Friday, April 13, 2012

12 on the 12th [04.12.12]



01.   Gramps. We spent Wednesday night at The Xtreme Bull Riding Competition with my mom, dad and Marie {thanks for the hook up, Kate}. And then the grandparent gang spent the night at our house. It’s always fun when Grandpa, Grandma and Marie come.
02.   Cowboy Up. It was rodeo week at Brynlee’s school and to celebrate her class spent the 12th dressed in cowboy attire. Jace loved Brynlee’s hat and tried to talk her into wearing his Spiderman beanie instead so he could keep the straw hat at home with him.
03.   My Girl. At school. Minus her hat. Any guesses who is wearing it?
04.   Pancakes. Jace and I joined Brynlee’s class to volunteer at the early morning Rodeo Pancake Breakfast. I love that I am able to spend so much time volunteering in Brynlee’s school. It makes me happy.
05.   Silly Boy. And this little guy loves when he gets to tag along to volunteer at Brynlee’s school too.
Funny Jace story: the other day Spence asked Jace, “What’s up dude?” Jace answered, “Oh nothing, what’s up old man?!"
06.   Going Up. Elevator ride to my 31 week doctor’s appointment.
Also, this picture cracks me up. It looks like a surveillance video snapshot that’s put into the newspaper after the local convenience store has been robbed. If anybody has information on the white, pregnant, blonde seen in this photo please contact the local police department immediately.
07.   Weigh in’. And congratulations, my dear, it turns out that you’re carrying an elephant.
08.  Lunch. A Papa Kelsey’s lunch date for me and Jace.
09.   Produce. Followed by an afternoon of grocery shopping.
10.   Crashed. Poor Brynlee hasn’t quite felt herself for the last few days. She’s been a bit lethargic and complaining of headaches. She skipped yesterday’s gymnastics class for some Tylenol and an after school nap.
11.    It’s coming. Spring in my backyard.
12.    Boys. Scraps and nicks and circus tricks that’s what my boys are made of.
Hope everyone had a great 12th. Yesterday when I was putting together my 12th grid Spencer mentioned that we might only have one more 12th until we are a family of five. Crazy! And so exciting.
My parents and Aunt Marie are coming back down tonight for another sleepover and an evening with Brynlee and I at the local playhouse watching Saturday’s Warrior. And I have big plans of putting finishing touches on Brynlee’s new room and maybe even painting the crib this weekend. I’m thinking pink, but we’ll see.
Happy Friday {the 13th} you guys!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

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

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

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}
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