Grandma Honey turned 104

It's hard to believe that Grandam Honey is really 104 she looks GREAT. We had her party at he Kanab City park. There   were over 125 who came.  We served dinner and I made a special DVD presentation of her life and  copies for everyone as well as a CD with the pictures. It was an amazing party, the weather was just right, everyone was pleasant and happy. It was truly blessed. I love this picture of Romell and Brad taking their  Grandmother her birthday cake. 

She had a quite the family picture. 

 I laughed so hard when cousin Pam got all of my girls to do the gunny sack race. She told them they couldn't eat until they did. It was hilarious! 

Dave Dixon from Fredonia sang to Grandma, "Young at Heart"  "should you survive to 105, think of all you've derived out of being alive and here is the best part you had a head start if you are among the very young at heart." Grandma said that she really didn't feel any different then when she was 18 except  that her body does not work as well or when she looks in the mirror. It makes me believe that our spirits truly are eternal and age does not effect them..

Melanie with Grandma Honey as Makayla and Mya's Utah birthday party at the park.

Grandma Skaggs's Rock

Shelly Jo had a great idea to make a memory. We loaded up in the car and drove to Hurricane with 3 yr old Adisyn, 5 yr old Marley, 7 yr old Hayze, Sheldon, Shelly Jo and myself. (Don't need to list our ages we just act like the kids.) We went and saw the over rated movie "Night at the Museum." We were the ONLY one's in the theater. At one point I asked Shelly Jo,"were is Adisyn?" As I turned around, I saw her balancing across the arm rests of the row of seats behind me. Then she would walk round the empty row behind us and tap us on the head and skip away. We allowed it because honestly when do you ever get to play in a movie theatre.

After the movie, on the way home we hiked away from the highway over to this huge rock with a hole in it. For the past 25 years we have called it "Grandma's Rock." My mom loved this rock and always wanted her friend Don Ryemond to put it in her yard.

It was great watching these wonderful family members "happily" ?@$%! march through the sage brush over to this big rock. Sheldon warned the little girls not to run off and watch for rattle snakes. So when we snapped this picture they are saying "SNAKE" instead of "CHEESE."

BIG Day for Grandma Honey

Me, Bre, Taysja and Terra Sue. You can see Terril in the mirror
taking our picture. If anyone is interested ask me or Terra Sue
about the scare of the day. I thought I was in a nightmare but
Shelly Jo didn't think I should blog it. So I won't. But check
out the Smilebox creation of Grandma Honey's Big Day.

Beverly and Brad drove over from St. George
and Paul and Maxine came from Cedar Mountain.

Several of the old timers were there to share their memories of Kanab from back in the good old days. Anna & Calvin Johnson, Zola Byrom, Lucile Perkins, Deanna Glover and Neil Crosby. Jo & Thayne Smith came late. I was glad to listen to the conversations about the past and how it use to be. These are wonderful strong committed people who I admire. They have lived good lives and have contributed much to improve our community. What I learned from them was to have a
sense of loyalty and pride for Kanab. It is a wonderful place to live, because of the sacrifice and hard work from those who have gone before me. I know I have some pretty big footsteps to follow. Now, I must step up to the occasion and preserve the good from the past and make Kanab a better place.

Grandma was there to be interviewed by retired Channel 5 anchor man Dick Norris. She was not happy about it and no amount of coaxing could change her mind. She had needed oxygen before she left the rest home. If she was lacking in oxygen then she probably needed some food. So I got a plate and Terril fed her like he does a lot. Afterwards she seemed to improve. There is a lesson for us all: BREATH oxygen and EAT healthy food. Then life will be better if we do! The interview was amazing in spite of her confusion. It was hard for her to remember but by the end of the interview Dick was able to coax some wonderful things from our sweet Grandma Honey. It was a fun to do a pre celebration of her 104th birthday. Terril had a cake made at the bakery and we all sang to her and cut the cake. She will be on TV in September or October.

Memorial Day Weekend

TRADITION!
Since 1970, it's been tradition for me to decorate the
the graves at the cemetery for Memorial Day.
In the 70's I hoed weeds in the dirt which I disliked
very much because I always got dusty, dirty and
hay fever. Times have changed and this year
was a pleasant five generational experience.
This sweet head stone in the Fredonia cemetery,
marks Grandma' Honey's little sister Lila's grave.
She died from diphtheria when she was 10 years old.

Generational shot, taken for us by Trevor Petersen.

Sheldon, Hayze, Terril, me, Adisyn, Lisa,
Derek, ZoRae, Breana is standing behind Taysja,
Marley, Granny JoAnne hugged by Shelly Jo,
Kristin holding baby Ayden, Melanie holding Livi,
in the very back, Terra Sue, Colten, Brian, Emily,
Lance and Grandma Honey in the front at the new
headstone for Grandpa Don.

This precious picture of Hayze reading the headstones

to Marley and Adisyn touched my heart. Love those girls!

I am gaining new perspective as I stand back and take
pictures. Maybe that is what I should do in my life, stand
back more often and watch what happens instead of direct it.

Eleven year old Taysja loves roses. I talked her into
letting me take her picture. She chose the spot,
which was perfect. When I showed her this
photo, she said ,"WOW!" I agree, it really is
beautiful-granddaughter and picture.

Band Concert

Tonight was Derek and Breana's band concert at the high school.
Breana is a Sophomore and plays the clarinet. She has ALWAYS
been so good at music, with her piano and now her clarinet.
I was so proud of her. They sounded really good.

Derek is in the 7th grade and plays the saxophone.

He did a great job. He seems to enjoy it.

Pre-School Graduation

Marley and Adisyn had their pre-school graduation.
Marley will be going to kindergarten.
She looked so darling in her safari hat.

Adisyn will stay in pre-school for another 3 years.
She is a fun little girl. She makes me laugh all the time.
It was cute to see them find the beginning letter of
their name. Then Marley got her dad and
Adisyn got me to go to the front of the room.

Where we all sang with our tongues and bums out
A Roup Da Sha. It was pretty funny. Richard ducked
lower then me so you can't see him very good.
Marley has Richard's sunglasses on.

The Baby Photo Shoot

I had fun taking these pictures of the baby
cousins who are growing up way too FAST!

Baby Vi

Baby Ayden

and Baby Livi

Spring Concerts and Graduations

Adisyn  was in the preschool end of the year program along with Marley who graduated from preschool. She is now registered for kindergarten. Melanie won't be teaching there any more. Miss April was the teacher, with Miss Patty and Brent as the aids.

We did a great photo shoot at Angels landing with Andrea and Dee's family.

They love to see the temple. Adisyn and Marley were so impressed with the temple when they spent the night at Aunt Krisitn's. They are such sweet girls. They both begged to go inside.  Adisyn said, "I still love Jesus." Even though she couldn't go inside.     

Mother's Day

I couldn't believe I only took two pictures on Mother's Day.
We had 29 people for dinner. Lisa's family, Burton, Granny
JoAnne, Grandma Honey, Terra Sue and her kids, Sheldon,
Andrea, Dee and their kids, Melanie, Richard and their girls,
Kristin, Lance and Ayden plus Terril and I. Shelly Jo was there
and she had helped fix food for two days to be ready to serve
sweet pork salads. Shelly Jo is getting to be quite the cook.
Great, Great Grandma Violet and baby Violet gaze across
the many generations to connect in the present.
Little antique girls.

We tried the cellphone thing where it's suppose to pop

popcorn. It did NOT work so don't try. When we turned
our backs each child grabbed a phone and started
pushing buttons. Where do you think they have seen that
before? They watch EVERYTHING we say and do. I made
a new Mother's Day book for the all the mother's entitled
"Thoughts for Mother's." It was fun to create it with quotes
and pictures. I love making books. But then I love taking
pictures. But then I love being with my family. I was so glad
that Andrea came up from Queen Creek and I was sad that
Crystal was in Texas BUT I got to talk to her on the phone
and she loved her book. It was a wonderful day to be together.

The Next Best Day Ever

As a Grammy, sometime I get tired and it's hard to mentally gear up, sounds like being a mom all over again. I love everyone of my grandchildren, but at times, it's a physical challenge. Yet I am ALWAYS blessed and amazed at the wonderful memories we make. Today I tried to capture those moments with my camera. I really like the shots from today. It was a little cloudy this morning when I framed the happiness in little seven year old Hayze's eyes. I love it when I can see her happiness. Little children are so sweet and innocence. It’s great to hang out with them.

We were going to go on the golf cart so I dressed Hayze in
my coat and glasses. She looks like a movie star!
These pictures make me smile. It makes me happy t
o preserve sweet memories. Elder Packer said,
"Young men talk of the future because they have no past.
Old men talk of the past because they have no future."
Sometimes that how I feel, no future. . . so I want to
save these precious memories. We took lunch to the Jacobs,
because they are moving. When Doug opened the door
he called us the "lunch ladies!" We had to laugh at that one.

We sure had fun hanging out together especially when
Hayze demonstrated how she could do a head stand.
I was impressed. She has always liked doing gymnastics.

She invited her friend Savanah over. They had a great time,
playing with their wiggle worms, jumping on the trampoline and
going for a golf cart ride to feed the horsey and the donkey.
Hayze and Marley were great help making meatballs for dinner.
Then we all eat outside.

The Next Best Day Ever Continued

Adisyn is so fun to photograph because she has so many
different expressions. Her bright blue eyes
and her little smirks are a delight. I love her!
She got sick tonight with a fever. I pray she will be alright.

Marley LOVES watermelon and strawberries.
Caught her right in the act of taking a bite.

We had fun being outside this afternoon, eating fruit and catching

LADYBUGS!

It was great to hear these granddaughters laugh as they
caught the ladybugs and then they would fly away.
This has to be one of the next Best Days Ever!

YIKES-A 16 year old Granddaughgter!!!!!

It is HARD to believe that 16 years ago

I held in my arms a sweet innocence little baby
Breana. Now she walks, talks and DRIVES!!!
We had a GREAT party with everyone there.
I made a slide presentation of the past year,
we had a baroque and her friends came.

At our Relief Society in March, I
purchased a darling scrapbook
made by Staci Wright at our
Service Auction. Then I rearranged it
to make a scrap book of parts of Breana's life.

It was fun to remember so many
wonderful memories. I love her tons!
On the computer, I made an iron on for a
back pack, with a camera, coupon for Disney
dollars and an autograph book all for the
Disneyland trip. This is the b-day gift for
each grandchild this year since our trip
to Disneyland is our birthday and
Christmas gifts to them. They all seem fine
with that decision.

Crusin' with Shed

Sheldon came over with Hayze. She did NOT want me to take
this picture BUT she was so excited to ride the scooter,
helmet and all. Then it was sweet to watch. . . .


as they rode up the street together. Somethings never change,
because just like when Sheldon was little, as they rode away,
part of my heart went with them as I prayed for their safety

Melanie's 26th Birthday

For Melanie's birthday I made Big Dutch Baby

and took stuff for the little girls to set the table before
they went to work. Marley was so happy
to set the table for her mom. They love their mama.
We put the candle in her piece of Big Dutch Baby.

I made Melanie a Shuttefly book of her life.
I love her so much. When I made the book
I was reminded of what a wonderful,
talent person Melanie is.
I hope she could see it from her book.

These silly girls wanted to wear my glasses.

We had a good laugh especially when Livi wanted
to be like the big girls.