Big Al Gives the Finger!

As I’ve mentioned before, our favorite chicken finger restaurant is Rock-N-Roll Fingers in Tempe. Well, besides everyone in our ward knowing about it, it’s made another name for itself because of what happened there last week. The restaurant is family owned and operated and we like it not only because it has the best chicken fingers you’ll ever eat, but they are closed on Sunday, they are so extremely friendly, and seem like family oriented people. The 2 brothers (Adrian and Al) usually run the place. Al can’t be more than 5 feet tall, in fact, I dare say that he’s a couple inches shorter.

Al, telling the story

Anyway, last week right after a woman and her baby left the restaurant, this shady character came in with a hooded sweatshirt pulled mostly over his eyes and his hands in the pockets. Al knew that he was trouble the second he walked in. He walked right up to the counter and demanded the money in the register. Al didn’t quite hear him, so the guy said it again but this time stuck a revolver to Al’s head! AAAAAHHHHHHH!!


According to Al, instead of being afraid and giving the guy the money, he just got so mad! He distracted the guy by throwing stuff off of a chair that was right next to him behind the counter and then when the guy started running, Al grabbed the chair and chucked it at him! He missed, but Al started chasing him outside and was almost caught up to him and was about to pounce when he tripped and scrapped his knee pretty bad (I didn’t get a picture, but he showed us).

Mike & Mari Ashby


So Al went across the street where he saw a fire truck and told him what had happened. As the fire fighter got on the radio, he told Al to go across the street where there was a police car. Before they knew it, they heard over the radio that the suspect was apprehended and had robbed 2 places before getting to Al’s.

Stella wearing her new jeweled flip-flops that Aunt Lindsay bought her today!

Daddy & Stella (if it looks like Stella is wearing that dress in every picture you see of her . . . well, it's true . . . she wears it almost every day).

Isn’t that CRAZY! On Sunday, Kimmie organized an FHE so we could all go there for dinner. It was originally to replenish what he got stolen, but we soon came to know that he didn’t lose anything but a chair. He was extremely grateful for the support and business and gave each of us an extra finger for dinner!

You can read the shorter version of the story on azcentral with a picture of the robber.

Happy Birthday Alecia!

Happy #12 Birthday to my niece Alecia! I love you!

Angry vs. Embarrassed

Ward Conference, the whole stake is there, I’m trying to be on my best behavior and visibly trying to get Stella to do the same. I am trying to be better about snacks and not having sugary temptations for Stella anymore. I’ve realized that these tempting treats are exactly what I need to get Stella to do what I want her to during sacrament meeting . . . forget healthy (we’ll pray for them at breakfast)!


Stella was throwing a bit of a tantrum because she wanted her dress to be above her head and wouldn’t listen to reason. I had to take her out of the chapel yelling, and we always come back in a minute later folding our arms to our seat after a good talk. This didn’t last long. I usually don’t let her sit on the aisle, but for some reason I can’t quite put my finger on, I let her sit there. She started to go out into the aisle and if this ever happens, usually I just grab her arm and get her back. Again, for some reason, I just thought that she’d come back like a good girl and listen to her Mommy and to the Stake President who was still speaking from the last time we had to leave.

“Don’t you go another step,” I mouthed to Stella. I didn’t want to make any sudden movements because I knew this would create an unwanted scene and a possible sprint from Stella. All of the sudden, she was off running towards the stage, I took off after her and then it became a game for her. I’ve still not heard from anyone who actually saw her touch the stairs and we’ve all come to an agreement that she flew up there . . . the girl is FAST! She started giggling as she ran into the choir seats and THANKFULLY, stopped to climb onto the seat where I could get to her. I’m making a racket trying to chase her down and according to several people who have never seen me upset, they were afraid for Stella’s life.

I took her out the front chapel doors and into a room across the hall where she was going to get a spanking and the longest time out and lecture of her life! She just wanted Daddy and after I calmed down and realized that I was more embarrassed than angry, we went back into the chapel (the meeting was over . . . don’t worry, I’m not that stupid to go back into the meeting) to apologize to President Clegg who apparently didn’t even realize that anything even happened! I’m still embarrassed about it and at least 13 people came to me to comment on it before the next class even started. Girl is so on probation!

HELP!

I'd send a picture, but I'm still a little mortified! I just got my hair cut again yesterday and since I'm always a little disappointed after my hair cuts because I just needed another inch or two off, I told them to cut it short. I also told them of the time I wanted an a-line hair cut and someone told me that my face was too fat for it. They said, "Oh, no, no, no . . . a-line would be great for your face to frame it . . . blah, blah, blah!" So I got an a-line hair cut and now I look like Frauline Maria.

It's a cute haircut, just not for my face. So I need help in learning how to use products to make it cute. I don't use a thing except a little hairspray here and there. How do you get your hair boofy (without getting a perm)? What products won't make my hair sticky and look dirty?

Happy Birthday Karl!

Happy #14 (holy cow) Birthday to my nephew Karl! I love you!

Cute Cards

I went to my friend's (Misti) last card club last night and we made these 4 cute cards.


Kimmie and Lynnae made the top card for a recent baby shower invitation (which Kimmie and I copied for our Valentine’s brunch a few weeks ago), and we all made the bottom card for another baby shower invitation last month.

Kimbal Garner Anderson

Surprise! My brother Adam and sister-in-law Jenny had their baby boy yesterday (3 weeks early)! They named him Kimbal Garner Anderson and he weighed 6 pounds 6 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long. Lindsay and I talked to Jenny today and she said they got to the hospital at about 6:30 and Jenny said, “I better be done by 8:30!” and Kimbal was born at 8:28 . . . if we could all just demand that our babies come at a certain time! We don’t have any pictures yet, but hopefully we’ll get some soon! Congratulations Adam, Jenny, Brennan, and Kaiah!

Jane Maren Reading

My good friend Stacy and her husband had their baby girl Jane Maren Reading this morning! She weighed 7 pounds 4 or 6 ounces (I can't remember) and I think she looks just like her brother Mason! What a cutie!

Stacy looks FABULOUS and during our visit, Kimmie said, "Stacy, you look like you could just go to church right now!" Serioiusly, it didn't even look like she just had a baby 3 hours ago.


Congratulations to Stacy, Johnny, and Mason!

Happy Valentine’s Day (yesterday)

Yesterday was such a busy day! The Enrichment Committee planned a little Valentine’s Brunch for the sisters in the ward who are 50 years and older. It was so much fun! I forgot to bring my camera, but I think it turned out really well and we had a good little turn out. We had the chocolate fountain and plenty of yummy food! For the game I just sent around a basket with conversation questions or personal history questions so we could talk and get to know one another. I think they enjoyed it and we’ll definitely plan another one!

Heart Attack

Happy Valentine's Day! Last night was so funny. I was making phone calls and was standing right next to the carport door when there was this quick knock at the door. I opened it, there was no one there . . . but our door was decorated and and there was a plate of cookies. I could see two cars parked in front of our neighbor's house with their lights on and knew they needed a getaway, so I reached down to get the cookies. As I did that, they seriously peeled out and sped away into the night. It made me laugh because I knew who was driving (Mari) the frantic getaway car. Ana (our favorite babysitter) admitted that it was the Young Women that decorated the door.

Happy Anniversary Adam and Jenny!

Adam and Jenny celebrate their #9 wedding anniversary today! Congratulations!

Grandmother's Visit

My Grandmother Louise McAllister came to Mesa for a visit and stayed with my Uncle David and Aunt Lora for a few days. Stella and I went with Lindsay and Keith to a Family Home Evening last night at UD & AL's. Grandmother gave the lesson which was a talk she had given to the Young Women in her ward a while ago about her dreams as a 90 year old woman. She spoke about her dreams as a girl as well. It was hard to try to make Stella sit still while I listened, but it was so worth it to hear the words straight from Grandmother's mouth. She looked fabulous (as always) and even though Stella was being a heathen, she said that she was adorable.


Here is the adorable girl crying and saying, "I wanna hold you for a minute!"

All Caught Up

I’ve just completed updating the blog as far back as December 10th, so look again even if you think you’ve seen it all!

Enrichment

I am the Enrichment Leader in the ward. I did a little 4 question survey last week that harvested very little useful information on how to get the Relief Society sisters to attend the activities. So I came up with an easier survey that listed every activity that I could ever think of and all they had to do was check which one’s they would possibly attend and then give more suggestions if they had them. You’d think I was asking them to all give birth without an epidural or something . . . they just aren’t really helping me. Some complain about not having activities for sisters over the age of 40, but won’t give suggestions for that age group. Others complain about the time, but won’t tell me when they can meet. I know I can’t make everyone happy and those who really want to attend the activities will make it a priority to go. But I’m asking for help. What are some activities that you’ve done in your ward that I haven’t thought of?