He called. I love cell phones!

HALLELUJAH!!

Jeff called and said they are all packed up, chains are on the car tires, fresh 6-8 inches of snow fell and they are making their way to Provo. Yeah! One of the guys came with sneakers, a pair of jeans with a hole in the knee, and a hoody...nothing more. WOW! He survived because others were well prepared. I'm amazed and happy. I think Jeff is treating them to "Five Guys" on the way home. Yummmmm! They should be home right on time. Now, I need to be calm...it's just that it's snowing again... I think that an overabundance of sugar makes me a bit high-strung.

When I woke I looked out the window. There always seems to be a peach/orange glow when there's new snow and/or it's snowing, and it's right before dawn. I thought how lovely... and then I remembered that Jeff & Logan are near Brighton Ski resort, in a warm "igloo" or some snow contraption...with 8 other boy scouts and another leader. That's fine and good. I just want them to travel home safely (treacherous mountain roads-urg!)... and SOON! I am a worry wart. I'm pretty sure they were going to aim for being home right around noon. I'm trying to remain calm, but at 12:01 I'll be calling Jeff or the other leader's cell phone. By then they surely will be within range of a signal, right? It looks like it may be letting up on snow.

How did Caroline Wilder EVER do this? She'd send Charles out on a job finding or food finding trip into the great unknown, not knowing when or if she'd ever see him again.

I love Jeff and Logan!!! I'm just not good at this waiting stuff! Prayer in my heart!!!!!

I'd better stop worrying and get other stuff done...do other things to occupy my thoughts.

Who knew BYU wouldn't have their Bookstore open on Boxing day? We're headed there now. Hoorah!

I need to do something about my lack of blogging! I guess I figure I should only blog if I have a picture to go along with it. Not too easy since I don't have camera of my own. Oh well.

The last few days we've been helping out with a production of Bethlehem. There is a blog about it. Bethlehem is very enjoyable. This year Jeff is a coppersmith, Lila a potter, Clarence a crafter of bracelets, Peterman a wood carver, Whacki a cider girl, Googs a shepherd girl or the coppersmith's helper, I am a candle woman, Dibs is Joseph. It's a family thing!

We're in a Community Christmas Choir--Jeff, Lila, Dibs and I. We had our performance on Sunday. I LOVE the choir. We practice on Saturday mornings from 7 'til 8:30, starting in October. Tomorrow night we are going to be the choir for St. Mary's Episcopal Church's 8 pm version of midnight Mass. It also is enjoyable. When we're at the Mass, the children who are at home will put together a Gingerbread House, and probably start watching a Christmas movie.

I love Christmas! It's especially nice when things seem to fall into place! Lila and the kids began making Christmas crescents (It's a cinnamon roll twisted to the shape of a crescent/wreath.) YUMMMMMM! We hand these out to as many people as we can. Sometimes we don't get them all handed out until AFTER Christmas.

I'm so happy that of the 5 packages I've sent, 4 reached the correct destination TODAY. # 5 will probably arrive the 26th.

Merry Christmas to ALLLLLL!!!

pumpkin carving --way back in October

Giving Thanks

I'm giving "Thanks" for :

The Gospel

Home

Adams' (all 72+)

Nummy food

Kind Friends

Sanford's (all 27+)...

This list is a good beginning, there are so many other people & things... I feel totally and completely blessed, and I am very thankful!

THANKS !!!

The other day I mentioned that it'd be fun to have a new background for the page. Yesterday Lila fixed it... Thank you!!! I'm so thankful for children who help me!!!

I feel like bawling today...it's GOT to have something to do with the holidays, and probably hormones, too.

I love life and I'm so thankful for my family near and far...they're wonderful. I love to get a surprise phone call every now and again--or a FB or an email, a handwritten note, or a slimey kiss and a hug. Thanks!!!! I love you!!!

Dibs is the 2009-2010 Provo High School Sterling Scholar in Visual Arts.  What a title!  I'm so proud of him.  He not only is very creative and good at his art, he's humble, too.  I love him!!!  

Yesterday I asked him what his favorite medium is.  His answer: "my mind."  He then said, "It depends...right now it's ceramics." 

Dibs you get a "Good for you!"

Christmas music

Last night when I went to get Clarence after her band trip (They took first place,  hurrah!)  I was listening to KOSY 106.5.  Karen Carpenter was singing--"Just hear those Sleigh bells jingaling, ring ting tingaling ..." When the song was almost over , it sounded like someone knocked something over.  I thought someone was comandeering a take over to silence the holiday music.  The station didn't broadcast anything for at least 10 minutes...then I was home and I went to bed.  This morning on the way to Christmas Choir, I told Jeff about the incident. Then I turned the station on to listen and see if it was fixed, and the exact same song was playing.  Strange ... of course,  I had to listen 'til the end...at which point another Christmas song came on...YAY!   Christmas is on KOSY.  I love it, even though the playlist is so predictable I can almost tell time by it.   

peterman's October '09 concert

 

Peterman is in the second row--second in.  Kinda hard to see, but I think they sound great!!  He's presently 2nd chair, so next concert he'll be on the first row, second in.  I'm so glad he loves cello....pretty much thanks to the movie "August Rush". 

madame giry

Beautiful Madame "Wacky" Giry!
Farrer reinstated the Halloween Parade after MANY years of "No Costumes".

bee costume

Googla--Our Queen Bee...I got the fabric to make a bee outfit YEARS ago probably when Lila was a toddler. I was so afraid to mess up the fabric that I waited these many years...at least it worked fine.  Googs is so cute.  BUZZZZ!

Happy 1 November...

Well, Jeff is playing the piano roll he made a few years ago..."Once in Royal David's City".  Clarence is accompanying him on flute and Peterman is holding his own on the cello...Getting better every time.  It's very Holiday-ish.  So nice.  I love Christmas.  I know that only yesterday it was Halloween, but today is November 1, and that means Christmas is next month.

Googla is asleep on the sofa.  Her throat is bothering her, as in it's sore.  I love the time change !!!!!  It's night and it's only 7:16 p.m.  Maybe (?) I can trick kiddies into going to bed earlier...or at least on time.

Last night Lila & Jeff made homemade caramel and began decorating apples...I trekked around the neighborhood with the kiddies.  We went with the Sorensen's...funny thing, I don't think they knocked on our door, nor did we knock on theirs...but we were together.  Dibs was a skeleton.  He and Shannon painted the bones on black sweat pants & shirt...looked good!  Claire was a 1980's spandex wearing aerobic instructor. (She didn't walk around with us, tho').  Peterman was an orange gingham caped super hero. Wacky was Madame Geri from "Phantom"---black flowy dress and her red hair was french braided around her face, resting on her shoulder. (She is so pretty!!)  She wore the gold tapestry, purple lined cloak, too. (Honestly, how many 11 year olds do you know who know who this person IS?  Let alone chooses to be her on Halloween???)   Googla was a Queen Bumblebee---with antenae swooping from her headband, yellow bug eyed sunglasses, and a yellow tulle cape, and of course a gold bead necklace with a crown on it.  So much fun!  I wore the Reeses pnut butter "apron" as someone called it.  Someone actually yelled from their car, "I want to eat you!"  Funny people!  

Halloween Eve Multi-Stake Dance--so "hip"!

Dibs, Shenanigans, Norm--Mr. DJ Disco dancing, Jeff ... "YMCA"
Norm, Ingrid, Shannon, Dibs, Jeff..."Ye Ole Skeleton Crew".
     Funny bones, hanging around the set.

Dibs and Jeff helped at the Stake Dance.  Dibs and Shannon painted Jeff and Dibs' outfits.  Notice the 3-d ribcages/spine...my artist son!  It's so cool!  My favorite skeleton wore his baseball cap.  Pretty fun!  Thanks for the photos Ingrid.  Whenever the Sanford's and Sorensen's are together we have fun!  Love it!!!!

Where has the time gone?

Wow-  It's almost November and I haven't posted anything yet about our family September Birthdays nor my October Birthday...I just don't have alot of extra time!!!  I'm hoping to make time this Saturday to remedy the situation.  Bear with me.  I need a camera of my own and a computer photo program that works, so I can quit bothering Lila about pics I want to post. Time for school.

vrooom, vrooom

What does an 18 year old do when he has his driver's license?...Gets his scooter license of course...he passed with flying colors.  

Homecoming 2009

Dibs asked Natalie Larsen to the dance...kinda.  He came home one night telling about the scheme he devised.  He had carefully opened a box of popcorn and wrote his name on the inside, and then hot glued the box back together.  The note that went on the outside said something like:  "Find my name inside."  He told of delivering the box and getting caught kinda.  I then asked,"But did the note say anything about the dance?"  He had a puzzled look and then said, "No, No I guess it didn't."  We laughed and tried to figure out a solution.  I finally said, "You should go back with a note that says : Now that you've popped the corn, I'll pop the question--Will you go to Homecoming with me?"  He never actually had to take the note.  She figured it out and answered him with a box stuffed full of "Yes" and "No" slips.  At the bottom of the box there was a cookie the size of a pie that said "Yes" spelled out in M&M's.  It was the tie breaker.  

They had 5 other couples with them on the date.  Homecoming consisted of a day date and then dinner and then the dance.  For their "Day Date" they went on a photo scavenger hunt, in groups of 4.  I don't know who won, or if it was even set-up as a competition. Dinner was yummy lasagne, green salad, and bread at the acclaimed restaurant: "On the Rooftop"... :)   The family had fun putting that all together!  Dibs made Natalie's wrist corsage.  It's a white band that buttons, with cotton flowers--a pink one, a tiny black one and a white one.  I wonder if he took a close-up photo of it.  It matched her beautiful dress perfectly.  The dance was enjoyable.  Dibs wore his nice Sunday shoes but switched into his comfy Converse sneakers.  From what I know it was fun for everyone.  I hope so! 

The Electric Peterman

Well, here's the finished product. Jeff made a coal box for our woodstove that is electrically run. It's pretty nifty. The kitchen stays cosy warm. Peterman puts in a bucket of coal in the magic black & red box, once in the morning, once in the evening. The electric part: a motor and timer. You can see the gear/pulley thingy. It's connected to an auger that advances the coal from the box to the stove's fire box. It will "purr" all night, coming on for 15 minutes every hour...that's how I understand it. I can cook without needing to figure in firebuilding time. It's virtually ready to go when I am. We can still use the stove if the electricity fails, but we'll just have to tend it ourselves. Jeff keeps things interesting at our home. He always has a new project on the back burner (pun intended!) :) We love his inventions and we love Him!!!

Where were you?

Back eight years ago I was in my front room. The children had fallen asleep after scriptures. I remember thinking "I want to watch the TODAY show (back when Katie Couric was still there) for a few minutes before I re-wake the children for school." I flipped on the TV, and Katie was talking about an airplane that had apparently flown WAY off course into one of the Twin towers. A few minutes later she had a confused look on her face when she confirmed reports that a second plane had crashed into the neighboring tower. I was scared and dumbfounded...and then the buildings began to deteriorate before our eyes...oh, and somewhere in there I woke the children for school. Dibs and Clarence were the only ones in Public Education then. I remember wanting to keep them home from school, but we live across the street from the then functioning Maeser school so I did send them. I wanted them to try to have a normal day. I needed to talk to family ( both sets of Moms & Dads, and Brothers & Sisters) to make sure they were all okay. I was relieved that my and Jeff's immediate families were okay...and then I began hearing stories of people who were lost or those who had jumped out of the buildings. Wow...that was a long time ago!!!!

I love to read!

Okay...I always seem to do this.  I decide to read a  book and then I read the series and I read them so fast I end up mourning the end of the characters and wanting them back immediately.  It happened that way last summer when I read the entire Twilight Saga in about a week...Crazy times!  It has happened again.  I started to read "Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins last Thursday.  Lila bought the second in that series it's called, "Catching Fire", and I  just finished IT....and now I want MORE!!!!  NOW!  Both "HG" and "CF"are fantastic.  I won't ruin it for you, but if you like "Survivor" I think you'll like them!  There is a touch of romance, very mild.  (They kiss a few times, that's it.) It's action packed, there is mystery in it, and it's a little futuristic...It's hard to explain.  I just know it's good, and I'm hoping I don't have to wait an entire year before book 3 comes out!  

Get ready for Friday Night Pizza

It's like a holiday...Friday. It might seem boring, and I've blogged about this before, but I LOVE Pizza, and our family LOVEs to have it every Friday. Lately, it seems we've had it another night of the week, too. I've shared it before but here's "my" recipe again.

2 Pizzas

Put 1 Tablespoon of yeast in 1 cup of warm water.

Let it start to dissolve a little. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Let it dissolve & grow a little. Add 1 teaspoon of salt.

Add 2 Tablespoons of oil. Mix in 2 1/2 cups flour. Mix only until it's barely "hanging together". It's ok if it seems a little gooey or sticky. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes. Divide the dough in half . Knead the first portion a little until it makes a good little ball. Dust the rolling out area with a scant amount of flour. Roll out. Repeat process with the other half. Decorate with Ragu or Hunts Spaghetti sauce, garlic powder, Italian seasonings, diced onions, green peppers, grated mozzarella, pepperoni, pinches of UNCOOKED ground sausage &/or hamburger. Whatever you want... Bake in a preheated 425* oven for 20 min.

NOTE: I used to precook the sausage meat and hamburger. About 7 years ago I watched my sister-in-law prepare her pizza. She didn't cook the meat. I couldn't believe it, but of course it's fine after 20 minutes in the 425* oven! So that's the way I do it now, too.

wackys family party

What happens when one is lucky enough to have ones actual birthday fall on a Sunday?   "Wacky" found out this year.  She had her "Friend Party" on Friday August 28, and the less crazy Family Party on Sunday August 30.    We consider the Sorensen's as family [we folks hope that SOMEday there will actually BE a family connection---am I supposed to say that out loud?  Time will tell :).... there are several possibilities. ]  so we invited them to share the Birthday Dinner, which just so happened to be Breakfast.  Shelly Merrill a cousin got to come too.  Lately the children have picked a Breakfast menu for "their dinner".  I'm ok with that---it's easier!!!  Lila and Dibs made her some 

"Wild Things" cupcakes that were amazing!  

We love our Little Wacky!!!  

Today in Church as another baby was being blessed I realised it has been 11 years exactly since Jeff blessed Our Little Redhead.  Wow-where has the time gone?  

We are so glad she's in our family!!!!

wackys....11...Wow! That went fast!!!

...friend birthday party pictures

Yipeeeeeee!

I'm sure Lila will blog about this, she took a picture. As we were driving from Walmart to the AT&T store I commented that Burlington Coat factory can't be too happy that someone is building in their parking lot, blocking the view of their store to drivers. Mirielle said, "I'll bet it's a restaurant." Then we both yelled at the same time (when we saw the construction sign)

""In-N-Out", YAHHHHHH! "

So there you have it- coming soon! "IN-N-OUT" .... "right in our own backyard." Yipeeeeeeee!

We went to the Drive-in (insert smiley face)

The gates were supposed to open at 8:15 or so.  We went last night and they weren't ready to open 'til 8:30.  It's $7 for people aged 10+, children ages 5-9 are $1, 4 and under are free.  The $1 folks get a free glow in the dark glow-stick.  (Smart safety idea--we always knew where they were.) After we had the vans in place our children ran and played.  Frisbee and other run around games...and the munching began when the M&M's spilled and we tried to gather & grab them within the 10 second rule. We saw "G-Force and then Harry Potter 6...(We were home & in bed by 2ish--yawn).  "G- Force" was actually a cute movie...and "HP6" was FANTASTIC!!!  There are other choices too--there are 6 screens. The screens are corrugated metal painted white.  It totally works. It was fun, and if the place makes it until next summer we will probably go again.  If one stays for both movies it's very economical--and it looks like we could've stayed for a second showing of the first movie, too.  That would've been 3 movies for the price of one. Wooohoo!  You have to have an FM tuner on your radio, there are no "hook in the window" sound boxes (probably they were called speakers, huh?) like in the good old days.  Dibs and Jeff got snacks: banana chips, p-nut M&M's, "Captian Crunch Berry" knock-off brand cereal (eaten dry), and Whoppers.  The Sorensen's brought popcorn and licorice and muddy buddies. Side note: I brought bug spray...not a good idea to eat after you've applied the spray with your hands...unless you wash your hands, of course.  We took benches out of our vans and set them in front of our vans...one blanket and bunches of pillows between the vans...children switching places/vans...Ingrid did the rounds with Julia in her stroller. Jules was too tired, poor munchkin. So this is an un-organized and run-on-ish blog.  Moral of the story: it was SO FUN, and I'm so tired, but  it was worth it. Thanks for organizing this Ingrid!!!  Good friends, good memories, good times....good!

Fruit fly--don't bother me!

OK, maybe this is a fluke, maybe not....are they gone for good, or is it that they're gone for a while?   Two of my friends have commented on the wonders of Tea Tree Oil.  I splurged at "Sunflower Market" and bought a teeny flask of the wonder oil.  I have put it on the children's mosquito and other bug bites and it has kept them from swelling.  The smell is pretty pungent, but the trade-off is worth it. 

The other day Peterman came in from outside.  It was dusk and he had mosquito kiss bumps forming on his arm.  He brought me the T.T.Oil and a paper towel.  I tipped the point of the towel in the oil and then applied the oil to his arm.  He commented on the strong smell, and it got me to thinking. I asked him to leave the corner-soaked-paper towel on the counter under the shelf, instead of throwing it away.  That is our spot we get fruit flies.  I'm not sure why they go for THAT spot.  The next morning when I came down to start readying Jeff and Dibs' lunches I noticed NO FRUIT FLIES.  Maybe it was a coincidence or a tender mercy?  I still have the paper towel out and waft it in the same general area hoping to ward off the critters.  

So, try it at your houses---c'mon, doesn't everyone get fruit flies this time of year? I hope it works for you, too!!! 

dibs new/old jeep

dib learning to drive a stick shift jeep

I tried to post something new, but for some reason, it didn't work. Weird.  So, I'll try again.

26/27 June, 2009 in Denver

OK...a few weeks ago we went to Denver.  It was a QUICKtrip!  We left Friday a.m. and came back Saturday p.m.  My nephew Malcolm got married to his High School Sweetheart Val, on Saturday the 27th of June in the Denver LDS Temple.  We're so happy for them.  We had a really fun time.  Our resident photographer Lila wasn't with us as she was in Maine.  Here are a few cellphone shots.  (Photo of the Happy Couple--I made the house plaque for them...It's based on one my Momma made for me at Jill's Enrichment night, probably 10 years ago, at least  Their reception was at a restaurant "The Palm" ---cool ceiling & good food.  The kids shared a room.  We had an adjoining room.  Drury Inn is great!)  Hopefully I can pilfer some pics from Michele and post them when they are on her Facebook.  :)

Our one and only Public School Kindergarten Grad

Yep, Googla the youngest of our 6 children, is our first and only to "graduate" from Public School Kindergarten.  Her teacher Coleen Bevan was/is fantastic. Googs READS.  I love Farrer Elementary.  The faculty is truly concerned with the children and their progress!  I'm sad that Principal Dowdle, our fearless leader, won't be @ Farrer next year.  Mrs. Wilson will be gone, too.  There will be many changes.  Googs' best friend is now gone from the school and the neighborhood, too.   I'm trying to keep a good positive attitude.

Here's a story...

There was a guy (Tim & Ellie's son) from Maine and a gal (John & Jude's daughter) from Missouri.  After he served a mission for the LDS Church in Honduras, and she served a mission for the LDS Church in Chile, they met up in Provo, UT.  in January, 1988.  They "hit it off" and  on 1 July, 1988 they became Mr. & Mrs. Sanford in the Manti, UT. LDS Temple. ...Six children and 21 years later, we're still living our "happily ever after."   :) 

end of year orchestra concert

Peterman is the cellist in the middle.  This actually happened way back in May.  By the way he has a Carbon Fiber Cello Fund...he aims high!

She's (Lila) coming HOME!!!!!  Tonight!  The plane should be in @ 11:05 p.m.---who knows though because the last leg of the flight will be leaving from JFK.  They are notorious for delays.  We'll get to go to Sherrie's Neighborhood picnic/bbq, then go up to the Rowe's new house in Riverton, and then head to the airport.  It's hard to have my kids be away from me!!!!--they probably enjoy the break, though....off to get Clarence from flag practice...then more taxi duties...I hope gas stops going up!!!!

Sarah Angst Art

I love these prints!  They remind me of Maine... the blueberries and trees.  The artist is Sarah Angst.  She's going to be at the Utah Arts Festival in SLC this weekend. Colby is going there today.  I wonder if he'll see any of her work. I'd love to buy these prints as fabric.  I wonder if that's possible.