Grandma's Visit

My mom able to come to Texas to visit us about 3.5 weeks after Oliver was born. It was sure nice to have her come out. Especially after all the recovery madness. She helped do a lot of deep cleaning of things I couldn't get to the last trimester of pregnancy and after surgery. She also had fun with the kids. I sure appreciated all she did and that she was able to take the time to come out. 

In recent years it seems she has acquired some seriously kid-friendly entertaining skills. The first being that she knows how to make these magically large bubbles AND in case you didn't know.......
magically LARGE bubbles = magically happy kiddos! 

It's one of the perks of having a grandma who is a "professional" clown. Yes, literally. No, I am not joking. You can just call her "Tizzy the clown" if you like. 

Yes, she shared the recipe and the trick, so if you want to learn...I'll share it for 5 bucks. ;) 

Skill #2. Tizzy can magically turn any grandchild into their secret creature within... 

in the wink of an eye. 

This day Warren was a snake and Ben was a puppy. 

 She also brought my little brother Ethan. It was great to have him and get reacquainted with him. Each time we go to Utah he is usually at school or off doing something so we don't get a lot of time together. It was nice he shared his musical talent with us all week by playing the piano most of the day. He is very funny and has some serious "charm skills" he has been working on. lol

She helped Weston hold down the fort so I could make a few appearances at girls camp. I was the assistant stake camp director again this year but could not go for obvious life events. I was sad I missed out on going for the whole week but still made it up to give the opening kick off speech and for a few other key moments. (More to come on camp 2011, later.)

Thanks for coming mom. We appreciate all your help and we love you! 

Trouble with Ya Ya...

A few weeks ago Weston's mom & Mark came for a short visit. Mark had some work meetings in Houston so it was part business, part pleasure. Of course, that usually means there will be many enormous hot dogs of various flavors, IBC Root beer, Blue Bell, Ben & Jerry's, donuts, razzleberry pie, chips, onion dip, BBQ'd blackened pork loin and daily trips to the gas station for a nice cold frosty beverage. You get the idea. I think they were trying to send Weston into full cardiac arrest! Weston declared responsibility upon Mark.... "He's a binge eater!" lol

He didn't get to watch Nacho Libre this time but it's football season and Mark was lucky enough to experience a FULL game day at our house. Something he does not get at home. ;) We sure are lovin our Wolverines & Utes this season!!! Woot!

I picked Jan up at the airport just before Warren got out of school. We went inside and surprised him in the hallway. He was very excited that she came to see his school and we also ate lunch with him another day. 

 This is where the fun stops. 

See that gi-normous bruise & goose egg between Ben's eyes? Yea..... Ya Ya did that. We almost had to call CPS on her.... ;)

These pictures do not do it justice (they were taken a few days after the incident). It was HUGE! Jan was lying down on our bedroom floor talking to Weston. Not realizing that Ben likes to play rough with dad in the same space, (usually giving him body slams and such) he hurled himself toward her and she was looking the other way and therefore did not catch him. He smacked his head hard on the edge of the window ledge. It swelled up so fast! His forehead to the tip of his nose were bridged by the swelling. Poor guy.

 So... we live in Kingwood and as you enter the city you see the city motto...

We laughed and laughed as we were driving down Kingwood drive and Jan asked

"so....what's the whole livable forest thing about?"

Kingwood Drive. ;) 

Never gonna live that one down Jan. Thanks for letting us tease you and being a good sport about it. :D 

Thanks for coming to spend time with us Mark & Jan. 

We enjoyed having you. :)