More Cute Grands

Tonight Kevin and Julie swapped me kids.  I took Kamryn and Jordyn and they took Kimi and Jared.  Every once in awhile the dentist Julie works for will rent a movie theater when a new movie comes out.  Tonight the Avengers was the Movie they went and saw.  Julie gets free tickets and so it was a fun night for my kids.  I love that Julie and Kevin always seem to include extended family in their fun.  They are really good at that.

I loved that we got to watch the girls.  We don't get these two that often and so it's fun when we do.  Jordyn loves Kamryn so much.  It's obvious that Kam is really good to her.  I'm so glad they have each other.  I'm so glad they are ours.  We watched movies tonight, ate popcorn and cereal and played beyond being tired. (Larry was the only one that got a nap)

The girls were tired when Kevin and Julie came to pick them up.  Heck....we all were. ☺  Life is great and it's best with so many cuties surrounding us.  Oh how I love them all!

Happy Cinco De Mayo...Happy Birthday Crystal

Crystal has the same birthday as Parker (May 3) and today The Hooper Honey's celebrated her.  She loves the cabbage salad at Melina's and so that is where we went....quite fitting for the day since it is Cinco De Mayo!

Today it seemed that there is a lot of good going on in everyone's life. Of course there always is but some months are harder than others.  We're all at a pretty good place right now. Crystal and Lorraine are both getting their daughters ready to serve missions.  In fact the girls speak on the same day but leave a week apart.  How exciting for them and the families!  Tammy's daughter in law is going to go through the Temple soon so that is very exciting.  Kellie's kids are doing good and their houses are selling so quick that Kellie might just be sharing her house with a few families soon. (that might not be as exciting as it might be overwhelming)  I love sharing our lives with each other...the good times and the hard times!

I love this group of ladies and I love when March comes because that means we start celebrating each others birthday's monthly.  There isn't a birthday with this group in April but Lorraine's is the end of March and so it's not noticeable.  These ladies are sweet, kind and funny!  I love spending time with them!  I love our Monthly Celebrations.  Kellie is next!

Monday = Funday

Each Monday I get to pick these two up from school and take them home to play for awhile.  I love getting to do that because I miss them since I usually only see them every other Sunday.  That is the hard thing about the grands going to school.  I just don't see them as often.  I get to pick Ivy up on Wednesdays' and every other Friday as well.  I enjoy our time together.  The kids are usually ready for a treat when I pick them up and so when Ivy suggests a Slurpee I stop and get them one.

I love hearing about the things they learn in school. It's just fun listening to them and watching them grow and learn.  They amaze me all the time.  I so lucky to have my grands so close that I am able to help with them.

I think at times my kids are afraid to ask me for help.  I think they worry about taking advantage of me.  In a way that's good but it also makes me feel kind of bad.  I want them to ask and if I'm not able to help I will tell them.  However, if I am able to help out I want to...I usually try to work things out so I can help them.  I always think of Larry's dad and how he was so good to help me out with Jared.  He would tell me that he wasn't busy when I would call and I know the guy always had something but he would adjust his schedule to help me.  There were only a few times that he wasn't able to help when I asked.  I want to be like that.  I also remember asking one of the grandma's for help and she told me that she wasn't sure because she might be running in to town.  I don't want to be like that...I want to help my kids.  Besides helping my kids I really do love having the grands over.  I wouldn't want to be responsible everyday like I have been in the past because that seemed to take the fun out of it.  Plus, I have enjoyed being able to go do what I want.  However, I usually only spend a few hours away when I do go and play.  I'm flexible...at least when it comes to my time.

Parker Joe

This cute little man is 5 years old!  I sure do love this little grand of mine.  He is so cute, fun, creative, playful, loving and a bit mischievous.  Parker loves lego's and creates some pretty cool thing. He loves Bat Man and Ninja Turtles.  He also loves stuffed toys and will cuddle with them.  He loves playing outside and climbing and being a boy.  He loves shooting his bow and arrows and is really good at it.  He is a toughie with a sweet, kind heart.  What a joy it is to have Mr. Parker in our family!  He makes my heart light up!

I'm Back

I'm back to my crazy, fun, wonderful life!  When I got home from Women's Conference I was welcomed by Parker and Macie who were coming to spend the night so their parents could clean the temple. (Mya was at Kam's)  Natalie was just putting Macie down but she heard my voice and perked right up. I know I have a loud voice...I need to work on lowering it.  Macie didn't want to go back to bed and so she stayed up for awhile until I went to get Mya from Kamryn's birthday party.  I enjoy having the grands spend the night because they like it so much.  They are just so cute.

I need to practice making different pancakes but I think these turned out pretty cute.  The grands love pancakes whenever they sleep over.  I'm okay with that...they're easy to make, and now even fun to make.  We have fun at gramma's house. 

Today is Braxton and Kelsi's Anniversary and so they wanted to spend the day together.  Kimi watched Sadie for them.  I am going to brag a little.  My kids are so good with babies and the little's...I am pleased with the wonderful kindness and care they show to their nieces and nephews.  It was fun having Sadie come play today too. She's such a cute baby.

Before Kimi took Sadie home to go to bed, Kevin brought Kamryn over to spend the night for her birthday.  He brought Jordyn with them and so we got to enjoy her for awhile as well. Each one of my cute grands is absolutely perfect.  I love just watching them....truly little blessings.  (Really HUGE Blessings)  I took Kamryn shopping and she chose a book (ever after year book), paper and markers.  I love that they get to choose and get what they like.  It's fun for me.  By the time Kamryn went to bed her little eyes were red.  I  think all the birthday celebrating has wore her out.  She had a sleepover the night before with her friends and cousins.

We are going to do some more celebrating tomorrow but for Parkers Birthday.  It is his birthday tomorrow and so Natalie is bringing dinner...chicken on a stick and homemade mac and cheese...Parker's request.  I love celebrating birthdays....life is a celebration!

*A friend of mine text me the other day saying how blessed I was for having so many kids that all live so close.  She is right....I know I am blessed!  I thank Heavenly Father daily for my cute blessings!

Women's Conference

I haven't been to Women's Conference at BYU for ages.  The last time I remember going was with my friends from Hooper and I didn't sign up for the Conference...I just went to be with my friends.  The reason for that is the time before that I felt trapped by all the women...everyone was so close to me and in my space and I couldn't get out from the crowd quick enough.  That happened in the Marriot Center where everyone met.  I should have left early or waited for the crowd to lessen.  Anyway I had no plans of ever going again plus it is always on Justin's birthday (which doesn't really matter since he got married), but when Jodi invited me to go I couldn't say no.  Jodi was going with some ladies from her ward and one couldn't go and so Jodi asked me.  It was wonderful!

Even the driving there and back was great and went quick.  Visiting is always fun.  The only thing I regret is some of the things I said on the drive home.  I should have just said that sometimes I am not really "real" around some people.  But...NO... I went on and on about someone who is just funny and fake.  I've repented of doing this before and had to repent again.  I really don't usually talk about others and especially not to make them look bad but there I was doing it....and right after a few days of being uplifted.  I know better and I feel bad.  It just proves that we are all vulnerable at times in our lives....and that Heavenly Father will and does forgive us over and over for our mistakes even when they are the same one's over and over.  I did end by saying this person had some great kids and so she did a good job as a mom. (like that could begin to make up for the other stuff said)  I just like "REAL"....in fact....I love "REAL".

The theme this year was: "...my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord..." (2 Nephi 11:5) Before I realized that I mentioned to Jodi that "covenants" was brought up a lot.  She laughed and told me that was because it was part of the theme.  haha ☺  I had just taught my primary class about covenants and thought that was pretty cool too. Some of the things the spirit told me were: Get back to the Temple.  I have been going weekly until I got a yucky cough and didn't want to have a coughing attack in the temple.  This week I am going back.  I think I really only missed a week but maybe two. (I got wondering if satan had anything to do with me getting sick because seriously I usually don't get sick) Family History....I need to start playing on the computer and finding my ancestors! Jared was asking me about Trichelle's new baby that will be here in August.  Jared is concerned who he will be sealed to.  Ivy and Zaden were born under the sealing of Trichelle and Daniel but that sealing has now been cancelled and so he was wondering about the new baby.  I got thinking about our ancestors and how there are some that get lost in crazy situations just like this.  I'm not too concerned about our new baby...things will work out for Trichelle, TJ and Baby and their kids.  Look at my Patriarchal Blessing through New Eyes.  My blessing has always scared me and wasn't really a comfort to me up to this point of my life.  However just thinking about looking at it with New Eyes has changed my perspective on it.  If it wouldn't have scared me I probably wouldn't be where I am at this point in my life. (I like where I am)  Scaring me to choose the right and stay far from places I shouldn't be ended up be a really good thing.  I'm excited to read it with New Eyes and to focus on all the blessings instead of the warnings.  Look for more ways to Serve. Service is essential in becoming closer to our Savior.  Christ's life was the best example of service.  I'm going to watch for more opportunities to serve. Remember.  Over and over I heard the word remember.  I think it's because I often forget.  I am going to work on remembering who I am and what my purpose is.

I enjoyed all the ladies from Jodi's ward.  There were a few groups of them.  I was happy to bump into a few ladies that I know.  Kara saw me in a class and came and sat by me.  Kara is in my ward and it totally made my day to have her see me and sit by me.  Cindy Hill also saw me and called out my name.  She was sitting behind us in the Marriot Center (what are the chances of that?)  It was great giving her a hug.  She told me that her first time to attend Women's Conference was with me when I lived in Roy.  Cindy now travels from Colorado to attend.  We met a few very kind women who "jumped" our car since the battery died.  They were so nice that they offered to let us use their "spare" car if we needed.  That right there proves there are very good people in this world....we were just lucky and met a few of them.

I'm going to list a few thoughts that I wrote down that stood out to me while I reviewed my notes.
*We ain't what we should be and we ain't what we  gonna be, but thank God, we ain't what we was.
*Our covenants are a Gift from God....Christmas everyday.
*Angels are very Alive and not thrilled about being called Dead!
*The Highest Compliment is to be called a Covenant Keeper.
*We are Enough...Just the way we Are!
*Remember, God is the Center of the Universe...Not Us!
*Women are placed here on Earth to Guard the Home.
*We need to be in the Temple.  As we touch the Temple, the Temple will touch us.
*We need to find a way to serve.  When we serve we feel better. Service make us Happy.
*The temple garment is like taking part of the Temple home with us.
*Obedience is a Joy not a burden.
*Be Generous in how we Keep our Covenants.
*Use Your Oil to Bring Light to Others.
*Let's Procrastinate Later.
*Don't leave your "Strong Hold" even for a minute.
*The Road to the Sacrament Table is the Path to Safety!
*Adversity in a way is a Gift.
*At some point Hope has to Grow Up and that is when Faith is Born.
*You can have a wonderful life but you have to decide which trade offs to make.
*What's right for one might not be right for another, we can all be kinder to others circumstances.
*We Need to Be God's Disciples.  We didn't have to do anything to be His child but Discipleship is a Choice.
*Ask God...Not Google!

Food 4 Thought Friday

Food 4 Thought Friday!

A little feast without the calories!!

Feel free to play along for some yummy fun! Go HERE to JOIN IN!!! 

Food 4 Thought Friday ~ This week's questions: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 
   
Breakfast ~ Who was your favorite celebrity as a child? I loved Burt Reynolds but that was when I was a teenager.  I thought he was so cute.  I also thought Larry kind of looked like him when we met.
Lunch ~  Are you a morning or night person? For most of my life I would say a night person.  However, these days I get tired at least when I am home and am not worth much at night.  I never would have considered myself a real morning person but now I really prefer mornings.  I get most my work done in the morning and like to get up and going because when I do I feel better the rest of the day.
Dinner ~ If you were invisible, where would you go? Hmmmmm....I guess I would probably spy on others.  I would also need transport powers to get around quickly because I'm sure once I spied on someone more people would come to my mind that I would enjoy spying on. When I was younger I loved laying in our back yard at night and watching my mom through the kitchen window...she had no idea we were watching and it was funny to just watch her expressions.  I think of that now when my windows are open in the evenings.
Midnight Snack ~ Name one thing you are looking forward to right now and one thing you are not looking forward to at all.  I am very excited that we are getting another grand in August.  I love meeting each new little one and can hardly wait for each their births.  Right now I know I need to call the dentist and have a tooth fixed (I think one broke a little) and I am not looking forward to that at all but have but it off too long already.
Recipe of the Week ~ (instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?)  Be Grateful for the Moments Right Now.  Enjoy the present and find all the good in each and every day.