Wedding fever

So, as most of my friends know, we are looking forward to two wedding this summer, not to mention a new grandson.  With school and a new job, I obviously need help. That being said, I would appreciate hearing from friends and family with some ideas and recommendations.  I would be interested in knowing what the best decision was that you made in planning your wedding, and what you wish you hadn't done or focused on.  For those who haven't had the opportunity to plan a wedding, I would love to know your ideas as well.  We are coming along with our planning, but I love learning from others' experience too.  That last wedding I planned was 10 years ago and times (and prices) have certainly changed.
 Take a minute and think back to your wedding day and tell us all what you loved about it and what wasn't your favorite part.  I'll start... back in 1977 when I got married I had a wonderful mother who was brilliant in party planning, so I didn't take that much of a part in the actual planning.  That is probably my biggest regret, not doing more with my mom during the whole process.  I just let people make decisions for me and I should have expressed my opinion more.  I'm trying to think of what I loved about my wedding and there are a couple of things that come to mine.  Marvin J. Ashton performed our ceremony and since he was a General Authority, I guess I felt kind of special.  I'm pretty sure this was against the rules, but my friend Karen Newton took the whole ceremony down in shorthand and typed it up for me.  Not that I have any idea of where it is now, but at the time, it was great because you really don't remember much of what goes in during the ceremony.  The other thing I liked was that it was at Christmas time, my favorite time of year.  We had the reception up on Abinadi Road and Steve and I stood in front of the big flocked Christmas tree.  I don't think we ever had a tree that big or that white ever again.  I also loved that fact that my 9-month pregnant sister, Becky, came with Tom and Carter from Iowa to be there (Laura was born 2 weeks later); and Jill cut her semester in Hawaii short to come.  I did hate the fact that she was so tan though!  I am just reminded of how much I love my family and how supportive we all try to be of each other. 

Anyway, if you want to chime in with you wedding thoughts, I would love to hear them.  See you at the weddings!

Multi-Blogging

I have officially entered "blogdom".  I now have two active blogs.  My latest venture is www.goshyarnitall.blogspot.com.  I will be writing about my passion for knitting and other career ventures on that blog while I try to remain true to my family on this blog.  You would think that I would be able to consolidate and do everything on one blog like most people do, but I have a need to separate things in my life.  I guess I feel less overwhelmed when I can segment things out.  Anyway, as the weather changes and the holidays are approaching, I'm starting to really feel the changes that have occurred in my life.  Ordinarily my house would be way spooky by now, but I'm not feeling the need without alot of kids and grandkids around.  Sorry Molly! I do love fall though so I'm betting that it will kick in soon.

Yes I do have another daughter!!!

Yesterday I was most vehemently reminded that I do indeed have a daughter, son-in-law, and 3 adorable grandsons who I inadvertently omitted from my last post. I have only one word to say.....Alzheimer's.....

My most sincere apology goes out to Elizabeth, Chris, Will, Isaac, and Eli. I neglected to mention them and their doings and it was unforgivable on a certain "blogger's level". The news in that little family is always fun and exciting, but for me, the best part is that they are coming home for a few weeks. We always look forward to the time they spend here with us. I talk about them all the time at the store, but when it comes to writing about them, I guess I just have too much to say and so it doesn't get included in my rants and raves.

I will share one little nugget here though. Apparently Isaac is concerned that there is no Grandpa and Grandma's house. I told Elizabeth to remind him that Grandpa Jim (Coltrin) is right up the street and so we are not totally without. I appreciate his concern and am reminded how these little children have such a clear idea of what a family should be. We will continue to try to survive as we are without the benefit of any more testosterone in the house, but it's nice to know that he's thinking of my welfare.

There were graduations aplenty at the Coltrin house this spring, which ages not only the boys, but their grandmother as well. Eli apparently is learning to talk and so we are looking forward to many conversations with him this summer. Once they get here there will be photos added to the blog, so watch for those.

Elizabeth, you are not out of my thoughts, only my blog!!! I will try harder to be more inclusive. My love goes out to all of my little family in Michigan. Can't wait to see you!!!

Catching up

Well, it has been ages since I've updated this blog. I've been spending my time reading everyone else's blogs. Most importantly perhaps is Molly's return from her mission in Washington. However, we no more than got her home than Ben left for Pennsylvania with Alan Monson (Samantha's boyfriend) to sell alarm systems.

On a very sad note, Sunny and Brandon had to have their darling dog Roxie put down. She was sick from the day they got her and so it has been a struggle for her, but we all grew to love her for the time she was here. Buster and Opie continue to terrorize anyone who dares to walk by our house and oh my gosh don't even think of ringing the doorbell to gain admittance!

Samantha is working a ton at JCrew and we are grateful that she has a job as Molly and I continue our search for work. If anyone knows of absolutely anything that we can do, we would appreciate it. I'm looking for new piano students to help; but mostly I need full-time work with benefits. Oh wait, that's what the whole country is looking for. We are fortunate to be in our house in Willow Creek, a great neighborhood and a fantastic ward.

I spend most of my time at the yarn store. We are doing well considering the state of the economy, but are looking for ways to get more people into the shop. We are negotiating a deal with ABC4 right now so we might be seen on Good Things Utah with any luck!

I've been following Tom and Becky's escapades in England and look forward to their return. Carter has a new baby girl, Tessa, and of course we are all hoping and praying for Jack's full recovery from his most recent surgery. Lisa and Josh have been amazing, but Jack is the hero of this adventure. Well, I guess I need to take some pictures so I can post them in addition to this rambling. Thanks for reading!

Life goes on.... and on.... and on.....

It has been forever since I've posted on this blog. Much has happened in the interim, but perhaps the most exciting news is that Molly comes home on the 11th of March after spending 18 months in Washington serving her mission. Our life here on Sundance Drive will change with her arrival, but it is indeed a welcomed arrival. Her "homecoming" (they aren't called that anymore, but in my world the word still describes the event) is on the 15th at 11:30. We will be looking forward to having family and friends over after sacrament meeting for "a bite". If you are reading this prior to the 15th, please join us.

We also have had a little surgery at our house. Samantha had a deviated septum and this really odd-looking hiroshima bomb type thing in one of her sinuses. Our favorite ENT, Garner Meads, performed the surgery on Friday Feb. 13th, that's right, someone really had a sick sense of humor when it came to the scheduling. Anyway, the surgery went just great. However, Samantha has this crazy reaction to anesthesia and she basically lost a whole week because she couldn't wake up. We were forcing crackers into her mouth and we had to give her five bags of fluid through her IV on Sunday because she was so dehydrated. She is doing better now. It was a year ago that Ben had his skateboarding accident where he broke his ankle so horribly. His leg still isn't 100%. I often wonder if we went back in and had them take out that steel plate and those screws if he would do better. Oh well, maybe next February!

I have no pictures to post to go along with this narrative, but I am determined to become a better blogger, so maybe next time. Til then........

Just a word about the name.....

So, years ago, in a land far, far away....actually somewhere in the valley, I just can't remember which house it was, my dad used to answer the phone at our house saying, "Sharp's Flat". Of course we all thought it was hilarious because.... well I'm not sure why we thought it was funny, but I've always remembered it.

It seemed an appropriate name for my blog and thus a blog was born.

I'm sooooo new to this!

I am not really sure how to do this, however, since all of my younger family members seem very well acquainted with the process.... I am now joining the 21st century. I am afraid though that I will become addicted to this new "hobby" and will never finish unpacking my house!

As soon as I can figure out how to make this especially "darling" and add photos I will do that. I swear, for someone who makes a living on the internet you would think I would be better at this!