Monday, May 30, 2011

Nature's Beauty

There is just something about spring and all the beauty the surrounds us!  This is a picture from one of the apple trees out in our orchard.  I was even able to capture a little bee busy doing his job.  Sure hope there are lots of apples this year!

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Memorial Weekend 2011

I'm sure our kids and grandkids were thinking it was labor day with all the work they did this weekend!  While Wayne, Daniel and Wyatt were up fixing fences in the field so we can move the cows, TaNeal, Amy, Kenzie, Haylee, Dominic and Tailer were busy planting the garden.  We have been blessed with an amazing family...they are all a bunch of hard workers.

Kenzie, Dominic and Haylee headed back from the field

Amy spent the morning pruning the raspberry
and strawberry patch...nice muscles!!

Then after they got the garden planted, she headed
for the orchard to prune the fruit trees...busy girl!!

Side by side hoeing gets it done twice as fast

Dominic doing what little boys like to do best...
dig in the dirt

Bet you can't guess who the foreman was!!!

Scandinavian Festival 2011

Memorial weekend is also the Scanadinavian Festival in Ephraim...which means swedish meatballs!!  TaNeal and Amy suggested I go down to the festival to pick up lunch for the family while they worked on the garden.  So I took the kids and we headed for Ephraim.  While we were walking up the street with the craft booths, we noticed this viking cutout so we stopped by and snapped this picture...then we headed home to enjoy swedish meatballs with the family.

They told us we were their biggest purchase of the day!!
11 dinners to go

I think Kenzie speaks for us all...YUMMMMMMM!!

Friday, May 27, 2011

In God We Trust

As I was walking out of the school after Wyatt's graduation, I noticed this plaque in a display case.  It seems to have become a statement that people are afraid to make in this country...a country that was founded upon this principle.  Then as I drove past the cemetery to see all the flags flying in memory of those who have served this country, it caused me to stop and reflect on the sacrifices so many men and women have made in my behalf.  This truly is the land of the free because of the brave! Thank you for laying your lives on the line so I can enjoy the freedom I have.  God bless America!!!

6th Grade Graduation

Tis the season for graduations and today was Wyatt's graduation from 6th grade.  It's seems like yesterday he was in kindergarten and now he will be going to the middle school.  Congratulations Wyatt!

Wyatt with his teachers Mr Syme and Mrs. Petersen.
I remember when Lucille use to come and stay at our house when
she was in high school!

It's not everyone 6th grader that will let his mom and sister
plant a kiss on their cheek and let someone take a picture of it!!



Monday, May 23, 2011

Our Baby Boy

It's hard to believe that our baby turns 28 tomorrow!!  I guess that makes me officially OLD!!!  Since we didn't want to intrude on any plans Jason and Krysten had planned for his birthday, we met them tonight to celebrate the big occasion.  Happy Birthday my sweet son...we love you!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Open For Business

This weekend I finally committed to making the trip up to Bear Lake to help open the cabins up for the season.  It just always seemed like a long drive...8 hours round trip...to clean for a couple of hours.  But since I was going to be up in Salt Lake to watch the boys on Thursday and Friday, I decided now would be a good time to pitch in and help.  So after I left Bea and the boys, I headed out to stay with my mom. The morning started out early...up at 5 am to make sure I was ready to leave at 6:30.  Then mom and I piled in with Aunt Lynn and headed for Garden City. 

There has always been something very soothing about the water and just Bear Lake in general.  I've been going up there since I was a little girl...so you could say it's been a long, long, long time.  The calm of the lake, the waves brushing against the shore, the sound of children playing in the water, the midnight dive off the dock in the cold water, throwing tin foil balls up in the air while out in the water in the evenings just to watch the bats dive after them, Coffins corner where you could see the clouds roll in when a storm was coming...all fond memories of not only my childhood but my adulthood as well.  Being able to take my children and grandchildren there each summer and spend time with them...thanks to the wonderful gift left for a short time to the family after my Aunt Dode passed away.  It's sad to think it will all come to an end in 2016.  But we must not think of the distant future, we must concentrate on the joy we will have for the next couple of years and treasure those memories.

Every time I go up to Bear Lake I take these same pictures of the cabins and the boat house.  At first I didn't think things had really changed that much over the years.  But as I looked around this year there are a few things that look different.  The old tree in the back of the main house is only half there and the bushes that separated us from our neighbors are almost gone...just little things.  I guess there is one sure thing about life...there will always be change.  But I can't wait until August when we will once again gather at the cabin with family and create more memories.






Friday, May 20, 2011

Granny Nanny Returns

Brandi and Morgan are getting in the habit of heading to Wendover about every other month, which gives me the opportunity of going up and spending a couple of days with Ian, Damon and Jonas.  Being in Salt Lake gives us lots of opportunities for new adventures, but we always seems to start the time with a trip to Sizzler...which is Damon and Jonas' favorite place to eat.  Then we headed home for some Uno...Damon and Jonas that is...Ian had homework to do, friends to Skype with and WOW to play...sure hope he got his home work done :-)

Now I'm not going to say these two little cuties are "card sharks", but they do know how to play cards!!  As I mentioned the last time I stayed with the boys, when we play cards it's pretty competitive.  I don't have to let them win...they KICK MY BUTT all by themselves!!  We were recapping how many games we had each won.  Damon proudly let us know that he had won 5 and Jonas and I had each won 1...for an added total of 2 games for me and Jonas.  Jonas had this funny look on his face and then he says..."actually it's 11!  1 and 1 are 11!"  I like his thinking!!

Friday was our "adventure" day.  The morning started early with belgian waffles for Ian before we took him to school.  Then we came home and got dressed and headed out to explore.  Our first stop was the Oreck store to pick up bags for Brandi and my mom.  Our next stop was Lambert's green house on Redwood Road.  I remember years ago going there to pick up jet star tomato plants for our garden.  No one in Utah county had any so I thought I would give it a shot...and to my surprise...they were still in business!!  And can you say JACKPOT!!!!  They had tons of them.  We looked around and gathered several other kinds of cherry tomatoes, squash and cucumber plants.

When I asked them where they wanted to go for lunch they both said Subway, so we drove up Redwood until we found one.  I did make a "note to self" that I need to talk to Bea next time to find out what she usually orders them.  Jonas was happy with his turkey on white I ordered for him, while Damon got a little creative with his bacon and pepperoni sammy...but he did eat every bit of it.

Next we traveled to the Draper outlet where Damon informed me that "shopping isn't fun!"  So we made it short and then headed for our main destination...The Living Planet Aquarium.  What awesome stuff!  Damon really liked the stingray pool where you could touch the fish - Jonas on the other hand didn't want anything to do with the fish...he just wanted to play in the water.



Then it was time to head back to Bea's for some sad goodbyes.  Can I just say...AGAIN...how much I love spending time with my grandkids.  They are truely my gift for not killing their mothers when they were little!!  Thanks again Bea for letting my spend time with these three special spirits.



And Thanks Ian for all your help!!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Our Little Dancer

Haylee has been so excited about her dance review.  She loves to dance and perform!!  And she was excited about having another cameo on the family blog.  She did GREAT!!!  The other thing she was really excited about was that she was one of about three students that was able to pass off doing the splits.  Months ago as she was working on it, she asked TaNeal "Do you think Granny will put it on her blog?"  So Haylee...for all you do...this ones for you!!  You look AWESOME!!!

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Pre-school Graduation

Tonight took me to Moroni for Taite's Pre-school graduation.  He has been attending pre-school there since last September on Tuesdays and Thursdays and he has really enjoyed his class and his classmates.  Seated next to him in this picture is his buddy McCoy who he also gets to "hang out" with after school while McCoy's mother Natalie (a total sweetheart!) keeps and eye on him until TaNeal gets home from work.  The class sang several songs...of which "Five Little Monkeys" was my favorite and then each of the kids got to tell what there favorite thing about preschool was.  Taite's favorite thing was "caring and sharing" which his teacher was proud to annouce he came up with all by himself!  Then it was time to hand out the certificate of graduation. Now it's on to kindergarten this fall. Way to go Taite!!

 Taite and Teacher Lori

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Mother's Day 2011


In case you haven't noticed...I really LOVE my kids and grandkids.  Today each of my children took the time to let me know that they love me too.  What a blessing each of them are in my life. Their love and support mean so much to me.  I can't imagine a life without them in it.  And then there are the grandkids that help you realize that the love in a family just grows and grows.  Thank you Brandi, TaNeal, Holly, Amy and Jason for putting up with me all these years and for your unconditional love.  I marvel at what wonderful children you have turned out to be...in spite of who your mother was!  I love you!!!  And thank you for the beautiful grandchildren that bring even more joy into my life.  I am truely blessed!

Birthday Boy


Where Friday was such a busy day and Saturday was full of more baseball and softball games...TaNeal was with Kenzie in Fillmore and Wayne was with Wyatt in Salem...we celebrated Wyatt's big day today.  TaNeal surprised him with a Cold Stone cake personally made by his Aunt Amy!  He asked me if I would make pizza for his big day...for some reason he likes Granny's homemade pizza.  Happy Birthday Wyatt!  We love you.



Friday, May 6, 2011

A Mother's Day Lunch with Mom

Today I met my mom to celebrate Mother's Day a few days early...as you can see, my friend Taite also joined us.  Mom and I don't get to spend a lot of time together where we live so far apart, but for birthdays and Mother's Day I want her to know that she is special to me.  Without her I wouldn't have had the opportunity to experience this earthly adventure.  Thanks Mom for giving me life and for being not only my mom but also my friend.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Next Up...Taite



Taite was so cute when he came over this morning.  Every Wednesday is "Granny Day".  We were watching Dinosaur Train and he looked over and said "Granny...will you come and watch me play today?"  Now how do you say no to that?!  Taite plays on the Mt. Pleasant T-ball team.  I don't know if you have ever had the opportunity to watch a T-ball game, but there are few things as precious as watching these little kids play baseball.  They look like little sheep running around in the herd as they chase after the ball.  Taite was so excited because he actually knew what he was doing and tagged four runners out.  Good job Taite!!



Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Batter Up!


Baseball season is in full swing and tonight was Haylee's first game.  This is her first year where the girls pitch.  She is definately a girlie girl!!  Look at those pink and black shoes and her pink and black mitt!  She had a good hit and then it was off to first base.  She played right field and did a great job!!  Way to go Haylee bug!


Monday, May 2, 2011

Easy Rider


Tonight I talked Randy into going for our "annual" motorcycle ride.  We drove over to Mount Pleasant to visit the Nunleys and take each of the kids for a ride.  As we pulled away to head home, he almost threw me off the back...I wonder if he was trying to dump me?????  I think it's a little late for that!!  Hopefully spring is just around the corner.