Guess the Project...

What have I been up to lately and why?

I will say that I've been enjoying it. :)

Return of the Prodigal Blogger-Part 3

It's been way too many months since I've been on here other than to read your blogs. So, here are a few of the promised items. (Since space for pictures is so limited, I've put together collages to show several of the pictures from a few of the promised items, and hopefully, I'll be quicker at getting this updated. So here goes...)

1. Sid's valiant return from the South Dakota Rapid City mission on January 19, 2012. His flight was delayed over an hour. Not much to do in the Pocatello airport while waiting for an inbound flight. So we killed time as best we could until finally, the plane landed and we were able to see Sid again after two years and 6 days.

2. February 9, 2012 we gathered again as a family to celebrate the marriage of Jacob Dee Christensen and Amanda Marie Horrocks in the Salt Lake Temple. Then all day Saturday was spent changing a gym into a reception hall. The final result was amazing and the Bride was happy with how everything turned out.

3. For Valentine's this year we joined 10 other couples for a pot luck dinner, bowling, and dessert. We had a great time with everyone.

Also, I splurged on Dan's gift. We set a budget but I managed to get $30.00 knocked off his gift so that it came in under budget! SCORE!!!!! This was what I settled on for Dan this year:

4. This year, the day before my birthday Dan and I went exploring. We headed north and went to Sun Valley for the day. I'd never been there and Dan hadn't been there in 20 years.

We strolled around the resort and through the town of Ketchum, Idaho. The ski resorts had just closed and the summer season functions hadn't started yet so it was fairly quiet. There were some Easter events but they were all the next day...and we wouldn't be there.

Part of my catching up is now finished; brief but recorded. Yet to come...

1. Dan's 50th Birthday Extravaganza
2. Grandpa's funeral
3. West Yellowstone Trip

Return of the Prodigal Blogger-Delayed

While in the middle of updating this post I was rudely informed that I no longer had space to download pictures. Since life has continued to march along swiftly, I have not had the opportunity to free space permitting me to continue posting with pictures of our various activities. I anticipate some time available to dedicate to this challenge sometime in the next month or two. At which time I will pick up where I left off discussing our Christmas 2011 celebration and proceed with updates on the following activities:

1. Sid's valiant return from his mission
2. Amanda's beautiful wedding
3. Valentine's 2012
4. My birthday & trip to Sun Valley
5. Dan's birthday extravaganza
6. Grandpa's funeral
7. Anything else of significance that has occurred in our lives

Until then...hope you are all doing well and I thank you for your patience.

Why Didn't I Think of That?

I was introduced to this blog today:

http://emilyweaverbrownphoto.com/blog/

Check out her black light bath, bentos, and light table. I didn't look closely at experimenting with color but at first glance, that looks pretty cool too! For those who try her ideas with your little ones (heck, or big ones, I'm thinking I might have to try some myself) have fun with the creativity and photos that I'm sure will follow.

Return of the Prodigal Blogger-Part 2

My goal is to get to sleep early tonight so I'll see how much I get posted before it's time to call it a night.

December began with our ward Christmas party. Dan and I were asked to be the chairs of the committee so the ideas began. As we contemplated what to do and how to do it I felt very strongly that our ward needed to be together celebrating and not some of us serving while others were celebrating. We contacted another ward to see if they would serve at our dinner in return for us serving at theirs. After several people commented on how nice it was to all be together and I was pleased that the inspiration came together as it did.

Each of the auxiliaries were in charge of part of the night. The YW helped with Santa and took pictures. The YM helped usher and set up the tables and chairs. The Relief Society decorated, the Primary worked with the Bishopric on a gift to the families, the Elder Quorum picked up the food, and the High Priests gave a presentation. Everyone helped with the clean up.

Santa came at the beginning of the event and he was in a room other than where we served dinner. We had everyone sing the 12 Days of Christmas and broke up the group by days. Each group selected a person or two to go to the front and read part of "Twas the Night Before Christmas." The High Priests took the book I Believe in Santa Claus by Diane G. Adamson and shared its message with those in attendance.

The whole evening went well and we came away very pleased with the end result and how it all came together.

I've often passed The Pastry Perfection when running errands or driving various places around town. It's only a few miles from our place and every time I drive by I think I'll stop in someday. Well, someday finally came. As we headed home from work I decided that I'd splurge some of my allowance money for Home Evening treats at Pastry Perfection. A smart and yet dangerous decision at the same time.

A good portion of the month was spent getting Christmas ready; purchasing gifts, wrapping, shipping, decorating the house, etc.

  

There much more to come but I'd better stop here before I don't get it posted and I'm more months behind...

Hey Four Eyes!

Dan needed to fill a new prescription for his glasses. I asked him if he wanted to change his frames again or go with the same he had before. He elected for new frames. In the spirit of March Madness, and in no particular order, here are the final four...(Don't let his facial expressions affect your vote he was just goofing off.)