Happy New Year!

I just talked to Rob and got his version on the kids' trip to play in the snow. Oh how I wish I could have been there to watch them getting unstuck! Sounded pretty funny! I'm sure he and Stephen are both nursing injured pride as they both supposedly have 4-wheel drive and I do know how these guys love their toys! I hear Mariah got a video so we have some good entertainment for tomorrow!

Brianna just sent this cute picture of the girls. The Maskeys are over at the Hopkins for the "family New Year's Party. Pretty clever boy that Sanford. They are going to watch the ball drop ion NYC for the east coast and call it a night, take the kids home and put them in bed. Now why didn't I think of that?

Bundle Up and Go to Winter Haven!

We all met at Winter Haven and enjoyed the lights. I am so glad that we have family near by and can enjoy these times together. If you live in Tucson and haven't seen this neighborhood, be sure to make it over! You can read all about it on the internet .

Bundle up good ... it is a little nippy!

The kids liked these but not as much as they did in the store .... Go figure!

The princesses were a big hit for the girls!

We finally found a nativity.

Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas preparations as much as I am!!!

Back Tracking

OK, I just got the pics into the computer so that I can put them in. Thanksgiving was a lot of fun. Jon and I went to Mesa the day before so that I could help Charlotte (Jon's sister) with the dinner the next morning. It was a lot of work, but I REALLY enjoyed it. We were able to talk all day long and catch up on so much. I was so glad that I have such great in-laws and can spend time with them, not often enough, but at least can stay in touch in this day and age.

We drove home on Thanksgiving night and got up the next day to more of the same. This time it was just Jon and I and though we were exhausted by that night, it was fun and I am so glad that we could do it. Brianna and Rob arrived first, by quite some time. I really enjoyed just visiting with her, having the girls run in and out and finishing up everything when we weren't in a hurry. so many time when I babysit, I have time constraints and have to take off as soon as she gets home. And of course as soon as they got there and I had other help, the male bonding starts in any other room available ;-). The cannons also joined us so we had lots of fun and excitment. Jan Marie's parents and little sister were also down from Utah, so we got to meet them. Her mom, Susan both worked at Jacxkson Lake Lodge in 1970 but didn't recognize each other. She probably hadn;t changed that much, but as for me ... well ... I hope I looked nothing like this way back then!

I only got a couple of pictures on Thursday, but it was pretty typical of our family gatherings. Women in the kitchen and Stephen outside herding kids. If he is lucky, the Pawlowskis are there and John (our nephew) is outside as well ... makes for good company. John and Stephen have been the good sports for the long haul and I admire that in both of them. We can always depend on them to give the kids a good time, no matter how tired they are. This year Courtney (niece) got out for awhile as well. She took it pretty well when the wild kingdom joined her and their little guy. That can get a little scarey!

Dennis used to take all of the kids to the new holiday movie after dinner. Our kids have great memories of that because it was often the only way they would have seen it before the next go-round through the theaters or home video. As the kids got older and the choices of movies grew up, we started joining them. Now we just sit and talk some more while we try to figure out what to do with ALL the leftovers!

OH ME, OH MY ... HOW TIME DOES FLY!!!

A whole week since the FHE and I haven't made any progress!! Time to light the after burners and get my buns in gear! But first I have to share some cute pics of my grandkids. I have had time with them and it has been so fun.




First we address the "bedhead".
Don't we all wish we were this cute with it?





























Last week when I babysat the girls, we went to Story time at the Bear Canyon Library. Mr. Bill and Miss Amy are so fun. The girls even forgave for misleading them. Santa will not be there until tomorrow. Tati is finally getting more involved and thinks she is pretty big. Ari is excited that she is getting to dance and cuddle her little sister during the stories and activities.

We Survived! Amended and added upon!

This pieced top was donated by a sweet Mesa lady that does this kind of service all the time all the kids were so impressed! I had to admit that I hadn't gome to that much work. Anke"s donated fabric finished it off very nicely.

Well, kids will be kids ... and I know that Jordan's mom would have wanted this posted for all to see! He came home from his mission so tall and grown up in so many ways. It has been fun to get to know him all over again. I am glad that some of the Jordan that we have all known for 16 years has managed to survive. Poor kid, his mom was my VT when we first moved here. When she came to visit me with Jordan in tow, my lazy old golden retriever growled and snapped at him. I was so shocked and sorry. He was just trying to play with her. If any of you know goldens, that is so unusual for them to do that!

Aren't these a great bunch of kids? I love going down to the U1 Ward and soaking up their spirit and life! There are some outstanding young people coming up to take up the work and assume the stewardship of His work in this tired old world. It is a privilege to go and "serve" them ... though the table is often turned. they probably have no clue how they teach us golden oldens!

Jacqueline managed to turn her head in every picture. such a talent. I may have to warn her than when I don't get your face, I get a shot of the "best" side! She was so funny. Sat down and got those guys right to work tying up the quilt I thought would be the hardest to pull yarn through. Wonder how many of them would be up fortying quilts on New Year's Day if the games are all on in the room?!?!?!

Some of the girls have offered ... if they don't have to listen to the games. Sounds like it's time to teach them a lesson I took way too long to learn ... if you will watch ... you will get to spend time with those yahoos!!

I just learned a good lesson in not talking too soon. We got up to the Stake Center and realized I had left ALL of the needles at home. I had to dump on Jon and run home because he didn't know what to look for. Fortunately, these were Mormon kids and they arrived right on time, MST, so Jon didn't have too much time to fill before I got back. Later, I found out that they waited until they got a few kids there, then had the opening prayer and sang all of the verses of the opening song. He was explaining about what the Giving Tree was when I got back.

I have worked so hard to not get nervous or uptight. On the way home we realized that we were thinking high school age kids and forgetting that these were young adults who could take an assignment and get right to work on it. the guys were pretty cute and seemed to enjoy the project. I got some good pics and will post them as soon as I find the right cable to fit a new, smaller camera. I know that it is here somewhere and those who know me know the rest of that story!

Time for Grandma'ing. I'm excited to get to work on those projects!!!

Oops! Broke with tradition ... ?!?!

I have the quilts ready, refreshments done, game stuff in, handout almost finished and I have another 1 1/2 hour to get to Stake Center. What a great feeling ... What's funny is I am too calm and it seems to be making poor Jon nervous. Maybe this should become the new tradition, it's kind of fun! (watching him squirm)

Almost time to be Grandma Christmas!

We had a fun time celebrating Tatianna's birthday on Saturday. She was pretty excited, I hear well into the night! All of the cousins are pretty wild when they get together and make lots of noise for the poor people downstairs from Rob and Brianna. She showed her totally girliness when she opened up new clothes from Aunt Mariah (go figure!).

Today I just need to make refreshments for Family Home Evening with the University 1 kids. We are tying quilts for the Giving Tree, an organization that helps families get back onto their feet. They have 4 homes and are in the process of acquiring one more. One home is even designated for single dads raising kids on their own. Getting to know them has really added to my holiday joy this year.

Starting tomorrow I am devoting myself to my own family & decorating my home. I can't let my paganisms go completely, Jon wouldn't have anything to grumble about! That does seem to be our holiday tradition ... I go overboard, get stressed, he gets dragged into it trying to remind me that it is CHRISTmas ... great fun. Then on Christmas Eve we kiss and make up, sleep in on Christmas morning ... oops, did I really just admit that? I can hardly wait! I actually have my plans made! I may even have most of my supplies already, hope so!

This cake just looks like my house right now!

She's Home!

Arianna is home and doing well. I hear she is quite the little entertainer when getting groggy. Daddy says that she is gradually looking better, other than looking like she went a round with Holyoak! Jon had a friend that had crossed eyes that were never able to be corrected. Sweetest lady in the world, but was always so selfconscious about her appearance. So glad that they can help it now.

Hope she is up to her baby sister's b'day party tomorrow. Tatianna will be two on Sunday!

P.S. I talked to her tonight. Kind of funny. She usually gets on the phone and you just say yerah, really? Wow! Cool! cause she can talk for twenty minutes without talking a breath. Tonight she just sat there and didn't even answer questions. Think she might have been pretty groggy still. I didn't realize they were going to work on both eyes. She asked for her glasses afterwards, put them on, looked around and took them off. She won't be refitted for about 6 weeks. Hope it doesn't give her too much trouble. She is farsighted so close up stuff might give some problems.

Your Prayers Would Be Appreciated

Yes, I am a worrier. Since my mom died, it has been my official assignment to be the "family worrier" and Jon says that I do an excellent job.

Arianna will be having surgery tomorrow to try to straighten her right eye. It has been crossed since she was tiny. They have tried patching it, drops, and glasses. Nothing has corrected it so far.

Your prayers for her and the surgeon would be very appreciated.

Thanks!

I Feel Good ... da-da-da-da-da-da - dat - dah!

Last night I got another call from my little benefactress, the lady who gave me the check last week. She and I met outside of Wal-mart (where else?) and she gave me a whole bunch of fabrics and said to let her know if I was short on anything. such a cute lady. She is from Sweden and loves to reach out to others. It makes Christmas for her. When this project and all of my Christmas projects are done, we plan to look into the Newborn-in-Need program. I hear it is a good one for those of us who are just too cheap to let go of anything larger than a 3" square.

I am so grateful for those around us who set the proper tone for this special time of year! It keeps me reminded of "the reason for the season", important for those with a short attention span ... what was I doing?!?!!?

The "Little Things" that Really Count

I spent today watching my girls (Arianna & Tati) and came home through the middle of town to make a couple of stops. Not that I am anti-social, but YUCK ... Hate the traffic! Anyway, I was a little frazzled with the drive and as I was driving down our street, I got to thinking about when I could get Jon in the mood to put up with all my paganisms for the holidays, when I could get the lights up to greet us as we come home each evening, wondered if that poor star I found last year would still work after spending the whole year dangling from what was the top of the pine tree a year ago, blah, blah, blah.

As I came around the last curve before my house, I had the most wonderful surprise. My "Lone Pine Tree" was lit up, and down. Now, I can hardly wait to build a new manger to place under for the down light to shine on.

Jon came out looking so pleased with himself, as well he should. He really does not like all the fuss we crazy women make over turning Christmas into a production instead of enjoying the sweet peace of the Gift given to all mankind years ago.

I am appreciating the way we have scaled back on the giving stuff that is not of a spiritual nature and the time and energy my family is putting into creating memories instead. The star and manger were a new tradition that I started last year. It got mixed reviews from the family, but when I had the grandkids spread the straw to prepare the manger for Baby Jesus, I won!

The circumstances bringing this change about have been a little rough for all of us, but I do love my children and grandchildren and the wonderful attitude they are growing through this experience. Though I don't know if I can take any credit for these qualities, I am afraid I do feel some pride and gratitude that I can call myself their mother.