Reverse Order Update

So. Since I am SO far behind on my updating (remember the post about my journal? About a year ago? Still happening.), I've decided to go in reverse order to update people on things happening. That is - I'll go with the newest event and work back to the oldest. This may mean that in July you'll hear about our Epic vacation that happened LAST July, but. Such it is.

In NOVEMBER (and yes, I'm backtracking a bit.), THIS young lady turned 11.

This particular photo was taken in May of 2009. Look how much she's grown!

As a direct result of her 11th birthday, she became eligible to attend New Beginnings, an introduction to the Young Women's program at church. I will freely admit that it was hard to admit that I'm getting older when the invitation came in the mail. I next had to endure somewhere between 798 and 1000 questions about MY first New Beginnings, which happened - oh, TWENTY-SIX YEARS AGO! I have a good memory about some things. That particular event? Not a single memory. I'm not sure it even happened. This lack of memory made it extremely difficult for me to answer any of her questions, and led to much frustration on both of our parts. Mostly  because the information sought came in the form of the EXACT SAME QUESTION over and over and over and over and over and over again.

HOPEFULLY, Savannah will remember HER first New Beginnings much better than I remember mine.

The Women of our Young Women's program do a fantastic job at making sure the "newbies" feel welcomed right off the bat. Each incoming young woman is assigned a Laurel to find out more about her. Savannah's Laurel was a young woman who took her to frozen yogurt and then asked her questions I had never thought of asking. Things like: "If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you like to have with you?" and "Where do you want to be in 15 years?" It was the highlight of Savannah's week.

The program was held at the church with all of the young women and incoming young women and their families invited. The theme? Bloom Where You're Planted. The young women had made gigantic tissue paper flowers that were amazing, and we were all spiritually well fed. Each incoming young woman was introduced by the young lady who had taken her for a special treat, and then by their parents. I got notice the day before that I should write a letter to Savannah - to be read out loud at the program. (I think my ward likes to see me cry...because there were certainly tears shed.) LeGrand's favorite part of the program was the dessert.

At any rate, it was a night for Savannah to remember - I hope 26 years down the road, her memory of New Beginnings is better than mine.

When Gramma Great came to visit

She brought with her Aunt Missy, Jordan, and Gracie. And boy howdy, did we have fun! Margaret has some strange ideas about what happens when you get older. They ALL came out prior to the visit as I was cleaning the living room. "Mom," she said, "Does Gramma know how to knit? Because isn't that what old people do? Sit on the couch and knit all the time?"

Turns out, Gramma Great didn't bring her knitting, but she did bring her "A" game to Wig-Out and soundly beat Margaret. Once. And then Margaret won. Margaret claimed that Gramma Great cheated. She might have had a little help from the Mom. But I'm not saying anything.

LeGrand and Caroline found a new best friend in Jordan, and he was such a great sport to play along with EVERYTHING they wanted to do! From pushing them on the swings, to putting puzzles together, to pretending to be scared when LeGrand brought out the Ghost Puppet. He only once came in the kitchen to hide. It was at that point that I rescued him from the extra playing by telling LeGrand that a puzzle was the better way to go than the rowdies.

Bailey spent her time doing a fantastic impersonation of Saran Wrap - until she warmed up to Gramma Great. Then she wanted to take breaks from being Saran Wrap to visit and give little hugs to Gramma. Caroline kept asking how old everyone was - she's convinced that I'm 88 and Andrew is 94. (And don't I look FANTASTIC for being 88?!) Since it's impossible for me to be older than Gramma Great, so I may be able to go back to being a mere 38.

I think one of the highlights of the afternoon for Gramma Great was having Caroline just randomly walk up to her to hold her hand. I wish I had gotten a photo of that...

Dinner was successful. Spaghetti with homemade sauce, Garlic Bread, Green Tomato Candy, and Cider. Yum. We were all a little amused by Caroline announcing in the middle of dinner, "Mommy, I'm tired" and promptly falling asleep. Jordan must have worn her out. And then we had to say goodbye.

I sure am grateful that they all came to visit though!

Fun Family Photo from the Reunion

This is actually from last Summer, but for those who haven't seen it, it's an update. I'll try to get another more current one up soon. Like maybe Easter. Please don't hold your collective breaths though, it may be a while.

Establishing Proof of Life...

In case anyone is checking and wondering. We are all still alive and doing well. Andrew is working on our sunroom - updates to come soon: as soon as the plastic divider is down between the kitchen and the sunroom.

Children are all doing well. Since the last post, Andrew and I both had birthdays, Savannah had a Birthday (11), Margaret had a birthday (7), and Caroline had a birthday (3). Bailey is getting ready to have a birthday, Savannah went to New Beginnings for Young Women's and keeps telling people she's almost 12 (she just turned 11...), we started the completion of the sunroom.

I'm including Proof of Life with this post, so you can see that we're all doing well... This was a recent trip to the coast to take some photos. Not of us - but of some properties for someone else. Some were more excited to be in the suburban than others.