MY VISIT WITH HEATHER, JON & ROWAN

This past weekend, I took 5 Laurels down to the Young Women's conference in SLC. The Bishop and the Young Men's President were the only men and my 2nd counselor and the Personal Progress mentor were there as well to help me manage 5 young ladies! I'll tell all about that on my PP blog. After they all left on Sunday, I drove to Layton to spend a few days with Heather and family. When I got there, they were just leaving for church. I had a Sacrament service with the YW and the Bishop so I told Heather I would take a nap while they were gone, as the YW wore me out!!! lol I had a Valentine Box that had Buzz light year on it and I know how much Rowan loves Buzz so I gave it to him and he was thrilled ...... so much so that it went to church with him .....oops! While they were gone, I went out to my car to get my phone charger as my phone was dead. When I went to go back in, the door was locked so I ended up napping in my car until they returned from church. No big deal! It was sunny and nice and I was tired so I slept just fine! When they got home, Heather made Hawaiian Hay stacks for dinner.

She used those cute bowls that Scott and Jill gave her for a wedding gift! I love them!! I'm still trying to find some. Soooooo cute!! Oh, and the haystacks were delicious!!! lol

We figured that Rowan must have caught something at church because he was very docile Sunday evening and all of Monday. He slept A LOT!! Not usual for Rowan! Love the way he puts his hands behind his head when he sleeps!!

Monday when Heather and I made a run to the grocery store, he passed out again! Poor baby! (Notice he has his Valentine box .....score! lol) When we went to leave, we discovered my car battery was dead! I didn't start my car when I slept in it but I had reclined the seat and I don't know if that was what drained the battery but it was dead as a door nail!! Anyway, we took Heather's car and Jon walked to work.

I helped Heather finish the two little quilts that she had started. One for her Japan Auction and one for Rowan! It was fun to be a small part of her Humanitarian Service. My friend Tammy (she lives in Heather's neighborhood) came over to visit and she donated a cute flannel baby blanket as well. Heather has raised $315 dollars so far for the Japanese people. I am so proud of her!!!

Tuesday, we drove to Costco so I could purchase a battery for my car. Rowan was not excited about being in the car so we stopped on the way home at the duck park and he had a wonderful time feeding the ducks!

They don't seem to scare him at all and he was upset when we ran out of bread!!

As you can see, there are a lot of Seagulls that inhabit the duck pond as well! They were very aggressive and got a lot more than the ducks!! boo

We went to the playground to appease Rowan when we ran out of bread!! He loves to be out doors!!

He climbed up on the playground equipment and was having a great time and then........

He went down a slide and there happened to be a BIG puddle of water at the bottom so Rowan got his pants soaking wet. We had to take them off, wrap him in his blanket and head home. He was not happy!! :(

Here's Heather with the blanket for Rowan after I finished binding it.

And here's Rowan wrapped up in it and watching TV! Notice the "Love MOMMY " embroidered in the corner. She claims that Rowan is gonna be taking this quilt with him when he heads off to college! lol

Saying goodbye and getting ready to head home!

I sure enjoyed my short stay with the kids and was happy to help out ..........what little I did!

A VERY SPECIAL EVENING ~

I had a wonderful evening at the temple tonight. My friend Mary (center) went through for the very 1st time. Elamae Campbell went as her Escort. They were there at 3PM this afternoon and I had to work so as soon as I got off work I headed to Boise. It was such a spiritual experience to be with her as she received her endowment.
Mary was so happy and appreciative to EVERYONE !!! It was great to see her enthusiasm for this special day.

When I was secretary in the R.S. I went to see Mary with the 1st counselor. Mary was inactive at the time and she and I became fast friends. We spent a lot of time together since my husband was overseas. We would have the missionaries over for dinner and they would teach Mary the discussions. I gave her my old scriptures and we watched several church moves together. I helped her move 3 different times and she is currently living in Mountain Home. She use to have a hard time with using the Lords name in vain so I started telling her that I was going to get a soap on a rope so she could wash her mouth out every time she slipped! She use to thank me and laugh! I was so thrilled to see how far she has progressed! It was a very special evening with her. My testimony was strengthened and the spirit was strong.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KATIE ~

Katie is going to celebrate her Birthday on Saturday and I will be gone to Utah with the Laurel's for the Young Women's conference. I wanted to wish her a Happy Birthday from Grampa and me so I went over tonight before MIA.
She was looking pretty cute in her mismatched clothes! (pointed out to me by her mommy...lol)

She was anxious to open an early gift and I wanted my picture fix so ......win win!!

I got a BIG hug and her little friend wanted to be in the picture too!

The gift had those funky rubber band bracelets, girly erasers and stickers in it. She put on one of the stickers and kissed me goodbye! lol That Katie is quite the personality! LOVE HER!!!

FINALLY READING FABLEHAVEN ~

All the kids, ( Deedra and Curtis, Stillman & Michelle, Tammy and Caden) have been telling me how good the Fablehaven series is. I finally finished Jesus the Christ so decided I needed some lighter reading for a while. I started this last night and I'm having a hard time putting it down!!
Very entertaining and enjoyable!! If you like fantasy, this series is a really good one!!!

I'm reading this one during the day (well, early evening) and my B of M when I go to bed.

Recommend it highly (if ya haven't already read it)

MY NEW FAUCET ~

OK, this is a rather strange post but I wanted Tony to see the new faucet that Curtis installed in the kitchen!!! lol
I really should have shined it up and cleaned the sink before I posted but I was on my way to work and snapped the shot really quick!

Then when I posted it, I noticed that my sink is a mess! Oops!

OH WELL, you get the gist. It's nice isn't it Tony? Money well spent!

(well, at least in my estimation) lol

CELEBRATING WITH THE CHANDLER'S

It was Lynn's birthday on Wednesday and so she invited her sisters and brother and their spouses over for dinner this evening! (We should have cooked for her ... oops!)
Anyway, she invited me as well and I never turn down a meal! lol It was nice to see all of them and we had a wonderful meal of enchiladas ! They were so good! The kind with the fried egg on top! Mmmmmm yummy!
Joyce had made a wonderful sponge cake and we had whipped cream and fresh strawberries on top for dessert. It was a lovely evening but I had to break up the party at 8:05 cuz I wanted to get home so I could Skype with my hubby! (Can't miss that!!!)

Anyway, before I left, I asked if I could take a picture of the family!
Mom had her eyes shut in this one.
So I took another!!

The 3 sisters, their little brother and their spouses! Nice!

A SURPRISE PARTY FOR ALEX !! ~

I guess Alex really liked the surprise party for Aunt Tammy because he asked for one for himself! SO, Mom and Dad planed one for him tonight. (The party he knows about is tomorrow and it's a sleep over with his cousins!) Gramma Donna took him to Jumpin Jungle (I think that's the name) so the rest of us could get to the house while they were gone. We hid out in the kitchen and when he came in we all yelled Happy Birthday and blew party whistles and a couple of guys popped open those thingies that confetti come out of.

Well, it worked! We scared the heck out of two little boys!! Hence, Gramma Donna consoling Jayden and Mom consoling Alex!!
After he gained his composure, Alex was all smiles!!

He went right to opening presents. A couple of kites, some clothes, a back pack from Build a Bear with a C3PO costume in it for his monkey .................................BUT....................

Nothing can compare with the Iron man costume he got from Gramma and Grandpa Lipsh!

That was ONE HAPPY 6 YEAR OLD!!!

Here he is trying to figure out how to put the hand on ...................

A ha!! I got it! Back off, this thing is powerful!!

And now for the whole kit and caboodle!

PRESENTING ALEX NORTON AS IRON MAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was fun surprising Alex! I think he was pretty thrilled! Hope his sleep over goes as well!

Happy Birthday Alex! We love you! (Oh, he's our Little Leprechaun, thus the green!!)

79 YEARS YOUNG !!! ~

I had Young Women's tonight but I wanted to wish Mom Norton a Happy Birthday so I went over before our activity started at 6PM. She was not home. Dad said she was working at the Employment Center for church. I told him I would come back after Young Women's and see if I could catch her.
I got back over at about 8:40 and she was relaxing in her chair and talking to Alivia (grand daughter from SLC) ..... She then got a call from Darryl and Karla. After talking to them she said she had got a call from Diane and Debbie and Joyce. She was really happy and said she was going to enjoy her last year in the seventies as much as she can. lol

We visited a bit and then I gave her some earrings I had made her from Tony and myself.
Dad said he just couldn't understand how women can get so excited over baubles!

I told him "It's a girl thing!" ................ "We just do"!

Then she opened up the box of Coconut Macaroons that I made her. We laughed because I gave her these rich cookies with a zillion calories and I packed them in a box that a set of scales came in! LOL They fit a perfect dozen cookies so I just had to use it!

Anyway, that's the 3rd birthday this week ...... One more to go!

Happy Birthday Mom Norton! We love you!

NEPHI TURNS 5 !!

Dad and Mom Norton picked me up tonight and we went to Meridian to celebrate with Nephi!

How old are you today ? FIVE! Count them .......one, two, three, four .....FIVE!!!
And here's a different version but still five none the less!

Colby and Krista recently moved into a bigger apartment and it's a good thing cuz we certainly filled it up! There was great G. and G. Norton and myself ....I'm G. Norton (not so great! lol)

Chris, Tammy and Katelynn. Curtis, Deedra, Nikki, Garrett and Jack. Stillman, Michelle, Alex and Jayden. And of course Colby, Krista and the birthday boy himself!

NEPHI........

Not to mention 2 buns in the oven! Yes, it was a full house!

And after the Birthday song, Nephi blew out that BIG # 5 all by himself!

Can you tell he's into Star Wars? lol

It's present time! We got him a kite! It's been perfect weather for that sort of thing!!

He got some really cool things from Mom and Dad. Race track etc......

It was a fun evening and since this is a Birthday week we'll be doing this same thing at least twice more this week. Gramma GG and Alex are next!

BUT, for now .......Happy Birthday Nephi !!!