Views of Newport, Oregon (June 2010)

I love the Oregon coast. It is so beautiful and peaceful.

In some of the pictures you can tell it was misty and I loved that. It reminded me of the California coast in the mornings.

It is just great to be able to live so close to the ocean and to enjoy it often.

I was here this month for our annual family reunion with my family.

My prior visit to Newport was last year with my friend John and his wife. John unexpectedly passed away last weekend. I will miss him. He did a significant amount of family history work for me. I am so grateful to him for that gift.

I made a quilt!

This quilt has quite the story - My grandmother who passed away 20 yrs ago made the blocks of quilt squares. My mother has had the quilt squares all this time and hasn't made the quilt. So, mom gave me the squares about 18 months ago. (I have to interject that one week after my mom gave me the quilt squares she called to see if I had the quilt made! Well, it took me a bit longer than that!) A few months ago my friend Sheila invited me to come do projects with her so I took the quilt squares to try to decide how to make a quilt out of them. Sheila gave me the pastel fabric that is between the quilt squares. Her mother had given her the fabric years prior before she passed away. Anyhow, I just started putting the quilt together without a plan or measuring it. When I got done with the top, I was shocked to realize that the quilt top fit perfectly on a twin size blanket. That blue blanket became the quilt backing. It is nice and warm since the blanket is a fleece blanket. My grandmother made these quilt squares out of fabric used for her dresses. This quilt looks better than the picture portrays but it's not a beautiful quilt. It does have sentimental qualities. I think this is all I have that came from my grandmother.

My Hero Mitt Romney

Today was a special day for me - I attended the Washington State Republican Party Convention. Mitt Romney was the keynote speaker. He gave an excellent speech and I was thrilled to be sitting in the 4th row, front & center. The only thing better would have been to shake his hand but security was much too tight for that. At least I was close enough to take this picture with my cell phone.

Mother's Day - 2010

This was a wonderful mother's day to have Charity come for the weekend and spend the day with Charity and Nate/family. Charity and Nate made a delicious dinner. Charity put together the menu and Nate did the grocery shopping.

While Charity and Nate were cooking dinner, I was able to play with the kids and take a few pictures. Little Elijah seems pretty close to crawling. He's really good at rolling around and scooting backwards!

Adalei was playing in the bassinet and Elijah wanted in. His smile was so cute that I couldn't resist taking a picture of the two of them having fun together.

The dinner menu was Parmesan chicken, broccoli, potatoes, fruit salad, and chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter filling and chocolate icing. Nate made the cupcakes himself. The entire meal was very delicious!

Oh, we also had Misty's favorite ice cream along with the cupcakes. Here's a picture of the delicious cupcakes.

This is Brielle's favorite spot to sit (above) - on Nate's shoulders! I don't think I've ever been at their house and her not spend time in her favorite spot!

Here's a group picture below!

Nate/family gave me the beautiful red roses and a photo collage with cute pictures. Jason and Ashley gave me this cupcake pan and the silicone cupcake holders. I'm really excited to use them!

Charity is always so good to me - in addition to visiting for the weekend, she gave me these two cute shirts, a beautiful necklace/ear ring set, a bracelet from Greece, my favorite taffy from the Salt Lake, and these lovely flowers - some of my favorites! Charity also cleaned my bathroom and vacuumed the entire upstairs. She was so helpful!

I also got a cute card and picture from Casey/Jenna & boys. I really enjoyed video conferencing with them as well.

It was a wonderful mother's day weekend and I enjoyed it very much. I am sure blessed with four awesome children, my wonderful daughters in law and seven adorable grandchildren.

Multnomah Falls Hike - April 2010

I hiked to the top of Multnomah Falls and took these pictures. It was a beautiful day and I really enjoyed the hike.

Easter 2010

It was really fun to spend Easter with Nate, Misty & the children.
I was able to watch a day of conference with them also which was really nice for me.

Nate hid the eggs and the girls had a fun time finding them.

Adalei found the surprise egg which had a picture of Jesus inside.

Below, Nate & Misty are putting the finishing touch on the Easter meal. We enjoyed a delicious dinner - ham with pineapple sauce, broccoli, green jello eggs, bread, scalloped potatoes, chocolate cake with coconut icing, and ice cream (cookies & cream).

March 2010 - Miscellaneous Grandchildren Pictures

Adalei is having a fun time taking these classes. It's not karate but I can't remember how to spell what it is.

Weston is a good big brother . I thought his shirt was really cute.

Above and below the pictures were taken at lunch time with his dad. Weston loves to have lunch with dad. Casey was amazing in the picture below to carry both boys at the same time especially when Weston was trying to give his little brother a hug.

Above, baby Benson sleeping and below, Paisley and Weston waiting for dinner.

Here I am - the proud grandma with two of my four grandsons - Weston and Benson.

I stayed a week with Casey and Jenna to help out with the boys so there are more pictures of them than my other grandchildren. Weston was so serious every time I tried to take a picture but I tried to capture some cute moments.

Above and below, cute little Benson with a yawn and then almost a smile.

More of Benson my newest grandson....

Both pictures above and below show how loving Weston is with his little brother. Benson is trying to get used to the hugs and kisses.

Jenna looks great after just having a baby. I caught them having family time on the couch and just had to capture the moment.

I was able to spend one day with Paisley and Spencer. Above, Paisley is drawing in my book with a pen. She says, "I want to color." So to her, this is coloring.

Happy little Spencer above at lunch time and then below playing contentedly.

Paisley looks so cute in the t-shirt I got her in NYC. The red bow goes perfect with her outfit. Ashley dresses her so cute.

This was a cute moment above - we were having lunch at the sushi place. Paisley didn't want sushi so she was having a granola bar. I had to laugh when she broke up her granola bar so it would fit in one of the little sushi plates.
I just love being a grandmother. My children and grandchildren bring so much laughter, joy and happiness. I am so grateful for each one of them. Seven grandchildren now - three granddaughters followed by four grandsons.............

Jason and Ashley's new house

Jason and Ashley have a beautiful 4 bedroom, 2 bath house on a quiet street. The house was previously a model home so the inside is very nice and the back yard has great landscaping. After living in apartments for years, they are happy to have their own home. It was nice for me to be able to visit them also.

Weston's Second Birthday Party!

Jenna sure did a great job with the birthday party. The chocolate cake was perfection with the chocolate marshmallow fondant. The theme was "balls." The birthday cake was really cute and the football shape serving tray with popcorn and chips was also really cute. Aren't the cupcakes so good? She gave the little guests one of the bouncy balls as a thank you for coming to the party. It was a wonderful party.

This was little Benson's first party to attend and he slept right through it as you can see from the picture above.

Aunt Charity brought bubbles that were a big hit. Paisley was enjoying watching the huge bubbles. (above)

Above, Jason pushing Paisley and Weston on the swings. Paisley and Weston are so cute together.

Two brothers that have remained best friends........ (above)

Paisley was enjoying the strawberries while Ashley tended Spencer. (above)

Above, Weston waiting patiently to blow out his candles. He practiced blowing out candles with his mom last week and he blew out his birthday cakes immediately after they were lit.

Above, Weston didn't hesitate to open his birthday gifts. As soon as he opened one gift, he was ready to play with it so it was cute to watch as Casey had to remove the opened gift and insist he open the next gift. You could tell Weston really liked his gifts. Below he is looking at the card I made for him that has a picture of a "digger" on it. Weston is fascinated with "diggers" and monster trucks. He was so cute to watch. I gave him a backpack with tools, books, puzzle, and Tommy the train accessories. He loves his trains very much.

I'm so glad I could attend Weston's birthday party while I came for the blessing and to help out with the new baby. What wonderful memories I have of my visit this week.