New Mexico and back!

Last week I spent time with the Tripp Family in Los Alamos, NM. I had a great time and got to do some fun things with my grandkids. I even got treated to a spring snowfall. Fortunately, it wasn't the 2-3 feet predicted, but only a few inches - enough for Justin to build a snowman for Ada and Tyghe. Mr. Snowman toppled before the big kids got home from school.

The littles got to sled in their own backyard. They have the perfect little hill for them.



I like to take a craft to do with the grandkids when I visit, so we made hand puppets and pretzel rod candy molds. The kids were very good at doing things on their own, without much direction. And then they treated me to a puppet show in their newly constructed (by Meg and Justin), awesome puppet theatre.
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Friday night is Pizza and Movie night, so while mom and dad went out to dinner and a movie, the kids made a Mickey Mouse shaped pizza and we watched Nightmare Before Christmas. They really enjoyed the movie, but even more, I think they enjoyed seeing how the movie was made in the bonus features








On my return trip to the airport, Meg and Justin got in a temple session, while the kids and I went to McDonald's Playland. Then we all went to Old Town Albuquerque and visited the Rattlesnake Museum. I am wearing my souvenier shirt in the photo with all the kids. I never knew there were so many kinds of rattlesnakes! EWWWWW!


Thanks to the girls for letting me bunk with you. Sorry I snored ;(
I had a great time with all of you.

Fat Tuesday - or I am such a dork!

I knew the missionaries were on the calendar for the day before Fat Tuesday. So I woke up Monday and thought "Man, I have to make a King Cake and Jambalaya for the Elders" We started the tradition of having a King Cake on Fat Tuesday a couple of years ago. We hide a little plastic baby in the cake and whoever gets the piece with the baby inside has good luck for the coming year, and also gets to host the next King Cake Party. Never having made Jambalaya, I wanted to give it a try this year (I even peeled and de-turded fresh shrimp).
I spent all afternoon in the kitchen, invited the Lyons over to enjoy the feast and waited for the Elders to show up. No Elders! Then I went online to read more about Mardi Gras, and low and behold - looked at the calendar and realized I was a week early! Sheesh. We had a good meal, enjoyed the cake, and we all snickered at my senior moment. The leftover jambalaya is in the freezer for next Monday when the missionaries are really supposed to come, and I will make a new batch of dirty rice and a new King Cake - maybe.
Brechin was the recipient of the baby in the cake. He can have next year's party. I will come!

Chilly Days in Iowa

 
 
 
 
We really can't complain about the weather on our recent trip to Iowa. The first day in Omaha was cold, but then things warmed up once we got to Des Moines. We had a good visit with Grandpa Stubblefield and took him out to dinner. I doubt he recalled we were there, but at least we got to check up on him and extend our love.
We did some interesting things, while visiting Josh and Courtney. Grant Wood's painting "American Gothic" was on loan to the Des Moines Art Center, so we made a trip there and got to see the original work of art. There were some other great paintings on temporary display depicting rural life in Iowa. I really liked it! Saturday we went to Tristan's swim meet in Pella. Pella is a quaint dutch community about an hour drive from Des Moines. It is a lovely little town and boasts Pella Window factory. We visited a few cute shops in between Tristan's races and had a big lunch at the Pizza Ranch. Sunday, of course, was Delaney's blessing day. She cooperated great for the actual blessing, but was not happy when it was time for photos. We also went to Jordan Creek Mall, and they have a great play area for kids. Thanks to Josh and Courtney for being such wonderful hosts. And thanks to Asher for letting us bunk with him. He wasn't feeling well our last 2 nights, so I kicked us downstairs, so Grandpa's snoring wouldn't bother him. As you can see - Asher and Grandpa were best buddies and took a Sunday snooze together. From the minute he saw us in his room the first morning, he called grandpa "daddy." He even hung outside the bathroom door when grandpa showered and called for "Daddy." And, of course, Dacia was so excited to see us, and reverts to bad behavior when Grandma is around. I am a bad influence on her!

Grandma braves a slide at Monkey Joes

Yeah, I did the big slide at Monkey Joes. It was tons of fun. Wouldn't have done it without Hannah to hold on to. Ben was enamoured with Monkey Joe and wanted to dance and hang out with him. Hannah was too cool to care about a Big Purple Monkey.Sorry about the middle part of the video. New camera, first video.

Call it!

While visiting South Carolina this past week, Jared and Debbie took me to the famous Beacon Burger where you can get a heartattack on a plate. Beacon Burger is famous for visits from Pres Bush, Mitt Romney and other political hopefuls. You place your order with CJ and he yells it out to the cooks in jargon not understandable to the likes of a California girl like me. When the order is complete he yells "Caaawwwllll et!" CJ was kind enough to allow us a photo op. There are billboards around town proclaiming CJ's fame. Ben likes to say "call it," as well. Take note, also, that when ordering a side of slaw and chili, the slaw and chili are IN the burger!
I also learned the locals refer to shopping carts as buggies. "Honey, would ya'll get me a buggy for these here groceries?"




Sorry the "it" is cut off.

We also made a trip to Monkey Joes, a bounce house place and a trip to the snow for some tubing. It was a great trip and I appreciate J & D hosting me. Thanks to Hannah and Ben for all the cuddles and kisses.

Christmas Eve Outtakes

 

I thought you might like to see what happens when you let a 3 year old take charge of the camera. This is Carter's artistic interpretation of Christmas Eve Festivities

Christmas Eve

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