It's been a very

busy and interesting last few days.  Monday I went up to Loralee's and met her sister and mother who also help with the business.  They are all very nice people.  I felt comfortable immediately.  I placed stickers on the glasses, wrapped push pins in a boxes for a favor.  (The guests will pop one of the balloons to find a note with what their prize is inside). We experimented with how to arrange the food on the tables  I can contribute a little in those instances, but I'm more than happy to watch and learn from the pros.  They are amazing and also very positive and appreciative of every one's efforts.

Last night I took the popcorn boxes home and spent 5 hours filling them with popcorn, wrapping them in cellophane, and tying a ribbon and tag to them.  Gary didn't even blink an eyelid when he saw me with spilled popcorn and ribbon all over.  He's just glad I'm actually making money while I'm doing it.  Though he did continually ask me if I thought I was doing it right.  When Natalie called this afternoon she wanted to know 2 things:  1) How did the event go, and (2)  Had I survived Dad.  When she was here on Sunday and I was folding boxes, Gary was concerned if I was doing it right, if the tape would hold, and suggested other ways of doing it.  Natalie was laughing and told him that I've done these things more than a few times and that she thinks I know how to do it. 

Today we were up to the Studio 5 office to finish setting up and get everything perfect. I saw Daren and Brooke and a few others, but I didn't go up and introduce myself as the candy store lady (who they talked to on Skype for 1 minute).   I was afraid their faces would draw a blank.   It was fun seeing the actual set where the show is filmed. As we were there doing it for about 3 hours, staff members would come in and tell Loralee how wonderful it looked. She truly does have a talent and vision.

Here are a couple of snapshots of the almost completed dessert table.  My camera does not do it justice.   I can't wait to see them when Loralee posts her pictures on her blog.  Then you can see all the details.

Tomorrow I'll spend my time boning up on the email responses and on how the order system works.  I honestly don't know how they do all they do with their young family.  Anyway, it's still feeling like a dream job!   

Wonder of all Wonders

So, since I will be running around quite a bit with my job, we decided it was time to get serious about getting me a new car.  This car is to replace the Bishop's "Wonder Car," which we kept, when they bought our Suburban and drove it home to Missouri with them.  

Now the "Wonder Car" is named such because it is a miracle that it still runs.  It is held together with wire and twine in many places, but it does run.  It is a 2001 Montana Mini Van and has 316 thousand miles on it and has been on just about every gravel road in Missouri (and also in the creek this summer).  Yet, it got the family around safely, for which we are very grateful.  But, sadly,  all good things must come to an end. 

So we went out car hunting on Friday night and Saturday.  We learned a few things.  One thing we learned was that we could get more value out of the "Wonder Car" by donating it to the Kidney Foundation and getting the write-off on our income tax.  The salesman, who is one of Gary's former students, said that maybe we could cash in on it by getting Pontiac to use it in their ads to tout its durability.  But, he said that is about all it was worth.  When I told Misty that, she couldn't stop laughing.  She said that anytime she filled the gas tank, she told everyone that she had doubled the value of the van.

Anyway, on Saturday we went down and signed the papers for a "new" used car.  It is a 2006 Equinox, which will get pretty good gas mileage.   We drove to Costco in the new car, and shopped for about 45 minutes.  When we came out, GUESS WHAT?  Wonder of all wonders, the new car was as dead as a doornail.  No kidding.  And I had been worrying about the Wonder Car going out on me. 

Gary called  the salesman and said, "Can you spell L-e-m-o-n?"   (Can't you just hear Gary saying that?)  He sent someone to jump it for us and discovered that, when I was trying to figure out what the knobs were, I had turned on the lights and left them on.  But still.  That battery will definitely be checked again when we take it in for a few other things they are going to fix up.

We want the Bishop family to know that In honor of the "Wonder Car," our new one is the same color.  Sometimes it is hard to get rid of old friends, even if they (or we) are falling apart.

PS:  So far for the job I've been putting together popcorn boxes, sugar rimming glasses, and making messes.  So you may ask, "What's new?"  I'm loving it.   Tomorrow will be spent doing a "photo shoot," or staging of the event on Tuesday.  I'm interested to see how that is all done.  After the event on Tuesday, I'll get serious about learning the whole email, response, and ordering processes (which I will do from home).  This is fun!

Happy Birthday

to our grandson, ASHTON, who turns 9 years old today.  When we called to sing Happy Birthday to him, we asked about the 130 chocolate donuts they had made for his birthday (using the babycakes machine).  He said he had only eaten 5 of them, because they were for his friend party and his family party tomorrow.    Gary quickly threw out a math problem to him.  "How many dozen cupcakes would there be if you had made 144?"  He didn't even miss a beat, and said, "That would be 12 dozen."   I've told Tiffany that she needs to write a book of all the cerebral things Ashton says.   He is so insightful, observing, and smart. 

We love you, Ashton, and wish we were there in person to give you a hug. 

As for now, this will have to do!

 

Among Friends

Last night we had a "mock" Caldecott Award event.   I knew that it was a book award, but didn't know that it is an award for illustrations in children's books published the previous year. Donna, who works at the Provo City Library, brought about 30 books that were eligible for the award. It was really interesting to learn how the whole judging process works. The official winner was announced earlier this week, but Donna had told us not to find out what the winner was beforehand.

It was fun as we sat in a circle and had 1 minute to look at each book and then make a note about it.  It is really hard to judge a book in 1 minute, but there were some definitely some illustration styles that appealed to me more than others.   We each voted for our top three, and then narrowed down, and voted again.  I'm glad I'm not really a judge, because it would be really hard to decide.  Our final winner was not the same as the official one, and in fact the winner didn't even make our first cut.

The reason I labeled this entry as "Among Friends," is because I was glad I was among friends.  As it began, I accidentally bumped the table that held the books that were standing upright in rows.  They went down in almost perfect domino style.  (In fact, I couldn't have placed them better if I had planned it.)  But I obviously hadn't planned it, and would have been very embarrassed, had I not been with friends.  As it was, we all laughed and moved on.    It's nice to feel that comfortable with people.          

I am so

excited for the new job I am starting! 

My document management work has died down to just about nothing, and I've known I needed to bring in more income.  I set a goal that after Christmas that I would get serious about job searching.  As I was talking about doing that, Tiffany reminded me of something I had told her after we went to Gary's family reunion last fall. 

Lynn, Gary's cousin and our friend, had mentioned  a business that his daughter-in-law had started.  He explained that she, Loralee, was always putting on elaborate parties and had decided to make a business of supplying products for themed parties or events.  My first response to him was, "Do they need help?"  Talk about a dream job!

Anyway, to make a long story short, I emailed them and we have been communicating back and forth about what they need and what skills I have that could fill their needs.  They are crazy busy with their young family and their expanding business, and they have been needing to hire help.  It seems like the timing is perfect for both of us.  They are such nice people, and I feel very blessed.

I meet with Loralee for the first time on Thursday to discuss the project they are working on now.  I will be able to do much of the business side of the job from home.   But when they need help with projects, I will be involved in whatever way they need.   Did I already say, "Talk about a dream job?"  

The products she has produced are beyond amazing. Honestly. I am in awe. Here is a link to her Etsy shop.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/LoraleeLewis    They are undergoing changes on their website and blog, so I'll keep you posted on those as they get up and going.

I am so thrilled.  I will have much to learn, but I can guarantee I'll have lots of fun learning it!

After much experimentation . . .

I bit the bullet and painted the bathroom today.  Painting is not my favorite activity in the world.  Especially in a room where there are so many small details.  I really like how the color turned out, but I am a little nervous about taking the tape off tomorrow.  I hope there is not a lot of  trim redo.  (Pictures are taken tonight, so the light is not great.)

 

There is a certain satisfaction in finishing a job you've been putting off.

Christmas 2011

I posted so few pictures over the holidays, and I want to remember the highlights.  Here are pictures of when the Bishops pulled in on December 26.  What a joyous feeling (other than some trepidation at seeing Jackson driving).   We were also relieved that the "Wonder Car" made it with no problems.   

 

Don't drown.

Gary and I are sitting here in our two recliners, with our laptops on our laps (where else?), watching one of our favorite shows, the "Mentalist."  This warning keeps streaming across the screen:  

"National weather service has issued a flood warning for the following counties . . Cache. . that will expire at 4 am.  If flooding conditions are encountered, be prepared to seek higher ground.  If traveling, remember turn around, don't drown.  Stay tuned to . ."

We're not laughing at the flood conditions, but the phrase "turn around, don't drown," strikes us as a little funny.  I think from now on when I encounter difficult situations I'm going to say to myself, "Turn around, don't drown."  

Profound, don't you think?

A little late,

but Happy Birthday to our son-in-law, Dan.  He turned 40 on Saturday (Yikes!).  Misty threw him a surprise party, which ended up being "kind of" a surprise.  She had sent emails to friends and family asking them to send in memories or thoughts about Dan, and then she compiled them in a book.

The number one thing I mentioned that I love about Dan is what a good father he is.  He spends unlimited time coaching his children in sports and in life.  Here is a perfect example of how much his kids adore him.

Marshall in picture where Dan is holding him.

Marshall in picture where we've taken him away from Dan.

I did just remember one thing though, as I was looking through the pictures, that makes me wonder about him.  We played a few games while they were here.   Risk is always a must do game to play.

And then on the last night we played sequence. 



(Check out the look on Jackson's face, we should have known something was up.)

 The women won that game series 4 games to 3.   Little did we know, until Jackson gave the family prayer and asked for forgiveness for texting with his Dad during the game, that they had cheated!   Hmm . . . maybe I should retract my comments about what a good example he is!   Or I guess we can look at it as an example that cheaters never win.    That works.  We love you, Dan! 

I'm not sure

if it's true or not, but David Letterman just said in his monologue that "Hostess" is going belly-up.  If it is true, then I am protesting.  That is un-American.  I grew up on Hostess cupcakes.  They were my guilty pleasure any time I was craving chocolate.  I remember stopping by the store just for them and a Coke. Great nutritional combination don't you think?  Sometimes I would pair them with milk to make it a little more nutritious. 

I haven't bought them much in recent years, since there have been more sophisticated choices.  Maybe I contributed to them going out of business because I stopped buying them so often.  But still. 

My Aunt Merlyn was addicted to Ding-Dongs.  In fact, at one of our Hall reunions we had a ding-dong eating contest in her honor.  I won.   If the rumor is true, then I am going to the store, buying some, and putting them in the freezer.  For a rainy day.  When I yearn for the good old days of hostess chocolate cupcakes, Twinkies, zingers, snowballs, and ding-dongs.

I guess I better check to make sure it's true.   It's too late to go to the store now, but first thing in the morning I'll be there.

Getting ready for

family pictures took all morning on the 29th. 

Tiffany was the designated hairdresser.

Jackson was wondering if this was the shirt that he was supposed to wear.

Just a few of us in the bathroom.

 Should Tiffany wear her outfit with the belt

or without it?

 Should it be worn higher or lower?

Luci asked why Grandma's

hair looks like the Grinch people.

But all the preparation was worth it.

Encouragement

to be happy.

Usually I don't need to be encouraged, because I know how blessed I am. But sometimes it almost seems wrong to be happy when you know there are so many who are facing very difficult circumstances in their lives.

Tonight we had, for our Relief Society activity, a presentation by Kelly Ogden about his book, "Happy Like Jesus." He gave numerous examples of our leaders who constantly urge us to have a "brightness of hope." One of my favorite quotes is from President Hinckley: "Be believing, be happy, don't get discouraged. Things will work out.” He brought out the point that those who are happy, in spite of difficult circumstances, see the big picture. Well, there is no doubt that Jesus saw the whole picture.  When we are discouraged, we hang our heads down. He encouraged us to hold our heads up and to look upward. I like that, because just the act of lifting your head and looking up makes you feel better.

As I was putting away Christmas decorations (yeah, I got started!), I saw my two containers of "bee" stuff. I have quite a bit of "bee" and "hive" decorations. I had been thinking about how to decorate the refreshment table for our activity tonight, and when I saw the containers it triggered the idea to make use them for the centerpieces. "Bee Happy." A little cheesy, but since I have them I thought I would use them.

I love these little bee aprons on my apron girls. I took some dish clothes that Mom had made for me when we I got married (that were threadbare), and used pieces of them on the aprons.

 The little pin flower centers say "bee happy."

Then I had my beehive cake stands and beehive water dispenser.

I didn't use my beehive candle holder, or beehive tablecloth, or beehive birdhouse, or beehive pillow, 

but I did use my "Bee Happy" bowls. 

So, if you learn nothing else from reading this,

then please learn to "Bee Happy."

I was glad

 the Idiarts brought their wii game. 

There was lots of crazy dancing going on around here over the holidays.

 

I've been

feeling a little under the weather this last week, so I haven't even begun taking any Christmas decorations down.  It's so fun to put them up in anticipation of the fun, but not quite so fun to take them down.  As a result, I've found myself procrastinating by organizing and trying to clean everything out to make more room to store them.  But, my new years resolution, as of right now, is to have them down by the end of this week.  That and post pictures from the holidays. 

In the meantime, I had a lot of fun putting these little boxes together for my RS committee.  I've kind of gone crazy with this little project I saw on Pinterest.  They are made with one 12x12 piece of cardstock. Instructions here:  Gift Boxes  I made a bunch of them for Christmas giving and have collected a lot of cute paper to make more.   

 

I've been looking

through the many pictures and videos we took over the holidays.  

This one makes me laugh.  

Like grandson like grandpa.

Or is the other way around?

 

I don't even

know where to start.

So I won't.

Other than to give a Happy Birthday

greeting to our Grandaughter, Eliza.

We said good-bye to her this morning

and she arrived at her home this evening.

We love you and miss you already,

Eliza.

(we celebrated our birthdays together)