Legal jargon...

Neil serves on the High Council in our stake and the stake president happens to be an attorney. He suggested (did not require) this book back in October at one of the high council meetings and found it to be quite interesting. 'The Legal Cases in the Book of Mormon' by John W. Welch was not available at Deseret Book at the time Neil ordered it, however, now you can get it at Deseret Book.

Neil has not read it yet. I decided to take on the challenge of reading it. It was definitely enlightening and an education. It compared Nephite law to Biblical law at the time Lehi left Jerusalem. It certainly gives you a different perception of the law and how people were judged or punished. It also greatly expanded my vocabulary. It isn't a book you can just whip right through. It took me a month to read it but I enjoyed studying and learning. You definitely had to pay attention! If you're looking for a challenge, it won't disappoint!

An apple a day...plus a family crest!

This is Diana's paternal family crest. My father was doing his genealogy years ago and found this family crest (French). I was going through old family pictures and putting them into albums and ran across this family crest and had forgotten about it. It's now up on the wall. It really is a handsome crest!

I love making place mat purses! I was at Walmart yesterday and found this place mat and had to make it up into a purse. I use them for scripture totes, reading books, miscellaneous items when I have to go to Dr. appts. for Kirsten.

I used a pretty green organza ribbon as a background for the fat red buttons so that the buttons wouldn't be red on red. This picture doesn't do justice for the ribbon. It really is a pretty green.

A close up look at the button. I love this bag!

Kirsten's musical octopus

Kirsten got this toy for Christmas and 'loves it'!

It's by V-tech-musical bubbles octopus.

You can put it on your bathtub wall and put bubble juice in it and it will blow bubbles while it plays. We do not use it for that purpose. It's strictly a floor toy.

A month before Christmas I was looking around for a toy for her. It's difficult finding anything for her. I usually go through the toddler toys and see what's new. This octopus caught my eye and it was at chair level so Kirsten could see it. I pressed the buttons on the octopus and I thought it was a neat toy. So I picked it up off the shelf and showed it to Kirsten and 'she grabbed it' out of my hands! I thought this was promising since she doesn't like most toys. When I tried to take it back she firmly grasped and did not want to let it go! Hmm. This is a keeper! Score one for mom! It came home with us. I thought she might have forgotten about it by Christmas. When we helped her open the gift she immediately grabbed it and started playing with it and has loved it ever since! This is one success story I am happy about! :o)

Changing things up a bit!

I have space above my kitchen cupboards.
We've been in this house for 2 years, 3 months. I have had cute little Halloween and Thanksgiving figurines up there this whole time. I also had them in my kitchen in the house we moved from where we had lived for 8 years. I had ivy, fall flowers, Christmas poinsettias.

The other day I cleaned the whole house top to bottom. I usually dust the cupboard tops once a month and it helps to keep them clean. I decided I needed a change and packed all the cute figurines away. I'll use those in the fall here and there but they are officially 'retired' from my kitchen cupboard tops!

I decided I wanted a 'new look' for my cupboards. So I bought the ivy and flowers and we'll see how long it stays.

I 'like' the new look! :o)

Roller Coaster!

Jordan and Lisa and their girls are here visiting. Before they got here grandma (me) had to 'prep' for little 'Miss Busy' aka Adelaide! She leaves no stone unturned! I bought a 1/4 inch piece of plywood and had it cut to fit. I also purchased bungy (sp) cords. Has it been a success? 'Oh, Yes!' :o) Lisa was clever and brought her door knob covers, something I'll have to invest in. Miss Busy's next stage is around the corner, 'climbing!' It's been a joy having them visit us! :o)

Dad bought this roller coaster Kinex after Christmas. Has worked on it a few evenings and it's so cool!

The kids have enjoyed watching it.

A visit from Lisa would not be complete without 'puzzling'!

She picked these up at the Goodwill for a few dollars. These were such a pleasure compared to the Thomas Kinkade puzzle! Wow! Lisa reminded me that when the kids were all at home we put together a 'Magic Eye' puzzle. I had forgotten about that one. The more I thought about it I remembered what it looked like. So I guess we are officially masters after having put that one together!

Thomas Kinkade Puzzle - Aarrggghh!

Tsk! Tsk! I sure wish I took better pictures! :o/

This is a puzzle that Lisa gave to me for Christmas. I love Thomas Kinkade's artwork! However, I have to tell you that his puzzles are H-A-R-D! ! ! This was a 'beast' to put together! The colors are muted, slightly out of focus (his style) and some not exactly like on the box. It took me a week to work on this! I feel victorious in that I did it all by myself! I don't think I will put another one of his together again for quite a while! I'll just enjoy the picture on the box! :o) (It was missing '1' piece. Imagine it as a funny snowman!)

Christmas Ornaments for my Children

Tree skirt. It's nice and thick and in great shape!

Well I think I've told all our kids I'm downsizing my ornaments and that they could have whatever they wanted. So here are the ornaments via pictures. There's a lot! Just send me an email to let me know what you want. Here's a thought too, maybe your kids can look them over and pick ones they want too. Most of these are hanging ornaments. Some are sets. Just look them over and let me know what you want. Whatever is left over will go to DI.

There are 26 photos!

The two above and two below are a set of four. They can be separated.

This is a set of three but can be separated.

These are just 3 Santa's.

This is a hanging ornament of Santa.

This is a view from the font and the back of this little truck. The wheels work. It was my mother's. I won't give this to DI.

This is another Santa that was my mom's. I guess we both liked Santas a lot!

This is a marionette nutcracker.

I made these about 35 years ago. It's a set.

I thought this was cute! We didn't get snow in Hawaii while we lived there.

This is a shelf sitting cowboy Santa.

A shelf sitting cowboy snowman.

These are made from sand dollars. I got them at a hotel on Kaua'i.

Made in Hawaii from seashells. I bought the one on the left and made the one on the right.

Two Santa ornaments.

A boxed set of 6 nutcrackers.

A boxed set of 3 rocking nutcrackers. I have '2' sets!

Back and front view of this Santa on a covered wagon. It was my favorite!

A snowman and a little mouse on an old treadle sewing machine.

A mouse on a pocket watch and elves washing a reindeer.

Front and back view of Santa baking cookies.

Two little trains.

A drum and a nutcracker.

Two toy chest ornaments.

Please email me what ornaments you want and I'll mail them to you. Lisa, you'll be here next week, you can take yours home with you. David, you live close so we'll bring them to you.