Uncle David

Kelli Jo (top), Chamberlain, David, Zoey

 "Families are Forever" is our life motto here at the Burgess home. If anyone has taken a peek at previous posts, you'll know that I miss my kids terribly, and tend to sing "All By Myself" a little too frequently. So, it's a good thing I'm biz-buried and swamped with voice students, ward choir, and editing the next musical production we're doing in November. So, taking my son, Chris', advice of "mom, quit being sad," I'm focusing on catching up blogging, journaling and trying to write a life history, among other worthwhile things. 

Chamberlain and David

Yes, the house is too quiet and clean, and all of the kids are gone, all but one are married and having children of their own. And that one is my youngest, David. David is also a professional basketball player now living in Utah working out with his brother, Chris, awaiting his next contract. And from the outside David seems quiet, impatient, maybe a bit unfriendly, until you see him with his nieces and nephews. An entirely new David appears, all smiles and hugs. 

David and Jacquelynn

As soon as David walks into a room where any of the fifteen grand kids are playing, they all stop and scream, "uncle David!" He is then attached, climbed on, kissed, and they just can't seem to get enough of him. He's a kid magnet,and it's fun to watch. David's rough exterior (especially when he's sporting a beard) is softened with smiles, hugs and lots of love. He takes time to explain the secrets of a game on his iPhone to Chamberlain, and doesn't get mad when he's whipped at bowling on Wii. He doesn't get upset with Brooklyn hanging on his leg as he tries to walk to the couch from the front door. 

David and Sutton

Kelli Jo and David

He smiles when Jacquelynn is telling him, in detail, all about the bugs she saw outside, with just a quiet, "really?" And he is patient with the mess, the sticky fingerprints, the roll of toilet paper in his bathroom toilet. The kids all adore uncle David, and he them. 

Hanging with Kelli Jo

David & Chamberlain

And that's what families are all about - patience, love, support and kindness. Watching all of this makes me smile, makes me proud (the fulfilling mother-grandma-kind), and it warms my heart. Focusing on these memories truly keeps life on track. 

David and Siri

We'll finally all be together as a family, five grown children, four spouses, and fifteen grandchildren, in Utah in two weeks. It will be noisy. It will be chaotic. And, of course, it will be messy. We'll be constantly cleaning up after the kids, as they charge through the room, we'll go through more food than planned on, and we'll feel a bit out of control. But, I will love it and probably get very emotional. I always do. It will be fun to see if David actually gets a break surrounded by all of the kids when we get together. He may not need to do his daily workout. His arms will be too tired from throwing kids in the air, carrying them on his shoulders, dragging them around as they cling to his legs, and jump on him when he's trying to nap. We'll see.  Going to be fun!

David and Adelaide and Calvin

Matching Dresses

Joshlyn, Sutton, Jacquelynn, Madison, Brooklyn

Look at these darling pink Easter dresses I found for Angela's girls this year. I love it when I find matching dresses. Chris has three little girls, Angela four. And every once in awhile, when I do my Costco run, I always check to see if they have four dresses in sizes 7, 5, 3, and 2. If they do, I grab them immediately.

There's nothing better for grandma than buying matching fun clothes for her grandkids. Or, for that matter, buying anything for the grandkids. Any grandma will tell you that her children, on a scale of 1-10 are a 10. Grandkids on that same scale are 100! They can do no wrong, and we are always conscious of their favorite colors, favorite cartoon characters, super hero's and favorite foods. It's what we do, as they say.

When I visit Ben and his family in Pennsylvania, I know to look for Batman clothing for Calvin, Ariel for Jane, Superman for Ben, pirates for Nolan, and love taking Adelaide shopping at Justice for Girls in the mall. Soon I will know what to get Oliver who is just two. As long as I bring a few toys, I'm good with the grandkids - and pj's. Chris' girls love anything Jordan (wonder why?) and Kelly Jo likes Cinderella, Zoey likes Care Bear, and, like Oliver, I'm not yet sure what Ava likes (she was born the same time as Oliver). Josh's cute Chamberlain likes anything Cougar blue. Or as he calls them, Cougs! Funny. And he will only wear basketball shorts - like all of the time - to bed, when he wakes up, and if he could .. to church. Love it!

Nolan

It's amazing how different all fifteen of the grandchildren are. Each one holds a special place in my heart. I love being with them, and of course, wish they lived close by so I could watch them grow up (see previous post about Burgess Blvd). Adelaide (now 11) has the sweetest, kindest, loving heart. Every time she sees me, she wants to snuggle and will do anything for anyone. And she is the best big sister her siblings could ever ask for! Anyone is lucky to know Adelaide. Nolan is very serious about everything.(Picture above shows him analyzing a crab.) It makes me smile. He thinks through things, and often takes life a little too seriously. But when I'm with him, I am drawn to him and enjoy having long, serious conversations with him about life.

Calvin

Jane

Calvin has that spark of enthusiasm that is contagious. He loves life, has tons of friends, and does everything with gusto! He is so much fun to be around. I remember when he realized that I was grandma "Burgess" (vs. grandma Johansen), and that he was also a "Burgess". He was very excited about that. He seems to be the athlete in the family, and calls me when he wins his baseball games. Jane looks just like her daddy, and a lot like me as a little girl. She makes me smile. She didn't know me a couple of visits ago so I sent her a framed picture of Grandma and Grandpa Burgess. This last trip there to PA she came to me with the picture and had been sleeping with it and was so thrilled to match up the picture to the real face. Warmed my heart. Oliver is a big time boy who giggles and reminds me of Bam Bam from the Flintstones. My favorite thing on this last trip was watching him carry a huge Costco plastic bottle of animal cookies (that was as big as him) from the pantry to the table. It was delightful!

Zoey, Kelli Jo, Ava

Looking at Chris' beautiful girls I think about the times I've traveled across the world to Australia, Korea, Turkey, Puerto rico, and Dubai, and they were so excited to have me there. There is always a handmade sign that welcomes grandma on the door, and they love showing me projects that they've worked on. I have tons of pictures of us doing projects together, from snowflakes, sugar cookies, puzzles, reading, coloring to riding to the top of the tallest building in the world in Dubai. Kelli Jo was telling me all about it, including how her stomach felt riding in that elevator. Darling girls that I adore being with.

Josh's little Siri is so precious and looks so much like her daddy. His Chamberlain has such enthusiasm for everything. He is either 100% at full speed or suddenly out like a lark. So adorable. I have loved having him stay here at the house when they come visit. He sleeps in the pop up tent in my office with, of course, his Cougar blue blanket. He knows I went to the U of U (colors are red) and said, as I tucked him into the tent with the Cougar blue blanket, "so grandma..are you going to love the Cougs, instead of the Utes?" 

Chamberlain

Our Disneyland trip was such a joy this year. Very special to have Josh and his family, Ken and I, and Angela's family. One of the most fun days I have ever had. I've never seen Disneyland like that. We even were there for the parade and saw Tinker-belle fly across the park! I bought the traditional Mickey Mouse ears for Chamberlain, and as I was having it embroidered Chamberlain said, "what about the girls?" He then handed the check out cashier a handful of Minnie Mouse ears (5 to be exact @ $20 each). I said, "I think they already have them, but thank you. Very thoughtful, Chamberlain."

Oliver

All fifteen grandchildren are fantastic. I miss them. And this summer, for the first time ever, all of my five grown children, their spouses, and fifteen grandchildren will be together in Utah. (Maybe sixteen with Chris and Lesa having a baby boy due in August!) We will go to the Clayton family cabin above Park City, Utah, and it will be chaos and pure bliss for grandma. The kids will get dirty, probably fight, we'll play Monopoly (I will win or cheat trying), wade and fish in the cold Weber river, and it will be an awesome time, and I will take a ridiculous amount of pictures, and of course, share them here on the blog and Facebook. It is, after all, what grandma's do best, along with brag about our incredible kids!