Always to be Remembered

It seems like the death of my grandparents have always happened near significant events in my life. Makes it pretty easy to remember when they died. The first was my grandfather on my mother's side. He died the year I graduated from high school. Next was his wife who died when my oldest was eight. In fact we had to post pone her baptism because it was the same time as the funeral. Karebear was pretty mad about it and still to this day we joke she is never going to forgive Grandma.

My grandparents on my father's side of the family are getting pretty old and having a lot of problems that come with declining age. We often wondered who was going to die first. It ended  up being my grandmother. On her casket my grandfather had printed out a banner that said "The winner". When you asked him about this he would say, "She cheated though; she fell down". Around Halloween time my grandmother fell, hitting her head.

We received news of this event by an emailed photo that had the caption of "Grandma says, Happy Halloween" Just showed her positive outlook on life. She had some bleeding in her brain. They eventually had to do surgery in attempt to relieve the hematoma. This resulted in them needing to shave her head.  I'm sure this was hard for my Grandmother. This was a women who had a regular appointment with the hair dresser and I have many memories of her telling stories of pin curls. Despite these efforts, her body was just worn out and she was never able to fully recover. She died and her funeral was the day before my recent birthday.

Grandma was known for her personalized birthday cards. My kids baby books are filled with a yearly card signed from her. I was impressed that while she was in the hospital my husband received his birthday card. As my mom said, Grandma worked a month ahead. She had cards laid out to be given to all the birthdays for the rest of the year. Thus my mom handed me a card at the funeral.

The other significant event in our lives that will help us remember Grandma's death was that Tator was baptized the first part of January.

Being baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was a big deal to my grandmother. To help us celebrate this day she made embroidered quilts for each of her grand daughters. My grandfather wanted these to be remembered at my grandmother's funeral. As the first grand child, I was asked if they could display mine. It was neat to get this out of storage and share it with my daughter as she prepared for her own baptism. My parents were also able to find, in the many family albums and journals my grandmother kept a picture she took of me. She had included information on how and why she made these quilts.

I am so grateful that when I remember some of the significant events in my life I can in turn remember some of the most important people in my life as well, my grandparents.

Lest We Forget

Bud Boy has loved going to his grandparent's house to watch the BYU football games with his dad and uncle. They started a tradition where every touchdown they would stand and sing the fight song. During this, Dad would toss Princess in the air and Bud Boy's uncle would toss him. They did it enough that it was timed just perfectly so every time Bud Boy would be able to touch the ceiling.

Forgot the camera so here's the joy of my camera phone

Some of my kids would take a pacifier and some wouldn't. I am finding that it is getting harder for me to remember who. Princess was probably our child who loved the pacifier the most. If she could, she would have sucked on it 24/7. She also loved to bite holes in them. Luckily, she then refused to suck on that binky anymore. Can't blame her. Sadly, just before Christmas she bit a hole in that last binky we had and mom was not about to spend the money for a new one (why delay the inevitable). It was a rough few days, especially at nap and bed time, but now she is adjusted and already we tend to forget how often she sported this look.

Every Sunday Bud Boy picks out dad's tie so that he can hope to match, the color at least, to his tie. He was pretty thrilled that they received matching ties for Christmas.

Tator and Bud Boy got really into making presents this year. They would color and write on paper. These were then put into decorated envelopes and put under the tree. In the days proceeding up to Christmas we often would hear Bud Boy exclaim, "You're going to LOVE my present" We truly did love opening A LOT of envelopes.

Each one was so sweet and he shared, through sound spelling, what he liked doing with each person. Such as "I luv playing wif you" to his Dad We all especially enjoyed Tator's new found ability to use metaphors. Her card to her parents was a white irregularly cut piece of paper with a red shoe drawn on it and the words, "You smell better than a shoe."

Christmas Morning

Isn't it ironic that my last post was labeled Traditions and the next time I find the urge to blog is about the time of year that is the probably most laden with traditions. Each family has their own way of celebrating Christmas. For us, Christmas Eve is always spent with my husband's side of the family where we have a visit from Santa and Mrs.Claus who deliver new pajamas from Grandma to all the grand kids. Those pajamas are then what our kids wear all day Christmas.

Christmas morning this year, for us, began when the littlest one woke up about 6 am. She, in turn, then woke up her sister and brother. We then, with eyes covered, stealthy guided this crew past the living room laden with presents and up the stairs to awaken the teenagers. While we waited for all to be ready we had fun capturing that first awake look.......

The I'm cute and I know it look....

The impatient, can't we get this show on the road look....

The super excited look......

 and the really mom, look.....

After kneeling in prayer by our upstairs Christmas tree, we then attempt one last photo, in poor lightning, and quick before the youngest one escapes!

Then it's off to see what Santa brought....................