Jades 29th Birthday!!!

To my youngest sis... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! I love, love, LOVE that you are here in Mesa and close again! I really missed you all of the Pima years. I did like coming to visit though and eating at Mechis and ALL of the other Mexican food places and shopping at Gingerbread House. I am so lucky to be your older sister and hope that you know how fun and gracious I think you are. I know I'm older, but I learn a lot from you that you probably never know! Thanks for all you do for us and for using your talents on our behalf!!! I'm sorry I won't be here for your b-day, but go on a girls night or do something fun! I'm giving you a coupon good for watching your boys for a night, overnight, or weekend getaway... let me know!!!

More Grandma Pics...

I am still waiting for pics of the funeral and memorial and all the family to post for journaling purposes... but did come accross a disc of pics from when we took her to Sea World for her 80th birthday! I have looked high and low for this disc for a year and there it was today just sitting on kevins desk... a blessing for sure! We took her to swim with the dolphins and had a blast and since it was before my blogging days I'm posting it now!!! I'll post a series of the pics as soon as I can figure out what's up with the disc, but for now just this one. She loved this adventure!!! It was so much fun to do this for her and to have Oma & Opa with us as well! A very good memory!

The 1st Two July Birthdays...

Bob celebrated his birthday last Sunday and I missed posting because we were out of town for Grandmas funeral... but I can't just not say...HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB!!!! I did see you on your birthday because you and Jen were sweet enough to watch Emmy that weekend. It looked like you guys had the right idea about how to celebrate! I am so glad that you are my little brother and I love you lots! We are all very excited over here at the Goodwin house for your upcoming wedding!!!! You are such a thoughtful guy and always so fun to talk to... an awesome business man, always willing to help your family, a great cook :), a super fun uncle, etc., etc., etc.!!!!! I hope your birthday was memorable and I wish you the best year to come!

Summer bummer bo bummer, banana fanna fo fummer, fe, fi, mo mummer..... SUMMMER! Happy birthday today!!!!! You have had a great year and I know many more to come. I am so glad that life is finally just the was you want it with your sweet hubby and your family! I know how much they all love you and we are happy to see you so content! I know you get frustrated with quick books and other work stuff going on... it's hard to start and run a business, but you guys will do great! Jaime is a wonderful mechanic and with the two of you working together everything will be awesome! He is lucky to have you and vice versa. You are a good sis and Aunt!!! I hope that you have a really fun birthday and remember how loved you are today and everyday!

Maddie...

Setting: Maddie, Lauren and I on our way to the Power Ranch Pool in 117 degree weather... we get there and it's closed for some lame reason, so we head to the other pool there, open- but full of all kinds of people. So, we decide to leave and miss out on swimming that day. Here's the conversation upon driving out of the parking lot...

Me: Sorry you guys, but I guess no pool today...

Maddie: Can we call Terri and invite ourselves to swim?

Me: No, that's rude and I know she had errands to run today...

Maddie: Then can you call Aunt Jade and see if she'll come pick us up in her car and take us to "the Brimhall" (LOL, the brimhall) with them today?

Me: We'll see!

Maddie: When I grow up I'm gonna have a car like Jade and go pick up Kaitlin and take her and all of our kids everywhere together. I like Jades car!

Me: See, Mom tells you guys all of the time to be nice to your Bro & sisters because that's who is your best friends when you grow up! Mommy doesn't know hardly any of my friends still from when I was your age, but I do still know (and love) ALL of my family!

I love it when a teaching moment falls right into your hands. I can remember my Mom telling us this A LOT!!!!! It's true. I have great friends too, but my sisters and brothers are my best friends and the people I call first for everything! When I told Jade about this, she thought it was funny that Maddie thought she'd go give Kaitlin a ride instead of the other way around... and she thought it was cute that this was Maddie's solution for the day!!! She's a cutie!

Cousins...

Here's the Wednesday Movie Day crowd of cousins! Why does it always seem like more kids than this??? Because it's insanity down there as we fight the mobs all in the name of cheap fun for the rugrats! I'm so thankful for a family who is close and passing on the tradition to our kids! Until next Wednesday........ :)

The New Harry Did Not Disappoint!!!

Went and screened the new Harry Potter with Mom, Tawna & Jade last night and loved it!!! Hey Daron.... it's gooooooood! Thanks girls for a fun night out!

Many Thanks...

The last 2 weeks around here has been absolutely crazy! I want to send out a thanks to all of my family who have helped Kevin and I to travel all that we needed to for Grandma Pearl. Mom has stayed here with the two little girls for a whole weekend, and been up and down the stairs like crazy, cried at, bossed around I'm sure, and... I know the kind of energy and stamina that it takes and I think we broke her a little physically! But, we so appreciate her willingness to come and do that for us! Then, when Grandma passed away we needed to figure out what to do, where to go, do we take kids, do we not? Grandmas memorial was in Palm Dessert because that's where she has lived for the past 30 years I think... then there was going to be a viewing and graveside memoial in Utah (Sandy) because that's where she was born and raised and still has friends and family there. So, we decided to go to PD and took Maddie, Lauren and Emmy with us. We left last Monday and the memorial was Tuesday morning, and we left to come home straight afterwards. Lauren was absolutely horrible during this memorial. I chalk it up to all of the traveling and the short turn around? Anyway, I won't ever take kids to a funeral again!!! So, home on Wednesday and then we decided to go to Utah as well, only sans the kids! So, of course I start calling family to help us out... Tawna consented to take Maddie and Lauren, but had a funeral to get to on Friday in Prescott for our friend Debbie Bates :(, so Jade watched Maddie and Lauren at her house along with Chance and Faith! Thank you to Tawna and Jade for ALL of their help! I am lucky to have sisters who are always anxious to serve!!! I will hold them to it though and repay the favor for sure! (And thanks to Stacie too, who watched 2 of Jades boys, so that we could spread the wealth a bit and Tawna & Mom could get to Prescott and we could get on the road to Utah!) And, Jordyn watched Emmy until Granny got here to our house Friday around 4pm, then they waited for Bob & Jen to come pick her up for the weekend (they were seeing Wicked!) later that night. So, again, thank you Mom and thank you Jordyn for ALL of your help this summer! She has been coming to help out on Wednesdays for movie day with the cousins. She stays here and watches Emmy so Maddie, Lauren and I can have a good time at the movies together! You're a life saver Jordy! And, last but not least, Bob & Jen... Emmy LOVES hanging out with you guys! She is always so happy when we get home and so well taken care of... you both spoil her for sure! You will be great parents some day! So THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!

Our 4th of JULY...

I hope everyone had a fun 4th of July this year! We took our mini family over to Granny & Grumpys house for a low key BBQ and had a really good time. Mom & Dad made hamburgers, potato salad, coleslaw, chocolate cake, rocky road ice cream and toffee ice cream. We brought baked beans... and everything was so yummy! It was fun to talk and let the kids play and watch them. Summer & Jamie came a little late and joined us. She hurt her arm and shoulder on the lake last weekend and is waiting for an orthopedic doctor or something I guess, so I helped her round brush her hair. Emmy was watching and kept touching her hair like she wanted a turn. It was cute... Anyway, we missed Kaitlin, Daron and Maddie (who were all celebrating with their other families) and the fireworks (we did see a handful on the way home though), but we had a fun weekend together the four of us! I am grateful for the country we live in and know how blessed we are! So, back to the grind tomorrow and off to Utah for Grandmas funeral at the end of the week... Have a great week everyone!

Grandma Pearl...

Life is an adventure! Grandma Pearl said this often and she was an adventurer! We love this sweet lady and loved all of our fun times with her. Grandma passed away this evening and we feel very blessed to have all of our many memories of her until we see her again. We love you Grandma and will miss you every day like crazy until then...