Tagged!

I was tagged by Anayansi! This is how this one goes:
Pick up the nearest book (one with at least 123 pages)
Open to page 123
Find the 5th sentence
Post the next 3 sentences
Tag 5 people

So I had loaned Vanishing Acts to someone and just got it back- it is sitting on my desk by my computer.

"We went to the Empire State Building and the Museum of Natural History; we played on the Alice Statue in Central Park. I bought her toys at FAO Schwarz. I took her on a Circle Line Cruise."

Those sentences don't give much of a clue about the book. It is a great book as are all of Jodi Picoult's books.

So I am tagging nieces, Julie, Rachel, Miriam, Michelle, and a friend, Kaylene!!! Everyone is busy but hopefully have time to read once in awhile! Love you guys!

Hi Ya'all!!!

I just got back from a week's visit to Texas! I was in Dallas for a few days and Houston for a few more. I had so much fun! In Dallas I had a blast with Ian and his family. I was able to stay with Reagan and Jenna while Ian and Anayansi got away for a night. My cousin, Grace, came over and we took the girls out to dinner. It was so fun to spend time with Ian and his family. He is working really hard and Anayansi works just as hard keeping the household going while Ian is away at work. Reagan is the best big sister!!! She really watches out for Jenna. She is learning violin now so I got to watch her practice! It was especially fun to see her at her school when we went to pick her up. Jenna is such a character!! She calls Reagan "Sister", she loves to dress up and she twirls in circles when she dances!! Ian and I took the girls to the park one of the days. They are so cute together....


Fun at the park!


We made a trip to the American Girl Doll Store!!


Lunch with Anayansi and Jenna!

The next night was a family gathering at Macaroni Grill. It was so wonderful to see family I hadn't seen in a long time. I was so fortunate that they were in town and available! My Aunt Jo and Uncle Doug look fabulous!! My cousins, Vicki and Roger came with their son, Roger Jr and his adorable family- Annie, Tori and Jilli. And my cousins, Julie and Grace were there too. And then of course, Ian, Anayansi, Reagan, Jenna and me. It is so comforting to see family that I haven't seen in ages- and yet it feels like I had just seen them the day before. And with my cousins I feel like teenagers again.


Getting together for dinner at the Macaroni Grill


With my Aunt Jo and Uncle Doug


First Cousins- Julie, Grace, Me and Vicki


Distant Cousins- Jilli, Reagan, Tori, and Jenna


In Ian's back yard


The weather in Dallas was beautiful. Actually pretty warm but I was OK with that. Then I went to Houston to see my sister, Leigh. Our sister, Patti, came down from Kansas to Houston too. We were missing Sue and John but we managed to have a great time anyhow!! A little shopping and too much eating!!!! Fun to catch up on family news. It makes me sad that we all live so far apart and can't see each other very often. I loved seeing my sisters!

Leigh and Patti

Happy 24th to Cami!!!!

I can not believe that Camille Collett is 24 years old today. She is in NYC having the time of her life - and I wish I could be there to celebrate with her. But she has great friends there with her so I am sure she will have a fabulous birthday. She has amazed me and others by all she has managed to accomplish in her life already. She is a world traveler having lived in very interesting cities around the world, has jumped out of an airplane, taught Middle School in Stockholm, works for a law firm in Manhattan now, and speaks fluent Swedish. She was always the peacemaker in the family and still is. Diplomacy is her middle name!! She makes friends everywhere she goes and has a heart of gold.

She has a strong, independent and adventurous spirit. I am so proud of her and love her with all my heart. I miss her but am so happy that she is doing well. I know this will be a fantastic year to come for her. Happy Birthday Cami- I love you more!


Cami and Klas


Cami and her roommate, Anna


Cami and Jamie painting their apartment at UC Davis


Skydiving for her 21st birthday!


While living in London


Cami and Brooke


One of my favorite pictures of Cami and me in Stockholm

Happy Birthday Reagan!!!!!!

My precious granddaughter turned 6 years old today!!!!!!!! I am so proud of her and love her so much! I talked to her on the phone and she said she had a good day today. Her birthday party is on Saturday. Her other grandma, Anna, is coming to see her tomorrow for a few days. Then I am going to Texas to see her next week! I can't believe it has been 6 years since she was born. Reagan is growing up way too fast!!! She is a great big sister to Jenna. She loves Kindergarten, American Girl books and dolls, Barbies, and Hannah Montana! For being only 6 years old she has amazing distinct preferences for clothes. She is definitely her mother's daughter in that way!!!! She is so funny and loves to play with her friends. She is sweet and sensitive, loves her family and her Heavenly Father. I am so excited to be able to see her and her sister next week. So Happy Birthday Reagan. Grandma loves you!!!!

SF Giants Home Opener!!

It's Spring!! Along with spring comes baseball season! Today was the Home Opener for the San Francisco Giants. I had the pleasure of being invited to go with a good friend, Rick. So I took the day off of work!!!!! (Which is pretty spontaneous for me--something I'm not really known for!) But I am having a serious case of spring fever and workitis.... and they owe me quite a few hours of comp time. So what is a person supposed to to do??? I felt bad that Rick's wife,Tracy, couldn't go.... but then again - lucky for me!! Rick is retired now so work isn't an issue for him any more. I have known Rick and Tracy for over 40+ years- (Tracy's older brother was my first boyfriend!!!) I am so fortunate that they live here in Sacramento.

So we drove to San Francisco for Opening Day at AT&T Park!!! It was a gorgeous day-absolutely beautiful...... It also happened to be the 50th Anniversary of the Giants being a San Francisco team. As guests of honor, they had the surviving members of the 1958 Giants there. Most of the names I didn't know but I did know Orlando Cepeda, Felipe Alou and Willie Mays.

The Giants lost to the San Diego Padres 8-4. But I had a great time. I met Rick's friends that have season tickets next to his- Tony and Marty. They are two older guys that were so hilarious. It was a great day to escape the real world. So thanks Rick for a great day- and great friendship!



Opening Ceremonies.


Very Cool Scoreboard






San Diego Padres Pitcher Greg Maddux pitched his 348th win!! He will be a Hall of Famer!


Rick with his buddies Tony and Marty.

Being the Grandma- not the MOM!

I went to see Brooke, Evan and McKenzie this past weekend. When I got there Brooke was gone and wouldn't be back for an hour so Evan and I decided to take McKenzie to the park around the corner. It was cool and breezy but once we got there she didn't seem to mind! I am not as familiar with how well she does on the equipment so I was rather nervous- I kept saying "hold on" and "careful" more than I remember I ever said to my own children at the park! I have been to the park with Kenzie several times but she is increasingly more daring and crazy each time we go!!! She even almost tumbled over the side of the tall slide. She wants to go higher and faster on the swing, go down the highest slide, and she runs all over the place with reckless abandon!! Evan was very cool headed about the whole thing but not me!!!



When Brooke got home we went to run errands while Evan went to the 5 pm session of Conference for the men at church. I found myself constantly automatically giving her what she asked for only to have Brooke say NO!! I know it messes up her appetite but I still bought her a Jamba Juice an hour before dinner! Then at bedtime - even though her Mom said only one song- I still sang her 3! Things escalated this morning when she kept saying she was hungry when she really only wanted attention. But she cried saying she really was hungry so I gave her more snacks.....So my point is being a grandma is tricky business!!

I want to spoil my grandchildren but I know I shouldn’t corrupt them either!! I try really hard to respect Brooke and Evan’s, and Ian and Anayansi’s wishes. It’s not that I disagree with them. Everyone is entitled to raise their own children without my interference!!!! But my heart melts and I want to make the world right for the kids!! As a parent it is so much easier to stay focused and be consistent. As a grandma it is only natural to want to give it all to them!! So forgive me, Brooke and Evan. Forgive me, Ian and Anayansi (because when I come in less than 2 weeks I will have the same challenges again with Reagan and Jenna!!) I do try and honor your wishes but sometimes I fail miserably!!! Just know that I am not being critical of your parenting. You are fantastic parents. I just want to be able to do my thing- that’s what grandparents are for- right????