Saturday, February 28, 2015

Fundraiser Dinner

I got put in charge of the Camp Fundraiser Dinner for the Young Women at church this year. It was a nautical theme since the theme for the Youth this year is "O ye that embark in the service of the Lord...". Matt says I went "overboard" with the decor. It's probably true. But here are some pics from the event. Matt's parents popped into town, just in time to babysit while I was going crazy trying to set up and execute the event, which was very helpful! There really were so many people there to help me set up, though. Many more than expected and I was grateful. I thought for a moment that I might be on my own, pregnant and setting up all the round tables solo. Not the case at all. 

In a mad dash an hour before it started, I whipped out this scene for people to get their photo taken in front of with the aid of 2 of the YW. It wasn't perfect, but not bad considering the time we did it in. I think the paint was still wet when we put it up. Matt helped me get the half rotten logs from a vacant lot around the corner from us and a friend in the neighborhood was getting rid of a section of fence that worked perfectly for the boardwalk.

Here is is with people in it.

When you walked in the doors, this was on your left and the photo scene was on the right.

Down the hall a ways. The table cloth (a.k.a. Lincoln's flat sheet) is crooked , but what do you do?? 

This is our YW President, Sister Keller,  opening things up. We re-stained our patio furniture for for event. Looks much better than it did, and now we won't have to do it later!!

The Curtis family.

Greg Jones, the Meehan family and Kristi Collins

The Bells, The Jones, and Matt

The Hayes, ??, Brother Weaver avoiding eye contact and the Merrells

Jan Lancaster, Leslie Mortensen, ??, ??, Kim Cluff and The Manzels

The Rumseys, and the Allreds. Not the silent auction table in the back.

The Rocks, and Rebecca Rice and her mom.

The Bangerters, ??, the Heaths, ??

Sister Busbee and Rosemary Walker

The Gregorys, Peggy Bullock, the Youngs, the Stewarts, and Brother Bullock

Sister Almond, the Tamayos, the Hokansons, and the Straders




Julia Keller, and Marnie Cottrell keeping track of money.

Our auctioneer helping us sell our baskets for a million times more than they were worth. People in our ward were VERY generous.

Our guests liked the lounge chairs

Some of the YW on dish duty. We were all to busy to get a good group shot!! I sewed the little red crossover ties for them. Matt thought I was crazy. 

Saw the wave idea on Pinterest. Executing turned out to be a pain. No type of tape worked on these vinyl tablecloths.  The girls painted seagulls, turtles, whale tails, etc.


A table setting before it got mangled. The sand was loaned to us from Lincoln, Bennett and Eldon's sandbox. The glass bottles I got from a pub around the corner. The bartender thought I was nuts walking in there as a pregnant woman, but I got a bunch of great glass bottles for free! I got a box of big sea shells on Craigslist for $10.  Borrowed smaller sea shells and glass vases and hurricanes from a number of people. My only regret was that it was too difficult to string Christmas lights across the room. Even with tape, the connections would fall apart. All in all it went well and the YW got more than they needed for camp.


Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Other Noteworthy February Events

Bennett had another filling done. The dentist couldn't get the two done at once cause the mediation made him throw up several times, so this finished up his work, but he did throw up again this round. Thoroughly unpleasant. Luckily the medication dulled his memory of the trauma.

Matt installed our French doors on his office, so now the kiddies won't rummage through our important documents.




I signed the boys up for gymnastics and they are really liking it. This is kinda long, but Bennett bouncing along the trampoline is for sure the highlight!! 

Monday, February 23, 2015

The Collard Clan Visit

Laura and her crew came for a surprise visit, and we couldn't have been happier. Her are some photos of the happenings while She, Robert, Minne and Louisa were here. Note: any photo that looks any good and is square, Laura took.


We didn't have any girl dress-ups for Minnie or Louisa, but they made do. 

These two are silly-billy shoppers when they get together.

Picking weeds after picking Lincoln up from school.

We went to Galveston for the day, and did a Dolphin watch boat ride, went to eat at Rainforest Cafe, and hit the beach despite the less than warm weather.



Louie kept stroking Benny's curls, and he couldn't get enough.


Dolphins!! They really gave us a good show.


Yacht with a helicopter on it!




Had to strip down after too many surprise waves.



Louie the love sponge. Wonder where she gets that, Laura??


The Zoo:







Bennett just loves Louisa and is always trying to hold her hand, sit by her or make her laugh. He taught her to say "eyeball" and thought that was just the funniest.

In the tube in the Amazon part of the zoo.

Couldn't get over Minnie's morning lion mane.





This is the funniest. Poor Minnie.

Bennett and Minnie were outside spraying things for forever!!

Fun Uncle Robert




Playroom mayhem.

Robert reading the book he authored to the boys.

Snuggle bunnies.


Fun Uncle Robert.