The Joys of Life!

Four of our six grandchildren. . .it doesn't get any better than this!

These three older kids of Camis' just LOVE Caroline and never get tired of playing with her.

Makenna, McKay, Connor and Carolilne

Amanda and Bruces' wedding day!

The Happy Couple. . .Bruce and Amanda

August 17, 2011  Salt Lake Temple

Kathy, Landon, Bruce and Amanda and X and KC

Mother and Daughter. . .a happy day!

Amandas colors were purple, lime green and orange--a beautiful summer bouquet  

At the wedding luncheon.  Cami, Raquel and Caroline and Aviann

The centerpieces were filled with little gel type things.  We wondered what they were made out of, so we dared Dan to taste one. . .which he did and quickly spit out!  They were nasty and not made for human consumption!  So. . .as we were waiting, the guys discovered that they could bounce, so they played ping pong with them from table to table!  High entertainment!

Caroline and Grandma Bell (I was tickling her trying to get her to smile bigger)

Caroline and Raquel. . .beautiful girls!

At the reception. . .the cake was really unique

A close-up of the middle section looked like a tufted pillow!

Ashley and Tyler with Caroline

Ty and Ash just celebrated their ONE year anniversary!  How time flies!

Cami and McKay

  (Connor and Makenna were there as well, but for some reason, I didn't get a picture)

Mark and Caroline 

For some reason, unbeknownst to all of us, Caroline LOVES Mark.  (JK, Mark!)  She reached for him to hold her and she just laid her head on his shoulder and cuddled with him for quite some time.  You can see that Mark is feeling a little blissful himself!  You think he's excited for their little girl to come in November??

Caroline and her Daddy, Matt.  Matt was the DJ for the reception!  Go Matt!

Kim and Mark, another one of those happy couples!

(Side note:  I think Mark looks like Josh Elliot, formerly of Sports Central now on Good Morning America. . .I'm just sayin'. . . check it out and google Josh Elliot!)

A nice family day as we celebrated the beginning of a new eternal family!

Finished projects. . .

Finally finished a couple of wedding gifts.  I made Camis' primitive stitchery pattern in brights.  Gotta love those french knots!  The pillows were fun to make as I thought about Amanda  (my niece), and Scott--one of my former piano students who is almost like another son to me.    (And notice my cute chair that used to be blah brown from our old, old kitchen table set. . .Kim works wonders with her paint brush!)

A closer view. . .

Here is a small applique wall hanging (a Lori Smith pattern--Fit to Frame Pattern 6), that I tried out my new applique skills on.  I took a class from Jeanna Kimball on applique and I see that her way is the best I have tried yet!  It can become very addicting.  I like the fact that it is something I can take in the car or sit and watch a movie with and I don't need my machine.

I just quilted it with stitching in the ditch so as not to disturb the applique.

And for the borders, just straight lines.  I wanted it to be about the applique, not the quilting.

Another angle. . .

Organ music + Family + cute baby!

My younger brother, Neil, has his Doctorate in Organ performance.   He lives in Delaware with his darling wife and family and only gets to come to Utah once a year.  When they come, one of the things he gets to do is to play the noon and 2:00 recitals at the Tabernacle and the Conference Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I got to attend the recital at the Conference Center this year.  Here is a picture of the splendid organ! 

(If you squint, you can see Neil just about to announce his program)

Here is a 'closer-up' picture. . .as far as my little camera would zoom in.

Anese, Spencer and Neil after the concert.  It is a good thing Neil has some grey going on. . .he and Spencer (14 years) could be twins!  There is an on-going debate who is taller.

Gordon, McKay, Makenna and Eliza    

All the kids had fun getting re-acquainted, especially Makenna and Eliza.  

Connor, Hyrum and Orson

Now, to change the subject. . .on to Baby girl, Caroline.  (11 months old!--how can that be?)

Here she is playing with the old toys, smiling and walking!

Grandpa and Caroline. . .yes, she is always smiling!

Such a happy and easy baby!  After I take her picture, she likes to look at the camera and see herself.   She smiles and makes happy sounds when she sees her cute face!

I am grateful for such a wonderful family!  That's what it is all about.

Receiving Blankets with a Twist

A dear friend, Stephanie, from Quilt, Etc. taught me and my quilting buddy Laureen, how to make these fun flannel blankies that she calls, "Receiving blankets with a twist".  The back piece, (lavendar polka dots) is larger than the top piece, (the paisleys) and forms a border with mitered corners. 

Here are three baby gifts ready to go!  I think I might keep one for grand-baby number 7 coming in November!  Mark and Kim are having a girl and she will need some warm girly stuff!

Amanda and Bruce are getting married!

Bruce and Amanda, my niece), are getting married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 17, 2011

A wedding shower was given for them yesterday and here they are opening gifts.

Here is the group from the Bell side of the family.

Sue, Elizabeth, Robin, Amy and McKenzie

Kiera, Amy, Raquel, Caroline and Cami

McKay 'won' this cookbook with help from Raquel suggesting he win it because he really wanted one! He was elated.  He now has 4 cookbooks!

And here is Miss Caroline,almost walking by herself!  (She had been playing with a cup of crushed ice, hence the water stained shirt!)  Get a load of those shoes!  (Also, look at Camis' cute yellow sandals and her polka-dot toenail polish!)  You never know what will end up in a picture!