More Celebrating of Births

Kevin and Julie spoil us parents.  Twice a year we get to go to dinner at their expense for our Birthdays as a Thank You for all we do.  Tonight we celebrated Lynette and Larry.  I love this little tradition.  I love sitting down and visiting with the Dunkley's...they are great people.  It's fun catching up with them.

Kimleighel and Jared went to watch the kids.  Man these little's make me smile.  Jordyn was laying in Kevin and Julie's bed and Kam was brushing her hair from bathing and I forgot to get pictures of them but believe me they are loved just as much.  I remember with the twins because they change so much and those smiles.....I want to always remember their smiles.  What sweeties they all are.

Do you wonder how I am?  I am blessed...completely blessed and surrounded by amazing family and friends!

Celebrating Mya

We had the  privilege of Mya coming over to celebrate her birthday with us.  Natalie brought her after school.  We went shopping first and Mya was really excited to go to Toys R Us.  She was so cute looking at everything.  I think its fun to watch the grands walk up and down every aisle inspecting everything.  I think they are in complete awe at all the toys.  Mya was leaning towards a talking 'toy' parrot and it was even in our cart.  She had been telling me that she was interested in science and so we went down that aisle and her eyes lit up.  I could tell that she really likes science.  She saw a microscope and thought it would be so cool to have it.  I told her that she could get it if she wanted.  She would have to decide out of the parrot or it.  She told me it was a really hard decision but she chose the microscope. I think that was a great choice.

We decided to go to dinner after and she chose Olive Garden.  It was so fun just having Mya by herself.  She is getting so grown up but is still a sweet little girl that loves spending time with me.  I ordered with the thought in mind that Larry would get the rest for dinner.  He was all for it.  Kimi and Jared had things going on and so I didn't need to worry about them.

When we got home Mya got out her microscope and we enjoyed looking through it.  I loved her excitement.  Her family came down a little later and her daddy brought the elk he just shot to show her.  Larry helped Justin give Macie a priesthood blessing since she wasn't feeling very good.  I love that we have the Priesthood.

In the bottom corner of one of the pictures is our statue of the last supper that Larry bought while we were in Italy with the Jones.  Parker thought it would be a great place to hang his hat.  haha I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Mya and I snuggled and talked before going to sleep.  It was fun listening to Mya talk and tell me the things on her mind.  We woke up to a Winter Wonderland...it was Beautiful.

Mya wanted to make pancake art for breakfast and so of course that is what we did.  Mya is pretty creative.  She made her a few pancakes first and then told me not to look because she was making me one.  Do you know which one?  If you guessed the heart you are right.  Oh I love this girl that is now nine years old.

We let Mya stay and play all day.  Larry and I did run to a baby shower together for Mallory's son and his wife and to the store but other than that we were home enjoying this day.  I was happy that our cute neighbor, Kenna came over with her dogs and wanted to play.  Mya was dying to play in the snow.  Jared went out with them and ended up pulling them around the field behind the four-wheeler.  Oh...I love our birthday sleepovers with the grands.  I wonder what they will remember?

Grand Week

Instead of going to Limitless like I had planned to do I stayed home and then volunteered to watch Trichelle's kids for her so that both her and TJ could attend.  I really felt like that was the right thing to do.  Trichelle and TJ are learning so much and their attitudes and outlook are so great since they have become involved in this wonderful program.  The kids really enjoy coming to our house too and so it's a fun few days for them as well.  I love having the grands come play.  Their cute faces make me smile.

Having the grands around brings out the good in all of us.  Kimi, Jared and grandpa all enjoy them so much.  All of our grands are really good kids.  They are pretty easy.  Behr was a lot easier this time.  I didn't put down chairs to keep him in the family room.  I did close all the doors to the other rooms but he didn't wander much.  He is getting pretty good at entertaining himself and playing with toys.  he is really cute.  While he played one day I cleaned the toy area in the pantry.  I got rid of a garbage sack full of stuff and put the other toys in totes.  I had Jared and Kimleighel move the Doll House upstairs for now.  It was being used to throw toys on.  It sure feels good to have that done.  Messes really do drive me crazy...I remember that when I am home and notice them.

Macie came and played on Friday like she does and her and Behr and funny to watch.  Behr is a tease and Macie is too.  Today Macie wasn't feeling up to par and so I tried keeping Behr under control.  They really do love each other and have a fun time together.  One of the things that brings me joy is watching my cute grands enjoy each other.

We Are Blessed!

Larry got a phone call from my oldest brother about a month ago.  Terry volunteered Larry to put railings on my mom's porches.  My mom has slipped off and she decided she needed railings.  I'm surprised she hasn't had them sooner.  I noticed most of her neighbors have them.  Anyway a guy that does that sort of thing came into Larry's shop either the day Terry talked to Larry or a day or so after.  Larry decided that since they really don't specialize in railings for porches he would hire it out.  My brother said he would help pay for it and so we got things going.  I was at my mom's when the guy came over to see what she wanted.  My mom told him more than she had told Larry.  Anyway..the job is done and there are nice railings on both porches.  We have the pleasure of paying for it since we are the ones here and are able to help.  It was pricey...at least 2-3x more than I expected. We are blessed that we can pay for it since my brother informed me that he is without a job right now and can't help.  I'm thankful that Larry is a hard worker and that we are good with our money.  I am thankful that we are blessed and do have enough to help others. I am thankful that the more we do help others, the more blessed we become.  At first I was a bit ticked that we got stuck with it all but after changing my attitude I'm really glad we could do this for my mom.  Happy Birthday, Happy Mother's Day...Happy Everything Mom!

***I'm kind of embarrassed for even being a little upset yesterday.  Opposition in all things right?  It's okay I felt that way because it helped me remember how blessed I am.  By feeling that way I prayed a little harder.  I am being made better.  I hope that weakness is a little stronger today.

Tuesday Temple

I've missed going to the Temple and knew that if I was going to go this week I'd better go early in the week because I get grands tomorrow.  I got up early and went and did initiatory.  I knew I needed to get home to go visiting teaching and so I didn't even worry about doing my hair before I left.  I brushed it but it was bed hair. ☺  I didn't have to wait when I got there.  One time around I was the only one but then the booth filled up.  I had an interesting experience as I did the work today.  Every single time one of the sisters touched me we'd get a little shock.  I noticed it after it had happened a few times and then was paying attention to see if it was going to continue to happen.  It did every single time.  She rotated around the booths and when she was in the first booth and I was on my last name she asked me if I had noticed our little shocks.  I told her I had.  I told her that she was the only one that it was happening with.  I was sure Heavenly Father was trying to tell me something.  She pondered and couldn't quite make sense of it all either.  She told me she was going to try not to touch my skin at all.  As she wiped my forehead of course I got a shock...then she carefully tried to only touch a hair of my head but surprisingly (or not) a little shock traveled down that piece of hair and shocked my scalp.  The shocks were so tiny but I was very aware of them.  I'm not sure what they meant.  I did feel like I was suppose to be at the Temple and maybe God was letting me know he was aware and happy I was there.  Maybe, all five of the ladies were thrilled to be getting their work done.  Maybe me and the cute sister have a connection between us.  I am certain it meant something and that I had a little miracle today happen to me even if I'm not positive the reason.

The last few days I have had my daughter in love show send me a video about Satan's biggest lie,(it's about being perfect and doing it all) and a neighbor shared a talk on Being Good Enough with me.  I didn't realize I was coming across as worried or any other way but I must have been portraying something.  I have been praying extra hard for my family.  It's not so much I'm worried for anyone particular.  I just hope for wonderful things all the time for them.  I turned to the scriptures and let them plop open on my lap.  As I read a few things stood out in my mind.  First of all that my sins are forgiven. (woohoo) Because I ask in faith I shall be blessed. The Lord's will would be done on His time and that the Atonement is a wonderful gift that we can use daily.

I love that God is very aware of us each and every day.  I'm sure He is always giving us little signs that for the most part we probably just over look.  I feel good when I notice a sign even if I don't quite understand it.  I know God loves each of us.  I know that He knows us individually.  We are not alone on this journey in life.

Sleepover with Macie

One of my favorite things to do with the grands is have them sleepover for their birthdays.  I think it's one of their favorite things too.  I hope they will have fun memories of our time together.  Macie was so excited and loved all the attention.  We stayed up a little later and played on the iPad for awhile.  Macie and I slept on the air mattress together.  I love being close to my cute grands and snuggling with them.  I even laughed a little when I got hit in the face a few times during the night. ☺  Before we turned off the lights my cute little three year old told me all the things we had planned for the next day.  We will eat cereal, play on the iPad, bath and go to the store.  Her cute little voice made me smile.

We didn't hurry when we woke up which was about 7:30.  We watched a Mickey Mouse Movie and played.  We went on Macie's speed.  It was enjoyable to me to see her so content and loving being at our house.  Kimi and Jared were home since it is Martin Luther King day and so we invited them to come with us to the store and to lunch.

Macie was so excited to see all the toys at Toys R Us.  I told her that this store was kind of like Toy Heaven and I think she agreed.  We looked at everything.  She liked a few things but when I asked her if she wanted it she would say no and move on.  We even walked over to Barnes and Noble book store because she had said that she wanted a stuffed toy like Mya had and Barnes and Noble carried them.  She decided that she really didn't want the stuffed toy and would rather go back to Toys R Us.  I told her that it was time to decide what toy she wanted to get and so we looked some more.  Eventually we went down the aisle that had Hello Kitty things and I saw a few cute things and when I pointed them out to Macie and her eyes got bigger than they usually are.  She grabbed the handle of the box that held the airplane and three kitties and was set.  Her mind was made up.  Dang she is cute.

We went to McDonalds after and had lunch because that is the place that Macie chose.  We had a good time and Macie was ready for me to take her home after.  She was excited to open her gift and put it together.  She loved it and flew it up the stairs and back down again.  My heart was happy just watching her.  I sure do love these cuties that call me gramma!

Sundays are my Favorite

These are the reasons why.  These are my favorite people in the whole entire world!