Grandchild # 21- 8-7-08

GREETINGS FROM COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO

We are a bit sleep deprived (2 1/2 hours sleep last night) but are very happy and grateful that things went so well yesterday and last night and Milo Hansen Hickman joined our family at 1:23 this morning - Thursday, the 7th day of August, 2008

The words of Shanda's midwife, "You are my hero" best describes how things went. She had hoped it would be shorter but labor was pretty much like Talia's birth.

We arrived Monday evening to prepare for the birth of this baby. While we waited, Garth and I refinished an old dresser that Shanda and Preston have for Talia to use.









As we waited for things to develop, Talia got bored and took a little rest.











Jan, Shanda's midwife, came around 8:00 p.m. and decided she needed to stay. We still had a few hours to wait for the blessed event so Shanda opted to play a game (while she was in labor). Here, Garth, Shanda, Jan - the midwife- and Preston are playing Sequence







Talia was put to bed at 8:00 p.m. but was awake by 10:00. Garth tried taking her for a ride but that didn't help. She knew something was going on and insisted on being present. Milo was just 5 or 10 minutes old when this picture was taken.

















An hour or so after his birth and after the cord was cut and Shanda was being sewn up, I got to hold my grandson for the first time.

I'm sure there will be lots more pictures to follow.

Radiant in Red

Not only does Talia look adorable in this new red dress that her mother, Shanda, made for her, but I am so pleased that my sweet daughter is taking the time to learn to sew and doing such a good job.

Papa, Talia and The Hat

What fun it has been to have Talia with us since June 1st. She loves to be doing things and loves her Papa. For some reason his work hat seems to intrigue her. I think you can follow the action here.


1. Wow! this is a neat hat! Let me see it.










2. Is this the way I do it?

















3. Ummm. I don't think it quite fits.
















4. Look Papa, I'm wearing your hat!

The Blessing of Grandchildren

People ask us what we have been up to
lately not that we don't have to go to LaVerkin every 3rd week. As you can see, we have been having fun tending and being with some of our younger grandchildren.


Earlier I had a picture of Mitchell exploring my sewing area. Talia is finding all of the drawers and little things fascinating. It is interesting to note the difference in boys and girls. Talia seemed to open and close things where Mitchell seemed bent on emptying everything and throwing it around.

Here Mitchell is helping me fix breakfast. Notice that his favorite bear he close by.






















When we were tending Kasen & Addie, Kasen wasn't feeling well but found comfort with his grandfather.











Some times a grandmother needs more arms.
Mitchell had pretty much claimed my attention but Talia also wanted to be included.









Talia loves water in any form so Garth is showing Talia the way the water comes out of our "kids'" sprinkler.

Birthdays! Birthdays! and More Birthdays!

After I posted this blog, we had Trina over to our house the Sunday before her birthday and had a special meal in her honor. I thought it would be fun to show her boys the evolution of their mom so this adorned the dining room wall.





On Tuesday evening, Trina's birthday, we went to their place and tended the boys while she and Guy went out for dinner. We also took her a chocolate cake. (In case you don't remember - chocolate cakes make Trina very happy).



Since I wasn't here for my birthday, it was decided we would get together Sunday, May 25th for a dinner in honor of all of the birthday during May and June. We met at Deren and Liz's place in Provo for a lovely meal provided by all then enjoyed a cherry chocolate cake provided by Marenda. You can see the birthday cake honors Mellissa - May 6th, my birthday - May 23rd, Marenda - May 26th and Trina - June 3rd.



We each had a candle to blow out (Caleb and Mitchell really wanted to help us). Left to right: Janice Hansen, Marenda H. Brown, Trina H. Harding and Mellissa Rosenhan.

Our Trip to Colorado

We just returned from a wonderful week with Shanda, Preston and Talia in Colorado Springs.
Since we took a desk with us, we then needed to help them find a place for it in their office. This heavy piece of furniture contains their computer and office set-up. We didn't want to disconnect everything so we tried to move it. Well. . . we got it moved a little (with Talia's help) but finally realized we had to take it apart to move it.














This is the final arrangement and it looks like it will work very well.














In addition, we took off the closet doors and I made curtains for the closet and for the 3 windows. Garth framed in the windows and hung the curtain rods.

Half of the closet became Shanda's sewing and craft area. She made her first little baby dress while I was there to answer questions when she wasn't sure how to proceed. (This pattern didn't have a sewing instruction sheet with it). Talia thought she ought to be a part of everything that went on, including the sewing.

































Garth hung the "Very Little Girl" dresses on the wall of Talia's room.





Our big project this time was to help finish off the family room. It had no moldings so Garth spent a couple of days installing the floor, ceiling and window moldings. I went around and filled in the nail holes and all of the corners and areas where the moldings left cracks.

Here Garth is laying the floor molding.
















If you look carefully you will see how much molding there really was in this room. Also, you will see the new light fixtures that Garth and Preston installed.

Shanda and Talia are playing on the couches and poof pillow before we moved them into place.






Here is the finished room! Yeah!


Since my birthday was Friday, the day we returned home, Preston and Shanda fixed chocolate fondue with strawberries, bananas and Vanilla waffers for us the night before - to celebrate the things we had accomplished . . .






. . . . and they fixed me a lovely birthday breakfast. This puffy oven omlette sported a andle for me to blow out. I had special dishes to eat my birthday breakfast on including a goblet for a delicious smoothie.

It's Fun Being a Grandmother

Our recent visit to Colorado gave us some fun time with Talia Hickman. She is a cutie and is always on the go.














We've really enjoyed the opportunity to see and play with Trina's boys. Here I am entertaining Mitchell and Caleb - or is it the other way around?



When Mitchell comes to my house he knows he can get away with a lot he couldn't at home. Here he is emptying all of my button drawers and having a great time. Only a grandchild could get away with that.