12 on the 12th--January 2020 Edition

{click to enlarge}

1. We woke up to snow, ugh.
2. Whitney and I upon leaving church.
3. I've had this quote on the message board for almost a year, I just love it.
4. I unwrapped an entire bag of Kisses so Whitney would make cookies with them.
5. Whitney booked her ticket to see Lori in April.
6. Cookie making!
7. My new, super pleasing bookcase.
8. I had Landon send me a selfie from USU.
9. I found Randy zonked out on the couch after a long day at church.
10. I updated my Ministering Profile Sheet while watching The Great British Bake Off.
11. Dinner.
12. Randy and I watched Brittany Runs A Marathon.

12 on the 12th--August 2019 Edition

{click to enlarge} 

1. Walking with Hayley.
2. Getting the sprinklers going while I get ready for work.
3. Traffic.
4. I'm loving this new podcast from my friend April Price.
5. Quote of the day.
6. My current work decor.
7. Tara, Jen, Kramer and I on our way to lunch.
8. We often stop at the Dollar Store for work treats.
9. Another view of my work set up.
10. I have an unlimited membership to Quick Quack car wash so I wash my car whenever I feel like it.
11. I had a phone call with Lori.
12. Dallin and Whitney hanging out.

12 on the 12th--June 2018 Edition

{click to enlarge}

1. I love waking up to a gorgeous sunshiney morning!
2. Ferris spends his nights out on the town and sleeps during the day.
3. Lovely Snapdragons spied while out on a walk.
4. My new walking shoes.
5. Lunch with several friends from work to celebrate Sheryl's retirement.
6. I finished listening to Essentialism (which was interesting).
7. Currently reading this book from my favorite contemporary writer.
8. Dropping Whitney off at work.
9. I talked to Lori for awhile.
10. I went to the movies with my friend Monica (from work).
11. It's freaking hot!
12. Job hunting sucks, but being able to do it from the computer is great.

DC Trip Day 1

 My visiting teaching partner Jill and I went visiting teaching on January 5th, and in the course of conversation Virginia came up so I mentioned that my sister Lori was driving across country to move there this very week. Jill said, "I get free Companion tickets on Delta and am going there on the 19th, I'll see if you can come with me." So after our appointment she spent a half hour on the phone with Delta doing a last-minute add on and got me on her flight with her!

Fast forward less than two weeks later and Jill and I were on our way to DC connecting through Detroit.

Since Lori had just had her furniture delivered to her new place that day and since we got in so late (almost midnight) Jill invited me to stay at her hotel with her.

We were amped up and hungry so we set out to find someplace nearby to eat. It was unbelievably freezing outside and Jill cracked me up by wearing this enormous scarf. We walked a couple blocks and were the only people outside and nothing was open. The walk back was even more freezing because we were walking against the wind. It was a comical outing for us.

Jill ended up ordering a couple bowls of minestrone and a grilled cheese sandwich through room service for us (her per diem money from work paid for it) so we had a little pajama party.

The beds were comfy, but I had a fitful night due to sleeping in a strange place and being able to hear people in the halls.

12 on the 12th--October 2015 Edition

{click to enlarge}

1. Randy's "corner presents" for his birthday.
2. My desk at work, with a happy Gerbera daisy from my secret pal.
3. Peep wanted to get in on some food in the kitchen.
4. I had to help teach the Boot Scootin Boogie to 35 Activity Day Girls...it was soooo fun.
5. I put this week's scripture to Ponderize on the fridge (Alma 37:37).
6. I'm loving our new Tempur Pedic adjustable bed!
7. Whitney drew this cartoon for Randy.
8. Randy hanging out waiting for Landon to get home so we could go to dinner.
9. Lori joined us as Texas Roadhouse for dinner.
10. Me and Randy.
11. Gifts and cheesecake.
12. My book of the week.

12 on the 12th--September Edition

{click to enlarge}

1. I woke up at 8 and read in bed for a couple hours, I'm at the end of this fantastic mystery.
2. After showering, I spent my cool-down time reading the Book of Mormon.
3. I got a pedicure this week so my toes are making me happy.
4. Randy and I headed out for some shopping.
5. We finally sucked it up and went mattress shopping and signed our life away for a fabulous, adjustable Tempurpedic mattress...we can't wait to get it!
6. Our celebratory lunch at Pei Wei.
7. We decided Randy's fortune meant buying the bed was a good choice.
8. We finally went to see Mission Impossible 5--two thumbs up!
9. Lori joined us for a wedding reception and dinner at Art City Trolley.
10. Poor Junie is no match for Whitney's smothering ways.
11. We watched the fabulous BYU/Boise State football game.
12. Landon finally made an appearance at 11:45pm...we hardly see him these days.

12 on the 12th--June Edition

{click to enlarge}

1. My sleeping set up at my brother's house while house sitting.
2. Morning scripture reading on their deck.
3. I took Whitney, Megan and Tess to meet up with my mom, Lori, Austin, Olivia and Ashley for a fun day at Lagoon (especially fun since I wasn't going).
4. I introduced Peep the kitten to Lola the bulldog and it resulted in some super speedy tree climbing.
5. I ate my Corner Bakery take-out lunch while watching So You Think You Can Dance.
6. Since my mom was at Lagoon and my dad was working I got to pick Andrew up from "work".
7. I love taking selfies with him, they're always funny.
8. Landon came home safely from 5 days in Yellowstone with friends.
9. My dad came to my house to get Andrew.
10. My friend Jen wrote a book! My copy came in the mail today.
11. Bookclub dinner at PF Changs minus Amy and Michelle.
12. Jenn and I got shakes from Iceberg on the way home from bookclub.

Flashing Back to September

Back on September 6th, me, Lori, Landon and Whitney went to see Howard Jones & Tom Bailey in concert.

We got there about 40 minutes early and then ended up sitting through multiple opening acts so we really could have shown up 3 hours late and been right on time. Ugh.

Whitney found a notebook in the back pocket of my lawn chair, what a find! She drew for a long time and had a fan club (the people behind us) watching her. This notebook probably saved her life because she was having some serious attitude problems and I was close to freaking out.

We had to wait an hour for the show to start and then sit through three other acts (who were fine) before the headliners performed...Landon had a good time taking selfies with my phone.

Tom Bailey was fantastic! He sounded so great and was super high energy. I hadn't realized how many Thompson Twins songs I knew, but they were part of my high school years' soundtrack for sure.

The song from the end credits of Sixteen Candles pretty much does me in no matter how many times I hear it.

More selfies.

Howard Jones was good too.

And more selfies.

I enjoyed the concert more than Lori or the kids because those songs are linked to many memories for me, but we all had a good night.

Miss Sassy Pants Turns 14

This year Whitney's birthday fell on the Saturday of Fall Break, so she had Thursday and Friday off of school leading up to it.

On Thursday my mom picked her up and took her to lunch and then birthday shopping with some money from us and then some from my parents. They also had plans to pick Bella and Tess up from the train to join them for the end of their shopping outing and then for a sleepover at my parents' house.

Whitney saying goodbye to Junie.

Whitney and Bella came back to our house Friday afternoon (Tess went home) and entertained themselves so much I hardly saw them.

On Saturday, we joined my entire family at Wheeler Farms for family pictures. Usually we set up my tripod and a self-timer and hope for the best but this year Robyn's boyfriend (who is a professional photographer) offered to do a photo shoot with us. It's so weird that the kids are all getting so big! Ashley is the youngest cousins and she's now 8 1/2...crazy. It felt like they were tiny for so long and now it feels like they're all teenagers.

After a couple hours of of photo taking, me, Lori, Whitney and Bella went to lunch at Apollo Burger. I took this shot of Whitney modeling her birthday shopping finds (i.e., new shoes, new jeans and new sweater) which she is thrilled about.

She loves, loves, loves these Sassy shoes!

Lori wore her sunglasses during lunch because she was next to a bright window. She could have closed the blinds but she and Bella said the sun felt nice. It was funny to sit across from her wearing glasses though.

Next we went to Color Me Mine (just like last year).

Lori took this fabulous photo of the girls.

Lori and I both painted mugs.

I painted this mug (which will end up being a bright turquoise after it's fired), Bella painted the bulldog, Lori did an ombre affect on her mug, and Whitney did a really cute little sugar bowl, lid and small spoon which she'll probably eat cereal out of.

Later that evening we got together at Lori's house to finally celebrate her birthday (which was September 8th), Landon's birthday (which was August 10th), Andrew's birthday (which was September 29th), Randy's birthday (which was October 12th) and Whitney's birthday...apparently we've had a really hard time getting everyone together. Robyn and Lyman (boyfriend) ended up having a couple Halloween party to be at and Landon ended up going to the BYU-Nevada game, but other than that we were all there.

The spread of gifts. Lori wanted work done for her gifts so Adam and Randy hung a couple heavy duty items, mounted her flat screen tv to the wall and fixed a toilet.

We had cheesecake AND the Oreo Ice Cream dessert.

All lined up so we could sing to them.

We relit candles and put them on Andrew's piece of dessert so he could blow them out and spray as needed.

12 on the 12th--October Edition

{click to enlarge}

1. I was up early to get the balloons out of my car and to hang decorations for Randy's birthday.
2. Randy's "corner presents".
3. He requested Raspberry Muffins and chocolate milk for his birthday breakfast.
4. He's easy to please.
5. Whitney giving Junie some loves.
6. It was rainy and dark when we went to church at 8:45am.
7. I got released as Primary Secretary (and am now serving as 2nd Counselor in the Stake Primary).
8. Landon checking game footage.
9. I got a couple hours to read and nap before having to go visit another ward's primary.
10. The day ended up being beautiful and sunny.
11. Birthday kisses for Randy.
12. Lori joined us for dinner and dessert.

12 on the 12th--September Edition

{click to enlarge}

1. The morning school mess.
2. Landon catching his ride and Whitney leaving for the bus.
3. The morning's dishes.
4. Our spider extermination device, we've been over run by spiders lately.
5. Loading photos from yesterday's football game.
6. Part of a funny text exchange with my sister Lori.
7. The leaves on the mountain are turning orange.
8. I spent some time reading in the cozy.
9. Picked up Whitney from school and took her to Lori's for some cake making.
10. Lori at her house.
11. I had to make cupcakes on Whitney's behalf for the country fair.
12. A funny card from Rebekah 3 years after she wrote it.

12 on the 12th--July Edition

{click to enlarge}

1. I found Landon asleep on his floor, apparently it was too hot up on his bed and he could feel the air conditioning coming from the vent on the floor if he was down there.
2. My birthday decorations and flowers are still around.
3. Randy and I dropped Whitney off to volunteer at Bridle Up Hope (she works with horses).
4. Of course we had to get drinks on the way home.
5. Reading my scriptures.
6. Selfie in the car as I left to go out with Lori.
7. We saw the movie "Begin Again" and really liked it.
8. Lori trying on some very LARGE glasses.
9. Whitney with cute Junie cat.
10. I spent some time reading this delightful book.
11. Randy is fighting a cold, but he loves a nap any day.
12. I'm still working on the birthday pie Michelle made me...delicious!

Birthday Outings

Even though we had a family dinner scheduled on Monday for my mom's birthday, Lori and I decided to take her out on Saturday on her actual birthday (June 21st).

Andrew was home for the weekend so it was a bonus to get to see him. Of course he was all sorts of chatty (not), but he is actually smiling in this picture so that's something.

We went to see "Words and Pictures" because it's a chick flick and something my dad would never agree to see. We liked it!

We went to Bucca di Beppo for a super tasty, late lunch.

Our self-portrait.

On Monday evening we met everyone at Goodwood for dinner (Robyn's boyfriend Lyman brought the flowers for my mom).

She also got a new tv for her workout space in the basement (which was a big surprise).

And a bunch of workout videos...I soooo don't want these for my birthday!

Landon had football practice and Randy was on a campout for the week so it was just Whitney and I representing for the family; plus she was staying with Adam and Amy for a few days so she arrived and left with them. Weird.

Our Summer So Far

I had a very successful DI run to kick off, I love finding books for $1 or $1.50.

We've had mostly pleasant, window-open weather but the house has gotten up in the high 70's a couple times and we've had to turn on the air conditioning. I really prefer having the windows open, but I'm not a fan of sweating.

I started reading The Book of Mormon again and have a schedule that has me finishing on Christmas Eve.

Whitney and I have gone walking around the pond a couple times.

Adam invited me to lunch, which was delightful and emotionally draining (it's never small talk).

I got my first pedicure of the summer, woohoo!

I moved the bistro table and chairs to the front yard (since it was basically a bird pooping place in the back yard) and we have really liked it so far. Whitney actually got out of the house to draw while listening to The Book Thief.

It's official, Whitney is in full teen mode!

I read in the shade while Whitney baked in the sun...the shade is way better.

Lori and I saw "Fault In Our Stars" and thoroughly enjoyed it. I expected to sob more than I did so that was a relief.

Kale hired Landon to sand and paint the trip on the house. 

It's a big job and is currently on hold while he is on a Canoe trip in Oregon with the 16-17 year olds from church.

Randy and I helped Robyn move last weekend.

I am currently reading the 5th Flavia de Luce mystery, "well bust my buttons".

I have wanted to put a flag on the house for years, but knew we couldn't drill into the brick. I thought I'd figured out a way around it but it didn't work so we ended up hanging like this, which I love!

The Waffle Luv truck was down the street this week so Whitney and each got a Biscoff and Cream waffle (so good) and took it home to eat on our bistro table under the trees.

We let Junie have some whipped cream when we were done.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these trees in our front yard.