Babysitting Princesses

Can I just say how much fun my grandkids are!!! While Brian and Ann were painting their house before moving in they decided to spend the nights there so they could start early and work late. Their house is in Eagle Mountain and is an hour one way to their apartment or 45 min to our house so they left the girls with us for 3 days!! I knew they had alot of energy and would keep me hopping so I planned on doing nothing for those days except to take care of them, but I didn't realize how exhaustingly fun they would be. Melody was trying to scoot to get around and I tried to get her to come to me. Then Elise jumped in-- I should say -- on. While we had the girls we became fasinated by Melody's fixation with her tongue. She would stick it out constantly and swish it around her lips. It is so hilarious!

We watched Disney princesses sing and dance time after time. I called Elise "Princess Elise, but she said she is Cinderella and Grandma is "Sleeping Beauty" and Jenny is "Belle"... good to know! After 3 days of constant go I thought I'd be ready for some relaxation, but when they left... I missed them. I want them back! I will look forward to the next time my Princesses come to stay and look forward to the time Prince Gavin gets to visit, too. Grandkids are the BEST!!

Jenny's News

Exciting News!! On February 25 Brian (aka Fez) Alama proposed to Jenny. They have set May 26th as their wedding date. They are so cute. They can't quit smiling. Fez went to THS a year ahead of Jenny, but they didn't really know each other until they met at a mutual friend's "get together" last October ... and they rest is ... history! He is a great guy and will be a welcome addition to our family.

SNOWMOBILING IN YELLOWSTONE

Yellowstone is so beautiful in the winter. We took a snowmobile trip from West Yellowstone into Yellowstone park to see Old Faithful. These days you HAVE to have a guide, but our guide was pretty good. He let us stop at most of our favorite places and get some good pictures. Mike, Jenny, Fez, Tyler and I and 4 more riders and the guide were in our group. We saw alot of wild life and some of it was pretty close!!

Our "Special Blessing"

February 3 Gavin Michael Wells was sealed to his parents, Jason and Jen Wells in the Salt Lake Temple to be a forever family! It was an amazing feeling to see the 3 of them all dressed in white become an eternal family. Sometimes I have to think about how Gavin actually came to be with us because he just belongs! I thank my Heavenly Father for the "special blessing" He gave us in Gavin and for the birth parents that loved him enough to give him more. I'm especially grateful Jason and Jen listened to the promptings of the Spirit and had the courage to step up and do as directed to become Gavin's parents. He belongs to them--us! Gavin is loved by so many. Later that evening Gavin was given a name and a blessing by his father. The chapel was filled by all those who love them. We are thankful for the support of good family and friends. Jason, Jen and Gavin were here for 5 short days. We were constantly busy, so time flew by and those 5 days were over far too fast. Thanks Jason and Jen for sharing these special events with us. Gavin was really close to crawling while they were here and Jason called yesterday to say he is officially crawling now! I knew it wouldn't be long. Now he is mobile! I just hope he isn't walking before I get to see him again. Keep the blogs going, Jen and GO GAVIN GO!!
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Adoption is Final

Monday, Feb 2 was an exciting day for me. I was invited to go with Jason and Jen to the court house in American Fork to finalize their adoption of Gavin. We were all so thrilled that it was finally coming to an end! Everything went off without a hitch, except for the mapquest directions led us to a hospital instead of the court house. All that was quickly remedied when Jason called the attorney and got correct directions. (Good job, Jason, not afraid to ask for directions!)It was very emotional for me when the judge declared them as parents and responsible for ALL of Gavin's needs. How blessed Gavin is to have such wonderful parents and how blessed are Jason and Jen for receiving a beautiful little guy!! Heavenly Father answered many prayers and blessed our family. We are grateful!

Baby Jason and Baby Gavin

Jason at 2 weeks in his blessing outfit and Gavin at 6 months in the same outfit. Both using the same blanket. Ahhh! How sweet!!

Family Fun

I have to comment on our family picture above... I don't remember why we are all laughing, but it looks like it has something to do with Gavin. Brian seems oblivious to what is going on and Elise rarely looks right at the camera, but there she is looking straight at it. The whole picture just makes me smile. I chose this picture because it represents our family. Good Times! Like the caption says...We may not have it all together, but together we have it all. I love you guys!! I am blessed with an AWESOME family. We did this one on purpose for fun. So where did Tyler go??

We had alot of things going on the end of January. Mike and I went with Tyler to the Sundance Festival. He had been going all week and wanted us to see 2 of the movies. So we went to Park City bright and early Saturday morning, Jan 24. We saw Cold Souls and Taking Chance. Both movies were very good. I LOVED "Taking Chance". It is an HBO movie so it won't be in theaters. It will be on HBO Feb 23, if you get the chance to see it... do it! FYI... you will need kleenex!!

Jason and Jen came on Thurs, Jan. 29, for Gavin's final adoption proceedings. We enjoyed alot of family time. We spent Friday at Kiddie Kandids trying to get kids to cooperate for some pictures. Saturday Jason made us a yummy Brazilian dinner. Sunday we went to church and snuck away to Gardner Village for some family pictures and that evening was the Super Bowl. On Monday, we had the privilege of going to the Draper Temple open house. The temple is beautiful. As we waited to board the bus we all got a little restless, but once we got there, even the little kids seem to realize the specialness of where we were. I love the temple. It is a place of beauty and peace. Monday and Tuesday were special days for us. More on that coming later!

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Christmas Eve

For like forever we have had Christmas Eve with Mike's family, but this year his parents had it on the Saturday before. That made Christmas Eve open for us so we started our own family tradition. Brian's family came over for dinner then we packed up everyone and drove to Thanksgiving Point to see the lights. We then had dessert at Cheescake Factory! Elise got to open one present from Granma and Potter and of course we had to be done early so Santa could come!

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Bruise

What do you think? As the story goes... Sherrie McCarthy (a co worker and neighbor) decked me. Since I bruise easily anyway, I liked her story better than mine. The truth be told I was Jannae's guinea pig. She was learning a new product and the doctor kept telling her to go "deeper". It hurt pretty bad so its no wonder it has such good color. The verdict is still out on the results. When the swelling and color are gone I hope I like the results.

SOFAGE

What is SOFAGE? Sisters Out for a Great Escape... that is what we did Thanksgiving weekend. I LOVE getting together with my sisters. I don't get to see them very often. We are each busy with work and family, etc that we just don't get to talk or see each other, so years ago I started getting us together for a weekend to have "catch up time" and do girlie things. Alisa and her daughter,Tiffani , came from Vernal and Jenny and I and my aunt,Marie, and my Mom all went to Logan this year. We attended the temple, laughed, talked, went to the Forgotten Carol, shopped, laughed, ate, saw a movie, laughed and shopped and did I mention shopped? Tiffani is engaged and planning a September wedding. We are so happy for her. We had a great time! We wish more of our sisters had participated, but those who did had the best time!! Maybe next year more will make the time to be of our Escape.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Picture Tag

Jenny stretching before she dances!
(2002?) 4th folder and 4th picture

Tyler's science project at SLCC workshop

(2004) 6th folder 6th picture

K! I now tag Jen, Kim, Jannae and Chelsea W

Visit

Jason, Jen and Gavin came to SLC for Jen's sister's wedding. They were here only a short time, but it was so nice to have them here. We just don't get to see them enough! Melody (Brian and Ann's baby) and Gavin are a month apart so it was fun to get them together for the first time. Gavin sure likes his fist. He puts one or two fingers in his mouth then works it so the rest follow. There must be some yummy juices in that fist. He can't get enough of it!! Jason and Jen are pros with the babies!







Ganma and Potter had a great time with all the kids and their kids!! Wish it could happen more often!!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Awesome Star Wars YouTube Video!

This is the funniest video EVER! Its quite amazing actually!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Halloween

At work we have all kinds of activities to entertain and bring people into the store for Halloween. Most of us dress up. I always like figuring out just the right costume for the year. My grandkids came to see me. I thought Elise might not recognize me, but she figured out who I was right away and came right to me. She is so smart!! One of the kids I work with is the best Captain Jack, EVER!!

Boo at the Zoo

The Saturday before Halloween is the Boo at the Zoo-- complete with trick or treat and costumes. I've never heard of Boo at the Zoo let alone participated in it. This year my sister, Camille, planned our family reunion to participate in Boo at the Zoo. Other than it being so blasted crowded it was alot of fun! The kids and some grown ups dressed up. Jenny and I dressed up. Elise kept saying "Ganma? Ganma?" She wasn't too sure I was still her Ganma. It took my mom and sisters a minute or 2 to figure out who the person talking to them was. It was fun to watch the people as I walked by -- mostly in awe by being in the presence of such a Super Hero!!! For being October the weather was beautiful, too. Thanks, Camille, for planning a great time!

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Grand Canyon

Mike made arrangements for us to see the Grand Canyon on our way home from Arizona so we could have a little more time with Jason, Jen and Gavin. I haven't seen the Grand Canyon since I was a small kid. Didn't remember much about being there. It is a beautiful place. I was amazed at the colors and the emense size of it. Marie was stiff from the drive and needed help stretching which I was glad to ablige. We got there just before dark and a wind picked up along with some rain. It was freezing! Poor Jenny had been sick the whole drive down and couldn't eat. So we set her up in the room to take a warm bath (which we had to explain how to do). She wasn't sure about the whole "you just sit and soak" thing. When we got back from checking out the gift shop she was all warm and relaxed and able to sleep. We had a wonderful trip visiting Victor and his family and Jason, Jen and Gavin then the Grand Canyon. It ended all too soon, but life goes on so back to the grind we went and more painting and getting our house in order. (Sigh) It never ends!

Mesa

Visiting my family is like Christmas. So much anticipation and planning for the arrival of the day then it arrives and all the hoopla and excitement is over much too fast! We sure didn't get enough time to spend with the kids. Jen had to work one day and I got to tend Gavin. He was so good and sweet! We spent 3 days shopping. One day was a marathon day. Gavin was a trooper. He hung in there through it all. Victor and Jan, Zack and Weezie, Trevor came up and Grandma Bryson, Jen, Marie, Mike and I all went to the temple. It was so awesome to enter the Celestial Room and see so many family members!The best part of our visit was all the "Grandma" time I got. Jen let me bath and dress and feed Gavin. I enjoyed every minute. Thanks Jen, for sharing!! Can't wait until you come up in November to see you guys again!

Monday, November 03, 2008

Tucson

We spent 2 of our days in Arizona visiting Victor and his family. Trevor had just returned from his mission in Guatemala and had his homecoming that weekend. He is a spiritual giant! I was touched by his talk and impressed with his spiritual growth. Some young woman is going to be a very lucky lady to snatch him up! Trevor left his home in Connecticut and returned from his mission to Arizona. Talk about a world of change!! He seems to be adapting to "civilian life" pretty well. Zack and Weezie, Sam and Hailee and Victor and Jan! Their whole family was together for a short time. I know how amazing that feels! Grandma Bryson and Marie rode with us to Arizona. Jan's parents and good family friends, Corey and Liz were there, too. So there was quite a happy group! Jenny and Zack played whipped topping tricks right before we left. Jenny sprayed whipped topping on the back of one and and hit it with her other hand. It then sailed across the room to hopefully, but not succesfully, land in Zack's mouth! It basically hit his face and once he caught it with his hand. Then they traded. Yah, Zack wasn't succesful either. BUT, it sure was hilarious to watch!

Friday, October 24, 2008

"TAGGING"

So Jenny "tagged" me! Then she had to teach me what that meant. Seems to me it is like those emails I get that I'm not likely to respond to...Thanks,Jenny...

8 things I am passionate about:
1- my beautiful and amazing grandchildren
2- each of my talented children, their spouses and my awesome husband
3- my testimony of Jesus Christ and temple work
4- Captain Jack/Johnny Depp
5- chocolate chip cookies
6- loyal friends
7- any project I have a vision of
8- Traveling

8 words or phrases I use often:
1- K Bye C U
2- Crap!
3- I was here until I left
4- Hey! or Heyo! :)
5- Be Good. Be Safe. Make Wise Decisions.
6- Nice...!
7- AAAAaaaGGgggHHHhh!! (scream)
8- Love you!

8 things I have learned from the past:
1- It takes a long time to lose 10 lbs
2- A cookie a day is good for you
3- my mom is the wisest lady I know
4- the best days of my life have been with my family
5- God is always a prayer away
6- Save as much $ as you can and spend it as slow as possible
7- Being married to your best friend is like a security blanket -- warm and comfy
8- No matter how horrible today is --tomorrow is a new day

8 places I want to go to or see:
1- Mesa, Arizona
2- Spain
3- New Zealand
4- Australia
5- Book of Mormon sites
6- Church History sites/ Hill Cumorah pagent
7- Did I say Mesa, Arizona
8- Disneyworld

8 things I currently need or want:
1- All painting and new carpet finished
2- Dejunking and organizing of all rooms and closets
3- lose 10 lbs or more
4- time and money to do all the things I want
5- run 10K comfortably and in good time
6- 1 yr supply of food and supplies
7- updated 72 hr kits
8- more time with my expanding family

Now I am to pick 8 people to tag. hmmm don't know who blogs-- so --Bwani, Kim, Jan, Jannae, Brian (Ann already did), Jason/Jen, Marilyn? and ? surprise me!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Out with the OLD and in with the NEW

Can I just tell you how much work getting new carpet is!!! Our carpet is 16 yrs old! Time for new carpet in all our bedrooms and the hall and stairs and family room. BUT...you can't just carpet!! Because everything has to come out of that room in order to rip up the old and put down the new so its the perfect time to paint. Which also means old wallpaper has to be removed, outlets and switches need to be removed, holes need to be patched and everything pretaped so you don't paint the white where the tan should be and vice a versa! Its also a good time to dejunk, so as everything is taken it out it has to be sorted as keeper or DI. Now there are piles of random stuff everywhere, BUT the bedrooms are empty! When Mike got sick and we didn't go to Arizona Jenny and I removed the wallpaper from the bedrooms. I was going to pay a painter to come in and paint for us, but I wanted new furniture, too. So, Mike being the wonderful husband he is offered that we paint to save the money and it could go towards the furniture. We have been painting for 3 days now and it still isn't done (almost, but not done). I wonder if he wishes he hadn't said anything. New carpet and furniture will be here the end of October!! Come November it will all be worth it, but right now it plain stinks. Literally! Our house smells like paint.

Mike's health is so much better! His MRI came back clear. His doctor put him on steroids to help bring his hearing back. He still can't hear out of his right ear. They are thinking that his whole thing was brought on by the Shingles. He had the symptoms, but because he got on the medicine the blisters never manifested. His therapy is really helping with his balance and motion sickness. He goes back to work tomorrow. We are thankful his health is coming back and will continue to hope and pray his hearing will, too.





We leave this week for Arizona! I can't wait to see my grandson! Watching their blog shows me how much is growing and changing. He is so cute! And I want to give Jason the biggest hug, EVER, because he passed the bar! He has worked so hard to achieve such a monumental accomplishment and we are so proud of him. And I want to give Jen a huge hug! She is the glue of their family. I love her love of life. Its contagious.

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