The Balls Family

Friday, April 16, 2010

Making BAbY CaRdS

I'm in charge of baby gifts for the Relief Society, so Jen Casey was gracious enough to invite me over and help me make up some cute cards to put with the baby gifts, we will give the sisters in the ward who have new babies. I know of three babies this year. Iva Lou made some burp clothes and I bought a little children's book to go together as the gift. Ashley Warner sent me a box full of scrapbook paper from her aunt's scrapbook paper company called Crate Paper. I can't not believe mow much she sent me. She wanted me to have stuff to make the baby cards. I will be able to make many darling cards, thanks to Ashley.

Here's the box that Ashley sent me. The pictures don't do it justice. The kits are darling and there is so much paper, adorable paper. I'd better get busy. Where to begin?

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Konnor's Family Birthday Party

At 6:30 PM on the night of the 15th, we went over to Dana's house for a little party for Konnor. He was turning 4. There were a lot of family members there. Gina's second husband Ray, his wife and two kids, Ray's mother and sister. Her grandma Nelly, Gina, grandma Balls, Dan and I. Also her good friends in the neighborhood, friends that have helped her tremendously since her divorce.

Two little monkeys

Dan and Konnor. . . man to man chat

As in every year, we gave him three outfits for summer. He opened the sack and tossed the clothes to the side, as I would have done at his age.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Hair Cut Again

I can't seem to get my hair right. I go to different hair dresses and I'm not happy with the A line they cut. I went again yesterday to de Mirour Image, to Holly and I think she's an expert with A lines. I have spent so much money getting my hair retouched up. I've got to go to someone good. Whitney Tippetts comes over to my house and colors my hair which has been a treat. I love the dark red color she uses. She's a student at New Horizons Beauty School. I pay her 35.00 to dye my hair. When she's no longer a student, I 'm not sure if I'll be able to afford her. But it's been so nice not to have to color my own hair. I do touch up my roots in between her coloring. My gray can't seem to wait a whole month. Me and my hair issues. . . it's a never ending story.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Started Dibels Today

Once again, the Dibels testing has began. We'll go to each elementary school in the Cache County School District once more this year. I think there's around 14 schools. So that's 14 days that I will work this month. I love the ladies that I work with and I love the kids that I test. The test can become monotonous and long at times. Our backs and necks will begin to ache around noon. We start at 9 am and go til noon, then have a break and depending on how many classes are left, that's how long we'll work after lunch. For a few years, each school provided us with a delicious lunch free of charge and we were on the clock during our lunch hour. It was like a party. But with all the cut backs, lunch is no longer provided for us. . . . sad. We get paid 12.00 an hour. When I started seven years ago, it was 11.00. Crazy. I started long ago with Celia Ashcroft and Laurie Thomas. The group has changed through the years. Sara Krebs is our boss and she also lives in my neighborhood. There have been times, when I could hardly sit there for an hour let alone 3 hours, due to my back. It been good money so I try and stick with it, but many times wanting to quit. It sometimes becomes a mental game for me. I have to psych myself up for it.

Celia Ashcroft just finished testing a student. Canyon Library

Diane Tippetts testing a student

Correcting the handwriting sheets. We all hate doing this.

Mary Lee Warren showing off her piece of pizza for lunch. Sometimes, whoever wants to, goes in a pizza or anything else for lunch. Sometimes, we take turns pot lucking it, in the past. I brought my own salad to eat. . . .still on maintenance.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Stake Conference

Dan, Ethan and I went to Stake Conference at the Stake Center. We got an hour into it, and our backs hurt and Dan's had terrible allergies so we left and brought Livi home with us. After we all had a bit to eat. Liv and I went outside to feed ArKnee. Ethan plays a few games of basketball every Sunday with his good friend Colton Arave. Not much of a Sabbath Day for us, we' ll read the Book of Mormon children's story book later. It's been a fun book to read and helps us understand the story line of the B of M.

ArKnee was nibbling on Livi's finger and bite it and it bled a tiny bit.

ArKnee chewing on my pants. He won't leave me alone.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Kelly came up for a visit

Kelly came up today for a quick visit. We went to dinner at Chili's. I had a bun- less hamburger and stuck close to my diet protocol. I've maintained my weight since I stopped the drops a week and a half ago. Actually, I've lost a few lbs.

Anyway, it was good to visit with Kelly. He's always a ball O' fire. He spent the night and left this morning before we left for Stake Conference. Dan bought tickets to the America concert this July for Kelly and Willy and our family, this weekend. It's part of the Cruise In. They went last year, I was in the hospital with the infection from my spinal cord stimulator.

I couldn't figure out how to crop this photo to just show Kelly's mug.

ArKnee and friends

Livi and her cousin, Salem playing with ArKnee in their backyard.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Weekly RS Presidency Meetings

Our Relief Society Presidency has weekly meetings that yes, last over 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours. That's a long time for me to sit anywhere. This is a great presidency, outstanding women that care about the sisters in our ward.

Laura Paskett (1st Counselor), Celia Ashcroft (President) and Charlotte Francis (2nd Counselor).

Danton and I went fishing

During Spring Break, Danton had time off too. Two days we went fishing at First Dam. I brought my lounging chair and soaked up some sun while Danton fished. However, the fish were not biting either days. After the first day's adventure, Danton took me to Frederico's for a salad. It tasted so good to me. He also took me up to Hyde Park Canyon to shoot his new hand gun. I was a terrible shot. I did better with his 22 rifle. It was lots of fun to spend time with him. I'm glad he would include me. One day, he took me to lunch at Ruby Tuesdays for a yummy salad. We ate out a lot the week he was off work. Danton is very generous.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Met One of the Little Chocolatiers

T-shirt and 1/2 lb of Hatch Chocolates

Yesterday, Dan and I went to SLC to an appointment I had with a neurosurgeon to get a second opionion about my back and the surgery that Dr. Hooley has suggested to correct the failed fusions I had 25 years ago. We rode my bug down to Layton to get another key for it and to obtain a new key, one has to go to a VW dealership. I went crazy looking at all the new bugs. I want one with leather interior and a sun roof. A wish you might say and as my father always said, "If wishes were fishes, we'd all have a fry".

Dan took me to the Layton Hills Mall. I bought small containers of lotion for the graduating Laurels that will be coming into Relief Society for their birthdays. Dan let me get some more plugs ins from Bath and Body and a couple of lotions. He's so good to me. Can't tell me no, it would seem.

The doctor visit was non-eventful. He said he wouldn't preform the surgery and told me to decide for myself. It will either work well and I may still have back pain, or it won't work and I'll still have back pain. My back pain is undefined so surgery isn't always the best solution. I need to decide if I can leave with my pain or if I can not. I do fell really good about Dr. Hooley and his discovery of my failed fusion and he's plan of action. Yes, it's a major surgery, with a lot of recovery time. I feel like I was prompted to go back to Hooley and that he was inspired to investigate further my old fusions at L 3 L4. No other doctor has done that. and they knew a fusion had been done. I feel like this all stems from the setting apart blessing that Brett Allred gave me when I was set apart to be the RS secretary. It was one of the most spiritual blessings I have ever experienced.

Well I got my second opinion like Dr. Garg asked me to. He's my pain management doctor. In fact, Ethan and I go in today for more injections. Mine are in my neck and Ethan's are in his back. He doesn't seem to feel much better. One of his discs is bad enough for surgery but we are trying to hold off that.

The exciting part, on our way home I wanted to visit the chocolate shop of the couple that are on the TV show called "The Little Chocolatiers", on TLC. Megan helped me find the address and we headed straight to the store. It was on 4th avenue on the avenues. I asked if they posed for pictures and the employee said yes and went back and asked her. She was elbow deep in dipping and asked if we could wait 10 minutes. Of course, we can wait.

She was darling and most gracious. I got a picture, bought one of their T-shirts and a small box of expensive chocolates. More expensive then Florence Chocolates from Rexburg Idado, whom I love more than any other chocolate in the world. But I can't eat them right now as I am on phase 3 maintenance of the HCG diet. They will be hidden away like the golden plates.

All in all, yesterday was a fantastic day.