Oh My Gosh

My Blog is Possessed. I have been trying to add a post since Friday night. I have ended up with three Google Accounts, but I actually think that now all three have the same password. I am kind of proud of my self that through trial and error I went in and cleared my cookies from the past week and here I am. Holy Hannah!

Lorraine and Tina arrived on Friday night. I can't possibly put into words how wonderful it was to be together. How is it even possible that friendships are so wonderful and glorious. We haven't seen each other for two years and it was just like yesterday that we were together. The weather here could not have been more perfect. Not too hot. That is all I could have asked for.

Saturday morning we visited Brigham Young's home. I've never been. Most of the furnishing were period pieces, but there were some authentic pieces placed about the home.

 This is a mulberry tree that Brigham Young planted while he lived here. The trunk split in the 1970s.

This is the china used while Brigham Young lived here.

This is the every day ware. They would put boiling water in the large plates and place the smaller plates full of food to rest in it to keep the food warm. No microwaves in those days.

This is Amelia's travel chest. It was built larger than others in that day. Also rounded on the top so nothing could be set on it. So it was placed on the wagon last and removed first when thy arrived.

This is Amelia's nurse's cap and peacock feather fan.

Brigham Young's chair. He was BIG.

The table was used by Brigham Young. He played games at the table with his grandchildren.

Next we went to Jacob Hamblin's home.

This room was used for school, community and church meetings.

This chair was made of cow hide.

He provided lodging for people passing through.

Next stop was the Tabernacle. The chairs came from the Salt Lake Temple in the 1950s.

This is the pulpit that Lorenzo Snow received his revelation about paying tithing.

After this, we went out to the parking lot and found I had locked my keys in the car. Luckily our lunch plans were at a restaurant right up the block. I had left my cell phone at work so it took three calls to Fred before he decided to pick up because he didn't recognize the number. By then we had finished lunch and were walking to the Temple. The weather was perfect thank goodness. We went through some of the displays at the visitor's center. Once Fred arrived to the Visitor's Center to deliver my keys, we headed home.

We went to the Tuachan outdoor theatre to see Disney's When You Wish a new Musical. It was fantastic and the weather was just right. Just got "sweater" cool about the last 1/2 hour.

Sunday was church and my ward represented themselves very well. People talked us up good and were friendly. No embarrassing testimonies and we had a really good Gospel Doctrine and Relief Society Lesson. A good church day. We went to a concert in the evening that was across the street from the Temple in the grass at a church building. It was songs about the temple performed by a Primary choir and sister missionaries and then a family that performs celtic music on violin, guitar, harp and a drum of some kind.

 I asked Lorraine to make homemade bread for dinner. I made Lorraine and Tina aprons as a thank you gift for coming to see me. Isn't this a great picture of them! I love it and them too!

 

I took work off on Monday. We went to Charming Charlies (jewelry, accessories) to shop. We tried the used book store first, but it was closed. Spent some good time in the store and bought some fun stuff. After lunch at Kneaders, we went to the movie to see Woman in Gold. It was really good. We recommend it!

Grocery shopping and then home to hang out the rest of the day.

This morning it was time to say goodbye.

I can't believe they have come and gone already. I have been anticipating their trip here for weeks and weeks. It could not have been a more perfect time together. 

My friends, sisters forever!

Because I want to

Being a grandma is definitely complicated at times.

For instance, I have all these darling photos that Shannon is so good to send to me.

They really just bring such a big smile to my face and truly make me happy to look at.

I want to post them for several reasons.

 

1. Simply to have them posted on my blog forever.

2. To share with my friends because I think they are so cute.

3. Because it's my blog and I can do what I want.

 

The reasons that make it complicated.

 

1. I have more than two children who presently have children.

2. I get updated pictures from Shannon more often than Corinne.

3. Shannon has my only granddaughter so far.

4. I don't want to show favoritism.

5. I want to spread myself evenly between my children and grandchildren.

 

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!

 

So please enjoy those photos simply because they are so cute.

I love all my children and grandchildren.

 

This little dress is one that we bought for Shannon while we lived in Japan back in 1986. It is a little bit big, but who cares. Look at those little pigtails? 

 This is Mima with her "Suzie" blanket. Suzie Webb made it and she LOVES IT.

Obviously it goes everywhere with her.

 Mima is finally getting her little girl on.

 See what I mean! Princess and girly stuff. I'm so excited!

 

Happy Days

Shannon sent me these pictures with the following descriptions.

To me the Mom, this was a milestone report.

So many of us have been trying to reassure Shannon for years now, that it would get better.

Here is proof.

 

 Here are some photos from our weekend. First is a few from our Saturday train ride.

 

  Today we went to an indoor play place called Monkey Bizness. We spent 2 hours there, got our hands stamped, and went back for another hour after nap time. The kids loved it. Buddy would run past me, stop in his tracks, say "I having fun Mommy" and then run off. They had bounce houses and slides and climbing obstacle courses. Buddy's dream come true, and Mima was a giggly giddy running machine.We could hardly get them to hold still long enough to be only mildly blurry.

 

 

Sunday afternoon I made some playdough and it was a surprising hit.

 

 

This made me so happy.

I wanted to post it on my blog so I could preserve it for posterity.

My Friends Are Coming!!!!

 

 

Well, technically not ALL of my friends.

 

Lorraine & Tina are coming to visit me.

 

 

17 days......

Happy Birthday Corinne!

Fred and I headed up to see Corinne this Mother's Day Weekend.

Corinne was born on Mother's Day.

I could not have asked for a more beautiful baby.

I felt very special to have a Mother's Day Baby.

Still do.

 

We met Corinne's at the Ogden Temple and she was able to show us around and introduce us to her co-workers. It was good to see where she is everyday and feel how good it feels to be there.

 

We took Corinne to lunch at Kneaders before heading home to greet the rest of the family.

 

After a while, there was a knock on the front door.

There stood my Dad.

He showed up at the Ogden Temple and surprised her as she was in the middle of work.

We didn't know he was coming.

 

We had a nice big dinner together.

After dinner, we brought out our goody bag full of stuff for the boys. We somehow always do that.

Fred picked out activity and dot to dot books and kits to make dinosaurs for the big boys. For Henry we brought a few small books and a set of Matchbox cars. Everyone was very happy with what they received.

Taking pictures of little boys is a challenge. Always a moving target and it's hard to get an expression that isn't crazy!

Henry's set of cars included a helicopter.

The boys took turns choosing which kit they wanted.

There was a little negotiating, but everyone ended up happy.

See...

The boys all got to work putting together their dinosaurs

Sunday morning the kitchen table looked like a garden. Ben took the boys to Lowes for their Kid Project Day. They each made a little flower planter. One for Corinne, Great Grandma Delna & me.

The boys all crowded around their Mom to watch her open her gifts that each had made for her.

This is Spencer's picture of his Mom.

Garrett drew a family tree.

This is a really cute card Spencer made for Corinne. It was nice that he didn't think of making silly faces for these pictures. He was truly proud of his gift.

 He also made his Mom a pencil can. Which, by the way, both Corinne and Ben were very excited about. Apparently, they have been wanting a pencil can on their computer desk for YEARS!

This little railroad engine is battery operated. Henry kept running it against his lips. So he got the black lines on his lips to prove it.

Great Grandpa Burke ready Henry from his new books.

Garrett intently working in one of his new books.

Fred relaxing and Richard working away in his activity book.

We had homemade ice cream for dessert. Lots of yummy toppings and the ice cream was really really good.

Henry was happy with his serving of ice cream.

My Dad was happy with his too!

Next was a Music recital that all participated in. Garrett on the piano.

And, the violin.

After the recital, we Skyped with Scott & Jess and Shannon too. My Dad really was happy to see everyone before he headed back home.

Monday we played Hand and Foot (family favorite card game) with Corinne and Ben. Then met Spencer at the bus stop.

While we started packing up the car, the boys played in the driveway with the sidewalk chalk.

There was a plane overhead, that Henry was pointing at. We all went to Chick Fil A for lunch and then headed home.

This was a really wonderful weekend. It was so good to be able to physically be where Corinne works and lives and attends church. Their new home is so nice. We are so thrilled for them to have so much room to spread out and grow. I really do love watching how she and Ben work together raising their boys and taking care of their home. They are a good team.

Strange things

If you notice anything different with my blog, it's a result of me adding a new email address. I am starting to do some travel agent work with my friend. We created an email address for me to use for my "Travel business". In the process of all this google stuff some  how in the midst of this process, it's gone so far as me messing up my blog.

Of course, it's my fault for getting mixed up somehow. But I think I've got things working again even though I'm not happy with the end result.

All I wanted to do this morning was add this video from our trip to Shannon's with Mima wearing the squeaky shoes I bought her. It's the cutest.