THE BEST NEWS EVER!

I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDMA AGAIN.  HAILEY ANNOUNCED IT TO US VIA SKYPE SUNDAY NIGHT WITH HER CUTE SHIRT.  WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR GRANDBABY #2 WHO IS DUE JUNE 11, 2013.  AND DAYNA THINKS NINE MONTHS IS A LONG TIME FOR HER?  ITS GOING TO BE EVEN LONGER FOR THIS GRANDMA, BUT IT'S OK  THIS EVENT WILL BE WELL WORTH THE WAIT.

MIDDLE AGE

I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO A BOOK CALLED "THE BEGGAR KING AND THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS", IT IS A CUTE BOOK WITH A FEW PEARLS OF WISDOM THAT I HAVE ENJOYED. I LISTEN TO THE BOOK EVERYDAY WHILE I AM DRIVING AND THIS MORNING I HAD TO LAUGH WHEN I HEARD THIS QUOTE...ESPECIALLY SINCE I AM IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING ABOUT MY MOTHER. ( IN A BLOG POST YET TO COME)
"MIDDLE AGE IS WHEN YOU STOP WORRYING ABOUT BEING LIKE YOUR PARENTS AND DISCOVER YOU'VE ACTUALLY BECOME THEM."   

I HOPE ONE DAY  THAT MY CHILDREN WON'T BE ASHAMED TO RESEMBLE THEIR DAD AND I.  I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT IF I RESEMBLE IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM MY MOTHER OR FATHER THAT I'M NOT SORRY, I AM PROUD OF THAT.  AS A CHILD/TEEN/ADOLESCENT  I MAY HAVE THOUGHT OF MY PARENTS AS BEING PRUDES, TIGHTWADS OR WHATEVER A CHILD MAY THINK OF THEIR PARENTS, BUT TODAY AS I LOOK AT MY MOTHER I KNOW NOW THAT  THE THINGS THAT SHE AND DAD DID WAY BACK THEN WERE FOR A VERY GOOD REASON,  TO MAKE SURE THAT I BECAME A RESPECTABLE, HARDWORKING AND FINACIALLY RESPONSIBLE ADULT. 

DO I LIKE THE FACT THAT I AM MIDDLE AGE?  NO,

AM I FINE WITH BECOMING MY PARENTS?  YES.

YOU GO MOM.  AT 91 YOU ARE DOING GREAT!
CLICK HERE IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE VIDEO OF MOM ON HER EXERCYCLE

OCTOBER SNOW

THERE HAS BEEN SOME SPECULATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN EARLY WINTER OR WETTER THAN USUAL WINTER.  WHO'S RIGHT THE FARMERS ALAMAC OR THOSE WHO SAY THE ANIMALS ARE ALREADY GETTING THEIR WINTER COATS?  I DON'T KNOW BUT THIS MORNINGS SNOW MAY SHED A LITTLE LIGHT ON WHAT'S TO COME.  MAYBE WE WILL BE SKIING AT PARK CITY THIS YEAR AT THANKSGIVING.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

It wasn't to long ago I recall saying to my sister-in-law how I would love a day to be lazy, maybe not even get out of bed, a day that I could read, watch tv or even do nothing at all.  Well my wish came true on Monday, I got to spend the whole day in bed, however it was all because I had the nasty flu  as well.  I tried to read, but I couldn't focus, I watched a little TV, but found myself sleeping most of the time.  Yes, I needed the rest, but this was not the R and R that I had in mind.
I recently started a book called "The Beggar King and the secret of Happiness" it is ironic how the first chapter talks about how curses can become blessings and how blessings can become curses.  It is funny how I thought a day lazying around would be a blessing, but it turned into a curse because it came with the flu.  I guess I should have got my flu shot last week when I was thinking about it.

WEDDING PICS ARE HERE.

WELL THE WEDDING PICTURES ARE FINALLY HERE AND YES, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE PAID A HIGH PRICED PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE WEDDING, BUT THAT WAS NOT MY CHOICE.  THE GAL THAT TOOK THE PICTURES DID A GOOD JOB, BUT AS I HAVE LOOKED AT THE PICTURES I FOUND THAT THERE WERE NO FAMILY PICTURES TAKEN OF JUST OUR FAMILY.  SO MUCH FOR HOPING FOR  A FAMILY PICTURE AT THE WEDDING.  WE DIDN'T EVEN GET A PICTURE OF JUST JEFFAND I,  SORRY BEN AND MICHELLE THERE ISN'T ANY OF YOU TOGETHER EITHER,  BUT I DO KNOW THAT YOU WERE THERE BECAUSE OF ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU PUT IN AND IT SHOWS IN THE PICTURES OF ALL THE CUTE SPACES THAT MICHELLE CREATED.  AND THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS.  I WOULD HAVE LIKED A FEW MORE CLOSE-UPS OF JESSICA AND TJ, BUT I AM JUST GOING TO SAY THAT I AM GLAD THAT WE HAVE PICTURES.

ONE THING THAT REALLY WENT RIGHT

WELL THE WEDDING IS OVER AND BECAUSE I WAS SO CONSUMED WITH THE EVENTS OF THE WEEKEND I DIDN'T EVEN TAKE ONE PICTURE.   I DO HAVE SOME PICTURES OF THE SUNFLOWER CENTERPIECES THAT MICHELLE AND  DAYNA CREATED WITH THE FLOWERS THAT THEY PICKED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE MORNING OF THE WEDDING.  (just begging to be picked)

I JUST LOVE HOW THE FLOWERS TURNED OUT AND THANKS TO DAYNA AND MICHELLE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE LOOKED SO GREAT.  IF  WE HAD KNOWN WHEN WE ORDERED FLOWERS FROM THE FLORIST  THAT SUNFLOWERS WOULD BE IN FULL BLOOM ALL AROUND US AND, JUST OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN HUGE PATCHES, I COULD HAVE SAVED SOME MONEY.  I THINK THAT THE FRESH SUNFLOWERS WERE SO MUCH PRETTIER THAN THE ONES THAT WE WE SPENT $$'s ON.

 

 

BESIDES THE BRIDE THERE WAS ONE MORE SPECIAL GIRL AT THE WEDDING.

THE FLOWER GIRL....

One step forward two steps back

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.  I am so tired of doing everything for this wedding twice.
It all started again last night when I went to Sam's Club to get pictures printed for the frames that we had bought to display.  Jessica had everything organized and labeled for me so all I had to do was select the picture and have them printed, easy you say, but I say nay :(  The big 11x14 pictures came out pixelated and now I have to go home and put them in photoshop and  change them to a larger resolution so that they will look better being blown up to that size.  So back to Sam's Club I go later this week.  I went to get a nice relaxing pedicure today and thought that I would try to use my time effectively and since I was right by Walmart I would go and get a cute little girl sleeping bag for Hailey to sleep in, but I wasn't even suprised to see that there was  no little girls sleeping bags,  unless of course they like spiderman.  Knowing that Jeff was on the other side of town I called him to go to the other Walmart and low and behold a pink sleeping bag was found.  I moved on to  Sonic to pick up pebble ice because  that is the "prettiest" ice to use for a wedding.  I went up to order my ice and go figure the ice machine was not working properly and they asked me to come back later.  REALLY?  This is exactly why I say everything I do is one step forward and two steps back.  Am I jinxing myself  somehow?  It is getting so bad  that I went to the quick stop to get a coke the other day because I decided to drown my pathetic self in chocolate and believe it or not their air conditioning was out and all the chocolate was off the shelf.  ALL OF IT!
  I can't even buy a   piece of chocolate without going to do it twice.

BRIDAL PICTURES

I STARTED WRITING AND SAVING
A POST ABOUT THE CRAZINESS  OF
PREPARING FOR JESSICA'S WEDDING,
BUT THE WAY ITS GOING IT MIGHT
BE NEXT YEAR BEFORE IT GETS DONE,
SO I HAVE DECIDED TO POST BITS
AND PIECES OF SOME OF THE CRAZINESS
AS I THINK ABOUT IT.
GETTING A PHOTOGRAPHER FOR
THE WEDDING HAS BEEN  A LITTLE DIFFICULT BECAUSE JESSICA DID NOT WANT TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS OUT OF HER BUDGET.  SHE  DIDN'T HAVE "OFFICIAL" ENGAGEMENT PICTURES AND SHE WASN'T GOING TO HAVE BRIDALS, BUT TWO WEEKS AGO SHE HAD A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO WOULD DO HER BRIDALS AND HER WEDDING FOR $100.  SHE IS JUST STARTING OUT AND I KNOW, I KNOW,  YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR,  BUT  SURELY  THERE WILL BE SOME CUTES ONES WHEN IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE.  I SAY BETTER THAN NOTHING. IT SEEMS THAT IN EVERY STEP IN THE WEDDING PREP THERE HAS BEEN A HITCH OF SOME SORT.  JESSICA HAS SUNDAY AND MONDAY OFF AND SO THEY DECIDED TO DO HER PICTURES ON SUNDAY.  SHE LEFT IN THE MORNING TO GET HER HAIR DONE AND JEFF AND I WENT TO CHURCH, PICTURES WERE AT 4 PM AND  JUST AS SHE GOT HOME I REALIZED THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE A BOUQUET FOR HER PICTURES.  NO FLOWERS, I WAS JUST ABOUT TO DIE. HOW COME I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THIS EARLIER?  SO I THOUGHT WELL SHE IS USING SUNFLOWERS AND I AM SURE THAT ALBERTSONS WOULD HAVE SOME, AND OFF I GO TO THE STORE WHILE JEFF, JESSICA AND THE PHOTOGRAPHER GO TO HER FIRST SPOT FOR PICTURES.  THERE IS A HOUSE ON THE WAY TO THE STORE WITH A HUGE FIELD OF SUNFLOWERS AND I DECIDED TO STOP AND ASK IF I COULD BUY SOME FROM THEM BUT ALAS, THEY WERE NOT HOME AND I THOUGHT SHOULD I JUST CUT SOME AND COME BACK AND PAY FOR THEM?  PROBABLY NOT SO OFF TO THE STORE.  I GET TO ALBERTSONS AND THERE ARE NO SUNFLOWERS, BUT THEY DID HAVE A YELLOW FLOWER THAT LOOKED LIKE A SUNFLOWER BUT WITHOUT THE BROWN CENTER, SO I  BOUGHT THOSE AND SOME BABYS BREATH AND RAN OUT THE DOOR.  BEFORE I LEFT HOME I GRABBED SOME SCISSORS AND BURLAP TO TAKE WITH ME.  I DECIDED ON MY WAY BACK TO STOP ONE MORE TIME AT THE SUNFLOWER HOUSE, BUT AGAIN NO ONE WAS THERE AND AS BAD AS I WANTED TO CUT DOWN HER FLOWERS I KNEW THAT JUST WOULDN'T BE RIGHT.    WHEN I GOT THERE I CUT THE BURLAP IN A LONG STRIP WRAPPED IT AROUND THE STEMS, CUT THEM OFF AND VIOLA' INSTANT BOUQUET.  IRONICALLY WHEN WE WERE DONE AND AS I DROVE UP THE ROAD TO MY HOUSE THERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAS A PATCH OF SUNFLOWERS, READY AND WAITING TO BE CUT DOWN,  TO BAD I WAS IN SUCH A HURRY TO GET TO THE STORE OR MAYBE I WOULD HAVE SEEN THEM.  GO FIGURE, JUST MY LUCK, ALL I COULD DO IS LAUGH.

I snuck a quick pic at the happy bride-to-be

HEY MOM! GUESS WHAT?

LAST WEEK JESSICA WENT HUCKLEBERRING (IS THAT A WORD?) WITH HER FUTURE FAMILY IN-LAW AND CAME HOME WITH A SMALL CONTAINER OF BERRIES FOR ME.  I WAS EXCITED BECAUSE THEY ARE A MUCH SOUGHT AFTER FRUIT IN THESE PARTS. ANYWAY, I SAID GREAT! MAYBE WE CAN MAKE SOME HUCKLEBERRY ICE CREAM FOR THE FAMILY ON FRIDAY BEFORE THE WEDDING.  SOUNDS GOOD RIGHT?  I KNOW HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE ICE CREAM HOWEVER, I HAVE NEVER MADE HUCKLEBERRY ICE CREAM BEFORE...  *NOTE TO SELF DON'T OFFER TO DO SOMETHING YOU HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE THE WEEK/DAY BEFORE A BIG EVENT.
WELL TO MY SUPRISE JESSICA AND TJ WENT HUCKLEBERRING AGAIN ON MONDAY AND BROUGHT ME MORE HUCKLEBERRIES, THIS TIME THEY HAD ALMOST AN ICE CREAM BUCKET FULL.  THEY WERE SO HAPPY TO DO THIS FOR ME.  NOW I HAVE ENOUGH TO MAKE ICE CREAM FOR THE WEDDING.  RIGHT?  REALLY?  ARE YOU SERIOUS?  YES, THEY ARE... IT'S NOT LIKE I HAVE ENOUGH TO DO, NOW I GET TO MAKE ICE CREAM FOR 50.

WEDDING CRAZINESS

CALL ME CRAZY, CALL ME FRANTIC CALL ME NEUROTIC, I KNOW I AM ALL OF THE ABOVE AND READY TO HAVE A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.  SO I AM DRAWING ON THIS QUOTE TO HELP GET ME BY.  I'M TRYING TO LAUGH, REALLY I AM.

I AM IN PROCESS OF CHRONICLING THIS JOURNEY OF JESSICA'S  WEDDING AND ONE DAY IT WILL GET POSTED AND IF YOU WANT TO TAKE AN HOUR OR SO OUT OF YOUR LIFE YOU CAN RELIVE THE  CRAZINESS OF THIS JOURNEY WITH ME.  IT WILL PROBABLY BE POSTED AFTER THE WEDDING IS OVER.