Cool Grandma

I found out yesterday that I am a cool Grandma. My eleven year old grandson came to work at the deli for a few hours and informed me that I am on YouTube. YouTube? Me? He told me that there is a Leger's Deli video on YouTube (June 11, 2011... he reminded me of the date) and guess who the star is! As he explained it to me it all started to come back. Deals that matter. Interview. Kitchen Sink. Goofy smile. That was me. Adam informed me that there were 37 views (3 of them were him). He seemed pretty proud and impressed. And if there was any question about grandchild pride, Zach came to work today and repeated the whole story. He pretty much admitted that I am cool, and if your grandchild will admit that... it must be true. Here's the video. Quite embarrassing. But cool to grandchildren. Oh, and btw... the deli deal on the video no longer applies. Just in case you were wondering :)

http://youtu.be/KB40oIqNSas

Yabba, Dabba, Doo and a... Thank You!!

Tuesday night Mike and I went to Pack Meeting to see Adam receive his Arrow of Light award and Zach receive his Wolf. Boy, was it deja vu!! There was a "cheer" box full of cheers (hence this post title), cub scout skits and songs, pinning pins on moms, hugging moms and being embarrassed (one boy even grimaced when his mom kissed him), and lots of gold and silver arrow points. Andy did a fabulous job as Cub master and Zach led the flag ceremony; Mike was there dressed in his mountain man clothes helping with the presentation to Adam. It was awesome!! It brought back memories of having three sons in cub scouts and the many, many MANY Pack Meetings we attended. I loved seeing my two oldest grandsons decked out from the top of their heads to their toes in cub scout uniforms. I was reminded of a snowy day a few weeks ago when I picked up Adam and Zach from school. I told the boys that they needed to get ready for scouts as soon as they got home. Adam was very excited because his den was going to the local high school's science lab where they would be setting their hands on fire. WHAT!! But get this... he didn't want to wear his scout shirt because he didn't want his sleeves to catch fire and ruin his shirt. Better the hands than the sleeves; I guess... not! 

Vacation: Caitlin's Happiest Place on Earth Part 2 of 3

Three weeks ago the three of us spent three days with our three Leger families in Disneyland. It was hot, and day three was crowded, but it was great!! Some of my highlights were: being there with my four kids, seeing the grandkids excitement as they saw their favorite characters and rode on their favorite rides, yummy Disney treats, finding a bench to sit on, going on splash mountain with Mike and our four kids, buying a Mickey jack-o-lantern, the Halloween decor at the park... but my best moment was when I went on my favorite ride, Pirates of the Caribbean, with our entire Leger family (18 of us) in one boat. Mike and I sat on the last row with William in between us, and as I looked at my entire posterity in front of me I couldn't help but reflect back 28 years ago when we brought our three little boys to Disneyland for their very first time. Our family has sure grown in 28 years, and seeing all of those I love in front of me at that moment, well... it brought a little tear (or two) to my eye. Here are just a "few" pictorial highlights.

Day 26: Whirlwind Weekend

It was a whirlwind weekend for me! It all started Friday night with an end-of-summer-back-to-school party with our YSA ward. I love our ward and am so grateful to be a part of it!

YSA

Family

On Saturday we were up earlier than usual and headed to Pineview to celebrate Jeremy's birthday. Not only did Jeremy provide all of the entertainment for us (boats, jet skis) he fixed us all lunch. He served all of us on his special day.

My boy and his boy... Andy and James.

The birthday boy and his family... Jeremy, Mason, Emily and Tanner.

Kristin and her boys and Jeremy and his boys.

Andy and Mike.

Caitlin and her friend Sarah on the boat with Jeremy.

Friends

After a full day at the lake we rushed home to attend a wedding. Our friends daughter was married in the Salt Lake Temple earlier in the day, they were having a ring ceremony and Mike was asked to officiate. We arrived home barely 45 minutes before the ceremony. I don't think we've ever gotten ready so fast in our lives. It was a beautiful ceremony and Mike did a great job. People all around me were flashing pictures so I thought "what the heck" and took this picture with my phone.

Extended Family

For many years we celebrated Mike's Grandma's birthday "family reunion" style. Although Grandma has been gone nearly eight years, on Sunday evening we celebrated her 100th birthday with many of her posterity.

Aunt Beverly, Aunt Judy and Bonnie (my mother-in-law).

I haven't seem Mike's cousin Lani since Grandma's funeral. She has always had long, long blond hair. Earlier in the day I wondered if Lani still had long hair. I was surprised to see that Lani didn't have any hair. She was diagnosed with a rare and incurable cancer in March, but because they caught it so soon (major miracle) she has had chemo and her prognosis is good.

The whirlwind didn't end with the weekend... but I've got to save some things to finish up my 31 days.

Day 24: A Job Well Done

Zach came over to work in Grandpa and Grandma's yard yesterday. He is such a good and willing worker. He shoveled dirt, he raked, he pulled weeds. He doesn't complain or think it's too hard... he just does the job.

When we were finished working Zach pulled the heavy garbage can all the way around the house back to where it belonged next to the garage. As we passed by the patio he informed me that he thought it was "cool" that we have tables with umbrellas in our backyard.

I feel pretty awesome that my eight-year-old grandson thinks I'm cool for having Wal-mart end of season clearance tables... and don't forget the umbrellas; in my backyard.

I'm looking forward to Zach coming back and helping me with some jobs inside the house.

Day 23: #10

I love these two handsome boys. Last week they came over for a few hours and we ate fruit snacks and starbursts. We played with toys. We drew with sidewalk chalk and blew bubbles. Grandpa chased the boys around the yard (so glad we have a yard). We had fun. I can't wait to meet their baby sister when she arrives in January!!!

Day 21: Che-Che-Cherry Hill

Last night was family night at Cherry Hill. My sister Lilian organized it for our family and I think all who attended had a lot of fun.

It was a bit of a hectic day for me, when I got home from work I just started to throw stuff in my bag and when I arrived at Cherry Hill realized that I didn't bring my camera. My sister came to the rescue and took some cute pictures of my grandchildren for me.

Thanks to Lilian for organizing a great night and for those who came and joined in the fun!!

Day 16: Twenty-Two Years

Today is a very significant day in the history of our family. The news that we received on August 16, 1990 changed our lives here on the earth for all time; that same news deeply broadened our eternal perspective. I'm not going to go into the details of what this day means to us; if you don't know, or you want to be reminded, you can go here and here to read about it.

Mike and I had an impromptu visit to the cemetery last night. We sat on the grass next to Ashleigh's grave and watched the sun start to set. We talked about the fact that today was August 16; the twenty-second anniversary of that terrible day. It seems so long ago.

Since that day in 1990 we have grown from a family of six to a family of nineteen. Our boys have served missions, married, graduated from college, started businesses, become fathers. Caitlin came to our family bringing us much joy and healing; and now she is a young woman with her entire future to look forward to. We have three beautiful daughters-in-law that we love and nine wonderful grandchildren.

We have learned through the most heartbreaking of circumstances that a family can face... that life does go on. Happiness is obtainable. Ashleigh loves us and watches over us... we are her eternal family and she wants to be with us again just as much as we want to be with her. God loves us and knows us. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and his sacrifice for each of us makes it all worth it.

I am so very, very blessed.

 

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... 

Day 10: William's Story

One night at bedtime when Andy was two-years-old, I told him that we would go to the park the next day. He was so happy as he anticipated the park outing that I made up a little story for him about a boy I called Willy, I even titled the story "Willy Goes to the Park". After that, Andy frequently would request a "Willy story" and I would make one up for him on a number of different subjects and activities that "Willy" did. Andy still has memories of his custom made stories, and since he has a little boy named William, today I'm going to tell a William story... because I'm certain that Willy's name was really William too.

 William Rides the Train

Once there was a little boy named William who was five-years-old. One day William's Grandma came to his house. They were going to have a Grandma Day together. William had a big smile on his face and said, "hi Grandma" when she arrived. They said good-by to William's mommy and brothers and they drove to the train station. William LOVES trains.

William waited patiently for the train to come. When the train arrived he held Grandma's hand so that he would be safe. William and Grandma climbed the stairs so that they could sit on the top floor of the train. They were high above everything as the train flew down the tracks. They saw houses and animals and cars and even Lagoon. William told Grandma, "that's my Lagoon."

When the train stopped William and Grandma went into the train museum. William had been there before so he led Grandma all around. At the train museum there are real train cars. William climbed up on the different cars. One car was a 2002 Olympics car. Grandma took William's picture there. William's mommy was a volunteer at the 2002 Olympics.

William and Grandma played with a wooden toy train on a wooden track. William knew how to share because he said, "here's your train Grandma" as he placed four train cars in front of her. Grandma and William each led their trains around the track being careful not to have a collision.

 Soon it was time for William and Grandma to go back to the train and return home. When they got home William told Grandma "thank you", and Grandma told William, "thanks for coming with me and showing me the train museum." They had a fun day together.

Day 7: Fulfilling a Promise

Last week family and friends gathered at little Jane's home to celebrate her second birthday with a party. Of course opening the gifts is always the best part, and we all gathered round to watch. You wonder what a two-year-old is thinking as all eyes are on her while she opens package after package filled with wonderful new toys. One package particularly delighted her... which brought delight to the rest of us. One family had added a package of m&m's to their gift. Jane was so excited; and, after finding the m&m's nothing else seemed to matter. She obediently opened each gift and said thank-you, but after, she immediately looked through the wrapping paper, gift bags and tissue paper for the bag of "emmy-ems" that had been briefly discarded as she opened the new gift. Each time she found them she was so happy it made everyone laugh.

I promised a family member some time ago that I would share an un-birthday story on my blog... so today I'm fulfilling that promise. When I was in my early teenage years... my Auntie Marjie and her family lived within a couple of miles of our family. I have mentioned previously on my blog that we didn't grow up with a lot of family living close by, so it was a lot of fun for us when these cousins moved nearby and we spent a lot of time with their family. Like all kids do, we looked forward to our birthdays. Whenever me or my siblings had a birthday our Auntie Marjie brought us a gift. That was a big deal to us because we usually only received gifts from our parents. Auntie Marjie's gifts were always well planned and selected for the person they were intended for, we always knew that she had especially thought of us for our special day. But the best part was this... Auntie Marjie also brought un-birthday gifts. This was a special treat for each of the un-birthday kids in the family. It wasn't a present like the present the birthday kid got, it was usually a little bag of goodies and maybe an inexpensive little trinket... but WE.LOVED.IT!!!  And with six kids in our family we got to LOVE.IT six times a year. I will never forget the thoughtfulness of my Aunt; we knew she loved and cared about each one of us, and we loved her. Just like sweet Jane, who was so thrilled with her "emmy em's"; sometimes it's just the simplest of things that makes us happy... especially, if it's just being thought about and remembered. 

Does anybody have a similar tradition? Or other special birthday traditions?

Auntie Marjie at David's first birthday