Orange vs

Orange.

Eileen sent me this picture she snapped of Gary and Gary on Saturday.   Apparently they were discussing the merits of the small snow blower vs the big snow blower.   I have a sneaking suspicion there will never be a consensus on which one wins out. 

   Classic

Here is what

I've been up to for the last two days.

(Pardon the smudge on the camera lens -- I think I got some frosting on it)

I was able to work with these wonderful ladies from our Edgemont Stake. 

I only knew Sue beforehand, but it was really fun to get to know each of the other women. Each one had their individual gifts and skills, and together we were able to pull it together.  There was a wonderful salad with mixed greens, craisins, apples, feta cheese, almonds, and sugared walnuts.  The dressing was made with red onions, mustard, red wine vinegar, salt, and canola oil.  As soon as I get the exact recipe from Sue, I'll post it.   I wish I had pictures of the salad and breads, but once we had those out ready to serve, the people were coming in.  The Stake leaders gave each of us an apron with the theme, "Establish Righteous Homes," along with our names embroidered on them.  

Yesterday, after setting up for 4 hours, Gary asked me what we had been doing for that long.  I think men just don't understand.  What would be a simple process for men becomes a home decorating project for women.    We arrange, evaluate, rearrange, seek opinions, and then end up with something we all like.  It always helps when you have like-minded people who are a little on the OCD side.

It was fun to be involved, and it wasn't too stressful because there was such a great committee.  But, it's always so nice to have things like this done, and my body is definitely telling me I'm not as young as I used to be. 

PS  I really need to clean my camera lens 

Another Birthday today

for Marshall Zane

Here he is a year ago today.

.


Here he is at Christmas time, caught red-handed.

He's our adorable little redhead.

Happy 6th Birthday

to HARRISON JESS!

As I've looked through these pictures from Christmas,

it makes me miss Harrison even more. 

Harrison's other name could be
Mr. Intensity.  

Everything he does, he does with single-minded determination. 

I know that will serve him well in the years to come.

Of all the images I have of him this Christmas, the one shown in the picture below is my favorite.  When the kids were giving Grandpa their original recipes, Harrison was totally engaged.  He wanted to see Grandpa's reaction to each concoction and wanted to make sure he read each one of them.    

                    

                                                                                                                                  

You probably can't read what's on his shirt, but it says

"Been there, Won That."

When Misty and Dan saw that shirt, they had to get it.

It had Harrison's name written all over it.

I love you Harrison!

Baptism Day

We had a wonderful time on Sunday for Ashton's baptism.  He was so pleased and happy. 

Ashton's family before the baptism.

All the family and friends who came to the special event..

Ashton and us with his Comforter

 

Here's a picture of Ashton from August when we
went out to pick out his comforter fabrics.


We had a wonderful dinner over at Tiffany's with all the Idiart clan,
who we love and enjoy so much.
Unfortunately I forgot to get many pictures.

And then came Monday . . .

Little did Gary and I know, as we posed at the granite slab in

the Medford airport at 8:30 am on Monday morning,

 that we wouldn't get home to until 2 am Tuesday morning.

There were mechanical problems in Portland that delayed

our flight flight for 9 hours.

Oh, well, we had more quality time together.

Fun filled days . . .



Our Welcoming Basket and Late Night Hostess



 Annie woke up long enough to share her blanket with Grandpa

 

 Making Cookies (they were supposed to be watermelon, but we couldn't find any watermelon kool-aid, so we made grape.  They were actually pretty good.



Grandpa gave his seal of approval.

 Ashton modeling his Cub Scout Uniform.

 

Breakfast at Morning Glory,

The Science Works Museum,

and "Gnomeo and Juliet"

Idiart Tradition of Saturday morning

Doughnuts with Dad

 

Eliza's basketball game,

Costco (of course)

And this is what they're doing now. . . . 



We Wouldn't Miss It!

When I was at

Costco today, they had aisles of extra flowers for Valentines Day.  Almost everyone checking out was buying a bouquet.   It was fun to imagine who they were giving them to and to think of the happiness they would bring.  Then I ran into a friend who lost her husband recently. I felt sad, as it came home to me that Valentines day was probably an especially difficult day for her. And I thought how it must be painful for anyone who has lost someone they love through a decision or through death.

It made me realize that I need to more fully appreciate the everyday moments I have.

I'm sitting here in one recliner (with my laptop), while the only boy/man I've had eyes for since I was 13, is sitting here in another recliner (with his laptop).  Romantic, huh?  Well, yes it is.  That we can sit in our comfortable home, side by side, doing our own thing, and be totally content. It's not like we haven't celebrated Valentines all weekend or tonight when we went to dinner.  And there was that nice little Chico's bag sitting in the car when I got in it.

But, the moments I want to appreciate even more are those like I'm having right now.   So that's what I'm doing.

We've been

celebrating Valentines for two days now. 

And Valentines isn't until tomorrow. 

Yesterday, Natalie and I went and got manicures.

She had given me a manicure certificate for Christmas.

 Then we met Gary at Olive Garden for a late lunch,
again thanks to gift certificates.

Then we had our Valentine's breakfast tonight,

since Natalie won't be around for breakfast in the morning.

With heart shaped waffles,
floating in buttermilk syrup.

Chocolate Waffle Cookies

Today my friends, Venise, Helen, and Pam came over for a visit.  It's been a long time since we've gotten together, so it was so nice to spend time with them.  For fun, we made these cookies.

For as many years as I can remember, making these cookies has been my valentine's tradition. I do them in my heart shaped waffle iron. They are good anytime of the year, though.  If you don't have a heart shaped waffle iron, just drop by tablespoon on a regular one, and they cook into turtle cookies. 

Chocolate Waffle Cookies

Serving Size: 24

2 cups flour
1 cup baking cocoa, unsweetened
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 eggs, large

-= Instructions =-

1. In medium bowl combine flour, baking powder and cocoa. Mix well with wire whisk. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl with an electric mixer cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and beat at medium speed. Batter will appear slightly curdled. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the flour mixture and blend on low speed until just combined. Do not over mix.
3. Drop by rounded tablespoons on greased hot waffle iron (about 1 T. Per 4 x 4 inch area). Cook for approximately 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Hint: turn over waffle iron to easily drop cookies.

Use any of the following toppings singly or in combination: chocolate frosting, a dusting of confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder, fresh raspberries and whipped cream; a drizzle of chocolate syrup. I like making a thin frosting that I drizzle over -- Make by combining in a saucepan 1/4 cup butter, 3 tablespoons milk, 4 tablespoons cocoa-- and bringing them to a boil. Remove from heat, then add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 2 cups powdered sugar. Stir well and drizzle over cookies.

The Doc Management

business I'm in is so unpredictable.  I've been working more than 8 hours a day this week.  It's actually a pretty good week for that, as I have had few commitments.  But, this was the week I was going to finish organizing the "deep."   Some may doubt that (me among them).  But I really have been making progress.   What I really need to do is maximize my time during the slow periods.  Yet, somehow that tends to go against my basic nature.  So, I think I need to change my nature.  Which I will do as soon as this work flow is done. 

P.S.  Jackson was released from the hospital today.  He had staph infection in his bone and blood.  The thoughts of that puts terror in my heart.  But, he is responding well to the antibiotics.  He's not excited, though that he has to wear a "fanny pack" for two weeks so the antibiotics can be pumped into his body.  I think he would look really cute with his hospital dress and fanny pack, but he is not convinced.  I did tell him, though, that his life is more important than his image.  

All about

Toes.

I was going to post a picture of these yesterday.

Betsy, my hairstylist, gave me a free pedicure and "trendy big toe" certificate for Christmas.  So I had it done yesterday.

But, when I got home, we got a text from Misty saying that Jackson had gotten a bone infection in his middle left toe.  Apparently he had broken it last week when he stubbed it.  It got progressively more painful and he had a red line running up his leg.  When they took him into the urgent care, the Dr. said that the nail bed had pushed into the bone and they would have to do surgery and go in and treat the infection. Then he would have to stay in the hospital for 2 days while they test to see what kind of infection it is and treat it properly.   Then he will be on IV antibiotics for two weeks.

Wow, all that from a stubbed toe.  

We've been joking with him about it, but I have to say that as a grandmother I wanted to hop on a plane and be with him.  And I've been nervous all day.  But all went well, and Dan sent us this picture of him with a remote in one hand and eating dinner with the other.

So far he said the worst part is having to wear the "dress" in the hospital.  It gave me the idea that instead of giving matching pajamas next Christmas, that I'll make matching "dresses" for the boys.  He was just about as thrilled with that idea as he was with the matching pajamas.

We joke and make funny comments, but I'm just very grateful that medical science is such that they can pick up on these things and treat them quickly.  In the old days, this would have been treated by cutting the infection out and possible amputation.   So, I'm feeling very grateful right now.

I'm also wondering how in the world Jackson is going to stay still for 2 days! 

Super Bowl Third Quarter

excitement at our house.

Gary will deny that he was really asleep,

but Natalie and I took several pictures

and the flashes didn't make either of them bat an eyelid.