Happy Birthday Grant

Happy Birthday Grant

 Grant was tired and not in the mood for a song and cake . . .

but then Katie and Jeff blew out his candle and let him get a hands on feel for what blue birthday cake feels like . . .

 and it tasted so good that his tears turned to smiles . . .

or he started having a sugar rush . . .

either way it all turned out to be a fantastic 1st birthday.

This is a picture of my favorite babysitters.

Corrie and Cally took care of 
Katie and Troy and Trevor

until we moved from Littleton, Colorado.

Some of my most favorite memories 
are of that time of my life.

I will always think you are the 
two most natural mothers the Lord ever created.
You two and my daughter Katie.

And I love that you are all now 
mothers with children of your own.

Thank you for all the hours you 
spent with my kids while I was Christmas shopping.

Thanksgiving was nice . . . with no furnace . . .

yet the house stayed nice and toasty because of a fireplace or two . . .

which is good because this is my favorite time of year . . .

and I want to enjoy every snowflake that falls . . .

and every minute of looking at this:

In Honor of Harry Potter

Years of the Ultimate Escape From Reality

These are the actual books that have carried me through the past decade.

Except for the first one . . . one of my children has it in their possession at this time.

It all started in the year 2000 when I began reading these unique Children Books to Tanner. 
He was in the 1st grade.

At first I thought they were interesting and very creative.

Each year as we would finish a Harry Potter book, 
I would buy the next one so we could continue the story.

That is until the Order of the Phoenix.

By then Tanner was a prolific reader, and we were still continuing 
to read the HP books out of tradition.

But I couldn't wait until the next night to find out what would happen.

That was when I stopped being a good mother.

I informed Tanner that he was on his own - I was reading this book straight through.

And I did. 
It took me 3 days of ignoring all motherly duties - but worth every minute of selfish consumption.

So as we enter this November week when the 7th movie will hit theaters . . .

I admit to one and all that I will always be a Harry Potter fan.

J.K. Rowling - you gave us a great story that will live forever in our hearts.

Thank you.
And Grant . . . you have a magical world waiting for you to find . . .
and your Nana will make sure that you find it!

goodbye to autumn ~ family time ~ and my favorite photos of grant

oh yeah . . .

Happy Birthday Katie

29 years ago you gave me the greatest gift a woman can imagine.

You gave me the gift of motherhood.

And last year you gave me the 

second greatest gift a woman can imagine.

You gave me the gift of grandmotherhood.

Bless you and have a happy day!

Three generations of Emily - December 1981.
Emily Jane, Emily Kathleen, Emily Kathrine

 Katie - February 1982 

Katie - October 28, 1982

Katie - October 28, 1983

Katie - October 28, 2002

Katie and Grant - 2010
Oh to have those striking green eyes!

Happy Halloween Tanner

October 2001

Disclaimer: Tanner is actually not a fan of Harry Potter.

I am. I thought he looked great as HP!
We had that scarf kicking around for years - 
and notice the Christmas lights that are already on the railing.
Not happening this year.

Autumn is that time of year when every day 

is a spectacular painting that continually changes.

It was the perfect October day.

The third child must somehow always get lost in the photo shuffle . . . 
because I am having a hard 
time finding a picture of just 
Trevor as a youngster wearing a 
Halloween Costume. 

I did find this however . . .

Trevor-Katie-Troy October 1989

He's the one on the left.

Max & Brownies

Max doesn't pose for me often . . .

so of course I had to post 
this picture of him.

Brownies

Mix together:

4 eggs

1 3/4 cups sugar

Mix together and add to egg mixture:

1 cup melted butter

1/2 cup cocoa

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

Add:

3/4 cup flour

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (opt)

1 cup chocolate chips (opt)

Mix together and pour into greased pan.

Bake @ 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes

or until knife comes out clean in center.

Do not overcook.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar or 

ice with chocolate frosting.

Once Upon a time in Littleton . . .

There lived a little boy who 
wanted to be a dragon.

He was very sweet, 
so being a dragon wasn't going to be easy.

His mother figured out a way to 
put together a cape

that would enable him 
to believe he could find the 

fire inside of him to be a dragon.

Troy 1986

Sadly, he never found the fire 
inside of him to be a dragon . . .

but he did find the fire inside of him 
to speak a beautiful language.

So today he is a 
Hot Italian Professor instead of a Dragon!

Grant . . . 

so far my favorite grandchild hands down.

This kid is constantly being watched over by a dog.

Miles, Lucy, Sammy, Annabelle, Gabbie.

They all adore him.

This is Sammy watching over Grant.

She is hoping for a lick of Grant's face - or some crumbs.

This is Grant finally seeing that mysterious black object 
that Nana always seems to be holding in his face . . . but never letting him touch.

Mean Nana. Sweet Grant.
Honestly . . . I want those eyes. Maybe in my next lifetime.
 

I am trying to become an artist . . .

hence the reason I have "painting" as part

of my blog description.

Here is the latest attempt at pastels . . .

and hopefully many more to come.

I made peach jam today.

I wish I had some amazing original recipe

that I could share with everyone.

But the truth is . . . I use Sure Jell's recipe.

It is as good as any gourmet recipe I have tried.

Tastes good. Looks good. Is good.

I love autumn . . .

This definitely goes into my favorite sunsets file.

The problem is . . . if I paint this sunset - it won't look real.

But it was real. Very real. Sunday night.

I am definitely painting this one.

"Real or not real?"

Sound familiar to anyone?

Finally! Peach Chutney Season!

Many years ago my friend Carole and I talked about making 

Peach Chutney in the fall. Well it took me twenty something

years before I actually made it - but it is now a tradition.

Chutney is surprisingly a mystery to some people.

It is perfect as a glaze and a condiment with meats and fish.

It is also wonderful with cream cheese and crackers.

It actually is wonderful when you just eat it with a spoon.

yum yum yum yum yum yum

So here are the pictures and the recipe.

 Peach Chutney

4 cups peeled diced ripe peaches

3/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 cup rainsins

1/2 cup craisins

1/3 cup diced sweet onion

1 jar McCormick crystallized ginger

1 Tbsp sea salt

1 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp ground ginger

7 1/2 cups sugar

1 pouch liquid fruit pectin

Put the peaches in a large kettle and add all other ingredients except the pectin. 
Bring to a rolling boil over medium heat and stir constantly for one minute. 
Remove from heat and immediately stir in the pectin. 
Continue stirring for 5 minutes allowing it to cool slightly. 
Pour into sterilized jars and seal with paraffin wax.

Store in a cool, dark, dry place.

Makes about a dozen 8 oz jars of Chutney.

I usually double this recipe so that I can give some away.

Erin Lee . . . you have a late birthday and housewarming gift coming your way!!!

Sometimes in life we cross paths with people who are celestial . . .

and sometimes our children cross paths with their children.

Today I met the parents of Anziano Teodosi who served

a mission with my son Troy in Southern Italy.

This is the picture of Troy and the two 

Italian brothers that he loved with all his heart.

Anziano Teodosi, Anziano Troy, Anziano Da Silva 2005 

I visiting teach Valerie Smith, and her husband 

Thane served his mission in Rome, Italy.

He converted Anziano Teodosi's parents.

They came and visited the Smiths today and

I was granted the gift of meeting them.

After I met them I took a picture of

Thane and Brother & Sister Teodosi.

  My little Sunday miracle.

A long time ago in Littleton
***

Once upon a time there lived a little princess.

It was nearing Halloween time,
but her mother was very ill. 
This was a problem because the 
little princess needed a new gown 
for the Halloween parade. 
So her mother spent a little 
bit of time each day 
to create the perfect dress. 
It took her mother a whole month 
to sew a very special pink satin gown. 
The little princess was so happy 
when it was finally completed that 
she agreed to pose for this 
picture to honor the 
Halloween season and traditions.

The princess' name was Emily Kathrine.

But everyone called her Katie.

She is no longer a princess today,
she is now a Queen.

And her mother is still her Halloween seamstress.

I was mentioning to someone recently 

that I once had short hair . . . 

and then I found this picture 
and I love seeing me with my 
daughter Katie and my sister Susan.

This was almost a decade ago ~ 

and yet it feels like yesterday.

Just yesterday when I had short hair.

Once Upon a Time in Littleton

A long time ago in a land across the Rocky Mountains,

lived two little girls who had matching nightgowns.

One had a very trendy pair of glasses, and a cool bracelet,

the other a piece of red licorice.

Their names were Katie and Natalie.

This is a picture from one of their sleepovers . . .

Next week check out the next edition of 

Once Upon a Time In Littleton . . .