"Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, who's the cutest animal of all?"

Jamie needed to purchase some new suits for his new job in Virginia, so I watched Laynie and Gavin for a few hours. Laynie had a blast playing in the game room, but then gravitated to her favorite place in my house, the Pack in Play. She likes me to put her inside, then Gavin fills it up with "lovies" (stuffed animals). Laynie loves it!


Laynie chillin' with the animals.


"Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall, Laynie is the cutest little animal of all!"

Guggy Time!

Had the 3 oldest grandchildren over for a play date today. First we painted figurines...

Bay chose a dalmatian to paint, she didn't move until it was finished. She even signed the bottom. I thought she did a great job for a five year old.


Gavin three years old was almost as into it as Bay. He was careful to paint the whole thing even the bottom. I ask if he wanted to paint some black spots on his dog and he said, "no, I want to paint purple ones." There ya go... blue dog... purple spots. His smile says it all...


2 year old Benz likes cats. He chose to paint the cat yellow... his attention span wasn't into finishing it. He was just as proud of his accomplishment though.



Then it was time for lunch. Bay thought they should have a contest. The one who ate everything on their plate first, was the winner. (You know your a "guggy" when 2 of your four chairs have a booster seat and a highchair attached to them.) Of course they all told me they were too big to sit in them.


Bay was the winner.


The big surprise was Gavin ate everything on his plate for second place. If you know Gavin at all, you know he isn't the best of eaters. Benz usually out eats him hands down.


Benz was a good eater, even though he took third place. They were all winners and got an extra bag of Cheetos to take home for a snack.


Then it was back upstairs for more playtime. Benz thought he needed to take his car to McDonald's for "pinch fries, roo roo (root beer), and nuggets."

Gavin was being the "worker man." He loves to play tools.

Pretty soon the whole gang came over to play, they shared and cooperated fantastically.

We then played "spin" on our new office chair, watched a little "Clifford the Big Red Dog," and had story time. After reading six books, Mom (Aunt Becky) came to pick them up. Got them in their seat belts and off they went. Went upstairs to the not so clean game room... priceless! I knew they had a good time!

Laynie and Ike get the next one. Don't have the proper feeding device to take care of Brynley. She won't take a bottle, so mom needs to be close by!

Sugar and Spice, Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails, and Blue Slushie Face????

Watched Brynley today while Looli took Bay and Benz to the doctor... STREP THROAT! So while I had this cute delicious girl I decided to take some pics.

Thus...Sugar and Spice



Bay came walking in the door with a newly purchased friend she named "Springie"
Thus... Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

Then following up the stairs came Benz.

Thus... The Cutest Blue Slushie Face


Got to love it!

"A Walk DOWN Memory Lane"

Brianne came over last week to gather her possessions that remain in my house. I told her when she got a home of her own I would give her my Grandmother's china. To retrieve the china Bri had to go into the spooky attic. While she was in the attic, I had her look in a few more boxes. Little did I know that the treasures she would fined would bring back a flood of fond memories.

First the China and the smell of the buffet that it was stored in for so many years. I remember as a child being extremely careful as I helped set the dining room table. I remember how I loved the pussy willow pattern on it. I remember hating to put it back into the buffet to wait for another special occasion.


The silly old car mat that I had started making for the boys. I wasn't fast enough to finish it before they took the markers to it and finished it themselves. The car mat was of our old surroundings in West Jordan, Utah where we lived in the same house for 20 years. The tattered edges and faded marker were proof of the enjoyment the children got out of it. I tried to freshen it up. It still isn't finished, like in earlier days it is a work in progress. I will hide the markers from the grand kids!


This is my fondest memory. The house we raised our 3 children in. I think about the feelings of love, family, and of a neighborhood that was peaceful and safe. It brought back memories of my love for gardening and fun neighbors to chat with as we pulled weeds in our flower beds. A yard with beautiful lush grass that made an excellent ball field. The fruit trees and little garden we planted in the summer. The taste and smell of the fresh peaches in the early fall. The neighborhood children running around playing "night games" as they called them until 10:30pm .... maybe later at night. The flood of teenagers that were in and out of the house as our children grew older. The spiritual times of family prayer, scripture reading, family home evening, and preparing our boys to be sent out in the world to serve 2 year missions for our church. I know this post is too sappy for some, but I guess it is good to write down these memories that have helped mold us into who we are.

You were a good little house, in a perfect place, with the best people, thanks for the memories!

Celebrate good times!

We had a great time yesterday. Everything was perfect except the weather. It was hotter than H___! It's been a crazy summer, but the Wallace clan was all back together to celebrate the 4th of July. It was fun to have Becky and DJ, and Sarah and Israel come too. Brandon and Looli hosted the party. We had a parade, water slides, baseball, good food, and fireworks.

Brandon's neighbors own this water slide.


They all pitched in and rented this one. They sat this one up on Brandon's driveway.

We used the garage to set up the food and to get out of direct sun. Becky Wallace and Brandon probably discussing how hot it is!

Becky (sis) grabbing a bite to eat. I

As long as Benson wasn't in his swimming suit, he loved the water!

The "best buds" giving us a Kodak moment.

Slip and slide!

Bri thought Ike should have some fun!

Laynie loved the water!

Bay took Ike down the slide.

Jamie, Gav, and Benz playing ball.

The bike parade!

Laynie got to ride Ike's bike.

Jarod and Ike.

Gavin loved to ride his bike in the street.

Brandon had to get Benz to look at the camera for this pic.

Bay enjoyed the parade. She stayed outside the entire day!

Jamie and Brandon trained their little pyros by helping them hold roman candles. Papa wasn't thrilled about this!

Papa and little Brynley were in the house the whole day. It was way too hot for her to be outside. I feel bad I didn't get her pic. She had on a matching outfit like Laynies. After she went to bed, Papa came out to supervise the fireworks.

Happy 4th of July!