These are for Cyrena

I think she is using these pictures for a Christmas present. At least I'm hoping that she is. Cyrena you need to remember Hunter. There are pictures on their FB pages, Brittany has the most. I can't wait to see it. Posting twice in two days isn't normal for me.

Christmas Tree 2009

Since Paul and I became a family so many years ago, every year we have gone as a family to cut our Christmas Tree. Oh, there was one year I purchased a tree and had to throw it out on Christmas day because it was worse than dead. I did put up a fake tree after having a bad dream about a tree catching fire but that was over just after I started that. When the kids moved away we started going to the mountains Thanksgiving weekend. This year we went to Cottonwood canyon. We were disappointed that there was no snow. But it did make it easier for the grandkids.

The four oldest grandkids wanted to go with their Dad's and Mark up on the side hill to cut the tree. The problem was I was left alone with them and the sagebrush was as tall as they were. But we pushed on with Josh getting upset because we weren't going faster and Lexie wanting to go back to the Jeeps. Josh wasn't about to get lost and have me leave him. He held onto a string on my coat until his Dad came to help him.

In the mean time Paul stayed with Kassy, Tara, Alex and Van. They went for a ride to the top of Flat Canyon. Alex is now big enough to drive. Tara wanted to climb with the rest of us but Van just isn't ready for that. Plus she forgot her Moby wrap.
The tree that we chose was the second on the left. You can see Nicholas' yellow coat. Also I'm in there with the kids. Each of the kids were able to cut the tree except for Lexie who didn't want to. Josh makes the cutest sawing sounds. Kyler, being the oldest was given the privilege of cutting the tree down. I took video but silly Grandma forgot to save the video. I did get pictures but they didn't turn out very well.
Coming down I had only Lexie and Kyler to take care of. It was almost easier to pack Lexie than have her struggle with the sagebrush. I would like to know when Kyler grew up. He was guiding me back to the road.
Josh and Ashton were able to get a ride back. Mike and Nicholas had the duty of pulling the tree back. Mark decided to follow all the rules but cutting the stump down and spreading out the branches.
It is getting more difficult putting all of the kids on the four-wheeler but so far we were able to do it.
Nicholas said on Facebook that I have a desire each year for a Charlie Brown tree but I don't think it looks much like a Charlie Brown tree. Each time I look at it I remember the adventure we had and it brings a big smile to my face. I worry for the year that we won't have help in cutting a tree and I will have to go back to a fake tree but for now I'm going to enjoy this most wonderful tradition.

I have completed a huge project

This all began back in August with Bauer telling me that he wanted a costume. Last year I didn't make the costumes because of Dad but this year I guess Bauer changed all of that. I put it off, like I do everything else. Plus the kids kept changing their minds. Needless to say I started two weeks ago. Lexie's was first and I think that it took me the longest. She visited me one day and expected me to begin her costume right then, she didn't understand that grandma was tired after working all day. She even said that she was a good cutter. She kept bugging me about it, so I gave in. Plus she also wanted pink shoes because the Tinkerbell on the pattern had pink shoes. What else is a grandma to do. Little did I know, Bauer was driving his mom crazy in Rockford asking when his spiderman was going to be finished. He even called me from a store to make sure that I was making him a mask. He wasn't going to leave in case his mother needed to purchase one. I have decided that three year olds can be very demanding. Bauer really thought that his costume had been delivered yesterday but it was a package for the neighbors and he has been watching out the window for the mailman. He is so excited. He should get the package today. Over the weekend we had Josh, Kyler, Lexie and Ashton here and they had to model their costumes. It was great fun watching them trying to fly through the house. Alex's and Van's had to wait until Monday to be completed. It has been a difficult couple of weeks but it has all been worth it as I have seen the little ones eyes light up and their excitement about pretending to be something else.

Emmett was going to be a lion and I even had the pattern purchased but Bauer wanted him to be spiderman with him. Hence the two spidermans. Mark and Tara wanted Van to be Grrr. They sent me a picture of a robot dog. I don't have the head finished in the picture but you can get an idea of it.
Josh loves Peter Pan. Mike and Kassy borrowed our movie a couple of months ago and I guess he watched it every day, sometimes twice a day. They had to give it back because they were so tired of it. He wants his mom to be Tinkerbell and his dad to be Captain Hook. Alex is a puppy kind of like Nanna but we didn't want him to be a little girl puppy. Josh has a little sword to finish his costume.
Kyler feel in love with Batman over the summer months. We have a few episodes recorded on the DVR for him to watch when he comes to visit. He knew months ago that he wanted to be Batman. I made these same costumes years ago for Nicholas and Michael. They have brought back many memories. Lexie loves Tinkerbell and has for over a year. I had planned on making it green but when she seen a pink Tinkerbell on the pattern that is what I had to do. Of course she loves pink. I was going to make one for Hunter but his mom bought him a transformer, which I'm very grateful for. I don't think I could have pulled that one off.

I'm now looking forward to seeing them all in their costumes. I will only have the privilege of having three of them visit us on Saturday but I know that they will all enjoying pretending for even just a few minutes. It is those smiles that makes it all worth it.

Van's blessing

Mark and Tara spent the weekend with us. It was Van's first visit to Grandpa and Grandma's house and we loved every minute with him being here. They brought his blessing outfit with them and we finally took the pictures that we should have last month. He has really grown because it almost didn't fit him anymore.

I have tried to get this picture to turn but you can still see his handsome little face. He is such a joy to each of us. He loves to talk and will make a lot of noise especially when his Dad is talking to him. How we love him.

This may interest a few of you

I don't know why I didn't add this picture with our wedding picture but I thought that it would be fun to add it now. I hope that it will bring back memories of a few of us when we were a lot younger. Personally I can't remember of ever being that young.

We made it

When we first began I knew that we would be married for eternity but when I thought about thirty-five years, well I didn't think that I would be this old. Paul and I celebrated our anniversary on Sunday the 27th. When I think back to that day so long ago, but yet it seems as if it was yesterday, I remember two very scared kids who really didn't know what they were getting themselves into. Being in the temple didn't help matters. But it was a glorious and a wonderful feeling knowing that we could be together forever. The temple ceremony was a lot longer back in the day and by the time we were married and sealed my mind was spinning. I'm so grateful that I had Paul by my side and my parents right behind me. Paul and I have had our ups and downs over the years but then I don't know a couple who hasn't. Without the bad we wouldn't really be grateful for the good or even notice it? Through our trials we grow and can become stronger if we allow ourselves to do this. Since our anniversary was on a Sunday and we celebrated it with a couple of our children in Salt Lake, Mark and Tara blessed Donivan, we really couldn't do much. We tried to attend the Manti Temple on Saturday but we arrived to late and was told the temple was closed. I didn't like that feeling at all. It almost felt like we were told that we couldn't enter heaven and I guess in a way it was. So on Monday morning we attended the Provo Temple. Just to remember the covenants that we made so long ago gave both of us added strength. Also as we were on the session, it was the same time that an accident took our precious David from this earth life. I was thinking a lot about him, as I always do, and the thought entered my mind, I wonder where my life would be if he hadn't left us for this moment? At the time both Paul and I were inactive and not living up to the covenants we had made just a few short years earlier. Because of David's death I changed my life. I want to finish raising him. I pray that changing my life also helped my children's life by helping them draw closer to their Heavenly Father. Again trials help us to grow IF we allow them to. Paul and I went through this together and I know that it has strengthened us and helped us to grow closer together. I love Paul with all my heart and I'm so grateful for that day so long ago that sealed us together for eternity.

Sunday was a full day in and of it's self. Witnessing Mark giving his son his name and blessing was a witness to the power of repentance. Mark has come a long ways and I'm so proud of him. The blessing that he gave to Van was beautiful and very touching. How I love my family. Of course this silly grandma didn't get any pictures because of the huge dinner they had afterwards and all the people that was in attendance. I'm praying that Mark and Tara took pictures and they will share with us. Van is growing and is now smiling. Each of our Grandchildren are such a joy and great blessing. We just can't get enough of being around them. I guess that is way we try to do everything possible to spend as much time with them as we can, even though we greatly miss seeing two of them that are so far away. Our lives are full, what more could we ask for.

Kyler's First Day of Kindergarten

Although all the other kids have begun school, Kyler had his first day of Kindergarten at Pinacle where his mother teaches sixth grade. He has been so excited for this day all summer. A few weeks after his fifth birthday he told his mom that being five was hard work. He was able to pick out his shirt, green his favorite color. They wear uniforms at Pinacle but at least they are able to chose the color they want to wear. He is in school a full day and he was so full of energy this afternoon that he had a difficult time eating his dinner. I think he needs to run a race every day after school. He did say they had seven recesses. It is hard to believe that my oldest grandson is this old but I had better get used to it because there are several coming up after him.

Josh is having a great time in pre-school. He started last week. He gets to ride the bus to school and back every day. He can even spell his name out loud now. I'm beginning to wonder why they have to grow up.