Hey Seffy, it's your birthday...

....let's party, like it's your birthday! You are a Wii bit amazing I must say and I'm missing you a bunch but want you to know that I'm forever hearing you say "how d'ya like me now?" and I'm likin' you a lot.....and wishin' I were there to experience my slow death as you continually beat me in Mario Kart....you little "trash talkin" cutest kid on the block. I love you tons. Have a great day, little man and know that you have a B-Awma (or B-Amma, whatever) that can't wait to see you again. I'll be there in June and we'll go get some Moon Pies. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Seth. I love you.

I'm still wondering.....

.....why I got so lucky. We weren't always best friends, (she's a red-head you know) but now we are...and that's what counts. Click HERE and let me tell you about my sis. This picture is worth more than the thousand words I could write about my sis....she always left me a bit perplexed....more fearless and daring than you could imagine, never sitting still a minute and always had to have the last word. The years and life's experiences have tempered her a bit...but she's still good to the core and the best friend a sister could have. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOYCE.

Like someone wise once said....."In the cookies of life, sisters are the chocolote chips".

I'm not sayin'.....

.....that I can't cook...just that I don't really like to but I love to eat, especially really good food so I've learned to surround myself with great cooks and here are some of the best. Aunt Maurine and Maren came for a visit on Sunday, I bought the Lasagne and Cynthia helped me out and made the rolls, the cake, the brownies, the cornbread....and it was delicious, and so good to see the two of them again.

Maren is retired and has moved to Salt Lake to live with and care for her mother, Maurine Hegsted (who was married to Grandma Rose's brother Marion). She's 93 and the happiest, kindest most peaceful person one could ever meet. She was a Home Economics Professor at the U of U for many years and wrote this wonderful cookbook with a couple of her friends. We decided to have her sign our copies and I must say, it really is one of the best cookbooks around. So kudos to a couple of my favorite cooks, and thanks Cynthia....I always know there's good food across the street.

One woman's treasures....

.....are her family's trash. I'm cleaning out files again and oh, the treasures I'm finding. I was driving out 7th the other day and saw on the marque at Dixie High School that it's Junior Prom time. "Get your date".....it says on the scrolling sign. Memories flooded, not only of my own Junior Prom and the crazy fun time we had decorating the rec hall, dying cheese cloth purple and gold up at Carol Ann's laundromat to string along with crepe paper streamers to lower the ceiling and make it as wonderful and beautiful as we juniors deserved to have.....but to my own sons' agony at having to ask girls out in a clever way......and then, what do I find in my files tonight......

I'm not even talking "clever" here....this is more "real" than I'd like to admit....so, was this sign really posted? I should be wondering if this son of mine (um, I'm thinking Kyle) really did get a date. My memory is failing me right now....but this has really made me smile....and if you'll indulge me a bit.....my Junior Prom picture below. I'm basking in this memory now....if that's o.k. with you, whoever you are.......

....and he just asked me to go, no note, no game.....just a simple question! Aw, the good ol' days. How d'ya like my hair? I did it myself!!!!

You can show 'em where they come from...

....but ya really ought to show 'em where to put them.....

We had a fun day out to Webb Livestock (thanks, Joyce) and the kids were so excited to see a couple of eggs in the chicken coop...they all had to have a turn holding it and I was grateful we got them home safely. I told one of the kids to go put it in the fridge....as I went to check on my candy that I've been stashing in the freezer....(I probably was really going to have some because I've been on this crazy diet, and every time I was tempted by something, I'd put it in the freezer for later, and all day I was feeling like it was "later" and I had a weak moment)..... there were the 2 eggs from earlier in the day nestled amongst my sugar. I actually got a good laugh out of it as I've never thought to freeze an egg before.....'guess I should have specified "where" in the fridge to put the eggs. That's going to be me one day putting the eggs in the freezer....oh, my....

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Some pictures from our very fun day.......

It was a beautiful day for a picnic....perfect ending to a perfectly fun adventure.....thanks Aunt Joyce.....

"Endings are sad......

.....beginnings are scary. It's what's in the middle that counts"....so goes a quote from one of my favorite movies "Hope Floats".....and this is definitely a hard ending as Traci and Russ pick up and move to North Carolina. My heart is heavy with sadness but my spirit is happy with excitement so I think the combined emotion of sad and happy could be called "sappy". I'm excitied for their new adventure. As we all know, it's the hard things in life that bring us growth and experience and they definitely are in for some exciting times ahead. Russ got hired at Duke University Medical Center, his official title being Management Engineer Program Analyst and they will head out in a few days. They've loved their home in West Bountiful.

My mind goes back to the day Kyle and JoEllen moved to Tucson. They had established themselves in a little ward in Sandy that needed them and they had really been making a difference there.....but they too, needed to grow and move on and had some great experiences in Tucson. It's good to be on the move....new people to meet, new things to see....o.k. I'm about done convincing myself that it's o.k. I've spent a couple of days saying my goodbyes, visiting a few people from my mission at the Church Office Building, having lunch with my good friend Diana and hangin' with my girls. It's been a fun week-end. I'm home now, enjoying my daffodils as they one by one, come out to greet us with warm wishes for new beginnings......so to you Traci, I give you a daffodil....it has always represented "hope" after the dark days of winter as it was in the spring that your father finally realized he was going to live to see his family grow. As we sat out in the sun one spring day, a lonely daffodil bloomed and brought us joy and that first daffodil has always had a special place in my heart. As with the daffodil principle, one can make a difference. You will be missed but you and Russ will make a difference in North Carolina. Keep smilin'....you'll be to the "middle" soon and that's what really counts.

This is the year....

......that we all turn 60!!!!! Wow, that sounds old. I don't feel that old but I'm posting this because Diana turns 60 tomorrow. I think Mary Ann is already there but the rest of us are on our way. We've come a long way together.....collectively we've survived breast cancer, an aneurism, lost 2 daughters and a really good friend to car accidents, not been able to have children (but able to adopt), traveled and lived the WHOLE world over, gotten degrees, even a doctorate, become grandmas and though we seldom see or even talk to one another, when we get together it's as if it was "yesterday once more". We're not the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants or the Ya Ya Sisterhood....just a bunch of "misfits" from the Dixie High Class of '68 that hooked up a long time ago.....the common thread being...."we loved to have crazy fun" (some of it the kind a kid could go to jail for today). Since our 50th birthday year, we've tried to get together a few times to celebrate. Here we are "power purse" shopping.....and I must say, we look like a pretty powerful group, don't ya think?

Here's to my girls. May your reading glasses be many and close by, may a couple of Advil take care of your aches and may you ALWAYS remember where you put your power purse.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DIANA. Celebrate big....we're not far behind you.

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Here we are back in the day celebrating something......as usual.

Spring is peeking its little head around the corner....

.....and I got a picture of it yesterday. Click on the daffodil to be reminded of "The Daffodil Principle". I just love daffodils, always have, always will. They come early here and I have to admit, I'm never quite ready for them but I love, love, love them so wanted to share the stages of my daffodils.

The best is yet to come......

Are ya ready to rumble........

....and it is Super Bowl Sunday. Doesn't really mean a heck uv' a lot to me other than I do get caught up in the national "hype" of things. It actually means a little more since I saw the movie "The Blind Side" and read the book (which I loved and really have learned a lot about the game).Though football isn't a big part of my life right now, it has been. None of my boys played in high school but they did a little flag football at times and it was always fun going to those games. However, I have to go even further back and remember that football was our life in high school and I was married to a member of the famous "Class of '68" state championship team....left guard #71. Lots of good memories and lessons learned from the game. I was also a member of a football team....the Powder Puff Football Team...(we're lookin' pretty tuff.....somebody forgot to tell Carol Ann to not smile).

You know the saying "If you don't write about it (or take a picture,) it's as if it never happened?" Well, if I didn't have these pictures to prove it, it's as if it never happened because I don't remember a thing....except that Carol Ann couldn't play because she had had an appendectomy the week before. I think I must have not liked it very much or I would remember more.....also, I think I would have remembered it if I had made a touchdown or thrown a pass.....but I probably just went through the motions to be a part of the fun (?) and prayed that the ball would never come to me. It says on my little page in my scrapbook that "we won" so that had to have been fun....winning is always fun you know.

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......and years later, once again football became a big part of our lives as we followed Doug Jolley's NFL football career. Mason and I got to go to Oakland to watch him play, then Spencer, Mason and I went from Louisville down to Nashville to a game.....pretty exciting times.

....so whether it's just for the party of it all or the commercials (or the competition) enjoy the day and realize that football isn't going anywhere soon so we might as well embrace it....(or not). Let the games begin.......

More from the Flamingo.....

.....just letting you know that over 40 years ago, I was at the Flamingo....and the theatre pretty much looked the same. We sat around tables, ate dinner then watched Wayne Newton perform. I was just as amazed then as I was this time around. Vegas knows how to put on a show......

Looks like a bunch of high rollers, don't ya think?

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We're here.....and we're hoping they are too. As you know, we tried this once before and they cancelled on us but here we are again in Sin City waiting for the dynamic duo to entertain the heck out of us....

...and I'm here to tell you. A....maze.....ing!!!

No cameras allowed inside (whatever) so we decided we better get a picture with a picture so here you have it, me and my sis waiting to be seated.....and the seats were pretty good.....but we heard this lady complaining about her seats and pretty soon she was down front so when the maiter d' came by, I casually asked him what it would take to move us down front....so we slipped him a twenty, and wallah......new seats!!!!!

I snagged this one at the end of the show....figured if I get kicked out now for taking a picture, what the heck.....

Call me crazy but I'm crazy.....for Donny and Marie. To my kids, I thank you and Joyce thanks you....great Christmas present. I'll have a smile on my face for a good long time. (I almost forgot....both of us got to brush hands with Donny as he came through the crowd).

She's a little bit country....

......and he's a little bit rock 'n roll....and we're just a little bit "pumped" to be headin' to Vegas finally to see Donny and Marie, thanks to my kids. Best Christmas present ever......I'll keep you posted (and cross our fingers than Donny and Marie don't find something better to do tonight).
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A big "thanks" to George and Emily for inviting me to Grandparents Day at their school and letting me tell about my hobby.....

When I showed them my collection of "pointy sticks" a little kid raised his hand and said "those are dangerous"....and I had to agree. Evan joined in here and I didn't get a good picture with Emily or George but it sure was fun....and I'm very proud to be their grandma.

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Thanks to Marsha and Gary for inviting me to dine with the Wells Clan. It was good to see them all again and hear about Gawain and Gayle's Mission to Africa.

Everyone needs a snow day....

.....at least once a season and we've always enjoyed ours in Pine Valley. Saturday, the boys took their families up to the mountain while I stayed home with the 2 youngest (not that I wouldn't have liked to be with them but I enjoyed the 2 youngest in the warmth of my home) so they could enjoy some fun times. Playing in the snow is not a walk in the park.....it's hard but it sure looks like they had a lot of fun.

The runs look the same as in the "good ol' days"....why I remember a time we were able to go clear from the top of Taco Flat down to the meadow road.

Let's just throw a kid or two off the porch......

I bet I can do a flip.......

....and because this blog is called "A Little Bit of Now and Then".....that was the now.....here's the "then". We did have some good times.

.....and the good part about it all is that 30 miles down the road, you can spend the rest of the afternoon sittin' in a warm winter sun.