THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS!

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens......woops...wait....that is someone elses. My favorite things are good things are clouds, great books, sunshine after rain, fireworks, babies, children's laughter, one on one with people I love, sloppy kisses from 2 year olds, chocolate, having grandkids over for a sleep over. But my favorite are things that happen to me, or my family and friends. Here are some of them!

1. Bryton winning awards at school for her work.....one for reading, one for success and she is one of three to win the National Fitness Award. She had to work hard for these and I'm very proud of her. I went to her program today and she is the cutest kid to watch...I love her so.

2. Noah is in baseball All Stars and is traveling the state for games. He plays a wicked third base, and is the smartest player I've ever seen. I love to see him make smart plays and stealing home. He is so great....and loves his dad and gramma! He is such a fun kid.

3. Reagan is nine months old exactly and is walking with clenched little fists. He stands from a squat position and stands and walks with this big smile on his face. He is tooooo cute.

4. Every day that is good, Cus says, "This is the Best day of my life." Oh to be so innocent. I wish he would stay that way forever.

5. Living with Brittany makes me realize what an amazing person she is. She can do everything. She is a great mama and wife. She can fix anything!!!! Just as well as Ben, she's says. And she can multi-task like crazy. I adore her. Wish it would rub off on me!

6. My Sabrina Belle is so cute and sassy. She says, "Just wait! I gonna bite your face!"

7. Three of my grandkids have a birthday this weekend and I am excited. Atticus, Jessica, and Emme. They are so wonderful and are having a triple birthday. It will be fun celebrating all together. I called Emme today and she says, "I love you guts." What fun kids! Jessie can hardly wait...she is squeezing her face off. They are nutty like me!

DO I HAVE THE CUTEST GRANDKIDS--OR WHAT?

These are some of the pics we have taken the last few weeks, with Britt's kids here. The naked ones are Britt's Belle, and Natalie's Emme. Reagan with a dirty face, and Lila on her birthday. I love their little faces and bottoms!

LILA'S DANCE RECITAL

What a fun week we have had! My Lila Risha (yes, she looks like her dad but has my name!) danced at a recital this week. She not only was the prettiest, cutest, and best dancer; But she looked like a million bucks. ( I hope I don't sound a little prejudice.) It was fun...even if it was rained out.

Also we went to Boise to visit old friends, George and Linda. Neil has been friends since jr. high and they have a bond. When we get together, they trade jabs, see who can eat the most, and Neil always laughs at George's raucous stories. Linda and I bond and I am amazed what a great builder she is, from refurbishing homes, to plumbing, to laying floors, to making sheds. She does sewing, loves antiques, and gardens. Talk about an all around talented woman. I learn alot from her. We had a great time. George wanted my kids to know a few discourses from our visit he wanted me to share!

One was when Linda asked him if he wanted eggs for breakfast, and he said, "I don't eat anything that comes out of a chicken's a@@! Then after her and Neil had bought 2 dozen pastries, and had eaten most of the in one day, the next day he had chocolate cake and six more pastries to start the day. George reached up on the fridge to get some pills. When I asked what the pills were for, he answered; " These are carb blockers! Look at me and tell the kids, "Wow, look how these carbs blockers are working." Needless to say, he probably put on 5 pounds when we were there. Now we are both on a diet to see who can lose the first 25 pounds!

THIS HAS BEEN A CRAZY WEEK!

I got a few more pictures that I love. So many grandkids, so little time. But they are all fun and beautiful and I adore being with them. I'm goint to miss my little Skousens.

MEMORIAL DAY PICS

It was fun to have so many come to dinner and hang out. I have a good fmily and am glad when we can be together. The big kid is Titan, who is now 14, soon to be 15. The littlest is Reagan who is 8 months and trying to stand alone. Atticus had Mason and Roman to play with and I couldn't get them to hold still long enough for pictures. Emme and Sabrina Belle have a contest to see who can get naked first. Lila just cuddles Atticus every chance she gets, and Jessica tried to take down all the boys cousins...some twice her age. She did pretty well...she is strong. It was a good day.

WHAT MEMORIAL DAY MEANS TO ME

Memorial Day is now a three-day holiday. Many of us think of it as a holiday without much thought to why we have set aside this day as a holiday. Memorial Day is personal to me and should be for most Americans. Here is my example.
My father, Vay Barney, served in the Pacific in World War II as a Marine. He volunteered for service after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He served for nearly 5 years in Guadalcanal, Saipan, and Tarawa. He was shot in the back three times and still has huge scars. He was hit with shrapnel in the face and still has trouble with his eyes. He said the worst part of the fight with the Japanese was on Tarawa. The Japanese had control of the island and the marines were in trenches trying to make it a few inches forward each day. They used their helmets as their toilet and ate what rations they could get. It was weeks before they took the island. The Japanese would act like they were surrendering and then throw their grenade at the soldiers. Japanese never took prisoners, but they did torture. Each soldier was given a pill to take to take their own life if they were captured. Each soldier had morphine on his belt to help a comrade. Sixty five years later, he still remembers the soldiers who were by his side and each of their names. These memories never leave him. He is my hero. He never wanted sons so they didn't have to go to war. Just recently he showed me his medals, two purple hearts, two bronze stars, and more. He has never shown us before. He doesn't want praise. He just wants us to remember and honor the heroes who died for us.
For those Americans who have lost a son, daughter, relative, or friend serving in our armed forces, it is still a time to recall the memory of those who died in the defense of our country. For those who are fortunate not to have lived through such a loss, I hope they will take some time from shopping or swimming to recall the sacrifice others have made to allow those of us who have followed them to enjoy our freedom and prosperity.

MY FAVORITE QUOTES THIS WEEK!

One holiday Natalie gave me a lovely jar full of quotes about mothers or sayings from my children about me. It has meant so much to me over the years, especially when I am down. Now I am finding my own quotes mostly from my sweet grandchildren. I know they won't mean much to someone else, but to me, they are rare jewels.

1. Lila at her baseball game when a little boy came into home and I urged him on; " Grandma, even though you aren't HIS grandma, you still love him, huh?

2. When Katrina realized I quit Diet Coke she commented, "But Grandma, you're still short."

3. Atticus, when Scout was really upset, "She's just an Angry Woman."4. Sabrina to Katrina when her mama was leaving, "Stop crying. Mama be back in few minutes."

5. Mason when he wanted to watch cartoons. "Dad, you can pinch my juicy butt if you let me

watch my shows."

6. After I told Lila the Rapunzel story she asked her mom, "Mom, when I get long hair like Rapunzel, will you carry my hair for me when I walk places so it doesn't get dirty?"

7. Little Bobby saying, "You walk like a turtle but I walk like a rabbit."