Grandchildren update

Now that I have paid for the ability to save and share lots of pictures on my blog, I am going to deluge you with a month's worth of pictures of grandchildren. Enjoy! (or at least, Grandpa Glen, enjoy!)

Ruby, Sadie and I went to the movies while their mother was running another Ragnar. We saw "Arrietty" based on the children's' book "The Borrowers" and produced in Japan. The animation definitely has a Japanese touch which was beautiful to look at and the characters were engaging. The story has been updated with contemporary characters while the setting looks like modern Japan. We very much enjoyed it. I had taken the girls to see the Childsplay production of "The Borrowers" last spring while their parents were in Italy. I asked them if they liked the movie or the play more. Sadie, ever the pragmatist, said she liked them both the same amount.

My husband and my sons go out of their way to gift one another with unlikely and totally impractical gifts. Glen finally got to share his birthday gift from son #2 with everyone. It was a box of noses, enough for everyone to take a sniff. Cute Julianna in pink.

Toby, who must have told a lie.

Lovely Heather who managed to make it fit with her glasses.

Toby with a front view.

Sadie with a really big snoozer.

And Ruby with her own nose. There are some things that she just refuses to wear like pre-school graduation hats and anything with buttons on the front plus rubber noses.

Son #1 purchased tickets to "Kid History" at Mountain View for the same night that he had already purchased tickets for he and the wife to see "Wicked" at the Gammage in Tempe. Grandpa stepped up and took the grand kids to "Kid History" where he waited in line for 45 minutes so that they could get this picture with the stars with his phone. They were introducing Episode 8.

The three oldest stayed overnight while Julianna went with Emelia to her sister's house to spend the night. After a pancake breakfast held by the Young Women at the church to raise funds for camp this summer, we took our three to see the progress on the new temple in Gilbert. The outer shell is almost complete and it is easy to see how it will look when completed. Isn't TJ looking handsome and so grown up?

Maybe Heather will get married here some day.

The temple is going up fast just like Toby.

Those slabs of stone must be really heavy. It would be fun to go on a weekday and watch those cranes at work. The temple can be seen from the 202 and is at Pecos and Greenfield.

Last week I drove to California and to spend time with Raymond and Henry while their father worked and their mother remembered how she felt while pregnant. They spent lots of time doing this, you know, video games. Their mother spent one of the days at the hospital getting rehydrated and finally getting a prescription for Zofran. Good times. A nanny has been hired for a couple of months but I bet she won't make Janae homemade noodles and mashed potatoes. That was one thing she actually craved.

Daughter has spent 3 birthdays now not wanting to eat. All her babies seem to want to born in the fall. We couldn't pass on candles and a cake, however. It was her birthday! Henry helped me mix up red velvet cupcakes and a layer cake while Raymond was at school.

Then they both helped to decorate. Henry picked out the sprinkles, cupcake liners and candles.

We had a real party because son #3 had driven his family over to spend Spring break with their other grandma who lives just across the hill. They came to not only wish Janae a happy birthday but to drop off David who would drive back to Arizona with me. Henry is sharing his new Barbie movie with everyone. He's going through a bit of a Barbie phase.

I really enjoyed the ride home with David. Not only did he drive, but we talked for 5 hours! I think I need to plan a long road trip with each of my children solo.

Where did I sleep? Why on the bottom bunk of course. It was really comfortable!

Why I have not blogged much

I began to blog in November 2007 when my DIL set up a google account and designed a blog for me. She said, "Enough of commenting on everyone's blog. You have enough to say to blog yourself."

Turns out it was one of my best gifts ever. No more feeling guilty about not keeping a consistent journal for I found that I loved the blogging format. It was a fun way to share parts of my life with pictures and to connect with family, friends, and even strangers. It was a place of reflection as one has to think before one writes. I love that it also organizes my life. Type a search term up in the corner and there is the recipe I need away from home. Click on a name on the side bar and then cry as you realize how quickly those grand babies are growing up.

So, every time I upload a picture there is a little message saying how much storage I have left at the bottom of the page. I ignored it for over 4 years until this month when I learned that I was probably going to have to "pay the piper." Yup, I had used most of my 1024 GB. Yesterday's post was one I was going to write a month or so ago. I finished it because the pictures were already uploaded. Today, there was only room left for this cute little origami "Google."

Speaking of origami, if you are interested in apps which demonstrate doing origami in 3D, check out Learn2Make created by son #2. He's finally making some money based on his college degree in Computer Animation by designing apps. You will also find balloon twisting and he has also created a few games. They love his games in Brazil, and I don't even think they know that he has a beautiful Brazilian wife. The Brazilian beauty received great news last week. She has been accepted to dental hygiene school. She decided that was a better route than trying to become a licensed physical therapist in the United States as her training in Brazil in physical therapy was so much different than in the States. She is so excited and so am I!

Back to Google. While I was in California helping with my daughter's family (yes, I'm going to be a grandma #11 and yes, just like pregnancy #1 & #2, nothing seems to stay down) she explained that my free days were over and explained my options to me and helped me figure out how much storage I might need a year. This morning I got out the credit card and purchased additional storage which automatically renews each year on this date (unless I cancel.)

When I called my hubby and told him blogging was going to cost him money he told me it was worth it. Yes, unlike some fellow bloggers, my husband loves to read my blog and I even pretty much tell him everything in person every day, too. Sweet man!

Seven Peaks Boulevard Trees

Each month as I approach the Provo townhouse traveling north on Seven Peaks Boulevard, I am awed by the tree line on the east side of the street. The limbs may be naked in winter, but that allows Mt. Timpanogos to shine in the background.

In fall they glow with autumnal color.

In Spring, they burst forth in glorious white. This summer I will make sure I take a picture of shimmering green leafed trees as a final quartet to four very distinct seasons.

Missing Oscar

This is Oscar's new room in Salt Lake City.

He likes it a lot. There is a big door leading right into the kitchen. That means he can play in his room and still be by his mom.

As of February, this was his favorite thing to do, putting all of his transportation vehicles in a straight line. Must be his father's son. Nate had a thing about lining things up as well. Oscar was really happy when Grandpa brought him new Matchbox cars from the grocery store. Pretty sure Nate got new Matchbox cars when Glen went to the store as well.

Miss him!

A place for debates and entertainment

While Mitt was securing his 29 delegates in Arizona last night, I was seated in the same place where he debated a week ago. I may not have been able to secure a seat the night of the CNN sponsored debate when all the GOP Primary candidates were in town, but I sure enjoyed last night's show.

Nate and Nichelle thoughtfully gifted Glen and I with tickets to a BYU Alumni sponsored Vocal Point show for Christmas. They knew of our consistent weekly attention to the TV reality show, The Sing Off, and of our great enthusiasm for Vocal Point, one of BYU's performing groups.

Our two months of anticipation were finally over. Vocal Point had come to town! Every seat was full, from a babe in arms to some even older than we two plus my sister and her daughter (who we didn't even know were attending.) It was a great audience, many BYU alums, but the nine young men on stage were incredible. It was just their microphones, a prop or two, and their voices providing all that sound. WOW!

Jump, Jive an' Wail - BYU Vocal Point

Why, oh, why was the library so quiet in my BYU days?

Demise of the magazine

Glen's sister sent by mail an envelope full of snapshots of our family over the years. She is recently retired and is sorting and sharing. It included this picture of me perusing a magazine. I think it is a Better Homes and Garden. Time frame? That is baby David on my lap and it is during my permed hair phase. I'm pretty sure we are in JJ & Elma's Draper house. I'm thinking 1980.

So 30+ years later and Better Homes and Garden is still available for monthly delivery. I know that because over the last few years my favorite magazines have all disappeared after a notice from the publisher stating that the remainder of my subscription will be transferred to Better Homes and Garden. I had long ago decided to subscribe to my favorites instead of BH&G, but now I'm informed that BH&G will be my choice, my only choice until the money runs out, no refund offered.

And then this month, the final blow. My absolutely favorite magazine supporting my hobbies, Australian Smocking and Embroidery, will end with the 100th issue. I recently received issue 97 so just 3 more issues of beautiful pictures of models wearing hand smocked garments with included directions and full size patterns. Apparently there are not enough people smocking around the world subscribing and it is no longer cost effective. Sigh . . .

Romney endorsement

This morning the Arizona Republic formally endorsed Mitt Romney as the Republican presidential candidate. Read more here.

The Republic's reasons for doing so pretty much mirror my own. There are more yard signs out in my garage. Come and get them!