Nest Bouquet

Truly Rad Bridesmaid Bouquet

(via stylemepretty)

5SF Edition 17

FIVE SENSE FRIDAY

TASTING-

McDonald's Hot Fudge Sundae

SMELLING-

Grass and Baby

FEELING-
. OLD .
My little girl is turning into a teenager before my eyes.
Tonight she danced at the H.S. Football Game half time.
She looked so tall, graceful, confident, cute,
sigh.......
I'm not ready to-
give her a cell phone,
let her date,
watch her drive,
see her in makeup....
it will be here by tomorrow.





SEEING-
Art by Erin Westenskow Berrett







HEARING-
Natalie Walker

NIE NIE DAY

Today is Nie Nie Day.

If you don't know about this,

kindly be directed here or here.

*****

Reading blogs are like my morning paper.

I can fill up on beautiful pictures,

funny or inspiring stories,

tips on motherhood, crafting, recipes,

and even current events.

Stephanie Nielson's blog has been a favorite

of mine, and it has been quite miraculous the way

people have pulled together and shown their love

for this sweet family.

*****

In the recent past weeks, tragedy or heartache

has also been looming in the lives of

several of our family members and friends.

When it rains, it pours.

Today I will pray for Stephanie and Christian,

and I will pray for our loved ones who need

some extra angels on their journey...

don't we all:)

*****

In honor of Nie Nie Day,

let's be thoughtful of family, friends,

or friends to be, and remember

how precious this life is.

*****

To donate to the Nielson's go HERE

Or you can send cards here...

c/o Stephanie and Christian Nielson

Mari Copa County Hospital

2601 East Roosevelt St.

Phoenix, AZ 85008

*****

photos by Blue Lily Photography

Things I'm Loving Right Now...

Here's my recent top ten,

and then some.

*

I first saw one of these

Dolce and Gabbana ads

in an Elle magazine,

these clothes speak to my soul!

We love Pa's canes!

He lovingly has carved us each one,

and we feel very lucky to have such a

special keepsake.

What an artist he is,

hiding little shells, seals, and other

treasures within the knots of the wood.

I love a great thrift store find,

especially this awesome $6 Farm Painting.

And the cute little boy was free.

Not since Jimmy Neutron,

have I found another kids cartoon that makes

me laugh like this new one

The Mighty B, by SNL's Amy Poehler.

Nicole Miller Brush Set

from Papa Bear,

who makes me blush:)

Tillamook's Smoked Extra Sharp Vintage

White Cheddar Cheese

with Sliced Apples.

Topiaries

These Yay-hoos

Hot Chocolate,

even in the summertime.

The Hills

A little guilty pleasure I must admit...

the closest I will ever get to watching

a soap opera.

Cub Scouts rocks!

I love the values, skills, and lessons

this great community offers.

Yet another outlet to aid mothers in

raising fine upright boys.

Are you kidding me with this movie?

Babette's Feast is now on my list of all

time favorite movies- simple, great messages,

underlying humor- I loved it!

We love our Grandma Bair!

She recently spent the day visiting

with us from San Diego and what

a treat it was.

She has delicious recipe ideas,

a fantastic memory of names and events,

a fine eye for detail and cuteness,

and a heart of gold!

We love you so much Grandma!

Cheri's Latin Lover

What a glorious day it was when Tony joined us.
No family gathering is complete without him there...
we love his brains, good looks, and laughter !
T- TENACIOUS as a TIGER
O- OFFICER of OBEDIENCE
N- NOTICABLY NICE
Y- YOUNGER than YESTERDAY
*****
L- LOGICALLY LIKABLE
I- INNOVATIVE with INTELLIGENCE
M- MOVES MOUNTAINS
A-AMBITIOUS with ATTITUDE
*****
R- REALLY RIGHTEOUS
O- OVERLY OUTSTANDING
C- COOLNESS CANDIDATE
K- KINDNESS KING
S- SUPER SENSATIONAL
*****

We love you Tony!

Happy be-lated Birthday!

Tour de France...

That's what Chris and I like to call him.
Our big brother and uncle,
our unique and wonderful JON!
In July he added one more feather to his headpiece,
and so here we highlight what we love about Jon.
*******
Jon is a Jokester.
His humor is witty, clever,
sometimes misunderstood,
but always appreciated:)
Jon is a Lance Armstrong.
With lean muscles,
he bikes like nobodies business,
and leaves everyone in his dust.
Jon is a Sir Edmund Hillary.
Endurance and strength,
craziness and guts,
he takes risks on mountain, road and water.
Jon is a Norman Rockwell.
He could have been a famous artist.
Give him a pencil,
and his genius unfolds.
Jon is an Atticus Finch.
Judicious and moral,
sweeping in to defend the downtrodden,
this attorney has a heart of gold,
and a character that would make any mom proud.
Jon is a McGyver.
Many a rig and creation have been jimmied,
and nothing is lost when he is around to solve
a puzzle with tape, rope, or paperclip.
Jon is a James Dean.
A rebel without a cause,
he doesn't care what others think,
and stays true to what he likes,
whether it's popular or not.
Jon is a Luke Skywalker.
Still learning to master the force,
he is playful yet focused,
on his way to becoming a Jedi Knight.
Jon is a Nephi.
Righteous and courageous,
he holds to the rod,
and sets a great example to us all.
We love you Chief!

Birthday Catch-up

With both of our mother's remarrying, we have had the blessing of not only two dad's but FOUR! In one months time between July 14 and August 14 they each had a birthday....Rob, Richard, Conrad, and Frank. We are truly lucky to have such wonderful men in our lives who have taught us by example, life lessons, and have shown so much love to us and our children.
The following poem is dedicated to them.
******
If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream-and not make dreams your master;
If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings-nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run-
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And-which is more-
you’ll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling
******
Happy Birthday
to our DAD'S!!

For Berta

dude.
no rabid teenagers here.
i mean really,
in our city?
i appreciate your inquiry and concern,
so here are some more detailed pictures for your files.
this is some carnage from a dog bed,
one of my dying plants,
and some hose remains,
that this mystery creature scattered in our yard,
all covered with dog hair.

below is a collection of decapitated hose
that upon close examination has animal teeth markings.
i rounded it all up for shear visual drama-
impressive,
yes.

this is the gutter twisted sideways

from trying to pry off the black spouty run off part.
also,

i failed to mention that my neighbors dog is in heat-

that explains a little of his "frustration",

but why in my yard?

does he know that i also...

too much information.

something just dawned on me,

oh my heck,

it's edward,

he's on the prowl.

poor little vampire man.

well this is one mormon housewife that is not taking the bait.

move on pastey.

5SF Edition 16

FIVE SENSE FRIDAY

*******

TASTING-

Today I stopped by to purchase some fresh

vegetables (or as Addy says, "crops")

from a roadside farmer.

Everything was so beautiful and so well priced,

Martha would have been proud.

***

So tonight I made a vegetarian meal of...

rice, sauteed zucchini, corn on the cob,

and colorful cherry tomatoes with

feta and balsamic vinegar.

Delish!
***

SMELLING-

Fragrant rosemary from my yard.

I love rubbing it between my fingers

and releasing the beautiful oils.
***

FEELING-

Cheetah-licious!

Tonight Addy and I dressed in our Cheetah garb

and watched the new Cheetah Girls 3 movie.

One word...

Cheesah!

Although I must admit the Indian colors were great

and the music got me doing the dorky mom clap...

Addison was so annoyed by my oldness.
***

SEEING-

Art by Heather Barron
***





HEARING-
Michael Franks
Sleeping Gypsy
***