Fall. Fun...

I took this picture this morning....the leaves are gone (almost) and it was a chilly "20 something" this morning when I went to the Fitness Center...brrrr!! I love summer, sunshine, and all that comes with warm weather!! But, I am trying really hard to love the colder weather, too, so I'm thinking about all the reasons I look forward to this time of year....

~Wearing jeans and sweaters and loafers with warm socks
~Candles...as the days get shorter I love burning candles, especially Pumpkin Spice candles this time of year! The warm flame and yummy smells just seem more appealing when the weather is colder.
~Halloween....our grandchildren are SO excited for this special day and have been planning their "what they were going to be" for weeks!!
~A cozy fire in the fireplace
~The beautiful colors of fall...I love all the red, orange, yellow, brown...
~Staying inside on a chilly, wet day and scrapbooking! I'm thinking about the gift albums I want to create for Christmas presents!
~Tailgate parties...nothing better than gathering with friends and good food before a football game! The only thing missing is a winning footgall team!! :0)

So....with all these things I look forward to in the fall....I'm not sad about summer ending, I'm excited about all the fun things that happen in the fall!! (How's that for a "positive attitude!)

We're leaving on a jet plane....

...don't know when we'll be back again (recognize that song??) My trip here has been FANTASTIC....loved every single "sunny, warm" minute, but it's time to go home. Home is always a fabulous place to be. I will really miss playing with Jean--movies, lunch out, shopping, and just being together and having lots of fun; dining "outside" under the stars at one of many incredible restaurants down here (last night was Cheesecake Factory); wearing flip-flops...you all know how much I LOVE flip-flops; and all the other fun things that being in the desert offers!!

But, that being said, I will be SO happy to get back home to our house and family--especially Keelyn, Ryann, Anders and Kate (Jeff, Bridget, Jamie and John, too....and hopefully Jon, Sarah and Landen SOON!!)....I really miss them all; my "gerfrenz" Ellen and Tricia; scrapbooking and Paper Pals; spending the evenings by the fireplace...if I can't have warm weather I'll settle for a cozy, warm fire....and, so much more. Hey, I'm even missing walking on the treadmill at Anytime Fitness!!! (I must be crazy!! :0)

On my next visit to Phoenix Jean will be all settled in her beautiful new condo...I can't wait to see the "finished product!" It's going to be terrific and I know she is going to love it there!!! But, for now I'm looking forward to "HOME!"

Big day for Jean....

Signed the papers yesterday...do the "walk through" today...Jean is almost ready to move into her new condo!! Jim arrives tomorrow and we will begin helping her with moving things over this weekend!! Exciting times for her!!
And, Jim and I are living vicariously through Jean for now...we spotted these condos last February, loved them and the location....hopefully our turn will come soon!! :0)
Anyone want to spend a warm, sunny weekend in the desert?? You could help us move!! (It is supposed to be in the 90's today!! Love it!!)

Movies and shopping....

Two days...two movies...and lots of shopping in between!!! Jean and I are having SO much fun....there is nothing like a sister for a little "girl" time!!! (Sorry, Jamie, I really am so sorry you don't have a sister...my bad!! :0)
We went to "The Gameplan" and "Why Did I Get Married?"...both really good movies!! The we "shopped 'til we dropped" at the Biltmore Fashion Park and The Scottsdale Fashion Square"....it was so much fun!!! Remember, I'm a little "retail deprived" in Moscow, so this was a real treat for me!!! Now we are off to a family birthday for Tyler---Jamie and Jason's youngest!!

Yesterday we attended a fundraiser for the Tracy Armstrong family. Tracy is the husband of Lynn, a close friend of Jean's daughter Kristan. Kristan organized this fundraiser with the help of "Rusty Pickle" to raise money to help her friend, Lynn, and her family. Here is the story from right after it happened (Tracy was released from the hospital recently and is at home in Panguitch, Utah.):

"Tracy Armstrong lies in a bed at Utah Valley Medical Center bullet holes in his wrecked body, paralyzed from the armpits down. With the use of only his left arm. Just after sunset on Friday, August 3rd, Armstrong was about to show a Las Vegas family to their room at the Blue Springs Lodge, nestled in the mountains at Panguitch Lake, 200 miles south of Provo near Brian Head ski resort. Jason Hines entered the office of the lodge and pulled out a .38-caliber handgun and started shooting 4 rounds point blank at Tracy. There was not a confrontation between Armstrong and Hines before he shot him in this random act of violence that has changed a families life forever."

It was an amazing event--Kristan and her friends worked very hard!! And, they have planned another fundraising event to be held in Salt Lake City in a few weeks. Great job, Kristan!!

Today Jean and I have a movie, lunch out and a little shopping in our plans. It is beautiful here--in the 80's today. How will I ever be able to go back to facing winter?? :0)

Oops...change in plans...

Well...after we found out that we would have to go and stand in line for about two hours to get into the "sneak peak" movie today (we don't have two hours to spend waiting in a line--we have places to go and people to see!!), we opted out of that movie and instead went to "The Jane Austen Book Club." We both really liked it! It is definitely a chick flick, but some great actors. Also, got pedicures, went to SAS (a wholesale warehouse with buttons, ribbons, etc.), and enjoyed the fabulous weather!!! From what I hear it's blowin' and rainin' at home so I really have to soak up all the sunshine I can...it has to last me 'til spring!! :0)

Here we go....

Day one...movie one!! As those of you that know me, know....when Jean and I get together one of our very favorite things to do is go to movies!! So, Jean got "sneak peek" tickets for this movie, "The Martian Child" and we are going today. But, first we are off to get pedicures, go to "Marshall's Home" for a little shopping, lunch out....and whatever other fun things we can find to do!!

Hello from Phoenix....

It is gorgeous here....sunny, 80 degrees, bright blue sky....I'm lovin' it!!! I had a great flight, Spokane to Las Vegas, stayed on the plane, then Las Vegas to Phoenix. It was fast--loved it!!
I bought Rosie's book yesterday so I read about 1/2 of it on the plane. It's interesting to say the least...I always loved her on "The View", and she tells about how uncomfortable the show made her. She expected the "View" to mean that her "views" would be welcome and respected, but she didn't feel like that at all. (I know she can be a bit "over the top", but I always enjoyed her on her own show, and on "The View.) OK, enough about Rosie....it's a good book but I'm sure not for everyone! :0)
Bye for now, I have to go change into my flip-flops and crop pants!! :0)

Thought for the day....

"It's possible to miss a perfectly good today

because you're sure you should be

anxious about something tomorrow!"

-adapted from Story of the Day at Storypeople.com

Bye....

I'm off tomorrow to spend a day with A & K and their Mommy and Daddy, and then on Wednesday I fly to Phoenix for a little "sister time". I'm looking forward to extending my summer for a little while longer...90's in Phoenix sounds great...flip-flops, shorts, sunglasses!! :0) Jean has lots of things planned for us, sounds like we will have our days, and nights, packed with all kinds of fun!! At the top of our agenda are movies, lunch out, shopping...things we do best!!

A gift....

"Today is a gift,

that's why they call it the present"

Yesterday truly was a "gift"....October 9th...78 degrees...beautiful blue skies...and incredible leaves on the trees. It doesn't get much better than this!! These are trees that I get to see every day...it reminds me to "take a little time to enjoy the view!"

Little Princess Mini Album....

I hope you can join me this Thursday, October 11th, at Paper Pals (Moscow) to make this "Little Princess" mini album for the little "princess" in your life!! We will use several shades of pink and purple cardstock, "princess themed" patterned papers, glitter papers, jewels, buttons, ribbons, and lots more!! Can't make it Thursday evening, 6:30-8:30?.... you can always order a kit and it will be waiting for you at the store! Hope to see you there!!

Life list....

I really enjoy Ali Edwards blog, and I read it every day. Yesterday her topic was "Life Lists"...have you done one?? A life list is a list of things you want/must to do in this lifetime, and the intent is to cross the items off one-by-one. She got the inspiration from a friend who said:

"After I created my life list, something magical happened. I actually started DOING things on the list. And friends offered to help me cross items off my list. And friends began to create and share their own lists with me. And reading their lists made me want to help them. And despite my lack of love for to-do lists, I've grown to love these lists."
So what do you want to do in this lifetime? Think big. Or small. Start slow, or let it flow. I challenge you to DO what you want to do with your precious life.

So....I took the challenge and started my list (seems kind of corny, but I thought "why not...what have I got to lose?") So....here goes!! These things are in no particular order....just jotted them down as they popped into my head!! I'm hoping others will make and share their life list, too!!

Help Jon, Sarah and Landen move to the northwest
Go to an Il Divo concert
Take our grandchildren to Disney World
Go on a “sister’s get-away” someplace fun with Jean
Visit New York City
Have a condo in Phoenix
Sell our present house and build a new house
Go to the Oprah show
Take a trip to Tuscany with Jim
Exercise EVERY day
Learn to play golf
Invite people to dinner more often
Go to more movies
Clean out my closet and drawers and give away anything I don’t wear
Go to Maui again...and again...and again
Stop worrying about things out of my control
Organize all my photos
Find my “perfect’ haircut
Go to visit my friend Linda Hartzell in Texas
Stay in The Venetian again in Las Vegas
Help Jon and Sarah make the move closer to us (listing it twice might help it happen!! :0)
Get new bedding for our guest rooms
Have our master bedroom closet done by California Closets
De-clutter all my drawers and cabinets
See some Broadway plays in New York City
Floss every day
Host a wine tasting party
Plan a family vacation with Jeff, Jamie and Jon and their families
Organize...really organize, my scrapbook room
Spend more quality time with Jim
Learn how to use all the settings on my camera
See Barry Manilow in concert
Catch up on the “yearly” scrapbooks for my grandchildren
Spend lots of the winter in a warmer climate
Take Jamie, Bridget and Sarah on a “girl’s weekend shopping trip”
Get new bedroom furniture
Find the perfect wreath for our front door
Finish my Book of Me including autobiography
Find the BEST wireless internet connection
Eat less chocolate
Spend more time on the deck
Teach our friends to play Euchere
Think only "positive" thoughts

I'm still thinking.....this list will be edited and grow longer!!

Perfect day....

I took this picture a few minutes ago...to show you that today is the perfect day to stay inside and scrapbook! It's cool, cloudy, might rain later and just the kind of day when I want to light my Pumpkin Spice candle, turn on the TV and bury myself in my scrapbook room and create something fun! You all know how much I love summer and sunshine....but every once in a while I really love a day like today! I'm off to create....