September

Through the crisp, swirling launch of our recall, memories smile at yesterday's recall. September guides us gently into Fall, when woods begin to hear chill winter's call.

September 1 - Family Birthday Party

I thought I had a really great idea for this year's birthday gifts. Instead of sending presents, I thought it would be fun if we all got together and celebrated all of our birthdays together. Well, it was a good idea.... but really didn't work out. It's impossible for all of us to get together. The family has just got too big, the kids are all growing up and each family has many schedules to juggle. It's a little easier for Kelsey and Audrey to come since they live close by. Shaniel was able to come with her kids and brought Riley and Nicole, as well. 

We planned on going to the Temple Open House, eating lunch, and spending the rest of the day swimming at the Brigham City Pool. We went to the Temple, ate lunch, and then... the thunder, lightening, and rain came. So much for that!

We had fun in spite of the obstacles. Each member of the family received white handkerchiefs with the Brigham City Temple silk screened on them (I thought I was so smart, clever and creative... my idea's are grand... well, so I thought. I went to Cover Up to have the picture of the temple put on the handkerchiefs and found out that others had my same idea. There were thousands of orders). 

I made the birthday cake and as you can tell I have no patience for detail. The writing is something to be desired! Our combined ages totaled 595. That's old! It was Jarrett's actual birthday today... he turned 7 years old. We missed him. I bought dollar gifts for each of the grand kids. They had fun digging in the basket searching for that perfect toy. Lunch was yummy, as usual. Chad grilled the burgers and hot dogs. I tried to get a picture of him wearing my apron, but he would not cooperate. I wonder why! When it was not raining the kids played outside in the waterfall, the sprinklers, and showed their skills off throwing the Frisbee and playing other lawn games. Kelsey and Shaniel brought their computers... working while relaxing and watching the kids play. Silly girls! We topped the night off sitting around the campfire telling jokes and stories. And, I got stung by a very mean wasp. It hurt!

Next year for birthdays, I'll not come up with any more big brainy ideas. I'll keep it simple. Cards and money.  Lesson learned!

September 3 - Teri Beth and Friends

Teri Beth, Steven's daughter in the yellow dress, brought last year's room mates from BYU and spent the night. They had a blast watching a movie in the theater room, eating popcorn, and dancing on the stage. They went to the Brigham City Temple Open House the following morning. We enjoyed having them and hope they come back again!

September 4 - Doll House

It makes me so happy that Audrey has taken such good care of her doll house that she got for Christmas so many years ago. It is fun to now watch Alia have just as much fun playing with it as Audrey did. Imagine... both at four years old!

September 5 - Usher

Dave did not usher at the Temple with me today. Even though I started my assignment in the garage putting slippers on guests shoes, I ended up on the third floor of the temple where I was originally suppose to be. Carol Hyde, my old bishop's wife from B.C. and a dear friend, was inspired (that's all I can say!) to get me and take me to the third floor to usher. Her and bishop Hyde were the shift supervisors.  I was so touched, so thankful, and asked her how she knew. She said she felt like they needed another person and that I was the right person. I have no doubt that she listened to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I rotated room assignments with the other ushers and was able to be in the ordinance room, the terrestrial room, the celestial room, and the sealing room before the shift was up. It was an experience I will never forget!

September 6 - Willard Park

Audrey came for a visit today. We took the kids to Willard Park. Ben fell asleep and Alia played.

September 8 - Peach Days

Normally, I don't want to be anywhere near Brigham City during Peach Days. It's amazing to see how many people bombard the community. It's not fun to be in town during that time. And, it never fails, crime is part of the landscape during the weekend every single year. We watched a man get arrested in the parking lot of Arby's while eating lunch and another arrest take place along Hwy 89 on our way to the house. I am always so happy to see Peach Days end. It makes me wonder if it's just the revenue Peach Days brings in that keeps Brigham City having it year after year. The trade-off doesn't seem worth it to me.

Mike took the kids to the amusement park on Forest Street. Audrey and I managed to find a parking place up close and was able to at least watch the kids ride the carousel. I got a picture of the fruit and vegetable display they do every year in front of the court house. 

Ben's growing up

 He can wash his hair all by himself!

September 10 - Handprints

Ben made prints of his hands in Nursery, and wanted to trace grandma's hand, too!

September 12 - Emilee Paige Mecham

Another sweet angel made her way to earth today. Audrey and Mike was surprised to welcome another little girl to the family. Emilee weighed 9 lbs. 6 oz., and was 21 1/2 inches long. I took Alia and Ben to the store to pick out a couple of gifts and balloons. When we got to the hospital, the nurse was just starting to give Emilee a bath. We are so happy to have her in the family and I can't wait to get to know her!

September 13 - Preschool

I'm a lucky grandma. I got to stay with Alia and Ben while mommy was in the hospital with the new baby. It was fun to see Alia go to Preschool. It brought back many happy memories of days gone by taking Kelsey to Preschool. Alia and Ben model the listening ears hat!

September 14 - Welcome Home!

Alia and Ben made cards for mommy, daddy, and Emilee. They were excited to finally welcome baby sister home! So was grandma!

September 15 - last day of Farmers Market

... at least for me! I'm done. Dave is helping a couple of customers. It was a lovely morning at Pioneer Park.

September 16 - Music Mistro

Alia played a song for me on the piano. She looks like a pro with the placement of her fingers!

September 17 - Fresh cut hay

There's nothing better than the smell of fresh cut hay! The neighbor has been able to harvest about five or six cuttings of hay this year. Unbelievable! That's a far cry from last year. It's seems so strange that last year was so cold and wet and this year has been so hot and dry.  

The smell of fresh, damp alfalfa takes me back to my childhood. I could always plan on experiencing allergies to some degree or another during the alfalfa season. The sneezing, the itchy, red, swollen, watery eyes were the norm. But, I never let that deter me from loving that time of the year. After the alfalfa was cut and sat for a few days to a week in the field to dry, bales were made and stacked in a big block pile. It was stock piled to feed the livestock through the winter months. We kids used to pretend the haystack was a fort and would burrow our way through the crevices of the hay bales making tunnels for spying on the enemy. Or we would lazily lay and play with the kittens and puppies and watch as they played hide-n-seek among the holes in the haystack. Many happy hours and imaginative play were spent on our haystack.

September 19 - Rub-a-dub-dub

I love watching the grandkids use their imaginations at play. Today, Alia and Ben rowed off to sea!

September 20 - Haircut

Ben sat very still for mommy to cut his hair. He's such a good boy. Handsome, too!

September 21 - Really!

It's as scary as it sounds!

One consolation... Kelsey and Chad always make my birthday the best! They usually take me up the canyon, but we just couldn't make it happen this year. They still gave me the next best thing... a Hobo dinner, courtesy of Chad, cooked outdoors on coals. So delicious! And it made me feel like I got a little bit of fresh, crisp, mountain air. There's nothing like a campfire in the Autumn air! Kelsey made me the traditional Pumpkin Sheet Cake. Audrey, Mike, and kids came and helped celebrate. Dave was gone out of town but took me to the movie last night and shopping at Seagull book. Loved my birthday this year even though my age gets scarier and scarier every year. 

September 22 - Celebration

The big event of the day was the Harvest of Faith Celebration to commemorate the heritage of the temple district area, including Box Elder County and the county in Idaho which connects to Utah.  Around 4000 youth came together in song and dance, with colorful costumes. Each stake represented the different times and groups of people who inhabited the area. Brayden and I got front row seating at the Stake Center. It was spiritually uplifting and thrilling to watch. Kelsey and Chad were at the High School watching Makaela perform in person.

Nature... at home and in town

I finally got a picture of a butterfly on the butterfly bush!

Willard City Post Office visitor

About 300 Elk make South Willard home. I took my camera out early this morning to film the sights and sounds of the elk. Love the bugling... awesome!

September 24 - baby quilt

Emilee's baby quilt turned out just beautiful! I love the combination of patterns and textures that Audrey chose. After she sewed the top together, we took it to a lady in my ward for machine quilting. 

September 29 - Apple Crisp

This is the best Apple Crisp I have ever made!

Ingredients:

2 tsp. flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp, cinnamon
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup oatmeal
1 cube margarine, softened

1. Peel and core apples

 2. Slice apples

 3. Fill bottom of baking dish with sliced apples

4. Mix together 2 tsp. flour, sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on apples

 5. Using a fork or pastry blender, mix flour, brown sugar, oatmeal and margarine.

Spread on top of apples

 6. Bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees and 30 minutes at 350 degrees (1 hour total)

7. Dish up warm and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Delicious!

September 30 - Harvest Moon

They call it the Harvest Moon because it is round and full, emitting light to the earth so farmers can finish up their harvest by the light of the moon. I snapped several pictures of the moon and then photo edited one to give it the effect above. 

Month in Review