Happy Anniversary, Blog

Happy anniversary, blog, my friend. It's been 4, that's FOUR, years to the day since I started you. You've been through many good times with me. And endured periods of my silence, too. Sorry to ignore you during those times. Thanks for sticking around and always being there, waiting for the next post and the next picture. And for holding onto the memories for me.  

It's especially fun to look back on this blog and reminisce about the journey's highlights with my family. I love them so very much. They are are the sunrise to my morning, the rainbow to my day, and the sunset to my night.

Wondering what the next year will bring.

Sailing on.

Happy 25th Birthday Holly!

Holly and Burd came home for a couple of days and we had one of the best weekends celebrating Holly's 25th birthday and watching conference. Friday night, we popped popcorn and played Rummikub. It was a close game, but Burd took the big win. 
 

Sunday weather was crazy. The storm came, just like the news folks predicted and we woke up to snow on the ground. Later, while we were watching conference, we heard quite a commotion and looked outside to see hail pounding the ground. Crazy!

Burd make a stack of his famous waffles with strawberries and cream on Holly's birthday. So glad he likes to cook 'em, cause I'm hooked and look forward to them each time they come. The first time I had them was last year on Holly's birthday, when he came over to make them before they were even married (or officially engaged!). Yum. That man can cook!

Do you see that Happy Birthday balloon? It's been floating since Robbie's birthday on December 10. We put it out for my birthday, too, in January (it had been waiting in the garage). It just won't die! I'm taking it over to G&G's so they can use it for their birthdays. The eternal balloon. That's what it is!

  
Happy birthday, Holly!

Sunday brought a lot of hanging around while we watched conference. Princess, the shiest cat of the bunch, latched onto Burd, who isn't exactly fond of cats in the first place. She cuddled right up to him. She knows a good guy when she sees one! I'll bet she wins him over one of these days.

Holly and I did a lot of knitting over the weekend. I'm sad because I didn't get a picture of her completed chicken. That's what she's working on here. It is so cute!!! Rascal was EVERYWHERE we were during the weekend. She doesn't like to be left out at all.

Holly and I did a little sewing on Saturday. It's a surprise for someone (else), and more coming on that on Sunflower Way.

 

We had a fun dinner for Holly on Sunday. G&G came over and Britt and Bryson. I wish I would have taken more pictures. What was I thinking? Obviously, I wasn't!

We were joking that this exact picture, below, is the norm for every birthday, no matter the age. So here are a couple more for Holls!

  
Love you G&G! So glad you helped us celebrate!

March, You Did Well!

Hey, Rascal. She follows me everywhere lately. My best kitty friend. She's so alert in the garden, checking everything out.

It's sad to say goodbye to March tonight. Not that I don't love April; I really do! It's just that March meant Spring, and it was such a beautiful March this year! Some snow, some rain, some sun, and the garden is starting to come alive. The grass is green. The Forsythia is in bright bloom.

My little Japanese Maple tree has tiny delicate buds, and so does my Burning Bush. Little white flowers popped out of my ground cover. 

Today was the warmest day of the year yet here in Utah. It's glorious! I'm alive!! Excited for April's adventures.

Spring Celebration

It was so nice of Mom and Dad to invite us over for a Spring Celebration today, on this first day of spring! And to top it off ... Sue, Kent, and Conor decided to come for a visit, too! Really sorry that Conor's arm is still in a cast. Hang in there tall guy ... this too shall pass. You are one tough kid!

And get this ... Mom KNITS!

Way to go, Mom! Socks and a scarf! I'm so proud of you! Thanks for a wonderful dinner and good times, Mom and Dad! Love you!

Taking It Up A Notch

Momentous day for me, and a lucky one too. Which is fitting because it's St. Paddy's. My lense was delivered a day early. Oh, how I love coming home to a brown box just waiting to be opened. And this was the piece that made my camera come alive! I've had the camera body since January. So yes, I've been very patient! Now I've officially made the switch from point-and-shoot to DSLR.

Rascal was actually my first photo subject. Fitting, because she always likes to be front and center. She's always in the right place at the right time. The flash went off when I took the shot (and I was hoping for natural light), but no matter. I told myself I'd blog it. (So much to learn about this camera.)

That is definitely a look of satisfaction, Rascal.

Rob wasn't nearly as willing, but I caught him anyway.

There's always a knitting project to photograph...

And another cat...

Oh, Simba. You ARE the lion king.

By then, I'd run out of natural light.

Hope you had a lucky St. Paddy's too!

Praying for . . .

the people of Japan who were hit by the earthquake and tsunami this morning. So very, very sorry for the lives lost and the horrible destruction. Remembering how special the people are and how beautiful the country is...

It's a Fine Day Today!

Congratulations, Burd! It was a really big day for you! You successfully presented and defended your thesis! I heard about it from Holly, and she should know, because she was there for your presentation! It's the final countdown before you are awarded your master's degree! I am so extremely proud of you! I know that this was many months in the making and a lot of really hard work!

A week or so ago, I got a big envelope in the mail with Holly Barker's name on the front. It was her official bachelor's degree! Congratulations to Holly! I'm so proud of you, for completing your degree! Last May, we watched you in the graduation ceremony at Utah State. AND, I believe you were a newly engaged girl, wearing the ring Burd gave you for just the second day!

So, today, on this fine day, when I congratulate Burd for doing so well defending his thesis, I also look back at your graduation ceremony. I'm so proud of both of you!