*Monday Memos*

*MONDAY MEMOS*

   

 (If pictures are too small, just click to enlarge) 
Weekly recap of my rather crazy, insane, but fun and rewarding life!

dear monday, it was very cold this morning but I headed out to do a bit of running. I have decided I am taking off some time and so I'm not pushing it at all.  I do love to be outside and so I enjoy my time out even if I'm only walking.  I did run a couple miles though.  There was frost on the ground.  The cows were just starring at me today like I was an alien or something.  I think cows are the cutest things!

McKay was home sick :( and so I didn't stay out long.  He got sick last night and so he didn't go back up to Logan.  He was in bed all day with a fever and sore throat.  Dave says he has strep throat.  Poor kid. I feel so bad for him.  I practiced the harp quite a bit today making up for all the days I missed this week!  Gah!  I must do better!  I finished my t-shirt quilt and got it all packed up and ready to mail.  I paid the extra to lay it out how I want it rather than have them do a random pattern. I am glad I did now.  I am excited to get it back.  I hope it will be worth it.

Dave got home and we had BLT's again for dinner.  Can't get enough of them especially now that I know we are on the last couple of real tomatoes.  Karen told me the Vegas trip is off. I am kind of sad because I was looking forward to it especially since Taylor and his roomies are going to be down there for fall break.  Oh well.  I have our Sista play Wait Until Dark planned and also a tour of Shelley Bowden's scary house that I would have missed.  Dave and I took a drive to look at shingle colors but it was too dark.

I found this on Facebook and thought it was a good little bit of family history.  See if you can do it.
I am a Wilding
I was a VanDenakker
My mom was a Poppleton
Her mom was a Sharp
My Dad is a VanDenakker
His mom was a Stephenson

 And you can keep going like this person (a cousin of mine): 

I am a SHAFFER
Before that I was a Barrett
My maiden name was Allred
My mom was a Johnson
Her mom was a VandenAkker.
Her Mom was a Wasser
Her mom was a Byzen
Her mom was a Van Dee Hoeven
My dad is a Allred
His mom was a Thirkill
Her mom was a Thatcher
My paternal grandfather was an Allred
His mom was a Anderson
Her mom was a Amundsdatter
Her mom was a Christensdatter
My maternal grandfather was Johnson
His mom was a Whitehead
Her mom was a Robinson
Her mom was a Gregson.
Her mom was a Pettit.
Her mom was a Selby
Her mom was a Neale
Her mom was and they don’t know.

(I am going to do this also but I need help of Family Search)

Today was Happy National JODI day!  They spelled it wrong, but whateve..... I had no idea this even existed but I ran across on my newsfeed.  Gosh, I should have got a chocolate cake or something!  Nope, it went uncelebrated!  Waaaa.....

October 16th is National Jodi Day!

dear tuesday, I didn't sleep well at all last night.  Frustrates me, but what do ya do?  The joys of womanhood I guess!  I finally just got up and went and practiced the harp. I am really enjoying the harp so much. I am so happy I am taking lessons and learning how to play this beautiful instrument.  Brings me a lot of joy!  I headed to my lesson and on the way, my phone completely went black and would not turn on.  NOTHING!  I seriously have the worst luck with phones!  It got really hot too.  I left it in the car for my lesson and it was cool when I came back out, but it still wouldn't turn on.  So I rushed it to the ER (iQue) and they admitted it and kept it for testing and observation.  I don't think they put it in a hospital gown, but I wasn't allowed in the ICU where it ended up, so ya never know!  I am amazed at how dependent we have all become on these little devises.  I felt so isolated without it!  haha

It was a beautiful day and so I headed to Jamba Juice and used a giftcard I have had for years!  I went to Target as well. I ran a few more errands and then went to see if my phone was ready for discharge.  It not only wasn't ready for discharge, but it had NO charge.  It was dead.  Time to plan the funeral.  So sad.  They said a power chip blew up inside it of all things.  Hmmm...  SO.......once AGAIN, I need to find a new phone!  This is number three in 9 months!  Sheesh!  Did I mention I have bad luck with phones?  I had to pick up the Zaycon chicken order and then I rushed home to get on line to see if I could find a used phone.  Getting me a new one at full price would be the utmost of insanity considering how fast I go through them!  I contacted Sky and recruited his help as well.  He found me one in Sandy and even offered to go get it for me.  But that means another trip down south tomorrow. It will be worth it if I get to see him and take him to lunch though. After Dave got done setting apart two missionaries, we went toTaylor's flag football championship game.  They got to play it in the USU football stadium!  

 Pretty cool!  Last year they won the entire thing and was supposed to go to Arizona to play in the national championship.  They had the trip planned and the quarterback backed out and so the entire team ended up not going.  I was hoping they would win the whole thing again this year!  It was so fun to watch him play football again.  Man, that kid is FAST!  He can run so so so fast!  He is very talented and he amazed me how good he is.  Sadly, one of their players threw an interception when the game was tied and we were about to score!  Instead they scored and was up by a touchdown.  

With only seconds left in the game, Taylor caught an 80 yd pass!!!  WOW!!!  It was definitely the play of the game!

I got a pretty good shot of it!  

These pix are of him about to catch it and after he caught it.

Then with only three seconds left, we passed it across the goal line and Jake caught it, but then dropped it!  UGH!  SO SAD!  

We had a chance to win it or at least tie it up but lost. I remembered how bad I hated it when my boys would lose their games.  Especially close ones.  Those are the hardest to lose.  They were by far the better team, but oh well, that's how it goes.  All's fair in love and sports!  Hah  We were talking to the Tolman's and their son came over but we didn't see Taylor.  We found out later he was too upset they lost to come over and talk.  Some losses are harder than others.  This was a tough one!  Dang!  

Saw this on the way out.  Took it for Taylor because his number was always 42.

We went to his apartment and got him and CJ and then picked up McKay and took them to dinner at Village Inn.  It was so much fun watching my boys interact with each other and CJ.  I am so proud of what amazing sons they are.  I am glad they are so funny and so...not sure the word...maybe "cool".  My boys are cool.  Hah.  I was laughing most of the meal.  Man, boys can pack away the food!  I barely touched mine and they ate every morsel off their plate!  We took them all home and it was late by the time we got home.  But I'm so glad Dave could go so I didn't have to go alone.

dear wednesday, Dave was off today.  We headed to O town for an appt. and then we went to Kaysville to get my phone from Sky and to take him to lunch.  We went in and visited with Karen.  We then went to Zuppas in Farmington for lunch.  It was yummy!  Dave lost a crown while eating.  Not good.  I ran into Home Goods and got Mickey a little bday gift and then took Sky back.  We ran some errands in O town and when we got home Dave went to the dentist. Sadly they can't fix it and he needs an implant at the tune of $4000!  Ouch!  Sheesh!  It was one of those days with lots of bad news, when you feel bombarded at once.  I baked about three kinds of squash that Dave grew in his garden.  All were sensational!  Love that stuff! I could live on veggies.  And bread. I have to have bread too.  Carbs are my soulmate!  And chocolate.  I guess I could survive without it but I would not be a happy survivor.  Hah  Dave went to his meetings and I blogged.  I went to bed early. 

My medal plate came today for this year's marathon.

dear thursday, I actually ran 5 miles this morning but could tell I took too much time off.  It felt labored.  I did find lots of money at hs parking lot.  It is fall break and so no cars were there.  

I loved this sign at the high school.  Not just the saying but the colors.  I found this interesting coin as well....

 The trees are spectacular right now!

I went and helped my sweet friend Michele start a blog for her missionary.  I went to her work and we had a good long chat. She has been through a lot.  The blog part only took about 20 minutes but I was there for about an hour and half.  She gave me fire color stuff to thank me. It was fun.  

When I got home Taylor was here.  He leaves for Las Vegas in the morning.  I made about 60 cupcakes to take to the new move ins in our ward.  We attempted to deliver six but only four were home.  Our ward just keeps getting so many move ins!  I counted 25 new families in the last year or so.  

dear friday, Taylor took off for Las Vegas early. I ran 5 miles.  It was really warm!  57 degrees!  First in a long time!  Loved it.  I have missed the warm temps!  I tried to plan my route around the annual sheep trailing that was today.  They start in Mantua and trail all the way to Corinne.  In years past, I have accidentally "rammed" into them, but this year It was all over Facebook when it was.   I look forward to it every year!  It brings me "shear" excitement!  McKay called and asked me if I knew there were tons of sheep taking the BC exit.  'Baaaaa'haha!  He had never "herd" of it!  So, according to his info I headed east and kept going until I got to 1st North and 600 East.  "Ewe" would not believe how many peeps "flock" to see them.  A total parade!  I love it!  I drove my car and parked on 600 E. and got out and waited.  You don't want them to go "pasture" line of vision and so you have to get a good spot.  They finally came and it was worth the wait!  I will try and add the video because it's "wooly wooly" entertaining!  SO MUCH FUN!

 It's becoming like a parade!  SO fun!

 I took it all on video this year and so I don't have great pictures. I am going to try and download the video on here because you will wooly like it!

When I was headed to my lunch, I got blocked by them on 900 North!  Look at all those cars lined up to watch the event!

I met  my friends at Mod Pizza in Riverdale.  It was a very fun and yummy place!  I was in line with Dawn and Shelley and this guy she was talking to got out his phone and took our photo with him. I had no idea who he was, but what the heck?  Haha  Found out later we went to school with him.  We had a good turnout and the food was super good. I ate my entire mini pizza!  That is not normal for me  but first, I was freezing, and second, I was starving!  It turned super cold after being so warm.  

We then headed to Shelley's haunted house and Holy Halloween, it was unbelievable!  Seriously!  Blew my mind!  She has decked her halls in spooky stuff to the hilt!  I've never seen anything like it!  She took us on a tour of her house and she had Halloween in pretty much every room.  She goes all out.  Impressive!  

She also collects legos!  Wow!  Her house is full of interesting things!  When my brain was thinking of how much $$ all of it would be, I was in awe.

We had a good chat after about life.  Carla told us she gets so bored being home all day and asked Dawn and I what we did all day so we weren't bored. I told her I have NEVER been bored. That is the truth. I have NEVER been bored!  There is ALWAYS so much to do, I always feel overwhelmed with more than I can ever do.  I never feel I am on top of things enough to be bored.  I can't really even comprehend that.  It's so foreign to me. Maybe that means I am too busy?  But most of the stuff I do is by choice.  I'm not one of those women who makes things to do so she "appears" busy and thus "respected" for being so busy.  I personally don't think being "busy" is a badge of honor.  I wish I was less busy, but not sure what I would cut out.  I struggled a bit to answer her question of what I do all day.  I told her I'm not sure, but I am busy every minute and wish I had more down time.  I told her I run, I practice the harp, I blog, I cook, I clean (though not as much as when my boys were little - I had a tight cleaning schedule back then), I bake, I read once in a while but really wish I had more time for that, (I do most of my reading on the computer now), I plan parties, I serve a lot, I spend time with my boys when they come to hang out.  I was trying to really think....and then Dawn mentioned our church callings take up a lot of time. Ah-hah!  Yes, I do spend a LOT of time fulfilling my three (was four) church callings.  Four, if you count Visiting Teaching and you should because it is VERY time consuming.  Our church does require quite a bit of time. We told Carla she should join our church and she would never be bored again!  haha  Seriously though.  She said she doesn't think she should join a church if she doesn't believe it's true. Then Dawn made a very good point.  She said that even if she finds out on the other side that our church isn't true, it has still made her a much better person than she would be without it and so it wouldn't really matter to her.  She is a great missionary!  :) 
I then ran to the ER again (iQue) in Layton this time because I wasn't impressed with Riverdale's employees, but it wasn't much better there.  The phone Sky got me on KSL is having issues. The silent button won't work and the battery won't stay charged like it should.  He is going to re-sell it and so I ordered the new (refurbished) Apple phone from them for $199 which will eat up my warranty but at least I got something out of it.  It won't be here for a week.

I saw this as I was pulling into town!  Wow!  I love rainbows!  Dave got home right after me.  We delivered the new move-in's cupcakes that weren't home last night.  One still isn't home.  Oh well.  We went to Maddox Drive In for dinner. I just had a green salad because I ate so much at lunch. I'm still trying to lose three pounds.  Ugh!  We then rented a Redbox and watched that.  We rented the new Pirates of the Caribbean.  It was interesting but good.  

dear saturday, it was so cold this a.m.  I waited to go on my run until it warmed up a bit.  I found this penny in the craziest place.  It never ceases to amaze me how many insane places I have found them.  No idea how they get there!

McKay showed up.  He is here until tomorrow morning when he has to go back and speak in his single's ward.  I went on my run and it felt labored even though I only went five.  It did warm up though.  I watched a few tutorials on how to make French Macarons.  I have been wanting to make them for about three years and then my friend Lisa posted some that she has made and I text her and asked for her recipe. She sent it and holy heck, they are complicated! I knew they were but I didn't know they were this finicky.  It's a science!  I found some easier recipes on youtube that I might try out first.  I can't wait to try them out.  Lisa said she had several failed attempts and so don't get discouraged.   I plan on it.  Not sure when I will find a day that I can make them, but hopefully soon.  

It was our Sista dinner and play tonight.  I made reservations for 5:45 at Maddox and everyone was there by 6:00.  We were upstairs and had so much fun.  It's always fun when Lisa can make it!  Bonzo was also cracking me up.  Dinner was yum!  Patti brought her sister Connie.  She was nice.  Our waiter was a hoot.  

We were almost late to the play, but they waited for us. Haha  I sat by Robin and Lisa.  We were laughing so hard I had tears!  Lisa and Robin can do that to me. Jody as well.  Or...the combination!  The play was Wait Until Dark and was pretty good though it didn't get really scary until the end.  We were laughing when we should have been screaming. 

 Oh my stars!  (As Lisa would say!)  LOOK what I found!  We were doing selfies 37 years ago BEFORE they were invented! We weren't too good at it then either! :D Then and now! #weberstate #cheese #photobomberbackintheday

After we got some pictures by the stage and then the entire cast shows up.  They were cute and we could tell they were flattered we asked if they would be in our pix. Actually one of them suggested it and we jumped all over that!  It was a blast.  We always have so much fun.  Patti, Connie, and Chris left and so they weren't in those pix.  We hung around and checked out the building and by the time I was in my car heading home it was 10:30.  Fun Fun Fun night! I sure do love my Sistas!  I needed that girl time.  Having all boys, sometimes you just need girl time! 

 A stage hand was "supposed" to be holding up the doll in this photo, but you can barely see it! hah  It's hiding behind Bonzo.

 Still can't see it!

 With the cast!

 I love fun people!!!

 We checked out the "elevator"- a chair lift that we couldn't get to work!  Dang!  This was one of the funnest Sista outings I've been to.

dear sunday, it was nice to not have to worry about teaching or playing the piano today.  McKay was here but then headed to Logan to speak in his single's ward.  Cooper had his homecoming in our ward and I sat behind all of McKay's buds. I felt bad he had to miss it cause of his talk.  Coop did an amazing job!  It was one of the best homecoming talks I've ever heard.  He has really grown.  After SS I headed to Mitchell's homecoming.  I had to sit in foyer because I didn't want to walk in late and I was late because I stayed for my SS class.  Before Mitchell was done speaking Mitch P came out and started to talk to me.  He caught me up on his folks and told me he is heading to PA school in Texas in May and to thank Dave for his letter of recommendation.  Then Brandon came over.  They were both in my SS class the year I started teaching and now they are married!  Their wives joined them and we all chatted for quite a while.  I came home and Dave and I ate dinner alone.  Then the home teachers dropped by.  Taylor didn't get home until 9:00 from his Las Vegas trip. Julie sent me these pix of him:

dear mr. cat, you are one beautiful animal!

Speaking of beautiful animals....  I love where I live!

dear throwback,

This is definitely one of my very favorite pictures of ALL time!

 I love these as well!  I love that FB throws you back and you get to relive moments!

 These are from the Ogden Marathon this year.  I ran the half this year.  But it is a gorgeous course!

dear quotes, 

“It Shall Be.” If you can figure out what you want and have the courage and the sheer will to feel scared, you will make anything happen in your life.

dear misc, I am keeping this on here for my own reference.

Personal Records Race Distance

Full Marathon... 3:58:45
St. George 2015 Age 54

Half Marathon... 1:43:44
Big Cottonwood 2016 Age 55

10K... 52:09
Peach Days 2017 Age 56

5 Miler... 41:17
Mantua Dam Race

5K... 24:41
Rotary Club 5K 2015 Age 54