Happy 3rd

My sweet grandson, Gage, is 3 years old.

(However, he just might tell you he's 5.)

He is a fun loving, mostly happy kid.

You should just see his bottom lip when he's not happy.

Wish I had a picture as evidence.

He has a light in his eyes that brightens your day.

If you tell him he's big boy, he says , "No I'm not, I'm Gage."

He loves his big sister and tries to copy everything she does. Mostly she goes along with it.

He loves swords, dinosaurs, basketball (especially the Utes), riding and trying to drive the "Jeep," riding the 4 wheeler, jam sandwiches and Poptarts, any kind of candy, his new Leapster, and books - lots and lots of books.

Gage hasn't had the easiest of childhoods so far with asthma and allergies galore, he's been a sick kiddo.

As a result, he LOVES his Mama.

He is cuddly and lovey and sweet.

Gage has a special spirit, bigger than his little body can hold,

and we are so blessed to have him in our lives.

Ahhh... the Holidays

The holidays have come and gone and I guess it's time to document them.

Connie and I enjoy an hour each week being blessed by Charlie Cooper.  During these times, Connie had hooked up with our childhood friends through facebook (Yes old ladies facebook) , Jill and Joann.

Now I haven't seen Joann for at least 30 years.  Jill was in town (she lives in Houston) and so arrangements were made to meet for lunch.  Joann came down from Idaho Falls (do you know she's had 2 heart transplants?), Nadine (Paul Craig's wife) came and we met at Paradise.

What a gratifying time we had.  Not enough time to catch up on everything that had happened in the last 30 years.

In this picture, Nadine, Connie, Jolene, Joann, Jill.

Just as we were getting ready to leave, Joann, who has 6 sons, told me she had told her boys about the time she gave me a bloody nose. I have NO memory of this and everyone at the table starting laughing - apparently they all had memories of this fine event.

The story goes, in Jr. High, Joann's parents wouldn't let her shave her legs. So, quite often I would pull her knee socks down and pull her barrett down her hair.  Yes, folks, I was a bully. I knew I was bossy, but I didn't know I was a bully. (This really bothers me, I'm sorry to anyone else I bullied.)

Now remember, I have NO memory of any of this.

So, Joann told her mom who told her to just punch me in the nose the next time this happened, not really thinking she would.  The next time it happened, Joann told me to stop or I would be sorry, and being the brat that I was, I said something to the effect, oh ya, what are you going to do. And with that,she punched me in the nose and I bled all over my new white shirt.  My friends gave her grief. I guess one of them told her at high school graduation that she had held a grudge against her all those years.  I say I deserved it and more.

Anyway, fun time with old friends -

 even if I did find out things about myself I'm not particularly proud of.

Keith would rather eat with the grandkids than us.  Cute huh.

Thanksgiving dinner in the living room. Everyone was able to be there which is a treasure.

Papa and Jeri came to complete the family.

Katie made darling party favors of pilgrim hats and cornicopias.  I ate all the leftovers, yum.

On December 17th Kelli invited me to go with her to her ultrasound. We found out that Kelli and Jeremy are having a baby girl.

We are so thrilled.  This is the first baby girl Whitney in 3 generations.

I'm so  excited for Ann to have a granddaughter. (and me to have my 3rd)

We are busy buying stuff for 2 babies. (Adam is having a boy.)

We had the Nordfors family party at my Stake House.

We were all able to make it to this party, too.

That doesn't happen very often, so it was picture worthy.

Rob telling Papa some bull about something.

Now, I wasn't there to hear the conversation, but come on, it's Rob.

Actually, it was great to have Dad there.  There is even a picture of him with all his great grandchildren.  Too bad I don't have that.

Addi, wondering about that scary man in the awful red outfit.

Can you imagine how horrifying it is to little ones to sit on the lap of a stranger that is as bizarre looking as Santa.

The things we do to our kids.

My in-law children are pretty great and they all posed wonderfully for these pictures.  (Jessica is smart enough I guess to not give me blackmail material.)

Me, doing my favorite thing, reading to all 3 grandkids.  Now how in the world will I fit 2 more on my lap?  That's a problem I'm so blessed to have.

We celebrated Christmas with our kids on the 23rd.  It was great, no rushing hurrying, just enjoying each other's company. First we had a yummy dinner.

The kid table. Notice Gammy's tablecloth.  I always try to have something of hers at all our celebrations.

And the Adult table.  Papa is here hiding behind Keith's head.

The kids waiting patiently to open the rest of their presents while enjoying their new chairs and warm, soft blankets.

The tummy view. No, Keith's not pregnant. He just enjoys comparing bellies.

No comment on who won. (Or lost as the case may be.)

Addi's favorite gift was the purse from MyKelle.

Christmas Eve is traditionally the party at Grandma Gines'.

The charater of "Frank" (code word for Santa) was played by Keith's brother Paul this year.

He brought new games.  This one was to become a reindeer the fastest using panty hose and balloons. Hysterical.

Kelli with Santa doing what I don't know.

Ho, ho, ho maybe.

The legend and prime have matching AC/DC onesies.  Just what a Grandma wants her Grandchild in, now why didn't I think of that?

Christmas morning, Keith and I traveled to see the Grandkids.

Here's Addi

and MyKelle

and Gage

all enjoying Christmas Day.

It was an amazing holiday season, and now I will rest.

January Parties

Keith's Birthday is January 2nd, in my opinion, the worst possible day (with the exeption of Christmas Day) because you think you are finally done with the holidays, only to have to party one more day.  I wish just one year I would have more enthusiasm for his special day.

Anyway, kids came over and we ate and played.  Keith was happy.

Three of my children absolutely comsumed by something I'm sure is very important.

Cutest Grandchildren ever.  These guys play so cute together, until 1 toy is wanted by all.

Then JoJo takes the toy and they are all mad at me.

Kelli, still wanting to be the little kid.

Notice the headphones on MyKelle.  Kelli gave her a Hannah Montana MP3 player for Christmas.

The child is never without it.

Yesterday, we had a baby shower for Jessica and I have NO pictures.  How did that happen? (I'll have to get them from Adam and add them later.)

  It was "lovely" and many people love these 2 kids.  Thanks to all that came.

After the shower, the Gines family girls got together for a watch making party.  This is a first for this group of girls and boy did we have fun.  Cute Megan brought all her beads and taught us how to make watch bands and bracelets.

So many to choose from, how do you decide?  It was a little overwhelming at first.

I wasn't going to make one, but it looked like so much fun, I too made a watch band.  Megan has wayyyyy more patience than I do.  She was a great teacher.

Later that night, I had all my grandkiddos over and we built the tallest tower ever!

All the kids built and I held it up.  Such a sturdy building.

MyKelle loves to take pictures with my camera and mostly I delete all of them, but this self portrait was pretty cute.  Long day but what a great time to see everyone. Family is what it is all about.