Dear Paisley

I'm going to carry on a tradition that started 22 years ago when Chelsea turned 1 years old. She was the first grandchild in my family, and her dear grandma, (my mom) wrote her a sweet letter expressing her love to her. Since none of my other kids received the same letter when they turned 1, I can assume Chelsea was the only recepient of such a letter. I think I can keep that type of tradition, the one that only happens once. I realize I'm a few days early, but this grandma is busy and won't have a single minute to spare on tuesday to sit down and write a letter. So here's a little early birthday present.

Dear Paisley,

I like to imagine that a year ago as your mom was making preparations to give birth to you, you were preparing as well. I can imagine you, sitting at the feet of our Heavenly parents, receiving final instructions about your life here on earth. I'm sure you were anxious and excited to begin your long awaited journey to come to earth to finally receive a body and be with your mother and father who were just as excited and anxious as you.

I'd like to think you were forwarned about the evil conditions that exist in the world, but were given hope when you were told how you were one of the strong and valiant ones; saved for this day because you are able to overcome the temptations and be a force for good in the world. I'm sure you were told that you were coming down to live with goodly parents; a mother and a father who were righteous and would teach you everything you needed to know to return again to His presence someday. I'm sure there were hugs and well wishes by your younger siblings as they watched you pave the way for them.

And then, the miracle we had all been waiting for happened. On July 26th, you were born and I became a Grandma! What a blessing you have been in my life! Being a grandma means I can feed you chocolate ice-cream, and not care that the sugar will keep you up all night. It means when you come over while your mom and dad are at work, I can play with you and take you on outings, because I know I can always get the housework done after you've left. Being a grandma means I don't have to discipline, or put on my angry face, or tell you 'no'. Being a grandma means I can take you to the library and check out childrens books again, oh how i've missed reading them. It means I can go to the park, or sit in the kiddy pool. It means I can blow bubbles, and shop at Carter's.

But do you know what being a Grandma means the most to me Paisley? It means that the love I felt for your mother, is the same love I feel for you. It is the strongest, most protective and pure love anyone can feel. It's not the same love I feel for grandpa, or my friends or siblings, or even my own parents; it's a special love reserved for our children, and yes, our grandchildren too. I'm so happy to know it's the same kind of love. It's one that you won't understand until you have a baby of your own someday. And when that day comes, and I'm sure it will come all too soon, I hope you will remember the love you feel, is how much you were, and still are loved, by me.

Love,

Grandma

P.S. to your mother Chelsea...the tradition has now been handed down to you. I wonder how we'll be writing letters 22 years from now?

Family vacation

You may have noticed my lack of blogging lately. It's not that I don't have anything to blog about, it's because I've been doing so much to blog about that I don't have time to blog about it. I read a good article in the Ensign that summed it up this way: "Near the end of his life, one father looked back on how he had spent his time on earth. An acclaimed, respected author of numerous scholarly works, he said, 'I wish I had written one less book and taken my children fishing more often.'

I guess I could sum up my past month by saying, 'I'm glad I didn't write any blogs this month because I've been busy spending time with my family.' That doesn't sound nearly as eloquant though. I guess I won't ever have to worry about others quoting me.

I'm not sure if at this point I try to catch up on all the things I've been doing this summer, or just move forward. Let's just say, as I've sat on my warm cement porch with a bowl of cold ice-cream, watching the sun set and the kids play, I've often thought to myself..."I could be blogging right now", but I chose instead to enjoy the moment. Summer nights go way too fast. All too soon the kids will be back in school, the nights will get shorter and cooler, and warm cement and lingering sunsets will be replaced with a chill in the air and long dark nights with plenty time to lounge in the basement, blogging about how short the summers are.

But I've found a little quiet time this evening and thought I would do something I love.

Technically, I'm still on vacation. After spending 3 days camping with the family, coming home to unpack, do laundry and clean the house that didn't get done before I left, I realized this is not my idea of a vacation.

So, i'm kicking back in my comfy leather chair to blog. I love to blog, and since this is my vacation, i'm going to do something I enjoy doing. Not that camping wasn't enjoyable, other than the mosquitos, it was relaxing and wonderful, it's just all the before and after stuff that comes with it.

As I downloaded the pictures I took these past couple of days, I realized I didn't take near as many as I should have. There are several people I didn't get any pictures of...how did that happen?! I'm a little annoyed with myself and feel like we need a do-over.

I didn't get any pictures of Trey trying to get up on the wake-board for his first time, or Wendy showing all the young'uns how it's done, even though it was her first time as well.

I didn't get any pictures of Kayla getting up on the wind-surfer, and down, and up again, and down. Eventually the wind was just right and she went too far for my camera to reach, if only I had tried.

I didn't get any pictures of my Dad's swollen arm. The one he refuses to admit is broken, or fractured, or at the very least, very sprained. Believe it or not, he didn't get it while skiing, or wind-surfing, or wake-boarding, which I'm sure he would have done all those things, had he not hurt his arm. Let's just blame it on old age, poor footing and poor eye-sight. They say that's the first to go.

I didn't get any pictures of my mom at the beach, laughing hysterically when she asked my dad a question and he couldn't hear her (hearing is the second thing to go). So he tried to get up off the ground, but because of his hurt arm, he couldn't quite push himself up. He must have reminded her of a potato bug who tries to roll himself off of his back, his little legs kicking in the air, but not getting anywhere. My dad has never acted his age, and is never helpless, so to see him in that situation must have looked silly to my mom. She laughed herself to tears.

I didn't get any pictures of Cindy as she was describing during our late night campfire game of 2 truths and a lie, her truthfully admitting to throwing her daughter Sarah into the lake while she was trying to help her throw in her fishing line, and casted her instead. She was also laughing hysterically, as were we all. Everyone but Sarah that is.

I didn't get any pictures of Luke and JP and Megan and Sarah, playing peek-a-boo with Paisley and keeping her entertained all week. They were so cute with her, and she just loves them all!

I didn't get any pictures of my daughters' impersonation of a triceratop. For some reasons, the mosquito's took a liking to their foreheads, and both of them had bumps that looked like they had the makings of a good set of horns. I guess I was too busy doing the mosquito dance to stop and take pictures of everyone else swatting, slapping, dodging, smashing, itching and going stark crazy mad.

However, I did get pictures of...

Trey posing in front of Cascade Springs.

Amber, hiding from the mosquito's.

The family enjoying the beauties of the mountains.

Paisley, having fun at Deer Creek.

Wendy, introducing Paisley to chocolate marshmallows.

Even though i'm a little sad by the lack of frogs in the pictures, or kids in kayak's, or fish dangling from poles, we still had a great time. The most important things were accomplished. Love, laughter, and strengthening family ties.

Dang, we forgot the smores. Now we definitely need a do-over.