Lots to celebrate....

....and I feel like this past week has been one big party but today, the party is about George. He's one boy worth celebrating and he's twelve years old today. Here's hoping the day is as big as his heart. This is one special guy with creativity out the yang-yang and talent to match. He plays piano and plays in plays (just got done doing Titanic at Tuacahn) and has never-ending energy.

We had a fun family reunion/pool party for the May birthdays.....Miller, Jake, Scott and George. Then.........

....Saturday was our wedding in Pine Valley. It was a wonderful day and we've just returned from five days of celebrating together and I will post more later as the pictures come in.

I just want to thank my friends and family for their wonderful support of this decision in my life. We had a wonderful day and the marriage was beautifully performed by Pres. Allen Cannon of the Pine Valley Branch (also a good friend and classmate). Off we go to our new life together.........not "going away" but "coming together" as hopefully our families will open their hearts and let our new life into theirs. Check Spencer's blog for more pics and another perspective....thanks Spence!!!! (click on this link wellsweirdos.blogspot.com).

As the family gathers....

......for my big day I have to admit there are so many feelings floating around my mind but as I retire this night, the one that surfaces is a feeling of gratitude for the support I feel from family and friends and the joy I feel as I watch my adult children enjoy dining out together, leaving their kids home with the older ones in charge and coming home to a sweet "calm" as they are so familiar with each other and being in my home....they've learned to play together and care for one another; and I'm grateful for the fact that I've been able to surround myself all of my life with a strong support system to be with me through the hard times and the good times. In this "good time" of my life, it's the same people that have stuck by me through the years and are happy that I'm happy and people that I pray for and that will pray for my happiness. I've always felt like the more people that could love my children the better; but now I know that the more people that I can love and feel love from, the better. I feel like I'm adding a whole lot of new people to love as I get to know Randy's family. We celebrated with Josephine as she and Spencer would have been married 65 years on this day.

We are also celebrating Jakes big day.....he's four years old  and I'm so glad he's here so I can share his day. He actually had his own celebration last week but today is his day. Happy Birthday, big guy. Love that little toothless grin and sweet, loving spirit. Always a "hi, grandma" when he sees me and big hugs.

Scotty (he informed us that he's Scott now) turns 6 tomorrow and seems and acts more like 16...good, good kid and a big help to his mom. Always talkative, animated to the point of entertainment and creative and enegetic as well. This kid's is going places.....always surrounds himself with love as well. Smart kid....it takes a friend to be a friend and Scott is everyone's friend. Happy Birthday, tomorrow Scott. I will forever on share this date with you....May 26, your birthday, my anniversary. U R A Q T for sure. Love you.

It's late....

....I can't sleep....I'm sick.....I'm accused of having my "head in the clouds"....'cause I'm getting married I guess....and maybe I do but I'm enjoying the ride.......and I've enjoyed the last couple of days with the kids.

 I always go back to my favorite quote from my favorite movie, "Hope Floats"...."Endings are sad, beginnings are scary...it's what's in the middle that counts"....and my " middles" have been good. I remember heading out on my mission 7 years ago this month....all alone....probably the scariest thing I've done....but the middle was good and the ending was sad but it prepared me for living alone and now I have a chance for companionship....and I'm goin' for it. I have been blessed; I'm a little frightened but fear and faith don't dwell in the same house so I will forge on in faith and tho' many say it will be hard, and it may....I must move on.....and make my next "middle" count.

*********************

Maycee's dance recital was amazing, Emily is awesome, the eclipse was educational (we all learned the word "annulus" as we heard Kyle repeat it many times)...and Sunday nights at my moms are very enjoyable....life is good. .SCHOOLS OUT this week!!!! Fun times ahead.

Playing with fire....

...is o.k. if you are a Hibachi Cook....and that's what Miller chose tonight for his birthday dinner, Sakura Hibachi.

Miller is actually afraid of this but it's what he chose and he was quite proud of himself tonight....'cause now that he's 4, he's not afraid. "I'm only afraid when I'm 3 but now I'm 4" (as he puts up 4 fingers.) So proud of this milestone....making great strides, if ya ask me. Ya, we don't want our kids to be afraid of fire.....do we? I'm thinkin' this place is promoting a bit of pyromania.....oh, and don't try this at home.

The little ones are the only ones that used chopsticks tonight....impressive.

So there you have it..."Miller Time" today and he's not going to let you forget that IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY and HE'S FOUR YEARS OLD. He went around the table and made us all tell him Happy Birthday. It's gonna be a great day.

Happy Birthday, Miller....it's your day so let's go party.

Everything I need to know in life....

..I learned from my mother from how to fold towels, make a bed, iron a shirt, quilt a quilt, care for a sick child, be kind, give service....and no matter what, I could never do those things as good as my mom but I can continue to try, and so....on this mother's day, I pay tribute to her for all the things she taught me, the little "momisms" that are engrained in me and for the love and support she has always been for me....always my biggest fan.

To this day, her house is still a haven of peace, a "safe place to land" and never anything out of place (except for Sunday nights when she lets our kids have their way with it and never complains)....

We were always clean, dressed and ready for the day by 9....I didn't learn that one very well.

Always have your lipstick on when your husband comes home.....this is my mom....the "constant" in our lives. Always ready, ever faithful and enduring.

 ...and on this day I pay tribute to my daughters who are mothers...wonderful mothers that I learn from every day. They are a tribute to me on this Mother's Day as they carry on the legacy of motherhood....        

....and to three beautiful daughter-in-laws that are strong and faithful wives and moms. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms in my life. May we all cherish the "measure of our creation" and be grateful for the opportunity and privilege of being moms.

It's all worth it just to hear this.

The kids are all here....another Crazy Grandma Camp (I've got this down).......they've played hard, had pizza, Snow Shack, played games, had their dance-off.....it's 10:00...they are hungry, I let them raid the kitchen....I disappear into the den to do this blog....I hear Jack say....."Grandma makes the best chocolate milk.....she loads it, man....it's loaded."

A few hours in the pool gets the evening started off right....ya think? Thought it might slow 'em down a bit but no......

The "Shack".....always a must....and we've got it down. Laynee takes down the orders then the 13 cones aren't so ominous for the poor teenage worker......just a few people behind us that have to wait a while....it's all good. The flavor of the day was "Wedding Cake".....

A little rest on the way home.....a great picture op.

Then finish off with the dance-off before I'm finished off. My love still runs out at 9:00.....you wouldn't want to see me between then and now.....I can still hear little voices downstairs.....

My advice to anyone trying this. Make it a "late night" and not a "sleep over". Already had one casualty. Mason had to come get McKay.

I'll go get some sleep before we make some of Randy's delicious pancakes.....not sure I can make them as good as he does but I'll give it my best shot and hopefully, this will all be a good memory for the kids and me. Isn't that why we do this? Love these kids....and they are all good kids.....having fun being kids.  I like to watch them have crazy fun after their week of school and "structure" (dance, piano, base ball, swimming lessons, soccer, track meets...whew, makes me tired thinking about all they do). Speaking of tired.....I am, so I'm off to get some z's........(hopefully).

Whew.....

...it has been an eventful few days jam-packed with lots of family fun with both of our families and has brought to my mind the reality and the beauty of adding a new dimension to both our lives. I started out by seeing Emily and George with their cousins Sophie, Josh and David perform in the musical "Titanic" out at the Tuacahn Theatre, one of my favorite places to watch plays....and they did a fine job. I so enjoyed watching them perform with confidence and joy. These kids have had such an amazing opportunity with their Aunt Jan and Uncle Andy Hunsaker as the directors out there. They will be sorely missed. I hope George and Emily will continue to pursue their love of theater. They are both "naturals".

Then to Salt Lake where we got to visit Traci and the boys....it was great to be on Temple Square again and see the tulips. Just had to have a picture in front of the Church Office Building where I served my mission 6 years ago.

Next, on to Pine Valley to work on the Reber property in preparation for our big day in a few weeks. We got there a little late for most of the work but enjoyed the crisp air and beautiful surroundings.

A few rides on the Rhino, exploring the creek bed down in the meadow, sitting by the campfire and enjoying a "perfect S'more"........

...and it's never complete without trying out the zipline. Still in fine form.

 Always fun to see Josephine in her element. She is so very talented and loves to spend hours doing her embroidery. As much as we all miss Spence, we know he is with us in spirit as the family opens up his beloved  "Shangnau" (named after a village in Switzerland that is close to their hearts) for the season.  

I choose "happy" today....

...and we all need a t-shirt like the one Matty had on yesterday that says.."My many moods...." including "whiny", "silly", "flirty", "smiley", "lovable"....but today I will choose "happy" and let you know some of the things that are making me happy today. First, Matty makes me happy. She jabbers like no other, a recognizable word enough to let you know what she is talking about. She goes about her business quite unconcerned....exhibiting many of the moods on her shirt in a given hour. Mostly "loveable" and always "adorable".


















Not many things make me happier than little boys in big hats playing awkward baseball because I know....and I do know, that the "awkward" turns into accomplished in just a few years if they love it and want to play but ya gotta give 'em that chance and that's exactly what the moms and dads are trying to do right now, figure out what it is that makes their kids "happy".....the smart parent allows them to do what makes them happy.

After game treats.....the best part of the game and an added bonus, that "extra-miler" mom. These look yummy....I was kinda hangin' around hopin' there would be one for me. Speaking of treats.....

...it makes me happy to be on Aunt Marian's mailing list. She and Mark are on a mission to New York and she loves to make candy so she is doing a "Taffy of the Month" and sends it to a chosen few to sample. This month it was "butter mint"....aw....my favorite so far. I did love the peanut butter one last month. Marian's cooking makes me happy, always has but mostly her candy experiments through the years. I miss them so much and sneaking into their house to taste the latest experiment. I'm more careful after trying Mark's "bowel balls" last year (you know what I'm talking about).

One last source of happiness that I must mention today is this beautiful pan. Now that I'm cooking again after many, many years.....my old frying pans were just not acceptable....so Randy got me this beautiful, ceramic pan and I love it....it made me happy cooking my breakfast this morning. Gifts are nice but very useful, beautiful gifts are an added bonus.

I hope your mood is happy today....and if it isn't try to figure out some little thing that makes you happy and you will see how quickly things can change. I am so very grateful for the little things in my life that make me happy this day.