Silly News & Exciting News

Hello All:

It has been a while since I have blogged..but to tell you the truth, there was nothing to blog about, till now.

Monday I was getting my nails done and enjoying the peace of relaxing in a pedicure chair when I heard a familiar voice. I looked up to see who it was and low and behold it was Allison Arngrim, that's right...Nellie Oleson from Little House on the Prairie.





She was really nice and very laid back. She told me that she just got back from France after being there for over a month and really needed a pedicure. But I never asked for an autograph, partly because I was chicken and partly because I think even minor celebrities deserve peace.

I started to drive home and decided to call Michelle because I knew she would want to know..but there was NO ANSWER. I then called Melissa because I knew she would want to hear...NO ANSWER. I went home, thinking Mom will want to hear about it but my home was all dark, and nobody was home. I called Dad's phone and he said he & Mom decided to eat at Conrad's. So I finally called Sara and she listened to my story. That was the silly news! Now for the exciting news...

I was putting things away in my room and Mom & Dad came home. Dad said, you need to come here Mom wants you to see something.

And here is what I found...The big, fat fibbers were not at Conrads...



Please meet Miss Scarlet..She is a 2009 Toyota Camry (Because they wanted to be just like me)

Unfortunately Golda the Saturn broke down again and was just going to be too much to repair, so Miss Scarlet has joined our family.

Dad has always wanted a red car, and now he has one.

I hope all is well.

Love

Marilee

The new hire @ UPS

Most of you know that I am lucky enough to work with a 2 year Labrador named Morgan. He belongs to my boss.

Who am I kidding he is the BOSS.

He recently thought about leaving State Farm to work for UPS.

Enjoy the pictures below.

Love Marilee



How do you work the signature board?



Our UPS man Eric trying to recruit
Morgan for the job.

Good News from Oklahoma

Hello Family:

Just received happy news from Jimmy & LaShonda Potter. They just found out they are expecting a bundle of joy in late September.

Congratulations to the happy couple and to their son Jameson. He will get to be a big brother soon.

Love to all

Marilee

***** 2/9/2009 Unfortunately Jimmy & LaShonda lost their baby. Our thoughts and prayers are with them *****

Marilee has a sink. Woo Hoo!

I must share my frustrating month and a half with you.

On December 20th, I noticed that my bathroom rug was very wet. I kept looking under the sink only to find that everything appeared to be dry. But the drawer underneath had a mysterious puddle of water that I kept cleaning up.

I started to have thoughts of water seeping from unknown places, and plumbing bills in the thousands.

I unloaded the whole cabinet in preparation for the plumbers on Monday morning. They also saw that the towels were very wet and that it was dripping into the lower drawer but couldn't find where it was dripping from. We finally discovered the tiny leak in one of the valves which was slowly dripping and causing a pool of water in the bottom drawer.

We thought good, repair the valve and we will move on. But Noooooo! I went to open the bottom drawer and it fell off in my hands. This slow leak had destroyed the particle board construction and left us with an even bigger mess.

So we went to Lowe's and picked a new sink, cabinet and faucet. But the bad news was it wouldn't be delivered for a month. I thought that won't be so bad. At least I have another bathroom.

I know my Great, Great, Great Grandmother Ann Jewell Rowley, that crossed the plains would shake her head when I say this, but it is a pain for 3 people to share a bathroom. Dad knew it was getting bad when I started to wash my face at the kitchen sink.

It was finally delivered and installed this week and I am the happiest person in the world.

I have been walking around the house, saying "I Love My Sink".

So if you are in the neighborhood, come by and wash your hands in my new sink.



Very wet towels.



Preparation for removal



Goodbye sink



What a freaking mess.




Checkout my new pretty sink.

Mary Jade's special day.

Hello Family:

The Potter Family was able to gather for a lovely long weekend 1/31 - 2/1. We were celebrating the blessing of our sweet Mary Jade.

Mom, Dad & I flew into SLC on 1/31 and were met at the airport by Andrew, Sara & Mary. We then met up with David, Michelle and their family at Chili's for a wonderful lunch (Thank you Mom & Dad) and a nice long visit.

Sunday was such a beautiful, crisp day as we prepared to go to the blessing. We got to church to save lots of pews for our family and Andrew's family. Mary was given the most beautiful blessing by her Daddy. It was a very sweet and emotional day for all.

We then gathered at Sara's in-laws for a Mexican fiesta that would put any restaurant to shame thanks to the talented Val Ostler.

We enjoyed good company, good food and a very exciting Super Bowl game. ( And that says a lot coming from me as I'm not a sports person).

Since it has been so long since we were all together, we took a new family picture. (Not perfect, but what family picture truly is).

I have attached pictures below of Mary's special day.

Big Hugs to all

Marilee



The Star..Miss Mary Jade Ostler (notice the cute jade
bracelet Grandma Julie had made for her)



Sweet Sara and her baby girl
P.S. Mary is wearing Sara's blessing dress
and bonnet



Mary and her parental units.



Uncle David, Auntie Marilee, Sara & Mary



Dad & David. Don't they look like father and son.



All because two people fell in love.

Fun with Mary Jade

Happy New Year family:

Sara still wasn't feeling perfect and wanted the 2nd opinion of her doctor here in California that has treated her since she was 16.

Luckily her awesome mommy-in-law had some credit on Southwest and graciously let her have it to come here.

Sara and Mary Jade boarded a plane (Mary Jade's 1st ride) and flew into Burbank last week.

The weather was so warm and sunny here that a quick trip to Target was made so that we could get Mary some cooler clothes.

Sara met with her doctor who gave her some antibiotic cream for the incision that hadn't quite healed, went over the reports and the scans and gave her opinions to Sara. This really put her mind at ease.

Sara & Mary then tried to visit as many people as possible while they were out here. Since Mom & I were off work the following Monday
we got in the car Saturday morning and drove the girls back to St. George to meet up with Andrew and her in-laws.

We had such a fun road trip or as we called it (Thanks to David) The LRT (Ladies Road Trip).

Mary was an excellent traveler both by plane and car. This is good news, as she will be required to come visit her favorite Aunt in California a lot :)

We stayed the night with Sara's in-laws in St. George and Mom & I were going to go home the following day. We decided that since we were only an hour away from Mom's cousin Karen that we would make a trip to Beaver to see her.

That was really fun for Mom and she got to visit for a few hours.

After we left Karen's house Sara, Andrew, Mary, Mom & I went to dinner in Beaver at a restaurant called the Timberline. It was really good food.

We then had to say goodbye as Sara, Andrew & Mary went one way and Mom & I had to go the other.

I decided on the way back that I didn't want to drive all the way home in the dark so Mom & I stopped in Mesquite, NV for the night and stayed at the Virgin River Hotel & Casino. After we checked in we decided we were kind of hungry so we went driving and found the new Wal-mart and browsed and then went over to Starbucks and got Hot Chocolate and Lemon pound cake. (Dinner of champions)

It was so fun to be with my Mommy and have a silly, relaxing time.

I have pictures below of everything described here. I hope the beginning of the New Year has been good.

Love you all

Marilee

P.S. Pictures below of the old fashioned pump organ that came
across the plains with Eddie's pioneer family on his mother's side.

P.S.S. When we arrived home Dad's creative side exploded again,
this time for Valentine's Day. To quote Mom, "He is so gay" :)





Uncle poses with the girls...




Sara with her human child and her furry child...




Grandpa & Mary Jade...



Way to cool for words



Grandma & Mary Jade



Mom & her cousin Karen Erickson..her
husband Eddie is in the background.



The pump organ.



Andrew showing the foot pump action



Andrew playing us a hymn on the organ



My yummy Hot Chocolate





Our tables decorated for
Valentine's Day.

Christmas fun at the Happiest Place on Earth

Hello Family:

Mindy, Mikaela and I spent the day on 12/20 at Disneyland. It was a cool, crisp, California day and we were hoping to spend the whole day and see the fireworks show.

We decided to take it easy and went on the easy rides. I was able to get over 37 years of fear and once again get on the Alice in Wonderland ride. (As this was a horrible experience when I was 3 ) Although that ride is one serious LSD adventure, no wonder it scared me.

We went on Pirates, the Toon Town Coaster and the Haunted Mansion. The Haunted Mansion is decorated for Nightmare before Christmas so that was really fun. And instead of having to wait 45 minutes, some nice people donated their 3 fast pass they couldn't use, so we got on in 10 minutes.

We then went over to Reindeer Roundup and enjoyed hot chocolate and a sugar cookie that you could decorate and eat. Mikaela took her decorating very seriously and then named her cookie Snowie. So once it has a name you can't eat it.

We ended our day by scoping out a spot for the fireworks show only to be disappointed because it was canceled due to weather. Disneyland says there was wind, but it didn't feel windy to me.

I'm glad I was able to spend the day with cousins as family is the best part of Christmas.

Hugs to all

Marilee



Waiting in line for Alice in Wonderland. We actually got
a good view of the parade as the ride was closed for a
few minutes for repair.



Nightmare before Christmas. Oogie Boogie watching over
us.



Mindy & Mikaela strike a pose outside
Minnie's house in Toon Town.



I wonder which reindeer is which. I was unable to
find Rudolph.



The concentration is great as Snowie is
created.



Mikaela and Snowie



As we leave Reindeer Roundup we smile
with Santa Clause.