Summing It Up

Well, I just noticed that this is my 1500th post since I started this blog!  WOW!

I will catch you up a bit since I haven't posted since last week.  I haven't taken any pictures.  We have been so busy it is mostly a blur!  Duff has been really busy the last six weeks working with some friends to start a new company.  Out of the blue, he got a phone call from a friend who asked if he might be interested and he said sure.  It beats sitting around the house, right?  But this has just taken off and looks really promising.  It is an avenue he didn't think he would ever be a part of and that is some of the beauty of it all.  What a life lesson:  be prepared for anything!  That being said, Mike has been brought on board as well, and so in between his college classes he is working his little patootie off! 

I am in transition.  Duff and I had a really nice everyday routine going on, and now I'm heading up all the day to day things here again.

Shaun is getting ready to go back to Provo for school this summer and fall.  We've never had a summer student, so this is new for us.  For him too, and I think it is a good move/plan for him.

The house is buzzing constantly with the kids friends over.  I never know how many we will have for dinner on any given night.  It taps my creativity to stretch the menu at the last minute!  Haha!  I like being the house where everyone comes.  I'm glad they feel welcome and that this is a place they like to spend their time.  Such was the case on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Saturday we had Meredith on the couch (not feeling well) and JT and Logan while her family went to the temple with Megan for the first time.  Megan and Dan are getting married on Friday.  They are a darling couple.  Their wedding theme is all about pirates and the like.  It is going to be quite cute and fun.

Sunday, we had great church meetings and a houseful with all the kids for our 'first Sunday of the month' dinner and FHE, and a few extras who sit at our table on a pretty regular basis since they were over for game 2 between the Celtics and the Lakers.  I made stuffed flank steak and it really hit the spot with everyone.  We haven't had that for a while.

Now with the wedding coming up on Friday, I've been helping Patti finish up some things.  If you've ever had a wedding or helped with one you know that during that last week before, all the unfinished things stare at you suddenly with an unrelenting urgency.  So yesterday, Kristen and I cut all the burlap for the big round tablecloths (think rustic pirates lair.  I'm telling you--it is going to be stunning!), then picked up the house and got almost all the laundry finished while Patti was at parent/teacher conferences for JT.  I brought it all home and sewed 20 tablecloths during the afternoon and evening.  I couldn't have done it without Adrianne.  We got a smooth system going.  I put one piece of 60" wide burlap on my left, the other on my right, and she rolled it up and fed the rolled side through the small space between the needle and the machine while I sewed the overlapped selvage edges together.  Then because of the size, it took both of us to fold it and go on to the next one.  We got it down to about 7-8 minutes for each one.  But it took us until 10pm to finally finish.  Then the clean-up.  Just think about it.  Burlap and all those little fray-ish pieces everywhere.  We just laughed at all the dust bunnies trying to escape the broom!

Christine has started her behind the wheel drivers training.  Yesterday was her first 2hour session.  She did well and has more confidence.  She fretted about it all day at school.  New experience you know.  Next up is to get her permit.  And we have to fit it in with all the end of school things going on like:

The orchestra concert last night that we completely forgot about.  Geez.  How did that happen?  So she had less than 10 minutes to get ready after she walked in the door from driving before I had to run her to the school for call time.  Then back home to make dinner, and back to watch the concert.  I was covered in burlap and had no time to change my clothes.  I itched through that whole program! Fortunately there was a seat on the back row end and it was dark!  BUT the concert was just what I needed.  It was really, really good.  I relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Beautiful, beautiful live music.

Okay.  I think that sums it up.  And now I'm off to the Peterson's to bring the tablecloths back and finish them with the 'team' there.  We are 'rounding' them now to fit all the tables.

We have June Gloom today and I'm glad for the break from the weekend's heat.  It's just too muggy for my liking.  But that's how it goes this time of year.

Later--

Friday Wrap-Up

Tonight, well, we've been rockin', and rollin', and raisin' the roof.

The house was full.  Pre-game and then the game.  Oh, and Boston pulled it out splendidly.  My ears have finally recovered from the whooping and hollering. And my refrigerator is cleaned out from every leftover that was in it.  Spaghetti, tacos, tuna, and hamburgers.  Tanner brought lots of soda and chips.  Hayley brought green and gold Celtic cookies and pretzels. 

Our 'May Gray' played hide and seek today with the sun.  Typical for Memorial Day weekend.  But they say it will warm up for the next few days.  Christine has a 5 day weekend.  I got a much needed  haircut this morning and then headed to the mall for some clothes shopping.  I am so not a shopper.  I don't think I've bought anything new for me in over a year.  I should be better about that.

Christine is doing her drivers training.  She is almost done.  Then she has her behind the wheel and gets her permit.  I've taken her to the church parking lot to practice.  She is really good so far.  And she loves to be the one to move the cars around when someone needs to get out!