Forever Families...

Granny & Grandpa Chlarson
(Lyman & LaVoy)

It's been an emotional week. Last week my cousin, Jill Chlarson Reid's grandaughter, Emily Hammond, passed away. She was 4 1/2 years old and born with a chromosome disorder. Then Sunday, my cousin, Eddie Chlarson, who was just a year older than me died suddenly. Today was Emily's funeral in Quincy. Her dad is from Quincy and married my cousin's daughter! It's a small world!

It was so good to see some of my Chlarson cousins. Aunt Ruth was there, Jill, Camille, Julie, and Ted. (Aunt Ruth was married to my dad's brother, Uncle Varsel. Yes, Varsel Chlarson! Try saying that a few times!!) I hadn't seen those cousins for years! It was so good to see them all! We could have talked for days! Camille and I vowed to keep in touch! (Why didn't I take pictures? Ugh!)

Why do we let so many years go by and not see extended family? Yes, we live in Washington and most of my relatives live in Utah. There's a Lyman and LaVoy Chlarson reunion every two years in Honeyville. Why haven't I made the effort to go?

Two years ago we went to Utah for General Conference while Leisha and Richard were living in Provo. I called Aunt Joyce (Dad's sister) and we took her to dinner. I hadn't seen her for years, either. The next day before we went to Conference we met my cousin Bruce at Aunt Joyce's home. Bruce and I are the same age and was my favorite Chlarson cousin. It was wonderful to see him!

Families are the center of our Heavenly Father's plan. Our church declares in "The Proclamation to the World" that ...."The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally."

I'm thankful for having that knowledge and knowing that it is true. I'm thankful for all of my family....Every one of them! Yes, my kids and grandkids are the joy and center of my world but my extended family will always be close to my heart even though time and distance keeps us apart. I love every one of you!

I vow to make more of an effort! To take the time for the important things in this life....Family. After all, the things of this world are not forever, but our family is!

The Very First GraMimi Night....

Nathan off to his first "GraMimi Night"..........................................

After reading Shaila's and Melanie's comments on my previous post I dug through the photo box (yes, box...not album!) and found Nathan's first GraMimi Night pictures. This would have been in early spring of 2003...almost 6 years ago!

Baths are usually one of the activities...(after all, Nathan said last week something about Reed someday being a gross little boy like him and Dane!)

And here he is in the "Hollywood" mode.........he loved these sunglasses as you can......

....see! Awsome shades, Nathan! You were too cute! Still are but you're sure not a baby anymore!And of course...eating is ALWAYS a part of GraMimi Night! First, breakfast at GraMimi's and...

....lunch at Burger King! How in the world did I think he was big enough for Burger King at 15 months!! I guess I was anxious to do it all!

We lived in Ephrata back then and there was a swing set in the backyard. Nathan to this day talks about that swing set! He loved playing on it! (He was so little!)

Well, there's proof that there was actually a first GraMimi Night! May there be many more to add to our book of memories!

First GraMimi Night of 2009!

When Nathan was born (my first grandbaby) I couldn't wait until he was old enough to start the tradition of a "GraMimi Night". I think he was 15 months old when I took him for the first time overnight. I look back now and can't believe he was that young! (If my scanner worked I would post pictures of that 1st GraMimi Night.)

With it being MLK Day on Monday, I told Melanie if it looked like we'd be home I'd take Nathan Sunday night. So...Milo, Melanie and fam, along with Landon, Holli and Grayson got together for dinner Sunday. (Melanie's posting about the excitement of that night! Stay tuned...) After all the excitement, Nathan ended up staying with us. His first activity was.....

The grandkids love bathing in my jacuzzi bathtub. I only put a little bit of bubbles in the water but when they turn on the jets it makes LOTS of bubbles as you can see. Then Poppy wanted to give him a bubble beard....

We woke up Monday morning and made pancakes, played some Yahtzee on my iPod Touch...

...got dressed for the day and then Poppy and Nathan.....

...went for a jog. I thought they'd be back in about 5 minutes but a half hour later they came huffing and puffing home. You can see how cold it was that morning. Nathan said he tried to get Poppy to "jump a fence and cut through a field" but he had to go the "long way"! What a trooper he was!

Around lunch time we picked up Dane. After our excitement on Sunday I thought Milo could use some rest. Melanie took Reed and Kathryn to the Tri-Cities and Poppy and I took Nathan and Dane to the new McDonald's. IT WAS CRAZY BUSY! With it's new remodel I thought it would be much larger than it is but we didn't have too long of a wait before a table cleared. I guess that's why it's called "fast food"! I tried to take some pictures but it was just too crazy! Just to let you know...it may be a "new" McDonald's but it's still.....McDonald's!! (ick!)

After lunch Poppy dropped us off at the movies and Nathan, Dane and I watched "Hotel for Dogs." I do have to say that I wasn't very excited to go sit through a kid movie but it was actually quite cute...and rather emotional in a couple of parts...sniff, sniff!! We ate lots of popcorn, Milk Duds (you have to put them IN the popcorn!), gummie Lifesavers, and Sour Patch Kids! After all....it was a "GraMimi Night" and that's when just about anything goes!!....within reason! Poppy got a picture of us after the movies!

...Does GraMimi look a little worn out?...or was it the popcorn w/Milk Duds!!

It was a really fun time! I'm finally feeling like I'm over my sickness and I felt really good over the weekend and had my energy back! Yey!!! I'm grateful I have Milo's kids (and now Grayson, too!) close so we can share special times like these! I'm so richly blessed!

Thank you, Nathan, for a fun GraMimi Night! Whose turn next?................................................

I turned "1", too...GraMimi!

Emma Jay Adams is our #8 grandchild and as you can see in the picture...she wanted to make sure I knew she was 1 and was rather offended that I haven't posted about her yet. She turned 1 on October 13th. She is actually the oldest out of the 4 grandbabies that were born all within weeks of one another AND the only girl! She'll have 3 boy cousins her age to deal with her entire life!These pictures were taken by her Auntie Lou (Shaila) while Emma was staying with me when her Mommy and Daddy flew off to France for a week. They left December 31 and I had the blessing of having her for 5 of those days then she went to share the remaining days with Grandma Adams. It was great having here around without her parents and having the opportunity to really bond with her. She lives in Geneva, New York right now while her Daddy completes his masters degree at Cornell University. When he's done in May 2010, they'll move back to Ephrata to work at the family business, Willow Drive Nursery. It will be wonderful having them back home and close to share precious moments with.

They live just minutes from the Sacred Grove (above left). When Emma was born, Mom and I had the blessing of being able to fly back to New York for her birth and while we were there we were able to visit the Church history sites that are so close to where they live. Thus....that's the reason Leisha and Richard named her, Emma. The above right picture of Emma is on the Smith farm right next to the Sacred Grove. I hope to go back before they move home and visit these sacred sites again. It was such a wonderful and spiritual experience.

(Notice each side of Emma's face is a different expression! Cover up one side and then the other. The left side has a peaceful expression and the right side has a pouty expression! It's such a unique and cute picture!)

Emma, GraMimi loves you so much! You are such a precious baby girl and I miss you everyday! Thank you for letting me take care of you those few and fast days! You are another blessing and joy added to our family tree!

Grayson Michael Luttmer...Our #10 turned "1"!

Grayson has such a big and cute smile!

Grayson turned 1 on January 10th. He was born a little over 2 weeks after his cousin, Reed. Landon and Holli had his birthday party for him last Saturday and it was a full house!


Reed, Nathan, Grayson, Kathryn and Dane

His Bushman cousins were able to be there! I like how Nathan is trying to get the two one year olds to cooperate for the picture! They were too busy with Curious George!

Holli asked me a couple of months ago if I'd make Grayson a Curious George cake. I've only worked with brown Wilton paste a couple of times and now I know that it doesn't just darken one shade darker but about 10 shades! Well, maybe not that many but it really darkens a lot! (Note to all of you cake decorators!)

Holli wanted a little cake for Grayson to dig into so I made this little monkey cake. I baked the cake in my Pampered Chef 4 cup batter bowl. It worked pretty good. The ears were those little 100 calorie Hostess cupcakes cut in half and frosted. Again....it's way dark!!

Grayson beginning to eat his 1st birthday cake! I don't know why I didn't get a picture of him after he really got into the cake!

He was very willing to share his cake with everyone!

We had a fun time sharing his 1st birthday with him! We actually bought a new camera the same day, thus...I have pictures! (Again, Reed gets shafted! Sorry, Reed!) Grayson is such a good combination of Landon and Holli! He looks like both of them. At times I really see a lot of Landon in him and then other times I really see a lot of Holli. He's such a sweet boy! He was taking a few steps on his birthday so I guess you can say he was officially walking on his first birthday. Again, we've been blessed with another sweet, beautiful boy adding a lot of joy to our family tree!

And we're not done yet...I haven't posted about Emma who turned 1 in October....and Winston will be turning 1 in February.........stay tuned.........................................................................................

Reed William Bushman...Our #9 turned "1"!

I'm so so so far behind in what's been going on in our family! The holidays were so busy and poor Reed...he was born December 23 and his first birthday was shoved in the mix of it all! Will he ever have a "normal" birthday? Melanie and I have talked about how we need to have everything done before his birthday so the focus can be on him. I usually do the grandkids birthday cakes and I felt bad that I didn't have the time to do his. I think we need to re-do his birthday in June!!

His Granny Deanne was given the outfit in this photo, I believe, from a co-worker to give to Reed. Melanie then took an old fashioned picture of him and I don't think I've ever seen a cuter picture! He's such a cute little boy! And he has such a happy disposition, too! When he smiles his whole face lights up! He's been an absolute joy added to our family tree!

This picture was taken right after he was born. He had lots of dark hair and now he's blonde. He's changed so much! I think out of all the grandkids he's changed the most from when he was born. He came about 8 days early so when he was born before Christmas we were very surprised but what a wonderful Christmas gift!

Thanks Milo and Melanie for adding another cute boy to our family tree!

Time......there's never enough!

I've really enjoyed having a blog, BUT....I never seem to have the time to spend on it that I would like. I have thoughts while I'm at work or when I'm in the middle of something at home (and there's been a LOT of "in the middle of somethings lately"...more on that later!) that I'd like to make a post about and then when I have time to post...the moment is gone along with the thought.

My biggest thought lately has been to take more time for the things that are important that I've neglected this past year. The things that keep me grounded...scripture reading, praying, going to the Temple, and serving others! I do them...but not as regularly as I have and I need to be more consistent....that's my goal for this year...to work on those things. I know why I am here on this earth and I'm grateful for that knowledge. I'm grateful for those tools that we've been given to keep us on track and closer to our Father in Heaven. And I've learned through experience that life is "easier" (but not always easy) and I am so much happier when I'm doing the things I know I should do.

Now that I've written it down for all to see...I'll be more committed to making it happen.