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.

Welcome to BRITTNEY

My future daughter in law was here for a week the end of July-beginning of August.  We enjoyed getting to know her and spending time with her.  She fits right in to the family.  We hope she sees it that way as well.  It is clear that she loves my son, and he loves her.  - I think I said that before?  Well, it is.

We didn't take a lot of photos, but here are a few:

Sisters Meet!

Restaurant!!

At the mall

Family Game Night!

Draw Before You Discard

Us

We already love her and know she is meant to be ours. Brian's eternal mate.  I look forward to meeting the rest of her family in a few days! 

It's B - L- O-G-S-P-O-T, again, it's B-L-O-G-S-P-O-T

I woke up at 6 this morning to address more wedding invitations.  While in the process,  I decided to summarize the comedy of errors that we will call the "invitation frustration".  Those of you who have been involved in weddings recently will understand, and maybe for others who long ago were involved in one may have such deep-seated and troubled memories that you will still relate.  Or, perhaps you are very organized and had months to prepare for a wedding, so this may just all seem silly to you.  Fine - feel free to laugh at my insanity.

1.  The bride's mother was so very kind as to rush the order of invitations to me.  I am grateful for that - that is certainly not the frustrating part.

2.  I decided to print our return address on the back of the envelopes from our printer.  Except, I didn't know HOW to do that, and after trying for 3 hours, Hubby came home and did it in 5 minutes.  I hate that.  And yet, I am grateful.

3.Before I started printing it, I couldn't decide whose address to put on the back - what's the protocol?  Is it the bride's?  Is it ours since we're hosting an open house?  But we're inviting a lot of people to the reception in Utah?  What do I do?  If I get a lot of presents here for the kids then I'll have to pay to mail them all out to them wherever they end up (which is another story all in itself, but that is not mine to tell....).  ACK - I ended up putting ours.

4.  Hubby, in his exhaustion from working too many hours, printed about 50 envelopes upside down.... yep.  And, I have messed up more than a few as I've addressed things incorrectly.  I can't find more envelopes for purchase. 

5.  Speaking of addressing envelopes, I decided to do it the hard way - I"m handwriting them all.  My handwriting has a lot to be desired.  Not to offend anyone, but I didn't want to do labels and I figured it would take me just as long to use the printer to input ALL the addresses and then print each one off of some mail merge thing that I don't know how to use.

6.  And, the reason I have to do them all myself is that I have the lists of who gets them on a spreadsheet on my computer.  I of course don't have all the addresses in my Outlook - that would make SENSE.  I am using apps on my phone for church people addresses, and using white pages to find people, and emailing friends on Facebook for their addresses.  Therefore, because of my lack of organization, I am the only one who can sit in front of my computer and write and write and write.  Fabulous.

7.  I forgot to mark down the first 50 or so as "sent" on my spreadsheet, so I keep second-guessing who I sent those to.  I should give a prize to anyone who admits to me that they get two.

8.  I messed up the little paper that has the kids' rsvp information which originally was a "blogspot" addresss.  Yes, BlogSPOT.  I spelled it blogPOST.  I have developed or helped to develop about 10 blogs.  Apparently I have also now developed dyslexia.  The bride sent her invitations out with the address to a site all-together different than the blog that was created, but it was too late for me to do anything about that....

So those of you receiving that little paper, it is BLOGSPOT.  And I have been correcting it with a pen since it was pointed out to me - which of course is probably tacky.  I have to let it go.

9.  How do you address a Bishop's or stake president's family's invitation?  Bishop and Sister?  Bishop and Mrs?  President and Mrs?  President and Sister?  I have no idea.  I didn't buy a book for LDS weddings.  I can't find it online.  So, you bishop wives - just forgive me and let it go if it was wrong. 

10.  My house is a complete disaster.  I haven't had time to really clean it.  Today that is Les's job.

11.  Life cannot be at a standstill while I address envelopes.  I still have my job, my church responsibilities, countless other things that need my attention, and I need to help Les with her issues on a daily basis. 

The bride's mom is equally as harried, if not MORE - she has 6 children still at home who need her attention and is getting ready to go on a long-ago planned trip.  Bless her heart!!  She and I have become friends through texts and Facebook and emails. She is holding up with a great attitude - a good example to me. 

I literally feel like my mind is aging.  I don't like that - I am forgetting so many things.  I can't multi-task in my mind very well anymore. I am forgetting too many things - like paying bills.  I wonder if I will find my brain after this is all over.  I think that is doubtful.  I need some brain vitamins.  Isn't that like Garlique or Ginkobaloba or Fish Oil or something? 

I think that about covers it.  I'm realizing that you dream and think about when your children get married, and hope for things to go smoothly and wonderfully.  I can be a perfectionist, and wanted these envelopes and little cards to be beautiful and wonderful with their rsvp information, etc.  I didn't have time to make mine that way....the engagement is for only about 10 or 11 weeks.  I am certain that friends and family will someday forget about my mistakes.  I sure hope so!  I am sure in the end it will be lovely and a wonderful day for them, and what matters most is that they are being sealed in a temple in which we believe confirms that their marriage will be for eternity. 

I will now stop whining and go "call the Waahhhmmmbulance", to quote one of my favorite movies, "The Kid". 

I'll have to wait a little while for the calm.....

They're Coming!

This week I've been preparing for the return of my sweet son!    I've cleaned up his storage room bedroom so that he can trash sleep in it, unpack, and repack.  He'll be here for about three weeks.

The BONUS is that sweet Britt is coming with him.  Ok, well sort of - when Hubby booked the flights he accidentally booked them on two DIFFERENT flights (thanks to frequent flyer miles, and old age....).  She arrives tomorrow around 4ish, and he arrives later at night.  So, I will get some wonderful one-on-one time with my future daughter-in-law!  I'm excited.  It will  a good opportunity as well for her and Les to bond before Brian gets here.  Britt will be here for a week.

Les has been busy making a few gifts for her future sister.  I will post about that later -- wouldn't want to spoil the surprise!  This week is important for Leslie - I pray she adjusts well.  I've been busy cleaning and cooking.  My fridge hasn't been this full since.... last summer. 

This will be the last time Brian is home as a single man.  It will be a busy three weeks with doctor appointments, wedding plans, cleaning out and packing stuff up, addressing invitations,  and hopefully lots of time together as a family.  I have mixed emotions, but the joy of the upcoming occasion is overtaking any sadness I might have as I "lose" my son.  He will always be my son.  I am truly thrilled to have a new daughter to love and to spoil when I can.  I've enjoyed my many phone calls and texts with her over the past few weeks as wedding plans march on.   Now we'll aid her in meshing in to our family.  I feel blessed.  I hope I don't sound naive.

If I do, just let me be for a little while.

PS - for those who don't know, the wedding is Sept 10!  9-10-11.  Whew - coming so very fast.

Happy Dance, Happy News

I have neglected my blog for some time.... sorry.  For today, I'm back -with a BIG announcement!

I must officially announce that my Brian is engaged! 

When I went out west for BYU Women's Conference and for other reasons, I met this sweet girl, Brittney.The minute I opened my hotel room door in Rexburg and saw these two together, I knew.  I knew she was my future daughter-in-law.  I knew she loved my son.  I knew he would move Heaven and Earth for her.  He's already trying to do so.  I am blessed.

Brian was her home teacher - a testimony to that program right there, don't you think? 

No official wedding date has been set.  They're working on that.

Guess I'll have to wait a little while....!