FUTURE ROYALTY

These pictures depict what a prince and 2 princesses look like. They're party animals; they play, they swim at 9am or 9pm, they eat, they watch movies, they sleep late, they stay up late, they look beautiful and handsome and their slaves adore them. We want to know when they will be back to their summer castle?????? We'll be pining for them till they return.

(Please refer to Richelle and Randi's blog for other pictures.)

Birthdays

Hayden celebrated his birthday today with two of his Primary friends. What a fun day for him and his friends and his sisters and his cousins. Grandpaw and I were up and out of the house before 8:30 to pickup Derek, Carsen, and Jake to take them, along with a Pokemon cake and a Poodle cake and a cotton candy machine, to Hayden's house. We had a great time. Regina and her friends had a water slide, bubble machine, pizza, and ice cream. The kids were wet and happy. Hayden had a great happy smile on that sweet face and McKenna was happy to set on our laps and let us love her.

We had a great week and weekend and Memorial Day with kids and dogs and swimming. Thank goodness for Sunday and rest.

TOGETHER FOREVER

We love each other and we love our children and grandchildren and great children. We love the Lord and are truly grateful to Him for the great life we have and for blessing us so abundantly.

Ryan's Granduation

Here are a couple of pictures that Carlys took at Ryan's graduation. We had such a great time with Ryan, Michelle, the 3 little princesses,Richelle, and Randi. We celebrated and played and loved each other and cried when we had to part.

'It is the kind of suffering that comes from loving another so much.'

Couples Tag

I used to not really like tags, but I see that we haven't blogged for a week and a half and I'm glad to have something to write about:

♥ What are your middle names? Mine is Joan and Richard's is Lyle.
♥ How long have you been together? We met 12 years ago this coming September. We were married 11 years ago March 13th.
♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating? Our first meeting was a blind date. Our next date was 2 weeks later.
♥ Who asked who out? Richard's brother and sister-in-law, Alan and Nancy, arranged our meeting. Richard ask me out on the date 2 weeks later to a high priest activity. I think he left safe in those surroundings. He says he thinks I felt safe in those surroundings.
♥ How old are each of you? Richard will be 66 in Aug. and Carlys will be 64 in July.
♥ Whose siblings do you see the most? Richard's of course. We see my brother Frank once or twice a year. We see Judy and Bud every 3 years whether they like it or not.
♥ Do you have any children together? No. It's not humanly possible.
♥What about pets? No. I have a stuffed otter.
♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? Richard is to easy on Raelynn. I'm to hard on her. I don't believe he expects he expects enough out of her.
♥ Did you go to the same school? No.
♥ Are you from the same home town? No. How far apart can 2 people be. Richard is from Blackfoot, Idaho. I'm from Carrollton, Al. by way of Memphis, Tn.
♥Who is smarter? Richard is intellectually smarter. I have more common sense.
♥ Who is more sensitive? I (Carlys) am of course.
♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? Within 5 miles of the house. Anything that sounds goods at the moment.
♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? Antigua
♥ Who has the craziest exes? Carlys of course.
♥ Who has the worst temper? Richard does UNLESS he speaks to Carlys in a rude manner.
♥ Who does the cooking? Richard does most of the time. He likes meat and potatoes most of the time and I would like to branch out a little more. If he wants what he likes he'll have to cook it himself. Sad but true.
♥Who is more social? Richard. I watch Raelynn most of the time. Richard doesn't even know she is in the room
♥ Who is the neat-freak? Neither one of us is a nut case about it. We like things clean and kinda neat and things in their place
♥ Who is more stubborn? Raelynn.
♥ Who hogs the bed? There's enough room for both of us.
♥ Who wakes up earlier? We are about even. Some days it's me. Most days it's Richard. He has a hard time sleeping most nights.
♥ Where was your first date? Mimi's. I, Carlys, thought it was a great start. I don't understand why Richard has never wanted to go there again.
♥ Who has the bigger family? Richard does and I love it.
♥ Do you get flowers often? Yes I, Carlys, do and they are always beautiful. Richard never gets flowers.
♥ How do you spend the holidays? Always with family. Just the way it should be.
♥ Who is more jealous? Neither one of us. No need to be.
♥ How long did it take to get serious? It took Richard a little longer than it took me. I was a goner when I met Nancy.
♥Who eats more? We both do our share.
♥ Who does the laundry? Carlys does. She doesn't like people to touch her wash.
♥ Who’s better with the computer? Have you seen Richard's hands. They are way to big to be using a computer.
♥ Who drives when you are together? Richard does most of the time. With Carlys' new car she is driving more around town and Richard is the passenger more often.

We're tagging anyone older than 50 that reads the blog.

Surprise Swimmer

Wednesday was a half day at school for 2 of the little Richards missionaries so we picked them up and it was an explosion from there. Check out Richelle's blog for the pictures of the gardening experiences. They were endearing. We have a piece of heaven in our back yard. It lays dormant until a little person enters it. Yesterday it was awake........

Jake joined us at 3. Becky, Emma, and Mikey joined us at 3:30. The sister missionaries joined us at 4:15. Richelle joined us at about 4:45. We sat down to dinner at 5 and the door bell rang during the prayer. We all laughed. It was a boy scout wanting to go over his eagle scout project paper work with Grumpaw. The scout and his Dad weren't hungry thank goodness because there was no more room in the kitchen.

We only have pictures of the pool Troll and his victims. When the Troll first got in the pool the victims just stood there with their mouths open. That was the first funny part. Then the Troll took control of the pool. Derek was pretty brave a couple of times and flashed by the Troll like lightening. But he slowed down for one second one time and he was Troll food from then on. It was great fun watching them try to evade the Troll and his cannon balls. Grumpaw doesn't usually get in the pool because of the cold water but he loved it on this day.

Pool Troll in his cave

Troll has him where he wants him. Carsen stayed out of reach.

Derek just couldn't learn to stay far enough away from the loooooooooong arms of the Troll.

Our Happy Life

Nana (I in this blog) and Grumpaw have such a happy life. Each and every one of you contributes to our happiness. We recognize you each face trials and difficulties but you are brave and courageous and real fighters. You never quit no matter what the obstacles. We are so proud of every one of you and we love you more than you know. You will find out when you age because your kids wear you out the way you wear us out and you learn to love it.
We have been very busy loving you a lot lately and Nana is pretty exhausted some Monday's. Grumpaw is fine. He just goes and makes a couple of pens or calls an old scout and he feels better.

Birthday cakes and other cakes and a bus trip with Carsen to the Wildlife Zoo and birthday lunches.

Wendy's Birthday

McKenna came in March and stayed a couple of nights. She is so excited about being the only child at Nana's. She brought 4 or 5 plastic bags full of clothes when she came. We've made a permanent bed on the floor next to our bed for little people. They are right next to me and I can turn over and pull a blanket up over them. Richelle and I took McKenna and Jake to the Zoo for Christmas Presents. We had fun. I love touching the stingrays. McKenna was not crazy about that. The stingrays wanted to suck on our fingers in case we had food. McKenna didn't want to have anything to do with that. She did miss her Mom after 2 days and was ready to make the trek back to Gilbert. She is such a cuddle bunny we love having her. She came this past weekend to visit overnight. She watered plants and looked like a MOVIE STAR.

Cute as you can see. She played on the Baja step of the pool and read books and worked puzzles. She is easy to bring home with us because she wants to come. WE LOVE YOU MCKENNA!!!!

We kept the 3 little Richards' missionaries for their parents so they could go away for their anniversary. (We certainly want them to be happy.) I stayed at their house and everybody was a lot happier, you know, screamin' Jake. We had a fun time, T-Ball, swimming, a movie. Jake was starting to like me until I took him to a scary movie. Now he wants to know why Nana would take him to a scary movie, Monsters vs. Aliens. I spent Monday in the bed till noon and vegged still Tuesday. I think I'm Ok now.
The next weekend the Hawkins went away and Sydney and Billy were with us for a couple of days. What a joy! They can stay anytime. They are so cooperative and adaptable. We thought we would have time for at least a couple of fun activities during General Conference weekend but Michael, Wendy's Husband, went in the hospital with an infection. Sydney and Billy could not have been more cooperative. They went where we ask and did what we ask. We didn't know what Michael's problem was in the beginning so their cooperation made our lives much easier and relieved a lot of stress. We are excited for Sydney to get her drivers license. She is READY! We are ready. She can come visit us more often. Please get her license. Estoy esperandole su llamada por telefono.

Michael's visit to the hospital was very stressful. Michelle's mother was a wonderful help. Michael would still be sick or dead if it weren't for Bobbi. We are tied to the Smiths in more than one way now. We loooovvvvveeee Bobbi. We worried so much about Michael and are so glad he is back at work and riding his bike again.

You've seen the pictures of Richelle and her surgery. We had her at our house for 3 days and cared for her as our 'Best Beloved'. It was so peaceful having her set in the yard with the flowers and Raelynn while I watered. It was so cool and comfy relaxing. Each year we have experiences thatbind each of us closer together. When you talk until 2 in the morning you get closer to a person. We're glad she is well and taking care of her little missionaries again, but we miss her and the boys visits.

I went to SLC to visit the 8th child and 14th grandchild in their new house. Found everything snowy and cold one day and sunny and warn the next. Had a fun relaxing time. Always do. We stripped the fireplace mantel so Suzanne decided all the other woodwork in the house will be done by someone else. Lots of work buts it's to be expected in a house built in about 1930.

Suzanne has given up skating in the Derby but is still managing. As a family they have taken up recreational skating. It's a great spring time activity for SLC and they are so close to great places to skate in downtown. I guess Rebecca will be the next Roller Derby Queen. Zack just hangs around adoring Rebecca what ever she is doing.

Well Grandpaw and Nana just hang around adoring each other too. I guess that is why life is so good. Gag.....