Sleep Over with the Grands

Twice a year around Conference we have all the grands spend the night at Gramma's house.  They love it!  I love it! We all love it!  I love how excited each grand is about getting to come to my house to spend time with me, grandpa, Jared, Kimi, Jaydan, Braxton, and of course their cousins.  I have a saying on my wall the says: Grandma's is the place that cousins go to become friends.  I sure hope that my grands will always be friends with each other.  I sure think my grands are about the cutest kids ever!  I love having them over.  Our house gets loud and crazy but it's good.  There is lots of laughing and hugging and snuggling and fun and messes...it's so worth it. 

We had pizza and doughnuts and some of the grands brought more treats to share.  We were all on a sugar high all night. 

These little's play so well together.  They really are friends.  They played school and had every stuffed animal in the house for students. (we have a lot of stuffed animals...I mean Larry has a lot of stuffed animals)  The boys played with the cars and had them lined up in the hall. The girls like wearing my shoes and usually pull them out. When they wanted to move on to other play they were really good about cleaning up first.  All the stuffed animals were brought back to my room to their basket. Parker brought about 6 at one time. My shoes were thrown in my closet (close enough) My grands are really good helpers and clean up fast. Have I mentioned how cute they are?  Dang....they are so cute!

When everything was put back or close to were it came from I got the dress ups out.  I have a few containers full of Halloween Costumes that my kids wore.  The grands love playing dress up.  It's funny for me to watch them. They get on one costume and run around in it for a few minutes and then change.  We had costumes all over the living room floor.  Jaydan was enjoying the grands and playing dress up right along with them.  Jared and Jaydan both played with the grands all night. Braxton came over during the movie for snuggles. ( Kimi was at a friends)  The grands love their uncles and love having them join in the fun.

While we were still playing dress ups we played a few games of Halloween Bingo.  I made this bingo game up years ago...many years ago.  I had candy corn for game markers that were really old and really hard.  I will save them for years to come.  The kids loved playing bingo even though I didn't have prizes and they played it over and over while I folded the dress ups and put them away.  When they were finished with bingo they all changed into their pj's without even being prompted.  I believe little Parker had his on first.

The kids got their sleeping bags, blankets and pillows out how they wanted them and then I put the movie in.  I've learned that my grands don't fall asleep during movies and so I let them continue to eat sweets while they watched the show.  I even let the boys sneak off and play with their cars.  I chose to watch the Wizard of Oz and I think the grands enjoyed it.  When it was over we fixed the sleeping spots again.  The kids went in and brushed their teeth and went potty.  I cleaned up the remaining doughnuts and treats and filled up their water cups.  I turned out the lights except for the hall light. I went around and kissed and hugged each of my cute little's. A little while after our hugs and kisses I noticed Mya sitting up and whispered for her to lay down.  She told me she was saying her prayers. Oops....I forgot to say prayers with everyone.  It made me happy to see that Mya remembered anyway.  It was the little boys that giggled and whispered to each other.  I had to rearrange their blankets a bit and add a little space between them but once we got them situated again it wasn't long and every little of mine was breathing heavily and resting from their night of fun.  I left them and went to my room so that I too could relax from a fun night.

Bright and early Ivy came in and wanted to join grandpa and I in bed.  I let her...she was cold.  She got to snuggle for a half hour or so and then Kamryn and Zaden joined us too.  They weren't interested in snuggling.  They would rather stand on the bed and let themselves plop on it.  They were happy and giggling.  What a great way to start off the day. I told them we needed to let Parker and Mya sleep until at least 8:00 am and so they needed to play quietly.  The went in the piano room and started playing school or house again with the stuffed toys.  I enjoy listening to them play and use their imaginations.  It makes my heart smile as well as my face.  

I promised Pancakes for breakfast.  My grands love pancakes.  They ate and then wanted to watch another movie. Once they agreed on a movie they put it in and I left Jaydan with them so I could run to the store and get groceries for tomorrow's dinner.  

I made it back before any of the kids left.  They were all gone close to noon.  It was the best sleep over so far.  I think these little's are at the perfect age to enjoy each other and help me out too.  Before we know it we will be doing this again.  I am already looking forward to it.  Oh my ... I love these little ones they truly are "grand".

Text: Could you go to lunch Wednesday for your birthday?

I Laughed Out Loud when I received a text from Kathy asking me if I could go to lunch for my birthday.  I know the real reason was to take Mallory for her birthday since I paid the last time we got together to celebrate Mal's birthday.  We usually go twice for each of our birthdays so we each get a turn paying but we only made it once for mine and Kathy remembered.  I'm glad we still make time to get together...I hope that never changes.  Things change and our lunch dates are less and our lives are different but hopefully we will continue to make time to meet every now and then.  I love these two more and more all the time. (funny how with time that happens)

I was able to bring Ivy with me and she was thrilled.  Ivy use to go with me to lunch with these friends before she started school and she has missed them and going with me.  I picked her up from school a little early so things would work out.  I enjoyed having Ivy girl come with me...I love when we have little spurts of time together.  On our way home we picked up Zaden and enjoyed a few hours together before they had to leave.  Life is good and it's best with family, grands and wonderful friends!  10/9/13

I often go walking

When I was in High School I loved to run.  I would run when I was stressed or when I was bored or just so I would feel good.  I loved taking off for a run.  Since I became a mom I have gone in spurts of how I exercise.  While I lived in Samaria, ID I walked.  I walked at 5:30 in the morning with my neighbor Marie.  During the days I pushed Trichelle around those rocky roads in her stroller and even wore out the wheels on the stroller.  I walked so I would feel better it was my form of exercise.  When we moved to Roy I walked and ran.  My favorite time was in the early mornings and I would make a big loop.  I lived on 2675 W and would go over to 4800 S up to 1900 W to 4400 S and back home.  Back then I craved exercise and looked forward to it.  When we moved to Hooper I walked again with neighbors. Again I got up early and walked in the dark (I think 5:30 again) shining my flashlight to spot the skunks before they spotted me.  I walked for years with Susan H....and sometimes we would exercise in her basement....all before the kids left for school.  I'm not sure why we stopped.  Susan started walking again with other friends.  I think maybe I got resentful of losing sleep...who knows for sure.  I joined Gold's Gym before I had Jared.  I joined so I could take Kimleighel with me.  Other friends joined also and because one of the other small children didn't like the childcare center at the gym I found myself waking up early again to hit the gym before Larry left for work.  I enjoyed going to the gym and working out.  That stopped though when I had Jared.  He was a sick baby that needed to stay inside for like 7 months and I think I needed my sleep when I had the chance.  Anyway I got out of the habit of exercising for awhile.

Years later when Jared was a toddler me and some of my neighbors started playing Tennis in the mornings.  It was fun and enjoyable except for the pesky mosquito's.  I think when the weather changed we stopped and didn't start up again.  Later Kathy O taught me to play racket ball which I really liked.  Good exercise without thinking about it.  Kathy's shoulder got messed up and so we stopped.   Last year I ran and walked a little on my own but for some reason I thought it was so boring.  In years past being alone was nice....it was my time....but not anymore....not even with music in my ears.  I couldn't run far without losing my breath and about dying.  My legs hated it too....they had became weak.  I couldn't wait to turn around and head home.

My good neighbor Robin has me walking again.  I love walking with her.  At first it killed my lower back. (I have a crooked back and it hurts sometimes)  Now after just a month I don't notice my back hurting or my legs.  I enjoy the cool weather and I even look forward to going.  We go after the kids leave for school which is nice since I am up already.  It's still early enough I can be ready for the things I have planned for the day.  I appreciate Robin for asking me and following through.  Robin is a great neighbor and I consider her an angel on earth.  She's one of the kindest people ever born.  I am a better person since I have met Robin...she inspires me to be.

I enjoy walking and every now and then I pick up the pace and find myself running.  (on the days Robin is gone)   I will claim I walk over running.  I felt like a failure when I tried being a runner so if I can run a little here and there on my walks I feel better about myself than trying to run and having to walk.

I love seeing people sealed....forever

Today I was able to go to the Temple.  I love going to the Temple and it is especially fun to see others sealed together as husband and wife for eternity.  I love seeing my friends kids that I have watched grow up and who have been friends with my kids go to the Temple.  Today was a Pay Day for Lorraine and Lance.  Darren (Kev's friend) was married in the SLC Temple.  There were only a couple wedding today and so the grounds weren't as busy as normal.  It was an honor to be there with the Meads.  Lance and I went to school together. I met Lorraine when we first moved to Hooper.  We had fun raising our boys together.  I even let them have Kevin once while Larry and I went away together.

It seems like since we moved to Hooper that either I was visiting teaching Lorraine or she was visiting me.  Lance and his boys were also our Home Teachers for a few years.  I love this family and was thrilled to get to share in this wonderful day with them.  Larry drove down for the sealing and then went back to work.  I went with Tami since her hubby had to work.  It was such an enjoyable day. We stayed for the luncheon at the Lion House and sat together with the neighbors.  I loved being apart of the neighbor table.

I loved hearing Tyler (the oldest Mead son) give advice to his brother.  I got tears in my eyes.  It's so cool seeing kids grow up so good. I love seeing Kevin (Mead) after returning from his mission.  Kevin has a radiant smile and you can tell by looking at him that he served Heavenly Father well. I loved having a lady come up to me when I was putting my shoes on asking how I knew the Meads.  She then told me she couldn't quit looking at me from across the room because I looked so pleasant. (how sweet is that?)

I loved Lorraine's dress. She reminded me of a mermaid.  The colors were shimmery and the bottom flared...she looked lovely.  It was an absolutely wonderful day!

Memory of Mine

It's been awhile since I have shared a "M"emory of "M"ine.  Today I was with some friends and one of them was talking about how she was reading her grandma's journal.  She shared a story of her grandma wetting her pants...she learned that from her grandma's journal.  Anyway it made me remember something funny that I did once that my grandkids might also enjoy reading some day.

When I was in High School I was on the Drill Team.  We marched and danced and performed during our High School Games.  It was fun for me.  I loved being on the team.  I practiced at home all the time. I was always stretching (so I could do the splits~both legs) and kicking and marching.  One night I was in my long pink & white striped flannel nightie and I decided to practice my kicks.  I tucked my nightie up in my panties by the legs and I kicked over and over until my nightie slipped out of my panties. When it slipped out I was right in the middle of a kick.  I kicked hard and my nightie could only go so far and the back of it took my leg I was standing on right off the ground and before I knew what happened I was on the floor.  I think I laid on the floor laughing.  I am pretty sure my ankle that got knocked out from under me was sore and hurt but I remember rolling on the floor laughing at how silly it was.  Ya....I had some moves. hahaha

I also remember being able to do the spits on the bleachers and having my legs go past my bottom.  I can only think about such things now.  I haven't bent or stretched like that since Jaydan was born.

Just after I had Braxton I was serving in the Young Women's and we had the (12-13) girls at my house. (I have always been over the youngest girls...pretty sure I know why....because I love them)  The girls were out doing cartwheels and splits and having fun and so us leaders (Sandy LaRose, & Ann Gessel & myself) decided to join them.  I know those girls were pretty impressed...heck I was pretty impressed.  I know I tried a few cartwheels when I was expecting Jaydan but gave it all up after he was born. (I shouldn't have)  Growing up I loved doing gymnastics.  I was flexible and had potential.  I wasn't able to take lessons so everything I did I just learned on my own.  I loved occupying my time improving my skills.  Fun Memories!

Lorrilee....Cancer Free!!!

My dear friend Lorrilee is through with her cancer treatments.....Hooray!  I never once heard Lorr complain.  Her attitude was always strong and positive.  She is one of my Hero's.

Her kids decided to honor her and throw a Surprise Party for her.  Larry and I weren't able to stay long and we almost missed her.  We were pulling away when she finally arrived.  I was so glad I was able to hug and congratulate her.  I love Lorrilee and admire her strength and goodness.

My Kind of Fun Run

I have been wanting to go to South Jordan to a place called Pokka Dot Boutique & Rollin in the Dough. My friend Heather posted about it on Face Book and ever since I have wanted to make a Fun Run and check it out.  I invited a few friends and today we went.  It is such a cute store.  We spent a few hours there looking around and visiting.  (Heather Anderson.....I will take you on a Saturday if you want to go)  They had so many cute crafts however they were a little pricey in my opinion so we didn't buy anything. We just took lots of pictures with everything instead. I loved the suit case and potion bottles...actually I pretty much loved everything in the store.  We did buy some yummy Orange Rolls & Cinnamon Rolls.

 The owners were great and let us play in the store and take pictures.  We even got a few free Sugar Cookies on our way out.  (big ones)

I was out of "Sunshine Bags" today  but felt like I needed to make some up for Robin and Jodi.  I like when I go with my "feelings".  God knows when someone needs a little "Sunshine" bag.  I know everyone needs one at some point and He lets me know when.  I love "Scattering Sunshine" the warm rays spread further than the bags.

Such a fun day with fun friends.