Here's to my mom.....

.....on this her 84th birthday.Click HERE to read a past tribute.

Here she is with her daughters.....ya gotta love those "simpler" times. She did provide a happy, carefree childhood for all of us.

She was and still is a friend to all. Here are some of her high school and life-long friends: Shirley Judd, Mom, Verlyn Bradshaw and Jeraldine Thompson.

She always had us dressed, our hair done and "picture ready" any time of the day. Joyce and I are not enjoying this but doesn't my mom look great? She loved her Jantzen outfits and wore them well.

She's older now but loves her great grand children....going a little slower, but still provides custard for everyone in the 6th ward and lemon pies for anyone she knows loves them. Ya just gotta let her know that you want one.

Though we make messes and cause chaos, she still enjoys having us around. She has a cake for us every Sunday night. Happy Birthday, Mom....we all love you so.

Remembering a fine woman today...

.....on this 102nd birthday of Hannah Hegsted Wells Rose, or "Jerry" or "Hannah" or "Grandma Rose", "Rose Amma"...she was a gracious lady. Click HERE to read Anita's post.
I loved finding this letter that she had written to her mother post marked April 11, 1932, written after she had met George and was dating him. She admitted to her mother that she was truly "in love"...."...this old 'bug' as I have called it...

They met in 1931 and married in December of 1933.

She was a respected educator for many, many years but through all of her accomplishments and accolades, she was most pleased with her four sons.....

We were privileged to live across the street from her in the late 70's when we moved back to St. George. One of my fondest memories was watching her spend countless hours pitching a little plastic ball to Mason....she would never tire. She could do it as long as he showed interest.

With fondest memories....Happy Birthday, Grandma Rose.

Where can I turn for peace......

.....and I think we all know the answer to that but I decided that until I had some "order" I would never be able to find true "peace" so I tackled a couple of rooms that were in need of some attention....and I'm here to say, it has really helped. I thought of a little piece I wrote a few years back that I want to include here on my blog...just a bit of a disclaimer; it's long, and I don't know who reads my blog, but you probably won't appreciate this,however, I'm about ready to put my blog to a book again and I want this in there; my motivation for cleaning my house (it doesn't hit very often but when it does) it's because of "My Mother's House":

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"My house is a house of order......." D&C 132:8. March 29, 2005. I had a few minutes today and I didn't feel like going home so I stopped by to see my mom. She wasn't home and usually I would just see that the car was gone and then head home but today I used my key and went inside. I couldn't help but just stand there in awe at how much "the same" her house always is; spotless, perfectly clean and everything meticulously placed on the shelves and in order. Her house truly is a house of order and I decided to sit for a while and bask in the cleanliness as my house is just the opposite. I also couldn't help but wonder why I'm so different. Cleaning is her hobby, order her motto and service her legacy. Messiness is me, disorderliness my signature and procrastination my downfall. I like a clean house, that's why I enjoyed hers so much today. I just don't like the process of cleaning so I've gotten used to living in chaos. I want to change though. Being in my mom's house always inspires me, but it only lasts until I shut her door behind me and enter my own. I get to my own home and realize there's no hope and just resign myself to living in my mess. I opened her clean refrigerator and rummaged through her "neat as a pin" drawers and found some Cinnamon Bears to eat. They were there in the top, left drawer where they always are because my mom always puts them there. That's something the kids can count on. That's what my mom stands for, consistency. Someone that her children and grandchildren (and now great grandchildren) can count on to be there and to give them whatever they need whether it be Cinnamon Bears in the top, left drawer, Count Chocula in the big, middle drawer and always milk in the refrigerator, cake on Sunday night, potatoe salad at the picnic and money in the birthday card.

There wasn't a spot of water in her sink so after I got a drink of water, I used a paper towel to wipe up the drops so she couldn't tell I'd been there. I went into the spare bedroom and started to thinking about my childhood and what it was like when my brothers inhabited that room and it was then I realized that I really didn't remember much about my brothers. Then I walked into my old room and remembered the time I shared it with my sister. Man, what a small space for two little girls. I have good memories though of sharing a small double bed and drawing an imaginary line down the middle and threatening her if she crossed the line and touched my feet. Or maybe it was her that threatened me but I do remember hot summer nights, depending on a cup of ice on the floor by the bed to keep me cool in the night and opening the window and challenging my sis to run down the street and pick me a rose without getting caught. I remember lying in bed playing guessing games as we tried to fall aslseep. I remember after leaving home, always looking forward to returning to that room, going through the drawers of saved memorabilia, reminiscing times passed and loved always having a safe place to land.

I went into the tiny main bathroom and looked in the mirror and remembered the days I would stand there for hours experimenting with new hairdos. I couldn't help but wonder with all the time I spent there, how was it that all of us shared that bathroom. There was one other small bathroom but that main one seemed to be only mine as I remember long, soaking baths and lots of hours learning to do my hair. The mirror shined and I tried to remember what mom used to put in those little tiny drawers that lined both sides of the bottom cabinet. The towels were still three-folded neatly in the main cupboard and I tried to find her "Evening in Paris" perfume that dad always kept her supplied with because it was his favorite. I still fold my towels the same, once in half then three folded the wide way. That's the way they fit the best on the shelf but to me, it's just the way you fold a towel.

I peeked into Mom's room. So elegant, so fancy. When did mom get "fancy"? I don't remember my house being so fancy while I was growing up. I don't remember it ever being that clean but I'm sure it was. I remember on Sundays, when we were all home, it would be a bit messy but it only took picking up the Sunday paper and straightening a rug or two to get it back to the usual order but I don't remember doing any of those things. My mom did them. I remember her trying to get us to do jobs but we never really had to do much. She always told me I would be sorry one day that I didn't learn to work, but she never really made me do it. She always allowed me time to be a kid and when I got older, I always had time to enjoy school and friends, all the "kid" things. Maybe I am sorry that I didn't learn to do housework but something tells me that it's not a matter of learning how to do it. I know how to do it; I just don't like to. I know I spent many hours trying to figure out how to make my kids like it. Job jars, work charts, anything and everything to get help around the house. It all boiled down to getting them to do the jobs I hated the most and the two that came out on top in the end, when all was said and done, was emptying the dishwasher and taking out the garbage. I'm not sure there is any way to get kids to like housework but I know it's important to let them learn how to do it.

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April 21, 2009 - I'm reading this, so many years later and wondering how I ever really intended to end it. I'll just say, I still don't like housework but my kids seem to be just fine. Their houses are all neat and tidy (most of the time). I would rather knit or read than clean and so I have to make "deals" with myself to get things done like, I can't knit until the kitchen is clean, etc. etc....but like I said, I like a clean house. Every Sunday night when I visit my mom and bask in the cleanliness of her rooms, I come home re-committed to be better at taking care of my home. It lasts about 2 minutes until I see my knitting basket and then I make another "compromise" with myself,..."I'll do it tomorrow...."

I had a date last night....

....with my knitting needles. Yep....I just haven't been finding the time to spend with my "best friends" and stress relievers and I could feel the pain so I set aside a couple of hours on a Friday night for a knitting session and had a great time. Am I borrrrrring (zzzz.zzzz...) or what? Can't help it, that's the way I roll....

...and speaking of rolling....I rolled out of bed this morning bright and early and was able to take in McKay's gymnastics meet. Hadn't been to one before so it was an education but he did a great job and I was totally amazed at what the little guy has learned and especially the discipline that he displayed through the whole morning of events, most of it just waiting his turn.

It was really fun. Didn't get to stay for the awards but he took 3rd in his age group. Way to go, McKay....keep up the good work. We have an olympian among us (or is it amongst, too lazy to look it up).

....and speaking of lazy...just too lazy today to keep Matty out of my cupboards so I made sure there was no poison and let her at the under-the-sink cupboard. She entertained herself with a bag of potatoes long enough for me to get the bread out of the mixer. I think that must be the way that I mothered.....just let 'em have what they want. It's lots easier that way.

Hope y'all had a great week-end. Mine started out a bit rocky but if I give myself permission to just knit once in a while, I can make it through a day. My motto is..."...a day without knitting just isn't a very good day." It's been a really good "Jimmery" kind of evening though...not only did I get to watch BYU win...I got to knit. (I'm not really a big BYU fan but I've been kinda "taken" with this "Jimmer" thing lately and I love how the commentaters talk about the Mormon church. The announcers talked about the Rogers kid that's on the team and how his dad "invited" Jimmer's dad to join our church. I've never thought about it in those terms....do we have to get "invited" to be a Mormon? I'm still trying to figure that one out.

Speaking of heros......

....I married mine 39 years ago tomorrow. Best day of my life!!!

Clickity click HERE to see what I wrote about my wedding 2 years ago. I still feel the same.

I need a hero....

....and these are some pretty cute little super heros but...

....today my hero was Mason. Who'da thunk these two "punks" would be workin' on my teeth back there about 15 years ago when all they were doin' was gettin' outta homework, chasin' the girls and rippin' it up at Flyer Field. It actually was pretty fun being there today as Mason and his assistant and friend, Justin Downey worked on my teeth. They both did a mighty fine job. Thanks, guys.

Yesterday my hero was Kyle...he did my taxes and has fixed my sprinklers. Tomorrow....(figuratively speaking, somewhere down the road) it will be Spencer 'cause he will keep me out of pain in my old age. Who's your hero today?????

There's lots to cheer about...

.....and I got in a lot of stuff this week-end as I traveled north for several reasons. Maycee participated in a cheer competition at the Salt Palace....

These little kids really ripped it up on that stage...so fun to watch her in action. Friday night I "cheered" my friend Diana on as she performed in this: OMGsh, it was amazing....I can't remember when I've been to such an entertaining night and listened to so many Broadway tunes in one place sung by so many talented people from the emcees to the musicians to the members of the choir. It was just an amazing evening...and I've become a huge fan of just one more group that I'll need to follow and travel north for. Kudos, Diana....ya made me proud. It was so good to see you. Wonderful evening. I also got to check on baby Lucy and make sure her parents are taking good care of her and I'm glad to report that they are doing just fine. All is well in that household. Thanks for letting me stop by and a great big thanks to Cynthia and Laura for letting me crash with them at Little America. I should have taken a picture but didn't. Ya gotta love that Little America; I sure do.

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We celebrated Traci's birthday with her favorite red velvet cake from Costco. She made us do it!!!! It was so yummy.

Speaking of Traci, today is her birthday and she happens to share it not only with Dale Murphy, Derrill Strawberry, Emily Wells and many others, but with Girl Scouts. She was born on the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the Girl Scout organization and because of that.....she got a quilt made by several girl scouts and a membership into the organization at the age of 5 (which she didn't use).....and she and I got our picture in the paper.

It's probably not good for me to have so much time on my hands as I travel down the interstate because every song I hear reminds me of something....and my mind just goes back in time to so many good memories. Every song took me back to something and a couple of them reminded me of dances Traci did in high school and it was good to think about her on this special day and as I called her, it was good to hear that she had a great day celebrating with her family. Traci is a person that values happiness....and as this family can attest (Joyce, is that the proper use of that word?), we are all happier when she is happy (and it usually means fed and rested)....but I have watched her conquer her moods and learn what she has to do to be happy most of the time. She strives for "joy"....and brings a lot of joy to those around her. She has taught me a lot about what I need to do when I get down on myself. Thanks Traci, for your good example and I hope you had a great birthday. You are loved.

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Speaking of Girl Scouts......luck would have it that the service station where I stopped to gas up was, you guessed it.....selling Girl Scout Cookies (and I'm saying that with a song in my voice) because I've been looking high and low for someone to sell them to me. As I mentioned the kinds I wanted, they handed me a box of my three favorites....wow, what a great marketing strategy, Girl Scouts!!!! Better to sell 3 boxes than just one and there must be a lot of people out there that like the same three that I do. Take my little survey at the top and let's see how many of us like the same ones.

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Speaking of baseball....because March 12 is also Dale Murphy's birthday and he is one of our favorite baseball players....it was always the Sunshine Tournament (or Pizza Hut Classic) on Traci's birthday and it was a part of our lives for a lot of years and as I drove into town tonight, the lights were on at Flyer Field and Elk's Field and the tournaments were in full swing....and it brought back a lot of memories of our days designing t-shirts for those events. I just HAD to come home and pull them out and post them on this blog in memory of all our good ol' baseball times. Now go get yerself a Girl Scout Cookie and eat it in honor of this day, March 12. Oh, and I think it's time to move our clocks forward....did ya do that? (Wow, this was a long post).

Just a little early celebrating....

....as Emily's birthday is Saturday and everyone has other plans so I booked a date early and enjoyed dinner at Paula's (her choice)....yummmmm. She asked me if this restaurant was here when I was a little girl.....not exactly the same place....something similar called Nina's....but Paula has been around for a long, long time and "yes, Emily. I liked going there when I was a little girl."

In fact here we are at Nina's celebrating Janet's birthday. We'd eat chips and salsa 'til our tongues would about burn off then wash it down with a Pepsi....aw....good times, ole'.....

Emily enjoyed Paula's signature Orange Whip and ate her nachos 'til she was about sick but was able to finish it off with a chocolate/caramel sundae. Here's wishing you an early Happy Birthday, Emily. She's thinks it will be "great to be 8".

...and I'm wishing I could take Traci out to dinner for her birthday but she'll find a good way to celebrate with her family.

If they gave grades for "Motherhood", she'd get at A+ for sure. She's first and foremost a wife and mom....gives it her all every day. I hope you have a wonderful birthday Traci.

Love that smile....and I love watching you be a mom. She and Emily share March 12 birthdays so a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to both of you on Saturday.

Do you have a favorite aunt?

I do....and today is her birthday. She's my mom's sister and she's a lovely lady; always up-beat, positive, happy and a joy to be around....loves to go out and romp in fresh new snow (and make the first snowman of the season) and especially loves the spring when she can plant her beautiful garden in Logan. She's older now....the garden is smaller, the joy comes from watching the snow fall and sitting by a fire that she made herself....but she's lived a good life, hard at times, but good.

She would always welcome us with a delicious meal and warm bed as we traveled back home to Pullman in our early school days. Logan was a good stop-off and I always looked forward to her warm welcome. Here she's got Kyle and is dipping his little feet in the ditch water.

We used to go on outings with her family when they would come up from California. It was always a treat to go there and visit them as well. Lots of good memories with our California cousins.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Beulah. Wish you were here so we could celebrate together.

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Just so you know....the Wells' have a Tupperware connection. If you'd like to read about it on Anita's Blog, clickity click HERE.

I'll do anything.....

.....to get out of cleaning my house. I've been hearing that vinyls are back so I ventured downstairs and found our old turntable (and 8-track player) that we scrimped and saved for back in the day...a whole 80 bucks worth, top-o-the-line, found a few old records and gave it a go. It was sluggish at first but in no time, I was groovin' to "Ring of Fire". Wow...it really sounded pretty good.

I love the earphones here. Are they big...or is it that the heads are little?

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Speaking of good times....

I'm grateful for technological advances because I love being able to WebCam with Traci. She got to meet Lucy for the first time last week.

We all know what we gotta do...

.....but this book put it in terms I could really understand (and believe). I'm just sayin'....

.......a good, quick read if you need it spelled out for ya like I do.

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A trip to the Carl Bloch Exhibit on the BYU Campus is a "must" to enjoy all the original paintings we have taken for granted for many years. We've seen them in our meeting houses, on the covers of church magazines and on many LDS books.....click HERE to read more about Carl Bloch, the very spiritual man behind the paintings.

An educational and spiritual experience for sure.

This has always been one of my favorites.

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I also took in the Dorthea Lange Exhibit - "Three Mormon Towns" - Clickity click HERE to read more about this exhibit. The Mormon towns are Gunlock, St. George and Toquerville. Some of her photographs brought back lots of memories. Last year, Cynthia and I ventured to Mt. Carmel and visited the site where Maynard Dixon spent time while he painted and his then wife, Dorthea Lange did photography. Some of Dixon's paintings are also on a display right next to the "Three Mormon Towns" exhibit. It was a good day of browsing museums at BYU. I loved it.

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Got some extra hangers laying around?...................

....you could make one of these for your entry way!!!!!!

If life gives you lemons.....

...go get a lemonade/raspberry cupcake!! Cupcakes are the craze now you know...and if you know me, you know how much I love "cake". I used to send the kids out on "cake runs" and I did one of my own yesterday because, well, just because. I've been up here helping Lauri get through those first few really tough days of motherhood and she's been a trooper. I think we're past the worst of it and on the downhill now. Little Lucy sure is worth a few sleepless nights and I know many will be yet to come but there's nothin' like new parenthood, all the twists, turns and surprises around every corner and Lauri and James are finding that out and bracing for the fun ride. I've had the privilege of being a part of a few "firsts" these last couple of days.....

Lucy is resting after her first bath....always a workout....

In the car seat ready to buckle up for her first trip to the doctor. Pretty in pink and purple, Lucy is "dressed to impress".....

The doctor checks her out from head to toe and all is well.....

Nothin' like mom's love after a prick of the needle. How blessed we all are...this little family feeling the blessings and truly a little gift from above. Bless your little heart, Lucy. You make us smile.