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.....