The Joy of Being an Aunt!

There are so many times I stop and think, "Man, it's cool to be an aunt!"

I just received a call on the phone a few minutes ago. As soon as I heard, "Hi Seesah" I knew who it was. What a total surprise. I expected another little boy's voice on the phone. One who has called me many times. One with whom I have had 1/2 hour or longer conversations with. This was not Spencer on the phone (at least originally). "Hi Seesah!" There is only one little person who calls me "Seesah". It's so much fun to have Lincoln getting old enough to call and talk on the phone. On New Year's Day, we watched "Despicable Me." It's a cute movie. Well, with the movie Janine and Jason got one of the minions as a toy. When Lincoln saw it, he said, "apicable". It was the cutest thing. So then of course we all had to hear him say it again and again and again. "Apicable." "It's apicable." For the longest time this kid didn't talk. We knew he had it in him, but he wouldn't let it out. He didn't need to. Spencer is his older brother. But now that he's talking, it's so cute. Kevin's got him convinced that Grandma's name is "Oldie" of course it comes out, "Orldie." Spencer is still as cute as ever. It's always fun to talk to him. He was having a hard time not speaking over Lincoln. it's great to watch how Lincoln really looks to Spencer. They have such a good time together. Spencer is a very good big brother. I have a great time with these boys.

I look at Spencer and Lincoln and remember Cory and Zachary at that age. Stories of "water, that comes out of the mountain, and trees burn, and people die" (i.e. a story about lava). Watching an X-Man complete with fingers that served as Wolverine's knives that "Phoom"-ed out of the hands and every time with the saying, "I'm and X-Man. Phoom". Jumping off the furniture and zooming around the room. They are now getting more interested in videogames and girls. Pretty soon they are going to be on their missions. It's been so much fun to watch them grow up but it's going so fast! They are amazing young men! Looking at them I realize how fast time really does fly!!

Micah is a cutie who blows me away each time I see her. She is getting so big, and I don't mean that in a physical way. She is getting so tall...so beautiful. And yet she has a resiliency to her as well. She knows what she wants and doesn't let anyone get in the way. She shares everything. I have a lip gloss sitting on my coffee table right now that she gave me when we were at "Forgotten Carols." She insisted I have it even after I showed her I already had some lip gloss. She simply took my pouch that I keep my lip stuff in, added her lip gloss, and closed it up. After she continued to insist, I told her I would hold on to it so I had it when she came to visit.

I have many other nieces and nephews, many of whom are now adults and three have children of their own. It blows my mind. A couple live very far away (Georgia and Arizona) which is tough because I don't get to see them often.

I love all of my nieces and nephews and am very proud to be their aunt.

MAN, IT'S COOL TO BE AN AUNT!!

Happy New Year!!

The past couple of months have been so crazy. I am sorry that I haven't updated my blog lately. Let's catch up:

Well the biggest news of course was Kambry joining our family. It has been so much fun to watch Kevin and Tenille with her. They are the cutest parents and Kambry has successfully wrapped both of them around her little (long) pinkie finger. She is a growing every day and, while they have had a bit of a problem finding a good formula for her, they have it figured out and she has settled down. She is such a smiler and melts all of our hearts when she is around.

Halloween to now feels like it's been a major whirlwind. I love the holidays but every year it feels like it passes too fast!! Thanksgiving was wonderful. After that, it's been a bit of a blur.

• Right after Thanksgiving, I went to the Oak Ridge Boys Christmas Concert with Dad and Marilyn. It was great!! We were up in the rafters and couldn't see the videos they were showing very well, but they still have it with their singing. It was great!
• That Friday was our Ward Family Christmas Party. They decided to do both a family one (mainly for the kids) and an Adult one later in the month. I didn't make it for the Adult Christmas Party. It was on the 21st and, I'm sorry, but that week was entirely too busy!
• December 11th was our annual tradition with Mom and family to go to "The Forgotten Carols". This show sets such a beautiful tone for the Christmas holiday. It's always interesting to see how Michael McLean changes the show each year. The past few years end on a very different tone than the years before. It used to end with such a high, happy feel. Lately, the show ends with a much deeper more sober feel. Beautiful either way.
• The next week I went to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert twice. David Archeletta was the guest vocalist. He did a fantastic job. This will definitely be a CD I buy next year. I must admit that I had never really heard David Archeletta sing. I am not an "American Idol" fan, so I had no real reference for what he sounded like. I knew he must be good because when he was on that show, that was all anyone really wanted to talk about. I was pleasantly surprised. He has a very clear voice.
• The next week was Christmas week and finishing everything that needed to happen. I had in mind what I wanted to do for my mom and for my dad. I really wanted to make something. I was unable to finish Moms project and never got around to Dads gift. I felt so terrible because I had to give Moms gift to her unfinished. I have been working on it as I could since then. I'm nearly done and I am so happy.
• We had our family Christmas party on the 23rd. It was fun to be with everyone. Spencer was going to come over and spend the night at my house. He was a bit excited...so excited that all evening he was ready to leave and go to Aunt Alisa's house. We had a lot of fun. Spencer is so cute. The next day we ran a few errands and Spencer melted the heart of more than one grumpy Christmas Eve shopper. He had decided to wish everyone he saw a "Merry Christmas." We walked around and he would smile, wave, and say "Merry Christmas." Between that and the jingle bells on his shoes, we were both having a great time!
• Christmas morning was spent with Mom. That afternoon I went over to Dad's house. Both were a lot of fun! Christmas was a great day!!
• In addition to all of this, December is a busy month for Primary as we start to organize for the new year. Preparing for the new year includes new classes, shifting kids, manuals, lists, CDs, teachers, etc, etc, etc. It's a lot to prepare for but we are ready to go (thank goodness since this Sunday is the first Sunday of January). We are off and running. Sunday will be interesting but we'll handle it. I've got a great presidency and each of them are such wonderful women and friends. We all get in there together and battle through the busy times. Our teachers are great, and the kids are a blessing. I love being down there with them. It's been five years, six programs, and I'm looking forward to another year with them.

Overall, this holiday season has been a great one. Lots of activity. Lots of family. Lots of snow (Unfortunately, we didn't have a white Christmas. Oh well, the snow came the day after and has been coming down since. It's been beautiful!). I've had almost a full week in jeans which has been strange. I was called in to work yesterday but now am off again until January 4th. I am looking forward to 2011. I'm so grateful for all of my blessings. I hope you each have a wonderful New Year's Eve and Day!! Happy New Year!! I hope 2011 brings loads of laughter, joy, love, warmth, and all that your heart desires.

Happy New Year!!!!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Kambry Faith is here. Kevin and Tenille have a daughter who has already wrapped them around her small fingers. I went over tonight to visit them and meet my new niece. It was their first day together as a family. Kambry is adorable!! It was so wonderful to see a change in Kevin and Tenille as they were with her. Of course, with all the family there tonight, they didn't have her a lot. Poor little Kambry was passed around so that we each had time to hold her and love on her, including her little cousins. We all love her so much! I wish I could fully express my thanks to her birth mother. She is one courageous young woman. She has given the greatest gift of love that one person can give to another and with that beautiful gift a hole was filled for Kevin and Tenille.

Here are a couple of pictures that Kev sent me of Kambry. She has black hair, skinny legs and arms, and very long fingers and toes. Tenille said, "Look at these." (She was showing me how long Kambry's toes are.) "She has toes like Kevin!" We all laughed at how great that was and then I told her that I was sure Kevin would show Kambry exactly how to pinch with them. She agreed. It was funny!

Congratulations Kevin and Tenille!!!

General Conference

Just a quick note...

General Conference is tomorrow and Sunday. I love General Conference! For six long months, I look forward to it. I love listening to the messages which seem like they are tailor-made for me. I am lucky enough to be able to be there. Yes, the crowds, parking, protesters, security lines, and waiting are not all that fun, but it is so worth it to be there in the Conference Center. To be surrounded by so many of one heart and mind, it's wonderful! The Spirit is so strong. I love people watching while in there. Watching everyone interact with each other. Meeting and greeting, mixing and mingling before the session. During the meeting, no interruptions: phones are off, no distractions, total focus. It's great!!

I will post my some of what touched me next week. If you had any thoughts, I love to hear them.

A Crazy Moment

OK, so anyone that knows me knows that I don't exactly sleep through the night solidly (unfortunately). Well, I had a crazy moment the other day:

Wednesday morning I awoke to my alarm. I laid in bed weighing in my mind which was stronger: the need to take a shower or the need to stay in my comfortable, warm bed. I eventually decided to bite the bullet and go take a shower. I was so awake. Felt better than I had in weeks. I went and took a great shower. Stayed it a bit longer than usual. I was awake and looking forward to the day.

When I got out, I went over to look at my clock on my nightstand. "7:25" I panicked. It couldn't be 7:25. I mean, after all, I know I enjoying my shower so I took longer than normal, but I wasn't in there for 2 full hours. Sheesh, I would have been very pruney. I looked a bit closer at my clock. It didn't say 7:25... it said 1:25! "No way." I thought. "The power must have gone out and the clock reset itself." I grabbed my cell phone to look at the time on it. 1:26! I still didn't believe. I decided to walk to the kitchen and look at the clock there: 1:25. UGH!!! All of a sudden I was not only cold and wet, I was now upset and WIDE AWAKE. I couldn't believe it. I quickly checked my alarm to see why it went off. Nope, nothing was set wrong. I laid back down on my bed for awhile trying to figure it out. I thought that I'd better try to get back to sleep but before I did, I'd better go dry my hair. Once back in bed, it took an hour or so before I fell back asleep. When my alarm went off later that morning, I was SO tired. So what woke me up??? No clue. I thought I must have been dreaming and in my dream an alarm went off and so I woke up with it. I thought I must be losing it.

Now...the rest of the story (as Paul Harvey would say):

Brian and Tena came and had lunch with me today. Toward the end of our lunch I received a phone call from Jonsie. She said that I had purse called her again (my cell phone must have gotten hit and dialed her number). As I hung up and was walking out with Brian and Tena, I told them about my conversation with Jonsie. Brian started to tell me that his phone and Tena's phone do that all the time. He said that his phone had actually just done that the other day. He said it was the middle of the night when he was getting ready for bed. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and noticed that it was calling my number. He freaked out and hurriedly tried ending the call knowing that I was probably sleeping. (OK...don't jump to it...wait for it.) All of a sudden, it was like a light bulb turned on for all three of us. I asked him when this happened. He said that it was a couple of nights ago. We immediately started pulling our phones out to look. At the same time we each found the record. 12:42 a.m. When? You guessed it...Wednesday morning. That's right dear readers, Brian's phone had indeed called me. It was the ringer that I woke up to thinking it was my alarm. We all started laughing so hard and I told Brian that it was his fault! So, I told Tena she was responsible for punishing Brian for calling me in the middle of the night and causing me to become clean, sweet-smelling, and sanitary by 1:26 in the bless-ed a.m. (M*A*S*H reference). (If you ask me, I think he was looking forward to her punishment. Perhaps I will have to go a different way next time.)

If anyone has any idea how to keep phones from dialing on their own, please let me know.

Basement Windows

GOODBYE OLD...

...AND HELLO NEW!!

The basement windows are in!! CELEBRATE!!!

It is so weird not to see the old windows. The new ones are great. As they put the screen in the last window, and opening and closing it, I noticed the disappearance of the street noise as it was closed. HOW FABULOUS!! There are still some clean up and other issues to finish before the window process can be stamped "DONE" but to have them all in is great. This is a long-awaited check off of my house updating wish list. It's thrilling!

Temple Square with the Boys

OK, so a couple of weeks ago, Janine and Jason had a family wedding to go to at Salt Lake. It was right after my shift so I volunteered to watch the boys while they attended the sealing. It was after a very BUSY day but I was so looking forward to seeing the boys. I was able to take some cute pictures of them which Janine has coveted. Lincoln was totally out of it. He sat totally limpless in his stroller until until we got him out to take a picture. Then it was a "Cheese," and a cute picture.

I love this one. It's right on the corner of one of the fountains.

Lincoln was sitting there with his leg up on the edge so Spencer put his up too. I thought this was such a cute picture of the two of them.

We were walking around and when we got close to the fountain, it was not on. While we were standing there, the fountain started to go up. Well, it was windy and carried some of the mist toward us. Spencer freaked out like it was drenching him. I thought it felt really good. It was, after all, mid August and blazing hot outside. Well, poor Lincoln was trapped in his stroller. He thought we left him to drown in the mist. It was funny. They were both fine once we started to walk through it. They realized that it felt really good.

For some reason, Spencer and Lincoln loved these benches alongside the flowers. They would climb up and look at all the flowers. Spencer kept pointing out that we could see the moon even though it was daytime.

We made our way around to the temple. We found this little bitty path right by the temple. Spencer decided that every time we saw a bench, they were going to take a picture. We only saw two benches but the pictures turned out REALLY cute!

We were going to find more little paths but then Jason called and it was time to go. I turned them over to their parents and headed home to get dinner. I love spending time with all of my nieces and nephews. Thanks Janine for letting me take the boys for a bit that day. It was a great cap to the day.