birthday 2014

In September, on my birthday in fact, we piled in mom and dad's car bright and early and drove to Shelley, Idaho to support Ryan (and the family) at his father, Rob's funeral. He unfortunately had a heart attack and they weren't able to revive him. It is never good to go to a funeral, let alone one of a relatively young man.

Ryan's dad was the principal at the elementary school and also Ryan's assistant coach of the track and field team. The audience was filled with students and the stories told about him were touching and humbling. I do remember, in the few interactions I had with him, that he was always ready with a kind smile that moved beyond his mouth and truly radiated in his whole countenance. His happy eyes especially showed you that he was genuinely happy to be conversing with you.

Mary was asked to sing a solo but because we were going to be there anyway, we lent her our support and our voices and we sang as a five-some. Daddy played. It was a privilege to be able to share with Ryan's family our testimony through music. Since words are so inadequate in these situations, hopefully the Spirit that attends a heartfelt song, conveyed our feelings of sorrow and concern for them.  

We drove to Shelley early in the morning, attended the funeral and were politely invited to stay fo the family lunch. At the lunch someone had brought german chocolate cake - just exactly what I would have asked for in a birthday cake. We then drove home and then headed almost immediately to choir.

All in all, it was a remarkably good birthday. Had we not gone to the funeral I would have gone to work and it wouldn't have been a terribly different day. As it worked out, I got to gab with my family for 3 hours to and 3 hours from and several hours while there. I got to help honor a man who was an example of Christ-like love and service and support my sister and family and my dear brother-in-law Ryan. I had german chocolate cake, and it was a choir night to top it all off. One of the best birthdays in the books I'd say.

a banister

Remember this ugly railing? 

(remember this ugly kitchen?)

Many years ago, before Maddy was born in fact, Scott ripped it out and built a lovely wood railing with wrought iron (new, pretty, updated wrought iron). Originally we had fencing between the wood balusters but decided that, though inexpensive, it wasn't the look we were going for. We took it all down and bought the "basket" rails and put one section in to see how it looked. We lived with that for awhile

Then Maddy was born and then she started walking so we tied on the old fence rails with fabric to baby proof. And we lived with that for awhile.

(Sidenote: Oh. My. Goodness! That is one stinking cute little girl. It's so hard to believe that she was that little. I do so love her as a 5 1/2 year old but oh how I miss these days! Thank heavens for photographs.)

Eventually we installed the rest of the balusters but lived with unfinished wood for the next 5 years. But now, with the kitchen nearing completion, we had to do something about the stairs. I don't actually hate the unfinished wood and considered just putting polyurethane on the thing and going au naturale, but, the dark of the wood cabinets called for a dark railing. 

We were a bit worried that all the holes from the other iron wouldn't stain well. I figured I could stain it all first and then if that looked bad, paint the wood balusters white leaving the banister and newel posts stained dark. Then if that looked bad, I'd paint the whole darn thing white!

After many months of thinking and planning but not doing it was time. So during conference this past weekend I sanded, and sanded, and sanded and sanded some more. Then applied stain and three coats of poly. 

Gah! I am in love!!!

If you can ignore the giant maw of the unfinished basement, I think you will agree that it looks great. Scott and I make a fabulous, though slow, team.

July in review - part II

Oh wait, there is more July to review!

We joined Sarah and Katie and their girls at the Eclipse concert. Our high school friend Kevin Jones is in the a Capella group and it was such a nice night for an outdoor concert. Kevin was Katie's madrigal partner and she's gone to these summer concerts for a few years but this was my first time. We sat on the lawn and while the music was fun, for me I enjoyed it as more of a back drop to a fun picnic than a concert in and of itself.

We also went to Lagoon. Rebekah works there in the summer at Lagoon-a-beach and had family tickets. Sarah didn't need them because she has season passes for her whole family so Katie and I used them. She brought the three youngest and I brought Maddy and Sarah had Brandon for a bit and Lilian. Lots of shorter kids who needed adults to ride with them so even Brandon and Holly acted as the "grown-up" occasionally.

Scott joined us after work. He took Brandon and Holly on some of the bigger rides that the little ones couldn't do. Rebekah also joined us after she got off work. I loved that she was such a great cousin to the little ones. She and I took the little ones on a few rides so the big kids and Sarah, Scott and Katie could ride the roller coasters and the jet star 2. 

 

We also went to see the Days of 47 parade float preview. I've never done that but in my opinion, it's the best way to see the parade! Our stake had a float this year and I've gotta say, I was impressed. One couple from our ward was on the committee and it was fun to see them there and talk to them about the experience. They had no previous knowledge of how to go about making a float but look at how nicely it turned out:

And that, unless I stumble on more pictures, does it for July.

July in review

As you might have already noticed, I'm trying to catch up on my blogging. The summer has been busy and filled with things to do and I've been derelict in my duty as a blogger. I remember Linda telling me that as a blogger, all I had to commit to was one day a week. Well, how about one month per season?

Whatever the case, these are a few happenings throughout the summer.

In May we laid sod in the backyard. I have huge plans for the backyard but so far none have truly materialized - well, except for the grass. We've yet to get the sprinklers right and I have to admit there is a bit of a brown spot we need to address, but for the most part it has filled in nicely. Maybe a bit more fertilizer and a bit more love.

I need to plant in the raised flower beds. I might wait until the spring to do that however. Also, Scott is currently working on covering over the patio that is poured just to the right of the house in the picture below. He has joists in and oh how wonderful this extra covered space will by. I'm giddy at the thought of decorating it and having an extra outdoor room!

Maddy and I went to see Mary Poppins at Hale Centre Theatre in July. This was her first play since turning 5, the golden age of includabilty at Hale (yeah, that's a made up word, I know). We dressed up nice and did our hair and wore a little make-up for the special occasion.

Wow does Hale Centre Theatre put on a good show! The big company numbers in the show especially Supercalifragilisticexpialedocious (or however that's spelled) and Step In Time were marvelous!

 On the Fourth of July we joined our neighbors for the traditional breakfast. Maddy rode her scooter this year, first time off the tricycle - a very big day.

We went to Park City for dinner . . .

. . . and then decided that it was so much fun we should make a weekend of it - but the weekend ended up being at Snowbird. We stayed at the Cliffs Lodge Resort, swam in the pool Friday night then spent the day Saturday riding the Mountain Coaster and the zip Line and all the other fun rides. Maddy is one brave girl.

We caught a relaxing (but ridiculously expensive) late afternoon lunch and then headed back home. A fun little stay-cation with my cute family.

Maddy's favorite "rides" are ironically the closest to every-day play activities - albeit a bit beefed-up.