Don and Shawna +8

Last weekend we took the trek up north to see our newest and 8th grandchild-Keturah Gottfredson. We spent most of the two days we were there enjoying general conference on television. Here are the boys playing a conference Bingo game. I brought reeses pieces that they used as game tokens. It was a chilly weekend so they also got out there winter scarves that I gave them last year for Christmas to keep them warm. Ian played soccer Saturday afternoon and his team wone! I guess you can tell he is pretty excited!

Dallin as always loves to do and be whatever Papa G is. He tries to dress and act like Papa. The two are best buds.

Now heres the real meat and potatoes of this blog-Keturah. What a beautiful girl. She is three weeks old and I swear she smiled at me while I was holding her. We made an instant connection and I held her as much as I could. They are only little for such a short time. So precious and such a blessing.

She was such a good baby. She is eating and sleeping just as babies should.

A very proud and happy Nona.

Welcome to the family Keturah. You are loved by so many. You have added to our eternal circle and will bring so much joy.

A Birthday to Remember

It is my birthday today. Amie came up for the day yesterday to spend with me.

We had a wonderful time!
Friday night we went to the state fair. Desi and Jace loved it. They wanted to see every thing and whenever Desi heard music she wanted to dance.

We bought some cotton candy and the kids did not know what to do with it. Desi licked it a bit and then broke it off into little pieces and then let it blow away.

I got called out of the audience to help a ventriliquist act. I tried not to make too much of a fool for myself.

Saturday we continued the celebration by going to Solitude. We rode up on the lift, and then hiked about 15 minutes to a small lake. We packed a picnic lunch and Don brought cupcakes and candles. We sat by the lake and had such a wonderful time. The weather was perfect and the scenery and company even better.

Mandi had her baby on Friday also. She was 6 lbs 8 oz and 18 inches long and they are naming her Keturah. Although I have not seen a picture of her yet, I imagine she is beautiful.

Sherry sent me chocolate covered strawberries. What lovely gifts. I feel so loved.

This will go down as one of the best birthdays ever!

Nothing better than a day with family!

Friday Nona and Papa g went to Logan to visit Jace and Desi. Amie was so sweet and fed us well. We took a trip to the cheese factory and Jace helped pick out a case of milk for he and Desi to take home and drink. His favorite flavor was the Root Beer Milk. We all got an ice cream cone, and he chose the black one (licorice).

He picked a bench in the factory all by himself, where he invited Nona and Papa, politely, to sit with him and eat their treats. Desi was home taking a nap and missed out on all the fun.

After a delicious lunch of 7 layer salad, we went to the Logan park. Amie dropped us off and went for a shopping trip. (This is precious and rare to shop with out little ones) Nona and Papa of course were in 7th heaven as we took Desi and Jace to see the animals at the park (they loved standing on the stroller and watching the animals),

wading in the river, and playing on the play ground.

After our busy after day at the park we headed back to Amie's apartment where she made us corn on the cob and hamburgers.

Papa brought the Trikkes and we rode them around the complex. I think we were all tuckered out by the end of the day! Papa stated "what else in the world would you rather be doing that this?" I agree, nothing better than a day with family.

A Weekend With Amie and Luke

We just sent them out the door. I spent a few minutes picking up the house. I stopped and looked at my handiwork and missed them. Amie and Luke came for the weekend. Luke had Guard. There were toys all over, crumbs on the floor, laughter in the air, good conversation, and dishes in the sink. I loved it!

Saturday was family day at the Utah Air National Guard. Nona and Papa G tagged along for the event. We had a great time. Jace and Desi got their faces painted. Desi chose a butterfly, and Jace-Thomas the Train.

The kids played all sorts of fun games: fishing pond, bean bag toss, squirt the target and bounce houses. We even got to see inside a military transport plane and a black hawk helicopter. The day was hot and when we got home we were all so tired we all fell asleep.

The fishing pond

Today was Sunday. This morning Papa G and Nona and Jace and Desi went out on the patio to talk. It was a cool, beautiful morning. I was explaining to Jace about fast Sunday. I told him that the adults fasted to help them feel closer to Heavenly Father. Out of the clear blue, he looked at me and said,"Heavenly Father lives near the park". I asked him what he meant by that and he explained that "the temple is near the park and Heavenly Father lives in the temple." He also said the park was very cool! It set a nice tone for the entire day. I am so blessed that my grandchildren are being taught the gospel by good parents.

Later in the morning Jace and I decided to make cupcakes so we could have a birthday party for his Chitty Chitty Bang car. We spent all morning making them and had so much fun. Unfortunately Jace was too tired to eat dinner as he did not get his nap due to our church time. No dinner- no cupcakes. We had to send the cupcakes home with Amie, for a party at a later time. Nona was so dissapointed! She really wanted to sing Happy Birthday to Chitty.




Oh how I love my family!

This post is to show Sherry that I did figure out how to post pictures in the blog instead of to the side.

All is well! I have a new job. I will be working for the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts, teaching their voice classes. I will start in August. A great new adventure for Nona. If I can teach Jace to make cookies, I can teach voice to High School students-right? Wish me luck!

All is well with Nona and Papa G. We have the frame shop open and Papa is actually framing today. He is as happy as melted chocolate on a strawberry! We have had two offers on our home but both are way below what we are asking, so we are going to hold out and hope the market changes soon.

We had a wonderful trip to Middleton over Memorial Day weekend. It wa so nice to get away for a few days from opeing the frame shop and selling our home. We had the best food while there (as always). From pancakes with strawberries and whip cream to the best chicken I have ever tasted complete with artisan bread-YUM! And Mandi topped a dinner off with the best homemade apple pie!

It was so good to see Ryan and Mandi and the boys. Mandi is looking pregnant and beautiful (although she doesn't feel that way). We discussed a name for the baby-Keturah.. What do you all think?

Mandi's cat had given birth to some kittens about five weeks before we arrived. I fell in love with a darling grey and white face kitten I named "Puccini". Unfortunately I did not bring it home, perhaps after we are moved and settled? Ian accidently shut the garage door on one of the kittens and broke it's back. Ryan had to put the poor animal down. It was very sad.

Saturday we enjoyed a swim in the pool at the YMCA, but it was short lived as someone pooped in the pool and everyone had to clear out-can you say Cryptosporidium? Papa, Ryan and the boys washed the cars and I helped Mandi weed and plant a few flowers.

Sunday we enjoyed going to church and then played games in the evening. Every night the boys would recite about 5 scriptures from memory before going to bed. As a grandparent, it is a beautiful thing to witness moments like this. It make you feel you did ok as a parent.
On Monday Dallin taught Nona how to play the Wii game- "Order Up".

We cried when we had to leave. Can we at least all move into the same state?

Love and hugs,
Nona

Mother's Day 2009

As I awoke this morning with an ice pak on my sprained foot (story to follow) my first thoughts were of family. How blessed I am to be a mother and grandmother. I have the most beautiful family in the world! Yesterday Papa and I were getting the back yard all cleaned up from the winter. We have two children who live next door to us, Jason (3) and Gabriella (2). They came over to help us. They helped me rake leaves, put out yard ornaments, wash off the patio chairs and pick up worms off the patio and put in the flower beds. Oh, how I wish it could have been Kaleb and Jazelle or Jace and Desirae or Dallin and Landin. My heart was aching to spend the day with one of my beautiful grandchildren. I will continue to wish for someday.

As I was putting my all a dollar fake flowers in the window box on the front of the house, the step stool I was on slipped out from under me. My left foot hit the ground first and I twisted it pretty good. Since we do not have insurance right now, I have just been babying it with ice and a good limp. That was nothing though compared to the amulance ride I had last week because the doctors at the instacare thought I was having a stroke. I lost my ability to speak for about 10 minutes. It turned out to be a complex migrane that affected my speech center. This morning Papa and I awoke to find our utility room flooded by a broken pipe that goes to the air conditioner. It is drying but will need some repair before we sell the house.

Thats my news. I say enough is enough! I am still smiling. Through all these trials, my one constant is my family. I love you all so much. I miss you today more than you will know.

Spring!!

Today is the first day of Spring! The weather has been so lovely this week that I was able to get out into the yard and rake up all the leaves. My tulips are coming up and as I walk around the yard I see signs of new life everywhere.

Last night Papa and I went for a walk. Papa is so funny. He wanted to walk down all the streets we have never seen before. It was fun to explore the neighborhood. I only wish we'd had some family here to share our evening.

I am really missing family this week. Sherry sent her latest blog entry. She took the kids for an outing on St. Patrick's Day. She and Kaleb wore green shirts, and darling Jazelle was in a green dress. I so wished I could have joined them. It is no fun to be a long distance grandmother. Jace has been very sick this week. I tried to help by phone yesterday, but am afraid I caused more worry than help. He is running a fever and is in a lot of pain. They think he has a Urinary Tract Infection. Sometimes prayers and long distance phone calls just don't seem to be enough.

Amie and Luke did come to visit a few weeks ago. Amie taught a Master Class for my studio. It was fabulous! My students loved her and are asking that she come and teach some private lessons this summer. Lukes' brother Lance, left for his mission to New York. It was a nice weekend for them so spend some time with him before he left.

For now, I will have to be content with watching my Tulips grow and think of my growing grandchildren. Happy Spring everyone! Enjoy Heavenly Father's gift of the renewal of life that is so evident in the beauty that is all around us.

Last week we got to visit Ryan and Mandi. We had so much fun! It was Papa G's birthday on Feb. 14th. We had a fun day. We ran some shopping errands and found a wonderful farmers market where I was able to buy some organic spices that I have not been able to find anywhere else. We took the boys to PoJo's. This is a place that has lots of video games, a merry-go-round and bumper cars. We ordered pizza (if you could call it that, it was more like cheese on cardboard), and played lots of games. Later that night Ryan cooked Papa the most delicious ribs you have ever tasted and we celebrated his 55th birthday with a cake from Cold Stone.

Poor Mandi is not feeling well at all with her pregnancy. Her and the couch are best friends. In fact, I believe there is an imprint on the couch which I will call, the first tri-mester body position.

Nona had fun learning how to play wii with Dallin. We played Star Wars Lego wii. He was so patient and helped me learn how to make my lego guy work, although he kept getting blown up and falling apart. If only we could pull ourselves back together as easily as those wii lego guys do when life keeps knocking us around! Thanks for a wonderful, memorable visit Ryan and Mandi!

For Sherry

Hello! Well I am finally doing it! I am creating a blog for the family. This is for Sherry who has been after me to do this for a year. I am Nona (grandma) My husband is Papa G (grandpa). We are so blessed to have three children, Ryan, Jason and Amie. They are all married to wonderful people; Ryan to Mandi, Jason to Sherry and Amie to Luke. They have blessed us with 7 beautiful Grandchildren: Ian-7, Dallin-6, Landin-3, Jace-2, Kaleb-2, Desirae-1 and Jazelle-4 months. These children are the light of my life. Mandi is expecting our 8th grandchild in September.