My Point of View: 2025-04-27

Our cinco de mayo spread.

When we ate at Milagros, Matt liked the glasses. There was a sign that you could order them. They took about a month to come in since they are handmade in Mexico. They are a nice sturdy glass, but you can't get a fist inside to clean them. I had to buy a bottle brush. Just letting anyone know who might also be tempted to buy them, hehe!

I am going to miss seeing Graham in his JROTC flight suit. Goo' lookin'! He isn't continuing JROTC his senior year.

This boy decided he wanted to have cookie dough on the ready. It was the most amazing dough. It was the death of me to be left alone with it during the day.

He went to visit Mal and Gav in Hawaii the first part of May. He took his friend, Carter. They had a 12-hour layover in Seattle, so they each chose something they wanted to do. Graham chose something flight-related. Carter chose to see Planet of the Apes. Graham said it was worth the price of the ticket to get in a comfortable nap.

Track baby

We drove to Spanish Fork to watch Callie run the 1600. This is her first year doing track.

She found it to be just meh.

More enjoyable than seeing her run is watching her come home after a long day, plop down with a plate of food, and relax. Poe loves watching as well.

End-of-year Track Banquet

Baby Gray is 21! May 9th

Gray was in Spokane, so we had to celebrate (a day early as usual) without him. Matt and I ate at Texas Roadhouse. The screen caught my eye. He's legal!

In the parking lot, Gray called from Spokane, where he was doing summer sales. He wasn't loving it. Shocker. The guys he had gone up there with were getting the "what for" from their parents about wanting to quit. My reaction was indifferent,

"If you don't like it, just come back."

He said, "I figured you'd say that!"

He was back in Provo by the end of the following week.

To celebrate him, we got a sweet treat at a bakery that took me back to Thailand—a Thai bakery that has pink flowers all over the wall! I was smitten, and the donuts are the best I've had. The customer service was even unfriendly. It was perfection.

I trusted that the banana bread was just as good; we bought a loaf for Donna before stopping by her place.

Landrie's Baaaaack!

May 10, 2024

When we got to the SLC Airport, we appeared to be the first ones there, which seemed unlikely. Matt called Brent, who said they were waiting at the international terminal. We have never picked up a missionary at the international terminal!

Cash hosted a bash afterward, and everyone was told to come in orange in homage to the Netherlands.

Matt and I slipped out early to attend Missy's daughter, Raegan's, wedding reception in Provo. A rare opportunity to see the Quad! Friends forever!

The hubs.

Landrie's Homecoming in Elko was on the 19th. I drove out with Graham and Callie.

Graham drove us home! He is better at figuring out the cruise control than I am. We listened to Podcasts while Callie slept. He makes for good conversation with his insights and comments.

Mother's Day 2024

Above: I brought supplies for the after-school kids to make Mother's Day cards. It was a throwback to a craft I did as a kiddo!

I took matters into my own hands this year. Not that I didn't think it would be a special day otherwise, it was just what I wanted to do.

I tweaked the pioneer dress.

At the Riverwoods, there was a setup for graduates. Seeing as I am celebrating 30 years with my Class of 1994, I got a pic.

Surprisingly, out of all the high schools, there wasn't a sign for Wasatch.

I didn't know the day would double as a photoshoot for Graham's senior pictures. Loved it.

The brunch at La Jolla Groves was on point.

At least I thought it was...the kids look a little unsure;)

There was a carving and pastry station. Omelets made to order. All of it.

We walked off our meal along the Provo River trail. For a stretch of it, Ava rode a discarded child's scooter.

You couldn't order up a more picturesque day, weather-wise.

Teens. Teens. Teens.

With the school year winding down, and the seniors graduating a full two weeks before the rest of the students, it became a challenge to convince Callie to go to school at all. "Nobody is there. We aren't doing anything in my classes."

My response was, "Well, you may as well not do anything there rather than here."
She sent me this pic, "So glad I came to school today!"

From time to time, Paisley and the twins, Samantha and Rachel, come up to Heber to ride the train or go out to eat. It is always a treat to have them in our home. I love their chatter. Everyone is darn near grow'd up!

Babies don't keep.

Spring Refresh

Been fussing up the house for spring. I got a rug at home (that is the name of the store, "at home" spelled just like that). The plastic was still on the lampshades while I decided if they were too big. Not that I could return them, they came from the thrift store. I was deciding whether I should keep them or sell them. I looked on the Restoration Hardware site; they go for $180 a shade! Maybe that is what made me want to keep them.

I also saw this ceramic cat. It made me smile, but I walked on. The next day, I was still thinking about that darn cat! I drove back to the thrift store, and my heart dropped when I didn't see it, but there it was. I grabbed it and got in line. Two guys behind me were looking at the cat with an odd expression on their faces. "If it makes you smile in the store, it will make you smile at home," I told them.

I have since named her Philomena. We have a pact that when Poe dies, we will cremate her and put her ashes inside;)

Thrifting is not for the faint of heart. You gotta have a vision, and you gotta act fast. I also scored these green pillows and a coffee table!

Look at the living room and place your thumb over Philomena. Then remove your thumb.

With? Or Without?

See?

With!

Birthdays

My lilacs are worth the wait. They make me so happy. A friend asked if she could use them as a backdrop for an engagement photoshoot. On my walk on 5/18, I saw a quilted heart hanging from a tree. The note read, "I NEED A HOME!" I was tempted to leave it for someone else to find, but then I realized,

"It is my birthday, this heart was meant for me."

My kiddos were such sweethearts. They pitched in and bought me roller skates! Very unexpected, and very fun! I will need to get myself some protective pads before taking them out for rills, though.

More Thai donuts!

I was devastated to have missed Cade dropping by. He sent me a picture of the Happy Birthday he left on our porch. When I got home, only the plant was there. We have some hoodlums (what Matt calls them) who ride their scooters around our house. He is certain they took the candy. This incident prompted him to get security cameras.