104 Years Ago Today

 September 10th 1920 - My mother, Bessie Jane Boyle was born.  At her funeral her minister expressed it this way, 'She bounced into the world.'  He went on to say, "her years spanned such incredible eras in our nation's history, most that radically affected her culture here where she was born and reared and later where she came back home to live.  Somewhere along the way she resolved to live out her changing times with energy and optimism. Maybe it was born of her years as a navy wife, living in Boston or Brooklyn or Providence, Rhode Island or her time living in Sicily.  Or maybe it was something just born in her to engage her life actively one day at a time.  However she came to that way of living, it served her well throughout all her days.  Moreover, it stands as a model for our own way of doing whatever it is that gives us fulfillment in life."

I know she loved being a mother.  Moma and Daddy were married almost five years before I was born and they were thrilled to be parents.  She was 33 when I was born but it was 25 years later when I think she found her greatest joy. That's when Mary was born and she became a Grandma for the first time. 

Nothing gave her more fulfillment than these 4 children! 

Holding Mary for the 1st time

And here she is in 1980 holding newborn Matt.

And when we added Jonathan in 1984

Then in 1987 with all four of her darling grandchildren.

For her there was never a more true statement than

"Happiness is being a Grandparent"

Mother's Day

 One of the nice things about going through our thousands of slides is that I have a lot of new photos.  For Mother's Day, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite 'mothers' shots!

Can you tell this is from the 1980's? Frizzy hair!  Shoulder pads! The sweaters!  Even my earrings just scream 80's! 

Here is my mother the first time she held Mary.  Those two had a special bond that continued for all of my mother's life.  First grandchild and only granddaughter!

And here she is in 1987 with all four of her grandchildren.

Each one gave her so much happiness.

Of all the 1000s of slides I have scanned, this is one of my favorites!

Grandma Lewis reading to 1 year old Johnny.

My first time meeting Isabella.

Happiness is definitely being a grandmother!

And in love again!

Meeting Jackson for the first time.

The quote that our Relief Society shared with us today was

"You are something divine, more beautiful and glorious than you could possibly imagine." - Dieter F Uchtdorf

I think one could change the 'you are' to 'motherhood is' something divine, more beautiful and glorious than you could possibly imagine!

 

 

Random Fun in West Virginia

 Just a few random shots of fun in West Virginia!

Jackson is a good helper in the grocery store.

Parade time!

As I have said before Jackson has quite the imagination. Here's a fun example. During this parade various participants would get out of line and 'shake their booty'.  I had to make a sign that said, "NO BOOTY SHAKING".  After that when someone would do a little booty dance, Chase, the Paw Patrol Policeman, would arrest them and put them in jail.  This got even crazier when I introduced Jackson to the 1976 KC and the Sunshine Band hit - Shake Your Booty.  After I played that song, the number of animals breaking the law by shaking their booty skyrocketed!

Jackson loves construction vehicles so Good Night Construction Site became a favorite book.

Especially when read on the top bunk!

Jackson is usually not a fan of posing for photos but occasionally you can get him to pose....when HE wants to!

This is in Berkley Springs, West Virginia.  And yes George Washington did bath here. In fact he described the experience this way. 

"We found of both sexes about 250 people at this place, full of all manner of diseases and complaints; some of which are benefited, while others find no relief from the waters two of three doctors are here, but whether attending as physicians or to drink the water I know not. It is thought the springs will soon begin to lose their virtues, and the weather gets too cold for people not well provided to remain here. They are situated very badly on the east side of a steep mountain, and enclosed by hills on all sides, so that the afternoon's sun is hid by 4 o'clock and the fog hangs over us till 9 or 10, like ghosts with occasional great damps and the mornings and the evenings to be cool. 

However, I think my fevers are a good deal abated, though my pains grow rather worse, and my sleep equally disturbed; what effect the waters may have upon me I cannot say at present, as I expect nothing from the air this certainly must be unhealthy. I propose to stay here a fortnight and longer if benefited"

Washington's letter to Reverend Charles Green - August 26, 1761

Mark bought a couple of gallon jugs and we filled them with water from Berkley Springs.  And it tastes great!

On a cold day in April, nothing beats watching cartoons by the fireplace.

Mary and Mark have 4 chickens. One of them is 13 year old Flighty!  She hasn't laid eggs in years but remains the boss lady of the coop. Yes, there really is a 'pecking order'. Can you figure out which one is the geriatric hen? I read on line that well cared for and protected hens can live for as long as 12 years.  Flighty must be very protected and well cared for.

Slimy Day!

 Slimy day sounds like something negative doesn't it?  Actually it was a perfect day since we spent it with Isabella.  George and I took her to the "Slime" exhibit at the Idaho Discovery Center.

McDonalds for lunch - anyone who knows me understands that going to McDonald's illustrates just how much I love this little girl.  I never ever pick McDonalds but they do have the best French fries around.

Next playing at the park.  The cold didn't bother her.  I don't think I've ever played at a park when there was still a patch of icy snow on the ground.

Isabella was all smiles!

Finally the SLIME!

It's gooey, messy science based fun with lots of interactive exhibits.

Plus plenty of SLIME to touch and play with.

I admit it is quite mesmerizing! 

Interestingly it didn't stick to my hands at all, while other people were really having to peel it off.  Don't know the scientific reason for that!

A favorite of everyone was the giant slime bubble.

She is surrounded by slime!

The discovery center had a couple of new activities that I hope will be permanent. 

A really fun building center where Isabella, under Grandpa's watchful eye, built a satellite by following a pictorial example.

She also really got into making paper airplanes and then using the launching machine to make them fly.

As is our tradition, we ended the day with doughnuts.

A perfect ending to a perfect Grandpa, Grandma, Isabella date!

 

The Spirit of Boise

I often tell people how wonderful it was to live in Portland because it is such a great city.  Last week when Mary and Jackson were here, I was reminded that Boise is pretty great as well!

Jackson loved our visit to the Discovery Center of Idaho. It's small but full of fun things to do.  Our dinosaur crazy boy particularly loved the T-Rex exhibit.

His favorite in the 'hands-on' area was the train set.  No surprise there!

Next we did paddle boats on the Julia Davis Park Lagoon and feed the ducks way too much popcorn!

Jackson liked it much more than his facial expression shows!

I felt guilty about the popcorn when I learned that this duck's deformity is caused by a nutritional deficiency in vitamins and minerals combined with a high level of carbohydrates and sugars - like in the bread people feed them.  He will never be able to fly. Hopefully popcorn wasn't as bad.

Friday evening we joined John, Monica and Isabella at the Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic to see the "Night Glow".  Just us and 100,000 of our closest friends! It was spectacular!

The finale was a combination drone and balloon show that highlighted Idaho.

We loved it!

Of course my favorite part was watching these cute cousins playing together.

I love being a Grandma!  And I'm so happy that Mary and Jackson came to visit!!!

Games

When I came home from my committee meeting on Sunday night, I was so happy to see this.

I love that Johnny and Monica play games with Isabella and that Grandpa and I get to join in on the fun.  She loves them all - from Go Fish to Crazy Eights to Old Maid.  They have several versions of Uno that are favorites.  Last Sunday we played Uno Dare. Instead of being forced to draw 4 when that card is played, you can opt to do some sort of dare.  I had to act like a dog until my turn came around again. Johnny had to impersonate his favorite singer (Elvis, in case you wondered)!!  George decided he'd prefer to take 4 cards.  No surprise there...and he still won!

Isabella is very competitive but she is learning how to win or lose with grace most of the time.  I read these reasons for playing games as a family and I have to agree.

• It increases resilience. ... 
• It helps build self-confidence. ... 
• It promotes essential skills. ... 
• It can encourage academic development. ... 
• It offers lasting memories.

Grandparents are lucky when they get to be part of those memories.

 

 

Sunday Walks

 

Johnny, Monica and Isabella come to our house almost every Sunday night for dinner.  After we eat, we always go for a walk around our neighborhood.  We've been doing this just about every Sunday night for the last 2 1/2 years that we've been back in Eagle, weather and pandemic permitting!

Our route rarely varies from week to week.  We count the baby ducks and goslings in the spring and summer.  And Monica and I fret when we see tiny ducklings who have somehow been lost from their mommy.  Good husband Jonathan has been known to try and reunite little families to keep his wife and mother happy.

At the top of one hill, where the path spilts into two, Isabella and I give each other high 5s and race down opposite sides.  When we reach the bottom, we always give each other a high 10....and she always wins.

There is a big rock the juts out into one of the ponds.  Isabella likes to pose on the rock so that we can take her picture.  Now that she is older, she likes to jump across the water to the grass on the opposite side.  For this she hold her Daddy's hand.

She likes to hold my hand to run down a grassy hill and again, she is always the winner.   Winning is very important to this little girl!

At the next pond, she and I have a tradition of making 'soup' in the water.  I can't remember how this started but with sticks in hand, we add leaves and twigs that are our rice or chicken or carrots or salt.  Then we stir the soup.   

For part of the walk we pretend to go on a 'bear hunt' and always start by saying, "We're going on a bear hunt. We're going to catch a big one. It's a beautiful day.  We're not scared." Then we swim across rivers and squish in thick oozy mud before going through long, wavy grass, often battling strong winds,  before finding our way into a dark cave and finally being chased by a bear all the way home!  

She will be 6 this year and go to kindergarten so I wonder how long this imaginary soup making and bear hunting will continue.  I'll be sad when it stops but I hope we are making good memories that will stay with her forever.  I know they will stay with me.

Five of the Best Years Ever

Five years ago today, John, Monica and 2 month old Isabella took the long flight from Buenos Aires to Boise to make their home in the US.  

Because they had a lay-over of several hours in Salt Lake, I flew to Salt Lake and surprised them.  My flight got in a short time before theirs.  After figuring out what gate they would be using, I walked that way and ran into them on the concourse.  Funny that Monica recognized me first!  Tammy picked us up and took us to downtown Salt Lake.

I will never forget holding that sweet little Isabella for the first time.  Oh what joy and what instant love!

These last 5 years have shown me the truth of the statement, "If I had known how much fun grandchildren were, I would have had them first."

4th of July

I love the 4th of July!  It seems like such a relaxed and stress free holiday.  We had a super duper good one this year, this crazy COVID 19 year!  This photo made me laugh and seemed appropriate for 2020!!

At the Lewis home we started the evening off with barbecued chicken sandwiches and grilled veggies, cole slaw and potato salad.  Matt grilled the veggies and John topped off the corndogs for the kids with a short time on the grill.

After dinner, we had fun with horseshoes and bubbles!

Including some mega bubbles.... This combination of water and LOTS of Dawn worked pretty well but now we are on a quest to fine the perfect mega bubble recipe!

A 4th of July tradition for us is a hike up to a great viewing point to see the whole valley where normally we watch the community fireworks shows..  This year there were none but the fireworks stands were close to sold out so we did get to see quite a few off in the distance.  I love this photo I found of the valley, although I am sure it is done with time lapse photography.

Marilyn-Johnny-Monica-Isabella-Elsie-Matt-Anna

photo by George

photo by professional photographer Anna

That evening light is magical.  I can see why it is called the Golden Hour by photographers.

 These two little girls - 4 year old Isabella and 7 year old Elsie- are enjoying getting to know each other.

The moon was spectacular on our way back! The photo doesn't do it justice.

Back at home we feasted on strawberry shortcake featuring Anna's homemade shortbread!  It was fabulous!

Of course, the finale of the evening was fireworks!

Even with all her flaws, I love my country and I'm proud to be an American!  And I'm happy to celebrate our country's birthday!