Happy Birthday Xander

It always amazes me how quickly the years go by. It really hasn't been two years since this sweet spirit entered into our lives. Alexander's birthday was on February 8 and we celebrated his birth yesterday. You will need to forgive the quality of the pictures because like normal I forgot to take the camera. All I had was my phone and Xander doesn't slow down enough for the phone to get a great picture.

Xander is such a joy in our lives and especially me. He runs into my arms when he first sees me and doesn't like to leave my arms for anything or anyone. He did begin to play with Grandpa this weekend, which I was very happy to see. I will share him with his Grandpa.

Xander loves to play with his older brother Josh and will do everything that Josh does. He watches him very closely. As Xander is getting older him and Josh are going to be even better friends than they are now. Xander has moved into a big boys bed and is doing very well sleeping during the night. His nap time he gets out of bed and likes to lay down next to the door so it is difficult to get into his bedroom.

Xander is beginning to talk more, I just wish that we could understand him a little bit more but it is going to come. I love listening to him pray. I know that our Father understands him perfectly. He loves to have books read to him and I love every minute that I'm with him.
When it came time to blow out his candles his Dad had to cover his mouth because Xander is a pro at blowing out candles. Thank goodness his Dad let him do this a couple of times.
For his cake we selected a car because he loves to play with cars. He will drive them all over the house. The animals are there because last year Josh received dogs on his cake and Xander loves to play with them and Josh had a hard time sharing them. Now he has his own. Paul loved the fawn and even though it is in front of the car I'm sure the car stopped in plenty of time.

I wish that the days and years would slow down so these grandchildren could stay young and innocent for a little bit longer. How we love this special little boy. Again Happy Birthday Xander!

A project filled with love

It has been a very long time since I added anything to my blog and decided that this was a good way to come back.

Over forty years ago my mother purchased this blue and white silk at the Bishop's storehouse. This storehouse is where we purchased almost everything we ever needed. Items were cheaper there and it made it easier that it came out of my Dad's paycheck because he worked for the church. It wasn't very often that fabric of this quality came into the storehouse and when Mom see it she knew it would make a beautiful quilt. I don't think that Tami or I were even dating when the purchase was made. Before putting away in a drawer she pieced the white together and marked it with a pattern. It stayed in the drawer, forgotten until after both of our marriages as well as everyone else in our family. One day Mom was cleaning out the drawers and getting rid of fabric. She ran across it and asked if I would like it. Of course I jumped at the chance and brought it home.

It was placed into another drawer to remain hidden for several more years. The blue made it's appearance every once in a while when my boys would need "water" for their Lego ships. I thought about finishing it for weddings but for some reason I would forget about it.

Last spring I told myself that I was going to finish this quilt and then began to worry that I couldn't find both the while and the blue. Thank goodness they were just in different places. As I looked at the pattern Mom had chosen I thought it was ugly but I knew I couldn't do anything different. This past summer I put it on the frames and began. I had to remove it so I could make Reece's quilts and another temple quilt. One of the first things I did when I returned home from Illinois was to put this quilt back on. It was then I realized Mom's good judgement. The pattern was turning into something very beautiful.

I have a difficult time keeping anything I make for myself. I began pondering who I would give this special quilt to. The first person that came to mind was my niece Mandy. She always was so special to Mom and to all of us. I have given quilts to all of my nieces and nephews as they have married. Mandy will never have that chance. She was the perfect choice. When Mom died I think that she understood that Grandma had returned to heaven but the separation was very difficult for her.

As I delivered the quilt to Tami the other day I knew Mom was happy with my decision. It was very difficult giving something away that was a part of Mom but as I realized this is what Mom wanted my heart filled with happiness. My last words to Tami was to tell Mandy that this was from the Grandma she loved. I know Mandy will use the quilt well. She will feel the comfort and warmth for many years to come and she did with her Grandma's arms.

Welcoming Reece Christopher Grimm

Reece Christopher Grimm was born on September 22. Even though he is eleven days old and he has changed, at least I'm getting to this post. My hands have been full of taking care of three little boys and their mother. I can't say that I'm taking care of Chris because I really don't see that much of him, he is always having to work.

Reece came into this world as a big boy. He weighed 9 lbs, 4 oz. and was 19 1/2" tall. He has fat rolls all over his little body. He has big hands and in the past eleven days has already put the weight on that he lost in the hospital and more. He has very short little legs. His head is huge and during the delivery the doctor even had a difficult time getting his head out of his mom's tummy. Cyrena has heard several times about how big she was and I too admit that she was very large. Now we know why. Reece is a very good baby, one of the best that I have seen. He began nursing like a pro and hasn't had any problems. He never spits up and we have yet to pull out any burp clothes. He is just beginning to stay awake for about an hour at a time. He sleeps very well, even through the noise of his older brothers.
Bauer who is four loves his new little brother and tells everyone that he loves him the most. He just likes Emmett. He loves kissing him and especially when Reece opens his eyes and looks at him. Emmett likes to put his fingers in his eyes. He also loves to kiss him but he is still holding a grudge. Emmett who is almost eighteen months old feels like he has lost his mother. He has been very jealous and is just barely getting used to the idea of someone else in his mother's life. Little does he know the great friendship that is going to grow between the two of them.

Cyrena is recovering very well. She feels like this has been the easiest one to have. She is still having to deal with the effects from the surgery but I'm surprised with how well she is doing. I guess she needs to recover quickly because of all the work that is before her. She is a great mom and I know that she is going to learn how to deal with the three little boys instead of being scared of them. She left me with them yesterday to get her hair cut and she was concerned about me handling the three boys alone. I told her that I wasn't scared and she admitted that she is scared to death. But I know that she is up to the task because she is going to be blessed. Heavenly Father wouldn't have sent her another baby if she couldn't.

I have loved being here with Cyrena and her family and I'm going to miss them when I leave. Thank goodness that isn't for another week.

Hunter's first day of Kindergarten

Hunter is beginning Kindergarten this morning and from what I hear he didn't want to get out of bed this morning. He was excited just before he left though. He is lucky because he has Kyler's Kindergarten teacher from last year. She really helped Kyler and I know that she is going to be great with Hunter. Hunter has been going to pre-school this past year and is more that ready. We don't get much of a chance to see him but I hope that he has a great day today and every day. We love you Hunter.

Happy Birthday Ashton

Yesterday was Ashton Daniel Oveson's third birthday. Ashton is such a big boy now. He especially loves his Grandpa and asks continually where his Grandpa is when he isn't home. The moment he opens the door Ashton is by his side. He knows that Granpdas always means being outside and having fun. Ashton also will do whatever Kyler is doing, unless he is watching TV. He will watch TV for a few minutes and then he is off playing. Sitting still for a three year is very difficult. Because he likes to do what Kyler does and loves to be with Grandpa, he doesn't understand why Kyler gets to do things with Grandpa that he can't, like get on the roof, build fires, and work with different tools. I know one of these days we are going to find Ashton trying to follow Kyler into a tree and getting himself into a lot of trouble.

Ashton has really grown the past year. He is almost as big as Lexie and can tackle the kids to play until they tell him that they are done. He is going to be a tough teenager. Ashton loves Motorcycles and trucks. Only motorcycles he calls "go-go's". He runs through the house riding his pretend motorcycle. Nothing makes him happier than riding the four-wheeler with Grandpa and going fast. Racing is his favorite with a "we beat you" after every ride.

When I asked him what he wanted on his cake I wasn't surprised when he said he wanted motorcycles on it. He was able to help me make his cake. He kept asking me where the jump was all day. Before the motorcycles went on the cake, both of them were in his hands all morning. Of course when he had his nap I really got busy and finished the cake. He was a little disappointed when he woke up and I wouldn't let him play with the cake.

We went swimming in Castle Dale. He had fun after he had became used to the water and being afraid that we were all going to drown. As soon as he blew out his candles he had to take the motorcycles up the jump. The frosting became mud to him and oh the fun he had.

We love you Ashton and Happy Birthday.

Happy first Birthday Donivan

Mark and Tara's first child is turning one years old today. He is such a great joy in all of our lives. He was a big surprise to his parents but now I don't know if they could even begin to imagine life without him. I know that I couldn't. Van is all boy. He loves to be tossed about and especially bounced upon your knee. He loves music because his parents sing to him every day. He found Mark's guitars as soon as he could crawl. Even when I think that he is going to break the strings, he just loves the noise that he produces. I'm sure that before long Mark and Tara will be teaching him how to play both the guitar and piano. He isn't walking yet but he will be soon. He just needs to be more courageous and then he will be a hand full for his parents.

I was a little bit surprised when Tara said that she wanted a volcano cake for Van but I will do anything that they ask. I know that Van still loves to put things into his mouth. What better toy to go into the mouth than a dinosaur. So here is his cake.

I have the next two pictures switched so I will go to the end and then back. Paul was lucky enough to get this most marvelous picture of Van after eating his birthday cake. Mark tired several times afterwards to get him to smile again and it didn't happen. Oh, how we love this special little boy who looks so much like his daddy.

As we lite the candle and tried to get Van to blow it out, he instead reached out to touch the flame. I don't think that it burned him but with all of us yelling at him to not touch it, he was scared and began to cry. It took alot to get him even near the cake. Tara decided to get the dinosaur covered with frosting and the lava, which was very good, and have him try that first. After that first taste he was all over the cake. Hence the preceeding picture.

We all got a kick out of Tara. She really has a difficult time with Van getting dirty in any way. But she was the one to help him make a mess out of himself. But notice the apron. She didn't want to get anything on her.

Like I said even though he wasn't planned to come for another year I know that none of us would want to change anything. I don't get very many opportunites spent with this little boy but I'm praying that over the years it will change. He has such a cute personality coming out and I love every chance I get with him, like this upcoming weekend.

Happy Birthday again Van and we love you!!

They are growing up

Today was Josh's first day at Kindergarten. It is still hard to believe that he is old enough for this but then he is five. He has been going to pre-school for the past two years and even has been riding a bus. Even though he doesn't look to excited in this picture, from what I hear he was excited this morning. He said that his teacher didn't read a book to him because in Kindergarten they don't read. He did make a puppet though. Reading is highly over rated in the eyes of a five year old. I wish that I could have been there to hear his stories. I miss that, not having kids in school. Now that the grandkids have started going to school it is only going to become more difficult more me. They are growing up. I love you Josh.