Good news and bad news.

Remember this amazing door knob 

from Sheyla's cute apartment?

Yeah, me too.

What a crazy week!

If I had time to cry,

I would!

If I had time to explain,

 I would!

On the bright side:

The house is looking fabulous

but why do I pick such 

times to work on crazy projects.

The painting is almost done.

 Good news:

Davis's appointment went well.

He doesn't have to wear his neck brace

as much. 

Only when his head gets tired

(I don't know if he'll ever admit to that again).

He can't run or jump,

yet,

but he can ride a bike.

No jumps.

No dirt.

No tricks.

I don't think that doctor

realizes where we live

(although I tried to explain).

No PE till January

and he's hoping he

can snow board in February.

Give me strength!

What's up with you?

These pictures were taken at Anthropologie.

I love that store.

Amazing little trinkets.

Dreamy smells.

Beautiful clothes.

Interesting displays.

Beautiful housewares and other kinds of stuff.

But very, very expensive.

I have never bought anything from that store.

Oh, but I would love too.

I was smitten by this little structure.

It's made out of wood pallets,

long pieces of wood

and old windows.

I want one in my side yard.

It's adorable.

We strolled the outside mall,

after I picked up Sheyla,

and checked out a few stores.

Soaking in the sun and sights.

Now, for the rest of the story.

I went up to the city to pick up Sheyla.

Sheyla had been sitting out on her porch at 7:00 am.

and then she walked to Temple Square

and a nearby store 

to wait for me

to pick her up.

Her room-mate had gotten very mad at her

(Sheyla asked her not to have alchohol 

on our table the other day).

Last night this room-mate had a party

with some of her friends

and had lots of alchohol.

She got very drunk.

While Sheyla was holed up in her room,

this room-mate told some of her friends that she 

was going to 

kill Sheyla.

Yes.

That's right.

This room-mate 

also went into the room several times 

to get to their bathroom

(or just to yell at Sheyla)

and on the way

berated Sheyla

by calling her

an F.....B......

to her face.

Alot.

Scary.

Horrible.

Terrifying.

I called the police

but he said that there

is nothing they can do about it.

Other than us getting her out of there.

Then the room-mate called a friend 

at 2:30 am

and complained and complained

about Sheyla,

while Sheyla was trying to sleep

in the bed

just a few feet away.

Sheyla didn't sleep at all last night.

She was scared to go to sleep.

Oh, it's a long, long story

and it's not over yet.

New book.

I have to go to the Shopko Pharmacy

2 or 3 times a month.

Some times,

I look at books.

I rarely buy them

at Shopko.

But a couple of weeks ago

I splurged and bought

this book.

I didn't even know I wanted it.

It's very expensive.

I almost didn't buy it.

It has a collection

of recipes.

With pictures.

It shows exactly how to make

each recipe.

This is one of the biggest 

reasons I bought the book.

And one of the biggest

reasons 

I am so lame in the kitchen.

I don't even follow her blog.

Yet.

Great story.

Great pictures.

She's a good writer, witty and charming.

One of my new best friends.

I made the Creamy Rosemary Potatoes.

It smelled heavenly.

It's a heart attack ready to happen

so one cannot make this frequently.

It was so easy to make.

Like I said.

There were pictures.

You would think I was a new homemaker.

No.

Married for 24 years.

Like I said.

Lame in the kitchen.

Yummy, easy and decadent!

I told you I liked that song.

$5.00 flowers from Walmart.

Right before
we left this morning

(while we were getting situated
in the truck and
getting ready
to take Davis to school)

I plugged in my i-pod

and first played 

"Just the way you are".

Davis said,

"Not that song again,

it's getting a little annoying."

I ignored him and played it anyway.

We were both quiet

throughout the song.

Right after it was over

he said,

"That is really sweet".

And smiled.

I told you.

Finally.

I know.

I talked about painting

months and months and months

ago.

I never finished.

I realized two things:

I needed a different ladder.

And.

I'm afraid of heights

(mostly from a really tall ladder).

I have many, many other excuses

but that's not the point.

Today I got a 

"round-to-it".

And.

On Saturday

Jeff bought a new ladder.

I'm still afraid of heights.

But I painted anyway.

Fast heart beat,

sweat and all.

My goal was one wall area.

I did a little more than that!

My plan is to make an attainable and modest goal each day

and if I do more, 

then,

Hip Hip Hoorray!

I really can see me finishing soon.

Even up high on that ladder.

A shout out 

to 

you,

and you know who

you are,

for going 

to you know where,

yesterday!

  Hip Hip Hoorray!

Pattern Giveaway on LiliPopo.

I saw these pictures on Flickr 

awhile ago.

Instantly, I was fascinated.

I thought they were amazing.

I just found out that she has a blog called LiliPopo.

She is having a giveaway.

Check it out here.

These are so sweet.

One day I hope to be as clever.

I really want to win this contest.

She has an intriguing "about me" on her blog.

With a silly but undercover-like picture.

These are simply brilliant.

Look what I got!

I couldn't resist.

Luckily, it was 30% off!
I got it at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft store.

Just the way you are.

I LOVE the song 

"Just the way you are" 

by Bruno Mars.

Oh her eyes, her eyes 

Make the stars look like they're not shining

Her hair, her hair

Falls perfectly without her trying

She's so beautiful

And I tell her every day

Yeah I know, I know

When I compliment her

She won't believe me

And it's so, it's so

Sad to think she don't see what I see

But every time she asks me, "Do I look okay?"

I say,

When I see your face 

There's not a thing that I won't change

Cause  you're amazing

Just the way you are

And when you smile,

The whole world stops and stares for awhile

Cause girl you're amazing

Just the way you are.

Her lips, her lips,

I could kiss them all day if she'd let me.

Her laugh, her laugh

She hates but I think its so sexy.

She's so beautiful

And I tell her every day.

Oh you know, you know, you know

I'd never ask you to change

If perfect is what you're searching

Then just stay the same.

So don't even bother asking
If you look okay
You know I say

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are

The way you are
The way you are
Girl you're amazing
Just the way you are

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are.

I love that song.

I love everything about it.
I even love that drum beat.

I think love should be just like that.
I would love Jeff to talk to me like that.

But it doesn't always play out like that

in real life.

How it does play out, is like this:

Jeff occasionally doing the dishes, even when not asked.

Jeff going to work every day 
and working hard
even when it's not easy
or he doesn't feel well.

AND.

The other night,
as we were in the car driving,

I was stressing about something 

and Jeff scooped up my hand 
in his large hand.

He gently laughed,
smiled 

and said,

"It's really ok,

It's ok."

My heart melted. 

It's just what I needed.

This just cracks me up.

Good thing I had my camera at the ready.

A shave and a haircut...finally.

How cute is that last grin?

It's beginning to look alot like Autumn.

Looking at the mountains from my back porch.

Remember...

Just a little over 17 years ago,

in one of the coldest February's,

I was able to go to Washington D.C.

for my first and only time.

We went to many

different important sites around 

the area

in the few short days that we had.

On one of those cold, cold days,

we were able to see the Vietnam Wall.

Massive.

Overwhelming.

Touching.

Spanish Fork, Utah

has had a half-size replica

of that massive wall

for just a few short days.

I took Davis on Friday.

It's just as powerful

and moving.

58,253 names.

It's sobering and necessary

to remember

that freedom 

has a price.

On this day too

"We shall never forget".

"Now, we have inscribed a new memory

alongside those others.

It's a memory of tragedy and shock,

of loss and mourning.

But not only of loss and mourning.

It's also a memory of bravery

and self-sacrifice,

and the love that lays down it's life for a friend---

even a friend whose name it never knew."

~President George W. Bush,

December 11, 2001

flowers and puppies.

"God loved the flowers 

and invented soil.

Man loved the flowers 

and invented

vases."

~variation of a saying by Jacques Deval

"Happiness is a warm puppy"

~Charles M. Schulz

That was a great game.

He was happy with what he got

even though the sluice box

hasn't arrived yet. 

"Your birthday is a special time

to celebrate the gift of 'you'

to the world".

We celebrate again

on Saturday

(with gold panning

and family)!

Happy Birthday!

Davis has been so excited about his birthday.

We have been talking about his birthday for weeks

(really, months and months).

We've talked and talked about our gold panning trip on Saturday.

We've talked and talked about who is coming

and what we are doing to celebrate his birthday.

We've talked and talked about presents.

We've talked about the day he was born

and even the time of day he was born.

I went in the classroom with Davis today

 and presented two boxes of donuts

in celebration of his birthday.

His teacher knew it was his birthday today

(of course he's talked and talked

to her about it too).

As soon as we walked in,
she said,

"Happy Birthday Davis!

How does it feel to be

one year older

and one year wiser?"

He quickly replied,

"It's not

9:30 yet."

This is mud.

Is this every man's/boy's dream?

This is a nightmare.

We have a leak (confirmed by a city engineer)

and dear husband is trying to get to it

before we have the plumber 

come and (hopefully) fix it.

Arrrgggghhh!

Panning practice.

It's his birthday this week

and all he wants to do is go 

gold panning.

We have it all planned.

He is so excited that he has invited

as much family

as he can get away with

(we alternate birthday parties

every year 

with family and friend

parties).

He is so excited that he calls family every day to talk 

about the panning for gold/picnic birthday party.

Not your average 17 year old birthday party.

He's not your average kid.

He's been so limited in what he can do

for so long

that all he 

wanted to do for Labor Day break

was to go

gold panning.

We talked to the doctors about gold panning

and they said for him to

wear his neck brace if he goes panning.

He already has to wear it in the car.

He is so happy when he can take that thing off.

The other night he was able to sleep

on a pillow for the first time in over a month

and he just sunk into that pillow,

closed his eyes

and smiled.

He was one happy gold panner yesterday.

So happy.

Even if he didn't find any gold.

A pretty great day.

Interchangeable.

This is a previous picture of Davis's room.

This is a current picture of Davis's room.

We moved the queen bed in here.

He is a tall kid.

Almost 6 ft 3 in.

But.

He is still sleeping in a hospital bed

upstairs.

He really is getting better and better.

He just can't get out of bed when he doesn't wear the neck brace

and he is continuing to heal.

And.

We don't want him walking up and down

the stairs frequently.

So, for now he is still in the hospital bed upstairs.

(I know the picture is too low---I am waiting for brackets to be put up.

I love that picture from Ikea.

We had it in another room).

And.

Son and cute daughter-in-law

are moving in for a short while.

They will stay in Davis's room

while we fix some things 

in another room.

Then, they can move into 

the other room when it's ready

or move to their own place

when they are ready.

Sheyla is home for the weekend

and is sick

(she stays in the craft room

when she is home

and sleeps in the adorable day bed).

"If it's not one thing, it's another".

Isn't that what they say?

Well, I do!

I have something to say...

Don't be so hard on yourself.

"There comes a time when you have to stand up and shout:

This is me damn it! I look the way I look,

think the way I think,

feel the way I feel,

love the way I love!

I am a whole complex package.

Take me...

or leave me.

Accept me---or walk away!

Do not try to make me feel like less of a person,

just because I don't fit your idea of who I should be

and don't try to change me to fit your mold.

If I need to change,

I alone will make that decision.

When you are strong enough to love yourself 100%,

good and bad----you will be amazed

at the opportunities that life present you."

~Stacey Charter

I secretly love saying the world Dam(?)
(not really a secret when I blog about it to the world).

But I don't like to swear.

So I never say it enough.

It makes me giggle to say, 

"Deer Creek Dam"

"Hoover Dam"

"the dam elevator"

"the dam ranger"

"the dam water".

 I couldn't resist this great quote.

he he he he he

 

Look what I got!

It's just a little over a month away!

I just couldn't resist!