Some things in May

The week we returned to Midland, Grumpy had purchased tickets for the very fabulous and entertaining BYU International Folkdancers. We have a very nice and brand new theater here in Midland so the venue was very upbeat. I guess technically it is in Odessa, but it seems to be kind of in the middle between the two cities.

Such talented performers. The dances were amazing and the Mountain Strings performing with them provided excellent music and song. It was an evening well spent and I would highly recommend their performance. I only wish I could have ever moved that way. So fun to watch.

I then had a luncheon planned with my Visiting Teaching partner, Holly for our ladies. We wanted to do something a little special for them for Mother's Day, so decided to have them over to Holly's for a nice lunch. I gave Holly the recipe off Nana's blog for the wonderful Strawberry/Citrus salad and she was excited to make it. Everyone loves that salad. I decided to do a couple of quiche recipes I have been wanting to try. It seems like I have to have an occasion to try recipes. I don't know why. I guess that way my quests are my test group and I can get some impartial feedback? I don't know, but it seems I am trying out new recipes for get togethers often. I posted my refined efforts on Nana's blog, but will put some of the pics of our fare that day.

Above are the two quiches cooling after cooking. The top one was the Broccoli/Cheddar, the bottom one is the Spinach/Mushroom. It was raining hard that day, so I cooked them at my apartment rather than hauling all the ingredients over to Holly's. Since quiche needs to cool about 15 minutes before serving anyway, I took them down to the car and was at Holly's ready to serve them when they were ready.

Our delicious salad Holly made and our quiche plated. It was a yummy lunch, which was only attended by one of our ladies. Sadly the other 3 could not come. Holly put some quiche and salad into zip-lock containers and we went delivering after lunch. It was a good day.

Then it was Mother's Day. Grumpy took me out to dinner Saturday night at our favorite, the Shogun restaurant (for Robert). Robert took Gramma and Papa H. to dinner for us, so Grumpy took me for Robert.  It was an excellent dinner and I called to thank Robert that night. I got other nice things done for me while I was home in Mesa in April (for Mother's Day in advance). I was taken by surprise when I woke up Sunday morning to the realization I had no children around me for the first time in 37 years. It hit me pretty hard and I did not do well with this change in my life. I couldn't stop crying. I felt terrible that Grumpy was having to deal with a despondent wife through no fault of his own, but couldn't help myself. Everyone was good to call and text, I knew I wasn't forgotten, but it was very different to be far from everyone for this holiday. It made me feel doubly bad that Grumpy had been here totally by himself last year for Father's Day. Horrible. That won't be happening ever again. I re-grouped and went to church. I lasted for Sacrament meeting. I went to give Jenny a poster for our cookbooks we're putting together and when she asked if I was okay I lost it. Poor Jenny. She and Holly gave me hugs and sent me home. While I was home waiting to go back and get Grumpy I heard a knock on the door. It was a nice young man delivering a bouquet of fruit to me by Edible Arrangements from Jamie, Summer and the kids. I was so surprised and glad I was home to take delivery. My favorite of course were the chocolate covered strawberries. Thanks Armstrongs for the bouquet of sunshine that day. I got nice calls from all the kids and wore one of the necklaces Taya and Kevin got me for Mother's Day while I was in Cali.  I hope Grumpy didn't feel too bad. It wasn't my best day. I made him change his reservations the next day so he and I will be home in Mesa for Father's Day. Thanks for all the calls and texts. I got a card from Stacie, RB and the kids the following Tuesday. I love my kids and grandkids so much it was just so weird to not be with any of them that day. I guess this is another hurdle in my changing (older) life that I need to get over.

Just life, right?

A Quiet Sunday Dinner

Our last dinner while still home in April was for our parental units. (so Nathan would say) We had Papa K., Papa H, Gramma Dorothy and Aunt Kay over on Sunday for some fried chicken. I know how much papa loves his fried chicken, so decided to make some for him. Aunt Kay was recovering from a knee replacement surgery, so it was good to see her out and about a little. She is always so chipper. Gramma too. You never really know how they really feel, because they always put their best face on for everyone. We had a nice time together and it was fun (and quiet) to have them over.

Papa K in his Hawaiian shirt.

Aunt Kay (top) and Gramma Dorothy (below) looking happy as ever.

Papa H. posing for the camera.

I hope we can swing another dinner when we are home next. I know Robert has asked for Chicken Fried Steak from Gramma for his birthday dinner, so we will see about that.

The Games…and then The Games!

There are always games. There is baseball, basketball, volleyball, football, dirt bike racing, soccer and even water polo. We have some pretty active grandkids, so while home this spring Grumpy and I tried to attend as many games as we could. I even got to go to an electric strings concert for Taylor. The first his school has sponsored. He plays lead guitar in his school's electric band. There were several lead guitarists, bass guitarists and electric violins and violas. Wow. Drummers too. It was a pretty amazing concert. I only had my phone camera, so the pic isn't very good, but it will have to do.

Taylor did very well especially considering he hasn't been playing all that long. He is adding piano to his mad skills list, along with Rylee, Jordyn and Faith. Piano is a lifelong set of skills they will all enjoy. Rylee was in her school orchestra this year. Violin. She had a concert too this spring, but I wasn't able to go. I know she and Jordyn have done a little choir too. Jordyn surprised me by going out for her high school freshman softball team. I'm not surprised that she is a good player, just that she was interested in being on a team. Good for her. Fun to watch. I went to one of her games with Tawna, Faith and Chance.

She plays right field (above). Got some pics of her at bat and on first (below). Their team won by a lot that day. She did great.

Taya has since acquired a piano and her kids will be starting their lessons this fall. So excellent! Her Kaitlin is our water polo player. I don't have any pics of her games, but she loves it. Her list of sports are water polo and school volleyball. She tried track and basketball, but seems to gravitate to the water and the net. Daron loves basketball. It is his sport and passtime of choice. I don't have any pics of him playing either, but know he is good and gets better all the time. Maddie loves soccer and is really good at it. She has been playing for several years and she loves everything about it. Also, no pics. I need a camera in California. Taya has several on her blog though, so I go there to see their sports pics.

Faith played on a city volleyball team this year and had lots of fun with that. I got to one game while home, but Grumpy made two. She learned a lot this year and it was good to see her involved in a team sport.

She is getting lots of balls over the net on her serves. That is the hardest part, those pesky serves. She did great.

Chance is our resident dirt bike racer. He loves it and it is something he and his Dad go and do on weekends. I went to watch with Tawna one Saturday morning and he really gets into it. So cute. I hope he can use his skills to keep from getting hurt. (I am the resident worrier!)

Our Megan and Rylan love basketball. Megan went out for her school BB Team and made it. She didn't play first string, but she got to play a lot this year. Pretty good since it was her first year. She is a good player. Scrappy. She plays as a guard and does a good job.

Rylan is a BB lover too. We have been to a couple of his games and he really hustles up and down the court. Good shooter and keeps on his task well. I wish I had one tenth the energy it takes to run up and down the court for an hour. Crazy kids.

Then there are the football players. Two in one family. Jaxon and Ryker. They played on a city team this spring and had lots of fun. Jaxon played quarterback and Ryker hiked him the ball. Grumpy went to a couple of their games, but I sadly missed them. I did get to go to lunch with them afterward on Saturday though. So glad Grumpy got some good pics with his camera. I only got one at Freddy's after the game.

About to pass (above). After pass (below).

Ryker about to hike (above). Running (below)

We had a good time at Freddy's. It's one of Papa K's favorite places to go. Good hamburgers and hot dogs and really good ice cream. Shoe string fries too. Grumpy and I figured during our "spring break" at home there were at least 5 games a week to go to. We didn't make them all, but went to what we could. Fun to watch our grandkids play their various sports, (and concerts) this spring. I hope we can go to many more.

Like, It's A Party Dude…

The Annual Mower Dinner party was a blast this year. Tawna chose an 80's theme and everyone had lots of fun with that. Sadly, Grumpy and I both had clothes we wore in the 80's, so dress was not a problem for us. We all got together and laughed over our dress of choice, took lots of pictures and read all the 80's trivia Tawna had put up on the walls in her house. She, Taya and Summer looked just like they did as junior high students all those years ago. Summer and I went and got our nails done and painted neon. My friend Nancy got me nails for my 30th birthday (in the 80's), so nails seemed appropriate for the occasion. I still have a love/hate relationship with acrylic nails. Love the way they look, and wear but hate that they get "in my way" so much. I will keep them and hopefully enjoy them for awhile before I rip them off and have ugly hands again. I went to Jade's school and a girl there did my hair all big and poofy (and sprayed) like the 80's. It was amazing. That was on Friday, so by the time I slept on it and redid it for the party the next day, it was a bit tamer. The pictures say it all for everyone else. We all had a good laugh over our vintage choices.

R.B. and Stacie definitely look the part. She was laughing because she was only 10 in the 80's, so had fun picking out stuff to wear for both of them.

Tawna in character and Nathan as the surfer boy he was then.

Taya and Kevin bringing back memories of "the good old days". Kevin too had clothes from the decade. Too funny. Some of us like to hang on to our stuff. See, it does come in handy now and then.

Robert went to Goodwill, which is where many of us shopped for wardrobe. He was pretty young in the 80's, so he had to research a little to figure out what went in that decade. Jade went for the look and rocked it. A dark haired Madonna. She had a student at school do her makeup so it was really fun.

Not to be outdone, Summer and Jamie showed up with "the look"! Jamie could pass for Bret Michaels for sure. They looked awesome.

Everyone had a good time talking and enjoying being a little different for a while. Tawna and Nathan do this as their Christmas gift to their siblings annually and I love that they do. Every year we have so much fun and can really visit and talk and be a little crazy.

For the Dinner part, Tawna chose to have a fun Nacho bar and completed her food tables with all kinds of other "movie food". It was like a refreshment counter, but free (for us anyway. I'm sure the Mowers used up a fair portion of the weekly food budget on us!)We loaded up our plates and went back for seconds and thirds, some of us. The food was served on her patio which was convenient for the "movie theater" she had set up in the back yard. Lawn chairs, a projector and a sheet on the fence for our screen. It was a nice night and we were treated to "Back to the Future". Marty made it back and Professor Brown was not killed…again. It was fun.

(Yes Stacie, I fixed it!)

Thanks Mowers for another fond memory, a fun time and the chance to shop for decade appropriate clothing. And hair it would seem.

So who played Ferris Bueller's sister?
What Planet was Spock brought back from?
There was Miami Vice…
Starksy and Hutch…
Top Gun…
So many fun things to remember.

Days Gone By

The picture below is not Grumpy's mustang from long ago. I saw this one at Mattas the other day and it took me back to the good ole high school days. About the middle of our senior year Grumpy's parents were trying to decide what to get him for graduation. I of course felt the need to put in my two cents, so I mentioned what a great gift it would be if they could look for a car together and they could put in the down payment with Grumpy doing the monthly payments on his own. They thought that would be a good gift so they set about finding the right car. It was an icky grayish 1965 Mustang with a white vinyl top that was really dirty because it had been sitting under a tree for awhile. The price was right, so the deal was done. Grumpy got the vinyl top cleaned up and sanded down the worn-out paint. He got a quote for a new paint job and had it painted. It was '68 Dodge Roadrunner Red and the vinyl top looked brand new after being cleaned up. (not a convertible like this one) It was his car until he left on his mission. Lots of fun times and fun places in that car. Yes, we had our share of making out in it too. Awesome. Gas was down to 25¢ a gallon once in a while and that was really awesome too. Those were the days.

He wanted me to drive it while he was on his mission, but I didn't want to be responsible for it. He ended up selling it to his sister. Sadly, she was in a car accident in it and it was totaled while he was gone. She was okay, but the car was history. It will forever live on in his mind's eye though.

I still remember how excited he was to have his first real car.

I was pretty happy for him too. No more borrowing his Mom's car for dates.

It was the best.