Showing posts with label Julia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Julia. Show all posts

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Serendipity Full Circle~Beyond 5

Connie and Julia

Yesterday when I wrote my Daybook entry ( found one post below this one) I told you a little story of serendipity.  I love that word it means a "happy accident"  has occurred.  Well I truly don't believe in accidental happening but I do believe in happy.  And this is such a cool story and as I said, I do love the word serendipity...So here goes!

The entry from the Daybook asks about something that surprised me this week... here is that answer updated.

It was being able to meet a wonderful a lady from Utah on Pinterest, sending her a comment about her amazing pin boards and then becoming friends on Facebook a few weeks ago. Then having her post a status update on Facebook about a Private Beyond 5 Concert that she was organizing for 100 lucky kids.  These guys are good, this was a big deal!





Well, our granddaughters are big fans so I tried to arrange to get two tickets and surprise them on Mom's approval and agreement to get them there.   Of course she said YES!  I got to call and tell them about it on Wednesday night after everything was securely in place.  They were so excited!  But I'm not sure who was more excited, them or us?



Ammon, Tanner, Zach, Patch, TJ
Beyond 5

Two of the five boys are going on a mission soon so the group is disbanding temporarily.  One is serving in Texas and the other in Scotland.  It will be about three years until they are back.  That is a long time for kids. Especially teenage Fan Girls as they call themselves.  Although they support the boys in their choice to be missionaries there has been some melancholy lingering about our Fan Girls.



http://youtu.be/i306_zMSnAU

These great YouTube videos came 
from Piper's Pinterest Board!



Piper and Ammon

My new friend, Connie, then sent me a picture of her granddaughter with three girls in it from a previous concert.  She said, "My granddaughter is on the right! To which I replied...and my granddaughter is on the left!  How amazing is that?  Considering there are millions of pinners on Pinterest..it is quite astonishing that I met Connie.  Julia and her daughter already know each other!  



Beyond 5ers


Piper had not sent me her pictures when I was doing 
this so here is an older one. Her hair is longer and
 darker as you can see in the group shot above.
(It is such a sweet picture I decided to leave it in.)
She's always beautiful and such a 
carbon copy of her mother at this age. 

Oh this just arrived!
Piper and Zach
  
The girls report having a great time at the concert and private party with the Beyond 5 Stars afterwards where they could chat, have pictures taken and get autographs.  Piper just got her photos to me but Julia has been on it since she got home last night!  They are so adorable!  It is so nice to see them having a fun time with good people.

Here are Julia's photos:


Jewels and Tanner
He leaves for Texas in January



The Fan Girls...well some of them!
Piper and Julia on the left end standing


Julia and Ammon


Jewelz and Patch
Heading to Scotland!
(Not Julia she and Piper 
have already been there!)
He's going on a mission!


Julia and TJ


Julia and Zach
Three years will go by in no time!

This is the very best long distance Gramma and Grampa thing we have experienced in a very long time.  Heaven only knows how much we miss these good and sweet girls.  Whatever we give them they give it back tenfold to us.  Just look at that look on Julia's face. That is one big heart print for me.  Look for it on Pinterest on my "Hugs" Board.  Love you sweet girls!  Beyond Infinity!  

Miss you...Gramma and Grampa

P.S. Connie, "Beyond Grandmas"right?


Monday, September 30, 2013

She'll Always Be My Baby Girl...But


To the world she is growing up!
My first thought after the Tooth Elf was...
Where are those great big ole permanent teeth going to go?
She is such a tiny girl...The Lord will provide a way!
It is probably called Orthodontics!

You might enjoy this post Jennifer did in 2008.  In fact I bet you will! In celebration of our last "first tooth loss" here it is:

http://bonsblogbydesign.blogspot.com/2008/11/tooth-elf.html



Saturday, June 16, 2012

Grampa Haven


 Chloe, Julia, and Piper with Grampa today!

This could possibly be that one picture that is worth a thousand words.  Grampa with three of his favorite people, resting on the bank of the Provo River at Sundance.  Heavenly Granddaughters, Heavenly Moment.  You know what he is thinking..."It doesn't get any better than this!"  Happy Father's Day James!  You da best!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

A Simple Woman's Daybook~June 12, 2012

Just for today~Tuesday June 12, 2012
Our lives pass swiftly by! I want to do something to remember
the everyday moments and my thoughts about them.  
That is what this Daybook is all about.
Focusing on the little things that become my life.
One week at a time.

Outside my window...It is an overcast morning in the valley looking out toward the lake.  The breeze is gently blowing but it does not fool me into thinking it might be cool this afternoon.  Nope, it is gonna be hot here today.  It is nice not to be cold.  I like summer!

I am thankful for...Jennifer's fairly good recovery from her surgery.  There are still few little hiccups but time will take care of all of it and then she'll be all set.
 
From the learning room...Nothing ever stays the same when you think you have something licked...new challenges arise.  Earth life is meant to be this way, it is how we are refined and how we grow.  I don't always love this process but know it is essential.  Without changes we don't meet our full potential.

I am reading..."Look Kids, It's Big Ben"  A book I wrote after our three week trip to Europe in 1995.  It is fun to go back and have the words paint the memories that would otherwise be forgotten by now.  

From the kitchen...Grampa has been cooking up a storm and doing a fantastic job.  He just loves this...lucky me!  Every morning he makes some fantastic breakfast for all 8 of us.  Today it was an Italian omelet so delicious.

I am missing...Lots of sweet friends.  I wish we all could just live in the same place.  It is funny that even when I do not live by someone when they are gone from their home I miss them more.  I don't miss Robert as much now that he is in RI even though I cannot see him.  There is something about just being able to envision someone you love in their home that is comforting.

Some spiritual thoughts I have been having...just constantly getting affirmations that the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives one a definite advantage in all we do.  It just brings so much protection and peace and happiness.  I cannot think of life without it.  Unbearable is the word that comes to my mind.

I am hearing...the chattering and goings-on of a house with 8 people in it.  Constant motion, commotion, emotion...it is alive here, 24/7.  Just the way it should be, that is what I am hearing.

One of my guilty pleasures...electronics.  This really surprises me when I think about it but I love electronics.  I watched the World Wide Developers gather for the keynote speech of the new CEO of Apple, Tim Cook and the unveiling of the new products and found it very exciting.  It was really neat because I watched it with Lowell and so if there were things I didn't understand he would just pause the presentation and explain it.  Very enjoyable.


Pet Peeves...People that tamper with consumer products so that they have to package things in ways that make it impossible to open them without implements of destruction in your hands.  Annoying!  Ever tried to get a toy out of a box or pop a pill out of a foil and hard plastic container?  Then you know what I am talking about. 

I am going...to possibly get a haircut today.  Jen has a hair stylist that comes to her house.  Love it.  My hair is so straight here in the desert that it is giving me fits.  At home it would be fine.  But not here. 

One of my favorite things...Robert is home from Afghanistan for two whole weeks.  We are thrilled.  Their little family is reunited!

I am quoting...Hazie.  "Mamma, can you tell Jim-Bob I need him?"   She is talking about her Grampa and heard someone else call him that. Too funny.  He acquired this nickname from me about the time the Walton's peeked in popularity and they would all say good-night to each other in the dark at the end of the shows.  His name is actually James Philip.

An enjoyable movie we have watched lately...I am currently watching "The Forsyte Saga" on my new iPad each evening before bed.  Love it so far.  I really enjoy the British treatment of the 19 century in the media.  It is really well done and enjoyable.

I am curious about...All the details to be learned with my new iPad3 and what the learning curve will be.  It is so similar to the iMac and iPhone but each has their own little nuances that require a bit of experimentation and studying to get it down.

If I could change one thing it would be...that people would just quietly live and let live without constantly having to justify their choices by putting others down.  Of course everyone is going to have differing opinions and that is our God-given right, but to have to be boisterous, rude and offensive in declaring one's own opinion just rubs me the wrong way.  Ultimately we will all have to live with the consequences of our own choices. Perhaps it just boils down to The Golden Rule.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

 Sometimes when I see people being so rude and unkind I hope they are not living the Golden Rule because I cannot imagine that people would actually desire to be treated in the way they are acting at that moment.  What I am saying is neither liberal or conservation, it is humanitarian.  People just need to regain some civility.


Plans for the rest of the week...it is very odd but everyday is just full of its own little surprises. As Jen recovers we are gradually adding in a few things.  One thing Jim and I want to do is cook ahead and freeze things for our family reunion up here at the end of July.  I also want to spend some one on one time with Chris next week and I want to go to the BYU Genealogical Library.  There is also a training center here for Family History Consults and Genealogy I am told, and I would like to find it and visit it next week.  There is also a sweet elderly friend I want to visit if she is up to it, and maybe a little shopping but not for much.  Friday is our 44 wedding anniversary so we will be going out to a play, movie, concert or something and dinner.  That should be fun.  Other than that it is baby time for us.  Just hanging out with the grandkids and enjoying them.


Some photos I am sharing this week...Sometimes it is just so wonderful to have girls' time out just away from the house and little kids and all the rest of the responsibilities.  Over the last almost two weeks I have been able to do this with Piper and Julia at the Trolley.  We had a great time.



Yesterday Jen and I got to leave for a couple of hours so we just went up to Sundance and had lunch.  It was so gorgeous up there.  We ate in The Foundry Grill.  It is pretty western looking, think Robert Redford and at the same time quite elegant.


The view from all  the windows...drop dead gorgeous!

The flowers all around in the whiskey barrels caught my eye.  Especially the pansies.  I do adore those little beauties.  My Dad loved them too and use to plant them in our yard when I was growing up.  



 We had dainty little salads with shrimp so we could try these lovely lemon parfaits.  Very light and refreshing on a warm day.  Everything was lovely except how fast the time flew by.  Especially great was being able to finish a thought without interruptions.  Love me some Mommy/Daughter time.


So beautiful and such lovely memories!

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Julia, The Business Woman



Julia is trying to create a business. She is going to do a great job! This is a fun way for her to be productive and creative during the summer. It is a way for her to build her self-esteem and makes a few bucks. The best part is what she will learn in the process.

Julia has always been very entrepreneurial. Even when she was little she wanted to have a day spa and do foot massage and provide pampering for others. She still engages in serving constantly. Her massages are amazing. Often she has me lie on the bed, she lowers the lights, gets out the lotion and puts some very relaxing music on and and does her reflexology to perfection. She is a very nurturing person. She'll make a wonderful wife and mother someday.

The other day we were all crowding into the office/library which has several chairs, one of which is a chair and a half so an adult and a child can sit together.  Hazie and I were sitting on it just hanging out.   I was thinking it would be nice to put my feet up so I asked Julia where the ottoman was. Her response was cute and funny. She said, "Gramma, I don't know have the faintest idea where it is."

I was kind of lost in the noise and confusion of the moment and wondering just how you lose an ottoman in a household? The next thing I knew she was on all fours in front of me.

She then said, "Go ahead...!"

 To which I replied, "What?"

 Smiling up at me with her stunningly gorgeous, big chocolate eyes, she said, "I am your ottoman!"

Now I love a person who is a servant but that was going beyond the mark...there is no way on the planet I was going to use my beautiful granddaughter's back as an ottoman! What a funny kid she is. Needless to say, I adore her.



So she is going to start a business this summer called "Julia's Cupcake Cart" and Grampa is going to be her venture capitalist. She has convinced him through her written business plan, that he has reviewed and approved, that her business will be a good investment for him.

She has made a really darling flyer and has selected a few families to pilot her marketing strategies on for Father's Day. She has calculated her costs and set her prices and is off now to the store to gather her ingredients and experience "overhead" for the first time in her life.

 I am almost positive this will not be the last time she does this. Julia has "business woman" written all over her. She is energetic, resourceful and has a desire to be productive. These are all things that make her a potentially successful entrepreneur. When you add in her humble, service-oriented heart you have the one characteristic that is essential to achievement in any industry that supplies goods and services to others.

This is thrilling from a grandparent's point of view because any child that is enthusiastic about learning how to work when they are young is one you will never have to worry about later.

So I'd say, "Break a Leg" Jewelzy, but since the very idea of that is something that we cannot possibly handle around here, I'll just say, "Good luck on this pursuit. I know you can do this!"

Here are her first batches of cupcakes for Father's Day!  Awesome!




- Posted using the BlogPress App from my new iPad!  Woohoo!!  Bon

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

It's Snowing!

Greetings from snowy Utah. Actually it just started snowing and so it is not sticking yet. We are heading to the airport and flying to Phoenix and then on to Rhode Island. We will arrive tonight. It is bittersweet, hating to say good bye to the kids here but we are looking forward to our time in the East. Cannot wait to see Laura and the boys. I sure hope you are all well and enjoying the Christmas season, Go over to our Christmas blog at http://averymerrychristmas.blogspot.com if you have a minute.We have had a wonderful time here these past few days.

Love to all of you! Bonnie & Jim

Friday, September 30, 2011

Kids Are A Crack-Up!

Precious Stuff!

I have started a new quote section on my sidebar for the funny things the grand kids say and do. This is what prompted it.

Laura posts on FaceBook the following: So I asked Spencer, "Do you know who Justin Bieber is?" He said, "I don't think so, Mom. Why? Does he go to my school or something?" I laughed. Then I cried. Oh the sheltered life we live."

Two minutes later I go to Jen's FaceBook where she has posted various photos of her girls. I find this among them...Julia standing by a Justin Bieber life size cut out and looking rather pleased with herself being in such close proximity to the Beib!!

This little girl is too young to have this much
glee on her face! She's eleven, barely.
Heaven help us keep her safe!
I'm not ready for her to give
up her childhood yet!


So I added this for Spencer..."Don't worry Spencer, we figured it out! Justin Bieber goes to Jewel's school!" I didn't want poor Spence to keep on wondering who and where this guy was or why it mattered. And that in a nut shell is the difference between preteen boys and girls! Gotta love it!



Now we are all in the know! Here's Justin Bieber!
Here is the link for you e-mail followers.
http://youtu.be/KSnda5-o654

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Our Cowgirls


Chloe Jane rides the horse!

I love how our kids give our grandkids enrichment opportunities all the time. Recently Lowell's sister and her family moved to Utah not far from where our kids live. On Labor Day they went out to visit and have a barbeque. The girls' Uncle Gordon gave them each an opportunity to ride their horse. I thought these photos were just so colorful and fun.

Miss Julia gets a turn!

Hazie rides the horsey!
She looks rather excited about this, don't you think?
She looks so tiny up there!
Hang on to her, Daddy!

Miss Piper gives it a try!
She looks so grown up on the horse
when you see where her feet are!

Hazel fell in love with their beautiful dog.
Jen said she spent about three hours doing this!

What a great and fun family day. The girls will never forget the wonderful things their parents expose them to when they are young. Isn't it fantastic that activities don't have to be expensive or elaborate to be meaningful in our lives? The wholesome times we spend together with our families are what make up the beautiful moments of life.

It is in times just like these that passions are born, talents and interests are developed, and family bonds are deepened. We have heard that families that pray together stay together. I think it can also be said that families that play together stay together too. Each little moment like this add to the glue that creates a heart print that endures.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Our Julia!

Julia just a year or so ago. I have loved this school
photo
of her but never used it in a blog post before.
So today I thought I would!

This is another one of my favorite pictures
of her when she was younger.
She has grown up quite a bit since then!

Our sweet little Jewel had her birthday last Sunday. She is now eleven! We actually woke up at her house that morning but she wasn't there. All the family but Jen and Hazel had gone to Lowell's family reunion, where they had a wonderful time with their other grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins. Poor little Hazie was sick so Jen had to keep her home.

So we gave Julia her birthday bucks, and left a card and a cute decorated head band on the table piled up with her presents and then Barbara and I headed for home before the family returned. We were sorry to miss seeing all of them and not to have been able to wish Julia a Happy Birthday and give her a big hug and kiss.


These are not our Julia's real presents but I found them on flickr to represent the pile of hers that I forgot to take a photo of that morning. Her pile actually included an old guitar case and her Mom's guitar from when she was a girl. This really delighted Julia. She is a piano player and music lover. Julia had been a music lover since she was little. I can still see her sitting on the bench playing away at her Grandma Mary's baby grand piano when her feet barely came to the edge of the bench.

This is a cute photo of Jewels and Anyslee at our family reunion. I just love these two sweet little cousins and friends. They have so much fun together. It is wonderful they live in the same town, go to the same school and get to see each other often.

Oh, how I love and envy this sisterhood she and her siblings share. This is pure heaven to me as a girl that never had a sister of my own. I know they just take it for granted now but the day will come when they see the tremendous blessings of it. I love to take these fun kind of goofy shots of them together. Mom does too.

I think this is the most recent photo I have taken of Julia. It was while I was up in Utah, one of the four times, cannot remember which time! I love this photo because is shows her cute style and her personality. Julia is a cute, perky, happy, young lady and I love that about her. She always has a smile for you and some service to perform for you to make your life better.

She is a great helper and still gives a wonderful foot massage. She asked me to bring her one of my books on reflexology to study. She is becoming very good at it. She does all this not only to bless you but because she is looking into her future. She has a little entrepreneurial side that is always thinking about how she can create a successful business someday!

Julia is such a loving and kind girl. She is carefree and enthusiastic about so many things. I just know she will succeed in her life no matter what she takes on! I love being her grandmother and sharing her growing up years with her. So does her Grampa. Jewels is one of our bright shining stars, a constant source of joy and we love her so much.

Here she is on her first day of school
with her new pixie cut!
Hope your 6th grade year is lots of fun,
My 'Beautiful Chocolate Eyes' Girl!

I am retro-fitting this cake in here.
It is now September 9 and Julia's party is tonight.
Jen and Amanda made this awesome

five layer raspberry cake for her!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

That Exciting First Day!

Piper, 7th grade here she comes!
Blessings to you sweet girl!
Love your new do...you are adorable!

Three of the ten checking in with Gramma and Grampa with their first day of school photos! Remember how exciting that first day always was when you were a kid? So many emotions running high until it becomes routine about a week later. Everybody in the school seems to have new shoes and after that first magical week, they are scuffed up and broken in and nobody looks down at them like on the first day. All the new outfits are worn by then and probably lying in a heap on the floor someplace in their rooms.

I never walked through the snow five mile to get to school but I do remember only having two dresses when I was in fifth grade and carefully alternating them, one week wearing the aqua blue one with the drop waist and the rhinestone pin three times, the next week the red plaid one with the sailor collar. I also remember consciously sucking in my stomach when walking in the front of the class for any reason. Bizarre for a ten year old way back then. It wasn't all media we see, but also just that built in female thing. And the hair, it had to be just so. Ahh, the good old days.

I just remembered another funny thing...that was the year I got a "training bra" although I am positive I did not really need it. What was I training for? Oh yeah, now I know... the unabashed torture of wearing one for the rest of my life! I can remember distinctly, sitting in my little wooden desk and casually touching my shoulder to see if I could feel the strap, thus assuring myself I hadn't accidentally skipped my training that day! These times were not the easiest for a blossoming young lady.

So I empathize with these beautiful young granddaughters!


Julia looking very sporty and cute with
her new pixie cut for 6th grade!


And Chloe Jane just having lost her 7th tooth,
ready for first grade and totally oblivious
to the concerns of the bigger girls!
These are the sweet, young, innocent days when
they don't give a rip about their hair or clothes
and they can just

totally be themselves.
Enjoy it little one! You too will grow up all too fast!

Monday, May 30, 2011

When Clever Artist and Foodie Collide


Wanna Go On a Picnic?

Got Chop Sticks???

Happy Memorial Day, Everyone. I saw the cutest thing on Jen's Facebook page so just had to share. When the weather disappoints with overcast and rain on the first official picnic day of the season... and your kitchen is out of commission because you are painting and sealing your own laminate counter tops to look like granite or marble......

This looks amazing, doesn't it?
She threw in some copper glitter just for me!
(or well, maybe because she loves it too!)

And you have four darling girls that
want to do something fun...

and a hubby
home from work with an actual day off.......
What do you do?
Well, if you are Jen.......
You create......a Chinese Van Picnic!

They made faux sushi roll-ups.

Sweet coconut rice + fruit = Frushi!

~And Sushi Treats~
Rice Krispie Treats and Gummy Fish

These girls will never forget
their happy childhood!

Great job, Jen and Lowell!