What Ten Years Feels Like

(My handsome dates for my anniversary dinner.  I chose sushi.  It was bad.  No more sushi for long time.)

Ten years, and it feels like way more.  We were put through the ringer the first year of our marriage- I highly DO NOT recommend going through a custody evaluation/court battle during those first 12 months. No fun.  Neither is trying to get pregnant  in the middle of it, and failing miserably.  Which is a crazy thing to do, anyway.  But by the end of that first year, we had Parker and Maddy and a baby on the way.  And we celebrated at KFC-  Aaron's choice.

To say that we don't celebrate our anniversary like we should is the understatement of the year.  We are horrible at it.  (I mean, sushi on a Tuesday night at a restaurant 5 minutes away, with your 4 year old in tow, to celebrate ten years?)  But what we do really well is love each other through the every day, mundane, imperfect, and demanding parts of our life together.  We don't always agree.  And, occasionally, we argue.  But those butterflies that fluttered so often in the early years have woven a pretty cozy and familiar blanket around my heart.  He is the best thing that ever happened to me and my life, and I love him a whole lot.

We're thinking that maybe we'll go big with the 10 1/2 year mark.  Or 11.  Any good trip suggestions out there? 

Let Us Eat Cake

We have some important events to celebrate at our house this weekend!

Today is Aaron's 44th birthday. I honestly thank the heavens for that man every day of my life, so I'm especially looking forward to celebrating him today! Although, I still need to go buy the presents. (Busy week.)

Today, we are also celebrating Jack's Preschool Graduation. Since he has a late birthday, I have always planned on waiting until he was 6 to start kindergarten. But now that he is finished with preschool, it's obvious we are both ready for him to start kindergarten next year. He's all registered, and we have his 5 year old "shots" appointment next month. And while I'm a little bit sad that our baby is growing up (in just the blink of an eye he'll be graduating from high school) I'm also excited to move onto the next phase of life.

Of course, Monday we'll celebrate a rainy Memorial Day, and Tuesday will mark 10 years of marriage for us.  TEN years.  Sometimes it feels like yesterday, and other days it feels like we've been together all of our lives.  More to come on that.  But for now, we have some major celebrating of my favorite people to do!  Yay for happy days.   

His "Mad" Face

Today Jack was standing in front of the television when Maxwell said "Uh, Jack's toe is bleeding."  Jack had no idea his big toe was a bloody mess. And no idea how it ended up that way.  So we went to Alpine Pediatrics where the Nurse Practitioner told Jack he was a very brave boy, and wouldn't need stitches.  RELIEVED!  She cleaned his toe, bandaged it up nicely, and sent him home with a sucker, a bouncy ball, and a sticky hand that is now semi-permanently stuck to the vaulted ceiling.  Awesome.

I told Jack to make a happy face for a picture for Dad.  He preferred his mad face, and there you have it.

Maxwell's First Great Space Coaster Derby

 Maxwell (8) April 2011

The odds were stacked against us beginning two weeks ago when we left (last minute) for California.  We brought the Space Derby Kit with us, with every good intention to bring to life an amazing, and winning space shuttle, but sadly, the little kit was never given a second thought.  By the time we got home (from a trip that so deserves it's own lengthy and detailed account), Aaron was scheduled to fly to Illinois on business the very day of Maxwell's very first Great Space Coaster derby.  I was sad, and tried not to let it show.  I'm still sad, but now choosing to be vocal about it. 

(Deep breath) ANYWAY, that left a 24 hour period to finish up the space derby shuttle/coaster/ship.  And by the grace of good dad and patient son karma , Aaron and Maxwell did it.  And then, sadly, Dad flew away to help the lame people of whatever company he is consulting.

Uncle Grant, cheerfully, saved the day and did his best to make that space coaster win.  But it didn't.  I was too busy ranking winners and losers to feel super competitive about it.  Although, I'm currently strategizing how to win next year's Pine Wood Derby. 

But the moral of the story is this- it's okay to lose your first Great Space Coaster Derby when your great-grandma passes away 3 weeks before, and your parents don't have the time or mental capacity to help you work on your space derby coaster thing.  And the consolation ribbon, and yellow, frosted, sugar cookie don't hurt either.

Ethel Taylor Nakashima

 

My "Gramma" (as we called her) passed away on March 31st.  She lived a long and full life, which included a successful marriage, raising 3 kids, surviving breast cancer, and traveling the world. Some of my fondest, childhood memories were spent with her and my Pamps.  She was the grandparent I always felt closest to.  

I am so happy she and my Grandpa are finally together again.  After my Grandpa passed away, my Gramma would claim at every Christmas that this one would be her last.  It was a long 29 years, but I know they are as happy together today as they look in this picture.

For Gramma Nakashima from Aaron & Mandee Grant on Vimeo.

And laslty, I found this video the other day.  My Gramma had moved to Utah, but was staying with my Uncle Jeff in Bakersfield during the winter.  We were waiting for her to come home, and thought we'd send her a video letting her know that we missed her.  Charlie was 2 1/2.   I am so thankful for the time we were able to have with her, and even more thankful that my kids were able to know her and have a relationship with her.  We miss you Gramma, and we love you.

Half Baked Posts That Never Made The Cut

Am I the only one who thinks in FaceBook and Twitter through most of the day?  It's ridiculous, and annoying, and I should really quit both because I feel like I am becoming more shallow by the day.

But they are entertaining.  Which is similar to thinking I need to quit watching The Bachelor, and yet, it's a train wreck I just can't stop watching ... over, and over, and over again.

(See ... so shallow!)

Since I missed all opportunity to FB or tweet, even with a "smart phone", I figure I'll share my thoughts/posts here;


9:00am-- Charlie's teacher told him yesterday that his chips and juice box weren't a "healthy" snack.  I think I'll send a twinkie with him on Monday.

11:45am-- Just had an (almost) 3 hour breakfast with some of my favorite girlfriends.  I needed that.  Miss and LOVE them!

1:00pm-- Whoever thought the mini shopping carts at Smith's were a good idea should be shot.  Get off my heals, Charlie!  #easilyannoyedtoday

4pm-- Aaron gets home from a week long business trip in Boston tonight. Long week.  For the both of us. He survived snowmagedon.  I survived crazykidsmagedon.  It's all about the -magedon these days.

6:30pm-- After noticing that I bought a 5 hour "energy/vitamin/caffeine" shot, my daughter told me that they had a lesson on The Word of Wisdom today in Seminary.  "And we're not supposed to drink caffeine ..." I said.
"Or energy drinks", she replied.
They didn't have energy drinks when I was in seminary, so I never learned that rule.  Claiming ignorance.  Besides, vitamins, right? 

7pm-- Starting a new diet on Monday.  Celebrating by eating a sleeve of Oreos, and making sure I have big plans that include chocolate cake this weekend.  #nomoredietcoke

P.S.  Anyone want in on my diet?  There's a pot of cash involved?! #i'lldoalmostanythingformoney

Social media ... isn't it the best.

Christmas 2010

 

Christmas 2010

(I am in an honest enough mood to admit that this is not my favorite picture of my kids. And it was $15.) 

I promised Aaron that I wouldn't write about how this was our worst Christmas ever, so I won't.  So let's remember these things:

1. The conversation I had with Charlie just days before Christmas ... said in the midst of grumpy, overly hyper kids throwing Legos at each other

Me: You know what I want for Christmas? I want kids that will get along!

Charlie: Do you mean new kids, or us? 

2. Having my dad sleepover on Christmas Eve and spend all of Christmas day with us- something he never does.

3. Fun parties and dinners with friends, family, and neighbors. Including our very first non-kid New Year's Eve celebration. Sign me up for that next year!

4. Visiting the Santa at Gateway Mall that was  grumpy and missing most of his bottom teeth.  He went on to scold me about what my kids had told him they want for Christmas- all Nintendo Dsi's.  And while this whole experience put me in a bad mood, I'm throwing it on my list so I'll remember next year where NOT to take our kids.
(p.s. I think Max is starting to question the existence of Santa, as I guess he should at 8 years old.)
 
5. Talking to Parker for a little over an hour.  That was definitely the highlight of our Christmas. The little boys said hello and I love and miss you, and then went on to play with new toys.  I was in the middle of making dinner, so I popped in and out of the conversation.  Aaron and Maddy were glued to the phone.  It was the best for how hard it was. Still missing him a lot.

(p.s. his being gone is the reason this was our worst Christmas ever.)
 
We've already made reservations at The Morgan Bed and Breakfast in California for next Christmas.  And no one can talk me out of it.

Merry Christmas's

It's amazing how heavy the nostalgia becomes when the oldest child leaves home. This week I stumbled upon our family history of Christmas cards.  Still looking for 2004 and 2006 (we missed 2002 and 2009). 

{2001}
Parker 10, Maddy 7 

Married a mere 6 months. When bedtime and Christmas were a piece of cake. 

{2003}

Parker 12, Maddy 9, Maxwell 1

  One of my favorite family pictures ever. 

{2005}

Parker 14, Maddy 11, Maxwell 3, Charlie 1

I like to call this our honest family picture.  Grumpy baby.  Fed up toddler.  Happy big kids.  And the crazy part- I had just found out that we were (unexpectedly) expecting another baby. 4 weeks pregnant. 

{2007}

Parker 16, Maddy 13, Maxwell 5, Charlie 3, Jack 1

 

{2008}

Parker 17, Maddy 14, Maxwell 6, Charlie 4, Jack 2

{2010}

Parker 19, Maddy 16, Maxwell 8, Charlie 6, Jack 4

The oldest on a mission, the youngest completely potty trained.  Middle aged parents, self sufficient kids.  Ever evolving life and family.  At the end of my trip down Christmas card memory lane, I am feeling very blessed, and incredibly grateful for the little family we have.  

Merry Christmas.

New York City In June or The Day We Saw Tom Cruise

Let's finale this thing before the details get lost in the fog of my memory.

So, New York City was incredible.  What I wasn't prepared for?  How stinky it was.  And dirty.  No one tells you "I love New York City- it's so dirty and gross!"  But I will tell you.  Every night I came back to hotel room wanting to take a shower.  Nevertheless, I loved it and want to go back.  So the awesomeness definitely outweighs the grossness. 

We drove from Rochester into the city.  The drive was beautiful.  But navigating Manhattan on your own- I don't recommend doing that.  

Lincoln Tunnel- when you come out on the other side, you enter complete chaos. 

See?  Complete chaos.  We stayed at the Marriott Times Square.  The same hotel where just a few weeks earlier, a van with a bomb was parked in front of.  That did great things for my anxiety level.  But our hotel is to the right of us.  And Aaron, after driving around in circles trying to get to our hotel, ended up ditching me and the kids in a "Bus Loading Only" zone, and then took off.  I checked us in, got us up to our room.  And then sat on the bed on the verge of having an anxiety attack.

 

We were there from Friday-Wednesday.  And we packed it in.  One thing I realized once we got home is that we are horrible at taking pictures on vacations. This was at the top of Rockefeller Center. (Or Top of The Rock.)   

 

More from the top of Rockefeller Center.  Parker holding The Empire State Building.  We went there, too, but no pictures. 

 The M&M Store.  I'm sticking this picture on here just because we miss Parker and his antics.  

 Aaron (and Parker) loved the NBC Store.  Somehow, I missed it. 

The Museum of Modern Art.  We are not art people, and I'm just going to be honest and say we didn't love it.  Anyway, that wall behind Parker and Maddy, and Starry Nights, is temporary.  And the security guard freaked out over how close the kids were to the painting and the wall.  Whoops. We left after that. 

 Outside of Carnegie Deli.  The pastrami was heaven.  

Sunday, after church.  Now that would have been a good sight seeing picture to take- outside of the LDS church/Temple building.  But nope- no picture there, either.  We went to Sacrament meeting- it was incredible.  Small chapel in a high rise. And the entire congregation had professional voices.  

 My drunk on sprite husband.  "Getcha hands outta thair."

We saw Wicked on Maddy's sweet 16 birthday.  We LOVED it!  I cried my eyes out. 

We finished celebrating Maddy's big day at Serendipity.  After I took this picture, Tom and Suri Cruise walked in and were sat right behind where Parker is sitting.  We were seriously dying!

DYING! It was a memorable birthday moment for Maddy!

Rockefeller Center- where the gold statue man is, and those umbrellas are where the ice skaters skate in the winter time.  We didn't wake up at the crack of dawn to do The Today Show.  But we did hit the JCrew store across the street.  

 Grand Central Station.  

 

We LOVED the Museum of Natural History.  We ate at the Shake Shack afterward for lunch.  One of the best cheeseburgers I've ever had.  And they had fountain diet coke.  Which, for your information, is hard to find in NYC. 

Aaron took close to one hundred photos of the church and fire station across from Ground Zero.  It was a pretty incredible experience to see it all in person.  

More stuff we don't want to forget; 

1. Juniors- where we would grab breakfast in the morning, and a treat and diet coke at the end of each very long day.

2. Our 30 minute experience on Canal Street.  We didn't see "the good stuff".  

3. The Nannies + kids at the park in the Financial District.

4. Central Park- which smells a lot like urine, and the crazy man who followed us.
5. The peddler on the corner who was selling "The Ultimate Stimulus Package".
6. The Apple Store.
7. The street dancers- they were awesome!
8. The Muslim wedding party in the middle of the street in front of Grand Central Station.

And lastly, a special thank you to Grant & Kelly, and my mom for watching the boys so we could take our big kids on a really fun vacation.  Even though I was a nervous wreck, and was convinced that I was going to die- to the point of actually typing up a will (which we should really have already had on file)- we had the best time, and made really great memories with Parker and Maddy. 

The End. 

We Have Ourselves A Missionary

Or a "mishamary" as Jack and Charlie call him.  He's been in the MTC for 11 days, and it already feels like forever.  I keep waiting for him to walk in the back door, 5 minutes after curfew.

Can I admit that I miss him more than I thought I would?  I mean, I knew I would miss the kid.  As hard as it was to "parent" him, and there were some difficult days, I knew from past experiences with Scout Camp, soccer tournaments, and EFY that when he's gone for a any amount of time, he is sorely missed by everyone in our house.  But this is so much worse than Scout Camp or EFY.  There's a BIG empty spot in our house and it's sad.

We got our first letter last Tuesday.  He loves the MTC, his district, and the church.  We laughed at his "Parker" humor, and then talked about if we could only be a fly on the wall.  What I would give to see him as a missionary.

The Drop Off Day (just so we don't forget):  He chose sushi for his lunch with the family.  We went to Happy Sumo at Riverwoods, and we were the ONLY missionary family there.  I was only a little bit surprised by that.  I'm guessing Sizzler and Olive Garden were where the action was at.  But Parker has always had a preference for delicious and expensive food.  After lunch, we met his Mom at the Provo Temple so he could say goodbye.  And then we drove across the street to the MTC.  We were directed to almost the very last curb-side parking slot, and as we found our way there, we passed an army of missionaries standing along the curb greeting all of the new missionary arrivals.  It was an amazing thing to see so many young faces who were committed to serving the Lord for 2 years all over the world.  I immediately lost it. 

Parker anxiously hopped out of the car, shook hands with the 4 missionaries assigned to our parking stall, and grabbed his luggage.  He was ready.  He hugged us all.  Said his goodbyes.  And was on his way.  Not a tear shed, that we saw.  Meanwhile, Aaron, Maddy, and I stood by crying our eyes out.

We cried some more on the way home.  Jack and Charlie asked when Parker would be home.  Max, I think, understood more seriously what 2 years meant.  Aaron tried to go back to work, only to come home early.  Our house was quiet and somber.  And still feels very empty.

There is some sense of relief in sending Parker on a mission.  It's knowing that he made it.  And not because of anything we necessarily said or did.  But we've spent the last 9 years crossing our fingers, and praying our hearts out that he'd choose to serve a mission.  And the day finally came that he did.  And it was all his choice completely. There is also a sense of relief knowing that someone else is enforcing the rules and his curfew.  And in not having to worry about girls, text messaging, and where he is at night.

He leaves for Jacksonville, FL December 8th.  We know a handful of people that live in that mission who we are hoping will help keep him fed and remind him that he is loved and missed by us at home.

To Florida- prepare for Elder Parker Grant.  That boy is a force to be reckoned with, and he's got some good news to share with you!

New York- The Church History Part

This post is straight up, just the facts and site seeing.  Nothing exciting.  But for me, it was the highlight of our trip. Our second day, we drove from Rochester to Palmyra, and I found myself wanting to house hunt in that cute, quaint, little town.  Between the old brick houses, the sprawling yards with huge trees, I fell in love.  And regrettably, I didn't take any pictures of that part of town.  

We started our tour at the Smith Family farm. 

This used to be the road that was actually used to drive through town.  On the right side is the Smith family house, and Sacred Grove, and on the left is Alvin Smith's house.  The Church eventually created a new paved road.  It is crazy to me that just 20 years ago, people were driving right through the property.

The Palmyra Temple built just across the street from the Smith Family property.  The story is told that after the temple was built, President Hinckley wanted to trim the trees so that you could see the Sacred Grove from the temple window.  This is the only clear window in any of the temples.  The city denied his request.  But soon after, a storm came through town, and just happened to clear away the branches and trees to allow the view from the temple window.  

Alvin Smith's house.  He was the oldest of the Smith brothers.  This house was a mansion compared to the small Smith family home.  It had been bought and sold through the years. The church eventually reclaimed it, and recently stripped away the additions restoring it to it's original state.

Aaron took a picture in front of this house when he was on his mission.  I need to find it to compare. 

The Smith family barn.  

Parker in front of the cooper's shed. 

The pathway to the Sacred Grove.  It was more beautiful than I expected.  It lies just behind the Smith house- incredible that such a beautiful place of peace and refuge was in their backyard.

One of my favorite pictures from our trip.  Maddy and Aaron. Sacred Grove.  Special.

We drove by the temple on our way to the Hill Cummorah.  It was tiny- maybe as big as a church building, but smaller than a Stake Center.

Maddy, Aaron, and Parker at the Hill Cummorah Monument. 

At the Visitor's Center at the Hill Cummorah, where we happened to run into Aaron's mission president's younger brother, who was serving a mission with his wife. Small world.

The Urban Spoon app, care of my phone, suggested Mark's Pizzeria, and we were in heaven.  The cheese bread was to die for!

The EB Grandin Building was also incredible. This is where the first Books of Mormon were published.
A: it is incredible what went into making a book back in those days.
And 2- it is an amazing story.  They still have the original ink splattered on the walls, and the original wood floors. The towns people would often meet in this building to talk about the latest goings on, or to play games and read books.   

I wanted those books, and the book shelves.

After that, we got some ice cream.  Parker, Maddy, and Kaylie.

And Aaron makes the best faces.

We walked down the street to see Alvin's grave.   He is the only one in his family buried there.

Then to the Martin Harris farm.  There wasn't much here- a house and property.  The house wasn't the original, and they don't give tours.  So we took a picture of Parker and the sign. But the couple here told us about a fireside that night at the Peter Whitmer farm.  So we drove about 15 minutes to Fayette.

We arrived to find out that the fireside had been canceled.  And the cute, little missionary couple was locking up the building.  They were nice enough to let us in, and give us the tour anyway.  Once we stepped inside the chapel, Aaron realized it was the building he had been in when he conducted a missionary conference while on his mission.  President Hinckley was presiding, and Aaron was able to sit next to him.  They also let us walk through the Peter Whitmer home.  

And there you have it. Our church history tour in a big nutshell.  By far my favorite part of our entire trip.  So worth it!