Parties and Plays

 This week started off with a tea party, but it was in Texas, so I missed it.  But Abby and Beki enjoyed it.

In Utah it was a slow day ... so slow that I got in some reading AND, noticed that my book cover matches my living room ... yep that slow. Dad refashioned the downspout by the front door so that it won't splash back onto the house.

That night we drove up to Salt Lake to see The Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.  We ran into an old barbershopper, Wes Brown, who told Dad that the international contest is in SLC this May, and that the chorus is short of basses, I'm sure you can figure out what that lead to.  The play was fun, and was in a smaller theater, which I actually like better than their big theater.

On Tuesday I was thinking how much I still love my red and white bedroom, and took a picture.

 I spent the day cleaning and running an eye over everything as we were to have company for dinner.  I realized I needed something on the candle shelves on the dining room mantel, that Dad recently sured up so that they can bear weight now.  I used a small tumbler and a polkadot bowl on each, to make a mushroom of sorts, then made the mushroom banner as well.  Yeah, I'm weird like that.

I did the mushrooms from the doorknobs that I bought in Boise a few weeks back ... too fun.

The table was set with our traditional Finnish offerings, as we were to have some folks with Finnish connections at dinner.

This is Denise and Ralph Jamsa.  We first heard of them when Trevor said their good friend in Salem had a couple in her ward that had been called on a mission to Finland, who would arrive a month before us.  Dad got in touch with them after President Aura gave us contact info.

They are both half Finnish and met each other while on their missions to Finland.  They are extremely talented and smart.  They will serve in another town, so we won't see them too much.  Dang.

 At work on Wednesday I tweaked my Valentine's Display. Dad did some housekeeping at home that day and listened to a lot of Barbershop music ... see where this is heading?

 I got off work early so that I could meet some of our Young Women at the Special Primary Talent show at the Stake Center. We were there to act excited and cheer loudly.  It really was lovely.  I ran into Julie Johanson, who was the President of the Special Primary back in the days when we walked.  That was around the time that she helped us buy the Payson Cottage in 2002.  So its been a while. At the end of the talent show they were long on time before the buses came for the primary students, so two of our girls, Eva and Shanae got up and did some fun flips and cart wheels.  I so wish I'd gotten a picture.

When I got home from the talent show, I had just a minute to say Hi and Bye to Dad as he took off to his Barbershop practice. Yeah, but you saw that coming, right?  He took the two pictures of the practice above, and then found this performance picture from when he sang with the Saltaires almost 15 years ago. Can you find 'Waldo'?

 I worked again on Thursday, and Dad went to his regular temple shift.  Afterwards we headed to Orem to see The Odd Couple, which was a lot of fun.

 On Friday, I made us huge salads for our late lunch.  We'd bought edamame earlier in the day, and we added them to our salad.  I first ate them in Hawaii, when Ben kept buying them for snacks.  Its always fun to eat them because they make me think of him.

Also on Friday I went to DI to get vases to paint for our upcoming New Beginnings for which I am the decorating committee, shocking that, eh?  But I also found a couple of shorter vases to make the bases for my polkadot  bowls, so now they look more mushroomish.

 On Saturday I headed out to Olson's Garden Shoppe, where we used to hold our winter Flea.o.logy sales ... as Chris has continued the tradition of holding a January flea market there.

  It was fun to run into lots of friends, like Shirley and Jann from my art group, who each came in different groups.  There were also lots of dealers who used to do fleaology, or with whom I sell at Treasures.   I think I knew all but one of the dealers.

 Here's my loot shot ... plus a pretty white hall tree that I am using in the girly guest bedroom.  The red and white apron is just amazing.  Its so light weight that I can't figure why anyone would have made an apron from the fabric, unless it was a hostess apron, which is likely, as it has no stains.

Dad, meanwhile, had headed out to Riverton again, where he saw Darby's horse shelter that she had had built this week.  They did a few final chores to prepare to bring her horses home.

They'd been boarded just a few miles away, and here she is taking them out of the trailer at her house.

Here they are getting acquainted with their new quarter acre paddock. 

And here they are in their new shelter.  Darby tells us that they already feel more relaxed and are enjoying their new digs!

 That night Dad and I joined forces to attend Amy Mason's 60th birthday party at their home in Elk Ridge.  Jerry had planned the surprise party and had made all the food.  Most of their kids came, and it was a lot of fun to catch up.  In the front of this picture are Andrew Mason, Jerry Mason, Robin and Jeff, me and Amy.  Dad's behind the camera.

 Here she is with her cake, and her beautiful daughter Emma Leigh, who is expecting Amy and Jerry's second grandchild in May.  That means both Amy and I will get a new grand baby when our daughters 'Emily' have their  babies in May!!  Yeah Us.  Emma Leigh is having a boy to bring Amy and Jerry's score to an even 1 and 1 and our Emily is having a boy to bring our score to an even 11 and 11.  See how cool?

We went shopping after the party to get the food for Dad's birthday party the next night, including this great brownie 'cake'.  

We had a great sabbath, attending church.  It was my first time going to Young Women's with the 2 hour block, and the new Come Follow Me program, which made for an amazing lesson by Caisha.  I am stunned by the efficacy of the  new program ... its perfect for our growing needs in these times of upheaval. 

On the way home Dad remembered to stop so I could deliver the books to my Ministering partner that have  been traveling around in the back seat of the Kews' third car, that they loaned us.  We get our's back Monday.  Yeah.

The books are a story in and of themselves.  She told me, over a month ago that she wanted a couple of books (I'd offered to take her to the library), I thought I had both on my shelves at home and told her I'd bring them by.  One was Les Miserables, the other was The Hiding Place.  Well, I had neither and started looking for them at thrift stores ...  its been six weeks and no luck.  BUT when we went to the play on Monday we stopped by a DI and I found a beautiful art copy of Les Miz and was getting it for her.  Then I was putting back a Finnish child's book I'd found, and decided it really had no function, when I saw, I'm not kidding, an Art Book copy of The Hiding Place.  I guess that Launa was worthy of some goodness in her life.  She was so thrilled. (I've never even seen an art book formated Hiding Place before.)

After some 'Come Follow Me' study and some dinner prep for Dad's party, look at who dropped by!  We knew that Spencer and Brittney had dinner with her sister, and didn't expect them.  They came a little early to visit since our dinner was an hour earlier.  What a nice surprise.

 They stayed just long enough for a quick visit with Davin and Bri's family.

Davin and Bri's kids came with painted faces, which was so fun.

Addie's face was painted as a T-Rex and she showed us how she can read!!  We were very impressed.  Bri's been doing a great job teaching home school.

We'd set up a small table in the kitchen, and the kids seemed to love it. We had a potato bar which also seemed to be a hit.

And speaking of life land marks, look whose walking now.

Here we are eating off our Zupas plates for the first time.  We found them at a thrift store in Idaho when we went to Brittany and Mike's after Christmas the end of December.

Cheers!

 Mac can even put olives on his fingers already.  Its soooo cute.

Here we are hanging out in the parlor after dinner.

Then Trevor opened the replacement window for the back of the van.  The window was accidentally broken when he backed into a parking space at their hotel in Mexico and caught a newly trimmed big branch just wrong.  Eva was pretty excited about the bubble wrap that came in the packaging.

Our funny girl.

Then Eva drafted a few of us to play Telestrations.  Davin is surprisingly artistic.

These artists took it so seriously.

 A few people had already left by the time Dad and Trevor finished installing the window.  But here are those who joined us for brownies.

Happy Birthday Grand Papa!

Receiving Our Second Mission Call to Finland

Dad was not feeling great on Monday and took a nap while I went visiting teaching.  This is my partner, 88 year old Luana Merrell. She fell last week, isn't her heart shaped bruise adorable?

 When Dad got up from his nap, he organized the DVDs in our room, and moved the TV down to the bottom shelf of the cupboard.  He also added some K-stop in the car, on the advice of the mechanic he uses.  It was continually bringing up a message saying check oil, but the oil is full.  The mechanic thinks there's a leak. It also brought up a check engine message whenever it was idling.

 In the meanwhile I redid the dining room mantel to exhibit my small mushroom collection. Aren't the glass ones fun?

After I got home from walking on Tuesday, Dad and I were reading our Finnish Book of Mormon, which he does on a split screen on his I-pad, when this email popped up .... Above is me, with my Finnish B of M, under my chin, as I read my call ...

Here is Dad as he reads his call.

 That night Dad and I went to see a dance program in Provo at the Eccles theater, where one of our Young Woman was performing with her dance group.

We got there a bit early and had a chance to peruse the gallery.  I love this one .... 

 On Wednesday I worked a half day, then Dad picked me up to go to Tami Zangari's sealing ... but when we were headed north, the engine in our car seized. We missed the sealing, but fortunately for us, Davin and Bri had had work done on their truck at the same shop we had the car towed to in Spanish Fork, and they let us use it, until we get the car back ...

 so we were able to make it back to North County for the after party in American Fork.

Here are Robin and Jeff with Tami and Robert's baby.

Here's the happy couple. 

I worked again on Thursday, while Dad did his usual temple shift.

 Here are some pictures I took of the new placement of the family photos you all gave us for Christmas ...

 Mounting them on the windows in the dining room really makes them stand out.

 This is the new arrangement on the window shelf in the kitchen, I took the copper kettles from Finland to the antique mall to sell.

I am almost done changing out the black cubby shelf ... you can still see there are four of the old letter mugs near the top.

 After work we met up with the Crumps at Mi Rancherito... they ordered the huge tostada that Ben always ordered at the one in AF, that was a fun blast from the past.  It was fun to talk missions, as they near retirement.

 Look who we ran into at Macey's on Friday ... Some of our very favorite people, and the Samaritan's that are keeping us mobile.  Thanks Dave and Bri.

 That night we met the Londons,  on the left, at Chuck-0-rama in Provo, before heading back and to West Mountain to attend Katie Cooper's wedding. Katie met her husband when in Texas, as her sister lined them up. They seem very well matched.  Interesting note, is that he served his mission in NYC and his mission president is the son of the Smiths, with whom we served while we were in Finland ... They were there on a temple mission then, but they were also the Office couple before the Londons.

 It was fun to catch up with President and Sister Watson as well.

It was fun to see former missionaries too.

 Cubby DeBry, Spencer Lewis, Hanna Norman, Sam Perry, Zachary Jones, Sabrina DuPaix

 Taylor Pugmire, Anika Quick, Kate Petersen, Caylie Percell, Karris Capps. Tyler Crump, Tyler Hooper.

Karisa Capps, Clair Phillips, Abigail Miles.

And as we were leaving we saw, Aaron Page.  We also saw Emily Burden and Kai Gamett.

 Saturday morning we were off to Highland to see Titan play Junior Jazz basket ball ... here's his cheering squad.

The team has no official coach, so the parents take a turn for one week, doing the practice, coaching the game, and bringing treats.  They are actually pretty good... here's Beckster as a coach.

 Here we are with all the kids.

Dad did a good job of entertaining the other kids.

Then we headed to Riverton, to help Darby put up her panels ...

There were lots of them .... Dad was actually able to manage them on his own, so Darby cut and gathered branches and loaded them in her truck ... I went off to DI of course.

 Dad used extra giant hose type clamps to attach the new panels to the existing functional, but short chain link fence.

They even placed a gate behind the garage to allow for Darby to feed the horses, the hay will be stored in the adjacent shed, and to allow her to take the horses up the side of the garage, where they removed the lean-to storage sheds, and into the driveway to be loaded.  She's just a couple of miles from the South Jordan equestrian park where she can ride an unlimited amount for two hundred dollars a year, and includes and indoor arena.  Its altogether a really sweet set up for her.  We're so glad it work out for her to buy it. 

Afterward she rewarded us with some Cafe Rio.

Then we were off to Pleasant Grove for Nell's Mom's surprise party.  Dad reads with Miss Penny, as we await the guest of honor.

Tami's best friend Arlene flew up from Arizona, which should be a BIG surprise for Tami.

It was so fun to see the look on Tami's face when she saw Arlene.

Here's my three Scotts.

Tami with her cake.

Here's little miss mischief with her big sissy. It was really a fun party and Dad got a meet a woman, whose husband he worked with.  We talked mission, as the ladies from Tami's ward who came, her ministering sisters, and the Relief Society President, were all around our age.

Our Sabbath was lovely once more ... I love the dedicated hour of study after we get home from church.  We also went and visited the Kews, whose grandson took his life this last week.  Its just been six weeks, or so, since Terry's mother passed away, and I think that compounds things for them.  We had a lovely visit, and it reminded me of their visit after Ben passed away.  There really is something to mourning with those that mourn.  You may all want to remember them in your prayers, their grandson was 23, his name is Nevin. 

Above is our lovely sunset.  West Mountain covers up most of our sun sets, but this one reached far into the sky.  The light was pink.  We hope your week was full of joy, even if it also included stress and sorrow.