Deacon's birthday and a visit from my bestie

FRIDAY 

My sweet friend, Leanna showed up on Friday. We went to Brianna's house for a little while. Then we came back home and waited for our other friend, Gay. The 3 of us went to Stevo's and had lunch and a wonderful visit. After Gay left we went to a rehearsal for Patsy Cline. Leanna wasn't sure if she was going to make it for one of the shows so she really wanted to see a run through. She loved Brianna and her singing. I love my dear friends so much!

 SATURDAY 

 Mr. Deacon's birthday.
Brianna rehearsed all day for Always Patsy Cline but before she left we had Deacon open some presents.

We also had some chocolate donuts and chocolate milk for his birthday breakfast.

Aubrey and I took Deacon to King's and let him pick some toys of his choice for his birthday. They were dollar toys, nothing big, but it was so much fun for him. 

The kids and I took him to lunch at Taco Bandido. He loves cheese rolls! (A tortilla with melted cheese inside it.)
 That is his favorite.
After lunch we took him to the park and let him play for a while. 

 When Brianna and Dick came back, we lit the fireplace outside and had cake and ice cream while he played with his favorite birthday toys. Grandpa Randy gave him cars and Papa gave him a talking Spiderman.

SUNDAY 
On Sunday we continued his birthday celebration by letting him paint some pumpkins. That was one of his birthday requests. He loves little pumpkins. Every time we go to the store, he wants to take one home.

Deacon also got a bike and some other things from his mom and dad.

 

Dragonfly cookies

Andrea's mother, Linda, is a very close friend of ours. She is an OB/GYN nurse and helped deliver Aubrey. Brianna was in the delivery room with me and Dick. Linda was also Brianna's nurse when she was delivering Deacon. In fact, Brianna had so many problems after delivery that if Linda wouldn't have started her shift when she did, I don't think Brianna would be with us today. Her daughter Rachel was very close to Brianna. She was a year older in school. Andrea went to school with Giselle. Andrea had a contagious smile. She also suffered from Stress Anxiety Disorder. A year ago, she ended her life when she jumped off the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls. The Dragonfly Hope Foundation was founded by her mother and family. Tomorrow it will commemorate the 1 year anniversary of her death. The foundation is being launched in Andrea's honor by her two children.

Linda needed help decorating 150 cookies for this event tomorrow.

Brianna and I went to help her. It was so much fun decorating cookies but the best part was the talking. It's obvious that Linda's heart is still breaking from losing her daughter but she has accepted her loss and has moved on trying to help others with mental illness.

"Service to others deepens and sweetens this life while we are preparing to live in a better world. It is by serving that we learn to serve. When we are engaged in the service of our fellowmen, not only do our deeds assist them, but we put our own problems in a fresher perspective. When we concern ourselves more with others, there is less time to be concerned with ourselves! In the midst of the miracle of serving, there is the promise of Jesus that by losing ourselves, we find ourselves!" 
--Spencer W. Kimball

Feeling loved...

TUESDAY

Anson came home from school today and gave me a kiss and a great big hug. I could tell that he was feeling pretty blue. He didn't have a good day in school which is very rare for Mr. Smiles.

 He rested his head on my lap and told me,

"I missed you today. It's so good to be home with adults who love me and understand me."

I love my children and I love that they feel safe and loved when they are home.

"Our home should ideally be a refuge where each member feels safe, secure, loved, and insulated from harsh criticism and contention that we so often encounter in the world." ~Elder Wayne S. Peterson

Deacon had another sleepover tonight.
 He loves to sleep in the TV room. He sleeps on one end of the sectional and I sleep on the other end.
 After everyone went to bed, we read two of his favorite books.
 The Cat In The Hat and Put Me In The Zoo by Dr. Seuss.
 Then we watched an episode of Dora The Explorer.
 You can tell that he thinks it's pretty cool to watch TV in the same place where he'll be sleeping.
 That's something he can only do when he's visiting at Mama's.

WEDNESDAY
Brianna got her hair permed today for the play. Deacon and I were going to join her at the salon but someone couldn't wake up!

I guess this Grandma really knows how to throw a party!

Later in the evening Brianna brought Deacon over so that she could go to rehearsal with Dad. When Aubrey opened the door after the doorbell rang I heard, "I'm ready!" Deacon was disappointed that I didn't see his entrance. Aubrey told me to go to the door with my camera so that I could capture it. Then he did it for me again. 

He had a little bag of marshmallows and was ready for our fire outside.

Time with Deacon

WEDNESDAY
Bree, Deacon, and I made a quick trip to Logan, Utah to get some costumes from USU for Always Patsy Cline.
 We kept Aubrey from school because she wasn't feeling well so we took her along for the ride.

 It was a quick trip but it was worth it because I got to see the rest of my sweet family. When we arrived at the university,
 we saw Richie. He took Aubrey and Deacon to his office while Brianna and I checked out the costumes.
 When we were done in the costume room, we followed Richie to his house and saw Chrislynn and the children.
Brianna and Deacon hadn't met Josie yet.

Deacon asked to hold her for a little while.
 Josie was so bright eyed and visiting.
It was awesome seeing all my grandkids together. 
I love this picture because it captures their distinct and different personalities so well. Brianna was trying to get them all to smile and started making weird noises behind me. You can see that Little Richie is trying not to laugh.

Richie had to go back to school for rehearsal but we went out to dinner with Chrislynn and the children.
 The four children played in the indoor park.
 Grace kept asking me to sit on a bench not to far away from her while she played. She kept saying, "Gamma, Gamma!" Then she'd pat the bench and say, "Sit here!" She was the loudest kid in the indoor park!
Boy! This past month Grace has changed so much!
 She talks so much and so clear. At this age, she looks so much like Aubrey did but her personality reminds me so much of Brianna's. 
 After dinner we stopped to see Giselle at work during her 15 minute break. We gave each other tons of hugs and kisses and headed back to Idaho.
 Our road trip was so much fun. We listened to Patsy Cline's music while Brianna practiced her singing.
 She sounds wonderful. We all love Patsy's songs but especially Deacon.
THURSDAY
I watched Deacon again while Brianna rehearsed and Travis and Anson helped Dad with the set. Aubrey went to a church  basketball game. Deacon and I decided to bake a pie.
 Boy he sure got into kneading the dough and punching it.
 He kept saying, "This is fun Mama!"
I noticed that he got off the step stool, grabbed a kitchen towel, and placed it around his neck.   

He loved the rolling pin! Before today, he had only used the rolling pin for sword fighting and as a bat.

He made this creation and was so proud of the apple pie he made. 

We all met at Brianna's house for dinner.

Dick and Travis watched football while Brianna fixed dinner.

I finished slicing the apples for the pie.

 Brianna made the best chicken enchiladas.

 Yummy!

 They were delicious!

Today she also gave Anson a haircut and she did an awesome job!
FRIDAY 
Brianna performed for the Lion's Club today. She just needs the perm for the actual play, but it's already scheduled for next week.

Anson's football game was in Twin Falls. Aubrey had a birthday party to go to that she was willing to miss so that she could see Anson play. I decided to miss his game and stay in Burley so that Aubrey could go to the birthday party. These type of activities are important at her age and I need to encourage her to do things with friends instead of always spending every second with me. I love that she loves to spend all her time with me but I also want her to make new friends. Dad went to the game all by himself. The boys played Canyon Ridge. We lost 6 to 7. We were winning with 39 seconds left in the game and fumbled the ball. Then we blocked the extra point, but got a flag for unsportsman like conduct and they made it on their second try. While Dad was gone, Brianna, Travis, and Deacon spent their evening with me. We had a nice evening roasting marshmallows on our back porch. I love this time of year and all the time we get to spend outside by the fireplace. Deacon really enjoys it and you could tell that he was so excited about showing his parents how he is really good at roasting marshmallows.
SATURDAY
Anson worked construction today in American Falls.
 He left at 6 in the morning and returned around 5 pm. With early morning weights for football and after school football practice, it was his only day to sleep in. He also wants to earn some money so he decided to go to work. When he got home, he was covered in tons of insulation dust! After his shower, he had dinner and rested for a little while. Then he went on another date with Teagan. They went to see a scary movie, House At The End Of The Street. He said that it was the scariest movie ever! At one point, he was so scared that he jumped on Teagan's lap. I would have loved to have seen that!
 Deacon spent most of the day with me. We lit our outdoor fireplace and had our usual marshmallow roast. He comes over expecting the usual now. He loves to collect the twigs from our fire wood and break them into small pieces to help start the fire.
Deacon had a sleepover tonight and made it the whole night through without asking for his mom. Him and I slept in the TV room and watched 2 episodes of Dora. I had a wonderful time with my grandson and I hope and pray that I can experience many more nights like this one with all of my grandchildren. It was so fun!

SUNDAY
Brianna came by pretty early to get Deacon while we were getting ready for church. We had a lazy Sunday today. Aubrey and I took a long nap on my bed. It rained most of the day and evening. I love the sound of rain and the way it smells outside right after rain. Bree and Travis brought us a late dinner today. We had a wonderful visit. Deacon and I baked some cookies. I think it's hilarious how he gets a kitchen towel and drapes it over his shoulders right before he starts any type of kitchen duty.

When the cookies cooled down, he gave everyone a cookie. As he handed out the cookies he'd say, "Dip it in milk!" 

After sharing his cookies with everyone, the little chef dipped his in milk and enjoyed his baked goods.

GRANDCHILDREN ARE PRECIOUS GIFTS GIVEN T0
PARENTS FROM THEIR CHILDREN.
MONDAY
Brianna made the best corn bread and soup today. It's my old recipe and I call it Poor Man's soup. You brown hamburger, add a can of this and a can of that, potatoes, and macaroni. It was the best dinner since it's kind of wet and chilly outside. This is Anson's favorite soup so after football he had 3 huge bowls. Thanks Bree!

 

Roasting Marshmallows

MONDAY
While Brianna and Dick rehearsed from 6:30 to 10 pm for Patsy, we had our first outdoor fire this year per Deacon's request.

 He wanted to roast marshmallows because he saw it on a

 PBS show... Caillou.

Brianna gave Deacon a marshmallow the other day and this is the conversation they had:

Deacon: I want to melt it. 
Brianna: How are we going to melt it?
Deacon: In the fireplace. Caillou does that...
Brianna: But we don't have a fireplace.
Deacon: Mama does! Let's go to Mama's house!

 Anson got the fire started and went to the store to get marshmallows.

 Deacon waited patiently.

Deacon was so excited as he waited for the marshmallows.

 He drew a picture for his mom while he waited for Anson to return.

Anson taught him how to roast marshmallows.
At first he was a little bit worried so he stayed pretty close to
 Uncle Anson.

Deacon burned quite a few.

Finally he got the hang of it.

 Later on, one of Anson's friends joined us.
 I'm so glad Anson is starting to date again.
 Him and Tegan are good friends.

TUESDAY

Deacon came over again today while Dick and Bree had rehearsal. He requested another fire.

 He's gotten really good at roasting the marshmallows,

 but doesn't like to eat them. Just like his grandma...

He does, however, love the Hershey's chocolate!

Deacon and I danced a lot by the fire,

 while listening to Patsy Cline. He loves her!

 Aubrey did her homework outside, and Anson kept the fire going while we were out there.

 I love these cool nights and I love that my teenagers choose to spend it with their mom and their nephew.

The adversary knows “that the home is the first and most effective place for children to learn the lessons of life: truth, honor, virtue, self-control; the value of education, honest work, and the purpose and privilege of life. Nothing can take the place of home in rearing and teaching children, and no other success can compensate for failure in the home.” ~President David O. McKay