Last Sunday With These Sunbeams

"Do as I'm Doing"

Connie taught our Sunbeams for the last time today. We were sad to see them go. But now we get to start with a new bunch of Sunbeams next week at 11am. Yeah for a later starting time. I really will miss these little munchkins.

I told Gracie this morning that she would be getting a new teacher and move up to the row behind me. I looked at her and tears were rolling down her cheeks. She said "But I will miss you". I had to convince her that it would be alright and she would get an awesome new teacher. 

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for these little Sunbeams. I love each and everyone of all the little Sunbeams I have taught the last 3 years. I am blessed to teach these little ones.

Sugar Cookies

  AJ and Harley Plugged In

Janna and Gracie

 Yummy Cookie Dough

Finished Product

I spent the day doing dishes from the Pizza's last night and playing on my Ipad. I just didn't have any ump today. But it was a restful day that I needed.
Janna made Sugar Cookies with Gracie tonight. She had so much fun. She is such a good mom for Gracie. AJ and Harley are playing on their phones. What would we do without our phones.
Now it is time to go to bed.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for the wonderful caring human being my daughter is. She is always taking care of our family. What a wonderful thing to take motherhood of a toddler on with a business to run. We are blessed that she is part of our lives.

Lemon Chicken Quinoa Soup and Pizza

Yummy Soup

Pizza 

Today was a day for cooking. I just had to make my favorite soup. I love it so much. And it's easy to make. Then I made Pizza for the kids. My kitchen looks like a bomb went off. And I put things away as I cook. But the dirty dishes just keep mounting up. 

Gracie went to work with Janna this morning so I had time to work on her books and my checkbook. Year end stuff is upon me. I need to get out 1099's and W-2's. And gather all the things the accountant needs. Next week will be busy.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful that I can do Janna's books. It keeps my mind busy figuring things out. I am blessed to still be able to do this at 72 years old.

Playing with My New Camera

Harley Anne and her New to Her Camera

Today I did lots of laundry, made meat loaf, mashed potatoes, corn and gravy for dinner.
Gracie went to preschool so I had the whole day to get lots of stuff done.
Then I had to play with my camera. I figured out how to put the lens on that I didn't think fit. I just had to turn it further. It was tight so I was afraid that I would break it. It just made me so happy that I could figure it out.
I found my SD card for my old camera so I gave it to Harley so she could take pictures. I hope she enjoys it as much as I have all these years.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for this camera I have had for so many years. So many pictures I can enjoy because of it. I am blessed...

New Camera

 My New Camera

D7500

I met Janna and AJ at Best Buy tonight and bought my NEW camera. It is so wonderful.

Making Toast

 Gracie Making Toast

Ready, Set, Go

Today I decided that I would teach Gracie how to make her toast. She loves toast with butter or with jelly. Not both at the same time. The new Toaster that Austin got me for Christmas is so easy for her to use. She knows how to take the toast out without burning her fingers. Now when she wants toast she just makes it herself. I think she needs to be independent. 

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for this little girl. She is so sweet and nice. I am blessed.

Christmas Morning

 BJ

 Harley's Socks

 Someone Got a Ring

 Gracie's Loot

Look at all the Stuff

Christmas Day was wonderful. Everyone got what they wanted and Gracie was spoiled rotten.

AJ did the sweetest thing. He got down on one knee and proposed to Janna. He asked her to marry him when she was ready because he knew she was independent. It was so sweet and Janna just cried and said yes. He gave her the prettiest ring. So I guess it's official, they are engaged. 

I made a Ham,  Au Gratin Potatoes, Corn, Deviled Eggs and Rolls. It was easy to do. 

I didn't go to church. Shame on me. But I wanted to not be rushed to prepare the dinner.

After dinner I didn't do anything. Just watched TV and played on my computer.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for the birth of Jesus Christ. It is the best Christmas gift of all. I am blessed to know Him.

Ginger Bread Houses

Family Time

AJ and Gracie

 BJ and Her House

 Harley and her House

Gracie's House

Janna bought Ginger Bread Kits so the kids could make houses. AJ is always so good to help Gracie. They had so much fun and Gracie did a good job on her house with the help of AJ. It is a tradition that they make houses each year. When my kids were little we made a village for the fireplace mantle every year. It was one of my favorite things to do. I even made houses for all of Janna's 4th grade class so the kids could decorate them. What a job, but so much fun.

The tree is trimmed and the houses are made. It's official, Christmas is here.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for the traditions of Christmas. It is a wonderful seasons for giving to others. What a blessing that we can celebrate this time of year.

Another Cataract Surgery

I went to the Surgical Center to have my right eye done. My left eye is healing really well so Dr. Fullmer is doing my right eye today.
It was just like the last time. I woke up after it was all done and Tommy took me home. This time I went and crawled in my bed and slept until 4pm. I have to put drops in my eye 4 times a day for a week and then 2 times a day. That's the only thing that hurts. Dr. Fullmer said it ironic, because those drops are the ones that help with pain.
But I am doing  good.
Grateful Statement: So grateful again that I could have surgery and all went well. I am blessed.

Gracie's Books Done

 Ready for Gracie to Open

Lots of Work

5 books 60 pages each. I worked on these for almost a year. I am so glad I got them done. I want Gracie to know how much she was loved by her mommy and all of us. She is just so loved. I am in the process of making book #6. I will just keep adding book for as long as I can.

I used Quick Pages from Scrap N Pieces so it was pretty fast. The hardest part is deciding what pictures to use.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful that I was able to make these books for Gracie. She will love them all her life. Pictures are so wonderful because you get to relive the event.

Kombucha

Kombucha

I had the hardest time talking myself into making this. It is made with a SCOBY and sweet tea. It is a probiotic that is supposed to be really good for you. Ethel drinks it everyday and says she just feels so much better.  Chef Brad is the one that introduced it to us. He says the tea is absorbed by the SCOBY and it truly is good for you. So I am taking his word for it. He used to be in a Bishopric so I trust that he knows what he is talking about. And I have it down to a science. I use Organic Juice to mix it with before I put it in the bottles. It is really good.

It took me an entire month to get my SCOBY going. So it's been a process. My SCOBY came dehydrated and I had to get it going.
I also went back to Dr. Fulmer so he could check my eye. It was perfect so I will have to come back next Monday and if it is healing I will have the other eye done on Tuesday.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful that I love to learn stuff. I am blessed to have a mind that wants to learn.

Cataract Surgery

Tommy took me to Rexburg early this morning to have surgery on my left eye. They put a new lens in. They wheeled me into the operating room, gave me something in my IV and that was all I remember until I was waking up. It was truly pain free. The hardest part was the eye drops that burned before I went into surgery.
Tommy brought me home and I sat in my chair and went fast asleep. I woke up 2 hours later and made me some soup for dinner and sat in my chair for the rest of the night. I can't bend my head below my waist so I can't pick up toys, which is my life. It's hard to remember.
Grateful Statement: So grateful for Dr. Fullmer. He is the best. What a blessing that Heavenly Father gave us the knowledge to do such a thing as replacing a lens in an eye.

Going to Preschool

Backpack Ready 

Off She Goes

Gracie loves to go to Steve and Amy's house for her preschool. They home school their kids so she gets to learn along with them. She is learning and will be so ready for Kindergarten next year. How can she be going to school next year. Time is just going too fast. 

Austin takes her on his way to school Monday and Thursday. And he picks her up on his way home.  He said, "Grandma, I am the only Senior in school that has a car seat in my car." How cute is that.
Our Home Teacher came over tonight and had Tommy help give me a blessing for my Cataract Surgery tomorrow. It was so nice to have him help.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for Austin and his willingness to help us with Gracie. He is a blessing to me.

Sunday is Funday

 A Brownie Waffle

 My Favorite Sunbeam

 Austin 

Gracie

I thought Gracie would love a Brownie Waffle for breakfast with Chocolate Syrup and Cool Whip. She didn't like it at all. Bummer!! I thought it was delish. So we had toast for breakfast and off we went to church. It was a good fun to be with these Sunbeams. Gracie had fun. The only problem we ever have it that she always wants to say the prayer and wants me to let her. 

We came home and Austin took her sledding on the new snow we woke up to. She really had so much fun being pulled around the farm. I love to see her have so much fun.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for Austin and how willing he is to do things for Gracie. He is just a really good kid. I am blessed to have him for a grandson.

Making Bean Soup

 New Beans from Broulims

Bean Soup

I bought these new beans because I couldn't find white beans at Broulims. I didn't really know if I would like them so this morning I decided that I would try them. I put them in the crock pot with bacon, onion, chili powder and cumin. When they were done I tasted them and they were delicious. So I decided that I would make soup. I puree'd it with my boat motor and added corn and green enchilada sauce. It was soooo good. I will be making this again.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful that I love to cook and can do it for my family. It is such a blessing to serve others through cooking. I am blessed.

Taking Tommy Home

Tommy Finally Gets to Come Home

Baby Jesus is in the House

Today I went to Promontory Point and brought Tommy home. We are so glad he is ready to come home. He still has work to do but he is on the mend. Janna decorated her house. My favorite is the Nativity scene that her and I made years ago. She has always been so much fun to do stuff with.

Grateful Statement: So grateful for the Christmas Season. I am so glad to know of and love Jesus Christ. Blessed to have the Gospel and the knowledge it gives me.

Smoothie Time

 Gracie Loves to Play

 Smoothie Time

Someone Loves Smoothies

Gracie and I have Smoothies at night. She really loves them and I am glad she does so she can get her fruit in for the day.  She is just so much fun to have around. She keeps us busy and laughing at her antics all day long.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for this little one. She brings so much joy into our household. I am blessed to be able to help raise her.

Pages Done

John and Gracie

Miss Gracie

Today Gracie and I went to Walmart to get some stuff and I got her Chicken Nugget from McDonald for lunch. Then went over to visit Papa. He was doing good and gave Gracie rides in his walker all over the building. I worked on scrap booking and got these pages done. 

I made meat loaf for dinner and just felt tired so I sat in my chair and watch "Bull" and worked on more scrap booking.

The Young Men and Women from our ward came to my house and sang Silent Night to me. It was so special and I must admit I really didn't want anyone to come to my house tonight. But they all crowded into my house and sang to me. It made my night. Why oh Why do I get so ornery.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for the youth of our ward that would come to my house caroling. What a blessing for me.

Cleaning Cupboards

Rotisserie Chicken

I cleaned all the drawers and cupboards in my bathroom today. I really needed. In between doing that I put a chicken in my Rotisserie to make more Quinoa Soup. I had bought a chicken at Walmart and needed to cook. It was so yummy. And then I made my soup. No one next door likes my soup so I make a pot of pinto beans and corn bread for them. 

I started putting Gracie's books together. They are turning out so cute.

I didn't visit Tommy again today. He called me and I told him I wasn't coming down because Gracie was at Preschool and I could get a million things done while she was gone. He is a sweet man and just said it was okay. I can't wait until Thursday. He will be coming home.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful that Tommy is so understanding when I can't come see him. I am blessed because of his kindness. 

Teaching Sunbeams

 Sunbeams

 Licking the Chocolate Cake Bowl

 Old Man Winter is Showing Up

Gracie Loves Her Barbies

Gracie and I went to church today. She loves to go and wanted to get up and bear her testimony. I told her we would practice so she could do it next fast Sunday. She loves to talk in front of people. She does NOT take after her Bamma.

I taught the lesson on belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Connie bought them each a Nativity Scene for their Christmas Present. They loved them. I love having her for my team teacher. The new little Sunbeams came from the nursery into Singing Time. They are so tiny and cute. We have 19 on the rolls and most of them are active. We are in for it. But I love this calling.

We came home and Gracie and I made a Chocolate Cake. She loves to break the eggs and she doesn't get shell in the batter. She had to lick the bowl and get it all over her face.

Then she played with her Barbies and I watch the First Presidency Christmas Program. It was so good. I am glad I remembered it was on tonight. 

I didn't go visit Tommy because it was really snowing and I didn't want to get out in it. At least it waited until we got home from church to start. Now it's my bedtime.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for all my many blessings. I am grateful for the programs the church has for us to watch. I am blessed.

Closet Done/Lemon Quinoa Soup Done.

 My Soup (Yummy)

 Shoe Boxes from Walmart

It is DONE

 Scorpion Sucker

My Kind of Snack

Today Janna took Gracie with her so I had no one to go with me to visit Tommy. He was doing good. I sat with him and figured out the payroll taxes and made a chart for paying the 941 after each payroll, 910 at the end of each month and the Unemployment Tax quarterly.
I went to Kohl's and bought a couple of pair of jeans. All my ones I used to wear are too big. Yay Me!! Then I ventured into Walmart. It was pretty busy but I got what I needed and headed out the door. I really need a few groceries and shoe boxes for my shoes. It's the last thing to do in my organized closet.
I came home and made my soup and finished my closet. Then it was time to get my Primary lesson finished. That took forever.
Gracie found the scorpion sucker that BJ had bought her. When I showed her that she was almost to it's tail she threw it in the trash. Funny kid.
Janna took my computer back to Best Buy to see if they could figure out why it wouldn't print to our wireless printer. I don't know what they did but I printed a Family Group Sheet out. I am super excited to be able to print out things for genealogy.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful that I love vegetables. It is a blessing to really enjoy them. God is good. He made us Vegetables!