Rocky Romans Turns 4! April 11, 2011

We talked to Rocky on the phone today. We sang to him. He got to spend the night in a hotel and go swimming then to the movies for his birthday! We love you and miss you.

Leo Caroline Turns 8 and gets Baptized.

Leo was baptized by her dad in Richland, Washington on March 26, 2011. We wish we could have been there. But we were there is spirit and got to talk to her on the phone and skype. We sent her some letters and a CTR towel with her name and birthdate embroidered on it to use at the baptism and everyday to remember to "choose the right: She is a very special and loving little girl. We love her and miss her so much.

Easter Table 2011!

Here is my simple Easter table for this year. I am still not up to getting all my boxes down so I just used stuff I had downstairs. It is festive but I miss all my cute bunnies and all. Hopefully next year, I will be able to get it all out again and have a reunion with all my "things". Mostly it is just fun to unwrap them and remember who gave it to me or where I was when I bought it. Most of it involves gifts or a fun trip somewhere. But my grandkids will love the candy sprinkles and I will let them eat them right off the table, if their parents don't resist. I am a really bad influence with all my candy treats ( but the grandkids love it ). Somebunny loves you.

Tess Turns 3!

Tess had a great Birthday . She shares a birthday with her mom. My daughter-in-law, Melissa, is so talented and always does things so cute. These pictures show the darling table she prepared. Tess celebrated with her friends the day before her real birthday. She invited Abby, Evie, Brooke, Bridget, and Grace to come over for a Tea Party. The guest list and the theme were all her idea. Thursday, while Melissa was at lunch, she got to go to "uncle Marc's" house with Great Grandma and Grandpa Romans and Great Aunt Susan to see his horses, chickens, dog and trampoline. They were so nice to take her and Maddox so Melissa could go out with some friends. For her birthday dinner she wanted Pizza and pink ice cream. Melissa said great!... if I don't have to cook..... which is always a great present for her.

Tess is the cutest little girl. I love to hear stories about her. Her mom said " I can't believe my baby is three. All of a sudden Im realizing she isn't a baby. She makes us laugh everyday. She is cute and sweet but also a troublemaker. Just today, she drew all over her entire face with marker, including outlining her eyes. I found her in the bathroom trying wash off her hands with the cutest guilty look on her face. Then when went up stairs to get some different clothes, she was distracted by the toothpaste. I found her a different bathroom, chest and arms covered in toothpaste, trying to wash the sink off with A LOT of soap. But my heart melts when she sings every word of Once Upon A Dream in her best voice."

I have heard her sing this and she is so adorable she will melt you heart. It is fun to be the grandma and not have to worry about any discipline. I can finally leave that to the parents. I can just enjoy how fabulous and fun all these cute little grandkids of mine are. They are all so different and individual and wonderful. I am blessed.

Happy Birthday Tess. We love you so much and can't wait to see you in May.

The Kids Come Home an for an early Mother's Day Surprise

We had the best time last weekend. All my kids came home for an early Mother's Day present

( and Regan and Gigi were an extra bonus). Denton was here to finish up his work assignment and pack some things in his house. When the kids found out he was coming, they arranged their schedules to come a few weeks early to help him pack and do a Mother's day brunch for me. I didn't think Jordan could come at such short notice, but he surprised us and came walking out of Denton's house Saturday morning. Everybody else got here different times Friday night.

We had our traditional sourdough pancakes Saturday morning and then all went over to pack.

After that we went to " Kabuto" ( a Japanese steak house) for lunch. It was really fun and delicious. I was disappointed in the entertainment at the table, but the food was great. Our guy was kind of dull and didn't do many knife tricks.....except chop the egg. But we loved the food.

The kids all went grocery shopping for the brunch and then to the Apple store ( a regular stop in Richmond) and Greg and I went home to watch conference. The all trickled in and made it for some of the 2nd session. I had tivo'd it.

I had cooked a pork roast for pork tacos and fresh pineapple for dinner. We all ate and the boys got ready for the priesthood session.

Lindsay, Chelsea, Gigi and I went to the fabric store and out for shakes from " Cookout" until the boys came home. We discussed their session and hung out visiting until we got too tired.

Sunday morning I slept in a little while the kids all cooked a fabulous early " Mother's Day" brunch. It was so good and even had artichokes for the centerpiece that I can eat later. They all helped and we had a great time eating and visiting.

Then it was time for conference . We watched ( and napped :) until it was family game time playing " Ticket to Ride" Lindsay and Regan gave us for Christmas. Chelsea had to go but the rest stayed and Lindsay and Denton made homemade macaroni and cheese for a late lunch..early dinner. It was so yummy. Everybody left to get home at a decent time and Greg, Denton and I watched the last session of conference It was a great way to end a perfect day.

The kids all got along so great this weekend and we had alot of fun talking about old times.

They were really kind to each other and there wasn't too much teasing. I liked that.

It meant the world to me. It has been a hard year for alot of reasons and this blessing gave my heart and my hope a big boost. And my knee is pretty good except for my back problems. The kids videoed Greg massaging me and it better not end up on UTube Clayton:)

I spent all night missing everyone and hoping it won't be too long before we can all be together again. It is right that kids grow up and go on their own.....but it isn't easy letting them all go over and over. It is a mother thing.

I love them all so much. They are good kids and Greg and I feel very blessed. It is so great for us that they love and support each other and us. And we appreciate all the in-law kids that let them come and stayed home with the grandkids.

This was the best Mother's Day present ever. You can see how happy I am.

BYU Rocks! Jimmer is the man!

I really enjoyed watching the BYU game tonight with Greg. We used to have season tickets to the basketball games when we were dating at BYU. The guy who sat next to me every week, used to slap my knee and say " Holy Mackerel" for every good and bad play. I got used to it. I started slapping his knee and saying it back. Greg and I have laughed about it for years. So tonight he said " Holy Mackerel" just for old time sake.....several times. It made watching with him fun. I don't usually get into it it that much, but tonight I was a dream date for a boy....a girl who likes to watch basketball :)

It was an exciting game and so fun to watch...especially awesome Jimmer Fredette. What I read and hear about him and his family is positive and he is a good missionary for the church. He seems so humble and down to earth and has a testimony he can express well. I think it is cool that his dad is LDS and his mom Catholic and they let the kids choose. And boy it is fun to watch his confidence and ability to shoot 3 pointers.

I especially think it is cool that BYU upheld their standards this year and benched a really good player for not following the honor code. That is one of the best missionary messages they could have sent. But they treated him kind and with respect. He made a mistake.....he owned it....and can go back to playing next year. I am proud that BYU can take the heat and do what is right....despite the cost. It made tonight's win all the better.

It is exciting to think they made the sweet 16. Hope they keep up the good work.

I am proud of my school and happy to be a big BYU fan.

This is almost as exciting as the year I met Greg and Nebraska was #1 in football. Who had ever heard of Nebraska until GO BIG RED was ranked #1 nationally. I finally found out it was in America :)

I am a Huskers and a Cougar fan......and will forever be a Dodger baseball fan.

You may not have known that about me......so I had to post it for posterity.

A Surprise Visit

Sunday night we got a surprise visit fron the Wood's for dad's birthday weekend.

We had Chinese food for dinner and a waffles for breakfast. The kids had fun playngwith our new " lincoln logs" amd "tinkertoy's". Then off to the children's museum short pump.24 hours of fun.....so glad they came.