My Life in April

April 8th is a significant date in my family.

When I was a baby, we had wonderful neighbors. The Adams family had no children of their own so they became Grandma and Grandpa to me. I have many pictures of me being loved by them. Grandpa Adams was born on April 8th.

The next important man in my life was my dad, Fred Jacobsen. He was kind and loving. I could talk to him about anything. He made me feel important, like whatever I said was of value. He usually supported me in my decisions and gently advised me when he disagreed. He could fix anything and set a high standard for my future husband. Dad was born on April 8th.

My first son, Andy, was born on April 8th. He has been a wonderful addition to our family. All the kids have learned lessons from the Bear. . . patience, tolerance, looking out for the underdog, acceptance of those who are different, crazy clapping, appreciation of health in mind and body. . .so many lessons.

When Sarah met Gavin, we knew he was the one. Gavin was born on April 8th. What a fine husband and father he is. He makes Sarah laugh, plays wii with his sons, takes his daughter on dates and quietly provides for his family while making his dream of being a doctor come true.

There must be something magical about April 8th or I have just been incredibly lucky to have four such wonderful men in my life that share the same birthday !!

Crazy, Busy March

March is such a busy time at work, end of year IEPs and kids transitioning to kindergarten. I seems there is barely time to think, let alone write on the blog.

In our immediate family, we have one March birthday. Tabby was born on St. Patrick's Day. Tabs is such a joy to be around. She is creative and a real negotiator. This year her Dad helped to build a leprechaun catcher. It was really quite a contraption, but that is how Thad and Tabs think!

We also celebrated her brother's birthday at our family dinner since he was sick in February. We lit the candles on the cake several times so all would have a turn to blow them out. Ike was thrilled to have another birthday. Grand kids are so great!!

The end of the month, my memory went back 50 years. I was at Primary when word came that my mom had a new baby. I had a sister. I remember running home and being so thrilled that Janet was here. She was such a beautiful baby. . . it was like playing with a live doll. We have had lots of adventures over the years. I am so thankful I have a sister.

February Happenings

We have three birthdays this month, Shauna, Aubrey, and Isaac. Shauna celebrates with her family in St George, probably making her own cake. Zac has quite a history with cakes, but that is another story!

Isaac lives in Salt Lake so we recognize him at our third Sunday family dinner. All the local families get together once a month at our house for dinner. The cousins play, the adults talk and we all have a good time. This year Ike was sick so he joined his sister in blowing out the candles in March.

Aubrey lives in Washington. This was a very special birthday for her. She turned eight and was baptized. Aubrey wore the dress I made for mom's baptism. I think she made a deal with Sarah that if she wore the "old" dress, she could choose any dress she wanted for her confirmation.

We flew to Seattle to be there and give Aubrey her scriptures with her name engraved on the cover. Aubrey looked so beautiful and happy. I was and am so proud of her. She was baptized by her dad. What a great month!!

Promises. . . Promises. . .

I had a comment on my blog in April from one of Zac's friends that read, "Isn't it time for another post!!!!!"

Did she mean,"Are you still alive or did you die?"

I also have a good friend that writes in her blog just everyday fun stuff. . . . grandkids birthdays, days she feels proud, days she feels introspective, funny incidents, you get the idea. Well, I promised myself I could do that too. I even went so far as to make it a New Year's resolution. As you can see, it is June and my last blog was in December. So much for promised good intentions.

The pace that starts escalating after Thanksgiving keeps right on going through January in our family. Grandma Weez has a birthday on New Year's Eve, followed by Thad's on January 3rd. My birthday is on the 9th with grand-daughter, Ally, on the 10th. Jake's is on the 14th and Kurt's mom was born on the 18th.

While I think a lot about these wonderful people in my life and, usually, call them on their birthdays, I didn't blog. I love who they are and what they have become. Thad and Jake are such fine men. They are husbands and fathers of the greatest caliber. (They learned that from their Dad) Our moms, both named Louise, taught us values and principles that have shaped the direction of our lives. Grandkids are just the blessing you get from raising their parents.

So January passed with lots of love and memories, but no blogging. Maybe, with time, I will be more like my friend, Sheila, and recognize events as they happen. But for now, I'll play catch-up!!!

Christmas Memories 2009

As I went back to work yesterday, I reflected on my Christmas break. I seemed so packed with activity that it was over too soon. We were able to see ten of our thirteen grandkids, as well as their parents.

Zac's family came early Christmas week so we

were able to go on an elf hunt in Gardner Village, visit the Children's Museum, and experience a Pioneer Christmas at Heritage

Park. One of the highlights of the day was dancing in the schoolhouse and, of course, the visit with Father Christmas.

Christmas Eve we draw names in the family and

exchange homemade gifts. This year Jake and Amie got Kurt and me. Usually we open the gifts after the nativity play by the grandkids, but Jake requested we open their gift before.

He had constructed a stable complete with a star!

Amie had made a donkey, a camel, and a sheep costume to add to the collection. Suddenly we had no disappointed little girls who all wanted to be Mary. What a wonderful addition to our Christmas tradition!

On Monday after Christmas we left for California to attend an 80th birthday party for Annie.

When Kurt lived in Germany as a child, his parents hired a nanny/housekeeper

to care for Kurt and his sister, Linda. Annie

came back to the states

with the family and has been a part

of their lives ever since.

It was great to see her and as a special

bonus, visit with Linda as well.

All in all, it was a very busy but great holiday. . . now back to work

What came next. . .

Right after I finished the blog and was trying to upload the video, Leah called. The conversation went like this. . .

"How are you doing, Mom?"

"This is not a good day to ask!"

"Why? What's wrong?"

I then told her the story of the tree fiasco, how mad I was, and pretty discouraged. A few minutes later after lots of laughter, she told me how to upload the video and I left for work.

When I got home an hour and fifteen minutes later, Leah's van was in the driveway. Troops had arrived to help with the decorating.

I am so grateful for a caring family that takes me with all my warts and loves me anyway. This is what things looked like when Leah took her three little girls and went home . . .

Ho. . . Ho. . ..Ho. . . "Tis the Season

I got up at 5:00 AM to get ready to put the 8 foot tree up. It needed to be fanned out and the three sections put together on the stand. Beautiful!!

By 7:30 I knew that out of seven strings of lights, I had one that worked completely, three that half worked, and four that were dead. I took Andy to catch the bus to work, counting out sixty cents for a drink as I was out of drink boxes. Then to the drugstore that is open 24-7 for lights.

I bought 800 lights and spent the next two hours meticulously placing them on the tree. Back to front, equally spaced, just a touch of color. . . . As my kids can attest, Christmas is my baby. . . Kurt is not a big fan of the whole thing so each year I spend days decorating, etc.

Well back to my story. It is now time to move the wonderfully lighted tree back into the corner. I is now after 10:00 and I have to go to a meeting for work at 11:00 (By the way, Friday is my day off!!) I crawl under the tree, grab the stand, and push. Nothing happens. . I try again.. . . still nothing. It's just too heavy. I decide I can lift it into place so I grab the trunk and lift.

You guessed it - i pulled it apart. The top was too heavy to hold with one hand so it fell, taking me to my knees. I just came up here to whine and left the whole mess. When I get home again and calmed down I will start over. Hope I finish by 4;30 as I have guests coming for dinner

HO......HO......HO

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