Sleeping Bags

My mom was going through the *trailer the other day and came across some gently used sleeping bags. Since I am in need of getting my "camping gear" ready for camping season, she thought to give them to me. I gladly accepted.

I brought them home and found they smelled of old people (no offense grandma and grandpa but as you got older, you didn't have the best hygiene). I opened them up and found this...

All nicely tucked away was a sheet and a pillow in both of the sleeping bags. I took the sheet out of the first one so I could wash it and then I came to the second one. I was so astonished. The sheet and the pillowcase matched! Grandma had even sewed a little yellow and orange border on to the pillow for her special touch!

Grandma had even taken a sheet and sewed the sides and bottom together to fit perfectly into the sleeping bag. She also added ties to both the bottom of the sleeping and the bottom of the sheet to tie together. Not only was it tied together...

It was tied with a BOW! (I swear I did not re-tie it to look like this)

As I added the final sheet to the "wash" pile, I noticed that the sheet from the other sleeping bag matched these sheets but had a different color scheme.

All I could think was "I have the cutest Grandma in the whole entire world!" And I kept saying it over and over again... Because it is soooooo TRUE! I really do have the CUTEST GRANDMA in the WHOLE entire WORLD!!!

Rockin the FEDORA

For those who don't know what a FEDORA hat is... Google Images "Justin Timberlake in fedora" you will find something like this...

One of my girlfriends talked me into buying one... So I brought it over and Grandma decided she needed to try it on. So whether she looks like a Mobster....

Or the sweetest person in the world.... She can totally rock the fedora like Justin!

Can't Recognize Me?!

Just like most "stylish" women, I change my purses after a couple weeks to mix things up (I know some that change it daily, once again, I am NOT that "stylish"). So now I am sporting a simple white Dolce and Gabana (New York knock-off) purse.
After work on Friday, I met up with my Mom and Grandma at Food City. As I am walking down the isle to meet them, Grandma looks at me and says- "I almost didn't recognize you without your yellow purse!" Who would have thought that my BIG YELLOW PURSE would be so embedded in my Grandmother's mind?? Sometimes she doesn't can't recall that she's living with my mom. Hey at least she is remembering me somehow!

Do you think I should get Grandma her own yellow purse???

MATTA'S (its quite a tradition)

Here in Mesa... You're either a Matta's fan or an El Charro fan. We are most definately Matta's fans! If you haven't been to Matta's, please go! It is always on the agenda when Aunt Debbie is in town. She has been in town for two weeks now and we've already been twice! Last week (just a couple days ago), we decided that the girls needed a lunch day! GIRLS ONLY! NO BOYS! The girls included: My mother, Aunt Debbie, my sister-in-law Jen, myself, and the lovely Grandma.

I love chips and salsa! Don't these dishes make your mouth water? I ordered a shredded beef enchilada with green sauce with beans and rice! Grandma ordered a ground beef enchilada with green sauce and this day she wanted a side of rice! We all scarfed down our meals and "rolled" out the door! We were stuffed!

Today was our second time going... This time we let the boys come! Once again, it was DELICIOSO! Thank you Matta's for once again satisfying our tastebuds!

WE HAVE BEEN MATTAFIED!!! Have you?

Valentine's Tradition

I'm not big on the whole "Valentine's Day" celebration. My mom and I usually mess up and call it "Thanksgiving" or the other day I asked a patient if they had big "Halloween" plans. I really meant Valentine's. Our way of celebrating Valentine's day is by making sugar cookies! My mom and I have been doing this for a couple years now. I love a sugar cookies with pink frosting and sprinkles! They are so tasty and are pretty much the BEST sugar cookie I have ever eaten.

My mom made big hearts, medium hearts, and little hearts. She says she likes the little ones because you can eat more and not feel so guilty because they are small! I agree! And since we know how much Grandma loves cookies... we give her a couple small ones!

And the verdict is... "These are pretty tasty, but I think I need another one to know for sure!" There you have it, the best sugar cookie!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

er.... I mean Valentine's Day!

How can you not love this face?

Just as we hoped, Grandma played the piano while we sang her Happy Birthday! She seemed to have enjoyed her birthday! She says to us.... "I don't even feel like am 80! What does 80 feel like??" She still continues to talk about her party! Thank you all that came and made her day special! It meant alot to her.

I love this picture. I feel like it captures how truly happy Grandma was!

Birthday Party= Sucessful event!!

Grandma is now the big eight-zero!! My mother decided to throw Grandma a BIG bash. My brother Brett woke up at 3 am to smoke some pork. My mom made some yummy salsa, a big thing of potato salad, and a delicious oatmeal cake. Jenny, my sister in law made a "better-than-sex" chocolate cake. Jen, my other sister in law made a big tortellini salad. And I also helped out by making one of my favorites, Pina Colada cake. Grandma used to make it for me on my birthday and I thought I would carry on the tradition and make it for hers.

[Brett and the FOOD]

Mom had invited some of Grandma's friends and our family. It was nice to see you all. And we thank those that sent cards to Grandma. She cried with everyone she read. (It must run in the family or something because my mom does the same thing and by golly, I have started to do it too! Thanks Grandma. My dad always said its because our bladders were put too close to our tear ducts. I am starting to think he is correct.)

[Jae Dee Hendrickson, Grandma, Sharon and Berkley Lunt]

[Grandma with cousin Rondaleen Specht]

[Grandma and long time friend, Jewel Leslie]

[Grandma with counsins Dorothy and Kim Sowards]

Some things Grandma got for her birthday:

-a new recliner ("new" to her. grandpa's old one but she doesn't know)

-a silver watch (she had a gold one. but it didn't match her white gold ring. [correction- "my" white gold ring] and don't worry grandma tells us multiple times daily about her new watch.

-a beautiful display of pink flowers (tulips, roses and carnations)

-a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY balloon

-lots of love from her friends and family

[Grandma and her flowers]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!

I want to share 80 things/ reasons why I love you Grandma!

_____________________________________________________________

I love that I get to spend such quality time with you every single day. I love your quirky yet witty responses. I love your yellow-ish sweater. I love when you start to dance when you hear music in the store! I love it when you sit down and play that jazzy tune on the piano. I love it when you shake your cute little booty. I love that you take good care of my "old" room and put your things nicely in there place. I love when you stuff your big wad of kleenex in your pocket because you never know when you or someone else will need them. I love that you're the only one that eats with a placemat. I love when you leave your cane in the bathroom and then can't find it. I love that you won't even consider letting Brett come snuggle with you at night. I love that you will let me come lay next to you while my mom tucks you in. I love when you have to put lipstick on before you ever leave the house. I love our little chats when you tell me over and over again that Grandpa died. I love it when you help me fold my laundry. I love when you get ready for church even when its not Sunday. I love when you ask me if we are twins. I love when you call me "little shit" for being taller than you. I love when you go grocery shopping with me to help push the cart. I love when my dad gives you diet dr pepper and you tell him not to tell my mom. I love that you gobble on the back porch and the turkey answers back. I love that when I try to gobble you tell me that I don't do it right. I love it when you put your cold hands on Brett and wake him up. I love that you have your own special chair and won't let anyone else sit in it. I love when you tell me you don't want to go to bed because you don't want to miss anything exciting. I love when you tell my mom she gave you too much food but you still manage to eat it all and sometimes ask for more. I love that you taught me how to sew. I love that you are organized and everything has its particular place. I love that you will invite anyone and everyone to your room and show them all your pictures. I love the levi quilt you made many years ago. I love all the blankies you made for my dolls growing up. I love when you tell me I'm a crazy driver (even though I am going the speed limit). I love when you break out in random thought and we have no idea what you're talking about. I love when you repeat stories and my dad starts to count. I love when you think Debbie is someone else's daughter. I love when you call me Debbie, or even Casey Blue (sometimes my mom does it too). I love when you get after Brett for doing something naughty. I love when we get to meet up and eat lunch together. I love when you need a cookie after you finish your lunch. I love when you think its someone's birthday even though its not. I love when you sing Happy Birthday to my mom and see her roll her eyes. I love when you get the days mixed up. I love when we used to have popcorn everynight followed by a bowl of ice cream. I love when you sneak some candy. I love when you open up the bag of cookies and then get caught. I love the silly face you make when you put on Brett's cowboy hat. I love when you ask me where my husband is. I love to hear you laugh. I love it when you cry after reading cards and letters. I love that a cookie can cheer you up. I love your wedding ring and hope one day I can wear it longer than just 5 seconds. I love your silky night gown. I love when you ask me if I combed my hair with a rake. I love when you ask me if I even combed my hair at all. I love when you talk about my big yellow purse. I love when I walk through the door, you comment on my big glasses before even saying Hi. I love when you ask Jenny if she could find a bigger watch. I love when you come visit me. I love that you don't care to stay. I love your little QT mug. I love when you ask me to fill it up. I love when you have friends over, and you tell them the same stories, again and again. I love when you tell us about your mother. I love when you talk about Grandpa. I love that you have a picture of all of us in your room. I love when you can't find your flashlight even though its tucked away in the blankets. I love when you find the flash light you cover it back up with the blankets. I love when you tell me you see the peacocks in the trees. I love when you chase the chickens with your cane. I love when we go see the goats. I love when you watch Westerns with my dad. I love that we are the youngest of our families. I love that you helped mold me into what I am today. I love that you were able to come to my temple wedding. I love that you have lived the gospel. I love that you taught me to do the same. I love your example of service. I love your dedication. I love the love you have for me. I love that I have these memories to pass on to my children and grandchildren. I love that I am just like you!

Why do you love Grandma?

Shopping Adventure!

Yesterday I went over to my parents house. I got to visit with them and also Grandma. AND...my sweet sweet nephews were there too! I stopped by to say hello but ended up staying most of the evening. I had mentioned that I needed to go grocery shopping and without any hesitation Grandma chimes in and says.. "Can I go with you?" I was a little hesitant because I knew it wasn't the grocery trip where you can just run in, grab the item, pay and run out. But I would be going all over the store catching all the GOOD DEALS! But how can you say NO to Grandma? As we walked to the car, she says to me "I just needed to get out!" So we got in the car and headed off to have an adventure!

Walking in to the store, Grandma says to me..."You know that Grandpa died, right?" I looked at her and just said, "Yes Grandma, he died a couple months ago." She just said, "Yeah, its been hard." It has been hard and we miss our Grandpa but we are sure enjoying the moments we do have left with Grandma!

After walking all over the store (Grandma pushed the cart for me as I put the goods in), we get to the check out line. I was helping the person in front of us load her groceries and then I start to load mine. Grandma once again looks at me and says, "I need to start looking for a job. Now that Grandpa is gone, I need to make the money!" And I thought to myself, "Really Grandma, you want to find a job when you have the life of Diet Dr Pepper and cookies at my mom's house?" But I responded, "Grandma, I'm the one with the job. But how about you come over to my house and help me fold my laundry. Then we can go get lunch and cookies!" I think she liked that idea a lot better than her really having a job!

I love my adventures with Grandma. I really never know what she is going to say to me or ask me. She may not have it all together, but together, WE sure have it all!

**Reminder**

I get excited for FEBRUARY...

Grandma's BIRTHDAY is coming up this SATURDAY (February 6)! She will be turning 80! I am getting excited for her birthday! ONE: it will ACTUALLY be someone's birthday to celebrate and TWO it will be HERS!! I am hoping she will play the piano for all of us to sing! It is my FAVORITE when she plays the piano! (I can't forget that SATURDAY is also my cousin CASEY BLUE'S Birthday as well...and then the following day is my brother ANDY'S Birthday!) I am thinking its time for a party!!!

Does your Grandma dance? Mine Does!!!

I don't know if you know, my Grandma LOVES to dance. She hears some music and she is groovin'! Her and my Grandpa used to be some pretty good dancers back in the day. Back when they both could move and groove. Well somehow Grandpa got older and forgot the moves. On the other hand Grandma is in full force! I don't care what you say but my Grandma has got some mad moves! She even shakes her booty!

And thats just what she does!! Get it Grandma!

How can you NOT smile when you see that!? It makes my day! And I hope it makes yours too!

Field Trip to the neighbors

Just this week our neighbor's goat had its baby. We all decided to walk over and see it! We even got grandma out to see it. [I just love field trips because we never know the adventures we will have with Grandma.]

[Heading over to see the goats]

[Grandma. Mom. Brett.]

[Baby Goat]

We asked Grandma if she wanted to take the goat home and keep it in her room... She said she would pass. She likes her room just the way it is. My brother Brett asks Grandma all the time if he can come cuddle with her. She always responds "No! You would take up the whole bed and there wouldn't be any room for me!" [Just picture my Grandma holding her cane and waiving it in the air as she says that!] Oh Grandma dear!

Lunchtime

I love lunchtime! I work all morning long and my poor patients have to listen to my grumbling tummy. So when one o clock rolls around I get excited to fill my tummy but never can decide exactly what I want. Thursday, I got lucky! My mom and dad had a chiropractor appointment for a massage (they just refer to it as "dr appointment)and the office is in the same complex where I work. We were able to meet up at Firehouse Subs (If you have not been there, we highly recommend it!). It hit the spot. And I would have to say that Grandma agreed!

She is just so dang cute! After she finished her sub, she insisted on getting a cookie. Grandma LOVES cookies!

Pet or No Pet

We asked grandma if she would enjoy having a little puppy. She just looked at us and said, "NO! I already have Mr. Frog. He isn't stinky. He doesn't poop. I don't have to feed him. He doesn't make a noise. He just sits where he is put and that is that."

[Mr Frog]

Mr. Frog is a little ceramic frog that Grandma painted back in the day(1983). And she insisted that it was brought over to my parents house and set out on the back porch so she could see him. She set it right by the back door throughout the day, she checks on him to make sure he's still there.

[Grandma and Mr. Frog]

When I was younger... Grandma and Grandpa bought me a "Mr. Frog" He was a giant stuffed animal that I loved to cuddle with. I would get upset if someone took Mr. Frog. But now I have grown up (or so people think) and I now allow the nieces and nephews to cuddle with Mr. Frog. (Yes, my parents still have him). Sometimes I take my Mr. Frog out to hang out with Grandma's Mr. Frog.

I guess you could say they are buddies.

Has anyone seen my BIG purse....

I'm not too stylish but I try to atleast keep up with some of the styles. So I like purses. Not those little "satchet" ones or the little "coin" purses. But I love the BIG purses. I can pretty much fit everything in it. My cell phone, my old school Gucci wallet, a couple cameras (never know which will quit on me), my organizer/calender and whatever else my husband needs me to hold for him (maybe he needs a purse too?). Anywho... when I am at my mom's, Grandma always seems to find my purse and she doesn't forget it. Today, she couldn't miss it. How could she, its BIG! And YELLOW!

[Grandma and the BIG YELLOW purse]

She says "Here's a BIG yellow purse..." She continues and says "What could I say about that big yellow purse? Well.....its a BIG one!" She also includes "its bigger than what I would like to have."

Well well well, Grandma may not remember but I sure do. She used to have a BIG purse herself. She would take it on trips. One trip, I kept telling her that it was so big she could put her nightgown in it. I kept trying and trying to put her nightgown in it but she kept taking it out. I was probably only 10 or so. I guess I just want to be like Grandma!

Introducing..... A lovely LADY!

Ercel Knight Garrett-
Born February 6, 1930 in LaJara Colorado. She is the youngest of 12 children. Her parents were John S. Knight and Betsy Leonora Smith. Her mother died when she was only 6 years old.

Grandma married a wonderful man by the name of James Bellamy Garrett. They had three children; Brent, Valerie, and Debra. Valerie is my mother. I am the baby of the family just as Grandma was the baby of hers. (I am also the favorite grandchild! Just ask Grandma!)

Just shy of being married for 60 years, my grandpa decided to check out and leave Grandma for us to take care of while he started preparing for her departure to be with him. Grandma now lives with my mother. I got kicked out and my Grandma moved in. But I am ok with that. Grandma takes good care of my room.

Grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer's about a year and a half ago. We now have wonderful experiences with her and we want others to experience them as well. She is a funny lady! She is an amazing grandma and I want everyone to know.

Experience for the day:
Today we (mom, dad, grandma, and i) went for a drive out to the desert.
[Salt River] [Stuart Mountain Dam]

After driving around for a while and exploring, Grandma and I decided we were hungry and we all went to get hot dogs from ChicagoLand. Grandma decided that TODAY was my Mom's Birthday (Mom's Birthday is really in November)! Grandma insisted on singing to her on the drive home and again when we got home. She even played the piano! Not only once but TWICE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!! (How old does that make you?) Oh how we love her!