Back From Hiatus

Life is just too dang crazy. Between Facebook, e-mail, regular mail, DVR, reading other people's blogs - my blog got a little ignored during the last few months. So, mainly because my friend Kelly Bishop isn't on Facebook (hint, hint) I shall try to jump back on the bandwagon. I think the last time I posted, it was the thick of summer. So, (a quick recap) we had a great time at the beach, everyone's back in school (Michael - junior in college, Madeline a senior in HS and 2nd grader Andrew), Todd still works in Chicago A LOT, but we make the most of our weekends together, I had a somewhat successful garden (if you like tomatoes) and a small amount of green peppers (4) and my dear dad celebrated his 81st b-day last night. I am so grateful for my parents and know how lucky and blessed we are to have them present in our lives.

After a very casual pizza and wing party at Gma's, the Jolly family took off for what can only be billed as the hayride from hell (at least to Michael and Madeline). What we thought would be an hour long venture into the woods ending in a bonfire, was more of a 10 minute ride capped off by 45 minutes of historical narration on the 2nd governor of Missouri (Frederick Bates, in case you were wondering). The hayride went to the Bates home where we were disembarked and listened to interesting (for the first 5 minutes) info on funeral practices in the early 1800's. Doesn't that sound fun? The big kids had the giggles so bad I had to pretend I didn't know them. Rarely, though, are the 5 of us together and it was fun to be out in the crisp, fall air as a family.

Am I the First to Break the News?

As I was perusing the Internet the other day, I found myself on the Church News website and saw new Temple Presidents announced - never dreaming that one of the pix that would pop up would be of Uncle Dick and Aunt Linda. Congratulations - these 2 never age. They are amazing!!!

Linda L. and Grant R. Oscarson

Grant Richard Oscarson, 74, Chesterfield 1st Ward, St. Louis Missouri Stake, called as president of the St. Louis Missouri Temple, succeeding President Wendell E. Brown. President Oscarson's wife, Linda Lochhead Oscarson, will serve as temple matron. President Oscarson is a patriarch in the St. Louis Missouri Stake and a volunteer assistant temple recorder in the St. Louis Missouri Temple. He served as president of the Sweden Stockholm Mission, mission president's counselor, stake president, stake president's counselor, high councilor, bishop, bishop's counselor and high priests group leader. The retired president of Enterprise Mentors International, he was born in Seattle, Wash., to Roy Wilhelm and Vera Brown Oscarson.

Sister Oscarson, patriarch's scribe and Relief Society music director, served with her husband as he presided over the Sweden Stockholm Mission. She served as a stake Relief Society president, ward Primary president, Gospel Doctrine teacher, Relief Society teacher, seminary teacher, temple ordinance worker and on a stake public affairs community relations council. She was born in St. Louis, Mo., to Angus Tullock Jr. and Matilda Evangeline Thurmon Lockhead.

Arrivederci (or Farewell)

ITALY!!! ITALY!!! ITALY!!!

Since the time we dropped him at the airport in St. Louis on May 4, Michael has fully immersed himself in all things Italian.  It couldn't be more perfect.  He's one of 2 boys in a group of 14.  The girls love to cook dinner for them.  He lives in an apartment with a balcony where he hears the church bells and can draw to his heart's content.  Sounds great - sign me up!  He is making the most of his month in Florence, and is taking all kinds of side trips.  Most days are spent 

DRAWING 

But weekends are for places like the

TREVI FOUNTAIN (he called from there to ask what he should wish for us)

Or at the quaint hillside villages of CinqueTerre along the Meditteranean where he slept on the beach with his friends one night (something about the trains on strike and no hotels).  Diving off Italian rocks is fun too!  As an Eagle Scout, I have to assume he checked the depth before he attempted that feat.

Doesn't look real comfy

He even found a "Jolly" good place to eat! (sketch pad in hand)

He called yesterday and was enjoying a slice of pizza sitting in Venice, while a gondola sailed by.  What a life!  As a parent, I'm so glad he has this opportunity.  Every time he calls he says how glad he is he did this, and of course wants to go back for longer next time.  I'm not sure if he'll go for longer, but next time, I'm going too!

My Favorite Things

So, Oprah has her favorite things show.  Well guess what?  I have my favorite things blog post.  It just so happens that some of my 3 favorite things are from some of my 3 favorite people.  They really hit the nail on the head with their Christmas presents this last go around.  

First up, this divine, shimmery, warm (but not too warm for those 40, 50ish days) cutest of cute puffy vest.  From my Katy who did not need to do anything so extravagant, but can I tell you I LIVED IN THIS!  It was so lacking from my wardrobe and it became my best friend over the winter.  

Next up, a battery operated pepper mill, you just turn it upside down and all your meals taste gourmet.  Flavored chunks of pepper instead of tiny, powdery nothing.  You oughta try it.  It's yummy.  Thank you my dear Kristi Worthington.  Love it on my Subway sandwich every day.  

And last, but not least, sticking out of the world's cutest "hugger" is a can of TAB.  I still drink it, the original diet soda.  But how cute is that polka dot holder?  I could pretend it was a hot, summer day during the blah winter.  Thank you Laura, who lives where it is summer all the time, lucky girl.  

As I've been packing away my winter clothes the thought came to me that these 3 things have been with me daily since Christmas.  As excited as I am about spring, I think, come October, I'll be a little more excited to welcome in the cold with my cute, cute jacket waiting for me.

Junior Ring Day

A big day in a Junior's life at St. Joseph's Academy is when you get your junior ring.  It's made me melancholy for mine - I lost it about 15 years ago on a trip.  It was a fun day for Madeline and all of her friends.  

 

          Showing off the ring!                                            Best friend Katy                                    

Rings (& manicures)

DANCE NIGHT

Her number one date!                                           Jack - taller than her without her 3 inch heels

The group - minus one date.  They left here and went for more pix and dinner for 70 at someone's home then on to the dance until 11:30.  St. Joe makes you stay at the dance until its over and this group likes to dance and have fun so it was a great night -  no after party and Madeline was home a little after midnight.  No wondering where she is late at night, no texts asking if she can stay out later - home early and happy.  

Chicago, Chicago!!!

My dear hubby has been making to trek for a year and a half now to "The Windy City" (which is not named the Windy City because of the wind, but I digress - you'll have to go on a tour of the Hancock Building to find out why).  I thought it was about time I see where he's been spending his days and nights without his family and meet some of the people he works with.  I headed up with Madeline and Andrew for a few days.   

We had a few highlights, such as:

A visit from our beloved Worthington family -

As mentioned before, the top of the Hancock Building - Not sure I enjoy being 94 stories high, despite the view.  And I know I really wouldn't enjoy this job:

Although Madeline & Andrew had a go at window washing (wink,wink) -

Poor Andrew was a trooper with the amount of SHOPPING we did.  The hotel was on top of a Nordstrom twice the size of our St. Louis store.  Madeline loooved all the "retail therapy" of Michigan Avenue and Andrew usually scoped out the closest chair with his PSP.

And sending us off in style - a limo on the way to the airport.  Andrew dug that!!

My Husband's a Lucky Man

Because I love to mow the lawn!!!  I grew up never mowing the lawn but in my years of home ownership I have become obsessed with this duty.  Today was the first day it really needed it after the LONG winter and I forgot just how much I enjoy it - the smell of freshly cut grass, the aroma of mint (planted long ago from Mema's stash at One Devondale), the chirping of birds, the beautiful pinkish sky, the smell of gasoline (is that just me? I did eat chalk while pregnant, so I don't know - and for those of you who didn't know that, perhaps I need a separate blog on that because I'm not weird, so I should explain it).  Speaking of pregnant (not - I'm 45) but many years ago while I was mowing the lawn 7 months pregnant and not caring about that one bit, my BeBe pulled in the driveway as she often did and had a look of shame on you on her face.  Pregnant ladies did not mow the lawn in her day.  The man of the house did that.  I do remind that man how lucky he is that he married someone who allows him to just cross that to do off his list.

Because I Have Been Given Much

In this day and age where we feel so much of what we have tangible slipping away (401K, housing value, money) it has given me the opportunity to truly reflect on the things which are most priceless that cannot be taken away, no matter where our economy is headed:

-Happy and productive children who think its fun to stay home on Saturday night and make a movie on the computer, laughing, giggling and keeping their little brother very entertained.

-Health and a body that can do all I want it to.  

-A man who still makes my heart swoon (minus the black socks and shorts, practical but oh so wrong)

-Spring!!

-My belief and faith in the Savior and the comfort He can give us through trials.

-Keeping in touch with friends and family through the blogosphere.  

-Love of country - no matter how much we don't like what's going on right now, we are free and have the ability to speak out against what we don't like without fear of retaliation.  

As I get older (and older...) I realize each and every day just what truly is important and how much I have been given.

Alfred's Fine Dining

I'm a bit behind with my holiday here, after a broken keyboard and flaky internet connection I think I'm up and running again.  

We never make a big deal about Valentine's.  Some little gifts for the kids, maybe something little for us.  We did get out to see a movie, just the two of us, and at home there was restaurant magic happening.  In case you don't know who Alfred is, he's Batman's butler.  Andrew decided it would be fun to serve mom and dad Valentine's dinner, so with a little help from big brother and the neighborhood Thai restaurant, we had a real treat.

We were welcomed into a cozy little spot, soft music and candlelight.   Alfred (aka Andrew - who got real upset if I would talk to him as my child and not my waiter) kept our water filled and provided fantastic service.  We of course tipped generously.   Best of all, they did all the clean-up.  

Hallowed Ground

Gorgeous, glorious day last week.  70 degrees in February.  I asked Andrew where he wanted to go - park, zoo, take Daisy for a walk.  He wanted to go see BB.  Andrew was only 2 when BB left us, so he has a special place in his heart for the cemetery.  He loves going there.  Its not hard for him like it is for others.  Thought I'd share our little visit:

It's been almost 5 years ago.  Doesn't seem possible.  Wouldn't you just love to know what she's doing?  I have no doubt we'll find out one day.  In the meantime, we'll have to settle for the little visits we have with her, and Mema and Papa, at their temporary home.

 

Bye Bye Little Red Truck

Many moons ago (7 +years) Aunt Kristi worked her decorating magic and turned baby Andrew's new room into a cute Pottery Barn red truck wonderland.  This theme has worked perfectly for a LONG time.  Still works actually.  Still cute, still fresh.  But you'll never guess what theme he's wanting now.  Yes, you're right - STAR WARS.  Michael is working his magic now, as we speak.  So pix of that will be coming soon.  

Along with preserving the red truck for posterity, digitally, we also preserved another memory from that room - POO!  Now how might one preserve poo, and why would we do that you ask?  Well, I was getting a massage in my bedroom a few weeks after having Andrew (my visiting teacher was a massage therapist, nice perk!) and Bonnie was in changing Andrew's diaper down the hall, when all of a sudden I hear shrieks of laughter and amazement - seems little guy had quite the explosion that shot across to one wall and into BB's hair a bit.  We thought we had it all cleaned up, but one day I spied the tiniest couple of specks of leftover residue and didn't have the heart to wash it off - not just me, nobody in the family wanted me to.  We'll take any reminder of BB we can get.  Todd carefully cut out the small piece of drywall and it will now find a home with all the other sentimental items we hang onto.  

"Half a Tank, You're Walking"

That quote can be attributed to Roy Oscarson, affectionately known as PaPa.  Somewhere along the way when he imparted all his many words of wisdom one of his gems was to never let your tank go below half full, or half empty depending on how you look at it.   Goodness, if you were on half a tank, you may as well just be running out of gas.  Trying to stay on a budget,  its a game for me to see how many days I can go without filling up, but on one of my preparedness blogs was the simple advice to always keep your tank half full.  Of course I envision nuclear war and a huge cloud of radioactive dust I'll be speeding away from, and an empty tank won't help me, will it?  So I think I will follow dear Papa's advice and be prepared like he always was for whatever comes our way.  

Who's Behind the Mask???

So today was the first day of Design 2 and the project was to design a mask.  Not really sure what it is - a mythical creature perhaps?  but I think the boy has talent.  Please keep him in mind for all your mask making, cake decorating or film making needs.  He's a starving college student!

On the 12th Day of January...,,

I realized I had not been very good at my New Year's Resolution of being better at keeping my blog updated.  It wasn't for lack of trying.  Seems there were some tech issues and things weren't saving, pics weren't loading, but for right now looks like we're back up.  

After the mad rush of Christmas most of us moms need a break.  Its no easy feat pulling it off.  I, however, have the good fortune to celebrate not 1, not 2 but 3 wonderful bdays, so the party keeps going.  First up was Michael (Dec.27) who left the teenage years behind,  hence now my blog name is legit and I have truly mothered for 20 years.  We were still celebrating Christmas at that point with Pops and Hunny and Kristi and family all came in  so it made Mook's b-day a fun party.  I followed turning a whopping 45 (yes, you heard that right) on New Year's Day and chose Macaroni Grill for my choice of dining that night.  And a movie, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, with my date,  to end the day.  Finally, Andrew is January 4 and he finally caught up with cousin Ben, turning 7.   Once again, Michael's creative talents came into play creating a cake that would make any 7 year old, Star Wars fan a happy camper.  Andrew chose Darth Sidious and Michael pulled it off.  

For now things have settled down.  So far in January I've taken in a Jackson Pollock exhibition with Michael at the Art Museum, I'm doing my Jillian Michael's Wii Fit dvd every other day (fighting gravity on my aging body),  Andrew and I are keeping on our very unstructured home schooling schedule and we are sooo excited for the return of 24 and American Idol, especially with the frigid weather knocking at our door.  Fun to cozy up at home when its nasty outside.  

The Adventures of Captain X

For anyone who is looking for a quick, short movie starring the Jolly cousins, click here.  Thanks to Michael for keeping the "thittle kids" occupied with cinema magic on New Year's Eve while we partied upstairs with Baby Jack.   Happy New Year to all!!