2 CUTE !!!

Brad was out of town again this week and

I know how long the week gets without your

hubby to share the load when you have

little ones so....I thought it might

be a good idea to invite these two cutie pies

for a sleepover at Nannie's.

This was a first and I wasn't sure how

it might go or if we'd make it

through the whole night.

Turns out these two are GREAT to

have over night. They played perfectly

together and giggled all night. They had

a bubble bath, tea party, practiced galloping

(a major dance skill), watched a movie,

had lots of treats and were the

ideal house guests!

Polly Pockets were the favorite activity

and we enjoyed playing several times.

(Thanks, Aunt Paige, for leaving your

amazing collection with us to explore!)

I was pretty sure it was a success when

we had tears when it was time to

return to their Mommies.

We'll need to do this again real

soon, Girlsies!

XOXOXOXOXO

Showering the Baby....

I have to admit, it is really hard for me to

wrap my head around the fact that my baby

is having a baby! She is definitely old enough

to do this and she is really ready. She'll be a great

little Mom and she has lots of sisters to give

her great advice but somehow in my mind

she is still my baby. I know...it's weird but

that's how it feels. Anyway....we are thrilled

for her and Nate and we have been

planning this little celebration for weeks.

Robyn and Gwyn (she's one of the girls now)

drove up from St. George on Friday and

Paige flew in Friday morning so we had

all day to make our preparations.

That may have been the best part...

having all my girls there to prepare for this

fun party together!!

Brooke got these pretty posies at the

wholesale florist that matched our decor.

We had a blast puttsing around the kitchen

making soups, baking rolls, and making

scratch cupcakes. We even got fancy with

the decorating...

Thank you, Martha Stewart, for the

tissue paper ball idea!

This is a shot of the table all decorated.

Brooke is amazing us all with her craftiness!

Seriously, her cricut decorations were to

die for!! Some great friends helped

out with the food and tons of

great friends and relatives joined

us for the party. It was all

much appreciated!!

I'm sorry....this is pretty much what it's all

about for me. I L-O-V-E having daughters!

I love watching them grow into beautiful women

and watching them transform into amazing

mothers. And I love getting to be a part

of it all. My cup runneth over. Can't wait

to meet Baby Brig. It was a perfect day for

me....hope it was a good day for Paige, too.

(P.S. Somehow in all the scurry I forgot to take

pictures of the baby bedding I made for Paige

so for photos of the finish product of the

weeks of work, check out Brooke's blog!)

Finding the Sun.....

Last week Kennan informed me that she was loading

up the kids and getting out of the Salt Lake inversion

"muck" for the sanity of all involved. She invited me

to accompany her on the drive to St. George so she

wouldn't have to be alone with the littles. Sounded

good to me..... As we were driving back today, I was

thinking about how great the sunshine felt and how

nice it always is to visit the Lamoreaux family.

They always make us feel so welcome. In fact,

when you are with Robyn and Co. there is a

certain warmth and sunshine that draws you to

them and makes you want to "linger longer".

This was the scene one afternoon in Robyn's kitchen

as her neighborhood friends all gathered just to chat

while Robyn was whipping up some chocolate chip

cookies. We discussed Jen's "New Yorker" recipes

and got to know Tina better while we snacked on

her "Fire Crackers". And cute Andrea came 9 mo.

pregnant with flat iron in hand to teach us how

to curl Greta's whispy hair!

(Some of this gathering may have something

to do with Kennan's rock-star status in St. George!)

Did I mention that Farm Girl supplied us with

a delectable treat every day we were there?

Little Miss Greta sat patiently while she

was transformed into Goldie Locks!

Robyn's kids are just like her....welcoming anyone

who wants to join in the fun. Her yard is the

ultimate gathering place! It was a much needed

break for Jude and Gretsie. Jude kept saying,

"I like St. George!" and Greta would awake

and start pointing to the back door wanting

someone to take her outside to swing!

Do you think these cousins had any fun???

An added bonus was being there when Robyn and

Bob found out that the new little Lamoreaux is going

to be a BOY!! We all worried about how Gwyn would

react since she has been praying for a baby sister for

at least a year. She responded with, "It's ok.....I

just love babies!!" So it appears that Gwynnie Rose

will be the only Princess in the Lamoreaux household...

a rose among the thorns! This is a role

that she already has fully embraced!!!

Besides....she has some AMAZING maternal skills

that are gender friendly! This baby boy will be

ever so loved by all.

Love you all, Lamoreaux's! Thanks for the terrific visit and wonderful hospitality! We enjoyed the sunshine of your home as much as the sunshine of St. George!!

XOXOXOXOXOXO

I Kind Of LOVE It.....

This year I requested that no one give me gifts for Christmas and instead do a service for someone as a gift to me. Well, most of them did a service AND gave me a gift. (They never listen!!) But I must say that this little pendant necklace that Robyn and family gave me really touched my heart. It is just a sweet reminder of what I hold dearest. My family is the heart of all that I stand for and care about. Thanks to all of you for your sweet gifts and kindness to me. XOXOXOXOXO

Christmas to New Year's

Those days between Christmas and New Years

are always some of my favorites.

The stress is over and you can just

chill out and enjoy your family without

worrying about work or shopping, etc.

(BTW...I stay away from the mall during

those days!) It's your down time before you

have to face the reality of the New Year.

This little group always makes the trek up

here a day or two after Christmas to get

a little snow time in and play with the

cousins. I'm SOOO glad they live within

four hours so it makes this trip not too

painful. They are kind of the family rock stars...

everyone wants some Lamoreaux time!

The other great thing about this time is

I can persuade someone to play cards with

me and you know I love me a little Rummy!

Late night cards in our jammies with a few treats

is my favorite!!

And these sweeties are kind enough to

include Mike and me in their New Year's Eve

outing to dinner. This year it was at Bonsai....yum!

Unfortunately, the grandbabies were passing around

croup so Kennan and Brad were home with

little sick ones and couldn't join in.

We declined the invite for games at the

Jackson's home and just went home to

watch a movie...yeah that's right...

we are getting OLD!!

And as much as I love Christmas and all

the trimmings, it's always somewhat of a

relief to get it all de-decked and get

back to some normality. So that took

place during that week as well...with

a little help from Miss Paige and a lot

of help from Mr. Mike. Although he slept

through most of the week due to serious

jet lag, he came through when it counted...

still love him!!

So....there you have it. A new week,

a new year and lots of hope for some

improvement in 2010. Just like

the January inversion....you know

there is some sunshine up there somewhere!!

CHRISTMAS 2009...it's come and gone :(

Well, if you wondered where I've been....I have been

in the thick of Christmas preparations. And lo and behold,

Christmas came and went....just like that!!

Nannie's workshop was very busy on the days leading

up to Christmas. I decided to make matching nightgowns

for all the little grandbaby girls and matching Jammie

pants for the the grandsons and my gorgeous

teenage granddaughter. It sounded like a good idea

at the time, but as the day grew closer.....

I did manage to finish!! More on that later...

Since the extended Williams family outgrew a

progressive dinner, our little Williams branch

decided to try it on our own. The weather

didn't cooperate, so it only progressed to

MY house! (BOOOO!)

Greta was okay with the way it turned out.

In fact, all the little ones preferred it. More time

to play together....less time in the car!

Bella looked adorable and was just happy

to be together too.

And probably MOST importantly, Grandma Billie

was relieved that we didn't have to go out in the

snow storm. She was FREEZING the whole

time she was here! You'd never believe

she was reared in Minnesota and spent

43 years in Wyoming!!

Can you believe these are the three babies that

were on my Christmas card last year???

There are best buddies and so dang much

fun to have around!!

Christmas Day arrived and all the little families

made their way to Nannie's after Christmas

morning at their own homes.

The Jackson crew paused long enough for a photo

op (with a little bribing of candy for Miss Minie-Moo).

Check out this cute couple and

that adorable baby bump.

We can't wait to meet little Baby B.

He'll for sure be at next year's party!

And these beautiful ladies made the day

just perfect for me!!

Gabi, Minie and Jude had their very own

table for Christmas dinner. These three

are like the Three Musketeers!

Here is our table as we are ready to partake of

our Christmas feast. It was perfection!

Paige has a client from somewhere in the

Far East that told her it's a good omen to

have lots of children rub your pregnant tummy

so these little girls were helping her out!

There was an impromptu tea party with the

Beauty and the Beast tea set that the

girls got from Nannie (complete with Mrs.

Pott's and Chip!).

The evening ended with baths in Nannie's

tub and everyone wearing the nightgowns

Nannie made. Little Angels indeed!

Is she a cherub or what???

Greta and Jude are modeling both styles

and they are amazing little models, too!!

On Sunday after Christmas, my nephew Brandon

and his wife and kids came to visit Grandma Billie.

She was thrilled!!

At almost the same moment, Robyn and her little

family arrived too. Everyone wants to

pose with Grandma Billie!

Paige and Nate headed up to Wolf Mtn.

on Monday for a Clark family gathering

so this was Good-bye Granny for them!

And the Lamoreaux family made the trip so

they could spend a little time with Granny too.

This is Mike saying good-bye to Billum's as

we left for the airport. Mom is looking forward

to getting back to a warmer climate.

17 degrees is a little too cool for Granny!

So.....there you go. It came and it went

and a good time was had by all!

Here comes 2010...thank goodness!

The Williams Family Christmas Party

You really have to experience it to truly appreciate a

Williams Family Christmas Party.

I'm quite sure there is NOTHING quite like

it anywhere. It's really impossible to

fully explain so....these are a few of the

things I love about it (in no particular order of

preference).

1. When the Matriarchs get together to compare notes.

Billie and JB have been in-laws for 36+ years and they

fall easily back into conversation like no time has

passed at all.

2. When we all get to share some food and some laughs.

3. When the generations overlap and find common ground.

4. When people are randomly late and nobody makes

them feel bad about it...they are just glad they are there.

5. The fact that everybody tries to make it

special for the kids.

6. When cousins that rarely see each other

come together and build bonds.

7. All the team work that goes into making it happen.

(Love these girls!!)

8. When we all sing Christmas carols together.

9. The MOST unique part of our party....

the Queen's Storyteller!!

Lee continues to amaze us...he will never

know what a HUGE impact he has on all the

little ones. They can't wait for this part of the evening.

11. How the kids are absolutely enthralled with his

performance and his story!

Even this VERY tired Mom fully enjoyed the story.

12. And of course, the Nativity....or the Baby Jesus

Concert (as Jude calls it).

Amazing performance this year by Jude and Minie

in the starring roles.

Love the wandering shepherd (Poppy) and roving

angel (Greta), too.

I'm sure there are some really good family Christmas Parties out

there, but the Williams family party is the BEST!!

Thanks to all of you who make this evening so

wonderful for everyone concerned.