Final Countdown!

It's the final countdown.   

6 Just 6. 

 That's not many left, huh? Parker says that his chain will be posted when she leaves.

(approx. 540 days till she comes home if anyone wants to know)

So We are doing what most people do when someone is leaving for a year and a half:

 In no organized order at all....  

Book the shuttle -A ride to the MTC = a good thing, sigh.

Make a schedule - For when to do everything that still needs doing(2 pages), or when to play with everybody, but Mom and Dad.  I know that sounds pathetic. Meant it to. 

Call the MTC - "Do I bring bedding or not?"  Not.  "But 'It' says to." You won't need that till Chicago.  "K, Thanks"

Wash stuff - Like the ice cream stained shirt she wore Sunday. (See below) That was some good batch, Parker.  Still, wearing it might be a mistake.

Laugh.  Over silly things... like this.....

video here...

Now it's stuck in our heads and we can't get it out!   

Iron the entire wardrobe - Why? It's just gonna need it again at the other end.

Take a nap - not going to happen.

Make lists - You know, Go to the bank, add a signer.  Stuff like that.

Purchase, like a bagillion things, eg: toiletries, last minute items like: 

Grandma's Secret Stain Remover(see above)

Make stuff, like playlists and family group sheets and pictures for the wailing wall.

Cry, just a little, cause this girl...

will be sorely missed. 

Now get back to work.  There is much to do.

What Happened On This Day in History...

Babe Ruth Hit his First Major League Home Run while playing for the Boston Red Sox - 1915

The Hindenberg Exploded in New Jersey  - 1937

English Channel Tunnel Opened  - 1994

Michael Jackson and the Bee Gees were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame  - 1997

This Little Munchkin* 

Megan Marie Moffat - if you didn't guess

was born to Parker and Peggy Moffat and 4 big brothers.  

The world has never been the same since.  


Who else Shares this Day of Birth?

George Clooney - 1961,  Sigmund Freud  - 1856, Orson Wells - 1915


Just for fun...see any resemblances to this sweet little one?

So fun to see the similarities between Baby Boston and his Mama! 
('Cause we all know he looks so much like his daddy)

*munch·kin  noun

1. A very small person.

2. Informal A child.

3. Informal A minor official.

[After the Munchkins, characters in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.]

Come see the timeless classic at New Horizon tonight or tomorrow only. You won't want to miss it!

Lucky?

 You Betcha!(insert Sarah Palin voice here)

(Random green things from the kitchen for the Irish Shrine.. I can't help myself.)
In this "green" month we have happily celebrated the arrival of a new grandson, Boston Nyle Clifford(actually born on the 28th of Feb. but for blogging sake... you get that right?) the Birthday of a Son - Jacob - Holy Cow is 29! And a Holiday that usually only gets green pancakes and a pat on the fanny from us!  So are we lucky?  Well, like Sarah would say, You Betcha!

Just so he wouldn't get pinched, he needed this outfit!

Serving up the green pancakes in  traditional  style

First family Photos.

Got to Lunch with 29 year old Jacob on our trek home - Rob took the picture.  That's Birthday Tiramisu, Mac!

Shamrock Shenanigans
- for your greenness - a pre-California project that Glenna & I designed just for fun - don't judge

One of my favorite Boston faces - I'm in love with this little guy.

Eat your heart out leprechauns- Maddi needing to stop and smell the ocean on our trek home.

It's Love!!!!

 It seems we do this every year. It happens about the
14th of February.  
It's that thing where we get dressed up and come to a little party  at the Moffat's where someone who loves us cooks a meal and sets it up kind of cute and we get to play or learn something new about manners and maybe dance a little or listen to great music.  Well this year is no different...

Who attended? G-Ma, Parker, Peg, Rich Jacie, Parker(little guy)Mac, Cammy, McKenna, Chantelle, Madison, and Noor(her date) Dates are required for those unmarried members of the family over 16 years of age.  (Still wondering about that.....)

So here is the dress up...

 the meal... what ever you want
(recipes available upon request, try the fry sauce, uh.... way yum)

The chef/ short order cook/partner in crime.

the set up... kind of hints at 50's

the learning/manners.....Ordering from a menu

the playlist.......
well too many  oldies to mention, but we danced and danced.  

Very Fun.
For those of you we love who were not able to be with us.......
 We missed you.........
but.....
Save the date, I think it is gonna be 
February 12, 2012. 
 Might be the best one yet!

And for your enjoyment a little Valentine's Day Poem and a message;

I claim there ain't

Another Saint

As great as Valentine.

~Ogden Nash

I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day.  When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon.  ~Author Unknown

WE Are Family!!!!!

Just finished a wonderful Arnett Reunion  - The Fred and Norma Clan to be exact.  200 of the best people on earth.  I didn't think I would feel this way, but I'm a little teary saying goodbye and grateful that things went so well.
Some Highlights by the numbers:
30  - quilters shared fabrics for an ongoing Arnett quilting Bee project.
3  - Rocking,  Fred (the 3rd) Style Dance Off Musical chairs winners.
60  -"cars" made out of potatoes racing against each other (pinewood derby style)Spud Races Rock!
4 - minute to win it competitions - Very Fun
8  - Music Is My Bag performances that rocked -  What Talent!
6  - fabulous meals - did you know my family can cook?
1  - overall cookie throw down winner
2  - shared Granny style cookie throw down winners
8  - great teams for the family olympics
8  - awesome cheers with great spirit and energy
8  - amazing events for the family olympics
1  - great fashion show of Granny and Grandpa Fred's "fashions"
9- siblings working together for a wonderful time
100's  - of photos (Actually thousands but for our purposes 100's works)
2 - awesome video presentations like the one above.
2 parents and 1 sibling looking down from above with pleasure and approval at this family who can really have a great time together.
1 -  Huge family that I for one, am blessed to be a part of.  Thanks to all who traveled so far and who put this on.  Now ON to 2011.  May it be a good year for all!  No forgetting this - We Are Family!

Stephen Carr - "Grateful" by John Bucchino

Grateful.......  by John Bucchino, sung by Stephen Carr  (please enjoy)

I've got a roof over my head
I've got a warm place to sleep
Some nights I lie awake counting gifts
Instead of counting sheep

I've got a heart that can hold love
I've got a mind that can think
There may be times when I lose the light
And let my spirits sink
But I can't stay depressed
When I remeber how I'm blessed

Grateful, grateful
Truly grateful I am
Grateful, grateful
Truly blessed
And duly grateful

In a city of strangers
I've got a family of friends
No matter what rocks and brambles fill the way
I know that they will stay until the end

I feel a hand holding my hand
It's not a hand you can see
But on the road to the promised land
This hand will shepherd me
Through delight and despair
Holding tight and always there

Grateful, grateful
Truly grateful I am
Grateful, grateful
Truly blessed
And duly grateful

It's not that I don't want a lot
Or hope for more, or dream of more
But giving thanks for what I've got
Makes me so much happier than keeping score

In a world that can bring pain
I will still take each chance
For I believe that whatever the terrain
Our feet can learn to dance
Whatever stone life may sling
We can moan or we can sing

Grateful, grateful
Truly grateful I am
Grateful, grateful
Truly blessed
And duly grateful 

Thanks for  the indulgence, friends...  I couldn't help it after such a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Thanks to all of those I.... married, gave birth to, married in, serve with, read to, quilt with, laugh with, sang with, shared ideas with..... for you , I am simply,  Grateful. Sigh

Uh yes, we are going.... don't be jealous - join us!

So a friend told me about this Tour. 

 I am so jazzed,......cause #1.  I am in love with this group since Rob introduced us to them last year. 

Now Holy Cow my playlists are full of purchases from these 10 wonderful voices 

who speak/ nay sing to my soul. Oh yea that is Barry Manilow and he does sing One Voice 

with them on the "With a Twist" Album. Dig It!  And #2.  They are coming the weekend of our Anniversary.  Not the actual day mind you, but close.

So...what am I to do but take this guy - 

AKA My Boyfriend( and by Boyfriend, I mean husband right?) for our Anniversary Weekend.  I might even dress up a little - you know a little White Linen behind each ear and some dingle ball earings.  Oh don't worry, I am also attending this at Mesa High School on the same weekend.

Scroll down for a Joseph Medley Preview that is very cool. 4:46 min but worth it!

... I have to support my friends and neighbors and young folks that I love on stage in a great musical. 

Hey I have an idea.... why don't you come too?  

Call me and we'll make it a double date, triple, date, o.k. go stag, but come. 

 It will be fun and we can celebrate the entire weekend of our anniversary.  

Won't Parker love it?  Sh... don't tell him yet, it's supposed to be a surprise.  

Not that we haven't talked about it.  It's more that he wont remember that we did and will be impressed that I purchased the tickets already(smugly shaking my head yes)and he doesn't have to.  Right now I'm listening to this and am getting giddy fingers in anticipation... uh goose bumps!

Ahh the joy of music/musical theater.  Feeds my soul.