Super Nana

2011-12-25T14:44:00.000-08:00

Photos from 2010 Christmas Eve dinner

2010 Christmas Day with baby Beckett

Why photos from 2010, my camera quit working Christmas Eve. Wow, new battery on it's way, thanks to Elliott and his amazon quick ship.

First Timers at the farm

2011-10-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

Fun times at the farm with a whole lot of "first timers". Jonny, Krista, Max and Charlie, Elliott, Alisa and Beckett. This photo shows first bites of s'mores.

Beckett Couldn't wait for dinner any longer so he reached over and took the bread that was cooling on the table and started taking bites. Really warmed my heart, let him keep nibbling until his dinner arrived.

Max reading his rocket book in the tree house. His favorite place to hang out.

Lots of rocking and bouncing

The pumpkin hunt

Rocket launching.....

Fun times in Arizona

2011-09-07T15:45:00.001-07:00

Here is a small glimpse of the fun times we had over the brief visit to Arizona.....

Gathered together after a swim, all the G-kids...

Summer Fun

2011-07-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

The last Easter

2011-04-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

First flowers of Spring, Easter morning 2011

I love these faces!

2011-04-08T06:58:00.000-07:00

I believe every picture tells a story and these faces say joy and love to me. That's what every mother wants for their children. My cup runneth over.....thank you one and all!

Pure Joy....

joy....

The grand canyon sees something beautifully grand....these faces. (can't believe it cut Claire off)

Beckett turns 11 months with zeal...

Enough pictures, maybe what he's thinking?

Charlie's blessing. Our faces may be missing, but our hearts were there.

alisa,elliott&beckett,trevor&lily,brianne,jonny&krista,chuck&max,bonnie&claire, kayla and beav

The only thing that makes missing these kinds of events bareable is photos like this, where Jonny&Krista are supported and surrounded by so much love. I love you all. Thanks for the photos.

Brianne sent these photos to me. This has to be my favorite one of Krista and the two brennan babies. (I can't believe when I copied it cut max off)

Thank You.

2010-07-21T16:05:00.001-07:00

Thank you Brianne for the thoughtful gift box from NYC & Arizona. The photos were the best! You made my week. Missing all of you, but feeling grateful to be moving forward. I'll try another video tomorrow, the one I took yesterday won't load on the blog. (Brennan, I love the glow in the dark bat, makes me miss the farm)!

A start, a NEW start

2010-07-19T21:17:00.000-07:00

For Brennan and everyone else, this is what I was able to record today, more tomorrow.

Love you all! MOM

Birthday Shopping with Claire

2010-04-30T12:35:00.000-07:00

Claire's birth day is Sunday and she will be 4. I think I enjoy 4 and 5 year olds the most, every stage and age is an adventure, but there's just something about 4 and 5. I was blessed to get to spend a lot of time with Bella and Brennan when they were those ages. That may have decided it for me as a favorite age. Sometimes on Thursdays I get to pick up Claire after school at Adobe Montessori and we get some "Nana Time". Well, that's what we got yesterday. These photos show some of what we did. We shopped for a hat and flowers to make part of the costume she will wear at her Operetta on May 8, 2010. After we shopped, designed and made the hat together, I wanted a picture. One picture turned into several photo shoots. We went outside to get a few came back downloaded them and she said, "Let's take some more", well on a "Nana day" the g-kids get to do most of what they want. So we had fun running in and out of the house and downloading pictures after each shoot. I've shared just 3, but that Claire, she's got the moves and poses. About the post title, "Birthday shopping for Claire", it involved in order getting pretzel bites at the mall, going to Macy's to look for nana shoes, (we aborted, just wasn't fun enough). Next we went to the store of her choice to buy what she wanted. Her choices were "Claire's", and Build a Bear. It was a hard choice, but quickly made. When she said, "I want to go to both" and I told her to pick just 1, she immediately said, "Claire's". Claire may forget this day shopping, but I won't. We spent a long time in Claire's looking at everything way more than once. She finally made her choices, A musical jewelry box with a twirling ballerina that plays "Swan Lake" and a necklace with a flower, to wear the day she preforms the "operetta", as a flower. Oh, Claire, you are my joy, my flower and my current favorite (almost) 4 year old.

Ducks?@!

2010-02-15T13:05:00.000-08:00

We knew Wilma was no Fred, but come on, ducks in the yard and it takes Bella and Claire to scare them off. Notice at the end of the video, Wilma is standing behind the girls as they forge forward. Wow, oh well, she is a pup. We say that a lot, "she's just a pup".

Here's to a New Year....

2010-01-18T18:41:00.001-08:00

Christmas Eve with Brennan, Papa, Claire and Elliott

Jonny, Krista and Max Christmas Eve

Claire, Papa, Wilma and Bella outside

The attack of lil "Lil"

Krista, Max and Wilma, (our new puppy Weimeraner)

Lily, Bella, Papa and Wilma at 7 weeks

The spirit of Christmas

2009-12-28T08:44:00.000-08:00

Claire Dec 20th getting ready for the fun!

Christmas morning at the Lines home

I'm grateful

2009-12-19T08:50:00.000-08:00

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
--- Melody Beattie

I'm posting a short video from last December fun with my babies' babies-----I'm thankful for moments like these.

Happy Birthday Max!

2009-11-19T09:35:00.000-08:00

Max is checking out our plug in pumpkin....

Adorable Robin Hood on Halloween

Photos of all my babies babies

Forever Fun....

2009-11-17T11:19:00.000-08:00

Claire came to the farm for the first time this fall

Look at the smile, look at the fun that is Claire. This is a picture of Claire wearing the "flower crown" Bella and I made this summer. She found it and wanted to try it on. She couldn't be more adorable in this photo. I must admit this visit for Claire was anything but what we all hoped for and yet, look at that smile. I adore her. Some of the unexpected events that took place were not small. She got sick almost immediately, with a very painful ear infection. Fall break turned to "winter break" and I'm sure there were more but those were the big ones. In spite of it all she found her smile. That is the essence of Claire. I love you Claire Bear!

Mount Rushmore and the Reptile Gardens

2009-11-17T10:14:00.000-08:00

A not so rare siting of a Mountain Goat, around the bend of Mount Rushmore

In the center of the walk way Brennan, me and Bella

Random photo at Wall Drug

Brennan, Papa, and Bella

The Kimono Dragon wanting a piece of us

The longer we watched him the closer he came. He is who we came to see, a first view of the Kimono Dragon for all of us. Brennan especially loved it here.

Fall Break Adventure

2009-11-17T09:07:00.000-08:00

Water park near Mount Rushmore (indoor)
Wall Drug...an iconic stop for prairie tourists

There is Beauty all around

2009-10-31T14:01:00.000-07:00

Krista and Max and the beauty of Arizona Nature during a recent camping trip
Check out Elliott and Alisa's blog for more Halloween party photos. Also, you'll find the most adorable costumes and children ever at "Our Family", both links are on the right.

Memories of last fall

2009-09-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

Lily

2009-09-15T17:02:00.000-07:00

There are not words to describe how adorably delicious baby Lily is. I haven't seen her since May and I just have to ask, Where did Baby Lily go? 6 months to 10 months, what a lot of change. She is every bit as sweet as ever, I can see it in her every feature. Lots of love, kisses and hugs coming soon...Baby Lily.

CLAIRE BEAR

2009-09-05T17:48:00.000-07:00

Clairebee...

missing you, thinking of you, fasting and praying for you, imagining how good it will feel to get my arms around you when I get home. Got Claire on my mind. Love you sooo much. Can't wait to see you.

One of my favorite pictures of you.

Blessing day for Lily...(fixing her bow) "Lucky Lily"

The looks of Claire, (a favorite expression of mine)

The big day

2009-08-19T06:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Brennan, the big 10. Today is all about you! It was 10 years ago and still is today, August 19, 2009. You've just entered the double digit club. We love and miss you. Happy Happy day.

Love Nana and Papa

My heart sings...

2009-08-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

Gritty mommy, smiley baby....when Brianne was a baby, she was a "gritty baby". This picture is evidence that the "gritty" continues on. She had a soft tiny doll we nicknamed, 'gritty baby", because when baby Brianne put it in her mouth she would bite down and pull so hard she would almost shudder. We still can't believe the head never came off, the doll head that is. Baby Lily is with out a doubt our smiley baby. To see an example of "gritty", watch Claire as she loves and grits on her baby smiley Lily. It makes my heart sing.

I have a new thought, (new to Me), maybe "gritty" babies grow into moms with "Grit".

In our case that is true. True Grit, the very characteristic we all need, to survive/thrive in today's world.

True Grit- My definition: Courage, Strength, Perseverance, Spunk, and just enough fight to not quit or flee when times are tough. The ability to dig deep and self preserve, (means something different to everyone).

Latest view of my babies babies...

2009-08-04T16:53:00.000-07:00

Lily and "little girl?", Elliott and Alisa's kitty.

Gotta love it. Elliott and Alisa in New Zealand at the hobbit house.

Back to school...

Stare down? Love these boys.

Our Max

2009-07-27T17:04:00.000-07:00

We are missing Max and all the adorable antics he exhibits.

These photos are from Krista's Lake Powell album and their trip with the Kennedy family and friends.

Captain Max!

A look not to be resisted, I want to kiss his face.

Hmmmmmm, think I'm having fun.

Looking at the fish

Feeding the fish...

Icy indifference?

2009-07-27T16:24:00.000-07:00

My Nanny, that's what we called Brianne when she was Lily's age. Oh, I love these girls... all of them!

2009-07-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

Beautiful, beyond words....I love these girls.

2009-07-07T10:58:00.000-07:00

Yummy!

Yum

2009-07-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

JUST A MOM?

A woman,

renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office

was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

"What I mean is," explained the recorder,
"do you have a job or are you just a......?"

"Of course I have a job," snapped the woman.

"I'm a Mom."

"We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation,

'housewife' covers it,"
said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until

one day I found myself
in the same situation,

this time at our own Town Hall.

The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,
efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like,
"Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."

"What is your occupation?" she probed.

What made me say it?

I do not know.

The words simply popped out.

"I'm a Research Associate in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations."

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and
looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most
significant words.
Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,
in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask." said the clerk with new interest,

"just what do you do in your field?"

Coolly,
without any trace of fluster in my voice,
I heard myself reply,
"I have a continuing program of research,
[what mother doesn't)
in the laboratory and in the field,
(normally I would have said indoors and out).

I'm working for my Masters,

(first the Lord and then the whole family)
and already have four credits

(all daughters).

Of course,

the job is one of the most demanding in the
humanities,
(any mother care to disagree?)
and I often work 14 hours a day,

(24 is more like it).

But the job is more challenging than most
run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards
are more
of a satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect

in the clerk's voice as she
completed the form, stood up and personally
ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway,

buoyed up by my glamorous new career,
I was greeted by my lab assistants

ages 13, 7, and 3.

Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model,
(a 6 month old baby)

in the child development program,
testing out a new vocal pattern.
I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!

And I had gone on the official records

as someone more
distinguished and indispensable to mankind than
"just another Mom."

Motherhood!

What a glorious career!

Especially when there's a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers
"Senior Research associates
in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations"
and great grandmothers
"Executive Senior Research Associates"?
I think so!!!

I also think it makes Aunts
"Associate Research Assistants".

Happy 4th of July from the farm

2009-07-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

A picture is worth a thousand words, this video adds feeling. I hope you feel their joy,

I do....

2009-06-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

Shhhhh, it's a secret SURPRISE.....for Brennan and Bella at the farm.

but here's a preview of some fun waiting...

click picture for larger view

Freddie's in training to leave the chicks alone. Even though he can't get to them, he scares them to near death with his barks, juke moves and all out spaz fred

(how do you train a trained bird dog hunter to leave chicks alone)? We don't know.....

I love this Boy!

2009-06-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

For Cami....!

2009-06-09T12:48:00.000-07:00

These photos are from last year. One of the most extraordinary sites of my North Dakota experience. Sunflower fields as far as you can see.

Sunflowers always, always face East. Rain or Shine, night or day, always east. I personally think they are waiting for the Son.

We are "At the Farm"...arrival and planting

2009-06-06T12:31:00.001-07:00

After photo of flower field, (after clearing, tilling and planting)

Before photo of flower fields upon arrival

A DAY OF PERFECTION

2009-05-22T07:34:00.000-07:00

In a perfect world.....

We would recognize our greatest talents and act upon them, (with faith not fear).

We would see needs of others, show up and support them, not when it's convenient but when it's obvious, (unconditional love).

We would make decisions for the right reasons and for the best interest of one anothers growth, even if it's painful, (sacrifice).

We would cultivate the ability to "be still" and learn the language of the spirit, (inspiration and revelation).

We would follow through during difficult times of life, hold on to our faith and lean on each, (endurance).

These are the attributes of life in a perfect world, (as least for me).

(Faith, Unconditional Love, Sacrifice, Inspiration and Endurance)

Here is a picture of what it looks like.

RED Letter Day!

2009-05-17T08:50:00.000-07:00

American Girls

2009-05-09T12:07:00.001-07:00

So much fun.... this is Bella and Claire May 2, 2009. The balcony of our hotel overlooked the Marina del Mar. These outfits are adorable the girls enjoyment of them....PRICELESS!

Swinging on the shore of the Marina. Bella is such a patient and loving sister, (almost all of the time).

Arrival at the Marriott Marina Del Mar.....great choice, thanks Jay for finding such a perfect spot for such a fun memory weekend!

We stopped at the outlet mall near Palm Springs, (bathroom break and a little shopping, very little....). This fun ride on was Claire's reward for her cooperation on our stop.

All of them....together, adorable!

2009-04-16T18:02:00.000-07:00

One must remember the faces reflect a long Sunday, not the fun of an Easter egg hunt.....

Family Traditions

2009-04-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

Easter preparation, coloring eggs a long standing family tradition..... p.s. did anyone get pictures of Max and his new "annoying" popper mower from Nana and Papa? If so please share....

Girls, girls, girls.....

2009-04-11T19:07:00.000-07:00

Easter growing up as a child meant a new spring dress, white gloves, new white patten leather shoes, a hat, a purse. It was my mother's speacialty. I loved it and my dad went to church every Easter with us. A memorable joy.

Easter today with my grand daughters is "bracelets", the photos tell it all.

Pure Joy!

2009-03-23T10:23:00.001-07:00

Lily turns 4 months

She brings this face out in everyone she meets!

2009-03-19T15:54:00.000-07:00

Max and Krista vacationing at a beach in MexicoGolf balls? Looks like fun!

The 5 Why's

2009-02-27T08:12:00.000-08:00

Just this week while making a chocolate cake with Claire and Bella I had a conversation with Claire that went something like this: Claire, "Nana I do it", (referring to putting in all the ingredients) Nana "ok Claire, we'll take turns. Then it begins, Claire, "why Nana?" Nana, "because when there's three people that's how we make a cake together." Claire, "why Nana?" Nana, "because it's more fun if we to work together." Claire, "why Nana?" Nana, "we decided to do something fun and we all thought baking a cake together would be fun." Claire, "why Nana?" Nana, "because I LOVE YOU."

Claire, "why Nana"? Nana, "because you're Claire"......

And with that we had communicated.

The Ford Motor Company has something called the 5 why's of communication. It's a process they use to make sure everyone understands what is most important and why they do what they do.

I find joy at this stage of life answering the whys. (it's much easier when you're the Nana) Once again we are taught by the best and the brightest, (toddlers) the art of communication.

Priceless Video

2009-01-29T13:33:00.000-08:00

Please watch and share.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGCxBmoAIAE

and then visit Trevor and Brianne's blog http://www.trevorandbrianne.com/

and then Cami's blog http://cambria-leann.blogspot.com/

Then you'll possibly feel like I do....'The future is in good hands!"

Rookie Videographer.... I love the memory

2009-01-25T09:28:00.000-08:00

Claire on Christmas Eve with her new drum and musical instruments

Max in November before he was officially walking.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-19T10:15:00.000-08:00

The Present and the Future.....merry and bright!

December 17, 2007, our 30th anniversary.....

the future looks bright

Christmas Eve and Bella 2007

......ahhh memories.. and the future looks bright.

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-11-30T01:11:00.000-08:00

Counting our BLESSINGS....

WE have so Many,

Some photo's of just a few

Beautiful Baby LILY

Claire, trying to manage Max and playtime...adorable.

It is so wonderful having Jonny, Krista and Max back!

Thank heaven for little girls. Mine and hers.

PRICELESS

2008-11-23T07:56:00.000-08:00

Miracles and Blessings........

2008-11-16T21:39:00.000-08:00

Last night I got to observe the joy and miracle of a new life coming home to so much love it was, well something words just can't describe.

Brianne and Trevor brought baby Lily Ann Lines home to begin her life in a family full of love hope and faith.

The miracle of adoption, something I haven't experienced as a mom, but have observed and experienced as a Nana. It is a blessing I cherish never to be forgotten.

You may feel some of the joy and love I tried to capture in these pictures as Lily's brother and sisters held and loved on her....

Lily's first moments home.

So much gratitude all around for such a sweet little sleeping girl.

Bella observed and talked about baby Lily's features.

Her beautiful dark hair, pretty skin, her precious little fingers and toes and more.....

It felt like we were drinking her sweetness in, because we were.

The happy "Crew"

Bella was overwhelmed with "tears" of joy. HER words.

Big Brothers don't get any better than this one. So gentle and patient. He makes my heart swell with love and joy.

We're Home!

My baby boy got married in May

2008-11-05T08:08:00.000-08:00

Beautiful true love Alisa

Wedding Day Joy

Max Man

2008-11-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

Little Max, little jeans, little polo, little converse shoes and fall. Adorable! I can't wait for Thanksgiving....

My babies babies......

2008-11-03T10:22:00.000-08:00