GOOD TIMES WITH THE LITTLE ONES

This past month has been a great family time. It started early with Cameron's blessing. I got to go to Utah early to spend time with Katelyn and Cameron. It was a beautiful fall morning and Katelyn and I decided to take advantage of the sunshine and spend some time outside. After a short ride on her tricycle we found ourselves at a great park not far from her house. We had the whole place to ourselves. We had a great time swinging and climbing, I did pretty well for a Grandma. The playground had a great princess ( or prince if needed) tower and I got a cute picture of Katelyn looking over her kingdom. I was the only one in it, but that didn't matter. It went pretty well until I talked her into going down the spiral slide with me. It was great and we squealed and laughed until we hit the bottom and I was sitting in a puddle of water. Now just because your bottom is wet is not reason for a two year old to go home, so I just tied my jacket around my waist and played on. It was not very comfortable but the time with her was precious and I loved every minute of it.

Later that weekend Marty and Nicole blessed Cameron. Now I know that I am his Grandma, but he is a beautiful baby boy. Each time I spend time with him I fall more head over heels in
love. When he smiles he has the cutest dimples. He looked so cute in his little white tux. He was so good during the blessing. He is not all that crazy about being held while you are sitting down, so I guess if you stand and bounce him, he is pretty happy. I am very proud of Marty and Nicole and the great parents they are. They make a pretty cute family. It was fun to have all our family together. The four generation picture with Grandpa Glade, Grandpa Merl and Marty and Cameron is priceless. Aunt Jill and Uncle George made the long trip for the blessing. They are a great Aunt and Uncle and both kids love them tons.




I just got home on Sunday from going to the big three year old birthday. Katelyn's actual birthday was on Thanksgiving, but we celebrated it on Wednesday. Glade and I got the day off and ran to the airport on Tuesday evening to try to get a standby flight to Salt Lake City. Luckily we both made it even it even if we had to take two different flights. Katelyn was so excited for her party. Nicole worked so hard to make it special. I don't think I ever did a party that fancy , ever! It was done in a Candy land theme and it was darling. I can't say exactly how many hours Nicole spent on the big day, but I dare say it took most of her free time for a couple of weeks. The cake was darling, unfortunately Katelyn does not like cake all that well, but she liked the star bursts on the top. She got to decorate gingerbread cookies, play games and open a lot of gifts. She loved it all. One Thursday morning I gave her our gift. It was a "Lucky dog" and he is animated and can do tricks on command. She really loves that dog. I think she really thinks he is real and loves to talk to him and play with him, and put him to bed on his own dog pillow. Needles to say I loved watching her play with him. She is so much fun! I know years from now she will not remember this day, but I am sure I will remember it for a long time!

I love the fall, but it makes me a bit sad because winter in always looming out there. I love to see the world change to all the beautiful colors. I am definitely not in love with the dead look of winter. Snow sometimes comes slowly to Denver (I know you don't believe that, but most of the snow is in the mountains.) Last year when it did arrive it came with a vengeance and we really thought we would never see our road again. We literally got snowed in twice. Hence my need to hold winter off as long as possible.

Last weekend our long time great friends called and invited us for a wonderful day driving through the mountain passes to see the changing leaves. I love the mountains, and still after 15 years miss being so close to them. We had a great day! It was so nice to just get away. We laughed a lot and really enjoyed our time together. There is something to be said about long time friends. When you watch your families grow up and share a lot of good times it just makes for special friends.

Here are some pictures of the beautiful scenery.

Cameron is here! He arrived on August 17th at 7:55 am. I was blessed to be there to welcome him into the world. Nicole made it all look so easy and after an all night labor for her and Marty and I sleeping on a small couch, the big day arrived. I got to go and get Katelyn and take her to meet her brother for the first time. As you can see, she just adores him. I can truly say that each new little one take hold of your heart immediately and seems like they have always been a part of your family

I feel like a whole new chapter of my life is open and I looks so forward to watching him grow and learn all about life. I intend on sharing as much of it as I possibly can. This grandma gig is the very best!

I thought I would share the out come of my latest decorating adventure. I have this gigantic wall in my kitchen that I have never liked in the 15 years I have lived here. My family in Utah got us hooked on a new store called Ti Pan and also Rodworks, and it has been a work in progress. I don't have my own designer so I have to do the best I can. I found the shelves and Jill gave me the iron work for Mothers day. Then next time I was in Utah I found the sign that I fell in love with. Jill helped me print off some pictures from my Grandpa Kershaw's farm that I just love. We put in all together and I have a fun wall that is personal to me and that I just love. I really love having my daughter living so close and we have fun trying to make our creative vision for our homes a reality. It has been fun so I thought I would share it with you.


A few weeks ago Glade and I went to Utah to get our monthly grandparent fix. We knew it would be the last visit before little Cameron will be here. We have enjoyed every minute of Katelyn's life. She has brought so much joy that we can not even express. She is definitely the center of our Universe. The picture is her at the breakfast table. I love waking up to her smile in the morning. She is having her favorite breakfast of cocoa puffs and chocolate milk. What kid would not love that. She sure has her Daddy's love of chocolate ( Grandma's too). I will be leaving on Thursday or Friday to go and help with Cameron, unless he makes and early appearance, at which I will get there as fast as a plane can get me there. I look forward to the entire event. It is not often that the mother-in -law gets to be the helper and I look at it as a once in a lifetime event for me. I love Nicole very much, but I realize I am not her Mom and I am sure she would rather have her there. Any girl would, but I will do my very best to be good stand in. I can't wait to be a Grandma again! Look next week for pictures of the big event!

Baking with Grandma

It has been a while since I sat down and entered anything in my blog. I need to make it more of a habit.
I got a chance to make a quick trip to Utah on the 5th of July. It seems I go there a lot more now that Katelyn is living there. I have to admit that I need a Grandma fix at least once a month if not more often. One thing we love to do together is bake. Marty is always up for a whip cream cake and it is so much fun to do together. She love to help me dump the ingredients in after I measure them and help me count. This time she particularly loved to spin the mixing bowl. For some reason the dust cloud that comes after putting in the dry ingredients made her laugh hysterically and we just had a blast. She loved running to tell Daddy that is cake was all done. As for me it is just a bit of heaven just spending time with her. As you can see from the pictures she can make quite a mess. Nicole is a good sport with all our mess. She is a wonderful daughter in law to let me take over and make such a mess!

Tyler's 23rd birthday!

Tomorrow is another special day in our family. I can hardly believe that my baby is 23! Everyone would agree with me that he is the most fun to be with. He is always keeping us laughing. It has been almost two years since he returned home from his mission in Brazil. That time sure went slower than the last two. I don't have him around all the time but I sure enjoy the time I get. Cell phones make it easier. Tyler is living in Utah and working for Skywest Airlines. A job he loves ( most of the time). His love for travel is only matched by his Father's love of travel. The two of them have been on lots of trips to see the world. I have not always been with them,but it is fun to see them both enjoy the same things together. He also makes it possible for me to travel to see my family. That makes him a wonderful Son. I can be a real part of Katelyn's life because of him, a pretty wonderful gift. He is also so difficult to buy for. I just want to say Happy Birthday! Thanks for all the years of friendship, great laughs, and every day making me proud of the person you are. I hope I get to spend the day with you and share a piece of birthday cake! I love it when I can spoil you just a bit!

A special Day at Seseme Street Live!

I have decided to give this blogging a try. I really enjoy keeping up with family this way, so I have think I will join up!

I have been thinking about how rich my family makes me feel. Wether we are having a good day or one that really tries your patience it is good to have people in your life that make it all worth it.
As of late we have experienced our aches and pains, things I thought we would only have to deal with when we were much older. I don't think they are the kind that will be with us for forever, but it is a glimpse of what our later years could be like. The one thing that I now realize is it is so wonderful to think you have someone who has been through it all with you and will get you through the aging years. Glade has been in pain with his back now for about a month. It is really old for me and I know it is more than old for him. I have tied his shoes, picked up things, and doing just about everything he can't do for himself. It is not always glamorous! I think that is why God put us together, just to be there for each other. I know my day will come. Good to know he will be there for me as well. Tomorrow is his 53rd birthday and I can never come up with a good present. So I just want to say how much I love him. You really are the love of my life. You always make me laugh. My life is a lot of fun with you.You are a great Husband, Father, and Grandfather. Happy Birthday!