100 Day

Luke's 100th day of school was this week. He wrote his name with 100 popcorn kernels and glued them to a peice of yellow paper. He also made this rediculous hat. He makes it look so cute though, doesn't he? Happy 100 day, Luke!

Reflections on Mazapan

Last week I had the privilege of celebrating my Grandfather's life. He was 98 years old when he passed away. He lived his entire life for other people.

He met his beautiful wife, Rula, while he and she were both serving missions for the church.

They lived in Mexico. He worked as a supervisor to the supervisors that built all the church buildings down there.

He pioneered irrigation in the beautiful apple orchard they grew together. Their orchard was the only one in the area that was always neatly mowed and weeded. Each of their posterity was given a tree with a "bracelet" on it that had their name etched into it.

We used to go visit Grandpa & Grandma in Mexico quite often. When we did we'd always drive into Casas Grandes hit the grocery store and load up on chiclets, vanilla, and mazapan. Mazapan was always my favorite, although, tasting it again more recently, I think they smell better than they taste. It's basically like peanuts crushed into powder with sugar added. They smell SO good! On the way home we'd buy freshly made corn tortillas and sit in the back of Grandpa's white pick up (often with hitch hikers) and eat them all the way home (never forgetting the salt shaker).

Grandpa built his house using remnants from the old McClellan homestead. It was yellow with red trim. Grandma always had beautiful flowers planted in the boxed that ran all along the front of the house. In the yard they had pinon (pine nut), pecan, and walnut trees. At the entrance to the driveway was a cattle guard. We used to unwind metal hangers and put a paper cup on the end and go fishing for frogs down the pit between the bars of the cattle guard. Before driving over the cattle guard we'd always honk the car horn to make sure the monkey could jump down from swinging on the bars before we ran over his fingers. :)

I'm really going to miss the old place and the old people that lived in it, but I can't help but be thankful for the gospel and the knowledge that Grandpa and his "beautiful Senorita" are together again and hopefully they're saving a place for all of us. There is nothing more beautiful or comforting than knowing that you can be with your family forever...even after death. It's hard to lose the people you love, but really, it should be a celebration. They are back in Heavenly Father's care with no more ailments and, in Grandpa's case, with the Senorita he loves and their little boy.

Giggle Girl

My little Ana is SO ticklish! All you have to do is pretend to start tickling her and she is rolling on the floor. Just F.My.I (for my information) don't tickle her with a mouth full of banana bread. You're bound to wind up completely spattered in it.

Banana Buddies

I think it's safe to say that bananas are a favorite around here. We go through them like crazy. I guess you could say we go Bananas for Bananas!

Photo Frenzy

So, I let Luke play with my camara this afternoon. Here's what he took. Not bad for a little guy, eh?

Pay it Forward

"The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a handmade (or possibly store-bought) gift from me during this year. When and what will be a surprise. There's a small catch though...Post this same thing on your own blog and then come back and leave a comment telling me you're in. Remember, only the first 3 comments receive the gift!"

Heritage In The Making

Okay you all! You know all those super-cute pictures that you took that are still sitting in the deep dark recesses of your camara's memory card or piled dejectedly in a box just waiting for the day when you have the time and space to bust out the ol' scrapbooking stuff? Or how about those priceless black and whites, wedding, and baby photos that you wouldn't trade for the world?
How are you going to make sure your precious memories are passed on without the taint of time?
Ok, enough of the cheesy sales pitch, but really! I just decided to become a Heritage Makers consultant because I LOVE their stuff! If you've never seen it...you must! No more messy glue and scissor scrapbooking (although I love love love to make those tedious, all-consuming, delicate scrapbook albums). I've found a much better way to preserve my pictures and memories by compiling them into these gorgeous hardbound, professionally printed books.
...And it's completely digital so you can do it all from your computer. Just by downloading your pictures, choosing what type of project you want to do (storybook, calendar, cookbook, greeting card, announcement, etc...) you can make the entire thing from scratch using their hundreds and hundred of design elements or you can use one of their templates and just pop your pictures and texts in. It's really easy. I'm not very good with computer stuff and I figured it out piece of cake! So now that you are drooling all over yourself to find out more about this fantastic product...here's how!
I'm hosting my very first workshop tomorrow night (Thursday the 12th) at 7 PM at my house. So feel free to pop in. There's going to be lots of prizes, cookies, and, of course, the how-to's. Please please please come! I know it's last minutes so if you can't make it but still want to know more just give me a call or visit my website http://www.heritagemakers.com/347094.
I love you guys and you know I don't do stuff unless I'm totally convinced it's a good thing so come check it out!