How much "Witch" is too much "Witch"?

I redid my blog background and added Halloween music! I ordered witch shoes today...and stockings, too! Am I obsessed or just really enjoying my upcoming Witch Party? I'm always on the look for something new to add to my witch costume! I've always worried that there wasn't anything (other than my church beliefs) that I was really passionate about! But I think I have found something that I really am enjoying....and that I'm excited about.... and to think it started from just dressing up for Halloween last year! I've always loved Halloween. Maybe because it's around my birthday and the one birthday party I remember was a Halloween theme. My Mom loves Halloween and I guess she passed that passion onto me. It's such a fun holiday and I have so many fun memories of my childhood Halloween's. I even remember my Great-Grandma Young dressing up and wearing a mask to scare us kids! My Mom has always loved scaring us and her grandkids...and I think I'm carrying on that tradition! Isn't tradition wonderful?

It's gaining momentum....

My Witch Party is in the works! So far I have 7 "yes" RSVP's....and hopefully more will respond! I'm open to anyone wanting to join the party. The only thing I ask is that you HAVE TO BE A WITCH... WITH A HAT... AND there are no children (nursing babies are welcome!). You can get ready on your own and then come to the party or come and we'll get ready together for those who may want help with makeup, etc. Then off to lunch at Dana's! I think this is going to be so much fun! For those who want to join....just give me a call! I can't wait to see all of your creative witch costumes! Lots of pictures will be taken!

Melanie...Our 9/11 Birthday Girl!

It's Melanie's birthday today. She's my oldest son's wife and my very first child-in-law and she'll hate me for posting about her! (Paybacks are great, aren't they?) I think it would be hard being the first in-law into a family AND to a family of 3 sister-in-laws plus the mom-in-law! But Melanie has been an absolute blessing to our family.

Over the years we've formed a special relationship, I think. She's become my friend, my go-to-girl, a confidante, but most importantly she's become a daughter. Here's what makes Melanie who she is:

• She has a great laugh...you always know when she's in the vicinity!
  
• She has a giving heart and is always doing for someone else.
  
• She knows what I need before I even do and does it for me lots of times! I've come home from work to have my whole house completely vacuumed! (With 4 kids in tow!)
  
• She has a wonderful sense of humor.
  
• She can mimic people's voices, especially her children's to a tee!
  
• She's very talented even though she doesn't think so.
  
• She's a great cook and always has a great recipe.
  
• She loves the gospel and is sharing that with her children.
  
• She's a friend to many....
  
• And knows everyone! If you're ever anywhere with her...she'll run into someone she knows.
  
• She keeps my hair cut and up-to-date! (I'm glad I'm family!)
  
• She's patient with me in the above subject and knows about every other haircut I'll want something different!
  
• She has endless energy...(something she's passed onto her children!)
  
• She's a wonderful wife and mother.
  
• She gets things done quick!
  
• When she gets something in her mind...she does it!
  
• When I get something in MY mind....SHE does it! (Be careful what you tell her!)
  
• She's very expressive. I love listening to her stories, especially about the kids.
  
• She's passionate about the things she loves and enjoys.
  
• She's always got great ideas.
  
• She has great taste!
  
• She's an inspiration in many ways to me.
  
• She's given me 4 wonderful and beautiful grandchildren. And let's me spoil them most of the time!

Happy Birthday, Melanie! I love you, dearly! Thank you for being a special part of this family and accepting all our crazy ways!

My Beautiful Daughters.......

I have 3 beautiful daughters that have grown into even more beautiful women and mothers. I've looked through their blogs and my downloaded pictures to find pictures of each of them but it's late and that will have to be another post. (Note to self...Take more pictures of just the girls! And maybe one with me with them!...2nd note to self....get a new camera!) Anyway, they could not even begin to know how they're each wrapped around my heart, each in a different kind of wrapping that is unique to them. I miss the little girls they once were and I wish so many times I could just go back and make right all the wrongs I did as a young mother.

A few weeks ago I saw the movie "Mamma Mia". I went twice I liked it so well. There's a song by Abba that is also on the movie soundtrack called "Slipping Through My Fingers." It's the song I've attached to my blog. It brought such tears to my eyes when it was sung on the movie and the words made my heart ache for my little beautiful girls.

So, Brianne, Shaila, and Leisha...this song is for you! I love each of you! You are the absolute most beautiful daughters inside and out!

My 1st Annual Witch Party!!

Halloween of 2007, my friend and then co-worker Elaine agreed to dress up with me on Halloween. I've longed to dress up as a witch and she agreed to be a witch with me. We ordered our costumes on-line and we were so excited the day they arrived! We met at work at 6:30 a.m. to dress and do our make-up for the day. When we got all put together, we walked across the street to McDonald's to get a sausage biscuit for breakfast! It was so much fun seeing people's reaction as we walked down the street! As we got to McDonald's it was like there was a elephant in the room but no one was going to ackowledge it! Maybe they thought we were going to hold them up and ask for.... "all the sausage biscuits in a bag and don't call the police!" ....It was rather odd!

Once we got back to work the 4 men we work with still hadn't gotten to the office. We watched the parking lot and waited as each one arrived. When we saw who pulled into the parking lot, we went and sat in their dark office and waited for them to see us. It was great...the first one, Roger Chamberlain, was kind of startled and chuckled; Dan Harper just laughed; Troy Pugh jumped; but Roger Pugh was worth all the effort....he was on his cell phone when he flipped on the light. We were sitting on the couch and he shouted, "Oh my crap!" and jumped out of his skin! He had an absolute look of horror on his face! My day was complete!

After work, I went to Milo and Melanie's Trunk or Treat and then they went with me to my ward's Trunk or Treat. Nobody knew who I was for the longest time! It wasn't until I talked to Kathy Perrins that she recognized me. It was after that, I decided I was going to get a group of women together the next Halloween and have a Witch Party!

I know Halloween is still 7 weeks away but it takes time to get the costume ordered and accessorized! So...I've sent out 6 invitations so far and will send some more out when I decide to who. We'll all meet at my house at 1 p.m. and we'll put on our makeup and costumes. After that we're going to go to a late lunch at Dana's and roam around as witches! Won't that be great? I'm so excited about it! I hope this starts a long tradition of Witch Parties!!!

Are YOU brave enough?.....Stay tuned for the outcome and pictures of my party!!

Kenneth "Dane" Bushman

One more post and I'm done for the day! I couldn't let today go by without posting about Dane! It's his 5th birthday today but he has the vocabulary of a 10 year old! He started talking in full sentences when he wasn't very old. Correct me if I'm wrong, Melanie, but I think he wasn't even 2. He's a pistol and says the funniest things! He started pre-school yesterday and thinks that's pretty cool to be able to go to school and not "home" school anymore. He's Milo and Melanie's #2 son and my #5 grandchild. Happy Birthday, Dane! GraMimi and Poppy love you lots!

Shaila Lou Hardy

I meant to add Shaila's picture to my last post! This is Shaila. She's my 3rd child, 2nd daughter. Shaila was always my comforting child. If I was sad or upset, I'd just have to hold her and she'd make all my worries go away. She's given me 3 of my 11 grandbabies; Malcolm, 5; Quinn, 3; and Winston, 7 months. She's married to Matt who's very good to his mom-in-law. He's likes to tease me and I like to tease him back! They live in Pullman and I wish they were closer but at least they're close enough for us to see fairly regularly. I love you, Lou!

My Daughter Knows Her Mother!

Shaila said she'd help me with my blog but emphasized if she did it, I wouldn't learn. It's not that I don't want to learn...it's a time issue! I'm on a computer all day at work and by the time I get home the last thing I want to do is sit down at the computer!

She picked out a background that is so me! It's exactly what I would have chosen for myself! Thanks Lou, for knowing me so well!

Not Blog Savy!

Help! I'm new to this and I want to know it all now! I love reading everyone's blogs and keeping in touch with day to day life with friends and loved ones! I want to be a contributor but I need a class in blogging! I want a cute background....where do I get it? I want wonderful pictures....need a new camera! I want this to be my journal! However, I always think I'm going to start writing my journal so it's in my handwriting for future generations...........Right!!! After uhhmmm...years.......hasn't happened yet!

I also, wanted a cool blog title! All that I wanted were taken like..."There Was an Old Woman" and now I can't even remember what other ones I had thought of! So, that one is still out. I haven't settled yet so my blog title may be changing.

Anyway....I'm still figuring it all out! Any suggestions or help is appreciated!