Catch-up Time-A Few More Random Things

Before Sid entered the Missionary Training Center (or MTC), he made sure our mermaid towel holder was modest:

 When I saw it I burst out loud laughing. Of course we left it covered when we moved. :)

There were many good-byes before our move and Sid entering the MTC. After Sid's talk in his ward his mom hosted an open house for him that many friends and family attended. In addition to many of Dan's family members my sister Lynette & her husband and girls drove up from Utah to be there for Sid's talk. Cambree and Shayla were thrilled playing with the dog that was supposed to be outside:

I think Cambree could have played with "Molly" for hours if Mom & Dad would have let her.

The next evening we held a Horrocks Family Home Evening (or FHE) where we gathered to say our good-byes and share some advice with the departing missionary and he with us. Again, many family members were there in support (and some were there in spirit).

Dan, Matt, Neal, Kevin, & Ann (Horrocks) Loveland.

Roman & Aidan Horrocks

 

Amanda, Gideon, Mark, and Amy Horrocks

Mark, Adian, Kelli Horrocks, Ann Loveland, Amy and Roman Horrocks

Emily Loveland giving a hug to her cousin and best friend.

(Yes, same Emily blogged about here.)

Dan's cousin Kelli saying good-bye to Sid.

(I love this shot and made sure Sid had a copy. Can't remember if I sent it to Kelli or not, guess I'd better get one sent just in case.)

We weren't 100% serious while gathered together, we had some fun moments too...

Jackson Horrocks being a bother brother to Roman.

Amanda helping Matt & Gideon compare their hands...the boys are only a few months apart.

Jackson hamming for the camera.

  

Kelli, Emily, & Amanda catching up and sharing some stories about life.

Dan showing off his Christmas gift (a blanket with the sites of Pocatello on it) to Aidan, Matt, Sid, and Neal.

A few more blanket audience members, Emily, Kevin, & Ann.

A final family picture before Sid went into the MTC two days later and Dan & I headed to Washington the next week. The good-byes until we meet again...

Since We're on the Subject....

As Valentine's Day approached Dan was trying to decide what to do for his employees. I suggested that they do boxes or bags for them which they could put treats and cards into for each other. (Similar to what the elementary school classes do.) Dan contemplated the idea and decided that it would work for his center. So we purchased some white lunch bags that I decorated for each person. There was a unique bag for every one of Dan's 30+ employees.

I also raided the local dollar store for decorations to put up at the center. The Saturday night before Valentine's week Dan and I went into the center and put up the decorated bags and purchased decorations. We hung ribbon as streamers, taped doily hearts all over, stuck clings on windows, placed the bags in an obvious location, and left a note from Cupid. When the employees entered the center on Monday it was all festive and holidayish. We had a good time putting everything together. Dan said that the employees were quick to look for their own bag and when not finding it at first thought they had been forgotten.

By the end of the week the bags were full of candy and Valentine sentiments to and from the employees.

Not sure if it's good or bad: the center had more decorations up than our apartment did AND the only supplies purchased for the employees's goodies bags were the bags themselves, I already had everything else and still have more to spare...

Keeping the Romance ALIVE!

It truly makes me smile that some of you blog as infrequently as I do. I love to catch up but it really does take hours to stay updated with everyone's blog. Guess I just need to follow fewer blogs or something to that effect. But where's the fun in that?

Anyway, I'm not going to go on about that in this post so I'll move on now.....

Moving on....

Dan and I take turns planning Family Home Evening and weekly Date Nights. We alternate weeks and have them marked in brightly colored ink to help us keep track of who's in charge. Leading up to our respective responsibilities we will remind each other who's in charge so that something will be properly and impressively planned.

I have to admit our date nights are generally more exciting and memorable than our Family Home Evenings. We'll go to dinner, rent a video, do a Friday road trip (when Dan has the day off), attend church activities, and other various outings we discover in our new surroundings.

On Friday, April 30th we had dinner group at our home so our date night moved to Saturday, May 1st. Dan was in charge and planned a day date for us. Since this was somewhat momentous, I decided that pictures should be taken to document the events of the day. So, without any further ado, here are the makings of our May 1st Day Date...

What we needed to bring with us:

Out the door we go! (Not sure why Dan looks so unhappy, he planned the whole outing and it's his moment to show off his creativity.)

Stop #1: Pay rent...

...and check the mail. (We each did a task with this stop.)

Stop #2: The credit union.

Stop #3: Kadlec hospital to visit Dan's employee who just had her baby.

 

Stop #4: A tour of the movie theater turned stage theatre. (We strolled in and the owner/manager willingly gave us a tour of the place, after Dan mentioned his Master's degree in theatre.)

Stop #5: The library to return books BEFORE they were overdue.

Stop #6: The video store. Dan's company plays movies while the donors donate their plasma so he's always looking for movies to add to their collection, and that are edited by Clear Play. We went in to see if the manager would give him a deal and then looked through the DVDs they had on sale. (Here Dan's calling the center to make sure they don't already have the titles he wants to purchase.)

Stop #7: Something to eat. We had to order $6 or less in food since that's all we had left in our account until payday the next week. I know, you wish you could be big spenders like us! :)

Stop #8: We tried to look at a possible new apartment to move into, but the office is closed on Saturdays...

...so we admired the ducks instead.

Stop #9: Home to watch one of the movies we'd just purchased and to end the date on a more traditional note.

Hmmm, I think I was short-changed on our date, we just ran errands...Oh well, we did it together and it was more fun that way. Guess I have to let it slide, this time anyway....

Seriously???!!!

Our weather report today:

64°/41°
Dust

Since when is dust a weather condition?! Isn't that what we quickly blow off of our furniture hoping others don't notice it? I remember learning about snow, rain, and sleet in grade school when we learned about the weather. I suppose I was absent the day we covered dust.