"To Grandmother's House We Go"

We had Harry and Dawn's kids for the weekend while they belatedly celebrated their 8th wedding anniversary in Las Vegas. It was the only weekend I had available until November practically. How did life get so busy??

Whenever I suggest getting rid of this table in the kitchen - in favor a nice little drop leaf number that would allow me to find a charming old hutch to put on the wall in there - Dad says, "What about when the grandkids come?" I guess he has a point there.

We booted Noah out to the garage for the duration - I had assumed that everyone would want to stay at their own lovely air-conditioned, flat screen T.V., across from park house - but no, they wanted to come here!! So Porter and Eve "bunked" together, but Eve didn't go to bed until Porter fell asleep - which he did quickly each night! When I took her in the first night, Porter was uncovered - as I would be in our house in the summertime - but Eve said he needed a blanket . I said, no he didn't need one - but when I went in to check on them before I went to bed, I could see that Eve had tucked an afghan all around him and then put his "blanky" on top of that!! (I actually uncovered him so he could sleep more comfortably! But she covered him up again Saturday night too! She is Dawn's daughter for sure!!)

The biggest hassle was getting in and out of the car seats that were crammed in the back of my car!! I'm sure glad I missed a lot of the car seat era - I might have been crankier than I was!

Dad played Jr. Boggle with Eve while I fixed dinner on Sunday - when Harry woke up, he had a different version of the game!! (Called "Build a tower, knock it over!)

Eve also enjoyed the Shrek matching game that I found on the computer. I'm sure there are thousands of games out there, but I like to stick with what I know - and no one is on it long enough to get bored!! (Besides, I always prefer the regular Memory game and we played a bit of that too.)

Harry and Dawn got home Sunday night just as we were finishing dinner - and the kids were happy to see them - and to ask if they'd brought them presents!!

Just a note - Little Harry - that would be HFT - is on the front page of the LA Times California Section on Saturday the 30th. You almost need a magnifying glass to tell that it's him - but it's him!

Hey Mikey.....

she likes it....

What we have been up to . . .

We drove home from Oregon yesterday - 12 hours worth - we'd started Monday night around 9 - made it to Grant's Pass. I started feeling sick and feverish, so it was a pretty miserable ride. At least we had the Democratic Convention to listen to and distract me anyway.

I was late to my meetings this a.m. at school, but I frankly think no one noticed!! And then I spent the day setting up my room. I should have taken a before shot, then you would really be impressed at how much I got done. Noah came and set up my new classroom computer and the 4 student computers. He also shelved all my reading books - I'm not sure why I keep so many in my room - my students don't read a quarter of them - but I just feel like a classroom should be full of good books to read!!

I still need to do a couple of bulletin boards and sort some files - and make lesson plans for the first week - but I'm so excited to be in a new, bigger classroom - actually it's an old classroom - Bonny and Eliza had English there - that I just like to walk around straightening things up and reveling in the space I finally have!!


So, for the rest of the post, as usual the photos are in a pretty random order - makes for interesting reading though!

Phoebe and the kids gave David a Wii for their 10th anniversary - a most popular gift around the Fillmore household!

The new ceiling fan Dad installed - very chic.

David taking some instruction from Dad about electrical stuff. I was telling Phoebe that Dad could just train David to do all the stuff - and then David can come here and get our stuff done!

Henry especially was a very interested observer - and a big helper too.

Agnes was just her charming self - what she does best! I will miss rocking her to sleep for naps - twice a day - what a treat - nothing quite like snuggling a sweet baby.

Not sure what her pose means - maybe we just "caught" her off guard!

No one was at the race to see Dad run - but he came home with a medal!

Calvin was fascinated to watch Dad shave.

The back of the "new apron" that Phoebe and I are pretty jazzed about.

I made a comforter cover for Agnes' crib comforter.

I also made little mattresses, pillows and reversible blankets for the doll bunk beds. Agnes doesn't quite have the concept - she kept pulling them off and laughing!! But she does enjoy her dollies!

Dad changed the direction the door swung in - to make for easier access - and hung a new door - and had to switch the light switch (pardon the pun) to the other wall. It's like a new room.

Multiple trips were made to Leows and Home Depot. Calvin loved the tractors.

I was packing to go home and looked down to see Calvin and Agnes "reading" - don't you love it??

It was great to spend time with the family - we miss them already!!

Thanks for a great time!

an easy way for Mom to finish her anniversary posts

I just read an article on Unclutterer the other day about ScanMyPhotos.com, a same-day service that will professionally scan 1,000 photos on a DVD for you for $50! I'm sure that there are tons of other photo services that are similar but that seems like a pretty good deal (especially as I'm sorting through my own photos and I really don't have time to sit and pick through them all), and the article has a review from the NYT from someone who has used it. Pretty cool.

On a related note, there's another service (also something learned from Unclutterer) called Pixily that takes all the important documents you want saved in PDF format (saves filing space I guess) and does it for you. I might be a little skeptical about sending things with personal information on them, but they have a secure guarantee (the CPO posted some comments in the Unclutterer post), and he also said people send in their kids' artwork. Kind of cool for people who don't want to get rid of EVERYTHING but still want to save some space.

I'm on my way to digitizing everything.

Making the leap.....

Consider this your warning

Let me be the first to announce that Mom has a new apron pattern and it is virtuous , lovely and of good report and slightly maternity-ish.

Luckily, no one asked me if I was pregnant today.

Headin' south again

We are getting ready to leave Portland and Phoebe and David's wonderful home and family.

We have enjoyed our time here - it has mostly been a bit chilly and rainy, but that has been a nice contrast to what we know will greet us in Monrovia when we return!!

Dad finished the Hood to Coast Relay in good time - finishing is the reward - and a medal too. He had a good time and is planning on it again next year.

He didn't do all the projects Phoebe had in mind, but he did make a major change in her downstairs bathroom and that has made her happy. I will post photos when we return.

I have to be in meetings on Wednesday and Thursday - and then will have H and D's kidlets for a weekend - so watch for interesting posts of people you know and love!!

Post haste

Was that a call to repentance I just heard? Well, maybe not. But at any rate I am guilty of not posting. We went on a rather brief camping trip this weekend and quite enjoyed ourselves, despite the lack of nap (Theo) and the lack of continuous sleep for more than 30 minutes at night (me). Luckily we had Matt to hold us together.

I'll post more pictures on my blog soon (e-mail me at lovethesefries@yahoo.com if you are still not "a member" but would like to be).

We are going again in a few weeks. Since we need to get a new camping air mattress anyway, I have strongly suggested we buy 2 twins rather than a queen to share. Can ya hear me!

Everyone must be on vacation - they don't seem to be blogging anyway!!

Dad and I took off for points northwest about 6 p.m. on Monday the 18th. When I planned this trip last year, I figured we'd come up the week before. Things got complicated by Dad's current job. It's a good thing it has been a profitable venture - otherwise I might be annoyed!!

We enjoyed the drive anyway and Dad was remarkably alert with so little sleep under his belt. He got sleepy though - so sleepy it made me nervous so I insisted on driving. But my driving makes Dad nervous - so we stopped at a hotel! (I keep telling him he needs to get over that - what if we get old and I have to be the driver - that seems to happen to lots of old people I see.)

We got in Tuesday around 7 p.m. It was a nice drive and we enjoyed spending time together - since South America, we've really been on parallel tracks - like ships passing in the night!

It's always fun to visit Phoebe, David and kids - they are always so happy to see us - and we are happy to see them.

I have been somewhat occupied here. But in my off moments I have checked the blogs - and there hasn't been a whole lot there to read.

I think Eliza is camping. (So she'll probably write about it.)

And Hannah and Robbie are island hopping in paradise (but that should produce a post or two eventually.)

Bonny is probably still enjoying her awesome summer.

Harry F. doesn't blog. Nor does Noah.

Guess that explains it.

I will post pics when we return. Suffice it to say that Dad has been Mr. Handyman and has replaced a ceiling fan, repaired a toilet, taken off a door - to rehang with a new one which will swing the other way - which necessitated repositioning the light switches - which was a big job.

He's off running the Hood to Coast now - and plans to get the door rehung on Monday - we are supposed to leave Monday - maybe we will leave Tuesday. And maybe I will be late to my meetings at school on Wednesday morning. Time will tell.

Phoebe and David are off celebrating their recent anniversary.

We talked to Nebekers about the Big Red Benefit Concert. Sarah said all the hippies had descended on Astoria. Jefferson Airplane was there too. We couldn't work in going to the concert, but will get a first hand report and let you know how it went. Dad wants to get one of the posters for sure.

I have been sewing and doing laundry and taking Agnes for walks and running errands with Phoebe. Calvin loves lunch at Target too - must be something about being 4 - or at least almost 4.

And tonight I watched Billy Budd - the 1962 movie based on the Herman Melville novella - what a powerful story - I'm also reading the novella.

It's late so I'm heading off to bed - and praying that Agnes doesn't wake up in the middle of the night!!

(How soon we forget some things!!)

Happy Birthday Hannah!

We will be gone for Hannah's 23rd b-day - so here's a shot of her at some celebration -

Maybe this was her birthday - or maybe not - we were in St. George for her 1st birthday - and I missed it!!

I'm sure she's enjoying it in her island paradise with Robbie!!

We'll look for an update on the celebration when they return.

Another occasion of note!

Don't want anyone to think we would forget Phoebe and David - and their entrance into a new decade of wedded bliss!

We walk by that tree every week as we go to work at the temple - it has grown quite a bit in 10 years - I will have to take a photo!!

See you soon!!

Some occasions of note

We are leaving today for Portland - and I certainly hope we leave before midnight!!

And there are some occasions of note coming up tomorrow - so I will acknowledge them now!

Tomorrow is David's birthday - and this is one of my favorite photos of him - I probably posted it last year. Have a happy day David!!

And tomorrow is Helen and Pop's wedding anniversary - here's a family shot from '47 or '48 I would guess. Doesn't baby Harry W. look like Dad??

And tomorrow is also Lyn's birthday - he is turning 65!! He's the boy in the photo above - the sweetie in the middle is yours truly!!

Felicitations to all!!

Happy 68th!!

It's late, and this is the first photo I found in my files. It's a pretty classy one actually - don't you agree??

I am speaking in Sacrament meeting - 2 actually - and my intro is "Today is my parent's 68th wedding anniversary."

Pretty catchy, huh??

Happy Day Mom, hope you enjoy many happy memories on this day.

"Off they go, into the wild, blue yonder. . ."

I was at the temple all last week - Dad was supposed to be there, but he was working very long hours - and then he got sick - and was pretty sure they wouldn't want him spreading his germs around. So he just shared them with Noah, who was working with him!

Consequently, I hosted Hannah and Robbie when they came through on their way to Kwajalein - which I'm pretty sure I'm still spelling wrong - and it was a nice little interlude, to fix them dinner - which Hannah actually did a lot of - and then to have frozen waffles the next a.m. before I took them back to LAX.

Robbie was excited to check his email and to have easy access to the internet - and Hannah enjoyed checking out the new cookbooks they had received as a wedding gift.

It was really nice to spend a bit of time with them. And I enjoyed my little "mini-vacay" at the Temple Apartments. It's always nice to "get away" from it all.

But it's back to normal - sorting through the mail, doing the laundry, putting away the toiletries, remembering all the things that are on the ubiquitous "to do" list that I didn't take with me!

And I have to speak in not one, but two Sacrament meetings tomorrow.

But I have had a lot of uninterrupted time to ponder on my topic - which is marriage.

More updates

I am still here in the temple apartments. I did take pics of Hannah and Robbie when they were here last night and this a.m. but I'm not able to post them here.

It was great to see them - and share a meal or two and chat about things - and I even had 2 more wedding gifts to give them.

I'm sure they are going to have some great posts when they return. There is not internet access on Kwaj, so we won't be hearing much until they return.

But I can imagine them strolling along the shores and enjoying all the adventures Robbie has planned.

And that will have to suffice for now. They don't even have cell phones on Kwaj!!

Might be a bit like paradise!

"The envelope please. . ."

We are here in the temple apartments doing payback for the people who subbed for us in July - so I don't have access to my photos - and it's a pretty slow computer, so I don't have the patience to get some images from Google, but wanted to let you all know that Frances and Dee got their mission call today!!!

Any guesses??

If you said Australia Sydney North, then you would be right!!!!

And they leave December 1st for the MTC.

Pretty exciting news!!

"On the road again. . ."

So, last Friday we flew JetBlue to SLC, but the photos are not in chronological order, so I will just note something under each one and you can figure out how the weekend went!!

Last night - Monday - I went with my good friend Joy to visit her mom - Teresa Jensen is 93 and sharp as they come - visiting with her is a treat!

Monday afternoon, 3 of my old roomies and I got together at Janet's parent's house - it overlooks SLC. We had a wonderful visit - I hadn't seen Janet in 38 years!! But we have been in touch!! I recommend staying in touch with old friends - and getting together often - certainly more than every 38 years!!

On Sunday afternoon, after going to church with the Selanders and enjoying a lovely Sunday meal - and the DVD of their recent trip to China - how timely!! - I took Dad to the airport - and then headed to Provo. Here's Hannah in her little "work corner" where she is diligently working on thank you notes.

Hannah and Robbie live in the Truman - the oldest apartment building in Provo.

We headed over to the Millers for dinner - and had a great visit - mostly playing "catch up" but Jason feels inspired now to have a Monrovia/Arcadia/Duarte (that would be "MAD" now wouldn't it??) get together with all the Provo/BYU kids who are up there now. (I need a synonym for "now!")

Monday morning I headed over to visit Linda - and got the extra treat of seeing Andrew too!! It was wonderful to see and visit with Linda and "Andrum!!"

On Saturday - we had driven up to Logan on Friday night, after we got to SLC - and after we enjoyed a very filling repast at Macaroni Grill with Hannah and Robbie - who came with us to Logan. Thanks Dee and Frances for the great accommodations. And Robbie thanks you for the ATVing!!
Anyway, there was a luncheon after Lorie's wedding - the reason for the whole trip to begin with - and Dad did the Father of the Bride honors for Lorie - standing in for Jim - whom we were all missing at the moment!

And her brothers did the "first dance" honors for Jim - to the country hit, "I Loved Her First." It was a sweet, lovely moment.

Saturday night we headed back to SLC, for H and R to pick up their car and for Dad and I to stay with the Selanders - who have some great home improvements to show off!! Let me just say that the Selanders get the "Host of the Year " award - they are great!!

Hannah and Robbie in their "vintage" but charming apartment.

Cute kitchen!!

Lorie and Riley were married in the Logan temple - and while waiting outside for the happy couple to emerge, we ran into Pres. and Sister Owen, who were there for Elder Moss' wedding!!

The happy couple emerge - it was a lovely wedding and the bride was beautiful!!

Grandma Terrill came up with us - and we all had a great reunion!!

Lorie and Riley with the family. There was a shot with everyone in it - and someone "took" it for me with my camera - but it's not on my camera!!

Dad and I in front of the temple.

Visiting with Karen and Jeff.

Fran and Dee, finding some shade while we waited.

So now it's back to the grind - we still have a pretty packed schedule - we are doing day shifts at the temple this week for the folks who subbed for us - and then we have our regular shifts on Friday night and Saturday day - and Dad and Noah are working every night this week - and I'm speaking in two Sacrament meetings on Sunday and then we are supposed to leave for Oregon on Monday - and we are driving!!

They will not let me into my room before the 20th - and I won't be back until the 26th - and we have meetings on the 27th and 28th and I'm taking care of Harry and Dawn's kids on the Labor Day weekend - so we just might watch movies on the first day of school!!

(I'm getting a new room - finally!! I had been assuming they would let me work on Labor Day - but they won't - so maybe I will just put the kids to work moving me into the "new " room - it's room 7 - Mrs. Thomas' old room - or Mrs. LeBec - depending on how old you are!!)

It will be an adventure I'm sure!!

(This seems to be an exclamation point type of post, doesn't it??)