Catching Up

A lot has happened since my last post.  A month ago I was laid off from my job.  It totally came as a shock, and left me reeling for several days.  Now I am thinking I could get used to not working, but since that won't pay the bills, I am looking for a job.  Does anyone know of any?

However, I have been able to do things that wouldn't have been possible had I still been working.  Alison and I with her two boys, spent an afternoon visiting Grandma Bingham.  Drew and Mason thoroughly enjoyed the time spent in Weston.  The weather was gorgeous and of course the swing set kept them occupied for quite some time.  Then we all sat on the glider and glided!  What a lot of memories and fun times that swing set has provided.

Last weekend I was able to go to Jerome and be there for Robert and Ilene's farewell.  What a wonderful meeting it was!  Robert's talk came from his heart.  He spoke with conviction as he bore his testimony.  Ilene shared her testimony as she spoke on faith and how her faith has grown over the past three years.  The spirit was very strong throughout the whole meeting.  They are going to be awesome missionaries.

Grandma went with me to Jerome.  Aunt Janice brought her down when they came to the airport on their way to Hawaii (I am SO jealous).  Grandma thought we would be going home on Sunday, but my plan was to go home on Monday (no need to get back to work).  She was a good sport about spending another day there (thanks, Debbie, for opening your home to her).  Anyway, Sunday night as Malita and Alison were talking, they decided that since Monday was Grandma's birthday, it wouldn't be a good idea to take her home and leave her to spend her birthday alone.  So a surprise birthday party was planned for all the "Jeromites" for Monday night.  Aunt Roberta graciously agreed to host the party at her home.  Grandma was told that I wasn't going to be going home until Tuesday (Alison got the blame for making me stay an extra day).  About 7 o'clock that night, Uncle Garth asked Grandma if she wanted to go for a ride.  You know Grandma--she is always up for a ride, but it was dark outside!  But being a good sport she decided a ride would be fine.  They brought her over to Uncle ElRay's house, where she was really surprised there was a party underway.  A fun time was had by all!  I did finally get her delivered home on Tuesday.  She was glad to be home and there were 25 missed calls on her phone!  I hope everyone who tried to reach her on her birthday was able to get a hold of her on a later date.

That brings me to yesterday (Wednesday).  Robert and Ilene are moving to Salt Lake City,  YEAH!  I told them I would help them move in, so Ilene called me when they were in Layton and Alison and I met them at their apartment.  Chip also was able to go help.  They had a few heavy things and we were glad for his strong arms.  ElRay and Roberta drove a truck down loaded (and I mean loaded) with their stuff and their van was packed.  They moved into the same apartment (condo) complex that Paul and Linda live in, and they were there to help, also.  It was actually fun helping.  Now I don't usually look on moving as fun, but this was.  Cami also came to help, and you know the saying "many hands make light work" or something like that!  We got most of the boxes unpacked, so they should be good to go.  I asked Ilene if she left anything home and she said not too much.  They will have most of the comforts of their home!  The neighbor people were so friendly and one brought crackers, cheese, meat, cheese ball, and veggies for them to enjoy.  I think that my two brothers and wives are going to have too much fun down there.  I hope they remember to do a little missionary work once in a while!!!  Just remember to invite me when the fun starts!  I have always wanted to live downtown, now I know where I can find a bed and pretend that that is where I live.

Weston

This is Weston, Ron and Heaven's little boy. He is 20 months old and is quite the charmer. Because he is being babysat by Grandpa Walt, he comes most mornings before I leave for work. I am usually eating breakfast in the kitchen and he walks barely into the room and stops. He doesn't say anything, just stands there and stomps one foot. I don't look at him and stomp my foot back. He will stomp twice, I stomp twice. This goes on until he tires and then we laugh and I can look at him!Next on ritual mornings is the "getting beautiful" segment. As you can see, this is desperately needed by Grandma. He likes the electric toothbrush stuck in his mouth, but only for a very quick brush (if it is under 5 seconds there are no germs exchanged, right???)
He likes hair products put in his hair and the shiny wax really makes his hair behave, but Weston is really waiting for THE MAKEUP BAG! He likes to pull everything out and hand it to me. He is so smart, he knows I need it all

His favorite is the mascara, but he never gets that put on his thick, luxurious, black eyelashes! Why are these kind of lashes always wasted on boys? So after the powder, the blush, and the lipstick, he is done.

I have had enough, Grandma. Read me my truck book!

Grandma Bingham

I had a nice visit with Grandma Bingham on Saturday. She loves company and I know she would love to see each of you if you are ever in the area. She is doing well and is enjoying still being able to live in her home and take care of it.

Since she knew I was coming (and thought Breana was coming with me, but ended up not going), she knew she had to have some cookies in the cookie jar. Of course I didn't complain--they were delicious. She had made chocolate chip cookies with double the chocolate chips. Usually she doubles the recipe and uses one bag of chips. This time she didn't double the recipe and used a WHOLE bag of chips--yummy!! I am sure you all remember Grandma's cookie jar never being empty. This is a tradition she still keeps going!

We spent a lot of time with the computer. Aunt Janice had set up a bunch of blogs on Grandma's favorites, but there have been new ones added since then. I got those added so she would have a current favorite list. We practiced accessing blogs, making comments, and reading older posts so hopefully she can read all about each of you and enjoy knowing what is going on in your lives.

She helped me with a music piece on the piano that I was having a bit of trouble with the timing for our Primary program. I remember many Sunday afternoons growing up when she would play for hours. Sometimes Grandpa would play his saxophone and Uncle Paul his cornet. Aunt Janice: did you also play the clarinet, I can't remember.

It was a beautiful day in Cache Valley and we spent some of it outside on the swingset just talking. Grandma shared some of her delicious Golden Delicious apples with me, Aunt Janice dumped half a bag of snack-size Snickers in my purse (I didn't object too loudly). It was a very good visit with my mom and my sister.

Andrew"isms"

One day when I was watching Alison's kids, they went outside to play. The day was on the chilly side and they stayed outside long enough to get cold. When they came in, I was trying to warm up Andrew. I wrapped him up in a blanket and held him tight. He didn't want to be so confined so he wriggled free of the blanket. I decided to show him how to get his hands warm using his armpits. First we lifted one arm and tucked a fist in the "pit". Then we lifted the other arm and tucked another fist in the "pit". Andrew immediately bowed his head and said, "Heavenly Father....".

I was driving home the other day with Andrew and Mason. First we were stopped for at least 20 minutes by a train that couldn't make up its mind whether to go forward or backward, but we enjoyed watching the process. Further on down the road was construction and we were stopped by a cement mixer in action. Again the boys enjoyed watching the show. As I was heading up 80th I came to a detour. I said, "Shoot, I have to go on a detour!" Andrew immediately piped up, "I want to go, too!" I really don't know where Alison got him!!!

There is a "Gene" lurking

Because most of you reading this share my gene pool, I want to alert you to a "gene" you might want to be aware of.

A couple of months ago I endured a weekend of muscle spasms that were extremely painful and made me aware that something was not right. The following Monday I had a visit with the chiropractor and after examining the x-rays, informed me that I had scoliosis and had had it for quite sometime, possibly since adolescence. He told me that I was very fortunate that it had not bothered me before this (considering my age), and he was also quite surprised that it had never been diagnosed.

So, since that time my life has revolved around a 3-month chiropractic therapy schedule which includes multiple weekly visits, short walks (10-15 minutes) , stretching exercises, and heat and ice on the back all several times a day.

He said it tends to show up in girls more than boys and usually skips a generation. I just wanted you all to be aware and watch for signs in your children or yourselves.

SCORE

Breana (Walt's little girl) has been going to church with me regularly for the past nine months. She loves her primary class and her teachers are awesome. However, she has been petrified when asked to give a talk or scripture. We have tried a scripture--she had her arms wrapped around my neck so hard and her head buried in my shoulder, I could hardly breathe. We tried a talk--she could still couldn't get any words out. On Sunday they asked her to give a talk (the others she volunteered for). We practiced the talk at home and on Sunday we found the primary room empty and practiced standing at the podium and using the mike and she said she was going to be brave. Well, she was brave and did an awesome job with her talk. Way to go, Breana! I am so proud of you!

Screw Up

This morning I went to check Alison's blog as I do every morning. I saw she had posted a notice about my new blog saying "Grandma Bingham has a new blog". I thought oh cool. I kept going back to her site, I guess just checking out the awesome (not) photo of myself. After about the 4th time of checking it, I thought, "Wait a minute, I am not Grandma Bingham." I called Alison and said. "You put Grandma Bingham has a new blog." She said, "I know, I put that there for my kids." I said, "But I am not Grandma Bingham!" It took her about two seconds to change that title! She is much too young to be losing it!!!!

Everybody Else Is Doing It!!!

Well, the time has come to start blogging. I so enjoy reading everyone's blogs and feeling a connection with you and your lives. Maybe I can let you share a little in my life, although as a disclaimer, it isn't nearly as exciting as yours! If only my kids were still growing up, I could share stories of their lives. I don't know if they would appreciate me telling stories of them now, but maybe a few might slip in. I have got to figure out how to do pictures, and then actually take a few so they can be added also. Another warning--you will probably get your fill of my grandkids, they are my lights and joys.

A challenge to the Aunts (you know who you are)--if I can do it, so can you! Give it a shot!!!