Baby Boy (in March)

BAD GRANDMA!!!!!
I really wasn't writing a blog for the several months surrounding the birth of our latest grandchild, but there is really no good excuse for not posting at least a picture of this new beautiful child. Although now that I think about it, his own mother doesn't have him on her near debunked blog either.
(I posted a few pictures of him of Facebook; if that counts for something.)
Alas, here is FORD JAMES. Born March 13, 2013 (3-13-13 looks pretty memorable, right?)

His most distinguishing feature at his birth was his furrowed brow. The cute little newborn sorta, just kinda, looked like a cute little old man.

 Here's his mom and dad giving him his first bath. So gentle she is.

 But he is not feeling it.

20 seconds later he is comfy and cozy. Maybe he's asleep?

His big sisters are just loving him.

He will like this blanket that I made. Little activities all around it.

 GPa came for a visit too.

 Fast forward to the day after S/J wedding and he's all ready for a blessing at church. Almost 3 months old now.

 Reacting to a little hello with a rewarding smile.

 They gave him a name and a blessing in our Los Gatos Ward. My sisters son also had a new baby that was blessed that day. Their family had come for the wedding and since so much family was in town for that, they asked if they could do their blessing too. It was a perfect scenario.

 Kathryn with my parents. This is Sam/Joyce's 33rd great grandchild. They now have 36 and one on the way. Prolific family?

 4 Generations

My cousin and her daughter loving on Aunt Joyce.

 Congrats to my beautiful daughter....

and her adorable family of 5!

Project from 30 Years Ago

When I was recently in Colorado at my sisters home, I noticed al long (too long) skinny baby bunting that sorta looked familiar.

Sure enough, when I looked at it a bit more closely I thought that at one point about 30years ago I remembered staring at this yellow yarn for a few weeks as it passed through my fingers and onto the knitting needles to make this for my new little nephew. 

My first attempt  at  cable stitches and I see a few mistakes. I'm sure I still see plenty of mistakes in my work, but the noticeable ones are now easier to fix than they used to be, as my expertise has increased.

I probably knitted a little tighter then than I do now and I also followed the length guidelines without taking that into account. Hence the longer than wide result. Cute little hood.
I think todays patterns of a bunting would include a little slit near a third of the way up to put a seatbelt thorough, but back then nothing of the sort would have even been thought of yet.
What a nice Aunt I was. ;-)
What a nice sister I have to have kept it for posterity.

White Christmas

I didn't have to dream of a White Christmas this year.
The Hubby and I traveled to Colorado to spend the holiday with our middle child.  #4 met us there as well and the snow came to us.

But first, we shared Christmas morning with these cute little chillens.

Such excitement in our lives!!!

 Team work

And look at this one!!

On Christmas day we woke up to a couple inches of snow on the ground and the beauty of it was not lost on us.

 Don't you just love it when the snow sticks to all the tiny branches and makes the world glisten.

Katz got a great lens for her camera and she took some amazing pictures that she will be posting soon, since she is on bed rest now so she doesn't have a baby at 32 weeks. Hint hint, Katz?

 Overlooking Black Lake outside of Ouray, CO. What a WONDERFUL setting for a mountain home.

And inside this magnificent home of my brother and sister-in-law are some pretty wonderful people.

Thanks Uncle Steve and Aunt Connie. We had a great week in between the 2 holidays!

Happy New Year!!!  2013 here we come.

Katz or Steph, if you have a pix f the house from the other side of the lake, send it my way?

TX

Finally Finished - Mom's Pi Shawl

A couple of years ago I posted about a project that I was working on. Here is the post regarding that crazy, lacy, sea foam green/turquoise, and difficult Pi Shawl I was working on for my sweet mother. 

As time consuming as each row was, I was excited to finish each step along the way, although admittedly, I did put it on the back burner for months at times as I was busy with other pressing projects that didn't require as constant attention as this one. 

Now after about 3 years, I have at last finished it. I will take it to my Mother and deliver it by hand for Valentines Day.

After edging for 7/8ths of the way around the circle.

Layed out and ready for blocking. The edges look ruffled instead of pointed at this time.

48 inches of center design

Blocking the edges to make sure each point is made apparent.

Center medallion and initial 8 spokes being formed.

After blocking, this Pi Shawl in my mothers favorite color is ready for any roundish table or to be folded and put around her shoulders.
I hope she can see it well enough to appreciate how much effort she is worthy of.

GG Pa & Ma

We had a very nice visit from my parents last month.
Dad drove all the way from St. George in one day and Mom, who doesn't drive anymore, seemed chipper after the long day too.

The Hubby took my Dad and son D to the Priesthood session of General Conference and for their traditional steak dinner afterwards, and although Dad enjoyed it, it was a little much for him to eat so late at night and such a heavy meal.

 They both loved our new back yard. The impatients have bloomed out nicely so there is pink everywhere you look. Not very fall like here.

We drove up to Alamo to visit a friend on my parents from their high school days. The husband of their friend has a "reader" machine for people with macular degeneration, and my mom (who has it) wanted to check it out.  I think she doesn't sit still for long enough to use something like that, but that is just my opinion.

We hung around here at home most of the time, and we also shopped a little and went out to eat a few times. Both of them like to go out for food for all three meals day, probably because they don't like to cook themselves. I am so used to never leaving my house unless I have to, that this is a foreign concept to me.

We were a bit worried about Dad driving here by himself in one day, but they did so well that when they left a week later I wasn't worried about them at all. And of course they had a great time, and did well. If I am as healthy and alert as they are at 86, I will be happy!

Dedication

Yesterday was a temple dedication that was wired in to all of the Utah congregations.

My Mom and Dad sent all their progeny (except half of my kids who they apparently don't have in the family email list,) this little note.

We just got home from the 3pm dedication session.  We, of course are in Utah. (St George) Want all of our family to once again realize that all of you living in Utah were invited to the Brigham City Dedication.  In our afternoon meeting Elder Nelson was the voice for dedicatory prayer.  We, as the singing of "The Spirit of God" was sung mentioned to each other that all of you were singing along with us and had waved the hankie together.  Now, 139 temples are in service.  When Joyce and I were children, there were 4 in Utah, 1 in Arizona, 1 in Canada, and 1 in Hawaii.  The Church will continue to grow and assist us with our righteous activities - whether it be in school, in our homes or at our work.  Even those of us who are retired will be blessed.  

Love you all this Sabbath afternoon, GPs Kel 

Never has the church done a dedication like this before, and my DD lives in Orem, so I made her this special temple hankie and sent it last week. I used 2 different white thread types. One was a bit shinier than the other and I use that for the leaves and flowers. In the pix below you can turn your neck around (even though I can't) to see the "S".

Here is the nearly finished piece as I gathered and sewed on the ruffled lace edging.  This kind of French val (cotton) lace has a thread on its header that just needs to be tugged on for a gathering affect, and it doesn't need much of a gather to make it very pretty. 

 These 4 surrounding mitered borders were completed about 20 years ago and saved in my lace bucket. I have meant to use them for before, but usually this gets put on the back burner when I'm busy with other things like a wedding gown or something. (right Kathryn?) So now they have been put to good use. I guess that's why I don't throw things away and why my sewing room looks is out of control.

 I had an extra mens handkerchief in my socks drawer so I put Steph's boyfriends initials on one and sent it too.

 Here is the end result.  I love it. So did Steph.

Portland Wedding Redoux

Steve and Christine

This could be my last trip to Portland for a wedding. We have been there the past 3 summers for 3 different weddings, and I am thinking my visits to this beautiful temple will be no longer.
This celebration was for my brother Tom's youngest son. Aren't they a handsome couple?

Thomas Scott

 Really cool bouquet

 Fun little surprise in the pink tulle under the gown which was simply beautiful.

 Here are some handsome lads. 

Steve, friend, Scott (bro), Sam (bro), Dane (cuz)

All the nieces and nephews

 My beautiful parents were feeling pretty well and thrilled for another 

temple wedding for their progeny.

 Grooms parents looking quite happy and attractive as well. 

Tracy and co. had prepared and served an amazing dinner

 the evening before the nuptials. She's such a good cook.

 The 3 Kelly girls - not quite sure why I look the oldest.

 Tom, Camille, Vicki, Kathy, Steve

All 5 of us siblings all granny'd up. How did that happen?

and who dressed me without earrings?

 Posing with my Daddy. If you've never been to Oregon on a nice day, 

you have missed out big time.

The original's without Tom

I hope we're as cute as Mom and Dad when we're 86

Not pictured is The Hubby. He was in Europe and so missed here in Oregon. I felt strange at an event like this without him, but the happy couple got married on a Thursday and so we did what we could. 

It was a lovely event. 

Thanks for the pictures Tom and Camille. I didn't have a camera and so I depended on them.