Trouble's Brewin'

Oh Lookie - Mom's learning to use her scanner.... thus the interesting look of this picture - I'm learning - but as I'm learning I'm remembering ALL of those Halloween Pictures from the past that.... might fall onto my scanner throughout the month of October... Hum... always be nice to your mom!  Meanwhile - I found this picture finally that I LOVE - there's so much trouble brewing in this picture!  It's kind of like a Where's Waldo book - only it's Name what's totally strange about this picture.  Ok - understanding that this is all a totally strange picture, might I add the following:  wait... after looking at it closer... there isn't one thing strange at all about it.  I totally love my Precious Freaky Fun, Beautiful, Daughters.  Nope, nothing at all strange about this picture.  It's all about who we are.  Happy Scanning everyone!

Check your boobies - today

I just heard those words you don't want to EVER hear from your best friend.  "I have Breast Cancer."  I've known Vicki Dahn for many many moons.  She has been my right hand and my left hand... ok - on the Basketball court, Softball field and Volleyball court.   She's tended my children so I could get away and breathe.  She's fasted and prayed for me when I had my surgery, and she's probably the most faithful person ever.  So on Wednesday she finds out when they'll take her right breast totally off.  I have sent her several teasing messages: (because that's how we are with each other) Oh - we all never liked that right one anyway... or.... I'm done with mine - want me to send one over.  I know those are not nice things to say - but you have to know that it's going to take some humor to get through this one.  I've done Cancer 5k's, Cancer Century Rides, and I believe I even did a Harley Cancer Ride.... but it still keeps sneaking in and stealing my friends.  I hate that.  I told her that it was my fault - because that was the one I always smacked into when we played basketball.... perhaps because she should have stayed on her own side of the key... but that's another story, for another day.  Someone told me this week - and I looked at them and wondered what planet they came from - that Cancer originates from the Fall of Adam and Eve - that it was the beginning of cellular destruction.... (sounds like someone needs to check his testicles for testicular cancer....)  I have dealt with skin cancer, and lumps in my neck and in my legs - all of which would have turned sour if not found early.  I have no doubt that Vicki will have a bazillion friends praying and fasting for her - I'm among those that will.  I just really hate that I have to see my friends suffer.  I lost my friend Linda just last year to cancer, and I whisper her name almost everyday to make sure I remember her and her courage.  My friend down the street is fighting the battle, and Grandma Mackay left us way too early - and I'm just kinda tired of it all!  I want to enjoy my friends here on earth, and although the lessons of life we must live through make us who we are - it still is painful to see the fear.  I ran in the Race for the Cure - ok - knock it off... I did actually run some of it.... and my friend had a shirt that said, "What are you complaining about - you have another one!"  I'm afraid that Vicki will receive spiritual comments from her other really good friends - but from me - she's just going to have to laugh.  So tonight - - grab those boobs, soap them up, and check them out.  If you even find a bead sized lump - get your butts into a doctor.  Oh - and make sure the love of your life checks out his.... um.... "bag of coins" as Elaine puts it..... yet another friend I know who will be praying for our good friend Vicki.  Stay healthy - because by darn - if you're reading this... you are my friend.  or my freaky stalker.  if that's the case - I'll be checking YOU out!    Best of the best Vicki - you can beat this - kinda like how I trashed your butt in every sport we played - no pain - no gain.  xoxoxo

Knock Knock....

Knock Knock

Who's There?
Can't wait...
Can't wait for what?

Can't wait to have jammie church.
And make cozy food,
and hope that it rains, like it always does,
and to pull out my dusty scrapbooks
and do nothing else but be totally lazy
and maybe dust off Hocus Pocus
because it's almost time for that
and perhaps put my worries on the shelf
for a day
and totally sleep when I want
because I can
just one day try not to worry
about what's not getting done, and who's hungry
and who's without something, and broken
and sometime during the day,
talk to my kids and tell them
I love them
and maybe Dbug and Emstr and Jbomb
will skyp their nanna,
and maybe I'll try not to
squeel with delight too loud.
perhaps, I'll shower,
but no way am I shaving my legs,
nope, not at all.
sometime on that day, I'll
count all of my blessings and remind myself,
that life goes on, and that it's ok to
sometimes dream, even though they
are far away dreams.
for sure, on that day, I'll breathe,
before Monday sneaks up and gives
me a wedgie.

Sweet 24 hours of bliss, bring on Sunday.

Who's minding the baby?

Dear JMan, thank you for letting me tend you last night while your parents went on a smoochy date to the BYU game.  I thought it was very very curious that they ran like the wind to the car, kissing and giggling all the way there....  I was so excited to be with you that I drove through the south bound traffic for hours and hours and hours to just get there!  Traffic was NOT as bad as those flapping BYU window flags that would come lose and smack my windshield.  I was excited that you actually smiled when you found out it was me tending you - and you didn't go into any high shrill screaming from mommy separation anxiety.  It was sure fun when your parents left and the real fun started.  Sure glad Uncle Ryan came over, after locking his car keys in his car and me geting after him, I locked myself out of the house.... he was inside laughing... funny funny Ryan.  I'm telling ya - I'm pretty impressed with your walker skills.  Just put you in there and you can almost break the sound barrier going backwards.  Let's not tell mommy and daddy about the table ok?  I also loved that you know how to turn on all of the sounds on your toys.  You've learned that daddy needs his study time for law school and yet "Hey Diddle Diddle" is a most excellent deterrent when the quiet time is needed.  I also noticed that you like electrical cords.  I think it's funny that your mom had to ghetto duct tape them to the wall so you won't chew on them.  Does your mom know you have more fun with the tape and not the cords? (Let's not tell her)  I loved that you laughed at just the right time when BYU would score.... and yet - you had the same laugh when we switched over to Modern Family..... during half time..... does your mommy watch it that much, that you would know the names of the characters so well?  Your mom said I couldn't give you any solid foods.  I hope that the spider and the beetle didn't count.  I had strict instructions about bath time... the note said, "Do not leave him unattended".  You know Big J... you would think that almost drowning Emster at the pool would have been a thing of the past... but apparently not (;  Oh - and thank you for not peeing on me during the bath.  Sorry about your toe getting stuck in the faucet, that happened to your mom, and by darn, the vegetable oil still works great!  I loved that you tooted when I wrapped you in your bath towel.  Thus the poem, "ME MUDDER" and holding you close to my heart, and squeeze you tight until you ... toot"  The note said that at 8:45 you go to sleep - so at 8:45 I said, Go to sleep, and you did.  That was cool.  Thank you for staring at Uncle Ryan like he was either funny or from outer space, we couldn't read that look on your face.  Thank you for all of the sloppy kisses, and for slimmmmmming my watch, it's waterproof, I think.  Thank you for not laughing at my story telling.... Poor .... little..... Kittens..... (it's crazy!) Meow........Meow..... Meow.  Thank you for letting me say prayers with you, and for allowing me to get through one song before you tried to rip my tongue out with your little fingers.  I loved seeing your new teeth.  Yes, I will remind your mom that it's a good thing that she's not still nursing... ouch.. (it's crazy!)  I hope you call me again.  Maybe Grandma Ruth and I can come over and we'll play pass the baby, spike the baby, Rise and Shout.... and wear blue shirts.  Er somethin' like that.  Any who - lucky me - I got my first Friday night tend.  Here's to many more.  (could you poop BEFORE your mom leaves next time?) You are a beautiful child.  xoxoox Love Grandma

I love my Grandbabies, one and all.

The resting place

This week has been a bit of a load for most of the members of my family.  Life is just hitting a few walls in each of our individual worlds.  Today, one by one, my children came to the house.  Each time the door opened, there stood the loves of my life, the purpose of all that I exist for.  Upon their faces were the smiles that I know that they put on in the car to wear in as to not let me know of their pain.  But, remember, I am the Mom, and my superpowers were on full alert today.  We all seemed to migrate to the back yard.  There - we found what we always find... peace.  The blankets get thrown out on the grass, the baby's get laid down under the big tree, and the toys scattered about.  One by one we find our place on the blanket and eventually.... our hearts pour out.  It is a healing place, a place of rest and sometimes magic.  In each of my children I see the challenges of life, the battle scars of victories well fought and well won upon their souls.  I see, and rejoice in the solid foundation of their beliefs in a higher being - and that he knows and loves them - and will never leave them.  I felt fear, and heartache, and worry - and yet - my loves - I wish you could have seen the powerful glow from your hearts shining through.  I use to tuck you in your beds when you were tiny, and I would squeeze you tight and tell you I loved you.  I would tell you that the worries of today will drift away and that the new day will bring new challenges, and that you were strong enough to live up to that which awaited you.  Now that you're all grown up - your spouses might freak out if I came and tucked you in... but I wish I could.  I would tell you - Fresh Courage Take, Remember Who You Are, Continue to Love, Believe, Pray, and Breathe.  Beyond all things - the love that your mother has for you is greater than any love you'll ever know.  It is different from the love you have for your sweethearts, it's a mom's love.  I promised God that when I finally got to have you here on earth - I would love you forever.  Remember, you are the greatest design, my greatest joy, my greatest hope for the future.  Lucky Me... (you are all amazing)

Taxi....

Tough day at the office... actually, this whole week

was full of awfulness from every direction of life.

24/7

I should learn to be a more grateful person,

for the challenges in my life remind me...

that I am still alive somehow ironically.

Today I called a taxi and said -

GET me FAR away FROM my LIFE.

So this handsome guy drove up.

Took me to Walmart,

where I sought out the finest groceries

in the land.

Took in the sights, sniffed a pineapple,

found some black beans, and

realized that I have a pretty amazing

life.  (ok compared to the lady in the

sweats and the visible above the waistline... thong)

I think I forgot to tip the driver,

but I did leave some pureed squash

in the freezer for later.

Life, for a few hours, was amazing.

... and I believe that little white spot,

is Big J's first tooth.

Bring on the corn on the cob!

Please - let's have at least 3 weddings at the same time.... YEAH!

Well.... there were weddings to attend - actually 3 in the same weekend!  Del and I were in a bind as to where we should all go, with one of the weddings in California and 2 in Utah, it meant some tough choices.  We appreciated our children heading in so many directions to make everyone happy.  The week brought many fun activities, and several more blogs to come with pictures to follow.  But for now...here's how it went down on the party week...



 Matt and Bethany came from Washington to enjoy Bethany's sister's marriage in the Draper Utah Temple.  Matt will now have to share being a son-in-law - and probably the Wii system also.  Congratulations to Katrina and Doug - and also Happy Anniversary to Matt and Bethany - married on the same day, in 2005!

This Bunch - is waiting for the next wedding in Mendon.  My niece Heidi married Nick - bringing another Nick into the family!  They were married in my parents beautiful yard, in front of the 3 pine trees, and under the arbor built by my brother Eric.  Congratulations to this new couple!

 

(I'll explain the 'A' later)

The next wedding on the same day and at the same time - was in Corona Del Mar, California.  Del's brother Steve married this beautiful new Sister in Law of mine - Jeanie.  Ashley and Mike headed down with Del to celebrate with the California family.  Beautiful!  We are LUCKY to have so much love all around us!  Welcome Jeanie!

 

But - I got the best deal of all....

Grandkids

ALL of them!!!

Lucky Me

Princess Em

and "Guppie" Monster Truck D-bug

and the Super Adorable Jman.....

wow - so dang cute, can't get enough,

I'm like kissing the screen....

I love my family

I'm grateful for weddings which

bring even more love, more people, and

incredible memories into our family.

The End

(Heidi's cake)