Thinking Of You...

 

This is my Grandpa and Grandma Larsen headstone. I never knew my Grandma Carole... but I have her beautiful green eyes (lucky me!) I have always said... if I could have dinner with anyone past or present... it would be my Grandma! I got my love of cars from my Grandpa Boyd... unfortunately we never got to watch a race together. I remember one time he was visiting from Boise and had a new Cadillac... we were headed down to visit my Aunt Mary when he handed me the keys and said "Let's Go!"... I was 16 and scared to death to drive such a sweet car.  A few blocks away from home he said, "Stop the car"... I thought, great... he already thinks I'm a bad driver... and was ready to move to the passenger side then... he said... all right.. now...

KICK IT DOWN! 

I went from 0 to 70 in a matter of feet! Now you know why I have a need for speed!

 My Aunt...

My Grandma Clara taught me to crochet and loved to play games with all of the grandkids... especially 

B*I*N*G*O

We would play for a penny a card... and could have up to 3 cards per game... we would run across the street to Keith's Market for treats with our winnings! My Grandpa Art... well he started my love of Chocolate milk... nothing better.  He would pour us both a small glass and sit at the kitchen table and talk... come to think about it... he started my love of ice cream too!

 

Uncle Russ... he was such a gentle man... When we would play Uno... he would always say Youknow.. we still say that all these years later. He's been gone for 24 years... but I can still here his voice! Aunt Mary... she was like a Grandma... to both Josh and I. She loved yellow and always had a smile on her face. You were always greeted with a hug... and you always gave her a hug when leaving too!

We miss you all!

Friends...

We knew this day was coming for a few years now... and here it is... Missy is headed East... all the way to New York on a new adventure with her sweet husband and 3 beautiful daughters! After a "last supper" of root beer and onion rings we spent the next 5 hours talking... and talking. I'm going to miss my friend... Missy! I love you my friend... let's keep in touch!

Heart Hamburgers

As you can see... we are getting "back to normal". I made Josh heart shaped hamburgers for dinner... Don't tell  Mrs. Hodges... there is not a vegetable on the plate and it's all in the same color group.  I would have gotten an "F" for this assignment. But I got an "A" for fixing dinner ;-)

Happy Birthday Dad

 

Dad blowing (and clapping) out his candles...

 

Mom bought Dad these sweet balloons... love the space ship!

Josh and I and Aunt Peggy helped Dad celebrate his 73rd Birthday... several games of Uno Spin and Chocolate Chip cake... what a way to celebrate! We hope you had a great day!

Yard Care Professionals...

Have I mentioned before that I have the two cutest yard care professionals that mow my lawn on a weekly basis? It's true... they are both cutey patooties!

Josh and Joey Burns... you two Rock!

I don't know what I would do without the two of you! My lawn has never looked better! If you need your lawn mowed... edged or aerated Give them a call... these two sweet boys can visit your yard too!

The Deck...

The deck on has been needing to be stained for the past 5 years... Now that I'm the "boss"... it's finally getting done! Josh went and got the stain and the brushes... and along with help from Papa they had the deck looking 100% better in 2 hours!

While I was busy working in the kitchen...  pulling out and cleaning behind the stove (uuuuuggggghhhhhh)  and the all of the other appliances... Josh was busy outside taking down Christmas lights ~ cleaning up pea gravel in the front parking ~ raking the pea gravel around the house ~ and weeding! He didn't stop until it was all done! He's my hero!  He has stepped up to the plate and is taking care of the "man" things around the house! After we were all done working we went and sat on the deck in our rocking chairs... it was so relaxing! I'm looking forward to many more... now all we need is a grill!

Jazz Jello

When Josh was younger I used to make Jazz Jello  for the playoff games - I decided if I was going to make it this year... I better get busy! We were going for the "Blue and Purple" color scheme -  I would have gone old school - soon to be new school...  but I didn't have any green jello... go figure! This was our "Treat-Time" last night -  watching the Jazz get whooped! Hey Lakers... Next year you best watch out... the Jazz will rock!

Happy Birthday...to Me!

 

Birthday Roses ... they smell so good!

I've always wanted an apron...
just like my Grandma Johnson - maybe now I will cook!

A beautiful picture of the Logan Temple
Nice job Josh and Kendra - I love it!

The requested chocolate cake with chocolate frosting!

I have had the best birthday ever! It's been 3 days of celebration! Friday - co-workers all wishing Happy Birthday thoughts - balloons - butterflys and Eli Lucero even sang Happy Birthday to me! Saturday - My Aunt Peggy and I went to lunch at Chili's - Fajitas and chocolate molten cake - uummmm Then it was off to deliver Mother's Day gifts (see my craft blog) to family and friends. I was lucky to spend special time with Peggy and Bob, Aunt Char - Carol - Nicky - Lori - Terri and Vickie and my sweet little sister, Nancy, (okay those of you who don't know me very well probably don't know that I am an only child) - and (those of you who do know me... are wondering how I have a sister) Nancy and I grew up in Lamplighter together... and she has been the little sister I never had - for now over 30 years! It was so awesome to spend time "chatting" with you all! Sunday - Josh and I went to church with my mom. Then back to their house for dinner - cake and gifts! I have been so spoiled with all of the birthday wishes... I am truly blessed to have the best son - parents - family and friends a girl could ever ask for!

I love you!

Happy Birthday... to me!

 

My Birthday Balloon Bouquet

Fun surprises arrived at work for me today... My friend Char Izatt sent me a birthday balloon bouquet... I love the clear one I am holding in the this picture... I've never seen one like that before! We don't get to see each other often, dinner every few months... but she has been keeping tabs on me and making sure I am "doing okay".   Last week I was sitting at my desk doing some paperwork when Jay, one of the HJ reporters, came up behind me and gave me a great big hug. I looked at him in question wondering what was that all about... He replied... I have been up visiting with Char at Smithfield City this morning and she asked for me to come back to the office and give you a great big hug! He said with a slightly reddened face She thought you might need one... and was she ever correct! Thank you my friend... you always know how to "lift" my spirits!

 

The Blue Butterfly

This is my good friend Carol Petersen. We have been friends since I started working at The Herald Journal 9 years ago. Over the years we have shared our ups and downs... and we have developed a very special bond. She has a sweet grandson, Jeremy, who is extremely talented when it comes to drawing. He sends her drawings a few times a week and when he does, she will bring them to the office and shares them with me. Several months ago, Carol told me about the movie The Blue Butterfly. She let me borrow the DVD to watch it... after I did, Jeremy sent me a beautiful hand drawn blue butterfly. When Carol told him about my recent "life changes" he asked her to find a pin of a blue butterfly and to remind me

The Butterfly Is A Symbol Of Transformation.

Carol gave me my beautiful butterfly pin today...

I love it... what a special symbolic birthday gift!

This is the Blue Butterfly Jeremy drew for me!

A close up of my butterfly pin!