I love when the grands come to play

Since Mya started school and Natalie has doctor appointments I get to have Mya and Parker over a little more often to play.  And, since Trichelle has school on Wednesday nights I get to have Ivy and Zaden over for a few hours on Wednesday until TJ picks them up.

It's nice having the grands over.  I love their little faces adding Sunshine to our home.  They love coming too and that makes it even nicer!  I love watching them play and use their imaginations....it entertains me. ☺  I love breaking the rule about food by the TV...I do let them have dry snacks and their drinks if they are in sippy cups (which they all enjoy)  I love their darling little smiles and their sweet voices and their wonderful hugs.

I don't see Kamryn as often but every once in a while she gets to come play too. (she goes to Kindergarten and Day Care)  At least we see her every other Sunday for sure.  I'm glad all my grands live close by so it's easier for them to come play at grandma's house.  These little's add so much happiness to my life.  They fill my soul with love and warmth.  I love having little ones around and I love being called grandma.  It's seriously the best!

I love Rainbows!

I have always loved rainbows.  I love the promise of rainbows...that the earth will not experience a flood again.  For awhile I had a lot of things around my house of Noah also as a reminder of God's promise.  I love seeing Rainbows in the sky and still point them out whenever I see them.  I never tire of them. Rainbows make me happy.

I love all the colors in the rainbow.  I think they are so pretty how they blend into the next color making more colors.  When I was young I really liked magenta and turquoise blue and would color everything with those two colors.  I didn't like red when I was little because it's the color my mom always got for me.  Susan always got blue and my favorite color back then was blue so because I got red I resented it.  I love red now.

My girls love rainbows too.  I remember talking about rainbows with Trichelle when we found out that the "gays" had claimed rainbows as their "sign".  We decided it didn't matter to us and we were going to continue to love rainbows anyway and the "gays" didn't have the right to change such a wonderful symbol.  Rainbows make me smile. ☺  I can't help myself when I see anything bright and beautiful...it just makes me happy from the inside out.

I'm thankful for my vision and recognize it as a blessing.  I love seeing all the beauties that God has created.  I love seeing all the wonderful colors and glad that I am blessed so that I can.  How drab life would be without color.

 I love Rainbows!

Sundays are Fun

I love Sundays!  I love having dinner with the family.  It seems it doesn't happen that much during the week and Sundays we have a set time and more of the family comes!  I love it!  Every other Sunday we have everyone here and it's wonderful.  Justin and Natalie and their cute kids come every Sunday except the last one which they spend with Natalie's family.  So Sundays are now a favorite day of the week for me.  Even gramps comes over every Sunday for dinner!  It's wonderful!

 Braxton always makes it fun for the kids.  He takes them out to see the animals or he brings animals over so they can play with them.  Tonight Braxton brought over the pelts of a raccoon and and fox and my grands loved playing with them.

 The furs are soft and have been treated but watching my little's stuff their arms up the bodies of these "use to be alive" animals kind of gave me the willies. Kimi couldn't stand it at all and didn't want the furs even close to her.  I had to laugh as Mya asked her why?.....was she allergic? haha

Braxton is a character and fun kid.  I enjoy each of my kids and the unique personalities each of them have.  They all add so much to our family.  I am thankful for Sundays and Family!

UEA Get-a-Way

This Weekend all started over a month ago when Kevin & Julie text to see if they could to go to St George and stay with Jerry & Darinda.  Larry was suppose to ask Jerry but kept putting it off because Jerry and Darinda were in France and then Hawaii.  Finally I just messaged Jerry anyway and he said it would be fine if Kevin and Julie wanted to come and spend the weekend with them.  They were planning on being their with Dave & Natalie's kids (while Dave & Natalie went to France).  After the okay we added to the group.  Justin and his family decided to go and so did we.  So, instead of an extra party of three they had a dozen of us come.  I had called Darinda to make sure it was okay and she is such a sweet heart and said of course.  I love Jerry and Darinda and their hospitality.  They are so kind and so willing to share with all of us.  There is plenty of room to have us all there.

Their house is so much fun.  It's just so nice and has lot's to do.  The kids watched movies, played video games, played barbies, wizards and relaxed.  Jerry took everyone four wheelin a few times too. He likes to go and has enough four wheelers and gear for everyone.  It's a lot of fun.  I stayed back though both times to stay with Darinda and help her out since some of the little ones didn't want to go. I enjoy visiting with her and so it was nice and we were able to get dinner ready while they were gone. It worked out great.

 Friday Night a group of us went to Natalie's sisters house (she lives in St George) to swim.  It was fun.  I love how little kids usually love swimming no matter the time or conditions...I know my little's will swim whenever possible.  Natalie's sisters family were gone to CA but offered us her pool anyway. It was nice and I enjoyed visiting with Becky (my niece) while everyone swam.   Becky and I discussed how times like this weekend were so nice so that cousins can get to know each other better. My grands and Darinda's really did have a great time.  I loved watching them become friends.

It was a very relaxing weekend.  Larry and I even slept in because we could. (Larry hates sleeping in but does it for me because I enjoy it)  It's nice not having any responsibilities every once in a while. I smiled as I lay in bed listening to the little ones run around and make noise...it was fun not having to be the one making sure they were doing what they should be or getting what they needed.  (I did help when I was up and going)

Jerry & Darinda are building a pool in the back of their house.  It's huge!  It has a place for the little ones to swim and wade.  It has a tree where a rope will hang.  It has a slide.  It has a cave where actually some bats have claimed as home right now and even a mountain lion liked it.  Darinda is going to have the workers close off the section where the bats go. Not sure what they will do about the Mountain Lion. It has fountains and a hot tub.  It will have greenery around it and big vases.  It's going to be pretty cool. (dang cool!)  I told Jerry they weren't chasing us away very well.  I hope they know that our family will be wanting to come again when it's finished. Heck even without the pool my family enjoys going there.  I'm glad that Jerry & Darinda share and make us feel like we really are welcomed.  My pictures of the pool don't do it justice but that's okay...when it's done I will get some better ones!  ☺

Such a Fun UEA Weekend!  

Judy's Birthday

As I was driving up the Canyon today I remembered that it was Judy's Birthday tomorrow.  Tammy and Teresa had wanted to get together for lunch and since it didn't work out for this week I thought maybe we could make dinner work out...and Judy could come too.  Everyone said that they could make it.  I was excited since Larry was taking our kids to the Temple to do Baptism's for the dead and out to eat after. 

Judy and I got to the restaurant a few minutes early and got a table.  Tammy was just a few minutes behind us and we waited for Teresa.  I tried texting her and calling her and couldn't get a hold of her. We were kind of worried.  After waiting half an hour we decided to go ahead and order.  Good thing we didn't wait because Teresa never came. She finally replied and was fine but had forgot.

The three of us had a great visit...we always do.  We talked about spiritual things and got that "feel good" feeling.  We could have talked all night and usually do but it was late and so we finally left.  I am taking Judy a "Scatter Sunshine" bag tomorrow to her on her birthday.  Judy is one of the sweetest gal's I know.  She had always ran a Day Care in her home and is so good with little kids.  She has given  her time to take care of others children.  She is a great influence on the little ones she watches and they are lucky to have her care for them.  I am lucky to have her as my friend!  

Scattering Sunshine Feels So Good

I wanted to see the fall leaves in Sardine Canyon and so Jodi and I decided to get together and have a little fun.  It's a good thing we met up because I was a little late for the leaves. ☺  The ones still on the trees were pretty but I missed the colorful mountain side.  It didn't matter though because being with Jodi made the trip worth it.  Jodi is Fun and Wonderful!  

Jodi surprised me with a "Scatter Sunshine" Sign....similar to the one we saw last week but cuter...because she made it!  I was totally surprised and I can't even describe how it made me feel!!! It is so bright and cheery and perfect.  All the way home I thought of where I wanted to hang it.  I decided to hang it where my fruit picture was.  You can see it walking down the hall into the kitchen.  I like it there so it will be seen many times a day...a good reminder to me and my family and friends to always Scatter Sunshine!  I LOVE IT!

We went to the Crepery and had some yummy crepes!  I have never been there and it was wonderful. Jodi and I had our own savory crepe and then we shared a delicious desert one.  I will need to visit this place again....so yummy!

I loved our visit.  When it's one on one it seems the conversation is more personal.  We shared some things with each other today that just added to our list of similarities.  It felt good  to just talk about any thing we wanted.  It felt good to know that others experience the same sort of things.

This place was a place that welcomed you to stay and visit.  They had couches along both walls and even one in front of these fun hanging chairs.  The workers were even kind enough to take a few pictures of us enjoying our time there and together.

When we left the Crepery we went to a cute Boutique.  I love boutiques and looking at everything.  I seldom buy anything because I have so much stuff and I'm really trying to simplify but it's still fun looking.  While we were there a young girl recognized Jodi and was talking to her.  I learned that this young gal has two kids with the same illness Jodi's son died of. (CF)  The kids were with her and they are so cute.  I wished I had remembered a "Sunshine" bag....I would have gave it to her.  Actually I would have gave it to the lady at the gas station were I left my car since she promised me she wouldn't let it get towed.  I met her first but I really want to give one to this girl.  I will have to ask Jodi if she knows more about her.  Jodi met her in a round about way and so I'm not sure she really knows.

*Lesson learned I'd better be prepared with a few Sunshine Bags...who really knows when I will feel prompted to give one out.

I drove home with Sunshine in my Soul and a cute Sunshine sign in my backseat. ☺

Quick Family Photo's

I decided to only have professional family photo's taken every other year.  For one thing it's costly and the years go by so quickly I don't really get to enjoy them unless they are up for two years.  At least for now that is how it is.  So tonight we quickly went out and took a few ourselves.  

I used a tripod and had gramps push the button to take the picture.  I figured that way they wouldn't be blurry if he moved....they are a little blurry anyway...oh well I still like them!