Nothing beats FAMILY

Mom, Dad and Doug left yesterday just before 1:00 pm and by 1:30, I was missing them. I loved having them here for a week, and the week unfortunately went by too quickly. While they were here, I didn't have the feeling that we lived hundreds of miles apart but felt as if we were a family together all the time. I don't know if they felt the same way as I did but I sure did LOVE having them at my home.

Mom made it up the steep stairs to the attic numerous times and checked the blogs and got comfortable. I had to smile when I saw Mom lying on the floor against the lovesac. She doesn't look her age NOR does she act her age. I missed seeing her get up off the floor though...

Doug had gone to Costco down in Orem and met the artist of some puzzles (Dowdle) that we both own and have enjoyed. Doug was like a groupie and talked with him for about 15 minutes and from what Doug told us, really enjoyed the artist's sense of humor. (According to Doug, Alana stated that he was the funnies person she has met-the artist, not her Dad...) Doug was sold and bought some puzzles. My family received and early Christmas present and are now owners of a puzzle of the Utah Governer's Mansion. We of course had to put it together that night. Doug was told that it could be put together in 1.5 hours and with all of us working on it, fighting for space, we were able to do it in 35 minutes.

There's a technique and we flipped all the pieces over and divided the pieces by color and did the edges first. I was told that we needed Auntie Sharon with us because she has a specialty when putting together puzzles. I can't remember what she does though.

Somehow Blade had the last two pieces in his hand and had the honor of putting in those last pieces.

Thursday night, I came home from work and was pleasantly surprised to have my Dad's ribs cooking! That's alot better than going out to eat! Unfortunately, Dave got called into work and wasn't able to be with us as a family that evening. While we were waiting, Doug used all his knowledge with technology and the newest services and got us online with Angie, Mike, Brylie, Tyken and Erika in Hawaii (who just got back from "the beach"). Like Doug mentioned, it's like the Jetson's era and seeing the people as you talk with them, and you see yourself in the bottom corner. I'm amazed by all this technology and what can be done. I was and still am amazed but, apparently my Dad wasn't as amazed...okay he was but he was just tired at the end of the day.

This is what we saw on the monitor, minus Blade's reflection.
Still enjoying the visit with the "Hawaii" bunch.


Another pre-supper activity. Playing the Wii.
Grandpa couldn't get the hang of how to use the control (like me, it must be genetic) and Blade had to show him how to use it. Grandma got the hang of it, she's pretty good at bowling!
Now all we need is "smellavision" so that everyone can enjoy the aroma we were experiencing as the ribs cooked.


And the part just about as good as eating the ribs is that there were LEFTOVERS!

It kept getting better and Mom and Dad gave us another early Christmas gift and there was a new shiny kitchen faucet waiting to be installed. Installation was included in the gift because Doug installed if for us while his "best friend" supervised his work.Dave got home just before 11:00pm and "assisted" Doug.The "before" faucet with the broken handle.
The "after" faucet in all its' beauty and soap dispenser. AND what's interesting is that we are such a Costco family as a whole, that Doug and possible Sheila, have the same faucet!

Doug found great deals at NPS and bought himself and Dave matching shirts. You can't go wrong with black shirts and you can't go wrong with nice quality shirts for $2! (or was it $3?)

Nicole and Chay were at school when Mom, Dad, and Doug left for home but Blade was there to enjoy every last minute of their stay. Blade was shy at first when they arrived but it only took minutes before he was showing Grandpa his "tickle me Elmo" and sitting with Grandma to draw with the stencils she brought. It touched my heart to be able to see Blade so comfortable with Mom and Dad. Grandpa kept telling Blade to pack his things so that he could go with them and Blade just said, "he's so silly".

You can't beat the next two pictures...

"I love you too"

Blade tossing the basketball with Dave while they waited. The secret to a good pass seems to be keeping your eyes tightly closed...

The world as seen by Blade. I'll have to post some of the pictues that he takes. Sometimes, okay often, I get my camera and I'm surprised by some of the pictures that are on my camera.

Mom and Dad with their faithful and loving chauffeur.

The dearest people in my life... How do I thank them adequately for all the love they have given me and for all the things that they have done for me while growing up and continue to do for me and my family. Mom and Dad started with honest, hardworking parents and went on to achieve successful careers, kids that are pretty decent and remain close to each other, wonderful friends, a strong relationship with our Heavenly Father and a love, faith and dedication for Church and family that is unbeatable.

I LOVE YOU MOM and DAD!

I miss you and you bring tears to my eyes as I think about my love for you and all that you mean to me.

Tell me the stories of "cheeses"

The gang's all here!! ...and it's wonderful!

Mom, Dad and Doug got here Thursday night and then picked up Alana after school on Friday. I have pictures to catch every up on some of the things that have been happening.

Today we had the Primary Program during Sacrament meeting at Church today and Chay was so excited to be part of it...I say that sarcastically. It was his final appearance for a Primary program and he IS excited about that.

Speaking of Church... Yesterday Doug was telling me about a great pizza place in Calgary that is owned by Christians and has inspirational quotes on the box and about eating pizza and reading stories about cheeses. He was wondering how the Jewish and Hindu customers felt about that and I was confused...don't they eat cheese? And how could you eat pizza without cheese? So I asked "cheeses?" and he said "yes". And so I said and asked "I'm so confused, I don't get it. They don't eat cheese? I didn't know that"
Doug, Alana and Nicole busted out laughing and Doug said
"...not CHEESES, JESUS..."
(like my memory...my hearing isn't what it use to be either)

We HAD to take pictures after Church and I managed to get everyone to cooperate. They're a good looking bunch.

...Doug and I have found a new "before" picture... Stay tuned for an "after" picture in months to come. Thank goodness "black" is slimming, or does it just create a black hole?...
It's such a treat to have Mom and Dad down here and then having Doug down here also is like having ice cream with the cherry on top. We sure do look like siblings don't we? My kids frequently tell me I look like Uncle Doug.

Three generations of Takahashi women. (Nicole and I had heels on, Mom isn't THAT short)

And THEN we all changed and went out to eat at Chinese Gourmet....

Saturday Activities

We of course started the day shopping at "the store" and found only a few things. Dad stayed at home for that activity though.


Grandma brought Blade some stencils that were at her house and he loves them and Grandma was helping him trace shapes. Like us, Grandma is wondering if Blade is left handed because more often than not, he is hold writing instruments with his left hand. He does go back and forth between his right and left hands so we're not sure.Later, Mom and Dad helped me clean up the leaves in the front yard. Mom was surprised by how many friendly neighbors passed by while we were out there. We really do have a friendly neighborhood and the best neighbors directly next to us! It's so nice to have Mom and Dad down here to visit and I feel bad that they're "working" while here instead of relaxing but, I sure do appreciate their help! Everyone needs a Japanese gardener! I would highly recommend it.

Blade found tools at the store today and was excited to get home so that he could use the tools in the yard.

Then we put Alana to work and she opened her salon for the evening. First she cut Doug's hair but I didn't get a picture of that. Then Dad got his hair trimmed.

THEN...the big event of the evening. Blade got his hair cut into a "boy" hairstyle. Grandma and Grandpa thought that Blade should get his haircut like a boy instead of a girl and Blade was all for getting his hair cut. But then Grandpa told Blade that he should get his hair cut like Grandpa's and that was all Blade needed to hear before he took off and said he didn't want his hair cut. I convinced Blade that Alana wouldn't cut it like Grandpa's and he was willing to get his hair cut. Having someone play with your hair is relaxing for some and for Blade is was so relaxing that he was falling asleep while Alana was cutting his hair.

...Going....going....

...gone...

Thank goodness Alana had quick hands because she saved Blade from potential whiplash numerous times.

There was quite the collection of hair on the floor.And a picture of Grandpa with his grand"son"! (and a happy Alana in the background) Alana did a great job with everyone's hair! I had tried to explain the type of haircut I wanted for Blade at a salon before but didn't even get close to the result I wanted and so we have kept it long and just trimmed because he has such great hair.
...Blade and I no longer have identical haircuts... a sad moment for me... How will people now know that he's my son?

Grandma and her Grand"son"During our shopping excursion, we stopped at Gygi's, a culinary store, to buy some caramel for AK and to just look around because it's just fun to look at all the "stuff" that is available. The "kids" found a perfect tool for me that I could have used when I was trying to make the "spiders" last month and so we had to try it out. It was a funnel that had a stopper that could be used to start and stop the flow of chocolate easily. Alana, Chay and Blade all tried it out and made "turtles" and it worked out well.

Friday night Alana learned how to make cinnamon buns from Grandma. Alana has had a craving for cinnamon buns for a while and didn't want to try making them for the first time at her apartment and so we jumped right even though it was after 8pm. Grandma didn't have her recipe for cinnamon buns but we found a dough recipe in a recipe book of Grandma's friend that I have and went from there.

Alana did an excellent job with making the cinnamon buns, I was impressed. Like Grandma said, "we're going to make a cook out of you yet". Her "we" was really "her" because I haven't made these kind of cinnamon buns before. I've only made the Tuckshop cinnamon buns in the past. These cinnamon buns were okay, we decided that the dough could have been sweeter and next time we will put more cinnamon and sugar in...forget about trying to make it more "healthy"...they're cinnamon buns! Now I may be on the quest for a GREAT cinnamon bun recipe.

I had made a book online of our summer vacation, and it arrived on Friday and Blade loves looking at it and shared it with Grandpa. I couldn't find all the pictures at the time but there was a deadline for $30 off and just paying S&H and so I made it with the pictures I had available. I must say, I was impressed with how it turned out. But guess what I found tonight, the first CD from the trip...oh well...

While we were making cinnamon buns, Doug and Blade were watching "Journey to the Center of the Earth" in 3D. Remember how Blade attached himself to his new best friend Auntie Judy? Well, he has now attached himself to his new best friend Uncle Doug!

Random shots....On Thursday night I finally made candy apples with powder that AK generously sent to me. The package said that it made 70-100 and so I divided it down to make 1/8 of the package but it only made 3 apples. I had alittle syrup left and so I put some on the top of the apple and that's what caused the bumpy texture on the top.

Blade really enjoyed the candy apples! I enjoyed it also and there was some left for Doug, Alana and Grandpa to try when they got here. What I'm wondering though is, how did we manage to eat them when we were younger? I cut them up so that we didn't have to bite into the whole apple.

The following pictures are to show AK the cups I bought to try for larger cupcakes. I haven't tried them yet, because I'll eat them...

Well, that's the catch up for the past few days. I hope you're all still with me.
I just found out that Alana beat me on posting new pictures on her blog...

Until next time...