Play Ball!!!

Saturday was a big day for my grandson William. He got to throw the first pitch at Spring Mobile Ballpark for the Utah Utes baseball game!!! William is a pretty amazing little boy, and as you can see he has a beautiful big smile. I have never mentioned on my blog before that William has autism. The Utes have volunteered at William's school and they invited the families to a baseball game, and William was chosen to throw the first pitch!!! Grandpa (Mike) and I were invited to the event and what a treat we all had. We walked right through the dugout where the players were waiting for the game to start. They high-fived us and were so friendly (and even let me take their pictures). We got to go behind the dugout which is under the "bleachers" and see the batting cages where they practise. When we came back to the dugout Will got to meet the coach. Adam and Zach got to line up in front of the team as the National Anthem was sung. Then William's name was announced and he pitched the ball perfectly... we all cheered!!! We could sit anywhere we wanted to. Grandpa and Adam sat on the front row right behind homeplate. Zach and I went to the right field so that he could catch the foul balls. The Utes are such good players that their foul balls went right over our heads, over the top of the stadium, and probably landed somewhere on 13th south... Zach didn't get any foul balls. We had a great time!!! Thanks to William for sharing his good fortune.

Family Friday: Featuring My Son Andy

Family Friday is back and we are down to the final ten installments. This week I'm featuring the firstborn of the third generation... my son Andy.

Andy was born on March 14, 1978; arriving six days past his due date he weighed in at 9 lbs. 2 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. I was four months shy of my twentieth birthday and my normal weight was in the 120's, for such a young and skinny Mom I was very proud of my big baby. Andy brought us a lot of joy from the start; he was the first child, the first grandchild, and the first nephew on both sides of the family. We had the name David Michael picked out early in my pregnancy (I didn't have an ultra sound but I always knew that I was having a son), two weeks before the baby was born when I told the chosen name to my Irish Granpa he shook his head and said, "give him a name of his own", making reference to the fact that we already had an assortment of David's and Michael's in the family. We chose the name Andy Marsden Leger. He had his own name, and everyone else's too.

From the time that Andy was just a toddler we always knew when he was around. One day when he was three he was with his Grandpa Leger and talking rather loudly, when Grandpa asked him if he always talked that loud Andy responded, "no... SOMETIMES I TALK THIS LOUD!!" He was always protective of his little brother Jeff. When toddler Jeff fell against a metal bed (needed stitches) Andy freaked out crying, "my brother" while the injured stood calmly by. When none of the family could interpret Jeff's "language" we would ask, "Andy what did Jeff say?" and Andy would say, " he said..." then he would tell us what Jeff said; and he was right.

During his youth Andy participated in recreational sports such as soccer and baseball. One summer when he was about fourteen or fifteen he played baseball for the first time in several years. While at a game Mike overheard a Mother of another player saying, "we've got some kid on our team that hasn't played before", as if the team was doomed; parents take these sporting events much to seriously. Andy has always been a fast runner and more than once was able to steal home, and Mike was so proud when during a game Andy hit a home run over the fence. We were sitting in the outfield so Mike was able to retrieve the ball and present it to Andy. At the end of the season the coach named Andy as the most improved player, and he did so with much respect.

Andy has been blessed with many talents, and anyone who knows him has been blessed because of Andy's talents as well. Shortly after his eighth birthday he began taking piano lessons. We didn't have a piano so he would ride his bike over to Granma's everyday to practise. Andy has also always loved to sing. When Andy was just a little boy his Grandpa Leger introduced him to the music of Al Jolsen. Andy started to mimic Al and did a really good job of it, which eventually earned him a place in the school wide talent show when he was in the third grade. He wore his Sunday suit and sang Mammy (Al style) with all of his heart. In jr. high school Andy became interested in acting, which then led to musicals in high school and community theatre. At sixteen he portrayed Jimmy in Saturday's Warrier at Page's Lane Theatre (now RMT). I have seen him in many shows at school and in the community, all of which I was very proud, but the one that left the biggest imprint on my heart was The Secret Garden. As I watched him portray Archibald Craven and sing the beautiful songs in that musical, I couldn't hold back the tears and I still can't. Several months ago Andy participated with his Uncle David and a few other theatre friends in a musical review at the WB City monthly concert series. He sang Lily's Eyes in a duet and it brought back to me all of those emotions of 1996 when he did the show as a senior in high school. He currently performs in the Endless Summer band with his Dad, and also accompanies his Granpa when he performs. Last summer he was one of the major players in the recording of Granpa's CD.

Andy performing as Pharoah in the BHS production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in October 1994

There are so many Andy stories, but one of my favorites is when I left three-month-old Caitlin with fifteen-year-old Andy while I went over to the Johnson's to help Becky with a primary dutch oven activity. I gave Andy strict instructions that he was to bring the baby to me as soon as she woke up, and he did. He tucked her under his arm in a football hold and rode over on his bike. WHAT!!!

Andy and Rosie

After Andy graduated from BHS he attended SLCC; he then was called to serve a mission to the Canada Montreal French Speaking Mission; when he returned he attended the U of U where he graduated in 2002; he then attended Law School at the U of U from which he graduated in 2005. He was recently named Partner in the Law Firm where he is employed.

Andy's graduation from Law School

Andy is a devoted husband and father. He and his wife Kristin met in high school. They wrote letters to each other while Andy served his mission; and on March 10, 2000 they were married in the Salt Lake Temple. They have three of the handsomest little guys you will ever see. Andy is also a wonderful son. We have had many long talks and discussions through the years, he has always shown concern for my welfare, he has always made me feel like I'm a good Mom.

Things to know about Andy: He flew to Tennessee to see Mandy Patinkin perform in concert. He is the ward organist. President Spencer W. Kimball kissed his hand when he was a toddler. He spent three weeks in Ireland and England when he was thirteen. He can speak French. He can play the piano upside down. He has the best laugh. He's left-handed. He has his own signature walk. He ran a half marathon. He recorded his own CD when he was eighteen. He is honest. He learned how to play chess when he was a young boy. He LOVES Disneyland and is very knowledgeable about Disney history; he even got to sing a solo in Disneyland. He has integrity. He loves to read and to learn. He has strong political views. He serves. He's funny. He loves classic cartoons. He magnifies his callings. He makes roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. He's a good friend. He had a letter published in the TV Guide. He stood next to Jeffrey R. Holland in the circle when his friend was being set apart as a missionary. I'm so grateful that Andy is in our family and I know everyone else is too. We all love Andy.

Andy's family in Disneyland last summer: Zachary, Kristin, Andy, William, and Adam

Family Friday: Featuring My Daughter (by marriage) Kristin

It's funny how things work out when you throw names into a tupperware bowl and pick them out one by one. Some families have had all of their family members featured on "Family Friday", some only have one or two of their family members left to be featured, and most of my family have yet to be featured. This week it's my daughter-in-law Kristin. It has been nearly ten years since Kristin was the first of our three daughters-in-law to join our family, and we were all pretty excited when she did. It was fun to have another girl in the family, it was fun to have a daughter-in-law, and Caitlin loved having a big sister. It was fun and exciting to see the beginning of a new era in our family as new "daughters" and eventually grandchildren joined our family.

Andy and Kristin met in high school, they even went to a school dance together, but it wasn't until after graduation and just weeks before Andy left on his mission that their friendship blossomed. Eleven months after Andy returned from his mission they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 10, 2000.

Kristin has always been a very thoughtful and considerate person. She remembers important dates and events in the lives of others. Members of the family and friends have been recipients of kind notes and treats on holidays and other special occasions. When Andy was on his mission Kristin came by the day before Mother's Day and dropped off a treat, I invited her to come back the next day so that she could talk to Andy on the phone when he called for Mother's Day. Kristin was so sweet when she said, "it's Mother's Day, not girlfriends day." But we still managed to get her to come over.

Kristin has always been very supportive when it comes to family activities. She makes family a priority and I appreciate that so much. Several years ago Kristin, Caitlin, and I went to see a display of Princess Diana's dresses at the U; I had always been a "Royal Watcher" and it was really exciting to see the actual dresses that the Princess wore; the three of us had such a good time together that day. On another occasion, our ward had a mother/daughter overnighter at Zarahemla; Kristin, Caitlin, and I all went together. A few years ago several of the girls in the family got together to watch the most recent version of Pride and Prejudice. We were all squished in my little family room watching the show (and eating of course) and adding our own commentaries. There's always a lot of laughter when the girls in the family get together. I remember during the movie glancing around the room at everyone, when I looked at Kristin she had a big smile on her face and I could see that she was enjoying herself. That made me smile.

Lesley, Caitlin, and Kristin at Zarahemla

Kristin did everyone's hair at our families "girls night" in 2008; here she is with Becca

Kristin grew up in a family of girls, and now she is raising a family of boys. Kristin has always been very gracious, polite, courteous, and attentive as well as many other wonderful qualities that I admire, she is a good mother to her boys and wife to her husband and loves them all so much. I have to share this story that happened just recently: we had all of our kids over and were playing some games when Kristin very excitedly announced that she had a game she wanted us to play; I won't go into the details of explaining how to play the game, but it had to do with one of the players being named "Ar-ted". It was so out of character for Kristin, and I loved it!! I still laugh when I think of us playing that game, and coming to the realization that living in a house full of boys has rubbed off on Kristin...well, maybe just a tiny bit.

Some things to know about Kristin: She has a beautiful smile. I love it when she laughs. She is very talented at decorating. Her home is always spotlessly clean. She's always been very thoughtful. She thinks of others. She's dedicated to family. She magnifies her church callings. She's a good friend. She listens. She doesn't waste time. She's a good speaker. She always looks good. She graduated from SLCC and the U of U. She was an EFY counselor. She was in the Hill Cumorah Pageant. Kristin has run in a couple of marathon's as well as half marathon's. She has participated in other races. She stays in shape. She was a volunteer at the 2002 Winter Olympics in SLC. Kristin enjoys to travel. She's very motivated. She's a good and dedicated mom to her three boys. She is wise with money and other resources. She loves the Lord. She's a hard worker. We are all grateful that Kristin is in our family and we love her so much.

Kristin's family: Adam, Kristin, William, Andy, and Zachary; I love this picture

Family Friday: Featuring My Grandson Adam

This week on Family Friday I'm featuring my first-born grandchild; Adam. Isn't he a handsome boy! The day that Adam was born was very exciting for me, I'd never been a Grandma before. I remember standing outside of the delivery room door and hearing his first cries. When I held him in my arms for the very first time, I felt so much love and joy. When Adam was an infant I had the opportunity to tend him a couple of days a week while his mommy worked and his daddy went to school, I enjoyed that time I had with Adam. Adam is now seven-years-old and is in the second grade.

When Adam was not quite three I started my tradition of "Grandma Day". The first couple of Grandma Days were just me and Adam, and then as Zach got older he joined in. We've had fun doing activities together such as: riding trax, going bowling, visiting the zoo, Temple Square, The Clark Planetarium, planting pumpkins and then selling them, lots of Happy Meals, shopping at NPS, visiting Uncle Jeff at Leger's, Cherry Hill, Build-A-Bear, and we've even had a few repeats.

Grandma Day at the zoo in 2008

Last spring Adam's first grade class wrote an opera. Seriously. It was amazing (I think it should have been featured on the news). It was about pirates, mermaids, skeletons, and whales. The scenery and costumes were wonderful and the children did such a great job portraying their characters. Adam was a skeleton, and although he wore a mask I knew exactly which skeleton he was, because....he's Adam; a talented and enthusiastic singer and actor.

Last year at our family Christmas party Adam (with the help of his brother, dad, and uncles) thoroughly entertained us with his rendition of "Feliz Navidad". He reminds me a lot of his daddy when he was a little boy.

Things to know about Adam: He is the oldest of three brothers. He is a very smart boy. He also has a good memory. He's talented in many areas. He loves to draw and color and he's good at it. He is creative. He takes care of his Mom (Mom's like that). He's good at the WII. He's funny. He is very, very polite; he always says please and thank-you. He watches over his brothers. He makes sure that he warns his Grandma when a scary part is coming up in a movie. He is tender hearted. He plays soccer. He is a good grandson. We are all so grateful that Adam is in our family and we love him very much.

Adam's family: Andy, Zachary, William, Adam, and Kristin

Family Friday: Featuring My Grandson Zachary

This week on Family Friday I'm featuring one of my five favorite grandchildren; my grandson Zachary. Don't you just love his smile!

Zach was born on March 30, 2004 just missing his Grandpa Bear's birthday by one day. I was very pleased when Zach was given my maiden name as his middle name; his Daddy also has the same middle name.

One day when Zach was just a toddler he and Adam were riding in my car with me. Zach started to babble something that I couldn't understand, and so I asked Adam, "what did Zach say?" Adam's response was, "I don't know, maybe he was speaking Spanish." Another time when Zach was older I took the two boys on a Grandma Day. As we were driving I explained to them how to play the "naner game" (every time you see a yellow car you call out "naner"). Adam was always the quickest to see the "naner's", and even when I gave Zach a head's up Adam called it out first. As we were driving home after our activity, I heard a little voice in the back seat say, "naner". I was so proud of Zach. "Where is it?" I asked excitedly, I looked around but couldn't see a yellow car. "On the sign." Zach replied. He had seen a yellow car on a billboard. What a smart boy.

When we were in Disneyland this summer Zach and I went on the Haunted Mansion ride together (we had planned this "date" before the trip). I was so glad that I was with Zach; he warned me about all of the scary parts, informed me that a ghost would be hitch hiking with us, and then assured me that I didn't need to be scared because it was all fake. It was fun to watch Zach playing at the beach, he had his own little boogie board and he waited patiently to catch a few waves.

During our move a few weeks ago Zach came to help. He was a good, hard worker and worked right alongside the men all day long. I was very proud of him.

Andy (Zach's Dad), Zach, and Uncle Jeff in a shed-clearing-out assembly line

Things to know about Zach: He just started kindergarten this year. He loves snacks. He's a good brother. On our most recent Grandma Day we went bowling and Zach started out the game with a strike! He likes to play the WII . He likes to jump on the trampoline. He has a great smile. He's good at hitting a baseball. He loves his family. He's generous. He's kind. He is handsome. He loves to jump, climb, and wrestle. Zach is a good boy. He's a good Grandson. I love Zach and so does the rest of the family, and we are truly grateful that he's a part of our family.

Zach's family: William, Andy, Adam, Kristin, and Zach

Family Friday: Featuring My Grandson William

Throughout my life I have known a handful of people that have a smile "that cannot be wiped off their face" that smile is a gift and my grandson William is one of those people. When he looks at me and that beautiful smile breaks out it makes my heart just burst.

William came into the world 7 weeks early on November 26, 2006. I had the privilege of being in the delivery room when he was born, it was truly a miracle and I will be forever grateful that I had that experience. William spent the first 4 weeks of his life in the NICU and was able to come home on Christmas Eve, that was truly the best Christmas present.

As a two-year-old, William is so full of energy and has such a zest for life, it sometimes wears me out just watching him move. He loves to go, go, go....

It is so fun seeing the new things that William learns as he is getting older. His excitement as the "choo-choo" goes by the back of his house, when he sings "e-i-e-i-o", and when I say to him, "one" and he replies, "doo" it is so cute. If we are tending him, as soon as his parents return he looks at us with his big smile and says, "bye". I can only assume that he has just dismissed us.

At a recent family dinner at Uncle Jeff and Aunt Melissa's home, it was fun to watch as William kept coming to get his Grandpa Bear (Mike) by the hand to go play "Wheeeee". Not the "Wii" that everybody else likes to play, this game is different. William sat on the gliding ottoman while Grandpa gave a little push to make it move and then William would jump off while saying, "wheeeee." A few minutes later he came looking for Grandpa, then he led his Grandpa by the hand to the ottoman, and the whole procedure began again.

I shared a "tender moment" with William when he was just a year old. I was staying with the boys at their home one Sunday morning and William was supposed to be napping. He was crying in his bed so I went into his room and picked him up. I went over to the rocking chair where I sat down and began to rock him as I sang primary songs softly into his ear. He just laid his head on my shoulder and listened, but every couple of minutes he would pull away and look at me, smile, and then lay his head back on my shoulder. This went on for several minutes until he fell asleep. I loved those moments that we spent together and I think William did too.

I am so grateful for William, he is one of our precious "Little Guys" and he is loved so much.

William's family: Daddy, Mommy, Adam, Zachary, and William