Grandma's Bonus Week

Matt and Rebecca, our youngest children, shared their four delightful children with us for a few days while they cruised in Belize, Central America. Somehow the month escaped me before I got all my photos together to help chronicle those memorable moments together. So here is the first installment. This is their youngest girl and my youngest grandchild Jane, who loved her baths so much she took them twice each day-- probably because it was so fun to play with all the alphabet letters that stuck to the side of the tub. She surprised me by knowing so many of the names of the letters, and if I taught her a new letter, she remembered it! Wish I had the retention she does. I don't remember breakfast this morning. (Sorry, Becca. My cooking is not nearly so memorable as yours.)

Jane had to be in the picture with the big girls.

Mitchell, 4, wanted to be called Peter and reminded us if we forgot. His costume had to be washed each night because he wore it daily no matter what!

Each morning he bounded into our bedroom with his Peter Pan costume on. I don't mind waking up to that! He told Doug and me that we were lucky it was cool, because in Arizona "you just get hotness all over you."

We enjoyed having Deborah here for two days following my surprise birthday dinner. She had Jane hypnotized every time she read her a book. In fact, I was astonished to see how Debs could keep Jane quietly entertained for seventy five minutes on the chapel bench during Sacrament meeting. That has got to be a record! Wonder if she would go out for hire?

Mitchell enjoyed his computer toy and always looked very serious when he played. This is one boy who knows how to focus! He even asked for piano lessons, and loved learning a little Three Bears piece.

Jane kept us all laughing with her cute comments. When Mitchell was jumping with her on the trampoline and told her to play dead, she retorted, "I'm not dead, I'm fine." Is this kid only two?

Paige, usually found with a crayon or marking pen in hand, created all sorts of pictures when she wasn't busy looking like one.

I was amazed at the time and careful detail Paige spent on her craft project. She spent an hour meticulously painting little paw prints all over her dog house after the pink paint dried. Mitch took his time with his monkey cage, too. He has a long attention span for a 4 yr-old doing art!

Must be big sisters' influence.

Megan loved painting too. Give a child paintbrush and paint, and see what they think to do. All masterpieces and very happy children.

Look carefully and you can see Peter's red and blue painted fingers. Small price to pay.

Mitch, the little man, looking so sober after church for a little boy so full of merriment, teasing, and fun.

Megan wore her new Easter dress Sunday and we got to enjoy seeing how lovely this young woman looks. Grandma never got enough of this girl. She was a joy to be with.

Here we are in Sunday clothes, the end of the day, a happy grandpa (--yes, I'm sure--) and his quiver full of grandchildren.

There's more to come, but not tonight. Check back in a few days for the continuing saga.

Tripping Through the Tulips

Tripping Through the Tulips

My husband is a romantic. I love that about him. Among other things, he adores nature. When it rains, he wheels out on the deck to listen to pattering on the metal roof overhang. He checks the snow on Timpanogas Peak first thing each morning. He goes outside to gaze at dark cumulus clouds and lightning, or just to enjoy the bright sunlight on the grass. Nothing escapes his eye. He waits impatiently for the blossoms to appear every spring on the peach trees and the flowering plums.

So it was no surprise when one day he announced, "It's the tulip festival at Thanksgiving Point. Let's go!"

We set a day. The day came. The weather looked warm, a change from all the preceding cold, bleak wintry days. We sped in our Honda van to the Gardens. Only one more day of the festival was left and the parking lot was already nearly full. We ordered lunch since it was nearly noon (and Doug loves a good restaurant). There was a short wait, and because it was so crowded, we invited a couple we had met to eat with us. Lunch was delicious, the conversation lively and animated, and we made some good friends. We ate lunch out on the patio in the--gasp-- sunshine? It lasted briefly. By the time we finished eating it had become gusty and very chilly. Rain threatened. Or snow? We left with a raincheck.

Cold weather persisted. But finally one day was predicted to be warmer, so we knew we must go before the tulips dropped their petals. The air was cool but pleasant. A slight breeze ruffled my hair. For two hours we wandered through the maze of paths, across the bridge, up the hill, past the waterfalls. The blazing splashes of color bordering the vast green lawns took our breath away. See what you think!

Gracefully poised to catch the sunlight.

I loved how the light rimmed the scalloped edges of the tulips. What glorious beauty!

Some of the colors were positively flamboyant.

Others were soft and delicate shades.

Even tiny was charming.

These were star-tipped.

Color everywhere.

Striped tulips with ruffled edges!

Come walk with us. Take your time. This kind of beauty deserves a second look, a savoring of the colors, shapes, and graceful stems of tulips bending in the breeze.

Even a small bridge to enjoy.

A field of these is stunning.

Discover the Secret Garden. We are inside the garden here.

Endless shades of pink!

What extraordinary design! Even the petals are rimmed with orange, and the black kite-shapes blaze against a positively brilliant yellow !

Doesn't the sight of these gladden your heart?

We sat outside the gazebo. Even this structure has a charming design looking up.

See you next year! Bye.