30 more school days, but who’s counting?

January:  2016 started off with our new tradition (a couple years now) of meeting Sandra for lunch at a Chinese restaurant.  Here is the fortune that was inside my cookie: You have a charming way with words and should write a book.  I kept it of course, and hope it comes true someday.  Quinn and I both bore our testimonies the first Sunday of January—so we got that out of the way for the yearJ  For over a week I felt poorly and finally went to the doctor to find I had tonsillitis.  The wheels went into motion for Audrey and family to buy a new house here in Blackfoot.  It is a beautiful, large, well-built home that is closer to us!  The real moving work came in February when the whole family moved in with us for a few nights while they were in transition, but back to January.  

Quinn and I took Sandra down to a wedding reception in Provo for the son of Bret Twiggs.  I think he was very happy to see us and afterwards we drove to Bret’s house to visit with Aunt Doris.  We spent the night and San and I went to the Mormon Tab. Sunday morning.  The next weekend, Quinn and I drove wet and slushy roads all the way to Provo to attend a BYU game—but they did win. 

February:  I started the month with two nights of parent/teacher conferences (ugh).  Glad those are over for the year.  The next weekend, I drove myself to SLC to attend The Producers—a very funny play. 

Dax had his first birthday!  He is such a darling boy—and Kate had decorated the dining room up so colorfully for the occasion.  We went over to their house for cake and ice cream and to watch Dax play with the wrapping paper and eat a LOT of frosting.  We also found out Gus is afraid of balloons--go figure.

  We finally had our patriotic program day which we have been practicing for months!  It turned out great and this bunch of third graders really can belt out a song.  Quinn and I drove the Vet over to Boise for a weekend so Quinn could watch the girl’s state basketball.  Mostly, we just wanted to take the Vet for a drive.  I had a retreat with my book club ladies in Star Valley.  We stayed at Janis T.’s beautiful large cabin.  We watched the last episode (early) of Downton Abbey plus other movies, put together a puzzle, went shopping, saw the SV temple under construction, took a walk, and just ate lots of yummy food and visited.  On the way home is when I stopped in IF to help with the moving.

March:  I took the first day of March off to help Beau & Audrey by tending kids, running kids, and making beds so they could sleep in their own house.  The first weekend, I took Sandra with me to Burley and we met with Jacob and Amber to go to the play Into the Woods.  We ate at Upper Crust first and then watched the play.  It was so good for a community play.  Amber’s sister-in-law was Granny and Cinderella’s mother.  Dusty Heath from Snake River played the baker.  I loved how they made the cow come to life and have a personality—it even danced.  The next day I drove to SLC to see A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.  It was a hoot even though the premise was that the main character discovers he is eighth in line to a title and fortune, so he must bump off the seven ahead of him.  It was so cleverly done and really hilarious.  The next day, Sunday, I attended the viewing of Janet Goodwin along with the rest of our third grade team. 

Our third grade team on Dr. Seuss Day

For a week after work, I tended Audrey’s kids so she could go to school to sell real estate.  It always puts into perspective why you should have your kids while you’re young.

I also worked on a denim quilt for my principal Janae VanOrden.  I got the idea for the flowers from a quilt I saw when I was in Star Valley.  The next weekend, Chad came for a visit.  It was fun to visit with him, and after Janae’s reception, we met up with B&A family and K&M family and did cosmic bowling.  I didn’t do very well and it makes me frustrated because at one time my average was about 145!  

The next weekend was the highlight of the year so far.  March 25 was the day Audrey and Beau took out their endowments and we did mom and dad’s temple work.  First, Jacob was baptized and confirmed by Terry.  Then he did dad’s initiatory.  I did mom’s initiatory and went through the endowment for her.  Quinn went through for dad.  Afterwards, we got to do some of the sealing work.  All the family there was able to act as proxy and take part, and Kara and Terry sealed them together for time and all eternity.  I just felt happy and good the entire day/session/week.  I am so glad three of my children were present to see it.  All that is left is for Kara and me to seal ourselves to them.  

Mom and Dad on their wedding day

Mom and Dad at their 50th wedding celebration

Easter was spent at Sandra’s house for dinner and Rob and Karly got to come.

April:  Golfed for the first time with Quinn, Sandra, and Jacob.  Amber rode along.  We had our annual family dinner at our house.  Quinn did Dutch oven cooking and we had the following for dinner: Kim, Bev, Amanda, Manny, their kids, Stacey, Josh, and foster son (?), Terry, Kara, Sandra, Jacob & Amber, Beau & Audrey, Gus, Kate & Matt, Dax, and later, two missionaries.  Busy day, but it was very fun to have everyone together.  Now it is April 9 and we are headed to Logan soon to see Beau & Audrey sealed in the temple.  Looking forward to another great day! 

PS:  Somewhere in the course of those three months, I made the decision to go to San Francisco for Sylvie Olson’s bat mitzvah and Audrey and Katie are going with me!

Other projects: 

This is a burp pad I have crocheted around.  I can't even count how many burp pads/dishrags I have done--dozens.  I give them all away as gifts.  This is what I do in the car or where ever I am to keep my hands busy.

These are called travel bags.  You pack your shoes or stuff in them.  I made these two for my visiting teachers.  Below are two quilts I've made earlier, but donated them last weekend to Amanda's charity, Wives Behind the Badge.

2015 Wrap-up--Beginning and End

            Here is where it gets confusing because I am going to start by reviewing how 2015 started, then I am going to skip the part I’ve already told about-August through November-and I will finish with the end of the year. 

            The year started with two grandsons awaiting arrival.  We had a baby shower for Katie at my house and it was a Dr. Seuss themed event.  She got a lot of cute stuff.  I helped get the nursery ready by painting the dresser white, making a banner for the wall, sewing a curtain, buying a rocking chair and making a pillow to go on it, and picking up a crib in Boise when I went over with three other teachers to attend a tech conference. 

     Daxton D. Murdock arrived on February 6, at 8:16 pm, and weighed 7.1 lbs.  We waited for him all day, so he took his sweet time.  I spent a couple of nights at Kate and Matt’s house and helped out by holding Dax a lot.  I made him his blessing outfit which was almost too small, but thankfully he only needed it one day. 

Katie and Matt with Dax

            Katie and Matt also went to the temple to be sealed in January.  I didn’t realize it, but they use the bride’s maiden name, and where she was 8+ months pregnant, Quinn said it had all the makings of a shotgun wedding.  Jacob and Amber were there, and we met up with Audrey and Angela for dinner afterwards. 

            When spring break came, Sandra and I took off for St. George.  Katie and Matt went down in their own vehicle and stayed at Matt’s parents place.  We took a hike with Dax that was fun, but full of other people.  San and I hauled back a bed in Quinn’s pickup for Audrey.  While we were there, Jeff and Sabra blessed their new son Max. 

            Later in the spring, Sandra and I drove to CDA for state golf.  We walked around the lake and climbed Tubbs Hill, and enjoyed watching the kids golf. 

            Summer meant a trip back to St. George, and from there we picked up Sandra at the Las Vegas airport and drove on to Mesa and stayed with Cindy and Steve for a few days.  I also made the trip to see Shakespeare with Deon and Kara.  We stayed with Amanda in the “guest house”, and saw Taming of the Shrew, Charley’s Aunt, and South Pacific—all good of course.  I helped Audrey with her nursery too. 

Some good lines!!

Gus's quilt (the stitching was amazing--back was minky)

This time I painted stripes for an accent wall (they turned out phenomenal if I do say so myself), sewed a crib skirt, curtain, and a quilt the way Audrey wanted it—foresty and huntery and I included denim from Grandpa Hedin’s jeans in it.  We also had a baby shower for Gus (McCrae) at Audrey’s house and she got a lot of nice boy things.

            One of the best things Kara and I did over the summer is plan an Amazing Race for our kids.  I sent out invitations and we planned six different stops around Bingham County.  It started at the Potato Museum, then to the gun range, then mom and dad’s old farm, then Riverside School, then the cemetery and back to my house.  I was a little surprised at how competitive the teams were—I mean run for your life—and Audrey was 8+ months pregnant.   Audrey and Angela won, but they all said it was a lot of fun.  I think the guys liked shooting dad’s 357 best.  After everyone came in from the race, we had a barbeque in the backyard.  The grandkids had a blast playing in the water—we had a ton of leftover water balloons and just had a hose running a trickle of water and that was enough to keep them entertained.

            I golfed more this summer than I ever have and we even went to Aberdeen and Mackey.  Here is where August came and the previous post with back to work, the birth of McCrae, buying the Vet, etc. 

            For Thanksgiving, Quinn and I drove the Vet to Mesquite.  We just hung out, ate at buffets, visited with family, shopped in St. George, and had a relaxing time. 

Selfie at Casa Blanca, Mesquite, NV (I won $10 on .05 poker machine)

The first of December I flew to NYC to meet up with Kristine, Mary Ann, and Linda.  We saw the Rockettes, went on a tour of Radio City Music Hall, watched Finding Neverland and Fiddler on the Roof, ate at some fun restaurants, went on a bus tour of the city, took a ferry ride around the Statue of Liberty, and did lots and lots of walking and talking.  We enjoyed ourselves so much; we want to get together every year.

When I got back, we had two busy weeks of school and then two weeks off for Christmas.  I went over to Burley to take Jacob and Amber their Xmas and since she had a homemade tree, I made the partridge for it.  We had a house full for Xmas Eve: Audrey’s family, Katie’s family, Sandra, and Thane’s family.  They all came back Xmas day, plus Chad.  We played a lot of games Christmas evening and it was fun being together.  Since then I have been kind of lazy—took down the Xmas décor, cleaned a little, made a quick trip to SLC with Quinn, and on the last day of the year, I made a wall hanging for my classroom.  Goodbye 2015.

I made the partridge for Amber's tree

A serious game of 13 Dead End Drive (Regan cried when her mother killed the cat)

Wall hanging for my classroom

Going back is hard...

Another thing that took place in 2012 that I haven’t mentioned already is that we moved my little sister Kasia’s remains and headstone to be beside mom and dad’s graves.  Jacob dedicated her gravesite. 

In September, Katie, Sandra, and I flew to Las Vegas to go see Wicked with Kate’s friend Denise and her husband.  While there, we walked the new bridge at Hoover Dam, Sandra and I went to the Las Vegas Temple, and we walked the strip one night—6 miles! 

Katie, Denise, and Sandra on the Hoover Dam Bridge

Me at the Las Vegas Temple

  During our harvest break, we took our annual golf trip with the Johnsons.  This time the guys golfed around SLC area and MaryAnn and I went to Gardiner Village and Thanksgiving Point.  On the last course, Hobble Creek, we rode with the guys and it was a beautiful fall day.

November: I picked up dad to take him to vote at the courthouse so he wouldn’t be driving himself on Election Day, and a woman ran a stop sign and hit us.  I saw her and hit my brakes (there were no brake marks from her car), but I knew there was no way we would avoid a collision.  Dad had NOT buckled up, and in the process of my car being spun around, he (and his dog Snoopy) broke through and flew out the passenger window and landed about 15 feet out on a lawn.  I must have blacked out, but when I opened my eyes, the airbag had already deflated on the steering wheel and I couldn’t see dad.  I had to go out the broken window to reach him.  He was unconscious too, but came around as I was laying on the ground speaking to him.  People showed up almost immediately.  Luckily, I had my cell phone in my pant’s pocket and as I was attempting to dial 911, a lady took it from me and called in.  It really didn’t seem too long before the EMTs were there.  Dad kept trying to get up and I kept trying to keep him down.  He was having trouble breathing and they called in a helicopter to life flight him to Pocatello.  During this time, Sarah Wray showed up and she was very helpful to call Quinn from my phone, gather stuff off the lawn, and check on me and dad.  Q came shortly after the helicopter left.  They wanted to know if I wanted to be taken in an ambulance, but I didn’t feel that bad.  I was pretty sore where the seat belt restrained me and Quinn convinced me to go the ER just to be sure I didn’t have a broken collarbone, which I didn’t, but boy did I develop some awesome bruises.  

Goodbye Vue

I don’t remember who called Kim and Kara, but they both headed to Pocatello to be with dad.  I got a call later that night that they were unsure if dad would survive the night, so Quinn and I headed up.  I guess they didn’t know just how tough dad was, because he did survive and eventually ended up at The Gables.  He never returned to his home, which was a blessing in disguise because I don’t believe we could have convinced him to leave his home any other way.  The end of the year found him living in the rehabilitation center of the Bingham Memorial Hospital.

After the drama of November, the girls and I made a trip to St. George to attend Puff’s wedding.  I had to rent a suburban to drive us all, but we had a great time and the girls got to do a lot of swimming in the indoor and outdoor pools and playing on the hotel slide.  Q and I purchased a new red Kia for me (which I quite enjoy) and Q bought himself a Ford F1-50 pickup.  I made the girls matching Christmas dresses (now I can’t find the picture) and some I Spy bags.  

I made a lion for Rylee, a turtle for Adi, and an owl for Regan.  Guess I didn’t take a picture of the owl.  Ring out 2012.

Fast forward, forward, forward

     It has been so long since I last posted, I couldn't even remember how to do it or where my blog was.  Now that is sad.  So much has happened, I've decided to start with what's been happening recently and then go back and fill in all the empty space.  As of today, here is how things stand: I am a 3rd grade teacher, we lost dad over two years ago, Katie is a wife to Matt and mother to Dax, Audrey is no longer married to Justin but married to Beau and she has a new baby McCrae, and Quinn and I truly have an empty nest.
     I will begin with August.  On the 4th of August, Audrey and Beau called early in the morning to tell me they had arrived at the hospital and the baby would be born soon.  I went over and got to be present when McCrae Beaujames came into the world.  What a wonderful event-my first delivery where I was not the one in pain.  McCrae is growing and putting on a little fat.  He was blessed in Sept. and I made his blessing outfit.  The vest is suppose to resemble a fishing vest.

        I started my third year of teaching 3rd grade.  It still feels new to me, but I am learning to adjust.  I have 23 kids in my class and they are one chatty bunch of kids.  My days are SO hectic, they really do fly by.  I always feel like there are a million things I should be doing.  Just finished up Parent/Teacher conferences last week, so that is a big relief.  Also in August, Quinn and I traveled to Boise to buy a Corvette!!  It is something Quinn has talked about doing for as long as I've known him.  He started having buyer's remorse the very next morning, but by then I was loving it and decided if we were ever going to do it, it had to be now while we were still young enough to really enjoy it.  It has been so fun to drive.

     When harvest came this year, I first went to St. George with Sandra, Katie, and Dax.  We got to visit with Chad, do a little shopping, visit family, and just relax.  This is me with Dax when I got a pedicure.

     The last week of harvest break, Quinn and I went to North Carolina.  Quinn wanted to golf Pinehurst #2.  I got to ride along with him and it was a beautiful day.  From there, we went to the Duke and North Carolina State campuses, had dinner with Jim Kendrick and his family, stayed at the Outer Banks and walked in the Atlantic Ocean (even Quinn and he hates water), saw Kitty Hawk and Bodie Lighthouse, and then drove back across NC to do a half marathon in Greensboro called the Cannonball Run.  The weather for the run was perfect-cool and shady-even if it was my worst time to date.  Then we flew home.  A VERY busy break, but a perfect vacation.

     Another new status since I last posted is I belong to a book club.  My friend MaryAnn invited me and I have been going for about a year now.  It is a fun bunch of ladies and in October we all went to Witchapaloosa at Gardner Village in SLC.  It was a fun trip.  

     When Halloween came, I dressed as Luke Skywalker (Vicki suggested we all come as a superhero since that is her theme this year and I didn't want to be a typical one).  It just so happened, the Murdock clan decided to dress as Star Wars characters too.  Sandra and I went to dinner at Audrey's while Quinn manned the trunk-or-treat that was out in front of our house.  That night during Dax's visit, he got to laughing SO hard it was adorable.  I wish I could post the sound of his laughter.

     That gets things caught up to November.  We have already had our Thanksgiving dinner.  All were here but Sandra and Chad.  Chad did stop in for a brief visit last week.  Quinn and I plan to head to warmer weather during the long Thanksgiving weekend and hopefully drive the Vet.  Though it is a little short on trunk space it makes up for it by just looking so good going down the road.

Summer 2012

     Summer finally came and we took off immediately for North Dakota to take dad back to see his sister.  San decided to go with us.  It was a quick, but nice trip and we got to see family and visit dad's old hometown of East Grand Forks, MN.  The rising of Devil's Lake is a sight to behold in itself.  There was 24 hour construction going on around Helen's house to try and manage all the water and save the roads and town.  Helen is 88 and wants us to return for her 90th birthday.  She is doing great and I could see her celebrating 100.

I made Helen this coin purse as a thank you (I've done many of them).  Came home to my rose bush in bloom.

Quinn putting by the "lone Cyprus" .  It was foggy that morning, but the ocean is over the edge.

Sand Hollow

     Came home and immediately turned around and took a trip to CA.  It was Q's fantasy golf trip.  The purpose was to golf Pebble Beach, but he made it to three other courses besides:  Silverado in Napa Valley, Oasis in Mesquite, and Sand Hollow in St. George.  I rode along at Pebble and Sand Hollow--both beautiful courses.  Now we're back at home and time to get to all the projects on my list!!

End of school year

     I've finished teaching my 18th year--and what a year it was.  It wasn't just the teaching part that was unique this year--but my personal life too.  We put mother into The Gables, an assisted living center where she lasted for two months before she passed away.  I have to admit--I really thought she was going to rally once again.  It appeared she had a stroke and by the time I got to the hospital, she was unresponsive other than she could move her hand.  She passed less than two hours after I got there with dad.  So much needs to be done to prepare for a funeral and burial, but I think we did a nice job with everything and I hope she is pleased with our send-off.
If you would like to read her life sketch given at her funeral, go to this link:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZxqfTPh4WuKEfKLBJ6WeVl__-97xeP9sDacCZhsvSNk/edit

Dresses for Africa

     Then it was back to ISATs, Quinn's state golf, and all of the end of the year activities, negotiations, changes and clean-up, and police report (ANOTHER story for another time).  I made a denim quilt as a prize for our awards assembly at the end of the year and it was chosen by one of my former students (boy-JP).  I am also including with this post the table runner I made for T&L for having us during the Houston Marathon, and the dresses for Africa I made for the ward project--I finished six of them and I've seen them referred to on Pinterest as pillowcase dresses.  I got the girls' princess dresses done.  Did the pink one first and learned from it to forget the netting and make it longer-which I did on the white one.  I also learned 3 year-olds could care less about boas.  I also ran in the Ogden half-marathon ALONE.  Quinn wimped out because of his calves which cramp whenever he runs lately.  I did it in memory of mother-which was my only motivation since I wanted to wimp out too because I DID NOT adequately train!  But I finished.

This gets us to 2012

So here we are 1/4 into 2012. I have felt guilty that I haven't been making more quilts, so this year I got busy. Dad had given me some boxes of fabric that were mom's and since she can no longer do anything with them, I made 3 quilts so far out of her fabric. I love plaid because you don't have to mark the fabric for ties. I also ran across a finished quilt that just needed to be hemmed, so did that one too (the cars). The red and black one that I crazy pieced, I gave to mom on her 57th wedding anniversary and she recognized the fabrics immediately. I have been working on making princess dresses too, but only have one done. Will post those as they get finished.

In January, Quinn and I ran the Houston Half Marathon. We flew to Texas and stayed with T&L and had a nice visit. Sandra went with us and stayed behind. I had forgotten to renew my driver's license so that was a hassle that Quinn will never let me forget (he's done it before too).

Busy with work, family, parents, sewing, and should be busy with training for our upcoming half marathon in Ogden--but alas, not so much. I have also been sick for over a week with cough and congestion. My spring break ended today (I had Thursday and Monday off), so now it is the long push to the end of the year--here is where I earn my big paycheck. Did I mention my taxes aren't done yet--yikes!