I Love being a Mom

I love being a Mom. 

 How could a mother be so blessed to be given the opportunity to have such great kids. 

 Having children can be a difficult, exhausting job, but it is also the most noble and grand adventure that a woman can ask for.

  I chose to have five children. 

 I have been blessed over and over again with the birth and life of each child.  

What I have done for them is nothing  compared to what they have given me.  

I always felt it was important to give my kids a feeling of security and warmth as they moved forward in their lives. 

 I had that growing up and I wanted them to have that same sort of childhood.  

My thoughts wander to summer time.  

(The best time to make memories)  

We spent many longs days at the racquet club.  Oh, those lazy fun days when we'd pack up a lunch and a few snacks and be gone for hours.  

Swimming, getting their little bodies warm by laying on the hot cement, that creamy frozen yogart. 

 Packing up to go home just in time for little league or a game of kick the can.  

I've never done anything that noteworthy, I've never been in the limelight.  

But I have rocked and sung to my children. 

 I have taken them swimming, played with them and watched them grow in to adulthood, 

cheered and encouraged them.

  I have loved them.  

I have been a mom. 

 I would rather sing and tell stories to my kids and grandkids than to any audience in the world. 

 When I feel my little grandson's arms wrap around my neck, 

when they cuddle in my lap and entertwine their little fingers in mine and say "hold me grama polly", I think my decision all those years ago.

 That of being a mother.

 It  may have been the hardest, most exhausting, most heartbreaking, ..most rewarding experience. 

 I chose wisely.

Valentines Day

Happy Valentines to the people who make my world a happy place to be in. 

 I love you all!  

A Tuesday With Wren

I went up to see Whitney and Wren today.

  Had a good time seeing them, watching Wren play,

walking and having lunch at City Creek.

Took this picture of the Temple as we walked by. 

 

What a lovely Tuesday.

Reflections on Summer

I love summer. 

Warm nights, blue skies, beautiful flowers

And most of all, the family gets together. 

 Nick comes home for a few weeks,  the  DeSpain Gang flies out from the East to spend time with us.

  I love when the cousins all get together to play and have fun.

  They've been swimming at the Latimer's, played in our back yard. 

We've been to a Bee's game, a Real game, Draper Days, to Pinedale and back, we've ridden horses, fed a pig. 

 We've been together.

I've seen my flowers grow, sung with my cousins once more,

seen a beautiful rainbow, watched the sunset. 

 Held my little Wren, watched Jim take walks with Dylan,

 see the big boys fish with their Dad. 

 Spent days with Jake, Sam and Dylan, hugging, playing and laughing. 

I've spent time with my family in my lovely home. 

I love summer.

Happy Fathers Day!

I have been preparing my primary lesson today. 

 I am teaching the little kids about Superhero's. 

Well, these guys are certainly my Superhero's. 

They are the best at what they do. 

 Just like Superhero's they help us, they care for us and they always save the day! 

 

I am so grateful for these guys, for all they do, especially for their kids!

 

"Any man can be a Father,
but it takes someone special to be a
Dad!"

happy father's day.

Kerry's Baby Shower

Today we had a baby shower for my niece Kerry. 

What a beautiful day for a party! 

 It is always fun to get together with my sisters and their girls. 

Kerry, Austin and their baby boy were being honored.

  Can't believe the little girl that I used to take to kindergarten, read to and play with

is going to be a mother. 

As the family started to filter in I soon realized that there were probably more babies in attendance than adults. 

How much fun is it to see all these girls with their kids.

There were a few grown ups! 

What a great bunch!

I cleaned my house and they arrived with all the delicious food. 

 Whitney and Marta did a fabulous job with invites and clever theme ideas to make this day special for Kerry. 

Can't wait to see this new little addition to the clan!

Turning 60 at the Sego Lily Spa

 

 

Yesterday I turned 60!!!! 

 I got up as I usually do

Got dressed..a little slower,

(due to my age)

 

Went out the door to take care of the grandchildren. 

When I got to my daughter's home a wonderful surprise waited for me there.

Three of my five kids were there with four of the eight grandchildren. 

They had fixed a delicious

breakfast. 

 After eating,

 they were sending me off to a spa!

FOR THE WHOLE DAY!!!

 

I have never spent the whole day in a spa.

Maybe being 60 isn't going to be that bad. 

 

 

I can't say enough about the

 Sego Lily Spa. 

The Facility is lovely and the treatments are all to die for. 

What a wonderful way to spend my day.

 

The spa day was fabulous,

 but the present I loved the most was the thought that went behind the gift, 

 I loved the notes from nieces, nephews, sisters, and my brother, kids,

 and grandkids, and my dear husband. 

Visits from my friends. 

 I love them all so much and am blessed to have these people in my life. 

 Getting older isn't bad at all when surrounded by so many blessings. 

Happy Belated Birthday to Melanie..

It's been a busy few days, which is no excuse.  But I'm posting a belated birthday wish to my beautiful daughter in law Melanie.  She's a wonderful mother, wife, and works hard at her job.  She has created a lovely home for her family.  The best part is that home is just minutes away, so I get to see this little family often.  I am so blessed to have her be a part of our lives.  Hope you have a great year.

A few Regrets...These aren't among them.

Yesterday in church our neighbor gave a talk about regrets.  It was a fabulous talk.  He went through life stages and how we have small regrets in our early years, but maybe as we get older there are bigger regrets.  He ended his talk with a letter from a friend who has only a few weeks to live due to illness.  He listed his regrets, which basically had to do with loving more and spending time with those loved ones, expressing his love to them more often.  Of course we think of those things as we get close to the end of our life.  But they are such simple things..things that can be done each day, just a quick hug or an "I love you"  letting someone express their feelings freely..loving unconditionally.  I have so many regrets, but I thought I'd list a few of those things I don't regret this year. 

I don't regret surrounding myself with these guys, seeing their happy faces.

Their smiles bring joy to my life.

   

I don't regret seeing Jim smile.  Especially when he is with his grandkids.  That's when the joy comes out the most.  He's got a great smile.

I don't regret working in my garden.  I love planting those beautiful flowers and seeing them grow.  What a lovely season, barefeet on hot cement, sitting outdoors late into the evening, watching the sun set. Summer, my favorite time of year.

I don't regret travelling.  I always love seeing different places, experiencing different ways.  It makes me appreciate the beautiful world and also the beautiful spot I call home.

I don't regret spending time with family and friends.  These women are my support, They are who I turn to who and who turn to me.  I love them.  Girlfriends are the best. 

 

I certainly don't regret loving and being with "my girls."  We're outnumbered, but a strong force in the family.  Beautiful each one with different and individual strengths.   How grateful I am to be apart of these girls lives. 

 

I have many regrets.  Things I wish I would have done better..things I wish I wouldn't have done at all.  But, spending time with loved ones,  spending time out in the beautiful world,  these things I only regret not doing more of.  So very grateful for these simple, yet most important blessings in my life.

Christmas - a day for remembering

What a beautiful day. Lovely snow. 

 Happy children.  Gifts from the heart. 

My photo album helps me to remember each precious moment of the season.
 

 

Nothing better than having everyone together..sharing the little one's joy. 

Seeing Wren on her first Christmas, eating Jim's omelets. 

Face-timing with the PA gang as we opened their gifts! 

 (love technology)..

 just being together.

 

 

"Christmas - That magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance.  It may weave a spell of nostalgia.  Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved."

~Augusta E. Rundel

I hope your Christmas was as joyous as mine was.

A Gathering of Loved Ones

Just another group of my most precious loved ones.  A gathering last night for some of Aunt Polly's homemade chicken noodle soup, aunt Julie's pretzel jello, and other delights brought in by our gang!  Almost fifty crammed into our home.  And of course the original "name game" group stayed and played after everyone left. 

As I post these different pictures during this Christmas Season, each one could be our Christmas Card, for all these people are so dear to me. 

My family of course. 

Then the extended, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, who, I love so dearly and love seeing each one, and of course our dear neighbors and friends. 

What would I do without all these wonderful people in my life? 

 I am truly blessed. 

Cousins Carnival

 

Last night was our first ever

Cousins Carnival!!

 

 

Hosted by my most talented, creative, hard working daughter, Abby - who would rather stay behind the scenes .  She's a full time mom and has a full time job, plus quilts for people on the side.  Then decides to throw a Carnival for her kids and their cousins!  She decorated her yard with lights, prizes and games for all the kids. 

 

 

The helpers  Marta and Whitney (and their helpers)
Together, these three girls could be event planners.

 

 

Can't have a carnival without the kids!  They came and had tons of fun.  Love getting this group and their moms together. 

 

 

Marty told the story of  "The Old Woman who Swallowed a Fly"  The kids loved it. 

 

They even had the Fly and the horse and the cow to feed to the old woman!

 

Thank you Abby for giving your home, your time, and most of all your love to our family.

"TRIBUTE TO FALL"

When I first feel that cool fall air in the morning and see the leaves change and pumpkins start showing up everywhere, I always think back to the fall when "Tribute" was born. It was many years ago, because my son Nick, who is now 33 was about 10. According to my journal, this is how it went.

"When I was a younger mom I decorated my home for each holiday

- even St. Patrick's day took a day of my time to make everything green.

 But Fall and Christmas took days.

Of course my friends were all engaged in these same activities,

 making their homes look festive for the season.

 One year when my son was about ten or eleven, I had just finished a masterpiece on my mantel for fall.

 I called my friend Pat right over to admire my handy work... and admire we did.

Nick, just in from school joked as Pat came in,

 " You have to see my moms Tribute to Fall".

Ever since any decoration for a season has become known as

"Tribute" to Christmas, Fall or whatever season we are in.

Well, a few years back I was in bed, sick. I just didn't have it in me to get "Tribute" out.

I had a phone call from Sue, the most concerned of neighbors.

Her first sentence was "I hear you might not get your Tribute up!"

It almost sounded like our country was being invaded or some such disaster.

She was that upset!

 I found out that if I was not well enough by the first week of October that Sue, Colleen and Pat would be over here making sure my tribute was up in all its glory,

because it just can not happen one year.

It seems a small and very unimportant thing when you look at the state of the world.

Wars, hurricanes, tornadoes that take peoples lives and homes.

 But what if all neighborhoods were like mine, where people were so concerned that they would come and put some fall leaves up just to see a smile?

 Somehow, when I look at it that way it seems as big as world events.

 It seems more important. Friends loving friends, looking out for each other.

We are all so different yet because of love we are the same. "

We have put up "Tribute" for others when they didn't feel well. We take each other to the hospital,

we sit with each other, comfort each other, laugh and talk and have fun together.

 

Each fall as I put my leaves and pumpkins out,

I am ever grateful for the beautiful world I live in, for the friends I am surrounded by,

 for a son who still has a funny sense of humor, who makes me laugh,

 for traditions, for those who continue to care,

 no matter what comes our way.

The Getaway

I'm still upset about the pictures missing on my blog.  So, Jim said lets get out of here.. off we went and saw the beautiful fall colors.

 

Everywhere we drove the colors were amazing.

 

 

  We ended up in Colorado,  in a lovely little town.  And who do you think showed up?

 

 

Nick!!  It was fun to see  him and spend some time with him!

Happy Birthday Tyler

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Tyler

To the Father's in My Life

It all started years ago, with the example of Leo and Jiggs.  They were the best fathers ever. They taught by how they lived. 

I was fortunate enough to marry a man who is not only good looking, but to him, family is everything.  He would do anything for his children and his grandkids.  They have him tied around their tiny little fingers.  Or in some cases not so tiny anymore.  He taught his children to be hard workers, honest, to have integrity and to love their families. (along with hunting, fishing, golfing and a little baseball.)

Our oldest, James, is the father of four sons.  He spends every spare minute coaching, teaching and loving these boys.  They are growing into great young men. 

I love watching Mike with his boys.  He loves to play with them, teach them their ipad games, take them to Disneyland and the beach.  Jake is a miniature Mike.  They love to be with him all the time.  I admire the way he takes over when Abby leaves town or is busy with work.  He doesn't miss a beat.

Same with Tyler.  These are modern day dads.  Their wives work, and when they're gone, the dad's take over.  Ty is an expert at taking care of Dylan when Melanie is out of town.  I love to see him smile when he's with his little boy. 

Jason's been preparing himself for his role as a dad by being the best uncle ever.  He's known as "Uncle Fun" to our little ones.  I have never seen bigger smiles than when Jason is around.  Little Wren is a lucky little girl.

How grateful I am that Jim leads by his example. He quietly goes about doing things for all of us. He makes our home beautiful, as well as my garden.  He can fix anything and is always willing to do so. He serves his neighbors as well as his family.  Who else would carry my fifty pound suitcase all over England for two weeks and never complain? 
As we get older and the grandchildren come, it is so much fun to watch Jim's love multiply for each new addition. 

How blessed I am for these beautiful five children, for the families they are bringing up.
 For their Father.
 He is a blessing in my life.

A week in February

It's been a fun week around here.  Last Thursday we had another fun Cousins party at Jolyn's.  I think these parties are going to become regular traditions with our family.  The girls love to get together.  We visit and eat and just have fun.  This time the little one's were invited.  They ran, screamed, played, ate and also had a great time!  We got to celebrate Kerry's engagement and meet her fiance!  Thanks Jo for hosting.

Jason, Marta and Abby hosted a 30th birthday party for Whitney.  So we had another party on Saturday.  Delicious pizza, Abby's ceasar salad and her new to die for dip for apples.  Could eat the whole bowl (without the apples)  Love to get together with the fam!

And... remember the picture in January of our book cases.  Well, Jim is happy to announce they are finished.  I love the way they turned out.  Thanks to Jim for all his hard work.  It's nice to have the house put back together again.