The Post-it Notes: Heaven Sent Birthday Wishes

She called me Kimee. And although she had over forty grandchildren she always had a way of making each one of us feel special. She was just strict enough that you dare not disobey, but loving enough that you longed to be around her. She sang like an angel and cooked like one too. She was my spiritual example. She never seemed to get old, to me. Always the same. Always grandma. Always caring for everybody else. Always running the show. Until one day she wasn’t anymore. Her body appeared yellow and fragile and weak. And then suddenly - just like that - she was gone.

Cancer may have taken her life,
but it will never be able to take her memory.

Happy Birthday Grandma.

I miss you.

Grandma - in her last days
Dad
and Marie, wearing Grandma's head scarf

The Post-it Notes: When Leprechauns Come to Town

I think Brynlee will be disappointed when she learns the truth about Santa Claus. She’s a dreamer, a make-believer. So until she grows into the truth like all children eventually do I’ll eat the cookies. And when she and Jace leave milk (with a straw, because Santa has a beard, and he likes a straw), I’ll drink up. And leave a thank you note. And maybe chew on the carrots left for the reindeer, just a bit. Because it’s all about the magic.

And although I’m certain she will be a bit sad when the truth about Santa is discovered I think she will be even more devastated when she learns the truth of Leprechauns.

In fact, St. Patrick’s Day may be her very favorite holiday. She plans, she strategizes, she dreams and brainstorms and then spends her entire day in hunt of Leprechauns – real live Leprechauns – that she can catch, examine, and then share some of their gold.

I’m not entirely sure when or where the tradition of hunting for Leprechauns came to be. Probably some idea her dad had when she was barely starting to walk and talk, but every year it snowballs into something bigger. And this year was no different.

Truthfully, I was a little relieved when I saw that St. Patrick’s Day fell on a Saturday this year. An entire day filled with Leprechaun hunting can be a little daunting. It’s your year, I told Spencer, Leprechaun hunting is going to be you and the kids this year. So you can image my excitement when the day before St. Patrick’s Day Brynlee was certain she heard the garage door open all.by.itself. The Leprechauns have come early this year, she announced!

So under her direction we started our hunt. And this year, just like last year, and the year before, we came up empty handed.

But if asked, for a few more years at least, I’m going to tell my truth about Leprechauns {and Santa too}. I think it’s what works best for us all — it makes it magical. I won’t beat around the bush, or lamely say that if you don’t believe, they won’t come.

Of course. I think they’re real, I’ll say. With a smile.

And I might even spend the night before – while children are sleeping – turning furniture upside down, leaving trails of flour, and trashing the toy room in the Leprechaun’s honor.

The weekend before.

We spent last Sunday at my little sister’s house watching General Conference. The whole gang was there gathered around the television in Jami’s front room. Our family is getting bigger – ten grandkids now if you count my soon to be and ten-year-old Aunt Marie {and we do}. Add in the twelve adults and it’s loud when we hang out. Loud and rambunctious and a teeny bit overwhelming. Just as a family get-together should be.

Here’s five things that made me smile on General Conference Sunday.

One. Singing along with a YouTube video to the apostle song. We are learning it in primary in our ward and I think it’s so fun that I suggested that the entire family learn it.

Two. The fringed denim cowgirl duster. Enough said.

Three.  When dad broke Jami’s chair.

Four. Since we weren’t planning on all being together for Easter Weekend we celebrated with the Grandma & Grandpa Easter baskets a week early. The Grandma & Grandpa Bunny we call it. My mom tends to go a bit over board on holidays with bags for each kids of random randomness: shoes, clothes, random toys, treats, anything goes really. My mom gets a kick out of it, the kids love it, and grandpa pays for it.

Anyway, on Easter Sunday Brynlee leaned over during church and said, “Mom, when I grow up and have kids you will be there grandma, right?” I confirmed and she continued “Okay then…you HAVE to do the Grandma Bunny like Grandma B does because my kids need to be just as spoiled as your kids are!”

Five. The fact that Jace cried the entire way home because he wanted to go back to be with his cousins.

Okay, it made me smile at first. But about midway I was ready to throw him out the window. {And don’t think that I’m above threatening with such a thing.}

Searching for the Grandma Bunny Bags

Jace

The Girls
{minus Chloe}

On Easter

Our Easter weekend was superb.  The kind of weekend that makes me ready for summer and no schedule and long days and no schedule and Otter Pops and no schedule. In fact, when the alarm went off this morning I moaned and groaned and told Spencer that I would be withdrawing Brynlee from school that very day because I was sick and tired of having to enforce a morning routine. He said it sounded reasonable, shut off the alarm and pulled the blankets over his head. Responsible parenthood is the pits. Especially during the early morning hours.
Anyway, Easter.

On Saturday: we braved the morning’s wind to search for candy filled eggs at the neighborhood easter egg hunt//decorated and colored eggs//spent the afternoon at the sledding hill racing our hard boiled eggs//it was decided that the easter egg race winner got to pick where we got dessert//ended up at kiwi loco, brynlee’s choice//ran a few last minute errands for the easter bunny//and wrapped up Saturday evening with some major sugar induced pregnancy nausea.

On Sunday: remembered the real meaning of easter//taught adorable 3&4 year olds the easter story//let my heart rejoice when jace retold the story when asked why we celebrate easter//snapped a quick picture of the kiddos in their sunday easter clothes before they ran off to find what the bunny had left them//a basket full of summer goodies for the kiddos//new patio furniture cushions for me and a leaf blower/vacuum/mulcher for Spence//realized that the easter bunny is super practical//dutch oven potatoes and bbq chicken for easter dinner//it tasted like summer//naps in shifts and playing outside until we were all kissed red by the sun’s rays

Easter weekend in a sappy review: The last few weekends have been perfect reminders that I’m living in my heaven on earth. This is my paradise; my family, my life. And it makes me so happy. I am so blessed.

Easter weekend in pictures: