A "Grand" Tea Party

On Christmas all my grands got a tea cup from me so that we could have tea parties. (the boys got cool mugs)  Since there is not school on President's Day we decided it would be the perfect day for our tea party.  Every single little was able to come and we had so much fun! I had the table ready for them when they arrived.  I also had bow ties for the boys and scarfs for the girls to fancy up with.  They all looked so cute!  I have some of the cutest grands ever born!

We served hot chocolate from two of the tea pots and cran/raspberry & sprite from the other.  It was delightful.  Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.  I think everyone got filled up and then they were off to play.  (that's the real reason they all like coming over is to play together and build their friendships)  I love watching them all enjoy each other.

When everyone was finished eating and visiting at the table we started a little  craft project.  I wanted the grands to make pictures from their food prints.  I got the foot prints of the littlest ones first.  Jordyn was tired and needed a nap and so I did hers first.  Everyone was so good about getting their foot painted and washed up again after.  I have fun grands!

It took awhile to get everyone's prints done.  Everyone played until it was their turn.  Afterwards I got the brushes out and let them create their masterpieces.  My grands are very talented too!  Macie really got it to everything and is at such a fun age. The Younger grands were pleasant and enjoyed everything going on.

Everyone made two pictures...one to take home and one to leave here.  I want to put them upstairs in the room they play in.  I liked watching them create their pictures and choosing their favorite to take home.  I think every picture turned out cute. (I still need to finish Behr's and Jordy's)

The kids kept playing and enjoying each other.  It was such a fun day!  I'm excited for this new tradition that we started.  I sure adore these little ones so much!  They bring so much joy and happiness into our family!

Being a grand parents is such a blessing!  I love it so much!  I hope my grands will always want to come to our house to make memories!  Dang...They're so Cute!

Talks in Church and Connor

Larry and I had the opportunity to speak in the 3rd ward today.  I told the congregation that I was experiencing a little reverse dejavu.  When Bishop Rhoads was our High Councilman, Bishop Ropelato had him and his wife speak to us.  Bishop Rhoads had forgot but just wanted to hear from me as well since we got to know each other pretty good when he was over our ward.

I was asked to share experiences of how the Temple has blessed our marriage and our family.  Easy peasy huh?  I wasn't stressed or worried and kind of pointed out to Larry while he was studying and preparing his talk how mine was so easy.  I started with the scripture: Alma 34:32 "Behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors." There is no better place to prepare to meet God than in the Temple.  I shared some quotes and then experiences.  Attending the temple made more of a difference in our family than we realized.  I know for certain that I was a much nicer wife and mom when I attended the temple.  The temple just purifies our souls and enlightens are minds and makes us better.  The temple is so important and such a blessing.

I summed up my talk by saying: We go to the Temple to get answers to our prayers.  We go to the Temple to feel safe and loved.  We go to the Temple to have our families for eternity.

Larry spoke on how important it is to prepare ourselves and get to the temple.  He told everyone that if they were here at this meeting then they were almost ready to go to the temple....just a few more tiny steps.  He kept it simple and spoke of Elijah.  I know his talk gave people hope of being able to prepare themselves for the temple. Larry felt inspired to invite a sister from our ward to come listen because she is so close to going to the Temple.  They had a good talk later and she is getting herself ready.

Jared and I returned to church today so that Connor could give us the sacrament.  Connor has the priesthood and is so excited to be able to pass the sacrament.  This is one of those reasons it was important for Connor to be baptized.  Being able to pass the sacrament is such a blessing to Connor and those in his ward.  It was such a blessing to me to have my sweet friend give me the sacrament.  Connor beamed and tried so hard not to smile.  He wanted to be reverent and proper and did a really wonderful job.  We didn't stay for the whole meeting because heck we'd been to church already and was thought it was good that Jared even went back with me.  Connor is a blessing that's for sure.  His cute helper Cort is one heck of a kid too.

Jaydan is 25

Our family has been enjoying this cute kid for 25 years now!  What a blessing Jaydan is!  Jaydan has been known for wishing others a happy birthday by saying: "happy escape from your mothers womb day".  So twenty five years ago he did that.  He escaped and entered this world as blue as the doctors scrubs. He escaped even though he had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck twice and tied in a square knot.  This weekend he escaped the luxury of living at home and has entered into another phase of his life.  I'm excited for him.  

Today when he showed up for dinner he looked younger because he shaved all his facial hair!  I like that cute face!  I actually miss having him around and have enjoyed the last year when he was here so much.  Jaydan is a fun, kind, smart, loving, obedient son! I'm excited to see what comes next for him.  Because of his move he is now planning on getting another part time job.  He might be subbing at the schools and he might even be seen at Larry's shop later again.  Whatever he decides will be great.  Jaydan manages his money really good and likes having extra in the bank.  Ever now and then it's good to change things up!  I hope Jaydan's blessing this year will be huge!  I'm so glad this kid calls me mom! 

I made some robot valentines for my grands because I love them a "bot"!!!

Pedi's with my girls

I wasn't doing anything when Kimi called to ask me what I was doing.  Actually I had just turned on the computer and was going to add my blog posts to the new blog book I've started for this year.  She told me that her, Trichelle and Ivy were headed to get pedicures and they wanted to know if I wanted to join them.  Heck Yes!  I know it has only been a few weeks since my last one but I didn't care.  I will jump at every invite to spend time with my girls.  I told them to have a seat saved for me and I would leave right then.  It's a good thing they saved me a seat because the place was packed and people were even waiting.  The technicians were jumping back and forth from clients trying to keep everyone happy.  We had a good time.  Ivy chose to get her nails done instead of a pedicure and they turned out really cute.  They were short enough that they looked good and I think she will be able to still do whatever she wants without it feeling weird.  At first I was sitting at the other end of the row with lots of chairs between me and my girls and when a chair by them came open I asked to please be moved and the workers were happy to let me.  It was a lot more fun being by Trichelle and Kimleighel.  I enjoyed the massage chair while we soaked and got our pedicures.  Oh how I love pedicures....Oh how I love my girls!  Happy Day to Us!

Food For 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!!!

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LOVE IS IN THE AIR 

Breakfast ~ What have you loved the most about this past week? I guess it would be that I have been able to Celebrate the Birth and Life of My Mom, Son and Neighbor! I love celebrating Birthdays!

Lunch ~ Briefly tell how you met your "love". Larry and I met at the Institute of Religion at Weber State in a Courtship and Marriage class.  We attended at this time of year and even had to write each other a Valentine.  The teacher had a Valentine with the class members name on each one sitting on a desk and strangely enough, Larry and I got each other.  He first asked me out at the Un-Party the institute had at Lagoon...I couldn't go with him for the day he asked and the story gets long after that.

Dinner ~ What are your plans for Valentine's Day? Jaydan's birthday is on Valentines Day and so we are having a dinner for him. All the kids will be here this week and so Larry ordered steaks...it will be a nice dinner.  Larry sent me Roses a few days ago and I'm going to make a Valentine treat for my grands.

Midnight Snack ~ List 10 things you LOVE about your life right now. 
1. I love that I am able to attend the Temple often. 
2. I love being able to help with my grands and see them every week.  
3. I love that I my window of life is open and I have so many friends that I get to spend time with...my friends inspire me to be better! 
4. I love that my children are being blessed in their lives and that we are a close family.  
5. I love all the time I get to spend with Larry!  
6. I love feeling content and peace with who I am.  
7. I love living where I do, surrounded by such great people.  
8.  I love that I have a testimony of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.  I know they are real and that they know and love each of us!  
9.  I love that I am healthy and able to do so many things.  
10.  I love this time of my life....this season is fabulous! 

Recipe for the Week ~ (instead of your recipe for life, what is it just for the week?)  Show Love to Everyone Around You!   

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Celebrating Robin

Robin turned 71 on Monday but sure doesn't look like it.  Robin is the best neighbor and such a great friend.  She helped me so much with my kids while they were growing up.  She let them go over to play and would give them treats and teach them things.  If my kids know how to tie their shoes it's probably because Robin taught them.  I remember her teaching Braxton how to make rolls and Kimi remembers Robin teaching her to make pies.  When Larry and I went to Italy back in 1994, Robin and Durk volunteered to watch our kids.  Robin encouraged me to get Jaydan potty trained first before we left and since he was ready it took me only a few hours and he was trained.  I give credit to Robin since I wasn't in a hurry to potty train again.

I'm glad that we started celebrating birthdays together the last few years. All these ladies mean so much to me and have inspired me to be better.  They are all great examples and I love the memories of each of them.  I have learned to be more patient from Robin.  When her family didn't put things away instead of getting mad Robin would hide the items.  She got her point across in a subtle way instead of being angry.  She once used her hubby's plate again to serve the next meal on because he didn't clear it.  Robin is clever and soft spoken and a wonderful example to me.

I think the first time Robin came into my house I immediately started pointing out to my kids what needed to be put away.  That's how I was but I felt so stupid because I knew Robin wouldn't act like that and from that day I always tried to enter with something nice to say first.

Robin is an Angel on this earth.  She is so kind to everyone and is so sweet and pure!  I'm thankful she is in my life!

Waking up to friends is a great way to start the day.  My kind of breakfast is one with friends!

It's about Love

I want to brag a little about my bowling today. My team is on the very bottom which doesn't matter to me at all.  I wouldn't even have known that if my team mates hadn't told me.  I think it matters to them.  I just figure someone is going to be there and it's okay if it's us.  We bowl our best and if that's where we end up so be it.  I usually do okay but let me just say I am not consistent.  Two weeks ago when I went my highest game was a 125.  I think that day I also got a 123 and my last game was around 111.  I was consistent but not even close to my average which is some where around 145. (I don't even keep track of that because I truly don't care)  Today I was consistent too but above my average all three games.  I got a 186, 184 and 166! (536) WooHoo!  The lanes were oily and my fingers got black but I liked it.  I got a lot of strikes today and so it made it fun for me.  It's days like today that keep me going back.

When I got home from bowling I had some beautiful Roses waiting for me!  Larry says "I Love You" with flowers.  He sent them early so I could enjoy them a few days before Valentines Day and a few days after.  When I put my nose close so I can smell them I think of my daddy.  My daddy loved roses and use to pin one to his shirt so he could tip his head and inhale the wonderful aroma!  

Tonight for SNAP we had a Valentines Dance with a few other Special Needs groups.  I saw some other people that I don't usually see and that made it fun.  Right off Sheryl came over to me.  Her husband is the Bishop of one of the wards and so they came to support their group.  I usually see Bonnie because she is a counselor in the Roy group.  Mitzi goes to the Roy group and it's fun seeing her at the dances and she always enjoys seeing me too.I met Mitzi and Sheryl when I first started bowling 10 years ago.  I thought it was fun to see almost everyone dressed their best for the Valentine Dance.  Their faces were glowing and their smiles were big.

I was impressed to see a bunch of youth there as well.  I learned that youth are assigned for a month at a time to assist with the Special Needs group.  I thinks it an Ogden Council that does that and I think that is a great idea.  We have a lot of youth groups come help with our activities.  I think it's a great opportunity for the youth.

 It was a fun night and I left smiling from ear to ear. ☺