On their way to Happily Ever After

60 years!

Grandma & Grandpa celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary yesterday, May 15, 2010. Sixty sounds like a looooong time!!! I love my grandparents. My family has been extremely blessed with a wonderful heritage. This includes Mom & Dad and both sets of grandparents, Travis' Mom & Dad and both sets of grandparents, and on back many generations.

About 4 1/2 years ago, we bought Grandma Carolyn & Grandpa Max's house from them. Because of their generosity we were able to add on a guest house for them to live in and have been enjoying amazing neighbors ever since. I have borrowed many baking dishes, recipes, and ingredients over the last few years! My neighbors really know how to beautify a home as well. Grandpa plants everything from snapdragons, to bell peppers.

Grandma & Grandpa at the High School Prom

But more than that, it has been a choice and precious few years because we have really grown close to my grandparents in a way that we could not have had we lived farther away. I love them deeply and appreciate their good influence on neighbors, friends, and my family.

Grandma is so supportive and kind, yet funny and adventurous. She says that she wants to go skydiving soon! She loves to attend kids' and grand kids' and occasionally great-grand kids' performances, activities, etc. She is a great cook and shares her secrets with me. She takes care of Grandpa with tenderness. She knows and loves the gospel. She has a heart of gold. She is a hard worker. She always has a hug and an ice cream cone if you need it!

Grandpa is good and loyal. He is smart (especially in the computer dept.) and is always willing and happy to help. He loves to show the kids his garden and the miracle of life that it produces. He loves the kids and always has either a kind compliment or a teasing comment to make. Oh and of course he will have to get in some tickles too! He has a great laugh. I love to hear it. He is a softy down deep and cherishes his wife. He enjoys telling stories of days gone by. I could listen to him relate story after story and not get tired of it.

Grandma & Grandpa end of 2009

I feel much gratitude for the chance to know them and for the closeness I feel. I will always be grateful for the influence they have had on so many and it continues to be felt. I am thankful that they raised their kids with love and by faith. I am glad that my kids know them and are connected to their great-grandparents in a special way. The visits next door are precious, however frequent!

A few more things not to be forgotten: skittles at church, swords and boots, setting off the alarm, stories of treasure hunts, dancing, rope swinging, lifesavers, fudgesicles & ice cream, canning peaches, restoring anything that I accidentally erase, rope drawings, trees, grass & the pool, slugs & beer, pepper spray, snickle fritz, leaving the water on, Tyler's chair, bbqs, basketball, the dogs, pepto bismol, loosing Grandma a time or two, loosing the keys, loosing the dogs, pioneer skirts, the hugs and kind words, and many other good times!

Sixty years and a wonderful legacy... Love you both!

Mother's Day Flowers

A surprise breakfast made while I slept in (if sleeping until 6:30 counts!!), handmade cards, being with Travis all morning on a Sunday!, and my favorite: a very special bouquet of flowers. Mother's Day is a special day for me.

Being a woman has been a great blessing to me. I remember when I was a child. I wished I was a boy so that I wouldn't have to bear children! That sounded scary and painful. But, now I know that it is a great privilege to be a woman and to be a mother. Huge responsibility but tremendous blessing!

It is difficult to put into words how I feel about the wonderful women in my life. They are a powerful force for good. I join with so many others in celebrating the lives of those women who have dedicated their lives to loving and teaching their children. I can't forget those who have not had the chance to become mothers yet, but still have a "mother heart", showing compassion for the children in their lives. They love and inspire those around them.

Thank you TJ, Natalie, Elaina, Tyler, and Lydia for making Mom the best job ever! And thank you Travis for your support and encouragement that never fail me.

Father & Sons = Girl Time!

Travis, T.J. & Tyler went off for a couple of days for our church's annual Fathers & Sons Outing. Well we decided that when the boys are away, the girls get to play!

I took Natalie and Elaina out of school a couple of hours early and we headed downtown.

In downtown Mesa, Main Street has some pretty awesome statues that we had to go check out. Elaina's favorite was a sight to see! It was the farmer and his wife (the one with the pitch fork) and it was enormous. I am guessing that this colossal work of art is 30 feet tall. Impressive to say the least. I wish I could take amazing pictures that would do it justice.

I found out after I took the picture that Natalie was going for the "stepped on" look. She cracks me up sometimes! I wonder what size shoe this woman wears.

I wanted to post a few more fun pictures of these great statues. . .

The reading girl was Natalie's and my favorite. I love everything about it. She is engrossed by this wonderful story, love the crossed legs, the detail in her hair and face, and of course, it is really great that you can sit by her and enjoy the book too.

I had a really fun time walking down Main with the girls. I love art that brings so much pleasure to so many!

When we got home, we took Lydia swimming. It was all I could do to keep her in my arms. She is going to love the pool!

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Day 2

More girl time. We rented a movie the girls hadn't seen. It is one that I loved as a little girl and I couldn't resist. We watched this (just the first one):

While we did this:

and this:

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I don't do much fancy-ing up around here because I have never been too good at it and it was never that important to me. But, the girls just loved it!!! Of course, the nails had to be multi-colored : ) By the way, as I was painting Natalie's, I admit that I was doing a little inner cheer for the Suns!

We have never done hot curlers before and it was a hit as well! In fact, we had so much fun that we were totally exhausted by the afternoon. At one point I couldn't find Elaina. After much searching, I came upon this:

Asleep at the piano! Too funny : )

I have to include one of my favorite quotes from the girls this weekend:
Elaina: "Mom, I just love your cactus legs!"
When it is girl time, who needs to shave!

Love my girls! I hope the boys had a great time too. Maybe I can convince Travis to do a Father's & Sons once a month!

My Chunky Monkey

Lydia and I met a friend at the splash park today. She hasn't been in a swimming suit in just under a year (she turns 1 in a couple of weeks!). I just love how cute she is!


What is it about baby chubs that is so stinking adorable? I can't get enough of it. I feel sorry for those out there with skinny babies! You are really missing out!

Lydia loves to be outside. She can really move it too! No fear, nothing holding her back. This mama is preparing herself for an experience like she hasn't had before. I am really going to have to keep my eye on this one!

Isn't she just so squeezable?? Why isn't it as cute on me? Oh well . . .

I love how this picture turned out. Soon, the chubby days will pass. She is growing up so fast. Let it linger just a bit longer.