Wrapping Up 2011 With Family, Fun, And Tons Of Love!

So another year is over and the new one has just started.  As I look back over 2011 I am once again amazed and humbled by the many blessings in my life.  Jim and I definitely have our trials- mostly health issues- but we are abundantly blessed with the joy and love of our family.  We watch as our children are raising their children - living lives of integrity and decency and love.  Each of them with a partner in life that they adore and that gives them the love and support they deserve.  We watch as Brooke Anne continues to grow- how she is starting to "outgrow" some things and learning to appreciate new things.  Her world is ever expanding- and again, I am so grateful for the people that live and work with her. 

As the year drew to a close, as we celebrated the birth of our Savior, we were blessed again and again to be with and celebrate with much of the family.  

Our "first" celebration was of course, just Jim and I and Brooke Anne- as has been our Christmas every year-especially mine since her birth.  She was happy to be home once again, just hanging out with us.  For the first time she tried to say Scooter instead of Muffin (she has called him "Muff" because he looks so much like our little Muffin we had years ago).  She was not overly interested in opening gifts... she'd open one, then after a while open another. It has been this way with her since she was little. I think Jim was more excited to have her open the necklace and earrings he gave her than she was... although she proudly modeled them later on.  We just love her so much and I can't imagine my life without her. 

Next on our "holiday" agenda- Malaya's baptism.  Jim took a really bad turn with his pain and his back the day before we were to travel to Pocatello and Shelley. The doctor firmly restricted him from traveling, so I went alone as Jim desperately wanted at least one of us to be there for her.  It was very sweet.  We bought her a white dress and when she came out of the dressing room after being baptized I found myself in tears. She looked so sweet and beautiful.  Got to see a lot of that side of the family too- just didn't get enough pictures there... I think I was too busy visiting.   

After the baptism and luncheon at Josh and Tringle's, we had my side of the family holiday get together at Donnie and Katie's house.  Oh my goodness we had so much fun!  The girls loved their tutu skirts and fairy halos.. Mailei got a sequined hat... and the boys each loved their toys... Nash and Haedon especially loved their little flashlights.  I think the big kids liked theirs too.... Jim had picked out all the grown-up kids' gifts this year and it was fun watching them open them.  Donnie, Mike and Brady of course each got a knife and Heather, Katie and Jade got - what else?- jewelry!  We had this activity where we each told what we loved and appreciated about our parents... the kids were all so sweet and the grownups were very thoughtful and funny at the same time.  It was a wonderful moment of sharing that I will treasure always... and I think a new tradition for us each year.  I sometimes am overwhelmed at the depth of love and joy I share with my children.  I am truly, truly so very blessed.  

I took so many pictures it was hard to pick which ones to post. These family shots were really fun... I love the one of the grownups where Donnie is pulling a funny face (he thought we were doing a funny face pose I guess)-  The one with Gramma and the kids pulling faces looks to me like River is saying - What am I supposed to do here?  I think River managed to get in more pictures than anyone... everyone wanted to hold her and her mommy and daddy are never far away from her.   

The day after the party with the kids, Heather and her kids and I headed out to visit with Great Grandparents.  First we went to Grandma Esther's- the kids just love going there.  It was so sweet-Mikey just kept giving her hug after hug- and when we left he said, "I just felt like Grandma needed a lot of hugs today."  He is a sweet boy and very thoughtful of others.  (I hear Grandma Esther has been raving about Mikey's hugs to everyone she talks to!)   Then off to Granny & Grandpa Toomer's (or as Molly says- Granny and Grampa Tuner).    It was so good to see them.  I miss them all the time.  My mom is getting more and more forgetful and it's hard to see, but Daddy takes good care of her.  It is going to be really hard for him when he can't and some of us are afraid that time is coming sooner than he realizes. I don't know if she has ever truly realized just how much he cherishes her.  They were both very happy to see us all!  Grandpa kidded and teased the kids just as he did Heather and her siblings when they were growing up and Granny just kind of loved on everyone.  It was a good visit and I am really thankful that Heather and kids came with me.  It is hard to travel alone so much.  

While we were at Grandpa and Granny "Tuner's"- Molly had us each sit with her little ballerina bear so she could take a picture of us.  That's one of the things I really love about my family- we are not afraid to be silly and goofy and still know how to play.  We love each other deeply and no matter how many years or miles may separate us from each other, we are there in a heartbeat when there is a need.  

Finally - our last Christmas celebration was this past weekend.  Jon and Katrina came here with the kids so we could open gifts with each other.  Again, we had a blast!  These kids are so thoughtful... it has been such an honor to see them grow- especially Sam. He is now 13 and has become quite an awesome young man. Oh he still gets crazy and silly with Gramma, but he is a good, good boy.  I love all these kiddos so so much.  Trying to get pictures with everyone smiling or looking in the same direction was quite a conundrum!  Jacob cracked me up so much with his Paper Jamz guitar... he was born to rock that kid!  Tabitha was all princess in her tutu and had fun playing with some of Gramma's baby dolls...she was very gentle with them.  Aaron and Ben had tons of fun with their new toys too!  It was a great time for all of us and it really made Jim's holidays complete.  He was just beaming with love and happiness to have his kids come here to see him.  

All in all this was a fabulous holiday season for us! Jon and Katrina gave me a beautiful Children's Songbook that I have been longing for... made me cry of course.  Besides all these family times and blessings,  I got to sing the Messiah with Boise Master Chorale and Orchestra, participate in our ward Christmas program for Sacrament meeting on Christmas Day.... and it all means that much more since we know the purpose of this glorious time of year - to celebrate the birth of our Savior- to be reminded again of the gift of His life and all that it made possible for each of us.  

So- goodbye 2011 and welcome 2012!  Can't wait to see and experience all that the new year has in store for me and mine.   Whatever comes our way, we will all be in it together in love and joy and the knowledge that we have a loving Heavenly Father watching over each and every one of us.  

Posted by a humble, grateful Gramma. 

November 2011 - Here and Gone So Fast! Sheesh!

So November was an exciting, busy month this year.  We started it out with Carter's baptism on the 5th.  There is no joy like watching your grandchildren grow and blossom... watching them learn and display the integrity and character that will carry them into adulthood.   

After Carter was baptized we all went and watched him play basketball, then back to share lunch and celebrate this awesome little man.  He is so full of zest for life!  He has such a funny personality and yet has depth beyond his years.  He is also a little artist- always drawing.  It was a wonderful weekend for this gramma! 

During that trip to SE Idaho, I got to see other grandkids... Heather's family; Jonathon's; Justin's, and Brady's.  I'm trying to make my trips so that I take turns seeing the kids - I haven't done very good at that in the past and I hate to think I may have hurt any feelings.... so look out kids when Gramma comes "whirling" through!

On the 18th & 20th the Boise Philharmonic Choir and Boise Baroque Orchestra put on a Mozart/Back concert.  It was some of the hardest music I've ever sung, yet some of the most beautiful too!  It was exhausting, yet totally filled my soul.  I love classical music so much... the beauty of it is so inspired and just fills the heart and soul.  

Then for Thanksgiving, Donnie & Katie came here for the weekend and Brooke was here for a few days.  We had lots of fun and got to celebrate Blake's birthday a little early.   We went to Red Robin (his choice) to eat.  While we were sitting he noticed some of the RR staff singing to another birthday patron and he looked at us all and said  "oh no- don't you do it!"  Which of course we ignored!  It was so funny- they tried to get him to stand up on his chair but he is so tall now that he was bumping into an overhanging blimp thingy- so he had to just kneel on his chair.  They put balloons around his neck and oh did his little cheeks turn rosy as they announced his birthday to the whole restaurant and then sing to him!  (I can't believe he is 11!)

Blake is so much fun!  He is so tall!  He will soon be taller than his parents and Gramma!  He is a hard working kid who loves, loves to read!  In fact his mom has to get after him to put down his books once in a while.  But how wonderful is that?!  He has such a special place in my heart... I remember when they lived her in Nampa, he and I would go on these special "dates".. to the movie or McDonald's or dollar store (or all three!).  I once told him that when he got to be a teenager and started dating girls his age, he should tell them his first "date" was with his Gramma!   His reaction was pretty funny!  

Granny Toomer was in Boise at my niece Jesse's house so we got to go in and see her.  Brooke was so happy to see her!  She loved and kissed on her and made Granny sit right down by her and rub her back.  Granny Toomer was happy to see Donnie and his family too!  She is getting frail and it is a bit frightening... but she did look better than she has for a while (even though she needed help getting down the stairs). I love my mom so very much- it is heartbreaking to see her getting frail with age.  

Brooke with her Granny

Carter, Blake & Granny

Brooke was so happy to be home!  She loves being here with Jim and I.  He is so good to her- we are both so blessed to have him in our lives.  He walks with her whenever she is home.  It was so cute, she heard him asking Scooter if he wanted to go for a walk and she came out of her room with her shoes on, a giant smile and signed "walk"....   she wanted to stay close to him most of the time.  When things got a little hectic for her she came out of her room with a pair of Jim's jammy pants on, her shoes, and signed "go"... she was ready to go back to some peace and quiet.  But she loved seeing Donnie... she so loves her siblings.  And of course she made Katie sit and rub her back too!  :)  

It was so cold!  But she wasn't about to let him go without her!

Playing with her beloved "koosh"  

Oh!  I almost forgot- the boys and I had a "slumber party" in the living room on Friday night!  It has become one of my traditions when grandkids come here or when I stay with them to try to have a night where we watch movies, stay up late and sleep out together! 

No- I did not stay on the floor all night- moved to my recliner after they all fell asleep.

All in all it was a wonderful month!  I am so blessed to have the family I have--- and to have the joy in my life that comes through sharing and learning and growing always in the gospel and in all areas of this amazing journey we call mortality.  

Posted with love and humble gratitude to Heavenly Father for all these blessings. 

This Doesn't Happen Every Day!

Okay- so I just had to post these pictures of my pantry.  Usually it is a jumble of "stuff".... Jim sometimes uses it as his bullet/knife/gun cleaning stuff storage...  when I find that kind of thing in there I take it out and put it in his "gun room"-  then, I am notorious for just shoving food in wherever I can fit it...  then I let the kids and Brooke just rifle through at their whim... anyway  ((sigh))- last week we discovered one of Jim's water jugs (he has tucked/stored them all over the house and garage) had been smooshed and cracked and had leaked... probably slowly over a period of time.  So there was waterlogged boxes and well, just a mess.  I ended up spending several days pulling out everything, cleaning up and salvaging what I could.  I washed the shelves and walls and floor with a water/bleach solution and then reorganized.  These pictures are the result and a strict vow to keep it this way- rotate food, treat it like a good little pantry and strict orders to Jim reminding him this is NOT where bullets/knives/gun stuff go! Ha Ha!  

posted by a tired, but kinda "pleased with my work" gramma!

Some Precious Moments - Oct. 2011

Just thought I'd post a bunch of pictures from my last trip to Pocatello and Idaho Falls.  The hardest part is picking which ones to post.  And I want to post so many, I made collages- yup-again!   

Baby sitting River while Brady and Jade move to a new apartment.

Hangin' out playing with the Barlows.  

 Heather canned a bunch of fruit (I helped peel the pairs!)     

                    

More playin' around with the kiddos.

Had a blast with the girls and Tommy.

They're showing Gramma their tumbling tricks.

Mailei and Gramma- oh how I love this girl!

I'm pretty sure she loves me too!

It was so fun to see Blake's football game. So shocking

to see how tall he is!  Sheesh!

Celebrating Carter's 8th birthday.  He was so funny.

Blake told me he already had a lot of the same art stuff

I bought.... but one color book was different!  he he he

Mailei's 2010 Halloween costume and just a pretty pose.

River in 3 different costumes... so far... who knows what she will actually dress up as on Halloween.

Molly and Maddy in their princess dresses from Gramma. 

Evie is a crazy crazy girl!  We were laughing so hard while taking all these.  Every time I aimed the camera, she jumped in front. Then had me do close-ups of the others too- even a silly dolly. 

Excited for my next post- in a couple of weeks - Carter's getting baptized!  

Posted by a Gramma who never gets tired of having fun with the kiddos! 

Rock-N-Rollin' at Gramma's House

We just love it when one of our kids and their families come to visit.  This weekend we had Jim's 4th child - Josh and his wife Tringle with their kids- Kyriahna-12, Jolanna-11 (this month), Kaldon-9, Malaya-7, and Taron-6 (this month).   They were here to participate in a Karate tournament in Meridian on Friday and Saturday.  So after they were competing Friday, they came out here to sleep and to visit.  The first thing the youngest said to me was, "we haven't seen you in a long, long, time, Gramma"---  "I know," I said- "the last time was for Eliza's baptism in July.  And boy has Grampa & Gramma been missing you all,"  Then  Malaya said it takes "FOREVER" to get here... about an hour.  I laughed cause it is actually about 4 hours from their house.   We had a lot of fun!  Friday night the kids and I hung out playing and laughing.  Malaya and Taron found a toy guitar and toy rhythm player upstairs along with a big plastic microphone. So we spent about an hour playing like we were a rock-n-roll band.  Jolanna found my flickering reindeer headband and put it on and joined the band.  Grampa took pictures of us.  I tried to get a video of the kids playing, but Jolanna got a little shy and very quietly was singing... "bop"  "bop"   "bop"     We thought we were hilarious!

We also celebrated (just a bit early) Jolanna and Taron's October birthdays.  Jolanna cracked me up- she got frustrated trying to gently pull the tape off the box and when she couldn't get it, she resorted to biting it off... I'm all..."just rip it open!".. he he.   Taron ripped his open immediately!  

I have once again put together collages cause it's too hard to just pick a couple of pictures...even with the collages I only use a fraction of what I take....  so I try to put a variety together to capture the moment and the  atmosphere of each visit or event.    I have to say this time, my favorite collage has to be the rock-n-roll collage of pictures.  We were having a blast.  Kaldon and Kyriahna were NOT enjoying the noise..er...I mean the music we were making.  I had to chase them to try to get them to participate and all they did was cover their ears and duck away from us.  They wouldn't join us for all our pleading.  ha ha ha!

Here's the little video I was talking about!

I am so grateful that Josh and his family came to visit.  It means so much to Jim- to both of us-since Jim can't travel much at all. He worries all the time about his family.  I know that his prayers were answered this weekend indeed!  I haven't seen Jim so happy and excited for a long time.  

Posted once again with gratitude and joy.... by a rock-n-rollin' Gramma!  

My Life In Pictures- July - September 2011

I've had quite an eventful summer.  My next trip after River was born was the weekend of the 4th of July.  First I went camping at Indian Springs with Donnie & Katie & the boys.  We had a blast!  We swam (of course) we watched bugs, and fish, and fireworks.  We had yummy food prepared by Donnie & Katie.  The first night there, Heather and the kids were there to swim and picnic with us too. I FORGOT to take pictures while she was there!  But I did get a few fun ones the next couple of days.  Following is a collage of just a few of the pictures.   

After leaving Indian Springs, I spent a couple of days at Heather's.  It was a lot of fun... Brady and Jade and River came over for a barbecue, then we all loaded up and went to see fireworks.  It was marvelous!  I like to think I am seriously patriotic and on the 4th, every year the fireworks just fill my soul with joy and celebration.  The grand finale each year- with inspiring music in the background- always brings me to tears.  

Brady and Jade are so cute with their little River girl.  And they are so happy to bring her around so family can love on her too!  It was great to be able to get pictures of River with Jim (his first time seeing her) and with Jim's mom- Gramma Esther as the kids call her.  She just loves having all the kids come and visit her.  We are blessed to have her in our lives.  Once I married Jim, she just took us into her heart and her home like we'd been family from the first. She is a wonderful woman. 

When Jim came down, we had the privilege of going to our granddaughter Eliza's baptism.  My camera batteries were almost dead so I didn't get  many pictures from there, but I did get this beautiful one of Eliza. She is so precious and dear to my heart.  I had the honor to be present at her birth and when she and her family lived here in Boise we were so close.  I love the time I have with Eliza and her family.  It is amazing how much love swells in our hearts for children that are ours through marriage.  I have truly been blessed. As you can see, there are pictures of Tanner and Tyler in this collage also.  Tanner and I have some truly outrageously fun together!  

This next collage is a collection of pictures of River with her cousins (and Uncle Donnie and Gramma). As you can see, she is very very loved!  I think as a family we are all absolutely thrilled that Brady has found this happiness in his life. We just love Jade to pieces- how could we not?  She is a delightful person and she has given happiness to Brady that had eluded him for quite a while.  

One of the highlights of every summer for me is the Toomer Reunions.  The big one is every other year, so on the off year we have just our immediate family.  This year was the big family- and although there were many missing, we still had aunts, uncles, cousins, and family from several states there.  It seems like our family (my mom & dad and all o'us) always have the biggest showing. Every one of my siblings were there!  All seven of us!  Sadly, many of our children didn't make it, but each of us had at least part of our family there.  Following the reunion in the park, a bunch of our family always goes out to the lake (Bear Lake) and we do have a TON OF FUN!!!   Sand, water, water fights, games, kids, grownups, we all just LOVE it!

On Sept. 11th the Boise Philharmonic Master Chorale, the choir I sing with, performed in a concert to commemorate the tragedy of the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks on our country.  The concert didn't focus on the grief- rather on hope and growing and moving forward.  The music we performed was written and composed by a local man, Paul Aiken in 2005 in memory of that date.  It has been performed twice here and before I joined the choir, they even performed it at Carnegie Hall in New York.  It is amazing music,  The concert was free, but they collected donations for the Interfaith Sanctuary which provides food, clothing and shelter to the homeless and the donations came up to $4000.00!  Now they will be able to build some showers at the shelter.  I think that is just wonderful!  I love this choir and I love the challenge of singing classical music. 

Jim cannot do very much- he can hardly travel... but this year he has been slowly, steadily working on projects to improve our yard.  I am so proud of him,  (I have helped when I could, but my allergies are so bad I'm pretty useless on outdoor working).    So I've included a couple of collages of our yard.  It is not perfect, but it is a work in progress.... my favorite of course are the angels we have collected -feels like a bit of heaven.  This first collage is different shots of parts of the front yard.  Jim has almost finished the setting in the very front with the white rock, trees, and angels.   

This next one is different areas in the back.  There is actually a lot still to be done in the back, but again, Jim is working slowly but surely.  I think it helps him mentally and spiritually to get outside and work a little. He can only do about an hour at a time, then has to rest in bed for a while, but he is steadfast and things are looking better and better. 

Okay- when I first posted this blog, somehow the description of this collage was lost.  Very simply- amongst my pictures I downloaded I found these silly faces.... I thought it was funny that Donnie, Carter and I all had these goofy pictures along with the straight pictures.  Can't tell we're related can ya? 

Well- gonna call it a night for now... posted by a gramma who feels so loved and so very very blessed! 

Time- Gets Away From Us- And Is So Precious...

I have been such a lazy blogger this summer.  I got caught up in so much and yet so little and every week I tell myself  "I'm gonna post in my blog"- then I get sidetracked and don't get it done.  I do think I will start posting even when I don't necessarily have pictures or outstanding events or moments to post about. But to keep a running journal of my life at this time, have it printed each year, and perhaps someday my posterity will read it and gain some insight into where and who they came from and perhaps avoid some of the mistakes and hardships and at the same time share in the joy and triumphs.  I also want my children and posterity to know how very much I have loved and leaned on the Lord and my testimony.

    Right now is a particularly challenging time for us.  Jim and his daughters are going through some difficulties and he is very hurt and depressed.  I write about this because I think it is important for families to know how easy it is to get into conflict and how very little good comes from contention and spite.
     It all started because we heard a rumor that our son in law, Jeff (Genevieve's husband) was telling people that we don't treat Genevieve very well because she reminds us of her mother.  Well, we thought that was just so ridiculous- but knowing the source, predictable. Jeff is in many ways a very good person, but in many ways he sits in judgement on the people around him- whether family or  not.  If someone does not meet his expectations of what he thinks they should be, then he judges them harshly and has a real gift for verbal harranguement.  He claims to be close to the spirit and to be looking out for his family's best, but in our opinion, much as we love him, we fear he is off track much of the time-at least in this instance.
      Anyway- in response to this rumor (Jim and I each heard it from different sources)- rather than confront him negatively- I made a really poor choice and posted what I thought to be this innocuous comment on facebook (knowing that a lot of our children read my facebook):  "Heard a funny story the other day about a man and a woman who mistreat the man's daughter because she reminds them of his ex.... obviously whoever thinks this doesn't understand the all encompassing and unconditional love a parent has for their child... silly, silly minds...."    I did not mention names or even infer it was my own family I was talking about.
    After that post, several people posted simple comments such as "my son is the spitting image of his dad, yet my husband treats him like his own and loves him like his own...."   "my son even has developed a lot of the same mannerisms as his father, yet his stepfather and I love him"...  to which I commented:  Jim and I have a blended family and we love all our kids and grandkids"
      Well then Jeff decided to jump into the commentary and blasted me for airing family business in public (which my facebook is private- only friends and family can see it)-  to make a long story short, I removed the post, Jeff  then started sending private messages, but each time we tried to answer and make things better he got more and more heated.  I'm not very articulate nor eloquent, and I asked him why he was being so vehement and vicious (which made him even more angry)  He was quite abusive in his verbage and really ripped into Jim and I on all levels...claimed all Jim's kids feel the same way as he...   when we quit answering on private FB messages, he started sending private e-mails.  Ultimately it ended when Jim sent a message to Jeff (copied to all his children) calling Jeff on his lies and his manipulation of the truth. 
      At this point, Jim has had words with his younger daughter also.  I do not want to go into all that his daughters are saying or feeling, that is too private- but suffice it to say that Jim is hurt to the core and I believe they are hurting also.   The older daughter and her kids have been completely cut off from us per Jeff and I'm not sure where we stand with the younger daughter. I pray they both know how very much we love them and their children.

(I need to insert here that a lot of how Jim is reacting and feeling has also to do with the fact that one of his meds (a very important one for his mental/emotional well-being) has gotten too expensive and he has been without it now for a little over a month. Hopefully we can get this addressed within the next few weeks and even if the family situation hasn't changed, perhaps Jim can get some rest and feel some peace. I also think there are a lot of issues held over from his divorce that he never has addressed or faced. He basically let his children's mother say and do whatever she felt she had to as far as what the kids knew and didn't know. Ultimately, there is a lot of mis-information, some very ugly stories/half-truths/exaggerations that have been let go. I think his exwife is not a terrible person- I think she too tries her best- but divorce sometimes brings out the worst in people- and in her effort to appear in the right, she needed to paint him as a really bad guy. He is not perfect as none of us are- but he is an honorable and wonderful man. He loves his children, he loves me and my children, and he is faithful and strong in the gospel with a tremendous testimony.)
    I am sick at heart.  I have prayed and prayed.  I have had several counsels with my Bishop and I am following his advice.  He advised me to just let things be for now... he said we could choose to believe what Jeff says or not... (I choose not to- I choose not to believe any of our children would think or feel the things he claims about us)... Bishop went on to say all we can do is live the best we know how and trust in the Lord to bring things right.  We read some scriptures together which outlined the promises and the hope Heavenly Father has given us in situations like this.  I feel hope- I will continue praying and loving those daughters and their families and trust in the Lord to bring things right at some time.

      To end this blog, I want to post a quote that was on our church program a couple of Sundays ago that is so appropriate here:     Elder Marvin J. Ashton taught: "When others disagree with our stand, we should not argue, retaliate in kind, or contend with them....Ours is to explain our position through reason, friendly persuasion, and accurate facts.  Ours is to stand firm and unyielding on the moral issues of the day and the eternal principles of the gospel, but to contend with no man or organization.  Contention builds walls and puts up barriers.  Love opens doors....Contention never was and never will be an ally of progress"  (conference report Apr. 1978 or May Ensign May, 1978)

I close now with a prayer for peaceful resolution in my family and for the safety, health and happiness of all our children and grandchildren as well as our extended family.