Marie's magic

A week ago today, I made it out to Spanish Fork to have Marie cut & style my hair. Since it had probably been almost a year, it was long overdue!  She always does wonders with my hair!

Marie is a budding photographer, quite talented I might add, and insisted on taking a series of photos when we were finished.  These are the photos that she posted on her blog.  I told you she was talented!  She is a cutie!

Gibson's new boys

These are pictures of the new boys Brian & Heather will add to their family July 10th! Welcome Jayden and Lucas!

At the Gibson's

Kazzandra wanted to give her mom a surprise baby shower, so with the help of her dad and her Aunt Roma, she did! Kazz has had the flu and is just getting over it so she wasn't feeling very good.

Here are Brian and Heather's kids! They sure are growing.

Brian was on call with the Gold Cross Ambulance.
We were all grateful that the pager didn't go off!

Heather opening presents at the shower.

These are the outfits that I picked

This is what Beth bought!

Springville Art Museum Visit

As one of my class sessions, I attended a tour to the Springville Art Museum to see their new "Stewart Sculpture Gardens."  It was very pretty there indeed.  These pictures really do not show the beauty.

The center piece sculpture/fountain, "The Spirit of Life," is a permanent piece.  Many of the other pieces will be rotated and the garden will change throughout the years.

These are just a couple of views in the garden.  If you enlarge the picture, by clicking on it, you can see some of the statues better.  The horse lying in the grass was incredible.  I love the details of the Abraham Lincoln, as well.

I was also able to go to the Foundry in Springville that does the finishing work on his statues.  This link shares the process, if you are interesting in seeing how a statue is made.

This sculpture was temporarily place in front of the Mapleton Jr. High where our classes were held.  It is a sculpture by Gary Lee Price.  He was also our main session speaker opening up the "Art Express"  conference.   The theme of the conference was "Sculpturing Lives."

Before and After

I have needed to visit my hair dresser for a long time.  Here I will post my before and after pictures!

Going to see Marie

I am so excited!  I get to go see Marie and her sweet family Monday.  She is also my hair dresser and I definitely am in need of her services.  She will give me a hair cut and I can hardly wait!  Maybe I'll even post before and after photos for everyone!

Then I have a workshop in Mapleton.  Paula will meet me at the hotel and we are attending together.  I am hoping that it will be a great workshop ---- lots of fun and great ideas.

Mom's Enchiladas

Here is the recipe for my Mom's enchiladas:

1 1/2 lbs of ground beef 

1 onion minced

1 pkg corn tortillas

1 can enchilada sauce (Rosarita is good)

1 can beef gravy

1 cup grated cheese

Cook beef and onion in pan stirring quite often until browned.  Drain off excess fat. Heat sauce and gravy partially in saucepan. Dip tortillas in sauce mixture. Remove and add a couple of tsp of meat onion.  Roll and fasten with a toothpick when completed.  

Lightly toss grated cheese over the top of all enchiladas and heat in oven 350 - 375 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes.  Serve with whatever you like:  catsup, sour cream, etc.

Catching up on some reading

I actually can take time to read in the summer months.  Here are the books that I have recently read:

Don't Cry Wolf by Clair Poulsen, 

Shadow of the Crown by Jeri Gilchrist, 

Royal Target by Traci Hunter Abramson, and 

Lockdown by Traci Hunter Abramson.

1st Medical procedure for the summer finished!

Had  mammogram as required by the doctor today.  This is not my favorite procedure. Since I had an aunt on both sides of the family with breast cancer, it guess it is a necessity though.  They have the digital readers now.  That was new since the last time I had it done.

PS results were fine.

Night Before We Returned Home

Cheesecake is yummy, Grandma!

Wheeee!!!!

What a happy girl!

Grandma is enjoying her sweet grandbaby.

Aunt Florence is doing well in her recovery from the strokes that she had a month ago.  She will be starting therapy very soon and hopes to be able to stay at her own home again sometime.  She has worked on the things the doctor told her to do and Ann, of course, takes excellent care of her so she has the best chance of improving.

She is frustrated that her ability to knit has not returned at this time but we all have hopes that that skill will return in time.

Movies

Ann always tries to do something "fun" whenever Cassy and I go to visit her.  One afternoon we went to the dollar theater and saw "The Race to Witch Mountain."  

It is very different than the original "Witch Mountain" movies.  It is fun that the original kids are also in this movie portraying other characters.

Saturday night, Lynn took Cassy to a redbox and she picked out the movie "Bride Wars" for us to watch.  Ann, Cassy and I watched the movie together Saturday evening.  We thought that it was cute!

My brothers

Saturday night - after enchilada night at Ann's.  

I can't make them as good as Mom, but I guess they are better than no enchilada at all!

Information about time in Boise

Florence is still staying at Ann's house. She is not quite ready and able to be on her own again. She hasn't regained enough strength and ability to do so on her own yet. She is quite frail. She has lost 16 pounds in the last month but is eating healthy and well!

Cassy and I went with Florence so that she could go home to her own house and stay for a couple of nights. It was so fun to see her excitement at being home for awhile. She was delighted!

Florence wanted Cassy to make the macaroni casserole that she taught her make several years ago so Cassy made supper Thursday evening while we were staying at Florence's home.

Lynn has been having problems with kidney stones since Thanksgiving time. They have decided that they have no other choice but to have surgery this week. I wish him a smooth, quick recovery and that he will start to feel good in record time!

Chris and Rachel are hoping that the final approval and go ahead will happen for them soon on the purchase of a home in Meridian.  Mike and Sara have a couple of offers in on new homes as Mike has a new job in the area of Bluffdale, Utah.  Ken and Sarah are trying to sell their home in New Mexico so they can rent a home closer to where Ken works so that he won't have to work away and be gone most of the week.  I wish luck to all three boys and hope that all of their deals will go through quickly.

Caramel popcorn

Florence taught Cassy a new recipe for Easy Caramel popcorn.  

You need a cube of butter, a cup of brown sugar and 16 large marshmallows.  

You melt the butter, and the brown sugar and then stir in the marshmallows until they melt.  

Quickly pour over 2-3 bags of microwave popcorn!  YUMMY!

Letter boxing activity

Cassy and I attended the Relief Society Enrichment Night with Ann.  They were learning the art of Letter Boxing.  The Relief Society had hidden clues and letterbox stamps throughout the yard of one of the sisters of the ward.  It was a fun and interesting evening for all of those present.

The website for letterboxing can be found here:

http://letterboxing.org

On to Idaho

Photos of time in Idaho!

Yes, Chris is a good Daddy!

We play with baby "Hi," "See ya,"  "Bye Bye!"

We read books!

Don't pet Gus unless that is what you want to continue doing!  :-)

You are never too young to start on the piano!

Aunt Florence is good with her walker!