Sleepover at Grandma's

Austin and Melissa wanted to spend the weekend in Glenwood Springs for Austin's birthday. Several months ago they asked if I could watch the kids, and of course I said, "YES!" Sleepover at Grandma's!!

They brought the kids over Friday mid morning. The weather is rather chilly today and tomorrow calls for a rain/snow mix! Ugh! Where is spring? We managed to play outside for a bit before it got too windy. Claire loves to jump on the trampoline, Camille doesn't.

I just love this picture! Nothing better than a sister! They were sliding like a train, Claire would hang onto Millie and follow right behind. Most times they landed in heap at the bottom laughing and laughing.

These girls love the chickens! They like to feed them grass and weeds. There isn't much growing yet, but trust them to find a few long green strands to feed the chickens, who absolutely loved it. Sometimes the girls would stick it up a little too high and the chickens would jump up to get it. It was quite entertaining to watch.

Aunt Megan came over in the afternoon with a bag full of fun things. First she had some twisty balloons and a pump. It also came with instructions on how to make dogs, lions, monkeys, and other animals.

Claire could pump the balloons up and she was so excited! She needed help to tie them or sometimes she would just let them go and they would fly around the room as the air deflated.

Millie shows off her sword and one of her many animals.

Megan was quite the balloon lady. She also made crowns and hats of all kinds.

The second item in Megan's fun bag was a tea set, It was miniature sized, and the girls loved it! They had M&M's, goldfish, and water. We had several tea parties over the weekend. The space heater made a perfect table.

Feather boas, tiaras, and glow sticks! The girls dressed up and danced to music.

Maddie can sit up by herself now! She is 6 months old and growing up fast.

Claire made a play doh flag. You can't tell in the picture, but there is a star in the middle that she drew with a toothpick. Claire is quite creative and artistic.

The kids like to play with toys when they use play doh. They like to bury the pet shop animals and make footprints from the animals. Camille was decorating the bus with blue play doh.

Maddie eats baby food twice a day now. Here she is ready for dinner. She is good eater and gobbles it right up. She is very interested in food and watches people like a hawk when they move their spoon up and down or take a drink of water.

These two love cereal for breakfast! I would make them pancakes, but they just beg for cereal. Claire likes Life and Froot Loops, Millie loves Cocoa Puffs.

Isn't she just the cutest! I love babies!

Getting ready for bed with Grandpa.

On Saturday Landon, Megan, and I took the kids to the pool.

Lincoln loved the water! Landon and Megan took turns taking him on the little slide. He loved it and wanted to go again and again.

Dagny was a little hesitant and I was surprised. A couple of weeks ago Ryan forgot his towel, so I took him one and Dagny went with me. She was so excited to see the pool and watch Ryan swim for a few minutes. She has been talking about going swimming ever since. She stayed pretty close to Landon and Megan.

Claire remembered the pool and the slide from last summer. This is where she spent most of her time and she loved every minute.

This is Maddie's first time swimming and she loved the water! Good thing, since she was born into a family of fish.

Fun times at the pool! Claire and Millie wanted Maddie to have a fun time. They sat by her and played with her for a few minutes.

Claire wanted to take some pictures with my camera. She is quite the photographer!

I wanted to take some new pictures to hang on the wall. I can't decide if I like this smile, it's so sweet,

or this one with no teeth! Kids are so adorable when they are missing their two front teeth!

Millie always has such a mischievous smile! Her hair is getting so long.

After church picture with these 3 beautiful girls!

We finally had some nice spring weather, so we went on a walk to the resting rock after church. Claire pushed the stroller the whole time. She is such a great big sister.

Queens of the Hill!

What a fun weekend with my adorable grandkids! Being a Grandma is the best!!

Ryan is Ordained a Priest

Ryan was ordained a priest today! It's so humbling and rewarding as a parent to see your sons advance in the priesthood. Ryan actually got to use his new priesthood today--he helped take the sacrament to Sister Hollberg.

I'm thankful for a worthy husband who can ordain his sons. I'm thankful to have the priesthood in our home. It blesses our lives in so many ways.

In one of her emails, Britta told how there aren't very many priesthood holders in the branch she is serving in and the Bishop often helps administer the sacrament. I'm thankful for the abundance of priesthood in this area. If Delwyn is out of town, there are men who are close by if we need a priesthod blessing. 

I love Heavenly Father's plan that young men receive the priesthood at age 12 and gradually receive more responsibilities and opportunities to use that priesthood. I sure love this boy and I'm so happy today!

Wade and Ryan's Birthday

This tall, handsome guy is now 16 years old!

Grandma Collins always remembers the kids on their birthdays. 

Ryan has been wanting some joggers, and here they are! Two pairs!

Britta trained Dagny to make funny faces for the camera. Looks like she hasn't forgotten!

Britta also taught her to copy whatever face Britta was making, so she was copying Ryan. Britta and Ryan better be good examples!

Dagny was interested in the presents.

New clothes!

A few years ago Landon got interested in shaving the old fashioned way with a safety razor and Landon even uses a straight razor! Yikes! He got all his brothers using it too, and it looks like Ryan will be joining the crew.

More shaving supplies.

This brush is really soft! Ryan brushed my cheek and it didn't even feel like a brush, it was so silky.

He tried on some of his new clothes and of course I wanted to take a picture. Ryan wasn't too thrilled, but he let me. He looks so good! Just needs a smile.

Happy Birthday Ryan! We had chicken alfredo on Ryan's birthday and gave him his presents. 

Ryan didn't want a birthday cake on his birthday because he had a swim meet the next day and he doesn't like to eat sweets that close to a meet. At our family dinner on Sunday, we were planning to celebrate Wade's birthday and he said he would bring the cake for him and Ryan. Wow! What a massive, impressive pirate ship of a cake! The pictures don't do it justice. It's hard to see, but the sides come up and there is a deck down inside. The plank is a kit kat bar. Wade has always loved to cook and bake and he is pretty creative too, so this is the end result. I wondered if he had a pattern or some instructions? No, he just made it up! We might have a future birthday cake maker in the family!

I had to take a lot of pictures of this cake because it was so grand!

Wade gave Ryan 5 bottles of Torani flavored syrup to make Italian sodas or to mix with lemonade or Sprite. I didn't get a picture, but Ryan was quite excited. We love that stuff! Wade and Kimberlea always have the best ideas for gifts!

The candles were spread out, and there are a lot to light, so we doubled the lighting efforts. Hurry before the candles drip too much!

We are giving Wade a miter saw, but it won't be here until Tuesday.

I love these birthday boys!

Ryan Becomes a Priest

Ryan was ordained a priest today. I have a testimony of the priesthood, it has blessed my life many times and I am grateful that we have that power here on earth.

Ryan got to use his priesthood right away.  He went with Jayden Jarvis to give the sacrament to Sister Hollberg. She is getting pretty frail and comes to church when she can. She is so appreciative of the priests who come by when she can't make it.

In Britta's email to me this week, she said she is in a small branch with only about 30 members. They don't have very many priesthood holders and the Bishop often has to help with the sacrament. That made me thankful for the large number of priesthood holders in our ward.

With the recent announcement that priests can now do baptizing in the temple, Ryan is really looking forward to that. How exciting that he can now do the baptizing, as well as get baptized for others. Delwyn had a good thought about how Ryan can help Blake do missionary work. Blake can teach the gospel and others can accept it, but it  stops there. We have to perform the baptism here on earth. It's exciting to think that Ryan could be baptized for people that Blake taught.

I am thankful to have worthy priesthood holders in my home.