Don't come over, we're naked

Yesterday at about 4:00 pm, someone came in through the front door. Del doesn't get home until about 5 or 5:30ish. I actually ran to the front door to see why Ryan was home! Then I burst into tears because I felt so stupid! It was actually Del - he had had enough of the day (rough one for both of us - the rats actually won this round) and came home. We're such cry babies lately - WAA! So here we are at 4:00 in the afternoon and (what? what the heck are you thinkin?) and we both realize that everyone that is coming home, is home. After 25 years of parenting - I did laundry for 2 people, cooked up 2 pork chops, 2 baked potatoes and served it with a box of Kleenexes. You would have thought that 'Biggest Losers at Home' had just premiered! Gotta get a life going here folks! Time to pull the scrapbook boxes out and get Matt out of the 8th grade.... and Ryan out of diaper pictures... and Mandy out of trampoline pictures with Tyson Meyer..... and funny pictures of Ashley running at her soccer games. Good times - grateful today for great memories. Now about that naked thing......

Hi Drewy!! (;

Seattle Bound WTFreak?

Well - the day I've dreaded finally arrived. I'm not a big fan of this move and to tell you the truth I don't understand why those we love need to live so far away from those that love them. I did teach my children to have wings and I am proud of them for stretching them out and flying high. I am extremely proud of Matt and Bethany for working so dang hard for their Masters Degrees - and on top of that great feat they brought our beautiful Grandson Andy into the world. But now they are residents of a new state, new jobs, new home, and new ward - and I'm feelin' a bit blue and left behind. Del and I wanted to help them move because we wanted to make sure they arrived safely and see where they would be living and to tuck Drew in one last time. We don't want Drew to forget us. The trip was needless to say a bit weather related stressful. We looked in front of us and there was the truck with all of their belongings in it and their dreams in front of them and it was difficult to see but necessary for them to explore this beautiful world. We hit all kinds of weather - but the 10 foot drifts, avalanche danger, and pass closures nearly made it impossible to move on. (OK - so I prayed for those elements so we would have to turn around tee hee) We arrived to see this beautiful home, clean, bright and ready for it's new family to live there. Wonderful people came to welcome them. Soon their home was filled with boxes, and yummy dinner cooking on the stove, and Matt's chair placed right in front of the TV. They were home. Having just sent off a Missionary the day before, this would be our other son we would lose to adventure, this one came with a hefty price of our favorite daughter in law and our only grandson, and they wouldn't be moving back in 2 years. I'm pretty sure we've lost them forever it seems. There were 3 restless, tearful nights, and a long quiet flight home to an empty house. I know all will be well - but I know they'll live there forever - I know that most of my heart was left there on the front step that morning we left. I'm not sure how to ever bring them back. 50% of my family left this week - and the other 50% are now stuck with mom. There are so many things and events I will miss. So many things that I know will be wonderful for them and I am excited for them. There will be many events that they will miss here. My thoughts wander and I wonder if Drew will remember Nana. I envy a babysitter that will see his first steps, hear his first words and comfort him instead of me. I wish I could be a bit more happy about all of this - but Matt has always wanted to hit the road, hey buddy - I didn't even see you shed a tear! It did mean a lot to me to be able to see Seattle and see where Drew would grow up and where the Hillary line will make it's mark. I wish you each the best of luck - and know that you'll be able to accomplish great things and write many memorable lines in the history books called "The Hillary's Hit Seattle"! Love you all. Andy - remember to go down the stairs backwards!! (:

White knuckle driving - not sleeping - just blinking for a one second before driving onward.

Hey Grandpa - let me show you how it's done!

Ah Ha! I've figured out a way to get Drew back to visit me!

The Hillarys are Home

Sweet payoff day for both of us

Ouch, it hurts.

I don't want to be a Sunbeam today.

Should I wear the white shirt or the white shirt today?

Well as you can see by my countdown I have 1 more day left with Ryan before he leaves for his mission. Today I had the honor of doing one last act of love for him. Each shirt has a bucket of tears on it and thousands of kisses tucked inside his pockets. How excited I am for him, how amazing he will be. Yesterday was a difficult day - one of tears and fears - Del and I had to keep busy - and well - we ended up at Crown Burger (eeww) crying over Onion Rings. (Future post will include the definition of empty nest). As I look at my son I just know that he is ready for all of this. There is no apprehension in is countenance at all and because of that he will put himself to work right away. As I ironed his shirts today - a task he has done for himself for years but allowed me to have a moment - I can't wait for the places they will go. How he will stand out in a crowd, how he will hold others hearts in his over the next two years, and how amazing his smile will be as he serves the Lord in them. Just when you thought this was going to be a sappy emotional post I am now going to ruin it. (Humor is a survival tactic right now....) SO - he was required to have 12 shirts, 6 long sleeve and 6 short sleeve. 12 beautiful crisp white shirts. With his wardrobe preplanned for him for the next 2 years I have a great suggestion. I encouraged him to name his shirts after the 12 apostles! So on Tuesdays, he'll be wearing Hales, and on Wednesday he could choose between Oaks and Ballard, on really tough days he could be Packard. (Oh, my, you should have seen the look on his face when I suggested this! (Mandy and Lee Lee will laugh)) (Wait -he'll only be able to wear 11 shirts until we get a new apostle and then he can button it up!) Ok - stand back and let the lightening bolts hit! Desperately reaching for something today to just survive today - wish this blog could be seen without the tears in my eyes today. Thursday is even worse, I lose my son, daughter in law, and grandson to Washington for heaven knows how long - please pass the Kleenexes - life's to too big for me today.

Sleep in heavenly peace.....

Riding the Monkey

So I love that my children have listened to council about keeping Christmas simple this year. We have been blessed with so many miracles this year and each one has been more fulfilling than we ever dreamed of. We decided to draw names this year and keep it to a $20.00 limit - that might seem small to some, but to us it's.... just right. There are many people in need this year and so we decided to tuck some Secret Santa's aside for some friends, and also to contribute to the Road Home in downtown Salt Lake City. When you see those without, it's easy to go without - so it's a year of a fun gift and tons of food and hours of love and laughter. I put out an email to my children because right after we draw names - I get the calls - Mom? What should I get so and so? The email simply stated each of our 5 wishes for a gift. I started the process and I titled the email, "Let's ride this Monkey". To which I received the following responses - each with a new rendition of "Riding the Monkey". Here are some fun ideas if you ever have to draw names with members of the psycho ward.

Pretty much anything, Gift card to Olive Garden - (or any place that serves food and does the dishes for you), Any nice solid colored shirt (probably one that will hide the stains from Olive Garden), Choose from any of the following DVD's: Grumpy Old Men #1, Transformers, The Simpson's Mogvie, James Bond movies, Mission Impossible 2 or gift card from Wallymart to get any of these, Linkin Park's Road to Revolution CD, DSW gift certificate; because in case you didn't know I'm a sho-a-holic, Rod Works gift certificate because my house is going to look empty after I put my Christmas stuff away, Buckle GC because I'm a shop-a-holic also, A baby, Blogging lessons, scarfas that have the old-school-looks-like-yer-grandma-knitted-them kind, World Peace, A pony, Get Smart DVD, A fitted Jazz Hat with no flaps in the back, Season of House or the first'second season of Arrested Development, New headphones - mine suck rocks, Nooodles and company GC- that place is the fritz, Mamma Mia, Something about Catholic Masses (we couldn't find this in any store), Wall-E widescreen, Oceans 11,12 or 13 (they must already have 1 through 10), GC to Ross, Children's books to build my library, McDonalds CG for coke only, Scrapbooking stuff, Barnes and Noble - not the books just the smell of the store in a bottle, Someone stole my ice scraper that would be nice one with an extension cord and a heating device built right in, Another request for World Peace, Black socks - everytime one of our kids jump ship my socks disappear, Casual sweats because someone doesn't like my current ones, GC to Harley Davidson, GC to Chevron diesel prices suck, GC to Olive Garden, Something to eat with my wife, something to dress my wife in, somewhere to take my wife (movies), a way to have fun with my wife, or some bullets.


Well there it is.... Eat, Drink, Be Merry, and shoot guns for World Peace, and a Gift Certificate in a Pear Tree. What's on your list? I know you've all been nice! Merry Christmas!!

PS - I love you kids - you are the light at the top of every tree for me! (not necessarily angels - but close!)

PPS - Remember that the animals talk at midnight!

Gotta go wrap my $20.00 purchase..... now where did I put that Monkey....