Our Family is Growing!!

YAY!!! More grandbabies. Laura is expecting her fourth girl in January. Michelle, Charlie's wife, is expecting their first child in May! I love grandbabies!!!

Babkick Store and wrapped chocolate

Ellie told her mom, Laura, that she wanted to go to the 'babkick' store. Laura had no clue what a 'babkick' store was. All day Ellie kept asking Laura to go to the 'babkick' store. Laura asked her what they sell at a 'babkick' store. Ellie said, "chocolate in a wrapper." Laura still couldn't figure out what a 'babkick' store was. When at the grocery store, Ellie asked again. Laura asked Ellie what else they sell at a 'babkick' store. Ellie said, "You know. That stuff grandma uses to make my butterfly blankie." She wanted to go to a fabric store. :) During the summer I took the three girls to JoAnn's while Laura was at the temple. I told them if they were really good, they could have a treat. JoAnn's just happens to sell candy bars or 'chocolate in a wrapper.'

FREE and Catch-up

All the summer activities that I volunteered for are over! Katie's wedding (which really doesn't count as a volunteer activity, but was still an activity on my list), Relay for Life, and the Bear Lake County Fair Quilt Show. All are done and behind us and have taught me a most valuable lesson. I've learned to say NO! Well, sort of. I won't, nor could I, say no to a daughter getting married and I had agreed to 2 years with the Relay so I will still do that next summer. However, since it will be the only volunteering I do next summer, it won't be so stressful. I hope!

My camera died so now I have to rely on Eugene for pictures. :( Maybe Santa will bring me one for Christmas. I didn't use it much, but loved having my own camera when I wanted, or needed, to take pictures.

Sarah was here for 4 days last week. She brought green beans and corn to bottle. It was fun doing it together. A mess with 3 (and sometimes 6) little people around, but fun just the same. I'd forgotten that I enjoy canning. It's lots of work, but is so rewarding when you hear those lids pop sealed.

Laura came on Friday. It was the county fair and the two girls, Sarah and Laura, love to bring their little ones to the fair. I must admit, it is more fun when you have little people to show the animals to.

Now it's time to move on to the next projects. I have 3 quilts to make. One needs to be sewn and hand quilted by Nov. 29th, one for Christmas and one within a year. The two latter will be machine quilted. They are a queen and a king size so too big to try and hand quilt in a hurry. My back is still trying to recover from hand quilting the Relay raffle quilt in 3 months.

Thursday thru Saturday we are going to Yellowstone for more than a day trip. We went with Charlie and Michelle when they were here on the 7th. Left at 5:30 a.m. and got home at 11:30 p.m. That's too hard when you have little ones with you. Sarah and Eric are coming and we are going with them. It's a short trip, but better than nothing or even better than one day. Hope it warms up so we don't freeze!

There's my summer in a nutshell. Nothing on my schedule now but Relief Society and sewing/quilting. Yay!

Visit to Sarah's

I went to Sarah's for a visit this week. I don't get there nearly as often as I would like. When I'm there, I'm having so much fun playing with the little people that I forget to break out the camera. I got a couple of pictures. It took four tries to get all three of them looking at the camera at the same time.

Notice the look Marlee is giving her brothers! :)

This is the only one I got with them all looking at the camera. Sorry Emery for chopping off your head. :(

Sarah, Evan and Marlee went shopping with me while Emery was in school. We found some fabric for my dress for Katie's wedding. It is rose colored crepe backed satin. Very pretty. We also found some embroidered organza for the babies dresses. If I remember, when I get them made next month I'll post pictures. They are going to be so darn cute!

After leaving Sarah's on Wednesday, I drove to Green River, Wy. Laura's baby was being blessed. That was a very short visit. I was concerned about driving home in the dark by myself. I tend to sleep when in the car, driving or not, and I was concerned about animals being in the road. It was a good drive home. No animals where they shouldn't be and I didn't get sleepy! :)

Makayla, Ellie and Kimberly

I haven't posted pictures for so long I hope I can figure this out. I spent 5 days at Laura's helping with house work, meals, laundry and kids when they would let me. I got some pretty fun pictures of the girls.

This is Kimberly.
See how long her body is? She was only 17 1/2" at birth. Most of that is her torso.

Sleeping on grandma's chest. :)

Here's a picture of all three of the girls together.

Laura had to take Kimberly for a PKU test on Monday. While she was gone, Makayla, Ellie and I decorated Gingerbread Men. The girls had so much fun.

This is baby Kimmy all dressed up to go outside.

Some of the pictures are rather dark. I didn't think I needed my flash. Apparently I did. :(

Another New Granddaughter!

Kimberly Paige was born today at 12:23 p.m. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 12 oz. and is 17 1/2" long. Mom and baby are doing fine.

As soon as I get pictures, I'll get them posted.

Last Week's Visit

I failed to post pictures of Sarah's children. Their family came to visit last weekend. It was nice to have them here and fun to love on the grandchildren.

Emery, Evan, Marlee

Surprise Visit

This morning I got a phone call from Laura. She wanted to know if it was ok if she and the little girls came over for lunch. I told her absolutely. They arrived around 12:15 and I had lunch ready. We sat and ate. The girls ate several popscicles. They played, we visited, got hugs and took pictures of them waving and blowing kisses for grandpa because he was at work. They left to go home around 5:30. It was a nice day. Thanks for the visit. I was really needing a granddaughter fix. :)

Makayla blowing kisses and waving to grandpa.

Ellie, with a ketchup covered face, waving and blowing kisses to grandpa.

VACATION/REUNION Days 3, 4 and 5

Day 3 of the vacation/reunion was July 4th. We started the day by having a group breakfast of breakfast burritos. They usually go over well and are easy to do. After the clean up we parted to do our own thing for awhile. Eugene, Liz and I drove up to the highest point in the park. Kasey, Laura and girls followed along. Eugene and Liz wanted to hike to the top of the knoll. Makayla didn't want to be left behind, nor did Kasey and Laura. I stayed behind with Ellie and we wondered the gift shop and visitor's center. We went back to camp to start lunch/dinner, also known as linner. The kids had requested a dutch oven dinner. We cooked chicken and potatoes. It was a big hit. Here's a picture of Eugene cooking. :)

He really did do most of the cooking. He was resting while it cooked. :)

Here's a couple of pictures of Grandpa and Ellie. Ellie LOVES her grandpa!!!

The next pictures are of Grandpa and Ellie coming back from one of their many walks.

Here is a picture of Shawn playing football with Makayla while waiting for the food to cook.

After we ate our fabulous dutch oven meal, we went into Estes Park for some family fun. We went to this great fun park. We rode bumper boats, bumper cars, go carts, some of us played mini golf and others went to the batting cages. It was great fun. I didn't have my camera so I have no pictures. Makayla went on the bumper boats and the go carts twice with Katie. I think she had fun. She liked the mini golf too. After the fun park we found a grassy spot, spread out our blankets and settled in to watch the fireworks.

On Saturday we went on a tour of the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. It is a haunted hotel. The ghost hunters have been there and have determined it is haunted. The Stanley Hotel is the hotel from Steven King's The Shining. Following are some pictures of "ghosts". We didn't see them, but they showed up on our pictures. See the white orb on the ceiling? Weird! (click on the pictures to enlarge)
The hotel is beautiful and the history is facinating!

After the tour, Eugene, Liz and I went back to tour more of RMNP. There is an alluvial fan that we went to see. It was caused by a dam failure. Here is a picture of the creek that runs through it and a picture of Liz sitting on a huge rock that was deposited when the dam failed.

On Sunday we packed up and left for home. It was a very nice vacation and reunion. I figure the reunion was a success because there were no fights, no one blew up at anyone, and we all left friends. :) Our next reunion will be May of 2009 at Lake Tahoe for Katie and Shawn's wedding.

VACATION/REUNION Days 1 and 2

What a whirlwind the past two weeks have been. We left on July 1st for a family reunion for just our immediate family. We stopped in Logan for my check-up with the oncologist. Cancer markers are good. Don't have to return until November. We then drove to Ogden to visit Sarah's family. When we left Ogden we met up with Lizzie at the Rodizio Grill at Trolly Square in SLC. We had a fabulous dinner. It was great! We spent the night at Lizzie's. Wednesday morning Lizzie picked Katie up at the airport and we headed for Colorado and Rocky Mountain National Park. On our way through Wyoming we stopped in Green River and met up with Laura's family. Katie and Lizzie drove on ahead. We arrived at Rocky Mountain National Park in mid afternoon. We pitched tents and cooked dinner. Charlie and Michelle arrived around 3:30 a.m. They drove up from Texas. Sarah's family weren't able to attend because of the arrival of their 2 week old baby girl.

This is Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). It is MUCH smaller than our Bear Lake. We were able to walk around it. Makayla and Michelle throwing rocks in the lake. Laura watched her throw and then said, "Oh dear! She throws like a girl." A passing tourist said, "Imagine that!" We all laughed! Sorry Michelle! I cut off your head! AAAHHH!!!Laura, Kasey, Makayla and Ellie at Bear Lake.

Charlie and Michelle at Bear Lake.

Eugene, Charlie, Makayla, and me.

Laura helping Ellie touch the water in the lake.

Katie and Lizzie are absent from these pics because they drove into Denver to pick-up Shawn, Katie's fiance, from the airport. He flew in from Michigan.

We later drove into Estes Park to pick up some food items we didn't have room for when we left home. The following is a picture of our impromptu picnic in the Safeway parking lot in Estes Park. Weren't they nice to provide grass and trees in the parking lot for our picnic?

Actually you only get to see a picture of Grandpa and Ellie. That's all I have of our picnic in the parking lot. Ellie wasn't a happy camper. While walking around the lake earlier in the day, I was carrying Ellie on my shoulders and holding onto her hands and wrists so she wouldn't fall off. She pulled back and partially dislocated her left elbow. She has what is called "Nurse Maid's Elbow". It comes out quite easily but a dr. has to put it back in. We ended up at the ER before the day was over because Ellie was very unhappy and in pain. Sorry Ella Belle! :( She was much happier after her elbow was put back into place.

Eugene, Charlie and Kasey left from here to go into Denver for a Rockies game. They met up with Katie, Shawn and Liz. It was very late when they got back to camp. Laura, Makayla, Ellie, Michelle and I stayed behind and shopped in Estes Park. It was fun. It was probably a good thing we did since we ended up taking Ellie to the ER. What's vacation without one visit to the ER or a clinic? A lot less adventurous!

Aunt Liz with Emery, Evan and Baby Marlee

Here's a picture of our new granddaughter with her brothers and with Aunt Lizzie. It was taken at the hospital on the day she was born. Emery is 4 and is in the solid green T. Evan is 2 1/2 and is in the striped green T.

New Granddaughter!

Marlee Ruth was born this morning at 11:52 a.m. She weighed 7 lbs 7 oz and was 20 in. long. She has a little bit of hair that Sarah said looks like it might be red. Mom and baby are doing great. Dad is still on cloud 9. He wanted a daughter. I'll post pictures when I get down to see Marlee.

A side note. My maternal grandmother's name was Ruth. :)

Tardy Baby!

Sarah is now 39 weeks and still has not had her baby. She has carried this baby 7 weeks longer than Emery and 3 weeks longer than Evan. She is so miserable. She went to the dr. today thinking she would be induced tomorrow. Nope! They can't get her in until Sunday. So, Sunday, June 22nd, Sarah will be induced to have her third and final baby. I pray all goes well for her and the little one!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMERY!

Well, I'm a bit late wishing Emery a happy fourth birthday. He turned 4 yesterday. The city where he lives had Washington Terrace Days yesterday. There was a parade and fireworks. His mom told him the fireworks were for his birthday. He probably didn't think that was very cool because the fireworks scare both him and his brother, Evan. Poor little guys! As soon as Sarah has her baby the boys will be coming here to stay with Grandma and Grandpa for a few days. That will be fun!

Sarah's Text

I got a text from Sarah tonight. She said she took her last stop-the-contraction pills (Terbutaline) tonight. That means we should get a new grandchild soon. With Evan, her second child, the day she quit taking the pills her water broke and Evan was born the next morning. She will be 36 weeks on Wednesday and has been taking the pills since week 27. She will be so glad to get this baby here. Will post when the baby arrives, hopefully with pics.

Memorial Day Visit

We had a visit today from Laura, Kasey, Makayla and Ellie. It was lots of fun. They came to have a barbeque, but it was raining so we cooked inside. The girls wanted to watch a movie so we put Phantom of the Opera in the DVD player on the computer and they sat on Grandpa's lap and sang along.

Both girls got their clothes dirty. They didn't bring any extras so they wore Grandma's t-shirts while their clothes got washed. There dad said they looked like Star Wars characters. :)

We had a great day! Thanks for the visit!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAKAYLA!!!

Today is our oldest granddaughter's 4th birthday! Happy Birthday Makayla!! We wish we could come see you, but both Grandpa and Grandma have to work. We hope you have a wonderful day and that you had a great time at the zoo yesterday!! We love you!!!

From the Mouths of Babes part 2

Sarah called me on Tues to tell me what Emery said. Eric is painting the kitchen. He had painted a swatch on the wall to see the color. Emery walked in the kitchen and said, "Oh no! What did you do?" Sarah said it was like listening to herself. She told Emery that it was ok. Momma told daddy to paint the walls. Emery then said,"You better get that cleaned up."

Last week Sarah took the old Kenmore sewing machine to Wimmers in Logan to get it serviced before I take it up to Katie. When she got out to the car, Emery asked where the sewing machine was. Sarah said she left it there to get fixed. He asked if it was broken. Sarah told him not really but that it was going to get checked out before Grandma took it to Katie. She said he flipped out. He said, "NO! Grandma can't take it to Katie! We need it to make costumes!" Sarah told him she had another sewing machine that could make costumes. Emery said,"No! We need that one." He was quite upset.

I got an email from Katie today that she got from Laura. I'll just cut and paste because Laura is much better at telling the story than I.

Makayla has been missing you a lot since you called the other night. Tonight she said to me, "I think I need to go see Katie." Since we have 2 babysitters named Katie, I asked her, "Who's Katie?"
"You know, Katie. Your sister."
"Do you know my sister Katie?"
"Yes. My sister is Ellie and your sister is Katie." (She's really starting to understand the concept of family relations.)
"That's Right! But we can't see her today. It's too far away."
"It's not far away. It's just in Washing."
"Oh, Baby, Washington is far, far away."
"But I want to go to Washing to see my Katie!"
I didn't tell her that grandpa & grandma are going next week. Then she really would be begging to go! Hope you have fun when they are there.

Yesterday Makayla found a dime in her pocket. She said to her mom, "Look! I found a baby quarter in my pocket."

I know all grandparents think their grandchildren are the cutest, but I KNOW ours are the cutest of all. :)

Lunch Guests

Just after 8 yesterday morning I got a call from Laura asking me if I would like to have lunch with them. I said yes and asked where she wanted to eat lunch. She said at your house. :) Even better. I sat down and got my work done for the day and then fixed some lunch. Well, really just reheated some lunch. We had leftover Easter dinner. It was only leftover for me though. I cut up some strawberries because I know the girls love them.
Laura stayed long enough so Grandpa could see the girls when he got home from work. He was pretty surprised.
Ellie discovered angel food cake. I let her have a little bit and then she kept going back to where the plate was and asking for more. One time I walked into the kitchen when Laura was holding Ellie. She wanted to come to me, so I took her. Then she signed "eat" and said "cake". It was pretty funny. She was asking me because Laura had just told her no. I called Grandpa into the kitchen and told him he could earn some huge points with Ellie if he fed her some cake. So, he sat down at the table with the cake and a fork. Ellie sat in the booster seat at the table next to him and ate cake. He fed her two pieces of cake! (equivalent to 1/6th of a cake) She gets this little buda belly after she eats. You should have seen her belly last night after eating cake! Grandpa earned his points. Ellie blew him a kiss (she only blows kisses and is very stingy with them) and offered a cheek for a hug when they left to go home. That is huge for Ellie Belle. It was adorable.

Makayla loves Phantom of the Opera. She found the piano book for Phantom songs in the piano bench and was so excited. She carried it around singing the songs. She also watched the movie twice. I had to add a tie to Ellie's Easter dress. Makayla wanted to help me. I was worried about her getting her fingers too close to the needle on the sewing machine. She was very good and kept them a safe distance, but she still thought she was helping Grandma fix Ellie's dress. When Laura left to run an errand, Makayla wanted some strawberries. I asked her if she wanted cream with them. She grinned and said yes. I got the spray whipped cream out of the fridge and put some on her plate. She ate that with her strawberries and asked for more. I told her she could have one more spray and that's all cause I didn't want to get in trouble with her mom. She said ok. I gave her another cloud of whipped cream on her plate and she ate up the rest of the strawberries. (Sorry, Laura, but she loves cream!)

From the Mouths of Babes

I watched Sarah's boys while she took Eric to the hospital for orthoscopic surgery. The boys are soooooo full of life! Makes a grandma tired in a big hurry! Emery is such a talker. Here are a few things he said while I was there.

I was working on a blessing dress for Sarah's new baby, if she happens to have a girl. Emery wanted to know what I was making. I showed him and in delight he said, "Oh! That's just like mine." Like the boy has a dress. :)

I was telling Emery that when his daddy got home he would need crutches to help him walk because he wouldn't be able to walk on his hurt foot. He looked at me a bit puzzled, jumped down off the chair and said, "No, he can walk. You just go like this. You put this foot here and this foot here. See?" He was showing me how to walk. I guess he didn't get the concept of crutches.

I talked to Emery about keeping his toys picked up so daddy wouldn't fall. I talked to him more about crutches and drew a picture of what they look like. I told him how his daddy would use them. He asked me to draw another one. So I did. When I drew the pad that goes under the arm, he said, "Look Grandma! You drew a banana." I looked at it and decided that I had drawn a banana. :)

Lizze was there and the two of us took the boys to the park. I was pushing Evan in the swing. I asked him if he could see his house. He looked down the street and said, "Ya. Hi house!" and then started to wave at the house. :)

I asked Emery if he could see his house. He said, "No, it's not time to go home." I guess I got told.