Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Mother's Day and Signs of May

May 12, 2009
I have just had a wonderful weekend! Billy and Jen Hurd are moving to Utah, and were in need of someone to drive an empty truck from Utah to Fresno, and then drive an extra car back. I talked to Bob, who said he was fine with that, so Granny and I took the challenge. It was only afterwards that we realized it would be Mother's Day weekend. I mentioned to DaNae that Granny would have 2/3 kids there, and did she think Ruth would be willing or able to come down from Oregon. She has had a terrible time with her back and traveling is not at all comfortable.
Mom and I left Manti Thursday afternoon, after Girl Scouts, and drove to St. George, where we stayed with Bob's sister, Nedra. We left in the early morning and arrived in Fresno in the mid afternoon. There were lots of frantic, secret phone calls, while things were worked out, but Ruth and Craig did decide to come, and arrived about 4 am Saturday morning. We had arranged a very unique way to surprise Mom with their arrival, but she accidently saw them hiding and started squeeling and hopping from one foot to the other saying "What's going on!!! What's going on!!?". It was so fun. We had a park bbque with Jenny and Tara and Billy and their families on Saturday, played games, watched a movie. On Sunday, the ladies were served a delicious quiche and fruit salad on the patio before church, and the guys (mostly Billy) made wonderful Mexican food for us for dinner.
We left Monday morning and drove straight through, arriving about 10:30. It was perfect.
The Lazuli Buntings are back - in force! No, this is not some aboriginal tribe or a strange fashion trend. They are beautiful red, white and blue birds! We have had 8-10 at a time at our feeders. They are small, but so colorful they take you breath away.

Monday, May 4, 2009


May 4, 2009
Okay, so I stink at keeping a journal, or a blog.
I have completed a couple of quilt tops since my last entry - a 12 block-of-the-month in pinks and greens that I added panels of "turn of the century" children, and appliqued borders. I also completed the "critter" quilt I started in Panguitch 2008. It has all different sized blocks named after "critters" and nature. It will hang (when it's done) over the doorway into the living room in James and Cami's two story entryway. And, the main part of Anne's quilt (she bought the fabric and gave us the pattern - oh, 4 years ago) is done, but we need to add really wide borders, and decided on Twisted Ribbon borders. AND, I have started a Charlottes Web quilt that is really cool, that will be big enough for Pete and Bekah's California king.
Here is a darling picture of James and Cami and their little Hudson! He is 6 months old now. They are for sure coming to family reunion! Cami's family usually go to Bear Lake that same weekend, as well, so everything has worked out wonderfully. Hudson is growing so fast! His laugh is contagious and he smiles and plays so cute. Rebekah tends him everyday while Cami goes to work and (darn it) he knows and like her better than me!!
But his is very friendly, and warms up quickly to new people.
Mary and Aaron have decided to FOR SURE to come to family reunion, with a 5-7 week Lily (Due June 18th). So, that makes %100 of my kids, and Bills. Ruth's kids are planning on it, but will need to see what work schedules are then. I am sooo excited.
Just a note on being "empty nesters". First of all, even when the kids are out of the house, they are not gone. And that is a GOOD thing. I love to hear from them, answer their questions (cooking, friends, pregnancy, babies, etc), hear their news, and share their joys. And I love that they love to come home and visit, stay the night or the weekend, or have us at their homes.
I also love that I have the time to do things with Bob. Our recently completed Hobby Room was the largest bedroom, and it now houses Bob's radios and work space, my sewing machine and all the stuff I need for quilts, crochet, knitting, scrapbooking, painting and crafts. Also, a huge TV James and Cami gave us, a day bed/couch with trundle, and all my favorite DVD's. So, often we work on things together in the same room and share a movie. Also, usually I can just drop everything when Bob calls that he needs to do rounds at the hospital right after work and do I want to go along for the ride (which means a couple of hours of time to do handwork, and dinner out). We both have ward church jobs, and can go to and from church together and sit together in meetings. ( I play the piano in RS now instead of Primary.) I usually do the cooking and Bob the cleaning up, but if I'm busy he does the cooking. We try to have an overnight in Provo or Salt Lake every other month. Our love and care for each other has only increased, and I am blissfully content and happy.