Dean!

One Sunday evening in August, Jenna and Erik turned up with a welcome guest: Dean Pixton. Dean and Darin grew up together, going to church and school together. They were great friends and, in fact, Darin broke his collar bone at Dean's house playing soccer in the 4th grade. They were also roommates their freshman year in college. Dean is like one of the family, but now that Darin is in El Salvador and Dean is at college we don't see him much.

While Dean was over, somehow it was brought up that one time Jenna carried Dean on her back. Dean is big--well over 6 feet tall. Well, she did it again!!

Thanks for coming over, Dean! It's always fun to see you!

Delainey's Birthday

Our oldest grandchild, Delainey, turned 3 in July. What a special addition she has been to our family! We all adore her (as well as Sallie) and we love that she's so talkative and fun to be with. Nothing makes your day like a phone call from Delainey! Not only does she tell you interesting things on the phone, but she ends every phone call with: "I love you! Bye!" She is also one of the most polite 3-year-olds I have ever been around (and I have been around many 3-year-olds!). She rarely forgets to say "please" and "thank you". Devin and Sarah are doing a fabulous job of raising Delainey to be such a beautiful little girl--inside and out.

Sarah did a "Fancy Nancy" party for Delainey and her friends and a family party. This is one of the pictures that was on the Fancy Nancy invitation. I love it!!

Here is the big girl herself at her family birthday party.

Devin found a great deal on a playset on Craigslist and he and Donald disassembled it, stored it in the garage and then put it back together with the help of Erik and Will. It was a big surprise on Delainey's birthday and has been played on constantly. Notice the change in Delainey's attire. She loves to dress up as a princess and I had found a bunch of princess dresses that I gave her on her birthday. She changed into one right after opening it. :-)

Amber and Alana

When Devin and Jamie were little, a family moved here that we met at church.  They had two girls.  Little did I know when I first met them, that the two girls and their mother would become like family to us.  The oldest daughter, Amber, was in Devin's grade and the younger daughter, Alana, was just ahead of Jamie in school.  Devin and Amber were in Joy School together.  Both girls took piano lessons from me.  Jamie and Alana played club volleyball together so many weekends I would get to drive the two of them to volleyball tournaments.  The two girls went to BYU while my kids went to North Carolina schools.  Amber married a local boy and lives here, but I rarely get to see her.  Alana married, lived here for a couple of years, allowed me to have her oldest son in my preschool, and then moved to Utah last summer.

About two weeks ago, Alana was back in town.  Jenna, Sarah and I met Alana and Amber at the local McDonald's for lunch and fun.  Amber has 3 children and Alana has 3 children.  The oldest is 5.  If you count Delainey and Sallie, there were 8 children under 5 years old--7 of which were walking and playing on the playground along with other children.  We weren't able to visit a lot as it was noisy and someone seemingly always needed something.  But it was so fun to see these girls again.  After lunch, we went outside to try and get a picture.

Amber’s three on the top—Owen, Riley, Scarlett

Amber’s three on the bottom—Gabe, David Mac—plus Delainey

Alana in the green shirt, Amber in the pink shirt, Nancy in front

 

me with some of my favorite people!!

 

Amber, Alana and Nancy will always have a special place in my heart and I will never forget how much fun it was to have them grow up with my kids.  Come visit again soon, Alana!!

Sallie's First Birthday

Sallie turned one on June 28 and I wanted to do a little sewing so I made her a little-tiered skirt. Now I can sew, but I almost always use a pattern. I decided to do this one without and it turned out. (There's a couple of things I would do differently--but Delainey's birthday is right around the corner so I'll get to see what I've actually learned.)

(Sallie's skirt)

Sallie was SO cute--not sure about the presents or the cake to begin with, but happy and fun. She's been such a sweet addition to Devin and Sarah's family--and to all of our families as well. We can't imagine life with Sallie and I cannot wait for Darin to see her in another year!!

Now we're counting down the days until this little one turns 3!!

Where does the time go???

Lesson learned

Note to self: Breakfast in bed isn't nearly as much fun when you have cereal and milk and forget that milk can slosh right over the edge of the bowl and onto your shirt....

My Mother’s Day Card

This year I got a video mother’s day card from Delainey.  I watched it again the other day and decided I would share it with you as well.  I love that girl!! 

Busch Gardens

On Tuesday, June 14, I headed out to Busch Gardens (an amusement park) with my good friend, Tracy and her daughter Abigail and a friend, Alisa. It was my first time at this park even though it's only about 3 1/2 hours from here. Jamie, Jenna, Erik and Darin went more than a year ago and had a great time.

The park is set up like different countries. It's pretty cool. The rides are different, the music is different, even the food is a little different.

We go there before the "gates" opened so we could start off with a bang. And I really started off with a bang!! As we were walking in, the girls were running to get to the roller coaster. Tracy and I were walking fast. I was intrigued by the facade of the buildings and just looking around. I looked up and realized that Tracy was getting ahead of me and that I wasn't sure where the roller coaster was. I remember thinking--I need to walk faster! I was wearing tennis shoes and before you know it, I felt myself falling. Unluckily, there wasn't anything to grab on to (or luckily for those around me). The next thing I knew I was on the ground. Only some minor bumps and bruises. (Although my knees still hurt when I kneel and it's been two weeks.) Tracy hurried back and helped me up, but I was surprised that no one else even asked if I was okay. I was just like a rock in the stream and they all just flowed around me.

Being a rock in the stream has really got me to thinking over the past two weeks. How many times do I just flow around people in need (ok--I wasn't really in need--but you get what I mean) because I'm so busy with my own life and making sure I get where I need/want to be? My guess is that I do that more than I know. And sadly, sometimes I know I'm passing by someone that could use my help, but I'm too busy or I don't know them or I feel that they don't really want my help. I'm going to work harder to stop and help and listen as the spirit directs me to those in need.

A side note--my arms were so sore the next day--and not from the fall--from the roller coasters!! I hung on so tight to the restraints that I used muscles that I hadn't for a while. Now that's a fun workout!! :-)