I LOVE TO SPOIL

My son-in-law Brad gives me a hard time about how there are no rules in my house for the grandchildren. I said to Carter one night, "no you can't do that, that's against the rules." Brad immediately said, "what rules, there are no rules at this house for them." I tell him that, that is my prerogative. I have paid my price as a parent and now I get to be a grandma and I get to make my own rules.

When I saw these pajamas I fell in love with them but couldn't afford them. When Christine and I were at the Carter's store the other day they had them for 60% off and so I couldn't resist any more. Besides the saying on them is so true.

I LOVE BEING A GRANDMA!!

TWO BIRTHDAYS

We celebrated Scott's and Jason's birthday on the 9th. Jason turned 19 and Scott, well let's just say he is another realm now.

Jason celebrated by going snowboarding with his good friends Cameron and Zack. Scott celebrated by going to work.

I gave Scott a video camera for his birthday. We have always wanted one and have never been able to get one. He was so excited when he opened his present and saw that video camera. We finally have one now that the kids are all grown up. Thank heavens for grand children.

We met at California Pizza Kitchen for dinner. My parents and Christine and her family joined us there for a great dinner. After we came home and had dessert. Scott chose Pumpkin dessert and Jason chose the Peppermint Log. Some of the rest of the family joined us in helping to celebrate these two wonderful men. I am so lucky to have both of these great men in my life!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING -- 2009

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and yet it was a Thanksgiving full of mixed emotions for me. For some reason I missed Daniel more than ever. I missed him hanging out in the kitchen with me and getting so excited about all the food I was preparing. I would tell myself, when I would get to missing Daniel so much, that next year he would be home. But then I would remember that Jason will be gone and it will be two more years until we can all be together again. Maybe it was because I felt so much better this year from the mono that I could enjoy cooking and doing the things I usually do on Thanksgiving where as last year I was so miserable. I am so thankful that I am feeling better! Such a bittersweet thing these missions are.

Jason was great to help me get the pies made. We made Banana Cream, Raspberry Cream, Coconut Cream and Lemon Cream Cheese Pies. I also baked a Pecan Pie I got from Schwan's.

The weather was so beautiful. After I got the last pie made in the morning I laid in the sun on the floor with Griffin. It was so warm in the house that I had cracked the window open on the back screen door and as I laid in the sun with the cool breeze gently blowing on me I couldn't help but be so thankful for all my wonderful blessing. I truly have been so abundantly blessed.

We went up to my Dad and Mom's for Thanksgiving dinner. Only Jenny and her family, Suzi and her family and Scott and Jason and I were there for dinner. It was quiet but enjoyable.

Later that evening Christine and her family, Mary Jo's family and Todd and Christine all came for dessert and to help rip the carpet up in my Dad and Mom's family room and bedroom. They have recently painted the family room a nice tan color and got tan carpeting to replace the gray! It looks so nice.

After we helped get the carpet up my family came to our house to play Settler's Of Catan and to just spend some quiet time together. It was a nice enjoyable day.

SEWING, SEWING, SEWING & MAKING WEAK THINGS STRONG AGAIN

I have been so busy sewing quilts so that I could get them to the quilter's by the deadline. I made new comforters for Carter and Easton's beds and a quilt for the Sorenson's and my parents. I didn't get a picture of the boys before I took them to the quilter's. Partly because I was so sick of looking at them and partly because I forgot as I was hurrying to get them there. But here is a picture of the quilt for the Sorenson's and my parents. I think they turned out pretty good.

This was a challenge for me because a few years ago when I had my breakdown I lost all my confidence to do things like this. I have missed crafting so much and I love doing it and so I vowed I would conquer my fears and just face this challenge. I remembered the scripture that the Lord can make all weak things strong again. I have put my faith in the Lord and I keep trying to do new things. I am slowly getting my confidence back to do the things I want to do. Each new craft I get done brings me so much joy and even though all I can see are the mistakes I work on looking at what I have accomplished and that I am making this weak thing strong again with the help of the Lord.

I am so grateful for the talents the Lord has blessed me with both spiritually and physically. I am working on recognizing all of my talents and perfecting them and working on where I am weak so that I can be stronger and serve him, my family and friends better.

FALL IS HERE

I love the beginning of each new season. I love the feeling it brings of new adventures and new possibilities.

These are just a few shots I have taken to share.

This one is the view we got as we passed Deer Creek last Saturday as we drove to the cabin to spend the day stacking wood and winterizing it. I always feel a sense of sadness when we do this. One because I never get enough time out there during the summer to just relax and enjoy it and two because it means that the next time we go out there won't be any running water. But I always get excited for the snowmobiling trips. This will be the last winter I will have to spend without Daniel being with us and the last one Jason will be spending with us for two more years. Lots of mixed emotions as I drove away from the cabin this year.

HALLOWEEN 2009

We had a great Halloween this year. I had a party with my family and to get in you had to be dressed up. It was fun to see all the great costumes. Some of them that stood out were Jory who came only with an "E" attached to him. This stood for E-male. Ashley came as a box of milk. Nathan was suppose to be a box of cereal but his costume didn't get finished in time. Suzanne was Abby, the girl on NCIS. Jenny looked pretty freaky in her mask and wig.

We had Navajo Tacos and witches brew to drink. Everyone decorated a cookie and then we divided into teams and you had 5 minutes to wrap your mummy with toilet paper. Jenny played a great game with us called Fear Factor. You had were required to do a task and if you lost you had to eat something that she had brought. There was no telling what you were going to have to eat. My Mother had to eat a marshmallow with mustard inside. She was a good sport!

There were prizes for everyone for dressing up and fun was had by all.

On Halloween night, Scott and I went up to Christine's to go trick-or-treating with the boys for a short time. We had been out to the cabin to winterize it and we were still cold from being outside in 30 degree weather most of the day. Unfortunately we didn't last very long. (We must be getting old!) Carter and Easton were so cute in there costumes and it was fun to see their excitement about the evening.

A BELATED BIRTHDAY/MOTHER'S DAY GIFT & POST

I just realized that I never posted about this wonderful and beautiful belated Birthday/Mother's Day present that Daniel sent me. (Sorry Daniel!)

This is an Opihi shell and they are native of Hawaii. They start out covered in moss reef and build up. But as Daniel filed and sanded it, it became beautiful and shiny. Each Opihi shell is different, you can never make the same one twice.

Daniel wrote a note to send with it and it said; "I made it, so it was yours from the start just like I was your from the beginning of the plan of salvation.

Isn't it all just so beautiful! I cried and I still get tears in my eyes when I look at it. It means the world to me!

ZOO TIME

We decided to take advantage of the last of the good weather and go to the Zoo to see the new baby elephant. Little did we know that there were several other babies to see also.

The baby elephant was so cute. They had her and her mother in the back giving the mother a snack and a shower of water so we had to wait a few minutes. We took our seats near the fence so we would have a good view of the baby elephant when she came out. Soon we could see the shadow of the mother elephant making her way out to the yard and before the mother elephant could even get outside the baby elephant came running out ahead just like a toddler. She ran around playing with one of the balls and then sitting on some plastic thing and squishing it and then hitting the toys along the fence line. She was so adorable.

We also saw a baby monkey. The mother is black and white but the baby is just all white. It is the cutest fur. It was all curly like those really soft curly stuffed animals you see.

We also saw a baby giraffe. We all commented how small it was but then we looked over at the measurements on the wall and realized that even though it seemed small it was still 7 feet tall!
There were baby snow leopards which were hiding and some baby tigers pups which were up too high to get a picture of.


We had a wonderful time at the zoo and seeing all the animals. If you get a chance you have got to go see that cute baby elephant and all the other adorable babies that are there. It is so worth it.

FALL CONFERENCE -- BY THE FIRE

We had another great trip to the cabin this past weekend. It was such a beautiful drive with all the fall colors at their peak and the snow capping the mountain tops.

We went fishing Friday and Carter and Easton both caught big fish. Carter's was 21 inches and Easton's was 22 inches. They were both so excited about their fishes. Of course they had a little help in reeling them in especially since Easton broke his wrist Thursday morning when he was jumping on the couch and fell off.

My brother Todd and his cute wife Christine joined us on Friday night. We taught them how to play Settler's Of Catan because you can't go out to the cabin and not play a game of Settler's.

We enjoyed listening to all the wonderful sessions of Conference, eating, and going for walks. The walks were never long because it was icy cold, but it was so beautiful. Christine found a wonderful walking stick, it had a branch poking out the front so if you got to close or if you weren't walking fast enough it would prod you along!

One of Carter and Easton's favorite things to do was to take the dogs for walks. Griffin got so he would just look at me with the saddest eyes pleading for my help so he wouldn't have to go on one more walk with them. It was so cute to see them pulling these dogs everywhere.

As always we hated for it to end. But with the little bit of snow that we saw and that fell on Sunday, it made us excited for the snowmobiling season. We are ready to tune up the snowmobiles and get the winter gear out. This might be the last time we can drive into the cabin for the year! Where has this year gone?

CRASHING THE BOY'S DAY OUT

Last Saturday I was suppose to go to out Super Saturday while Scott took Brad, Carter and Easton out fishing for the day. As Saturday came I got up and saw what a beautiful day is was outside and I just couldn't think of being in that dreary cultural hall on such a perfectly, wonderful sunny day. So I decided to skip the Super Saturday and crash the boy outing.

I am so glad I did. I didn't regret one moment of not being out on the lake and being with some of the men in my life that I love so much.


We had a short time to fish because we wanted to get back for the BYU game at 5:00 but is was worth it. We were just about to give up on the fishing and go home when Scott reeled in a big one. Brad called it the General Sherman of fish.

The drive through the canyon was breathtaking as the leaves are changing already. Wow, where did this year go?! I'm ready to break the sweaters out!

SISTER DAY

For the last few weeks my sisters and I have been getting together every Wednesday and crafting. It has been so fun to just be with them and share something that we love doing together. My mother and Suzanne join us when they can, but mostly it has just been Mary Jo, Jenny and I. The best part of it is when my parents get through working at the temple at around 11:15 they take us all to lunch. Then we go back and craft some more.

We just finished up our first project and I am taking them to the quilter's in a few days. I think they turned out so cute. We even did one for my mom and Suzi even though they couldn't join us every week. Aren't we the best?! I look forward to every Wednesday!

MY FIRST QUILT

I am so happy! I am feeling a little better from the mono and so I feel like crafting again. Just yesterday I finished my first quilt and I love it! I have a Quilt Guild that I am in and we are having a quilt show this Friday and I am so pleased that I will have one quilt to put in the show.

I picked an easy one to start with so I wouldn't get too discouraged. I loved this panel and this fabric line and the quilt did go together very fast. I loved how the quilter quilted it for me too, she did spider webs for the design.

Now the confidence is up, the adrenaline is pumping and I am anxious and ready to get to the next one!

(Just for you Daniel, I made sure I was in the picture. I realized it has been a long time since you have seen a picture of me because I am always taking the pictures and because I hate pictures of myself. So just for you there I am!)

IT'S OFFICIAL -- I AM OLD!!

It's official now, I am old because I am an empty nester! Jason moved out last week to an apartment in Orem. This came as somewhat of a surprise to us. I figured out one day how much it meant to him to be out on his own and so I told him to go ahead and do it if it meant that much to him. Within two days he had arranged everything and we were moving him out.

The house seems so empty and lonely. I remember the days when the two boys were young and Christine was a teenager and I would dream of this time but it all came way too fast! I long to hear all their voices together in the house again. This was the first time in 24 years that I didn't put a child in public school and I didn't do any school shopping. I guess I will have to enjoy all these things from a distance with my grandchildren.

I am happy however that all three of my children are happy and progressing forward in their lives. A mother couldn't ask anything more than that. Daniel is doing well serving the Lord and the people of Hawaii. Jason is attending UVU and working full time and is preparing to send in his mission papers next month. Christine is amazing and continues to be a wonderful wife and mother.

I guess it's time to reinvent me!

I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDMA AGAIN!

I am so excited. Christine is expecting a baby in March. We are so excited to have another little one around. I love being a grandma and can't get enough of the two wonderful grandchildren I have now. Adding a third will just make it even more wonderful!

DISNEYLAND -- JULY 2009

We had a great time at Disneyland last week. It was too crowded and very hot, but I can't help but have fun with Christine and my two cute grandsons!

Carter is finally tall enough to go on the big rides now. He went on Big Thunder and Splash Mountain for the very first time. He also was able to go on Soaring Over California and when he got off he exclaimed "that was AWESOME"!

Easton went on the Matterhorn for the first time. I don't think he liked it that much. He was happy to stick with the Haunted Mansion (which is his favorite) and Pirates. He also LOVES Monster's Inc.. Carter's favorite ride is Pirates.

We always enjoy having breakfast with the characters. It is the best way to meet the characters up close without waiting in lines and waiting in the heat! Easton loves Minnie. He wasn't too sure how to react to Captain Hook, he got a little concerned.

One morning we went to Newport Beach at Balboa Pier. Carter loved the water and laughed and giggled the whole time he was in it. He would go out on the sand and lay down on his stomach and ride with the wave in. A few times he got pulled under and he would come up gasping and giggle and then head out for more. Easton was content to stay close to shore. One time Carter laid down in the sand and pulled the sand up around his face. When he got up he looked like he had sideburns and a goatee. It is one of my favorite things to see kids playing in the surf. I love being at the ocean!

We had such a great time visiting with the Sorenson's on our way out of town. They are always so gracious and kind. We love catching up with what the family is doing and getting luscious grape fruits just picked off the tree when they are in season. They are so sweet you don't even need to put sugar on them! They also give us lemons that are so huge that one of them would be equivalent to two that you buy in the store.

It's always with mixed emotions that I come home.

SUMMER CABIN TIME

We had the best time going out to our cabin last week. We left on Thursday and didn't come home until Monday and it still wasn't long enough!

We had our adopted son Cole come out for the last time before he left on his mission to Paraguay. We have always had Cole come out with us and he is so much like our family. I was blessing the food and had prayed for Daniel, Jason (who had gone home) and Brad when Carter chimed in "and Cole". Without Daniel and now Cole the cabin will seem even more empty.



Scott inherited a fishing boat and he finally got it going this year. We took it out on the lake and did some fishing. Carter was the first one to catch a fish and he was so excited! When Scott reeled it in the boat and it started to flop around Carter couldn't get to the back of the boat fast enough. Then he and Easton got more curious about it and got to the point where they were intrigued by the whole thing. Carter's was a Carp and so we just discarded it which made him a little sad. He wanted to take it home and keep it in his fish bowl.

The next day Christine joined us and she barely had her line in the water when she caught a 16" Rainbow Trout. She was really excited and has decided that she kind of likes to fish. I caught the next one and then Scott. Christine's was the biggest of the three that we caught.

We have an unwelcome visitor in the cabin area this year, its a brown bear. We had heard that one had been sited close to the cabin area and so we were already taking some precautions but one day the kids and the dogs where out playing and the neighbor from two cabins down came walking up. He told us that we might want to keep a closer eye on the kids and dogs because they just had a bear in their driveway. He said it was a small one, probably about two years old and just weened from it's mother. He said it was pretty scared and would probably high tail it out of that area, but we were a little rattled to say the least.

As always we eat until we are sick, watch movies, play games, and just enjoy talking and being together. Best of all Jason doesn't get cell phone service and so we see his face the whole time! We love going to the cabin and are looking forward to going again real soon!