What a great weekend!

Well, my laptop is broke and I find myself behind on my blog, because Jeff and I both are sharing the computer. So tonight I will play catch up a bit.
I hope someday when my children and grandchildren look back at this blog that they will feel ....loved, appreciated, happy, inspired and grateful. Because that is what I am totally trying to do with writing it. It is about life, it is about the lessons we all learn in life. It is about love, friendship, family and faith.
I feel like in my life, I have been blessed by so many of you! I have been blessed to have an incredible family and now to have grandchildren...is quite the BONUS! I love the fresh look they give to my life. It truly makes me want to slow down more, listen more, play more and love more. And that's what we did this weekend, when we had Jenny for her 2 Day Sleep Over!

Jenny is quite a funny personality. She laughs a lot and even in the morning, after coming into my bed and talking about ... everything, she still keeps me laughing.

She had a huge imagination and loves pretending with her stuffed animals. Here are her puppies going to the book store she said! I love waking up to this smile!

After she helped Poppa in the garage ( while he was working on his motorcycle ), we had dinner and then went to Menchies ...for Frozen Yogurt, it's a tradition when the girls come over!

It is her favorite place she said!

She and Poppa were laughing at each other, because each of them got a Brain Freeze!
This girl doesn't leave her Poppa's side for very long! She keeps him laughing too!

Then because it was Saturday night, we went to the store to pick up a few things before the Sabbath, and look what we found outside of Trader Joes...more fun photo props!

"As soon as I saw you, I knew a Grand Adventure was about to happen" ~ Winnie the Pooh

Oh Jenny, we love you so much! Thanks for bringing such a fun, innocent and fresh outlook on life to Nana and Poppa this weekend. Can't wait till next time!

What a weekend!

How grateful that we got to watch the girls for the weekend. Our big concern was how Miss Audrey would do, she has never done a Sleep Over yet! But Saturday when she woke up she yelled for us to come get her "Nana! Pappa!" as I went in, I said " who is in here?" her response "It's Audrey Nana, I did Sleep Over!" She was so excited, she had to come in the living room and tell her success to Jenny and Poppa! Yeah!                                                                                                        

Then we did chores! She loved doing the dishes!

Then we had to make some delicious pretend Christmas cookies!

Then since it was pouring and cold outside, we decided to do some Elf stuff! Of course we had to wash the table, set up some cute signs and then got making some fun Christmas gifts for their friends and cousins! Can't you just see us in our jammies all day and hear the Christmas music throughout the house? So much fun!!!

Then we watched a Christmas movie and got their clothes ready for church tomorrow! Church went ok...Audrey doesn't necessarily sit still too well, so I am glad that Jeff and I were there to tag team her. 

Then after we took the girls home, we got to do some face time with Kai, he wanted to show his cousins where his Christmas elf was when he woke up yesterday! Too cute!

After that we watched the First Presidency Christmas message, it is one of our favorite Christmas traditions.You can watch it HERE:

So grateful I remembered to to bring my new afghan that I am crocheting!

All in all...what a wonderful weekend it was!

Perfect Day!

Today is Labor Day, and so Poppa was off today to be with us. Our neighbors were kind enough to offer us some apples from their apple trees. Jenny was so excited to go pick some with her Poppa!



In just 20 minutes or so they got a bucket full! Then of course we had to make a pie or something from these amazing apples!

We decided to make Jenny's Dad an apple pie, not just any apple pie but a Salted Carmel Apple Pie. Apple is his favorite kind of pie! She sure loves her Daddy!

Next we started with Sewing Lessons next, My friend and I got this sewing machine for us to take to our Sewing Classes that we are going to start teaching on the 22nd at a friend's home in Woodinville. It is a small machine, but perfect for Jenny... and also perfect for traveling sewing classes.

She did a really great job and was determined to stick with it until she figured it out!

Then the rest of the day Jenny hung out with Poppa in the garage. She loves being with her Poppa. She even wanted to wear his motorcycle helmet to dinner! :)

After dinner we took Jenny to Menchies for some Frozen Yogurt. The perfect ending of a perfect Sleep Over Day!

"The soul is healed by children every day!"

Good Night dear friends!

Let's try this again!

The last time Angie was going to do a 5 day Sleep Over, she only got to stay 3 days and all 3 days she was pretty sick. So we waited till she had another break from school to plan another one, then I got pneumonia and we had to cancel. Now that it is Summer, we decided to try it again while we are both healthy! :)
She was so excited, she said good bye to her Mom and sisters and we were on our way. In the car she said " You know Nana, it feels like I can still hear Audrey yelling", probably because she was yelling when they left the store where we were at! I had to laugh!

 1st thing we did was hit up the craft store in Monroe Ben Franklin's. We found some real deals at the Tent Sale. We got Angie this Paint by number set, she said she has never done one before. They are pretty tiny spaces, but this girl has had a crayon, pen, pencil or paint brush in her hand since she was little, so I thought she could handle it.

 And I was right, just an hour or so of practicing, she had it down. Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I still think I have a picture of all my kids doing the very same thing, and my Mom said I did too!

Look at that face, that is the face of a Happy Artist...if I have ever seen one!

Then we had dinner on the deck (her favorite place  to eat ) in the summer time. Poppa took us to Menchies for frozen yogurt...yum!

After we got back, she helped Poppa wash his motorcycle... (he is going on a trip tomorrow) so she spent the rest of the evening by his side. I love to listen to her conversations with him! :)

After the bike was all clean, she asked Poppa if she could get on and take a spin on it? Well, at least take a picture with her on it ...like she is riding it! She can't wait till she is big enough to ride with him. She sure loves her Poppa!

This poem could certainly be about Jeff!

" I like to walk with Poppa
...His steps are short
Like mine.

He doesn't say...
"Now hurry up!"
He always takes his time
Most people have to hurry...
they do not stop and see.
I'm glad that
God made Poppa...

'Unrushed and young like me!

Have to head to bed... because tomorrow is Day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas at work, and Day 2 of our Sleep Over! I am going to need my rest for that!

Good Night dear friends!

Happy Birthday!

Today is Jeff's Birthday! I am very grateful that years ago... this boy from Michigan just happen to be visiting in West Virginia so... that this girl could meet him!

Here is a photo of us for our 1st Christmas card ( I was pregnant with Amy ...just barely.)

I am so excited that we have had this time together as Empty Nesters. We started our family early so we didn't have a lot of time together as Newly Weds...so this time has been a real treat!
He has turned out to be an amazing Dad, and now an even better Grandfather ( Poppa )!

Here is some photos of Amy and Jeff when she was born, turning one, showing a T -shirt we made to say she was goin to be a Big Sister and then one when she was Three! She still looks the same but without those cute bangs! :)

He may be getting a bit older but...he has always been young at heart!

Hope you know how much we love you Jeff! 

And we hope you have the best year ever!

Happy Father's Day! 2014

We got a new printer and I haven't learned how to scan on it yet, but glad that the kids have a few photos of their Dad! I have said this more than one time, but Jeff is absolutely a Better Dad and Poppa than I could have ever dreamed of!  He loves his kids and grand kids so much. What I am grateful for is his example to them. He not only teaches them but shows them by how he lives. He is a Dad that anyone would be proud to have. How blessed we are to have him in our lives!  We love you Jeff, Happy Father's Day!

Jeff never misses an  opportunity to have fun with his kids!

Daddy's first little girl! Ok, big girl Amy Marie!

Happy Father's Day to Brad! Can't believe my boy is now a Dad but he is doing an incredible job. Kai is blessed to have you. Love ya!

Happy Father's Day to John,
John has his job cut out with him with 3 little red heads ( well now 2 red heads and a strawberry blonde ), but he is so patient and good with them. How blessed their lives will be to have such a great Dad! Happy Father's Day John!


To the man who keeps us all together!

Our family is growing fast. Love you Jeff, Dad and Poppa!