Grandpa

My dear Grandpa passed away last Wednesday...We knew the time was coming, but it was still a sad day. (We spent Thanksgiving at his home in Bountiful; and I was able to give him a hug and kiss and tell him good-bye). He was 88-years-old and such a healthy and spry man. He sprinkled flax on everything (and tried to do the same to all our food), believed soda pop was 'burp water' and ate more home-grown fruits and vegetables than any person I know.

We grandkids loved him for his sourdough waffles (known to us as 'orful worfles'), home-made fruit leather and singing the alphabit backwards. He was a man full of one-liners and always kept us chuckling about his responses to questions we'd ask him.

I found the saddest part of his passing to be that an end of an era had occurred....no more Christmases, Thanksgivings, river rafting trips, Easter campouts, tomatoes from his garden or rib-breaking bear hugs. However, what does make me smile is knowing he is now with my sweet Grandma who has been waiting for him for 12 years! What a happy reunion for them!

After attending his funeral on Monday I vowed to Chad that we are taking our kids camping more. We are ocassional campers, but I learned so many life lessons about my Grandpa and they all took place in the great outdoors. I believe a lot of character is built while 'roughing it.' Looking back on my own childhood some of the best times were when I was dirty, smoky and surrounded by family...I want my kids to grow up appreciating nature and loving the outdoors.

I love you Grandpa and will always remember the good times we had together! I look foward to a big bear hug someday!

Santa, I want......

My sister-in-law Kelly has a family tradition of making gingerbread houses and receiving a visit from Old St. Nick....right to her parents living room chair. Joyce (Kelly's mom) is one of the nicest people I know; she is always inviting my family to come and join in their family festivities. (I think she feels bad for us, because my kids grandparents' are all so far away). Whatever her reasoning, we love being part of their family get-togethers! Carsen even calls her, "Grandma Joyce."

Carsen was so excited to see Santa Clause. I kept asking him throughout the day, "What are you going to tell Santa you want for Christmas?" His reply was, "I'll decide when it's time." (I was hoping I could receive some hints so I could start planning...beings that the Black Friday shopping escapade was an absolute FLOP).

Sure enough, he told Santa, "I want a shotgun." (Last year he asked for a gun too. My Dad is so proud).

Santa and Mrs. Clause were so cute with the kids; they sang songs and ready them a story. At the end of each kids turn they received a candycane and a big hug....


Myka would have absolutely nothing to do with Santa. She did give him a little wave, but that was it...Myka was much too intrigued with the table full of gingerbread candy and my cell phone.

Anyone guess what I need for Christmas? (A cell phone. Myka's favorite toy is my phone. It has to be turned on. She calls it, "Pa.")

Family Time

We had a fun-family-filled Thanksgiving. This was the year we went with my mom's side of the family--all 80+ people to my Grandpa's home in Bountiful. It was a crowded house (with ridiculous amounts of food) but all the people is what makes it a holiday!

The weekend consisted of very little shopping (I will never EVER do early-morning Christmas shopping ever again. I am not skilled and do not plan for it; and of course I was very disappointed. Oh well, that's an entire blog post all in itself. Ba-Humbug to Black Friday!)
My mom and I saw "Twilight" (my second time, her first)! The boys went shooting clay pigeons (Carsen now wants a shot gun for Christmas), ate loads of leftovers and made our way downtown to see the lights at Temple Square.

What an eventful time of year! It's especially fun this year because 'the spirit of Christmas' is alive in our house. (There are a lot of threats going on about Santa's elves being near and reporting their seeings to the Jolly Old Man!) 'Oh what fun!'

I just got Photoshop...so there will be a lot of weird looking pictures! There's a huge learning curve!


Seeing the Lights at Temple Square.




If Myka had it her way, she would spend all her days snuggling her Grandma GG...