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 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

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.

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!!!