Week of November 24 - 30, 2014

As usual, I neglected a few things from last week: receiving an awesome letter in the mail from Adam, an awesome phone call from Nate, and seeing pics on Facebook of Morgan's awesome new home.

Monday - It was cold...for me (stop laughing, Nate and Jess)...and windy (stop laughing, Morgan)...so I slept an extra few minutes and exercised.

Dad's day off started with a 7:30 Honeywell meeting and an 8:30 Honeywell meeting.

Honeywell makes bank on working from home: no sick days...you are permitted to puke between meetings; no vacation days since you can always turn on your computer or tune in your i-phone; no parties...

nada

Kaylee and I did Indian, oops, I mean Native American things: a dot dot picture, some stick puppets

Tuesday - Dee went to the temple for an early session and I took care of chickens, etc. so he could. Grampy Wally and Tracky came with Kaylee, wanting to see Dad's truck, and played with us as they waited for him to get home.

Dad worked on his truck, painting his gas tank purple. Kaylee and I did pilgrim things: made pilgrim finger puppets, a pilgrim hat - that she wanted nothing to do with, and made turkey stick puppets.

The missionaries came by to help Dad try to find more names for temple work. Dad spent time on the phone with Salt Lake to get the reserved names freed up for him to use.

Costco rolls were our trip goal for the evening...and we did it!

I received a wonderful email from Allison overnight! I had turned off Facebook for the week, but I do get notices of comments, etc. via my email. She thanked me for these blog entries, which made it easier to record these! I sometimes wonder if anyone looks...or if it totally puts them to sleep. I don't know how she ever does her posts, since mine are terribly hard to get done!

Wednesday - Dad did another early temple session. I brushed the pool, fed the chickens, picked some limes, and did as much work around the house as I could and then went to pick up Kaylee.

Grammy is a crummy hair doer but we managed and did turkey activities

I made a roux, using flour and butter, ahead of time so I could just mix it with the broth and make gravy. Fingers were crossed.

Thursday - Happy Thanksgiving

My day began early: exercised and then...

Made cinnamon cream cheese frosting and iced the pumpkin cupcakes I made the week Dee was in Utah, iced and decorated the remaining sugar cookies (they looked like turkeys with candy corn tails. At this point, I was doggone sick of candy corn!)

I wanted to test making gingerbread houses for a Thanksgiving activity, like my friend Peggy always does, so we assembled five basic houses. (The jury is still deliberating on that. With everyone eager to shop, there wasn't much interest and with full tummies there wasn't much snitching)

I cleaned up the yard with Dee, hung the wreaths, set out tables and chairs and put on the tablecloths and centerpieces. I labeled the outdoor kitchen counters with what goes where and then got my olives chilled, the two kinds of cranberry sauce ready.

Dee whipped the cream and I assembled the cranberry salad. Then potatoes peeled, boiled, riced and put in pan, while another pan of whole milk, butter and cream cheese heated (and boiled over...blech) on the stove. Mixed together, mashed potato perfection and off to a crockpot outside.

Dee grilled our turkey, and it came out awesome! Soon, Grandma arrived with candied sweet potatoes, cauliflower and cheese and pumpkin chocolate chip cake,  Nano brought her stuffing and some olives, Ethan brought his delicious smoked turkey, Cameo brought her yummy mac and cheese and her favorite Stovetop stuffing, and Amber brought green bean casserole and a blackberry/cherry pie.

We all shared what we were thankful for, the food was blessed, and we ate...and ate...and ate. Kids played on the swings. It was warm outside...over 80 degrees, so it was toasty in the sun, and the shady end of the table was the prime spot. Kelsie, Kayty, Kaylee and Cameo worked a bit on gingerbread houses...again, not sure if we will do that again.

Dee and I watched Kooper and Kelsie while Amber and Doran hit WalMart. Later, Kayty...and then Ethan, Cam and Kaylee headed to the same store. Kayty got tons of DVDs...and was pretty darned pleased she got to see her brothers at the stores.

It was mission accomplished for Doran and Amber, and they returned to a very grateful Kooper, who missed is Mommy and Daddy very much.

Friday -We started our day at the temple. It was a wonderful session and we were glad we went early, because things were filling up as we left. I never thought about the logic of marrying after Thanksgiving. Family is all here. (I wonder if they could use up leftovers for the food???)

We did hit one Black Friday Sale...Home Depot's. I so miss going shopping early, especially when Allison and I would head out and stand in a sweet line full of nice people at Target just to get a gift bag with chewing gum and toothpaste in it. Such fun! Dad got outdoor LEDs and I got a mondo flashlight for his Christmas.

I packed up the Fall/Thanksgiving decor (sad face) and put up more Christmas (happy face).

We found out that Dee's friend for years, Bob Shearer, passed away early on the morning from his cancerous tumors that were once under control and then grew rapidly. Dee had been trying to call him, and had no answers. We thought he had a new phone or something. He was a good friend to Morgan when he first arrived in Odessa and we are so thankful he was there when we could not be. We remember the family in our prayers.

Saturday - Day began with yard sales and a WalMart quick stop for Christmas lights. I had acquired parts of a door garland from sales the last couple of weeks and all I needed was lights.

House decorating, tieing up tomatoes, a trip to the library to see something I wanted Dee to construct,  a hike, spaghetti dinner for the missionaries took up the rest of the day.

Sunday - It was a wonderful day...back at our building...walking out of the chapel to Sunday school class and seeing a temple! Just awesome! And, we noticed a new group attending Sacrament Meeting. Turns out it was Elder Zwick of the First Quorum of the Seventy. After our ward speakers, he spoke as well and referred us to #ShareTheGift and spoke of the Savior and the Sacrament and His love being our gift. (Our bishop said afterwards that he was so scared sitting next to an actual Seventy!) Day went normal. Dad home taught. Kayty had to work. I put up the red, white and blue tree.

Week of November 17 - 23, 2014

Monday - I took an early run and stopped to enjoy a beautiful and dedicated temple. It was very early, so the spire light came on when I was nearly home...but I did see it!

I got Dee up and off to the airport for his Utah trip. It was fine for the drop off, but getting out of the airport was crazy. It is only when you are unfamiliar and have to rely on freeway signage that you truly realize how crazy these traffic planners are.

Dee had a safe flight while I worked on decorating the Christmas tree and the living room. After landing he was able to attend the Salt Lake temple were he was able to do some work in the baptistry. When he checked his email, he discovered that crazy changes had happened and he was being put on another assignment...with a totally different boss...for an entire year. Thus, worthless business trip. (Other than the fact that he was going to attend the temple as much as he could.)

My dental appointment went ok. Fillings are only ok.

Nano stopped by to bring a couple of princess dresses she had made for Kayty. Kayty was so excited when she got home from work! Kayty went to Family Home Evening and I finished the tree.

Tuesday - I woke early, exercised and dressed in my Sunday best to wait for a possible opening at the first day the Phoenix temple was open. The drive there: five minutes! I made a wake up call to Dee and then turned into the church. The parking lot looked full, so I figured to wait a few hours before heading home. Walking in the front doors felt absolutely miraculous. I was in a dedicated Phoenix temple! I looked at the two men at the front desk, all in white. They asked if I was wanting to attend a temple session and I told them I would take any session available. They said, "Well, you made it into the first one!" They gave me a little plastic token with 7:30 am on it and I headed back, readied, and enjoyed the entire temple session! I was home by 10 am. Five plus hours to Mesa have become just a few here.

I completed my living room decorations, cleaned, dusted and vacuumed. Chickens were fed. Plants were watered. Dee called after a session at the Ogden Temple, and he headed to an interesting dinner at Famous Daves. (He ordered Salmon and a Salad...ended up with a brisket tray - which he thought was some kind of sampler - and no fish!) My evening was spent squeezing key and regular limes. Ended up with almost three bottles of juice. Dee called and said goodnight.

 Quiet end to quite a day!

Wednesday - This morning started with exercising and then a hike. I started with a flashlight in the dark but when I got to the top, I could look around and see in the earliest sunrise the lights of Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria...and the spire of the temple. Just beautiful. Wake up call to Dee happened on my way down.

I took care of the trash cans, brushed the pool, and did some outside cleanup. My visiting teachers came and we had a good visit. I got packages ready to send: Nate's Christmas ornaments, a package of stuff to Allison, and Joshy's birthday gift were packaged and then I took them to the post office. WinCo was my next stop, getting another turkey and the stuff for the cranberry salad and whipped cream for pies.

Home, put away groceries, watered gardens, fed chickens (I got them some raw sunflower seeds for a treat, so they enjoyed them), looked for limes.

Thursday - I wrapped and cleaned, wrapped and laundered, wrapped and fed, wrapped and wrapped. ALL stockings are wrapped, labeled, and bagged...under the tree. I was totally dead after all that so nothing else to say.

Friday - I opted to jog and it was so nice to be able to go on the temple grounds and sit on a bench for my picture!! Those who serve in the temple were already gathering, waiting to get in.

I returned to Kayty being way ill with a headache...I was really worried so I headed to WalMart and got some SierraMist for her to sip. She was zonked asleep when I got home.

Morning included baking and freezing cupcakes and sugar cookies for Thanksgiving,  and a trip to the airport to get Dee, which was craziness due to them moving the cell phone lot to another location (I concluded it was somewhere near Queen Creek but perhaps it wasn't that far.)

We went to a 1:30 pm temple session at the Phoenix Temple. We had no problem getting in...session wasn't even full.

Come on, people!

Dee had meetings. Kayty was watching One Direction on a tv program. Quiet evening.


Saturday - I exercised, brushed the pool and we hit some yard sales. Not much purchased. I went out to trim some "suckers" from a tangerine tree, which turned into hours of hauling branches and cutting tree limbs.

So doggone tired.

Ethan acquired a new mac computer for inexpensive and sold it/installed it. That is what I typed the end of this on and it's SOOO much faster! Thank you Ethan for finding it on "Offer Up".

We all were hungry and ate at New Asian Kitchen. Kaylee ate tay toes. Afternoon included shopping and Dee fried up the stinkiest doggone deer liver! Blech!!

I fell asleep as Kayty and Dad enjoyed "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". (We forgot the awful language in that movie. Never again.


Sunday - Kayty woke with another headache, so Dad stayed home in case she needed anything and I headed out to Tolleson Ward for Kelsie's Primary Program. She did awesome!!! She knew her part and spoke so well in the microphone. I could understand her! She sang all the songs and did a super job. I headed back to our ward and helped in the nursery and went to choir.

We had a quiet afternoon. Dad home taught. I prepped visiting teaching messages via mail for this  month. I just had no time and my companion doesn't do anything unless I make all the appointments and do the lesson.

Kayty was feeling better after a LONG nap.

It was the awesome-est to be able to go to the temple just down the street whenever I want to this week. I have set a goal of 4 endowments in a year...for years...and only made three. Friday was my 4th one for 2014. Hurray!!! And more to come!

Week of November 10-16. 2014

Monday - The day came and went, though I was so glad Doran had let me know of a radio station that had started playing Christmas music. I LOVE Christmas music!!!

 Kaylee and I played out in the beautiful weather. Dad worked hard at work. He got in a good hike at the end of the day.

Tuesday - Today was Veteran's Day for the rest of the country, but Dad had a good work day, and Kaylee and I did our thing. She didn't  want to visit the goat as we usually do on Tuesdays (nor did she want to visit the goat at all this week!), so we played in the back yard. She loves to swing, and puts her stuffed animals on the swings and on the slide.

Nate let us know that the bridge his group built for his engineering class tied for first place...held 478 pounds!!! Hurray!!!

Wednesday -I set out Dad's Snickers bar last night and the wrapper was empty, though I doubt that he ate it at 1:02 AM! Happy Birthday, Allison!!!

 Kaylee and I enjoyed story and singing time at the library and made scarecrows. Dad hiked the trail even faster than Monday.

Thursday - Christmas Music started on my favorite radio station (as well as the other one I was listening to). The local weather guy dresses like an elf and they make a big deal and it gets an ol' lady like me pretty darned jumping for joy. Now I can switch back and forth between 2 radio stations!!!

I had ordered chicken breasts from Zaycon foods and the delayed delivery day was moved to this one, so Kaylee and I headed out and they loaded my 30 pound box of chicken in, and we went by Deer Valley Airport to see the planes and helicopter on the way home.

Joshy made my day when I got a text from him! joshjoshjoshjosh!!!!

After Kaylee went with Daddy, Dee and I ground and packaged nearly 30 packages of chickenburger. I left for WinCo and got our turkey for Thanksgiving and our friend Zack delivered bags of deer meat from a Colorado deer hunt. It was a big deer, but there wasn't a lot of meat, and it was already frozen, so we just added it to our freezer and will be surprised when we thaw it.

Kayty won tickets to a Five Seconds of Summer concert, and she had a great time!

Friday - Kaylee and I painted Indian corn and made acorns. Dad had a great day at work and an even faster hike after work.

This is what happens when Indian Corn becomes "tickle corn"!

Saturday - On my run, I went up and saw where the cornerstone would be mortared and took a picture. That would be the nearest I would get before the dedication.

We hit a few yard sales and found a few treasures.

I finished the nativity scene decorating,and got my Christmas tree out so the guys could carry it to the living room.

Doran and the kids arrived, and I cared for them while he and Dad started sanding the panel truck, then Ethan, Cam and Kaylee came and they worked while we worked.

Dad's production: collard greens and kale, two varieties of limes, three varieties of lettuce and our chickens are laying eggs!!!

Truck took a LONG time but was beautiful!

Dad got Albertsons Chicken and we all ate.

The temple cultural celebration came on tv, and Dad and I so enjoyed the entire program. The  four (of over 100) pleather jackets I cut out for two hours looked awesome fpr the five minutes the kids in another region wore them. Our region wore Orange and sang an awesome song called "Look Up" and did a great dance. It was so fun to pick out kids from our ward as we saw them on tv.

Afterwards, we headed to the temple. I wanted to see the lights turn off...for the final night at an undedicated temple. Promptly at 10:13 pm the spire turned off, and we went home.

Sunday - We woke early, got dressed up and headed to Wet and Wild to get a bus to the temple dedication. Our bus driver looked like Santa and was so nice! He had Christmas music playing. We were seated in the Chapel and were glad to get a seat. We weren't sure what the situation would be with the special dedication location for our wards. As we sat, a leader that we knew started inviting rows of people to be in the temple for the dedication. We missed the pick of rows over and over and were just settling to be grateful for being so close. Then, they needed two more people, and they selected us! We had to separate, but Dee was in the chapel in the temple, and I was in an ordinance room. The prophet was just on the other side of the wall from each of us! I was so humbled and grateful to be sitting in this holy temple as it was being dedicated by a living prophet. Tears came to my eyes as I remembered being a very pregnant mommy of a two year old and a one year old little girl and boy, standing by poured footings of our house. The kids used to sing "We live in the dirt..." and we did. We were on an acre in nearly the middle of no where. I thought of when our bishop told us the Phoenix Temple was to be built so near us...and our neighbors were so against it. I thought of the balloon Kayty brought home from work, and of my putting a Home Depot bucket in the middle of this piece of land and Dee putting that balloon on the end of a measured string and letting all the neighbors in the area know and asking them to look and see if they could see that balloon. The church lawyers used his photo vantage points in their presentation to the neighbors. That bucket was nearly right where I sat. And now, years later, we both were in that very building, witnessing its dedication. Tender mercies happen.
Miracles happen.
The Lord has a Plan and His work will not be thwarted.
The words I heard today touched me.
"...but as for me and my house, we will Serve the Lord..."
That is what temples are for. That is what we are here for.

We waited after to be led out, and so many friends of ours who were in this from the beginning had been in the temple as well. Jeff and DeAnn Pierce. Joy Black. Yvonne Brimhall. Sonja and Phil Hazlett. We all hugged and shared our joy!

Many pictures...and a final bus ride back to Wet N Wild.

Morgan and Dad talked for a good time on the phone. His job is great and he now has a van to live in, though it has transmission troubles, it is great and he is loving things! I am so glad he is not living in a thicket with a rattlesnake any more. Oh, and he found he was missing a lot of his stuff...looked in a  nearby packrat hole and found all of it...socks, pocket knife...He will have to tell you the story himself...It's a good one.

Afternoon was spent getting Dee packed and putting some lights on my Christmas tree.

Tomorrow I have to leave super early if I want to run by a DEDICATED TEMPLE early and get Dad to an early flight.

Week of November 3 - 9, 2014

Monday - Miraculous! I went from running in shorts and a tshirt on Saturday to wearing a long sleeved shirt and sweats this morning. The temple open house is done and clean up had already begun. As I read the weekly neighborhood newsletter, there were complaints about the spire being illuminated. The Church has assured the neighbors that after the dedication, things will return to a regular and promised schedule.

Sad face.

So, I just enjoy the beautiful lit spire shining through the darkness for now.

After a good jog, I picked a ton of key limes. Gloves, long sleeves, and covered legs made a huge difference.

I started to put up my Winter Village...

And worked for hours and hours.

I did stop to make lunch...and dinner...

I finished about 7:00 pm.

It was good to be done.

Dee had the week off, to burn up vacation days that we will lose, so he worked in the garden, mowed, and helped me when I needed some.

Tuesday - It was so awesome this morning...Most of the open house "stuff" is gone, and I could run right in front of the temple...and stop.

The gate was open, but I really didn't want to have an encounter with someone guarding the site. I have SOOOOO missed my jogging halfway stop. And what a sacred and special stop it is.

It was a very windy night, so I just gathered limes that had come off the tree...still quite a few. I started up some dusting and vacuuming.

Dee and I headed out to get the paint, primer, etc. he needed for his panel truck.

We texted Allison and found out that, though Gracie's volleyball team lost their playoff game, she scored two points.

So stinkin' happy!

It reminded me of one of Nate's last football games. Scottsdale Christian High was creaming North Pointe. Nate had been hit hard (later found out it was a mild concussion) but had to go right back in the game. It was almost over...and the team worked and worked and worked...and scored! Our side of the stadium was cheering uncontrollably. We had been creamed...something like 56 to 7...but oh how precious were those 7 points to all of us!!!

We had a great hike around Deem Hills. We avoided election results...we had mailed in our ballots weeks ago and were just sick of the whole thing.

Evening was quiet and breezy.

Wednesday - No longer am I going to bore all with my daily routine. Just imagine me running in the beautiful darkness with a temple spire illuminated in the distance, and me running into the parking lot and standing outside the front gate and looking in the front window at the painting of Jesus Christ with the small child holding a palm leaf. I am rejuvenated and continue on home.

Limes gathered...flowers watered. House cleaned, vacuumed, and dusted.

Spaghetti for dinner.

Thursday - After my normal morning routine,

I quickly vacuumed, and while Dee ran to the metal shop to get something to work on a grandkid Christmas gift, I made him homemade biscuits with sausage gravy. I made myself look presentable and headed to Dorrie's. We then traveled to Scottsdale and Kris Kringles...a shop on Fifth Avenue.

I have never seen so much...stuff. Ornaments everywhere. Dolls everywhere.Villages filling the back room.

I would hate to dust that! That was all I could think!!!

Lunch at Sweet Tomatoes, and home.

Kayty screamed as some boy band sang on Ellen DeGeneres.

Dee was too tired to hike so we hit Costco, I made salads and asparagus for dinner.

He worked on Christmas while I wrapped Christmas gifts.

Friday - Morning routine, and then we headed out for a community yard sale north of us. We ended up getting some interesting stuff, both for the play room and the house. Dee made lots of progress on a grandkid Christmas gift...

We had a pretty good hike, though it was kind of warm...for November.

Saturday - Morning routine and then we tried a few yard sales, and then headed home. Ethan arrived, bearing doughnuts, and Doran and family came a little later. It ended up being quite the in and out day, while Dad, Doran and Ethan sanded and primed Dad's panel truck.

Amber, Kelsie Kooper and boy dog came. Amber left. The former Elder Kellet and friend (former missionary) came. Cameo and Kaylee came.

Pizza came out of our oven.

Elder Nokes and Elder Oliphant came. The former Elder Kellet and friend left.  Elder Nokes and Oliphant left after a piece of pizza.

Amber and female dog came.

Ethan, Cameo and Kaylee left...Kaylee loved that little female dog that was a perfect angel on the leash. (She nearly left in Ethan's car!)

Doran, Amber, Kelsie and Kooper and little girl doggie left.

I cleaned, dusted, mopped, and then literally died. I am not sure what time it was.

Kayty left to karaoke with friends.

Dee took care of the chickens, watered my flowers, and did all he could to make up for my exhaustion.

Sunday - I got up and ready early so I could attend choir practice...Yes, first time since before Nate went on his mission. I really enjoyed myself and the wonderful people there. It was interesting to hear about the temple dedication choir since the director and her husband are in one of them.

We found out in Sacrament Meeting that our ward and the other ward in our building are permitted to attend the temple dedication IN OUR OWN BUILDING!!! They are having a special satellite truck brought in for it! (Even though we are next door). Permission is limited to 100 people per ward each session, so we asked for the 10 am session, which means we will have to be at Water World aka Wet N Wild at 8 am to bus to the site.

So excited!!!!

The day went well. Dinner. Preparing for next week.

Week of October 27 - November 2, 2014

Monday - Days begin in pretty much the same way: head out the door, admire the lit temple spire, jog by the temple, start laundry, water flowers, pick key limes, clean, vacuum, mop.

Kaylee had a good day. We did "candy corn" things, though she really thought it was crazy for Grammy to take a perfectly good piece of candy and toss it into a cup, or glue it on a piece of paper to resemble a flower.

Dee was back to work after a week off. He also decided his snow peas weren't doing well in the garden he had originally planted in, so he prepared a new bed, complete with chicken manure from a friend nearby. He was a superhero and worked out a mess up with Nate's meds and Cigna pharmacy.

Oh...Obama care!

We suffered through watching "Dancing With The Stars" to see Duck Dynasty's Sadie dance. She is great but we just aren't going to sit and waste any more time on that show.

Kayty was home late...I was already in bed reading my scriptures. I finished reading all the General Conference talks, including marking all the scriptures referenced, so I am back to my favorite read, "The Book of Mormon". I am nearing the end of 3rd Nephi.

Tuesday - The temple was gorgeous this morning. Loving every moment seeing that spire illuminated throughout my whole run. Pool got brushed. Flowers (and pesky mushrooms that came with the mulch topper) got watered. Limes got picked. I got poked.

Today was pumpkin day for Kaylee. I had made pumpkin bread but she is just like her Daddy and must be able to sniff the bean puree in it instead of cooking oil. We fed our goat, plus a few ants in an ant hole, a granola bar, played in the back yard and front yard, scared Grammy to death wanting to climb to the top of the playground "thing", and drove Papa to the church building to usher at the temple.

My evening was busy: vacuum, run down to the stake center to pick up the baptismal clothing from Saturday (which was not there...grrrr! I later found out the new high councilman in charge had taken them home and laundered them himself), ran to a 99 cent store and headed home.

Dee had a BUSY night at the temple open house. The bus company had only sent 8 buses instead of 12, one had a minor traffic altercation in the parking lot, and thus there were guests that waited over two hours for a bus ride to a tour. He texted me at 9 saying he would be there late, and so I made some green chili burro sauce to bring him something to eat when I picked him up. He wasn't that long, but it was a busy night for him!

Wednesday - I stopped and looked at the temple before I turned down the street with the Jack o Lanterns on their driveway lights. It is beautiful and looked so peaceful. I prayed today would be much smoother for the guests who visit. Picked more limes, wiped up more pokes, watered and worked.

Kaylee arrived to Curious George on television, and after we had breakfast, we headed out to the library to Baby Time for Crawlers and Walkers. It was lots of singing and a little reading, and then afterward we could look at all sorts of books.

We had a good trip home, looking for buses going to and from the temple.

It was witch day for Kaylee, so we made a witch head out of a paper plate with her handprints for hair.

We also played outside after her nap, and walked down to try to see the neighbors inflatable jack o lantern...though it wasn't inflated.

Dee had a busy work day and got a ride to the temple open house for his first session as a tour guide. It went well and the buses had no difficulties as they had the night before. He got home late, took a swim, ate a salad and finished up work on the computer.

I ran to the store after Kaylee and Cameo left and got some groceries, and then hurried home so I could watch a Halloween episode of Modern Family. The missionaries stopped by...right in the middle...so I visited with them at the door (and missed the show) I know it must be hard for these missionaries. We have elders serving in our ward, and there is nothing for them to do right now. I got the house vacuumed and finished my night reading the Book of Mormon. I completed Third and Fourth Nephi and was on to Mormon.

Thursday - Same old start to the day: run, brush pool, water flowers, pick limes, laundry load number 2 (Dee has ONE white shirt, which gets very sweaty under his suit at the temple, so I have to wash a separate white load every day.

Today was bat day and, after going for a stroll and feeding our goat...

 we made toilet paper roll bats and clothespin bats. She had the MOST fun applying the glue! We also made play dough wings for a bat, and I cut her cheese crisp into little bat shapes.

She tolerates my craziness.

Dee headed out and took a friend of ours to tour guide at the temple. He had a good night, though he got home after I had dozed off and after he talked to Nate on the phone about an oil problem he was having with his vehicle, I had a hard time falling back to sleep. I headed out where he was writing in his journal and eating chili...which made my stomach turn, so I headed back to bed. Lavender oil sent me off to sleep.

After Ethan and Kaylee left, I cleaned, vacuumed, and went to get more Smarties and mints for Dee to take to the temple on Saturday night.

Fighting Halloween Eve traffic anywhere NEAR a candy department is not a good idea.

Friday - Got up and ran, watered Dee's snow peas, and hurriedly got ready and headed to Cameo's. Kaylee was already awake in her bed watching Mickey's Clubhouse, so Cam headed to our house and Kayty's make up session. Kayty turned Cam into one very intense zombie nurse. She looked great...or terrible as it were. Even won her office contest for most frightening.

I proceeded to get Kaylee into her witch costume (with a wonderful interruption and voice greeting from Miss Grace aka Elsa in Las Vegas. She is such a sweetie! )and we visited Nano and then Dorrie and Curtis and Trick or Treated.

After getting home, she played and took a great nap...and so did I! (I was absolutely exhausted getting a little one in and out of a car seat.

Dee had a rough day at work. It seems the issues with suppliers he has to keep dealing with just never go away. More forms, more meeting, more emails...and same ol' same ol'

Cam cleaned her make up off before heading here to get Miss Kaylee, and we followed them home and handed out candy for a little while at their house while they took her to a few neighbors.

Late night trip to a very empty Home Depot  and me starting to undecorate the house ended our day.

Saturday - Early run, pool brush, and garden water. Then I donned my work gloves and picked key limes.

The gloves did not make it much better. Key lime trees are nasty...some of the worst thorns ever...and they are everywhere!

We headed out to find some yard sales. Dee found an outdoor misting system for cheap that will keep tomatoes happy next Summer. I found a couple of books, some Grammy bag fillers and scrapbook paper.

We spent the day cleaning up: Dee out in the yard and me taking down and putting away Halloween and most of the Fall decorations. We both were dead...and then had to get ready for the last usher/guide shift at the temple. While I was getting ready, Ethan. Cam and Kaylee came by to drop off the trailer and use the slide on the playground.

I headed out to the devotional at the Happy Valley church building. I just sat by myself because the room was filled with couples talking to each other...from Glendale Stake mostly. Someone I knew finally came and we enjoyed the final showing of the Phoenix Temple Open House presentation.

I have cried every single time. This temple we have seen since it's early days, with disagreements and balloons and inflatable gorillas and protesters and trucks hauling off load after load of dirt and steel girders and walls and Moroni and stained glass windows...It is very dear to us. I never thought a temple could become as dear as the Mesa Temple (my family was sealed there, I received my endowment there, Dee and I were sealed there, some of my children received their endowment and sealed there...) but this temple is almost that close.

President Cathcart gave a touching and very inspiring thought and then we were off to the last tours at the temple.

It was a night of unusuals: three people fell, on one of my tours I followed (Spanish Speaking), a teenage daughter had gotten out of line early and I had to try and locate her...through many many guests waiting in line...One tour I followed had someone right behind me joking constantly and rather loudly...not against the church but just finding fun in laughing...and that took away the Spirit...until we entered the Celestial Room. Silence. I heard little from her after that. She was touched by something she hadn't been touched by before.

I am a witness that, though the temple won't be dedicated for two weeks, the Spirit is there and touches people.

Dee was a tour guide and drove there with Laurel Bolton and parked there at the temple. I did manage to find him after or I was going to need to walk home and get Kayty to take me to get my vehicle at the church.

He had a great night and led three more tours. He really wanted a souvenir usher badge (which they told us we could not keep since they will be used for the Cultural Celebration) but since I signed him up to be a tour guide, he got to keep his. I didn't mind too much...I figure that my kids will have less junk of mine to get rid of someday and they will thus love me waaaaaay more than Dad...cuz he is a
pack rat!

Sunday - We woke up to cool weather!!!!!

We got ready and headed out to stake conference which was an Arizona Area Conference broadcast from Salt Lake City. The speakers, including Elder Uchtdorf and Elder Christofferson, reminded us to strengthen our own testimonies and to live according to the For The Strength of Youth and temple recommend interview guidelines. Our own Stake President, President Martin, told us to study the talks from General Conference and times would soon be where it would no longer be good enough to just attend church on Sunday to keep us strong with all that the world is facing.

I noticed a painting in the foyer of the Stake Center, and noticed the little boy...and discovered my favorite paintings from the temple were painted by Carl Bloch. The are beautiful depictions of the Savior...and there is this sweet innocent little boy in each one. I came home and looked him up on the internet. Such a great artist!

Dee had good phone conversations with both Allison and Nathan.