WELCOME, VANILLA BEAN

Our family has a brand new reason to celebrate! On Sunday, September 6, our newest granddaughter, Vanilla Bean, made her grand entrance into the world. And just as you might imagine, Grandma and Grandpa are completely smitten!

Coming to earth is serious business!

Meeting the little one!

Vanilla Bean weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces and was 19 ½ inches long. She is absolutely beautiful with lots of black hair. There is nothing quite like the feeling of holding a brand new grandbaby in your arms. That tiny face, those little fingers, and that sweet newborn smell...my heart is full!

First family picture
Skylar, Mango, Katia and Vanilla Bean

This guy is a GREAT girl dad!

Grandma with her 4th grandchild....
It is perfect every time!

Proud grandpa!

This makes my heart happy!

We are overjoyed!

Scott and I came early so that we could be here to help take care of Mango while Katia and Skylar were at the hospital welcoming Vanilla Bean. We were more than happy to have some special one-on-one time with our darling Mango. She is such a sweet girl, and it was pretty wonderful getting to spoil her a little while we waited for her baby sister to arrive.

Helping grandpa.

Watching cars go by with grandpa.

Playing the piano for grandma.

Entertaining Jude.

And oh, how she LOVES her new sister! Mango is THRILLED to be a big sister. She is already so interested in Vanilla and seems to think her new little sister is the most wonderful thing in the world. It is precious to watch. I have a feeling Mango is going to be an amazing big sister.

"Can I hold baby sister?"
This is a common occurrence now.

We are so grateful that Mom is doing well, and we are enjoying every minute of this happy, exhausting, wonderful time together.

My beautiful daughter is a champion!

There is something magical about a new baby joining the family. Suddenly there is another little personality to get to know, another laugh to hear, another hand to hold, and another little person to love with your whole heart.

Welcome to our family, sweet girl. Grandma and Grandpa love you more than you could ever know. 

Oh..... and our oldest grandson, Red Skittle, lost his first tooth! The Tooth Fairy brought a WHOLE dollar! Isn't he cute with a whole in his mouth?

He also is about to start reading the 3rd book of Harry Potter.

This kid is sooooo smart!

A IS FOR AUTUMN, ADVENTURE AND ANTICIPATION

Life has been full lately...in the very best way!

Scott and I recently celebrated 31 years of marriage, which seems almost impossible. Thirty-one years! We celebrated in our favorite way: by adding a couple of new board games to our collection. We bought the American Edition of Wingspan and Windmill Valley, and we’re already having fun trying them out together. After 31 years, I think one of the secrets to a happy marriage is simply finding things you enjoy doing together, and we love board games!

Man! I love this guy!

We also celebrated my sister's birthday. We are Irish twins. I'm so glad I'm not an only child... And that my best friend happens to be my sister. 

I gave her farm toys for her grandchildren....

Then it was my turn to have a birthday. My favorite part was my traditional birthday cake: Grandma T’s cocoa apple nut cake. Grandma T used to make it for me when I was a little girl, and when she passed away, Scott took over the tradition. It is one of my favorite birthday memories—and it tastes like autumn! There is something about that combination of apples, cocoa, nuts, and warm spices that makes me feel like fall has arrived.

My new bandana skirt from a beautiful young woman!

We’ve also had some exciting missionary news! Our dear friend, and "kinda" related friend, Beka Brown, received her mission call to Las Vegas, Spanish speaking! We are so excited for her and so proud. We were also blessed to go to the temple with her, which made this special time even more meaningful.

Sister Brown, you have been called to serve in the North Las Vegas Mission....

with Beka

And then there was my little surprise for Scott. I decorated his work cubicle in a Gandalf-inspired theme! My sister joined in the fun and decorated her cubicle in the style of the Shire. This is all part of our Halloween plans: GJ and her husband are going as hobbits, Scott is going as Gandalf, and I’m going as Galadriel. Clearly, we are taking Halloween very seriously this year.

He's such a good sport! He had no clue I planned all this....

Our grands as Middle Earth races

And finally… my daughter is STILL pregnant. She is officially past her due date now, and we are all waiting very patiently (or perhaps not so patiently!) for that baby to make an appearance. In the meantime, the rest of my grandchildren are thriving and wonderful. I live to be a grandma!

She's so beautiful!

Not only did Katia get flowers for the new baby to be...
Mango got some too!

Dirty! But happy!

Mowing the lawn is fun to do!

Brothers and Besties

When you homeschool...
You learn to read early.

And brothers help!

So that's life around here: 31 years of marriage, birthday cake that tastes like autumn, new games, missionary adventures, temple blessings, hobbit decorations, and one very overdue baby.

I wouldn't trade any of it.