Craft Boutique

 Carla has been sewing pillows and table runners like a Christmas Elf.  She just loves sewing and creating...it makes her happy.  She decided that she'd better find a few boutiques to sell her creations in since she doesn't need all that she has made.  I told her of this boutique and I really thought it would be good.  It was good if you were the ladies right by Carla that sold wood crafts. Or, if you were the ones right inside the door that painted furniture and made it look rustic, or the ones across from them that sold antiques.  Those vendors did well but I don't think too many of the others did.  I felt bad because I really thought this would have been much better.

Jodi Snow shared Carla's booth and made some cute wood crafts.  I think they each sold a few things.  A guy that has been selling at this boutique for years said that it takes time for you to be recognized.  He made wooden basketball toys and they sold too....I actually saw a lot of bow and arrows that are made from pvc pipe carried around too.

It was fun helping Carla out.  Now she's ready for the next few boutiques that she is in.  I love her pillows and table runners.  They are a fun way to add a little more color to the Holidays.  They are also addicting.  Carla gave me a Halloween table runner and I liked it so much I want one for each month.

It's Kathy's Birthday

It's Kathy's birthday today and Robin made arrangements for a few of us to take her to breakfast.  It was nice seeing sweet Susan there.  Susan's sister passed away and her funeral was right after breakfast.  I'm so glad that she was able to visit with us for a bit before leaving.  I love these ladies and have learned so much from each of them.  They are the best thing about moving to Hooper.  I love the friendship we share and all the fun memories.  Robin has been a huge help in raising my kids. They loved going to her house and playing and she taught a few of my kids how to tie their shoes.  I know that she also had a few help her make rolls and pies.  My younger kids adore Robin because she is so kind....I adore her too.  I have the best neighbors all around. I love the people on our road.  It's a safe place to live and I know that if I ever needed help I could call any of my neighbors for help.  Their the Best!

I think it's cool that we got to take Kathy out on her actual birthday.  I can't think of many more ways to start the day.  Being with great friends always brightens my day!

Grateful for .... SNAP

I wasn't planning on going to SNAP tonight since it is my anniversary but decided to because I finally got a first counselor (my friend..Barbie Sessions) and it would be her first night and she was nervous enough.  I'm glad I was able to go though because Virginia was over the activity and she is simply wonderful at everything.  She talked about being grateful a little how how important it is.  She gave each of the gals three leaves and they wrote things they are grateful for and then Virginia put them on the tree.  She had cute leave sugar cookies that she let the girls decorate.  Some of the girls are all about the treats....only a few.

It's funny how having the calling of President and having the blessing that I got when I was set apart has changed the love I have for these ladies.  It's so much easier for me to express it to each of them.  I surprise myself sometimes as I bend down and kiss one of these sweeties on the head.  I think I loved them before but it's deeper this year.  I'm sure it's the calling which does make being President worth it.  I enjoy being around these ladies on Thursdays.  They are so fun.

So This Happened 35 Years Ago

Time Flies When You're Having Fun....sometimes even when you're not!  These last 35 years have been an adventure!  I love this guy of mine so much more than when these pictures were taken.  I knew he was a great guy but over the years he has proven to be so much more!  I pretty much adore him....okay....I seriously adore him!

In the past 35 years a lot has happened and I wrote down a few of the things that I could think of. (Larry helped me) We have visited 18 countries! (wow...that surprised me)  We have been in 30 of the states.  We have lived in eight homes...(I counted apartments)  We were blessed with seven children and only had one miscarriage.  Right now we have nine grandchildren. We owned four horses.  We've had at least two snowmobiles and two wave runners.  We have owned 8 boats. (we like boating)  We've gone on 7-8 cruises.  Between us we've had seven surgeries...two for me and five for Larry.  Larry has had three broken bones.  We've collected souvenir spoons, rubber stamps and stuffed animals.  We've only had two major fights and divorce was mentioned in one of those. (I had to point out that whatever we were fighting about wasn't terms for divorce)  We've each held a current Temple recommend for the 35 years.  We made two bad investments and at least two really good investments that certainly outweighed the bad.  (we did learn from the bad investments)  We have had about twenty-one vehicles between the two of us.  We have buried a few loved ones: Great Grandma Muir, Grandma Bessie, Grandma and Grandpa Lowe, Nonna, Grandma Bernice Lowe, Ken Friesen and quite a few friends. (I might miss one so I won't mention any friends but there have been several).

Our favorite place to be is with each other....it's true....we love being together.  We make each other laugh and smile.  Once in awhile we tick each other off but we don't let those times last very long.  We have learned to be more forgiving and take things less personal.  We seldom go to bed mad and have always said our evening prayers together.  We usually read scriptures in the morning with our kids and have family prayer with them before the day starts. (not so much in the summer...Larry lets them sleep in)  I'd say we've done pretty darn good.  We're both still smiling and happy and look forward to the evenings when we are together.  I'd say we each made a pretty good choice...we've been blessed!

This year we didn't plan anything special for our Anniversary and so we counted our weekly Temple Night as our celebration.  Heck...everyday is pretty much a celebration right?  It felt a bit strange not having a bigger celebration because we usually do go away for at least a night.  It was okay though.  We had to take two pictures at dinner because Larry blinked in the first one which gave the guy behind us plenty of time to be ready to photo bomb us. ☺  We went to Long Horn Steak House for dinner and it was yummy.

Larry brought home flowers and a huge card for me last night.  He is such a sweetie.  I wanted a picture of him with the flowers too.  I ended up taking a few pictures of him.  The first one his smile was forced and so I made a few "arrangements" and captured the smile I love!  I think Eternity is going to be Great!

Carla's Sweat Shop

The last few months I have spent a lot of time at Carla's sewing the ends of table runners and pillows.  Carla has a cute room that is referred to as the "sweat shop" because those sewing machines in there are always going.  It reminds me of Santa's Workshop.  There are so many fun colors and a lot of work and love in all the table runners and pillows.  I have fallen in love with them.  I kind of like that Carla has one messy room in her house while the creating is being done.  I don't feel at all bad throwing thread on the floor when I am busy there.  The rest of Carla's house is spotless but very comfortable.

I love spending time at Carla's.  Carla is really good at making others feel at home in her home.  She kind of likes to pamper her guests...and I kind of love it!  Carla is a sweetie!  I love how happy Carla is while creating....she absolutely loves sewing....it just makes her happy.  She usually doesn't like doing things alone but she is content with sewing all by herself.  I know she likes company though.
Fun memories are being made in Carla's Sweat Shop!

Happy Birthday Zaden

Zaden is 7 years old!  I can't believe how the time has flown.  Zaden is such a cute, fun kid.  He is very smart and is learning Spanish so well.  I love hearing him pronounce the different words and phrases he has learned.  I think it's cool that the so many schools have immersion programs that teach the children another language.  They catch on so fast.

Zaden likes computer games and electronics just like his dad. He loves "mind craft".  He is a happy boy and loves his family.  We all love Zaden and we're so glad that he is part of our family.

Since I was the lucky one that woke up with this cute birthday boy I was invited to his birthday breakfast.  Trichelle has always taken her kids out for breakfast on their birthdays.  I loved Zaden's choice....pancakes and french fries. He ate the french fries first and took the pancakes home.  

We went birthday shopping after breakfast.  Trichelle and Behr came too.  Zaden likes looking and when he came across the Mega Blok Halo sets he knew that's what he wanted.  Trichelle reminded him about the little pieces that the guys are made out of but Zaden didn't care and held on to his choice anyway.  He was able to get two sets and was eager to put them together when he got home.  He was getting a little frustrated trying to put the first guy together and looked at me and asked me why I let him get those. hahaha ☺ I'm glad that Trichelle stayed home today and was able to spend the day with her cute birthday boy.  She is also good at putting those little pieces together. 

I always enjoy celebrating the grands birthdays with them.  I feel so blessed to have such cute littles call me gramma.  They make my heart happy! ♥

Zaden's Birthday Sleep Over

This little Monkey is having a birthday tomorrow and he told everyone that he would not be going to school on his birthday and so I thought it might be a great time to have his birthday sleepover. Carla and I picked him up on our way home from visiting Robin. (about 9:00 pm)  He had been sick but seemed to be feeling better and I could tell he wanted to spend the night when he crawled under his bed when we were talking about having the sleepover later.  I decided that if he was sick I could deal with it.  He wasn't sick anymore at all and was a bunch of fun.

Zaden got a new tablet/computer from his dad and brought it to show Jared.  I think Jared liked it!  Zaden is at a silly age.  He makes faces for every picture which cracks this gramma right up. He's a fun kid.

He sleeps by my side of the bed when he stays at our house alone.  He surrounds himself with stuffed animals and loves to sleep with "joey" who likes to hide at the bottom of the basket.  Zaden falls to sleep so fast.  We were talking to him and immediately it got quiet and when Larry asked him if he was still awake he didn't answer.  I think it's great that he can fall asleep so fast....I wish I could.  It was fun having him over even if we didn't get him long.