Life is Happening..

We have been so busy this Summer. I am not sure with what but busy. Paul took Max and Carter for their annual camping trip and while the boys were up camping Susan and the girls came and stayed with Makayla and I. We did not do alot. We went up and met Paul for dinner one night. We did sew some really cute skirts for Gabby, Paige and Susan. Made breakfast for Cheryl one morning early and did a lot of visiting and playing.
I have been sewing a lot the last month. I made some skirts, some market bags, curtains a table runner, some more napkins and some pillows for the new deck furniture ( by the way we have been loving the newly remodeled deck) . I helped my neighbor make a few skirts for herself and I also made a skirt for me. I love the pattern. It is easy and can be made out of all different kinds of material and designs. I have discovered a lovely store in Rigby call the Quilt Shop and they have the most wonderful material. It is pretty costly so I will need to stay away from the store.
We had a really fun 4th weekend. Danielle's sister Lizzie is here from Palm Springs and we had a barbecue and had Lizzie and her kids and Danielle's other sister Rebecca from Firth and her kids all over for the barbecue. We had a wonderful visit and the burgers were delicious as usual.
We went to Rebecca's on the 4th to Firth and cooked hot dogs and marshmallows over a fire. Then watched the kids do their fireworks. It was lots of fun. I swear all we did was eat eat eat. I feel like I gained 50 lbs from all the good food. But Paul and I have been walking each night so hopefully that will help.
I have been super busy at work. We have added two new attorneys just in the last few months and lots and lots of new clients. I am also training Clayton to do my job for his internship for school. By the way Danielle and Clayton graduate from BYU Idaho this month. Clayton in Business Financial and Danielle in Accounting. Danielle will be starting her new job at Crandall and Oseen in Idaho Falls the Monday after Graduation and Clayton is interviewing with Wells Fargo and Northwestern Financial this week. Hopefully he will get a job soon as well. I am so glad that they are going to be in Idaho Falls longer.
Well I had better be going. I am tired and want to get to bed early tonight. Everyone have a great week. bye now.

Excitement in our Home!!!

We ended in the emergency room last night with Makayla. She had a severe allergic reaction to something. Her lips were totally swollen and she had huge hives from one end of her body to the other. Her skin was terribly itchy. We have no idea what caused it. The only thing that she did different than usual was sit on the grass at a baseball game of one of her friends. When we went to pick her up it had just started. It was a little scary but she is doing just fine now. She is on meds for about 5 days and then will always have to carry an epi pen in case of another reaction. My friend Laura also suggested that we keep liquid benadryl around at all times. Kids Kids Kids.
It has been raining like crazy here in our area. It reminds of the rain in Oregon. I have been making Graduation cards and wedding cards today. I forgot how much fun this can be it has been so long since I pulled my stamps out and actually used them.
I have been driving everywhere with Makayla. She is really doing a good job of driving. I am kind of surprised.
Everyone have a great week. bye now.

Fun Things Happening...

The before and after pictures.
We have completed the deck and had a little family friend get together Sunday to break it in after church. We were able to hang the family hammock that Clayton had mailed to us from Brazil when he was on his mission. It is so pretty and comfortable. We have been eating out there every chance we get. What could be better than to have added a huge room to your living space and have it outdoors. Love it Love it love it.

We had a great time in Utah with Susan and family. Gabby ended going to the wedding with us and she had a great time. She talked our ears off, but we really enjoyed her company. Park City is really beautiful. The church was right next to the ski hill and so lovely. I also wanted to let you see a picture of the lovely wedding cake that was made for them. The flowers are made from frosting and they look so real.
Here is a picture of the Mulan costume that we made for Makayla. I know it is a little late but she looked so cute in the costume.
She spent the weekend in Swan Valley with her friend Alex. She has a gorgeous home right on the river.
Today was the last day of school for Makayla and she is feeling pretty weird about it already. I hope that she will not be too bored. We have been driving with her now that she has her permit. We have to drive with her for six months. She is pretty good and will get better with time.
Today is Clayton and Danielle's 3rd wedding anniversary. Time has gone by so fast. It just seems like yesterday that we were all traveling to Oregon for the wedding and then quickly back to Idaho Falls for the second reception. They will be graduating from BYU Idaho in July. Danielle in Accounting and Clayton in Financial. They have worked really hard and have done a great job of getting thru school quickly. We are very happy for them.
Well everyone have a great week and enjoy the warm weather. I just love Spring and Summer.
bye now.

Lovely Windy Day in Idaho!!

It is really windy again today. Yesterday it was about 85 Degrees and calm and then we get slammed.
Makayla went to her Freshman Prom this last week. All of her friends went as a large group with the boys in one and the girls in another. This is one of her good friends named Max. She ended up wearing a dress that Danielle's mother made for one of the dances she went too. It was so cute on Makayla.
We are working on redoing the back deck that is connected to our house. Paul has been tearing it apart and it is looking very ugly right now. We will be putting up new railing, painting and staining and I can hardly wait. (We are also de-junking because we have this giant garage shop and the junk belongs in the garage not on the deck) We picked up a new table and chairs. I have taken two of our old iron and wooden benches and painted the slats bright bumblebee yellow. I love how bright they are.

I will post pictures as the deck progresses.
I came home today and made a bright Spring like table runner. It is okay, not quite what I had in mind but it is cheerful.

Makayla is currently in a musical at school. It is the Disney Mulan. I had to sew her costume at the last minute since that is about all the time that she gave me. I went to see her in the musical last night and they did a great job. It made me want to go home and watch the movie.
Paul and I are headed off to Utah to visit Susan this weekend and to go to Paul's, Uncle Paul's wedding. His wife died about 2 years ago and he has found himself a wonderful new lady friend. It will be a quick trip. I am really looking forward to seeing all of the little punkers. They are so fun to visit with on the phone. We are planning on fixing a few bike tires while we are there.
Well I had better get going I need to get packing. bye now.

Latest..

Well I did not die from a heart attack Sunday. I was so scared for a few minutes when they announced my name at Stake Conference as being second to speak. When I got up to speak I felt so calm and I gave most of the talk without even looking at notes other to read a quote or two. Makayla did a great job of singing. It was an especially good conference. A few members of the new ward that we are moving into came up to introduce themselves. We have had the our new Bishop, the Young Womens President and the Relief Society President already come and visit us. I am thankful that they have done so because it will make it not so scary for Makayla and I to make this huge change. Danielle came to conference to hear makayla and I and just kept her in my vision to help me to stay calm. She is just the best. Clayton was unable to come because he did not feel well.
I got to go and get my hair trimmed today. I took 2" off of the back it has grown so much. I am still not sure that I am happy with longer hair but Makayla says that I cannot cut it off. Haircuts feel so good and make me so happy.
I better be going I need to get dinner ready. I think we will have some leftovers from Sunday dinner. The family did say that it was yummy. so we might as well try it again.
Everyone have a great week. bye now.

Sad.....So Sad......

Makayla and I went to the Stake meeting. We were informed that we are no longer in the 11th Ward. I tried not to cry, but Makayla started crying instantly. Then people start saying how sad and I lose it. This is a major change in our life. This ward is the only ward that I have attended since reactivating and it is also the only ward that my kids have attended. They know us and know our history and we love all of the members so much. I know that it will be okay but I am so sad right now. It is very difficult to get my head around because it is like we have moved and have to attend a different ward but in fact we are still in the same home and still looking at the neighbors homes that we will no longer be attending church with.
Makayla is the only youth that is being moved so she is so upset. She hates change so intensely. It stems back to the separation syndrome that she has from back when she was a baby and was separated from her mother. She rarely changes things or the way that she does thing.
Even though this ward is in our stake, we do not know anyone from that ward even by name only. I will try to be strong for Makayla and I keep telling her that we will be okay.
Okay I hope I did not bore you with my sadness but I just needed to vent. Everyone have a great week. bye now.

Snowy Sunday...

We had a lovely sunny day yesterday and then woke up to a lovely snow this morning. I am trying to appreciate the fact that the moisture is much needed for the Hot Summer Months.
We had such great church meetings today. We meaning the people in my ward have a Stake meeting tonight to let us know what the new ward boundaries are going to be. Our Bishop was very sad as he made the announcement. Most of the people in my ward have been there their whole lifetime. I am just a little anxious for the meeting. I am working on my talk for Stake conference that I was asked to give this next Sunday. I am so nervous. It is scary enough when I have to talk in the ward let alone at Stake Conference. Oh well it will be over soon.
Clayton is starting an internship at my office on Tuesday this week. I am very happy that it has worked out this way. I am going to teach him all of the financial of running the office. He and Danielle will be graduating in July and Clayton needs to get his internship done by then.
Makayla is going to sing the youth choir at Stake conference also. Then the choir that I sing in with my ward is singing at the Saturday Night Session. Lots of stuff going on this week.
I am going back to the specialists this week to see if we can get the problem with my throat resolved. I am so tired of the sore throat, blisters in the throat and problems breathing that I could scream but that would just make my throat hurt worse and then I would start coughing again.
Well everyone have a great week. love you all. bye now.