Grandparent's Day

 Tenillie knew that Boston had a program coming up in school for Grandparent's Day because he would come home from school and show off his dance moves.  But she just wasn't getting all the information....but finally found where he had been stashing the notes and invitations.  He was "embarrassed" that we would come and see him dancing with....yikes!  girls!!!

I wasn't quite ready for Grandparent's Day either.  When I went to Rylee's two years ago, I was totally offended.  In celebration of grandparent's day, they colored masks and held them up.  They all looked like George and Martha Washington. Then they sang songs "from our era."  What???  The songs were from my parents era....or their parents!  My era was the Beatles and the Beach Boys. 

Well, the program was the same.  Just insert Boston instead of Rylee.  And I REALLY need to find my camera charger because these iphone pictures just aren't cutting it.

But Boston was darling.  He sang and did his part perfectly

and then he took me and his Grandpa Jo to his classroom where he wrote us a message.

We also "cut a rug" with him.  We did the waltz and the hokie pokie and the bunny hop.


The best part I can't really show here but I have it on video.  When Boston had to dance with a girl...he wouldn't let her hold his hand.  He just kept moving his hand so she couldn't really touch it.  Jo and I were just cracking up.  He's such a nut.

 "I never knew how much my heart could hold until someone called me grandma."


(and thank you, thank you, thank you for all your sweet birthday wishes.  Monday night our whole family met at Rock Creek Pizza to celebrate- I'm sure you heard us no matter where you live.  Addi asked me how old I was and I said, "Count fast!" and flashed my fingers how many years I am.  She pondered for a minute and then asked, "92?"

Okay, maybe I need that Martha Washington mask....)

Party! Party!

Today is my birthday!  I made it to another one.  Whew!  It is getting to be hard work.  But I'm running out the door to play....so I'll tell you about Addison's birthday which we just celebrated.

Last Saturday was Miss Addi-tudes 7th birthday!  She celebrated by having a pajama party.  All the guests came in their jammies, of course, and they served chocolate waffles (make a chocolate cake mix as directed on box - then cook on a Belgium waffle griddle) with ice cream and chocolate syrup, assorted fruit and sausages.(The chocolate waffles would make a great dessert with fresh berries and whipped cream.  I even liked maple syrup on them.)

 Brandi asked me to do Minute to Win it games (from the wedding), and we had a pinata, then  Doug did magic tricks.  Fun, fun, fun.

 Gift bags were a few of Addi's favorite things- lip gloss (I'm sure the boys loved that) and Whoopie cushions (I'm sure the parents love those) and Justin Beiber straws and Hello Kitty pencils and white Lindor chocolate balls, etc.

The best part was having the party in their new home.  We weren't on TOP of each other and actually had space to be silly.  Well, I guess there is always space to be silly- but now we don't have to do it directly in each other's face!

It takes a long time to grow young.  Pablo Picasso

Cute Valentines

 Saturday friendie Brendalyn and I ran some errands and ended up at one of my favorite consignment stores- Home Again (in Midvale.)  I loved this blackboard idea and think it would be cute for a family setting.


I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day.  When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon.  ~Author Unknown

Yummy!

 I love new years, new starts, resolutions....and January since it is my birth month.  My last few months have been crazy with the holidays, some trips, a wedding, packing and moving houses, then unpacking ...and some of my kiddos have been off-track (year-round school) since Christmas. So, besides having wonderful, quality time with the 3 girls, I have also been coloring and picking up banana peels from odd places, and Starburst wrappers from every corner of my house and playing Skipbo (and getting whooped by Gracie) and Aggravation and watching Wizards of Waverly and Shake It Up until my brain is smooshed and shaken up. So when my friend, that I call Funny Kathy (with a K) sent out a girlfriend email last week, inviting the girlfriends on a girl trip to her house in St. George, this was my reply:

Happy dance! Happy dance! Can you feel the earth shaking???? Yes, yes and more yes.  I'm SOOOOOOO GLAD you are home!!!!!! I'm so in need of girlfriend wisdom and inspiration and truly, some of those breadsticks from that pizza place. I'm not sure which I need the most. 

Well, of course the email was a LOT longer than that, since you know how I tend to ramble....but here is the eerie thing.  Pizza Factory is "that" pizza place... that we always go to in St.George...and they have these magnificent cooked-on-a-dowel breadsticks that are their speciality.  I think there are several Pizza Factories closer but I limit myself to the one in St. George so it's special.

Until now.  Until the eerie thing.  (music from some scary show- Twilight Zone for the elders, Vampire Diaries for the youngins'...)  Minutes after I posted my trip acceptance, I turned on the television to a local show- Studio 5- and their guest blogger was showing how to make....(more music!!!!)  Pizza Factory Twisted Breadsticks!!!!!  It was beyond out-of-body.  It was "other-worldish."   It was JUST what I need in the middle of freezing weather and near death experiences and did I mention our septic drains are frozen shut...forcing all those wonderful smelling gases back into our home....

I really shouldn't mention THAT smell AGAIN since I want you to envision the aroma of homemade bread. These are so, so, so killer and the perfect winter comfort food.  Recipe on the cooking blog.

Wow! What a morning!

Today was my first morning at my new job. I am officially the kiddos car-pooling grandma. They started a new school yesterday. It is too far from the school to walk with hazardous conditions, freezing weather and two major busy roads. This morning had freezing temperatures and, as forecast, icy rain. The roads were HORRID and wrecks were EVERYWHERE. The drive across the valley usually takes me 1/2 hour, but this morning it took an hour. This is one of the wrecks I passed on the way. (p.s. the girls got to school on time and I got home safely...almost two hours later!) I'm thinking a new reality show- Grandma Carpools.

Note:  I just got home tonight from GNO. We had a great time at dinner, then I took Brendalyn and Cathy home.  The roads were sheeeeeer ice...and Cathy lives up the mountain on a steep hill and after sliding halfway down, my car went into a snowbank.  I talked myself out of a panic attack but called David and he came to rescue me.  I said to David,  "Who in their right mind would build on the mountain???"  

Note:  We were the ones who built Cathy's house... and lived there for years.  Nuts! (actually Brendalyn's husband Joe built both of our houses.  Are you all confused now?  I would explain but I'm too stressed out.  It's been a day!)

The Lovely Bridal Shower

Jenny Miller, one of Brandi's BFF's, hosted a wonderful bridal shower brunch a few weeks before the wedding.  She did the theme all in hearts...and served just amazing food.  All sorts of muffins and quiches and yogurt parfaits  and scones.  Oh me, oh my.

Candy treat favors- yum

But my very favorite thing was that even the bacon was shaped into hearts.  Cool!

As friends- Brandi's high school friends, work friends, sisters-in-law and a few of my BFF's watched Brandi open gifts, we told our connection to her.  Almost everyone commented on her amazing kindness and example.  As one of her friends said, "Whenever we meet someone, my husband and I will describe them this way.  She's nice.  I mean "Brandi nice."...and we know exactly what that means."

Above Kami Spears Dyer and below with Rian Hunt Jensen.  Work friend Julie is smiling in the corner.

 

and Dang!  after all her good work, I didn't get a picture of Jenny and Brandi.

Gosh, it was a fun shower...and after hearing everyone's kind words, we all came away "uplifted."

That girl of mine is wonderful.  And so are her friends!

(and Sticker Bullock, if you are reading this, it was a TREAT to get to see you.  We love you still!)

(Brandi's neighborhood also did a shower for her.  I wasn't able to go but I hear it was a little wild.  Just sayin.'  So kidding ... I thought the gifts were hysterical- especially a former bishops......)

No Elephants

Okay, it is a New Year.  I'm so tired of being a slug. And an elephant.  Got back on the bike and did 5 miles today.  This year is going to be the best!

More Wedding

I already posted about Brandi and Doug's pre-wedding party.  The next day, Saturday, Jan. 12th was crazy busy.  We had spent the week packing up two houses...and when closings didn't go through as planned, two houses were packed into 4 large moving trucks.  Brandi and the kids stayed at our house...and Saturday morning Brandi realized she didn't know where her passport was!  The passports had already given us fits.  Doug renewed his passport...and they rejected it because he looked too young for his picture.  The new one didn't come until two days before the wedding!  Brandi said if his passport didn't come, she was going on the honeymoon with or without him.  So, when on the day of the wedding, Brandi didn't know where her passport was, he jokingly said, "Well, I'll see you when I get back!"  

I ran to the barn in the morning to get it open for OOMS and her sister to decorate.  When I got there, it was snowed in...and my key didn't work!  We rented it from Draper City...and being on a Saturday, no one was in the office.  By then, after a week of crazy, I was done and just had a big boo-hoo in the car.  But thankfully OOMS had common sense and went to the City offices and found a maintenance man who called his supervisor and after about an hour, we were in. Nothing can just go smoothly, can it???

After that, all went well.  The temple ceremony was beautiful....Brandi looked radiant and it was a joyous occasion.  The weather was freezing for pictures so everyone was anxious to hurry to the barn (that was a few miles away.)  Valene was there ready with Caramel Apple cider for everyone while we waited for the bride and groom.  Brandi's friend Steph found the passport in one of the boxes of personal papers that Brandi had left with her....and hid it inside the barn.  After David welcomed everyone, he said, "It wouldn't be a party with Marilyn without a game...so we're going to play a game of Hot and Cold with the bridal couple."  As Brandi and Doug circled throughout the room, all the guests shouted hot or cold until they found the passport tucked high on an air vent!  Pretty funny.  Brandi was thrilled!

We had such a wonderful time with family and all of Brandi and Doug's close friends- 90 plus people.  My friend, Linda Madsen (remember the Hollywood shower that she threw?) and her daughters did the catering and everything was presented beautifully.  

The menu:

chicken cordon bleu
almond rice
fingerling potatoes
corn pudding 
mixed vegetables
mixed salad
rolls with a variety of butters
and chocolate trifle or blueberry lemon

OOMS and her twin sister (who is in charge of all the weddings at Thanksgiving Point) recreated the beautiful decor from the party the night before.  I especially loved the lights with dangling ribbons.

We did an open mike for anyone that would love to pay their respects.  In my remarks, I spoke to Bri and Connor and welcomed them to the family....saying I couldn't wait to put their names on our staircase.  The kiddos names are in order of when they came into the family...and I have only two steps left.  I told them that I would be putting their names on the same stair since they came into the family on the same day....

and because at Christmas, another family had claimed the last stair.  I let that settle in on the Williams family.....

Tanner and Brooke are expecting!!!!  Our family is just bursting from the seams!

p.s.  Brandi and Doug got to go on their honeymoon together- whew!  Of course, there was the little drama that occurred earlier when Doug found out that Travis and Tenille were booked at the same resort in Cancun at the same time.  THAT wasn't going to happen!  Needless to say,  reservations were changed!  (but it gave us a great laugh when we saw Doug's face!)

And they all lived happily ever after.....  

Let's Party!

 I am so sorry to share Brandi and Doug's wedding with such poor pictures- all taken from my iphone.  Our scanners just aren't working and my good camera either.  Oh well, here we go:

They announced their upcoming wedding with a joint Christmas card/announcement.  It is a double-sided tri-fold.  Folds up to a 5 x 5.

 Inside are fun family quotes and pictures of all the kids and the new fam.

" Even in the most uncertain of times, which frankly is most of the time, the thing I am most certain of is you."

 The Party- the pre-wedding party was held the night before.  It was at Jordan Commons in their new conference areas (where the Mayan Restaurant used to be.)  (thank you Jenny and the Miller family for your sweet generosity!)




























The below posters greeted the guests.

As people came in, they were greeted with their first raffle ticket and their party card. 
On the front it said -

 NO MATTER HOW MANY COOKIES YOU CONSUME, YOU WILL FIND THAT LOVE IS OUR GREATEST FORTUNE.  WE FEEL SO FORTUNATE THAT YOU ARE IN OUR LIVES.  LET'S PUT ON OUR PARTY SHOES AND SPARKLE!  

BURN OFF THE CALORIES FROM THE DESSERT BAR (YUM!) GET ACQUAINTED WITH OUR HUGE NEW FAM AT VARIOUS RAFFLE STATIONS.  THOSE GIFTS MIGHT BE FOR YOU.  (RAFFLE DRAWINGS HELD AT 8:30)  YOU GET A TICKET FOR COMING (WE WERE AFRAID NO ONE WOULD SHOW...), TICKETS FOR PLAYING A MINUTE TO WIN IT IN THE FOYER (STUDIES THAT SHOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE A TITCH OF SILLY LIVE LONGER.  JUST SAYIN'...) AND TICKETS FOR YOUR MOVES LIKE JAGGER.  TRY TO OUTDO THE GROOM WHO ONCE LOST A KNEECAP DANCING. (IF YOU FIND IT, PLEASE GIVE IT BACK TO HIM.)


On the back of the card was their Minute to Win It scorecard:  As they did each event, they got more raffle tickets.

Here are two of the Minute to Win it games we played.  If anyone wants to borrow these for your own gathering, you could just put a decal over their logo at the top.  These were 24 x 18 and sat on easels by each station. (Lisa Wheat was my wonderful graphic artist.  She mounted everything for me as well.  I HIGHLY recommend her!)

 








































Again, OOMS (our own Martha Stewart- Lisa Davies) did the decor. There for 3 different centerpieces for the 13 sit down tables and lots of standing tables and the food tables.



 














Outside in the foyer were beautiful arrangements of fresh fruits and cheeses and crackers.  Two beautiful delicious tables.

 These were a couple of the tables of desserts...every kind you can imagine. Carrot cakes, chocolate lush, eclairs, pear flan cake, cheesecakes, etc.

 Outside in the foyer, we also had the raffle area.  I had a picture of each family member, with a framed statement about them....and then a raffle goblet and also a raffle prize.  As you won tickets, you could put them in whatever raffle cup you desired.  We then held a drawing and about 15 guests went home with sweet prizes.  You also got raffle prizes for asking Hallee to dance, asking Addi who her favorite singer was, if you were taller than Conner, etc.  (For instance, if you won Parker's raffle, you got a gift certificate to Winger's, Parker favorite place and also Texas Roadhouse.  Gracie's had Sweet Tooth Fairy and Coldstone.  One of Brandi's and Doug's had the restaurant they ate at before they got engaged, Cafe Molisse...and another a favorite sushi restaurant.)

It was SO MUCH FUN!!!  Brandi had a DJ who was great- all the kids requested their favorite songs ahead of time.

But the best was this:

The music started playing and Brandi and Doug started doing this dance.  (Imagine Brandi in gold sparkles.  She and the girls were all glitzed up.)  I was impressed that they had a coordinated dance.  Then other people ran in and started dancing.  My first thought was, "How rude! Can't they see Brandi and Doug are doing a special dance?"  Then more people ran in.  All doing the same dance (including Brandi's little girls)...and I'm thinking "Wow, is this a new dance like the Macarena that everyone knows?"  (I'm a little slow...)  Then all these guys ran in with black sunglasses...dancing the same dance (Travis and Tenillie, you were awesome!)...and I realized we were being flash mobbed.  Brandi wanted to surprise me!!!!!   (I'm a HUGE flash mob person! )  It was AWESOME!!!!  Thanks Heather Davis for coordinating everything and working with the kiddos and neighbors- it made my night!!!)

So while the party was going on (and before)...there was a huge snowstorm.  But we had a great crowd...rooms filled with family and so many friends who just love these guys!  Perfect!

(p.s.  I removed Conner and Parker's page because a sweet friend pointed out it had their address on it.  I laughed and thanked her...then said, "Well, auto-correct put the wrong address on it anyway!")

Oh happy day!

 This past weekend was the wedding!  Yippy skippy- a weekend full of love!  These are just a couple of pictures from my Iphone but you can see the joy. 

The temperatures have been hovering around 3-9 degrees so it is BEYOND COLD but at least the wind isn't blowing.  A cold, cold day but love makes it worth it!

OOMS (our own Martha Stewart) did the decor.  Her centerpieces were fabulous....3 different ones.  I hope to share more soon (we're still moving houses and I've got the girls this week.)  Sigh, miracles take a lot of work!

But I wanted to share "I love happy."

Scruffy Beards

I have a list a mile long of things I want to write about.  I'll just make a list so I won't forget-
Christmas- favorite moments and meltdowns-
New Years at Gwilliams- yesterday's bridal shower at Jenny Miller's home for Brandi- trying to get Brandi's house packed and cleaned while her kids are off track- whew! - the freezing cold weather (between 1-9 degrees each day.  I CANNOT GET WARM!)- wedding planning (wedding next Saturday!) and all it entails. - happiness and overwhelmness (is that a word?)
BFF Cathy being released as our RS president today, etc.

But I'm not going to talk about any of that.  (That was really my reminder list.)

Last night we watched 3 of our kiddos so that Travis and Tenille could go out and celebrate with Tenillies family (the quads turned 31! 4 birthdays at once!)  We had the most delightful time with Boston (called Bo- age 7), Nash, age 5 and Sadie (called Jo-Jo by her parents)- age 3.  Bo and Nash threw footballs in the living with David until they knocked (Grandpa knocked) one of my plants over (David thinks it is funny to rough-house in the house...in the living room.  He loves to ignore my pleas to "please STOP!")  Sadie helped me butter all the bread to make grilled cheese sandwiches.  She did a great job.  She just smiles the entire time.  Pure sunshine.  Then I WII bowled with the boys.  I was totally behind until I got Sadie on my team and we pulled up from behind to win.  We also played Hungry Hungry Hippo and my favorite, Duck, Duck, Goose (with the goose you hit on the head and it sings.)  Sadie won 4 straight times in a row!  When T and T got back, we were all in David's den checking out his new computer.
Travis was all excited because he has this 5 o'clock shadow turning into a young beard.  He exclaimed to me, "Mom, look at my beard.  Can you see a little bit of gray in it?"  I really couldn't but said, "Well, maybe."  I didn't really get why he was excited but he shared how he told Tenille he was so excited to see a few gray whiskers.  Then he went on.  "When I was growing up, Dad was always clean shaven.  (being an attorney, he was clean-shaven and a suit-and-tie kind of guy.)  But whenever we had play time, vacation time, Lake Powell time,  Dad wouldn't shave....and I loved seeing his beard....with his few gray whiskers...since I knew it meant we were having fun together."

I about cried.  A mommy moment with my grown-up dear son that loves his dad! A gift.

Catch Up Pictures

 I usually use my camera instead of my iphone....so I sometimes forget to upload pictures from my phone.  I did today and was surprised at the pictures I should have had for yesterday's entry.  The above house is Tillotson's home on Coronado Island.  Isn't it wonderful?  Beautiful in and out.

Below is the grand Hotel Del Coronado.  It is very close to the Tillotson's home...so we would walk by it to get to the beach.

 Right behind the hotel is where the Navy Seals do drills.  These must have been fairly new recruits since there were a whole lot of barking officers...and the Seals having to re-do their drills.  There were about a dozen life boats on the horizon.  They would wait for their signal and then row in, then have to turn their life rafts on the side and as a team carry it over the rocks.  The problem was the boats are HEAVY and the rocks slippery...and then a wave would come up.  The guys would get yelled at, forced to do more push-ups and then out again to do better next time!

 I love the San Diego temple and we had a chance to go there on our last day.  Always beautiful and always filling.  Just as we came out of the doors of the temple, there was a text from Brandi saying their temple clearance had gone through...and the wedding was on!  (this was 1 1/2 months ago and may I just say we are SCRAMBLING this week.  Wedding is on the 12th of January!)

 We took lots of walks on the beach and through the neighborhoods close by.  I loved this idyllic setting below and took the picture for my art files.

 I laughed when I saw this picture.  When David and I go to visit my folks, we stay in a hotel close by where they live.  Since we had been traveling for awhile, I had several loads of laundry to do so grateful for on site facilities.  I had to laugh though at the size of the laundry room....probably 7 ft. by 7 ft.  Really, see the standing room between the washer and door.

 And this sign was boldly posted on the wall.

 

Really?  They expect you to stand in that little 3 by 3 space for the entire 1 1/2 hr. it took to do the laundry!  I don't think so!

I realize that I'm totally skipping Thanksgiving and Decembers activities but last night was New Year's Eve.  We celebrate with the same friends every year (probably for the past 30 years!)  We all contribute to dinner.  It was at Gwilliams- and BFF Cathy brought my new favorite dessert ever!
It's called Russian Cream and I'll post the recipe today on the cooking blog.  It is a YUM!  I laughed how David was surprised that we were starting last night's party at 7:30.  He wondered how we would fill the time between 7:30 and midnight.  Really?  With our best friends?  We got home at 2:30 so I'm pretty sure we were having a fun time.  So ready for a New year!