Aubrey's 5th Birthday

For a year Aubrey begged me to have a Hawaiian birthday party. Finally in March, for her 5th birthday, she got her wish. We decked out the house in Hawaiian/Luau theme and had a great time. Each little girl came in her swimsuit and received a lei and grass skirt. Then they received a flower for their hair and a shell whistle after completing the games. We learned a real hula, surfed on a real board and did the limbo! All the girls were darling and Aubrey still talks about his great party!Surfer girl!

Aubrey's Surf Shack

Aubrey and The Hulas.

Dance, Dance, Dance!

The girls joined a new dance studio this year, Jean Taylor Studio 1, in Farmington. I really like the studio, so do the girls. This year Aubrey took ballet and tap. She was darling and loved it. Hailey tried something new. She auditioned for a competition dance team. She did hip hop and jazz. She trained very hard for her competition and did a wonderful job!

I love watching the girls dance. I did ballet for about 14 years, although I was never a fantastic dancer, dance is so much a part of me and a lot of my life was spent in a dance studio. I firmly believe in the benefit of girls in dance. One of my greatest joys is having my girls dance.

Christmas 2009

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year! I love it, and then when it is done, I'm so happy that it is over. It's perfect! Here are a few of my favorite picts from the Christmas season this year!The girls are getting so big now, it is a blast to take them places. No strollers, they can walk pretty fast, it's great! Here we are at the lights at Temple Square. It was a fun night.

Best Christmas Angel ever!

Mary with baby Jesus. (Okay, baby Jesus is HUGE!)

Halloween 09

Here are some picts from our Halloween!

I tried my hardest to stop my husband from terrorizing the neighborhood this year. In light of our troubles with Hailey and her night terrors, I thought we were hardly the people to inflict terror on others. But despite my efforts, when I was out trick-or-treating with the girls he pulled out the forbidden chainsaw, I told him the air compressor-marshmallow-shooter was okay, but not the chainsaw. He didn't listen, however he didn't wear the scary mask (that was his compromise.) It's crazy, my well-behaved, educated, honest, wonderful 32 year old husband turns into this craze-eyed 12 year old boy when the sunsets on Halloween!

Awesome New Website!

Hey, I am so excited about this, I had to share it on my blog. I am just breaking into the digital scrap booking world. I love being able to adjust my pictures, colors, etc. My friend, Marcel Walker is this excellent photographer and does incredible pictures she also is a Photoshop whiz. I get so frustrated with Photoshop, it is so hard to navigate. I even took a Continuing Education class trying to figure it out. Well, Marcel started this new company/website http://www.myphotographica.com/blog/ that walks you through how to do cool tricks! It is the coolest site ever and has all the tips and tool for how to use Photoshop. It is so awesome!! Check it out and put her button on your blog . . . she is doing a really cool picture frame drawing for everyone who puts her button on her blog! (take my word for it, the frames are really cool!)

Rise and Shout

Aubrey, Grandma Powell, me

Hailey and Aubrey and the BYU Cheerleaders (and band)

Rise and shout blah, blah, blah, blah . . . fame and glory. . . something, something, raw, raw, raw-raw-raw, raw, raw, raw-raw-raw gooooo cougars! (oh, I think I just threw-up in my mouth). Yes, wouldn't you know it, I went to a BYU football game and not only did I cheer for the cougars, I actually had a good time. My mother-in-law even bought me a Y shirt . . . and I wore it! Ben's folks have season tickets to the Y and took us along for a game. My girls had a good time. We get to eat in a tent before the game and the cheerleaders came in to cheer (the highlight for my girls). We sat on the grass for a lot of the game, but we still had a good time. My blood still runs red and my heart is with the U, but the game made for a good family day.

Grandma Virginia 1916 ~ 2009

Last week my dad's mom, Grandma Virginia passed away. (we stared to call her Grandma Virginia when my mom became a Grandma, that way there wasn't two Grandma Places). This photo of her hung on my parents wall my whole life. I think it is so beautiful. Grandma Virginia was 93 years old. It was a really wonderful funeral, what I'd like mine to be when I go. It was more of a celebration of a good long life.

My Dad used to always say,“I didn’t raise no shrinking violets.” Opinionated headstrong women seem to run in my family. Many “peaceful” Sunday dinners have been spent in heated debate. I dare you, throw my family any topic we’ll debate it, or at least strongly voice our opinion and them inform you, that that’s how it is. This dynamic trait of ours can be traced right back to Grandma Virginia. Grandma knew what she wanted and by darn she was going to get it. I didn’t know until I was in my twenties that Grandpa Place’s real name wasn’t Jerry, it was Arthur and that Jerry wasn’t in his given name at all. I’ve seen a Charles be called Chuck, but I’ve never seen an Arthur be called Jerry. When Grandma met Grandpa she didn’t like the name Arthur and decided to call him Jerry, the name he was known by for the rest of his life. Well if Grandma wanted it done, it was done.

Grandma was very clear on her likes and dislikes.

Dislikes: Long Distance travel. (meaning if you can’t get there in 20min by car, it’s not worth going).
She also disliked storms. Every time it stormed, you could count on a phone call from Grandma asking if it was storming where I lived. Often times we’d talk until the storm passed.
She disliked certain news anchors, and would very much voice her opinion everytime he came on television.
She also disliked current fashion trends and wanted things the way “they use to be.”

She did however have my likes:
Likes:
Sweet pickles
LOVED coca-cola classic (in a glass bottle)
She was the only person I knew who could walk into the Bountiful Taco Bell and her order will be rung up, food hot and ready and she hadn’t even said a word. She has some serious rapport with the Bountiful 5th South Taco Bell.
Game shows particularly reruns of 1970’s Game Shows
Utah Jazz, and rarely missed a televised game. They were her team.
American Idol, after I would always get the call “can you believe she wore that? Kids these days. I don’t think I can stand to watch this.” But she would always tune in next week.
However, it seems there was nothing she loved more than ankle nylons and high heels. We have pictures of her at 90 years old at Lagoon in high heels!! We have pictures of her shoveling snow in heels and even sledding, forget boots, Grandma had on high heels sledding! Which brings me to the one thing she loved even more than highheels: Grandkids. After Arthur died, her grandkids and greatgrandkids became the joy of her life.

She moved into my parents house in April of 2006, when my oldest daughter was 2 and youngest daughter had just turned one. Grandma loved watching them grow up, learning to walk, talk, and climb onto Grandma’s lap. She loved treating them to a burrito at Taco Bell. She was always willing to help with the children. One time when I was busily cooking dinner the familiar calls of “come wipe me off” came fluttering down the hall. Much to my surprise Grandma got to her feet and hollered “your mother’s busy, I’ll come take care of you.” I’m not real sure she knew what she was in for, but both gals came back smiling.
I’m so thankful that Grandma spent the last few years of her life so close to my home. It gave me the opportunity to serve her and really get to know her. It let my children know their greatgrandmother, something that I believe is a luxury and will give them a stronger sense of self.

I remember May 27, 2007 visiting Grandma at the Care Center. She seemed to be in good spirits and wanted to get some fresh air so we wheeled her to the patio to enjoy the spring weather. My daughter Hailey found a stick that was perfect for roasting marshmallows. Grandma and I chatted while Hailey proceeded to build a camp fire and open the make-believe bag of marshmallows. Quite suddenly Hailey pointed the stick at Grandma and said this one is for you. Without missing a beat Grandma Virginia reached out and perfectly grabbed that pretend marshmallow and eat. “ummmm good.” Shrills and giggles busted out of the little girls. Grandma smiled I could tell she was well pleased with her performance.

A few moments later she said she needed to go inside because “Jerry shouldn’t miss this.” I am so glad for my knowledge of the gospel and the Plan of Salvation. I know that Grandma is with Grandpa, her love, and with her parents and more importantly with Jesus. I know that life doesn’t end with death on this earth. Earthly death is just a continuation of spirit.

I hope my funeral is as good as Grandma’s. It was spiritually feeding and fulfilling. I love you Grandma!