Troy's Sick Gall Bladder

Troy had his gall bladder removed today! He now has 4 new holes in his body.  I was told by Laura that he had them take pictures of his gall bladder.  I wonder if he will post them on his blog???? It sounds like everything went well - hope to hear from him tomorrow.  I am so grateful for people that take the time to attend medical school and learn these wonderful skills that can make our lives so much better.  I am so glad that Troy is OK and hope that he will continue to feel better.  Post tomorrow when I get an update.  (I would like to know what kind of people schedule major surgery two days before Christmas?)  Love ya lots Troy and Laura!

2010 Thanksgiving Togetherness

Thanksgiving was a time and season to remember.  I am so thankful for my family and now my extended family of in-laws and grandkids. Dennis and I feel so blessed to have each of you in our lives.  You bring us so much joy and happiness and we hope that you will always feel welcome in our home.   We love it when you come and share your lives with us.

This year for Thanksgiving we had record snowfall, bitter cold temperatures and lots of shoveling.  As you can see from the pictures there were some individuals that actually enjoyed removing all that white stuff that just kept on coming.    We played a lot of games, did a little dancing thanks to Chelsey and Tanner with their "Wii" dance machine, fixed a ton of food, went bowling, and stuffed ourselves with Turkey.   I think that I will let the pictures tell the story of this year's Thanksgiving.

 This is Blake and Dennis enjoying the snow that just kept coming.

 This is little Lizzie watching the snow come down from the window.  I think she was actually trying to touch it.

 And of course, something always breaks and needs repaired - Boy's to the rescue, first the microwave went, which got repaired at no expense, but then the element in the oven broke in half so we had to go all over town trying to find one that would fit that particular unit. Then Troy, Tanner and Dennis thought it would be a good idea to change out all the circuit breakers in my house.  It was a good idea to fix the power box, but I think they picked the coldest day of the year to do it, Chelsey, Laura and I were busy finding flashlights, oil lamps and building a fire in the basement to keep warm.  I am very thankful that they knew how to fix it, because if I would have had to hire a "non-family" electrician it would have cost a fortune.  Troy also changed out all of the thermostat's in my house too  - THANK YOU - it is much easier to regulate the heat now.

 Well, besides all the problems we did have those among us (Chelsey and Laura)that were really having a good time - I think they were watching the dancers (see video below) - but can't be sure.

 Oh, and yes Tanner stayed up past his bedtime and this is what he looks like early in the morning.

Oh, did I forget to mention the food and the people - the food just kept coming - alot like the snow.  We had all the usual fixin's - Turkey, rolls, potato's and gravy, pumpkin pies, candied yams, hot cider,watergate salad, stuffing, and of course my favorite - pomegrate 7-up to drink.

 And of course, Grandma can't have a gathering of family without the pictures.

 However, after all that food, must come the exercising.  I am not sure how Kaylee and Aftyn convinced Laura and Dennis to play twister, but here's proof that they did!

 And the dancing goes on - see live video of Tanner and Troy!
Thank you so much for sharing your lives with us - we love you all!

2010 Halloween at Boo at the Zoo

Oh, what a fun Halloween adventure.  We decided since it was really close to Riley's birthday we would all celebrate by going to Boo at the Zoo.  It was quite the adventure getting ready and getting all the kids to the zoo in their costumes.  Dennis bought tickets in advance so we would not have to wait in the long, long lines.  It was great, we got to enter by the side gate and walked right in - no waiting in lines.  The kids were so excited to see all of the animals at the zoo and get to "trick or treat" at the same time.  I loved seeing all of the kids and their many different facial expressions as they explored the zoo.  It is always such a wonderful experience to get to see all of my grand kids getting to know each other and spending time together.  Thanks for sharing your lives with us!  I tried to capture some of my most favorite pictures - here they are!

How can you resist a face like this - I wonder what he has been up to?

Butterfly Elizabeth

Going after "THE STASH"

Very actively involved parents - let's just watch and see what happens

Aftyn in front of the GOBLIN cemetery

Kaylee under the BIG CAT.

I always knew that Aftyn had a special "GLOW" about her.  This picture proves it!



Grandma's favorite goblins

Abby and the CHICKENS

Chelsey and Butterfly Elizabeth - What is Elizabeth focused on?

Abby and her Dad in front of the monkey exhibit

Elizabeth and Hunter enjoying the ride - they didn't seem to mind all of the scary creatures running around

Skeleton Riley and Aftyn the Purple and Black Witch in front of the tiger cage

 

Blake with his counterpart Dracula in the GLOBE!

Alyssa - Wow what a great Look!




Boo at the Zoo with Mr Penguin



Riley on her birthday with the apron that Grandma made



  



Riley and Grandma after making a LOT of cupcakes for her Halloween Birthday party



Dennis with Riley enjoying the birthday cupcakes



Hope you enjoyed Halloween - we sure did!

Kaylee's Birthday

Ok, I know that I am a little out of order with my posts, but I guess time has just escaped me.  I really enjoyed coming down to Kaylee's birthday party - it is so fun being together with everyone and celebrating the birthday's of my grandchildren.  I hope that we will continue to get together often.  I am glad to get to know Ryann's sisters and their families and enjoy their friendships and watching their children grow.  Well, I am still getting use to my camera so the pictures are not great, hopefully Ryann has better pictures to look at.

 This is Kaylee with her head dress on - not really this is what's left over from the pinata - she was crazy swinging that stick to get the candy out.

 This is the cake that Ryann made especially for Kaylee with her new Barbie doll as the centerpiece of the cake - good job Ryann.   Between you and Chelsie you could start a business decorating children's birthday cakes.

 Here is Kaylee with her Birthday apron.

 This is the birthday crew waiting in line to swing the stick for the pinata

 Here is a little hankie-pankie between Abby and Hunter! Wow are they starting a little young.  I wonder if this is where the phrase "kissing cousins" comes from?

Happy Birthday Kaylee from Grandma!

Halloween Carving

Well, it's hard to believe that it is almost Halloween again.  Tracy and Tyler came over and we  (I should say Tyler, Dennis and Tracy carved pumpkins with a little help from Abby and me).  I tried to convince Abby to put her hand in the pumpkin and pull out the seeds but she was a little reluctant.  However, before the night was over she did get a few of the seeds out by herself.  Here are the wonderful pumpkins that were carved.  Can you guess who carved which pumpkins?

Riley and the Chickens

Well, I just have to put these cute pictures of Riley up.  While Bob and Benita were here we went to Benita's Dad's house in Ririe and picked apples.  He's trees were covered in apples. We almosted filled the pickup bed with apples that had fallen to the ground.  I called my Mom to see if she wanted some and she said yes, she would like a few to eat, and then she said to bring all the rotten apples up to for the chickens to eat so we picked up the rest of them and off to Grandma's farm to deliver the apples.  Wow, did Riley have fun watching those chicken's eat the apples.  Picture proof below:

A time to Remember - Friendships

Life has no certainties.  We never know from day to day what life will bring.  I would like to talk about two weeks in the life of my lifelong friend starting on September 28, 2010.  We got a call from Benita saying that her Mother was ill and her and Bob were driving to Idaho.  Generally I am pretty excite about her visits, but I knew that this was a very serious and somber visit and one that we didn't know how it was going to end.  Benita spent several days in the hospital with her Mom and also a day with her Dad who had eye surgery.  The days were long and full of uncertainty.  It was finally determined that her Mom would go home on hospice care with the end sure to follow.  The emotions ran high with all the decision and arrangements to be made.  However, the end was a lot closer than anyone would have ever imagined.  I remember Benita telling me how her Mom loved ice cream and raspberries.  She put a little ice cream and some raspberries on one of those hospital swap sticks and watched as her Mother enjoyed tasting them for the very last time.  What a wonderful lasting memory to share with her Mom.  Her Mother past away on Monday, October 4th.  It was a very sad day for the family.  Children and family were called and the funeral was planned for Friday, October 8th in the Ririe Church house.

Children came from close and far.  Michael caught a military flight from Afghanistan and flew for 36 hours to come for the funeral.  He met is bride Stephanie in Las Vegas and they drove up to attend. It was great that Michael could be there to support their mother - what a great act of kindess.

Benita with her son Ben - I hope Ben realizes how much it meant to his Mom that he came to the funeral.  At a time like this a Mother needs to be surrounded by her children.  Benita needed and wanted to have Ben there and through a few small miracles from family members he arrived (a little late for the funeral, but made the cemetery service). Benita was so happy to see him there - now their family circle of love was complete.

 Of course, I just had to put this picture in - this is Audrey at the viewing - she loved all the flowers and wanted to smell them, she had been told not get so close, but I hurried and snapped the picture.  There is nothing more innocent than a small child's curiosity.

 Benita's daughter and her husband Barry drove with their children from Las Vegas.  While the grown-up were talking the girls and I went to see the headstones.  I was explaining to them what the dates meant.  I told them that the top date was the day they were born and the bottom date was the day they died.  Before the girls went back to their parents I ask them what they had learned.  They told me that the top date was the day you were born and according to Mandy, the bottom date is the "day you hit the road, jack" - very perceptive for a 5 year old.

 Benita and Bob at the cemetery in Ririe.  The flowers were absolutely beautiful.

 Benita's family all together at the cemetery.  It just started to sprinkle rain as I took this picture so we have a few drops of rain that bluried the picture.

 Dennis and I, Benita and Bob and the church house after the funeral. (Boy have we all changed since our college days - for the better I am sure)

 I am so glad that I was able to share and be a part of their lives at such an emotionally trying time.  I know that Benita's Mom would have been very proud of her and proud of the way that she has lived her life.  I am glad that I was allowed to share this sad time with their family.  I hope that they know that I will always be here for them if they need anything.  Love them always.