A Game of Tag

Julie tagged me so now I'm "it". This is a 4x4 blog meme that reveals some insights about me.

1. Four places I go

• to Great Harvest for delish scones
• to the mountains skiing
• to visit my squishy grand baby Olivia
• to Burger King with the teenager on late start days for "Cini Mini Wednesday"

2. Four favorite smells

• the smell when harvesting honey
• the smell of lavender by my front door
• the smell of freshly cut grass
• the smell of Red Velvet Cake baking in the oven

3. Four favorite TV shows/movies

• Gone With The Wind - "Frankly my dear..."
• Hocus Pocus - "Amuck, amuck, amuck."
• Against a Crooked Sky - Hearthrob Stewart Peterson from my childhood...haven't seen it in years.
• Pride and Prejudice - "If any young men come for Mary or Kitty, for heaven's sake, send them in. I'm quite at my leisure.

4. Four recommendations

• Never eat anything larger than your head.
• Go big or go home.
• Live a genuine life.
• Love every minute of every day right now.

Hmmm. . . I wonder who will play along.

The four friends I tag are:

Kris @ Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History

Lesa @ Deer Hollow

Joni @ Imagine, Dream, Create

Michelle @ Scenes from the Wild

Adorable February

A Few things to adore about the month of February...

• Snow, snow and more snow.
• Red Vines 2 lb Family Mix all -to myself. I can eat an entire bag in about 3 days.
• Aggie Basketball...Have you heard the student section chant "Winning team, losing team"? It's a carefully orchestrated symphony of mockery! 

• After months of cabin fever...lacrosse in the snow. I think there is a ball somewhere in that net along with the snow.
• Learning to hand smock...details to be revealed in a later post.
• Hearing Olivia belly laugh at her Nana for the first time ever. I'm pretty funny you know.

• Watching teenagers create their own fun.
• Large Diet Cokes at McDonald's drive-thru. "That will be $1.08 at the first window please."

• Friday ski days...this time at Alta
• 10 inches of fresh powder at Beaver Mountain on Monday, then Wednesday, and also Friday.
• Listening to Lawyer Girl tell about her experience with Law School Prom...yes law schools all have proms.

• Yard buddies...they like to eat breakfast here, and lunch, and usually dinner!
• Attending a "New pup" themed baby shower for Momma Cass given by her adorable friends Jamey, and Kristel. I should have had my camera for this one. So cute...right down to the doggie bags they sent home with us. I love that my daughter is surrounded with wonderful friends to fulfill her life.

• The Wasatch Mountains in Utah...they are literally AWE-some!
• Feeling Jocie's spirit whisper to my heart with each turn I make when skiing.

• Katie Scarlett...nearly my fourth daughter and she leaves today for 18 months...love you girl!
• My brother Blair...he's a sweet heart, and he's going to miss his girl too!

• The Zen Master...he is as good a skier as the day I met him, and he loves the sport just as much today.

Katie Scarlett

If sunshine had a face...it would be my niece Katie!

I'm the only one who calls her Katie Scarlett...mainly because that's not her real name! When Katie lived with us before she began her freshman year at USU I gave her the middle name Scarlett. It's that obsession for the movie "Gone With The Wind" again. She arrived in Logan that day with a Jeep full of smiles along with all of her freshman necessities. Her Dad couldn't stop texting, asking if she had made it to her Auntie Lisa's house safely.

Fast forward 4 1/2 years later, and our Katie has a college degree and an LDS mission call to Norway. Sunday was her day! The meetinghouse chapel had both overflow curtains opened with all of those who love and support Katie. And she did not disappoint...her message was authentic and beautiful.

Katie and Marilee are sisters (obviously) and they share many things including their Daddy's deep brown eyes.

Because my brother Blair (Katie's Dad) is a smoker too...there would be no shortage of meat at the farewell party. My older brother Craig and Dean are slicing up the smoked turkey, pork tenderloin, and beef brisket! Dean woke up at 5:00 am to start smoking his turkey...anything for Katie Scarlett.

 Olivia..."I'll have some smoked turkey please?"

 Craig...sneaking some brisket!

Blair and Katie have the sweetest father/daughter relationship. Katie learned a long time ago if she needed something from Daddy she'd just say "Dad I love you", and the world was hers!

 But when Katie says she loves you...she definitely means it with her whole heart!

 So many of us will miss Katie Scarlett, including Katie's nephew Carter and brother Tanner.

Blair and Sheri's kids are so great together...from athletics, to school stuff, they are always there for each other.

Ah, sisters...they cherish and care for each other with deep and intense devotion!

They are no strangers to difficult times, cancer took their beautiful mother a few years ago. Although their mom is no longer on this Earth with them, her spirit lives inside them, and on those gorgeous faces...they have her smile...all three of them! I believe she watches from close by, bursting with pride for her daughters.

Perfectly in love with each other, Blair and Sheri are wonderful parents. Sheri made an entire houseful of food for Katie's party, I'm not sure there was anything left.

 Cute boys waiting for free food...

 and here's the answer to why there was none left after the party.

 Nana and Lisa...we like each other, can you tell?

Baby Lola's hair is fabulous...do you think Jocie kissed this sweet red head as Lola left heaven?

 All the little ones love Chet...must be his freckles.

My brother Blair has a giant heart. Although he tries not to show this softer side, he's actually a great big teddy bear. He will probably be the stalker Dad who ends up at the airport the day she actually flies to Norway.

My dad has been singing "kakaka Katie" to her since the day she was born.

Katie Scarlett...how I will miss seeing your sunshine smile for 18 months. Norway is going to be a brighter, warmer place when you arrive!

Papa's Time

He drove up in his topless yellow Jeep Wrangler wearing Carerra sunglasses the first time I met Dean. Among other things, it was his passion for life that I fell in love with. In those early newlywed days, I am certain neither one of us ever thought about being a grandparent. But, today he is Papa. 

Papa likes babies when they are no longer "breakable." With her buff baby arms, I think Olivia has reached that point. Now he will have many things to share with her.

Someday he'll teach her how to spot a bird of prey floating through a still blue sky. He'll make sure she doesn't miss seeing the elk and the deer playing in the back yard.

Laughing and teasing are his specialty, so I'm sure Olivia will soon learn how to dish it right back at her Papa. I can't wait for those days!

Papa will want her to know how wonderful it is to read great literature and glean knowledge from the world that surrounds her. I'm sure he'll discuss politics and math with Olivia.

One day I imagine they'll be riding the ski lift together when Papa will tell Olivia all about his memories of  Aunt Jocie and her adventurous spirit.

Papa will teach her gardening and his process of growing yummy food, then he'll introduce her to the busy bees making honey in the back yard. There are so many things to teach Olivia, he'll have to get started soon...

but not today, she's attempting to master the sippy cup.

It's still so amazing that our baby has a baby... and another baby on the way. With so many dreamy childhood days ahead for all of them it seems like they'll never end. 

But don't forget, that the absolute best part of becoming a parent is that someday you will be lucky enough to be a grandparent!

Fun With Izzy & Kenya

See Izzy.

See funny Izzy.

See Izzy run.

Run Izzy run.

See Izzy run fast. Run fast Izzy.

See Kenya. See Izzy.

See Izzy play with Kenya. Play Izzy play. Play Kenya play.

 See Izzy jump.

Jump Izzy jump.

See Izzy run and run.

See funny Izzy. Funny, funny Izzy.