Grand Weekend

 I visited all my grands over a long weekend! Now I am back and watching Amber today. She is currently asleep while I write and then I'll be playing with her again.

Redding Here I Come

On Friday morning I left for Redding (takes about 3 1/2 hours) and about 45 minutes from Redding, I get a couple of texts that I can't read as I'm driving and then as I pull up into the drive at Kelsi's house, she calls me on the phone to tell me that two of the children are not feeling well and perhaps Nate also - so did I want to change my plans? Ah, no, I'm already here. The texts were from her also.

Caleb and Lilly stayed in the one room while their mom brought them in trays of food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They came out for a treasure hunt I had put together that was all over the house and grounds and then went back in their room. I could hear them playing all day. Nate stayed in his office and when he came out, made sure to stay away from the baby and I. I am pretty sure I was needed and helpful so that Kelsi could go for appointments and get some extra things done.  Jayson and I did pick up dinner on Friday night that was fun, and I did take the baby for a few hours at night so Nate and Kelsi could get a little extra sleep. So my prayers to be useful were met.

Emma and I spent a lot of time together - I love how she smiles. She copies my expressions sometimes.

Beautiful baby

The hunt was inside and outside, though my pictures are just inside

Successfully found the treasure - even missing three clues!

Sacramento Bound

About 5:30 in the morning, I left Redding and headed out to Sacramento (2 1/2 hour drive) and experienced muzzy rain, rain, snow flattening on the windshield, rain, hail, rain, and dry pavement. It was an interesting drive.

I arrived before Matthew had woken up, so the children just let me in. They feed themselves breakfast just like in Kelsi's home. We went to church where I sat with the children and Matthew paced the hall as he is still recovering from his hip surgery months ago. The second hour Matthew and I talked while the children were in Primary. It was so good to have a really good chat with Matthew. When we went home the day was so nice that we ended up outside in the garden and front yard.

James ducks under all doorways

Saying hello to neighbors

Matthew, with Corina, Oliver and James at church

Watching the day out of the window soon had the kids running around outside!

What is outside the Adams Home?

Matthew in his happy place. Note the green rod in his hand. It has pinchers at the bottom and he can pick up weeds and debris out of his garden area - without bending over. 

He is making plans for spring

All the kids were brandishing sticks though James rode his bike down the driveway and up the steps.

The aerialist, the boy hidden in the house, and the boy on the bike

The next day Corina and Matthew didn't feel well, so they stayed home. It was just Oliver going to school.

The long walk into school. It just so happens one of the boys had a birthday party and Oliver brought home a treat bag. I think he thought the day was worth it.

Meanwhile, Corina and James enjoyed the day at home.

Taking some time to himself, Matthew ended up in his happy place again.

So from Thursday until today, I have gotten to interact and be with all of my grandchildren - and what could be better than that?

Another First in Makynlee's life

 Makynlee has lost her first tooth. She is quick to show everyone the gap in her teeth where "it fell out." As a grandmother it feels like time is speeding up. I can't remember any four year old that lost teeth and learned to ride a bike without training wheels. Actually I can't remember anyone having a bike except Michael and Rachel.......huh ...back to my story. Julia has been on top of the new milestones and a box was delivered that had protective gear for both girls. What Makynlee does, Isla will soon follow.

Head, elbows, wrist/hand, and knees - is this just adorable?!

Watching grands and my children

 Tomorrow I leave on another big circle staying with kids and grands. I am so lucky that right now I can visit all my grandchildren in the same week. Today I take care of Amber, tonight I can talk and play with Makynlee and Isla, tomorrow and Saturday I will visit Jayson, Caleb, Lilly, and Daniel - if he is still there, then on Sunday and Monday I will be in Sacramento with Corina, Oliver, and James. I am extremely lucky and happy.

One of the biggest blessing I have right now is watching the relationships of my children and their spouses. I can hear the murmur of Michael and Julia chatting in the living room. I heard the rumor that Michael is reading Harry Potter to Julia - whatever - they seem to be cuddled on the couch with each other quite a few evenings. 

It is not Kosher to take pictures of intimate moments on the couch - so I have another of them together

When I visit with Matthew and Debbie there is a great rapport between the two which is a blessing to my heart.

The love and support that I witness between Nate and Kelsi is strong and vital. They have figured out how to keep love alive even with five children under nine to take care of. 

The dynamics between Andrew and Briona are interesting and a joy to witness. Andrew gave up a better paying job to stay home - working from home so he would have more time with and be close to his family. Briona took a cut in pay to work four days a week instead of five so she could have more time with her daughter. 

It is not hard at all to see cuddly moments with Mike and Rebekah. They are still newlyweds though they have been married a few years. The warmth of their home is peaceful while filled with purpose.

Because Jeffrey is a loving, loyal, and warm companion, I have always wanted my own children to have the same kind of joy and happiness. 

So is it okay to pray that Rachel gets a boyfriend?

Break from the Storms and Rain

 Last Tuesday while watching Amber, Andrew showed me around his home on a long walk and pointed out where the trails were and how to get to places quickly from his home. I could go to the stores and shops without getting in a car, I could go to two parks, and I can get to the Clayton Library all with my two feet...and a stroller for Amber.

Sun, glorious sun! But early so not too hot.

Lots of interesting things to note along the way

Trees came down, the creek is wider and both banks have eroded and widen.

What a happy girl, life is so good!

Never, never, never Quit

 Makynlee is four-years old and won't be five until August. She had a strider bike and a scooter for a few years and this last week her mother got her a "real bike" with pedals, brake gear, and a seat that can be raised.  After. her mom pumped up the wheels, Makynlee decided that she would ride her new bike.

The first day she mostly spent picking up the bike until she figure out she could put a foot down on the edge of the flower box next to the side walk for a little balance. Her mom helped her balance for about two hours and she could go short distances. She would spill over and pick herself up.

The next day she and her mom got the balance idea going and Makynlee made progress. She had a lot of spills, but would get back up. And get back up, and get back up, over and over again.

The third day her dad took her to the school and basically ignored her while he took care of business and amazingly she was riding around in great big circles on the tarmac playground all by herself!

I did not know you could learn so early without training wheels. If you are Makynlee and determined to do it - you will.

Makynlee with only a little mud on her knee from her spills

Happy Birthday anyway!

 Michael came home from work on his birthday and his eyes were as tired as I've ever seen him. I'm not sure where the pressure is coming from, but he is mentally tired.

Being such a great guy, he let us have a wonderful salmon dinner, blew out the birthday cake candles and made sure his girls had fun. The meal was delicious and it was very nice to have a dinner party. Since Andrew and Briona are doing so well with the sleep training with Amber, they left early and I think the whole house was asleep by 9 pm. Happy Birthday Michael!

The Girls Decorate a cake for their Dad!

Candles are on and all ready to go!

Well wishes from the Family

Laura Nausin sent over homemade eclairs and a potato salad - both of which made Michael very grateful 

Isla waiting for the cake!

It is so nice to have Laura Nausin who remembers that Michael loves eclairs and then made them for his birthday. She also made a really tasty potato salad that went well with the salmon. Good friend, good family. Life is good.

Hey! What is with all the hospital visits?

 The start of this year has been the year. It starts out with one family in my greater family finding cancer in a lymph node AFTER a very hard surgery to remove a thyroid. A family who already has daily concerns with autism and all its ramifications. 

Then another family finds out after going to the ER for answers on a strained hip in December that she has a pulled groin (ouch!), stones in her kidney's that are not big enough to blast or have surgery (still ouch because they are there), and they noticed a node in her lung - what? - as if one item is not enough? After comparing it to an X-ray in October, they found it has grown - NO, just no. So now PET scan and MRI scan have been ordered and she is asking for prayers - yeah I think daily prayers.

But really January is not over, so another family has a son who broke his bone snowboarding. This can't be a small simple fracture, but one that needs plates and screws to fix it back together. Ouch, ouch.

This is the Lore's so of course it is not all gloom and doom.  It started out with a New Year's Eve Party. There was a baby girl born, a family reunion set up, and lots of love and prayers given from one to another. 

Looking forward to a peaceful February.......but January is not quite over......

Week with Rachel

 Rachel's agenda was to see, meet, and connect with as many friends and family members that she could in the week she was in Concord. Starting with Boxing Day with friends, and family till the day she left, we visited. We visited in Concord, Redding and Sacramento.

Good Morning in Concord

All the Concord family met on Boxing Day for the Fondue Party

Then it was up to Redding to spend a day or two

She's playing a game where she captures them back again. Everyone was laughing.

Funniest Story from Redding

When I got up in the morning, I noted that two of the children and then a third came out to read scriptures or scripture stories. Actually Lilly kept asking Rachel about the pictures and was asking what the stories were. I was a little amazed as children don't usually spontaneously read their scriptures. But then my amazement turned into questioning when they were all running around doing their chores. Something was up!

Sure enough, they were desperate to finish all of their assignments so they could play a half hour of video games with Rachel! They have a deal going on with their parents that after certain things are done, they can do a video game, watch a movie, etc. I had no problem leaving an hour or so later than we planned as they were so excited to have Rachel play with them.

Then we headed over to Sacramento for the day

Rachel wanted to see Matthew, Debbie, and their family. I sat down and talked with Matthew for a few hours before I remembered that Rachel had come to see him. She was very involved with the children and just like Redding, they had a lot of things to show and tell her.

Oliver was determined to show Rachel a complicated lego truck that he wanted to get done before she left. But we had to get back before dark and it was raining again - so he sent a picture of it finished!

I am pretty sure Rachel still holds the favorite aunt status. Life is good.