Hello Kitty

A little project I've been working on for Olivia. She is a huge hello kitty fan.

This crochet dress was the one that came with the pattern. The pattern is pretty cute, but I totally screwed it up.  It has a little button hole flap on the back that somehow ended up on the front so I had the back seam that ended up on the front.Ahhhhhhhhh  Sometimes I don't follow patterns very well.

Anyway, after fretting over it ( I hate when I put time and supplies into a project, then it doesn't turn out like I wanted it to!...ha ha it happens a lot!), I decided I would just sew her a little dress to match her bow.   OK, now I am happy.

Oh man I got a new keyboard (the other one might have been growing a disease between the keys..slopping yogurt on it the other day was the final nail in the coffin) and this one is kind of tricky to get used to.....just a little different placement of the back up key ( which I use a lot)

 

Can I just say how much I love this man!

So Saturday night, we were just winding down getting ready to go to bed.  All of the sudden the thought came to me that Sunday was Emily's birthday!  Oh my gosh, we hadn't made her a frame pin board thing!  I checked my calender..yup no mistake. Sunday was the 28th!   So I told Kelley, (oh dear, I hated to tell him). I need you to make one of those tonight! 

He didn't cuss or anything, just went out to the garage and made one.

I called Bonnie to see if she knew what color Emily liked and she had forgotten all about it too. She had bought all the temple pictures though so she had one of the Salt Lake Temple for her. She told me Emily had said turquoise was her favorite color so i went to my paint supply and found four bottles with (close to) turquoise in them. I figured we could just mix them all together and come up with something.  On further inspection, one bottle was completely dried up ( I haven't been painting too much or replenishing my paint supply lately) and the other bottles just had a little bit in them.  Ahhhhh. (stores closed, freak out)

  Kelley to the rescue again.  He took one of the bottles that was only half way dried up and started adding water to it, then shaking it and trying to get the lumps out.( he has got to be the most patient man I know...I would have just thrown it in the garbage and sat and cried.) He added that to one other bottle that just had a little in it and came up with almost a whole bottle of pretty decent turquoise.

We got up early Sunday morning to paint it and put it together.  It turned out real nice.  Love the color. 

Kelley  doesn't get ruffled by things like this, just jumps in and gets what ever needs to be done, done.  I need to be more like that.

OK, so this was cool.
Last night for YW we had planned to go downtown to the beehive house for the tour they do there.  It was a nice day for a change!  Hooray!
We got parked and walked up to the Beehive house...the flowers are so beautiful all along the way past the temple and Joseph Smith building!
We went in the Beehive house and were greeted by two darling sister missionaries.  They had us sit down and introduce and tell something about ourselves.  While we were talking, this man came in off the street.  The missionaries greeted him and asked him if he would like to join all of us on the tour.  He said he would like that.  He looked like he could have been Muslim but he said he was from England. He had that in common with one of the sister missionaries...they talked about places they knew in England.  They talked a little bit about the house and about Brigham Young, but as they talked, they added in comments about what we believe and about the church.
We got going on the tour and were looking at Brigham's library, study, greeting room.  They got to talking about the Book of Mormon.  They man spoke up and asked if we believe in the Bible.  The missionaries said Yes! And that the book of Mormon is a second witness of Christ.  He said he believes in Jesus and that we are all a part of Him...He called it the Jesus consciousness...he compared it to Jesus being the ocean and we are the waves...it actually made sense what he was saying...you could tell he had thought about this a lot.  We told him that we have the same feeling...but we know as daughters of our Heavenly Father that we have the light of Christ in each of us.
He seemed interested when he found out that we believed in Jesus and started asking questions. The sister missionaries were incredible.  The one from England started back when Jesus was on the earth and how he taught the apostles...then after he was crucified, the apostles continued to teach the gospel and carry on His work.  But when the apostles were killed, people began to forget they had taught and soon they branched off and made their own Church's that did not have the complete truth or priesthood authority.  Then she told about Joseph Smith and how he was trying to find for himself what church was right and was visited by Heavenly Father and Jesus who told him that none of the churches were right.  She told him a little about the book of Mormon and how it testifies of Christ and that is what our church is founded on  He asked what makes our church different than others.  It was pretty cool to hear the young women speak up and tell him.  I was pretty proud of them.  The missionaries asked if they could talk to him after the tour was over and he said yes.
At the end of the tour, we all sat together in the parlor room and the missionaries talked with us  a little more. The spirit was so strong in the room as the sister missionary read the scripture 2 Nephi 26: "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."
The man was looking at a picture of Christ that was hanging on the wall in that room.  He said "This picture is how I have always thought Christ should look...it makes me feel..."  then he struggled for the right word..."tranquil.  yes it makes me feel tranquil."
The man was standing up by the missionaries very intent on what they were saying.  He said  "I feel something... it's like a vibration in this room...what is that?"  You could have heard a pin drop...we were all just sitting there with tears running...it was pretty amazing.  Then the missionary asked him if he would take a book of Mormon so he could find out for himself.  He said "yes! I will!" 
We all just kind of floated out of the room  then took this picture of the girls out in front of the building.

The missionaries and the man went back in the beehive house and the girls just exploded!  "That was the coolest thing ever!"  "Can you believe that just happened?"  I

"I have never felt anything like that before!"  Stacey and I felt the same way...so grateful we had the privilege of being part of this extraordinary moment.

A few more pictures as we walked through the temple grounds and over to the conference center.

 I had never been up on the roof of the conference center before so it was pretty cool to see. The tour guide explained how they had made the roof look like what the pioneers would have seen as they came into the valley...the east side of the roof has pine trees and waterfalls like you would see in the mountains...the west side of the roof is open like this with different kinds of trees and wild flowers and plants that were natural to the valley.  Hard to believe you were actually on a roof...looked like you could just walk right off into this meadow.

 The auditorium is just mind blowing...she explained how they made this massive building...pretty amazing...seats more people than any structure in the world...21,000!

 

RIP Fatty

 So you know how the big fat fish has just been getting bigger and fatter...well it got to the point where it couldn't swim anymore.  It would just lay there on the bottom of the pond.  I felt so bad for it.  Kelley wanted to whack it on the head and put it out of it's misery, and I guess I should have just let him, but he seemed to have this will to survive that made me think that maybe he could get better.  Sunday when Candice came over we were out there looking at it.  I picked it up with the net and it tried to swim a little bit, but it's so big and awkward, ( little tiny fins on a gigantic body) it just sinks back down to the bottom of the pond.
Candice wanted me to take him to Marks ark, but I had already talked to this guy out at this pond place about him last summer and he said he would like to see him so I decided to take him there.  Kelley loaded him up into a five gallon bucket and I headed up there.  Candice had called and I needed some support so she said she would meet me out there on her lunch hour.  She is a peach.  So I headed over there.  Candice didn't understand the directions I had given her on how to get there, so she was not there when I got there.... my bad communication. 
Anyway, when I got to the pond store, there were lots of cars parked out front and people were sitting in their cars like they were waiting for something.  I got out and asked this guy sitting in his truck if he knew if the owner guy was there.  He said no, he is not coming in today.  He asked me if he could help me and I told him I was bringing my fish to show him cause he is sick.  The guy said he would look at the fish.  He asked if he had a fungus or white spots on it.  I was like "no, he's just really fat." He got the bucket out and took the lid off and was like woooo that is a big fish!  He watched him for a minute, then said "I hate to tell you this, but I don't think he's going to make it" "He's got some kind of bloating disease"  He asked if we had other fish and I told him "yes!  a lot of fish!" He said he hoped they didn't get it too!  Ha!  no kidding! 
He was super nice though and asked me if I wanted him to take care of it or if I wanted to go home and bury it at home.  I think he must have thought I was a lot more attached to this fish than I really was.  I mean he was talking about having a funeral for it and everything.  I was just like...ya...if you would take it that would be great.  He said he would throw it in the canal behind their store and just let nature take its course from there.  He said a raccoon would probably come eat it.  I was cool with that.  Then he said well lets go back there together so you can be there when I let him go.   I was really wishing Candice was there at this point. ( I didn't know she was driving around looking for this place all this time)  So we walked back behind their store...they have a pond a some tee pees  set up back there ( the guy that owns this place is an interesting fellow...a very natural man...I think if he would have been there, he would have probably done CPR on the fish or possibly some voodoo or black magic to bring it back to life.)  He walked down the bank of this canal, opened the lid to the bucket and asked me what the fishes name was.  Haaaaa!  I told him we just always called it fatty.  Then he said something about the circle of life and how fatty would be donating it's self for the betterment of another animal so I should feel good about that.  Then he said "Rest in peace Fatty" and dumped him into the canal.  Oh I wished Candice was there!  He came up and we both just stood there and watched fatty sink to the bottom.  He turned to me and asked me if I was OK, then gave me a hug.  I'm not making this up. 
When I got in the car, I called Candice to tell her what had happened.  The guy came up to the car like he wanted to talk to me so I rolled down my window.  He said his buddy in the truck had googled the bloating disease and said it came from over feeding the fish...then their intestines get blocked up and they can't poop so they just blow up.  So he said to not feed them so much.  I really can't imagine this being the fishes problem because it has been growing bigger for about two years now...I would think it would have popped by now if that was what was going on.  But what do I know. 
I felt so bad, when I finally talked to Candice she was  clear down by state street.  I know she had limited time on her lunch hour so we just met over at Rumbi and had lunch together.  So glad I have her to laugh with about these crazy things that happen...just wish she could have been there, she would have loved this!

A few things from this last week...

Lizzy and I love when Candice comes over on her lunch hour

Our combined activity Wednesday night...I'm mad at myself for not getting pictures of these kids while they were out there working,,,they were pretty awesome. 

I sent around a sign up sheet in relief society on Sunday for the ladies to sign up if they wanted the kids to come do some service at their house.  We had several sign up, and I also called Al Barcarse to see if we could do anything for them.

I was really praying all day that the weather would be decent to do this activity.  We have had the coldest spring...snow, rain, wind...and it keeps on going.  The day started out clear, but windy and cold.  So when we text all the kids we told them to dress warm.   ( ha some still show up in shorts and t shirts!   "where's your coat?"  "Oh I don't need one!" They didn't complain when they were out there in the wind working, so I guess they didn't need a coat!  They are tougher than me for sure!)

When the kids all got there, we divided up into groups and went off to do these jobs for people.  I got to go to Brother Barcarse's house.  He wanted us to rake leaves and clean up his back yard.  He can't get around any more and is in a wheel chair, but him and his cute wife came outside with us while we worked in their yard.  He was so proud of all his flowers in his yard and told us what they all were.  I had never had a chance to talk to Toyoko before so it was nice to get to know her.  She is such a nice lady.  She gave us a box of chocolate covered macadamia nuts to share with all the kids for our service.

 After we finished, we went back to the church for pizza.  Just as we walked in the doors, it started to snow.

 Had to cover the peach tree that night...temperature down in the 20's. 

KC helped me cover it with sheets...it was pretty comical.  ( I probably knocked more blossoms off the tree than what would have froze!)

 I've been in the mood for cleaning this last week...went through the boxes and tubs in the garage and got rid of a few things (just a few...still can't let go!)  Came across this mug when I cleaning out some cupboards in the kitchen. Had a flashback to when we were cleaning out mums house.  We had to come up with a way to fairly divide up all of her things, so we wrote our names on a little paper and put them in this cup...then we would draw a name out to see who would pick first.  I think it worked out fair, but there was a lot of emotion that went into this process.  It took a lot of self control to just sit there and smile when I wanted to throw myself on the floor and kick and scream when I could see there was no chance that something I really wanted was going to be there when it was my turn to pick.  Ha!  But we were all in the same boat and I think because we all wanted to get through this without causing any bad feelings between us, we made an extra effort to be fair.  Anyway, seeing this cup again, just stirred up all those memories.

 Bunko was fun this month.  It was at Cheryl's house. She is going through some very hard things right now.  My heart aches for her.  It's kind of strange to step back and look at our group of ladies and the different  things each of us have gone through over the years.  When you think about it, each of us has had our own challenges,  our many joys and blessings, and our ongoing struggles.  Really grateful I have these dear ladies in my life to share all of those things with.

 

So many little fishies!  They are getting bigger though and changing from black to bright orange, white and red.  There's going to be some real pretty ones...just don't know where we will keep them.

 I made this casserole carrier for Chris B's  fiance shower.  Kelley's cousin Kelly Ann gave me one years ago and I have used it so much.  I tried to find a pattern for one on the Internet, but they were a lot more complicated than they needed to be, so I just used the one I had and cut a pattern off of that.  Turned out pretty cute!

Stacey was having a chocolate fountain at the shower and I told her I would bring something to dunk in it.  Candice suggested cream puffs.  I was a little nervous cause my last two batches have been a flop.  They just didn't raise up at all.  But I thought I'd give it another try.  I made them a lot smaller and piped them out onto the pan.  They puffed up just perfect!  Ha!  not quite though...I had piped them out in a kind of swirl and they looked great until I picked them up...where I had swirled around, it had left a hole in the bottom of each one!  So when I filled them with the creamy goodness, I tried to put a little piece of the stuff you pull out of them in the bottom to cover the hole.  Ha!  They turned out OK though.

The shower was nice...she is a darling girl. I was so glad Candice came over and went to it with me.  She had told me when we went to lunch the day before that she was going to color her hair purple.  yes. purple. I was like ...really?  OK um that's cool.  But then she text me Saturday morning telling me it had turned out pink instead.  Ha!  When she showed up though, it wasn't too pink at all.  It was just a light blondish pink.  She said when they rinsed it, most of the color came out.  She always looks so pretty though...I swear she can pull off any hairdo you can dream up!

 It was nice to get to visit with all the girl friends there too. Talking to Brenda brought back so clearly the last few days of mum's life.  Dan's mother has been in really bad shape...her liver is not working anymore.  Brenda said they have been caring for her at home and the things she was going through were the same things that mum went through those last few days.  She told me how she sleeps most of the time now and had stopped eating.  When mum was at this stage, I remember having so many mixed emotions.  I used to go into her room and just watch her sleep...wanting to be able to wake her and hold on to her and not let her slip away...but at the same time, I knew she was going, and I didn't want her to suffer or have her continue on in this condition.  The veil was very thin those last few days and I knew we were not alone as I felt the presence and comfort of loved ones on the other side coming to escort her home.  I hope the Northrup's felt this same comfort in her last few days.  Kelley heard from Dan last night that she had passed away peacefully.

 So KC's good friend Jared ( he comes over most every day to work out with KC ...then they will come in and fix their selves a protein shake and sit and visit. He's worked a lot with KC too and has helped us out a lot around here too...such a sincerely nice guy...I've sure grown to love him) well he decided he was going to ask Marki to marry him.  I was kind of surprised when KC told me cause I didn't realize they were that serious.  But he had it all worked out how he was going to ask her.  She loves softball so he thought up this idea of putting the ring inside a softball. He came over and wanted a little advice on how to put it together so I got to help him a little bit. He had drilled a hold down in the middle of the ball to hold the ring, then we covered it with velvet.  It turned out really cool! 

Jared wanted to have all their friends and family there when he asked her, so he made all these arrangements to have everyone up at park city, then he would take her on a date up there and everyone would be waiting for them.  KC said it went off without a hitch.  So happy for him.  He's a good catch.

Candice sporting her new pinkish hair.  She came over yesterday and we spent a lovely afternoon baking, tending to the chickens and enjoying a little sunshine.

Pictures from Sunday plus my adorable grandchildren...

 

 Kelley let the chickens out when we got home from church.  It's so funny to watch them follow him around where ever he goes...like he is their mother hen!

 

 

Chris, Maggie and Andrew were in town for the funeral so we had them over for dinner.  Wish they lived closer so we could get together more often.  Sure do love these guys!

 These are some pictures of my cutie patooties that Camille sent me....

 Sam has all the sudden changed from a toddler to little boy. 

He was really giving Camille fits while Kellen was gone for a week to Germany. Wish so much I was closer so I could help her out in times like these.

 So glad Katie can get over there pretty often.  She adores those kids and love her so much!

 Liv has mastered the skip it.  She sent me a darling video of her doing all kinds of tricks while she is doing the skip it!  oooooooo just want to squeeze her!

 And this is a very early photo of my new grand daughter.  Isn't she beautiful?  Ha!  Camille looks great as her due date approaches...

 Kellen brought back some special things for the kids...beautiful carousel for Olivia

 Bath tub crayons...hours of fun...come off the tile easily...the grout..not so much.