can puff back up again.

The SOCK drawer is PACKED!
Which begs the riddle: How many socks should one couple share if a couple should share socks?
How did we get this many socks?
Wayne blames the boys. They were always pilfering out of the sock drawer, and so Wayne would buy more... and buy more...and after so many trips to China and bringing back socks......well let's just say we have a lot of socks.

Today was the day of reckoning. I took the over flowing drawer out and dumped it all on my bed. It covered the entire King mattress.
We have 96 pair of socks and 16 singles hanging out in this drawer. I have since sorted, bundled, counted, and trashed many a sock.

The drawer is neat and tidy and we can go back to being a happy sock-sharing couple once again. One whose drawer actually opens and closes.

Monson's first letter home

2012-01-07T14:02:00.001-07:00

Good thing I found a page two......or I would have been TICKED! He does have a funny sense of humor though.
Monson is enjoying his time at the MTC but all he wants is to get to MICHIGAN! He didn't say anything about the food..which really surprised me. HE did say:
"Everything here is and isn't what I expected. Anyways, I'd love to hear anything to help me grow in the gospel cause I'm still a rookie."
I like that he is sounding humble.
I truly have just been mad at him this whole week. Not sad that' he's gone, but mad at him and at my poor parenting skills that turned him into such a "baby." It's amazing what he didn't get done before he left, so that's what I have been doing, for him, since.
I guess mothering is never over.

Monson unloading his bags at the curb.... Love the new drop off system!

Tuesday Tidbits for the New Year

2012-01-03T15:01:00.000-07:00

Monson was set apart as a full time missionary on Sunday. Three days before he goes into the MTC. This is really different for us......Wayne is his companion. We are up at 6:30 doing scripture study, prayer, then exercise........then staying off the computer, no tv/sports on, no video games etc. Monson has been gung-ho about it. He changed his facebook login....so only I know it, handed over his iphone, and gave up his computer as soon as we got home from the setting apart. To help stay busy we have been to the Salt Lake and Bountiful Temples. I actually kind of like it this way because friends come here to say goodbye, and the "outside' world is gone... we get to feel a bit of heaven in our house before Monson goes to Michigan.

Landon, Pres. Taylor, Elder Welch, Grandpa Lyle, Wayne, Bishop Barlow
______________________________________________

Laila had quite the experience when she went wig shopping with me and Grandma Sheri. Mom took off her wig and Laila's eyes were as big as saucers as she looked at her white-patchy-bald-spotted, grandma. I think she is finally over the initial shock of it all. Mom has found some awesome wigs. She looks great and is determined to have fun with this chemo-cancer-crazy. She has a dark red wig, a strawberry blonde one and now a blonde one. She is still looking for one that matches Grandma Butters' red hair. She looks great in them all. I don't know why I am surprised at her positive attitude....she has had it her whole life. This "cancer" just adds to her adventure.

__________________________
I have picked a word/motto for my 2012 year..........CELEBRATE. I like how it looks, how it sounds and all that it implies.
Laila got into the spirit by having a SHAVE MY LEGS party on Jan. 1st. It consisted of her in a swim suit, a 30 minute shower and me expressing and showing all of my 38 years of shaving expertise. (see shaving legs signs of spring post) We have been putting this off for months, but her black hairy legs really bug her, hence the party and a life time of shaving.

_______________________
My only resolution that I am putting in print this year is.....NO MOVIE THEATRE POPCORN for the year. I mean it....Not for me and I'm not buying it for any of my family either. The kids are in mourning because they know it's pricey and they can't afford it. Monson is okay with the resolution because he is gone for the year. Knowing this was coming we had our last "how- much- popcorn- can- you- eat- at- the- theatre" New Years Eve. ( We saw We Bought a Zoo--- a real sweet show)
I ate an entire bucket by myself...literally....and boy did my gut ache!!!

_______________________
We got Wayne a recliner...chair for his 50th birthday!!!!!!! (50th birthdays take a lot of exclamation points.) He got it actually on the 31st, a week early, so he could enjoy the U of U bowl game. The Utes won which made it even sweeter. The chair is a good idea because, A-- Wayne's old and #2-- he will be able to lay flat while still being around the family. Now he won't want to escape up to our bedroom, so much, because of his dizzy. His big day is coming up Jan. 7th!!!!!!!!!!!!

_____________________

Happy New Year....eve

2011-12-31T23:30:00.000-07:00

We celebrated with the Calls.....food, games and family!

Wayne won the spoon game. Nelson and Wayne are friends even with rival sweatshirts. Grandpa Lyle and Grandma Sheri with their bonus Grandkids...Laila and Preston

We love doing fire works before Midnight. Most years it's snowy and we can't see across the street-- this year was just chilly. Laila was loving the New Years Hat. She was singing and dancing with it.

Marcie is a good sport and always gets confetti guns and streamers for the count down to midnight. It's messy, but fun.

I, of course, torture my family with "What a year it's Been!" 2011 type of activities.

A LITTLE ABOUT WAYNE:
Age: 49 Favorite food this year: Sushi
Favorite Color this year: Purple Favorite Activity: Melinda
Favorite Book or Movie this year: Harry Potter
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2011
Greatest Lesson learned: Don't eat so much crap.
Hardest thing of the year: Work...starting own company
Favorite Memory: Still having some memory
What I loved most about 2011: Surviving the Giant Wind storm...4 days with my chainsaw
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2012
Want to learn: More Chinese
Want to get better at: Spanish
Biggest Goal: Double volume at Work

A LITTLE ABOUT MELINDA:
Age: 49 Favorite food this year: Sushi
Favorite Color this year: Turquoise Favorite Activity: Being in Hairspray at CPT
Favorite Book or Movie this year: The Help
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2011
Greatest Lesson learned: This too shall pass
Hardest thing of the year: Mom being diagnosed with Cancer
Favorite Memory: Lindsey dancing with her dad, Dale, at her wedding
What I loved most about 2011: Family, gatherings, new windows, Monson getting his call to Michigan
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2012
Want to learn: to eat less and feel better.
Want to get better at: Art-- spending time with my Mixed Media projects
Biggest Goal: Celebrate my 50th birthday in STYLE

A LITTLE ABOUT LANDON:
Age: 23 Favorite food this year: Supreme pizza...any dessert
Favorite Color this year: yellow-- or sparkle Favorite Activity: Watching Movies
Favorite Book or Movie this year: Jacob T. Marley and The Help
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2011
Greatest Lesson learned: Never cease to be amazed by people
Hardest thing of the year: Headaches
Favorite Memory: Being in the coach's box@ USU for Al's Hall of Fame announcement
What I loved most about 2011: The realization of how many people love and support me. The year of the headache has made me really rely and lean on others.
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2012
Want to learn: To love Exercise and what Exercises work best for me.
Want to get better at: Writing my missionary brothers.
Biggest Goal: Much less headaches an Much more Work so can move out and go back to School

A LITTLE ABOUT MONSON:
Age: 19 Favorite food this year: Mashed Potatoes
Favorite Color this year: Red    Favorite Activity: Sports...playing and watching
Favorite Book or Movie this year: Don't read....movie is Dark Knight....forever and always.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2011
Greatest Lesson learned: College Sucks
Hardest thing of the year: School
Favorite Memory: Going to Canada on Choir trip
What I loved most about 2011: Everything except my semester of College
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2012
Want to learn: the Gospel
Want to get better at: Teaching
Biggest Goal: Serve the LORD

A LITTLE ABOUT LAILA:
Age: 9 almost 10     Favorite food this year: Spaghetti
Favorite Color this year: Neon hot Pink    Favorite Activity: Reading and acting
Favorite Book or Movie this year: The Name of this book is Secret, and Harry Potter
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2011
Greatest Lesson learned: Ice can be dangerous
Hardest thing of the year: Ice
Favorite Memory: going to the live Nativity at Liberty Park
What I loved most about 2011: My birthday
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2012
Want to learn: How to tap dance
Want to get better at: piano
Biggest Goal: exercise each day and grow big and strong

Friday 5 Fave..... Monson

2011-12-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

Monson is 19 years old.

Melinda, Dale, Wayne, Gma Welch, Landon, Monson, Holly, Laila, Gpa Lyle, Gma Sheri

We celebrated with Grandparents by going to Salt City Burger.... then Monson had Cake, opened a new camera for his mish, and played with Friends--Mackay LaSalle and Kyle Palowski.

I will always remember when he was born for a couple of reasons: Sister- Marcie's house burned down the day before, and sister in law-Tami had baby Tyler 12 hours before Monson was born so we shared a hospital room.
We are at the 5 day count down to Monson leaving for 2 years.
For my final Friday 5 fave of 2011, I am dedicating this to him.
5 Favorite things about Monson.............
1- He gives awesome hugs---if you have ever received one you know what I mean.
2- He loves my cooking-- especially roast beef and mashed potatoes, chicken and rice and spaghetti with meatballs.
3- He "embraces" his red hair-- he jokes about it, sticks up for it and loves his "Gingerness."
4- He is a great listener.
5- He loves the Lord - he is looking forward to his next adventure in Michigan.

Christmas Decorations

2011-12-29T16:25:00.001-07:00

I have had a nativity tree for many years. I love having all of the ornaments dedicated to Christ's birth, and an Angel on top looking down. I have a little stuffed lamb that I place at the bottom, with a life size baby Jesus in a basket that I hook into the tree. (It's actually Truman's porcelain doll with his blessing out fit on it, that looks more like Laila, so I am going to be making a new one for Truman and switching clothes one of these days, but that's another story) The entire room is filled with various nativities that I have collected over the years. We also have a white stocking that we fill with notes about what gift we are giving the Savior. I switch out my pictures in the living room as well, to Nativity pics, and just fill the entire room with this motif.

My favorite nativity is my Precious Moments one. This doesn't look like much...and parts of it are broken and have been glued back together, but it's definitely my favorite. As I place it on the piano each year, I reflect back to mine and Wayne's first Christmas together. Like most newlyweds, we didn't have any money. With Wayne in school, and me just finishing my Student teaching, hoping to have a job someday, times were tight. Our car needed tires and we agreed that for Christmas we would get 4 tires, because that is all we could afford. I was okay with that, because we were living on love, and it was all going to be great some day, but I was also a wee bit sad..... tires for Christmas? Well my Wayne surprised me with one present on Christmas Day...it was this Precious Moments nativity that I have treasured every year since. Our first Christmas kind of felt like O'Henry's" Gift of the Magi" Story. I sold my hair and got Wayne tires and he sold his car and got me a nativity.....or something like that. Just kidding....but it did feel like a sacrifice, with a wonderful loving surprise at the end.

IN the entry way this year, I have set up vintage ornaments on trees from Grandma Butters and old chip board houses like the Christmas village I grew up with. The Garland up the stair way is filled with little kid ornaments and cousin ornaments from ornament exchanges long ago. Every ornament placed reminds me of people I love. Addison's Christmas Angel lives there as well.

Christmas Wrap up... Top 10

2011-12-27T16:42:00.005-07:00

10-- Seeing Lights on Temple square....even though it was soooo cold.

This is how we celebrated Christmas Adam ( The night before the night before Christmas)

9-- Christmas Eve Cole Family Breakfast at Marcie's with White elephant Gift Exchange.

8-- Cole Family Traditional Bowling at Bountiful Bowl....even Winston joined us

7-- Seeing Add and Bre's faces when they opened their new TV...

6-- Sing a long at Grandma Sheri's. Love the family choir sound we make.

5-- Laila's solution to hiding presents til after Church

4-- Laila's joy in bursting through the wrapping paper

3-- Three Presents appreciated and the squeal Monson made when he opened his Heat Jersey.

2-- Christmas dinner with the Reynold's family and Wanee and Holly. Monson and Landon helped with the mashed potatoes, and Wayne brought me beautiful roses for the table.

1--Truman's Telephone call..... Gpa Lyle and Gma Sheri joined in the conversation.... I am so happy my Mom is feeling okay enough to join in all of the festivities.

It was so good to talk to my boyfriend, and see his cute, skinny, long face. He is totally engaged in missionary work and happy to be in England.

My Missionary!!!!!!!

Welch Year in Review...2011

2011-12-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

This is what we send out every year in our attempt at a family news letter. It's short and sweet and the drawing is incredible.......!?!

Friday 5 Fave......about Wayne

2011-12-23T19:30:00.000-07:00

I love my Wayne...... I pretty much wear it on my sleeve.

There are many reasons why I love my high school sweetheart, but I will share 5.

1. He loves his Mother....and she loves Birds.....so.....

2. Wayne loves birds...he has become the Bird man of Bountiful. We have 5 feeders in our backyard to help with the Winter feeding of finches, blue scrub jays, woodpeckers, sparrows, chickadees, northern flickers.....all of the birds that don't fly south for the winter.

3. Wayne and Laila love to watch "bird tv" out of our picture window

4. We have a 25 pound of peanuts in shell in our garage for the birds

5. Wayne loves people...he wants to support our friends who opened a Feed the Birds store in Bountiful, during a recession.

All reasons why I love my Wayne.

Wayne just came home with his own Merry Christmas present...two more bird feeders!!!

Christmas Cheer from my favorite Artist.

2011-12-22T21:29:00.002-07:00

Addison has been sculpting away and has two Christmas themed creatures left.

A bashful elf....about 18 inches tall, with the sweetest face you have ever seen, hand stitched clothes and a giant gold buckle on his belt. The Elf is $85

....................and a wise, old angel "block Head" singing Alleluia! The Angel is 20 inches and is $65

IF you are interested in purchasing one of these from a starving student/struggling artist let me know.

Christmas ornaments 2011

2011-12-20T22:36:00.000-07:00

We have been giving our kids ornaments since 1999. I have a friend, Sherry Williams who does them for me. She is so willing, even when I call her last minute. The kids look forward to these every year. The plan is, when they have kids of their own, they can take these to their homes and reminisce about years and Christmas's past.

The off to London for 2 months-- we were at the Royal wedding Couple ornament

Lando with long hair, scruff and a head ache ornament

Elder Truman......same ornament as last year, because he is still a missionary!

Red shirted, football hopeful who tolerated Dixie State and is happy to be home, red headed Monson ornament

Laila lost 3 teeth this year...two that she pulled out herself with in a 1/2 hour of discovering they were loose ornament.

Addison's ornaments since 1999

Landon's ornaments since 1999

Truman's ornaments since 1999

Monson's ornaments since 1999

Laila's ornaments since 1999

Monson's Farewell

2011-12-18T20:47:00.003-07:00

Monson had his mission farewell today.

Tanner Farley...home from Fiji.....and Monson.....ready to go to Michigan!

The church was packed because it was Money's farewell and Tanner Farley's homecoming. Monson spoke today on the topic, Trust in the Lord. To send a 19 year old boy out into our big world takes a lot of trusting in the Lord, for this momma!
Monson talked about many things and different people who trusted in the Lord, but I was really pleased when he spoke about Laila's head injury and how we as a family just had to put all of our Trust in the Lord to make it through this..... my big, tough, football player got all choked up about it. He also said some pretty nice things about his Grandma Sheri and her optimistic attitude as she tackles this cancer that's in her body. She is a fighter and will definitely kill "it" with kindness. It was fun to see the debut of Mom's new red/strawberry blonde wig too. She looks like Monson's Grandma, that's for sure. So stunning!

Lindsey, James, Holly, Wanee

Pizza and Salad!! Dad, Laura, Rob, Mom

Stuart and Emily Wolthuis with me and Wayne

Jenna and Landon

Tami and Linda Wangsgaard

Some of Monson's boys: Morgan Ellis, Jordan Bell, Dallin Butters, Richard Gnautavi

Monson talking to Paul and Bonnie Evensen....some of his favorite people.

Cousins: Brady, Kylie, Nathan, Kimberly, Shelby and Uncle Rob

Angela, Brad, Mom and Me

We had a house full of people. I'm always amazed at how many bodies we can fit in here. Good thing we remodeled. I really loved looking around at everyone and thinking, "Wow, these wonderful people all love and support my kids and our family." I just felt warm all over and a bit teary. The gospel truly brings us all together.

Monson is going to be a great missionary in Michigan...and now he just needs to get through these next 16 days. I have plans to keep him busy and give him things to do so he just doesn't sit around all day in waiting. I am glad it's the holidays, filled with built in family time and parties. Monson will be leaving soon and it makes me excited and teary all at the same time.
___________________________________
We finally got Monson's missionary pics back. A wonderful lady takes missionary pics for free. She is Shootz photography up in Kaysville, and I find her and this service truly amazing. I am grateful to have stumbled upon this blessing. The pics are beautiful of my baby boy.

Friday 5 Fave.....family vacations spots

2011-12-16T14:34:00.000-07:00

My vacations spots--- all places I have been and would love to go again, and again.

1. Bear Lake, Utah--We go every year and I LOVE it. It's laid back, it's a comfortable, no surprises kind of place.
2. Hawaii-- I have been twice. I really appreciated the Polynesion Cultural Center. I would love to go again....this time to Maui....
3. Orlando, FL-- "THe World"I have gone with my sibs and with my kids...and now I can't wait to take them all over again next year to see Harry Potter Land
4. Cruise.......Caribbean...the best place for diving. Blue, Blue water and wonderful sunny days. I also really like the whole cruise deal....dressing up, dancing, dinner, shows, sight seeing. It's just so fun!
5. NYC-- Always and forever... I could go once a month or at least once a year. SO much to do and see and shop and eat. I am a theatre junkie and a food lover-- it's the perfect place for me.

I have also enjoyed China, Germany, England and Scotland... I want to go to Peru and Argentina...and then all over Europe. These will be me and Wayne type of Vacays, and not family trips.

Add and Bre

2011-12-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

Addison and Bre are celebrating their one year Anniversary today!!
I can't believe this year has gone by so quickly. I remember being outside the Salt Lake Temple in sweaters...and no boots. Such great, no worry, weather to celebrate by. I remember being inside the Temple and thinking...wow, I just got a new daughter!

Add and Bre are happy, in love, newlyweds who find joy in the cutest things.....making french toast, having friends over to their apartment, movie night, sleepovers, crafting. They are so fun to be around.

I am happy Bre is my daughter-in-law. She really completes Addison in every way. She is so talented and sings beautifully. She has great style. She is wonderful with children. She is willing to spend time with both families and make schedules work out so we can all feel included in her and Add's new life.

Laila loves having Bre around, and really feels like she's her sister.

Bre is warm and happy and spiritual and a great listener and .......I could go on and on,
but I just want to say, what a blessing she is to our family.

When I had 4 wonderful sons in a row, I would pray and hope that they would all make great matches, so I could have wonderful new daughters one day.
So far I am batting a thousand.

Happy Anniversary Addison and Bre!!!!

New Windows

2011-12-10T16:50:00.001-07:00

Out with the old....well atleast 6 old.....

.........................and in with the NEW.....

We got some new windows for Christmas....We are seeing clearly now, can't wait to do the rest!

OTHER NEWS: We had the Insurance guy come out to see our wind storm damage from last week....we will be getting a whole new roof!!! ....come Spring. We just need to get it temporarily patched til then. Pretty amazing.

MORE NEWS: My December goal of singing every day isn't going too great. I lost my voice on Monday and Tuesday. It's back now but I'm only sing the Bass line in songs.

Friday 5 Fave...Christmas Movies

2011-12-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

I love Christmas time....and Christmas movies. My mom watches the Hallmark channel all through December to see the cheesy, low budget, hand me a tissue movies every night. I don't do this....but I do like a few GOOD Christmas movies. I have mulled this list over and decided it's best in two sets of 5.

5 older movies:

White Christmas-- Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye..... two of my favorite old time actors!
A Christmas Story-- nostaligic piece. Love Ralphy-- the BBGun and the Leg Lamp.
The Santa Claus ( Tim Allen)-- this first movie is good...clever and fun....the rest were bad.
Albert Finney's Scrooge-- saw this int he 70's when it first came out, and we would make a point to see it at a movie theatre every year after that. The songs are stuck in my head FOREVER!
It's a Wonderful Life-- love this show, especially when I take the time to sit down and really watch it. Love James Stewart!

.........and 5 slightly newer movies

Elf-- a classic already.... Will Farrel's BEST work
Jim Carey's How the Grinch Stole Christmas-- This is funny and sweet and clever
The Holiday-- the English Country side, a Christmas cottage and throw in some Jude Law...you got a winner!
Muppet Christmas Carol-- my whole family thinks this is the best Christmas Carol out there...it helps the kids understand the story better, that's for sure.
Love Actually-- The "Clean Flicks"version is the only one I have ever seen. I saw it on an airplane first. I understand it's originally rated R...there is one story line that I have never witnessed, thank goodness....so watch with caution, or borrow my copy. Hugh Grant...I love the Brits... 5 stories all intertwined.

Lesson in Service and Obedience

2011-12-05T12:18:00.001-07:00

What a weekend of crazy wind, no power, debris and fallen trees!! It was also a weekend filled with service and obedience.
I was amazed that church was called off and a work order was called in to clear debris and get our neighborhoods cleaned up before the next round of wind. Everyone seemed a bit frantic but worked hard and well together. Strangers were driving through neighborhoods just looking for some where to serve.
Wayne literally had his chain saw in his hand and was cutting up trees, from Thursday afternoon when the winds died down, to Sunday evening when it got too dark and all were "ordered" to stop. His body hurts from the top of his head down to his little toe. There is not one part that isn't achey. He is a good server.
It was fun to see the different "jobs" people participated in..... loading, cutting, sweeping, driving, hauling, cooking, feeding, treating, loading.....you get the idea. There was something for everyone to do.
I really felt blessed this morning after a good nights sleep. It was a good night because the wind petered out and didn't keep me awake with it's constant howling.
I know we were all blessed.
It's like in the old testament when the Faithlful are told to put lamb's blood on their doors and they would be passed over.
The Faithful, yesterday, did the clean up. We did what our church and local leaders commissioned us all to do and the forecasted wind storm passed us over.
It was indeed a lesson in service and obedience.

Friday 5 Fave....Primary Songs

2011-12-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

I Wonder When He Comes Again

I am a Child of God

I Love to see the Temple

I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus

Jesus Once was a Little Child

Whenever I hear the song of a bird..........My Heavenly father loves me.

I am always waiting for someone to bust me and comment that I keep posting 6 things on my 5 fave. I can't help it...it's hard to narrow it to five and Friday 6 fave just doesn't have the same ring to it.

December Goal

2011-12-02T16:58:00.001-07:00

In all of the flurry, I almost forgot to set my December goal.
I am going to sing every day this month.
Sing outloud....by the piano....by myself or with a crowd.
It's official!
Happy December

Wicked Winds of December

2011-12-02T16:07:00.001-07:00

December came in with a wild wind.
We had no power for almost 24 hours.
We survived but had many shingles torn off our roof, patio furniture whipped around into a tangled mess, our basketball standard fell on Landon's car adding another dent to his collection, part of Laila's playhouse roof shirred off, grills blown all over, branches everywhere and neighbor's pine trees falling like dominoes all up and down the block. The Belnap's lost 10 huge trees.
All was freezing, but okay, as we snuggled up to our kerosene heater and gas fire place. My parents came and spent a few hours...but with Mom's recent chemo...she couldn't get warm, was achey and finally we checked them into a hotel in SLC for the night. (Mom has yet to get hydrated again, and is in a spiral... pray for her. She did so great for the first two days after chemo but is having issues now.)
Wayne spent all afternoon yesterday, and most of today helping out with his chain saw. He loves his chain saw and is thrilled to be of service. There is a lot of service to give.
We are on the insurance adjusters claim for 10 days out... I am sure this is an insurance nightmare.
I am thankful though that our house didn't blow away... and for the most part, all family and friends are doing fine.
I am now playing catch up to all of the things I had scheduled for yesterday. A "Wind" Day sure does take it out of you.

I'm pretty sure we will all recall the hurricane force winds of 2011.

#30 Thankful..........

2011-11-30T20:12:00.001-07:00

I am thankful for Festival of Trees.... I try to be there on opening night to purchase something and see all of the beautiful trees.
I am reminded of all the years I decorated a tree with my wonderfully creative and generous sis-in-law--Sandy... we had a lot of fun coming up with ornament ideas and getting work parties together to make it happen for the Pharmacy guild. We had a black and white cow tree and an angel tree and a nativity tree and a tall soldier tree...and many others. We always wanted the trees to be sold on opening night-- and felt so sad when this didn't happen, but eventually all of the trees found a home.
I loved the time spent working on a Bubba Belnap Skiing bear tree and a Sarah Belnap Angel tree with a wonderful group of friends. We worked and cried and worked some more. It was very therapeutic.
Festival of trees is such a wonderful, worthy fundraiser for Primary children's hospital. This hospital saved my Laila's life.....and I am grateful for any help we can give them.
I am thankful.

30 Days of thanks has been a good goal and an exhausting goal.
I am thankful for be done. I know that sounds like I'm ungrateful, which is not true at all. It's hard to put into writing every day something meaningful that I am thankful for. Something that touched me, or reminded me to count my many blessings. I am glad I make myself do this each year though. It's a good exercise in gratitude..... and now we are ready for December!

#29 Thankful for couple time

2011-11-29T15:27:00.001-07:00

I am thankful to be running up to the Homestead for some much needed couple time.
A quick overnighter and some re-connecting is just what we need.
I am thankful that Wayne is so willing to leave work and concentrate on US.

I am thankful

#28 Thankful for my Dad

2011-11-28T16:57:00.001-07:00

My dad is the sweetest. He cries at the drop of a hat....he wasn't always this way, but as he gets older his tear ducts get bigger. I blame my empathy crying on him.
We went to his sister Phyllis' funeral today in Preston, Idaho. Out of 13 kids there are only 2 left, my dad and his baby brother Jerry. It's always great to see extended family and cousins. I don't know many, but everyone knows my dad. He's the connector.
This was a small funeral....and just like my Aunt Phyllis, really short. It was 20 minutes long. Funerals are to comfort the living, and so it was perfect for her son's Brad and Alan. Among a few nice grandchildren talks we had the Beatles sing....and Bro. Phil Collins. Actually both of these were recordings that were to be played during the service. The guy in charge didn't know this though, and actually announced that Bro. Phil Collins will sing, "You'll be in my heart." When Bro. Phil Collins didn't stand up to sing, (because he is a rockstar who lives in ENGLAND)...the man in charge, asked if Phil Collins was here, then some one indicated something pointing to the sound booth in the back of the mortuary, which made the man in charge incorrectly announce, "Oh he's in the hallway, he will be here soon." This was more than I could take. My dad said, "oh boy," .......and we opened the chuckle gates. Good thing I was sitting by Marcie and good thing when the recording finally began it was turned up pretty loud. We were shaking with uncontrollable laughter with tears coming down faces.... I am sure it just looked like we were sobbing with grief.
Man it was comical. I know Aunt Phyllis would have gotten a kick out of it.
We laughed about it all the way home.
I am thankful for my dad.

#27 Thankful for Missions

2011-11-27T14:58:00.001-07:00

I am so thankful for my missionary son, Truman, serving in the England, Manchester mission. I love getting his emails each week. He is so positive and filled with the spirit. It is contagious. I have heard it said that ...." a boy smiles more on his mission than he does in his whole life."
I am so thankful to be getting another son, Monson, ready to serve in the Michigan, Lansing mission. He leaves in 5 weeks. We got all of his clothes purchased this weekend, and his pics taken. He can't wait to get out of here and get into missionary mode on Jan. 4th, 2012.
I am thankful Addison served an honorable mission in the Great Baton Rouge Louisiana Mission. He came home totally converted to the gospel and ready to serve in His kingdom.
I am thankful for my parent's mission to Scotland. We all lived this mission as a family and met so many wonderful saints....who are our extended family in Scotland now.
I am thankful for Wayne's mission to Argentina, Cordoba. He recently got a letter from a sweet sister whom he baptized 30 years ago. This family went to church for 5 years, then have been out of the church for 25 years because of pride...but because of a valiant Visiting teacher and some amazing tender mercies...has since gotten back into activity and sent a wonderfullly inspiring email to my Wayne, thanking him for serving a mission and hoping he remains ever faithful in the church.
I am thankful for my Dad's mission to the Southern States, and Wayne's dad's mission to Somoa.... and all of the many relatives and friends who have served or are serving all over this world.
Missionary work is truly amazing.
I am thankful.

#26 Thankful for the gym

2011-11-26T11:54:00.001-07:00

I am thankful for the gym.
I don't really love to go, but it does make up for all of the rich eating I have been doing. Okay, it probably doesn't make up for my eating, but it does make my head feel better.
I actually love to walk outside far more than I like going to the gym, but I am glad it's there for all of the coming up, cold mornings.
I am thankful I can move and I don't have too many aches or pains.
I am thankful for peeps who go to the gym with me, so I don't have to always go alone.
I am thankful.

Friday 5 fave...Faith promoting books

2011-11-25T11:00:00.000-07:00

I have struggled with my faith in the past. At one point I really felt like I was at a "0"on the faith scale.
I have since read many books, and prayed and pondered on Faith. There are many great books out there that have totally strengthened me and helped me feel I have Faith....I have a great amount of Faith.
I had A-ha moments while reading each of these books.

1. Continuous Atonement by Brad Wilcox

Christ doesn’t just make up the difference. He makes all the difference.

“I’ll never do it again,” we say — and then we do it. In a world full of challenges, temptations, and even addictions, it is easy to lose hope for ourselves and those we love. During times of discouragement, we must remember that the purpose of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is not just to cleanse and console, but also to transform — and that takes time. Christ is not waiting at the finish line once we have done —all we can do.” He is with us every step of the way, and His Atonement will be available as long as the perfecting process takes — continually

2. Divine Signatures by Gerald Lund

As Latter-day Saints, we know God exists, but sometimes we may wonder, “Heavenly Father, are you really there for me?”

When trials seem beyond our ability to bear, some people lose their spiritual bearings, while others are made even stronger. How can we strengthen our faith and deepen our testimony to the point that we can endure whatever life holds in store for us and emerge stronger than before?

3. Believing Christ by Stephen E. Robinson

We must not only believe in Christ but also believe him — believe that he has the power to exalt us, that he can do what he claims. People will better understand the doctrines of mercy, justification, and salvation by grace after reading this book.

4. Rescuing Wayward Children....by Larry Barkdull. I actually really don't like the title of this book, because that's not what the book is really about..and it made me want to hide it from my kids as I was reading it, or atleast tear the cover off.
This book isn't really about wayward children. It's about becoming sanctified so that we can be in a position to be used by the Lord to help those we love who may be struggling with their testimonies.

5. When your Prayers Seem Unanswered by S. Michael Wilcox
When Your Prayers Seem Unanswered offers piercing insights into the Lord's dealings with His children, and helps us learn to trust His timetable.

#25 Thankful for my Faith

#24 Thankful for my Wayne

2011-11-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

On this day of Thanks I am thinking about one of the greatest blessings in my life.
My Wayne.
He is such a good priesthood holder.
He is so capable.
He is so spiritual.
He has such a great work ethic.
He is a good Samaritan.
He loves his family.
He love the Lord.
He loves me.............even with all of my stuff.

Wayne makes me smile and laugh more than any one I know. He is a masterful story teller.
I totally love it when he is telling a story. He sits forward in his seat and is so animated and strong.
He just lights up.

I am thankful.

#23 Thankful for parties!

2011-11-23T17:01:00.000-07:00

Pie Parties are a wonderful thing in our family. This idea is around much more today but when my mom began it, it was a novel idea. She even had a national magazine come and take pics and interview all of us about the annual pie party. Only Truman and Neice, Rachel made the magazine...two little kids eating pumpkin pie.

I know I rhapsodize every year over my love affair with Pie.....

What's my favorite kind of pie? ROUND! Wayne's Dad always said this...he was a man after my own heart.

Anyway, a pie party is just one more reason to get together with loved ones to share, laugh and love.

I am thankful.

#22 Thankful for funerals

2011-11-22T13:16:00.001-07:00

I love a good funeral.
I have had the opportunity to go to Wayne's Uncle Floyd's, Gary's Dad's-- Bill Call and two ward members, Bud Paul and Shirley Riss in the past two months.
I love that funerals bring people together. Family that you haven't seen in ages are always at a funeral.
Funerals are so sweet and fun, that's right....fun, and full of grace.
LDS funerals are the best. We should attend more funerals....they are good for our souls.
You come away filled with hope and have a renewed testimony of the plan of salvation.

I like to take notes at Funerals and gather all of the wisdom "nuggets":
From Uncle Floyd's--
"The only thing you can do with a pair of gloves on, is wet your pants."
"If you act busy, people won't talk to you."
From Bill Call's-- "They are the best parents, because they are my parents."
"Good is better than Great...many scriptures that verify this."
"Don't do dumb things."

I get to sing at many funerals. I just sang at Shirley Riss's. I have a "trick" now, so I can sing and not end up a blithering mess with underscoring. I take out my contacts, and blow up the music really big so I can still see it, but not see the audience. I am an empathetic crier. If someone is crying I always join in. When I can't see the criers, I can keep on singing.
IT's a win win-- as Laila says.
I am thankful.

#21 Thankful...for positive attitudes.

2011-11-21T19:30:00.000-07:00

My parents had a guy stand in their church yesterday and issue this challenge in regards to thankfulness.
"Let's pretend you wake up tomorrow morning and all you have in your world are the things that you were thankful for the night before......what would your world look like?

Only my family, and health and missions and gospel would be in tact...but not much else....

Gratitude can't be "all " encompassing. It should reflect the details of our lives.

Tried to have my Mom's chemo consult appointment to day for her uterine cancer. It continues to be a series of unfortunate events. She has had more struggles to get seen by docs and have the proper tests run and have front office staff make and keep appts with her. We are all just shaking our collective heads. So today I was going in to hear the "word" so I could report back what's really up and ask all of the questions that my parents can't think of in the moment.
My parents are very capable but when the big "C" word is mentioned, it tends to shut down portions of the brain and open up portions of the heart that make it difficult to concentrate. Hence why I was going in today to listen. Well we show up and the dr. office forgot to put her appt in the computer..."we are so sorry and embarrassed, but you will just have to come back." I think I have lost all appointment visitation rites because I was mad and embarrassed my parents. I got so I couldn't even look at the staff person with out wanting to release all sorts of venom...so I just pulled out my cell phone and texted Wayne the craziness of the moment.
Mom labeled her doctor care the best..."A Comedy of Errors."
I hope we can continue to have positive outlooks and laugh at the ups and downs in our lives.
My mom is so good at this.....and my dad.
Sorry for being the embarrassing daughter.

I am thankful.

Latest update: Marcie got in to the Doc with Mom....these are her notes....

FYI: The Dr’s. Office staff was so kind and apologetic over the miscue on Monday. Even the Doctor apologized.

I went to the Doctor with Mom and Dad on Tuesday Nov. 22, 2011. When Dr. Prystas entered the room she came with a great positive energy and calm. She spent a good 20 minutes talking with mom about her known medical history. She mentioned looking at the doctors reports and test from the Lung Doctor to the Cancer Doctors and others. The Doctor then did an external physical examination of mom; checking her lymph nods, lungs and in the pelvic region. She asked questions the whole time regarding mom’s menopause, and other female issues. (I got the impression that moms case was unique and different….surprise…..not).

She left for a very short minute and returned with a treatment plan.

- Dr. Prystas then spent another 32 minutes with us discussing the cancer and the treatment plan. (I was impressed that she wrote down notes for mom to take home with her. The notes included definitions, drug names etc….)

- She explained what the cancer is and where it is located:

Endometrial Andino Carcinomatosis…..or most likely the common name of Uterine cancer.

Endometrial Carcinoma is uterine cancer. Andio carcinoma is a cancer cell. Carcinomatosis means the cells have attached or metastasized in several areas.

The cancer is not in the organs but surrounds the organs and is in the pelvic area in the mesentery area or apron of fat.

(The reason for the lung fluid is the diaphragm presses on the lungs and cause fluid to develop. She found it interesting that they found the cancer cells the first time the lung fluid was checked. Usually only 1 in 3 times it is found this way).

- It is highly unlikely that the cancer will be cured, however it is possible especially since the symptoms of her cancer are so vague. With treatments the cancer most likely will shrink.

- Operation is not helpful at this time because of how the cancer is spread around and not in a specific organ. The risk is that you may leave cancer in the body.

- Radiation will damage the bowels and other organs since the cancer is widespread and not pinpoint -able.

- Recommends aggressive Chemotherapy.

First treatment Tuesday Nov. 29, 2011, 1:00pm

Six, four-hour treatments every 3 weeks. Depending on how the therapy is being tolerated.

The drugs used are Carboplatin and Trxall, mixed with an anti nausea drug and benadryl.

Administered by IV

Side affects: Nausea, Hair loss, Fatigue, Constipation.

Possible side affects: mouth sores, achy bones, neuropathy, appetite and taste may be off.

Allergic reaction possible but they will know with in the first few drops of the

Treatment.

Won’t loose weight.

Hair loss by the second treatment.

Good news side affects are reversible.

Drugs to take before and after treatments: Steroid before the first treatment only. Nausea medication to use after treatment as needed.

Blood tests are done at each treatment to study the cancer markers.

CAT scan after the third or fourth treatment to check the cancer.

If she is responding to the treatments surgery is possible. If not responding they will evaluate and figure out the next step.

- No special diet recommended.

- No extra vitamins needed.

- Flu shot needed.

- Be careful of germs. Wash hand and use hand sanitizer. We can only visit if we are well; No coughs, sniffles, sore throats, etc…. We may want to keep the kisses to a minimum.

- Drink lots of water to keep the kidneys clear of the drugs.

We left feeling positive and hopeful.

#20 Thankful for kindness

2011-11-20T21:08:00.001-07:00

I am thankful for kind people in my life and for the reminders to be kind to everyone I meet. Kindness is not over rated. It is what elevates the human experience.
I am thankful.

#19 Thankful for Women

2011-11-19T16:39:00.001-07:00

I just got home from Time out for Women. I know I wrote about this last year as well....but it really is an inspiring, motivational, count your blessings experience that I am so grateful to share with my women family and friends. We gathered at the Salt Palace and listened to speakers and songs that totally touch hearts and heal souls.

I am thankful to learn about and ponder on the following:

Brad Wilcox shared thoughts on the Atonement. "The Real end is to Become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is our Redeemer which means we can be transformed and changed to be more like him."
"The ultimate end is not seeing Jesus face to face, but Jesus seeing himself in us."
"God does love you just the way you are...but that doesn't change the fact that he wants us to grow and become."
"God's love and help is NOT the light at the end of the tunnel, but it's the light that moves us through the tunnel."
"God's delays are not denials."

Hillary Weeks sang her beautiful songs. I cried through these. She talked about positive thoughts and getting a clicker to count those...which totally helps you focus on the good and become more positive.
"We Become what we want to Be, by consistently Being what we want to Become." Elder Scott

Sheri Dew.. spoke on How deep are your Spiritual roots? She said the world focuses too much attention on the outside. We know better. We need to focus on the inside...the roots. "What do the things about you, that no one can see-- look like? What does your faith look like? Your courage? Your heart?"

Stephanie Nielson, who was burned over 80% of her body in a plane crash 3 years ago, came and talked about perspective...and how she had to choose to live. She shared how small and simple acts have become so important to her. We need to Choose to make our relationships with the ones we love better.

Emily Watts spoke on the 5 Habits of Happiness. She was very funny and heartfelt. She is a great story teller and one quote, I loved, about Doing Hard Things is, "The road to accomplishment is paved with whining." So true, so true.

S. Michael Wilcox shared his thoughts on what Eve says as she is leaving the Garden of Eden.."Better for us to pass through sorrow...that we may know..." He centered his point on passing through sorrow. It has a sense of movement. We don't need to stay there. We can learn and grow.

Wendy Ulrich shared 7 more Happiness options. One that rang true for me was...Stop worrying abut your weaknesses. We should work on our strengths-- that's where Happiness lies. We are not called for our weaknesses, we are called for our strengths...and along the way our weakness will lessen.

Laurel Christensen spoke about her Faith Experiment...she wanted to Pray with Faith, Think with Faith and Live with Faith. By working on this she realized that we are all living our Plan A. We need to get out of our own way...and have faith in the Lord's plan. LOVED IT.

Needless to say, I am on a spiritual high. I have the best husband and family in the world....and I am thankful to be a woman.

Friday 5 fave....old TV shows

2011-11-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

I remember watching the Wonderful World of Disney at my grandparent's home on Sunday evening during the winter months, while the grown ups talked. (In the summer months we played "Annie-ay-over", throwing the ball over their house and running like crazy people through the breezeway, lest we get pelted with the ball....so much fun) The show was originally in black and white and when my grandparents got a colored television set we were amazed. My own home color tv set soon followed. (It makes me feel really old to be thinking like this... I guess I am almost 50....but still.)
I have been reminiscing about tv shows of my youth.

We didn't watch a lot of tv, but I do have my favorites.

1. Carol Burnett Show-- The Perfect Variety show for me... Singing, dancing and comedy sketches.

2. Mary Tyler Moore Show-- Single girl in a big city working for a tv news show. The final episode group hug was fabulous.

3. Happy Days-- The 50's, The Cunningham family and the Fonz. I would pray that Mutual wouldn't be on the same night as my favorite show. It was hard on me...but I have seen them all in reruns.

4. MASH-- The Helicopter coming over the mountains of Korea.... I can see it now. I fell in love with the Dr's and army personnel of the 4077 Mash Unit. Really well written and a classic tv show. I watched these mostly after the news during my dating days with Wayne, then at 11pm we would hug, and he would go home. (When I turned 18 we would kiss and he would go home.)

5. Hogan's Heroes-- I can hear the theme song now. This show took place in a German prisoner of war camp. Not really what a sitcom is made of.....but this made WW2, almost fun. The characters were great...the accents...the struggles. Colonel Clink.....and all of the comrades made me tune in week after week. I did have a reoccurring nightmare, as a child, about nazi's taking me and Marcie from our bedroom. We were screaming and wearing our blue coats that mom made us. It probably had something to do with this show.

#18 I am thankful for televison.

#17 Thankful for Laila

2011-11-17T10:19:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for Laila.... she is a bright, animated, loving, compassionate, friendly, inquisitive, happy, sweet, spiritual daughter. I am amazed every day how much joy Laila brings into my life....and how much crazy!?!!

4th grade School picture
We went through the Bountiful Temple with our forever family on November 23rd of 2002 to be sealed. I am so grateful to have this memory of all my children in the temple together.

Laila is one determined little girl. She pulled her tooth out on Sunday night while laying in bed. She didn't even know it was loose, and a half hour later it was out and she was ready for the tooth fairy to come.

She made me take this picture immediately after to send to her brothers. She knew they would all be excited for her.

I recently found this letter in Laila's back pack ...it was an assignment for school. It shows her creativity and her personality.

Dear Farmer Brown,
We both know that Thanksgiving is coming up. Every year you roast a turkey for your family that smells very delicious and fat. Well, I'm a turkey and I suggest that you don't eat me.
First of all, I'm very skinny. You would still be hungry after eating me. That means you wouldn't have enough protein. Don't you want your wife to be healthy?
Secondly, I take longer than other turkey to cook. You would just waste time roasting me for hours because I'm very skinny. Also this would use a lot of electricity for the stove to work. That makes your electricity bill go way higher than usual.
Last of all, I played "Alice in Turkeyland" on Broadway. I am famous. If you let me survie I can make you be famous too. Just let me audition in New york one more time. If you kill me you'll never be able to see my talents anymore. You'll be average for the rest of your life.
Now you know that eating me for dinner is the wrong thing to do. I'm writing this letter for your own good. I think you want to be full and watch me sing and dance on Thanksgiving when you're waiting for atleast one hour for your other turkey.
Your talented turkey,
Brownie

Wayne Called Laila ....."One smart cookie." She replied, " I'm not a cookie....I'm a brownie!"
I am thankful.

#16 Thankful for laughter

2011-11-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

Wayne, Laila and I have a lot of fun together. The sound of laughter is in our home a lot. Laila is always saying something that gets us giggling. She told Wayne that she is a lot more mature than he was at 9. She told me that she is thankful that there is food in the house, that we don't have to cook, so we can go out and eat. She acts like Monson's Winston- Stuffed animal-- is real, and is all about taking care of this bear for Monson while he is away.
Recently we laughed ourselves silly while taking pictures in photobooth. It's good to be silly.

I am thankful

#15 Thankful....for my job

2011-11-15T10:38:00.001-07:00

I am thankful to be an online school teacher. My job is flexible, it's fun.....( sometimes)...and it allows me to be home with my kids. My job doesn't require special clothing, and sometimes I do it in my robe and slippers. It let's me go out to lunch with my friends. It helps me learn more about the computer and try to be better at it. I get to work with a remarkable, diverse group of teachers. I get to plan gatherings and parties once a month. I get to connect with parents and students online, on the phone, and at activities. I get to travel to St. George atleast 3 times a year to warm my self up.
I am very blessed to have a job that I like.

I am thankful.

#14 Thankful....for my nose

2011-11-14T10:30:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful for my nose. I don't have a great sense of smell......which definitely makes cleaning up the mishaps of babies and children much more tolerable, but I do enjoy a good sniff.
Favorite smells include:
Roast beef Sunday dinner. Walking in the house from a 3 hour meeting is the best with this smell greeting you at the door.
A Baby's neck right out of the tub all lotioned up! Heaven!
Hot buttered popcorn at a movie theatre......
Cutting green/red/yellow peppers and or peeling and cutting up cucumbers. Love the freshness!
Pumpkin pie............mmmmm
( Plus, I am thankful for my nose because it holds my glasses up. )

I am thankful.

#13 Thankful for Grandma Butters

2011-11-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for my sweet Grandma Butters and the influence she had on my life.
My grandma would be 96 today. She passed away two years ago, and when it's November I think about her a lot and have her fore most in my heart.
My grandma taught me many things.

She taught me to be positive. We would sit in grandpa's corner under the pity party sign and she was so willing to hear all my gripes and groans, but then we would always end up laughing and counting our blessings. She was so funny and could always say something that would lighten up the situation.

She taught me that people are more important than things. I think she first preached this to herself in an effort to get over the legendary blue paint spill on the flag stone and other grand children mess ups in her house, but eventually she totally believed it and lived it and we all knew this was true. We still say this a lot in our family....people are more important than things.

She taught me to be a sharp dresser and not "give up" on yourself. She always said that , "You don't have to look at your self all day, but other people do.....so give them something nice to look at." She did her hair and put on her make up and put on her cutest clothes for all of us. She had such a flair and great style.

She taught me to make friends and keep them. She made friends in church callings, and in her ward and neighborhood and then had dinner parties, luncheons and planned vacations to strengthen these ties. She was great at connecting and keeping life long friends.

She taught me to keep family close. She was so great at knowing what was going on with her kids, grand kids and great grand kids. She was the fount of all family comings and goings. She would go to sleep at night and instead of counting sheep, she would go through each family and say all of the names. She had a big posterity so this was no small feat. She believed in holidays and traditions and inviting all who needed a place to be loved.

This is an old polaroid picture I carry in my scripture case of me and my grandma. I am in the 4th grade. Grandma is carrying a present in front of my Uncle Steve's old home on 1200 south, Bountiful for a party. I just love it..... I don't know why.

Happy Birthday Grandma!
I am thankful.

#12 Thankful for unknown blessings

2011-11-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

Friday 5 Fave....Food in Bountiful

2011-11-11T10:58:00.000-07:00

Bountiful doesn't boast the best eating establishments.
Now, I am not a picky eater and can pretty much eat anywhere and I am usually just glad to be going out, but I have become more discerning after hanging out with my foodie friends.
I was thinking about all of this when I came up with............
Top 5 places to eat in Bountiful.....in no particular order.

1. Salt City Burger....love the fresh burgers with grilled onions and mushrooms, sweet potato fries and caffeine free diet coke on tap!

2. Vito's......Italian food truck that is parked in the UofU extension ( old Stoker school) parking lot at lunch time. The Philly Cheese Steak loaded with mushrooms, tomatoes and peppers with Provolone cheese is the stuff that dreams are made of. Plus I love how Vito just keeps cooking and everyone is on an honor system for payment, drinks and chips.

3. Plate and Palates. I love their salads. Pear and Pecan is my standard favorite but their specials are all good too.

4. Mandarin.....excelllent Chinese food if you can handle the wait. I always order the Almond Chicken....mmmmmm.

5. Royal India.......that's right Indian food on Main street in Bountiful that is delish. I love the Coconut Kurma and the buttered Nan.

So that's my list. Not a franchise in the bunch!

#11.........I am thankful for the opportunity to eat OUT!

#10 Thankful for talents

2011-11-09T11:35:00.002-07:00

Addison and Bre are in Xanadu at WSU.

It's silly spoof based on the old Xanadu and Clash of the Titans movies from 1980. Bre is the Olivia Newton John part and Addison is Hermes - in the chorus. It's a roller skating disco show. Bre looks like Malibu barbie and sings like a dream. Addison is a hoot with his great face and I know his favorite part is when his wife is sitting on Pegasus, singing and Addsion gets to rock the horse back and forth and listen to and gaze at her.

It's a joy to be in shows together as a couple.
Wayne and I did it numerous times and loved every minute of it. I look back on our Guys and Dolls and My Fair Lady shows with such fondness.

Me as Eliza Doolitle, Director Bev Olson and Wayne as Henry Higgins. 1998

We also had a wonderful time as a family performing in The King and I and Fiddler on the Roof.
I love singing and dancing and choreographing and acting and directing and just being on stage.

I am thankful for my talents and for everyone else in the performing arts that entertain me.

#9 Thankful for Church Calling

2011-11-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

We had our Evening of Excellence last night for YW. It was wonderful to celebrate the Young Women and their personal progress.
Our night was based on Elder Uchtdorf's talk...Happily Ever After. We all dressed as princesses and told fairy tales that related to the eight Values. We decorated with a magic mirror, glass slipper, sugar plum candy dishes, flags and wands. We gave all of the girls a crown with this quote attached:

Happily ever after is not something found only in fairy tales. You can have it! It is available for you! But you must follow your Heavenly Father's map. Be strong and of a good courage. You are truly royal spirit daughters of Almighty God. You are princessess, destined to become queens. Your own wondrous story has already begun. Your once upon a time is now.

I love being part of this organization. I am currently the 1st Counselor over the Mia Maids. These 6 Mia Maids are all so different and actually attend 5 different schools, yet they all get along so great. I love the time I spend with them. I also get to serve with such beautiful, strong women in the presidency....... Kathleen, Nan and Jan.....plus all of our wonderful advisors are amazing and so willing to help.

Being in Young Women's is my comfort zone. I have always loved teenagers......and feel such kinship with them. Probably because I never grew up myself.

I am thankful.

#8 Thankful for the Internet

2011-11-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

I am truly thankful for the internet. The ability we have to connect and find answers and work from home...it's all so amazing.
I know the internet, just like everything, has it's good and it's dark side.........I am celebrating the good.

I love that I can send a Welch Week email out every week to my friends and family. It serves as my journal and my catch up.

I love that I can work from home as an online school teacher. What a wonderful, time flexible job.

I love that I can skype and face time Wayne when he's in China....and my missionaries at Christmas and Mother's day. I can talk to and see such handsome faces!!

I love all of the reference materials on the web. I remember having encyclopedia volumes in my home growing up. They were kind of good...and eventually outdated. Being able to have instant access to so much information is wonderful...and at times daunting.

I love the ability to do genealogy and meet ancestors, blog and also have social media. I am not a facebook fanatic, but with my smart phone I certainly check it more than I should.

I am thankful to live in this computer day and age.

I am thankful.

#7 Thankful for Christmas Music

2011-11-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful for Christmas music.

With the turn in the weather, it just feels right to crank up the old favorites and let the tunes fill my home.

I love how Christmas music makes me feel all cozy and warm inside.

It fills me with happy memories of my family and thoughts of my Savior.

My mom starts playing her music in October and why not? Actually you can catch her playing it all year round...she truly LOVES it.

Some of my favorites Christmas songs are: Andy Williams....Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
Tab Choir...The First Noel
Mel Torme....Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire.......
Haul out the Holly from Mame
Judy Garland.....Have yourself a Merry little Christmas
Nat King Cole .......Oh Holy Night
and
Choir arrangement of Baby What ya Gonna Be?
My one pet peeve is when people try to pass off "My favorite things" from Sound of Music as a Christmas song....what's up with that?

I have to mention one more........... Joy to the World....lipsynched by Elder Addison Welch and his companion Elder Vaki sitting in their car.....now that's an amazing Christmas rendition. CLASSIC

I have tunes filling my head, my heart and my home!
I am thankful.

#6 Thankful for Fasting

2011-11-06T16:44:00.003-07:00

I am thankful for Fast Sundays.
I remember as a kid and teen ager dreading the monthly fast. I would sneak candy and food in my room and moan and complain until I am sure I drove my parents nuts.
I have since repented of my childish ways and have seen the light...and value in Fast Sunday.
I really enjoy having a reason to fast. It makes it more bearable when my stomach is growling. I just say a little prayer and have the hunger be a reminder of the requested blessing I am asking for.
We have been having a Special family fast for my sweet Mom today. The Docs have found cancer markers in her body, and although they have yet to pinpoint it exactly...they are talking chemo, biopsies and surgery and it all makes my head spin and my heart hurt.
I love my momma and want her to be on this side of the veil for a long, long time..............
and so I fast.
When we all fast and pray together collectively there is power.
I am thankful.

#5 THankful for Heat

2011-11-05T14:22:00.001-07:00

I am thankful for heat and electricity.
It's hard to have a hot shower when the power is out...and you can just forget about blow drying or fixing your hair. It's little things like electricity that I usually take for granted. (It's funny that I am calling electricity a little thing.....)
The snow is beautiful outside. The tress still have their leaves, so the branches are heavy and touching the ground. I am so glad I can look at it from inside my heated home and get into my heated car to drive around. I also love having a corn bag heated up in the microwave to warm my feet and hands.
A hot shower...
A warm house....
and toasty hot cocoa in my hands with a hot corn bag on my lap..........mmmmm.........I am thankful.

Friday 5 fave....Self Help Books

2011-11-04T15:25:00.000-07:00

I read a lot of "self help", pop psychology type books. I enjoy the introspection and motivation to be better. I know a lot of this comes from my mom, and I enjoy the discussions we have as well.

Your Erroneous Zones by Wayne W. Dyer My first Aha moments came from this book. When I was a sophomore at BHS. My mom was reading this book for a college class she was taking. I totally bought into it and couldn't put it down. It was the first time I was aware that I was in charge of my emotions, and no one could MAKE me angry, or MAKE me happy. I had all knowledge and power at the completion of this book. My sibs would say...."You make me so mad!" And I would always respond, and still do to this day, "No..you are choosing to be mad. I can't make you. It's your choice." Which would only MAKE them even more mad.

The Color Code by Taylor Hartman My Mom held us all hostage with this idea while she worked with Taylor Hartman to market his book and go out and teach seminars on this topic. My family all know who is Red, Yellow, Blue and White. It's so ingrained in all of us that tests don't even need to happen. We just hang around someone, and notice the characteristics portrayed, and we can easily drop them into a little colored box. It sounds like we are limiting people and stereotyping, but it's actually the opposite. It's quite liberating. I get along better with all types of people, because I know the material in this book. By the way... I am a Yellow/Red.

The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman This book first came to our attention years ago, when the Marcie, Gary, Wayne and I attended a business seminar. This book and author were the highlight. I remember going home to tell my mom and she was thrilled when we got the book and began practicing this idea of Love in our family. .........I am a gifts girl and proud of it.

Remembering Wholeness by Carol Tuttle This book has helped me through some hard times. It's reminded me that I am not in charge of anyone but myself, and that gratitude and Love are the keys to this life.

Energy Dressing....also known as Essence Dressing by Carol Tuttle and/or Taylor Sinclair
My Mom also worked with Taylor to help get a seminar going to teach this idea of Essence dressing to the world 20 years ago. Taylor would do " her magic"and let you know if you were a 1, 2, 3 or 4 Essence. Then she would tell you what colors and textures etc that would go best with that Essence. The problem is only Taylor had the "magic" to make this happen, and she really didn't want to share her secrets, so no seminar materialized. Later this same idea was found and re-packaged by Carol Tuttle. She calls it Energy Dressing. She is happy for all to learn about it. This has impacted my family. We all know what we are and we can choose to dress, wear the appropriate colors, have the right hair etc.... if we want to make our Energy work for us. I am a type 3.

Thankful #4--- Books

#3 Thankful for Friends

2011-11-03T08:28:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful for great friends.
I feel so blessed to have old friends and new friends.
Friends who know all about me and love me anyway.

Friends I laugh with and cry with. Run with and runaway with.
I had two different friends send me this quote to put on my Thankful wall..... it makes me happy!

#2 Thankful for changing leaves

2011-11-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for trees that change colors and make everything so beautiful. I love sitting here and looking off my back deck at the beauty. We still have green leaves, but many have changed to yellow, red and orange. With a slight dusting of snow yesterday, it was truly amazing.

Here's what I see today:

I am thankful.

Nov Goals-- 30 days of Thanks

2011-11-01T09:37:00.000-07:00

My month of increased creativity was a success.... I even had a new look on my blog, much to many reader's chagrin...so I have switched back to my easier to read format. It's all good.

November will begin my 30 days of Thanks.

#1. I am thankful for....Holidays and the Holiday season which begins with Halloween and goes until New Years. The Holidays are a great time to gather with friends and family and take a break from the mundane.

Halloween was a giant success... we played, partied and ate til we all sat around in sugar comas.

I got up in the morning and by 8:30 I was decked in my witch outfit for the day, complete with neon orange hair. I like to tell people... I just rolled out of bed, and this is what I usually look like before I shower.

Landon was a playboy bunny. Not really appropriate as my helper at the Welch cousin party at Cyrrena's house. But he was atleast out of bed and without a headache. We ate lunch, crafted mummy cups, played bingo, Don't eat Frank, Mummy wrap, Cut the flour/Quarter, and Jumped on the tramp. It was a gorgeous day!!

Laila loved being a gangsta complete with "Lookin' like a fool with my pants on the ground" costume and watercolor tattoos. I was just happy she wasn't a bloody, scary mess as in years past.

Wayne helped cook Mom's doughnut recipe. We didn't do as good a job as she does. Her doughnuts are heavenly, ours are just ok. I think it's the granite countertop I tried to do the final rising on, which never happened. We fried them up anyway...and all 90 doughnuts got consumed. Who can pass up a hot doughnut?

Laila collected too much trick or treat candy, and Wayne purchased too much candy to pass out to our 20 trick or treaters, so we have plenty of candy if anyone needs a sugar lift at any point in the coming months.

Life is good..... I am thankful.

Sister's recap

2011-10-29T21:23:00.001-07:00

Our Annual Sister's Trip was short, sweet and different this year.

We never got a condo at Park City, and with my mom and dad's health issues, we felt it best to keep close to home.

IT was still good to be together.

Making family a priority is so necessary in our world.

We had all of the girls in the family join in this year. Everyone made it but Bre...she was busy with Xanadu rehearsals and being on roller skates till her feet were burning.

We started off with Breakfast at Kneaders and a trip to Angela's house to see her new hairless puppy, Oreo. Then off to a store, where mom slipped and fell and cracked her rib. That's right. I didn't get a picture of that....... She is a trouper though and just kept moving forward with tylenol and lifting her arm up as we walked around to get some relief. IT was comical. All of the store clerks thought she had a question.

We took a break in the late afternoon for the BHS football playoff game to watch Hayden. We have had many sister's trips where we have a football game as part of our festivities.

Crazy Cole Girls all squished in the back seat.

Joy Luck and the round table was the perfect dinner. Then to Mom's for cards and talking. The next morning we went to Park City Outlets. We walked and shopped til our feet fell off. We had our usual Baja Cantina Mexican meal at the ski resort. Mmmmm good.

We have been doing a version of this trip for 23 years. That is a wild thought. That means our first trip was when my mom was 49 years old....that's how old I am now.

I know sister's trips will continue to evolve over the years. I am just glad we have this tradition.

Friday 5 Fave...... My Children

2011-10-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

In no Particular Order............other than birth......

Addison
Landon
Truman
Monson
Laila
I tell them all they are my favorites, and I believe they are, although at times they all take their turn driving me crazy, breaking my heart, and not eating what I cooked for dinner.

I guess I could also put my 5- fave Daughter in laws list in while I am at it........
1. Bre
2. Breezy
3. Breanne
4. Bre Bre
5. That Briggs girl

Call me Sheri...

2011-10-26T10:02:00.002-07:00

My mom loves to feed people, and she loves parties.
What began as a small family night before thanksgiving Pie Party has turned into a huge, "now, who are you?" event years later. We knew it was totally out of control, when on the night of the annual Pie Party extravaganza, we were choosing between 20 different kinds of pie, for our "One-of-each" plate and the Schwann's delivery man was filling up his plate as well.
He was making a delivery, and as any good hostess would, my mom invited him in for pie.
We've had a standard family joke about my mother and this event for many years.

Well last night I pulled a Sheri.

As I was fixing vegetable chili and hot homemade rolls to feed Wayne as his welcome home meal, (He's been in China for 11 LONG days), our doorbell rang. I looked out and told Wayne it was a utility guy. Well it was the Comcast-Xfinity guy who was in our area and was seeing if any of the comcast houses wanted to update their service. Wayne invited him in, listened to his bundle shpeeel and said yes. What we thought would be a quick telephone call fix, turned into an hour long process. Dinner was on the table and Laila was starving, so I off handedly asked, "Hey, do you want to stay for dinner?"
He looked surprised, and said, "Yes."
Now I was surprised.
I thought for sure he would laugh and say thanks, but no thanks. But it was all good
I quickly added another place setting and he joined Wayne, Laila and I at the counter.
It was ok......a bit awkward, but Ok.
Landon came home a few minutes later and the look on his face was priceless as I announced, "Oh Landon, just in time. We are having dinner with the Comcast guy." I couldn't remember his name, still can't.
He and Wayne chatted about the gospel and missions, families and business books he's been reading.
Then he cleared his plate.
Wayne signed the agreement.
Laila giggled.
And the Comcast guy left.

Call me Sheri.

Insane Asylum Party

2011-10-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

How to Host an Insane Asylum party

........First you have to be a little bit crazy yourself. It helps having Wayne out of town for 11 days...........I am going insane!!!

2. Invite a fun group of ~~people~~ patients who are wanting some fun. We had Liz Corona, Sean Biship. Shelby Anderson, Alex and Mickey Larsen with baby Charlotte....all are WSU friends of Addison, Bre and Landon. Costumes and Makeup were optional.

3. Have a Scream-a thon.........who can scream the loudest...or quietest.

4. Capture all of the amazing scream faces on film. Video tape another face game--- 5 seconds of grimacing then a sound. We Laughed our GUTS out....literally!

Even Baby Charlotte got into the action.

4. Get a toilet bowl for your punch bowl! Fill with lemonade. "Urine for a tasty treat!" This is totally going for the gross factor. (New Toilet bowls are only 25 bucks....who knew?)
"It's potty time. Drink up!"

5. Eat Mr. BODY for dinner. Really just a baked potato bar, but the presentation and spiders and gummy worms spread throughout add to the creep factor.

6. Have crazy utensils to eat with. Not a normal sized fork, spoon or knife insight. We had spatulas, potato mashers, fondue spears, whisks, ice cream scoops..... It was INSANE!

7. After a fun filled game of Celebrity Charades.... a Dessert of Blood and Guts was devoured by all! (Really just Raspberry and White Chocolate trifle made by Gma Sheri who wanted to call it mushy brains with tumors.....)

8. Take Crime Scene pics around the ~~house~~....Asylum. "How did she/he die?"

Death by Stairs....

Death by Baking....

Death by Crazy Jack o Lantern.

9. Top the evening off with an old Suspense-filled movie.......Goldie Hahn in Deceived. We had many screams before the night was through.

Friday 5 Fave........Candy Bars

2011-10-21T14:48:00.000-07:00

With Halloween right around the corner, my thoughts have been turning to candy. HALLOWEEN is Laila's favorite holiday. She can't wait for the night and plans her costume and parties months in advance.

My favorite candy bars will not be a surprise. I love chocolate and nuts....
When I am perusing the candy aisles or grabbing an on the road snack at Maverick...these are my go to candy bars in order of preference:

1. Dove Dark -- I am reminded of an NYC trip with the Belnaps where we searched for the perfect dark chocolate treat. We bought a different "brand of dark" every where we went. I was in dark chocolate heaven along with Wayne and Eric. Laura just rolled her eyes and thought we were crazy.

2. Milky Way Dark-- a total improvement to a regular Milky Way. Love how it melts in my mouth!

3. Snickers -- I love when my kids get this bar in their halloween loot bag. They were great to share with me and with Grandpa Lyle, when they were little. Now they like this candy too. But I get all of their Almond Joys and Mounds!

4. Salted Nut Roll/Almond Joy (truly a tie) I craved Salted Nut rolls when I was pregnant with Tru. I couldn't get enough. I made sure I had a supply in my cupboard. Maybe this is why Tru ended up being a boy?

5. Reeses Peanut Butter Cups-- easy to share......' Nuf said.
I love Peanut Butter M& M's too, although not a "candy bar".

You can have all of the fruity, chewy candy...Starbursts, Dots, Skittles, Gummi Bears, Laughy taffy etc.... Gimmeeee Chocolate!

Wacky Wednesday

2011-10-19T20:33:00.002-07:00

I spent the afternoon with Max and Laila at the pumpkin patch/corn maze. They took a ride out to the pumpkin fields on a tractor and picked their very own pumpkin off the vine. Then they got lost in the corn maze. I thought they would never find their way out.

They had the most fun playing in the maize box. Corn and corn dust everywhere.

The beautiful Desert Mountains right up my street. Can't believe how gorgeous the colors turned just this past weekend.

This thought continues to pester me. Why is it so true??

"One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn't belong. Can you guess which one is not like the others, before I finish my song?"
Trying to look like the beautiful Foster Girls at the U of U game. We love Football....even when we lose.

Boo!!!

2011-10-16T13:51:00.002-07:00

Laila and I have been pulling out the Spooky Halloween decorations this weekend.

Laila painted up her 134 pound pumpkin, courtesy of Max Eiting. We strung spider webs and donned witches hats, made a banner and put up all of the black and orange we could handle.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, because I don't need to Dust or take down any spider webs for a month!!!!

We are looking creepooky (that's a creepy and spooky mashup) and hoping it will last for 15 more eves...!

Friday 5 fave....colors

2011-10-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

My happy 5 fave colors................

I have a favorite color site.... the Perfect Palate that puts beautiful pics together for weddings.
I am always drawn to these colors.

1. Sea Glass Turquoise
2. Sunshine Yellow
3. Tangerine coral orange
4. Apple green
5. Raspberry Red

10 Things we did this weekend

2011-10-09T17:30:00.000-07:00

1. Monson took endowments out at the Bountiful Temple

2. Grandma Ruth Bentley's -- Clark's mom-- 90th birthday party.

3. "Oklahoma" at BHS. Laila and cousin Hayden sing and dance on stage every night.

4. Got ready for Add's gift/art show in SLC this coming weekend.

5. Celebrated Bre's 22nd birthday. (Blog book, shadow box, fingerless gloves)

6. Went to a movie with my Wayne. (Abduction....it was ok)

7. Watched the U lose....and the Y win.

8. Cooked Roast beef and Mashed potatoes.

9. Bought new pottery from mom's next door neighbor, Cindy...White Buffalo Pottery is the best!

10. Went out to lunch with Wayne, Add, Bre, Landon, Monson, Grandpa Lyle, Grandma Sheri and Grandma Welch.

Life is Good!

Friday 5 fave..... cookies

2011-10-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

Oh man, I love to EAT!
Cookies is this week's category and after much soul searching and sugar craving, I have opted for the following five. I know a lot of what l like about these cookies are the memories involved, but I think that's half of the joy of eating.

Oatmeal Raisin-- This is one of Wayne's favorite cookies also. When I want him to feel pampered, I make these. None of our kids like raisins, so these cookies are just for Wayne, and me of course. I love Grandma Butters recipe the best, no spices to mess it up...just a pure butter flavor. She would make it with ground up raisins, so they were littered through out. I have a clear memory of being a child, standing in her swimming pool with chlorine water running down my face, munching on a warm oatmeal raisin cookie. Delish.

Ginger Cream--I rhapsodized about this cookie when we made it for Addison's wedding. These are the softest ginger bread with a brown butter frosting. My Grandma Butters wanted to die with this cookie on her lips, almonds and strawberries clutched in one hand and a "sweet Aloha" ( diet Pepsi)-- in the other. I I love this memory and the time I spent in Grandma Butter's kitchen learning all of the "tricks" to make this cookie just perfect.

German Chocolate Cookie-- Parson's Bakery makes this the best. Think chocolate cookie with German chocolate nuts and coconut mixture on top...and a bit of extra chocolate frosting just to make sure you know it's really chocolatey. I first had this at a speech and debate tournament 25 years ago, in the coach's room. They must have been my fellow debate coach, Mr. B's fave as well, because he always got this cookie as a special treat for us.

Sugar Cookie with buttercream frosting or dipped in chocolate and on a stick-- I really like a good soft, sugar cookie with frosting. I have a couple of recipes I like, including a pan cookie of Si Fosters. My Sister Marcie always makes heart shaped sugar cookies on a stick for Valentines. She dips them in chocolate and decorates them all up darling. We look forward to and fight over this sweet treat of love every year. The chocolate coating softens up the cookie and it's just mmmmmmm....goood.

Shortbread-- My Mom and Sister Liz have perfected this little button shaped cookie filled with butter and sugar. Butter and sugar, the two best ingredients in the world!!! Shortbreads remind me of the Holidays and family. These keep really well in a tin, so I can have melt in my mouth goodness for weeks.

Chocolate Chip --I couldn't leave this cookie out. When this is made with a butter recipe and is loaded with semi sweet chips, and cooked in a convection oven, I am in my bliss. Si makes and takes these to Young Women's every time she teaches, and I WISH I was a Laurel again. Mmmmmm.... I also like these cookies with ice cream sandwiched in between.

Oct Goal: Creativity

2011-10-03T11:24:00.001-07:00

What a week and what a month! September soared by, but we "gathered" a lot, so I feel I atleast touched my goal.

Goal for October. To be more Artistic. I am ready to unleash my creativity in many different ways. Painting, crafting, mix media class, parties, costumes, Blog look, Halloween.

I am EXCITED!

_________________________
Other News: Laila informed my Dad-- her Grandpa Lye-- that he isn't that old. " Just remember how Old Noah was when he built the Ark!" This didn't necessarily make my dad feel better.
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I raced up to Park City to sing the National Anthem and "I am Proud to Be an American" last Wednesday. It was for the Hospital Volunteers Organization of Utah. Many older volunteer type people filled the grand ballroom at the Marriott Hotel. I seriously, ridiculously forgot all about this until it popped up on my computer screen with a 15 minute advance notice. Talk about frantic. I had no music. I hadn't practiced. It hadn't crossed my mind. Good thing I had showered and dressed for the day or my franntic could have turned into an "I am sick, and I can't sing" experience. As it was, I flew out of my house, missed the I-80 exchange, which added to my hectic, drove like a crazy person until my mom called me and said the event wasn't going to start til 4. This helped me breathe easier. I showed up, like I had prepared all along. Sang acapella like I had planned to all along. And drove back down the mountain. The other upshot is.. I forgot all of my mom-after-school-driving responsibilities. Oh well...Laila was ticked, Dallas was left...and I get a second chance to make this right, this Wednesday.
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I am enjoying thinking about and making my Friday Fave 5's........... Some lists are more difficult to whittle down than others, but it's a pretty good experience to put myself through each week. I am going to try and do it til the end of the year.

Friday 5 fave......Cars

2011-09-30T08:18:00.001-07:00

Today I will list my 5 favorite Cars!!!

1. Red
2. Yellow
3. Royal Blue
4. Pearly White
5. Green

I pretty much can't tell one car from the next, much to my husband's chagrin. Maybe I will do better with my favorite trucks list ?

2011-09-29T16:16:00.002-07:00

Saw this out in cyberspace today.....and LOVED it. Had to share.

Tuesday Tidbits

2011-09-27T12:43:00.001-07:00

We celebrated Dad's 80th Birthday on Sunday. He is a wonderful, good, kind, handsome Man. These are just some of the attributes shared about him as we took our turns around the tables saying what we loved about Lyle. We gathered for a family dinner of Swiss Steak, potatoes and squash, followed by Raspberry Trifle. Just what dad ordered. He fell down on Thursday and wrenched his good shoulder, probably a torn rotator cuff, he already had a bad shoulder. Not fun. So, he wasn't his usual jolly self, but he did enjoy the company and the gift. All of us wrote our testimonies down and put them in a COLE FAMILY TESTIMONY book just for him. What else do you get an 80 year old?

Landon , Nelson, Aaron, Megan, Addison and Bre

Jenna, Becca, Hayden

Jordan, Laurie, Rachel, Anthony

Christine, Adam Sheri, Lyle

Angela and Guy

Al and Liz

Wayne, Melinda, Marcie

Marcie, Nelson, Gary

Angela, Dad, Megan, Rachel looking at Testimony Book

_____________________________________________

Uncle Floyd Israelsen's funeral was on Saturday. He was 92. He was a Saint of a farmer and the Stake patriarch in Logan. He gave 934 blessings. His family did a great job honoring him. One of the messages that I keep thinking about was given by his son, Clark. He said at his mom's funeral an older gentleman came up to him and said, "As good as your parents are, you really should have turned out better." The man didn't laugh, just turned and walked away. Clark was shocked, but he thought about it and realized the man was probably right. Wow. I know my parents are perfectly fabulous, and I want to try to turn out to be better. More loving. More kind. More gentle. More inclusive. More.
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Pres. Uchtdorf's talk on Forget Me Nots touched me and has stayed with me. Part of this is because he is a master speech writer.
1. Forget Not to be patient with your self.
2. Forget Not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice.
3. Forget not to be HAPPY now.
4. Forget not the WHY of the Gospel.
5. Forget not that the LORD Loves YOU!
He uses sign posts, gives great examples and wraps up at the end with a review.
He would get an A in my speech class. I am really looking forward to Conference.
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Speaking of my class, a student from 1985 just sent me his first published book in the mail. Rejiggering the Thingamajig and other stories. Eric Stone is a science fiction writer who has received numerous awards. He sent me a note along with the book thanking me for encouraging his creativity, and I am also listed in the book's acknowledgements. It was so nice to unexpectedly receive this from him.
So many times as a teacher I wonder if I make any difference at all.
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Wayne and I have started eating "good" again. We have to do something because the scale keeps going up. We are at the nothing fits stage and look like sausages in the clothes that we put on every day. Laila loves us just the way we are. As we discuss new eating patterns and losing weight, she is always disgusted with us. When I told her I would have to buy new clothes if I didn't lose some weight, she optimistically said, "maybe it's just a growth spurt!?!"

Friday 5 fave..........New Musicals

2011-09-23T08:19:00.002-07:00

NEW MUSICALS (in the last 30 years)

This list was equally difficult. (All you theatre geeks out there, try this exercise.) It is truly overwhelming to whittle the list down to only 5. I had to tell myself that only 5 would fit in my "life boat" or my "handcart."... it was a silly notion, but it helped my decisions. I probably like all of these shows because I saw them on Broadway or with the original casts... and just relished the entire experience.

Again, in no particular order.......

1. The Secret Garden is a musical based on the 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The musical's book and lyrics are by Marsha Norman, with music by Lucy Simon. It premiered on Broadway in 1991.
I love this classic tale of a little girl with no parents who just wants to find her place.
Wayne took me to this with actor/singer Mandy Patinkin in the main part, in LA. We were almost on the back row, yet the scenery and story were breathtaking. When Mandy sang the duet of "Lilly's Eyes"....it was silent....then thunderous applause.

2. Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West , a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The musical is told from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz: Elphaba, the misunderstood girl with emerald-green skin, and Galinda, later Glinda, the beautiful, ambitious and popular blonde. IT debuted in 2003.
I have seen this 3 times ( NYC, NYC and San Fran)....and could see it again, and be equally satisfied. Any kind of injustice story tugs at my heart, plus the little twist at the end....priceless. I love to crank up this sound track in my car and sing at the top of my lungs.

3. Les Misérables --translated variously from the French as The Miserable Ones, The Wretched, The Poor Ones, The Wretched Poor, or The Victims), is an 1862 French novel by author Victor Hugo and is widely considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century. The Muscial was produced by Cameron Mackintosh and adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird. The lyrics were written byHerbert Kretzmer and opened on Broadway in 1987.
This is a timeless story about the power of forgiveness and love. I listened to the London cast soundtrack when it first came out over and over again. My little boys favorite song was "Lovely Ladies." I saw my first production with Wayne in NYC. Fantastic. The highschool has done the school edition of Les Mis twice, and even with student actors, and a small orchestra I am moved.
The 25th Anniversary edition was just on PBS...it was so fun to listen to, I even survived the token Jonas Brother. At the encore the four past/current Val Jeans sing, "Bring Him Home".........chills. Ahhhhhhhh....now that's musical theatre.
You can click HERE to watch it.

4. Sunset Boulevard is a musical with book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Based on the 1950 film of the same title, the plot revolves around Norma Desmond, a faded star of the silent screen era, living in the past in her decaying mansion on the fabled Los Angeles street. When young screenwriter Joe Gillis accidentally crosses her path, she sees in him an opportunity to make her comeback to the big screen. Romance and tragedy follow. This opened on Broadway in 1994.
This is a total star vehicle female role....and the part of Norma Desmond is one I would love, love to play some day. So meaty and filled with power vocals. I saw this in LA with Glenn Close in the part. We were on the 4th row, and actually got spit on by Ms. Close. I didn't wash my arm for.....awhile. She was very impressive. I really love the Andrew Lloyd Webber music....so beautiful.

5. The Drowsy Chaperone is a musical with book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison. It opened on Broadway on 1 May 2006. The show won the Tony Award for Best Book and Best Score
We first saw this show with Standing room only tickets in NYC. We stood in the back through the entire 2 hours with our friends the Fowers. None of us even minded standing because the show was so fun, uplifting and contagious.
This is a perfect show for me because of the narrator man in chair part. He breaks the 4th wall and includes the audience throughout the show. The Man in Chair says everything that I feel and love about Musical Theatre. What I think in the dark prior to the opening curtain; how musical theatre transports me to a new place; how I identify with the characters and am interested in the actor's lives who play them; how musical theatre is an inclusive medium that brings people together.
I saw a sub-standard production in West Yellowstone, and I still liked the show.........

Honorable Mention: Stephen Sondheim's INTO THE WOODS.... Brilliant. Love the characters, the messages the amazing lyrics and fairytale quality.

Apple of My Eye

2011-09-20T10:26:00.001-07:00

We had an "Apple of My Eye" family night. It was a great recipe for fun!

Ingredients:
Attendees: Grandma Welch, Holly, Grandma Sheri, Grandpa Lyle, Addison and Bre, Landon, Laila, Wayne and ME
Decorations: Red and Green dishes, apples for the centerpiece and an "Apple of my Eye" banner.
Dinner: Pork Chops and apple slices, baby green apples (Peas), Gma Welch potatoes, apple and feta salad.
Dessert; Gma Sheri's Apple pie and ice cream
Lesson: Wayne taught on the basics of the Gospel ...which is Love and Service.
Game: Apples to Apples....Landon won, with Holly coming in 2nd.
Activity: Bobbing for Apples and Dipping Carmel Apples. Mmmmmmmmm!

"You are the Apple of my Eye......that's why I'll always be around." Sung to Sunshine of my Life

Friday 5 fave....Hymns

2011-09-16T17:33:00.006-07:00

Music is very important to me. I love having it playing around my house, when I exercise and in my car. Pandora's Radio is my new bff. On Sunday I like Sunday music. It settles our home, and gets us ready to worship. Hymns are so powerful. I have been known to sing loud, and mostly on pitch in Sacrament meeting. All of my children go through a phase where they tell me I am singing too loud in church... I just smile, say yes...and keep on singing.......even louder.

Top Favorite Hymns in no particular order.

How Great Thou Art I enjoy singing this acapella....and when I can keep it together...I sing it soft, loud and passionately. The verses talk about the beauty in our world, Christ's sacrifice for all of us and his coming again..   Can't wait!

I know that My Redeemer Lives.   I know a couple of variations on this hymn and enjoy them all. I love the Testimony bearing part of this hymn. "He lives... He lives... He lives."

Love One Another -- I recognized I truly had a testimony of the gospel, while singing this hymn in a Young Women's Stake Choir as a Sophomore. I was so overcome, I couldn't keep singing, and the Spirit testified to me of God's love and our duty to Love each other. This is a song that my grandparents Butters, would sing to us, and about us to remind us to Love each other. All of these memories come flooding back every time I sing it.

There is Sunshine in my Soul Today-- This upbeat, positive hymn is filled with glorious messages of Sunshine, Music, Gladness and Springtime. My fave lyric is , "There is music in my soul today, a carol to my King, and Jesus listening can hear the songs I cannot sing." THis hymn goes through my head a lot when I am out walking.

Love at Home --This is a Tom Welch family hymn. Wayne remembers singing it around his Grandpa Israelsen's death bed. We joined family hands and sang it around Tom's bed in the hospital, as well. It was also sung at Addison's mission farewell, and we all felt Grandpa Welch's spirit with us on that day.    "There is Beauty all around when there's LOVE at Home."   SO true.

I know I have missed a number of good ones...but my list is top 5 after all.
What are some of yours???

Mission Call

2011-09-14T23:21:00.002-07:00

We drove down to St. George to deliver Monson's mission call to him. He is a busy athlete, so he couldn't even meet with us til after 9 at night. We had big plans to SKYPE all those who wanted to be involved in his grand opening. The thought was good, but the execution wasn't. The hotel internet was too slow, so we had to kick some people off....glad they are our friends and not easily offended. Anyway, once the technical difficulties were worked out. Monson was ready for the unveiling in front of 4 people in the hotel room, and grandparents and brothers on skype.

We have been taking guesses on where Monson would serve. I prayed that he would go state side, much to Wayne's chagrin. I knew any state would be great, except Ohio...because of Ohio state football. Monson hates the team and thus the state.

When Monson opened his call...he couldn't stop smiling. Lansing, MICHIGAN!!!!
Lindsey actually guessed Michigan because she knew Monson loved it-- she wins the $ prize.

Monson has been a huge Michigan fan from the time he was in grade school. He has Michigan shoes, flags, pillow cases, key rings, shirts, sweatshirts. You name it. For a boy who is "red" through and through, he really embraced the yellow and blue of the Michigan Wolverines. He even has an entire painted blue wall in his bedroom, with a giant yellow " M " on it.

He loves Michigan!

Monson was thrilled and loved calling friends and family who couldn't skype in. He shared his news happily. It was really cute. More enthusiasm than I have seen or heard from my baby boy in a long time. He goes to the MTC on Jan. 4th....just 6 days after he turns 19. PERFECT!
We celebrated with a late night DENNY's dinner!!!

I just felt so at peace once the call was read. I know the Lord Loves my Monson and is so aware of him and his wants and needs. Mons doesn't need to worry about what to eat and possibly losing weight and living conditions while on his mission. He can just dig in and preach the gospel. He will love the Michigan people and they will love him. I know Monson has a strong Testimony of the gospel. It is a joy to watch him grow and progress. I love having missionaries out in the field.

We will have 2 boys out in the field for 3 months, til Truman returns.

I also know Lansing, Michigan will be better than the Detroit, Michigan Mission for Monson. (Try saying that 3 times fast) Being right in the thick of the UofM would be a bit too much for Monson. (Like sending me to NYC and telling me not to see a Broadway play.) SHeesh. This way he can talk Michigan football to people who care, yet not be so drawn into the games. He can keep his eye on the GLORY!
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In other news: Laila polled her classmates to see who had the OLDEST mother. She won....I am the oldest!

Band Party

2011-09-11T13:17:00.004-07:00

We had our... I don't know how many, annual BAND party at the Belnaps. It's always filled with too much food, lots of people, a great band and dancing. It was a perfect night even though a huge rain storm came through at 3:30 and threatened our 6:30 start. Dave Busk's Get Back-- Beatles band played all of the best music and we sang at the top of our lungs... Get Back, Oh-bla- dee, Hey Jude.... you get the musical drift. Loved it.

Eric, Bob and Wayne took care of the meat extravaganza.....pulled pork, tri-tip, ribs, chicken, turkey breast, salmon and 60 hamburgers in the freezer just in case we ran out. We never run out.

Mom and Dad graced us with their presence even though the BYU game was on.

Get Back Band .........

Bob pulling a scrumptious face as he eats his smoked turkey.....

Group of neighbors listening and eating on the lawn.... Kimi is in there somewhere. (I tried to get a pick of the Belnaps, Farleys and Welchs....since it's our party that I am trying to document it. )

The U of U game was on the TV.... it looks like Alan and Myrne are in time out, instead of watching football. We had a lot of people in the house watching the games....that was all right. Too bad BYU and the UofU lost.

Crazy Dancers, (Me, Emilee and Mel) just doing our thing, as usual.
We were missing the Dancing Queen-- Erica.

As the lights got low many more dancers came to the dance asphalt.
Laila and Wayne take a spin around the floor.

Laila slow dancing with Laura.
Laila is one of three children allowed at the party. Good thing she loves to dance.

Me with Just LInda. Tate and Tim Wangsgaard came too...but they were stuck in front of the UofU game all night

Dave and Penny Bohn with Laurie Cutler in the Center

Jo Cash, Si Foster, Mel Evans

Myrne Collier at the Dessert Table

Annette Pond, Shawnell Larsen and Hubby, Laura

Laurie Chapman, Jan Hedberg, Kellie Chapman and Angela

More proof that Wayne is a dancing machine, even if he is dizzy. Always a good sport.
The Band party was GREAT. We even got enough in the til to pay the band the appropriate amount this year...plus a tip. We were so happy so many family and friends could make it...and feel bad we were missing Erica, Heidi and Erin..... Maybe next year!

Friday 5 fave....books

2011-09-09T14:12:00.000-07:00

I love to read. I enjoy all types of books, but this list is about fiction. Stories that stay with me and I continue to think about long after the last turn of the page. (This list would probably be different the next time I was asked my 5 fave books...but for today...this is it.)

1. The Agony and the Ecstasy-- a biographical novel about Michaelangelo by Irving Stone. This is based on 495 letters of correspondence written by Michaelangelo. It describes living and painting conditions, and how the Vatican really ruled everything in the Rennaissance era. I only read it because Marjorie Peay Hinkley said it was her favorite book...and now it's one of mine too.

2. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. I received my first copy of this book as a birthday present in 7th grade. I thought....really....a WW2 book? But I loved it, and have re-read it several times. The books description , as found on Amazon, is: As the nazi madness swept across Europe, a quiet watchmaker's family in Holland risked everything for the sake of others, and for the love of Christ. Despite the danger and threat of discovery, they courageously offered shelter to persecuted Jews. Then a trap brought about the family's arrest. Could God's love shine through, even in a nazi prison camp and beyond? Let's just say Corrie Ten Boom is a hero and an example of mine.

3. To Kill a Mockingbird- by Harper Lee. This is a wonderful story filled with universal themes about fairness, race, and stereotypes, as told by Scout....a 6 year old girl about her lawyer father, Atticus Finch when he represents a black man accused of raping a white girl. I read it in my Sophomore English class..then read and taught this book to groups of Sophomores when I taught English as a beginning teacher. It is filled with insights.

4. Three Weeks with my Brother -by Nicolas Sparks. I now you are thinking....really? But I can't get this book out of my mind, and heart. It's about a 3 week trip around the world and he reminisces along the way about his growing up years and his mother's love, real tragedies and finally author triumph. This is all told with stops at Mayan Ruins, Machu Pichu, Taj Mahal, Egyptian pyramids and the Northern Lights to name a few. Sparks's account shows how he and his brother both evolved on this voyage. "Somehow there was a chance we could help each other, and in that way, I began to think of the trip less as a journey around the world than a journey to rediscover who I was and how I developed the way I did."

I would love a "three weeks with my sisters" trip around the world.....now that would be something.

5. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. This is on my top movie list and top book list for a reason. It's expanisve and historical filled with characters that stay with you. It's really an anti war novel about the women left behind. -- James Lee Burke said it well: "Gone with the Wind is one of those rare books that we never forget. We read it when we're young and fall in love with the characters, then we watch the film and read the book again and watch the film again and never get tired of revisiting an era that is the most important in our history. Rhett and Scarlet and Melanie and Ashley and Big Sam and Mammy and Archie the convict are characters who always remain with us. No one ever forgets the scene when Scarlet wanders among the wounded in the Atlanta train yard; no one ever forgets the moment Melanie and Scarlet drag the body of the dead Federal soldier down the staircase, a step at a time. Gone with the Wind is an epic story. Anyone who has not read it has missed one of the greatest literary experiences a reader can have."

Online Art

2011-09-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

My online art class is finished but I am not.

I can't stop creating.

The Tomlinson chick aka my instructor has unleashed a mixed media monster.

She taught different techniques, then I had to get into my art-flo and just let it happen.

I wanted to share some of my creations since many of you won't ever come to my home and actually see them in person. These are 3 D ( Paint, paper, newspaper, magazine, card board, buttons, yarn, twine, ) and won't lay flat on the scanner, so appear a bit blurry and washed out, but you will get the idea.

Now for the unveiling......drum roll puhlease............

This first one is a pattern of Christy Tomlinson's

The next 5 are called "She Art" and it's about mixing this woman figure with sayings and color..

"Make your own kind of Happy."

She likes her ARTSY with a little bit of Fartsy

She doesn't really want to spend time with people who don't find her hilarious.

It's just so hard being so darn pretty.

She likes to color outside the lines.

She knew the days were long, but the years were short.

Own Summer--Sept. Goal

2011-09-04T12:36:00.002-07:00

I really can't believe we are in September. I am looking back at my Summer of 2011 and wondering what happened?
I found the following quote that kind of typifies my feelings:

“Every man makes his own summer. The season has no character of its own, unless one is a farmer with a professional concern for the weather. Circumstances have not allowed me to make a good summer for myself this year…My summer has been overcast by my own heaviness of spirit. I have not had any adventures, and adventures are what make a summer.”
-- Robertson Davies, “Three Worlds, Three Summers,

I want a Fall filled with adventure, so I can continue making my own Summer...........

My goal for this month is to have more gatherings....I want to have reunions, sleepovers, parties, dinners out, Birthday parties, family dinners and ball games...... these will be my adventures, and my summer can go on and on.

Friday 5 fave....types of Food

2011-09-02T03:11:00.002-07:00

"People who love to eat are the best kind of people." Julie Child

Food and I have a long history.

I eat to live and I live to eat.
As I have put together my Friday 5 fave lists, food has been always on my mind.
I have decided to "list out" categories of food...desserts, cookies, dinner, breakfast, snacks...you get my tasty drift.

Today's list is about types of food.

When I eat out my number one thing that I order is a Salad.

I really love it.

I don't make it much at home, infact Monson insists that he is "allergic" to all vegetables except mashed potatoes.

I love Salads with all the works--full of veggies, yummy dressings and nuts. I like the specialty salad ordered off the menu and not the all you can eat salad bar. I am not eating this for diet food peeps, infact many salads are full of calories. I get this, but I really do love this type of food.

Hence my list.................in preference order..........

1. Salad-- any kind, any place, anywhere....
2. Mexican
3. Italian
4. Chinese
5. Good ol' American..burger and fries joint
I also like Indian, Greek, Thai...okay....I digress...I have to go eat and so I must stop.

Chicken Li'l

2011-08-30T12:28:00.001-07:00

Laila is definitely growing up....one of the newest rites of passage was the requirement of a personal thumb drive for her 4th grade school computer work. She was thrilled. In my 4th grade class a thumb drive was probably found in some fantasy children's book about Mr. Hand and his travels around town.

Times have changed.

Wayne got her a chicken thumb drive. A cute little contraption with a thumb drive inside. Laila was concerned that it was only 4 G... and her ipod is 8 G, so she knew it wouldn't be big enough. I tried to explain in simple terms about the memory.

Me: Laila 1 Gig is a lot...it's like having all of the books in your library in that little disc. Are you going to be writing more than all of the books in your library?
Laila: Yes, of course I am.
Me: Well then you are set, because it's 4 libraries.

I was thinking of actually stepping foot into the dreaded "Hot Topics" store and getting my Wayne this sweatshirt.... What's your vote?

Friday 5 fave.........Movie Musicals

2011-08-26T04:24:00.000-07:00

MOVIE MUSICALS
These are Musicals that I love, but are so much better in movie form than on the stage.

1. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I just saw the stage version again at CPT....and it was ok, but too many weird extra songs. Howard Keel and Jane Powell are the only people I want to see in this show. I remember having ward movie nights when I was a little girl in the Bountiful 4th ward building. It was fun to be in the cultural hall on blankets and chairs and watch this show with family and ward friends.

2. Singing in the Rain. Donald O'Connor makes me laugh, Debbie Reynolds is darling...and the dancing of Gene Kelly is dyno-mite. "Yes, Yes, Yes.....NO, No , NO" While dating Wayne, I made a big fuss about this movie. I knew if he loved it as much as I did, we were a match made in cinema heaven. This was pre -video/dvd time, so we had to wait for it to be on tv...and when it was, it was dinner, dessert this movie and cuddling on the couch. He even got used to my high pitched, Lena Lamont impersonation...."I can't stan 'im"

3. The Sound of Music--- Usually when a play comes first the movie is NEVER as good. This is the exception. I even appreciate the new movie songs added like: "I have confidence" and I was happy they took "Crazy planet" out. They really made this story work so much better in movie form and the Alps were gorgeous. Landon loved this movie as a little boy and spent about a year of his life with a blanket on his head acting like he was a nun; he even prayed with his hands in steeple form. He sang high soprano and knew the words to every song.

4. Newsies-- I have a soft spot for dancing teenagers. Love the brooklyn accents...and I even tolerate the Santa Fe song--probably because I have a crush on Christian Bale. Don't put this show on the stage.........please.

5. Yentl -- I was amazed by this story, based on real experiences of a Jewish girl who really wanted to read, learn and study like the boys. I know many would discount this show as a "Best" of movie musicals, but the music is expansive and the story touches me....plus I love to hear Barbra sing.

4th grade

2011-08-22T13:49:00.000-07:00

Laila's first day as a fourth grader.

And yes, I cried.

Laila was so excited. She LOVES school and learning.

We are back on schedule...up at 7, scripture study, family prayer, piano practice, get dressed, clean room....so wonderful.

We got in the car to head down the hill and I was so excited for her, then I started getting teary thinking about how grown up she is and how time just flies and the Bruno Mars song was on the radio singing how ..."you are amazing just the way you are..." and the sun was in my eyes, and Laila was smiling.....and, yes, I cried.
Who wouldn't have?

Other News: Laila has informed me and Wayne that she can't really trust our opinions now because we like pickles, and she doesn't.

We had a fun meeting with Truman's first mission companion, Elder Cowley Sunday night. He has been home for a month. He brought pics from Rochdale and talked about the Manchester mission in general and Truman in specific. He said the best way to describe Elder Welch is he never stops smiling.

Friday 5 fave.....desserts!

2011-08-19T14:02:00.003-07:00

I have a confession to make.

I am addicted to sugar.

If I eat something "sweet" in the morning, I can't stop eating sweets the rest of the day.

Totally hooked.

I have a deep, loving relationship with desserts.

I have been known to eat it before many a meal.

On our recent cruise I had 5 chocolate melting cakes in one sitting.

Bad.... I know.

Choosing top 5 desserts was difficult, so I glumped type of desserts together. I also am going to do a top 5 cookies. They get their own post.

Enjoy!

1. Dense chocolatey, chocolate cake with butter cream frosting. This also includes Tuille Bakery's Bouchons. Mmmmmm

2. Cheesecake....Carnegie deli cheesecake from NYC preferred, but I like most cheesecakes. The denser the better.

3. Rhubarb pie...heated with ice cream.....any pie really...but my first pie love was my mom's pumpkin pie. One year she made us each our own pumpkin pie. I was in heaven. I could eat it as fast or slow as I wanted, and straight out of the pie tin.

4. Trifle type desserts..... meaning cake, pudding, whip cream, fruit....all whoogied together.....mmmm, including bread pudding.... I guess you could call it hot trifle. I am also very fond of a Cole Family favorite: yellow cake with homemade carmel sauce, ice cream, whip cream and pecans.....I look forward to my Brother's b-day every year, because this is his celebratory cake.

5. Home made ice cream--- all flavors..........Neilson's custard Concretes too. The softer texture of these treats just melts in your mouth, literally.

Art ...ta dah..

2011-08-18T20:38:00.000-07:00

This is my first mixed media canvas.. It's 8x10 and I had fun creating it with paint, scrap book paper, card board, books, bubble wrap, decopage, ink, stamps, magazines etc... I am taking an online art class from mixed media artist, Christy Tomlinson. She shows all different techniques that I have been playing with in my Art Journal. I have set up a make shift studio in Monson's room, so I don't have to clean up my art mess and I can just play, play, play all day. I wish it was all day, it's mostly a little bit of time here, a little bit there.

Tuesday tidbits...Monson is an Elder

2011-08-16T14:25:00.002-07:00

We ran down to St. George on Sunday and ordained Monson to the office of an Elder. We had Bob Lake-- Monson's Priest quorum advisor and Lance Bingham, his Teacher's quorum advisor stand in the circle.

Wayne, Monson, Lance Bingham ( with something weird behind his head) and Bob Lake

It was good to be with Monson because he is much more talkative in person than he ever is on the phone. Here's what we learned:
--He is more sore than he has ever been in his entire life.
--He has to be in condition for this coming week and be able to run 16- 100 yard dashes in a row, at under 18 seconds each dash with only a 40 second turn around. Good luck with that.
--The linebacker coach is from Scotland and looks like Braveheart with long flowing hair.
--It's hot in St. Geoge... I think Monson even has a tan, which is hard to do for a red head.
--He is totally appreciating Coach Wall from BHS for his football training and team knowledge.
--He hasn't told anyone, including his Bishop his real name....it's only Money......Money Welch.
--He is always starving. Once regular school starts, the food court will have better hours, which will help in Monson's food troubles.
--He is the champion at Call of Duty out of all his room mates.
-- There are no cute girls at Dixie.............yet.

Laila is great to travel with and difficult to travel with.......if she is hungry. Hunger makes Laila unreasonable.....it's miraculous what a little turkey subway sandwich will do for her. She made Monson pinky promise that he would stay crazy and not get too mature....."Well," she said, "You can get mature just not mature-mature." Whatever that means.

Grandpa Welch--- Fitisemanu

2011-08-13T18:05:00.001-07:00

Grandpa Welch shared this Samoan story and picture with all of his sons and grandsons when they received the Aaronic priesthood. It is a priceless gem in our family.
We are so grateful for Tom and his good life and Mission to Samoa.
We are thinking of him today on his birthday.

Happy 12th Birthday!!
You are now old enough to have the Aaronic Priesthood conferred upon you and be ordained to the office of a Deacon. I want to tell you a story:
In the Islands of Samoa there are three royal families, and the king is always a member of one of these families. He is chosen by the chiefs of each of these families holding a council and all agreeing on the person to be the next king.
Fitisemanu's family was one of the three, and it was time to choose a new king. The chiefs met and after much debating, it was decided that Fitisemanu should be the next king. Then someone said, "Do you remember that Fitisemanu is a member of the Mormon Church?" It was then decided to offer the Kingship to Fitisemanu but only if he would denounce his membership in the Mormon Church. he was called into the council meeting and was told of their decision. He immediately replied, "I would rather be a Deacon in the Mormon Church, than to be the King of Samoa." He knew that a "Deacon" held more Authority and it would be of a much greater value to him, and he could help his people in more ways than being king could ever do. At the time, Fitisemanu was an elder in the Church, he had served as Branch president and District President, and was one of the official interpreters for both the church and the government.
When I first arrived in Samoa he served as my interpreter when I had to talk in meetings. I didn't, however, know anything about him at the time. Later in my mission, when he was serving as district president, I had the opportunity to travel with him. During those travels, we visited much and often ate together. Occasionally I slept in his home.
I know this story is true, as I have heard him tell it many, many times. And he would bear testimony of the importance of the Aaronic Priesthood and the need to magnify your calling and of doing the best that you could at all times. I hope that you will remember this story and that it may help you in times when you have to choose between things of the world and the Church.

Remember that I love you and pray for you to always do and say the things that our Heavenly Father would have you do. If you will do this and remember to say your prayers, He will bless you and help you in all your endeavors.
Love, Grandpa Welch

My Friday 5 fave.......MUSICALS

2011-08-12T14:14:00.006-07:00

I love Musicals.
It was the first music in my childhood home. I remember Musicals from when I was little, more than I remember primary songs. Musicals were always playing on the family record player. My mom did choreography for Bountiful High school, Bountiful Community Theatre and at Promised Valley Playhouse, and we kids were always there at the edge of the stage watching and listening. I have been doing choreography off and on at BHS as well. Musicals are always playing in my home. So my kids love-- or tolerate-- musicals too.
Ahhh.....The circle of Life.
So in keeping with my new Friday Favorite 5 series I am going to tackle my beloved Musicals. There were too many to really do in one big clump, so I have divided it into 3 weeks: old musicals, new musicals, and movie musicals.

OLD MUSICALS (pre 1980)

This has been really hard for me to decide. It felt like I was choosing between my children, which to keep and which to discard?..........IMPOSSIBLE. But with much thought, I have come up with the following 5 and some memories or what I like about each one, in no particular order.
(All you other classic musicals out there, please forgive me.)

1. West Side Story.-- This was my first true musical love. The Romeo and juliet story line set in 1950's NYC. I watched the movie over and over and cried everytime. My first seeing it live stage experience was as a teenager and the bows were done in silence. I cried so much, I had to be practically carried to the car. Totally moved me. I have also seen not so good productions, (PTC) and one memorable one that my sister tells about where in the dramatic end scene, Maria picks up the gun and is pointing it at everyone......well the gun wasn't on stage so this Maria picked up a shoe and pretended it was a gun.... so random.....and funny. The latin dancing and the teenage angst in this show is amazing!

2. My Fair Lady-- This is a different type of love story. Henry Higgins makes a bet that he can change Eliza Doolittle from a commoner to a princess just by teaching her how to speak properly. He succeeds and gets more than he bargained for. I have been Eliza Doolittle twice and really love this part, once in High School and once as an adult. I love musicals were characters grow and change. I really liked playing opposite Wayne's Henry Higgins many years back at Terrace Plaza Playhouse. We had a wonderful time. I do remember my quick costume changes and one time, thinking my skirt was all done up ntil it fell to the ground while singing, "Show me now." I just picked it up and kept going. Live theatre....gotta love it.

3. The King and I-- SHALL WE DANCE? Ah.....Rogers and Hammerstien music!! This is such a poignant show about a real story in Siam, 1850. The king of Siam brings in Anna from England to be a school teacher to his many children. Anna helps the children and the king become more learned in the ways of the ever changing world. Eventually the King dies and Anna helps the new King.
I played the part of Anna in College and fell flat on my rear end during the Shall we Dance scene with the King. I tripped on my big bell skirt. The King just gasped, "Mrs. Anna!" -- and picked me back up and we kept going. I flashed all of my vintage underthings to the audience. I never could whistle a happy tune....someone had to do it in a microphone for me off stage.
We were also in this show as a family when the boys were little. Landon did a great job as Anna's son. The rest of us were in the Ensemble. We had to hairspray-paint the boys hair black and use a lot of dark make up to make us look Siamese. Monson would run around like a crazy 4 year old back stage, so by the end of the show he had black streaks pouring down his face, with red hair showing through...he looked like a tabby cat. In one scene Monson jumped up and his elastic waist pants did not. He accidentally stepped on them, so he had his power ranger under-roos showing until he got his pants pulled up again. He wasn't embarrassed, so that's good-- just taking after his mother and flashing his underwear around.

4. The Music Man-- A dreamer named Harold Hill comes into a small Iowa town at the turn of the century and sells the town on band instruments and a band to keep the young-uns out of Trouble. On the way he falls in love with the librarian, Marion Paroo and has to give up his "shifty" ways because he falls in love. Meredith Wilson's music is rousing! I have never been in this show but I have choreographed and directed it numerous times. One of my funny memories is choreographing this for a Stake up in Kaysville. The "Shipoopie" song lyrics had to be changed to "Shipookie" so they wouldn't be so offensive. I laughed hard at that one.

5. Guys and Dolls -- Love this show as well....Wayne and I played Nathan Detroit and Adelaide at TPP in Ogden. We had such a good time with our big accents and funny faces. This is such a great love story and one where the good mission-girl changes the "bad" gangster- boy to being GOOD like her. (Usually it ends up the other way around, which is why I only tolerate Grease.) Addison played Sky Masterson for a full summer in West Yellowstone a couple of years back....we was a joy to watch!

SO that's my list.
All you theatre geeks out there, try narrowing your Old Musical list down to just 5!!! I would love to see it.
I'll post a New Musical list next Friday.

New Pics and Movie

2011-08-10T15:42:00.004-07:00

I love the above picture. It's my Dad and Mom standing at the shore of Bear Lake this past July. I'm calling it, "The Old Man and the She."
They are really sweet on each other still, and it makes my heart feel good to watch them. Old Love is so much better than Young Love.

We--the extended Cole/Call/Welch/Brown girls-- just had our first movie date. We are hoping once a month to get together and see something, do something or eat something.. Today was the first day of the new movie, The Help. Most of us had read the book, so we were really looking forward to this movie. It didn't disappoint. I laughed. I cried. I loved it. This is my kind of movie-- historical, great characters, beautiful cinematography, plus it takes the time to develop all of this....the movie ran over 2 1/2 hours long.

Did I say I loved it?...cuz, I did.

Monson is off to Dixie

2011-08-08T12:18:00.011-07:00

We did a drive by dumping of our last boy to Dixie State College on Saturday.... well, maybe not exactly a drive by.

We loaded Master P to the hilt with suitcases and Monson paraphernalia... including 10 baseball caps and Winston-- his stuffed ball bear.

We checked into his scary Canyonlands apartment in St. George and moved his stuff in. Landon's UVU apartment was a mansion, Truman's USU Snow Hall place was fine... but Monson's is ...... just ok.
I just keep telling myself that it's good training for his mission. So dirty and run down, but I know he will stay in worse places than this. Monson's room mate- JP --and his mother were less than thrilled.

I asked him if he was excited or scared or happy or nervous, or just what was he feeling? He is really hard to read. Monson reminded me that his range of emotion from sad to happy and mad to glad is about this much...... he indicated an inch with his fingers. So, yes, he was happy and looking forward to this school/football experience.

My home is quiet and empty.

Laila and I stood at Monson's clean bedroom doorway on Sunday, and looked in longingly... and shed some tears.....almost like someone died.

We were out of control.

Laila actually spent a lot of time in his room yesterday and slept in his bed last night. This is interesting, because she didn't show much interest while he was living here.

Maybe it's clean and doesn't smell like sweat and shoes now.

I think she will miss him telling her to change the channel and stop watching stupid disney shows. Brotherly love.

I am just hoping he doesn't spend too much time playing mindless video games.

Friday's 5 fave............Movies

2011-08-05T14:52:00.004-07:00

MOVIES

These are the movies that if I walk into a room and they happen to be playing..... I can't walk out, or turn them off.

I am hooked.

I am rooted to the spot and life must go on without me for a while.

These are movies that when I'm flipping through channels at 11 at night, and one of these is on, I stay up and watch it. (The following are in no particular order)

1. Life is Beautiful. I love the title of this WW2 picture. Life is beautiful even when it's hard and unfair is the message of this movie. The Father's sacrifice touches me every time. I think it's because it's mixed with sweet humor throughout. Roberto Beignini wrote, directed and starred in this....( I loved his enthusiasm at the Academy Awards, as well, when he was walking on the arms of the chairs to get to the stage.)

2. Lawrence of Arabia Peter O'Toole stars and is fascinating as British Army Lieutenant, T.E. Lawrence turned Arab activist during WW1. The scenery is stunning as are Peter's eyes.

3. The Godfather. Puh-lease..... I never have seen any of these in the theatre, only on AMC, and not particularly in any order, just snippets here and there. I just finished another AMC Godfather marathon. Can't. Stop. Watching.

4. Gone with the Wind Seen the movie many times, read the book twice and visited Margaret Mitchell's museum while in Atlanta. Frankly, Scarlett......I Can't get enough!

5. The Way We Were. Love the chemistry between Barbara and Robert. It's about two desperate people having a wonderful love affair, yet their political views and personal convictions keep them apart. Plus, I heart the song!

And that's my list..........

I am a sucker for Romantic Comedies and Chick Flicks....but I really love any kind of historical drama.

Slow is okay with me as long as characters are developed.

Kansas City

2011-08-04T07:35:00.002-07:00

"I got to Kansas City on a Friday...By Saturday I'd learnt a thing er two. For Up til then I didn't have an Idea of what the modren world was coming to.."
I am helping with choreography at Bountiful High School, once again.

We are doing Oklahoma and Beauty and the Beast this year.

It's going to be a lot of fun. I only have Laila left to be in these shows....so it's a good thing that she likes doing that.

I am working on moves for the song, Kansas City from Oklahoma.

I love this song, because it sends me back to my own high school days and being around Wayne Welch.

I have a vivid memory of Wayne and Joel LaSalle singing this entire song at the top of their lungs while dancing around on tables and chairs at Leatherby's ice cream restaurant. (This used to be down at 5 points shopping mall, before the mall was torn down to be doctor's offices and piles of dirt.)

The song came over the restaurant's airwaves and Wayne and Joel started entertaining me and a whole bunch of people they didn't know.

It was a hoot.

That's probably the first moment I knew I was going to marry that marvelous man!

August Goal

2011-08-01T16:26:00.003-07:00

GOALS!!!! I set my July Goal to become more active..........well,
I did get off my behind a bit more and activate it. Not as much as I should have, but atleast I was mindful of my activity or inactivity as the case may be.

August I am focusing on Giving Warmer Greetings and Fonder Farewells.

This includes taking the extra minute for a hug, to make eye contact and connect.

To say, " I love you" more....and really mean it.

My friend Erin got me thinking more about this. She was on a eating/bicycling trip through France with her hubby. She wrote about a little cafe she stepped into to get out of the rain...........

"In this little cafe, there were 4 old pals playing cards at the bar, staying out of the rain. While we were eating, an old rough looking guy walked in and one by one went to each man and kissed and hugged them. Kissed them once on each cheek. It was sweet to see their friendship. We should kiss people on the cheeks when we see them. Definitely hug people. People need human contact more I've decided"

I was touched by this.
I have also been going through appointments with Landon for headache/eye issues and sitting at the hospital with my mom for fluid in lungs/cancer issues. I want these two (and many more) to know how much they mean to me. Health scares really put things into perspective-- how important we are to each other--how we are connected and shaped by every person we come in contact with.

SO If I grab you and hug and kiss you and tell you how much you mean to me............it's ok...it's just August.

My new sign

2011-07-31T07:03:00.000-07:00

My friend, Erin, doesn't even know this is what she got me from Hip and Humble. Landon went shopping with me and we laughed so hard at this sign, we just had to take it home.
Thanks for the birthday present!

Have you ever?

2011-07-29T12:08:00.000-07:00

There is a funny party game called , "Would you rather?" It is filled with difficult, painful and gross choices.

"Would you rather have no neck or no knees?"

"Would you rather eat an entire boa constrictor or make out with a bunny?"
"Would you rather be electrocuted or sit in your car, in stand still traffic, after eating 2 bran muffins and drinking 64 oz of Mt.Dew?

You get the idea.

The girls at camp...LOOOOVVE it.

I came up with a new version........

"Have you ever?"

The following may or may not be true ...........

Have you ever walked down to Wingers from your home, had lunch and walked back?

Have you ever left the burner on your gas stove on for 2 days?

Have you ever eaten alone at a restaurant?

Have you ever cried during gutter fireworks?

Have you ever fallen asleep while riding on the back of a motorcycle?

Have you ever sluffed an important meeting?

Have you ever been driving home and your daughter says, "I feel like a swiss roll" so you just pull into Dicks and buy them for her, much to her amazement?

Have you ever eaten a 1/2 gallon of ice cream in one sitting?

Have you ever been to a movie by your self?

Have you ever faked sick as an adult?

Have you ever read a book for an entire day?

Have you ever been to five LDS temples in one day?

Well............have you?