McKay's Birthday

Happy 17th Birthday McKay!

His Birthday was over a week ago,

but he had a good time.

He got to stay home from school on the day of his birthday.

And the weekend before had a sleepover with friends.

He had fudge for his birthday,

and a homemade sweet and sour chicken dinner.

Yummmmmm!

Me and the birthday boy.

I can't believe he may only be with us another year.

I'll savor every minute!

YW Camp

Recently I was able to go with our ward's young women 

to a pre-camp to help them certify before our big one-week camp

coming up the end of June.

I love having the opportunity to be with these GREAT young women

and their awesome leaders.

(I am assistant camp director)

Being silly

In a serious way!!!

Our bishop went into the woods in search of a mysterious

"dead animal" smell that was making itself manifest in our camp sight.

As he was searching for the stench he came across a section

of the woods that possibly had a tornado touch down,

or a micro burst storm or something.

There were trees snapped off,

and in areas trees that were kind of wound together 

kind-of like a braid.  

Here was a tree that was bent over and propped against another tree.

Kinda-like a catapult built by nature.

(no man could have bent that tree over!)

Look at this bent over tree.

A closer look of the tree at the "bend."

Another snapped off tree.

Snapped just like a toothpick.

This is the area that looked kind-of braided.

Trees that had fallen and others twisted around each other.

I thought it was VERY interesting.

But I know I'm weird . . . . ;)

A club of extraordinary women

For the last 3-4 years,

(can't remember how long)

I have been the stand-in stampin up demonstrator

for a group of women that love to get together and create homemade cards.

The group started out with 4-5 members when I took it over

and can swell to almost a dozen at times.

We had eight of us at our last "stamp club."

We meet once a month,

make cards,

swap cards,

talk,

talk,

and more talk

and then have dessert!

These ladies make some BEAUTIFUL cards!!!

The hostess (we take turns) was not pictures above,

Someone had to be behind the camera!!!

We LOVE going to her house for club because she loves to cater,

and goes OVER-THE-TOP on the dessert.

You should see MY dessert . . . . it is a shame compared to this layout!

A feast for the eye and the belly!

LOTS of fun!

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful Mother's Day.

It started off with my husband and son

making me breakfast.

Not a breakfast they would like,

but a breakfast with me in mind.  

Very nice!

Church was nice,

and when we got home a box of "Shari's Berries"

was sitting on our front porch.

(If you listen to talk radio you've probably heard of these berries)

I, at first, thought Lincoln must have sent it.

NO.

Then I thought, would it be my dad?

NO.

I had a thought, "A Secret Admirer."  ;)

NO.

It was sent by my oldest son Justin.

Ahhhhhh! How sweet.

And what a SURPRISE!

The chocolate covered strawberries

were almost as big as my fist,

and a DOZEN of them!!!

A funny picture!

My men here gave me tulips.

My FAV!

I heard from all of the kids 

and spoke to my mother as well.

A great Day!

A very berry filled day

Last Friday Lincoln took the day off

so that we could go and take advantage of 

the u-pick strawberry patch 

that is currently in season.

Lincoln recently had shoulder surgery and took off his sling to pick the berries,

he didn't like that I could pick faster than he . . . . 

but he really only had one arm!!

No, these aren't Shari's Berries!!! 

like the box says . . . . . 

The berries were big and yummy.

I didn't eat one until we got home.

Lincoln couldn't say the same!

We took the Miata . . . . 

So we filled the trunk with strawberries.

They were EXPENSIVE . . . . 

99 Dollars worth of berries in that trunk!

McKay arrived home from school just in time to help us make

freezer strawberry Jam.

It would have taken me forever to put up these berries on my own.

Thanks McKay and Lincoln!

We put up 25 containers of Jam.

Almost an entire shelf in our freezer.

Just as we finished the jam,

my sister and her daughter Stevie came.

We left Stevie with Lincoln and McKay,

and went and got pedicures.

Just recently my Sis and I have been having

sister-night-outs.

I have loved every evening out with her

and hope we keep up the 3 month old tradition we have started.

A new era

Approximately 3 months ago I got a new cell phone.

A smart phone.

and my world was rocked.

I am enamored with my smart phone

and have a hard time believing I went so long without one.

There are certain things that are very nice about it.

I love the apps.

The LDS gospel Library,

and gospel tools.

I love that I can listen and read

the scriptures and church magazines and publications

ANYwhere I am and have my phone.

I love the gallery,

that has all my blog pictures on it.

I love the calendar,

the weather forecast,

the shopping list,

the to-do list,

Google maps/GPS,

Facebook,

Woot,

and the fact that I've had a constant game

of Words With Friends going

with my lovely daughter for 2 months now?

We are a good match for each other and are about equal in our playing.

I love the crossword puzzles,

ruzzle,

flow,

and especially Tetrocrate. 

What has SUFFERED,

is my reading hobby,

my piano playing,

my card making,

and my BLOG!

(I have even FORGOTTEN to even READ blogs, 

which used to be my lifeblood)

WAIT!!!!

This does NOT sound good!!!

I've decided I need some balance in my life,

with this balance will come a longer battery life

and MY life won't fly by as fast as well!!!

Can I do it?????

Only time will tell . . . . 

It really isn't as bad as it seems,

I HAVE read several books on my phone.

AND have read the Book of Mormon

during this period of time.

Not ALL bad :)

For now I'm going to try to update my blog.

Stay tuned.