Christmas at Grandma'

Well we really did have a Christmas Party, and Denise and Jeff gave me a new camera ... I made sure to put it on the TV stand so it would be handy... But you can guess that I remembered it AFTER the party... So no pictures...
I painted a Santa for each of my children....

Today we went to Phil and Amy's Ward to see little Liberty Danielle Harris given a name and a blessing by her daddy.... Phil gave a beautiful blessing... You'd think he was an old pro not just a 1st time Daddy..... She looked beautiful and if you'll check their sites you will see pictures soon... I again ran off without a camera.
Yes.... It's going in my purse now.

Jumped on the arplane, hopped on the METRA and was at Amber and Tadds just an hour after landing..... We had a great visit just getting reacquainted... I haven't been there since Maya was a baby..
The children are growing up so fast... Maya is already reading some words and writing her numbers to 70... Sooo smart.... Harrison is a confident and capable "little man" he is not afraid to try anything and can do anything he sets his mind to. I'm not sure if he will be a photographer, a construction worker (loves going to Home Depot with his dad) or a Chef... But whatever he decides to do he will do it well.
Henry is just a sweetheart he loves his Mom,and Dad, brother and sister, and even wanted hugs from Great Grandma.... Who was more than happy to oblige him...
It's hard to imagine little Amber being such a beautiful and capable Mom. Time flies too fast. I wish I had gotten pictures of Tadd wrestling with his children, bathing them, folding clothes (Yes,I said folding clothes) and eating all the nasty, nasty jelly beans... Oh! I almost forgot the fun trip to Jelly Belly Shipping .... 3 billion Jelly beans waiting to go everywhere...

Thanksgiving 2009

Our numbers were few but we had good food and a good time. Denise had the tables decorated and Turkey and all the trimmings.. Emma helped me make old fashioned "Turkey" cookies and we all "rolled" around for a game of Apples to Apples..
I love to have my family around.... Sorry Cindy and Greg we missed you but know you were having a great time with Helen and the Lindstrom boys... All you Grands and Greats around the country... We love you..... HAPPY THANKSGIVING/

Yes Little Liberty knows her mom already

And loves to hear Dad on the phone.

Liberty

I have been lucky enough to have Amy and new little Liberty Harris stay with me for a few days. Of course she is beautiful.... Daddy Philip is off to school at Georgetown in Washington DC. and Liberty had to wait until she was at least two weeks old to fly and join him.... Grandma and Grandpa Brad and Tracy are very excited and with digital pictures she may be the most photographed baby in town.... We just can't help it.

Day Two and Three Salt Lake

(2)"The Spoken Word broadcast" back to Sunday brunch at Little America,to the Planetarium (two great shows) Discovery Gate way and back to relax and play games.
(3) Off to Red Butte Gardens (Beautiful and a golf cart to take you around)the Lunch at the Lion House Pantry (free with pass) then to the Living Planet Aquarium (small but beautiful, except the yukky octopus)We had no energy left so we had ice cream instead of going to Thanksgiving point... The City pass was a great value for us.

Salt Lake Getaway

Glenna,our friend Diane, Denise, Emma, and I took a little Daycation to SLC for a few days. We had city passes http://www.visitsaltlake.com/visit/activities/connect_pass/
and ran around for three days... (1) Heritage Village(Great Fun) Zoo (Crowded and rain)and dinner at Market Street (wonderful).

Decoration (Memorial) Day is almost here

Today the Grandma's (Glenna and Geneel and sweet Lily went to Mapleton to clean and plant...
We stopped at Chuck a Gramma's to eat.... Lily wanted macaroni and cheese and noodle soup and lemonade..... We fulfilled her wishes and had a great lunch... then on to the graves where we planted some flowers and cleaned up the area.... Lily watered them good so they will live...We had a fun time today through the eyes of a 5 year old...

Spring has "Sprung" at Thanksgiving Point

Denise, Crystal, and Emma took a "Beauty" break and visited the Gardens at Thanksgiving Point.... I had to meet them later for lunch but they shared their photos so I am sharing with you.... Enjoy !!!

A Time for Joy..., A Time for Tears

Today was graduation day for Philip, Rachel, and Ben.
Time flies so fast. Philip and Amy are heading for graduate school (undecided yet, too many opportunities and a big decision ahead) Ben got his Masters of Accounting and Rachel her B.A. in Linguistics and are headed to Washington.... He has a job promised in the Fall and they will take the time to get settled and relax. They have promised me a blog so we can keep in touch with them. So coming soon "THE BEN AND RACHEL BLOG !!
JOY is that I am so proud of them !
TEARS is that I will miss them very much !

I hope to get some pictures from Brad and Tracy soon so I will post them as soon as they get settled..
CONGRATULATIONS YOU GRADUATES !!!

Yikes !

I can't believe this is April 15th..... These poor daffidols have been snowed on 4 times now and still manage to raise their heads the next day.....Maybe I don't understand this global warming thing ???

HAPPY EASTER 2009

What a great day to give thanks to our Savior for his atonement in our behalf... The greatest gift also prompts us to give gifts to those we love...Even though the days have gone by when the Easter Bunny was coming to my house... I had a surprise gift from Denise and Emma and Josh (Of course the rest of the family too)..but I know who had the most fun planning and "doing".
Such a cute Easter Basket !! Thanks Again

I got a nice surprise today from Maren. She is getting to be such a big girl.
She can even write !! Her pictures remind me of her Grandpa Greg always symmetrical and creative.... Thanks Maren I'm glad you had a Happy 5th Birthday.

Spring in Utah

Last week my daffodils were in bloom (still are) and I decided it was time to do a little spring planting...so I planted a little color with a few primrose.. I should have taken a picture because this is how they looked this morning.
I guess it's true that the only thing that really bloom's in Utah are construction cones.

Finally cooking bacon again..... Rachel Ray said you can cook bacon in the oven on the broiler pan.
I love it that way....No grease it's all underneath and pours off easily.... Had to cook it at 350 and it took about 18-20 minutes, but no smoke and the pan is fairly easy to clean up...
Here's a picture, but a couple of pieces are missing (Of course)

My Blast from the Past.

Aunt Irena sent me some pictures from the 1980's thought you might like to see them.
One of the few with my brothers and sisters together... And of course some cuties Mike, David, Marissa, and even Glenna's grandson Kris.
For those of you old enough.... notice the pictures of Mike and Marissa taken in Grandma Mendenhall's gold chair and a peek at her fireplace..

Draper Temple Open House

Glenna, Betty, Barbara, Diane, Marilyn and I all went to the Draper Temple open house today...
Really a beautiful temple and we went to lunch at the new Olive Garden in American Fork.
We had a great morning but of course I left my camera home so I can only scan the brochure.
I will add a link to the pictures of the inside in case your curious or can't make it there...
http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/56443/Draper-Utah-Temple-Photo-gallery.html

Denise to the rescue

I decided to finally let my dying poinsettia go and when I was vacuuming the last leaves when my vacuum died.... it began to smell and the belt broke.
Well I couldn't find my manual and was in the process of trying to find out how to change the belt on the web when Denise, Jeff, Emma and Josh came.... Denise found the manual, on the web, took the vacuum apart and changed the belt (thank goodness because I would have done it wrong)
Again I have no pictures.. but it was a sight..... vacuum, Denise and I on the floor, dirt everywhere, q-tips, a brush and brute force to put the new belt on, but I swear Denise can fix anything.
Give her a book or a manual and she can do anything. Of course Jeff says he taught her everything she knows ..... Hmmm

Matthews "Homecoming"

Sunday 02/22/09 we went to Farmington to Matt's homecoming. Greg and I went up a little early, visited with all the Harris clan and had a snack before church. Matt gave a great talk on the joy of the Gospel and what it brings to our lives.... He talked a little about his decision to stay in Kentucky even though school (and his scholarship) were starting . He felt that the extra two weeks were so worth it for him and the family he was working with. He's such a hard worker that he has caught up all his work already and can finally relax.. Tracy, Rachel, and Elizabeth sang a beautiful song "The Olive Tree" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEAdLRK_2Yw You can hear it here but ...
it was really fun to hear the Harris girls beautiful voices. Of course I left my camera home so I called Bradley and hope he sends me a few pictures to share. If not this will be "words and music only " post.
Love you all

GETTING OLDER..... AND OLDER

It's hard to believe that I was just 30 the other day.....Time flies when your having fun( or something like that.)
We had a really fun potato bar and chocolate fondue... The cheese fondue was a bust but I'll try again.... (if you have a good recipe let me know)
Tracy brought a wonderful jello salad. So good in fact I missed it. Next party I'll try to remember to ask her to bring it again.
Cindy made a luscious cake and spinach salad (see her blog for pictures and recipe........http://cgharris.blogspot.com/ for the pictures... I forgot to get my camera out in time..
Thanks Candise for catching a few pictures before everyone left...

Home with Honor Matthew is Home !!!!

Everyone in the family that could get away went to meet and greet Matt at the airport and then went to eat in Bountiful... It was so fun to see him and I thought he looked really different. I am amazed at what 2 years will do. He is excited to get in school, in fact he is already in school since it started a week ago. Sooo ... no rest for him....
Love you Matt....