Tait Times of 2011 - Part Two (yes, this one includes a link to all the wedding stuff!)

MORE fun just for you... hahaaaa.....but, in reality, it's probably only for me.

July:  Our dear friends, the Davies, moved to Texas several years ago.  They are a family who likes to do birthdays up BIG.  For her 50th birthday, he wanted to fly us out for her big party as a surprise.  He invited several of her "old best friends" from over the years.  It was so very wonderful!  We had a great time.  I even went on a helicopter ride!  Shocking, truly.

The next few months of details have blurred lines.  From July through September I was overwhelmed with wedding plans.  "But you were just the mother of the groom - what was the big deal?" you say?  Silly you.  It was decided that the wedding would be in the Salt Lake LDS temple.  We were hoping family would travel to it from all over the U.S.  We were blessed that they did.  So, I needed to plan what we called a "Groom's Dinner" for the families of the bride and groom.  We also decided to have an Open House here in Maryland, which would be pretty much like a reception.  I was also helping with many of the reception plans.  So, I think I didn't breathe again until September 18, the day after the Open House.

Engagement photos were taken by Britt's mom.  Here is her blog - she really does a great job!

The kids both flew back here after school was out (BYU Idaho has a summer semester ending mid-July, in case you didn't know).   We looked forward to some time with Britt before they got hitched -we needed to test her to be sure she'd fit in, right?  Well, she did of course.

She EVEN attended a Karaoke competition that Rich did with his work - singing ELVIS!  Now, that's love!

We were sad to see her go....

August - We celebrated Brian's birthday.  Fun!  Continued wedding frenzy consumed me.  I messed up the name of their blog for RSVPing on the little paper that went out with the wedding invitations.  D'oh!  Holy moly.  I think I had a birthday in there somewhere as well.  My friend Amanda was queen of the Open House here, and we met and talked on the phone probably a million times.

September - OH, September!  I will spare you all the minute details. I flew to Utah several days before the big event to prepare and to help out in any way possible.  There was much to do!

The wedding stuff is in a separate post here.

During all of the wedding festivities, I was also involved in planning another Stake Relief Society event.  Thankfully other members of the presidency and committee members took that one over since I was in wedding mode for so many weeks!

Leslie also started her first full semester.  She started out great until.....

October - the beginning of October changed our lives once again.  We thought it would be just for  a few weeks, but has turned into an on-going challenge.   Les began feeling dizzy and nauseated in class.  We gave it a few days, then started going to doctors.  Then we went to more doctors.  And more doctors.  Stay tuned for November and December....

Halloween, oh Halloween.  This is Les's favorite time of the year (next to Christmas, of course).  She planned for months to turn our front yard into one of the video games from  the Legend of Zelda series.  She worked for weeks to paint and create her scene.  She sewed her own costume, which she has worn to many anime conventions.

 Very cool, I must say.

I quilted in October - yet again.  Pictures on that to come.


November - more doctors.  Leslie had to withdraw from all of her classes. She could do only a little bit more than "veg" on the couch, rest, listen to audio books, etc.  She was dizzy and light-headed nearly all the time.  Her appetite was horrible due to the nausea. It has been a very frustrating process.

 A very boring and uneventful Thanksgiving came and went.

December - well, in addition to CHRISTMAS, we finally got a diagnosis for Leslie.  We went to a doctor affiliated with Johns Hopkins and he says she has Vestibular Migraine.  He is unsure of the cause, but he and we are pretty sure it is from a medication change that happened the beginning of October when this all began.  It's like something in her brain snapped and won't snap back.  There is no quick solution, although he assures us she will see an end in sight.  At this point, we don't know if she will be able to go to school in January.  More tests will be run soon.  Say a a prayer or two for this dear young woman, if you would.  

We decided to fly to Arizona for Christmas this year.  We haven't been there to celebrate this holiday in many, many years.  Since B and B were there working and taking a semester off, it seemed like a great plan.  We had a lot of fun - except for Christmas Day when all 5 of us were sick in the hotel room with the stomach flu.  UGHHHH.....

Suns!  Not a great game, but we were THERE!

My brother with two of his grandbabies

Our dear friend, Sis. Gina Stephens, serves in Mesa.  We sneaked in a little visit!  

I also was able to attend a get-together with some high school friends.  I didn't get photos of all of us together, but here are a few:

These women blessed my life in high school and college, as well as today.

What an amazing year!  Lots of travel, lots of planning, lots of visiting with family and friends from past years, and lots of blessings.  I know Heavenly Father's hand has been with us every step.

It seems we have an every-other-year-that's-good.  2011 was fabulous.  I am nervous about 2012.  Still I have great hopes to learn new skills, to organize, to be healthier and  to be closer to God.

I don't know what to do with this blog.  I feel like my thoughts and words are pretty boring to most.  Maybe I'll find a new twist.

Guess you'll just have to WAIT a little while and see.....

Tait Times of 2011 - Part One

I decided to do a "year in review" like I've seen so many other bloggers do.   My purpose may be a little different - I've left out a lot of things on this blog this year.  I am torn with what to do with it and whether or not I will continue to blog at all - I think I say that at least once a year (maybe twice!).  So, until I decide, I shall continue on.  Here we go with some highlights:

January - I finished my first t-shirt quilt.  It turned out so beautifully.  My dear friend Carrie is such a patient teacher.  Les began her first semester in college.

February - I remember being very busy and overwhelmed preparing for our stake Relief Society Women's Conference.  In my church calling, I am the president over several congregations of LDS women.  We decided to do a women's conference.  At the time, my two counselors in our presidency were having lots of challenges and traveling, and so my secretary and I had to really be the ones to keep the ball rolling.  I think I started to breathe again sometime in late March, a few weeks before the event.  We're gearing up to prepare for one in 2012.  I can already feel the heart palpitations....

March - hmm.... must have just been living day to day life.

April - The previously  mentioned Womens' Conference came and went and was wonderful.   We were blessed with a great committee and had what we felt was great success.

This is also the month when the beginning of the rest of the year's busy-ness began.  Brian found and began dating who would become his future bride.  Many texts and phone calls were exchanged an prayers said in his behalf.

 I also planned, prepared for and went on my 11 day Mom adventure!  I never posted an update nor photos. So,  here we are:

BYU Women's Conference was truly amazing.  I had a great time with my high school friends.  I was truly blessed and uplifted by so many wonderful talks and classes.

I spent 3 days or so with Miki and Debbie.  We were also able to connect with Lisa, who I hadn't seen since I got married.

Ironically, my dearest friend from when we lived in South Korea, from Canada, HAPPENED to be in Utah!  She found out I was there through....Facebook.  The Irony.  I got spend a quick lunch and chat with her and her wonderful family.  I love you, Linda!

After Women's conference, I drove up to Rexburg, Idaho, to see my dear son.  I was so happy to see him!  As soon as I arrived, her came over and brought his girlfriend, Brittney, with him.  I opened my hotel room door and saw a beautiful girl holding my son's hand (I don't think they have let go yet... :-) ).As soon as I saw her, I knew she was the one for him.  We went to dinner together - here is the first photo I took of them:

I was first called, "Brian's mom", and then she coined the nickname, "Momma D".  I think I like it.  I immediately liked her.  We spent a couple of days getting to know one another.  I was sad to leave.

May:  After leaving Rexburg, I drove back to Salt Lake and then flew to Arizona to visit my family.  My niece Linsey had had baby boy #3 and I was taking him a baby quilt!  (maybe that's what I did in March....).

Me and baby  Ridge

His brother, Bo, kinda liked it, too.

I forgot to get really good pictures of the quilt beforehand, so these are the best I have.
And, my other niece Evani also had had a new baby!  I couldn't wait to meet sweet Abigail Mae, too. 

My brother Randy and his newest granddaughter

 She got a quilt too - I'll post that later.
I visited with as many family members as I could.  Here are a few photos from that:

Linsey, Genevie and me

My nephew's wife, Stacey, and Krew

And with Navi

Travis and Krew

 Right after I returned, it was Mother's Day.  I spent a great weekend with Rich and Les:

June:  Ah, the beginning of the months of wedding-ing.  Brian and Brittney were unofficially engaged for several weeks, but  made it official at the end of June.  The moms, however, were beginning to move in high gear even though a date hadn't been officially set.

This was also the month when we decided to have a few things done to the house that were needed.  We had the above-ground pool removed, we had some new doors put in off of our family room, and had a new sidewalk poured out front.  What should have taken a few weeks lasted a few months.  It was a frustrating time, but we made it through.

Whew - that was a lot longer than I thought it would be!  I guess you'll have to WAIT a little while for part 2 - coming right away.  

Christmas Stockings - the mini kind.

Anyone still out there?  Yes, we're still alive.  I just haven't felt like saying much here.  Yes, there was a wedding - some of you have seen the photos on Facebook.  I will post about that at some point.  I've just kind of lost my blogging desire.

BUT, this post is about my Christmas project this year.  I decided to make something for my son and his new wife that would continue a Christmas tradition of ours.

I love Christmas advent - I love little gadgets and things that count down the days, and we did that a lot when my kids were little.  About 14 or 15 years ago, I made these:

 These little stockings, in a variety of fabrics, have hung down our banister every Christmas since then. They are filled with 1 little candy per person, with varying types so you never know what you'll get!  Some years they were ignored, so one Christmas in the recent past I didn't put them up to see if anyone cared.  They did - I put them back the next year.  That'll teach 'em!  It was nice to know that these treasured sewn-by-Mom stockings mattered.

Here are the ones I made for B and B:

 The differences?  My friend with a letter cutter cut the numbers for me instead of having to use a Sharpie.  The fabrics are a bit more "hip and happenin'", and I was lucky enough to find Charlie Brown Christmas fabric!  Love it - that is a Christmas MUST around here.  

Here is what they looked like together, old and new:

 B and B can choose how to hang them, and how to use them.  Hopefully they will continue a much-loved tradition.  I had great fun making them.  Another special memory begun.

Last bits of Family Birthday Fun

My son gets married in 6 days.  That is an amazing thing to say!  Wow - it is so strange how time passes without us noticing, and when we notice, the moments are gone.

However, before he left home and moved out to prepare for his wedding,  we celebrated his 23rd birthday together!  We had a fun day.  He wanted to start the day eating breakfast at Elmo's - NOT Elmo as in Sesame Street, but Elmo is some old local guy with a diner.  Richard has been taking the kids there for breakfasts for years. Here is a little taste of homegrown Carroll County fun:

 

Nothing at Elmo's is fresh other than the eggs and probably the bacon, etc. -no fruit, no smoothies, no fancy coffee or hot chocolate drinks.  All utensils and dinnerware are plastic and Styrofoam.  It's a fun flavor of our area - and a great memory.

Other festivities included opening presents, eating CRABS and having cake.  Well, Mint Brownies.  Hmm.... lots of celebrating around food.... wow.  Weird.  Anyway....

Brittney loves Ninja Turtles.  Les got him a shirt to celebrate that.

Lots of fun "gamer" stuff from his B. (Aka Brittney)

Then......

And now.....  Sigh.