Christmas Eve with the Williams

This year for Christmas Eve Michael's family came to our home. We enjoyed a nice dinner, the children performed the nativity and then we opend gifts from the Williams side of the family. Michael was asked to narrate the Christmas story. We decided after watching the 1st Presidency Christmas special that our story needed Samuel the Lamanite. So Michael asked Jason, Danielle's husband, to be Samuel. He had no idea what he was getting into, but the children had a great time trying to knock him off the wall with their sling shots, by the way, Tyler is a great shot! We did have one sad moment in the story, the camel was missing, apparently he wanted to be the donkey and refused to perform!

Danielle and Jason brought mustaches to make the kings more manly!

It's finally snowing!!!

Marissa and I have been wondering if we would get as much snow as we did last year. I don't know the answer to that but I am grateful I put up the last of my Christmas lights outside on Saturday. This is what we woke up to this morning. I figure if it's going to be cold outside we should at least have snow to play in!

When I went out to shovel the snow off of our very large driveway ( you can put like 20 cars in it) I'm sure with all the snow and my little red shovel it appears even larger, it usually takes me 3 hours to do most of it. Anyway, Harley our dog just loves snow and was outside helping me this morning. But this year we have kittens who haven't seen snow before. These kittens have funny personalities...Dixie for instance is the whinier, she is always crying about something and she has the most pathetic meow. So this morning when she saw the snow she sat inside the garage and just looked confused and refused to come out except once and she ran under the car where there was no snow. On the other hand we have this cat named Ginger. Ginger thinks she is a dog, anyway that's who she hangs out with the most. At first she was very cautious, then she was attacking it, batting at it and running around and sliding in it. It was pretty funny. I just feel sorry for Marissa the first real snow day and she comes home from school sick.

Being Thankful!

Thanksgiving for us this year was alot of fun! Trevor and Chris and their families came on Wednesday. On Thanksgiving Day Michael's family came around too and we had dinner and dessert with them. It was very nice to be able to spend time with them, we don't see them enough! Then Friday we went bowling with Michael's family, afterwards we all came home for a nap.

On Saturday we had a baby shower for Allie our newest granddaughter. It was early in the day so I thought it would be easier but it meant I had to get a lot done before they all came. I was still cleaning up the messes from Thanksgiving and with another whole houseful coming there was plenty to do but it turned out great. We had lots of family come and Allie was showered with lots of love and gifts. Thanks Aunt Kendra for doing the games!

Here's Allie on the blanket her Great Grandma Killian made her.
That night Michael made his famous pizza. We vote it as the best pizza anywhere! But with it comes the pizza mess, flour everywhere! Sunday our family went to church except Chris who hadn't been feeling well. It was fun showing our new grandbabies to our friends here. It was sad to have them all leave later in the day, it got quiet really quick after they left.

Just before Christopher and Rachel left Marissa went up to Emma to tell her goodbye and Emma started smiling, she smiled for about 5 minutes and was leaning really hard to get closer to her.

I noticed how different it is to have babies in our home again. Worrying about them, and making sure they get what they need and trying not to stress them out too much. I am grateful they have good parents who love them and take good care of them and bring them here to visit so I can spoil them too!

Grandma Time!

I left on Monday to help (that's what grandma's call it when they want to spend more time with their new grandbabies) Miranda and Trevor. I was there for 3 days and had a great time with Trevor and his new family. While there Miranda had her one week check-up and Allie was weighed she has gained 5 oz in one week. Allie is really funny, she likes to hum herself to sleep. She is always making noises. She was very alert and stayed awake quite awhile for a newborn. She is very tough and likes her hand by her face, I hear that's how she was born with her hand next to her check. Miranda has been wanting to post pictures on her blog of Allie but her camera has disappeared. We searched the whole house and couldn't find it anywhere. I hope they are able to find it, all of the birth pictures of Allie are on it. Oh, and if you have noticed that I changed the spelling of Allie's name. It is because after Trevor and Miranda decided on a spelling Trevor didn't love it so he changed it on the birth certificate. So Ali - is now Allie. I've included a few updated pictures of Allie and of course one of Emma who conviently lives close by.

Visiting our newest Granddaughter!

Saturday we made a day trip, a long day trip, but it was worth it. We got to see our newest granddaughter for the first time! She is so precious, and already has her daddy wrapped around her finger. So here are the latest pictures of her and also new ones of Emma.

Our two girls!

Michael and I where talking on the way home and I brought up how nice it was to see our children grown with their own children. This life is so amazing and just keeps getting better. I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who has allowed us to have these most beautiful experiences in our lives.

Just before we left Emma was fussy so I volunteered to hold her. Not such a bad job!

Allie has arrived!

I received a phone call this morning at 12:20 a.m. letting us know that our second granddaughter has arrived. Trevor and Miranda named her Allie Rae. She was born November 3rd at 11:28 p.m, weighed 6lbs 5oz and is 19 3/4 in. long. She has long fingers like her mom, and definitely her dads hair! I will post more pictures after we see her. Hopefully we can leave on Saturday early and visit them for the day!

Two Babies to love!

I can hardly wait to see my new grandbaby, if I had a car today I would of totally drove to Utah for the day or even stayed until tomorrow. This picture is of Allie Rae and Emma Ruth, they should have fun growing up together!
Chris & Rachel went to see our new grandbaby, so here's the most recent picture. I snagged it off of Rachel's blog! Thanks Rachel. Send me more!

All Together

This past weekend was a lot of fun. Fielding Steinlarsen a friend of my boys got married in the Idaho Falls Temple so they both came for the weekend to be at the wedding. I let Danielle know that they were both going to be here and her husband Jason had Saturday through Monday off so they came too. This is the first time that Christopher and Rachel had met Jason, and Danielle and Jason's first time to meet Christopher's daughter Emma.

I just am so grateful that we can all get together and have fun. Everyone found something to do and we were able to spend a weekend together. Michael and I were both sad when they all left. Of course today I am doing wash and cleaning house, but don't mind the clean-up it was worth having all the family together. The one thing I am sad about is we didn't get a picture of all of us together. Trevor's wife Miranda could have her baby anytime and we wanted to wait for her to get here before we take a family picture. So all my children need to send me their pictures from this weekend so I can post some!

I thought it was Autumn!

When I went for my morning walk today (wearing a jacket, mittens, and ear muffs) this is what I saw. Can you believe it? I thought it was Autumn but apparently winter can't wait. And when Michael and I left for our date tonight it was snowing. October 10th and it is already snowing and getting very cold. I love Autumn, the changing of the leaves is just amazing.....and I am not quite ready for winter. The cold weather brought back memories of growing up in Idaho. I remember most Halloweens getting really cute costumes and then putting winter coats over the top of them. So whenever you went to someone house they would invite you in, have you take off your coat so they could see your costume. No wonder we only went to about ten houses! Sometimes we would find those outfits that fit over our coats with plastic masks to match. I still remember breathing through them but we thought they where the best.
Well, I guess I won't be wearing this outfit this year!
I guess it could warm up for a few weeks....nah most likely not!

So maybe Michael and I could go
dressed as this!

Things I miss most!

It is really beautiful outside today, the kind of day you grab the children and head for the beach. Which made me homesick for California, and all that we left behind. My friends, my hometown, Mia & Sophia (Shannon can you tell I need a new picture of the girls), strawberries, and the beach! Even though we knew we needed to move, this has been one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. We lived in the same place in California for 17 years and it's impossible to replace the friends and associations we developed there. Not that I could ever replace the friends, I just miss them so much! Here are just a few things I miss most!

It's Friday!

The leaves are staring to turn and fall is on the way...

Well, I don't really have anything new to post. It is Friday, and the weather looks great, I hope it last all weekend without wind. Danielle's husband had his birthday this week, Happy Birthday Jason. I sometimes can't believe that she is married, but she seems to be enjoying married life. Last weekend Christopher and Rachel came to visit. It was fun seeing them and little Emma. Emma got her first offical bath here. It was a lot of fun having a baby at our house. Of course, Rachel got up with her all night we just enjoyed the grandparents role. I did change a few diapers though!

Grandma Stop taking my picture!

This is a funny picture. We where trying to get a picture of Emma with her eyes open and everytime she opened her eyes she got flashed in the face with our cameras. This is her showing grandma how she feels about cameras.

Emma's Blessing

Emma's Blessing

We went to Christopher and Rachel's ward today to bless our new grandbaby Emma. They wanted to do the blessing while Rachel's mom was still in town. Emma wore the same outfit her mother wore when she was a baby. We had an enjoyable day with our family. Danielle was not able to make it and we missed her and Jason.

Michael's a Grandpa

On the way home we were discussing what we would like our grandbabies to call us, Michael jokingly said they can call me GrandFather........we will see about that Grandpa!

Sweet Emma

Sweet Emma

We received a text, yes a text, Sunday morning that our first grandbaby was born. It's a girl, she was born at 3:41 a.m., weighed 6 lbs 1 oz and is 18 1/4 inches long. Christopher and Rachel have named her Emma Ruth. She was born on September 7th, National Grandparent Day, what a great day to start being grandparents! We left Sunday morning to see our 1st Granddaughter. She is very cute, and we are excited for our next granddaughter who is coming in November.

April's Wedding

We were able to go to Michael's niece's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and I am really happy for April that she found the love of her life. They are a great couple and we were excited to be there and support them. Plus we had yummy cheesecake and great company!

John with his beautiful bride April!

Ginger, John & April, Janet & Parley

Almost all the Williams, just missing Tyler, Danielle & Jason