Updates

In the last few weeks Kira has....

Gone to the big big toy store with her Gram Gram and cousins

Finished her 2nd round of dance class

Picked peas from her Auntie Hanni's Farm and then fed them to the chickens

Went to nursery at Grandma Jetta's Ward

Played Dress up at Gram Grams

Played on the trampoline with her Uncle Butt (Brett) and her future Auntie Amy

Rode her first skate board (cousin mikey's)

Played with her cousins

Did back flips with Uncle Brett

It's been a busy month and we had tons of fun but we are so glad to be home.

Freda Allene Winfrey

Freda Allene (Bilke) Winfrey

Born :June 3rd 1930

Died: June 21 2010

Up until I was 18 (1998), I had 2 grandma's, 2 grandpas and 2 great-grandmas and a great-grandpa. And we were close to ALL of them except 1 of the great-grandmas that lived in Kansas. Being the only grandchildren (there were 4 of us) on BOTH sides of the family until I was 17 had it's perks. I have been blessed to have had so much love from all of them, and to have known them all.

Yesterday, my grandma died, my father's mother and probably the one I was closest to. I moved in with her and my grandpa on January 1st 1998 after moving down from Seattle where I had been living for 5 months with my Aunt, and before that from Ohio, where I graduated high-school from but hated... with a passion. They took me in, gave me a room, fed me, clothed me at times and were SO patient with me. I was 18, so young, and had some maturing to do.

My grandma helped with school, the place where she went everyday for 26 years. She was supportive of my church activities and welcomed my friends into her home whole heartedly. She was quick to give me a couple bucks here and there and we went on the greatest shopping adventures. This one time we were walking through Macy's and I saw a shirt I.just.had.to.have. and she asked me if I was going to try it on and I said "No!, it will fit." And she said quite loudly while walking across the juniors department, "Well Toni, (my nickname) I think you should.. your boobies are awfully big!"

She had a rough childhood, life in the 30's weren't good for anyone, especially in Kansas. She was on the drill team in high-school and meet my grandpa there.


(she's the 2nd one in)

I don't know how they got together, grandpa or Papa as we call him says, "She just told me what time to show up for the wedding and I was there"








Then my grandpa was drafted, as most men were and he went off to Arkansas for basic. She joined him there not too much after with their first son, Bruce.

My grandpa and grandma love to tell the story about how she had decided one day to make him is favorite dessert, Tapioca Pudding. So she pulls out her recipe book and goes to town with it. She put's all the ingredients in and starts stirring and is frustrated because it's not turning out they was she thinks it should, so she throws it out and starts another. My papa walks in after work and she's in the kitchen stirring away and crying. He asks her what's wrong and she says, "I can't get the lumps out of this stuff!"

They eventually moved to California, where papa began to drive truck and grams stayed home with her kids. They had my Dad and his twin, Michelle in February of 1955 and she worked hard to be the best mom she could be.

I love this picture, they were going to the Orange County fair and there she is dressed to the 9's in heals! No way that happens today!

She threw them awesome parties

Always wanted their holidays to be special

Sewed their clothes

And made halloween costumes.

There are some pretty cool stories about the parties she used to throw for the neighborhood kids. When the kids were almost up and out, she started work. She ended up at Cerritos Community College, where she would put the school catalogs together. This was back before computers and I remember stacks of paper sitting around her house with glue sticks and razor blades. She literally put.together. the school course catalogs by hand and sorted the rooms where the classes met. There was not one part of that school she didn't know like the back of her hand. When I started attending there, the teachers would ask me if I was related to her and when I replied that I was, they always had such nice things to say about her.

She was a GREAT grandma. Holidays were always over the top! She worked hard to make sure that we had the best time possible. Christmas's were great. I always loved Christmas time. Not because I got something but because she would take me shopping to buy for everyone else. It was always a fun day, to think about the people we love and to buy them things we think they would like.

She liked Jacob instantly and was always supportive of our relationship. She wanted him to feel like he was part of the family. She was both happy and sad when we got married. Happy for us but sad that I was leaving. She was happy to hear I was going back to school again and always cheered me on in that regard.

She love love LOVED Kira and couldn't get enough of her. She and my aunt showed up before I went to surgery for the c-section and was there the very next day to meet Kira and to give her love.

She wasn't perfect, she had her problems, prejudices and issues. We all do! But I and a lot of other people love her and will miss her more than I can type out in words. No one ever says, " Man, I wish I saw less of that person." We ALWAYS say, "Man, I wish I could have seen her more often." That's how i have felt these last two years being in Nevada. Not being able to go and see her whenever I wanted. Not giving her as much time as I wanted her to have with Kira. I want Kira to know and love her like I do.

God be with you till we meet again; by his councels guide, uphold you; With his sheep securely fold you. God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again; When life's perils thick compound you, Put his arms unfailing round you. God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again; Keep love's banner floating o'er you; Smite death's threatening wave before you. God be will you till we meet again.

Till we meet, till we meet, till we meet at Jesus' feet, till we meet till we meet, God be with you till we meet again.

You will be missed Grams. I love you and will see you again with our Heavenly Father and our brother Jesus Christ. I know this! I'm just going to miss you until then.

I love you!

Toni

Father's Day 2010

I want to tell a little side story before I get into Father's Day because it helps to illustrate just how excited Kira gets when she hears the words "CAR SHOW". We were talking about our Labor Day plans and the Paso Robles Car Show is back after a brief hiatus. It's not run by the same people, but it's in the same place, same concept etc..... so we were considering going up for that (or maybe it's down because of where we are at now but anyway) but some friends of ours invited us down to California for a weekend, we haven't seen them since October and it would be fun to go on Labor Day because we would have an "extra" day because of the 4 day week. So we were talking about which we should do, both sound fun, so I said to Jacob, "do you want to go to the Car Show or Mike and Krista's".. and Kira who was standing next to her daddy yelled "CAR SHOW!"

NOW, I know she will have just as much fun at Mike and Krista's (we call Mike her boyfriend because since birth he was the only man she liked other that Jacob she would cry a when held by ALL of her uncles, grandpas etc. but LOVED Mike and would coo at him from her car seat) but it illustrates how much she LOVES cars.

I think some things are just genetic and she gets her love of cars from both sides of her family. My dad has tinkered with cars pretty much since he could walk, watches races, used to race motorcycles, built the go-carts we raced as kids. He made us ALL learn how to change the oil, change a tire and know how to drive a stick before we could even apply for a drivers license (not that we had much choice when I went because we only had a manuel when I was learning how to drive.) Jacob used to paint cars before his mission, has owned lots of old cars, still has his 1963 Volvo at a friends house and talks often with his dad and brothers about cars.... so I believe it's in the blood. So when we told Kira that we were going to the Car Show after church she could barely contain her excitement. (we did gift stuff before church)

Last year the Imperial Palace Hotel on the strip advertised free admittance to Dad and their families, this year it wasn't free except Jacob printed off 2 coupons to get us in for free so it was still free for us! Kira walked in with us and just started glowing! "Look Daddy! CARS!!!!"

Jacob had his camera, I had mine and she was left out (I'm seriously contemplating one of those kids camera's for her birthday) so I gave mine up and she was right along Daddy taking pictures of every.single.car.








I wish I could how you samples but there is something about the pictures that aren't loading.

BUT we had a ton of fun! And will do it all again next year I am sure!

Happy Father's Day Jacob! You are far and away a great dad. I always knew you would be, but you blew my expectations out of the water. You are so good with her and she LOVES you so much!

(just had to add a picture of my new favorite car... my old favorite car is gone... both are purple so I'm thinking I may have rethink this whole not liking purple thing.)

'til next time...

Second Round of Dance

Kira stated dance again last week and to my very pleasant surprise is doing well! No huge crying fits (except this week when she and another girl collided) no fighting to get into her leotard. She has taken to wearing her fairy outfit over her leotard and she looks super cute.

On our way to dance class.

I was pretty impressed by how she kept up with her teacher, Miss Renee. Who apparently is old enough to have grandchildren she told us this past week. Although, I do have to admit I bribed her with a balloon from the dollar store but I'm pretty sure that she forgot about it until I asked her if she wanted to go and get it.

I can't wait to get her in the 3 year old class in September. This class is for 2 year olds in general and there is a big difference between a 24 month old and a 34 month old, which is what Kira is.

So stay tuned for some more fun stuff!

She and I are headed up to Utah for a week on Saturday so there will be lots of pictures I'm sure!

ABC Blues

She's got the blues

These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars It's a good book. Inspirational in parts VERY sad in others.Glad that I don't live in those times. View all my reviews >>

Disneyland and the rest of our weekend (pic heavy)

WE WENT TO DISNEYLAND!!!!

We had SO much fun! We got tons of pictures and lots to share. We left Vegas on Friday and headed down to Newport Beach, to stay with my Aunt (AKA Auntie M!) We got to Newport Beach at about 10 talked for a little bit and went straight to bed.

We woke up around 7:30 and started to get ready. We had breakfast and had our hair braided and off we went.




We didn't get going as early as we wanted to but we did ok. We headed up to Disneyland and waited.... waited for parking ($14 bucks thankyouverymuch) and then waited for the tram and bought our tickets and then of to California Adventure we went.

We headed straight to our traditional 1st stop... The mission tortilla factory. For the 1st time in over 8 years they had the corn tortilla machine running. We had never had that before! Then off to Bugs Life Land. As we entered that area, Chip and Dale were waiting for people to come and say Hello.... so we did!

Kira loved them and did great with the characters.

She was all excited to go on the Ladybug Boogie.... somewhat like the tea-cups .... then once they started moving we got......


This face... She did not like it.... I have to say that if I had to choose between the tea-cups and the Ladybug boogie I would do the teacups. At least there is a little control on the teacups.

We did some other rides at CA Adventure and then headed off to meet Gram Gram and Papa Mike.

but not without stopping to see Jasmine and Aladdin


Here we are with Papa Mike and Gram Gram... we decided to go head over to Mickey's house.


Here is Gram Gram taking Kira into Mickey's house..

Mickey's House is so fun... lots of things to touch and sit on


and to look at.

And here he is.... she was very excited!!

And then if was off to see the princesses.... it was a little bit of a wait but Kira got to see Minnie Mouse!!! .....


and jasmine again

and Belle


Then it was off to lunch at the River Belle Terrace. After lunch we went to ride Winnie the Pooh and then got to meet him and Tigger too!

Then it was off to the Jungle Cruise. Kira was VERY excited to ride in a boat and loved all the animals.





Then it was off to go buy Kira her Mouse Ears Hat....We let her pick out which one she wanted and she choose Minnie Mouse.




We put her name on it AND

She got her ears! And was very happy with them too!

Then it was off to the other side of the park to do Nemo and Autopia

She liked the idea of going on a submarine (just like the Backyardigans Mom Mom!)

She like the submarine most of the time. She like seeing Nemo and his friends. She wasn't too fond of the dark parts but was happy again by the end.

Then it was off to Autopia... SHE LOVED IT!!! She got to "drive" and she was so excited that she talked about it for the rest of the day. She drove a green car, Daddy drove a green car. Gram Gram drove an Orange car and Papa Mike drove a brown car... and she got to drive and it goes like this (insert arm motions here) and ... and... and... and!!!

Then off we went to take Kira to GramGram and Papa Mike's car so Jacob and I could have a little bit of a date night. We went back to California Adventures. Most of our favorites are there and it was less busy. If Splash Mountain would have been open we would have gone there instead...but as it was we hit Soarin' over California (and got good seats) the Roller-coaster, and we went on Toy Story Mania for the first time and it was SUPER fun! I kind of wish we were going back soon so we can do that one again now that we know that you can pull that little plug faster!!! We went back to Disneyland and bought some art (we have a nice little collection of Shaq/Disney art.

Those are the 4 prints we got. They came with some really cool mats and so we are looking for some cool frames to go with them.

On Sunday we went to go see my grandma GG and give her her belated Mother's Day gift. And then we headed off to the Andersons house for a good ham lunch and some time with family before we rushed home (not really) to see the last LOST!

Kira with her cousins and Grandpa.

Still unclear about LOST but I'm not unhappy with it like I was with the Sopranos.

We had lots of fun on this really really quick trip and are about 98% sure we'll be back down soon for a wedding so there will be more fun things to report soon

'til next time....