My Cute Grandpa

On Christmas Eve my sweet grandpa LeGrande was finally able to pass away and leave all his ailments behind. I am of course very sad he's gone, but also feel so happy he's returned to all his loved ones that went before him. He's actually got two wives he outlived and I know he missed them very much and I know their reunion must have been awesome! His first wife was Patty and she died from breast cancer not too many years after marrying and having 2 daughters. My Grandma Shirley was also widowed when my grandpa was killed leaving her as a single mother to my dad. And then Brady Bunch style they found each other and combined families and had 3 more children. Because my family moved around alot I often felt disconnected from my grandparents, but they always made the effort to call, write and visit when they could. He served as Bishop for man years and he and my grandma served a mission together. I am grateful they both always displayed how much they loved the Lord and the importance of family. I thank my grandpa for teaching my dad all he knows about cars, carpentry, plumbing, electric, boating, camping, etc. I know that I am who I am b/c my dad was schooled by the master! My grandpa built the house they lived in for decades (shag carpets and all!) before they eventually went into a retirement facility. I remember my grandpa wasn't super lovey dovey, so when he did hug and cuddle me it was special. He was witty and had a great smile (it usually looked like he was keeping a secret or something from you.) I loved their house b/c the house was built on an old orchard and they had several fruit trees and an awesome garden. They canned their food and in college I loved to "shop" in their canning room. Although b/c of distance I haven't seen my grandpa for several years, I will miss just knowing he was there. I am so happy he's not suffering anymore and I know that I will see him again someday. I feel awful I can't make it to the funeral b/c the flights to Utah are out of control expensive, but I hope he'll understand. I will be thinking of him and all my family together celebrating his life.

I love you!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS BEDFORD FALLS!!!!

If you don't know what I'm talking about go watch "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE!"

MOVING UP!!

Does anybody else watch the tv show MOVING UP on TLC? It's a great concept. They take a person buying a house from a person, and then that person buying a house from a person. Then they renovate the house and 6 months later the previous owners come back and judge it. It's hosted by Doug Wilson who used to do Trading Spaces and it's very funny. The people are usually really mean and critical. And you get these people who say "if they change my gorgeous green glass fan from the 80's I'd be really surprised." Some people have no design sense!! So....I've been loving this show, and the other night the previous owner of OUR old house called and said she had a bunch of our Christmas Cards and would WE like to come back and see what she's done to the place!!! It was so awesome! We went last night and it was just so fun. She totally gutted the bathrooms and they look gorgeous. And she painted and did some really cool things w/ the place. It definitely didn't feel like our home! So thanks Angela for letting us come! Who has that opportunity?!?! I moved so much growing up and always wished we could go see our old houses and never did. I just had to share b/c it was so fun!

Here she is in all her glory. She was a good house!

I HEART PHILADELPHIA

Today Phil took off from work, and with his Mom and the kiddies we were off to Philly! We went to the Macy's light show on Market STreet, then Hard Rock Cafe for lunch, walked to Independence Hall and saw the Liberty Bell, then to the PA Convention Center to see a really fun interactive train display. The kids pushed buttons to make the trains go and since their both "choo choo" fanatics they were loving it! Then it was back to Macy's to see the Charles Dickens display which I enjoyed but scared the heck out of Tyler. (the ghost of Christmas future WAS super freaky) And then the kids saw Santa and told the old elf what they want. Ty has seen him many times and had to give him an updated version of his list. It changes constantly and he's very concerned Santa isn't in the know.

Phil and I have decided we love Philadelphia. WE go into NYC more than we do Philly, and we're not sure why anymore!! Philly is closer, easier to get to, cheaper and frankly it was cleaner. AND everything we did was FREE!!! You heard it right, free. Parking was a rip-off, but who cares?!!?!? Where we were anyway didn't smell like pee!! Although I do love NYC too, don't get me wrong, but sometimes we can spare ourselves the trip there. I'm not a hater...

So here are some pics from our day!

Inside the Macy's they have 3 stories of lights and an organ! You just sit on the floor in the midst of people shopping and watch a 20 minute show. SOOO cool! And it's the old Wannamaker's Dept. Store and it's super old and vintage.

The kids climbing the eagle in Macy's while we waited for the show to start. Everyone else was doing it, so I allowed it. It was hard but I let it go. They were having a blast!

The Hard Rock Cafe. We were seated below Johnny Cash. I love him.

The Liberty Bell w/ Independence Hall in the background.

A whole lotta smiling faces when we were playing w/ the trains!

ANYONE ELSE DESPISE LUV'S DIAPERS?

So I must know. Has anyone else had problems w/ Luvs leaking the little gel balls from the inside ALL over the place? It happened on my birthday in October, and figured it was just a bad batch, but I was scorned and didn't buy another box of them. While in Denver however, I needed diapers and they were on sale so I got them. I am just finishing the bag, and 2 days in a row they've busted open and spilled those dumb gel pebbles everywhere!!! Curse you Luvs! Curse you!!!!!!

Projectile vomiting is not for sissies

I've never really understood what projectile vomiting was. When somebody pukes, it just comes out and there ya go. Well, my friends-I get it now. Moments ago, Tyler was throwing a major fit. I never know when the kid is really hurt b/c he's so dramatic (it's genetic). So he's in bed and Phil comes in to rescue Ty b/c I'm being "mean." I was just telling him to freaking chill out kid!! So then Ty starts to gag a bit, and I said "Oh, are you going to throw up?" And Phil, who's laying right next to him, says "no, he's fine." Well, as he finished his sentence, the puking begins. ALL OVER PHIL! So he jumped up in horror and then it went and went and went. I mean, people I am cleaning the walls. THIS IS INSANITY!!!!

I dry heaved cleaning it up. I need to put some vicks under my nose now. Good night...

Leaves leaves go away...come again another day!

This is how the boys "entertained" themselves while we did leaf removal. The other day it was fun and games playing in them, throwing them and enjoying ourselves. Today however things changed...