DO WHAT YOU LOVE

What do I love?!  Well... I love birthdays!  I turned 51 last week.  I was spoiled rotten.  G.J. threw me a surprise party with her family, complete with hamburgers and scripture markers.  Dad made me my favorite hymn, I Need Thee Every Hour, as a sound wave and a raven holding a sign that says, "Nevermore."  Ben and Kristi gave me tickets to go see Cinderella with my nieces, nephews, and Scott.  It was loads of fun!  Zane and Tara gave me flowers... so did Scott.  I combined the two for a beautiful arrangement!  Skylar and Katia got me a new bread machine and Kiara and Cody gave me a "grandma" bag which I specifically asked for.  Nicole spoiled me rotten with three card games and a mushroom tumbler.  Alicia got me Diet Coke and Dove chocolates.  I felt so loved!

Dad's Art: I Need Thee Every Hour

My Birthday Boquet

What else do I love?  I love making things.  I love working with my dad.  And I love music.  I combined all of these loves into one: I made a dulcimer with my dad.  I love how it turned out.  I plan on making a new one in January with my sister.  This time it will be hourglass shaped and a mushroom theme.  (I also love mushrooms.)

I love the walnut wood finish.

The top

The sound holes - desending dots

Another love is seeing my daughter happy... and musicals.  This weekend, Scott and I drove to Rexburg with our Colorado daughter, Sheila, to see Kiara's performance in the orchestra pit for the musical Shrek.  It was completely AWESOME!  The show was so fun and so was the company.  Skittles fell asleep during the second act though.

Is there anything a mother loves more than watching her daughter succeed and be happy?!

I think not.

And my Colorado daughter joined in the fun!

So glad!

"Mom, really?!"

Proud mama had to take a picture.

It's about to start!

A new musical to add to the one's I've seen!

Skittles was doing his best to keep himself awake.

So tired.

My boy and Shrek!

Peter's Dad with a barely awake Red Skittle.

I also love when Kiara sends me pictures of their family doing fun things together.  Painting.  Going to the Park. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Skittles learning to make the I Love You sign....

Cody is an incredible painter.

I wish I had taken pictures of his sculptures too.

He's to talented!

I love that Kiara is getting better and better too!

She really is thriving - especially musically and with her crochet project.

Skittles LOVES painting!

Look at all the color!

Playing at the park.

He fell.  But he didn't cry.

He wanted grandma to know that he was "brave!"

I really have been blessed to do what I love this past week!

GRANDMA'S BESTIE

It has been a marvelous week and a half being a full-time grandma! Red Skittle and I have had so much fun. He is my favorite side-kick! And I already miss him. We played cars, went to the park, visited with cousin friends, played games, went to a movie, went to church, celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary, etc. etc. etc.  Being a full-time grandma is absolutely wonderful! ... aaaaannnnnd exhausting.  Check out ALL of the activities (in not particular order):

Look at my little Batman!

Berry and Skittles shoots me with bubble guns!

Spending quality time with his second cousin!

Uncle Ken (or "Uncle Hen" as Skittles calls him) is the coolest!

Aunt GJ made shaped cinnamon toast for breakfast!

Huge win!

With cousins at the park!

Cantaloupe - Skittles - Juju Fruit - Licorice

Licorice with Skittles and Cantaloupe

BEWARE:  Aunt Sundy is a spreader of ORANGE TONGUE DISEASE!

Cantaloupe and Juju Fruit show off the illness.

The Park was wonderful!

Do I love "kidnapping"?

Heck yes!

My definition of kidnapping is spoiling other people's kids like crazy and sending them home.

(I was glad my brother let me kidnap his three youngest with my grandson.)

Skylar, my youngest son, supplied me with legos for the week.

(Thanks, Skylar!)

They were a HUGE hit with Skittles ... and his cousins!

Licorice is teaching my grandson how to die.  Apparently I'm too old to fall down on the ground to die (and so are his parents) so Licorice educated him.  It was so fun to watch them sword fight with stick thingies from the trees.

He loved GJ's bubble gun!

We played a LOT of Candy Land.  Skittles mostly won.

We also played Connect Four and Tic-Tac-Toe.

We're raising a board gamer!

Grandma bought 4 new cars for this kid.  He loved them!

And coloring....

Grandpa took him to the park Saturday morning while I ran errands with my dad.

They through leaves and twigs in the water.

He loved hanging out with grandpa!

And grandpa sure loves him too!

Can you tell?!

Learning to write isn't easy.

Another day... another park!

And Skittles is killing it!

He also enjoyed playing on the piano.

And climbing rocks so he could be the "King of the Rock!"

Aunt Sheila also spent hours out of her busy schedule playing with him!

Skittles may only have one biological aunt, but we count GJ's daughters as aunts as well.

We made up lots of songs about love and Jesus and eachother.

Some of our songs were about dinosaurs, giraffes, and elephants.

I had forgotten how much fun it is just to sing and make up tunes and words.

And he also got to see another second cousin.  We'll call him Coconut.

They loved playing cars!

And we celebrated our anniversary at Texas Roadhouse with Skittles.  Yum!

I know this post is mostly about my amazing grandson, 

but I would be remiss if I didn't mention how grateful I am to be married to Scott!

He brings me so much joy!  We do so many fun things together!

I love you so much!  I'm glad we have eternity ahead of us!

Being a grandma never looked so good!

I'm completely content being called Grandma!

I love you, my Red Skittle!

ADIEU, KENTUCKY!

I wasn't sure how to say goodbye to Kentucky.  I love and miss it so much.  So I wrote a poem.  Followed by a few of the many people Scott and I love sooooo much!  I wish I had gotten pictures of EVERYONE!  It's only been a week, but I truly miss my Bluegrass friends/family!  I love and y'all soooo much!

I don’t want a large estate
Near the ocean shore.
I don’t need a castle
In the age of yore.

A mansion isn’t what I wish
When I dream of home.
I just yearn to go back.
No more to ever roam.

I came home to my Kentucky
When I was thirty-eight.
Home to where the
Southern charm is first-rate.

Home to my Kentucky
Where the bluegrass meets the sky.
Home to my Kentucky
Where good friends oft stop by.

I was captivated by the kindness
And hospitality.
I felt the love of God there
With commonality.

I had to leave Kentucky
To grow and to explore.
I had to leave my Bluegrass state –
The place that I adore.

I’ll learn and thrive
Wherever I go.
I’ll spread my wings
And say hello.

But I’ll add a y’all
And I’ll keep the allure.
I learned from my
Kentucky pure.

Wherever I go,
Wherever I stray.
I’ll keep my Kentucky
In my special way.

My Toastmaster Friends:
Sheri, Arlynn, Yan,
Charlie, Hal, Rick,

Valerie, Donna, Jennifer

My Relief Society Buddies (minus a few):

My two ministering sisters, Nicole
Ginnie, Jennifer, Debbie

Emalene! with dandelion cookies!

My sister missionaries!  I sure love them!

Jeremy and Jill Call

We're gonna miss hanging out with them every month for date night!

We bonded over games, books, church, and kids.

Oh, and their son is the amazing Nate!

The Fox's

We loved serving in the temple with them!

Sheeba and Jason Hurt

Jason gave Scott his snake and Sheeba makes the most delicious bread and honeybutter...
Oh, and their daughter is the wonderful Emalene!!!!

Jimmy and Mary Nelson

Dates!  Come Follow Me!  Pears and Apples!

We are really going to miss these great friends!

Jackie and Jeff Wilder

We have been so blessed with so many terrific friends!

These two have hung out with us often.

We share a love of the gospel, grandkids, music theater, and Scott and Jeff work together.

Janis is truly special!

She started off as a fantastic ministering sister to me... and ended up a truly wonderful friend.

We were able to sing and play dulcimers together often.

We also "did" lunch often, etc.

Can you say bestie for life?!

Nicole - I don't even know how to express how much I love this amazing lady!

Shelbyville is so lucky to have her as their Relief Society president... 

but the role of best friend will still be played by ME in Idaho!