I AM A GREAT MOM!

Now I know that I am a Great mother, after all. Yesterday at a local store I was 'privileged' to over hear a Mother several aisles away from me talking on the phone to one of her children. The words of wisdom from her motherly lips were:
"I am home EVERY night. You are the one that is gone...off with your FRIENDS. You don't care about me. You only care about your friends. SomeDAY I will be DEAD! [Now she is walking around in the store. Another lady on my aisle looks at me in horror] Then you will be sorry. Then you will remember how you have treated me. It will be too late. I will be GONE!"
As she wondered through the store talking on the phone for all of the customers to hear a sick feeling filled me. When she hung up I said a silent prayer for the wounded child. Then I thought...I am more wonderful than my children even KNOW!

Fancy Ladies

Some very FANCY LADIES attended the family reunion!

Kitchen Update

Kitchen Beautification continues!

Family Reunion Part 3

The beach is always a favorite pastime in Sunny Cal. So, we packed the cars full of food, gear and kids and went to Corona Del Mar.
Steele (12) and friends,
Slater (9) and Carter (9) had a great time boogie boarding.

PS For some reason I can only put a couple of photos on a post. Is it my computer or blogger? hmmm. This reunion could take a long time to talk about

Family Reunion Part 2

This cool dude joined us for the family reunion.
His name is Cooper. He is 2 years old.
He loves water, swimming, water and swimming.
If the big boys do it he wants to and usually can.


This is a snap of the snail farm at Grandma"s.
When you live in Arizona snails are hard to find.
When you live in a new neighborhood in Utah snails are rare.
But, at Grandma's they are everywhere!
I tried to get the daddy's to take the farm home with them to no avail.

Family Reunion Part 1

It began with great anticipation: The 8th Horton Family Reunion-2009

The first to arrive were the Joel Horton’s. Makayla is 6 and Micah is 4.
They were here a full week before the Jarman’s so some fun events took place before the actual reunion. Corbin (5 in just 2 weeks) and Cooper (2) were excited to have cousins in town. Shannon and Derek are so good at stopping their life to accommodate whatever the plan is. Often the plan for the day is conceived at the last moment.

We had great fun at the water park in south Corona. Shannon and the boys met us there for an evening of wetness

That evening Makayla and Micah switched personas. Makayla dressed in Micah's p's and Micah wore hers.

In a high pitched voice Micah asked that his bedtime story be Fancy Nancy and Makayla wanted a book about fire engines read to her. They even slept in each others beds that night.


Some fun events:
Snail farming!

Minnie Mouse and Corbin's first sleep over and Grandma's

Swimming

The Beach

Corbin's 5 birthday party
For some reason photos are not downloading. I have tried....oh, I have tried. Perhaps another day.

I AM GIDDY

I am giddy with excitement that my kitchen is being redone.
Here is a before photo.
Here is a in the middle stage photo.
The paint will be done next week.

AND
I have used our new solar oven to make cookies, granola and chicken with yams and garden fresh zucchini


PLUS!
Our children are beginning to gather for our family reunion next week.
I AM GIDDY

Life and Death

My sister in law's mother died today.
My niece, Lauren is giving birth tonight.
God is busy.

Awarded to Jan

My dear Friend/Sister--Jan has had a terrible week. Actually, she has had terrible health since February. It is one thing after another. Not just little things but BIG things that would make anyone just want to have a Huge Pity Party, Throw in the Towel and Cry, Cry, Cry. If I were to describe just one of the awful symptoms that she has endured you would cry too. My heart is crying.
Through it all she continues to look for reasons to be "Glad" like Pollyanna or "Thankful" like Corrie Ten Boom. She is amazing. A Lady indeed.
Twice she was scheduled to come for a visit but we canceled the trip.
Now we have a cruise planned together with my extended family. It is in September.
Please be well enough to come.

MY MAN

What did my darling man want to do for his Father's Day Event?
We went to visit a beloved elderly lady whom we have known for nearly 30 years, Ruth Bird. Unfortunately, we haven't visited her for a long time (which she mentioned during our visit) yet she only lives a few miles away. She was delighted to see us-especially Craig. She has a particular fondness for him. It put a smile in our hearts to put one on her face.

Have I described just how wonderful Craig is? Truthfully, it isn't possible to create an accurate portrait of my love in mere words. But, I will unfold a few less known things about this great man.

• He loves music. Our home is often filled with beautiful sounds. He helped me choose the music for my blog.

( just a few of our CD's)

• He has an unquenchable desire to learn. The rooms of our house and our garage are filled with books. This is a stack by his bed.

• Another element of the desire to learn is his appreciation of the radio talk show host Dennis Prager. Dennis Prager has become Craig's best friend (second only to me). "Listening to him is more valuable than a college degree" says Craig who has a Ph.D. himself.

• Craig loves color. This the pen collection he keeps by the bed. They are used to mark the books he reads.

• Craig always (almost always) dresses exquisitely. I call him the "Gentleman Farmer." He often is out watering or weeding in slacks, a long sleeve dress shirt, and freshly polished dress shoes. Even though this is ridiculous, I do really like it that he loves to wear nice clothes. If it were up to me he'd wear his tuxedo at home now and then!

• Craig is a thinker and a discusser. He always has deep ruminations flowing. So many times just after our evening prayer when I collapse to sleep I will hear him asking me a question such as, "when you think about the Atonement and the effect it has on repentant soul and contrast that with the......"...snore..... Poor Craig he needs to be married to a nightowl.

• I had a craving (NO, Lauren, I am not pregnant!) for a Miquel's bean burrito yesterday so Craig jumped in the car to get me one.

• Today when I came home from serving in the temple Craig had mopped and vacuumed.
  

I could go on and on but I don't want to make anyone SICK!

How do you thank a guy like that? Make him Peach French Toast for Father's Day!

Fathers

Today is the First Day of the Father's Day Celebration.
I am taking Craig out for the day. We are going to make an "experience."
Saturday we are going to my parent's house for a Celebration with all my siblings and their spouses.
Then, Sunday it is Father's Day!
In celebration of Fatherhood I share this wonderful video with you.
Father Indeed

PS visit my friend, Jan's blog and enter her giveaway!

A Great Week

1. I worked at the temple 2 - 6 hour shifts.It is always a joy to be there.

2. Lunch with my sisters and mother

3. A new Grand-Nephew, Chace is born (no photos yet)

4. Dinner with the Pendelton's and Little'swho were visiting from Utah.

5. Cousins, Jack and Joyce visiting from Oregon stayed with Craig and me for 5 days.

6. A new/used fridge for the garage! Space. Can't have too much of it!

7. My first Ward Conference is over!

8. Kelli is home from Greece and Istanbul While she was gone Craig shared a movie with me that he really likes-Taken. It is about a daughter who is traveling abroad and is kidnapped. Real Comforting.

9. Dinner with friends on Monday Night

10. Makayla's dance recital We didn't get to go. BooHoo. Being a long distance Grandma is hard on the heart sometimes.
11. Grand-Niece, Ryea is blessed

Isn't it amazing how many wonderful things can be squeezed into a week?

11 Days with Corbin and Cooper

If I had more time I would tell you :

About saying good bye to Shannon and Derek when they left for 11 days to Spain
and what it is like to babysit for 11 straight days!
About Derek's dog digging a hole under the fence and escaping and
the flood that happened that same day and the neighbor who helped
About my helpers
About Super Heroes
How wonderful Craig was at helping me when he could
About Hide and Seek
and how wonderful it is to see babies ASLEEP! The boys and I are closer than ever. We love being together. When I went to visit yesterday they didn't want me to leave.
Have I mentioned that I love being a Grandma!