I had a Modbe swimsuit party (www.modbeclothing.com) a few weeks ago, and today our suits arrived!! yeah!! I ordered a swim top, bottoms and a skirt. Well, I don't think I'll be invited back to the local pool if I show up with what came in the mail. I got the top and the skirt!! Not sure I'm quite ready to chance that one! I guess I'll keep waiting!!

I was a little nervous about Winni seeing my grandmother in her casket. She was afraid of her in the hospital because of the oxygen mask, and I wanted her to have happy memories of her great-grandma. She was so cute! We went to the casket and Winni looked at grandma, then looked at me and said, "shhhhh....Grandma's sleeping!"



Ryann and Winni



Me & Winni and Julie

I spent the last 2 evenings at the hospital with my family. My mom was able to come home and arrived on Saturday night. That night my uncle Parley gave Grandma a blessing, then we all sang songs and said goodbye. It was bitter-sweet. I'm going to miss my grandma, but I'm so happy for her to lay down this body and to lift her spirit up to heaven. She is such a sweet lady. She told me to choose the right and to stay close to the Lord. She told me I'm beautiful and that she loves me. I asked her to pick me out some more great kids and to watch over us. Then we shared funny grandma stories, because she was very funny! I was overcome with a feeling of gratitude as my Aunt Karen told my grandma, "I've taken care of you for the last 6 years, and I've got your Temple clothes all ready. I'm going to take care of you one last time and you're going to be beautiful!" Well, Grandma passed away this morning around 8 AM with her children surrounding her. They were able to hold her hand and say good-bye as she took her last breath. They said it was beautiful and natural and she was without pain. It was as Grandma would have it, at the dawning of a new day.

Right now I've got a house full of people, so to allow for more people to sleep in beds, I've moved Winni to her floor and I am sleeping in her bed. Last night after I moved her from her bed to the mattress on the floor I went to climb in her bed. Of course the first thing I hit is a "sleeping doll". I guess I woke the baby doll up because it started crying!! I quickly found the on/off switch and took care of that crying child!! As I slowly inched my way further into bed I found a play plate, some pretend gardening sheers and, of course, dirt! hahahaha This sweet child would take the Zoo to bed with her if I'd allow it! Everybody has got to be tucked in to bed!

Characteristics of a loving mother:

Ahhhh Mommy help me

Oh WOW Winni, you tip over?

MOMMMMMYYYY!!!

Just sec baby, hold that pose! I gotta get the camera!

Today we found out that my grandma Giles will be passing away within the next few days. We went to visit with her at the hospital. Winni was a little scared of her since grandma didn't have her teeth in or her wig on. She also had an oxygen mask on. Winni told her she loved her. It was sad to see her like that, in pain, but it was nice to know that soon she will be with my grandpa! They were married for 34 years when he passed away, and it has been 35 years since then.



Abe, Jaxynn, Winni, Elijah, Julie and Grandma



Trae, Me and Grandma

Winni singing, to the tune of twinkle twinkle, while dancing with a picture of Jesus...

"Jesus Jesus Jesus Je, Jesus Jesus Jesus Je"