Pride and Prejudice

I thought I would venture out to the theater and give my kids a cultural experience by attending a high school play to watch their cousin Josh.  He was Mr. Bingley in Pride and Prejudice.

Beforehand, I showed the kid's the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice on Netflix.  I had to pause it every 10mins or so to explain what was going on.  It's a hard story for kids to understand, but they eventually got that status and who you marry was all the rage back then.

Becket entertained himself nicely during the lovey parts by drawing on the programs.



On the way home, the kids were making their own adaptations to a new Pride and Prejudice.  It involved 1900s British Goth (Mary Bennett) and they have rainbow unicorns instead of horses.

Don't tell, but Christmas is here!

We already tied the knot with Christmas and decided to get one bigger gift that the kids can all put together Christmas morning.  I don't know who is more excited.....



And this is all I'm going to show you.  I don't want to spoil the surprise.

Church News

In church news, the kids have been busy doing some good in the world today.

My little activity day girls met last Monday to wrap some presents and put together a meal for the Draper Rotary Club. The club then deliver them to families in need. I showed the girls hungry children in America videos to try to get them to realize that not everyone's world is quite as posh as theirs.







There is a long list of needs in our area, so I'm glad we could help in some small way.



Becket also went from webelos to 11 yr old scout. They had a little box car race and the family was the pit crew.



And he's coming down the finish line....





And he finishes!  No Indian chief arrow of light ceremony, just a fast finish and donuts.  My kind of style! And he Becket does it with style in those sunglasses and snow hat.



He had the best scout leaders.  You couldn't have asked for better.  Den leader Dan lost his wife about a year ago and he has just given all his free time and love to these boys. We will miss them! Becket is very excited to turn his blue shirt into a khaki color one.

We also finished up a primary activity.....after this week, I'm pretty much drunk off whip cream.

Motorcycle

I don't think I have posted about this--maybe I have.  This was Mat's dad's motorcycle back in the 80's. I have a picture of the before somewhere, but not right at my fingertips at the moment, so picture something Bo and Luke Duke would ride.

Mat wanted to turn this bike into a cafe racer and get the bike running again.  He swore to his mom that he would take motorcycle riding classes and he would be extremely careful. It's still a little unsettling, but Mat's got a dream.

Here is the almost finished product of the racer and the man is so happy.  I've never seen him check on something more since....well, since awaiting his email from Dr. Call to find out if he could buy his practice.




He plans to use it down in St. George most of the year, using extreme caution.  Caution is key.  As far as the finished product, I think it's a work of art.

Amy N Iverson

We are long time listeners of the Browsers, which is a local radio talk show, weekdays from 1-3pm. We download the podcast and listen to them while we're out and about.  They talk about the latest hype and a lot of technology. One day, while I was listening to the talk show, Amy mentioned how much she love Lion candy bars, but you can only get them in Europe.  She was just dying to have one.  Well, while we were in Montenegro, we walked into the local grocery store and BAM! There they were, right in front of my face. Flavors: white chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, peanut butter....she didn't tell me they came in so many flavors.  Although, since I'm a fan I knew I could rule out dark chocolate.  It disgusts her.  I snagged a few of them or ten and brought them home to give them to her and Jay (her co host).

The next problem was, how were we going to deliver these traveling candy bars.  I could easily send a note with the candy bars, but that wouldn't be as delightful as meeting Amy and Jay in person.  Tim, our neighbor actually works for KSL in the big wig department under finance. He had a badge and he was going to use it. On us. To meet Amy. Not only that, he went above and beyond and gave us a tour of the place and we ended up meeting the CEO of KSL. He's coming to my house for dinner next week. (just kidding)

Meet Amy N Iverson (Jay was absent) and the Lion (and Milka) candy bars.

Garage Floor Got a Spit and Polish

Since, Mat loves to tinker around in the garage with his tools, we figured we'd give him a clean space and new garage floor to create blow his mind in.  And, luckily for us, our neighbor Kevin has started a new business where he refinishes garage floors.  It's quite the process and the worst of the whole deal is moving everything out of your garage. When it's cold. When you don't want to.  Fortunately, we had gone through the garage with our after remodel cleanup party. Party makes it sound fun.  We had tossed a lot of stuff during this time. Back in the dumpster days. Now, this is where our garage sits until we can get it put back together. I have to say, that's not too much stuff for a two car garage. It's manageable.  Right?



Here's kind of the process.

Kevin sealed all the cracks in the cement, put down an adhesive and then threw this flake material on it.



Then he scraped it, vacuumed it and put three coats of sealant on it.  If it were summer, it would have dried a lot faster, but being our 30 degree temperatures it took a couple of days.  




We were able to have everything moved back in about a week.



Future projects

finish skinny table
make a lamp for front room
finish framing family pictures
finish putting up railing
go to the container store and outfit this garage with more organization

We have ordered a new garage door since ours has decided to leave it's physical body and become  a ghost garage for life (yes it is still going up randomly and at the most undesirable times.)  It won't be here until December, but I'm so excited for it. Pictures to come.

Bathroom remodel redo

Our main floor bathroom has been out of sorts ever since the wood got wet from the water dripping down the side of the bowl. It ended up splitting the wood.  One day we're washing our hands, the next day, water is washing our feet.



After weeks of trying to get my countertop people back (like weeks before we left to Montenegro weeks) we finally had them here delivering a salt and pepper type granite.  After they checked to make sure things lined up with the glass bowl, they said it all looked good and they left.  Well, when we went to put in the pipe to connect to the bowl, the pipe wouldn't fit.  It was too big.  Swear words.  I barely got my guys here and now I was going to have to perform a small miracle to get them back. After coaxing them, but trying not to be woman naggy for two days, they reappeared.  When I walked out and saw them standing in my driveway, he said, "You look like you've seen a ghost!"  I replied, "It's because I'm so delighted to see you."  See, miracles do happen. A dream is a wish your heart makes....queue birds.  He had it drilled out in no time and we are now having to retrain ourselves to wash our hands in the bathroom, instead of the laundry room or kitchen sink.

I also had to get a new rug.  The old one was "OUT!" and this one is "IN" (from the series of unfortunate events--Aunt Josephine)







I thought while we were waiting for our granite guys to reappear, I would grab Becket and we'd start breaking in the chalkboard.  Becket was reluctant, because you're told from the age of 2 not to write on the walls.  He was so happy to have a blank canvas.



Pretty soon the girls had to join the fun.




One too many artists in the bathroom.

Dad and Kids Outing and Sideouting

Saturday was beautiful weather and you know what unseasonably beautiful weather in November means.....time to put up our Christmas lights.  I know, exciting. We got our trees wrapped all shiny and we're now just waiting for the snow and bitter cold.

After we got done, Mat did the fatherly thing and took the kids, while I went to my volleyball tournament.





I think for a man that works inside most of the day, this was refreshing for him.  He even brought his guitar to play while he and the kids the walked up the canyon.  Cute. It makes my eyes turn to hearts.



While they were hiking, I scrambled out onto the volleyball court.  I rekindled my fire to play volleyball once again and it has made me feel old and young at the same time. It has been a lot of fun playing with these women.  Kerry #10,  invited me to come and play with their stake a while ago. We've been practicing every Tuesday night at 9PM-10:30PM--soooo late, but once I get my fanny there, it's a blast.



I believe this is where I actually performed my pancake (you put your hand flat on the floor to line up with the ball and it bounces up).  Mat captured it perfectly! You can see the other team to start to celebrate, but Mary (#13) came in right behind me and popped it over giving us the sideout.



I was also thankfully getting my serves in.  For some reason, at the last practice, I kept hitting it into the net.  I was mentally out of it I guess.  It was so bugging me!! My brain does funny things and I'm just glad it wasn't spazzing at the game.

You can see Gretchen sitting in the chair down below.  She later told me how she would like to try and play volleyball.  My small heart grew three sizes that day.

Classic

Uh, hadn't noticed that my lens was missing out of my sunglasses until after I had driven around for a while and went to the bank. I went to take them off upon entering Shopko and found them very odd looking.



You would think? But, no.

Finished Paper Quilling

I like to drag out projects and wait at least a year to finish them.  I learned the art of paperquilling. Not much to it, just watch a show and curl.



Here is my little basket that sits by my couch. If I have enough energy, I crawl over to it before I sit down.



For now, It's sitting here until I find somewhere fantastic.



Here are where our other artwork pieces are living. They look happy and comfortable, but you know me, Mat could leave out of town and they'd all be differently arranged by the time he comes back.

Harris Catch up

So we did the Halloween thing.  Costumes, class parties, school parade.....which Miss Barbie decided she'd walk the parade without her costume.  "where is your costume?" She just sheepishly grinned and said "Ahh...sorry."  If it's not leggings and a T-shirt, then it ain't comfortable.  Fashion over comfort on this day only Micah.  Next year she will go as a leggings and a T-shirt model.



This mayor man pulled it off nicely.



We trick or treated with some neighbors...Gretchen was calling herself the reappearing vending machine.  She thought it was funny to hide behind her vending machine when ringing on doorbells and photobombing pictures.  You can clearly see her head :-) and her arm....and her orange pumpkin bucket...



We also went to the ooky spooky haunted Granite Church.  This was the last straw for Micah as you witness her clinging on to her daddy.  Lots of ghost stories, anticipation and creepy people.





Our Soccer Saturdays have also finished up with a beam of light.  What will we do with our Saturdays now?



I also ran down to Saint George to attend my friend's son's funeral.  He was 11 and fought cancer for 5yrs.  I believe my friend Jeremy did everything he could to give this guy a fair fight.  It was nice to go through the viewing line with a group of our high school friends.  Hold your precious ones.  Love each day.

While down there, my mom was watching my brother's dog.  I didn't realize how very stubborn Cozi has gotten.  Every dog like walks don't they...


Come on!



I said...Come on!

Happy Birthday B!

Happy birthday to our darling Becket.  You are such a great kid and keep everyone laughing at the things you say.  Everyone lets me know how that Becket holds their heart.  I don't know what it is about you, but there is something special about you.  Your inner morals couldn't be straighter and you have the memory of an elephant when it comes to animal facts and politics.  You are clever and creative and I'm sure you'll go amazing places in life!

Love,
Mom

Tulip Table Arrived

If you need a great card game table, this is it!



It's called a tulip table because it was designed from the bottom up by designer Saarinen.  Then there is the 78" marble piece weighing in at about 200 pounds.  We had the white glove delivery because there was no way that Mat and I were going to be able to carry this thing upstairs to the loft.  That is also why we haven't finished putting on our railings, well AND that we were burned out. With three guys, they had to set it down to rest three times (kinda sorta denting our new wood floors, but that wasn't noticed until after).  They had to maneuver all sorts of ways to avoid the walls in the stairwell.



It looks fabulous and I can't wait to play the new card game I learned in Montenegro called Wizard.