labor of love

gavin's-"cars" theme
kate's-"flower" theme
owen's-"dinosaur" theme

here is my labor of love for the last month....my friend deb gave me the idea...and of course i didn't act on it for awhile...but, after thanksgiving i got busy...found the fabric...each chosen for that special child...then found the pictures and had them transferred to fabric...then the sewing...had to get it done before kelly k and kate arrived...after sewing for what seemed forever! i got them done....so to my sweet grandbabies...all my love to you...just don't look at all the mistakes...the Amish always add mistakes to things because we aren't perfect..well, these aren't perfect for sure....but, all the love in them should take that away...

merry christmas

merry christmas

i haven't posted for a couple of weeks...it's been pretty crazy...i was under a time table because my daughter in law, kelly and grand daughter were coming last week...my goal was to have everything done, so we could just play...well, that didn't happen...in fact, i've never felt so out of control...i stayed up sewing blankets for the grand babies...they turned out pretty cute i must say..but, now the day is over! whew! it was very fun...we've actually been partying since russ and kerry came home...with all of their friends around, it's always a party...then kelly k. came, then jeff and kelly came up...then willie arrived...we've had a great time...the moller's were in town for one day...so we got together with them...then the christmas activites...it's been a great time...unfortunately the grandbabies have all going home :( that isl be sad...it's been so fun to have kate here...she is growing up way too fast...she will sing so many songs...she knows everyones names and is always asking for them...it's really fun....then, when gavin and owen arrived! the fireworks start...they have had a few adventures while they were here....to name a few...i caught kate and gav in the refrigerator unloading everything they could reach, with kate standing in the vegetable bin....they escaped outside, running up to the trampoline...then jumping with the sprinklers on...getting soaked in the process...the most scary adventure was when kelly k left the room for a minute, came back and saw the front door open...the kids and dogs were halfway down and across the street...as you can see, they are having a great time together..so, this is what christmas to me is all about...alot of craziness on my part...and the funnest times with family and friends...it's all i can ask for and this year was great because i got it....

cockeyed

i thought this was great...

Today's Quote :

If you have one eye on yesterday, and one eye on tomorrow, you’re going to be cockeyed today.

-Anonymous

menopausal women

hope your shopping is going better than this...

can you laugh at yourself?

laughing gavin


my sister, marty, wrote a great post on optimism, (she also mentioned this columist, and it's a very good column) which got me thinking...who are optimists in my life? as i thought, i thought of many different people...some that have touched my life were: my dad...he was the original, power of positive thinker, tom..he was right up there, always being positive about life...unless the lumber market went south...my sister marty is always there with uplifting advice on practically any subject...so, i can always go to her...i have a friend, lori, that is so outgoing and optimistic...it's always amazing to talk to her...optimism to me means that you are always trying to be positive..i don't think you can always be that way, but, to always be working on it, to see the bright side, the funny side of falling in the mud...to be able to laugh at yourself and go on...i've learned to laugh at myself..i seem to have alot of those spills or falls...i want to be one of those people that brighten anothers day when they see me...so, think of who brightens your day...a person that never, ever gives up...always trying to be that optimistic soul...and then we should all take pointers from them....

WHAT!

How can this SWEET face.......



Do THIS???????







Then I was like this.........

down mexico way...

here are some pictures of our trip to mexico... it was the best...

muchas gracias

along with being thankful...thanksgiving is a great time for a trip! we are in punta mita mexico for a little r and r....everyone is here, but kelly k and willie and kate...we miss them...this place is gorgeous..we are in a really nice villa at the 4 seasons...which i love when you have kids...they go out of their way to do fun things for the kids...at the pool every afternoon they have an ice cream cart that comes around with free ice cream..they also bring cool towels, bites of fruit, smoothies...it's the best for being totally spoiled...so we are celebrating for the week...it's a great way to have a fun thanksgiving...hope yours is just as great...adios

t-day

thanksgiving is a great holiday...it's the one holiday that we all celebrate...with a lot of great food...as much as i love christmas.....i really love thanksgiving, it's great in it's simplicity...we all need to stop and think of our wonderful blessings...i have so many to be grateful for...my children, grandchildren...health, home...being with people i love...i am able to do many fun and great things...it's great to see my kids grow and change and accomplish so much...i'm so proud of all of them...so, have a great time, be happy and thankful....

top ten reasons to be the youngest

without me

i'm answering my neice gabi's blog ...she wrote about being the oldest...i'll write about being the youngest...

the best

10. you're always younger than anyone else in the family

9. you're the one that is spoiled

8. when everyone else is gone, you get to go on fun trips

7. you have your older sisters clothing to "borrow"

6. you might get a car...but only from a sweet older brother..

5. you don't have to babysit little brother/sisters

4. parents are sometimes a little more lenient...although, i think that's me....not my mom

3. you get your own room after everyone leaves

2. you have older sisters and a brother to have fun with

1. everyone loves you because you're the baby....

with me..isn't it better?

ok...

the worst

1. everyone leaves before you do...well, unless your brother doesn't...

2. they go off to play with friends and you're left home alone

3. you get teased by the family

4. you are their slave....

5. you have hand me downs from everyone

6. your parents have parenting down..you don't get away with much

7. you don't get to pick...tv shows, music, where to go, whatever

8. you share a room

9. they went alot of places without you

10. But, you're still loved because you're the baby.....

fun pictures

here are some fun pictures of the family...enjoy...

miss kate

in hawaii in april '07
stopping to smell the flowers
a happy girl
swiss miss
all dressed up and ready to go!


this week i'm going to visit kelly and willie and miss kate...it is her 2nd birthday on thursday...i'm excited that i can be there...it will be fun to see the changes in her since i saw her last in august...she's a darling little girl that loves to sing "old mcdonald" to me on the phone...what fun...so, i'll tell you more after i've seen her for awhile...but, here are some darling pictures of her...

surprise, surprise, surprise

last night i got a surprise...i was talking to a friend and they said, i guess russell and kerry are on their way home!...i was like, "really"..so of course, i gave them a call...and they didn't answer, so then i thought, guess it wasn't true...but, then kerry called back and i said "where are you?" she said.."california"...so i get to have a party this weekend...yippee!!!

the best mom ever

wasn't mom pretty?this was after marty and polly were married


mom has been gone for 10 years now...it's amazing....i miss her everyday and still wish i could talk to her...she was a fantastic mom and luckily i was able to learn from her...i don't think i have ever measured up to her standards, but, i have tried...she was great at cooking, decorating, sewing, artistic things like crafts, she was alot of fun and liked to have many things going...she was loving and kind and very giving...she volunteered for many different museums etc...she was wise...i knew she would always give me great advice..i have just wanted to be half of what she was...i'm so lucky that i was her daughter...how blessed i have been...polly thought it would be nice to write about the last 10 years....an update for mom...so let's hope she's reading this blog!


in the last 10 years we have had good times....we have had bad times...since we all know what the bad times were...let's concentrate on the good....willie served a great mission to new york...he left right after graduating from high school...kelly graduated from college that december and met jeff in about january...they dated, got engaged and waited and waited for willie to come home..then they were married in the l.a. temple...what a fun day...they both went to school, jeff became an attorney and kelly got her mba..now they have 2 cute boys..gavin who is almost 3 and owen who just turned 1....we started traveling quiet a bit and have had some fantastic trips....france, england, ireland, scotland, boston, washington d.c., hawaii, mexico, italy, switzterland, greece, turkey, spain...and many more...and of course our favorite....utah!!! willie went to the u of u...after graduation he got his masters from usc...he married a beautiful girl named kelly! they have darling kate who is turning 2 this next week..and are expecting #2 in april....russell graduated from high school after being the star of the tennis team....he is a senior at the u of u....waiting impatiently for snowboarding to start...he loves to ride his motorcycle, excercise, fish, anything that's active...and now kerry just graduated and is in utah at uvsc...she grew into such a beautiful girl..she is talented in so many different ways..she is alot of fun to be with...i've missed her alot this fall....so that's my update...i know that you're watching us and are just as proud of my kids as i am...so thanks for being the greatest mom and grandma ever...