Bits of Babble From Brenda

Late Easter Photos

2008-04-06T21:02:00.000-07:00

Emmy checking everyone out wearing Nick's glasses.

Great Grandpa with Dallan, Emmy, Owen, and Ryan.

Owen having his turn looking cool.

I had more photos to post but can't get them to work. You're lucky to get these. I'm not used to having to think backwards.

We had a great time hunting eggs at Aunt Layna's again this year. Matthew and Kristen both had to work so I brought Dallan in with me. The only bad part was all the snakes the older boys found. Dallan was fascinated with them. He didn't want to hold them but he was right there watching them.

I had a pretty quiet weekend. I actually spent most of it ironing. I have a whole new wardrobe!! The only problem is that it has been in the ironing basket for soooo long that some of my shirts don't fit any more. Can you believe they shrunk sitting right there in that basket!!

Conference was wonderful. It isn't often that we get to participate in a solemn assembly. It was great to stand and sustain a new prophet and the Twelve Apostles. When I renewed my Ensign I signed up to have the Conference CD's sent to me. I'm anxious to get them. I like to keep them in my car. It's surprising how much you can listen to just going back and forth to work.

Shamed Into It

2008-01-30T21:13:00.000-08:00

Ok, I guess I'd better get busy and update my blog. Even Layna and Emily's has been updated since mine. It's not that I haven't wanted to, I just haven't had much happening and I spend what little extra time I have reading everyone else's blogs. Not much of an excuse I know, but there you have it!

Jenn and the kids were here last week for a few days while Joseph was in Wyoming and it was such fun having them. I don't have time to post pictures tonight but I'll try to get some up in the next few days. I can't believe Emmy and Owen are almost 1 year old. What cuties they are!! Owen is so cute with his curly red hair.

I have recently been put in the Young Women's presidency over the Beehives. What a change from Relief Society. I was totally taken off guard when I was called to this position. It's been many years since I have worked in YW. How can you not love Beehives!! They are so eager to do anything that is suggested. I have five active and one inactive and just this last week another active (I think) girl has moved into the ward. By the end of this year there will be five more joining our class! Anyone with suggestions for Mutual night activities would be welcomed.

Tea/Lemonade

2007-09-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

I had a couple of days off this week so I tended Dallan. He watch The Tale of Peter Rabbit about a hundred times. Now all he wants to play is "I be the rabbit and you be the farmer". He sneaks into the garden and I have to yell "thiiiiieeeeffff" and chase him through the house. I finally fall exhausted on the couch and then we start all over with me being the rabbit and Dallan being the farmer. I was collapsed on the couch when Dallan came around the corner and said, "Dwam-ma. How about if you be a nice farmer?" I said I thought that was a great idea. I asked if he would like to come into my nice garden and help himself to some wonderful vegetables. Be sure to pick some for your mother and sisters. He picked a large basket clear full and even left some for the little mice. Peter helped the farmer weed his garden and then the farmer offered him a glass of nice cold water. We each had a glass and then Dallan said. "I will give you a glass of tea." I looked at him and said "we don't drink tea. Heavenly Father doesn't like us to drink tea. "But I have some tea" he said. "How about lemonade?" I asked him. "No. I have some tea for you." He pretended to drink it but I wouldn't. He looked at me for about 15 seconds straight with a little scowl on his face and then said, "Heavenly Father said it is tea/lemonade so you can drink it!" I don't have any idea where he came up with the tea thing but it was amazing to me how quickly I was able to change his mind about tea. It's kind of scary to see how easily they can be swayed at this age. They are so impressionable. It is important to surround them with good positive influences, but in today's world that's not always easy.

Paw Prints

2007-09-16T17:07:00.000-07:00

Dallan and Ryan being sleeping kitties on the stairs

The other day Dallan was here and I was doing a little cleaning (very little). The baby swing was sitting in front of the couch so I picked it up and moved it. A few minutes later Dallan called, "Grandma!" I was downstairs and hollered upstairs, "what, sweetie?" He said, "come here". I stopped what I was doing and started upstairs. He hollered again and said, "Grandma, come here, hurry." When I got upstairs he was hunched down on his knees looking closely at the carpet in front of the couch. He said, "look". I looked and said, "what is it?" He very seriously announced, "paw prints." I could hardly hold back a laugh. I said, "Really, what kind of paw prints do you think they are?" He looked up at me and said, "coyote."

Dallan has a great imagination. He plays with all kinds of imaginary friends. The coyotes are one of his favorite friends to play with. Sometimes he stops, sniffs the air and says, "I smell something." "What do you smell?" I ask. He sniffs again, listens and says, "the bears are coming!" Yes, I would think if the bears are coming you would smell them long before they get here!!

Emmy & Owen

2007-09-09T16:59:00.000-07:00

What little cuties!! Owen is so pleasant. You just look at him and he grins. Emmy is a little slower to smile and much harder to get to laugh but just as pleasant.

Emmy has found new ways to wear her bow. Which one do you like the best? On top of her head, under her nose, or around her ears and under her chin???

Emmy & Owen

2007-09-09T15:47:00.000-07:00

I'm Finally Back

2007-09-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

I finally got my camera back from the repair shop! I didn't realize how much I missed it until it was gone. I'll try to be more consistent with posting now (no promises, however). This time of year is very busy for me. I'm working every night trying to finish my missionary socks by the first of November at the very latest so I can enjoy the holidays. I do have all three Quilted Bears well stocked so I feel pretty good about that.

Dallan had his first day of Preschool last week. He was so excited. He had to call me at work after his first day to tell me all about it. He sang his little bumble bee song for me.

I spent last weekend in Layton with Jenn. I can't believe how the babies are growing. I'll post a couple of photos. Ryan and I watched the Polar Express for the 100th time. He has the movie memorized. No, he really does have it memorized. All the way through he would say a line just before they would say it. He can also sing the songs. Just as it ended, he turned to me and said, "just one more time Grandma". I don't think he will ever get tired of that movie.

I've been working hard in R.S. trying to get everyone excited about doing their 72-hour packs. I have been placing a group order and then having them gather some things on their own each month. I have been surprised at how many are participating. Several of them are making packs for Christmas gifts for their children and grandchildren. If you don't have yours ready, start working on it now. If you do, don't forget to update them.

Well, it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to post pictures tonight. I can't get it to work. I'll try to have Matthew help me tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Dallan!!!

2007-07-17T20:25:00.000-07:00

July 4th was Dallan's 3rd birthday. This is the first time the entire family had been together since Emily and Nick were married. We had a great time. Dallan's party was at the wave pool. Everyone had a great time swimming. The little boys were like pollywogs!!

The first present Dallan opened was from the Zollingers. It was a digital camera. Dallan was soooo excited. He could have stopped with that one and been perfectly happy. After opening each gift he would say, "Where is my camera?!?!" Unfortunately it didn't have batteries in it so he couldn't actually take pictures with it. You'll notice in the photo that he is holding it backwards and upside down.

Joseph brought his utility trailer down with them so they could help me clean out my basement. I'm sure I could have had a yard sale and made hundreds of dollars with all the junk we hauled out of the basement. I even had a ward member ask me if I was moving. They had seen the trailer loaded down with boxes and boxes of really great STUFF. We got a great start on the project but I still have a lot of dejunking and organizing to do. I took some before pictures, although I'm not sure I want anyone to see how really bad it was. If I get brave I may post a before and after once I finish the project. I try each night to sort through at least one box. It's slow but coming along.

Dallan and his prized camera.

Getting ready to dive for a penny!

Super Heroes!!

I've Been Tagged

2007-06-18T19:00:00.000-07:00

So what is a meme?

Jenn tagged me to tell 7 unique things about myself. I actually found it quite difficult. I've been think all day and had a very hard time coming up with some. Here goes....

1. My nose honks. I don't know when we started this, but when my kids pinch my nose I honk it. Thankfully they haven't done it for a very long time. They've tried teaching the little boys how to do it but they haven't quite caught on yet.

2. I love to make baby quilts. Unfortunately, I seem to just collect quilt books and have very little time to actually quilt.

3. When I was 18 my best friend and I drove a big black hearse with a very large pink dog sitting in the front seat from Castle Dale to Provo. We got some VERY strange looks and a lot of pointing fingers.

4. I am not very observant. A few hours after meeting someone for the first time, I most likely would not be able to remember their name or give you an accurate description of them. If I saw them drive away I wouldn't be able to describe the vehicle they left in. I probably couldn't even be able to tell you what color it was. I would not make a good eye witness.

5. I can't squish a bug or ant. I can catch it and throw it outside or even flush it down the toilet. But I absolutely cannot step on it.

6. I don't like to get right up after a good movie in a theater and immediately leave. I like to sit through the credits and listen to the music played at the end. It allows the movie and mood to just settle in. Some of the best music is only played during the credits at the end of a movie. It does sometimes feel weird to be the only people sitting in an empty theater while the credits run! Try it, you'll like it.

7. I have not had a day go by without making my bed in approximately 20 years.

There, I did it. It was actually kind of fun.

2007-06-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

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2007-06-10T19:15:00.000-07:00

2007-06-10T18:50:00.001-07:00

I just spent the weekend tending Emmy and Owen. What fun! Joseph had been planning this weekend for a couple of weeks now. He made arrangements with his mother to take Ryan and for me to come in a tend the babies. He wanted to surprise Jenn with tickets to the Home Show and and night at a hotel. I'm sure Jenn will tell you all about it on her blog. I arrived Thursday night so they could get a fairly early start Friday morning. When they got ready to take Ryan to Grandma and Grandpa Z's, he wanted me to come with him. He pulled and pulled on my hand and insisted that I go with him. It wasn't until Joseph mentioned the kitties and the trampoline that he consented to leave me behind - I was dropped like a hot potato for kitties!

I had a great time with the babies. I do wonder how Jenn gets anything done, however. It seems like when one is sleeping the other is awake and needing attention. In two days the only thing I accomplished around the house was the laundry. There was actually only one time that both babies were crying at the same time and needing my attention right now!! Of course the phone range right then and it was Linda. She was calling to say that she was sending Ryan back with Carla about 2:00 or 3:00. I could hardly hear her on the phone with Emmy bellering and Owen competing for attention. She made the call short as she could hear that I was needed elsewhere. The chaos only last a minute or two and everyone was happy and being feed. IT was a good weekend. I miss them already.

2007-06-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

2007-06-03T15:04:00.000-07:00

Not very good of Emmy but it shows her dress the best.

Owen of course was very cooperative.

This was about the best with the two together.

Emily asked if I could send her photos of the babies when they were blessed. These were taken at the end of the day and they were not very cooperative. We should have taken pictures before everyone starting eating and the babies got tired.

The babies were blessed on Saturday at the church. It worked out really well. Aunt Diane brought Grandpa Dart up and Dad and Dedee were there. Uncle Floyd and Aunt Pam came, however they forgot Grandpa Hassinger. They were clear up to Point of the Mountain before they realized they had forgotten to pick him up. It was too late by then. We were sorry to not have him them but glad we had taken a picture of him with the babies at Emily's graduation party. Joseph's grandparents were not well enough to come. They need to make a trip to Idaho soon to see them and get photos. Cynthia had sick kids, but other than that, everyone in Joseph's family was there. It was a great day!

Which is which??

2007-06-02T19:54:00.001-07:00

So, what do you think? Can you tell which one is Emmy and which one is Owen? Aren't they just so cute! Joseph will likely not be very happy that I posted this picture, but I just couldn't resist. Maybe next time I see them I'll dress them both in coveralls and see if you can tell which is which.

As cute as they are, you can still really tell Emmy from Owen. Even with a bow he still looks like a boy. But, as Ryan would say, "oh, soooo cute, soooo cute".

Emmy & Owen

2007-06-01T21:53:00.003-07:00

Great Grandpa Dart with Emmy & Owen

Great Grandpa Hassinger with Emmy & Owen

It was really great to be able to get pictures of the babies with two great grandpa's. Joseph's grandfather isn't well and hasn't seen the babies yet. They hope to get to Idaho soon to see him and get pictures. We were pleasantly surprised when Grandpa Dart was able to come to the babies blessing.

COMING ATTRACTION!!
Watch for a very cute picture of the babies! Also, photos of the little boys!

New Blogger

2007-05-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am trying to figure out how to blog. This is all new to me. Just a month ago I couldn't have told you what a blog was. Jenn has a blog and I decided to check it out. Then Natalie started to blog, and Emily even has one now. I check their blogs every night now when I get home. I even follow all of Nattie's friends. They don't know me and I don't know them, but when we finally meet, I'll know all about them. It's so fun to see their photos and watch their families grow.

Jenn & Joseph and kids were down this weekend so Jenn set up my blog. However, we didn't have time for her to show me how to actually do anything with it. I'm great at typing, but figuring out photos may take a little more time for me. However, it's the photos that are so much fun to see, and I have some great photos of my grandkids that I'm sure everyone would like to see!!!