Tonight I conducted an

unplanned 

science experiment to see what difference baking powder makes when making strawberry cupcakes.

First I made 5 dozen without baking powder (Ugghhhh)

Then I made 5 dozen with baking powder.   

Any guesses as to which is which?

Do you think I will ever learn to double check the ingredients?  

Oh, well, it's not a total loss.  At least I'll have some nice "little" cakes for strawberry shortcake or strawberry trifles, or strawberry parfaits.      

Cute cards

we made tonight at my friend, Taunya's house.  

Free downloads from

Loralee for a Super Bowl party.   In the preceding blog post there is a link to Loralee on a Boise television station.   If you go to the blog you can download some cute bottle wraps and banner.  Go here:

Link to Super Bowl downloads

I've been spending a fair amount of time getting the website and Etsy shop updated  and there is still a lot to do.   I feel very blessed to be able to work from home, though I need to work more hours.  At some point we want to get to the point where I can help with proofs.  Natalie and I are going to take an online Photoshop class, so that should help me get more up to speed.  

Local party planner drops into our studio

Local party planner drops into our studio: Local party planner drops into our studio

Ashton is 11

years old!  Justin sent this picture of Ashton as he was ready to eat his birthday breakfast.

Ashton has always been wise beyond his years.   I've told Tiffany she needs to write a book of "Ashtonisms" with all of his one-liners and observations.  We are so proud of him and honored to be his grandparents.

Happy Birthday, Ashton!

We wish you were here and we would light fireworks for your birthday!

We've done a

lot of talking today.  It started when we met Charlene, Richard, and Gary and Lynn for lunch.  

Then this evening Gary and I went to visit a neighbor who has been in the hospital for awhile.  Then we went to a funeral visitation for a classmate that Gary played baseball with through Provo High.  In fact, we've known the whole Balser family well, as the dad and brother coached Gary and Gary coached the younger brother.  There was quite a reunion there at the mortuary with all of the old ball players and friends we haven't seen for years. I'm sure Kevin would have enjoyed it.  After that, we went to a wedding reception for a girl in our ward, and visited with lots of friends and neighbors  

There are days when I don't really talk with anyone but Gary, and then there are days like today.   Both kinds of days are good.  

It's nearing bedtime

and I'm getting my regular, like clockwork, desire to start munching on something salty.  Or if salty isn't available, I'll go for sweet.  It is like this unconscious/conscious uncontrollable desire to munch.

I told Gary tonight that he needs to tape my mouth shut at night.  He was a little taken back until I explained to him that the minute I go to bed, I get cravings for munching.  Not that I really have to tell him that.  He'll hear the crinkling of Pirates Booty, Popcorn, crackers, etc., while he's trying to sleep.

Anyway, a little after telling him I needed him to tape my mouth shut, he asked what kind of tape would be the most comfortable.  Then he suggested that he tie my hands behind my back so I can't take the tape off my mouth.   I think he's taking a little too much enjoyment thinking about that idea. So, I'll just try to use self restraint and not physical restraint to begin with.

Although, I just had a thought.  One of Gary's common sayings (when commenting on someones appearance) is, "I wouldn't kick them out of bed for eating crackers."  Maybe I am unconsciously/consciously testing him.   If that is the case, then he has proven that he loves me.  He hasn't kicked me out of the bed yet.  

This was us at 6:45 am

as we dropped Margie and Lance off for their flights to Argentina.  We will miss them.  They are a great example of service.

Since Gary had the day off, we then went to lunch and a movie with Gary and Lynn.

We are so blessed with good families.

Catch up . . .

We haven't had time for the dust to settle since Christmas, and I've got a little catching up to do.  Here are pictures of the rest of our candy store patrons.  I think I've posted all of them now.

 

 

The girls used

to complain that whenever we went anywhere with Gary that he always stopped to talk to people.  It's true.

As a teacher and coach he would run into former students.  Last night we went into a restaurant and in line he started talking to a former student he had coached.  Next thing I knew the former student had paid for our dinner and sat with us.   They reminisced about games and players, and when he left he gave Gary a hug and told him how much he appreciated him and the influence he had on his life.

It means a lot when people take the time to let you know you made a difference. This experience made me want to renew my efforts to express and show appreciation more.

Monday night

we went up to the MTC to see Margie and Lance set apart as mission presidents.  The member of the Seventy who set them apart was a former missionary with Lance as a young man.  As they talked about their families, it was very apparent that there was a real feeling of concern and support for each other and for their families.  The whole experience was very inspiring.  

Happy Birthday

to our son-in-law, Dan.  I can't believe he is 42.  But then again, I can't believe Misty will turn 39.  But then again, I can't believe we're 60.  So there's much to not believe.  

But, I do believe is that we are so happy Dan is our son-in-law.   We love and appreciate all that he does for his family and the love he always shows for us.  We love you, Dan  Happy Birthday!

Margie and Lance

have been in town since Thursday.  They were here with us last year at this time before heading out to Chile to serve as Temple missionaries.  They were down there for 6 months and then got a different mission call to be MTC presidents in Argentina.  So they went home to Mesa for 6 months and are not back here to enter the MTC for that 2 year mission.

We always love having them here.  They fit right in with us, as they like to get in their comfies early.  Yesterday we met together with Janice and Frank and Geniel and Dickson. and had dinner and had a good visit.  It is the last time we will all be together for 2 years.  It was good to see Janice doing so well after her fall and brain bleed.  She still has a hard time finding some words but has really improved.

My latest Saturday Sampler

project.  I just started it today and finished it just now.  As you may guess, the class is tomorrow, and I did my usual cramming.   This is called the Pinwheel.

On Sunday

I was sitting next to our neighbor, Leonard.   We shared the hymn book as we sang "Come Ye Disconsolate"

Lyrics

1. 1. Come, ye disconsolate, where'er ye languish;
   Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.
   Here bring your wounded hearts; here tell your anguish.
   Earth has no sorrow that heav'n cannot heal.
2. 2. Joy of the desolate, Light of the straying,
   Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure!
   Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying,
   "Earth has no sorrow that heav'n cannot cure."
3. 3. Here see the Bread of Life; see waters flowing
   Forth from the throne of God, pure from above.
   Come to the feast of love; come, ever knowing
   Earth has no sorrow but heav'n can remove.
4. Text: Thomas Moore, 1779-1852. Verse three, Thomas Hastings, 1784-1872
   Music: Samuel Webbe, 1740-1816

As I sang the words (as much as I ever dare use my voice to sing), I was very aware of the words and what they might mean to him.

Leonard lost his wife to cancer three years ago right before Christmas.  Then 2 years ago, right before Christmas, he got word that his adult son's car was found abandoned outside of the Grand Canyon. Someone had reported it, and it had been there for some time.  The last time Leonard had heard from his son was in the middle of November.  Before the call, he was not concerned, as his son would often go off on his own for periods of time.  For a long time, he still hoped that he would just show up.  But now, 2 years later, there has still not been any sign or word of him. The authorities did a search as did the family.

Through it all, Leonard stays very positive, but I know it must be a hole in his heart to not have any closure.

I was hoping that Leonard finds comfort in "Earth has not sorrow but heav'n can remove."  

Ahhh . . .

the joy of not having to blog if I don't have anything to say.

A family brought us

some cute sugar cookies a few days ago.  I wish we had taken pictures as they were shaped like gloves and snowmen and decorated so cute.  But, we ate them too quickly before I thought to take a picture (Anyone surprised?)

Along with the cookies was the poem below.  I don't know who wrote it, but it is filled with wisdom.

Enough Happiness to Keep you Happy

During the year may you have

Enough happiness to keep you sweet

Enough trials to keep you strong

Enough sorrow to keep you human

Enough hope to keep you happy

Enough failure to keep you humble

Enough success to keep you eager

Enough friends to give you comfort

Enough wealth to meet your needs

Enough enthusiasm to make you look forward to tomorrow

Enough determination to make each day better than the day before

Happy New Year

In case anyone

has any doubt about it, I'll reaffirm that taking down Christmas decorations is not nearly as fun as putting them up.   Goodbye Christmas decorations 2013.   Hopefully I'll be done by Monday.  

Winding down the holiday season.

The Bishops left yesterday morning, drove for 14 hours, and spent the night in Kansas.  They got home in the early afternoon today.  Misty texted that within an hour of getting home she had given 3 haircuts and Marshall was watching the "Grandma Ashton" movies.  I thought they may lose their appeal since he had been here and new activities had taken place, but I'm glad he still wants to watch him.   Marshall was our "Candy Store" policeman.  He would run in and very emphatically announce "THE CANDY STORE IS OPEN" when it should have been closed.    We really miss all of them.

To ease us back into our dull lives, the Roylances invited us up to a Jazz Game last night.  We felt pretty special in a Suite complete with a 4 course meal.

 

Our Eliza

is officially a teenager now!   

 She is beautiful, smart, caring, and very unselfish.  

(Picture from Splish Splash Party this summer)

We wish we could be there to give you a hug, Eliza!

Happy Happy Birthday!!