Thanksgiving

We did a lot of traveling during the last part of November through December. We spent Thanksgiving eating three different dinners; one in St. George, one in Bountiful and the last in Alpine. You would think we may have gotten sick of turkey, potatoes and stuffing but we didn't. It was all so, so yummy.

After dinner in St. George most of us went to Squeeze Rock and Dixie Rock. This is the first time I have taken the boys. They both were so excited to explore and climb around.

 I love this view of the valley.

While up north I had the wonderful opportunity to visit my grandmother. She had a stroke early Thanksgiving morning and after she was finally settled into a room at LDS hospital, I went up to see her. It was hard knowing I could talk to her but she wasn't able to talk back. She tried so hard but nothing really came out. It was wonderful just to sit with her and hold her hand. Just before leaving her I kissed her and told her I loved her. She tried to talk back and was able to get a few words out. She said something about two men, later it was four, and pointing to the corner of the room. I asked her, "Is it Grampa? Do you want to go with him?" Instantly she leaned forward to stand up and get out of bed. I told her she needed to wait and to rest and that she could go with them soon. It was a beautiful way for me to know she was ready to go. (She went home from the hospital the day we headed back home and passed 3 days later.)  After getting home I talked with by boys about Gramma Dee being sick and that she would probably die soon and then a week later telling them that she had passed. I had so many thoughts run through my mind when I got the news but the thing that really struck me was knowing how hard this must be on my mother. I put myself in her shoes and thought about what it would be like to have her gone and my heart just broke. I rely so much on my mom and I hate that she is not near me where I can visit with her anytime I want. I shared these feelings with my boys and my sweet Carter who has been working on saying his prayers by himself even now still asks Heavenly Father each time he prays to "bless Grammy Bo that she will be safe without her mommy."

I was also able to visit my Gramma Jackie. My kids call her Gramma Great and she truly is great! I just love being near her. She is so calming and has a way of making me feel better than I really am. 

These little girls were really fun to watch as they interacted together during our visit. They are totally "frenimies!" They love to hug and kiss each other and are happy to see each other but once the hello's are said the sizing up begins. They fight over the toys and who gets to sit in Grammy's lap. If one has something the other will automatically want it, even if it's something less than desired. I think this picture totally sums up their relationship...although, I must say, Riley is more of the bully than Navy.