I Finally Finished Charlie's Afghan

When our children were born I crocheted each of them an afghan to be brought home from the hospital in, and also to be blessed in. (Never end a sentence with a preposition.) Anyway...so, of course I wanted to do the same thing for our grandchildren. I wanted the afghans to be different colors or patterns so they could tell them apart within their families. I chose white for Katy's first-born and got started months and months ago because I knew that with boutique and Christmas and other projects I had going, it would be tight, time-wise, in getting it finished by the time the baby was born. Before I added the border I measured it because it seemed awfully small. It was. I added more to the length, but that threw off the count for the border. I decided to set it aside and start all over with new yarn and a new pattern because that one had gotten too frustrating. I loved the new pattern and it was moving along nicely, but Charlie came early...instead of March 5th, she was born on February 10th. We had planned on going to a Square Dance Festival in Yuma the 13th-15th, which we did because there was no need for me to go and help Katy and the baby while they were still in the hospital. Since Katy had a C-section, and Charlie was in NICU, I still had some time to finish the afghan. I crocheted instead of taking down the Christmas tree ornaments, on the way to and from the Festival, on the way here to Burbank, while watching TV, etc. and finally finished it yesterday...one day before her original due date. Yeah!!!

February 2009 Family Letter

February 2009 Family Letter
Hi, Everyone!
Right now I am sitting on the floor in Katy’s apartment in Burbank, finally getting to the family letter. I probably should combine February and March this time.
I have been here a week now, helping with her new baby girl…Charlie Belle Clark. She weighed 6 lbs. 10 oz., and was 18 ¼ inches long. She was born on February 10th, but was in NICU for two weeks and a day. She had her share of problems because she was 26 days early, but she wasn’t a sick baby. She couldn’t figure out the nursing thing, but thanks to a breast shield, she now “gets it.” I’ll tell you what…the Turner kids sure know how to have beautiful babies…WOW!!! Charlie is adorable!!! And you should see her hair! dark, and tons of it, hangs over her onesie in the back. Spoken like a Grandma, right? But seriously, she is way cute!!! Usually I get foods cooked for future meals and get them in the freezer for my new-mother daughters, but Katy and Jim are moving and so all the pans, mixers, ingredients, etc. are packed away. So, I can’t clean; I can’t cook. All I can do is help with the baby. It’s a little slice of heaven. At first I slept at nights because Jim was helping with the baby, but now I help so that he can get some extra sleep since he has to go to work and I don’t. The reason it is good for me to help with the baby now is that Katy had to have a C-section and isn’t supposed to be doing any lifting. With the move they have to run a lot of errands, so I just stay home with the baby. It’s not a very good idea to take a new baby out in public at this age, so I am helping that way. One day they had to go into another town to sign on their house and were gone seven hours. Yesterday they were buying new locks, installing them, etc. and were gone about the same amount of time, and it would have been difficult to take the baby along. So I am glad I am here, able to help in this way. Katy and Jim keep apologizing, but it’s more of a bonus for me. I will stay at least one more week, hopefully through the move. If I need to stay longer, I will. This little grandchild makes number nine for us…every bit as special as the first. Funny how that works.
I’m doing a poor job of doing the “blogging” and “facebook” thing; I’ve got to get Katy to help me know how to put pictures up for all to see. Modern technology…gotta learn how to use it.
Over Valentine’s Day weekend we went to Yuma for a square dance festival. We are used to dancing with maybe six squares, on a good night, in our regular club, but Yuma’s festival had probably 60-80 squares. That’s a lot of petticoats. We had so much fun. There were several couples from our clubs, so it made it even more fun. It was nice to be able to go to a festival without having to travel very far. Yuma is only 3 ½ hours from us.
I am still trying to finish a crocheted afghan for Charlie. I have to take out rows and rows, but I finally got past the part where I couldn’t help making mistakes. Yeah! I am on the final row of the border now, so it won’t be long.
Well, that pretty much sums up my month.
Love and prayers to all, Nancy

November and December 2008 Family Letter

I apologize about not writing in November. Crazy month. We went to a Square Dance Festival in San Diego and had a really good time. Another couple from our club was there so we went for meals together, etc. We didn’t go to the day-time workshops, just the evening dances, so we had some free time and went garage sailing on Saturday morning. Each of us was able to find something, so that always makes it more fun. Katy and Jim came and stayed on the boat with us, went to the festival to take some photos of us, went garage sailing with us, etc. I love it when they can come. That was such a fun weekend. It was a bonus to have the festival in San Diego because we didn’t have to figure in a hotel stay. We will be going to another festival in February, in Yuma , so we will need accommodations for that one. It’s only a four-hour drive from here though, so we won’t need airline tickets. We have totally turned into square-dancing nerds. This will maybe be the third festival in six months. It’s way more fun to be there with friends from our club; and Bernie and Dottie are our best friends. We go out for frozen yogurt after every dance, and have gone out to dinner several times, and to there place for dinner a couple of times.
After the festival we drove on to Long Beach and took a cruise to the Mexican Riviera. That was something we likely would not have done, but how can you pass up a cruise at 70% off? We really enjoyed it. The entertainment was very good. The room was nice…balcony and all. The food was not all that fabulous, however. Usually people rave and rave about cruise food. In the long run we decided that it was probably good that the food wasn’t good because we would have gained a lot more weight. We have only been on one cruise before…maybe 30 years ago. Paul got sick on that one so we have never been very anxious to return to the sea. But no problems this time.
Then there was Thanksgiving. Since Katy and Jim were coming into town but unable to eat the big meal on Thanksgiving Day, we decided to have the Thanksgiving a week early. Plans were changed. Since they were going back home on Thanksgiving Day, Paul planned on leaving town that same day to pick up an extra day for business in Florida . All the kids had plans to go to in-laws for the official day, and I was home alone. It was weird, but I was OK with it. After-all, I was already a week or two behind in putting up the Christmas trees. Actually, the trees were standing. Paul managed to get that done, but I had the ornaments to do. I worked on the ornaments for a week, and then worked on the boutique for a week. Because the economy is the way it is and because the location of the boutique had to change this year, I didn’t do as well as I usually do, but better than I thought I would. And it was OK to have a certain amount of left-overs. After the boutique I went back to finishing the trees. I was down to my last three largest 9’ trees when Jane advised me that I didn’t have to decorate them…the other fifteen trees were enough. Of course you know me and know what happened…I worked like crazy and got those trees up. And I’m glad. They look so beautiful with all the lights and sparkly and glittery ornaments. I have at least one more week, maybe two or three before I take them down. We’ll see what happens.
Christmas morning we had to ourselves because Jane, Brian and girls had moved out the Friday before. And then they went to his folks for breakfast. Ben’s kids were with their mom. Ben had slept at Annie’s, so did Elizabeth and Nick. And Katy and Jim did not come since they were here at Thanksgiving time. Late morning we went to Jane’s while they were with Brian’s folks, and set up a trampoline that we had gotten for the girls. We were there when they got home so got to see their reaction. They were thrilled, and Jane says they are out there jumping all the time. Thank goodness for wonderful Arizona weather. Then eventually we all got to our place and everyone else showed up for opening of more presents. I would love to someday be able to have each person take turns with everyone else in opening all presents one at a time so that you can really see what everyone gets and who gave it to them. But I’m dreaming, I know. As it is now, I don’t know who gave what to whom. I do know that my kids gave me great gifts…Ben gave me a box of candy that said, “Do not open unless you were a child of the 50’s.” And, of course, inside were all those wonderful candies that you remember from your childhood but you don’t see anymore…like those little dots on a strip of paper. Too fun. You remember how much I love autumn leaves. (Paul took me to Salt Lake in November to see the leaves.) Well, Jane gave me a serving bowl with four smaller bowls, in the shape of leaves. Perfect. Katy took photos of us, Paul and I, and put six of them in a vertical frame. Great photos! Annie gave us two photos in frames…one of their little family and one of Devon …cute pictures that they used on their Christmas cards. Another perfect gift. Elizabeth made two Christmas pillows…one with a Santa, the other one of a snowman. Lots of sequins and beads, embroidery and ball fringe and piping. Fabulous! Paul had made a Barbie doll house when Jane and Katy were little, and Elizabeth took it and remodeled it for me. Because of her job as a designer she had access to lots of expensive materials, so from carpet to tile to something wonderful that she used like a fence around the deck…it turned out to be totally awesome. Heidi asked me if she could borrow it forever. My kids are so thoughtful and clever and talented and creative! It was a great Christmas. And even though Paul and I decided not to do gifts this year, he bought me a laptop. My very own. He spoils me.
Ben has been here for a week and will be here until Saturday. The kids have been here all the time except Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Since we don’t have missionaries staying in the missionary apartment, we had them stay down there…like a guest house. It doesn’t have a refrigerator because we took it to a rental property, but we don’t really want to encourage them to stay down there anyway. They just sleep down there, yet all their stuff, mostly, is corralled. Katy and Jim stayed down there on their last visit and told us that we should always just use it as a guest house because it was perfect. Well, if we had company that often we might. But we usually don’t need extra space because we already have a guest room with bath. But Jane and family were still using it when Katy came last time, and they weren’t totally moved out when Ben came, so we were glad it wasn’t occupied by missionaries this time. We really do need to get it ready now though. It’s not been used for over a year.
Hope all of you had a great Christmas as well. It’s almost time to write the January letter. Yikes! Aunt LouEtta, since most of the letters go out via e-mail, do you need money for the family letters anymore? And what about the cabin dues? Did that whole thing get settled? Did we all just pay one lump sum, and we’re finished forever? My memory is like a sieve.
I love all of you so much and wish the happiest of times for you in the New Year.

October 2008 Family Letter

Though Annie's baby was due October 9th, he decided he couldn't wait and came on September 30th. This is her first baby, and our eighth grand child. He weighed 7 lbs. 2.4 oz. and is just adorable!, of course. They tossed around a lot of names, but since their last name is Smith they didn't want anything popular. They didn't want a name that could be shortened so that shortened the list as well. They finally came up with Devon Joseph Smith and call him Devon, as his daddy's name and grandpa's name is also Joseph. So far I only hear Annie call him Baby. I think he was "Baby" for so long that she can't get used to his real name. The funniest thing ever was that one day when I was there I heard her call him Baby D...so much for not shortening his name. It cracked me up. All three are doing well. I'm so proud of the new parents; they are as attentive and as cute as can be. Joe jumps right in there with his fatherly duties...very cute to watch. He picks up the slack around the house, too, doing dishes, etc. I'm glad they are in town. It's been a great year having all of my grand children in town for the very first time; and the oldest one is almost 12.



Early this month Katy had her sonogram telling her the sex of her baby...a girl! But the doctor told her to sit down and listen carefully. Then he proceeded to tell her that her baby had a cyst on her brain, a flap on her kidney, and something about crystallization on her heart. Well, the poor parents fall apart of course. They called us that day, a Wednesday, so we decided to drive to San Diego for the weekend and have them meet us, and feel them out to see how they were handling this very scary situation. It was the same weekend as the Boutique, but I had already decided not to do it because I didn't want it to get in the way of Annie's baby, not knowing when he would arrive. I was going to just sit at the boutique and see if people would order anything from me. I didn't think they would...knowing that my things are probably pure impulse, but I thought it would be a good experiment. Then when we decided to go see Katy and Jim I figured it would definitely be even a better experiment. As expected I only got three orders...I think 14 dozen cookies. At least now I know that it doesn't work to leave order forms. I still don't know if it would work to just sit there and talk to people and fill out order forms. I don't know if I will try that or not.



Back to the boat...Jim gave Katy a really nice blessing; and I was glad that Paul was there to help and that we were there to hear the blessing. We had a great weekend, as usual, when they are with us. They were in good spirits, so we were glad to be with them and know that first-hand. They decided to get a second opinion on the condition of their unborn baby. The appointment was Monday and the doctor said something like, "Yes, there is a little freckle on the heart, and these other issues...well...they always, always, always, go away. You have a perfectly healthy baby." Can you even imagine the great relief that all of us felt? Prayer and Priesthood blessings work.



You remember how much I love autumn leaves? Well, Paul said last week, "Let's go to Salt Lake to see the leaves." So we left Friday, spent the night in Vegas, and then came on to Salt Lake. Paul's grand folks and mom are from Woodruff, so we decided to drive up there for church today and see the leaves on the way to and from. We took Paul's mom with us and she was able to visit a few minutes with a cousin, so that was nice. Most of the leaves were gone from the trees, but there were a few stretches of really lovely scenery...totally worth the trip. We also met Kay and Dave for dinner last night. We haven't been here for quite some time, and it is always nice to get back to Salt Lake, even if I don't know my way around any more. We started at Modern Display, buying some really fun Christmas ornaments. Can't resist. I'm an addict. Tomorrow I am going to go with my high school girlfriend, LeNea, to her cabin in Oakley. We will be alone until Tuesday night when the men join us. Then the next day Paul and I will head home, hoping to see more leaves. Our dear neighbors in Tucson, who moved several years ago, are now living in Provo, so we will stop to visit them. (Mary Bradford, 95, who I used to visit teach, and her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Lou and Bill Bingham). Then we will stay in Vegas again, getting home in plenty of time to rest up a bit before square dancing.



Speaking of square dancing, the night before we left for Salt Lake we hosted our square dance club at our house because the church where we usually go was holding some function, so we got bumped. Rather than skipping the class and the dance, we just volunteered to have it at our house. Our grand daughters came down and watched while their parents were in class. They had a ball...trying to learn the steps themselves. Afterwards Heidi said, "If you and grandpa and mom and dad and me and Emily come, and you get two more people, we can learn to square dance." I overheard Jane telling Annie on the phone, "I hate to admit it but square dancing is really fun?"



So there is the newest news for the month.

September 2008 Family Letter

I am posting this family letter almost a month later than when I wrote it. Sorry about that.

I hardly ever write things on a calendar, so now I am faced with the dilemma of trying to remember if I did anything noteworthy this month.
The only thing I can think of is that I started intermediate clogging classes. I finished the beginner class in May, I think. I invited my summer walking friend to take the class this year. We go together since it takes about half an hour to get to the dance center. I clog with her in her beginning class, which is a good refresher and warm-up for me. Then, since she is a school teacher, she corrects papers, pays bills, reads, etc. while I take my class. It’s so much more fun to be there with someone I know and to have someone to talk to on the way to and from the class. I’m glad I bought the beginner instruction and dance CDs, so that I could practice all summer. It’s so much fun, though I’m not crazy about the music…mostly country, played by banjo music. It’s great exercise, so that is a bonus. One funny thing about my practicing clogging at home is that as soon as I put my clogging shoes on, my little grand baby Sadie, almost 15 months old, starts bouncing up and down. Then I put on the music and she really gets into it. It is so cute to watch. Babies sure do love music. At the encouragement of some square dance friends, we started taking round dance lessons as well. We never thought we would do it…way too nerdy for us. After three weeks we have pretty much mastered one of the dances; and I have to admit that it is kind of fun. Our friends didn’t catch on very well, however, and are ready to quit. If they quit maybe we will quit, too. If you round dance and square dance, you never get a break all night from dancing, so that may be a good enough excuse to quit. Paul does need to rest his knee some. He wears a brace to the dances, and that helps him a lot.
Annie’s baby is due on October 9th, so that means any day now. The crib is set up, the little clothes are washed and hanging in the closet, and her hospital bag is packed. She is way ready. It will be really different for me not to have to get on a plane to go help with a new grand baby. She just lives about 20 minutes away, and I don’t know what she will even want of me, help wise, since this is her first.
Kay called me on September 23rd and said, “Do you know what today is? It’s the 30th Anniversary of dad’s death.” She always remembers and always calls. I can’t believe it’s been 30 years though! What’s sad is that Annie and Elizabeth never knew him; he died before they were even born. And Katy was only two, Jane five, and Ben seven; so their memories can’t be too strong. That’s one reason it is nice to have the gospel and know we will see each other again.
Boutique season is upon us, and I am so not in the mood. It’s always like this in October. The rent on the school skyrocketed though from last year’s of $2400 for the weekend to $7500 this year. Insane! They had to find a new location, and it’s never as good a show when that happens. They had been at the same middle school for 15 years, and hundreds of people count on the same location. I wish they hadn’t been able to find a new spot and just let the boutique die a nice, peaceful, natural death. My kids tell me, “Mom, you don’t have to do it, you know.” I do know, but I just can’t say no. I would disappoint too many people who are so loyal to me. We’re down to the last two weeks though, so I better get cracking, starting tomorrow…though I’ve been saying that for more than a week. I will still go to my dance classes. I do have my priorities.

August 2008 Family Letter

We began the month with a business trip to Florida, staying with the Carlton’s again. They live in a beautiful neighborhood, and I always look forward to being there and walking the streets first thing each morning. It’s so much nicer than a treadmill. There is certainly something to be said for all the greenery, ferns for ground-cover, included. And to think that Paul’s grandmother had to really baby along one lone fern as a house-plant. I could live in Florida, at least during the non-hurricane season.
Ben was on a school break this month so came and stayed with us from the 20th-30th. Usually he goes to his in-laws, which are now x-in-laws, help get the kids up and off to school, then goes back and picks them up, gets them dinner at our house or “out” and then takes them back to Elizabeth Elena’s house at bedtime. This time she wanted him to pick the kids up as soon as he got into town, and keep them the whole time, including over-night. I thought it was a selfish thing on her part, but he was OK with it. He loved it, as a matter of fact, and said it was the best break he had had in a long time. It was because not once did he have to interact with his x-in-laws, and he got to have the kids longer. It was a little more stressful for me, having all seven of my grandchildren under roof at the same time, because Ben’s are even pickier eaters than Jane’s, and they are allowed to stay up way too late. But if it was better for Ben, then so be it. Elizabeth Elena really got to miss the kids though, so it may not happen this way again. They’ll have to work something out. We had quite a bit of time with Ben, so that was a bonus for us. I think he got to see his sisters quite a bit also. If he passes his classes, he will only have two more semesters until he is finished. Then we’ll see. He just finished and passed Pharmacology…thought it would kill him…but he survived. I can’t remember the class he has right now, but the last one will be pathology. That should be interesting.
We spent Sunday afternoon with some friends from square dancing. Along with family they invited several couples for a bar-b-q. It was very nice, and we were glad to be included. It was a pot-luck. They furnished the hamburgers, hotdogs, and bratwurst, and soda. I let them know ahead of time that I could bring some homemade whole wheat buns for the meat. The bread recipe is so good, and the dough is really easy to work with. I will never buy another hamburger bun again. Plus…a batch doesn’t take all that long to make; I did it between getting home from morning church and when we had to leave. No big deal. And because most people don’t bake, they were a real hit. I want to keep these letters to one page, so time’s up.

Devon Joseph Smith

I can't believe that Joe and Annie's baby is already one week old today. But then he wasn't even due until October 9th or 10th. Even though he was nine days early, it's about time I am getting around to my blog. I'm still not in the groove, as you must have noticed by now. They knew a boy was coming, but they couldn't decide on a name. All of us were giving her suggestions, but they finally came up with Devon Joseph Smith. They wanted a name that was a little bit out of the ordinary because of the very common last name of Smith; so they didn't want Michael, David, etc. And they wanted a name that couldn't be shortened, like from Charles to Charlie or Steven to Steve. And no similar sounds slurring from first name to last, so it couldn't be Max or Alex. He was born on September 30, Tuesday's child, but didn't have a name until Wednesday. Devon Joseph Smith, going by Devon, of course, since there are four previous Joseph Smiths on his dad's side, and besides, Joseph is usually shortened to Joe. He was born at 7:33 a.m. and weighed 7 lbs. 2.4 oz. I'm not the slightest bit prejudiced when I say he is one gorgeous baby boy! Remember that I volunteer once a week at Tucson Medical Center in the newborn nursery and have been there for fourteen years now, and have seen a lot of babies. Annie and Joe are darling parents. It's been fun to watch them. I knew Annie would take right to it because she has always been so very cute with babies, but with Joe I wasn't exactly sure because I don't remember ever seeing him even hold any of our other babies. And when he was handed his son, right after birth, he said, "Now what do I do with it?" ("It"?)The way I understand it is that he wasn't even cradling him...just kind of holding him out like a football. Too funny. Likely we will never let him forget it either. But he has gotten into the groove of fatherhood real quickly...changed diapers at the hospital and everything. I think it was cute of him to tell me that he wants to be an involved parent, even though he was nervous to change diapers because of the circumcision. This is such a bonus time for me as a parent to watch my own kids take on parenthood. Annie and Joe are already doing a wonderful job; I'm very proud of them. I've been taking meals in to them since they have gotten home from the hospital, so for five days now I've gotten to observe them. One funny thing Annie said a couple of days ago..."It was a sad day today. I realized my cats are not my babies." Annie and Joe have both been such cat lovers for such a long time that I wondered how they would transition. Move over Samson and Jasmin...Devon has just knocked you off your pedestals. I can laugh, but it happened to me, too, with our dog, Chuy. I'm embarrassed to say, but it's true...when I was expecting Ben, I actually said, "I wonder if I will love this baby as much as I love this dog." The minute he was born, however, I instantly fell in love with him, and Chuy took the back burner.