DADS!

So last month the little group I have formed, MOMS (Mothers of Missionaries and Servicemen), (again, a shoutout to Lisa for the idea) met for lunch at uber-yummy Paradise Bakery and Cafe. I've decided I should basically take up residency there because I go there so much for lunch, but always with different groups of people. Weird.

Anyway! This month I decided to include the DADS (Do As Directed Sotheydon'tgetintobigtroublewiththeirwives) for an evening get together as opposed to lunch with just the MOMS. We have 14 missionaries and one serviceman serving from our ward. About half of our group was able to make it at The Smoking Apple, and we had a great time sharing and bragging and sharing and bragging about our missionaries and serviceman. The DADS were pretty emphatic that we include them next go-round too. Fine by me--the more the merrier--plus it doesn't hurt that my wallet didn't take a direct hit when Dave paid our bill :)

Fridays with Kimball!

Isn't he the CUTEST little thing ever! Check out those yummy cheeks! Couldn't you just eat him up? Kimball was not taking his eyes off of his mommy after she came home. He loves her so much! And his daddy too! He is such a lucky little boy to have two parents who love him and adore him as they do. And me! I adore him too! I'm so lucky that I get to be with him more than just Fridays, cuz I love him!

So I've come up with my own nickname for Kimball: King Tut. Two reasons: 1) He is pretty much the king of the household for the time being; and, 2) he is always tootin' (if you catch my meaning). As in King Tutankhamun. You get it, right? Ah, well. Sorry. But I think it is really rather fitting. So now sit back and check out this video of King Tut (the video won't allow me to imbed it, so just click here): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP7AJiQM2RI

Shouldn't This Be the Other Way Around?

Ashley, Jordan and Kimball gave me this beautiful flower--and not just any flower, but one of my most favorite kinds of flower in my very favorite color--as a thank you for my help with the baby. What? How's that again? Shouldn't I be thanking them for allowing me to be so much a part of all of this giddyness, happiness, yummyness, and funness of Baby Kimball? (You can look up that word, "funness," and call me out on it if you want. I happen to think it fits quite nicely in this particular instance.) Thanks so much for letting me hang out with you guys! I absolutely love it!

Fridays with Kimball!

Yay!!! It is Friday! That means I get to hang out with one of my favorite people! Actually, I have been extremely blessed to be able to babysit Kimball several times this week, and I can't seem to get enough of his "new-baby-smell!" It follows me home, and sometimes I can still catch of whiff of him during my evening. That "new-car-smell" has NOTHING on this little guy! Check out Kimball after Ashley and I bathed him today.

It would be a huge understatement to say that he didn't absolutely and completely LOVE his bathtime, hence the pacifier. He was a trooper though, and once he was bundled in his little bear towel, he was up for the next challenge.

So, I have something to say about being a grandmama that hasn't really been voiced to me so far by other grandmamas. It is true what you all say that being a grandparent is the best of both worlds: Receiving all of the enjoyment and thrill of a new little baby but without all of the work and sleeplessness of a new little baby. True enough! Amen, sister! I love it! BUT!!! Listen up now! I have discovered in these last three weeks that I am equally moved by witnessing my own daughter grow so graciously and lovingly into the role of "mother." Why didn't you tell me how astounding that is? As I sat on the nursery floor today gazing on as Ashley sat in the rocker feeding her baby, I felt so much love for my little girl; a whole new type of love; a love of awe and a love of wonder at how my heart could possibly expand even more with love for her. It is nothing short of exquisite.

Elder Sean!

Here are some pictures of my awesome Elder Sean. We received the first two photos from Sean's mission president just last week, accompanied by a lovely letter dated November 26, 2008. (I'm starting to figure out that the snail mail to and from Honduras is slower than molasses going uphill in January. Sean wrote in today's email that he finally received the Christmas package we put in the mail to him over a month ago.) But I don't care. I'm just glad to receive anything! (And praise the high heavens for email!) The third and fourth photos are some that Sean attached to his email last week. (Praise the high heavens for email again!) Doesn't he look so happy!!! !And that makes la mama' feliz tambien!


Above is Sean with his mission president, the mission president's wife, and a big bunch of happy missionaries!

Sean immediately felt an attachment and love for his mission president.

It is rather hard to see in the above photo, but barbed wire sits atop the wall surrounding Sean's house. Sean tells us that he and his companion are grateful to be in this new house because of the added security provided by the barbed wire. What?! Should I be worried??? I think Sean will be regarded as a spiritual giant as well as a physical giant among the lovely Honduran people!

Fridays with Kimball

For the time being, I (yes, me, me, me!!!) have the awesome and lucky privilege of taking care of Kimball for several hours every Friday while Ashley and Jordan are off doing something un-Kimball-ish, thus un-fun, like boring old work and/or school. Who's the winner in this equation? (Yes, me, me, me!!!) Here is today's edition of the most darling grandbaby ever!
Just what, exactly, do you suppose he's dreaming about with that sly little grin on his face? Oooo, he is so cute!

It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This, Folks

Baby Kimball is all set for his first car ride as he heads home from the hospital. See how he revs up his infant car seat and shifts it into gear--he is very advanced for his age.

Kimball absolutely adores his mommy and daddy. He turns his head toward them whenever he hears them talking; he is such a smart and alert little boy. He has won my complete heart already.

Look at Kimball checking out his mom and dad. He's just making sure that his mommy and daddy are following through with their part of "The Contract." Kimball's part of "The Contract" is to eat, sleep, cry, mess, melt hearts, create smiles, prompt laughs, and bring boundless amounts of love into his family. Mommy and Daddy's part of "The Contract" is to feed, change, rock, never sleep, worry, bath, wash, fold, (take a breath), feed, change, rock, never sleep, worry, . . . AND receive an inconceivable amount of joy and love, never imagine life without this spirit, give thanks for such a miracle, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy, relish, marvel, oh!, and cough up a sweet little roadster in about 16 years. (Kimball whispered that last part to me.)

Great Grandma Bea had a lively "get acquainted" visit with Kimball, but I swear I caught her telling him all of the family secrets when we weren't watching . . .

This is when Great Grandma Bea was telling Kimball what an exceptionally wonderful Grandma Dee he has, and she was also warning him not to jump off of rooftops with an umbrella or a kite like one of his great uncles did--twice! (Great uncle shall remain nameless).

I'm telling you, it just doesn't get much better than this. A miracle has happened. It is so wonderful, so spiritual, so miraculous, so joyful. It is difficult to describe the enormous blessing of expanded love that Heavenly Father so freely gives to our hearts. Just when you think that you can't possibly love anyone any more than you love your family, . . . boom!!! . . . there is this new, tender, sweet little spirit that fills your heart with unspeakable and indescribable amounts of love, and you wonder what you ever did without him. Honestly, it is a miracle. That's all there is to it. It makes me weep with joy. I can hardly believe how blessed we are.

The "High Society" Jet Set

Turning 16 years old is something of a marker or milestone in one's life, so I asked Christian if he would like to have a party to celebrate this significant birthday. I threw out suggestions of typical teenager-ish stuff to do, but when I said we could host a very lovely and very formal dinner at our home, he was all over that! So, Dave and I were sous chef and chef, respectively, and Christian played the perfect suave and debonair host. It was a magical evening, and the guests were on their very best behavior and showed perfect manners and genteel upbringing (for the most part . . . the whoopi cushion? Well, we could have done without that . . . jk). Here, then, is the menu as well as some photographs of the latest crop of jet setters:

Chez Sagers

December 12, 2008

MENU

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Salad Course

Fresh Exotic Greens, Colored Peppers,

Grape Tomatoes, Seasoned Croutons, Choice of Dressing

***

Soup Course

Creamy Cheddar Broccoli Soup

or

Hearty Chicken Pasta Soup

***

Palate Cleanser

Trio of Miniature Raspberry Sherbet Balls

***

Entree'

Breaded Chicken Cordon Bleu

Twice Baked Potatoes with Bacon, Cheddar Cheese and Herbs

Crisp Pears and Globe Grapes

***

Dessert

New York Cheesecake with Caramel and Chocolate Drizzle

or

Mile High Chocolate Cake with Dark Chocolate Icing

***

Sparkling Grape Cider

Sparkling Apple Cranberry Cider

***

Happy 16th birthday

to my handsome boy!

Cheers!