"Are we havin' fun or whaaaat?"......

Yep, it's Cricket (I got her, I mean Lauri got her for Christmas in 1986 or 87) comin' at ya and she's baaaaak and if you could see the look on Evan's face when she started singin' ....it's a wonderful day, to visit the zoo, to visit the zoo, to visit the zoo...." about the only word I could place with what it looked like he was thinkin' is "freaky".... but he kinda warmed up to her after a while. I know I can remember when I thought dolls could really grow hair so there's something about a talkin' doll that's gotta seem a little bit "real" to a 3 year old. It's been pretty cool to revive her though and bring her out to liven up the party. Oh....and another fun treasure I found while "really" cleaning out under the stairs, I mean, not just a few layers of blankets back...I'm talkin' all the way to under the bottom stair. There they were, in all their 30 plus year-old glory, those "poor boy" overalls, 'cause when we were poor that other time (probably not as poor as I am right now and I'm thinkin' about starting the sewing thing again)... I used to make clothes for my kids. This cute little "superkid" overall ensemble was embroidered, yes, Lauri....embroidered, for Spencer, with love, by me. So.....the nearest model at the time was Miller and you can see how excited he was to be seen in these babies. Doesn't it just scream "What NOT to wear"? I actually thought I was quite clever in the day.

This blog is named "A Little Bit of Now and Then" for a reason. Now to the "Now" part. Mason is the proud owner of a softball team. A bit shortlived though as their team got thrown out of the league because Lance Lambert threw his bat for some unknown reason!!!!! They are in negotiations with the "powers that be" now though and a couple of the guys will be on a bit of probation if they are allowed back, but we can hope for good things from Hurricane Dental....with some heavy hitters like Nate Andrus, Aaron McArthur, Tyler Roberts, Lance Lambert, the Sparks brothers.....just to name a few but I'm here to tell you, last game they could have been beaten by Little Leaguers.....but, like I said. We'll hope for better days from Hurricane Dental. See ya at the ball park.

I love a sunset and I love being at the ball park. Last Thursday I experienced both. Aw.....good times. (Clickety-click on Cricket's picture if you want to learn more about this amazing talking doll from the '80's.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Traci and Emily...

....yep, two darling girls in our family share this birthday and I love them both....but today's blog is going out to Traci, my baby girl.....daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend extraordinaire. After four boys, I was thrilled to no end to get a girl....but 19 months later, another girl!!!! I always figure I must have done something right. I was thrilled for me but ecstatic for Lauri...she got to have a sister and it warms my heart that these two girls are such sista friends. Traci grew up in a family that knew that if she was happy, we were all happy and it was well worth the effort to see that she was happy.....when she was little she was either really happy or really sad and as an adult, I've admired how well she knows herself and she knows what she has to do to be happy and she chooses it. I've learned so much from her through the years. She's a born leader, caring daughter, fun friend and I think Lauri would agree, an awesome sister. I've run out of adjectives to describe her but on this her birthday, she would rather be in Disneyland, of course, but she is where she needs to be, at home with her husband and sons and she knows Disneyland will still be there when it's her turn. No wonder that the happiest little girl in the world loves the happiest place on earth. Happy Birthday, Traci. You make me proud. One of my greatest joys in life was watching you dance....but now I love watching you be a mom (and I'm glad you can do both). Speaking of dancing, Emily loves it and I often catch her doing her ballet moves while looking in the mirror. She's a happy soul and makes everyone around her smile. Have a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY, today Emily and keep smiling. You are a cutie.

Got "Clektions"?.........

I ran across this entry in my church journal the other day and got a laugh...... (don't ya just luv fonics). Laynee and I were exchanging questions in church a while back and she asked if I had any "clektions" so I wrote back and told her what I "clekt". So....I've been mucking out (not a pretty sight right now) and believe me, I'm a borderline "hoarder" (click HERE to learn more about this disorder) and seriously trying to SIMPLIFY but it's so hard and I know I'm in trouble when I have a hard time throwing away a box full of 1979 Good Housekeeping Magazines....HELP ME, PLEASE....but I've finally resigned myself but I'm amazed at what I'm finding.....So, I'm thinking about our family's "clektions" through the years and we've all had some from the boys "clektion" of baseball cards to my mini-mugs, dolls (Barbie, Ginny, Troll and dolls from various countries) and lately YARN (I call it a stash but it's the same thing; I have too much) and the girls teddy bears, Care Bears and Traci's "everything giraffe". Traci and Tiff used to have "Clektion Shows" and line up all their stuff in the basement and invite their friends over for the viewing of it. Why do we "clekt" what we "clekt"? I find great pleasure in having something to look for and then bringing it home and putting it in it's place and admiring the massive amounts of it that I have (oh, so sick)....why? I wish I could understand this phenomenon. Maybe someday I'll write my dissertation on the subject but for now, I'd like to get rid of some of my"clektions" (but not my dolls). Anyone want a thousand black purses or 300 mini-mugs? Check DI tomorrow. BTW, what do you "clekt"? Oh, I forgot to mention that I "clekt" dust too, but I'm sure that's an altogether different disorder.

"Top o' the mornin' to ya......

....and I hope this finds you lovin' life with a good read in your hands. This book has been recommended to me at least 3 times in the last month and since our book club decided to review it this month, I decided I needed to get my hands on a copy and I haven't been able to put it down. It's a lighthearted, easy read cleverly constructed using exchanges of letters set in a tough time in world history but it's captured my heart to the point that I wish I could be a member of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peeler Pie Society", but mostly, I wish we still wrote letters to each other. I've been going through my "stuff" and found old letters I've written both to my missionary (oh, how stupid they are, I think I'll burn them) and to my mom when we lived far away going to school. I used to write her weekly to tell her about Kyle and Spencer because she was missing out on so much by us being so far away. I would tell her every little thing they did and said. Those letters are precious to me. I'm sure we called each other periodically but we mostly communicated by letters and I can remember how important receiving letters was to me as I was away from home. I miss it.....maybe that's why I blog. I feel like I'm writing a letter to someone. Anyway, I ran across a blog that has some great reading ideas. If you'd like to visit it and read a review on this book, click HERE (this person knits socks, too. I need to meet her) and let me know what you've been reading lately.

Are ya havin' a happy "Square Root Day"?....

....I hope so 'cause I am. I found this little ditty so just thought I'd share it with you and wish you a "joyous day" one and all. "Attention, nerds of the world: Run a comb through your hair and raise your protractors high, for today is a joyous day: Square Root Day! (3/3/09 --> 3 * 3 = 9!) This geekalicious holiday only happens nine times this century, and the next one isn't until April 4, 2016 (4 * 4 = 16). So make this one ... count. "Click HERE to find out more. Now, let me switch gears here and talk about someone that is the exact opposite of "geekiness".....she's "classiness to the hilt"....

..... a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY tomorrow to my friend Janny Lou Maughan Coleman (Janet) who was our gracious host in China last year and who moved into town back in the mid 60's just in time to spice up my childhood and who let me spend tons of sleepless, crazy, song-singin', sneakin'-out-of-the-house nights at her "huge" home which would later be called the "Seven Wives Inn" and wh0 just happens to be a beautiful person inside and out. I know you won't read this, Janet but I'm sending out the vibes (and a late birthday card) and hope you will somehow feel the love and know that I think you are so totally awesome in every way.

Happy Birthday "Sether".....

What a QT. I really got to know him these last couple of trips to Kentucky and he is my bestest McDonald’s lunch buddy. His mom limited us to only a couple of times but we’d go everyday if we could, huh buddy….Oh, well. Seth is a “sponge” and is always asking “why”. He wants to know everything about everything and he remembers.When his family gave me a plaque for Christmas that says “What happens at grandma’s stays at grandma’s" he asked me ….”what does that mean?” So I told him that sometimes we would do things at my house but he didn’t have to let his mom know about it…but…I would tell him that I don’t want him to lie so if she asks about it….then you have to tell the truth. That night at the ballgame, he found some candy that Shana had put away but I didn’t know she had put it away and I told him he could have some and he looked at me with those big blue eyes and said “I won’t tell mom, o.k.” Then I realized the candy had been off limits and sure enough, Shana asked him about it and he didn’t lie. What a good little kid. He loves “Super Why” and “Sponge Bob Square Pants” and he would play Mario Cart forever. He’s an organizer and a whirl-wind and he has a bit of a temper but his finest trait right now as he turns a whopping 4 years old is that THIS KID CAN COLOR…a budding artist for sure. It might take him a whole day but he finishes his painting, every space…it’s amazing. Seth, my boy. You are SUPER so you go ahead and have a super birthday, Seth Gardner Wells and know that I sure wish I could be there.

Lucky me....

....I have a sister and it's her birthday. So....I dedicate this post to my BFF, confidante, validator, therapist and lunch buddy and I'm going to tell you some things that I think you should know about her.

Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for each other.

~Carol Saline

25 Random Things That You Need to Know About
Joyce Sullivan Webb....

1. She lives up to her "red head" stereotype (and was a member of the "Redhead Club" at Dixie High School).

2. She's sassy and spunky and when we were young she always won our "war of words"and....

3. ...she would rather be on the monkey bars than play dolls with me.....

4. ...however....she would get me roses on demand and

5. ...she loves, loves, loves....to read (always has and always will.)

6. She has a Master's Degree and was a High School Counselor.

7. Her favorite book is "Gone With the Wind"....

8. .....and she watches re-runs of Law and Order.

9. She collects Beanie Babies and has oodles of them.

10. She likes lime in her water (and Diet Coke but doesn't drink it any more because...
11. ...she has lost 40 lbs. and is trying to stay healthy...

12. ...but sometimes she will eat Key Lime Pie (and she loves Lemon Meringue Pie as well)......

13. ...then she goes to the gym (and has been for a really long time so she can eat Key Lime Pie) and works it off so Zeke (PT) won't get mad at her.

14. She takes care of animals, especially baby sheep because she lives with her family around a lot of livestock...
15. ....and she lets my little grand-kids come out and pet her sheep and hold them....
16. ...and she goes to lots of stock shows to show off the little sheep. (It really is impressive how she can stomp around in the manure with the best of 'em.)

17. She loves her doggies Cocoa and BeBe and she's letting Scooter live out his last days in the house (even tho' he leaks, bless your heart).

18. She drove with me to Disneyland on my birthday 2 years ago and pretended we were princesses and she didn't seem to be too embarrassed by my childish behavior.

19. She went on Tower of Terror....kind of against her will but it was my birthday and I wanted her to do it (and she does pretty much whatever I ask her to do).

20. She drove cross-country with me last summer (from Kentucky to here to get Mason's car home)...

21. ....and stopped at every antique store along the way looking for pots for our reading glasses and other treasures.

22. When I went on my mission she helped me move to Salt Lake....

23. ....and when I got done with my mission she helped me clean my apartment and move back home...

24. ....and she took me to the hospital when she thought I was having a heart attack.

25. She is an excellent Primary President, Sister, Wife, Mother, Mother-in-law, Daughter, Friend, Cousin and Aunt but mostly I'm so glad to have her because she's just my best friend. Happy Birthday, Joyce. You are everything to me.

Week-end update....

....and a busy one it has been. Russ and Traci arrived late Thursday and the fun began.
First, Pirate Island for lunch, then they all went to see the Dixie High School play "Star Spangled Girl". Saturday, an impromptu party complete with a fierce Cornhole competition (click HERE to hear the Cornhole Song) and on to "Rags", the Tuacahn High School play that George and Emily are in. Oh, did I forget....a little shopping in the mix. I'm posting some of my favorite pics. I've shared my computer room with Baby Jake so haven't done much blogging, e-mailing or scrabbling. It's raining again today.....hooray.

I love being George's grandma....

....and I got to go to his class today and talk about him. He got to tell about me and chose to talk about our trip to Disneyland a couple of years ago. It was fun to be there with other grandparents that I knew like Grey and Marlene Larkin (Dennis' Tess is in his class) and Dale and Dixie Larkin (Jeremy's Pearce) and several others that I didn't know but it's always fun to visit their schools. I love it when I get to visit my grand children's schools. One of the little kids asked Marlene Larkin how old she was.....just thought that was funny. I was hoping they would ask me then I would ask them how old they think I am. That's always fun to get a 3rd grade perspective on age. George and Emily are in a play, "Rags" out to Tuacahn High School. They are lovin' it. Can't wait to see their performance.

Pitter pat, pitter pat, it's a rainy day (night)....

...I'll dress up nice and warm and go outside to play. I'll get my coat and bumbershoot, on each foot I'll put a boot, grab my gloves and grab my hat and go out in the pitter pat.

Mindi mentioned this songbook on her blog and it got me singing these songs all over again, even tonight at 2:12 am. while I'm lying in bed trying to sleep, listening to the "pitter pat" outside my window. I grew up with this book (clickety click on the book if you would like to own one)....learned all the songs (well most of them, some of them I just didn't like) and I sing them to my grand children now but this has to be one of my favorites. I'm always wondering about the word "bumbershoot" though. Click HERE to see what I found. Cool word. I use it often.... (in my mind. "Where did I put my &%#$@ bumbershoot?") the 3 times a year it rains here. That's why I love it so. If I'm out of town and it's raining but it's also raining in St. George, I feel like I'm really missing out and I want to hurry home but by the time I get home it's not raining any more and won't for a few more months so tonight found me out in the 'hood with my nightgown (covered with my long, black winter coat of course) and my bumbershoot, breathing in the fresh, moisture soaked air. Aw....nothing like Dixie rain. I love it. But it will be bright and sunny tomorrow and everything will feel fresh and new and my daffodils are happy.

I just got back....

....from a quick trip to Salt Lake to help Traci. Some good "grandma moments" with the boys and I have to admit, I did enjoy seeing those big flakes fall last Tuesday....but enough is enough. It's hard to stay cooped up all day with 2 active little boys. I cuddled them in blankets for a daily outside excursion but it was still soooooo cold. Scotty and I went for a long ride each day to give his mom some rest time. As I headed back down the road last night, I got to Filmore and found out there had been an accident that closed I-15, so rather that re-route through Minersville and Enterprise, I got a motel room and then came on down this morning in the sunshine. And I do love the sunshine.....the winter sunshine....not the hot, summer sunshine. Oh, aren't we hard to please. So, I say....welcome to my daffodils, the symbol of "hope" and the ushering in of springtime. (Have I ever mentioned that daffodils are the flower that I chose for my wedding but my wedding was in March so I went with yellow roses, which I love too but many years later I would learn that the daffodil has been adopted as the symbol of "hope" by the cancer society and so I've watched every year for that first daffodil to pop out and remind me of all the faith and hope we came to depend on throughout our years of fighting Scott's cancer.)

Happy Birthday to my good friend Diana....

......and we really do go back a long ways. Not sure how this picture will come through but I really asked her to send me a picture of her white '67 Camaro because that's how far back my memories go...so am I saying that Diana is my friend that had a white Camaro...or was she my friend because she had a white Camaro that she would pick me up every morning at 6:00 a.m. and have it toasty warm as we drove off to Jetette practice? Whatever....the friendship has endured all these years and oh, the stories I could tell but I won't. My favorite memory with her (and her white Camaro) was my first real road trip. We took off on a Friday and drove clear up to Hatch, Utah where her parents used to own a little motel along highway 89 and we stayed over night. Wow....big stuff for us "barely sixteen year olds". So....though the Camaro is not around any more I'm glad Diana is and I'm glad she is still my friend....so now she picks me up in her sporty Mazda. Thanks, Diana for a lot of good times. (Just so you know, Diana is a really good singer, excellent seamstress and quilt maker and a mighty good wife, mom and grandma along with being a very good friend and the best part of all....she knits). To my friend Diana, Happy Birthday, yesterday and btw, love the Rebelette outfit. Good times.....

It's a quiet Friday.....

....and I'm pretending that there's someone out there that really cares what I'm doing and what I'm thinking about so I'm going to tell you. I have Book Club (I think that's the official name of it but I'm not sure. I wasn't even sure I was a member but I just starting going and now I'm the president so I've decided to just name it "Book Club") and I'm having it at my house on February 26 (if there's anyone out there that would like to come, you are welcome) and I read a book that was recommended to me called "The History of Love" by Nicole Krauss and since it was February I thought it would be a good one to do but I read it and it was interesting but I didn't really want to spend any more time to prepare myself to review it or talk about it so.....I decided to go back to a book that I might have mentioned a while back that I found while serving my mission. It's called "You've Got to Read This Book". Click HERE (or on the book) to read about this book. I love, love love it !!!!! It's a compilation of essays written by people that write about a book that has changed their lives. Some of these books I have read, some of them I don't care to read but others I have on my "to read" list. So....I decided to do this book for Book Club and hopefully everyone will want to share what books have changed their lives. The other day while looking on Facebook on one of the "Twenty-five Random Things", I read one where a friend said...."I really love to read...I always have a book with me and I always ask people what they are reading." I, too, like to know what people are reading and though it's not my favorite passtime (knitting is, but reading is a close 2nd) and, I'm a pretty "picky" reader, I do like to know what others are reading and I've found some pretty good stuff that has been recommended to me by people I know. So....I'd love it if you would tell me what you are reading. If you don't want to comment on my blog then e-mail me at wells@infowest.com. Better still, think of the one book that you have read that has changed your life. I'd love to hear about it.

I tended McKay and Miller yesterday and they had a joy ride on my office chair. They're pretty cute. Also, just in case you are wondering.....my daffodils are about to bloom and I can't wait to post a picture. This is one of my favorite events of the year....I'm just sayin'.....

Every day should be blog-worthy....

.....but let's face it...it's not. I've had a few "un-blog-worthy" days lately but I decided to try harder to find something to blog about each day even if I don't really blog about it, but today I've got a couple of things on my mind as I put this day to rest. First off, while in my cleaning frenzy....I found some "old" bread....no green stuff growing on it yet but I'm sure more than "day old" but I decided to try some bread pudding and...oh, my was it good. Blogger wouldn't let me turn the picture but you get the idea, right? You can see how much I ate while warm, right out of the oven. Anyway, I wonder why....why blog about bread pudding? .....I guess because I can and I want the world to know that I have a really good recipe for bread pudding and it's fun to make good stuff out of old stuff that I would just have to throw away. That's why I like to make banana bread too....I hate throwing away rotten bananas but the "rottener" the better with banana bread. I digress....so let's move on. On to the skate park with George....(JoEllen and the kids joined us later.)

It's fun to go while George will still let me. The kids there are good kids and the place is pretty clean and on a sunny day, it's a pretty good place for a kid to be. And last but certainly not least today....let's give a shout-out to Blondie. I warned y'all that I've been cleaning out my cupboards lately trying to get organized and tonight I came across Kyle's Poems from Mrs. Smyley's class....uh, huh....you know what I'm talkin' 'bout and I know I wrote a bunch of them for him on that early morning rush to get the 100-poem project done so I'm not sure if this is mine or his but I liked it and it's been a really long time since I thought about Blondie. I'd like to know your thoughts and memories of this dog. I can never think of her without thinking of the birthday party we had for Spencer and tried to play outside games but the kids had to tip-toe through the dog-poo....but Blondie was a good friend to Kyle and I'm glad he had her in some of the very roughest times of his life. So I must apologize for all the times I cussed her and made fun of her....she fulfilled her purpose on earth and served many years being my son's best friend.

Question. Anybody out there in blogland that can tell me why you can click on some pictures and enlarge them for better viewing but others you can not? I'm baffled and would really like to know the answer.

One month down.....

....and what have I accomplished? Well.....the biggest accomplishment for me is that I have not added to my "stash".....I did buy one little beauty but plan to quickly make it into something special. How could I resist my 20% off coupon at Dee's (one of my favorite craft stores in Louisville) and I rationalized that I purchased this hand-dyed skein "for" something specifically...but....I plan to do better with February. I will continue to knit from my "stash" and save my $$$$$. If anyone has been following the dreaded ice storms of Kentucky, yes, my kids did get hit with power outages for a few days but all is well and their power came on while thousands of household's did not. To check out their blog, click HERE and Shana will tell you all about it. We are all counting our blessings right now and this grandma is sleepin' a lot easier at night.