Sew busy

this weekend.

O.K. so this picture is a couple of weeks ago, but Charlie

looked so cute chowing down on corn on the cob.

Ashley struck a chipmunk pose as I took the picture as well

Preparations for the weekend started on Thursday. Matt called and asked for help buying food for the Young Men/Young Women combined activity at the lake. I've been hearing about this for a few weeks. Matt was pretty nervous getting enough boats rounded up to go with the kids. Not enough boats means kids are sitting on the sand bored because they can't go out... Ron had been recruited to go with our boat, so I was looking forward to a day to myself.

We went to Costco. Matt was planning sandwiches for 60 kids, plus adults. So I decided 100 sandwiches. We grabbed chips, lunchmeat. Then I decided that Costco dinner rolls would be better than 12 loaves of bread. Bread at the lake w/out a fridge tends to get very warm, smushy, and just not easy to work with, but their dinner rolls hold up better, can make a smaller sandwich. The girls could have one, the boys could fix four if they wanted. Rolls were sold out for the day, so I told Matt I'd go first thing Friday morning. Hmmm, feeding that many people at once can form a huge line, so I decided to get mayo/mustard in the individual packets. My idea was Matt could set up a table and assembly line, you go through pick up your stuff and then sit down to assemble it - instead of 4 people standing around a table with mayo and mustard jars spreading it on their bread while the other 70 are in line behind them telling everyone to hurry up.

Half way through the day on Saturday it dawned on me I bought the wrong amount of rolls. If we were doing 100 sandwiches, and those rolls are smaller, I should do at least 200 rolls, thinking 2 rolls equaled one sandwich. But somehow Friday morning at the store I looked at the package, 3 doz., so 9 x12 = 108, that's all I need, 3 packages. I was worried all Saturday afternoon that there were starving boys on the lake.

The reports came back Saturday night that everyone had a great time. More kids than they anticipated, over 80. plus adults and 11 boats. Yeah, we have a HUGE ward.

Jenn called on Friday wanting to learn how to sew.

Be still my heart.

FINALLY.

I'm quite an accomplished seamstress, but the girls have been very slow in showing any interest. Bekah started making quilts after she got married. As they were growing up I walked that fine line of trying to get them interested and teach them. If you sit them down and say "today we're going to sew" and they hate you for it, then there's a bad feeling in the back of their head for sewing and I didn't want that. Inevitably in the middle of sewing a dance dress some well-intentioned someone would comment, "perhaps they should be sewing their own dress." Do you really think a prom dress is the time to learn how to sew???

Well Saturday, since Ron was away and all I was going to do was can salsa. Instead, Jenn and I shopped for fabric, and she made a skirt.

She did a great job. I hope she tries more projects on her own.

As Sacrament meeting started Sunday, the Stake Presidency came in and sat down. Unusual yes, but I was busy thinking "I'm glad they're here to see this crazy huge ward, and how LOUD and irreverent it is at the beginning of sacrament meeting." Yesterday we filled the chapel, filled the cultural hall, and there were people sitting in each foyer. Not an empty seat anywhere. (seriously what other ward takes 80 youth and 11 boats to the lake for a joint activity???)

They were there to announce a special meeting that afternoon for our ward. YIPPEE.
This is me smiling and very happy. They took two wards and made a third. We've changed names now to the Shadow Ridge Ward.
We lost half of our ward. There are some really terrific families that went the other direction in the split. I'm glad to have known and learned from them. But I'm so happy to be able to get to know the ward family we have left even better.

To end the evening...Ashley's birthday fell during scout camp, business ups and downs, mostly downs, and just summer busy-ness. We never properly sang happy birthday to Ashley, so we did last night. Drew was helping her to practice for his upcoming event.

Ashley requested only two candles to represent that she's in the middle of her second decade. Candles come 24 to a box. When I walked out with two boxes of candles, she was a little overwhelmed...

choir practice was at our house. We took dinner to another family. I went to the movies Friday night with a friend. David and Rebekah have officially all moved in. I tried taking a picture of her over the weekend, and she wouldn't let me, she wasn't 'picture worthy' at the moment. Oh, brother. That's my official busy weekend.

I miss Brad & Kara & Hallie. I wish they could be here, but I know they're doing great in San Diego.