The Take Back

Washing piles and piles of sheets and towels doesn't sound like fun,

but actually it was so satisfying to restore order around our home.

And of course, I didn't do the washing, the machine did.

(Can you imagine washing sheets by hand?! I think I just wouldn't do it.)

I ended up washing all the bath mats and duvet covers as well because, you know, I was on a roll!

Today is Marge's birthday, so I got a fun lunch interlude with Marge, Mom and Dimitrios at Brio.

(I had so much fun with my mom and Dimitrios while they've been here!)

I only needed a few groceries, and since we can't use reusable bags and I organized the bag cupboard and am trying to reduce all the extra plastic, this is how I've gone shopping lately.

I just fill my cart back up with the groceries and put them into my reusable bags when I get to the car.

And as I was spending so much time in the laundry room, I decided to do a little work on my orchids.

A while ago... who knows when that was -- could have been when Covid lock down first started in March or could have been last month -- I've lost all track of time.

So, once upon a time, I realized my orchids were getting too much water. And the surrounding plant material was too wet and half of them were dead sticks rotting in wet dirt. So I pulled all the orchids out of their individual pots to dry out. One or two didn't have plastic liners, so I just pulled them out into the plain air and let them sit in the laundry room window until I got back to them. 

Which, like I said, could have been six months ago or only a month.

Today, as I was getting back to them, I noticed a new shoot on two. 

Even though they weren't actually planted in anything.

So I got busy replanting and repotting and trimming the dead. 

Now they look pretty again and we'll see what happens!

What I loved most about getting stuff done today was that I wasn't in a hurry and I didn't have a deadline. I was just doing. I even stopped to work on my book for a couple of hours.

Then got back to chores.

I also went for a bike ride at 5:00 and LOVED being out at that time.

The weather turned cool today -- from 93 yesterday to 75 today -- and it felt like Fall.

Nick had lacrosse practice as well, so he got out to play this evening too.

For dinner we had zucchini noodles with chopped tomatoes and basil from the garden.

We added ground beef (not from the garden) and it was SO delicious!

Because it was family night and because I'd been in every room in the house today, 

I remembered about Nick's broken bathroom cupboard door and figured that was a great Family Night project. It actually only took Dan and Nick two seconds to fix it. 

It was done before I even made it up the stairs to his room. (But Nick did the fixing!)

So they worked on another project -- attaching Nick's new license plate bracket.

We were in bed by 10:45. I'm trying to get to bed earlier. 

It felt so nice crawling in bed after a super productive day!

The End of Summer Vacation

Saturday evening when Nick and Dan got home from Montana, we watched Shrek out by the pool with Courtney and Michael. Watching out by the pool feels like an event, rather than just watching a movie inside. We were glad we could talk Courtney and Michael into it because they had hiked Mt. Olympus today and it was more challenging than Courtney remembered!

Dan's "50" Birthday Balloons!

Sunday morning we made a big breakfast to celebrate Morgan's engagement to Chase! They had gone camping with friends at the salt flats, where Chase proposed! I love, love, love that they both stayed with us this week so we could get to know Chase and see the two of them together! Having them here and (hopefully) feel so comfortable in our home made me so happy. 

(In on the surprise, Michelle and Brent postponed their travel home until Sunday so they could be here to congratulate them!) It was fun to have the whole group come over and that we got to be part of the celebration! Marty and Lizzie came too.

Morgan and friends left after breakfast to go back down to Provo. Michelle, Brent and Ethan left soon after to go home to Chicago. And an hour after that, we took Courtney and Michael to the airport to send them back to NYC. They've been gone for a month! I can't believe how fast the time went!

Back at home we had home church with Nick, Marty and Lizzie, then Marty and Lizzie left for dinner at the Rosen's. And then we drove to Sheree's because they'd invited us to dinner to help them eat some of the salmon Simone and Jared caught on their Alaska trip. Nick was super excited to drive his car down and show it to Miles. 

Grandma and Dimitrios were still there, as well as Jared's parents, and Elise and Monet were still there for dinner before moving to Provo. It was nice to have one more thing to look forward to after everyone left our house.  And tomorrow, it's just the three of us.

We told Michael he got a small taste of what Christmas is generally like at the Shaeffer home! Lots and lots of family. Which means lots and lots of laughs, teasing and fun. 

Dan! 50 Years Old!

Happy 50th Dan! He's seriously the nicest guy around and the most loyal dad, husband and friend. All his hobbies revolve around anything he can do with the kids or me,., He's smart, works hard, can cook and clean and cares about everyone. Not to mention, super hot! 😍

And he just ran his first half marathon! So glad he's mine! Happy Birthday!!

#grillsthebestsalmon #lookinforwardtoanother50

#skiingracingbikingboatinghikingtravelingtakinganap

He and Nick went to Montana with Chad and Gregg and their sophomores today,
so we celebrated as a family last night.

Courtney and Michael are still here and Lizzie and Marty came over so we were all together. Dan said several times, "The best gift was having all the kids together." 

(We miss you, Chris!)

The kids thought of the perfect gift -- they gave him an airplane simulator.

It's not a game, but an actual simulator that you can choose the aircraft and the airport. It displays real time weather and traffic, and you can choose your route and fly it real time.

Nicholas got it all downloaded and set up on the computer. It was fun watching him instruct Dan on how to use the x-box controller to make it work. 

Nick's really good at figuring things out and explaining them!

Piano Duets

EC came over for lunch and to see the new piano.

Have I told the story of the piano?

Of the seven grandchildren in the Shaeffer family, Dan was the only one who played the piano.

His Grandma, "Nanny," always told him she was giving him her piano when she died.

She died in 2000, but the week before her death, her oldest granddaughter spent the week with her and Nanny told her she could have the piano.

Well, it didn't make sense to have a family argument about it. 

The piano was a special heirloom, but in the end, just a thing. Things can be replaced. 

People and family relationships are much more important than stuff.

(And by the way, I was THRILLED to get her front door.

It was totally our Southwestern style at the time, made even more special by the fact that Marty and EC had bought it in Mexico and EC had hand stenciled and painted it.

It hung in our different living rooms for 15 years, was once mounted as our garage door, and is now displayed in the stairs on the way up to my office.)

Earlier this year, her granddaughter who had the piano was downsizing and could no longer use it.

She wanted it to stay in the family and asked if we'd like it.

Gram and Dan both went in on the cost to ship it and restore it and are gifting it to Courtney when she is ready for it. For now, it lives in our front room with our other piano.

The restoration turned out beautiful.

Gram and Courtney played some duets together and then Gram played some of her favorite songs -- several by memory!

One of my favorite things is listening to our instruments be played in our home!

Memory Lane

Started looking at old videos to show Michael and Courtney our old apartment.

Once I start, it's so hard to stop! 

Isn't this the cutest?!

Shameless Endorsement: I love having all my videos on iMemories so I can look at them 

on my phone or on my computer anytime I want to!

First Day of High School!!

It's not every first day that you get to be with your cousin from Chicago!

Michelle and Brent and fam are staying this week to get Morgan, Isaac and Chase moved in and to attend Peggy's funeral at the end of the week. 

Ethan has online school, so he gets to stay too!

Anders is driving Nick to school this year! 

I'm cautiously optimistic that I am done with carpool forever!!

Family Time

Home church was pretty epic all squished on the big sectional and the other chairs together:

Michelle and Brent. Brent's dad, Jay (Peggy just died this week), Morgan and her boyfriend, Chase, Isaac, Ethan, Grandma, Dimitrios, me, Dan, Nick, Courtney and Michael.  

We went through Come Follow Me and discussed the accompanied scriptures. 

Home church is the best.

After church we had a pickleball tournament with our strongest competitors being Isaac and Chase vs. Brent and Michael. Dan and I were pretty good competition for Grandma and Dimitrios, but they were really good! 

Early evening we drove down to Winger's for Soren's baptism and Elise's homecoming talk in their backyard! Between the two we had a delicious dinner and it was fun to get a chance to hang out with everyone since last night we were busy with visiting with wedding guests. 

Lizzie and Marty played the violin at Soren's baptism. Yay!
We found out that Chase also plays the violin. So fun!

Soren with his grandpas and a few of his uncles (He has about 11 more!)

Did we go to sleep when we got home? Of course not.

Lots of food and fun and an intense game of Nerts.

Morgan was the big winner. Brent next and I came in a close third. 

Michelle doesn't love playing games like that. I pretty much ruined it for her when we were kids since I LOVED winning and pretty much did every time.

Reception Day!

 Who could survive a big event without sisters?

I was so grateful to have so many helpers -- and their adult children!

Lizzie's family came to help too and

it only took us about an hour to get everything set up.

This pic capturing everyone together makes me so happy.

The afternoon was quiet and the Pauls and Nugents were able to do their own thing.

Courtney and Michael arrived back from Indiana and Marty hung out with us while Lizzie and her family went to get ready.

They got sealed at Oquirrh Mountain Temple where 16 guests were allowed inside the temple and on

the temple grounds. (Fun coincidence, Nick Goldsberry was the hour before us. It was fun to get to see them on their way out as we went in.)

Grandma and Dimitrios brought Nicholas so they could all be there when we exited the temple grounds and take a big family pictures.

Favorite part was watching Marty smiling at Lizzie during the ceremony. 

We love those two!!

I feel so blessed to have my children in love, to be married, and to be adored right back.

I didn't realize how happy and at peace this would make me!

While we were at the temple, Michelle and Rebekah (and Liv the flower girl) put finishing touches on the set-up. How lucky for me that they both have such a great eye for design!

Lizzie's brothers and their wives made all the toppings for the cheesecakes.

They were not only gorgeous, but delicious, and a HUGE hit!!

Because of Covid, we scrapped the salads and just served pizzas from Pizzeria Limone.

They were also even more delicious than I remembered (and I love that place -- but I usually get the Italiano salad) and another big hit -- made even better by Nick being one of the servers! 

Originally, before Coronavirus changed everything, Marty and Lizzie chose Pizzeria Limone and we thought it would be fun to have Nick and friends serve to save some money. 

But they ended up working there (remember Nick's good friend, Luke's parents own it?) when school was switched to online. So now they were actual professionals and knew what they were doing.

It was kinda perfect!

We were non-stop visiting with guests the whole night, of course, but we could walk down the line and talk to the couples we were friends with while Lizzie's parents did the same. I thought that was a really fun way to get more of a chance to visit with the people we each knew. 

(And made it more fun for guests while they waited to see Marty and Lizzie.)

The Adairs gathered in the pool house and were able to visit and have fun all together without masks. The Shaeffers and Weavers were able to do the same at another big table by the house.

We kept the other tables to four, so people could social distance how they wanted. (With extra chairs around to they could pull up another, if needed.)

By the end of the evening, our families were so quick at cleaning up, I hardly lifted a finger.

And even though we (and I'm sure everyone else was exhausted), Dan suggested we all get in the pool. It was a great idea!

Mason Jar Cheesecakes

Mary Ellen and I split up make mini cheesecakes for wedding desserts.

I was a little nervous not knowing how long that many would take, so I got started as soon as we got home from Pagosa. I'd purchased a KitchenAid in anticipation and it was a HUGE help!

Mason Jar Cheesecakes

I tripled each batch (tripling made 35-36 each batch) and ended up making 

five batches -- 170 little cheesecakes in total.

I learned NOT to triple the graham cracker crust in the Blendtec. 

It could only handle 8 crackers (3/4 cup) at a time.

The first batch had a lot of lumps because the cream cheese was still too cold, in spite of sitting out for a while. I googled and discovered I could do a quick pulse in the Blendtec to remove the lumps.

Worked so well! 

It also was much easier to pour from the Blenctec into the jars without making a mess or having to hold the heavy bowl with one hand and spoon with the other.

I ended up transferring to the Blenctec each time.

I also learned to cut the giant 48 oz Costco tub into fifths and microwave for 30 - 60 second to soften.

Also put the eggs in warm water so they weren't cold when adding to the mix.

No more lumps after I tried these tricks.

Cooking in a water bath was no big deal. It was a little easier to put the jars into the oven and then add the water to the pans.

When all was done, I realized I'd been baking for seven hours! 

But I was in a good rhythm with no big mishaps and the time flew by.

Now that the cheesecakes are done, I'm looking forward to my family arriving!

 

Pagosa Photos

After arriving Sunday, Dan and I walked up to the new ranch.

1.75 miles from the old. 

Walked around the new barn, then hiked up the hill and down the other side.

Monday we took the boys to Williams Reservoir.

We set up the sun shade for Dan and I to sit under while the boys set sail in the canoe.

Marty and friends played lots of Spike Ball...

...and games like 31 and Secret Hitler.

They taught us to play too, which was super fun.

Dan gathered Nick's friends to gather logs and split them for firewood.

This is the part where I overheard Anders say, 

"This place is like Scout Camp on steroids."

I made lots and lots of food, of course.

And we put off doing dishes to enjoy yard games before it got dark.

Marty and friends went to Sally Overlook Tuesday morning before they left.

And later that day, Dan took Nick and boys.

We all played 31. After the first round, they played a second and Dan and I played Skip-Bo.

We love seeing our barn take shape.

On Wednesday Dan went to town to pick up the Mule that was in for repairs,

and I took the boys to Piedra Falls. 

Actually, Nick drove us. He did a great job. 

Miles rode the ATV because there wasn't enough room in the jeep.

He's reminding me a lot of Chris!

Album Cover.

Wednesday afternoon we sent the boys to the new ranch to make a swimming hole 

while Dan and I met with our builder.

Thursday morning we came home. And started right in on getting ready for the wedding!