Birthday Boy!!

This is Fred.
This is Fred sleeping on the couch.
This is Fred sleeping on the couch in his biking clothes.
Notice the bag of chips on the carpet and the remotes carefully placed nearby.
This is what Fred likes best about birthdays.
Sleeping.

Facts about Fred.
He is a Tour de France junkie.
He eats ice cream from the carton with a fork.
He rode 57 miles on his bike to celebrate his birthday.
He rides his bike to work everyday. New job is only 2 miles away.
He loves MUSTARD!!
He is a great gardener.
He has never shot an Elk with a bow/arrow. (personal joke)
He loves history.
He hated being woke up in the morning by Margo to do the dishes.
He loves animals, especially puppies or baby animals.
He has scars on his back from when he was thrown from a horse into a barb wire fence.
He was born in a car.
He nearly drowned in a ditch in Moab.
He played the tuba, wrestled and played football in High School
He had a very high GPA in Graduate School.
He loves to shop as much as Char does. (VERY GOOD DEAR!!)
He is a magnet to the kids in primary.
He is like Peter Pan and never grew up.
He loves the TV series MONK. (it's a 'mental' thing)
He can watch a movie over and over (like Dumb and Dumber) and laugh just as hard as he did the first time he watched it. He cries (yes, Carl) during great movies like Radio and Remember the Titans.
He loves Shakespeare.
He still plays with fire. He just uses gas cans and a blow torch.
He laughs so hard at camp jokes. Re-tell the jokes five years later and he can hardly get the words out he is laughing so hard.
He loves SOCCER!!
He still thinks he is tougher than Josh or Blake.
He would love to go to Ireland.
He can't stay up late anymore.

Happy Birthday to Derf Noslrac. King of the couch, boss of the remote and Man of the Year.

Craft "Fix"

Here are some pictures of the projects that I worked on yesterday and one this morning.

Heading to the fabric store for more goodies to sew and make. The "wild thing" is a self-binding receiving blanket done "my way". The corners are mitered, they have a decorative trim and the animal print is adorable.

Blessings

This morning I woke up and had such an over whelming sense of gratitude for my Heavenly Father. He has helped me so much recently and I am in awe of how much he blesses all of us in spite of all of our weaknesses.
I have cluttered my life with so many "good" but not necessarily essential things in life. As I have started to unjunk my life I have felt the sense of peace return and am finding the joy in the little things that I so love. For instance making the blankets yesterday and today. I love the fact that I can sew and when I am sewing I just relax and learn from the experience. I am grateful for my simple talent to create with my hands. When I knit, crochet or read a book I take myself into another realm and escape from reality. I cherish the simple moments granted to have peace. I love the early morning bike rides that I have once again taken up. When on my bike I block out the pressures of life and just let myself fly and enjoy the nature that is all around me. Biking is probably the best de-stresser I can ever have. I love to read the scriptures in the morning when all is quiet. I love leading the music in primary and when I properly prepare I have so much fun and look forward to being with the kids in primary each Sunday. I love being with my family. It has been great to have some special moments with each of my kids. I love being with Fred. There can not be enough said about family. I am so blessed to be part of two wonderful and amazing families. I love the fact that Robert started CarlsonJunction. Thanks.
I appreciate my children's friends and that they will talk and respond with me. I love my Savior Jesus Christ, through whom all things are possible. I am extremely blessed.

YES!!

Yes, thank you children and husband for letting me make a huge mess in the kitchen and my sewing area. Thankfully this evening I began cutting out squares for a quilt top and I was able to sew a darling receiving blanket. I will post the pics later. After 5 1/2 hours I have successfully cut, sewn and pieced together a top for a baby blanket. I also put together and have sewn a self binding receiving blanket. ( not for my daughters but a lucky someone who shall not be named at the moment.) Not bad for an evening. I even had time for a little chat with my neighbor. Oh it feels so good to 'create' again. I am going to try to machine quilting this blanket. Should be interesting. I'm not in the mood to hand quilt tomorrow. I like fast easy projects that look like you spent days, weeks and months at it. Time to snooze. Happy Day tomorrow!!!!

Today I am going to..

Today I am going to make a quilt from the darling material I just bought, then I am going to sew two more adorable baby blankets and after that I will start knitting my socks from the cute yarn I purchased at The Needlepoint Joint. My day got interrupted with work and so now I'm going to pout because I was so excited to start my projects and I hate it when I am interrupted.

Today (the next day) I planned to start again only to be interrupted....mad mama.

TODAY I AM GOING TO CUT OUT THE QUILT BLOCKS!!! Well today is not totally over and I just might begin. So teenagers go into hibernation!!!!! Just kidding I love my kids but I really need a craft "fix" right now. I would just like to put everything on hold until my crafting and scrapbooking is done. Like I've said before.. I've had it with reality I want a fairy godmother!!

The Youngest

Just a quick picture of Ms. K and her friend, Ms. A They are sporting bright bangle bracelets from Buckoos, Star shaped sunglasses and have about three candy necklaces around their necks. Goofing off is the name of the game. Happy Summertime.

Fred and his garden

I took this picture of Fred working in the garden about one month ago. Today the plants are twice the size and we are enjoying sugar peas, arrow peas, spinach, and small red potatoes. YUM YUM. The strawberries are ready to pick. Rasberries were moved this year so no rasberries for eating. Fred loves the garden and I appreciate all of his effort to make it grow.

Mr. Markmanship meets the Governor of Utah

The Clearfield High JROTC Markmanship team was honored to meet with Governor Jon Huntsman for the State of Utah. Ms. K. and I were the only family members there. Rep. Oda made the arrangements. He is a great support to the students at CHS and it was nice for these young men to be honored for their accomplishments. They will be the State at he Jr. Olympics.!! PS The Governor gave each of the team members a commemorative coin. It is cool.

Just so you know

Just so you know that the handsome man who no longer has red hair is my cutie!! He looks great in his $.99 Tuxedo. My aunt didn't believe me when I told her. It is true. Fred found this tux at Savers for only... yes once again...$.99 In our picture it looks as if Natalie and Kallee are performing together just like old times. Only now they had graduated from using the fireplace hearth to the cultural hall. To all of you "old" cousins ( you know who you are) the little cousins turned out pretty great didn't they?

Wedding Day

Kallee and Duncan sit down to watch the wedding video at the end of their magical evening.

Kallee and her best friends.

Kallee's cousin, Ms. C. caught the bouquet. Kallee and Duncan cut the wedding cake. The chocolate covered strawberries were delicious. The cake was banana nut, covered with fondant.

It was a celebration indeed!! We even did a little dancing at the end. (In spite of very sore feet ) The cultural hall was decorated just how Princess Kallee had dreamed it would be. The evening ended with all the family gathered together blowing bubbles as the couple departed for......

Disneyland!!!! More pictures to follow.

I

Kallee and Duncan's Wedding

Kallee and Duncan June 7, 2008
Duncans' Family to the right.

Fred, Char, Kallee, Duncan, Natalie and Clint

On June 12, 2008 at 10:16 am on the dot, (thanks to Uncle Dennis who provides the up to the second report at each wedding ) Kallee and Duncan Glen Shelley were sealed for time and all eternity in the Bountiful Temple. Brother Rigby was a remarkable man with such insight and spirit. He truly taught all of us who were in the temple that day. It was a blessed day and I am so proud of Kallee and Duncan for being married in the temple.

Our camera wasn't working properly at the temple so I'll have to post the temple pictures later. I do have some from the Saturday before when Kallee took out her endowments at the Jordan River Temple, which she referred to as the River Jordan Temple. (Not in the same country, sorry honey) Also here are some pictures from the reception. More pictures to come not to worry.

Bridal Shower Pictures

Some of the gifts from the neighborhood/Carlson shower. It was themed "Firsts"

Mickey Mouse Club members!! You Rock!!!

K. and Nat--not wanting a picture taken.

Family Tradition to tie a quilt for the new bride. This quilt is totally BYU all the way!!!

Kallee and Aunt Colleen

The noslrac cousins

The other side of the family

Cute Cousins with Ms. K.

Requested Recipes!!

Slush

1 8 oz can orange juice, 5 cups sugar, 4 T lemon juice, 4 quarts water, 1 pkg. orange kool-aid,
1 large can pineapple juice.

Mix together and freeze. Thaw slightly and serve with 1 liter sprite. This recipes makes tw0 large punch bowls or 2 large ice buckets full.

Bow-Tie Spinach Salad

1 16 oz pkg. of bow tie pasta, cooked and cooled
1 bag spinach
2 cups cooked chicken - cubed
1 cup craisins
3 cans mandarin oranges-drained
2 cans water chestnuts - drained
1 bunch green onions chopped
1/3 cup slivered almonds
1 cup Honey Roasted Peanuts
Mix all of the above except spinach. Add spinach just before serving.

Dressing (I only use half of this--you decide how you like it)
1 c oil
2/3 cup teriyaki sauce
2/3 cup rice wine vinegar
6T sugar
1/2 t salt and 1/2 t pepper.

Add to salad just before serving.

What's the Buzz?

No bees just busy with last minute details for the wedding this Thursday. I am really excited for Kallee and Duncan and know that they will be so happy together. We had a wonderful time at the temple this past Saturday. As Kallee called it, the River Jordan Temple. She has received alot of teasing about that one. Actually the Jordan River Temple is very beautiful and the brides room is all done in a soft peach color with beautiful chandeliers and mirrors. It was wonderful to be in the Lord's house and to feel of his spirit. The sweet sisters that helped us out were Sister Geddes, Sister Day, the assistant matron to the temple and Sister Gardner. They all became instant friends. A little taste of heaven for sure. Sister Day in her instructions to the new sisters did a very appropriate job. It was plain, simple and certainly guided by thy Holy Spirit. It was a joyous day.

I am looking for some great advice or imput about Kallee to share with others at the pre-wedding dinner. If you have some great stories please send them my way. Fred and I are supposed to say something about her as well as Natalie. In keeping with Kallee's personality it should be funny and full of her ism's. Love you all. Pictures still to come I promise.

Oh yeah. I didn't get the best score on my math test, but at least I passed!!

Oops!

In all the hustle bustle of pre-wedding I realized that I have forgotten this or that and also that some invitations didn't get to the right people, and some people received two invites. Needless to say I am brain dead at the moment and I 'm sorry. (Relatives and Friends are invited to the wedding...sorry for any opps on my part)

I have some great photo's from the bridal shower and recipes to share. It was awesome to be with so many friends and family. Thanks for the support.

Great news to share!! Fred has a new job. He will be working a company close by as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. We both feel very blessed and humbled.

Distracted Drivers!!

I like to watch people and watch what they are doing. However, I do not like my attention drawn to inattentive drivers by seeing something bizarre taking place behind the steering wheel. Yesterday I observed a driver flossing her teeth while going down a busy road. No hands on the wheel, she was focused on the task of flossing and looking in the mirror instead of driving down the road. As I was thinking about this I reviewed in my mind all of the crazy things people do instead of driving!! Number one pet peeve!! Talking on cell phones while driving, even worse, texting while driving, brushing of one's teeth, putting on makeup, looking on the floor for something, looking anywhere but the front of the car, writing while driving, looking at the map, phone book or lap top, playing with animals or kids, drinking and eating, watching the deer (my husband is bad for this one) Yelling at the other drivers instead of watching where you are going, reading anything is bad. Don't get by me when I on one I may ram my truck in your car to get your attention!!

Stunned

Stunned. That word describes exactly how I felt last night after attending my math class. Actually I believe that the whole class felt that way. Our TAPT director commented to us when she came in towards the end of class that we all looked like a bunch of deer that had just been blinded by some headlights. I'm still recovering from the shock to the brain. Hmmm.. I'll keep you posted if there is any permanent damage.

Excerpts from a talk....

This blog contains excerpts from a talk I gave for Mother's Day in the nineties. It is really long so I am just including some thoughts that helped me when my children were very young and continue to guide me today. I hope they bring insight to you and you also enjoy some humorous moments that I had recorded and forgotten about. Good ideas not always easy to follow.

"President Benson in his fireside to parents gave ten specific suggestions to help mothers spend effective time with their children. First, take time to always be at the crossroads when your children are coming or going, when they leave and return from school, when they leave and return from dates, when they bring friends home. Be there at the crossroads whether your children are six or sixteen." Second, mothers take time to be a real friend to your children. Listen to your children, really listen. Talk with them, laugh and joke with them, sing with them, play with them, cry with them, hug them and honestly praise them." He further told us to take time to read and pray with our children, have meaningful family home evenings. Teach them correct principles. "Mothers, you are your children's best teacher." A final suggestion: Mothers, take the time to truly love your children. A mother's unqualified love approaches Christlike love. Our young people need love and attention, not indulgence he added. He further stated, they need empathy and understanding, not indifference from mothers and fathers. They need the parent's time. " (sorry to my kids, I was not perfect!)

......A friend of mine told me of a sister who had eight children and who did not enjoy being a mother, she felt it was her duty. My heart aches for her to not know the joy of mothering to only see the negative in what she does. Children put many demands upon our time and when our eternal vision of things is clouded by earthly matters we become overwhelmed and lose perspective. It is a challenge. When my son dumped a quart of cooking oil on the carpet I did not see joy, or when permanent dry erase markers graced our walls all I saw was a mess that had to be painted over. When he lovingly squeezed baby quail to their death we didn't hug and kiss him......One day after cleaning up yet another Joshua "mess" I turned to Fred and said, Is their joy to be found in this and his answer was, "well I guess he was exercising his creativity. The joy of mothering comes in small doses unexpectedly. A few years ago while traveling Natalie was singing I am a child of God. When she came to the part 'and he has sent me here ' she started to cry for she was feeling the spirit. After our basement was flooded for the second time we were busy and hurrying about trying to clean up the damage. Our daughter Natalie must have sensed the stress we were under and wanting to help us she made me a note that read. "I love you, you are an adult of God. A small reward, a time of joy.

I would like to pay tribute to all those who mother, those of you women who care and nurture children, whether they be your own or those of other women, those who have warmed our hearts and nurtured and inspired us. May we remember that all that we are, or hope to be, we owe to a mother who loved us and taught us.

What's in your freezer?

This blog was inspired by Nat's friend Yanette. Actually I don't endorse having gross things in your freezer. However, at this moment I have a confession to make. We have a hind quarter of a buffalo sitting on a shelf. It is skinned!! At one point Josh had a frozen duck or some sort of bird. Anyhow there was an animal in there. (feathers and all) There is another odd freezer occupant. It is an old mink collar from my mom's sweater. She told me that if I kept it frozen the mink collar would withstand time. What do you think? Yeah we're pretty weird people. I also have a frozen Hawaiian lei that looks green and fresh. Please don't bring on Dr. Phil!!!! I couldn't take on his harassment and I think that I'll barely withstand what ya'll have to offer in that department. Robert and Carl please be nice okay?

April 30th and May 1st brought snow to many areas in Utah. This spring weather has been absolutely crazy. Kallee and Duncan had their pre-wedding pictures taken. It was a cloudy evening. The photographer was great and I believe they will have some amazing photos. The pictures may not look like spring but who cares what the background is like right? The couple is darling.
A few items of interest during the photo shoot. Nat and Kallee were both caught inside of Kallee's dress while getting ready. Don't ask me how that happened I wasn't inside the room at the time. The slip underneath started to 'slip' and so outside of the temple mom hastily removed the slip. The wind was blowing and a fire erupted below in Bountiful. It was amazing to see the flames and the black smoke. We were almost ready to quit because of the snow flurries, however, Nat said a quick prayer and the snow subsided long enough to get the full temple/couple shot in. You'll love it when you see it.

Looking forward to brighter days with sunshine. Thanks family for your support and prayers. We love you all. And yes...a special thanks to crazytown for reading our blog.