Site Title

despite not having much that is interesting to say, or any opinions that really matter lately,

that I will blog every day this week.

Shelley told me about THIS website a few weeks ago, and I loved all of the ideas, so I copied them!  Those are the only kinds of crafts I do…the kind that have already been done! 🙂

For Jacob's Friends:

 

When I asked Jacob if these would be ok he took a good, long look at them and said, "I guess they're not too romantic – they're good."

For Caleb's Friends:

   

For the ladies I visit teach:

 

For teachers, friends, and family:

 

On these, I spray painted the lids to the bottle jars, stamped a heart on a white circle, made a tag, filled it with peanut m&ms and tied a ribbon around it…voila!

Two weeks ago when we had an ice storm approaching I glanced out the window and noticed my year-old baby of a peach tree was already blossoming.  I wanted to scold her for her carelessness!  Her naivety!  Her seemingly gross indifference to the threat of Texas weather!  What was she thinking?  She's like a teenager who feels the need to spread her wings a little too early…only to get burned in the process.  I wanted to tell her to take it slow…wait on spring…don't rush in to it…enjoy the quietness of winter a little longer.  But she insisted.  And as a result, her year will probably be dismal, but hopefully not fatal. 

 

Notice how the ice coats her blossoms so protectively…even beautifully!  And yet it has so much potential to harm.  Hopefully she'll learn her lesson…even if it is the hard way.

How great is a man who sends you flowers when you DON'T expect it?  A non-holiday…just because he's going to miss you while he's away!  So thoughtful…

 

 

Derek, Jacob and Caleb had a fun-filled guys only weekend in Utah, and from what I can tell had a great time.  Here's the run-down of events:

FRIDAY: lunch at Training Table, a stop by the Univ of Utah gift shop, a stop by Temple Square, home to see Grandma and Grandpa, dinner and b'day celebrations with the cousins

 

SATURDAY: they skiied ALL DAY at Alta – apparently Derek was so excited he got them there before it opened, and they stayed until it closed.  Derek's friend from high school, Scott and his daughter met them up there to ski!

 

SUNDAY: they got to meet our new nephew, Gabriel, who was born in December; went to church with Grandma and Grandpa

 

 

 

MONDAY: Derek took the boys to the Open House of the new Draper Temple (didn't take pictures – too cold and snowing Derek said), which they said was wonderful; they helped Grandpa with some computer issues and then flew home.

 

I'm so glad they can do fun things like that together.  And Derek was impressed with their abilities on skis!  He hopes to take them once a year at least so they'll be proficient skiiers. 

I was glad to have them home on Monday night though too!

On Friday I got a call from Frances' son telling me that she had passed away the night before.  I was not surprised, of course.  She had already surpassed doctor's expectations and held on longer than expected.  But my heart sank.  And my eyes filled with tears.  She was family to me.  She had been friends with 4 generation of women in my family.  She knew us well!  When her son needed to notify people of her death, it was my family that he called…me, my aunt, a cousin, my great uncle.  She was just as much a part of our family as she was her known…sometimes maybe more so. 

My visits with her over the last 8 years have been priceless to me.  The stories she told about raising her family down the street from the Bush family in Houston.  How she personally never liked George…even as a boy. :)  Stories about being a "Blue Bird" in Houston.  Stories about my great grandparents and how in love they were and how she knew they were the "real deal".  Her memory was flawless – even at the end of her life.  She talked about taking me to the movies with my Momo as a toddler and letting me throw popcorn.  She always asked about the boys…always worried about Derek having to travel too much…always asked about my dad, my brothers, my mom, my aunt Lisa and her kids, Robin and family, my Uncle Barney, Judy, etc, etc. 

But she was ready to go.  She was tired and sick and lonely.  And I knew that my last visit with her (on her b'day in January) was probably my last.  So I stayed a little longer than normal, and kissed her cheek twice, and held her cold hands in mine and said goodbye in my own way. 

Being her friend was one of the easiest things I've ever done.  I always got more than I gave.  I always left happy.  Her love was unconditional.  It wasn't complex – there were no expectations of me.  It just was what it was – a simple visit every few months.  An occasional card and telephone call to say hi and express love. 

I have lost a sweet and dear friend – but I am pretty sure I have gained a very caring new angel.

'Til we meet again…

FRANCES MEYER

January 5, 1917 – February 5, 2009

   

With my Momo (great-grandmother) in 1977

   

Holding me, Christmas 1975

 

Me and Frances, at my grandmother's funeral in 1999

 

Frances, Me and Caleb, 2003

 

Jacob, Caleb and Frances, 2004

   

Caleb, Samuel and Jacob with Frances, summer 2007

Due to a dead Internet router, and my technology repairman being out of town, I will not be able to blog for a few days…thus resulting in a temporary blog lull.  When I get back I hope to update you on the following:

– a quiet weekend without my three "BIG" boys (they're in Utah)

– a fun use of different brain cells on Friday

– all of my Valentine craftiness

– a thoughtful gift from Derek

– the review of my "current read", which technically isn't current because I finished it (see sidebar)

– and last, but most seriously, the passing of my dear friend and family member (even though we weren't related) Frances Meyer

Ahhh…it's that time of year again.  Expectations were high…so was his confidence.  Reality was tough, and it briefly brought him to tears.  But good boy that he is, he toughed it out and cheered for his friends, and even won 1st place in ONE of his heats (his car ran in 12 heats).  And I try to tell him that at least his car was consistent (it was consistently third in most of the heats), but it doesn't really help, so I just try to keep my mouth shut.  He likes to point out that his car was not even in the top 6 for his den, but I like to point out that at least it wasn't dead last.  Again…I should just keep my mouth SHUT.  But it is always FUN and always EXCITING and my boys (all four) love it.

 

 

Title of the car: "Monster Drive"

 

 

Samuel was the BEST cheerleader!  Caleb was busy eating hot dogs, soda, and ding dongs!

And who's that handsome guy in uniform?  (Official title: Cub Scout Committee Chair)

 

Despite LOVING those little blonde curls around Samuel's head, I knew it was time to give him a big-boy haircut.  Those curls only looked good after a bath…but as soon as they were slept on or rubbed with yogurt, it was all over, and they looked like a rat's nest!  :)  Jacob and Caleb both had haircuts at 15 months…Samuel is almost 25 months.  And both had their hair cut by my friend Jeanette.  So, of course, we asked her to come and do the honors with Samuel as well.  He was such an angel, as usual.  Sitting there very prim and proper, wondering what on earth was going on.  No tears…no resistance…no fuss.  Just easy, like he always is.

First I had to document those sweet little baby curls…

 

 

He wasn't quite sure what to think about her water bottle… 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

And here is that cute head of his…as handsome as ever.  I love it!

Tuesday night was a frustrating one.  I was grumpy with Jacob for procrastinating a Quest project.  And grumpy with Caleb because he wouldn't touch his very delicious dinner (a hearty soup).  And I was grumpy with Samuel for just doing what 2-year-olds do…going weak at the knees when I tried to pick him up, screaming when he didn't get his way, and throwing food.  We put Caleb and Sam to bed early and put Jacob to bed after a lengthy "you'll have to deal with the consequences" lecture.

As I sank in to the couch that night to watch my allotment of DVR'd shows (The Biggest Loser was on tap), I was thrilled and relieved to hear sleet pounding on my window.  Oh sure, it had been anticipated all day since the temp was 32 and below and rain and drizzle were present.  But you just never know with weather or weathermen around here.  You don't believe it until you see it.  My relief came knowing that school being closed was inevitable.  What is it about an unexpected day off that is so wonderful? 

Jacob was able to work on his project.  We did the week's homework.  We made hot chocolate.  The boys played in the ice.  We ventured out for haircuts and groceries (because like all good Texas ice storms, they're over and melting before the day is over).  And it was an all-together great day.

Thank you, mother nature.

 

 

Caleb doing his famous "Happy Feet" dance on the thick sheet of ice on the trampoline:

 

 

 

 

He tried to venture out on the ice, but failed…

 

And now you can see plainly demonstrated the part of my yard that sees the sun, and the part that doesn't.  At first, when I looked out the window at the end of the day, I thought this was a shadow.  But NO!  On one side is the melted, moist grass and dirt.  On the other, the icy ones.  I love this perfect line down the middle.  So cool!