Another Birthday at Disneylannd!

Ella turned 4 on the 19th, so what else could we do except take her to the "Happiest Place on Earth?" Brandi invited me to tag along, and even included Payton, as she and Ella are always asking for "play dates."

Abby, Ella with her birthday button on and Payton, ready for an all girls day at

THE PARK.
Two of my most favorite 4 year olds, who just happen to very good friends. I'm so stinken lucky!

My Beautiful Brandi and her darling little ones, sorry big ones who had to go to school, boo hoo.

Alice in Wonderland's tiny door, in fantasyland, which is always a good photo spot.

To make a Happy Birthday even happier, Ella was surprised by being taken to Chuck E. Cheese's. Now that place is just about Brandi's lest favorite place on earth to go, but I've taken Ella there a few times. She had been saying, "when can Grandma Holly take me to Chuck E. Cheese's, again?" So Kevin and Brandi had her close her eyes as they drove into the parking lot, and she was so excited when she realized that they were going there for dinner. I'll have to get some pictures from them to share.

Springtime in California

There are many people whom I know and love very much who are always so crazy about the "Seasons in Utah". Oh, pull-eese, give me the 20 to 30 degree temperature range, I can take that, not the endless months of FREEZING! Any way, I just need to go on record and show all interested that Spring does definitely come to SoCal too!
Look at my treasured lilacs, they are very rare in Southern California. I have finally figured out the secret of growing and getting lilacs to bloom here too. I do love my lilacs!

In 1994, Jenny and Julie were both BYU students. When they came home after winter semester, they brought me two lilac plants in 5 gallon size containers. We planted them, and anxiously watched every spring for the coveted blossoms. Once in a while I'd get one or two tiny blooms. I was always disappointed with the outcome, but the bushes were nice greenery in the planter boxes anyway.

I tried to figure out why they didn't bloom better. I remembered that in the fall, when the leaves were falling, a lot would remain clinging to the branches of my bushes. Leaves usually completely fall off trees after freezing, and that was probably the step that was missing in the life cycle of my plants. I decided to go and knock off all of the remaining leaves from the branches, thus helping the bushes have a fuller cycle. After doing this the blooms the following spring were beautiful.
Look at my wonderful bushes now. I have clipped some beautiful bunches of flowers to share with the Young Women at church and here in the house.
Here's our pretty Jacaranda tree too. I don't ever say that my favorite color is purple, maybe it should be since it stands for Integrity. Almost everything that blooms in our front yard is purple, maybe secretly purple is my favorite color.

Spring-time is Beautiful wherever you see it. It's remembering to look for and notice it that is the essential part of enjoying Spring to it's fullest!

It's Almost Time!

In my kitchen I have this basket that I keep all the swimming goggles in . . . .

The little ones love to get them out and play with them . . . . they can really mess up their little eyes. Look closely at these two, they kinda look like aliens.

They are all getting so excited to go swimming. We told them, "after Wade's birthday!" That's on Friday, oh boy Summer is almost here!!!

Stake Play "The Wizard of Oz"

Ema and Kylie participated in our Stake Play this time. They were very committed to the many practices and performances. Ema was a dancing Poppy and a Jitter-bug, with a lot of other kids her age.

Kylie got to be a "Munchkin". It took a lot of dedication but they both really enjoyed it and both were very sad when the last performance was over. These are the only pictures I got of them before their parts, because we were asked not to take pictures durring the performances, so I didn't. I do know people who I can get more pictures from though, I'm going to try to get more.

I got to see it 3 times, once the first night with the mutual kids, then two more times because we had bake sales for girls camp.

If I had it to over again I would try to be more involved myself in things like this. My parents tried to encourage me but I was never very outgoing and hesitated at being in the spot light. I didn't participate in the dance festivals because I was afraid of who they would make me be a partner with. I disliked the road showes and just didn't want to be very involved.

Our kids were more involved because both Gene and I really regreted not being more involved our selves and they went along with our encouragement.

I know a family who's motto is . . . "Popes are Participators!" I love it, that is a great motto! I think we should all try to be more involved with life in general, it's way too short!!!

My best little buddies!

Jenny with her boys, trying to catch up with me and the girls in Dumbo.
Love those Orange Swings in California Disney.
They are one of our most favorite rides. To bad Paytie is still to short.

My beautiful girl and her baby!

Posing Paytie, I sure love that darling girl.

I cherish every minute that I get to spend with my kids and their children. I am so grateful that the little ones love being with me and always want to spend time at our house. Being a mommy is the thing that brought me the most joy, and now as a Grandma, the joy continues. I don't know what I'd do if they ever have to move far away from us.

This is so true!

Thought for Today

"Mothers believe we are responsible for our children from the womb to the grave. We are connected by the longing to protect them after they leave our bodies, so the impetus for making this planet safe for them lies with us. Mark my words: It's the soccer moms who will change the world."—
Kyra Sedgwick, from O, The Oprah Magazine July 2008

Oprah was interesting today. It really made me reflect on my path in life and the wonderful joy being a mother has given me.

As life goes on, even when our children are grown, you never stop being their mom. You want to shelter and protect them from pain, emotionally and physically, but alas you have to step back and let them muddle through, stepping in only as needed to love and support. Believe me, as our children age and mature your love only grows stronger. You begin to get a small understanding of how our Father in Heaven loves and supports us as we try to make our way back to Him.

Surprise, I've been published!

A few weeks ago my sister Laurie in Utah called me from Costco. She was so excited because she was looking at a new Cookbook that was for sale, and she found a recipe by me in there! I didn't even remember submitting one. But after she reminded me about an email invitation for entries to a LDS worldwide ward cookbook a few years ago, I vaguely remembered sending one in. Then I remembered that they had said that if they used your recipe you would get a copy of the book for free. I wasn't expecting it to be done as nicely as it has been and I'm excited to try some recipes.I recieved a copy in the mail a few weeks after it was for sale in Utah. Of course I couldn't wait to see if I truely was going to get one for free. So I had my Mother-in-law pick one up for me when she went to Utah.
Really I don't use recipe books that much but I have a lot of them in my kitchen. I love looking at them for new ideas. Honestly I'm the type of cook that just cooks to my liking. It's very hard for me to exactly repeat a recipe a second time. It is always a challange when someone asks me for a recipe of something I have made because I just don't use recipes, and if I start out using one, I don't stick to it.
They are in the process of collecting recipes for a second volume, so look into it if you have something terrific to share.

Life is Crazy . . .How does it go so fast?

It's already been a whole year since Adam joined our family, yesterday was his first birthday. We are always dissappointed about the miles between Greg and Jess and the rest of our family, and having to miss out on being with them as these milestones happen and as they grow and change is sad. So we have to rely on sweet Jess to always be up-dating their blog and sending us pictures.

Just look what a whole year can do! Adam is so cute and we wish we were able to be around him more. Sorry to have missed your first birthday sweet baby. Have mommy and daddy bring you down here and we'll all go to Disneyland, again!

Now that you can see over Dumbo's head I'm sure you'll enjoy it more.

Our First Baby!

This picture was taken March 13th, 1975 when we brought Jenny home from the hospital. We were so pleased to be parents with a darling new baby girl!

Gene and I have been parents for a long time now, it was Jenn's 34th birthday yesterday. She continues to bring so much pride and joy to us; her earthly parents, and has from the day she was born.

There are several dates that become and remain special to us through the years as they pass. Every birthday of each of our children (and each of our grandchildren) brings tender feelings and moments of deep reflection to me. It always brings memories of the day of their birth, and of their baby years. Oh, the time goes way to fast!

I am so grateful for the blessing of each child that our Heavenly Father blessed us with.

Happy birthday my sweet girl, I love each and every day that we still get to spend together! I love you!

More old photos

March 13th, 1975

Brand new Parents

Gene was so excited to be a daddy! He had wanted a girl, but hadn't told me that. He even gets the credit for giving her her name. There was no arguing with him.

She had to be his Jennifer Lynn

After about 6 months Jenny became a "happy baby" maybe it just took me that long to get the hang of it myself.

During Gene's "softball years" this is one way Jenny and I spent a few evenings each week.

August 2, 1975

Dave and Karie Bourne's wedding day

That dress was a problem for a nursing Mommy and her baby!

This one was taken Nov. 15th, 1975 on Gene's 2 6th birthday, he looks so young. Jenny was so sad when daddy blew out his birthday candles.