My Little Colorado Visitor!

On Thursday around 11:30 am, Spencer (Terry's son) came by to drop off my granddaughter Isabel.  She was to be spending the night with ME!  As much as I love her twin brother Milo and would have loved for him to stay as well, I was secretly glad that he chose to go rock climbing with his dad so that Issy and I could spend some one-on-one time together.  (We have had a special, unexplained connection since her birth).

When I knew she was coming, I wrote a list for myself to help me think of things to do with her incase I couldn't think of anything.  The list wasn't really for Issy.  But, she found it immediately and announced "I'll keep this by my bed and check off all the boxes when we do them!"

I was committed!

I didn't get a picture of everything we did nor of every place we went (lucky you) but I'll give you a little taste of what we did do and see.  Follow along now:

 What an awesome day!  And, what an amazing little seven year old girl.  She was so polite, sweet, kind, obedient, honest, true...on and on.  It was a joy having her here.

Thrifty Is My Middle Name

 Terry and I made a short trip to Murray, Utah (basically SLC) last week.  On the way to Terry's appointment at 9:45, we passed the Deseret Industries (DI) on 4500 S.  Much to my dismay, there was a long, long line waiting outside for the doors to open.  What?  I really needed to go back and see why.  So, I dropped Terry off at his appointment and made my way back to DI.

Deseret Industries is a non-profit organization and a division of the Welfare Services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It includes a chain of retail thrift stores and work projects operated by the program. Deseret Industries thrift stores are similar to the well-known Goodwill Industries. (Taken from Wikipedia)  I have donated hundreds of dollars worth of "stuff" to that place.  The items are always cleaned and laundered before they ever put them on the sales floor.  Anyone who has ever been to DI know what a thrilling feeling it is to make a great "find".  I've made a lot of them!  Kathe and I used to have a tradition that we would buy one new piece of clothing to wear to our first day of school every year.  That actually ended when I embarrassed her by asking for a discount on the dress with two missing buttons!  


When I returned to the DI, I fully understood why people waited outside for it to open.  Holy Cow!  That place is pristine, organized, clean.  Someone working there is OCD!  I can't wait to go back.  Just take a look at the treasures I saw:

I can't believe that the plastic was organized like this.
I also can't believe that plastic bowls come
in so many different colors!

This may or may not have been mine at
one point in the '80's.

Is it wrong to wish I had one of these?
I've never ever won a trophy in my
entire life.

I'm kicking myself for passing these up.
$25 a piece.

This one is just creepy.

So is this one...look at all those Barbies!
They all had all of their limbs as well.

Would this make a great Mother of the Bride dress?
No?
Really?
Okay

These kids were having a blast.  I told them that they should
definitely buy that mask.
Then I thought of the other kids who had
tried that mask on and then
I threw up a little bit in my mouth!

I had no idea that Curves had their own shoes!

Why didn't I buy these?

These were really pretty!
Banana Republic
Too small though.

Melissa???




So, I had a lot of fun looking around.  I did end up making a couple of purchases.  I got a beautiful queen-sized down comforter in perfect shape...smells good too for $8.00!

SEE!

I bought all of these books for 50 cents a piece.  Score and a nice addition to my classroom library.

One of my favorite finds of my finds of the day was this paper doll set called:  "Punch Out the President (and Pals)!

I could not stop laughing.  The book was in perfect condition.  There are dolls of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and John Ashcroft.  There are several outfits for each "doll".  Plus, as an added bonus, a page of famous quotes by each one.  For example, "Rarely is the question asked:  Is our children learning?" and this gem, "Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."  --GWB

Now come on!  I don't care who you are or what your political beliefs...that's funny stuff!

I bought this curtain for $3.00 and made a skirt, sandals (which she hated!), and a headband for Eloise out of it...

Thanks for sharing my day!  I'm going back again.  Anyone want to come?

Blessings

 (If you read Erika's blog, I apologize for making this a repeat.  But it's MY blog and I run THIS show!  :)  

A Day Like No Other

One of the most beautiful parts of the religion to which I belong is the blessings that individuals receive throughout their lives.  From the time we are born, we can count on our fathers, brothers, neighbors, and other worthy priesthood holders to provide us with blessings to guide and direct us as we try to face these crazy, unpredictable, brilliant lives of ours.

My favorite "blessing" just happens to be the very first one of our lives.  Soon after our birth, we each receive a "name and a blessing"...generally from our fathers.  It is such a special time and such a sweet, sweet and special pronouncement from father to child.

Eloise received her baby blessing last Sunday.  She was blessed by her daddy, Tyler.  He blessed her with the ability to search for knowledge and to be strong spiritually and physically.  It was a lovely blessing that brought tears to many an eye.  El is lucky to have the parents she does.  And also the grami she does!  (J/K)

Tyler's parents flew in from Santa Rosa for the big day.  Many of Erika and Tyler's friends attended as well.  After the blessing, we took lots of pictures then headed to our house for a BBQ and watermelon (the BEST one I've ever tasted!  Thanks to Gary!)

Twenty-two years ago, at Erika's blessing, she wore a beautiful white dress with teeny tiny pink ribbon which I pain-stakingly wove in and out of the holes of the fabric.  She looked like this:

Well, it just so happens that Erika asked if I would alter the same dress so that El could wear it for her blessing.  YES!  The sleeves were removed...something about it being too "80's" for her.  HA!  I also took in the sides about an inch.  She looked like this:

The following are a bunch of photos from the day.  I know it is a lot but...well...I want to share them with you as well as to help ME remember the special day.

Waiting to get dressed.

Erika gave me the job of getting Eloise dressed.
I can barely look at this picture because my hand looks
so much like my own mother's hand.
So odd.

Cute little family!
Tyler, Erika, and Eloise Senneff

Beauties!

Little piggies and a good look at the
bottom of the dress and slip.

She's a natural!

I  made her pose.

My family:
Terry (I must remind him to take off his automatic shades next time!), me,
Erika and Eloise, Tyler, Melissa, and my soon to be son-in-law
Danny.