Cali visitors!!

Lots of pics...you have been warned!  We were so excited that a few of our Cali kids would come for a weekend visit!  Ashley and Clark came and we finally got to meet Kristen!  I haven't seen Clark in about 4 years...the store he works at has new owners that believe in letting employees take some vacation time!  Finally!  Ashley had taught Kristen a few of our favorite games so we played!  I posted the score sheet from Nines...my best score EVER!!!  Clark was so great to play with the kids.  They love Uncle Clark!  He played video games, soccer, trampoline and went sledding with them too!  Those that felt like it (Ashley and Clark were both getting sick when they left for the trip) ate with us at JCW Burgers and we brought take out for the ones who didn't feel like venturing out.  As you can see it was shirt sleeve weather.  Boo. We want SNOW!  But they did all drive up to Tibble Fork to get a little snow and sledding action. Nate took Clark out shooting, pretty sure they both enjoyed that. They also went mini golfing at Seven Peaks and rode the Frogger ride. Some of them wore jackets as that day was a little cooler. We were sorry Ashley and Clark were sick but soooo glad they made the trip!  We really like Kristen and had fun playing games with her.  We also had Eric's family over for dinner (to celebrate Eric and Randa's birthdays) and the family met Joel's Kristen that day also!  I don't seem to have any pictures of that day!  It was a great day!  The missionaries even joined us last minute (we had plenty)!  We had made Cafe Rio and Italian sodas. And of course decadent chocolate cake from Costco for the birthday celebration. The missionaries really liked the sodas and we showed them how to make them. We made them promise not to tell their families (or mission president!) that we make "mixed" drinks at our house.  ha ha.  It was a fast few days but we enjoyed every minute of it!  We missed Clif and Lindsay.  SOMEDAY I will have ALL my kids here at once!  We were sad when they had to head back but so happy for the time we got to spend with them.  And we really like BOTH Kristens!!   

 

Great music, great food...

I finally did it.  I bought the CD of The Greatest Showman.  I LOVE the music (and the movie!) so I had to get the CD.  It was totally worth the money (I think 11 bucks at Wal Mart).  The kids love listening to it as much as I do!  I think Jacob has all the songs memorized!  I also made a meatloaf in the instant pot which was great!  The potatoes are in the bottom, meatloaf and carrots in the top.  A whole meal made in a matter of minutes!  Not everyone was a fan of the meatloaf, but most of the adults ate it and Walter really liked it!  And last but not least, my new favorite cookie!  I made the cake box cookies we always make (cake mix, one egg, one cube of butter) chocolate flavor, and after they came out of the oven, put an Andes mint on top.  It melts and you spread it around a little, the perfect frosting!  Yum!  

Eight months!

I cannot believe this little guy is 8 months old already!  Wow, time flies!  He is such a little cutie and I love getting to spend every day with him.  David always tells me (when he has to leave for school) how lucky I am I get to spend all day with Walter.  He's right!  I am blessed to have these littles in my life.  Walter is a good baby and easy to tend.  Thankfully!  

Dinner and a show...

Lilly picked our menu for the night (so it would be something she liked and wouldn't whine about eating!) and helped me make it.  Stuffed shells!  They turned out delicious and she loved helping cook!  I need to do this more often!  Also, some days are just "Emma" days when you need that wonderful movie playing in the background of your day.  The music is wonderful too and I have seen it enough times that I don't have to be glued to the screen to enjoy it.  I DO have to watch the dancing scene and the ending scene though.  So beautiful...

Winter projects...

More snow!  So pretty coming down, gently and quietly.  I love to watch it!  Winter days are good for getting projects done.  Like Auntie Adona's picture pages!  We did her history years ago, but we have so many more pictures to put it in, and I can make the pages with pictures already on them look so much nicer now that I re-did the whole thing!  (Not the typing of course).  I really love the new look and hope she will enjoy looking at it and seeing all the pictures we have added.  With her dementia, I am not sure how much she will remember, but they seem to remember the past much better than the present, so here's hoping!  It is also a digital file now so I can upload it to our family facebook page and share it!  It will eventually make it's way to Family Search after she has passed.  Now I need to get my mom's updated and posted on there!!  So many projects!

Poor sick babies...

I am always so sad when my grandbabies are sick. And yes, David is still my grandbaby!  He just laid on the couch with a cool rag over his head. We tried to keep him drinking liquids and resting.  I don't think he even watched a movie.  It was a long, sad day! And Walter only sleeps for awhile when I hold him.  I love the snuggles but am so sad he isn't feeling well.  Hopefully the others won't get sick.  Get well soon my lovies!  

Snow again!

We got some more snow!  Finally!  A little yesterday (the 18th) and more today!  YAY!!! It looks so pretty and we are so happy to get some!  Once a month we have gotten snow.  Not enough!  Hopefully more will be coming!

Valentines Day 2018

We didn't go all out for Valentines this year, but I did make heart sausages and pink heart pancakes for dinner!  I think it was a hit.  The one meal no one complains about.  YAY! Love all my valentines!  

The Greatest Showman...

After seeing the Greatest Showman at the theater with Kelly and Donna, I really wanted to share it with the grandkids.  It is such a great show, story, and music!  I couldn't talk Dave into going, but David and Jacob were willing!  Lilly wasn't able to join us, she missed out! We went on Saturday morning and pretty much had the theater to ourselves!  We bought popcorn and had some of our leftover Christmas candy to eat. (Kind of early on Saturday for junk food, but oh well!)  The boys really liked it!  I LOVE it!  I can't wait to get the CD of the music and just listen to it over and over!  I know this is the Hollywood version of PT Barnum's story, but he knew what he was doing.  He was creative and inventive, and he helped people feel good!  And of course, it was Hugh Jackman in the starring role so that alone is worth the price of a ticket!  I will be buying this movie when it comes out!  Thanks boys for going with me!

Seven months...

This little man is 7 months old!  He loves to eat!  And is very fun to spend each day with.  Love this little guy!  Can't believe he is growing so fast!  Love you Walter!