A night with my sweethearts.

Like most grandkids, mine love coming to our home. They love sleeping over with their cousins and building forts etc.

On Friday night we tended Colby and Addie while Troy and Kori celebrated their anniversary. They wanted to go to Park City so we had the kids sleep over. It was Addie's first time sleeping at our home so we weren't quite sure how she'd handle it. But she did awesome. I got home from work and the first thing I did was get on the floor and wrestle with Colby. He loves that so much. We rough housed for 45 min. non stop. We had so much fun and they were so good. Addie did great too. We got up the next morning and got ready to drive to Tooele to see Brayden play his flag football game. Brayden is the quarterback and really has an arm to throw the ball so far. He plays on the Saints team. Kori and Troy met us out there then drove their kids home.

We picked up Brayden, Daxton and Presley to have a sleep over on Saturday night. We had Makinley, Gentry and Easton all sleeping over. Call me crazy I know!

We ordered pizza then watched a cute movie called Rio. Then the kids made a hut out of our mattresses that they sleep on. It was so fun to see their creativity. They did that for a couple of hours while I watched to see what they'd come up with.

I adore my grandkids so much. Each one has their own little personality and it's fun to watch them grow up and learn.

Rog and I were tired when it was all over but it was worth it. I love hearing the laughter all over our house. There were a few bumps and bruises during the night. Easton fell off a stool in the kitchen and hit his head, his finger got stuck in the toy guitar, he hit heads with Gentry. But all in all I know they had a great time because Makinley was already asking when could they do it again.

Yesterday when we were at church, we had Brayden and Dax and Presley with us. We were getting a new bishop so we wanted to be there. Daxton, out of the blue says "Gramma, how come you still look like a mom?" I said " because I am a mom Dax." Then he said "well you still look like you did when you were a mom to my mom." I smiled and gave him a big hug and kiss. I couldn't believe he said that. He's such a sweetheart.

I love all my little sweetheart so much. I can't wait for Hadley to be old enough to sleep over with all her cousins. Then we'll have 9 little ones here. Wow!!

Teaching Our Children In The Home

This morning I was abruptly awakened from my sleep at 3:00 a.m. I had this intense feeling that I needed to email my children an article about teaching their children in the home. I laid there and tossed and turned not knowing if I should because I didn't want to offend anyone or make them upset. But I listened to the spirit and even prayed and my answer was to find an article from General Conference or from one of our General Authorities.

Well, I did just that. So I guess I'll wait and see what their comments are or if they'll even say anything.

My prayers are with my kids and grandkids so much. This world is such a troubled place right now. Our kids are influenced by their peers and the surroundings they put themselves in. It's a scary time and I want my little sweethearts to get through their teenage years holding onto the iron rod. To make good choices, good friends and to be great examples. They're such a joy to me and I love them so much.

I want my kids to take the time in their busy lives to teach their children about the gospel, to teach them about life in general by their examples etc. And that teaching has to go on in the home. I don't care if it's only 15 min. But it has to be done according to our leaders. Satan is so powerful. I know from experience.

I often wish I could go back and teach my children and to be a better example. We tried holding family home evenings when they were small but then life got so busy with work and the kids sports etc. But, I wish I would have tried harder. I'm so blessed that my children have chosen the right paths. They're such good examples to me and I admire them.

God answers prayers and I know that by him awakening me this morning, it was my time to tell my children my feelings.

Camping..what I love

This past weekend which was Labor Day weekend, we went camping with Jared and Kristi and their family up to Fairview. It's one of my favorite places. We were up on the skyline drive. Rog and I went after I got off of work Thurs. night and we stayed until Monday. It was so nice to get away and enjoy the thing we love to do. And that's camping. I hope and pray we never have to give it up. We both enjoy it so much.

The first day we were there before the kids got there and Rog and I layed down in the trailer and we napped for 1.5 hours. Wow! That felt so good but it was so hard to get moving after that. The weather was so nice. Not too hot during the day, but really nice at night. It's always so fun when the kids get there because it's fun to see the excitement in their eyes. Easton loves to fish. It's neat to see that our children still have the love for camping and now are instilling that into their own children. Troy and Kori and kids came up on Sunday afternoon to visit and have dinner. Kristi made peach cobbler in the dutch oven. Wow! It's always so good. We had Colby stay with us for the night and he had so much fun. He slept with me and hardly made a move all night. Before he went to sleep we played with the flashlight on the ceiling of the trailer. He giggled and giggled. He loves to fish also. Before they got there though, we went fishing and Jared caught a bunch and Rog caught the most. I only got 1. We fried some up one night when we had a BBQ.

We missed having Shanas family with us but they had other obligations.

I hate to think of winter coming and having to put the trailer up but it's quickly coming upon us. But here's to many more fun camping trips in the years ahead.

Island Park and Yellowstone 8-2011

This vacation was spent with Troy, Kori, Colby and Addie. They had come home early from working in Mississippi so we decided to take a few days and go up to Yellowstone and Island Park. We kept busy by sight seeing and looking for wildlife. We went to West Yellowstone, floated down the river, went to Mesa Falls, roasted marshmellows and visited. It was nice to catch up on things since they'd been gone since April. Troy was fishing and wanted to go out farther in the water but he realized it was way too cold so he headed back to shore.
On our river trip the scenery was so beautiful. We came upon a cow moose and it's baby so we all had to stop for a few minutes because the mommy moose went to the middle of the river and stopped. She looked at us and took a few steps forward and we were all backing up. But thankfully, she went to the other side and waited for her baby to cross.
They're all getting their belongings to put on the flat bottom boat.
Getting ready for our 2.5 hour float down the river.
This young man is a big fan of fishing. Colby has his Toy Story fishing pole and has gotten really good at casting his reel.
When Troy went on his mission to Ecuador he brought home this hammock. At our campsite we had the perfect trees to hang it from. Colby and Addie loved it.
Adaline loves camping. She had hand,foot and mouth disease and was sort of miserable darn it.
I'm just chillin in my camping chair at the campsite. We stayed at Sawteele Resort and it was really nice.
We stopped by the river and let the kids throw rocks. Two things Colby loves to do are fish and throw rocks in the river. He's so excited.
While in Yellowstone the sky started to turn dark and then all of a sudden a huge hailstorm hit us and everyone was pulling off the road. It was pounding on Troys car so loud you couldn't hear a thing.
This trip we didn't see any bull elk. Only some cow elk. But none the less they are still fun to take pictures of.

Each night we had a fire and sat and visited and roasted marshmellows. Colby is a firebug just like his daddy was.
Troy eating his semore with a snicker bar instead of hershey bar.
Addie is a Papa's girl. Everywhere we went or whatever we did she had to have Papa right there.
The sunsets were spectacular. We love looking for wildlife at night and this is what we would see.
There was a horse cutting competition up there and of course Colby loved watching with us. He loved the cows and horses but most of all loved being with Gramma and Papa.
Taking a breather on our way to Mesa Falls
Troy's taking a picture of his self with his phone camera. hahaha
The area surrounding Mesa Falls.
Kori and Addie with me before our walk to the falls.
Papa, son and grandson. Cute picture!!
We had 3 bull moose by our campsite that we went and watched every night. They are so awesome to watch and so big! They were so close to us and would walk in front of our vehicle.
Mesa Falls
Colby Lincoln at our campsite. He loves,loves camping. I'm so glad our kids are continuing the tradition with their own children.
This was so beautiful and so worth the small hike down. Mesa Falls.
The boys couldn't stay out of the water.

My Joys!

I haven't had all my grandkids in one place forever. So when Troy and Kori got home from Mississippi the other day I had a BBQ and decided to try to get a picture of Rog and I with all the grandkids. This picture makes me laugh because Colby had no interest in it, Daxton is once again pulling a funny face. I love these kids with every fiber in me. I hope I can be a good example and continue to be some kind of an influence in their lives. I pray each night for them that they'll chose the right, chose good friends and always love and respect their parents.

Brayden age 10

Daxton age 7

Makinley age 7

Gentry age 5

Easton age 2

Presley age 2

Adaline age 2 (almost)

Hadley age 8 months.

Heart Hurts

I've thought so many times in my life "why do we always hurt the ones we love?" I wish someone could tell me. I know I've been guilty of it myself. I've come to realize that when you're close to losing someone you really try hard to change your tune. When Roger had his bypass surgery 1.5 years ago, it really made me stop and think how stupid we all are for complaining about the things we do. It made me appreciate his presence. We get after each other for dumb things still but we quickly forgive and go on.

I'm so tired of everyone being so short with each other Even within my own family. I"ve prayed and prayed so many times throughout the years to help us love one another and be thankful that we have each other. To not take each other for granted. I would give anything to have my parents back to guide me, teach me, ask advice, take their advice, listen to me, cry with me. I wish I would have taken a lot more pictures of them. I regret that so much. But I was so young and didn't know better. I miss them so much and I still cry over them being gone. I wish they would come to me in dreams, whisperings, anything to help me through difficult times.

I want to be valued as a parent. I want to feel justified in the things I ask my children. I'm a parent, I worry, I care, I love. It's a natural instinct to want to know what's going on in my children's and grand-childrens lives. But at this point, we've been told it's none of our business and not to ask questions. For the life of me, I can't begin to imagine telling my parents that. I always think it's funny that when our kids need us we're right there for them. But otherwise, stay the hell out of our business.

As of today, my blog will be private and I can post what I want without anyone seeing it.

I love my kids with all my heart and don't deserve the disrespect we continue to get.

Cousins meet

I have been so blessed to have been reunited with my brother Jim and his family. On my birthday this year 6-20-2011 we arranged to meet Jim and two of his sons at the Red Iguana in Salt Lake. My kids had never met their cousins so it was fun to have them finally meet. Sean, Jim's youngest son wasn't able to be there but hopefully next time he can.Dane, Jim, Me and Jesse

Here we are getting to know each other. I appreciate my kids being willing to go and making an effort. I know they enjoyed themselves by the conversations they were having.
I feel so blessed to have them in my life and I look forward to being able to have more fun times together.