Day 11: A Blast From the Past

These three little cuties are spending a few days at Grandpa and Grandma's house. So... my post will be quick.

Thursday night as I was telling Avery and Jane bedtime stories (about their daddy when he was a little boy) and singing them songs, Avery said quite matter-of-fact, "Grandma would you sing softer, Jane and I are trying to sleep."

And on that note; duty calls... 

I Really Could've Used That Hour

It was a busy, busy weekend... every six months like clockwork (pun intended) Mike brings out his ladder so that we can move the clock forward/backward. While I change the battery and set the new time; Mike dusts the window ledge, the hanging light, the corners of the entryway ceiling, and washes the window. He's a keeper!!




Anyone remember my recent post about homemade fries? I decided I needed to make some, so... I invited the family over (not everyone could make it). It was a very busy Sunday, I attended two three-hour blocks of church meetings then came home to make the fries. Here are the before and after pictures of the fries. They are so yummy!!










Whenever our family comes over the children always end up in Grandpa Bears music room. They love it!! There are so many fun things to play with in there. The drums are probably the favorite... but then the microphones are a big hit as well. I laughed on Sunday as Avery called to Mike from the music room, "Grandpa, Grandpa come turn on the music." There are so many cords, and switches, and... stuff!! I didn't even know which one to turn on. Then Mason made me laugh, it seemed he was playing weather man as I heard his voice over the mic saying, "it's going to be sunny today." and then... "it's going to be windy today." Even cute little Jane discovered her voice over the microphone. Little Sander just watched... I'm sure in another year or two he will be drumming and singing as much as the rest of them.

Classics and Favorites: Miss Avery and Grandpa Bear

Can you say a favorite!!!! This picture is definitely one of them. Miss Avery was here for a visit one evening, and we were watching our routine-Miss-Avery-movie... "Cinderella"; of course. One minute she was sitting on the couch next to me, and I guess Grandpa looked much more comfortable, because she quietly slipped away and sneaked right under his arm and I caught one of the cutest pictures ever!!

Egg Hunt

It was an "egg"citing

"egg"stravaganza

at the "egg"tended

L"egg"er family

Easter egg hunt.

Our sweet baby Jane
Our Prince William Our Miss Avery
Our sweet baby James Our Mason Man Our cute Tanner Our original "whittle guys" Adam and Zach Our Grandpa Bear; doesn't he make a great prop? See the egg in his hood.

Tending The Grandkids

Over the past two weeks we've had some quality time with grandchildren while their parents vacationed. I remember how great it was as a young mom to have a "get-away" without the kids, so I'm always happy when I can do my part in making it possible for my kids to do the same.

I had several highlight moments with the kids, but I have to share just one that I had with Mason who is an avid BYU fan. The two of us were gearing up to kick a soccer ball around the backyard when he said, "Grandma, I'll be the good guy and you be the Utah guy!"

Don't you just love it!?!

Of course, if you know me at all you know I'm a safety freak. So, besides being a good babysitter, I'm a good pray-er. Praying for the children's safety while I am responsible for them, and praying that the parents... get home safely!!!

Disney On Ice

I was the lucky recipient of four free tickets to Disney On Ice. My cousin was the winner of a contest and was kind enough to share his tickets with me for a Grandma Day! It turned out to be a Grandma/Aunt Lesley Day as I took Mason, Avery, and my neice Rebecca. The four of us had a fabulous time. Thanks so much Bob and Alana!!

Princess Avery

Last Saturday Miss Avery and I had our first "official" Grandma Day; we went to see Caitlin perform in the BHS production of "Cinderella". Before the show started we attended a princess party. Avery got to meet Cinderella and the Prince and have her picture taken with them, she then got to make a photo frame for the picture. She also got to color, she learned to dance and curtsy like a princess and enjoyed eating a royal cupcake... it was a magical day for sure.

Monkey See; Monkey Do

Miss Avery with Daddy, Mommy, and Grandpa Bear ("sister" is in the stroller) at Swiss Days last weekend

I am a monkey. Not literally of course, but that is the name that Miss Avery calls both of her Grandmas; Monkey.

Here are a few of the cute things that Miss Avery says:

"Hello Monkey!"

"Bye, bye Monkey!"

"Where Monkey go?" (when I left the room).

"Uh-oh Monkey!" (when she heard the phone ring at the deli yesterday).

And of course there is just plain, old "Monkey!!" when she is trying to get my attention.

I hope that I can be a "Monkey" for as long as possible. I don't know how it originated... but I love it! And I love Miss Avery!!

My New Chair

This is my new chair. It's a youth chair, and....I LOVE IT!!! I first saw one like it at the Wood Connection about 18 months ago; I decided right then and there that I was going to have one. So here it is. I was able to pick my own color (bayberry), and any finishes that I wanted (I chose antiquing and glazing). I love The Wood Connection! And I think my chair is really cute! But I especially think it's cute when....

Miss Avery is sitting in it!!!

Family Friday: Featuring My Granddaughter Avery

Women have the need of other women in their lives. Whether it be mothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, friends, daughters....we need each other. I am so grateful for the women in my life; young and....not so young. I had three brothers before my sister was born, three sons before I had a daughter, and four grandsons before the birth of my first granddaughter last November. It is my #1 granddaughter Avery who I am featuring today. Isn't she beautiful!!!!

Miss Avery has been a joy and a blessing to our family since her arrival. She is such a petite little doll. She has the tiniest little mouth (it is so cute) that becomes the biggest smile that's guaranteed to melt your heart. This picture was taken in Disneyland last summer. That is how happy she looked all day.

Avery is a good little eater. She eats good nutritious meals and enjoys them. One night while I tended her I was eating my dinner as I was feeding Avery hers. She seemed interested in the stew I was eating, so I got an extra baby spoon out and gave her a taste of mine. She liked it and wanted to try more. She knew the difference between the two meals, she was so cute to watch as I knew she wanted more of what Grandma was eating. As you can see from the picture she also enjoyed the ice-cream her daddy was eating on another night.

Avery loves her Mommy and Daddy. She always likes to know that her Mommy is nearby. She is at such a fun age. The other night at Daddy and Grandpa's ballgame I sat down next to her and when she saw me she smiled, a few minutes later she leaned towards me and even put her arms out in my direction. What more could a Grandma want?

I love this picture of Avery and Annabelle, her Grandpa and Grandma Law's dog

Some fun things to know about Miss Avery: She has recently mastered the art of showing us her "bad cough". She is learning some baby sign language (she's so smart). She's been to Disneyland. She's been to the beach house. She went on a whale watching boat in California. She's had a couple of trips to Mesquite. She's been to Tuacahn. She's flown to Kentucky twice to visit her family there. She's always dressed so cute. She's even been on TV!! She is a precious baby girl. We all love our Avery and are sooooo grateful that she's in our family.

Avery's family: Jeff, Miss Avery, and Melissa

#1 Granddaughter

We are very excited to share the news of the birth of our first granddaughter; Avery. She was just about two hours old when we met her for the first time and as you can see she is absolutely beautiful. Happy Birthday baby Avery!!