My Luck to My World and Lucky Me to Hares Luv

So last weekend we celebrate my paternal grandma's 80th birthday. It wasn't anything extravagant and the party was just held at her home. I never know what to get this grandma. Not because she is necessarily picky, but because I don't know her quite as well as I probably should. But, in my defense we didn't really ever do a whole lot with my dad's family growing up. We spent every other Thanksgiving with them and went to their house every Christmas day, and the very occasional Sunday visit, but that was pretty much the extent of it. And when we did go to Grandma's my cousin Heather was usually there, so I spent all of my time with her.

Anyway, so because I don't know my grandma very well I struggle with gift giving. As I was looking around for an idea I ran across this. I decided it was something I could do for her at very little cost as well. Plus, I enjoy doing stuff like this.

This is how Grandma's blocks turned out:


I decided to do one for St. Patrick's Day and then the other side she could keep out the rest of the year.

Now, I couldn't just make a set for my grandma. I HAD to have a set for me as well. So I took the rest of the week getting mine together. (Not that it is that difficult, life was just crazy this week, so I did a bit at a time.)

This is how mine turned out:


I really wanted to have younger pics of the kids since I have other things in the house showcasing current pics. I also decided that I may try to make a few sets so that I have a set for each holiday...we'll see how that goes.

While searching through to find the gift idea, I ran across an idea to do a craft club thing once a month....I was wondering if anyone would be interested in that? We could start by making these blocks that I just showed and the cost would be very minimal...I am thinking even under $5 as the supplies for these really aren't expensive at all.

Anyway, if anyone would be interested let me know in a comment.

What Happens Next...

... I Gave In ...

Saturday night we headed out to the valley to my parents. My little brother left some items here when he slept over the weekend before so we were returning them.

The plan was that Eric & I were going to play games with my dad and little brother. Well, my little sister happened to be at my parents as well since her hubby got called out of town on business.

Little sister (going a bit hog wild, since this is her first little girl) decided that she really wanted to return to JC Penney to get some cute baby clothes she saw earlier in the day. (I am still unsure as to why she didn't get anything earlier). So, she eventually convinced my mom to go with her and asked if I wanted to go as well. After getting the okay from Eric (along with "Don't Spend Any Money..."), we headed out.

Now, I've been holding off on getting any clothes for this new baby for 2 main reasons. #1: I know that we had quite a bit for Shaylyn and I have just been too lazy to go through the hassle of getting them all out and #2: I'm a doubty mustafa (I love Aladdin) and still can't believe this baby is a girl at times...

So we walk in the store and I finally gave in and bought this little girl 2 new outfits. They were having a HUGE sale, so that was one reason and there were just a couple things I thought were so cute.

Item #1:


Now I got this one for sentimental type reasons. Ever since I was little my parents have called me "Bug" and always associated it with a lady bug - so I HAD to get that outfit.

Item #2:


Okay, yellow is one of my fave colors. And I was thinking of Baby Girl's big sister Shaylyn who absolutely LOVES butterflies. I knew at least Shaylyn would think it was a cute outfit. Plus, who can resist cute little pictures on the bum?

So that is all I bought and only spent $20. Not bad at all. And hubby wasn't too upset with me either. He didn't really care about the outfits (after all he is a guy and he is also aware of the amount of clothing Shaylyn had as a baby), but Shaylyn was thrilled with the cute little butterfly one.

I guess I should add that my little sister bought the same two outfits for her baby as well, along with some other items. We did it kind of on purpose. We will be able to get a pic of the little girls in the lady bug outfit together, but not the yellow butterfly.

Since my baby is due first, I purposely got a smaller butterfly outfit and a bigger ladybug outfit. Little sister bought a bigger butterfly outfit and a smaller ladybug outfit. Yeah, I guess we are going a little crazy having babies together - but it's so much fun!

What Happens Next...

The Leader of the Band

For a very long while I've known that I've gotten whatever creativity I had from my mommy.
I think the first time I realized it was when I was in 5th grade or 6th grade and had to write a poem for some reason. Well, I struggled a bit with it to make sense as it was the first one I'd ever written - but my mommy helped me out with it. I was actually able to attend a writing festival after writing this as well. Apparently my teachers thought it was good...

This is the poem:

THE DEATH OF A BEST FRIEND

You always siad, "Don't worry"
When I was in a jam.
You always said, "Don't friek out,
It's just my brother, Sam."

You always told me, "Look out!"
When a car came whizzing by.
You always said, "Shoo"
To each bothersome ol' fly.

We had fun while dancing,
And doing the 'monster mash'.
Together we got our homework done
In what seemed like just a flash.

And when you had to go away
I did not understand.
Heaven seemed so far away,
A long and distant land.

One day I saw a rainbow,
As beautiful as you.
Reminding me of friendship,
The kind we always knew.

Now the creativity doesn't end at writing. I remember my mom doing all sorts of creative things for her Primary classes and such when I was growing up. She claims she isn't so creative anymore, but every once in awhile it still shines through.

Anyway, I'm getting off the subject of what I really wanted to make this post about.

For those of you who haven't heard/didn't know, my maternal grandpa died when I was just 13. His death was sudden and so unexpected that a lot of the family had difficulties with it. We accepted that he moved on and he was in a better place away from the crappy world we were living in, but we all missed him HORRIBLY.

...Grandpa as a young man...

That first year I think was extremely difficult for my mom and for me. I remember that my thoughts were focused on my grandfather for a large part of that year and that I would break down in tears at random times. I also wrote a lot of things that year in English in regards to him.

This is one such thing:

DEATH OF GRANDPA

As I sit alone and frustrated,
Wondering why he left me deserted,
I think of his garden and lovely vegetables no more.
And I ask why, why, why?

I think of all his wisdom,
And how I never heard him complain.
His wonderful rootbeer floats,
Which leads me to ask why, why, why?

I'm missing the smell of nature,
and talk about my future.
His loving arms around me no more, all gone.
Why, why, why?

He worked as if a robot,
His arms were iron bands.
There'll be no more asthma, aching pain.

I'm missing the sound of his hum, hum, hum.
The sweet taste of his sugar-free gum.
Nothing is going right in my life,
And all I ask is why, why, why?

My mom was the baby of the family, born when my grandpa was 45. But, this allowed them to have a very special relationship. My mom always admired her dad and in her eyes, NO ONE could be as great/special a person as her daddy was. No one could live up to the type of spiritual giant he ended up being.

...Grandpa with my mom as a newborn...

...Grandpa with kids #3, 4 & 5 (My mom is the little girl)...

...Grandma, Grandpa and Mom (About age 16)...

My grandpa wasn't the type of ornery old cuss that a lot of old men end up being. No, he enjoyed being with his grandkids and even watched my little sister (who was a baby around this time) quite a bit for my mom. He was also willing to drop whatever he was doing if we needed help. I feel sad that Eric and the kids never got to meet my grandpa (although I guess technically, my kids probably have met him...), but I am thankful that Eric's grandpa is so similar to the spiritual giant that my Grandpa was and that he is still around and the kids have got to meet him.

Anyway, so my Grandpa died in March of 1993 and for Father's Day in June of that year my mother adapted this song into a "poem" that fit her dad. I had all but forgotten about it until the other day when I went searching for a completely different song. Well, the album that I found that had the song I was looking for also had "Leader of the Band" on it and I made sure I got my mom's poem from her after hearing it again.

Here's my mom's take on the song:

LEADER OF OUR BAND
(adapted from Dan Folgelberg's "Leader Of The Band")

Though he was not an only child
And not a rich man's son.
His hands were meant for constant work
And his heart he kept from none.

He left us here and he's gone on
To find a better way.
But he gave me a gift I know
I never can repay.

A quiet man of wisdom,
Denied a sinner's fate.
He tried a life much different once
Vowed to change - he couldn't wait.

He earned his love through discipline,
A thundering velvet hand.
His gentle means of sculpting souls
Took me years to understand.

The leader of the band grew tired,
And his eyes did soon grow old.
But his blood runs through my instrument
And his song is in my soul.

My life has been a poor attempt
To imitate this man.
I'm just a living legacy
To the leader of the band.

As siblings we are different,
Still we hear our leader call
"Stay close to the gospel,
Then children you won't fall."

I'm doing all that I can do,
As I remember time will tell.
I'm living out the life I've chose
The one he lived so well.

I thank you for the music
And the stories that you told.
I thank you for the freedom
When it came my time to go.

I thank you for the kindness,
And the times when you got tough.
And papa I don't think I said,
"I love you" near enough.

The leader of the band grew tired,
And his eyes did soon grow old.
But his blood runs through my instrument
And his song is in my soul.

My life has been a poor attempt
To imitate this man.
I'm just a living legacy
To the leader of the band.

I am the living legacy
To the leader of the band.

Dedicated to Alma E. Kehl - Fathers Day - June 20, 1993
WITH ALL MY LOVE!
- Alaine K. Merchant

So, yes. I think most of my creativity was born of my mom. She may not admit it, but I will forever be thankful to her for it.

What Happens Next...

♥ Sharing The Love ♥

Valentine's Weekend was a nice one this year. While it wasn't anything big and extravagant, it was nice and fun.

Friday I got called to Jury Duty (for more info on how that turned out read this) and while I was gone Eric did some laundry. This is HUGE for him. The most he's ever done in regards to laundry is took things out of the dryer and put them in the laundry basket. Not on this day. On this day he actually put things in the washing machine, moved them to the dryer AND folded things. Even when I returned home, he kept up with the laundry and even let me take a nap as I felt like crap. Let me tell you, he earned MAJOR points that day.

On Saturday, the kids did our traditional Valentine's Day cookies. Although I was a bit bummed as I couldn't find any Valentines candies to put on the cookies when I went grocery shopping (which was a WEEK before Valentine's day) and so all we had was the icing.

The kids weren't too upset though and they still had fun decorating the cookies. We even had Uncle Logan here and he decorated some too. (Only cause the kids plead with him to do so.)

The Group Working

Uncle Logan is a bit camera shy...that or he just didn't want people to know he actually :gasp: decorated cookies!

Nate decided it was more fun to just eat the cookies than decorate them. And yes, he had a cold in both eyes, so he looks a little sad.

The Kids' Masterpieces

Later Saturday night Eric and I headed over to the church for the adult dinner/dance. Usually Eric isn't really up for things like this and goes begrudgingly, but for whatever reason on Saturday night he went mostly willingly.
During dinner they had some questions that they had a few people go up and answer so that everyone could get to know each other a bit better. The question I went up for was about how the hubby proposed. I am glad I got that question because I have an awesome proposal story.

Eric and I took a trip to Seattle, Washington to visit his brother. While there we went to visit the Space Needle. I didn't think anything of it - you're in Seattle, you visit the Space Needle.

Well his brother and sister in law spin some tale of why they needed to stay inside the Space Needle for a bit, but we should go out on the balcony thing and look at the view.

While we were looking at the view his brother and sister in law came back out and handed Eric this stuffed animal thing. On the stuffed animal was a rose thing. Eric handed it to me and I just said, "Thanks." I didn't realize that the rose was a ring case.

Eric had to open the ring case since I was a dummy and then he proposed! I was surprised, but of course said yes.

So in answering the question I said, "We took a trip to Seattle to visit his brother and when we got to the top of the Space Needle he surprised me and asked me to marry him."

Eric got mad that I didn't mention that it was at sunset overlooking the ocean and the petty details like that. Sorry!

So then Eric goes up a bit later to answer a question and gets stuck with "Show us your dance moves that got your wife" or something like that. All the other men up there ran back to their seats (including the bishop) and Eric was just dazed. When it finally hit him what he was asked to do he did some silly little thing. I was surprised that he was such a good sport and took it so well. And after Eric did his thing the other guys came back up and did some move of their own.

After the dinner was over they had a dance thing. This was akin to the Stake dances you'd go to as a youth, only on a much smaller scale and you didn't have to keep "Book of Mormon Distance".

We hadn't been to a dance since High School, so it was a good 11/12 years since we'd danced like that. But, I must say it was nice. It was good to have that "alone" time and to just be. We did dance around and go crazy to more upbeat songs when I felt up to it. Mostly, it was just a good night together.

On Sunday (Valentine's Day) I totally woke up not expecting anything. When I woke up I saw a frame on Eric's pillow, but kind of blew it off. I just thought it was an empty frame that one of the kids had gotten a hold of and Eric was too lazy to put it away.

So I walk into the kitchen and Eric asks if I saw the picture. I told him I just thought it was an empty frame. He gave me his "sad face" and so I go and actually look at the frame and see this:

This was such a great gift for me because I love that phrase, I love Winnie the Pooh and to have my hubby present me with a saying like that means more than he will ever know!

I am a bad wife though and didn't get him anything. It's like a recurring theme with me...I shall repent and make it up to him come Father's Day!

All in all I had a great weekend and my hubby was great!

What Happens Next...

A Very Happy Belated Birthday....

Shaylyn celebrated her 8th birthday on January 30th. I still can't believe that that little girl is already 8.

For her birthday we didn't do much...She opened her gifts and we took her to lunch and pretty much let her go crazy the rest of the day.

She was baptized one week later on February 6th. And we had her official party after the baptism.

Shaylyn was able to be baptized with one of her very best friends, Gavin. We were even able to put together a short slide show of each of the kids and then we had a couple pictures of them together. It turned out very nice.

We have such supportive family members that made the trip out here to the middle of nowhere, to support Shaylyn at 9:30 in the morning. Thank you to everyone who came!

And yes, I feel bad that I am not going into more detail for my little girl... I am just so exhausted lately that I can't even think straight! And I'm not such a horrible mom - I did post a bit about her actual birthday here.

Here are a few "faves" from the day:

Eric's Parents & My Parents have decided that for each kids' 8th birthday they will go in together to get a set of personalized scriptures. They did it for Tanis too.

What Happens Next...

Hold Your Babies Close...

While perusing KSL's site this afternoon I ran across the story about the little boy who drowned in the tub.

In the article there was a link to the mom's blog and I of course had to go and read things from her point of view. When I got to the post about when the accident happened, I was bawling...So if you read it, make sure you have tissues ready...

The blog can be found here. You will have to scroll down to the post made on February 1.

This story hit me really hard. Probably because I have a little one just a bit older than this kid, but also because I am guilty of leaving kids in the tub and just checking on them every few minutes.

I can only imagine how this mother is feeling...Sounds like the little guy is doing great now, but I'm sure the mom is still struggling with guilt.

So if only for tonight - "Hold Your Babies Close."

Now onto happier things...sorta...

I should be posting about Shaylyn's baptism/birthday party, but I didn't take any pictures at the baptism. Eric's mom took those pics and I haven't gotten them yet. We are headed to his parents on Sunday, so I will get the pictures then and post about the baptism on Monday. But in the meantime here is a pic of her blowing out her birthday candles....

What Happens Next...

The Verdict Is....

I'm getting a niece!!!!

WooHoo!!!

I am super excited about this for a few reasons:

• I only have nephews
• My niece is due 3 weeks after my little girl
• My lil' sis has wanted another baby for awhile now
• Lil' Sis has always wanted a girl, but didn't think she'd get one - EVER

So, congrats Sis!!!

We are going to have fun in the years to come.

What Happens Next...