Is it just me?............

.....or has this kid got star quality? Seriously....sign this kid up.

I think he looks like the new kid on Glee.

But Seth is Seth and he's the sweetest little money-savin', Wii-playin' kid you could ever want to meet and he has a "killer smile" and goes the extra mile; always on the go, tumbles too and fro.

Seth is big brother to Jack....and it's been fun to watch them interact (I really didn't mean for that one to rhyme) but the two of them can really talk "smack" (especially when they're racing on Wii). Seth....Seth, you're the best and I love you and miss you so much. Have a great day and partay like it's your birthday. I hope you get to go to Gadiland!!!!!!!!

I wish I could have known her....

....my beautiful grandmother. (Her birth date is Feb. 27, not 26). She is Sarah Ida Webb, mother of my mother and was the 8th child of William Webb (who changed his name from Babcock on his arrival from England) and Amelia Jarvis. Ida was born in St. George, Utah, on February 27, 1885. She was raised in St. George and attended college there. She taught school in Rockville, Utah before moving to Hurricane to teach. Her parents were both English converts--pioneers to Dixie. Ida describes her parents as "good, God-fearing people, who loved the gospel." Ida, herself, was very intelligent and very pretty.

She married my grandfather, Frank Barber on September 15, 1909 in the St. George Temple. My mother was the youngest of 8 children. My grandmother died when my mom was only 2 years old, leaving my grandpa to go it alone. Sometimes when I'm feeling sorry for myself, I just think of my grandpa and how he must have felt losing his wife in the midst of raising their family. It's been good to think of my ancestors and learn a little bit more about them and wonder which family members look like them. I think my mom looks most like my grandmother.

Here they are with the two oldest boys, Webb and Ralston taken approximate 1913. I will think about and honor my grandmother, Sarah Ida Barber....on this day of her birth, 126 years ago.

On a snowy February night...

....actually, early morning, little Lucy Stewart arrived into this world....a little sad to be here but I'm sure it will get better. She's a darlin'....and the daughter of James and Lauri Wells Stewart born Feb. 25, 2011 at approximately 3:00 a.m. weighing in at 7 lbs. 11 oz. Lauri did great...and is resting fine. As they say.....mother and baby doing fine.

So's the grandma....she is my 15th grandchild. She's so adorable. Can't wait to get to know her

.......and it looks like I might be snowed in for a few days.

This is what it looked like when I came out of the hospital this morning....beautiful but ughhhhh....so cold...

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I can't think of anyone finer with whom to share a birthday than my sister Joyce....

Happy Birthday to my dear sister who is also my best friend, therapist, crossword puzzle solver buddy and over all, sister of all sisters. We read each other's minds, finish each other's sentences and more times than not, wear coordinating colors without even consulting one another.

We decided lately that we are connesieurs of Tiramasu...we try it wherever we dine and can tell you where the best is....we've thought about doing restaurant critiques as well. We could, you know.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Joyce.

Grandpa....tell me 'bout the good ol' days...

.....sometimes it feels like, this world's gone crazy. Grandpa, take me back to yesterday, when the line between right and wrong, didn't seem so hazy. (One of my favorite Judd's songs). My Grandpa Sullivan would have been 109 years old today.

I had the chance a few years back to sit down with my grandparents and record a little bit of their history. I was also asked to speak, in behalf of all the grandchildren, at his funeral. I'd like to share a little bit from my talk.....

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"As Nephi of old, my grandpa was born of goodly parents -- He was born the 9th of 12 children to William Duncan Sullivan Sr. and Mary Ann McMullin on Feb. 23, 1902 in Leeds, Utah. His growing days and school years were spent there. He learned how to work at a young age spending many days on the road peddling fruit. He learned honesty and hard work from his father who was known for these traits. He put his trust in grandpa at a young age as he gave him a lot of responsibility in his freighting business. He met my grandma, Ada Workman in Hurricane when he was 18. She was only 15 at the time. They were married the next year, Sept. 16, 1922.

Some of their early married days were spent at Iron Springs. During this time, Grandpa really proved what he was made of as he showed his boss there that he was a hard worker and could handle any responsibility and could be trusted. Grandpa was always willing to try to improve his lot in life as he ventured into the cattle business. Buying cattle made a good living for his family for 25 years. My grandparents had 6 children: Twila, Melba, Hal, Glenna, Wes and Dee. They were no strangers to heartache in their young years as Twila was taken from them when she was burned on the morning of Dec. 30, 1930.

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Grandpa soon needed more land. He wasn't one to stand still so they moved to St. George and bought a farm. He and grandma loved St. George and had lots of good friends. They had many good times in the Vesta Club where they went to dance and square dance.

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The next move would be to Cedar city to go into the cafe business. (Sullivan's Cafe.) With his background of hard work and determination, they made it work. Grandpa always said, "If I had the time and the money, I'd get me some race horses". He did just that...that too was a success and gave him lots of hours of enjoyment and satisfaction in those retirement years. I got to go to Prescott, Arizona to the horse races. He always drove a great big ol' Cadillac but was pretty frugal with some things. We stayed in a dumpy old hotel instead of a really nice one with a swimming pool. Huge dissapointment!!!! Grandpa said "There's only 2 things I haven't done in life.....fail at anything and fall off a horse."

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Some of my favorite memories were going up to their cafe on Sunday afternoons, sitting up to the bar and ordering a BLT....they had the best salad dressing on it. I later came to learn they used Mayo....all I ever knew was Miracle Whip. I also loved snooping around their apartment above the cafe....finding treasures. Lots of times my grandma would let me keep what I found. I guess that's why I encourage my little ones to snoop...it is such great fun.

My grandpa was a generous man and helped out when needed. He paid a whopping $250 for our wedding...and we were so very grateful. Grandpa Sullivan, I honor you this day on your birthday. I'm so glad I got to know you.

I finally did it....

.....and it's bringin' back the memories like crazy as I framed my "sampler" from my 9-year old year in Primary.

We were called "Gaynotes" back then and the theme was "I will bring the light of the gospel into my home by greeting the day with a song". What a novel idea....to greet the day with a song. What would my song have been today? Um....maybe "I have work enough to do...ere the sun goes down".....is that a song? Or...."Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray?" Yes, I sometimes don't remember to pray...but I'm getting better. Anyway, I digress. Back to the days in Primary: The theme song for Gaynotes was:

The first thing in the morning and all day long

I shall be a Gaynote and sing a happy song....

I shall greet the new day and all it brings

With a happy face and a heart that sings.

Some think we "brainwash" our kids. Call it what you want. I'm glad I got "brainwashed". Silly as some of these things sound....truly a good way to live. I have nothing but fond memories of Primary and the thing I remember most that I loved back then was learning to do cross stitch as a 9-year old, crochet as a 10-year old (Firelight), then knitting as an 11-year old (Merrihand). Sad they don't do that any more. I discovered a lot about me that I'm coming to realize now. Those experiences laid the foundation of who I am today and what I love do. I took to crocheting because my Grandma Sullivan continued to teach me new things. I didn't do well at knitting, it was harder....but I learned it and I did a bit in my college years. I didn't pick it back up until about 9 years ago when I found a little yarn shop in Kentucky. I remembered that I had learned it once and was able to take to it very quickly and have fallen in love with it now; still not good at it but plugging along. Anyway, good memories and I am glad to finally have the sampler framed and on my wall after all these years to remind me what I need to do each day. We also set various goals and got to put little emblems on bandelos. I found mine a few months back when cleaning out some drawers. I especially loved it when I got the rhinestones. Not sure what we had to do to get those...maybe that was the beginning of my love of diamonds. Speaking diamonds, this book is really a "gem". I got back into my gospel study book club that meets on Monday mornings and we are doing "The Infinite Atonement" (clickity click on the book to read more about it)....I think I'm going to really enjoy it. We started off a couple of years ago with "Jesus the Christ" and they have done a couple of others in between but I didn't go because I worked on Mondays. Back at it now and it feels good. I hope you have some good reads....Let me know; I'm always open to suggestions.

It's always good to meet up with friends....

....and I got to do that today.

The Neubergers are in town for a soccer tournament and I met them for a late lunch. I love them to pieces. They moved into our ward a few years back (since have moved) and I fell in love with their new little baby boy (now he's 15). I thought he looked a lot like Spencer when he was a baby and I thought that deserved a baby blanket so I got brave and knocked on their door and said..."you don't know me but I just want you to have this". We've been friends ever since and it's always good to get caught up (as usual, I do most of the talking) but they do have a darling family and I love seeing them when they come to town. Thanks, Kevin and Angie for taking the time out of a busy day for an old friend.....

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Speaking of old friends.....

I got to see some the other night. After Scott died, I got invited to a Widow's Group that met once a month for dinner, just to talk, cry, laugh, cry some more but mostly sympathize with one another. Five of us got together and took a really fun trip to New York a few years back. (This is us at the Whitmer Farm.) We got together again the other night because LeAnn is getting married. Good to see the girls again and get caught up. (The 3 middle ones aren't widows any more)!!!!!:)
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The blanket's close to done.....Lucy...you can come now!!!! I made a blanket like this one back when I only had 3 little boys, always hoping for a little girl.

It got a blue ribbon in the county fair and made it to the state fair then went on to the American West Festival in Logan...then Lauri came and it got put to good use.

She literally wore it out....still sleeps with it today so I made a new one for her little girl. It won't go to the county fair and it won't win a blue ribbon but it was made with lots of love and I hope Lucy loves it as much as Lauri loved hers.

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Speaking of little girls.....I made a visit to my friends at the Desert Dove Tea Room today then came home and while looking through my pictures, found this one of some sweet little ones have a tea party. I'll add this to my "Tea Room Post".....just wanted to post it here 'cause it's so dang cute.

Where did the time go...they are all mamas now and I hope their daughters are having tea parties.

It's a sign....

....and there are tons of them in a 40 mile radius but I'm mighty glad this one is here. It's been a while coming. Took a trip to my favorite dentist today....got my teeth cleaned (I'm never taking another bite of food) and found out I have a couple of cavities...arghhh....but I do love my dentist.

...now just waiting for Lucy. Getting her blanket made, her little sweater blocked and wondering what she will be like. It's so exciting.....

Hope you're all having a great day. Oh....I almost forgot. It's been a long time since I mentioned what I'm reading but I was talking to Traci the other day and she mentioned meeting a new friend whose husband had written a book entitled "Waffle Street". "After spending two years in the midst of the housing market hurricane, Jimmy Adams was laid off from a hedge fund in early 2009. Wearied by eight years in the bond market and disillusioned by the financial services profession, he decides to get an "honest job" for a change. Before he knows what hit him, he finds himself waiting on tables of barflies at his local Waffle House." (Read more click HERE). I'm liking it so far......

Remember when...

.....you had to make your own valentine box? George made a pretty cool one this year. Check out the window where you can "watch" your valentine flow down the different levels. This kid is an inventor....always thinking of ways to do stuff...

...and then remember when you'd come home and dump out the "loot" and see who all the cards were from and did you ever "read into them" some message that you wanted so badly to be from a "potential valentine"? Not sure what it's like anymore but when I was a kid, this day was a pretty big deal, especially after dark our moms would let us go out and do some major 'doorbell ditchin'....(not what we called it but that's no longer politically correct). Then there were the mischievous souls that would hook some invisible fishing line onto a card and hide behind a bush and snatch it away when the victim would reach down to pick up the valentine...so mean!!!! I'm pretty sure I never did that!!!!

I hopped on for a ride around the 'hood today with some of my favorite "home girls".....

Hope you have a valentine....(what is a valentine anyway? I looked it up: 'a sweetheart chosen on this day'...as in "will you be my valentine?") Ya, I hope you have one of those. If you do, consider yourself very lucky.

It was the kind of day...

....that ya just wanna get out and climb a tree (or do some yard work). At least, some people might want to do that...not me, but I'm glad some of my family showed up to get a few chores done around my yard. Not sure what Evan was trying to do but a kid with a rope probably has all kinds of ideas goin' through his mind. Anyway, it was a beautiful afternoon and my bushes are a little trimmer today......(wish I could say the same for me)....

....and some little heads are popping out on my daffodils. It's becoming my own little celebration every year as I wait and watch for the first one to show it's pretty little face. Last year, it was on the 8th....a little late this year but should be in fine form by later today. Love my daffodils.....Have a great Sunday everyone.

Spread a little sunshine today......

Just so ya know....

.....I made it home and I think that's about the longest I've ever been gone (except when on my mission). Even when we would travel to Europe, Scott and I would only be gone for about 8 days. I've been gone a whoopin' 10 whole days...whew....and it was good to open my door and hollar "I'm home". Here's some of the stuff I did while in NC. I learned about "Cameron Crazies" (click HERE). Traci and I got caught up in the Duke/UNC game. These are the fans that paint themselves blue and literally jump up and down and go crazy at the game. These Duke fans are maniacs I tell ya. While we were on campus on Thursday, there were tents lined up outside the ticket office. Kids were waiting in line to see if they could get into the game....and there were as many outside during the whole game as there were inside.

I enjoyed watching Traci's little ones learn...when they weren't "rastling" or jumping off the couch, they were at the kitchen table doing their "homework" or working on their "projects". Jake's the "gamer" and is learning from his Leapster...could stay at it for hours on end.

These are "lipstick kisses" and I gave a lot of them the last couple of days.

....and I so enjoyed getting to know Max and his many faces. What a cutie.

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Lest you think my travel all fun and games...let me vent a few of my annoyances (not wanting to spoil a perfectly up-beat , optimistic post but I just gotta get it out.) What gets into people to think that everyone on a crowded jetliner wants to hear their personal conversation....standing, crowded to the hilt, trying to get off the plane, this woman turns on her "bluetooth" and stands there talking AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE.....for about 5 min. Argghhhh...I hate it. There really is a study on this. Click HERE....they are called "halfalogue conversations" and are very annoying and distracting, to say the least. Then....Traci and I are in this craft store, just as happy as can be and one of my biggest "pet peeves"....an ornery cashier. I saw on the news the other day that Delta Airlines has one of the highest customer complaint records in the industry and they are making a bunch of their employees go to "charm school" (click HERE to read more)....take a lesson, AC Moore Arts and Crafts. All I want is a friendly "hello" and a smile. I don't like "over zealous" workers either but they are better than grouchy ones. O.k. I've vented... It's been a long day but I've been nice. Let's all try to be a little kinder and more considerate tomorrow...keep those conversations private and put on a happy face. Good night.....I'm off to bed and I'm going to dream about this..... Avocado Club Egg Rolls from the California Pizza Kitchen...yummay. We went there for lunch yesterday.

From Kentucky to Carolina....

.....and havin' a great time. Traci took me to visit the Duke Chapel today. Amazing....

The skies are as blue as can be....a bit nippy but ya gotta love the blue sky and sunshine.

I said 'goodbye' to the Spencer Wells kids on Monday

and 'hello' to the Staheli gang.

I'm on the last leg of my "grand-kid road trip".....(I guess it's really not a road trip. I should call it a "sky trip"...."road trip" just sounds better).

I can do hard things....

.....but I prefer "easy" and it doesn't get much easier than this. Give the kids their electronics and it's amazing the free time you can have. Actually, this past week has been pretty easy and enjoyable (as long as Jack gets his naps) but I always breath a sigh of relief when the mom and dad appear at the airport and "my turn" is done.

Now on to NC......over and out.....

We all need something to cheer about...

....every single day. Today, I'm "cheering" for "me"....'cause I actually ventured to downtown, I mean DOWNTOWN "it doesn't get any more 'ghetto' than this" Louisville...by myself...to watch Laynee cheer so GO ME, and GO LAYNEE for going down there every day to attend one of Louisville's finest.

So I go through a trial run just before Spencer and Shana left, but to actually do it myself was a rush and I always enjoy accomplishing "hard things". I really didn't have to go....Laynee had a ride home with one of her friends but I really wanted to go and see her cheer so I headed out in the "beater" (I had to park on the street in front of the school so I'm not going to take the new van and risk anything, if you know what I mean) and I'm maneuvering through traffic with the best of 'em and taking all the right turns (except for one but I've gotten pretty good at just going a little further, backtracking, and getting right back to where I was supposed to be in the first place). My girls will tell you that I never get lost....(lost means you don't know where you are; I always know exactly where I am; someplace a little past where I'm supposed to be). I just take a wrong turn here and there and get in a wrong lane but I always get back so there you have it....my afternoon drive downtown. It really is a good feeling to do something that "stretches" me and I'm sure I've got a ton of those things ahead. So my challenge to you today is to go out and do something hard....feel the rush....you'll love it and then you can give yourself 3 cheers...(or more if you want to). The kids are still all right (or alright) and I hope you are too.

The kids are all right...

....and they are so excited that their parents are gone and B-AMMA IS IN THE HOUSE...and there are no rules! See how happy they look? O.k., I know... kids need rules....but there are none for the next few days...(well, maybe a few) but rules are made to be broken. At this picture taking, it's 20 min. past bed time....but we're trying to be good, honest we are. We've only been to Mickey D's once today. I'll keep you posted.

Jack looks so totally comfy...don't you think? (Today's grammar lesson: The use of all right vs. alright. Click HERE.) I'm just sayin'....