hailey gets married- personal photos

Last summer 

(almost a whole year ago now?!)

Our Hailey got married!

(Tyson & Hailey engagement photo)

I have to say-

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR KIDS HAS MARRIED SO WELL!

I honestly love each one of them. It's so scary & interesting really, to see who your children choose as a mate for life.
We are thrilled.

We held the wedding ceremony & reception in my dear friend's backyard, same yard as a year earlier where Chloe's wedding reception was held. This is a before picture. It's the perfect yard for a summer wedding. Absolutely dreamy & all shaded. It was a perfect venue & we feel so indebted to Kristal & Jeremy for allowing us to do this and TWICE! 

(another engagement photo)

This is the wedding cake - in the freezer before setting it up and delivering it. I think it's the only snapshot we got- I am so proud of myself because I made it!

It was a white cake with chocolate mousse filling and cream cheese frosting.

To beat the heat we had a late ceremony & reception.

It was too late for dinner so we served lovely - actually an amazing- assortment of appetizers. 

For the reception we served an assortment of cookies & bottles of soda.

Plus- the wedding cake. 

Tyson & Hailey August 27, 2016

I will post some of the professional pictures soon.

It was the perfect day for these two & I can't believe my friends and I pulled off another amazing wedding. Seriously- we've thought about going into business! (not really)

It's been nearly a year & Hailey is working as an ABA Therapist and Tyson has landed his dream job. He is a police officer in their town. 

Are they adorable or what?!

our henry

Henry

 Born June 2017

 Last June 17th a very special young man came into our lives.

Megan & Tony asked me to go to their home & watch Charlie, Joey & Peter while he was being born. It was so fun!

We played 

a lot

and we hung out at McDonald's Play land- with ice cream.

We made Fourth of July T-shirts 

then...

When we got the call-- we speedily made our way to the hospital.

 (Hours old Henry with 6 year old, big brother, Charlie)

 This newest & 6th Grandson is an absolute joy!

We celebrated his first birthday last weekend & frankly-- I can hardly believe it.

I never thought much about being a grandmother when I was young, or when I was a young mother. I didn't know my own grandmothers nearly at all. I am amazed by the new sense of responsibility and overwhelming love I feel for these precious children. I knew being a grandmother would be fun, but I didn't know how much love would be in every aspect.

 It's gigantic! It's all encompassing love. 

It's a more mature love than the love I felt as a young mother. I don't have the worry of being their parent, supporting them financially or being responsible for their every need.

(I realize that because my children are capable adults- and really, really good parents- I am blessed. )
-BUT-

I can see clearly, that it is my choice to be an influence for good in their lives and that's what I want to be. I want them to feel- only love- not the judgement or expectation I unwillingly put on my own children out of inexperience & unrealistic expectations. 

Being a grandparent has taught me already that I have a 3rd chance at childhood. Of course not as involved as my first two opportunities -- my own childhood, and the childhood of my children-- I just know that I don't want to waste it. Even though I typically see them once a week at the most- and not for a full 24 hours, it's important time. It's fleeting- it's going so very fast. 

I feel blessed- I feel lucky

writing is good for the soul

back to the blogging


Nearly 2 years ago now- I told my therapist that I would start writing. I promised her on our last appointment that I write here at least once a week. So here I am starting today 2 + years later! I'm considering this as a win. Better late than never. I know I have some raw issues to work through and frankly don't want to write that stuff here- so it's going to be a balancing act.

so here goes:

1. I will be 50 years old in 22 days.
2. I now have 6 Grandsons and 1 Granddaughters!
3. Being a Grandmother is one of the biggest surprises of my life- I knew it would be good/fun but I didn't know how much I would feel needed.
4. Having adult children is harder than I ever imagined, because I am a recovering control freak.
5. My youngest child (I have 6 children) turns 18 - 3 weeks after my 50th birthday. It's not a good combination.
6. I am struggling to figure out what my role in life is now after nearly working myself out of my preferred profession of being the control freak- mom.
7. I come to this blog every. single. day. and read the few bloggers out there that I have followed for years.
8. I miss some of my old favorites terribly.
9. Somehow - they feel like family to me.
10. I am sad at how much of my life is missing here- I have such a great history started- then blew it by not keeping up! dang it! I'm going to try to keep going & even catch up a little.

Chloe & Willy Get Married

8-15-2015

It was a wonderful day-

more to come

boys, boys, and more boys!

Confession:

I have thousands of pictures on my phone.

I won't delete them & you can't make me.

My husband thinks I'm crazy. 

I don't care.

Here are a few that I either took or one of the kids sent me of my darling Grandsons last year 2014. 

Peter

Crew with Uncle Jack

Charlie

 Megan's boys, Trent & I at the aquarium.

Babysitting the twins.

My boys after last year's Priesthood Session of General Conference.

Guess what?

This summer Trent is actually as tall as Brett!

One year and all that growth- that's one of the many reasons why I have so many photos.