Caring Kids xo

The Best Kids in the World!

I spent most of December decorating the house for Christmas and being a little melancholy because none of my kids were coming for Christmas. Ben lives in State College, PA, Angela in Orem, Utah, Chris in Bountiful, Utah (but playing currently in Abu Dhabi), Josh lives in Hurricane, Utah, and David in Las Vegas. For many reasons no one was coming. So I kept everyone updated on the beautiful decorations by taking and posting pictures of everything. Somehow that made me feel that they were all a part of Christmas. Ken and I were awakened early with texts from Chris trying to connect with us from across the planet. We got up, got dressed and headed down to open our presents. The ritual with the kids has always been to go from youngest to oldest, and of course, it's so much more fun with children around to see their excitement with opening their presents. But, we traded off opening presents, and it was lovely. What made the day was the Google+ group call David had organized with all of the kids (minus Chris) at 5pm that night. That was a very loving thing to do, and it was wonderful. We chaotically talked with one another and had a fun time doing it. I thought, after that call, of how blessed I am, and how caring my kids are. They love us deeply, love each other, love the Lord and are happily married with beautiful families. That makes me happy.

Google+ with Kids on Christmas Day

David and Sarah

The morning after Christmas I woke up with a pinched nerve in my neck and I couldn't lift my left arm. The pain got worse as the day went on. We drove over the Las Vegas to stay a day or two with David and Sarah, and I was miserable with this arm challenge. David did everything he could to ease the pain, then took me to the chiropractor, headed out to pick up the necessary medicines I needed, and was more loving than you can imagine.

Ben with Oliver

Again, I thought about how thoughtful my children always are. The love unconditionally and freely show it with their actions. When I had a huge challenge with my foot a few years back, Ben rushed me to the hospital, gave me a Priesthood blessing, and Cooper sat by my side the full ten days I was there in Mary Washington Hospital. They both then nursed me back to health for six weeks at their home. Tremendous sacrifice was made to make sure I was OK.

Angela with Sutton

Angela has massaged my shoulders with her essential oils and showed her love and devotion in so many ways with looking up holistic remedies to help with my chronic bronchitis and diabetic challenges.  Chris spent a full month in the summer working me out to try to help me get into better shape. He and Lesa opened up their home to me, and didn't think twice about having me there - or anywhere I have joined up with them overseas.

Chris and Lesa

Josh has given me needed blessings when I have been faced with life's challenges. In essence...they are always there, and I am blessed because of them. So many examples of their love and devotion I will journal to keep me always thankful and humble to be blessed to be their momma. Yes, they are all unique and funny at times - even a bit sarcastic. But, when it counts, they are loving, caring kids, and I adore them.

Josh and Ashleigh

Ben and Cooper

You Can't Take Too Many Pictures

You just can't take too many pictures, or capture enough precious moments that are too soon gone and forgotten. It's easy to enjoy those moments, but important to write them down in our journal or family blog. I love that most of my children do keep a blog and include lots of pictures. My joy for the week often comes from reading these blogs, looking (and copying) the pictures, and checking out Facebook postings where families are highlighted. I wish I had taken more pictures as the kids were growing up. And now, with iPhone's, iPad's, etc. it is very easy to capture the moment, record the date and add the feelings I had at that moment. See here Calvin singing, "I Am a Child of God" captured on Ken's cell phone at Calvin's baptism. Since my voice was hoarse, Calvin quickly said, "I'll sing!" Precious moment.

Me and Nolan

My Chamberlain and Harrison 2012

Calvin Singing "I Am a Child of God"

Decorating Christmas Cookies with Zoey and Kelly Jo

Decorating Christmas Cookies with Chamberlain 2011

Angela, Chris, me, Josh and David all dressed up (not) for Christmas Eve dinner years ago. Love the memory!

David and I at a special dinner/dance 

Ken and three of the Villa girls Dec. 2012

Chris on Easter overseas with his girls bunny ears

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas!

Sutton holding her red shiny hippopotamus ornaments!

"I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
Don't want a doll, no dinky Tinker Toy
I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy..."
What kid doesn't love this song. Well 2 1/2 year old Sutton listened as her three sisters: Madison, Jacquelynn and Brooklyn were learning it to sing in the ward Christmas party program, and then fearlessly filled in the night of the performance, stealing the show, because Madison had programs with Clayton Productions. So, I couldn't resist buying up all of the red hippopotamus ornaments at Target for Sutton. Angela said she squealed with joy over this, and I knew she would.

Nutcracker Collection

Because none of my five (5) married children are coming for Christmas this year with none of my eighteen (18) darling grandchildren, I have taken a ton of pictures of the house so that they can at least take a peak. And we are going to make the trek to one, two or more of their homes exiting off the I-15 to Salt Lake. First, we'll stop off in Vegas to celebrate with the staff at Voyager, then see David and Sarah, then to Josh, Ashleigh & their three (3) doll babies - Chamberlain, Siri and Harrison, then possibly to Orem to see Angela. Chris, Lesa and their five (5) kids are all celebrating Christmas in Abu Dhabi, so we'll catch them early 2013. 

My Byer Carolers greet guests at the front door.

Right Side of Mantel

Left Side of Mantel

My life-sized Nutcracker at fireplace

The RED TREE in the front room

My Office Nutcracker Tree

My Lenox Nativity and Carolers

My Snowman Collection

My Large Santa Collection

Bedroom Reindeer Tree

Wakes Me Up 6am!

Memory Wreath 

I love, love, love to decorate for the holidays. And once decorated, I don't want to take it down. My favorite's is the Memory Wreath displaying ornaments that my children have made.

THE RED TREE

David and his "red tree"

Let me tell you about our tradition with the "red tree." The main tree we set up every Christmas is covered in red lights and red decorations. There's no gold, green or hint of white anywhere on that tree. It's all red, as in the name.. "red tree." And most of our grown children have carried on this tradition of the red tree, mainly because of the memories they have of Christmas growing up. And every year since I've been married, if I even attempted to add a touch of gold on the red tree Ken would say, "what's that gold doing on the red tree?" So, I've always kept the "red tree" red, even down to the wrapped presents under that red tree. Yes, all red paper is used.

Sarah's going along with tradition!

Once a friend of Chris' (Eric Pearson) brought over a lovely gift for me (that I loved), but it was wrapped in blue paper. Yikes! Sorry Eric, but I had to bury that blue under the red wrapped gifts because it didn't work with the "red tree!" Weird huh? Well, there's a story behind the red tree, and lots of memories of Christmas' past. (tear)

Ben & Cooper's kids and their "red tree"

Ken and I were married in September of 1974. In 1979 we bought our first home in Orem, Utah - actually a block or two from where our daughter, Angela and her family currently live. Like most new home owners, we were "house-poor" and didn't have the money that year to purchase a tree and ornaments at Christmastime. Ken was still working at Devey's - a men's clothing store in the Orem Mall - and in the front of the store stood the original "red tree," beautiful - covered in tiny red lights woven tightly in and out of the branches, and on every branch laid a beautiful velvet red poinsettia. Ken loved that tree and would tell me about all of the people that would come into the store complimenting him on how lovely that tree was. So, long story short...

Angela and Eddie's "red tree" plus whimsical!

On Christmas Eve that year, Ken brought Devy's store's red tree home and set it up in the family room of our new home. It was beautiful, and we loved it. We kept that beautiful "red tree" for years and to this day, even with all of the new red glitzy and fancy-dancy ornaments I have collected, purchased and added, I still use fifteen (15) strands of little red lights (usually buy out Target), and I include red poinsettia's on the branches in remembrance of that original "red tree." The original tree has been replaced three times, but the memories never will be replaced, they will just be added upon.

Chris and Lesa's Red Tree in Poland

When I see my kids carrying on the tradition of the "red tree," it makes me smile. And wherever Chris is playing in the world, he and Lesa have carried on the tradition with the red tree, even in countries where Christmas ornaments are scarce somehow he finds items to decorate with. Thank you kids! I love you with my whole heart!

Our 2012 "Red Tree"

Josh & Ashleigh's "red bush"?

Our "Red Tree!" xo

Grandma Lives in China

Grandma and Oliver, September 2012

With the kids all starting school the day after I arrived in Pennsylvania to visit Ben, Cooper and the kids, I had a great visit with three-year old Oliver. He and I bonded. Maybe it was the daily exercise that he loved with the loud sound it made dropping weights on the floor. Maybe it was my racing the cars on the creative race track that Cooper had taped down where he did non-stop crashing in my cars. Maybe it was the scrambled cheese eggs I made. Or, to be real honest, it could have just been my iPad and the games downloaded that he loved playing. But for whatever reason, we had fun, and as far as Oliver was concerned, "grandma lives in China!"

Where we live!

From My Deck Every Morning

Nah, grandma doesn't live in China, but it may seem that far away when you have to take a minimum of two flights to get there - but only if you drive from Irvine to LAX, otherwise it's three flights to get to State College, PA. So, I make sure I'm there at least two weeks and have all of the work tools to continue keeping up with business while there. Although none of my kids nor grandkids live here in Irvine, or the state for that matter, living in irvine is like living year round at a five-star resort, and I love it. I feed the ducks, fish, turtles and geese every morning, read scriptures, then take a brisk walk around the lake and over the bridge. It is beautiful, and I comment out loud as I walk, "this is gorgeous here." And I don't take it for granted.  I love it.

Calvin and Jame

I made sure while I was there with Ben, Cooper and their family to take my walks with the kids individually when i could. I could ask them about school, their friends, and chat on a personal level. I found that Calvin suddenly, after already selecting the trumpet as his school instrument, decided he wanted to play the bass. That led to a conversation about all of the instrumentalists on the Clayton side of the family, with my grandpa Clayton playing the violin, my father the cello, and me the cello. That fascinated Calvin and he asked lots of questions about my family. Jane loves to sing and of course, I couldn't resist giving her a few vocal warm ups to work with. She would laugh, then do them when I wasn't watching. Both jane and Calvin love riding their bikes while I was walking, and Calvin made sure to corral Jane in from riding in the middle of the street to the sidewalk. That made me smile. How loving a brother he was with her.

Adelaide's First Pedicure

Adelaide talked with me on our walk about the struggles she has had with pneumonia, asthma and bronchitis all of her life. She said, as we walked, "grandma, I inherited your lungs." And she's right. I arrived in PA with my annual full-blown bronchitis, and non-stop coughing up a lung was the order of every morning. She would look at me with compassion and say, "I'm sorry grandma." My special treat to Adelaide on her 13th birthday was to take her for her first pedicure. She loved it and was all smiles the entire time. What she doesn't realize...a girl can get used to that very fast!

Nolan and His Legos

Nolan

Nolan is just too smart for his own good. He loves his scary Lego collections. And takes hours putting them together. So, I took one night and filmed him with my camera phone explaining the collection he loves and all of the detailed weapons, etc. It was very fascinating. One evening after school he took his turn to walk with me and chat. He talked about missing his best friend who had, because of the parents divorce, moved away. That made Nolan very sad. 

No, grandma doesn't live in China, but she lives too far away from all eighteen (18) of her beautiful grandchildren and children. And when I get to visit, I wish i could stay forever. Thank goodness for all of these handy gadgets - Facetime, Skype, etc. it isn't like being there, but it helps. Oh, did I mention? Adelaide's friends thought I was her aunt. That in itself was very cool.

Two Weeks in Pennsylvania

I love visiting my children. None of them live here in California so if I am to see them I hop on a airplane (or drive) and try to spend at least two weeks with them. I spent the month of July with Chris and his family in Bountiful, Utah, and with David and Sarah's wedding August 4th, Ben and Cooper were able to come out from PA, but their five fabulous kids weren't able to make the trip. So I took off on September 4th to spend two weeks with Ben, Cooper and their family. I stayed thru September 13 so that I could be there to celebrate Addie's thirteenth (13th) birthday. We had so much fun. Besides Addie's birthday (and her first pedicure), Oliver learned to ride his bike without training wheels, we visited a famous park where Oliver fed the ducks and ate most of the bread, attended a ward picnic where it rained, took the kids shopping for their "grandma arrival" gifts, school shoes, clothes and supplies, took lots of walks, tried to exercise everyday, and juggled business projects.

I loved so many moments while there with Ben, Cooper, Adelaide, Nolan, Calvin, Jane and Oliver, but a few things stood out. Watching Ben and his kids in their garden picking tomatoes, lettuce, watermelon, pumpkins, and watching Ben making homemade salsa with those fresh vegetables. Watching Oliver use my exercise equipment made me smile, the family prayers where Oliver asked Heavenly Father to bless my walks, Jane starting kindergarten, Nolan describing his Lego collection while I video-taped him, and having walks with the kids telling me about their friends.

The highlight of my visit was family home evening when Ben gave a father's blessing to each of the children as they were to start school the next morning. What a special evening where the spirit was so strong. They have such a spiritual home where love abounds, creativity thrives and individuality is encouraged, rewarded and recognized. I didn't want to leave and Calvin was the saddest at my departure. Hopefully we will be able to see them during the holidays when the weather won't be as warm, but the warmth of their home and spirit will welcome us with open arms. Loved it!