AND SHE *SINGS* TOO!

Hi Alert Readers!  Santa nearly broke his sleigh dragging presents into the house this year!  Last year, there were only seven of us to be together for Christmas. THIS year, we had THREE more!!!!!  This year, we added our returned-missionary grandson Nick, his beautiful fiancée Emily, and –of course- Li'l Miss Rory!  It was great fun!!!!!!  But in all the hubbub and ballyhoo of the holiday, I neglected to write the blog, and Rory wasn't here to write it either. Well, she was HERE, but too busy playing with her grownups to write anything.  I'll have a little talk with her about that.

One week ago today, Ali, Trevor, Nick&Emily (that's how we think of them now!), and RORY came over and we made our traditional family truffles. YUMMY!  It was so fun to all be together!  And the truffles turned out great!

Sunday, we all went to church at Chris and Kristin's Ward. We almost always go to their Ward for the Christmas program, but especially now that Chris is in the Bishopric.  Rory arrived in full glory in her gorgeous Christmas coat and pretty red dress.  We had bought her a pair of silver shoes (soft ones), but they didn't want to stay on.     . . .  sigh . . .    Isn't that the way it goes??????? 

She was quite a hit in Sacrament Meeting.  The minute the organ began to play the opening carol, Rory began to "sing". She "sang" clear through the song. I was holding her at the time, and Denny and I were concerned that we wouldn't be able to make her stop when the song ended. BUT the minute WE all stopped singing, so did she!!!!!  That is, until the Sacrament Hymn, which –again- she sang, at the top of her lungs.  Sooooooooo cute!  We relaxed when the Sacrament Hymn was over, thinking we were "safe". We hadn't thought about the CHOIR!  Oh yeah . . . she joined the Three Fountains Ward Choir in full throat. We were all about falling apart by then.  She was ready to move up a row to sit with Uncle Trevor then- and there was no more music until the closing carol, which she slept through. I think we might have a musician in our midst!  TRA-LA-LA!  Oh my, she is so stinkin' cute!

Christmas Eve, Andrew and Nick had to work, but they were off by 5:00 and we met at our house for dinner at 6:00.  Ummmmmmmm . . . prime rib, stuffed potatoes, corn, etc. And cheese cake with cherries!  After dinner, we played a game set around the scriptural account of the Savior's birth. (For example: how many Wise Men were there? Bet your guess is not correct! The Bible doesn't say! It just says, "Wise men . . .". No number!)  We had prizes and everything!  Then we watched "The Grinch . . .", another family tradition. Denny had purchased a tray of snacks from a Figi's catalog, with summer sausages, a variety of cheeses –both soft and hard-, some sweet goodies, etc. It was a big hit!  Then 6 of us played "Scattergories" while the others just chatted and laughed. Everybody left about 10:00 or so . . . .

Christmas morning, we all met at Chris and Krissy's at 9:00'ish for cinnamon rolls, orange rolls and milk. Nick, Trevor and Rory each opened a small gift from Santa, and then Andrew and Ali brought Rory to our house, and we got to play with her while the rest of the family went to see "Les Mis". They went to the noon showing, and came back to pick up Rory about 3:30'ish. We don't have a car seat, so we couldn't take her anywhere. But we all went back to Chris and Kristin's to open presents!!!!  We got started about 4:00! WOW!  Andrew helped me roast the other prime rib, and it turned out great!  We ate dinner about 6:00 or so . . . and then just sat around and chatted and/or slept.

We had a terrific time with Rory at our house.  We had given her a cute caterpillar toy for Christmas. It comes with five round balls and some wheels. If you push down on the MIDDLE ball, the caterpillar scoots quickly across the floor. It is really cute. We showed Rory several times how to make it work, but she is only six months and didn't get it. BUT, she was flailing her hands around, and accidentally banged the middle ball. The caterpillar went flying across the floor and smacked into the bookshelf!  Rory looked up at me like I had yanked her bottle away or something!  Of course, I laughed . . . but then repented and got the caterpillar for her. Oh my . . . we love that little stinker!  We gave her a spinning top (all enclosed and really cute), a little musical thing that she can sing along with, and a BendyBall. We had given her the BIG present a couple of months ago. It is so fun to have a little one to shop for again!  ;-] 

We had a really lovely Christmas. It was wonderful to have the whole family together like that!  And what a rich blessing Rory is to our whole group . . .  

No big plans for New Year's Eve. We've recorded some old black and white movies ("Going My Way", "Alibi Ike", "Meet John Doe" and others – we like CHOICES!) to watch. Also of course, "movie snacks"! Just the two of us. YAY! 

Okay- that's it for today. Rory just arrived for her Friday visit with her Papa and GG.  I'm sorry, but if you balance loving on Rory against writing more it this blog, RORY WINS, EVERY TIME!!!!!!

Farwell for now, Alert Readers. More to follow!  HAPPY NEW YEAR to one and all!

"I'M A BIG GIRL NOW!"

Deer Alurt Reeders, hi! It's me, Rory!  My GG hugged me close today and told me that you all like to hear from me. I don't know why- becuz I don't spell verry well. But I'll do my verry best. . .

My Papa and GG are very lukky this week. They got to see me yesterday, then again today, and WILL see me Sunday at Church!  They are very, very eskited about that! They *heart* me very much!

Yesterday, my Mama, Uncle Trevor, Uncle Nick, my soon-to-be-Auntie Emily and I came over to Papa and GG's house to make something called "truffulls". I don't know what those are, but I saw everybody scrunching gram krakkers and mixing those with a can of something that had an eagle on the front, and then some little dark brown roundy things that everybody kept tossing into their mouths. Thy called them "choclit chips". GG had something called "wall-nuts" for them too, but nobody used them. I bounced in my jumper while my grown-ups mixed all this stuff up and then spread it in some pans. They put them in a big door in the stove for a while, and then –FINALLY!- I got some attention! Uncle Trevor had some of the "goop" (as he called it) on his finger and stuck it on my tongue.  It was reely reely good! I wanted more, and I kept looking and waving at him. Uncle Trevor gave me another taste! YUMMY!  I totally LOVE my Uncle Trevor! GG brought me something she called a "gram krakker" and put it in my mouth- but -YUCK!- I didn't like it AT ALL! She told me that it would "soffen up" and be reely tasty, but it was too hard, and I didn't like it. Uncle Nick put my new hi chair together while we were there. My Papa and GG are wonderful peeple, but they are not good at assembling things. So I was glad Uncle Nick was there. I got to sit in my new hi chair and play while my grown ups took the pans out of the big door in the stove and put them on the counter. We all chatted and played for a while (and I got to be center of attention AT LAST!) until the goop in the pans was "cool". Then they tipped everything out and cut the goop into squares. Nobody offered ME any- even as they were all eating a piece themselves! But if it tasted anything like that awful gram krakker, I'm glad. When it was time to leave, my Mama cleaned me up really well because she and Daddy were taking me "out to dinner" again. She said we were going out to a fancy place and I had to look my best. I tried very hard!

Today is Fryday, so it's my usual day with my Papa and my GG. My Mama and Daddy dropped me off at their house, and I endured what seemed like 19 hours of hugs and kisses before Papa put me on my play mat so I could play with my toys. My GG told me that she had rearranged the toys on my play mat so that they'd be easier for me reach, but INSTEAD, they were all right in my face and I had to bat them out of my way all the time. How do you spell "anno-ing"?  So GG came over and changed them again. One of these days, we're going to get it right!  I only tipped over ONE time today while playing there. My GG saw me waving my arms and legs around, trying to sit back up all by myself!  She laughed and laughed, and called my Papa to come see. Then they helped me sit back on my bottom again, and I played and played. I love my play mat . . . but I also love my Exersaucer and ESPECIALLY my jumper/bouncer! I love to bounce,  jump, bounce, jump and then jump some more!  WHEEEEEEEEEE!

My grownups put me in my new hi chair, and then GG fed me something called "carrats". It was orange and pretty good!  I ate the whole container!!!!  Papa fed me the last couple of bites, and then they gave me my bath!  I LOVE my baths at their house, but today GG axidently sprayed me right in the face with the wet stuff, and I DIDN'T LIKE THAT AT ALL! I was not happy, and I let them know it- loudly!  As soon as the water torture was over, my Papa fixed my botle, and GG sat in her rocker and gave me my lunch. I did fall asleep, but GG said it was a "power nap" because I only slept for about 20 minutes!  Then I was ready to rock and roll! We played and played until my Mama and Daddy came to get me. I LOVE my Papa and GG, but my Mama and Daddy are my very FAVORITES in the whole world!

I get to see my grown ups again on Sunday. We are going to Church together! We chose to go to my Grandma and Grandpa Bowler's Ward because my Grandpa is in the Bishopric (I don't know what that is!), and he'll be sitting on the stand. How do you SIT on a STAND?  There are soooo many things I don't understand!  My Papa and GG gave me a very pretty shiny red dress that they called my "Chrissmus dress". Something else that I don't understand.  They told me I get to wear it to church Sunday, and also they gave me some bright shiny things to wear on my feet. I'm not used to wearing anything but socks, so this will be a fun adventure! Mama bought me something she called "tites" to wear with the dress. I get to wear all of this to church this Sunday. I don't know what the big deal is . . . but I am happy that I get to see my grown-ups again!

Oh! I forgot to tell you that I am now 6 months old! I can sit up by myself, roll over and over both directions, eat smooshed food, and can scooch forward a bit (or BACK, by mistake!). My grown ups still tell me that I am cute. I know I am getting bigger, because Mama has to get me new clothes! AND my Papa and GG are having a harder time to hold me. I don't like to just sit on a lap or curl up on a shoulder anymore. That's for BABIES! And I am a big girl now! 

I hear that "Chrissmus" is just a few days away- so I want you all to be happy and cheerful and love your families. I sure love MINE!

Bye bye! I love you all!!!!!  Rory    :-]

"THE SIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS"

Merry Christmas, Dear Alert Readers!  Yeah  . . . it's me again: Rory isn't here.  She explained to me that it's time for ME to write once in a while. It takes a LOT out of her to write a whole blog!

So I've been in my robe ALL DAY. I AM SICK! AAACK!  Been watching Christmas movies and "working" on my computer. I did actually write our Christmas Greeting email this afternoon. We are not sending REAL cards . . . so this email greeting will be "it" for this year.  If we have your correct email address, you should receive the greeting!  There are several pictures of our sweet Rory attached. So beware . . .   ;-]  If you don't like pictures of babies, you won't like our "greetings"!  And to you I say, "Bah! Humbug!"  Bwahahaha!

Yesterday was a very big day in our family. Chris' 50^th birthday was on Nov. 30^th. And Chris and Kristin are celebrating their 25^th Anniversary on Dec. 29^th. Ali decided to celebrate BOTH events with a big party last night. Just having the big party would have been cool enough, but –as a surprise to Chris- his parents and ALL SIX of his siblings came into town to celebrate with their son and big brother!  They brought some spouses and a bevy of kids too. Chris had absolutely NO idea! What a complete surprise for him when he walked into Cracker Barrel to have a nice, quiet lunch with his wife and parents . . . but when they approached the table set up for them, sitting there were his brothers and sisters, etc.!  He was soooo surprised and touched that they would all come so far (some from Ohio, some from Colorado) for his birthday. They ALL burst into tears. It was truly "A Sight Before Christmas"! 

Chris is still enjoying the company of his family. Most are still here in town- leaving tomorrow. What a terrific weekend this is for him! No one deserves it more.

Rory stayed with us while the family met at Cracker Barrel.  I felt fine the whole time she was here.  We got her all bathed and dressed and ready to meet a WHOLE new bunch of family members.  She is a big hit with the Bowler clan!  ;-]   Trevor came to get her and take her home to meet everybody.  An hour later, Denny and I met Chris, Krissy, and Chris' parents (Bruce and Julie) at a restaurant for dinner. On the way home, I suddenly felt very sick.  We stopped by our house for a few minutes to give me a minute to settle my stomach- then we went over to the big birthday-anniversary party at the kids' house. It was really a nice party- lots of people there!  We got to see Chris' family and, of course, other friends and family. We didn't stay too long. I still didn't feel well, and we needed to come home early. But Ali did a great job, and the party was fun.

This morning, early, Denny got a call from a counselor in our Bishopric, asking him to speak in Sac. Mtg. tomorrow!  Plus, since I am sick, he will be teaching our teenage class too. He's up to it, of course!

JOKE OF THE DAY: What did the Minnesotan say to the Pillsbury Doughboy?

 . . . .  NICE TAN!!!!  . . . .

Bwahahahahaha!!!!!!!  Until next time . . . . aloha o'e!

FRIDAY WITH PAPA & GG

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

Hi Alert Readers! Yep! It’s me- Rory- again! My GG is pooped today and since you all seem to prefer MY blogs anyway, she asked me to write again for her. GG says she thinks I get my writing talent from HER, but I don’t know. It’s just like they say that I got my Daddy’s eyes. That kinda scares me; if I have HIS eyes, how does he see anything???? This world can be pretty confusing at times!

I had quite a day yesterday. On Fridays, I spend most of the day at Papa and GG’s house. This is my Daddy’s “day off”, whatever that means. And my Mama and Daddy get all excited to go shopping or to a mov-eey (?) or just REST.  I don’t know why they can’t do those things with me around!!! But it’s okay with me because I love my Papa and GG. They let me do pretty much whatever I want. Someone asked me if I am SPOILED . . . but I didn’t know how to answer. I don’t SMELL bad- so how could I be spoiled????  And all of my adults like to hug me and kiss me, so I think I am okay.

After I arrived at Papa and GG’s house yesterday, they hugged me and kissed me FOREVER! Well . . . at least it felt to me like it was forever!  But finally they put me down on the floor with my play mat. This is one of my favorite toys. I used to lay down on the ground UNDER it to play with the toys hanging from it- but now I am a BIG girl, and I sit right up and bang the toys around with my hands to make them rattle and ring. My Papa puts a big soft quilt all around me. After I had played with the toys for quite a while, I noticed that suddenly everything was turning SIDEWAYS! Very slowly. I found myself lying on the quilt! And my toys were out of reach!  My GG laughed, and Papa came and picked me up by my middle and plopped me back on my bottom. I was very happy to be able to reach my toys again. I like to chew on the frog and the doggy. AND sometimes there is another baby there with me! She shows up in a shiny round thing that hangs from my play mat. She has dark blue eyes and chubby cheeks. I think she is really cute, but she disappears! I wonder where she goes? 

I was just bored with my play mat when Papa noticed something unpleasant around my “nether regions”, as he called them. So he picked me up and put me on my homemade “changing place” on the island in GG’s kitchen. He isn’t fond of changing these kinds of diapers, but GG doesn’t seem to mind. She just talks and talks to me and wipes up whatever mess I may have made, and puts a nice, fresh, clean diaper on me. I REALLY don’t like dirty diapers. Yesterday, it must have been a really BAD one, because GG decided I need a bath- immediately! Papa picked me up and put me in my “bath chair” in the kitchen sink, and GG sprayed me with nice warm water and washed me from head to toe! I don’t like to have my neck washed or rinsed, but GG fools me and I lay my head back without thinking, and she jumps right in and washes/rinses it really fast. It might make me mad if I didn’t love my GG so much! But who could stay mad at such a wonderful, loving GG?!?!?!?!? –ahem-

After I am all cleaned up, I like to stay on the big soft towels on the island and talk to my Papa and GG. We have had some really good conversations there. I try to tell them all about my life, and they smile at me and kiss me, but I don’t think they understand everything I am saying. Sometimes, before they put my clothes back on me, they press their lips to my tummy and blow real hard. It tickles!!!!!!  Papa says it is a “zerbert”. Sometimes I don’t like them; sometimes I do.

Before they got me dressed again, GG put something bright red up to me and said, “Oh, she’s going to be BEAUTIFUL!”. She also put some bright silver things on my feet- not sure what they were, but Papa and GG said they “will be perfect with the dress”. I wonder what they are talking about? 

I look forward to the end of my baths, because not only do I FEEL a lot better- but I get my LUNCH!!!!  Papa makes me a nice big bottle and GG holds me in her rocker and feeds me. I keep trying and trying not to fall asleep (why waste time sleeping when I can play with my Papa and GG?), but GG keeps rocking me and rocking me, and my eyes won’t stay open!  GG says I don’t sleep very long- only about 20-30 minutes. She wishes I would sleep longer, because she loves to hold me. But I am just too excited to be there that I wake up to play again.

Papa put me in my ‘saucer for a while, and then in my bouncer. Papa and GG just sit there and watch and watch me, laughing and laughing. They think I’m pretty cute, I think! I’m glad they do. I try really hard to be good and adorable. I like the looks on my adults’ faces when I am cute. Their eyes crinkle up and they smile at me. I just love my adults.

When my Mama and Daddy came to pick me up, they changed me out of my cute Christmas jammies and put some pants and a shirt on me- with some striped socks. Then they took me someplace called “out to dinner”! I sat up in a high chair and played with my toys while my favorite adults ate some funny-lookin’ things. They said it was “Meksi-kin food”? Again, big people there told my adults how cute I am . . . . and I made sure to live up to it!

That’s all for now, guys. GG said to tell you that if you need to know my sizes and favorite colors, just give her a call. What is she talking about?  Love you!  Rory

A ROCKER AND COMPRESSION HOSE

Dear Alert Readers!  Rory is off-duty today, so –sorry!- you are stuck with me. Several of you have told me that you really like Rory's blogs. Yep! Better than mine. I don't blame you, actually, because Rory is absolutely adorable and a pretty good writer for a five month old!  ;-]

I'm sitting here in my rocker with my feet up, but it's not because I am lazy . . . it's because my poor feet and ankles are KILLING me!  They are swollen and miserable.  Oh poor me!  Bawwwww!  Denny put the attractive compression socks on me earlier today, so I LOOK gorgeous too!  He advised me to keep my feet up all day. This is not as easy as it sounds. But they HAVE to be better by tomorrow evening; it's our Ward Christmas Party and we are setting a table for eight. Every other time we have had an adult party like this, Denny and I have hauled our Christmas Spode china down to the building, and then home again to scrape and wash. YUCK!!!  This year, we decided to go with PAPER PLATES! We found some cute ones with matching napkins and stuff. My friend Cyndy Jones is using paper plates too. We hope we're not the only tacky ones at the party! Denny and I are going to use small, wrapped gifts as a simple centerpiece. And we have a medium-sized Hershey's kiss that is decorated like a Santa Hat!  Each guest will receive one. Plus, we have a bunch of regular kisses to spread around the centerpiece. I think it will look really cute!  ;-] But my feet and ankles HAVE to feel better, or I will have a really hard time.

. . . . AAAAAARGH!

OH! Last night as Denny and I left the Temple after our shift, we found a cute bag tied with a very fancy bow on the hood of our car. The tag read, "While you were serving Him, we were serving you!" And the bag was full of homemade candy and cookies. So sweet!  We wonder if the gift came from a YW group or maybe some Young Adults. And the goodies are delicious!

Tomorrow Rory is coming over for a few hours!  YAY!  She won't be able to stay as long as usual, because we have to get ready for the Ward party. But at least we get to have her for a while! Love to kiss those poochy baby cheeks!!!!!

Farewell, friends!  Are you all ready for Christmas??????  "Deck the Halls", "Joy to the World", "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", etc.,  etc. and etc.!!!!!!

Love to all, Sue ;-]