Hallee Babe

A few weeks ago, I was able to attend Hallee's dance performance.  This little (okay, not so little) has wanted to dance all of her life and finally she gets to.  It was so fun to see her! 

Hallee's baptism

A picture I painted of Hallee when she was a little.

 

She's fearless!!!!

 

 
 
 

 

As part of one of Hallee's personal progress goals in her young women program ,  she is supposed to ask others to share positive qualities that the Lord has given her. She is then supposed to write in her journal her plan to continue to develop these gifts and use them to serve her family and others.

Here's what I shared with her: 

Watching Hallee grow is like watching a beautiful butterfly unfold.  She constantly amazes us with her kindness and forgiveness and her happy attitude.  She is such a great big sister to Addi.  I've always had such a connection to Hallee because when I looked into her face, I felt like I was looking into my own.  I felt like I was watching myself grow up again.  She was a little shy and timid when she was little but now she is fearless.  She will try anything (skiing, basketball, tennis, flute, piano) and succeed.  She is beautiful inside and out.  She brings joy wherever she goes.  We love you so much Hallee Babe!!!!


Here are a few Hallee stories from my journal.




-When she was a little girl, she had a terrible time sleeping at night.  Finally a plan was developed.  Just before bed, she would call me and we would think of happy thoughts and laugh.  Then we would make promises that when we went to sleep, she would think about me and I would think about her ...and that would make us happy...and neither one of us would cry- and if we both went for two weeks without crying (we got stickers each day)- then the two of us could go on a date. 


 -Oct. 14, 2007  We attended church at Travis and Tenilles for a blessing.  I loved holding Hallee on my lap and just hugging her during church. I think I feel closer to her sometimes because she is the only one who needs me. The other kids are happy to squeal and sit by each other. Addison is happy with whoever reaches out for her. Boston never sits still with Grammy....he’s a fireball. So it was Halle who filled Gramma’s need to be needed

2008-Hallee went with her preschool class to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point last Friday.
Mom: Hallee, how was your field trip today?
Hallee Babe: Oh, I loved it! I wish I lived there!
Mom: Lived there?
Hallee Babe: Yep, I wish I was a dinosaur bone!


- The Disneyland crew are having a ball. I was worried that Hallee Babe, at 5, might be too timid and hold everyone else back. Brandi called last night to report that Gracie (7) had been frightened out of her mind on rides, Parker (10) was terrorized by many....and Hallee loved them all! Go figure!


-Just before Hallee's baptism, Parker gave a talk about baptism. He did a WONDERFUL job (and mentioned when Gracie got baptized two years ago, Hallee was so excited and said to her "Gracie, I could baptize you because I have the pre-school!") (priesthood)

Lucky Lucky!!!!

After I just posted about my newest "grand"- Lucky- Ryan sent us a text that Lucky had received a full ride scholarship to BYU for all of next year!!!!!  Wow!!!!!!  He's a hard working boy and such a delight!

Lake Powell Adventure 2017

Our happy place.

Lake Powell.  It is the largest man-made body of water (in US) second only to Lake Mead.  Actually, because they have been draining so much from Lake Mead, Lake Powell is currently larger.

It's like going to the Grand Canyon filled halfway up with water.

Red rocks and sandstone.

Hot tamale.

1900 miles of shoreline which means longer than the California, Oregon and Washington coast.

 Our family picture up above.  Boating time below.

 This year Lucky went with us.  He's our "darker skinned" grand.  Well, almost.  Ryan baptized his mom, Regina (Reeg-a-na) in Belize when Lucky was just a baby.  Smart (the dad) played on the Belizian national soccer team.  Smart and Regina now work for Ryan's resort- the Maya Jade.  Regina is the most incredible chef!!!!  Meanwhile, Ryan is putting Lucky through BYU.  He's such a darling boy and a great addition to our family.  All these experiences are so new to him so it's fun to experience them together!

 The kids loved catching blue-bellied lizards and fishing and hiking the bluffs and jumping off the houseboat and building a giant bonfire.  We play games and sing dumb songs and played The Murderous Frog and the kiddos had A Cousin's Got Talent night.  They are clowns.

 Yummy meals.  Two birthdays celebrated- Bri's and David's. 

 Marci serenaded us with her bass ukulele.  And her angelic voice.

 I can't remember what these are called.  All the family loves to do it.  I call them longboards but that's not their name.  Paddle boards?

 Beautiful skis.  The weather was so windy on day one we couldn't even take the houseboat out but then it settled down for the perfect week.

 Lots of time to relax until David hooks up the girls on the tube and takes them on a wild ride!

 Love that the kiddos are all learning how to ski and wakeboard and jet ski and everything inbetween!

 

This little bug became a fisherwoman!  She caught the most fish!  Like almost 2 feet long bass!  She's a pro now hooking up her stinky anchovy bait!

 

 
This was our family t-shirt for this year..... (thanks Tenillie!)

I won't share I got vertigo (first time) on the 2nd day of Powell.  It lasted 11 days.  That's another story. Brandi also did a number on her arm.  Waiting for her MRI.   But the kids were AMAZING and everyone so much fun to be with.  I said my favorite things are to watch the interaction with the kiddos/cousins and to see all the married kids hugging or hand holding.  Ahhhh.   Missed Susie- who is doing a medical stint in Denali and Rylee at a soccer camp and the two littles which wouldn't do too well on a houseboat.  Such an amazing trip.  Thanks Mallorie for watching the littles!!!!!!

Recipe- Granola

When we went to Washington over Memorial Day- my sister-in-law, Cher- had made this fabulous granola.  She told me the recipe was from a cookbook I gave her a million years ago called Make-A-Mix.  I used to use that cookbook all the time.  David loved the granola so much so I thought I would make a giant batch to take to Lake Powell.  Recipe on the cooking blog.  So good!

No Harbors

💖💖💖💛When I was young I was one who if someone were to spit in my face, I wouldn't tell them to stop.  Well, maybe I would with spitting but for instance, I had a neighbor once who loved to walk into my home without knocking.  Even to coming quietly upstairs to my bedroom.  Yikes!  But could I tell her to knock it off?  No.  That wouldn't have been nice.   But I would harbor it inside...and not let it go. Not nice.  I loved "The Color Code" for helping me understand my very blue personality and how to improve my life.  One thing I learned is that if something really bothers me, I have to decide to either let it go OR speak up. Kindly.  One or the other.  No more harboring.  It's a good principle.  It's hard to speak up but necessary.  And sometimes you just forgive and forget (no more harboring...)

I loved these quotes:

Sometimes I'm such a scatterbrain I can offend when I certainly don't mean to.  I want people to forgive me as I promise to forgive them..... 

Relationships matter.

Catching Up

 

Oh my heck- right in the middle of my Stayvacation, my monitor went out (who has more computer issues than me?) so I couldn't share any more of my cooking frenzy.  Thankfully tonight Tanner and Brooke and the kiddos came to swim and brought Tanner's buddy, Chris, who is an IT techie and not only did he fix my monitor but also my fabulous Bose speakers that have never worked for a year!  I can listen to music!  Wow!  I'm sooo excited!  So I'm going to talk a million miles a minute to catch up my journal.

 

Here's my kiddos swimming-

 

 

 and my pretty flowers in the greenhouse.

 Yesterday was Bucket at cousin Zella's.  She gave us these little books and also the fun handout.  It wasn't really happy times because Zella and Charles are moving to St. George and we won't always have her at Bucket.  Her daughter Heather (White-Smith) and hubby are buying their home.  I'm so happy for them.  Zella and Charles already have had a second home in St. George- she struggles with fibormyalgua so the dry temperature there is just better for her body.  I'm so thankful we just lived up the street from them for years until we moved but we've had amazing cousin time together.  I will miss her dearly but I know she'll come and visit often.  Grandma Darley would be so happy with our friendship.

 

 

Every day is busy end of school activities- Gracie had her 3rd annual end of the year swim party last week.  We always take this great picture.  It makes me laugh.  Love Gracie and her friends.

  Heidi had a starring role in her Shakespearean play.  It was while I was in San Clemente but David went and said she was stunning.  David never says anything is stunning so that was a huge compliment!  She's a wonderful little actress and the sweetest girl ever!

 
Last week, during my Stayvacation- we had GNO at Brendalyn's.  Everything looked so bright and festive.  Brendalyn and I also did our Saturday errands and then had a marvelous lunch at Tsunami (who would name a restaurant that???) to celebrate Brendalyn's birthday, which is tomorrow.  I love our friendship.  I love sharing our hearts.  We love to laugh.  I love that I have a  errand buddy.

 

 

Our Guatemala boys had a ball.  One day they went deep sea fishing and the dolphins were out in full splendor!

 

 

 

 

While I was at my dad's, Addi texted me and asked if I could read a couple of stories at her 5th grade class party.  I said sure.  That's all the information I had.  Until the night before.  She sent me a text that said it was a campfire event (pretend) (and the stories I had planned to read weren't campfire stories)  and could I please lead them in campfire songs too.

(The teacher asked for volunteers and Addi said, "My grandma can do it!"  Thanks, Addi......)

 

It turned out to be fun. They had tents all set up in their classroom but we took logs outside "to be in the wild" for the campfire.   I told them a couple of campfire stories, then taught them to play The Frog Who Murders (it's like Murder or Mafia.) One person is the detective and is sent out.  Everyone else closes their eyes and I touched someone's head and they were the murderous frog.  Then the detective comes back and tries to guess who is it before the murderous frog kills everyone (by sticking out his tongue.....and if you see it, you have to die a dramatic death....)  It's fun.  Then I taught them "There Was a Great Big Moose."  We never sang this song at camp but it is a nice change from The Princess Pat (don't tell Zella and Charles that- that is THEIR family song!)

 

 

Here's YouTube video of it:  (not me)- https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=there+was+a+great+big+moose&view=detail&mid=F03775A50CDAC37E1948F03775A50CDAC37E1948&FORM=VIRE

 

Brandi sent me a text and said I was a huge hit at the Mustang Camp (and I should expect fan mail.)  Whew!

 

 

Finally- here's a yummy healthy dip for veggies and crackers.  I could eat the whole thing myself.  I love that it has cottage cheese in it so you're getting a little protein. Recipe on the booking blog: