Sunday With Our Grandsons....

A few Sundays ago Ashlee surprised us with a nice visit. Her and the boys came to church with us for the day. It is always so much fun when our grandkids stop by to see us. It is also nice to see my girls and catch up on what is going on in their lives.

The boys are all ready in their new church outfits from Christmas

Jack-Jack

Lukie

Before we left for the day the boys went downstairs to check out the toys.

Like I have mentioned in past blog postings, Brayden absolutely loves trains. We have train puzzles, train books, baby train toys that play music and this wooden train set. He is mesmerized by them. The only thing missing is a train whistle but Brady has that down to a "T". He walks around the house all day long doing his impression of a train whistle. Sounds pretty good too!

Chuga- chuga... CHOOO CHOOO

Luke usually bounces around the room from one toy to the next but his favorite part of the play area is the kitchen set. He will spend hours at the sink pretending to wash the dishes. He also loves the pretend food but I often see him trying to gnaw on something that he thinks is real. He is always carrying around some piece of food from the kitchen area to share with you.

Funny story...... I went to make a grilled cheese sandwich for Howie one day and I found this piece of cheese that was just set inside my fridge. It looked a little dried out and I thought someone had just forgotten to wrap it up and put it in the drawer. I thought I would try to use it anyway so I pulled it out along with some other cheese and started heating up the pan. This piece of cheese just happened to be one of the "fake foods" from the playroom downstairs and I just about put it on Steve's sandwich. It looked SOOOO REAL! I guess one of the grandkids thought it would be funny to trick Grandma T. It almost worked!!!!

Lukie showing off his "big baby blues"....

I love this girl....

Playing in the tent with Grandma "T"

PEEK-A-BOO!

Ashlee took the challenge that has been going around on the internet to honor President Gordon B. Hinckley. She is trying to read the Book of Mormon in 97 days. These 97 days represent his 97 years of life here on earth and is such a great idea to motivate everyone to read this wonderful book.

Good Job Ashlee.... I see you are multi-tasking! Reading the Bof M while getting a nice back massage from our new chair. Great Idea.... My turn next!!!

Howie and Jack-Jack just Chillin' Out.

Jack loves to watch movies and we have tons to choose from thanks to Tyson and Ashlee's Christmas gift they gave us. I think this picture is so funny. I think Brady stayed this way for the entire movie. Brayden thinks Howie is a couch or something. Steve is such a good sport and the kids love him.

By the end of the day Brayden finally crashes as I am holding him.

He was out COLD!! We put on Steve's glasses just to mess around and I think he looks so old with them on. VERY GROWN UP!

HURRY.... SOMEONE GET THE CAMERA! This is a great opportunity to snap a few pictures because he never sits still long enough to get the camera out. We have very few pictures of him with the both of us and if we do he is usually squirming or crying as he tries to escape.

Hey look Ashlee.... A picture with the boys!!! That seems to NEVER happen. It helps that one of them is practically comatose!

Kisses goodnight!

We sure enjoyed our visit with Ashlee and the kids.

In Memory of Kaitlyn Dawn.....

I miss you "Katie-Bug"......

March 11, 2003 was one of the most special days in my life. A day that I will always cherish. Five years ago today my dear sweet Kaitlyn was born.

She was my very first grandchild and I can not describe to you in words how excited I was to be a grandma. It was amazing to me as I held her for the first time, to feel of her sweet spirit as it filled the room of that hospital, knowing she had just left the presence of our Heavenly Father. It was a very emotional day and one I will never forget.

She was an angel sent straight from our loving Heavenly Father to join our family.

I was overjoyed watching my daughter April become a mom and knew that she would do an incredible job.

Kaitlyn was only on this earth with us for a short week but during those few days I grew to love her more than I ever imagined possible.

I felt such a bond with my little granddaughter.

Sleeping peacefully just hours before our lives would be turned upside down.

Kaitlyn stopped breathing early Sunday morning and I was literally heartsick. Not only for the loss of my granddaughter but for the pain my daughter April and her husband Shawn had to endure during this time. I can not tell you how proud I was of them for the faith and strength they showed during this difficult trial.

I was extremely sad when we found that Kaitlyn would not be staying with us. She was called back to her heavenly home. A huge chunk of my heart was ripped out that day but it was so comforting to know that if I make good choices and live my life on earth the best way I know how I can be reunited with my sweet little angel someday.

I love you My Precious Kaitlyn Dawn.....

We miss you OOOOODLES!

I Love My Girls

Our Little Preschool Picasso.....

Each year for Christmas I try to add a new little something for the grandkids playroom. This year we got an easel with paints. With four small grandkids I did not dare pull it out on Christmas when all of them were around for fear that my basement would be covered in a rainbow of colors. I thought it would be best one at a time in a controlled environment.

Karah was the first to try out the new paints and seemed to really enjoy herself.

Within a few minutes Little Lyssi wanted to join in. At first she was a little skeptical but before long she was having a great time as well.

Look Grandma "T" ..... All by myself!

I was actually surprised how well they did as far as sharing their picture. They worked on it for quite some time.

Lyssi is really going to town!

She had quite a bit of paint on herself but it soon got lots worse.....

Karah got some strange idea from I don't know who..... to paint her sister. Wow, she is truly a work of art.

Alyssa escaped and took cover from her sister, her mom and me underneath the easel.

" It's much safer in here. They can't get me now!"

After Lyssi got cleaned up Karah was able to really work on a project by herself.

This is fun, Grandma "T"

Next she wanted to paint some trees.....

And decided to put apples on them also. She really did a nice job painting and didn't make too much of a mess.

A few weeks later

The girls were over visiting again and Karah decided she wanted to paint. This time we painted our hands and made a picture with our colorful handprints.

"Hands Down" my grandkids are the BEST!!!

Karah doing her Vanna White impression.
TA-DAAAAA!

Hey mom we are going to attack you with our dirty little paws!

LOOK OUT!!!

As we were painting Howie came home from working out at the gym. He had a crazy idea to have Karah paint him. He could be her canvas. She loved that idea....

She had a riot as Howie patiently sat there and let her draw all over his face

When she grows up she wants to be a makeup artist!

Lookin' good.......

Now for a few freckles.....

OOOOHHH Papa Howie you are so handsome!

Almost done.....

It was so much fun watching these two play together. I only wish I had captured it on video tape. She was laughing so hard each time she put more paint on his face. It was really funny.

Papa Howie is always coming up with new ways to have fun. He is such a great sport and the grandkids adore him. (BY THE WAY.... SO DO I)

Karah's work of art. Very impressive!

You are looking good Howie.....

But then.... you ALWAYS look good to me!