Quick Movie = 7 Hours

My mom, my sister, my niece, and I had made a plan to see a matinee movie today.  I left at 1:30 and returned at 8:30.  We had a great time and just didn't want it to end.  

We like the Northgate Reel Cinemas.  It's clean.  There's never much of a line for tickets or concessions, and they have nice new seats - almost like leather recliners that rock, with cup holders.  It's also a discount theater, $3 a ticket and $1 on Tuesdays.  

We saw Woman in Gold with Helen Mirren.  We all loved it!  We love anything from the BBC, and Helen Mirren.


We went back to Mom and Dad's to visit, eat Creamies, and drink Diet Pepsi.  When Dad came home he wanted to take us all out dinner.  We went to Applebees and visited some more.  Then we back to Mom and Dad's and visited more.  Something about when Andrea is around, we always laugh until we cry.  I cried about three times.  

I scored a pair of shoes that Mom bought and wore once.  They're black wedge Skeechers. They'll be great school shoes.  

I left there at about 8:00 and got home by 8:30.  Fun day!

Compassionate Service

We had a luncheon at the church today for the family of a man that raised his family in our ward boundaries.  His granddaughter is in our ward.  He passed away in Washington and they had a funeral there, but he was buried in Boise today and Susie and I organized the luncheon.  It was last minute, and conflicted with a high priest social that afternoon, so we were a little short on help.  It was a lovely lunch, and the family was very appreciative.  I left at 11:00 to pick things up, then made a salad and the centerpieces, then helped set-up, serve, and clean-up.  Terry came to help clean-up and we were the last ones out the door after he mopped the floor.  I got home at 6:00.  It feels good to serve.  

I'm being released from this compassionate service calling this Sunday.  I've been in for three years or so.  It's been an amazing experience to see the willingness of service, the love, and the amazing abilities that are shared.  It has always been a happy and fulfilling, and inspiring calling.  I know better now how to help.  It won't be the end to my compassionate service; I just won't be sending out the e-mails and sign-ups any more.

Halfway

Just after the 4th of July we come to a teacher's halfway mark for summer.  I thought I should have some accounting of what I've accomplished.  I really wanted to catch-up and declutter in June, so that I could do projects in July.  I'm way behind even after a month of catch-up, but I've decided to just relax and enjoy the summer.  I'll feel bad if don't accomplish anything over the summer, but I'm doing what I feel like doing every day and just letting some things go. 

Here's what I've caught-up or finished:

• WEEDING! and straightened up the yard in general so we can enjoy it and the patio.  I don't have beautiful hanging baskets, or annuals put in, and only 1/2 of my garden survived.
• Finished the Book of Mormon, and three other novels.
• Went through all of the donated fabric and have organized it into pillows, quilts, pillowcases, backpacks, and future apparel.  
• Made three blankets for the McClure kids, and finished crocheting Brynklee's blanket.
• Made a dress for Sunday.
• Caught-up my blog and started a recipe blog with Stacey and Krystle.
• Visited friends, had nice lunches, and saw a movie.

Here's what's next of the list:

• Make pillowcases for grandkids and to donate.
• Make cinch backpacks for grandkids and to donate.
• Piece together Grandpa Swain's shirts into a quilt top.
• Put together at least two more quilt tops.
• Get to the nursery and plant a few more things in the yard.
• Make a pathway on the side of the house.
• Go through all my clothes, alter or clear-out.
• Organize our closet.
• Clear-out the loft.  Redesign it and make it useful.
• Make bedskirt.
• Finish four more books.
• Start indexing again and experiment with Family Search more.

We'll see.  Whatever happens, I'm going to enjoy my summer. 

Grandkid Adventures - Week 5

For the next two weeks the kids are in swimming lessons.  With their crazy summer in a 2 bedroom apartment and a brand new baby, Stacey hasn't missed a beat.  They're still taking lessons, going to dance, having birthday parties, and acting like everything is normal.  It has to drive her a little crazy, but she just keeps pushing forward.  The house will be finished the week after the kids start back to school.

Here's this weeks itinerary:

• See Brynklee and visit with Stace.
• Go to swim lessons, right across the street from where they're building the temple.  The family home has a beautiful yard with plenty of shade for moms, siblings, and grandparents.  They have a beautiful view of the farmland and foothills too.  They have a big family, and I think the teenagers take turns teaching the lessons.  Huds was first and was learning how to side breath.  Hadley and Maycee have theirs together, except at different ends of the pool.  Maycee finished up by jumping off the diving board.  That was a first.
• Went to Settlers Park in Meridian and played on the splash pad and play equipment.  It worked out well since they were already in their suits.  
• Huds left his shoes someplace at swim lessons, so we went to K-Mart on the way home and bought everyone new flipflops, and that became our activity for the afternoon.
• Had lunch at our house.  Huds ate at least 10 pickles with his lunch, plus cucumbers.  Hadley ate 2 peaches, grapes, watermelon, blueberries, cucumbers, a peanut butter and banana sandwich.  We cut a nectarine for her to take home. 
• I found material scraps and they tore fabric into strips to tie on the straps of their flipflops.  They turned out pretty awesome! 
• They have been participating in a summer reading program at the library and had earned a scavenger hunt at Powell's Candy Store.  We went there and came out with three bags of sweets.
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Running around the yard is almost as fun as being in the pool.

  

  They just feel bad because it isn't their turn to swim yet.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Mayce is in charge of pushing.

  
  
  
  
  

  

  Splash pad

   
  
  

  

  Good looking shoes that tickle your feet.

  

  In front of Powell's with their bags of goodies.

  

  We're almost ready to head back to Meridian.  A couple aren't buckled, but it's going to be a pleasant ride because there's candy to eat.

   

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

A Blessing

Our latest granddaughter, Brynklee Hayden McClure, was blessed at church today.  It was nice being there together.  Our whole family, minus Ty, were there to support and participate.  She looked adorable in a long white dress full of ruffles.  She didn't make a peep.  We stood around and visited after, and I didn't even get a picture!  I hope someone did.

We had everyone over for dinner after.  We didn't get together on the 4th, but it ended up being a Cinco de Julio celebration.  We had chicken enchilada soup, tacos, lots of veggies and fruit, and frozen yogurt.  It was nice just having a relaxing Sunday.  It's the best spending time with family.  I love the summer when I don't have to think about going to work the next day.  
The kids with their 4th of July flag cookies:
 

He looks like he's going to do a sword swallowing routine.

 

This is how stimulating the after dinner conversation is - Bry and Brynk are conked-out.

I-guy modeling his new haircut and 4th of July necklace.

4th of July at 103 Degrees

It had been above 100 degrees for the past 8 days, so we opted out of the (lame) parade downtown, out of the chalk art at Ann Morrison Park, and out of parks, barbeques, or outside picnics completely.  We went to a matinee movie, McFarland USA, at the discount theater, and then took Terry's mom out to dinner.  

We loved the movie.  It was fun going together.  Terry and I aren't big movie watchers.  I think we still have been to less than 10 movies at theaters in our whole marriage.  We're probably getting close to 10.  We definitely don't average 1 a year, maybe 1 every 2 years.  It was a cool inside and a real treat.  We ate protein bars and drank water.  What weirdos!  

We went to Applebees at about 5:00 that afternoon.  The place was practically deserted.  Maybe we were the only whimps that bailed on all outdoor activities.  It was nice visiting with Felice.  We got home at about 8:00 and I was wiped-out.  I don't know what it was, but I went to bed by 9:00 and didn't hear anything all night.  Terry said it sounded like our neighbors were launching rockets at about 11:30, but I slept through everything.  

It wasn't a traditional 4th of July.  The only thing patriotic I did was put our flag out, but we had a cool day.  

Grandkid Adventures - Week 4

Yea!  Terry is available this month, so now it's 2 against 3.  Odds are we can take them now.
Today's activities:

• Wanted to go paddle boating (kind of, it was over 100 degrees) but, they didn't open until 11:00 and too hot.  We played at Julia Davis Park instead.
• Terry went to the dentist at noon, so the rest of us went to McDonalds for lunch and indoor, air conditioned play.
• Our project was making bead necklaces and decorating hats for the 4th of July.  Grandpa helped and also put on oldies music while we worked.  There was singing and dancing going on.  I've decided that Hadley is their gymnast, but Mayce in going to be their dancer.

I was not exhausted that evening - tired - but not exhausted.  I like my new assistant. 

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