Happy Day to My Man!

Yep! Michael Jane you are my man! You are wise, kind, gentle, funny, a tough guy when you need to be, a loyal friend, the most amazing father and grandfather, a caretaker, faithful, a great listener, a great debater when I want you to be. You like to tease me and drive fast into the garage, call me a wimp when I won't wrestle, tell me I'm not making any sense when I ramble and then laugh, you are adventurous and always looking for the next fun place to travel to, you provide our family with every need and lots of our wants. I'm so thankful, grateful this day for another year of you in my life and our kids and I look forward to many more. You are my rock, my quiet guide, my best friend and this one will kill the kids...my lover! M & M forever!!!

Our Baby is Sweet Sixteen!!

Wow! Our Kaitie Bug has turned the big 16! Those sixteen years went by in a blink...it couldn't have been that long ago when this sweet girl came to our family. She was doted on by her three big sisters and her big brother. The pediatrician told us all we had to stop carrying her around because she was not learning to crawl and would never learn to walk if we just packed her around all the time! If I ever let her cry when she was a baby, the older kids would tell me that was mean. Kaitie has always been so pleasant to be around and has always had a gentle way about her. When she was growing up she always had to have some project to do. She wasn't one to sit and watch TV or movies...she had to be creating. We even made her her very own 'craft cupboard' that was stocked with things to do. I would set out my sewing machine and give her fabric and she would sew dolls, purses, doll clothes and other fun stuff. When she started singing her Grandma Saundra told her not to hide her talents under a bucket, and very soon after Grandma Sally told her not to hide them under a barrell. Her talents are many...she is artistic, she is the family stylist, she is faithful, she loves the beach, and rainy weather, she is a dancer, singer, piano and guitar player, songwriter, friend, great sister, a caring auntie, a beautiful granddaughter and a very loved daughter. You bring sunshine to our days Bug and we enjoy watching you live your life! HAPPY DAY!

Easter...Spring...New Beginnings

I love Easter. I love my childhood memories of Easter.
Coloring eggs...breaking my leg on Sugarhouse Hill the one year we didn't go to Grandpa's...Grandpa Edison's and rolling eggs down the hill...and throwing them at my cousins!...roasted hot dogs, jello... hiking to the top of Grandpa's mountain...grandparents,aunts, uncles, cousins...Easter egg hunts with money in the eggs!...Grandpa's talks about his love of the Gospel, his wise advice, and his shared admiration for his family. I'm so grateful, especially this year, for a Savior who loved us each so much that he gave His life and it is this day that we celebrate that sacrifice, that gift.

Because of this day we will be with loved ones again...forever.

ps. Mom tell me where you hid the 'golden egg' this year!

Joy...these bring me joy!

Child of My Child~
You are the child of my child

Heart of my heart

Your smiles lift my spirit and bring me joy

I love to hear your stories, your funny ways of thinking

I love to see the world through your eyes.

Through you, I see the future and fondly remember the past

Through me, you'll have a friend that will last and last

Child of my child, you make my heart sing!

*love, Grandma Mel*

"A grandchild fills a space in your heart that you never knew was empty."

I just can't wait to squeeze all of you...counting the days!

A Belated Happy Day for Miss Niah!

I couldn't go any longer without giving a special blog spot to Miss Niah in honor of her birthday that was in January. When Miss Niah was born her mama and pops were living in Grandma and Grandpa's basement. This was really fun and exciting because we were able to see this beautiful little princess everyday! Your mom and dad had left for the hospital and when they got there the nurses were going to send mom home, but she went walking the halls with your dad instead. She had to make a few stops at a garbage can or two because she was throwing up. When they went back to the nurse, she let them stay. Late morning, Grandma, Grandpa, Colin, Kaitie and Kell headed to the hospital. We called Grandma Saundra and she met us there. We all were waiting in a waiting room area and we were able to go say hi to your mom and dad. As it was getting closer to you being born, Grandma and Grandpa snuck down by the room and stood outside the door in the hallway. We became a little worried when a team of 5-6 people came in with special baby equipment. We weren't sure what was going on. We waited and waited and then we heard the most beautiful sound...our Niah Marie crying! We were so happy you were here and we hurried to the waiting room to share the good news. Your dad came down a while later and told us all that we could come meet you and talk to your mom. That was the most amazing thing...to meet my first grandchild! You were so perfect and beautiful and you made the cutest little faces. You kept sticking your little tongue out and your dad said that was a Mason trait. We were all so happy to meet you and you have brought us joy from that day on. You are so fun to talk to...you always ask "what have you been doing today", or "how are you today?". You make Grandma laugh when you tell me silly stories. You called the other day to tell me that your "Irish Tree" (clover you are growing) was getting really big! and that your dad was not Irish. I love that you love anything princess, disney, and that you believe in 'prince charming'! I love that you have such a 'belly laugh' and that you have a sense of humor. I love that you like musicals like your mom and are such a good singer and dancer. You bring sunshine to my days and you are growing up way too fast! Can you stay four forever?

Dancers are the messengers of the gods. ~Martha Graham

What a delight...what a wonderful experience...to watch our Kaitie Bug charm us with her love of dance. Her closing night of concert was last night and even though she was curled in a ball, colorless, hooked to IV's in the ER just hours before she danced... she danced, she danced anyway and so amazingingly so! It was such a beautiful sight...no words to really explain it! I am so often overwhelmed by the dedication, hours and pain that Kaitie and Kell have endured over the years as they have pursued their love, and I mean love, of dance! It really comes from their soul and it is a true expression of something so beautiful. I always feel so graced to have been a witness to their joy...girls thanks for sharing with me. Don't ever stop!Dancers are instruments, like a piano the choreographer plays. ~George Balanchine

Dancing faces you towards Heaven, whichever direction you turn. ~Sweetpea Tyler

Fresh Poppy Design Giveaway

Check out this wonderful quilt patterns at Fresh Poppy. So creative! They are having a free giveaway right now...be sure to enter. http://freshpoppydesign.blogspot.com

Happy Day to Miss Preslee!

Ok, it really does seem like yesterday when 'Na' was in DisneyWorld and she received a phone call from Mama Tam who said she was in labor and a baby was coming! Preslee you were in a hurry, you weren't going to waste any time. A few hours later, Grandpa Mike called me back and we put my phone on speaker phone. Auntie Kell, Na and some drill girls and mom's listened as we sat in the restaurant at the All Star Music Resort, as you were born. Grandpa Mike and Great Grandma Saundra were there and I'm not sure who else. They were in the hall and they let us join in. It was a wonderful moment and you had the cutest little cry from the very beginning. Luckily, Kell and I were scheduled to arrive home that night and so we only had a few hours before we could meet you in person. Grandpa Mike picked us up from the airport and drove us to the hospital. You were all dressed up in a beautiful pink hat and so cute! I remember your mama's feet were swollen really big, but her and your dad had the biggest smiles ever! They were so happy and grateful that you had arrived safely after a couple of weeks of your mama being really sick.
You are a special girl Preslee Kae! You are full of sunshine and you are spunky like your mama. I love how you love your friends, Woof, Bear, and LuLu. I love that you like to dance. I love that you are a teaser and that you call me 'Na'. I love that you love Backyardigans...I do too!
We love you Miss Preslee Kae and we wish you a wonderful Number TWO birthday!
love, Grandpa, Na, Colin, Kell, and Kaitie

HERE'S THE BIG NEWS!

My handsome prince of a son officially asked his princess Ashley to be his 'true love'. She said, 'yes'! Sisters Kaitie and Kell were happy to be Col's helpers. We are so happy for the two of them and life is good...

Big News Is Coming...

There is some big news coming...I need to find help loading a picture and then I'll break the news. Be patient...you'll soon find out! Hint: true love + bling

Miss Chloe the Birthday Girl!

It is hard to believe that our little Miss Chloe Nan is two years old today! I remember the phone call that Grandpa Mike received from Mama Nat saying she was in labor and then I get a phone call from Grandpa Mike saying I'm booked on a flight to leave in just a couple hours and I'm on Grandma duty!! Grandma duty is the best...second to mom duty...I just love those two jobs!

When I arrived in Burlington, Mama Nat informed me that labor had stopped. Well, we couldn't have that, so Grandma Mel, Mama Nat and Miss Niah headed to the mall and we walked, shopped and walked some more. We didn't know what our new baby was going to be, so we bought light green and yellow jammies. It worked! The labor started up again and we went home and when Mama Nat started to bend over and couldn't stand up any more and couldn't catch her breath, Papa Bryan took charge and off they went to the Hospital. It was a wonderful phone call to receive letting me know all was well and that we had a beautiful baby girl join the family. When Miss Niah woke up I informed her that she had a baby sister and she just couldn't wait to go see her. Later that day I took Niah to the store and she insisted she buy something for her new sister.

From the very beginning you could tell what a sweet, tender spirited little girl Miss Chloe would be. Chloe is Greek and it means "blooming". This is Chloe exactly because she is an explorer, curious, ever learning new things, and happy and beautiful like a new blooming flower.

We love our Miss Chloe Nan and wish her a very HAPPY 'turning two' day!!

Love,

Grandma Mel, Grandpa Mike, Uncle Colin, Auntie Kaitie and Auntie Kell

HAPPY DAY TO MCKELL!

What? Kell is turning 19?!

Because she is turning 19, here are nineteen reasons we love having Kell in our family...

• 1. she is proud of her red hair


• 2. she is an awesome sister


• 3. her beautiful smile


• 4. her contagious laugh


• 5. she has sweet 'white chocolate' moves


• 6. she loves to learn new things and she shares them with us


• 7. she loves, loves to travel


• 8. she is proud to be Irish!


• 9. she speaks to us in languages


• 10. she is teaching little sister to drive a stick shift


• 11. she's a dreamer


• 12. she pursue's her dreams


• 13. she loves great literature


• 14. she can tell you about art...any art


• 15. she is self motivated


• 16. she is kind to all of us


• 17. her nieces and nephew love her


• 18. she has a messy room


• 19. we love, love, love the dimples!!!

Most of all...we love YOU! HAPPY DAY Kellibell!

Update

change

"Learn to embrace change,

and you'll begin to recognize

that life is in constant motion,

and every change happens for a reason.

When you see boundaries as

opportunities, the world becomes

a limitless place,

and your life becomes a

journey of change that always

finds its way."

I guess you could say I've been away from my blog for awhile while I try and 'find my way'. What a journey this has been and, yes, life has been in constant motion...never pausing...and I've been trying to move forward and not backward. Some days are easier than others...some are just plain rough!

I'm so grateful for so many things and these are the things that keep me going...

(check the wordle above..I couldn't get it to go in my post..click on it and you can read it)