Mandy.... could you hear them pop?

Mandy!  Hello there child that is living far away but having wonderful adventures!  I wanted to share this with you because you wanted to know when they popped!  I thought of you in the WA Biotanical Gardens and I wished that I could have seen all of the beautiful sights there.  But here in the little back yard on Edgecliff, we have a spectacular view of the Poppy Popping.  Just wanted to share it with you, and to say how much you are all missed.  Can't wait to hear about the next great adventure!!

Sure beats the heck out of that Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree eh?

Loves from Utah.

Loves from your mom.

Eh? Just 3 plates?

Dear neglected blog... I hate the 'catch up blogs' with a vengence.  Don't you?  So I've decided to focus on that which I love the most to blog about and let the rest go by they wayside.  Note to self:  Don't post what you'll post about soon - because the pressure is just too much.

3 weeks ago this little man and his mom can to stay with us.

Big J's dad earned an internship from BYU Law School to work in Washington DC for 3 months.  But, Mandy is a member of the Utah Wind Symphony (move over Symphony Orchestra), and her final concert was 2 weeks after Ryan was to be in DC.  So we were thrilled when Mandy said that her and my beautiful grandson would stay for the 2 weeks, hit rehersals and the performance!!  There was nothing but sweetness in our home - this little guy owned the entire house.  If  he made a peep we were all over it!  We all had to be at work during the day and it was wonderful to come home and find that Mandy had made our home shiney clean every day.  At night we would snuggle with baby J and the smell of Johnson & Johnson baby lotion filled the air.  Seriously - is there anything sweeter than seeing your grandson being loved, read to, happy, clean, smiling, and sang to.  I loved every second of this time with him.  Thank you Mandy for making life a bit sweeter for me in well - at least a million ways.  xoxox Big J & Mom.

ok - we are sideways because we are sleeping....

that's the excuse I'm using for my stupidy.

Mandy was AMAZING at her concert - she had a beautiful solo,

and you can always tell when it's her.  The music that girl can make is

B E A U T I F U L!

Ashley came to help or fight over holding Big J who was a trooper.

We were able to listen to a selection of music of which

the composer was there - a very very rare opportunity.

Afterwards we snapped a picture of him with Mandy...

and in my comments.... Mandy will spell his name for me!

The next day - 2 of my children were now out of the state.

The following Monday these two little critters came to town!!!

What in heavens name did I do to deserve such

cute grandkids?  I LOVED that they came to visit!

Emster is about 2 minutes from walking...

(just do it already!!)

Super D is talking up a storm and has

super powers.  He loves Garbage trucks, so

we spent a couple of hours drawing chalk

ones in the back yard on the patio.

Nope.... not ever squirting that patio off!

We decided to go to the zoo,

and we just had a riot.  Emster loved looking

at the animals because they were't stuffed, they

actually moved.  Super D went on the

Merry go round, and chose the peacock.

It did not go up and down, it just sat there.

I said - do you want to go on the up and down

animals?  He said - no I want this one, so you

can sit next to me.  (sigh)

There were animals to see... and holes to dig...

what?  yep - no animal could replace the

digger....

some animals didn't move at all

just sat there - all red....

and afterwards... there was such a silence

from the back seat we had to turn around

and check on them....

We finished off with some serious Ice Cream Cone

Eating Lessons - (loves to you Bethany!)

It was tough to say good bye - I had already cried a river

the week before sending off Big J.... now these two were

leaving.  But - lucky me - they are going home with all

of my love - and hopefully a memory or two.

I heart my grandkids

I heart them with all my heart

With Mike and Ashley in California...

that left me with only 1 child left in Utah!

So today we set the table with only 3 plates

and even though it was a Sunday,

and I had served as a Missionary all day,

I said....

"What the eff, we need more kids!"

and Del ran from the room.

Big Breath... hold it.... hold it.... here we go.....

Nutshell Item #1 -  Way to kick some butts Eric!

Hardly enough thanks to you all...

Just wanted to thank my Military Heros... Mike, Dr. Love, Brayton, Elizabeth & Mike G., Jessica and Hubby D, Ryan R. (Elise's darlin), and my daddio....

Today I looked over at Mike - and I could hardly hold back the tears of grattitude that he was home again.

I watched Ashley's face - bright with love and happiness.

I remembered that his brother, is still there, and that it weighs heavy on his heart.

Ashley reminded me tonight that Mike is alive today because someone sacrificed their life for him... it was Mikes Birthday and his friend said, "No one should have to go out to war on their birthday" (basically paraphrased) and He never returned that day.  So when I get into my clean comfortable bed, in my safe warm home, and reach over and touch the arm of my husband next to me, and close my eyes without fear.... I WILL remember those that

Didn't get to sleep at all

Don't have a bed

Left their homes and children to serve

Left their loved ones home to leave fresh tears on the pillow

Never came home.

I am grateful for you,

I honor you.

Thank you.

sssshhhhhhhh......

..... there be sleepin' babies in the house....

ryan roadies

seriouusly ive decided to write this entire post in lower case letters and i might not use any punctuation at all i feel like everything is running together and im standing next to the road watching everyone drive by  now thats kinda funny because my 2 ryans are both going to be on the road tomorrow one heading to washington dc and the other to gila valley arizona one is starting the dream internship and the other watching a dream come true for a family thats kinda cool  i do worry about them no wait i worry freakishly large amounts about this whole thing not that i don't trust them or know that this is major adventure for them both but if they drive like i do when i drive you might have seen my car go by as im asleep  i just dont want them falling alseep or their cars to break down or someone hurt them or wait i have to remember that they are both old enough to to this and they have a goal in mind but still the mommy in me says are you sure you dont want me to drive along with you and that might be worse than falling asleep ya know well what a day can i ask you all to keep these ryans in your prayers because heaven knows that they are loved by me with a captiol L period

What haunts your dreams?

Well - it was interesting enough to actually find the address we needed to visit this week... but it was especially interesting to have it be a meth house... oh sista, those open sores must really hurt when you flash those gang signs... and by the way - My Kingdom.... would win....   I love being a Missionary.  I'm pretty much convinced that I've grown a foot or two, AND I must increase my firearm capacities.  Next time I visit her... I'm taking a tooth brush for her teeth - what's left of them, and some soap for her mouth.  I might not be your 'certain kind o momma' but I bet she would like to know what you've chosen to do with your life.  So I just held your broken body in my arms and told you that a safe house is right around the corner, and tonight I will relive you telling me that you don't dare even go there.  I usually don't publish these thoughts, but one day I'll write them in a book just to get them out of my mind.  The experiences I'm having every single week, sometimes 2-3 times a week are heart wrenching, but - it's just too fresh in my mind, and in my helpless state of being and I can only write the frustrations because there are no answers tonight.  For now...I can only pray for this person, and ask that she isn't raped tonight, or beaten again, or that the low that comes after the high, won't kill her.  I had better get started.... because the next experience is right, around, the, corner..