Happy Birthday Emma...Happy Birthday Wyatt

Today, the twins turned 7.  I started their day with individual face time calls.  After I sang to Wyatt, I asked him to hang up and I called back and sang to Emma.  I said something like, were you worried that I didn't sing to you with Wyatt and she said, no grandma, you always call me separately!  I guess they notice more than I thought.  That evening, we met up at Polly's for a birthday dinner.  They got their faces painted and had a fun time in the kids center.  Happy birthday you two.

Dark or Milk Chocolate??

For some reason, Ann has been on my mind the past few days.  There was a beautiful sunset (which always makes me think of her), an outing to Wicked with some friends from my ward (a special show to our friendship), and today, I opened a bag of Lindor candy and pulled out some dark chocolate.  We always split our chocolates---I got the milk and she got the dark!  Where is Ann when you need Her?

Happy Birthday, Owen

Owen turned 3 today!  My baby grandchild isn't such a baby anymore.  He had a very fun birthday party yesterday with some of his friends, and today had a quite birthday with just his family.  Mom and I facetimed him this morning to sing happy birthday and to wish him a happy day.  I'm sure it was...birthday pancakes, presents, and cake...it doesn't get much better than that.  Happy Birthday, sweetheart.

Jekyll and Hyde

For Christmas, I got Amy tickets to four musicals at the Pantages Theater scheduled for this year.  And, of course, she couldn't go alone, so I bought some for me, too!  Today was our first play, Jekyll and Hyde.  We had seen it on Broadway when we were in New York back in 1998.  I loved it then, and I loved it now.  This one had a different cast and a different feel to it...more up-to-date, but just as powerful. Amy particularly enjoyed the male lead, Constantine Moroulis, because she remembered him from his season on American Idol.  It was a very fun afternoon...great music and great company.

Knott's Season Passes

 Todd and Amy decided to try Knott's Berry Farm season passes this year, and they included me in the fun.  We went for our first time today, and boy, has it changed since I was last there.  Lots of new rides...and lots of people enjoying the new rides.  Some of them looked too much for me, but I had fun on the ones I tried, especially the Sidewinder.

 Camp snoopy was fun for Owen where he got to meet the loveable dog, and even gave him some "flowers" he picked on the way into the park.  (I wonder if Snoopy can tell the difference between flowers and dandelions?)

 Emma had fun in the bounce house

 The train was how I remembered it, bad guy and all.

Is this sweatshirt even legal at Knott's?

Monday's Memory--Three Minettes and Me

I came across this picture the other day and it made me smile...I love it!  I love the fact that we all had brown and pink on without ever consulting each other.  I love Emma holding her teddy bear...a love that she still has today...of all things stuffed.  I love that this is 4 generations, all of us daughters.  And I love the name Minette.  Helen Minette, Amy Minette, Emma Minette.  Yep, that's right, no Jan Minette!  Somehow, I got skipped.

EMMA

One day recently, Emma and I were talking about initials and she pointed out that hers spelled out the first three letters of her name, EMM.  After a little thought, we decided that she needs to marry someone whose last name starts with an A.  That way she would be Emma Minette Mortensen A_______ (fill in the blank)...EMMA!  Pretty cool.  Watch out all you Andersons, Armstrongs, and Andrews, Emma is keeping an eye on your sons!

The Perfect Day

This past Saturday I was in Utah and boy was it great day...actually, a perfect day!

It started by watching Tayson playing in not one, but two basketball games... 

Then we had some snow fun in the back yard...and I got to make a snow angel.

 

We went sledding on the hill at the kids school...

and then went walking on a FROZEN lake!

Standing in the lake were we docked the boat last summer.

Look how thick the ice was!

Back home, it was a quick warm up with hot chocolate..

 

...and then a delicious dinner at Brick Oven...

 ...where we were joined by Cosmo!

It was a busy, fun-filled day.  But it was wonderful having all that fun with Todd, Kathy, and the kids. I love going to Utah to be with them, and it's always hard to leave.  The good news is that I know I'll be seeing them soon.

Grandma's car

When Todd was in high school, mom promised him that in her will, he would get her car.  He was really excited about it then, but as the years went by, it became somewhat of a joke because the car got older and he eventually could afford to buy any car he wanted.  But mom hasn't driven a car in years, and couldn't even get into hers because it is so low to the ground.  So, Todd drove it back to Utah when he went home after Christmas.  He is using it to drive to and from the airport.  When I met him there this past weekend, this was our ride home...after we shoveled off the snow and dug the tires out!