Football, Moving, & Fall...er, Fall-ing (oh MY!)

It's football season folks! Here we are in our awesome top of the stadium FREE seats! I emphasize the word "free" because we really do appreciate them! We sit among all of the other coaches and trainers from various teams who also get seats as a nice little perk of their jobs. Besides, walking up there is the best workout I get all week! This was at our first home game of the season, 3rd game overall.

It was BYU vs. Houston and was played on Septemebr 11th.

 Our awesome ROTC carried out the 

Mother-of-all-Flags and the players from each them helped hold it for the National Anthem.

Breath-taking.

My husband the coach may, or may not have been crying.

I love Cougar Stadium. I love the view. WE saw a lovely sunset that evening.

 (Yes, I know it's LaVell Edwards Stadium now. I am not big into name changes. It will ALWAYS be Cougar Stadium to me!!)

I got to participate in my first-EVER stadium card stunt during half-time. It was really fun! Notice the large instructions printed on the card. How could we fail?!

After a beautiful half-time show paying respect to the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, we got our big moment. You will see us at the top of the second "W" in the white. Aren't we great?!
Wait for it...there are TWO card stunts!

We are so talented!

 A few days later on a Thursday morning, I went up to the airport and met a very early morning flight from San Diego. What a treat to have Diana and Lucas visit us for four short days on their way to their new home in Minnesota!! This little trooper was so tired after getting up at 5:00 am on the coast!

Nick and his father were driving the truck. Mike flew out from South Carolina to help. That's a nice Dad! They arrived in Utah a little bit after Diana and the boy did. They spent the night at Nick's Grandparent's home down the hill so there would be enough beds for everyone. They left early two days later and began their long, Lo-o-o-ng journey! They arrived after driving I think about 23 hours and went to work unpacking the truck and putting together the beds so that all would be ready for Nick's little family to arrive. They deserve a medal!

We were the fortunate ones who got to enjoy a few more days with the young Master and his Mom!

This has become a standard thing for Pa and Lucas. Lucas asks for a "Choo Choo" and Pa finds a video on his iPad. There are some pretty awesome train videos out there! They boy could do this alllll day! What Pa? You have a Priesthood lesson to prepare? Pshhh! What's more important?

Anything the kid needed, his Aunties and Uncle were right there!

Here's Auntie Rachel making her famous "Unicorn Poop" cookies. You read that right.

I grabbed these pictures from the web. Someone in the house posted a picture that night but I can't find it.

They're just sugar cookies. No Unicorns were squeezed!

Does your Gramma have a big Piggy Bank? She should!

When someone says "Feed the Pig" Mr. Lucas tries, but that Piggie just won't eat!

"Gramma says you do it THIS way."

He's got a very good eye for this!

We took Lucas to "Cookie Cutters" for a trim. He chose the pink car this time!

One day Momma went to lunch with her BFF Whitney. Gramma and Lucas went outside to enjoy the afternoon. Pa and Gramma have a really fun neighbor. Lucas told me all about the "poy-pul" pumpkin and asked to go see the others.

Then he decided Pa's yard needed a trim!

Gramma grew some zinnias this year.  See that dead bush in the background? Pa and Uncle Richard are pulling it out this weekend...they don't know this yet!

"BUS!!" We had a great time watching the school bus, a big UPS truck and lots of cars go by.

Friends since they were both the new girls on the first day of 8th grade. Love Whitney so much!! She now drives a mini-van because she's the mother of twins Lucy and Eloise, and sweet baby Ava!

I took the gang down to Provo to enjoy some Sodalicious, ON ME! 

(Those $100 of gift certificates are awesome!)

Lucas gave me a flower!

Auntie Britt came over from Google Fiber to join us.

It was a gorgeous day but we were racing a thunderstorm!!

Story time on the last night before they left. We all wanted him to stay up just a bit longer.

Nick, Diana, & Lucas have been in Minnesota for just over a month now. Somehow I miss them more knowing they are just that much farther away. They are doing well and love exploring their new home. If you want to follow their blog, the link is off to the right. She makes some fun observations on the difference between living in Utah vs. San Diego vs. Minnesota. Kinda hilarious! I'm not sure if she's private anymore but she welcomes friendly readers. If you need an invite you can send me an email and I'll send you hers. mloose79@gmail.com

It's autumn now at the Little House on the Corner. Sigh. I always mourn summer's passing for about a week. Not because I hate fall, but because I LOATHE winter!!

See those feet? They are wearing their brand new NIKE Cross Trainers. I was so enjoying them and how they feel. This is just minutes before they tripped on uneven sidewalk and I fell forward, hitting the sidewalk hard on my left chest area. Yep. Grace. I dislocated a few ribs and spent the next week in a Lortab induced state of drowsy pain! I'm healing now and dealing with the fact that winter is just around the corner. Sigh.

Next Time? ROLLER DERBY!!

What's Up?

I have been so busy telling my grandmother's story on Time Travel Tuesdays that I haven't really posted about what I've been up to lately. If you follow me on Instagram @marianneloose, you have likely see some of these photos, but my Mom doesn't do Instagram. Frankly at 93.5 years of age I am impressed that she gets on her Email and Facebook accounts all by herself! You GO Mom! So, Mom...here is what your little girl has been doing, and a bit of the rest f the gang too!

Sometimes brides have interesting color choices for their receptions. One of our lady Cougar swimmers asked me to make an apron for her that matched her color scheme. These colors are beautiful. I pictured gerbera daisies & paper lanterns.
I wondered, however, if I'd find fabric to match. 

 I shouldn't have worried!

It turned out so cute!

I also made two of these sweetheart aprons for servers at a 50's themed 50th anniversary party.

Not wanting to pay $12 for the pattern, I made up my own! 

I guess I've been doing this long enough, huh?

We have had a really cold spring. It's good for the snow pack up in the mountains. The longer the snow stays up there, the more water we have this summer. Down in the valley, however, we were freezing and ready for warmer days!

I had already cleaned out the fireplace for the season but I had to relent. Our resident pyromaniac has moved to Provo where she enjoys her gas fireplace in her new condo. We were glad to have her here one cold, stormy night when I needed a fire-starter!

Cold temps call for comfort food. I saw this recipe on Facebook one day and had to try it. It was so good we had it twice in one week! It's so easy! Just scrub your potatoes clean and slice them thinly with a very sharp knife. Careful though! Don't cut them all of the way through! Put them in a dish that has been sprayed with a no-stick spray. Drizzle them with olive oil and add your favorite seasoning. I used Mrs. Dash one night and lemon pepper the next time. Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes.
SO GOOD!!

This was April 2nd. A few days after the fire and the potatoes. A massive hail storm that froze us out again.

Roxie and I have had it with winter!

She finds this sunny spot every morning. I wish I fit in it!
Phooey on the cold!!

So, being housebound, I turned to two subjects I love...Family History & Scrapbooking!

I am nearly finished with these beauties!

I love mornings when the Skype ringer goes off on the computer! It means I get to spend some time with my sweet girl Diana and her little man!

One morning last week they called to show me how Lucas had painted his Easter Egg holders...

My latest sewing project was these darling Matryoshka dolls.

 They are made from a pattern by Retromama on ETSY.com

I love everything she creates! Aren't they cute?

Rachel and her friends, Brianne, and Melissa went to ComicCon today. Rach and Melissa went as Totoros and Brianne was The Black Widow from Marvel Comics.

Rachel and Melissa made their cute little outfits the other night.

So many people aske them if they could have their photos taken with them.

ComicCon is basically a Nerdfest and they loved every minute of it!

Patrick Stewart (Capt. Piccard from Star Trek the Next Generation) was there!

She got to see Adam Baldwin who plays John Casey on "Chuck".

She also saw Nathan Fillion, TV'S "Castle"...DREAMY!!

Then, if you are a "Dr. Who" fan, she saw Karen Gillan who portrays Amy Pond! 

She is home now, and very happy!

The 2013-14 BYU swim season is over. It's good because we get to see the coach a lot more!

The guys gave him this memento of the year in which they were all allowed 

to grow a mustache for Mo-vember.

 Yay! A hairy mustache in a frame! 

It's going back to his office desk in the Richards Building!

Lastly, may I leave you with this adorable photo of my grandson, because I cannot get enough of him!

He planted marigolds with his daddy the other day in sunny California and his Mama shared this with me.

She says this is his "CHEEEEEZE" face.

Oh. My. HEART!!!

Gramma Heaven!

The Little House seems awfully quiet these days. For ten glorious, loud, busy, crazy days it played host to our grandson, Lucas! He arrived with his Mom, our daughter Diana, on big airplane that let his Thor action figure zoom up in the clouds...WhoOSH! His Daddy arrived three days later and together they graced our home during their spring break. Bless their little San Diego hearts...they froze! We had enjoyed several sunny warm days up in the high 60's up until they got here. The temperatures dropped dramatically and rain came in to remind them of their former Utah home.

In preparation for their arrival Auntie Britt bought a toddler bed so her sweet nephew would sleep in comfort. The old Pack-n-Play was way too small anymore. Uncle Richard deserves a medal of honor for trying to put that thing together! It was very tricky but he persevered with great patience.

Lucas was very impressed with the results.

"What is this strange sort of crib that I can get into and out of all by myself?"

 Tackle!!

Pretty soon Aunt Britt came over and we all visited while Diana unpacked.

Soon after, the young Jedi master snuck (sneaked?) up the stairs. Only one of the adults noticed.

 "This is not the toddler you want to keep an eye on. Move along..."

What he found next fascinated him for the rest of the visit.

The dog's bowls!

"Whatcha got there doggy? Can I try some?

Does he look innocent enough?

And thus went the rest of the week with this very active, very curious 18 month old! He goes from one thing to another to another to another to another! His parents joke that he's like a shark. 

If he stops moving he will die. I fear they are right!

The first few nights were rough. He had a bad cough. So bad, in fact, that the 2nd night his Momma and I took him to the ER. Her insurance likes out-of-state ER's better than Urgent Care places. The doctor worried about RSV, but gratefully that test came back negative. His lungs were clear too. Just a horrible virus that plagued him for the next week.

He was not happy after that x-ray and nose sucky-thing! It was midnight and he wanted to be in bed!

It didn't seem to bother him much during the day. I was tired trying to keep up with him! Diana welcomed the extra hands and hearts that loved and took care of her son so she could have some moments of freedom and we all had the BEST time!

 Roxie soon grew used to all of the attention and loved following Lucas around because he tended to drop Goldfish crackers and Cheerios!

 One morning Diana was resting after a rough night of coughing. Gramma found it difficult to put on makeup while trying to keep this boy out of the toilet, shower, bathtub, hall closet,... so I resorted to the old stand-by, "Jake and the Neverland Pirates". Awesome!!! (sheet washing day!)

 Louie was everywhere! The window seat was a favorite spot. Roxie stayed close! I am a bit annoyed that Lucas taught her how to get up there!

 Pa had fun showing Lucas all of the old toys we had saved for this very time in our lives. The wooden blocks were a hit, as was Uncle Richard's old car mountain.

He loved to play with our old play dishes and kitchen.

Some people get rid of all of their toys when the kids outgrow them. I never could. I am too sentimental.

I'm glad we kept them!

Aunt Britt came out almost every night to join us. She loves this boy so much!

Isn't she looking quite "Google-y" these days?!

 There was the fun night that Nick and Diana bought "Frozen".

 There were "Man Cave" moments too. Like the guys watching "Miracle" together.

 Pa cried again for the 40,000th time!

 More to share next time!