Princess Festival 2012

 Mark and I were able to take Ruby and Olivia to the Princess Festival while they were here.

Mark and Christian took Ruby last year, but this was the first time Olivia and I attended.

The Festival is held in the children's garden at Thanksgiving Point. There are princess all around and each princess has a story that is acted out with lessons about service and kindness for the audience to learn about. Last year Ruby was a bit traumatized by the step sisters in the Cinderella play and did not want to go to any of the little plays so we wandered around a little bit. First we looked for the Princess and the frog (who was really good at math problems). We found the princess but no frog...

We found Rapunzel:

 

   and then something the girls got excited - a horse and carriage

 

Unfortunately it turned out that a carriage ride was $8.00 per person...  
Ouch! So we just pet the horse instead which the girls were quite happy with. Ruby was not afraid at all and Olivia kept a close eye on the horse. He was a very gentle and mellow, very large horse!

The playground caught Ruby's eye as she is an expert at climbing.

 The day was getting warm so we had a snack in the shade and a big drink of water before drawing chalk pictures with Peter Pan and Wendy

 It took a bit of coaxing but when we showed the girls their pictures on Grandpa's iphone they really liked putting their faces in different pictures.

 

 Near this bear statue is a cave. It was nice and cool and there were no groups there at the moment. There was a princess and a few friends in the cave and we talked with them and built up a pretend wall with cardboard blocks and knocked it down again. Both girls were brave and crawled through the tunnel in the cave which they thought was quite fun. We stayed in the cave when a group came in and watched the little play. After that we joined a big group activity on a grassy hill. We had some of our picnic lunch, a few otter pops did the hokey pokey, turned our selves around and then did the chicken dance. I thought we had a video but I can't find it. Anyway, it was getting hot and some of us were getting a bit tired. We decided that an ice cream cone on the way home would be a good idea. We took a few pictures on the carriages they had at the exit,

 
and drove off in search of ice cream. At last we found Arctic circle and got some cones. This may have been the most fun thing we did. Olivia was hilarious, She would take a bite from the top and then take one from the bottom. We kept waiting for the ice cream to drip from the bottom but she was able to eat it fast enough to avoid drips. Ruby also loved her cone and both girls wanted a second one. It was so fun to see them watch each other and giggle and interact. A few days after Ruby went home, Olivia and I were driving in the car. Olivia asked to go see Ruby. I explained that Ruby was at her house and it would take us all day driving in the car to get there. She thought a minute and said, OK. I hope these girls always remain friends and remember that they really are princesses.

Livi lou

Since Olivia moved with her parents to Illinois when she was just a few months old, our opportunities to interact in person are somewhat limited. We were thrilled to be able to have her here for just over three weeks. This series of pictures, taken on the fourth of July, provides insight into Olivia's personality. 

To say we are not big fourth of July party animals is an understatement, however I do enjoy our neighborhood "Cul-de-sac of fire" where neighbors come together and share purchased fireworks. We could hear the sounds of fireworks from around the neighborhood and Olivia, unsettled by the noise, didn't really want to go out to see them. Jennifer and I were able to persuade her to go out in the street with us during a lull in explosions. We looked down the street and could see neighbors a ways off setting off some quieter ones that were just on the ground. We oohed and ahhhed and when Livi thought they were cool we decided to just go on a little walk and see if we could see some more. We ended up in the cul-de-sac (surprise, surprise) and this is kind of how things transpired from there:

She was kind of the same way on the trampoline. She and Ruby tried to bounce together but the unpredictability unnerved Livi and she preferred watching from the ground rolled in the Lighting McQueen blanket. But given the opportunity to bounce by herself and we have:

 
She was not this way with more familiar things, she LOVED the carousel,  getting ice cream cones, the splash pad - when we left the splash pad she asked if she could swim in one of the fountains (the little swimming pool)... umm probably not.

Olivia also discovered Are You My Mother as well as Robert the Rose Horse,

In fact at random times she would get a big grin on her face and say, "Ker choooooooooooooo"

to which we would reply, "up went Livi, up went Grandpa, up went the puzzle and Auntie Jenn fell down flat! (or a hundred different variations). 

She also proved to be her fathers daughter as we celebrated her mom's birthday a little early.

See the direction of the smoke and which ones went out first?

Olivia is a great helper in lots of ways!

Oliva is a thoughtful, careful child when it comes to things she is not familiar with. Give her a little bit of time and when she understands the situation and knows more what to expect she will, on her own, jump in full throttle. She likes to be in control of herself in new situations and flourishes when you allow her that opportunity - and when you are willing to do that... this little girl is pure joy. 

That's probably one reason she plays so well on her own. 

PS Aaron, a job within a one day drive when you graduate would be sooo nice!

Livi Lou, I love you!

One day Aaron asked her, "Livi, are you being facetious?" to which she smiled and replied,

"Yes, faleetious"

Last segment - "The princess festival" - coming soon!

Then maybe we'll get to our trip to Yellowstone and our upstairs remodel.

Four

 Four years ago today this  little girl (all 5 lbs 1oz of her) made my daughter a mom and me a grandma.

Hard to believe she is four today. 

A little more than a year later this little one added to my joy. She will be three in May. 

Last year we welcomed our first grandson... who has grown like a weed. 

You can't help but smile when you see him.

In just four short weeks grand baby number four is due. Our third granddaughter.

I can't wait to meet her, to snuggle her and rest my cheek on her sweet newborn skin.

I have learned that I can hold and feel more joy than I ever thought possible.

A simple text full of incoherent letters makes me smile.

Short videos of these children watched over and over and over make me laugh over and over and over.

I have felt my heart long to hold and play with these little ones more than I can say.

I was asked a few weeks ago if I could have any spell or magical ability

from Harry Potter what would it be? 

This question was not to be taken lightly... 

even if it meant revisiting all the books/videos again.

I have my answer... the ability to disapparate.

The only thing that came even close was to have a time turner.

So that I could relive the time I have with them over and over.

Thanks to my kids for making me a grandma.

These children are such a blessing!

A little slice of Heaven

Aaron called me about two weeks ago with a proposition.

He was coming out to attend a conference sponsored by BYU and was thinking about bringing Olivia.

Because she's only 18 months she could fly for free. There was one catch... Aaron would be in meetings Thursday afternoon, much of Friday and half day Saturday... which meant I would need to watch Livi... ummm where is the catch?

Celisa was kind enough to let Olivia come with Aaron

(I did feel bad that Celisa was home alone but hopefully she got a good break) 

One benefit of having grandchildren living a good distance away (I'm trying to be optimistic) is that when they do come and visit I don't feel the least bit guilty dropping everything to play with them 24/7. I think I only cooked one meal and we just snacked on that the whole time. 

I must admit that while we had fun playing and reading and dancing, Livi's very favorite activity was playing the piano - and play it we did, literally a few hours each day. Aaron got her up one morning and she asked to go downstairs. Aaron asked her if she knew who was downstairs (referring to Grandma) and she thought about it and said "Piano!"

Mark and I lay in bed at night filled with gratitude for our wonderful children, their spouses and our grand children. Each one has unique talents and gifts and we are in awe of them as we watch them live their lives... and these granddaughters are such a gift. Thinking about them and the wonderful way they are being raised fills me with so much joy. I'm so excited to meet our new little grandson in January (more positive thinking and energy here). 

LIFE IS SO GOOD!

Home again, home again, jigity jig

(this is not a current picture - the colors have not changed and I have no fall decor up yet)

I arrived home Monday just after two pm.
My trip to Illinois was good.

We left last Wednesday morning, early, about the same time Christian left to take Amy to the airport. Olivia was an angel for two long days in the car. No one fell asleep while driving. Getting out of the car in Omaha I was reminded that I live in a very dry climate.

We arrived on Thursday in time to get the key to the apartment and were greeted by a crew to unload the moving van. Beds and the crib were put together and clothed in clean welcoming sheets.

The empty truck was returned Friday morning and by Friday evening most of the boxes were emptied also and hauled away or broken down and put outside to be stored.

By Saturday evening the fridge was full, closets and bookshelves organized and all that remained were the pictures. Aaron and Celisa went out to celebrate their 2nd anniversary while I got some alone time with Olivia. When they returned we stayed up till midnight hanging pictures and figuring out where to put the last of everything.

Sunday was relaxing. Church, games, a walk in the rain, fireflies and Livi laughed for the first time. The ward has lots of PhD students with their families adding dimension to a variety of people in different life stages. It's comforting for me to meet those who will be loving and caring for my family.

I left early Monday morning - once again struggling with my emotions but once again feeling comforted - knowing they are where they are supposed to be and all will be well. When the plane landed I got a text from Celisa. Olivia rolled over for the first time. Life moves forward and I feel peace and joy in my life.

It feels good to be home.

Back on Track I

For a moment I debated
whether I should post pictures of graduation first since that is over a week overdue or Olivia

obviously not out of my post graduation haze quite yet!
So without further adue, meet

Olivia Diane Zimbelman:

Olivia had a short precautionary visit to the ICU,
hence the marks on her forehead and extra wires.

Amazingly long toes that she curls and uncurls

Celisa finally got to hold her. What a beautiful mother and daughter.


She stretched out her legs and just held them there for the longest time.
Not much of a startle reflex in this little one.
She was loving the extra room, I think Celisa is too.

Nothing is quite as sweet as being a Grandma

Except being a mom.

Credit for all these pictures goes to Christian.
He does such a good job.
If you want to see more go here and leave him an awesome comment.

What we've been up to

Just a few photos that I stole shamelessly from
Amy's and Christian's blogs
with the exception of the pictures of Celisa and Olivia,
(I took those for her and Aaron and never gave them to her)

So... this is what we've been up to: Ginger bread houses.

Me and Christian

Mark and Jenn

Jordan and Amy's - check out the cool bridge

Aaron and Celisa (and Olivia)
Enjoying this sweet angel

Short visit with my parents.
Watching Olivia grow!

No pictures of studying, the funeral, decorating for Christmas, aerobics, going to class, doing laundry or the like
although these have also kept me busy
you'll just have to use your imagination...
(be nice in you imaginings)

That is all.