My life in September 2008

Over Labor Day weekend your dad and I drove up to Sacramento to see how everyone was doing. My dad is doing about the same, his mind is good but his right leg doesn't always obey that good mind. I spent some time videotaping my dad while he answered my questions about his life before WII. It was so nice of him to let me do that and the session gave out great. I am going to try to do it again and get him to talk about the rest of his life.

We also went out to dinner at the Olive Garden with Caroline, Peter, Mark, Anita, Averi, my parents and a foreign exchange student from Japan. She belonged to Mark and Anita. The food was much better than I remembered it to be. On Sunday we went to Wayne and Cathy's ward and watched them put Wayne in as Bishop.

I am now holding Family History classes at home on Wednesday mornings. A few people are coming and that's good enough. Dad and I bought another laptop and printer for our FH class in the ward. We also bought another air card so we can access the Internet in our building. I have had fun downloading all sorts family history programs onto this new computer. Now if I could learn how to build a network at the church we would really be in business.

Dad is in Pittsburgh today but will be home tomorrow night. We are flying out Saturday to go to Orlando, Florida. Dad has a conference later in the week but we are going to go play at Disney World for a couple of days. We will be home Friday night.

Oh, I'm supposed to tell you about what wonderful Lindsay is doing. She's eating, sleeping, working, watching TV and shopping with me, she helps me put my credit card in the machine the correct way. Oh, and she helps babysit the dogs. It's nice to have her around until she starts making fun of my senior moments, which are, sadly, becoming more frequent

You know I love you all more than chocolate!

MOM/Grams/Deb

The Past Week

Here I am sitting in the back row of the auditorium on the last day of the BYU FAMILY HISTORY CONFERENCE. The topic isn't very interesting though most of the other presentations have been great. I have really enjoyed myself and I've learned so much but I'm starting to feel some of that information leaking out of my ears.

I've been able to spend some time with Ryan and he seems a little better. I think he is going to move out of his apartment and finish this term living with Heather. Went went over his schedule for the Fall Semester and we all agreed that 17.5 units were a little too much stress especially with the classes he had registered for. I think we got him down to the 14 units he has to take to keep his scholarship. He mentioned that his therapist suggested we all get together and get an arbitrator and work everything out. Could be fun or not...

I've been getting lots and lots of hugs. Heather and Michael have made me feel so welcome and the kids are such a delight. We went out the IHOP last and had a lot of fun. This is a must tradition when ever I come to Provo. The kids always eat so good there and have fun coloring. Yesterday Heather and I took the boys to Nordstrom. When we started to enter Evan complained, "Why are we going in here?" Heather told him that Grams was going to buy him some new shoes. Evan broke into one of his great smiles and Jonathan followed his example and said "Really?" I think the boys had as much fun as the girls. Of course after the shopping we had to ride up and down the escalator.

I wish someone would of told me how much fun being a grams would be!

The Disneyland Duo

Do you think Brandon and Chelsea are having a good time? They are just the best people to go to the "Big D" with ! Gotta love 'em.

Any Thing for the Grandchildren

One evening while the Peterson's were visiting we went out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants that just happens to be in a mall.
It also just happened to have a Thomas the Train Store right next door. Towards the end of dinner Josh got a little restless and Megan decided to take him for a little walk while the others finished up. Grams, missing Josh soon went looking for him and low and behold she found him in the Thomas the Train Store playing with the the trains on display. He seemed to be in Heaven. Soon it was time to go and Josh was a little unhappy to leave the trains behind so anyone knowing Grams can guess what came next.

A few moments later I came walking into the Restaurant with a great big box. I could over hear Ken telling the others that Deborah was just spoiling her grand kids as usual. Now I had figured that this train was a necessity and not just some silly toy and I was sure Joshua would agree with me. Besides I knew Jason and Megan would put it together and I could just sit a watch Josh playing happily.

Isn't that what being a Grams is all about. Isn't he cute, cute, cute?

Finally MY Second Blog

Sorry this blog has been so long in coming. I keep thinking I have to put a picture with my blog and since I'm having a little trouble getting my pictures on line I just kind of give up. But I have decided that a blog with no pictures is better than no blog at all.

It's been a busy few weeks. We had a great visit from Josh and Janie. They are both so sweet and cute. Even dad adores them. He would even come home from work early to spend more time with them, yes I was a little amazed too. Wouldn't it be nice if babies could remember how much they are loved and how often they are kissed and cuddled. They would have these great memories to hold on to when they became not quite so lovable or cute. Sometimes when I kiss my little grand kids I ask Heavenly Father to help them remember that there Grams loves them.

We took the two cuties to the big D. They brought their parents along because someone had to change their diapers and feed them. Janie got in a lot of smiling practice. She smiles so much that when there is even a hint of a frown, her little bottom lip just kind of puckers, we are just heart broken and rush to make her happy again. Josh seemed to favor the little cars that you can drive. He would get in with his dad and as soon as they were around the corner Jason would put Josh on his lap and give him the steering wheel. That was so fun he had to do that at least twice.

We decided to get Chelsea and Brandon Premium Disney Passports for Brandon's graduation present and they came over and met up with us. I think they have used their passes about three times the first week. We all stayed late and watched the fireworks.

Saturday, June 28, we celebrated my mother's eightieth birthday. All our children were there and that was the first time they have been together since before Ryan's mission. Karen and Alissa were also there.

Dad and I are so proud of all of our children, not so much because of their success in this world but because they are all genuinely nice people. I don't know why that sometimes surprises me. Though maybe it's because they showed some interesting tendencies when they were kids like riding on top of cars, flying off ramps in roller blades or sneaking Oreo cookies.

Love for now.

I just wish you all could remember how much you were kissed and cuddled.

My First Blog

Lindsay set this blog up for me. Nice of her. Jason helped think of a name for it though it is a little different than what he suggested. Funny, Jason, real funny.



Lindsay and I had such a fun day today. We were on our way to Chino's Costco and low and behold what did we find? A NEW MALL! One of those new outside malls. Imagine our surprise, our delight, the shouts of joy in our car. Dad probably won't share my enthusiasm for this great find. Oh, well.



It has most of our favorite stores, restaurants, interactive water fountains, and more. I could just imagine each of the kids playing in the water, having ice cream and shopping with their Grams. Oh, there's a candy store too. Evan will especially love that.



Well needless to say Lindsay and I leaped from our car and embarked on a really great adventure. Shopping, shopping, shopping! We had so much fun that we were too tired to go to Costco. Oh, well sometimes you just have to play.



It's so close to our house and oh it has a Panera and a CPK. I can't wait to take you all there. Fun, fun, fun!



Love ya,

MOM/Grams/Deborah