Nick and Gigi Birthday Celebration

For Nick and Gigi's birthday celebration, we had some technical difficulties.  Emily was out of space on her camera and my camera battery died after the first shot.  Nick was the only prepared one and got these precious shots of Gigi the day before her second birthday.  It was Nick's birthday celebration too but as I said - no cameras were working and he didn't take any pictures of himself!!  Gigi was a little apprehensive at first, being the center of attention!

 Obviously she was really comfortable with her birthday cupcake!!

 A nice shot courtesy of photographer Nick!!

This was her favorite gift and it was from Mommy and Daddy.  She only opened one family (Emily, Dave and Chloe) gift at our party. Chloe was really disappointed that Gigi couldn't open the gift she got for her till her actual birthday the next day.  She got her a Monster High Doll. Chloe loves Monster High dolls, she has a few of them, but Gigi loved hers too. She got other cute gifts from her Uncles, Aunts and cousins that day, but this is the only picture that survived our camera problems.

Audrey recently had a dance recital.  Randy and I met Bethany and Ryan and their girls at Wendy's for some dinner before. (Audrey's choice)  When Audrey walked in I couldn't believe her makeup.  Her eyelashes looked so long and curled and Bethany said all she did was mascara!  I had to get a picture . . . Audrey was more than happy to show off her makeup!!!

Next she wanted me to get a picture of her eye shadow.  This is her pose to show off her eye shadow . . .

Here she is in her "cowgirl" costume.  Half the kids were cowgirls and half were in cow print costumes.  We thought Audrey got the better end of the deal as a "cowgirl".  So cute!!

Audrey is showing us how soft the cowhide is on her vest - She did such a good job on her dance!!  Bethany is very serious about Audrey's dancing lessons.  She makes sure Audrey practises the dances at home and knows them well.  Bethany learns the dance so she can practise with Audrey!! And there is a glimpse of Grandpa Randy messing around with his phone!

Chloe graduates from Preschool

I got to attend Chloe's pre-school graduation.  Her teacher said she is an adult in a child's body.  That exactly describes her. So often we forget she is only 5 years old because she expresses herself so well. Sometimes she uses words that I think she can't possibly know the meaning of - and when I ask her about it she knows just what she is talking about!! It is kind of funny because if you look closely, on either side of Chloe's head is one of her grandmothers, reflected in the mirror and taking pictures. I am on Chloe's left in the red jacket and her Grandma Ann is on her right. Emily is between us and behind Chloe's reflection. The dress she is wearing I made for her a couple of years ago. Obviously she has just grown taller and the dress still fits. She is amazing. We love you Chloe!! 

Shasta is Born

Shasta was born April 25, 2011 at 5:39 am.  She was born on my Father's birthday!! We are so happy she is here and is healthy after a traumatic getting here experience.  We are thankful Sara is doing well and that she is so strong.  This is the picture we took of Nicholas holding Shasta.  Everyone was wondering if he had held her yet.  He had but had not taken a picture of the event.  He is so cute with her!!  She is getting fed through a tube while he is holding her here.  On Saturday when we saw her she weighed 3 lbs. 5 oz.  The nurse said she is doing Very Well and they think she will continue to do so.  We love you little Shasta!!

Her head is a decent size and so is her little body.  Her arms and legs are so skinny.  She has long feet with long toes and long skinny fingers.  I told Nicholas she might be tall if she catches up to her feet and fingers. Nicholas said "Maybe she will be a volleyball player afterall"??  We'll see. . .   We are just very glad she is here and doing well.

Shower for Sara

 We were lucky enough to get to have Sara's shower even though she had just had an emergency C-section on Monday.  She is feeling pretty good but tires quickly.  She is a trooper.  Nicholas also got to come and Wedge too.  He even got a little involved at first opening gifts!!

 She got so many nice things.  Thank you to everyone.  I know there are others who wanted to be there but because we moved the location to Nibley - Kaleena's house - they were unable to come.  These pictures are for you.

 I can't remember which gift this is but she really likes it.  Everyone gave her such cute stuff!!!!!!!!

 Melissa, Susan and Cindy are making a fuss over Meili.  Susan is holding her first grandson - Porter! He was outnumbered by the girls 4 to 1.

 More great gifts! Thanks for coming to my sister Jennifer and my SWEET Mom!! Bethany was our game coordinator along with Kennedy.  Audrey didn't get to come she was sick.  She was really looking forward to it too!  We missed you Audrey!  Emily got cut off - she is there on the right being our recorder of gifts.

 Another bonus.  Sara's mom (Tammy) and sister (Sally) got to be at the shower because they drove up to be with Sara after Shasta was born.  We loved having them here. And thanks to Kaleena for hosting the shower.  Thanks to all my girls - Emily, Bethany and Kaleena for all the help on the Shower.  They were amazing.  I couldn't have done it without you!!!

I meant to get a better picture of the Bartholomew girls before they left - but got caught up in shower preparations and missed the opportunity.  This is the only one I have - thanks for coming, Jessica, Mandi, Melanie and Jordan!!

 This picture is a lot like the other one but had to show you Emily was there!!

Grandpa entertaining the girls.  Chloe loved the little umbrellas in the teddy bear cupcakes Kaleena made.  She stuck three of them in Grandpas hair. The banner says Shasta - Kaleena made it.  Thanks again to everyone!!!!!!!!!!

Gotta Have an Easter Egg Hunt

This year I insisted we have a picnic at Sugarhouse park the weekend before Easter.  That was the only way I could get the older girls together for an Easter Egg Hunt!  I was concerned at first about the weather - it turned out to be a very nice day.  In fact, Gigi even got a little bit sun burned!!

Looking for Eggs.  Chloe and Audrey were OK on their own.  Gigi and Kennedy had to have help.  Gigi did the best - I guess Emily (Gigi's helper) is the best egg hunter!

Checking out their loot.

 The little notebooks were one of their favorites.  Audrey was afraid she wasn't going to get one.  She was thrilled when she did.

Gigi seems to like Kennedy's whistle better than her own.  The whistles were yellow with feathers and eyes to look like ducks.  They all loved them.  Maybe a little too much.  Even outside they got somewhat annoying.  Even Kennedy could blow her whistle!

Happy Birthday, Sara - Emily - Kaleena - Dave (in that order)

Sara's birthday is the same day as our anniversary and the first birthday of the adults in March.  She just wasn't feeling very good as has been the case a lot lately. She did get a cute maternity dress!

 I took Chloe shopping so she could pick out a gift for her mom.  This is the gift.  She knows Emily's favorite color is blue - so her gift also has to be blue.  We got her blue jeweled flip flops and blue socks!!

 Chloe took this picture of Kaleena - pretty good!  Kaleena's birthday is the last of the girls.

These are the basketball shorts Chloe picked out for her dad - his favorite color is blue too!!! Chloe was so proud of the gifts she picked out for her parents.

Kennedy's First Birthday

 Kennedy's first birthday was March 14th.  She was pretty cooperative opening gifts and seemed to really like this one!  She is way in to dolls (babies) so she got a few of those.  And she likes clothes because she really likes the hangers!

She didn't have a problem digging in to her birthday cake.  She has no aversion to treats. She quite enjoyed her first birthday cake.

Easter Egg Hunt

For some reason - Gigi likes Kennedy's whistle better than her own!

Chloe and Audrey comparing their loot.

The little girls loved the little notebooks the most.  Audrey is showing me just how much! 

Looking for eggs.

Kennedy's First Birthday

It was Kennedy's birthday on March 14th.  She was somewhat interested in opening gifts - she obviously liked this one!!

And she also liked her cake - she didn't have any problem trying it out.

Movie Day @ Grandma's

 Bethany and Ryan wanted to go together to the last home BYU basketball game of the season, so they asked me to watch their girls.  We wondered how that would go as the last time we watched Kennedy she wasn't sure she liked us.  It was great.  Kennedy was a sweetheart and very easy to tend, especially because there was so much going on with her cousins around her.  Emily brought her girls over so we could have our movie day together.

 Chloe has been planning for some time to have this movie day at Grandma's house to watch Despicable Me.  She called me when they got the movie and invited me over to their house to watch it with them, but I was unable to go at that time so she proposed we pick another day and invite Audrey too!! Here they are on their own individual chairs.  Chloe always picks red (because it is the closest color to pink), Audrey loves green so she's on the green chair.  For some reason Gigi wanted blue - not orange - and (thankfully) Kennedy didn't care so she got the orange chair.  They were pretty attentive for about half the movie.

 Audrey and Chloe love to be silly - they also like their pictures taken.  Audrey is wearing a robe I made for a sewing class I was teaching.  She wore it the whole day because it is soft and warm - and she decided she was cold. Chloe has her Minion on her lap.

Gigi and Kennedy are becoming friends as they get older.  Kennedy was quite taken with Gigi while they were sitting together.  They were so cute trying to learn how to interact.  Kennedy spent most of the time getting on and off her chair - she was quite entertained with that activity - that and eating animal cookies - she is going to be one year old on March 14th and on Saturday she was walking all over the place.  It was the first time I had seen her walk!

This is Gigi's "smile for the camera" face!  She did it for the first time on Christmas Day and we all got a big laugh!!  She is her mommy's girl and will be 2 in June. I think she kind of looks like Emily here!

Bathroom Remodel

Time to tile the bathroom.  We've lived in this house for over 22 years, and this is the only room that hasn't been painted or re-floored? (probably not a word).  It is time.  The goal is to have it done in one month!!  I think we are both leaning toward the dark tile.  I was planning on something like the one on the left but we decided to think outside the box and look at something a little different than what we already have. - So what do you all think about the dark tile?   I will paint the walls a very pale version of that paint sample - it is called Sea Breeze.  And the new towels will be like the one on the tub.  Some tub regrouting is also in order - and a new shower curtain.  I am so excited!!

Bountiful, the Queen of Snowfall

We got a nice big snowstorm last night.  It seems like we always get more than everyone else around us - but it is very beautiful!  While I was shoveling snow this morning, I figured we must have got around 6 to 8 inches.  Luckily we didn't have to drive in it.  We both got home before it hit and were snug in our house while the wind howled and the snow came down.  We have amazing snow plow crews - we live in a circle and there have been many times we were only able to get home because they were so diligent to get our road cleared.

Bountiful - the Queen of Snowfall

We got a big snowstorm last night.  Not the biggest we've ever had, but plenty of snow.  As I was shoveling this morning I figured we got somewhere between 6 and 8 inches.

Why "The Joy Filled Life"?

Life really can't get much better.  We have 5 amazing granddaughters, and another on the way, a darling grandpuppy, 4 children that are much better at life than their parents, and their spouses that we truly love and admire.  What more could you ask for!!  We should be in "Joy" every day with blessings like that, but life gets you down.  Too many things to do, OR not enough things to do (real estate slump). This blog will help me to have the Joy that should be happening every day when I realize all of my amazing blessings.

New Blog!

My other blogs I cannot get in to.  I created them with my hotmail e-mail address and now I can't log on to change anything . . . So, I have activated this blog and will try harder to keep it up to date.