Happy belated 30th birthday Erica!

When your oldest child turns "30" thats when you really feel old. Happy belated birthday Erica who turned 30 on July 29th. I have wanted to do this post for a long time but life has a way of getting in the way as you can tell by the several months that have gone by without of word from me.

This is my favorite picture of Erica. She was 6 in this picture(my favorite one)

Erica I love you so much. You have given your dad and I 4 of the most beautiful grandkids that anyone on this earth could ask for.

This is the very best time of life. I love being a grandmother almost as much as I love being a wife to my wonderful husband.

Erica was an easy child to raise in all the best ways. There will always be something special about your first child. I had no idea that labor was so painful (back in the day of natural no epideral) and hard. But there is something about the first time you hold that precious new baby in your arms for the first time that no other feeling can quite compare to. You hear about how much you will love your children but until that moment you really dont know. I am so proud of the person Erica is and the wonderful mother she is.

My baby turned 21 yesterday

Happy 21st Camber!!! I can't believe it but it's here. She has grown into such a beautiful young lady!! Camber is shy when you first meet her, but after she gets used to you, she is the best and usually friends for life. She is loyal and a great daughter. She'll always be my baby and we'll continue being friends when she has her own family!!

Sorry Camber, McKenna forgot her pj's at Gammy's

McKenna forgot her pj's for a spend the night so we decided to "sneek" into Camber's room and look at her tshirts and a pair of shorts..(Camber's room is the goldmine of all goldmines for little girls 7 and under to find anything from fun jewerly to glittery, sparkling lipsticks and lotions and hair cool stuff). Sooo we decided to take a picture. Then we had fun dying Easter eggs

This is fun, using up old stickers and even old Easter egg dye (trying to simplify by wearing it out, use it up or do without...) So absolutely no fluff, but it was great having our usual traditions when each child spends the night. My posts do seem to mostly be about a grandchild spending the night. I do have other interests. I'll try to do better. I am in Young Woman and work with the Mia Maids. We went to the Easter Pageant last week and it was great. You could really feel the spirit. I remember when the Easter Pageant was held next to the pool of water behind the visitor's center and it was on Easter morning at sunrise. (I know that really dates me, ya way back in the day). Oh well great memories.

My boy is 25 today!!

Landon at 1 Landon 25 today!!

I cant believe my boy is 25 today!! We went to Cheesecake Factory last night and had a great time. Where does the time go? Well as you can see I havent written for many weeks (months now) but my 2 followers wont mind....ha ha!

I have some darling pictures of little Owen when Lindsie came down with him last month. I'll put those on tomorrow. I'm tired, it's late and my sister Kerry is coming any minute...

soooo, I'll be back

Happy Birthday Landon!!!!

Avery's First spend the night and more

Finally Avery got her turn to spend the night with Gammy and she was so delightful. She has the funniest personality and is always making us laugh. We played "go fish" and watched a movie together. Then grandpa made the bed right next to my bed and I think I fell asleep before she did. In the morning we woke up and it was still dark outside ( it was about 7:00) and she said "It's still night time, go back to sleep" which lasted about 30 seconds before she opened her eyes and was ready for the day. We went and got donuts for breakfast (I know so nutritious). I can't believe she is so big now.


Well Life has been crazy and I have been a bad blogger. So to catch up quickly, here are the highlights:
*Cardinals in super bowl and though they didn't win it was exciting and a nailbiter to the end.
* I'm getting old....turned 52 January 11th
* Went to Lion King at the Gammage with Kirk and Erica, Camber, and McKenna and Kevin and I. It was fabulous!!!
* Landon got a job at University of Phoenix....Yeah!!!
* watched the inauguration of America's first black president
* the economy is scary but hopefully things will be picking up for the business very soon.
* Life is good, and hard !
* I'm sooo grateful for the Gospel and a temple so close to me
* I am happy and blessed

my oldest grandchild is 7!

McKenna turned 7 on Thanksgiving this year. She had a birthday party with 12 little girls at her House. Erica had it sooo cute. There was a RED runway with lights up and down it. The girls had their nails and hair and makeup done and then they "walked the runway" and did a pose or dance. There were not any shy girls. They had a blast being in the spot light.

We had Thanksgiving at my brother Mark's house this year. There were only 19 of us. Erica went to Kirk's family and my mom went to Utah with Jenny and Kerry. So it was quiet and a little out of sorts but still nice. I guess it shows you how much we like tradition and doing the same each year. We have been spoiled... Well everyone will be here this Christmas. Lindsie and Shawn and Owen fly on the 23rd and stay a week. Jenny and her kids are coming and it's going to be great. I am having the "Christmas Eve" dinner here (scarry!!) It is the "less is more" year and Everyone seems to be more than good with it. Wouldn't it be nice if things just got simple again? I'm so thankful for my family and for the Gospel. It just takes away so much fear. I love how Pres. Monson said "Faith and Fear cannot exist in the same mind at the same time; for one will dispel the other".

My father's lessons!

I was raised in a military family. My father was an officer in the air force and taught pilots to fly. He taught his children a lot about our country and our government. He taught us to honor the office of the President of the United States no matter who is in office. And I will honor this President who I didn't vote for. I'll pray much for him. He scares me.
*Side note..... Did you know that in Illinois on Tuesday the Lottery numbers were 666? ahhhhhh scary. Anyway that's kinda funny.
I felt that the country redeemed itself somewhat with the 3 states passing the marriage between one man and one woman propositions. That says something for the quiet, good masses of conservative people in this country. I have been very vocal on this issue always. I have a Gay brother who lives in D.C. whom I love and adore. I told him many years ago that yes they are living in sin but that doesn't change my love for him at all. He is a devout Liberal and I the devout conservative. He thinks we should have our own talk show together because we text each other all the time about political and other isssues. He's smart and funny and we can have a great conversation and learn and still love one another. This is still the greatest Country in the world.

Yes, High School Musical 3 was really good. It was fun to go with Erica and McKenna. Erica even took McKenna out of school 30 minutes early. Of course we were one of the first in line but it was worth it just to be with McKenna. Watching her was so fun. I can't tell you how good it was to see a G rated show and being so entertained. They say it was the biggest opening EVER of a musical. I hope they make more good and decent movies for families.

Well I can't wait until the election is over. I am soooo sick of politics (and that says alot from someone very politally minded). I hope John McCain wins and I know it will be very close. I hope I can be prepared for which ever way it goes. This is still the greatest country in the world isn't it!!!

Tanner's splish splash spend the night

So Tanner says "hey Gammy, I've been sweaty at school so I need a bath in your big tub."

These are lifes precious moments. I love the spend the nights. This Friday is suppose to be McKenna's turn but it is the opening of "HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3" So Erica and I are taking McKenna. We'll go somewhere fun for dinner first. I can't wait (I think adults like them even better and thats why it is sooo popular)

Family Disney Vacation....it was the best of times and for a brief while the worst of times

I have to say that we had the best time being together and I'll get to that. I'm not usually long winded on my blog, but today I would like the share first the part of the trip that impacted me the most. I don't mean to sound negative because in the end it was a positive. I know Erica has given her take on her blog....this is from a grandmother's point of view. As it was late in the afternoon and the park was getting extra busy, we were just gathering together after being on the Indiana Jones ride in Frontier Land. All of the sudden we couldn't find Tanner. Kirk and Erica and others immediately started looking in different directions. I was standing with Erica's stroller with Emmerson, Avery and McKenna. I couldn't run around and look with the rest. I was trying to reassure McKenna. A nice young hispanic mom was sitting close to us. She said she saw him at the tree only a moment ago. She saw that we were very upset and getting more so by the moment. It was extremely scary. I heard all around me people asking what was wrong and many saw Erica break down crying not knowing what to do for a brief moment. Well as I stood by the stroller trying not to panic and with tears streaming down my face, I heard this mom that I was talking to say "what is his name?" I said "Tanner" and everyone around me as they were listening (it spread through the crowd like wild fire) started yelling as loud as they could "TANNER, TANNER, TANNER!!!!. Everyone stopped to help and I mean everyone. They were all of them so concerned. Security had been notified when a woman had noticed Tanner walking and looking lost. She took him in a store and stayed with him until Kirk found him in the store. Tanner was scared as was Kirk. Tanner did nothing wrong. He just got carried by the " sea of moving people". When Kirk brought him back to where we all were, well you can imagine, the pure relief and Joy we all felt. I thanked those around us that had stayed to help. Many cried along with us who wanted to see for themselves this little boy back with his family. At the end one man said "well that was more addrenaline than any ride I've been on"...we all needed a laugh. It restored my belief in the "goodness of people". It just stood out so much and while we were walking back to the hotel I just started bawling and quietly thanking the Lord for this tender mercy. There are many lessons to be learned from this, and for me the unity and power of FAMILIES and the basic goodness of man is paramount.

What brings me joy!!

I love spend the nights with my grandkids. McKenna wanted to start a "McKenna and Gammy spend-the-night scrapbook, so thats what we did. I picked here up from dance on Friday and we went to the scrapbook store and bought some fun things for our book. We ate pizza then had a blast decorating the outside and a few pages inside the scrapbook. I can't believe she is almost 7. Time seems to go by so quickly. I have so many things to be grateful for.

*I'm so grateful for my husband. He is a man of great integrity and love

*My own children. What I wouldn't do for my wonderful kids

* 5 CUTEST! grandchildren. just look at Erica's and Lindsie's blog

*The Gospel of Jesus Christ. I get great peace from this

* I'm so grateful for a temple that is ten minutes from my house

dog surgery and Tanner's spend the night

Tanner spent the night on Friday. Also we had a storm and this beautiful tree by our pool fell down. I was showing Tanner. So sad!!! but how cute is Tanner???


McKenna with Zoe. How cute is this. I have had it on my end table for years. This is one of two stones that were in my 8 pound shi-tzu named Zoe. She was very sick and was having bloody urine and peeing in the house. I finally took her to the vet and they said she would die if she didnt have surgery. My kids love her and I do too, but I could not afford it. My grandkids love her even more (great so how would I explain putting her to sleep?) Well she had the surgery (thanks to a good friend of mine) and now she is great. We got her when McKenna was about 1 or so.

my 5th grand child....baby Owen Bird

As soon as Lindsie called on August 8th and said she was in Labor I immediately packed a few things and with Erica and Emerson we left in a couple hours to drive to Utah. Camber and Joey came also and drove Camber's car. We thought it would be cool to have an 8-8-08 birthday. But to no avail, poor Lindsie was in Labor for 36 hours so we got there with time to spare. She finally had little Shawn Owen Bird weighing 7lb 4oz. It was such a special experience watching my child have a child. Since Erica had all hers C-section (not so fun) this was the first that I got to actually watch. It was very emotional and spiritual to me. Actually all of us were crying. What a wonderful experience we got to all share together

Sunday cookies with Gammy

Spend the nights!!

Mckenna's spend the night

McKenna got to spend the night last night and we had lots of fun. I took some pictures to show what we did. Yes I got my hair cut. Kevin likes it long and not short, so he doesn't love the new doo!!1

Check out my Slide Show!

Summer time spend the nights

I love these summer days "spend the nights with my grandkids". It is so much fun. Well Tanner came over yesterday for our Sunday dinner with his little bag to spend the night. I know he loves me but what he really loves to come for is this.....

Yes the Wii games!! He asks Erica everyday if he can come over. He even asked me when his mom said no many times "Gammy, can I come and live with you please?" He cracks me up.

We set up a bed with a big down comforter and we put it as close to my bed as possible. With Tanner the schedule is read lots of books to calm down before bed, then he lays down to go to sleep. I sit by him in the semi dark room and as he is trying to fall asleep, he'll say (after many seconds of trying) Gammy is it the middle of the night? and I say "no sweetie, you just closed your eyes. He sleeps great and wakes up great all ready to have his bowl of froot loops and then ready to play Mario Kart or Mario and Sonic at the Olympic games. I put some pics on a slide show. McKenna gets to come tomorrow night. I love it!!

Last Saturday (July 5th) we had Lindsie's baby shower here. Erica did lots of work and it turned out so cute. I took some great pictures but I left my camera in the sun and it fried the pictures. I was so sad, but Erica's blog tells all about it.

New blog and new baby

I thought I'd add some pics from the latest happenings. First we added our 4th grandchild...beautiful Emerson Grace Sweetnam. She is perfect and perfectly good. The Lord knew Erica needed a really good baby and with Emerson she got it. I also put different pictures of our fun "spend the night with Gammy" and our Sunday's with the family. Everyone comes over for dinner on Sundays and we have the best time. I took a few pictures of playing "Wi" games.