Honestly, Grandkids are the best! I've heard that they are your reward for not killing your kids. It's true! Ok, so 99% of the time I had no desire to kill my kids, but each of them had their moments. There are times when you wonder if they will ever grow up to be a responsible, productive, sensible adult capable of holding down a job and living on their own, let alone able to raise children of their own. Yet, somehow, they are all on their way. Even better, two of them are now parents. Now it's their turn to go through those joys and anxieties.
As the Grandma, I now get some of the best parts of parenting, without the tedium and late nights. I absolutely love playing with my grandkids. It is so much fun to sit on the floor and play Noah's Ark, hide and seek, crawl and chase, tickling, bouncing, jumping on the tramp, etc., etc., etc. Ok, I did some of that with my own kids, but they grew up and I wonder if I spent enough time playing with them. There were so many other responsibilities, especially as a single parent. But as Grandma, I can set aside time to play with them and really be with them and enjoy every moment of it. It does help that I know they (or I) will go home. It does help that I know I will get a good night's sleep whether the grand child does or not. It also helps that I have time away from them, to keep up on my own responsibilities.
I get to spend time with Zoe on Friday nights. Two weeks ago I went to her house and boy did we have fun. We played Noah's Ark, the animals were talking to her and trying to have a conversation, which is difficult with a 15 mo. old, but we tried! We put the animals in and out of the Ark, open and closed the door and took the top on and off. We played hide and seek in the hall as well as tag. We laughed and tickled and cuddled and had a blast!! This week she came to my house and learned to play the kazoo. She picked it up really fast! We also played outside. She really like the new concrete at Ansje's house, tried repeatedly to give Tara hugs. Climbed up the stairs to both back doors and climbed the front concrete stairs repeatedly. We read books, and had lots of cuddle time. It was great!!
When I spend time with Tyler and Henry, we do many of the same things although the boys are definately more active. More running and hiding and chasing and bouncing. I got to jump on a trampoline way more than I ever have before. Okay, so I had never spent more than about 2 minutes on a tramp before. I learned to give Tyler a bounce so that he would go up more that I did. I also learned to do a sit and stand jump. Tyler loved playing on the tramp with me. Henry wasn't so sure. It is harder when just keeping your balance on the tramp is still a bit of a challenge.
I got to watch the two boys while Amy and Vaughn went to Seattle for Amy's half marathon. That was such a blast. Henry is really a mommy's boy at this point in his life. If mom is around, grandma falls to the bottom of the list, Dad is obviously next most popular and Grandma Nelson is way up the list too. He just doesn't know me as well, so it's okay. (Grandma Nelson obviously has the advantage of time with him, but I think all the good food she offers is also part of it. Henry likes to eat!) But when it was just Tyler, Henry and I we had fun. I got lots of Henry cuddles!
Tyler seems to remember me each time he sees me. Some of that probably goes back to the time they lived with me and I had the opportunity to spend lots of time with him. Each time I come, Tyler gives me lots and lots of great cuddles! I love it!!! He and I also spend LOTS of time reading books. I think we read every book he has! He is such a great kid! It is so fun watching him grow.
Okay, each of my grandchildren are awesome and amazing individuals. And individuals they are! They are very different from each other and I rejoice in their differences. They are so amazing! I wish I could spend more time with each of them, but I rejoice in the time I get. It is all the more precious for its rarity. As I already stated: Grandchildren are the best!!
Don't worry Scott and Stephanie, I will love your children just as much as I love the 3 I have now. No hurry!
P.S. Disclaimer......this does not in any way diminish the love I have for my own children and their spouses, who are also my own children! You are each amazing in your own way and I am very proud of the things you are doing with your lives. Thanks for being willing to share your children, present and future, with me!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Please don't pass away from the shock!!
Okay, so this is what, my 3rd blog in 8 months? What a challenge this blank space is!! I love reading my children's blogs. I learn so much about their lives and what is happening, what they think about things and how they're doing. Yet when faced with my own empty space my mind goes blank!
It's summer and I love it. I love to get up in the mornings and go sit outside with my dogs, pull up my pajama pant legs and pull up my sleeves and get a little sun. It just makes me happy. I put on my hat; bring out my breakfast and a book. I pet my dogs for a while, usually not as long as they think I should. Then read a little while I eat my breakfast (usually a slim fast or a Luna bar). I don't stay out there very long, but it helps to get my day started.
After that I really should get busy, there is so much to do, but dang it all, it's summer! Shouldn't there be time to read, play on the computer, exercise, rest and relax? So I keep doing that and don't get my "TO DO" list done.
Next fall, I will be working full time and taking 9 credit hours of graduate school. I know that if I don't get things done now my life will be way more stressful and it's going to be bad enough! In the last 2 years I've noticed that I've gotten sick a lot more than is normal for me. I'm sure it is because I'm stressed by graduate school. Then to top it all off I got shingles which is a for sure sign of high stress. So I NEED to get some things organized for fall.
I think the problem is that the list is so long I sometimes feel like it will never go away and I might as well play or there will never be a chance. I have 3 categories. School - meaning things to do for High School; Personal - things to do around the house, exercise, hobbies, etc; and Graduate School - things to finish up from last semester when I had shingles and getting ready for my senior recital in February. Some things overlap. Music I pick for my graduate recital will be sung by my high school students, so I need to plan for that. A quilt I want to make will hang at school if I can ever get it done. As I organize things in my house I find things I need for my notebook for last semester, although I've lost some papers and can't find them anywhere, so I finally broke down and redid them. So, you get the idea.
I'd rather sit in the sun, cuddle my dogs and read a book!
It's summer and I love it. I love to get up in the mornings and go sit outside with my dogs, pull up my pajama pant legs and pull up my sleeves and get a little sun. It just makes me happy. I put on my hat; bring out my breakfast and a book. I pet my dogs for a while, usually not as long as they think I should. Then read a little while I eat my breakfast (usually a slim fast or a Luna bar). I don't stay out there very long, but it helps to get my day started.
After that I really should get busy, there is so much to do, but dang it all, it's summer! Shouldn't there be time to read, play on the computer, exercise, rest and relax? So I keep doing that and don't get my "TO DO" list done.
Next fall, I will be working full time and taking 9 credit hours of graduate school. I know that if I don't get things done now my life will be way more stressful and it's going to be bad enough! In the last 2 years I've noticed that I've gotten sick a lot more than is normal for me. I'm sure it is because I'm stressed by graduate school. Then to top it all off I got shingles which is a for sure sign of high stress. So I NEED to get some things organized for fall.
I think the problem is that the list is so long I sometimes feel like it will never go away and I might as well play or there will never be a chance. I have 3 categories. School - meaning things to do for High School; Personal - things to do around the house, exercise, hobbies, etc; and Graduate School - things to finish up from last semester when I had shingles and getting ready for my senior recital in February. Some things overlap. Music I pick for my graduate recital will be sung by my high school students, so I need to plan for that. A quilt I want to make will hang at school if I can ever get it done. As I organize things in my house I find things I need for my notebook for last semester, although I've lost some papers and can't find them anywhere, so I finally broke down and redid them. So, you get the idea.
I'd rather sit in the sun, cuddle my dogs and read a book!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
January Blahs!
January is usually one of the most difficult months of the year for me.
Early on we had lots of snow and it was quite cold, but it was beautiful inspite of the difficult driving conditions. I drive down 6000 West in Herriman on my way to and from work. This road is, as yet, relatively undeveloped, and the view of the valley is amazing. On a clear day you can see the whole valley, plus a really wonderful view of Timpanogos, my favorite mountain. In those early days of January it really fed my soul to look out across the valley at the beauty.
Now, later on in January. We have had a few warmish days, snow has melted, which means the driving is good. However, now the snow is dirty! I mean really dirty! Black mounds of ice frame the roads. Everything is painted in colors of brown, black and white. Even the air! This last week we have had one of our "infamous" inversions. From my view on 6000 West, all I can see as I look out is a brown haze sitting over the valley. I'm glad that I'm up high enough to feel like I'm not in as much of the gunk as other parts of the valley.
Thursday I went up to the U for my conducting lesson. I don't remember seeing the air as bad as that before. I'm sure I have, but I think every year it is a new shock to me. It smelled bad, it looked bad, and I know it was unhealthy to breathe! It was gross! I noticed as I walked up the hill towards the music building that I was more out of breath than usual. I don't think it was because I am in worse shape than usual. I think it was because I was breathing less oxygen and more gunk. YUCK! I was very happy that I could get in my car and drive back to the "relatively" clean air of Riverton/Herriman.
Friday we had a little rain, today (Saturday) we have some actual wind and rain. Monday morning we are supposed to have a "commuter special." Meaning it will be snowing while we are all trying to drive to work and the plows can't do their jobs because there will be too many cars on the roads for them to get much done. I guess I will be happy to see the snow after all!
So, back to the topic of January blahs. We spend so much of the month in hazy dirty surroundings, I go to work when it's dark. If I stay to get something done once the kids have left, I come home in the dark. Or, it gets dark shortly after I get home.
I miss the sunshine, I miss clean air, I miss the view of the valley, I miss feeling like I can go outside. In short, I think January is a month best to be missed!
Early on we had lots of snow and it was quite cold, but it was beautiful inspite of the difficult driving conditions. I drive down 6000 West in Herriman on my way to and from work. This road is, as yet, relatively undeveloped, and the view of the valley is amazing. On a clear day you can see the whole valley, plus a really wonderful view of Timpanogos, my favorite mountain. In those early days of January it really fed my soul to look out across the valley at the beauty.
Now, later on in January. We have had a few warmish days, snow has melted, which means the driving is good. However, now the snow is dirty! I mean really dirty! Black mounds of ice frame the roads. Everything is painted in colors of brown, black and white. Even the air! This last week we have had one of our "infamous" inversions. From my view on 6000 West, all I can see as I look out is a brown haze sitting over the valley. I'm glad that I'm up high enough to feel like I'm not in as much of the gunk as other parts of the valley.
Thursday I went up to the U for my conducting lesson. I don't remember seeing the air as bad as that before. I'm sure I have, but I think every year it is a new shock to me. It smelled bad, it looked bad, and I know it was unhealthy to breathe! It was gross! I noticed as I walked up the hill towards the music building that I was more out of breath than usual. I don't think it was because I am in worse shape than usual. I think it was because I was breathing less oxygen and more gunk. YUCK! I was very happy that I could get in my car and drive back to the "relatively" clean air of Riverton/Herriman.
Friday we had a little rain, today (Saturday) we have some actual wind and rain. Monday morning we are supposed to have a "commuter special." Meaning it will be snowing while we are all trying to drive to work and the plows can't do their jobs because there will be too many cars on the roads for them to get much done. I guess I will be happy to see the snow after all!
So, back to the topic of January blahs. We spend so much of the month in hazy dirty surroundings, I go to work when it's dark. If I stay to get something done once the kids have left, I come home in the dark. Or, it gets dark shortly after I get home.
I miss the sunshine, I miss clean air, I miss the view of the valley, I miss feeling like I can go outside. In short, I think January is a month best to be missed!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Up to Date!
As you can see, I've decided to be part of the "in crowd" and start a blog. Really, I love reading my kids blogs and decided to try it. I've noticed that I feel like I know what's going on with them, but they have no idea what is going on with me......So....here I go!
Right now things are nice and calm. December was impossible. Madrigals had 25 or so performances, depending on how you count. We did a big concert at the high school with all the choirs. Salt Lake Choral Artists had a big concert and I did a smaller performance with the ladies group there. I wrote a major paper for my Survey of Music Theory class and a major project for my Choral Literature class. In between I had to keep teaching high school and go to class at the U. Let's just say that by the time Christmas break came around I was beyond exhausted.
So...I've spent this wonderful 2 week break not doing much of anything I don't have to. Stephanie came over and helped me bake goodies for Christmas, which was way more fun than doing it myself. We had a wonderful Christmas eve together with Scott, Stephanie and Mark, Drew and Tanya and of course Zoe.
Christmas day Drew and Tanya though not far away got snowed in and couldn't come! That was a big disappointment for Grandma. All was not lost thought we still had Scott, Stephanie and Mark. Mostly Scott and I watched as Stephanie and Mark opened their gifts. It was fun to see Stephanie's expression of pure shock as she opened the camera.
Since the snow was still falling and it looked very ugly outside we didn't go to Cornish's as planned for the traditional breakfast, but stayed home and had crepes without the Breakfast caserole. It was still good though.
Around 1:00 pm Stephanie and Mark decided to venture into the snow to try to get to Mark's family in time for the Christmas phone call from his missionary brother Kyle.
Drew and Tanya finally made it over around 3:30 pm. So Scott and I had a second Christmas opening presents with them.
My children gave me a minature of the Chritus statue from Temple Square! I love it! (I couldn't open it earlier because it was with Drew and Tanya.) I have put it on the mantle in the family room. It really brings Christ into that room. It is so elegant and yet so meaningful!
Anyway....it was a good Christmas, in spite of the snow.
Now it is the end of December and almost the New Year. As I look forward I see many challenges, and great opportunities.
Challenges
1. I start conducting lessons with Dr. Brady Allred at the University of Utah. This will be challenging because I need to learn to take his critiques as ways to be a better conductor, not as personal assessments. This will be difficult because I am very intimidated by him.
2. We will be getting a new principal at the High School in January. Mary Bailey is the best principal I have every worked with and I will miss her greatly. Her shoes will be hard to fill. We are all a little scared because we have had principals who aren't as supportive as she has been.
3. I hope the music I ordered before Christmas is here in time to start it when school starts again. We will be getting ready for Solo and Ensemble, Choir Festivals (plural), and performance of Haydn's "Lord Nelson Mass" and Choir Tour. Not to mention our own school concerts and graduation in the spring. Really, once school starts it is just run, run, run until graduation.
4. Scott. I don't know what to do.
5. We're trying to finish a bedroom in the basement. I'd like to do the bathroom too.
6. The way scheduling at the university has worked out and in spite of the my best efforts at planning otherwise it looks like I will have to take 9 Credit Hours next fall or wait another year to graduate. That really scares me since 6 credit hours of graduate work has been enough to practically kill me off!
7. I hope to refinance my house at a lower interst rate and also have some money to actually pay for graduate school.
8. My poor father is getting old. Doug and Rosemary do an excellent job of caring for him, but I do a very poor job of staying in touch with him. I need to do better.
Opportunities
1. I get to take conducting lessons with Dr. Allred.
2. Hopefully by the end of this year I will be almost done with my Master's Degree!
3. I'm going to go to Oklahoma City in March to the American Choral Director's Association Convention with some of my friends from the U.
4. Choir Tour! We are going to San Diego and it should be great fun.....once we actually get on the bus and I don't have to worry about who's paid and who owes money and who can't pay now, etc., etc.
5. I hope we're going to get a bedroom and possibly a bathroom in the basement finished. (We meaning Ansje, Drew, Mark, and Scott. I just supply the money for materials.)
6. Amy and Vaughn might come to visit!!
7. I get to spend lots of quality time with Zoe and her parents.
8. No college this summer! What to do, what to do! I'll have time to read, quilt, clean, organize, etc.
9. I will visit Amy and Vaughn at least once maybe twice or more if I'm really lucky.
10. I get to spend time with some of the best teenagers in the world as we work to learn music and perform. I also get to spend time with some of the alumni who have stayed in touch with me.
11. I will also spend some quality time with my group of friends (the flamingos) and we will laugh, and talk and eat and have loads of fun.
So all in all I think it will be a busy but great year. I hope you all have a year filled with challenges and opportunites as well.
Right now things are nice and calm. December was impossible. Madrigals had 25 or so performances, depending on how you count. We did a big concert at the high school with all the choirs. Salt Lake Choral Artists had a big concert and I did a smaller performance with the ladies group there. I wrote a major paper for my Survey of Music Theory class and a major project for my Choral Literature class. In between I had to keep teaching high school and go to class at the U. Let's just say that by the time Christmas break came around I was beyond exhausted.
So...I've spent this wonderful 2 week break not doing much of anything I don't have to. Stephanie came over and helped me bake goodies for Christmas, which was way more fun than doing it myself. We had a wonderful Christmas eve together with Scott, Stephanie and Mark, Drew and Tanya and of course Zoe.
Christmas day Drew and Tanya though not far away got snowed in and couldn't come! That was a big disappointment for Grandma. All was not lost thought we still had Scott, Stephanie and Mark. Mostly Scott and I watched as Stephanie and Mark opened their gifts. It was fun to see Stephanie's expression of pure shock as she opened the camera.
Since the snow was still falling and it looked very ugly outside we didn't go to Cornish's as planned for the traditional breakfast, but stayed home and had crepes without the Breakfast caserole. It was still good though.
Around 1:00 pm Stephanie and Mark decided to venture into the snow to try to get to Mark's family in time for the Christmas phone call from his missionary brother Kyle.
Drew and Tanya finally made it over around 3:30 pm. So Scott and I had a second Christmas opening presents with them.
My children gave me a minature of the Chritus statue from Temple Square! I love it! (I couldn't open it earlier because it was with Drew and Tanya.) I have put it on the mantle in the family room. It really brings Christ into that room. It is so elegant and yet so meaningful!
Anyway....it was a good Christmas, in spite of the snow.
Now it is the end of December and almost the New Year. As I look forward I see many challenges, and great opportunities.
Challenges
1. I start conducting lessons with Dr. Brady Allred at the University of Utah. This will be challenging because I need to learn to take his critiques as ways to be a better conductor, not as personal assessments. This will be difficult because I am very intimidated by him.
2. We will be getting a new principal at the High School in January. Mary Bailey is the best principal I have every worked with and I will miss her greatly. Her shoes will be hard to fill. We are all a little scared because we have had principals who aren't as supportive as she has been.
3. I hope the music I ordered before Christmas is here in time to start it when school starts again. We will be getting ready for Solo and Ensemble, Choir Festivals (plural), and performance of Haydn's "Lord Nelson Mass" and Choir Tour. Not to mention our own school concerts and graduation in the spring. Really, once school starts it is just run, run, run until graduation.
4. Scott. I don't know what to do.
5. We're trying to finish a bedroom in the basement. I'd like to do the bathroom too.
6. The way scheduling at the university has worked out and in spite of the my best efforts at planning otherwise it looks like I will have to take 9 Credit Hours next fall or wait another year to graduate. That really scares me since 6 credit hours of graduate work has been enough to practically kill me off!
7. I hope to refinance my house at a lower interst rate and also have some money to actually pay for graduate school.
8. My poor father is getting old. Doug and Rosemary do an excellent job of caring for him, but I do a very poor job of staying in touch with him. I need to do better.
Opportunities
1. I get to take conducting lessons with Dr. Allred.
2. Hopefully by the end of this year I will be almost done with my Master's Degree!
3. I'm going to go to Oklahoma City in March to the American Choral Director's Association Convention with some of my friends from the U.
4. Choir Tour! We are going to San Diego and it should be great fun.....once we actually get on the bus and I don't have to worry about who's paid and who owes money and who can't pay now, etc., etc.
5. I hope we're going to get a bedroom and possibly a bathroom in the basement finished. (We meaning Ansje, Drew, Mark, and Scott. I just supply the money for materials.)
6. Amy and Vaughn might come to visit!!
7. I get to spend lots of quality time with Zoe and her parents.
8. No college this summer! What to do, what to do! I'll have time to read, quilt, clean, organize, etc.
9. I will visit Amy and Vaughn at least once maybe twice or more if I'm really lucky.
10. I get to spend time with some of the best teenagers in the world as we work to learn music and perform. I also get to spend time with some of the alumni who have stayed in touch with me.
11. I will also spend some quality time with my group of friends (the flamingos) and we will laugh, and talk and eat and have loads of fun.
So all in all I think it will be a busy but great year. I hope you all have a year filled with challenges and opportunites as well.
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