time for reflection - again

Unbelievable - my children are unbelievable! This is a good thing - in case you where worried.

First - My Mandy threw a very fun big birthday party - George's 29th birthday (the 30th of April) Georgey's 5th (May 1) and Grayam's 1st (May 2). It was a beautiful sunny Saturday and the bounce house in the back yard was a stroke of genius. It was fun seeing the kids bounce to their heart content. Happy birthday to the Poteet men.

Next - wedding news - well, we don't really have any wedding news. We are still trying to get the "place" to have this. June 28th is quickly approaching and well, we will have news soon. Cristy and Nathaniel are having fun making plans and well, they booked their honeymoon. First, things first I always say.

Next, next, Damon graduates this Saturday. My little boy is a Professor. Wow, you know how when your kids are little and you try to picture them grown - what will they be ? I always had a hard time with that but at times you wonder - like with all the forts the kids would build in the back yard - maybe a contractor? Damon never played teacher. How could I guess Professor?

Next, next, next, Grant is still a genius. Finals are over at BYU and of course our Grant is all A's at this point. One grade we don't know yet. But it is Grant. Liz loves her new job and all is well in Provo.

Next, next, next, next, Darren is waiting for finals. I loved his blog in burning his pop tower.

Matt and I are working, sleeping, going to birthday parties and graduations and then working and sleeping. Our lives are boring and we are loving it.

This is Matthew eating a vegetable. A rare moment.

Fun, Fun Fun

Cristy was here. And we shopped for a wedding dress. It was way fun!! But I don't think I have done anything so hard. Which one? We had a little party watching Cristy try on dress after dress. It took 5 hours, but it was worth it. You'll have to come to the wedding to see which dress she picked.

Grayam had allot of fun crawling on the "stage" . But soon...

he fell asleep. I look like I was ready for a nap too. But we still had plenty of places to go. Not more shopping but checking out places to hold the reception. Here is one that didn't make the cut but Grayam liked the pine needles.

Then on Sunday Jack was blessed. A great reason for the family to get together and have a party.

Jack is such a big boy.

The girls love auntie Cristy. Here is one last photo. Couldn't resist Grandpa loving his newest grandson.
This week-end was Fun , Fun, Fun!!!

Stuff

So here is a picture of the back yard. Does it look different? It should - the two big fir pine trees are gone. I can't believe how open and big the yard looks now. But I am very glad that I no longer have to rake up pine needles and pine cones. YEA!!!!!

The next little news is that Dad is doing great! Most of you are saying - was he not doing great? Well, I kind of neglected to tell you that Dad has been having dizzy spells. He has had quite a few tests done and all the big scary ones have come back negative. So now we are looking at his medications. Think he is over medicated. That is the guess right now. But now that the weather is getting a little better - Dad is just happy to be able to go outside.

So the really big news is that my Cristy is getting married. Tuesday, long time boyfriend asked the all important question - OK if I ask your daughter to marry me? Then I had to wait for Friday to roll around for the actual proposal. It is all so exciting but also quick. June 28 is the magic day and allot of planning to do. I have talked to Cristy more this week then all the phone calls since she has moved combined. I love it. Don't want to spoil anything - actually I can't since nothing is definite. She comes home this weekend - was suppose to be to see baby Jack - which she will do, but now we will also be wedding dress shopping and reception place looking. To Nathaniel - welcome to the family. This picture is actually very important. Every grandchild and most great grandchildren have been photographed in this bucket, that is used here as a table. So welcome !!!!!

Parents and children

A few important events are happening as we speak -First - My Father is turning 82. Or as George Carlin puts it he has reached 82. A most remarkable feat really and it takes nothing but patience to be able a accomplish this. Dad is an amazing man. He has worked hard all his life to give his family a good life. He loves his family more than anyone and will do just about anything for them. Dad is known as the tractor man in our neighborhood. He loves to mow his lawn. Actually, he loves to putter - and yard work is perfect for puttering. Dad taught me values and gave me the perfect foundation to hear and except the gospel. When I told him that I wanted to join the church , his words to me where - "if you join that church you have to live it". Advice I have always lived by - thanks Dad. It has been 5 years since his heart surgery - hard to believe it has been that long - and he is doing great! A little bit slower maybe and yes, you have to repeat a few things to him, but his big heart is doing great. Give him a call - he would love it.

Next my youngest is turning 23. Ugh!!!!!!! Yes, he has come to accept the fact that all of his brothers and sisters are aloud to do the basic things in life (like grow up) except him. Darren is my son who was born at home. On the couch. And that alone should have warned him that I expected him to stay there. But he has moved on - I am, well, pleased that he has chosen to grow up. He was able to come home for spring break, and that was a short but very nice visit. He brought with him Brittany. Now you know the reason to my previous blog. It was like old times. Kids in the basement playing pool. Getting up at 2 am to turn off the lights that I mistakenly thought they forgot to turn off. Oops - their still up - silly me. But I digress - I am suppose to talk about the kid - when Darren is 50 he will still be - the kid. I miss him finishing my sentences - his making extra "crackers" because he knows I'm going to take one - and his shoveling skills. But I am excited to see what a fine young man he has grown into. Even though it kills me to admit that my baby is 23.

Pressures on the Parent

One never thinks about all the pressures a parent is under. What pressures you might ask? Well, in the beginning it is little things - like - what does that cry mean? Wet? Hungry? Cold? Hot? Sick? Oh, I don't know - give this kid to Dad to hold for awhile, I need to use the bathroom for then next half hour or so. (Secret break time for Moms)

Next it is coming up with "real" answers to WHY? I know I am the most amazing person alive and yes, I did go to college and took "Buttoning" and "Shoe tying" and "Zippers". I can do all that stuff without even looking, but I don't know why you put peanut butter on the bread before the jelly , you just do!

Then comes the more difficult things, Bed times, the right amount of sugar in a diet,- a diet, -good friends, how to tolerate the not so good friends, school, chores, homework, learning the stuff again to help with the homework, ---What did you say?,-- Not in this house!! -- I've told you over and over what to do and how to do it - "Listen to me" - I don't think they will ever know what they are doing!

But after the Missions, after the,- been gone away to school, -comes just about the most scary moment in a parents life. ---MEETING THE GIRL/BOY FRIEND. The high school boy/girl friends are a snap. Or we pretend they are because the odds of that person becoming a part of the family is pretty low. Not zero, mind you (Nikki is a great example) But if you meet the friend in high school years , you have the advantage. You are still ruler over curfew.

But meeting the "friend" for the first time is highly nerve raking. First off, you have to care what THEY think of YOU. This is something totally foreign to you. In all the years your child was growing up you didn't care at all what the friends thought of you. ("I don't care what Billy thinks, in this house we don't do that") But, your child seems to like this person, so you have to put your best foot forward and not trip over it. And at my age it is getting harder and harder not to trip. You have to start small with the questions, stuff you really don't care about -How many children in your family? --- I don't care how many brothers or sisters - I care - if they are active members of the church and not mass murderers. But how do you ask that nicely?

I must say that I have a secret weapon - I call him DAD but others call him Grandpa. He is great!! I guess if an 81 year old asks, you can't be offended. (a note - his 82 birthday is just around the corner) I love it!! And he thinks of stuff I never thought to ask. He is the best information getter alive!!

So I have now been subjected to this terrifying experience more times that I care to remember. Three of my children have married. I am afraid to ask my current in-law children just how dorky they thought I was on our first meeting. Rumor has it they where just as scared as I was - but I don't believe it. This past year I have met two more boy/girl friends and yes, I used my secret weapon and yes, I asked dumb questions. I hope they didn't think I was to dorky - maybe just the right amount of dork. All in all I am impressed that my children brought home very nice, strong, thoughtful and pretty people.

Maybe my kids know what they are doing after all?

I am very well pleased

So I was at Curves doing my morning exercising and I realize that it is Wednesday. I announce to the other ladies there, that today my son was going to be a doctor. They all look at me like I'm nuts and ask me to explain. I tell them that today Damon will be defending his dissertation and that when it was over he would have his PhD in business and that I could call him Dr. Campbell. One lady pipes up "I have no idea what you just said but it sounds like a good thing so congratulations" Believe it or not I understood what she meant.

My son the Doctor. Not the kind that helps people. Mandy tells me I should introduce Damon that way now. This Damon who would never do his homework in high school now has a PhD. This is a lesson in never giving up on your children and realizing that a boy will do more for his wife then his mother. I am very glad that Damon found Nikki - she is perfect for him.

This past week-end I was able to spend Friday night and Saturday with Mandy. This was a special time for me since I have not been able to spend to much one on one time with her (or any of the fabulous five) for quite some time. Mandy got me tickets to "Time out for Women" A deseret book sponsored event with speakers, authors of their books, and music people. It was very good. A great time to "fill my cup". We had great seats, thanks to Mandy's friend and I noticed, again, what a great person Mandy has grown into. As a parent, I think you get these moments in time when you get to step back and take a look at your children through eyes of just another person and not the eyes of their Mom. That might sound weird but I get those moments and I always walk away filled with love, understanding and I am well pleased.

I'm getting too mussy so now I will talk about Grant. Fitting don't you think? It is NCAA play off time and Grant has helped me fill in a bracket. My school has a little pool - that goes to the winner and so far - if Grant is right we could win eight whole dollars - wow---Grants studies are going well and he tells me he is taking his first Actuary test. Just like Damon-I don't know what that means but its sounds like a good thing -so be happy!!!

Darren comes home this week end for a few days and is bringing a friend. More on this next week. Cristy we will miss you this week-end but look forward to seeing you on the 11.

I am a Grandma -- again

I know that everyone already knows but I have to brag a bit - I have a new grandson - little - well not so little Jack Ryan Campbell. Born March 5 - weighing in at 9 pounds and 9 ounces and only 20 inches long. Such a cute little chunk. Mom and baby are doing well. I was lucky enough to be there - not for the actual birth - been there done that -- but I was able to be in Pullman and help with Maddie and Sadie. I had a blast!!!! The first day I was there I was able to go to Maddie and Georgey's school and join in on a field trip - guess where they went --I don't know either - but they got to climb on a bunch of big stuff- They showed me their school. I got to see which cubby is theirs, then a tour of the toys and then I got to see their family posters - - it was great!!!!

After the field trip we went to the hospital and saw baby Jack for the first time. A cutie if I must say -The whole hospital thing was a little different for them but as soon as they saw how high

Moms bed went - well who needs Silverwood when you can go high in a hospital bed.

The next day I did my best in making things normal for the girls but not knowing where anything is kept, made that goal a little difficult. The girls on the other hand had a blast showing me where everything was. I was amazed- If Nikki thinks she has hidden anything from those two - I believe she is mistaken. The only thing the girls couldn't tell me where it was , was scotch tape. We needed the tape to hang up the sign we made to welcome everyone home. We of course went to see Baby Jack and Mom and Dad at the hospital but that night we had Movie night. Movie night is a special fun thing the girls love to do but I quickly learned it really wasn't about the sleeping bags out in the living room , it wasn't about being able to pick a movie and stay up late, it wasn't even about the big bowl of popcorn that they shared, it is all about the soda that they got to drink. Movie night is all about the Soda!! The route is lay down watch movie for 3 seconds, eat one kernel of popcorn then get up and run not walk to the kitchen and take a drink of soda. Go back to the sleeping bag and start all over. Repeat 3 times then offer Grandma some popcorn and go back to previous routine. I only wish I had their energy.

Friday everyone came home. Yea - all is well with the world. I had some great one on one time with the girls, coloring, puzzles, general play time,and reading books. Papa Matt joined us Friday night and we settled in for our first night with baby Jack. Matt learned that a baby is not made for sleep. But we all took turns and I think I was a little stingy and took more than my share of turns. Baby Jack and I had some good talks and I think I convinced him to sleep better at night cause the next night he did sleep better. Way to listen to Grandma -Jack.

I stayed till Sunday and had a safe drive home. Now I have been trying to get this blogging thing to work and with the help of Mandy I finally got it.

Just a side note Darren just called me said he just got out of the clinic with about 7 stitches in his forehead. Hopefully he'll blog the story. Till next time.