Really???

For all of your fat joke needs....

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy Birthday to the best mom ever! I've made a top 10 list of things I adore about mom.

10. She always knows what she's getting for her b-day and mother's day before we do.
9. She's the most kick back mom (but not with the gospel, thank goodness).
8. She loved us more as teenagers (which other mom could say that?)
7. Slimepits - pronounced slim-a-pits (hands down, my favorite scripture moment with mom)
6. Conversations around the island (you could always have a good one with mom)
5. Brief reenactments of the "Grand Land Singer performances"
4. Sassy mom (always catches me off guard, because she hasn't always been sassy)
3. Laughing in the NY van and not knowing why (hands down my favorite NY moment)
2. Always on her knees (or standing these days) praying for us
1. Her genuine, consistent love for us

Thanks for being wonderful, mom. We love you!
Dad, we know your thinking that something wonderful should be written about you right now, but it's not your birthday. :)

Autumn in Utah

Lindsay and I flew to Utah last weekend to visit with the northern half of the family. What a delighful weekend. We visited Salt Lake City and saw the Joseph Smith Movie. Lindsay had the treat of waking up to the cutest faces on the planet (no, not Sam and Stacy, but they are cute, too), Ben and Tom. She filled up on fun times with the nephews. I took Casey to Costco to fill up on goods. I saw his apartment and where his classes are and where he works. We saw Chris and Gina's new home which is delightful and very homey. We had good food and wonderful conversation and lots of laughs. It was a great trip on a beautiful autumn weekend in Utah.

Grandma and Ben with their finished art project.

Lindsay and Ben admiring the beautiful clouds. Ben says "The clouds are so beautiful".


The fam chillin' in Chris and Gina's back yard.

The attack of the fall leaves.



Casey and Lindsay's pick at the pumpkin patch.

Ben and Tom's picks at the pumpkin patch.


A beautiful Autumn day in Provo, Utah.

Thanks to Chris, Gina, Sam, Stacy, Ben, Tom & Casey for a wonderful time and to Lindsay for sharing it with me. I love you all!

OUTSIDE PAINT - CHECK CHECK

The eaves are painted. Yeah! As the pictures show, Dad really takes his painting seriously. He loves his new paint sprayer.

This week we work on the kitchen back splash, door & window casings and the window seat.

Next week - the floors.

Paint, check!

While the rest of the fam spent the weekend eating bon bons in exotic places like Phoenix and Provo Dad and I painted the rumpus room. In between conference sessions we finished up the molding on the grid, which looks great (admit it, you were skeptical)

and then after the second session we went to town on the walls. The color is kind of magical because it looks beigey in some lights and greyish in others. The perfect Neutral! We both really like it. The true test will be when Mom sees it in a few hours.

As you can tell by this picture, I decided to change my hand out for a paint roller, like Captain Hook. And I have grown a goiter on my neck.

The Other Side of Construction

Mom, Camille and others post pictures of the expanding beauty of the addition. I thought that in an attempt at balance I should post the other side of it - the outside where all the mess is kept. These pictures were taken after we had hauled out 5 dumpster loads of trash last week. The first picture is of our garden during construction. The others are probably self explanatory. Notice that the Camp Sink is set up. It was for the 3 weeks we did not have use of our kitchen sink. Good memories. After the addition is done, you can see what the next project will be. As I told Rachel last night, it will be another month or so until we can be considered for the Mayor's Home Beautification Award.

Tradition stands

After some talk of changing a solid family tradition from a drawing to a rotation, tradition stayed standing.  Yes a rotation sounds more adult and formal, but who needs that. Pulling names out of a hat/bowl is so much more thrilling.  So, after the exciting drawing last night, here is the official list of who gives to who...

Gina --> Sam

Rachel --> Casey

Katie --> Camille

Sam --> Rachel

Lindsay --> Chris

Camille --> Lindsay

Casey --> Stacy

Stacy --> Gina

Chris --> Katie

THE WATER IS FLOWING

Here are the latest photos of work complete as of 9/25/09.

Here's a close up of the counter tops. We are pleased.

Here are our choices for paint. Dark on walls light on ceiling.

The ceiling grid is coming along.

Our new sink & faucet. Also, a new garbage disposal & dishwasher.

The "bar"

The smaller topped island. It will eventually be the same color as the cabinets.

Dah, Dah!

Next step is to finish the grid. Primer the walls and ceiling. Paint the walls & ceiling. Paint the grid molding. Put up the grid molding. Put up molding above cabinets. Find and install tile for space between cupboards. Dad is amazing! Also, a shout out to Reed Pickett for helping with the plumbing.

THE COUNTERS ARE COMING, THE COUNTERS ARE COMING!

The counters are being installed Tuesday! Yeah! That means I will get my sink back! Yeah! Sorry for all the exclaimation points but I am really excited to get my new sink in. It is amazing how many times you need to use running water in the kitchen. The carpet is wearing thin in the hallway for as many times I have to go wash my hands in the bathroom.

The girls and I picked out some paint colors yesterday and I bought little sample to paint swatches on the wall to see how they look in the light. I also went to the flooring store to get samples of what we picked out earlier. Dad is hooking up the new dishwasher and is taking off the old "faithful" island top. It has served us well. Oh, the fun conversations we have had around that island top. Farewell. Out with the old...In with the new. I hope I like the counter tops. I hate buyer's remorse. It is so hard to tell what a counter will look like from a little 2x3 chip.

I'll take pictures tomorrow when everything is done for the day.

Any Discolorations on Your Lip?

Walking through a building on campus, I did a little double take as I passed by this sign:I bet the whole study is that you have to put on makeup, walk in, and ask if the slight discoloration on your upper lip is cancer. The doctor-to-be will then respond, "Cancer?! Get outta here!"