Cookies and More Cookies

Drum roll, please...

(Here is a link just in case the box doesn't work on your computer. My sweetie says it won't work on his and I didn't want you to feel left out.)

 http://www.ksl.com/?sid=24431768&nid=1194

OK, as promised, here is me on TV. My kids assure me that I didn't do as badly as I thought I did, but I haven't been able to bring myself to watch it yet. Let me know what you think.









Tomorrow is Teach's last big party before she leaves on her mission for our church. She will speak during our meeting and then all of our family and friends will congregate here for a bowl of chili, a roll, and tons of cookies.

The girls spent the day baking sugar cookies and lemon bars and snickerdoodles. Yesterday Princess made oatmeal raisin and on Thursday she made chocolate chip. We have put together literally hundreds of cookies. There are about 150 shamrock sugar cookies alone! And our neighbors have been dropping by cookies as well. I didn't know that was going to happen. We live in such an amazing area!

I spent my day chasing around. Sport, Bean Dip, and Taco wanted to sell Scout-O-Rama tickets, so we were at the kick-off at 8:30 this morning. Between the three of them they had to sell 60 tickets for all of them to get the first day prizes. We still have a ticket or two to get rid of, but we cashed out their prizes at about 6:30, right before the 7:00 deadline.

Scout had her first softball practice and a parent meeting. She was eying me when they were asking for a volunteer for Team Mom, but honestly, I just don't have it in me. Besides, there were plenty of moms there who looked like they were planning to step up. Maybe next year.

The girls had rehearsal for the ballet from noon until about 4:00 and I made a couple of trips to the store picking up rolls and salad and last minute stuff. My sweetie cleaned the upstairs carpets, mopped and scrubbed the kitchen and got the chili mostly made.

Teach ended up working almost all day and got all teary when they presented her with a cake and a card. I wasn't surprised, she has been with Smiths for 5 1/2 years now. Everybody loves her and has watched her grow up. I can't believe how quickly life is changing for mostly her, but the rest of us too. I've heard from many of my friends that the separation from a missionary is terribly difficult. My across-the-street neighbor sent out her son in January and she said, "Be prepared to have your heart ripped out!"

When we drop her off on Wednesday it will be a hug and then I won't be able to talk to her until Mother's Day. At least that's coming up soon. She can email me once a week and write letters, of course. But then I won't be able to hear her voice again until Christmas.

I'm sure it's the right choice for her; she is so excited to go! I'm just going to have to figure out how to live without my heart for a while.

Grandparent Program

I'm just going to quit promising. I guess I was thinking that the news shows would be put up on the web site immediately or at least within a few hours, but they are still not available. When they are I promise to put them up ASAP...OK?

Yesterday I told you I had to get up early to go to the grandparent program. As it turned out, my sweetie decided he better go with me although he hates having to be the grandpa rather than the dad at the elementary school. It's a little weird having a grandson in second grade and a daughter in first grade in the same school.

That's me in the red shirt in the middle.

Anyway, we showed up at the school about 5 minutes before the program started, so of course we had to sit in the back. Taco did an awesome job on his speaking part and we still enjoyed the songs I have already heard six other times by my own kids.

I was really sweating the last item on the program which was a waltz. When they made the announcement, I stood up and headed toward the front of the gym where 60 other kids were waiting with Taco for their grandmas and grandpas to come forward.

The song was half over by the time I made my way through the crowd, but Taco smiled at me and took my hand. He had clearly been practicing his box step and I was a failure when it came to dancing a real waltz. When I dance with my sweetie he knows I like to look around and watch other people. Taco wanted me to concentrate on the steps just as hard as he was.

Happy to be called "Grandpa."

"Grandma, you're doing it wrong!" I heard that phrase more than once. To tell you the truth, I was rather relieved when the song finally ended. The speakers began the opening notes to the second song when I grabbed his hand, "Let's go find Grandpa," I suggested.

He wasn't far away, and I'm pretty sure he was laughing at us...

Then we headed for Taco's classroom so we could share cookies and some punch. It got pretty crowded in there by the time all the kids and their grandparents showed up. I did manage to snap a picture for you before we made our way out the door.

I think we need to get used to activities like this one. I'm sure we will have plenty more of them in our future. Thanks for the fun morning, Taco!

Raise Your Hand

Everybody who was on TV today and totally blew their interview, raise your hand!

Really? I'm the only one?

Remember yesterday when I told you I wouldn't put a link up if I said anything dumb? Do you see a link?

But seriously, It's after 1:00 AM and I've been waiting all day to see if they post the interview on their website. So far they have not. I guess that means one of two things, either they thought I did such a bad job they are NEVER going to post it or it just takes them a while to get things on their website.

I'm going with the second plan. Hopefully I can put it up for your tomorrow.

Not to change the subject, but Princess spent the entire afternoon and evening making cookies for Teach's big party on Sunday. I can't believe the weekend is nearly here. I still have so much to do! We are expecting to see about 100 people at the house after she speaks at church. She is such an amazing person that she has tons of friends and we have a large extended family. A typical family gathering for us includes 40 - 50 and that doesn't count any friends.

My sweetie is planning to make a big pot of chili for those who want real food and we will set out literally hundreds of cookies to feed those who are just looking for a sweet treat. I've had family and neighbors offering to help and that makes it much easier.

I've got a shopping trip to plan for tomorrow afternoon and a whole week's worth of laundry to fold. But right now I'd better get to bed since I have to get up for the Grandparents' Program in the morning. Taco would never forgive me for missing that!

Remember when I missed the last one for Taco? Yeah, I was in the hospital that morning having Baby Doll.

Until Tomorrow

I know you were all waiting anxiously to see my link from the interview at KSL today. I'm sad to say that it didn't happen....yet.

My sweetie took the day off so he could drive me downtown and spoil me a little by taking me to the interview and to lunch. I was a bit nervous so we left early and found ourselves 45 minutes ahead of schedule. We drove over to the Sonic so we could get a drink and he could grill me on various blog questions.


After about 20 minutes of that we decided it was time to drive to the TV station. It was 12:15 when we pulled into a visitor's slot below the Triad building. I was supposed to be there at 12:30 so that felt just perfect. Everything was going as planned. We took the elevator to the first floor and a guard let us through to visit with the receptionist.

Within 30 seconds we were approached by someone with a very apologetic look on his face. That was the first moment we knew things were going to change. He said that all programming had been cancelled so of course I had to ask him why. He said that NBC was broadcasting the new Pope and could I please come back tomorrow for the interview.

Of course I said "Yes" right away! It wasn't his fault that everything was going crazy there. In fact, I was probably the least of his problems.

So hang in there, as soon as the interview is available I will put up the link.

Unless I say something dumb, of course.