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! 

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.

(1/2) Marathon Man

Here is a man who participated in a golf tournament in Billings, Montana on Friday; he arrived home at 11:30 pm that night only to get up at 3:15 am Saturday to travel to American Fork where he was in a half marathon which he finished at 9:07 am. This picture was taken after he crossed the finish line.

He arrived home at 10:25 am (I was with him) and had 10 minutes to shower and get ready before his fellow band members picked him up and he headed to Ogden where they performed for a couple of hours. After the Ogden show they headed to Clinton where they performed at the grand opening of Tonyburgers for a couple more hours. He is singing to me in this picture. He got home about 8:30-ish and is currently... snoring sleeping peacefully.

Just for fun

Adam and Zach in the dunking machine at Tonyburgers.

Grandpa Bear Goes To School

Adam's 4th grade is just beginning to learn about the mountain men. So Grandpa was invited to school to share his knowledge about mountain men, as well as his collection of mountain man "stuff".


It isn't everyone whose Grandpa shows up at school with a coyote on his head, leather fringed pants, antlers around his neck, and a bowie knife strapped to his hip.


During the presentation, Grandpa "dressed" Adam as he explained all about what the mountain men wore.


Now that is some new outfit!


When Mike left the office after lunch, his co-worker said that he didn't want to hear on the evening news that a man showed up at a local school with guns and knives. When we arrived at the school, Andy went in to make sure it was okay. Obviously we passed. What is it about boys and guns?


Zach was able to leave his class to come see Grandpa's presentation as well. I think both both boys were pretty happy; umm... I mean, all three boys.


Following Mike and Andy out of the school was fun. As we left the building some of the things I heard were "oohhh" and "aahhh" and "cool". It was a fun afternoon.

Summer Concert and New Hobby #1 Update

Last night was Endless Summer's concert in the park and WOW! what a great turn out. The west end of the park was filled with lawn chairs, blankets and people. I don't think anyone went away disappointed. It was a fabulous performance.



Adam, Zach and Will got in on the performance again with Tambourine Man.

Here is just some of the crowd with a few of our Endless Summer "family" in the foreground.

Alex, Alana and Bob; our cousins.

Tiffany and Mike; our friends.

Andy singing Long, Cool Woman and introducing the band members.

I don't have any pictures of my new hobby yet; but I'm happy to report that I reached my Labor Day goal today... a week early.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

Zach, Grandpa Bear, and Adam in between a double header in which Grandpa, Uncle Jeff, and Uncle Jeremy played a few days ago.

Last week Michael and I attended Adam and Zach's baseball game. It was so much fun to see both of the boys get a good hit, play well in the field, and to observe their good sportsmanship throughout the game. We were impressed by how Andy and his friend coached the team. The boys had been given opportunities throughout the season to play in different positions on the field; and at the end of the game before cheering for themselves, they cheered for and "hand slapped" the other team. All in all, playing baseball appeared to have been a good experience for all of the boys on this team.

Michael who has always been a huge fan of baseball, was particularly impressed. His experiences as a child; as well as a coach for our own children, sometimes left him amazed and confused at the behavior of the adults (namely coaches and parents). We were both happy that we didn't see any of that kind of behavior at this game... after all, these are our grandchildren and we want their experience to be positive.

Being at a baseball game always brings to my memory a story that makes me smile. When Jeremy was about six he played t-ball. The coach used to line the boys up on the grass between 3rd base and home plate. They all sat there in a neatly organized row waiting for their turn up at bat. During one of the games a teammate got out on 3rd base. The boys on the team began to murmer about this "out" as the 6-year-old that caused the "out" had to shamefully walk past his entire team to get to his place in the line. I remember feeling so sorry for him having to walk past all of his peers, knowing that he had let them down. At one point he stopped, and with hands out in pleading desperation proclaimed, "I wasn't there the day they gave the instructions."

I love that story. I love coaches that care more about building a child's confidence than winning a game; parents who realize that all of those children on the field matter, not just their child; and those who show understanding to those who weren't there the day they gave the instructions.

On with the game.

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!!!

Birthday Buddies

For our family 4th Sunday dinner in March we celebrated "The Birthdays". Here are the birthday buddies: Zach, Andy, Adam, Caitlin, Michael and Tanner.

Sweet Tanner loves his baby cousin James (and he didn't let his balloon get too far from his grasp either; as you can see in both photos).

March Madness

I know that to most everyone "March Madness" means basketball, but to me it has an entirely different meaning; multitudes of birthdays in my family... and all within 18 days!!


On March 14 my oldest son Andy celebrated his birthday. This year he got to spend the day in a place he loves... DISNEYLAND!!! Andy is a wonderful son and I love him.


On March 17 Caitlin celebrated her 18th birthday!! She loves her birthday every year. This year her dad and I took her to a special place... the Five Alls restaurant. I love my Rosie (and I love Five Alls).


Today, March 24, my oldest grandson Adam is 9-years-old. I can't believe how fast the time has gone (and I can't believe I've been a grandma for 9 years). I love Adam, he is such a good boy.


Also today, March 24, my grandson Tanner is having his first birthday. He is such a precious baby boy. I love cute Tanner. He makes me smile.


On March 30 my grandson Zachary will be 7-years-old. Just look at that smile. Zach is such a big helper to me, I love our cute Zach.


And last but not least is my Mikee, whose birthday is March 31. He will be older than me for 3 1/2 months!! I love Mikee (and I love being on that beach with him) and look forward to a fun date night with him on his special day.

And BTW... I LOVE April!!

Adam and Zach

Since school was out last Monday, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to have a "Grandma Day" with Adam and Zach. We tried someplace we'd never been on a Grandma Day before... Boondocks!!! We started out with bowling (our traditional winter Grandma Day activity), it was going rather nicely when all of a sudden the screen on our lane (and the lane next to us) stopped working. The workers tried unsuccessfully to get it fixed but it just didn't happen, so... he gave each of us a $10 card to play arcade games. Woot, woot!!! We really had a lot of fun. When we were finished my grandsons had successfully procured 293 tickets to turn in for prizes. We. Love. Prizes.

As we drove away I asked them if they thought they would still want to have Grandma Days when they were older. They both assured me that they would . Whew!!

Then Adam said, "I hope we can enjoy it for as long as possible."

That's what Grandma likes to hear.

mimicking Aunt Caitlin's "bickering stepsisters" scene from "Cinderella"

I think the "pose" after the "bickering" was their favorite part from "Cinderella"

My Three Sons

Recently I hosted an Aunt Lesley/Grandma Day for the boys in my family ages 6-14. That included Adam, Zachary, Derek, Jacob and Michael.

We ate pizza, bread sticks, candy and soda pop to our hearts (and stomachs) content while we watched an Indiana Jones movie. I think everyone enjoyed themselves... I know I did.

It has been a long while since a group of boys have hung out at my house. It's amazing how much you can forget... and how quickly you can be reminded.

Boys can sometimes be goofy, they laugh at the parts in the movie that they aren't supposed to and they are grossed out by the kissing scenes. They like to romp around and pretend fight, and find it to be very entertaining... and for some reason think that it entertains you as well. I recognize that even though times change and fads and styles come and go, boys will always be boys. The few hours spent with my grandsons and nephews that afternoon brought back a lot of memories of my own three sons that make me smile... and some that make me cry. Here are just a few:

I remember movie days. I couldn't count how many times my boys were entertained with "Peewee Herman's big adventure" or how many times I was called into the room to watch the scene with 'Large Marge'.

I remember when the first Nintendo game system came into our home. That was an exciting day. I actually got a little hooked on it myself late at night after they all went to bed... I had to nip that one in the bud.

I remember sending a son to scout camp early in the morning before the sun was out, "I can go by myself mom", he said, after my suggestion that I walk with him to the home where they were meeting. Reluctantly I sent him out the door; but seconds later I was following him in the dark, hiding behind trees and bushes until I saw him safely there... and all the time, wearing my fuzzy bathrobe.

I remember a son selling bubblegum to the neighbor kids for 10 cents apiece, or two for 25 cents... is it any surprise that he owns his own business now?

I remember the day I answered the telephone (long before caller ID) and a man at the other end of the phone asked, "is this Mrs. Leger?" When I informed him that it was, he lost all control and had a mini break-down on the other end of the line. He was the elementary school bus driver, and he called to inform me that my two boys were causing him some major distress while they were riding the bus to and from school each day. When the phone call ended I immediately went to the school and retrieved two boys from their classes. One of them was so happy to see me; his class was having a read-a-thon that day and surely Mom was bringing him some treats to enjoy while he read... NOT!! The three of us had a PMI (personal mom interview) in the foyer. For the rest of the week I escorted them to and from the bus stop, exchanging thumbs up and smiles with the bus driver indicating a successful bus ride. I never heard from the bus driver again.

On the other hand, I remember another bus driver who very nearly lost his freckles when he misjudged and mistreated one of my boys. Of course, rather than causing one (in this case the bus driver) to lose his freckles, it is better to have a discussion on what-did-we-learn-from-this-experience with your child, even when it was not the child's fault.

I remember being invited to BHS to make a special announcement over the intercom system for one of my sons. I also remember that if one my boys didn't get asked to a girls choice dance, I teasingly would say to them "do I need to go to that school and get on the intercom and say, 'what's wrong with you girls?'"

I also remember attending a choral concert at BHS where all of the choirs performed a final number together. The song was "In Heaven's Eyes" and the students were doing sign language as they were singing. My two sons were on opposite sides of the room, I remember my eyes roving from one side of the room to the other as I watched these two boys signing the beautiful message of this song. It brought tears to this Mom's eyes.

I remember ball games, recitals, plays, field trips, concerts, vacations, drivers ed, camping, mountain man rendezvous, cub scouts, fund raisers, cherry hill, golfing, birthday parties, stitches, surgeries, throwing up, earaches, tears....

I also remember that I never had to argue with a son about wearing a white shirt and a tie to church, I don't think I ever had to argue with a son about going to church, I remember mission calls, hugs from returning missionaries, young boys serving their sick little sister, priesthood ordinations, teenage boys who adored their little sister, report cards, graduations....

My boys are grown men now. They are husbands and fathers. They serve in church callings. They have careers. One can give me legal counsel, one sold my house for me, and one is my boss.

As much as I love these three boys with all of my heart....


... once in awhile; I wish that I could spend one more afternoon with these three boys.