Tyer Tuesday.....sleepovers

Sleep overs at grandma's house is a necessary part of childhood. I loved sleeping over. I'm the oldest of three girls. We would all snuggle down in the couch hide-away bed (what do you call those things?) and gramps and grandma would tuck us in for bed. I remember feeling the most wonderful feelings of love, comfort, and safety when we were there. I would always wake up and there would be grandma in her tourquise robe and curlers reading a book. And the delicious smell of fresh brewed coffee would be wafting through the air. Our family never drank coffee, but anytime I walk past the coffee bean aisle at the grocer I can't help but inhale deeply and smile as memories of gramps and grandma come flooding in. Later in the morning we always made cinnamon rolls. And of course they were yummy! I think I need to make some tomorrow....

Love always,

XOXO

Amber

Time flies.....

So I just looked at my blog and was startled to see that I haven't posted since last Tuesday! (I do think of things everyday to post about, sometimes twice a day.) I guess it just takes time to get into the habit of it.

We were so blessed to have my lovely in-laws Susan and Jerry come to visit. The children had a ball and were sad to discover that it was just plain old mom to read stories to them tonight and not their wonderful Grandma Susan.

Logan is showing me how a dinosaur eats an In and Out burger. Luke is just happy to be in the middle of it all. We went to to eat, shop, and watched movies all weekend. Tom went to get something to put all of his files home and he also brought home this. Given our love of all things Baby Einstein I was pleased. Luke was too. Our other two managed to entertain themselves with it's very large box. They would have Grandma Susan hold the lid shut and then tip over. (Sorry for the large size issues. I'm not so html and blog savvy just yet)

Tyer Tuesdays

My wonderful grandparents passed away this year. Unfortunately, because I live so far away I was not able to visit them as much as I would have liked. At Christmas I wrote a letter to them letting them know how much I loved and appreciated them, but was not able to get it to them. So I am dedicating Tuesdays as a day to remember their wonderful influence in my life.

The one thing that they did better than anything else in the world was to love and adore each other. They were often working out in the yard, making dinner, or working on the house together. Grandpa would come in hot, sweaty, and tired from working on something and the first thing he would always ask was, "what can I do for you sweetie?". And my cute little grandma was a bit bossy, and grandpa took it all in stride, never once complaining or argueing.

A few years ago grandma was diagnosed with Parkinsons' and neuropathy. So she became shaky and she no longer had feeling in her feet and hands. Grandpa carved her a cane, got walkie talkies, and a walker. Even so, she feel down one day and broke her hip. Because of her quickly progessing Parkinsons', she was never able to walk again. She could maybe go a couple of steps, or move from the wheel chair to the toilet with help. But that was it. And over more than 4 years it steadily got worse. Gramps never complained. He took care of her night and day, eventually even changing daipers. And still he took care of her. He bought a new mini van, an electric wheel chair, and cellphones for each of them. He sold his house in the country and moved to SLC so that they would be by family for help, but mostly to be by better doctors for grandma. And he was happy to serve.

I'm so glad I have such a wonderful and loving set of grandparents that showed me how to be the very best kind of spouse. I love my husband very much and it's so very important that he knows that always. Thank you gramps and grandma for all of the loving memories you've given me over the years.

xoxo always,

Amber

In our next house Tom wants to do an acid stain on the cement. If you do it yourself it is much cheaper. Since Tom isn't that keen on doing it ourselves, I thought to myself, "I can do it. I'm not scared." Ha ha! What was I THINKING? It was July in Phoenix, the hottest city on the planet. It was at least 110 degrees out, plus I was in a hot garage, spraying water on hot cement. Can you say Sauna city? ;)And I never do anything the easy way either. Not only to I acid stain, I have to put a fancy mountain hardware logo in the workshop area, and a border around the garage. You would think that I would learn my lesson. Nope. And I'm sure that the next think I do I'll go all out again.




Today we officially put our home on the market. I have mixed feelings. I'm excited to finally be headed home to Utah. We've been gone for 6 years. It really seems like it flew by. Not overnight, of course. But definitely not 6 years worth of time spent away. But I'm also sad to be leaving here. Of all of the places we've lived this has by far been my very favorite. (Although Ivins was absolutely beautiful!) And I really like my house. Actually, what I really like is that my house is
done. Every room has been painted and decorated perfectly. And now I have to start over. Don't get me wrong, I love to decorate and paint. I think it's tons of fun. But I also like to sit and enjoy and would love to start quilting on a regular basis. But, I get to try some new things so that will be fun. Plus, I will live by my two extremely talented sisters who paint amazing murals and will have them over to help me oodles and oodles. (Break out the brushes girls, my next house needs some lovin'!)


I was just remembering today that when Madeline was 2 she would say that she wanted to watch "buck-eye-ker" which is code for Buzzlightyear. Kids are so cute!

XOXO always,
Amber

So yesterday I step out of the master bedroom located at the top of our stairs. As I look over the railing, I see my adorable son Luke sitting on the carpet next to the tile. In his hand is a fistful of half digested catfood and tritip one of the cats so kindly regurgitated on the floor. It is on its way rapidly to Luke's mouth. I scream no no no as I hurl myself down the stairs to intercept the nastiest snack on the planet. Luke just looks adoringly up at me with his darling smile, laughs and continues to attempt to eat his new found treat. Luckily I reached him just in time! Gross.

An Ode to Nienie

I've have tried blogging before. I never really got it. I posted maybe twice. I don't even remember my url. How pathetic is that? And then I met nienie. Her name is Stephanie Nielson and I fell in love with her through her blog nieniedialogues.com. (I've never actually met her though she lives in Mesa) Her blog is an amazing window into a mormon woman's life and her love for her husband and her family. And now I get it. I can see why blogging is so important. It is journaling for the modern man (or woman). It is miniscule little snippets into your life and yet together they can tell an amazing story. I've never been good at keeping a journal. My missions was really the only time and yet it took up maybe half of the book. But I'm just glad it was that much.

So I have Stephanie to thank for the inspiration for Waves of Amber. And also the recommitting to be a better wife and mother and just love my life.

Thank you Nienie, my prayers are with you and your family now