Little Miss EmmaHappy Birthday this week!

Absolutely loving the Grandkids!

Wayne and I both got new phones this past month. Wayne's old phone is about 5 or 6 years old. It couldn't even send a text message! He says he only got it so he could look up things like meds etc while he's at work and during surgery but I think he might have gotten tired of all the harassment he got from everyone! Either way it's been an interesting learning curve for both of us. I think of myself pretty computer savvy but when it comes to these new phones... not so much! I think we managed to hang up on everyone at least once until we finally go the hang of the new screen. (Sorry if it was you we hung up on!)
This picture of Wayne and Nash was taken with his new phone. Pretty dang handsome boys I'd say!








We gave the girls season passes to the Planetarium for Christmas. We finally made it down there early this month. We had a blast! The girls had so much fun at the movie and Savannah was especially excited about her new "credit card" ie.. membership card! It even has her picture on it. Afterwards we went out to dinner at Applebee's. Aside from getting home a little later than a responsible grandparent should, I thought we did a pretty good job!

Jocelyn and Brandon went to Vegas last week for some March madness and we were blessed with Emma! What a riot! She is so much fun! She is also so dang busy and incredibly fast for a crawler. No slow-mo here! That girl can move! I was exhausted by the end of the weekend. We even had Tyler's 3 kids on Saturday night. It was more like a circus than anything. Sydnee says to me in the middle of the evening, "grandma, I'm never babysitting 2 babies again! EVER! We laughed! Emma and Nash would get going and they would try and yell louder than the other. They were both hungry at the same time they both needed their diapers changed. While I answered the phone with Nash in my arms, Emma crawled over and got into the dog's water. I never laughed quite so hard as I did looking at Wayne and I getting our butt's kicked by the kids. Ty and Karie came home to find everything quiet. Savannah had fallen asleep on the couch. Nash was asleep in Wayne's arms and Wayne was almost asleep as well. Emma was asleep in my arms and I was beat - kicked back on the couch. Sydnee could do whatever she wanted as long as she didn't wake up the babies! hehe! Can't wait to do that one again!

And lastly, I wanted to show off the couch table Wayne made for me. I don't give him nearly the thanks and appreciation I should for all of the kind things he does for me. I have been waiting for him to finish this table and I'm afraid the word patiently would not describe the wait. Sorry babe. You do awesome work and I'm so blessed to have such a talented and kind husband as you.

Check out this entry I found on Say Cutie!.

Check out this entry I found on Say Cutie!. Stop by and take a look. Nash makes the "cutest little monster" I ever did see. His mom is so talented and made this adorable hat. Thanks for checking us out.

Our Crazy Dog Hank!

Friends and family get such a kick out of our "Hank" stories that I thought I would record a few here. You would have to meet our dog Hank to fully appreciate his love of life personality. I don't think you will meet a dog that likes to play more than Hank. In fact a little neighbor boy came by yesterday for fast offerings. While he waited for us to fill out the form we made casual conversation. I remembered that when they first moved to the neighborhood he was afraid of dogs and thus very afraid of Hank. Anyhow, this 12 year old boy tells us he's not afraid of Hank anymore, he now appreciates the fact that when Hank comes running, he just wants to play. He said "I threw a frisbee for Hank one day for over an hour!" Yup, Hank loves to play frisbee. In fact, he loves to play anything. There's one thing that Hank loves more than anything else and that's eating. He especially has a love for fresh bread. He can sniff out bread from a mile away and he rarely misses the opportunity to stand up at the counter and help himself to whatever he can find. If it isn't bread, it's usually something you'd never guess a dog to eat. I'll recount the things I can remember:

1. $19 in cash off of my dresser.

2. My new Valentines wreath - berries everywhere!

3. Jocelyn's wedding announcements

4. My Christmas pillow that I made with patchwork on it. I don't sew, so I was very proud of myself for making this.

5. Loaves and Loaves of bread.

6. Wonderful homemade candies and treats that my visiting teachers made me one year for Christmas.

7. Cookies brought over by a neighbor.

8. About 15 syringes complete with needles attached. They were just little TB syringes but still - no perforated stomach or anything!

9. A gallon size bag of rice.

10. More Bread. Rolls. Hank really likes homemade bread if you don't mind.

11. Pizza leftovers in a box. He even opened the dipping sauce for the one remaining breadstick.

12. Waynes dinner off his plate. (serves Wayne right for eating in the family room)

13. A brand new package of Christmas scented wax (like sentsy)

14. The mail

15. Wayne's suduko puzzle book and clicker pencil.

16. Another pencil.

17. Another pencil. Kind of has a liking for clicker pencils.

Well, that's what I can remember right off the top of my head. I've even documented a few of his messes. Crazy dog!

Yet, he is kind and gentle. He's excellent with the grandkids. He doesn't shed. He has a ferocious bark for strangers. He loves to play in the water in the ditch. He can jump high enough that when I'm not looking and the kids put his toy on the ceiling fan - he can jump up and sometimes retrieve it right off the fan.

People ask me why I would keep such a crazy dog. I'm not even a dog lover so I ask myself the same question. He's just so dang loveable when he's not eating your treats. If I didn't know better, I'd say he can probably open the fridge!

To Be Content

What does it mean to be content?
The dictionary defines this as "happy with what one has. Not desiring more or different. Satisfied. Pleased".
In the February Ensign, Brenda Sampson discusses what it means to be content and even more importantly, what it means to be discontent. Unfortuately I have found myself in the latter more often than I care to admit. Just like Satan plants the seeds of discouragement, he also places seeds of discontent. Yearning for more and lacking appreciation for what we have happens all too often as we place ourselves daily among the world. Everywhere we look we are told that we deserve better, bigger and more.
Yesterday as I was reading this article, it hit me like a ton of bricks! Not only should I not sit with envy for the bigger house, the newer car or the fancy 5 star hotel vacation - but I needed to appreciate what I do have right here, right now. I am so blessed to have a wonderful family. I am blessed to enjoy having my parents (both sets) still here with us to draw upon their wisdom and love. I have a warm home, with food in the fridge and a nice warm fireplace that lights the flip of a switch. I've never been so cold or so hungry that I wanted to die. In fact I can pretty much say that I enjoy all the comforts I could ask for. I also have a knowledge of our Savior and his plan for each of us. I have recommitted to myself to BE CONTENT. To be appreciative of what I have not constantly aware of what I don't. I'll have to keep an eye on myself - and I'll update my progress as the year moves along.

Savannah's Scrapbook page

Syd and Savannah came to grandma's house tonight. Savannah decided she wanted to make a scrapbook page. So using the computer this is what Savannah put together. Of course I had to help a little but she did all the rest including choosing the pictures and writing her favorite things about Lake Powell. I love having the girls come spend time with us. Sydnee is snuggled up with grandpa watching the Story Teller.

1-24-11

Tonight I was able to spend the evening with Sydnee at her primary achievement day activity. She was able to show off her talent and love of art. While we were there I just had to snap a picture of my "little monster"! Isn't he just adorable! Karie made his little hat and what a darling hat. Savannah was her typical self trying to strike a pose for the camera. Thanks Karie and Sydnee for inviting me to come to you activity tonight. I had a blast!