the last dance

...for Drew's high school days.  Prom 2016.

a passport, some bobbie pins, and thank you fed ex

In June Gregg and I will be taking Drew on a senior trip to Australia.  Cheap airline tickets are one of perks of Gregg's frequent flier schedule.  Today Drew and I ventured out to the local government office to apply for his passport.  What followed was an all day ordeal.  Trip #1...We walk right in to the office (no line) and present the lady with all of his documentation.  After reviewing things, she points out that, get this, Drew's hair is so large (a.k.a the flow) it's falling outside what the state department will accept for picture parameters. She also tells us Walgreens should have known this when they took the picture.  So, we leave this office, head back outside to our 99 degree Arizona day and drive to Walgreens.  The women at the photo counter there starts taking pictures, but Drew's hair is still falling way outside the little oval guide on her screen.  Solution?  Bobbie pins that I purchase on the spot.  And picture this....Drew pearched on a stool and me giving him a make-over right there in Walgreens trying to tame his curly blonde mane.  Twelve bobbie pins later Drew has a new do that he dubs "imo-skater boy" and we're on our way back to the government office with his new pictures.   Trip #2- This time there is a wait.  When our number is called  we meet a different lady behind the counter.  She takes one look at his birth certificate  and tells us that the year it was issued, the state of AZ omitted info that is now needed to get a passport (for real?). She also informs us that if we make a short fifteen minute drive to another records office, we can get a corrected new one issued.  Soooo...back to the heat, back to the car, and into another government office.  With the new birth certificate, we race back to the the passport office (and arrive ten minutes before they close) to wait in another line.  This time a third lady helps us.  After sifting through all of our papers, she sees Drew's old passport from ten years ago and says, you know you could have just used this instead of getting a new birth certificate?!  SMACK MY HEAD.  But hey, the third time was a charm.  And although it was kind a long day, it was a good day, because I got to spend it with this kid.

And one other fabulous thing I must share.  Yesterday the fed ex guy really did deliver.  A dress.  For me.  For Sadie's wedding.  That I LOVE.  Breathing a big sigh of relief tonight.  And now dear readers, I'm ready for bed.  

It's almost the weekend, right?!

fish wisdom and wedding panic

Last night I crawled into bed very late.  About five minutes later I had the closest thing to an anxiety attack that I've had in a long time as it hit me....Sadie and Andy's wedding is four weeks ago. Then, my brain just went crazy running through everything I still need to do.  At the top of the list, I still haven't found a dress to wear. I did have one, I mean, I am type A Terra.  I purchased one several weeks ago, two actually of the same dress.  I needed one for fabric to do a few alterations.  But then, I somehow managed to give the wrong size dress to my seamstress to be altered and the one that fit me is now in pieces. A dress fiasco.  She did her very best to fix it, but now there's just bad Karma involved. Last night I spent about four hours acquainting myself with every last dress site on the internet.   I'm sure it will work out.  At least that's what I kept telling myself last night.  The fed ex man is going to be making a few visits to my house this week.  Hoping one of the new dresses will work.  This morning I started yet another "to do" wedding list and tried to get all of that stress down on paper.  And even as I'm typing this I had to pause to write down four more things I just thought of.

Sometimes when it feels like things are coming undone in our house, I will laugh and start chanting  to my kids, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming".  There is some serious wisdom in Dory's mantra. 

Happy Tuesday.  I hope your morning isn't requiring a life jacket.  

once I was seven years old

Once upon a time these kids were little....the closest of friends...

and then suddenly, they were seniors...

graduating in just six short weeks.

 S*I*G*H

(and thx Aidan O'Hare for these amazing pics!)

as promised... something lighter

Before Sadie and Andy met, Andy was part of the BYU musical group Vocal Point for two years.  This weekend Vocal Point is celebrating it's 25th birthday.  So how do you celebrate this big event? You sing of course.  This morning Sadie sent us a preview of the celebration show with many past and present members of vocal point (including Andy) having a little impromptu jam session.  Sooo much happier then politics!  Enjoy it HERE. Take that Pitch Perfect.  

NOT a trump fan (understatement)

Hi dear readers, I'm about to talk politics.  If you're tired of hearing/talking/thinking about politics, please check back another day.  It's not a topic I enjoy either,  BUT... today I fell compelled to share a couple of thoughts.  Mostly because if I don't, I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight.  And secondly, I feel a duty to my children and the future generations of this country to exercise the blessing of my first amendment right.

This post actually started out as a Facebook post I typed earlier today.  For what it's worth, I felt prompted to share it here on my blog.

Today at Utah State University Mitt Romney shared this address regarding the current state of republican politics.  This is the link I shared on my fb page and these are my thoughts.


I am a republican. I have, like many republicans, felt very angry at times as I've witnessed my rights being trampled on by the actions of "politicians". Yes, I want CHANGE, but NOT at the hands of Donald Trump! The change I hope for is a POSITIVE change. As I've researched and studied the republican candidates, one voice seems to rise above them all. It is a voice that is hateful, belittling, arrogant, completely self-serving, and at times frightening. It is the voice of Donald Trump. The loudest voice DOES NOT necessarily qualify him as the best political candidate for the republican party, and in fact, his tactics for ensuring that his voice be heard, in my opinion, speak volumes about why he SHOULD NOT be the choice of conservative American republicans. Of the many political points I could reference regarding Trump, I will simply pick this one, our national security. Like most Americans, I am very aware of the many institutions such as ISIS and AL Qaeda that would burn America to the ground, if given a chance. Of course I have great hope that these extremely dangerous entities will be destroyed. Having said that, we, as Americans need ALLIES who share this common hope. We, as Americans, cannot, and should not take not be taking on the entire world. Nothing about Trump's present or past conduct (in every faucet of his life) indicates that he has the SLIGHTEST APPRECIATION or RESPECT for diplomacy. In fact, his words and conduct seem much more indicative of a dictator. He will, if given the chance, severe ties with many of our political allies throughout the world. Can you imagine him meeting with the Prime Minister of the U.K., deciding he doesn't like his tie color and telling him "straight up"?! It sounds ridiculous I know, but yet, THAT is who Donald Trump IS! The best indicator of future behavior is past behavior. If you consider yourself a conservative republican, I would invite you take 10 minutes of your time, and watch this video in its entirety. I chose this particular video because I believe Romney does an excellent job summarizing the disturbingly long list of concerns I have regard Trump. PEOPLE, THIS RACE IS NOT OVER!!!!! (Despite what the media may have us believe). Please, if you feel the same, DO SOMETHING to let your voice be heard. Thanks for taking the time to read me exercising my first amendment right. PLEASE take a minute to exercise YOURS through whatever public channel you choose. As an American, I have have to believe that one voice can make a difference.


For those of you still reading, I promise to share something a little "lighter" in my next post.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.  Your support motivates me to keep writing.

MORP

It's prom spelled backward and the West's version of Sadie Hawkins. Girls choice, and the theme this year was dynamic duos. Sierra asked her good friend Will.  Sierra and Will have been friends since freshman year and Will has one of the kindest hearts you'll ever meet.

 Gwen & Spiderman 

Woodie & Jessie

 Phineas & Isabella

                                                                     Lilo & Stitch

Kim Possible & Ron

 Where's Waldo & Wanda

Santa & Mrs. Clause

Drew and Raegan were beach people. 

  pc Sheridan Stapley

And of all these photos, this one is my favorite.  The dynamic sibling duo of Drew and Sierra as they spend their last year in high school together before Drew graduates.  

Sniff:(

wisconsin, wind caves, and a wedding dress

Hello dearest readers! A little speed blogging today since I just can't seem to catch up.  

First...

An amazing weekend in the midwest the first part of February.   A visit with my sister Denasha, her husband George, and their son Ben.  Ben is somewhat of a lizard connoisseur.  This is just one of his pets (that happens to have the potential to grow into a five foot lizard). Yikes, but very cool.  I told my sister that  she is a very fun (and brave)  mom.  

 This is a picture of Denasha and my dad from way back when.  It's one of my all time favorites.  Love, love, love the beautiful hair and especially my dad rockin' the 70's beard. 

From there it was on to a reunion at my friend Lori's cabin (Lori you are the best).  It's hard for me to sum up how I feel about this particular group of women.  We have been friends for 33+ years and we've seen each other in every circumstance, all the good, bad, and in between.   For three days we just ate, and laughed, and remembered and never even felt the need to leave the cabin.  We covered politics, religion, parenting, spousing, and pretty much every other topic you can imagine.

And  I wish I would have taken a few pictures, but every now and again it's good to put down the camera and just "be in the moment" (if I may quote a from Walter Mitty). 

Love you girls!

On President's day weekend Gregg, Gentry, Navy and I took advantage of some of Arizona's local hiking.  The Wind Caves trail is about 3 miles round trip and a fun, manageable hike.  Such a beautiful day to enjoy our desert.

Then onto last weekend as I took a very quick, and goal oriented trip to Utah to help this girl find a dress. 

pc Andy

After a very busy, drive all over Utah and Sadie shredding a few tears weekend.... success.  And bonus, we also picked out Andy's suit.  The wedding whole thing just still kind of seems surreal to me (in a good way).   Gregg keeps walking around the house saying, "I can't believe we have a daughter that's old enough to get married."  At which point, I remind him that she is one year older than I was when I married him.  

Truly, I've never seen two people more perfect for each other than Sadie and Andy.  

 I also had the very nice opportunity to meet Andy's family this week, and we all agree...these two are supposed to be together. 

Can you feel the love? 

We are having a wedding in ten short weeks people.

Waffle Love Winner

Congratulations Darlene!!!

You are the winner of the Heart Shaped Waffle Maker 

from Crate and Barrel.

A Big, Huge thank you to all of you who entered 

and 

Happy Monday!