Celebrating 3 BIG EVENTS: Pride and Prejudice = 200 yrs, Scott P. = 60 yrs, Charlotte M. = 1 Day!

 

 

Yep, its another week with a new family member!! Our third so far this year!! Yeah ... but before we get to the main events ... lets tell you about how our week began.  Dad worked extra hard, knowing he would be gone the next week.  He worked all week on the reset in the Provo Macey's.  My Monday started with my We CAN (We Care And Nurture) group making sack lunches for the homeless, which are distributed by the Food and Care Coalition. I did some junking and errands around Provo before driving to Salt Lake to meet with other members of the Jane Austen Society at Elizabeth's English Bakery to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the printing of Pride and Prejudice! (Jan 28, 1813)  I almost didn't go, as I was running around buying gifts for Dad's birthday the next day, but decided I would regret it if I didn't go.  Loved chatting with fellow Austen enthusiasts on such a historic day!

On Tuesday, Dad's birthday, Emily and Becca worked out a plan to surprise him and take him to lunch.  I horned my way into the surprise event, and we met up at Macey's to pick him up.  When we were leaving to go to lunch, Becca's car gave her some grief, so its good that our white knight happened to be along to save the day on such a white and blizzardy day!!

 

Here we are at the Los Hermanos, what else would Dad choose?  We ran into some members of the Park ward, and visited for a minute.  They are evidently all very excited to be getting the Talley's in the ward.  Dad and I are looking forward to being able to visit back there once in a while too.  

 Then, because of the surprise lunch date and the car issues, Dad was crunched for time before heading to the temple for his evening shift there, so I offered to pick up Grandpa Carlo from Nell's.

 

I got there in time to help Nell with some mother/daughter red coat pics.  J. Scott was busy shoveling out the driveway, but stopped to let me take this picture!!

When I got home I had a wrap-fest, wrapping up all of Dad's gifts ... the normal fare, socks, cologne, LDS romances novels, oatmeal raisin cookies and books on CD.  I also got him an unsual gift, a model of a 1968 Camero, like the one he was driving when we met.  (OK, its really a Firebird, but really, same difference, right?) One of the kids had said how hard Dad is to buy for, and I said, "Are you kidding?  We all know what he wants" ... and yes, boring as it may be, that is what he got.

Then when Dad got home from the temple, Emily gave him something unique, she had  written him an LDS romance novelette, which was surprisingly good, especially coming from someone with major contempt for romance novels in general.  I honestly think she could expand it and sell it.

Then it was time for him to work his way up the stairs, opening a gift at every step!!

 

Here is a picture I snapped on Wednesday of Beckie in the library looking out the window.   I thought it was very sweet, so thought I would share it.

The after Dad and I got off work, Wednesday, it was time to celebrate 'day two' of his birthday.  We met up with Spencer and Brittney for dinner at Cafe Rio in Provo and had a lovely chat ... we are loving getting to know this amazing young woman, and its not hard to see why Spencer fell so hard and so fast.  I got a call during dinner from Davin asking where we were, (and if Dad still loves Apple Beer) so we weren't too surprised when we got home and he came by with Bri and the kids bearing

gifts ... in honor of Dad's 60th birthday they gave him 60 pieces of copper, 60 can of black cherry Shastas and 60 cans of Apple Beer.  Whoa!!  They had intended to meet us at the Restaurant in Provo, but had to go to 4 different stores to round up enough Apple Beer, which, of course, really slowed them down.  It was a treat to get to visit, of course. 

Thursday was work as normal for both Dad and I ... I shot this cute pic of Beckie while she entertained us that evening. 

 We got a call, early, on Friday, telling us that Britt would be heading to the hospital, and she wanted to know if we could come up a day early.  I worked frantically getting enough stuff done for a whole week of blogging, then uploaded the pictures to post dated blog posts that I could fill in with text the night before they were to post while we were in Idaho.

The shadow box above, honoring the years my Dad was at the U, has been on the back burner in my mind for several years.  It was one of two craft projects I completed in a hurry. It felt great to finally do it, and I love how it turned out.  Someday I will be able to really display it like this, but for now, since the TV is always on these days, I set it up and took the pics before reopening the TV cab and disbursing the display around the family room.

We drove out of the driveway at 4:00, stopping at Ashley's to pick up Britt's changing table that she had loaned to Ashley, and the Rocker that Ashley was loaning to her.  Here is our Captain Zach with his Mom!! It was great to have a short visit, and we don't get to see nearly enough of them!!

Next we stopped at Becca and Brady's to pick up the baby shower in a box that Becca had engineered for Brittany.  She had two huge (3ft by 3 ft each)boxes that were gift wrapped.  The top box was full of balloons, and the bottom box was full of gifts from Britt's Utah relatives!  I also snapped a few pics of my newest grand child, an honor that was about to run out.  Poor sweet little Reagan, only got to be the baby of the family for less than 3 weeks.  Next we headed north, by way of Maui Chill of course ... yummy.

We got to the Hospital in Meridian by midnight and welcomed Charlotte Aoki Mitko, just after one in the morning.  She was 8 lbs, 4 oz and was a smidge over 20 inches long.  She is a very strong baby, with amazing head and neck control, she also has cute chunky legs, something you rarely see in a new born.  Oh, and did I mention she is a beauty?

Kai has been lobbying for a baby sibling for years, and is very, very pleased with the new addition to his family.

Alex, as the former baby of the family, is not quite as enamoured with the tiny stranger.  It was fun for Dad and I to shepherd the boys back and forth to the hospital, then we got to take them to Church with us on Sunday, as Britt has some issues with her epidural having caused a "Spinal Headache", which meant she had to stay an extra day to undergo a procedure on Monday to 'right the wrong'.  There will be lots more this coming Sunday to tell about our week in Boise. So I will just end this belated blog post by wishing Dad and Charlotte a Happy Birthday!! (Dad = 60, Charlotte = 0)

A Week of Chillin, Junking, Reading, Tiling and Speaking in Church

So this is our week ... no new baby, still on the watch for little Charlotte!!  On Monday Dad was off early for some major store resets, leaving me to take grandpa to Nell's.  This was a good day for that because the kids were out of school for Martin Luther King day, and I got to play a Harry Potter game with Scott, then, I got to take Eva and Scott to Maui Chill for some delicious chillling.

 

I thought Eva's combo was very interesting ... We had a great time visiting and eating the frozen yogurt of course.

On Tuesday Dad took Grandpa to Nell's, and picked him up afterwards, before his shift at the temple.  I pretty much spent the day reading our book for next month's book club so that I could take and loan the book to someone at book club later that week.



On Wednesday I had the extra nice surprise of having Davin and his family drop by to visit.  They were in the neighborhood and saw the van at Treasures.  I loved seeing them.  Elias thought the candy machine was the best part of my store .... lol. And Adilyn was her charming, sweet tempered self.  It was fun to visit!

 

On Thursday I worked again and it was just as dead as it had been the day before.  Wednesday there had been the freezing rain, and I think people just wanted to stay home. After I got home and made dinner (Dad had gotten off early and had gone grocery shopping, thankfully) then I was off to book  club.  Our book was called the Peach Keeper, and Suzanne had made lots of fun recipes, most of them were just peachy, like peach slush, peach spice sandwich cookies and peach shortbread cookies.  It was all yummy, and we all liked the book, which had been suggested by Ann Shumway, whom, by the way I must mention, we love having back among us.  And if you were wondering they are going to tear down the burned house, keep the lot to build on someday, and are buying another house in Elk Ridge in the meantime.

 

On Friday I met my sister Joyce in Salt Lake where we did some serious junking, at an estate sale, DI and an antique store, before having lunch and exchanging, I am sorry to say, our Christmas gifts.  I headed home, junking all the way and met Dad and the Heuer/Moes at Sizzler in Orem ... Did you know they don't do their amazing grilled toast anymore?  So sad, too bad.  We finished off the evening watching 'Lend Me a Tenor' at the Hale Center Theater.  It was energetic and a lot of fun!!

On Saturday I did some crafting, napping and reading ... OK, a few chores too, if I am forced to admit it.  The Energizer Bunny finished off the tile in the shower of the main floor bathroom.  He and Emily also wrassled our favorite grandpa into Emily's shower, much against his will ... but we now have a 'fresh grandpa', and Emily even went out and bought him a kind of jogging/leisure outfit that he can sleep in too, since he so hates changing his clothes.    That night, after dinner, Dad and I went down to Emily and Sam's apartment to watch a sleeping baby (and an episode of Sherlock ... a BBC Mystery Production, we are currently into).  Also, regarding Emily and Sam, they have decided to move into our Payson Cottage, and since the renters there have been so bad at rent lately, paying only once in the last 6 months, yes we have been too lax ... we figured it was time to invite them to move.  The renters are actually moving out now and I am a little jealous that Em and Sam get to live in the Park Ward ... such a great, great ward.

Here you can see the mantel I put together to post on my blog about.  The mercury glass finials with the valentine clowns was one of the projects I did Saturday, the candy jars were earlier in the week, and the bird nest in the Victorian Brides Basket to the far left, was also done that day.

 

Today Dad and I went to church together, and listended to a high counselman and a missionary.  Then we attended Sam's Sunday School class where he announced their move to Payson Cottage.  We had to leave a little early because Dad had roped me into talking with him for his High Counsel assignment, since he had not been able to get a missionary to speak with him.  The ward had a few people we knew, and we got to speak with a friend of Nell's afterwards, a lady that she goes to lunch with once a month, along with other friends.  Very nice people, her husband was the chorister, and did a great job. 

 

 

Emily and Sam came up for a visit before dinner, which we will miss in a month or two ... just waiting to hear if Spencer and Brittney plan to occupy the basement apartment.  If they do we will find renters for a 6 month lease, if not, we will just get new renters for the apartment.  Should be interesting either way, though, of course, we will be disappointed if Spencer and Brittney decide not to live there.

 

So that was our week.  We hope yours was fun and busy too!  Much Love!

A Busy Week with NO New Family Members (Brittany?!)

Another busy week gone by, but no new family members this week ... though we do have high hopes for this coming week.  :-)  On Monday, Dad took Grandpa to Nell's on his way to work.  He also put up posters for flea.o.logy on the community boards of 5 difference Macey's!!  I walked up to the library and got my book club book.  I came home and snuggled in in the library and read it, cover to cover.  On Tuesday I headed to Salt Lake to pick up the little cupboard I bought last week for our up and coming bathroom!!  Here we see my friend Marci, who works at Vinestreet, where I bought it, hauling out the bottom part to get it loaded!  Dad had the temple that night, so Cheryl kept an eye on Grandpa for a couple of hours, until I got back from Salt Lake.

 

 

Wednesday was a work day for me, but I took my baby gifts for Reagan and wrapped them while at work.  The sunset, much less colorful here than in real life, is what I get treated to at Treasures in the evenings this time of year.  After work I was off to Highland to see Reagan for the first time.  I was sick the weekend she was born, and according to info on line I would be contagious until Tuesday, so I made plans to visit her after work Wendesday.

 

 

Here she is in one of the outfits I got her.  Its a 'First Valentines' newborn size, so it will just fit her for about a minute ...  She is so sweet, and I think her cry sounds like a kitten ... Becca says she thinks its screaming,  so we have agreed to disagree, but everyone agrees she is a sweet and beautiful baby!  Afterward I got to run over to Maui Chill for some yummy frozen yogurt ... maybe its a good thing we don't live closer ... I think I could eat it every day!

 

On Thursday I was almost late for work because I had to make this door hanger so I could take pictures in daylight, as I had to blog about it that night ...  Emily laughed and laughed at me, which is OK, I sort of laugh at myself.  Its been a lot easier to blog since I have cut my entries to three times a week from the six times a week I did last year (March through Dec)

 

 

That night was some kind of deadline for Sam's company, so he had reps turning in info all evening.  He had to be upstairs because the basement phone reception is not the best, and he could not miss any calls.  In the end Dad went up to bed, and Emily and I went to their apartment where we watched three episodes of the Big Bang Theory, which she and Sam are currently enamored with.

 

Friday morning Emily and her assistant came up to watch grandpa ... here we see her assistant checking out the hymn book.  I was off to Olson's Garden Shoppe which hosted our flea.o.logy sale this past weekend.  Set up was from 10 to 10 on Friday ... yawn ... but lets just say, the shopping ops are amazing!!  Dad got off work a bit early to help out, he brought me dinner, and added a new middle O to our fleaology sign, which got hung and frosted out in the cold. (shown below) Thanks for your support Honey!!

 

 

Satuday was the big day of the sale.  Nell is my partner in the business now, and managed to sell a bunch of jewelry, like double her normal take, as well as selling some really cute animal topped jars ... Spencer sent Emily to sell Hatchet Eye Wear for half of the day and he and Brittney came to finish up the shift ... here we see Nell modeling his wares while he looks on.  How did I not get a picture of Brittney?!!

 

 

Mean while, after the crazy man ran in 7 degrees of coldness, he brought Nell, Emily and me some breakfast at flea.o.,logy before going home to saw tile in the freezing cold temps .... burrr (this included wet hand because the tile saw is 'cooled' with water.)  Look how great the shower is looking so far!!  When he came to help me take down around 5, his tile saw froze and  so he brought it into the kitchen ... which actually worked out fine, and I felt a lot better about his poor hands.

 

On Sunday I got to speak in church as part of the Relief Society Presidency, of which I am not a part, but as the secretary was out of town, they asked me to fill in and talk about our humanitarian projects, which I head up.  After church Emily came up and made family dinner, which was lovely for all.  Only Trevor's family came, but we had a nice dinner with just the 12 of us.  :-)

 

Grandpa's beard has gotten pretty long, since we have not taken him to church for a couple of week, as we are still figuring out how we can have someone to sit with him in Priesthood when Dad is off to the ward cousel of the ward he oversees.  It looks like Dana DeWitt will be sitting with him in the future ... but alas he is looking a bit like Grisley Adams at the moment.

After everyone went home Dad and I snuggled in with Aunt Cheryl to watch Downton Abbey ... ah the good life.

Almost Snowed in, Flu, a Totaled Car and a New Family Member!

This was another week full of goings and doings and sickness and ending with the addition of another member of the family.  Whoa!  On Monday I was off to my We Can meeting, where we made Valentines for nursing homes.  I made some that were extra fancy so that I could blog about them on my Pollyanna blog.  Since I am delivering them, but not for another month, I decided to attach the fancy ones to a garland with paper clamps, to use for that month as a banner, until its time to deliver them.  Fun idea eh?  Below are the other ladies at We Can, hard at work.

 

 

 After we can I came home it was time to finish up the flea.o.logy sign and replace it on the fence.  Beckie is always interested in what we are doing and she LOVES to climb... as you see.  That night Dad and I hosted our family home evening group, which was small due to so much illness, but we all had an enjoyable time, none the less. 

 

Tuesday I drove to Salt Lake to hand out posters and fliers for flea.o.logy to a couple of antique stores with whom I am on friendly terms.  It started with lunch with my old college friend Arlene at the Rio Grand Cafe, in the old train station, so charming.  We have been doing this lunch thing monthly for about 6 months now, which I have very much enjoyed!! (She is Aunt Shirley's sister, can you tell?)

 

Dad was back to the Provo temple that afternoon for his regular shift, so Aunt Cheryl got to 'hold down the fort', until I got home around 8:00!

 

Speaking of Dad, he has been crazy busy at work.  He was working on some new organic food sections in several stores, when he got called in by the big bosses, telling him they liked the major resets he did in two stores last year (including Spanish where they removed a couple of isles to make things look tidier and airier) and that they wanted him to do the same to 5 other stores.  The complication is that due to funding issues they have to be done by April 1. YIKES, so now he is hard at that project, leaving the organics in cold storage for a while.

 

 

Wednesday and Thursday I went to work and worked on projects for items to sell at flea.o.logy this coming weekend, when things were slow.   Wednesday night, I came home exhausted to a dinner, made as a surprise, by Emily, such a nice thing to do!  Thursday night, after work, I went to Relief Society at Jill Wilson's where we made these cute paper bag banners.  Our new counselor, Andrea, shown in the back with the hat, is a great crafter and blogger, and she is coming up with some fun ideas.  She is also going to be my visiting teaching partner, and we will have 6 ladies ... whoa!

On Friday we got a killer snow storm here, with us, by measure, getting 16 to 18 inches.  (16 is the weather service, 18 was a neighbor's measure)  To the left you see me shoveling the front walk, while below you can see Emily really got into it, doing the driveways!! (ours and theirs)

 

 

and when I got into the house after I finished, she had hot cocoa waiting for me...  I love this mug, because it is sisters, a older blond and a younger brunette, just like Emily and Becca. That night we went over to the Kews for dinner and we had planned to watch the latest Batman movie (courtesy of Sam), but none of us really felt that hot.  Dad had a cold, and both of the Kews had been tag teaming some flu symptoms.  Since Dad had the flu the week before (for a couple of hours, as he had had the flu shot, so it didn't hit him too hard.)  I sort of glibly said I was the only one there not to have had the flu at all ... I should have knocked on wood ... because that night it started.  I was up all night with symptoms.  I stayed in bed on Saturday, watching (thanks kids) the 6 hour Pride and Prejudice, while Dad worked on the bathroom.  We were supposed to have family temple night that night, but I knew I wasn't going to be able to go.  Next Trevor texted that they had sick kids and wouldn't be going, then Sam turned up sick, leaving only Dad, Emily, Becca and Brady to go, since Davin and Bri were going to babysit for everyone.  In the end we called it off to be rescheduled.

 

In other news, Saturday morning, on his way to work, Ben totaled his car as it spun out when he was entering the freeway and hit the guard rails head on.  Trevor feels total sympathy for him, since pretty much the same thing happened to him in December.  Its been a crazy snowy winter, eh?

 

Today I stayed home, and since Grandpa also has stomach flu, it was a good thing that someone was there to tend him, so to speak.  Dad went to all his meetings and watched Beckie, the climber, during Sunday School while her Dad was teaching Gospel Doctrine and her mom was teaching the 12 to 16 year old Sunday School class.  Here's Beckie in an empty classroom during that time with her grandpa, climbing on what there was available.  She is so funny.

 

During Church Dad called to say that Becca had had her baby.  Too funny, we had all made jokes last Sunday about her going into labor in the temple on Saturday night ... it might have just happened, eh?  But she realized she was in labor this morning (after erratic contractions on Saturday, evidently) about 6, Brady went off to work, and she called him when her water broke a couple of hours later, she was in the hospital less than an hour when Reagan LaRie Summers was born.  She is 8 lbs and 1 oz, not bad for being 10 days, early, eh?

 

Emily and Dad went up to see our latest family member after Dad's second church at 4ish. (Hmm, maybe all High Councilmen are sort of like Hobbits?)  Dad snapped these pics ... what a darling baby, and so much more hair than Titan.  She is adorable, and I am so thankful for pics since I don't get to see her until Wednesday, when I am officially no longer contagious.

 

 

Welcoming Reagan!