Things Grandmas Must Do When Visiting Grandchildren....

Well Hello There Seattle!

Lucky me - there was just enough frequent flyer miles to escape to Grandchildren Land and take up residency for a few days.  I was so excited I could hardly stand it.  I LOVE my grandkids, AND I got a bonus round because I LOVE MY SON and DAUGHTER IN LAW!!!  It was so much fun - here are some highlights (ok - now everyone take a seat on the couch and I'm going to take you through every single video from our trip to Tahiti and several other places that you will want to poke your eyes out when I'm done)   Ready?  Let's go!  (in a nutshell)

Meet your beautiful daughter in law and gkids at the airport, then

Meet your son and his kids at the Pier.

Look at all of the amazing flowers there (cabbage?)

Ride and/or kiss a big golden pig

Sample?

Crown a Princess.... (oh what a fair maiden!)

Giggle with a Guppie...

Visit a Wall of Chewed Gum...

literally... Doublemint anyone?

Have lunch with the bunch...

Watch your daughter in law be an absolutely amazing mother,

capturing the attention of her captive audience, including glow bug lantern.

Play in the backyard... Taxi?!

Figure out who will wear the right hat...

Brush up on your chalk skills....

Practice your Diva skills

Question.... a few things.... at play group.....

Make sure your son wears a sweater to work...

or full on protective gear...

Remind him that his mom has a bigger Harley....

Laugh your butt off at how he got out of his ticket....

Look closely - yep -that's Unlawful Picnicking.... instead of Negligent Driving...

FINALLY meet someone very special in your life

(Elizabeth - gosh I love ya)

Go to this amazing NorthwestTrek Wildlife place and see

AMAZING things like this....

Fear for your life on the tram because here is what is coming towards you...

yikes... this was the small one...

Finding a perfect place to twirl...

(I FREAKIN LOVE THIS PICTURE!!)

Finding something older that you are..

Hey - where's the mistletoe?

Being totally in awe at the beauty of this place...

Making sure that the animals didn't eat one of these...

Doing some serious painting projects...

Being safe at all times..... (I know you are laughing....)

Making cookies with mittens on.... duh - don't you?

SWING... a lot...

That's just a few of the things Grandma's do with the ever so amazing grandchildren of their lives!

I was able to meet Elizabeth - she tends my grandbabies a couple of times a week because their mom and dad are super smart and have amazing jobs.  We have Skyped, Facebooked, and e-mailed - but we finally were able to meet.  I LOVE this girl - she is kind and tender, and wonderful with the kids.  She even came over and visited me on the last night I was there (while mom and dad were on a date!)  It's fun to finally meet in person and to give her a big hug.

I have a million more pictures - I'll sneak them in on some blogs later.  I had a wonderful time - I cannot believe how beautiful the places were we went.  It was fun to throw them in the tub, dress them in their jammies and tuck them into their beds.  I stuck glow in the dark stars on their ceiling and they were so excited when the lights went out.  Matt and Bethany's home is so warm and sweet.  It is a home of love, and of life.  I was grateful to have the chance to stay with them and to enjoy some precious time with Big D and Little M.  I cried so hard the night before I left that I thought that the house would flood.  Big D said he would not go to sleep or close his eyes because I would disappear in the morning when he opened them... he almost made it.... I went into their rooms several times during that night - I held them tight, I kissed them a million times.  I reminded them that they are loved.  Thanks for a great time you bunch up North there!  I can't wait to see you again very very soon!



The Haunting Truth

Halloween
Halloween
Lots of fun on Halloween
Black Cats and Ghosts
Skeletonz too
Witches and Goblins all say....

HEY - WHERE'S THE GOOD CANDY??

One of my Gbabies celebrated his first Halloween
He was not sure what to be...
A Pirate?  ... argh

Spidey?

'Frankly' I love this one

who the freak keeps dressing this kid up?

My cute WAstate gbabies were Pebbles and BammBamm.

(I heart my grandbabies one and all)

The traditional Hillary Halloween may or may not involve...

Something yummy to eat, usually Soups 'n fixins.

Better candy for US to eat than we actually give out.

Several trick or treaters being scared to death by....

dun dun dun...

CEREAL KILLERS

(yes folks - that's a cereal box with a knife in it)

(even more frightening.... Del actually wore it)

We may or may not....

Have a fire pit out in the front, where we toast our dead man's toes.

Actually MAKE the teenagers say Trick or Treat.

Comment on the weather (usually snowing but it was a perfect night)

and last but not least....

we may or may not have had....

Laura Croft at our party

(only the shadow knows.....)

BWAHAHAAHAAAHAAAH!

So lovin' this post

I drive up to Mendon every other week to be with my mom.  I try to help her with the crazies of life and we visit, garden, cook, laugh, say "Huh?" a lot, and make a memory each time we are together.  On a particularly difficult weekend I drove up and was reminded of what a beautiful place I had the privilege to grow up in.  The beauty of Cache Valley is real, and magic, and when you enter Mendon, you know you are in the last of the little towns.  As I drove past the mountains I hiked, camped, rode horses on, skied, and spent many hours in with family and friends. I decided that this visit would be a little different than the past trips there...

I opened mom's door and said - hey - grab a Diet Coke, we're going for a ride!  I yelled up to my brother who was working in his garden and said,  "Hey - headed to Cold Water wanna come?"  He said he was pretty busy - so I loaded up mom and we started driving.  A few minutes out - and my phone rang - my brother Eric said.... "I've changed my mind".  I drove back and there he stood - drink in hand, hat on, camera ready.  We put the 4-Runner in 4 wheel drive and headed up the mountain.

We laughed and told stories and looked at the places that we carved our names on the Quakies.  We pointed out places we camped, where Eric shot a deer hunting, where one of our friends fell into stinging nettle, and we quietly drove past the place where one of our friends ended his life.  It was the first time I'd been there since Alan died - and it truly haunted me.  But the day was warm and beautiful and perfect for continuing on.... We arrived at the springs and signed in on the list.  My mom - remember - is 82, and she just kept sneaking up the trail to Cold Water Lake.... remember... 82.

So.... we decided to go a little bit up the trail - which turned into the full on, all the way to the top, hike.  Slow and sure - and story after story we walked and laughed and said HUH? a lot more along the way.  We found beautiful leaves, and berries, and well, no marijuana because someone came and cut that down - whatever.... But the view was amazing...

Eric talked about all of his adventures on this mountain.  I loved hearing him talk and laugh, it was so healing to my heart.  My mom - was the funniest person ever on the mountain.  I think that the altitude must have effected her medication - but she made us laugh so hard.  I remembered my skiing days - when Elmer James would have to test the big Caterpillar Tractors and would drive us up there and we would ski down through hip high powder.  Then he would take us back up over and over until his testing was done.  We both remember horseback riding.  I would go with Karla, Bruce, Mark, Audrey, Kristie... we would do up the back side of Baker's Pass and ride along the top of Scout Peak over to Twin Peaks and then come down to Cold Water.  The memories flooded our conversation, it was wonderful.  The whole time.... mom kept up the pace, Eric and I just kept a close eye on her.

Finally - we made it to the lake close to the top - behind Hog's Back Mountain.  When people arrive at this lake they say - "THIS IS IT?"  But to true Mendonites - Cold Water is our entire childhood.  There were stories of quicksand and that someone coming over the mountain with a wagon and a team of horses went through the lake and never came out.  Not too frightening - unless you are camped out next to the lake and it's freaking night time in a thunderstorm and all you can think about is that darn wagon coming out of the lake!  It is the most photographed lake in the valley - it's famous.

This hike - was very emotional for Eric and I.  We both knew that this would probably be the very last time our Mother would make it to the top.  She was amazing - a mountain girl at heart.  We watched her tackle that mountain with grace and style all the while laughing and saying yet again "HUH?"  We have made this hike for over 50 years give or take a few years, and yet - today, she said, "I don't think I've ever been here before"  Eric and I heard that several times on the hike... "Nope, I've never been here before - how long has this been here?"  It broke our hearts.  So many lost thoughts.  So for the record - this is one of my most favorite pictures in the whole world.  Because this, to my mom, was the first time she'd ever made that hike in her mind.

Perfect eh?

My brother Eric - is the most important person in the world to me.  I've been blessed to have him in my life - and in my children's lives, and I just love this massive hairy man.

Is that GREY in that beard?

Now - the next picture might frighten you - you may need to hide or remove small children from the room... beware, you were forewarned....

This.... is the HILL LOOK.

All of my cousins had parents that had the same look.

Time to head for home.  Eric's wife called him and asked him where he was.  He laughed and told her... you won't believe it if I told you!  Mom had her walking stick - she was a true scouter.

UNTIL

She had made it all the way up the mountain, and all the way down the mountain.  15 feet from the 4Runner, she started going down hill really fast and lost her footing and rolled off the trail, into a patch of burrs and smacked her head on a fence post.  There were a few people there just starting the hike and they ran over to see if she was ok.  And where were Eric and I???????

Laughing our guts out on the trail until we almost peed our pants.

Here is.... Burr Crotch...

(you are laughing aren't you)

Gotta love my mom - she picked burrs out of her hair,

her pants, her teeth, and... yes by darn, her crotch.

This was my most favorite perfect day ever.

It was Heaven Sent... by her brothers and sisters living there

who knew she needed a day out to play.

ok.... I guess I have to say it.... It was Burrfect. (:

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