MY *Awkward Family Photo*

I have to make a disclaimer at the beginning of this post... of all the sewing I did for my kids (and it was tons) this is the only epic awkward fail!

I got the great idea to make matching outfits for the kids and I for Easter 1993. Now there is nothing wrong with that, but the fabric choice... yeah, within a few weeks I began to question it.

And after I saw this photo I think the whole kit and caboodle went to Goodwill!

This is the days before digital... so I have a series of shots taken that are similar to this. I would set the timer, run to get into the photo and then try to look all cool and collected. Fortunately one of the kids 'fessed up that they'd been goofing off in the photos so I did get ONE group shot where we all looked normal... even if our cloths were...erm... interesting!

But look at my darling children! They never complained.

Spencer, 9.

Camille, 7 1/2.

Stuart, 7 1/2.

These photos have produced a lot of laughter in the last 21 years. Now I think I am brave enough to show them to the world...

I just have one thing to say... be kind!

Stuart and Stephanie's Wedding Day

It was a wonderfully busy, happily-stressful, joy-filled, tearful, exhausting week and today I'm somewhat rested, dried out and ready to blog.

On 4.4.14 Stuart and Stephanie were married in the Salt Lake City Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for time and all eternity. And, in case you've ever wondered, this is what joy looks like!

We were so fortunate to have all of our family here for this wonderful day! (Even though we are missing Kevin, Ryan and their families from this pix... sad face)

I can't even begin to express what it was like to sit in the sealing room of the Salt Lake Temple with many of our posterity. I think that it must be close to heaven!

Stuart specifically told me he didn't want me behind the camera so I obediently turned over my camera (after a few shots) to one of Stuart's friends and will wait for the wonderful photos from Brittany Cascio. She does such beautiful work.

I don't know what was being said here but I love the happy smiles of these wonderful people who are my children! How did I get so blessed?

I love these happy sisters (and Stu too)!

Speaking of... I couldn't have asked for a better close up of my Stuey.

And with my family you know we love to have fun...

This reminds me of a similar photo from Camille's wedding.

I love that they did this pose... it is my favorite...

And why not for little-Joanie too?

Oh, and these big boys? When did they get so grown up? Mama has on 4" heels!

This favorite hails back to a day at the beach almost 28 years ago. It's caption is, *Strong like booll*

And my precious babies... *all growed up*!

And these ladies? We've been BFF for almost 30 years. They've been with me through many ups and a few downs. I am so blessed to have women like this in my life. We've all realized how rare and precious our friendship is! It is one that is not oft repeated!! Kristi commented how wonderful it is that they come to help me with these weddings.

Little dressed-alike cousins.

And this... Rebekah meets her little Fiona-niece! What a blessing family is.

The only sad thing about these photos is that since I'm not the one taking them there are so many that are missing... but those memories will live in my heart just the same.

The Joy of Photos

I've said this before but my memory works like photographs; I have a whole library of mental images. I think that is one of the reasons I love photographs so much. They freeze a moment in time and when I look at them all of the emotions from that moment come back to me with clarity.

After finishing the 8 bridesmaid dresses the next item on my To-Do list was to scan photos of Stuart for a video presentation to be shown at the groom's dinner (aka rehearsal dinner) and the reception. I leafed through 21 years of photos and pulled out the ones I liked the best; the ones that captured Stuart for me.

Not many days later Stuart informed me that he looked goofy in all of the photos (and that's MY fault?) He looked through 15 years of photos, marked ones he wanted me to add to or replace. I sent them off to Liz and told her she would have to get with Stuart to pick the ones that don't look goofy!

This whole *search and scan exercise* got me infected with photo-phever again! I want to be able to share these wonderful memories with my kids... you know, the ones who made these wonderful memories.

Working in no particular order I started in 1993 and decided to scan every page and label them chronologically so they will *read* like the paper photo album. (I have about 6 years scanned)

It didn't take long before this photo jumped of the page at me! Look at these beautiful girls! Rebekah and Megan were room-mates at BYU before Rebekah got married. So when Megan and Erik got married two years later I captured these two friends, and now sisters. I just want to cry with love for these two beautiful girls who have matured into wonderful mothers and women.

August 23, 1994

Another of my favorites is this one of Rebekah and Spencer. Rebekah is wearing a cute little jumper I made for her to wear in the ward road show. Spencer is just 2 months old; the same age his little Annabelle!

March 3, 1984

And here are Camille and Stuart when they were only 7 months old... just about the age of little Fiona. How is this happening to me? This fast forward of 30 years?

May 1986

OK... and then there's this one of my babies with mustaches...

 DRAWN BY DADDY WITH A PERMANENT INK MARKER!

He said they liked it. What really happened was he liked to vex the mama because they wouldn't wash off! Can you see how unbelievable cute these babies are?

April 1987

And my beautiful Rebekah again. She is 13.5. When I was that age I looked like a boy (Stuart, in fact, and whereas it looked good on him at 13.5, it didn't work so well for me!)

May 1987

No list of favorite photos would be complete without this one! These precious little children! What a joy! We have two more re-enactments of this photo. Camille just commented that we need to do that again. Wouldn't that be fun with them and their spouses and kids?

August 1989

And here is that same cute group... 1st day of school 1995. Spencer is starting 6th grade and Camille and Stuart are starting 5th grade. Such happy siblings.

July 26, 1995

I'm so grateful for all of these happy photo and memories! What a blessed life I have!

Measuring Up

Even though the fabric for Stephanie's bridesmaid dresses has been in my sewing room for the last 2 weeks... I HAVEN'T! So tonight she had a measurement party at her house to get everyone's measurements. We texted about this last night but tonight I started getting nervous so she kindly invited me over to *just do the dang measuring myself* (my words, not hers!)

I didn't take long for me to realize I really didn't have to be there, but I'm sure glad I went. I got to hear more of the *Stuart and Stephanie* story than I've ever heard before. We are so pleased that Stephanie is going to be part of our family.

One of the measurees was Camille. Fiona tagged along so she could visit with her favorite Auntie NieNie. We decided that SHE should model the reject wedding veils. (Cuz you know that the real veil won't be seen here until after the big day!)

Fiona is at such a cute age. She loves to flirt and smile.

October Birthdays

... and, boy, is it crowded!

You know how they say a picture's worth a thousand words? I knew we had a lot of October birthdays... but it wasn't until I turned the page on my calendar that Camille made us for Christmas that I realize JUST HOW MANY!!



Roxie, Camille and Jessica blowing out their birthday candle...



And Uncle Stuey, with help from Roxie and Sophie (Actually Sophie changed her mind when she got up close and personal with the candle. But no worries- Uncle Stuey was there to save the day.)

Joanie's Big Day

Let me just start by asking, "How can Little Joanie be sixty-years-old?" I've always been the baby of the family... even now I have people say, "You're only 60? Try it from here!" Ah well, 60 is the oldest I've ever been!



On my actual birthday Ann and Wayne came up to go to dinner with us. It was very nice to spend this day with one of my sisters who *prayed for me*!

Since 3rd Sunday Family dinner was this weekend Camille asked if I wanted her to make a Pig Pickin' Cake (cha! YES!) Stuart went digging for candles and the best selection available was a *6* and then a *0* made of mandarin oranges!



Everyone sang *Happy Birthday to Joanie/Mom/Grammie* complete with some harmony by Kevin (I love harmony!)

And as exciting as turning 60 might be for me... it couldn't hold a candle to Uncle Stuart and a swarm of ants on the patio!



This is the second time they've done this!



Which isn't a very smart move... what can I expect? They are ants!

Life's a Picnic

Technically this post should have happened last month, but I didn't want to spoil a surprise. Stuart is dating a very nice girl, Anna... (we like her a lot) and he wanted to do something special for her for Christmas. He found himself a *naked* basket and wanted to transform it into a picnic basket. He called to bounce some ideas off of me and asked if he could bring it down for me to *help* him. Usually *help* = mom-does-it-while-I-watch! But not this time. Stuart was a man with an idea and HE wanted to execute it. (My contribution was mostly instructional)

This is the finished product... I am so impressed! (The light green gathers in the center to cover the basket.)

The best idea of Stuart's vision are the leather straps that hold the picnic-ware in place. He went to Hobby Lobby and picked up a package of scrap leather and then went to town with my Crop-o-dile! What you can't see is the leather swatch on the outside of the basket that reinforces the attachment location.  He envisioned these cool straps with the rawhide ties.

The cup strap threads through the handle of the mug and ties them in tight.

But I think the plate straps made him the happiest! He made them to accommodate different sized or more plates.

I sneaked this shot on the down-low... he wouldn't even let me do the sewing of the basket liner (and btw- he is the one who remembered he needed to compensate for the difference in size between the base and the rim of the basket.)

What a guy! (And Anna loved it!)

11-11-11 Fun

We told Spencer and Deborah we would take care of food at their reception. I suggested we serve chips and salsa (A friend in our ward did this and it was a wonderful success). When I talked to Auntie P about my idea she said, “I think we should make little taquitos! I’ll call Camille and ask her if she wants to have a taquitos-making night!” (Camille was always her able-bodied-assistant when we made taquitos for P’s annual Christmas party. So I ran the idea past Spencer and Deborah... they were thrilled!

We planned our trip down so we would arrive early enough to make taquitos. Stuart, Gordon and I went down in Gordon’s Buick. Camille and Kevin went down in her little Mazda. Silly side note... we left a full two hours before Camille and Kevin, but because of all of our potty stops, meal stops and picking up Spencer and El Pollo Loco for dinner (whew!) we all arrived at Auntie P’s house about the same time!

After dinner we were all there in the kitchen... the girls cooking, the boys chatting, and it felt just like all those other fun gatherings at Auntie P’s. I love that feel of tradition and connecting. Sonny came up for the day so I got to see her too! What a wonderful blessing.

I DO LOVE THESE FUN GIRLS!

We initiated Deborah in the arts of taquito making... showing her how to roll the meat in the softened shell and then secure it with a toothpick. Ah, we do love this girl. We are so glad she's in our family. (Can you guess which are the bride's hands? Hmm, not hard!)



Poor Kevin's back was hurting (9 hours in a car will do that to you!), but he didn't want to miss out on all of the conversations so Auntie P brought out her special quilt (that someone very nice made for her) and he laid on the floor.



After the taquito fry was completed I caught some pix of everyone.

SPENCER, UNCLE STEVE, GORDON, DEBORAH

I'd just turned around from taking this pix when I caught Stuey in the act of eating the last of the pollo! Yummy!



Before Sonny went back home that evening I gave her a haircut (have scissors will travel... that's my motto). I cut P's hair too, but since we both were busy no one got a photo.



What a wonderful, happy, fun-filled evening with our family!

"It's All Fun and Games 'Til Somebody Gets Hurt!"

I love our tradition of 3rd Sunday Grammie Dinner. Most of the local children and grandchildren come for a yummy dinner and an evening of fun and visiting. But this week Unca Stuey was in fine form. He took off his tie (on Sunday!!) and went outside with his adoring fan club.



I became aware of the frivolities, grabbed my camera and got outside just in time to see him *airplaning* Kaia around.



But Unca Stuey is always looking for the next fun feat! He got both little girls; Elise and Roxie, each by one leg and started to spin...



Go faster... (At this point mama-Jessica had to look away! Look out of the way!)



Ahhhhh... too fast... Yeah, it's all fun and games 'til somebody gets hurt, or in this case, scare-scare! (But look at Roxie's face! She is totally diverted!)



But that's ok. Unca Stuey can make it all better.



Christian wasn't into the spinning, but he loved the *throw up in the air* routine.



And where is Sophie all this time? Staying safely away from her rowdy Unca Stuey! Showing us the pretty flowers. This little 16-month-old can sure talk! What's up with that?



This little lovely has eyes that are the same color as denim. Uncle Spenny's eyes are like that too. I love it.



Ashton is growing so fast! She is almost as tall as her Mama... she passed up her Grammie years ago! What a lovely girl.



It is one of my greatest joys to be here in Utah with so many of our grandchildren and family. I just wish the rest of them were closer.

Happy time!