Babysitting Seven Kids!

Several months ago son Ben (father of seven) asked me if I would consider babysitting his children in January so he and wife Jes could take a trip to Hawaii.  I told him I would and that I'd bring Dad along with me.  There is something about distance that makes challenges doable.  My commitment was months away so agreeing felt easy.  As the time got closer I began to worry a little bit that we might not be up for the challenge.  They planned to leaved their youngest, Victoria, with us as well.  She is 7 months old and still nursing.  And not sleeping through the night.  Could we manage that and care for the remaining 6 properly?  A bit of worry began to creep into my thoughts.

                 Here are the older 6 of Ben and Jessica's children, in an earlier photo.

Ben bought us round trip air tickets to Palo Alto and back so we packed up, said a few prayers, and left for California on January 15th.  Ben and Jes left for their trip in high spirits on the 16th and we were on our own.  For the next 6 days!  Layne made out a calendar of events and I organized our routine, giving the kids some "grandma and grandpa rules" while we were there.  They were great at keeping them.  I'm reminded once again how accommodating children can be.  With just a few reminders they managed to do as we asked.  Worries were for nothing.

                            Bath time for Victoria, Abigail and Jonathan.

                                                     My birthday roses from Layne.

                                                  Abigail's 5th birthday, on Sunday.

Grandson Scott, with their pet bird.  He leaves on a mission sometime this coming summer.

Not that there weren't challenges.  The baby, Victoria, didn't care much for our efforts at replacing her nursing routine.  She wouldn't drink from a bottle and didn't sleep all through the night.  For the first two days and nights that is.  Then she adjusted.  She finally took the bottle and, once I decided not to respond to her requests for nightly rendezvous, she slept through the night.  It took two nights of 2-4 hours of sleep for me to figure out that, with a little encouragement, she could make it.  After that, my nights were full of sleep and my energy held.  What a wonder to behold how adaptable children are.  Victoria soon realized that I was as good as she was going to get, so she happily adjusted to me.  We had a good bond.

                             Victoria, happily settling for Grandma, the "feeder."

Our days were filled with jobs to do to care for all the kids.  I never left the house while Layne did all the outside activities like shopping and running the kids around to their various activities.  It was a good partnership.  On Sunday we all went to Brentwood to visit the other kids.  Otherwise we were home.  In all the hassle of doing, I longed for a chance to have a sweet bonding time with each of the children.  I prayed for it.  And the blessing came.  I spent a wonderful evening with the girls as they went to bed one night.  We talked heart to heart and a tender spirit emerged between us.  Several mornings the boys awoke early and they cuddled with me as we talked and admired the moonlight shining in the backyard.  And so the most important part of our time with them was accomplished.  They know that we love them.

                         In the meantime, here are Ben and Jes, on Sunday, in Hawaii.

                                                           Ben and Jes, having fun.

                                                           Our lovely, relaxed kids.

Ben and Jes returned on the 21st (Jessica's 40th birthday), full of enthusiasm and happy memories.  On Wednesday we flew home.  In spite of all the work it took to care for those children, I'm so happy that we did.  There is no blessing that outshines family.

Snow and Not

While our Gendreau grandchildren were here, they wished and wished for a snowstorm. While the snow did stay on the ground, nothing from heaven fell during their visit. Earlier this week however we awoke to a heavy layer of new snow. What a treat to the eyes to see white in every direction; even the sky was white.  All of that white lit up the outside and I found it cheering.  Perhaps it is because I'm a California girl and not used to such things.  So far, I love this winter!

It is strange to say that, in spite of a very white beginning to this week, the temperature has been rising and today it is raining.  The rain is washing away the snow and outside now looks brown instead of white.  I don't like it nearly as well.

Our driveway last Monday morning.  You can see Layne at the end of the driveway, shoveling.

                                Here's a view of the front yard on Monday morning.

       Here is our front yard today; the rain has washed away most of the snow.  I miss it.

It has been a lovely week, full of plans for organizing anew the things around here.  There is something about sorting and arranging things that makes me happy.  I love the feeling of having things "just right".  Not that I've achieved that as of yet, but I'm working on it and enjoying the process.  There are interruptions to my organizing world however.  There are other things to be done and I have to pull myself away from my orderly efforts.  Friend Phyllis Salsedo has finally accomplished her plans to move here.  She is here and has been in need of time and attention.  She is once again a reminder that, in the people versus stuff battle of life, people are supposed to win.  So I have spent quite a bit of time with her during the week.  I've enjoyed that too.

I attended a free class this week on energy and how to control it in our bodies.  Hum.  I don't really know quite what to think of it.  I guess there is something to some of it but, like a lot of things people come up with, I think some of it is imaginative.  I discussed it with Layne.  With a snort he declared all of it as bunk.  No mincing of words in his world.  So I guess I won't sign up for the class.  I wasn't going to anyhow.

This coming week we fly to California to babysit for son Ben and Jessica for a week.  There are seven very active children in that household.  I hope we are up to it.

A New Start

When I was younger and living in the past century, the year 2000 seemed very far away.  It felt like it would be a different world once we got past 1999.  But here we are, 14 years later, and, while life is different, it has not brought the catastrophic changes  I imagined.  Not yet.  Life goes on, with ever increasing speed.  I would like to say that I'm fully adjusted to the rush of change that accompanies it, but I'm not.  I am stretching to try and keep up.

Grandchildren are a dramatic reminder of what the world is like for them now.  I can see that there are many dark holes for them to fall into if they are not aware; there are increasing dangers in our society.  Working with addiction recovery has opened my eyes further to the traps that lie so close to us.  I hope that we can be part of the positive influence that they will need to survive and thrive.

Our Gendreau kids were pumped about New Year's Eve.  We planned special treats and games.  Layne bought fire crackers and confetti.  We all managed to stay up and welcome in 2014 with noise and a good wish toast with Martinelli.  It was fun!  The rest of our week passed quickly with babes still not wanting any outdoors activity.  There have been no storms, but snow is still everywhere; a testimony of the unusual cold that is preserving it.  By the end of the week they were missing parents and home.  So packing up for a return trip on Saturday was welcomed.

                              Here's Peyton and New Year's Eve confetti.

                      Gemma playing Uno with us, moving us to the countdown to midnight.

                                            Miles and our NYE toast.

       Not much outdoor time, but here is Peyton, shaking down snow from one of our trees.

                                 Here's Gemma, admiring the snow!

Daughter Audrey and Cliff arrived late on New Year's Day, with their daughter Allegra.  She is on her way to BYU Idaho for her first year of college.  All sorts of feeling accompanied this school journey of hers:  excitement, nervousness, sadness, anticipation.  All of these emotions come with change it seems.  It was hard for Audrey and Cliff to give up their second daughter to a growing independence.  How well I remember those feelings.  Sometimes I still have them.  Allegra is as pure and innocent a girl as one could wish for.  She is now settling in at Rexburg and her folks are mourning her absence at home.

                                     Our lovely Allegra poses here, all ready for college.

                  Our parting at the Subway Shop.  Gemma, me, Layne, Peyton and Miles.

On Saturday we met daughter Jessica and Chris halfway between here and Normandy Park, WA, at a Subway shop off the freeway.  It was a happy reunion!  I believe that Chris and Jes had a great time on their trip to St. Thomas island.  So, as usual, this time with family was sweet and rewarding.

Now for the clean-up.

Christmas 2013

I am happy here in Idaho.  But the thought of spending the Christmas season away from family made me a little sad.  All of our group traditions are out of reach now.  Why is it, I wonder, that I am so resistant to change?  It seems to be a human pattern to fight it.  Yet it often brings unexpected joys. Well, trials too I suppose.  My Christmas thoughts usually centered around family; especially grandchildren.  My plans always revolved around how to celebrate it for them.  So decorating for Christmas here seemed somehow less interesting.  I told my sister Maryanne this early in December. She and her hub Bob have decorated their new home in Draper, Utah with a flourish.  "You should decorate for you and Layne," she said.  "Decorate!"  she said.  So I did.  Though I admit not so completely as in former years.  Still, I have enjoyed my house full of Christmas even without extended family to share it with.

Our special Christmas in our living room.

Layne and I had a small Christmas celebration on Sunday the 22nd.  We agreed not to buy each other gifts, for the first time ever.  But he bought me one anyhow.  And I love it.  We had a sweet time in front of the fire, surrounded by Christmas lights and trees.  On Monday we headed for Seattle, to spend Christmas with daughter Jessica and her family.  It is the first time ever that we have been to their house for this holiday.  Of course it was different, but also very enjoyable.  I love my family!  Being with our Gendreau kids was one of the hidden blessings of our move here.  It is 8 hours to their house; an easy day drive.  We spent Christmas Eve and Day with them, then headed back for home, with their three kids for a week or so while Chris and Jes take a trip together.

Christmas morning at the Gendreau home with
daughter Jessica, husband Chris, Gemma, Miles and Peyton.

Peyton, Gemma and Miles beginning their Christmas unwrapping.

The drive through "the Blues" on our way home from Seattle.
We were blessed with clear roads!

Our first white Christmas!  The trees on the drive to Idaho
sparkled with ice.  It was so beautiful!

Grandchildren.  Three of them.  When they are with us, my life centers around them.  I live for them.  I cook what they like and play endless board games with them.  I read to them and we talk and laugh together.  It is such fun.  I always worry that I won't have the insight to meet their needs; that they will be bored; that they won't have a good time.  But I forget how easy it is to love them and enjoy them.  These particular children are not members of the Church so I feel a need to share my faith with them; to give them a hope of faith in God and the pleasure of prayer.  So each day I try to share something of God with them.  I worry that without that faith the world will eat them up.  Each day I pray that I will share the right things with them.  I hope it is enough.

A lengthy game of Risk with Miles and Gemma.  It would have
gone on for days, I sure, if they hadn't decided to bag it after
a day's effort at determining a winner.

Gemma wasn't up for Risk.  Here is how she spent
her time during our never-ending game battle.

Although it has not stormed for quite awhile, there is still snow everywhere here.  It is colder than normal (so we are told), so the snow hasn't melted much.  The kids like it and ran through it for most of their first day here.  But it is cold.  So most of the time we are inside.  Tonight we plan to stay up to welcome the new year in.  The kids will be up for it.  I hope we will!  

Singing and Singing Again

Our trip back from California was lovely.  There was snow everywhere, except on the roads, which were clear, making the drive a happy winter journey.  The roads in our neighborhood were filled with snow.  But our driveway was clear!  Some thoughtful person cleared it for us.  

It was good to be home where we could let down a little and relax.  Except that my singing group was loaded up with engagements.  So from the time of our arrival home until this past Thursday we sang and sang and sang. You may or may not know that singing is not exactly my gift. But with each performance it became more and more fun.  Our little group of ladies is not perfection but we have lots of fun and, I think, our sound is pretty good too. As with our spring performance, the ladies in the group love Layne. So they had a special solo just for him.  He sang the popular song Hallelujah. We changed the lyrics to give it a Christmas message, and he sounded great. After each performance, we spread out and greeted each person in our audience. It was quite joyful to look into their eyes and wish them a Merry Christmas.

The Treble Clef Singers, in costume, practicing for multiple performances.

Layne has had a bout of vertigo for the last few days.  Because of that I worked in the temple without him on Friday.  After all the wonderful lights and celebrations at the Oakland Temple you may imagine my disappointment in telling you that there is absolutely no sign that it is Christmas at the Boise Temple.  No lights.  No nativity.  There is no external way to tell that we believe in Christ or celebrate His birth.  I could not resist telling the assistant matron and suggesting that we have lights and nativity and maybe even a visitor's center so that we can attract people to the temple.  She agreed with me and said she would bring it up with the current temple presidency, or at least her husband.  Nothing will change this year, but maybe next...one can hope.

By the time our temple shift was over it was snowing.  I couldn't help but be excited to walk to the car in the snow!  We were surrounded by beautiful, falling flakes!  I promised to give a friend a ride to her grandchildren's home on my way home, which meant that we took the city streets instead of the freeway.  Friday evening.  Christmas shopping.  Snow.  Getting dark.  Result:  traffic everywhere, moving an inch at a time.  I dropped off my passenger and headed for the rural streets and home.  The city streets were clear and the many lights lit my way.  But once on the country streets the snow covered the roads and there was very little light.  This California girl was stressed.  With knuckles whitened by fright I proceeded forth slowly.  Very slowly.  Each little skid struck fear in my heart.  The snow accumulated on the wipers making my window of vision smaller and smaller as I proceeded along.  But, two hours from my departure time, I crawled safely onto our driveway.  Layne was there, sweeping it clean for me.  How grateful I was to be home!  Snow is great, especially when it is falling from the sky.  But not while I'm driving!

Our home, with a winter look.

There are no secret approaches in the snow!

Layne sweeping the driveway just after our snow storm.

Christmas will be different for us this year. Since we have no family here, Christmas, for the first time, will not be at our house. I'm a little sad about that. But we plan on driving to Seattle tomorrow to spend Christmas with daughter Jessica and her family. We have not spent many Christmases with Chris and Jes, so this will be extra specially nice. Because of this change in our Christmas celebration, Layne and I had our own Christmas experience today. I fixed Layne a special Christmas dinner, then we sat in front of the fire surrounded by Christmas lights and opened the gifts that we had.  It was a sweet time even if very different than what we are used to.  What is it about us that fights change?  Why are we
somehow saddened by it?  In theory I think change is good for us.  But I resist it.

Our Idaho Christmas.

Cracking Nuts Again

I love being in California.  There are so many people that I love there.  Among them are Rachel and Cheoh Tan, the organizers of the Temple Hill production of Nutcracker.  Rachel asked us to help her present the idea of Nutcracker to the Temple Hill committee several years ago as an addition to their Christmas programming.  She was worried that they would not consider it spiritual enough.  But we presented our vision of it to them and they agreed.  So the Tans sacrificed their time and money to make it happen, for the first time in 2010.  They asked Layne and me to be the old folks in the first scene.  Layne isn't prone to such things (it involves some dancing you know), but, for Rachel's sake, he agreed.  It turned out to be a lot of fun.  Each year Layne says "never again."  And when Rachel asks him once again to participate, he winds up saying, "yes, of course."  And so, for the forth time, we danced in the Nutcracker.

Since the dances and arrangement were almost the same as last year, we practiced the dances at home and were prepared when we arrived for the last few rehearsals this past week.  This year was the most relaxed and fun of any.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe it was because we knew the dances.  Maybe it was the positive comments of our instructor this year.  Maybe it was the fun of reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.  Maybe it was the pleasure of being on the lighted Temple Hill once again.  Whatever the reasons, we enjoyed this production most of all.  In spite of that, Layne announced once again that this would be our last year.

We had lunch with Rachel and Cheoh the Sunday after the performances (full houses both nights!) and they asked us once again if we would be in next year's performance.  Guess what Layne said.  You guessed it. "Of course."  So it looks like we will return next year for yet another performance.  I'm glad.

The Oakland temple grounds, dressed for Christmas

Our dancing bunch in the party scene of the Nutcracker.

Here I am with scenery from the party scene,
the opening act.

Layne with one of the prince's palace scenes.

A California Thanksgiving

Driving is becoming a way of life for us now.  Since everyone we know and love is far away, there often seems to be no other way of connecting.  Especially when we have lots of stuff to transport.  I'm happy to say that I am done with family Christmas gifts.  We filled the back of the car with them.  There are times when the space provided by a comfortable car is such a luxury.  So, on Wednesday, a week ago, we headed for California by car, to spend Thanksgiving with family and prepare for our Nutcracker performance.  We munched our way through Oregon, Nevada and then California, arriving at a comfortable 6PM at Mountain House, where Audrey and Cliff now live.

It is so different to be in our children's space instead of having them in ours, as it has been for so many years.  The local family gathered at Audrey and Cliff's for Thanksgiving.  We had people from our side of the family and some from in-law sides.  It was a bundle of humanity here, and fun.  I love being surrounded by people that I know.  Not so much when the bunch are strangers.  It is a great blessing to have family.  I'm reminded of that almost daily, but especially when we gather together.  It is somewhat magical to think that Layne and I have managed to produce such an abundance of progeny.  I can't help but feel joy in it.

Since we are here until Monday the 9th, we have some open time.  I have pressured Layne into visiting some of our friends.  Layne, you see, is perfectly happy just spending time alone, reading or some such solo activity.  Not that he isn't social.  He lights up when in a group.  But he doesn't seek it.  So I had to make the arrangements for various visits and then urge him to accompany me.  We've spent the last day or so visiting our Fremont neighbors and a couple of others.  Once with them, pleasures bubble to the surface as we visit and catch up on their family news.  Connections and affections are renewed.  Making the time to visit is so worth it.

Today we begin Nutcracker rehearsals in earnest.  Performances come up this weekend.  I'm feeling pretty calm about it.

Daughter in law Dorothy on right with her sister Emily on left.
Do you think they look alike?

Reed and Dorothy's youngest, Bruce, enjoying
Thanksgiving goodies.

Ben and Jessica's Zachary, celebrating his December birthday
early, with family.  Brother William is on the left.  Reed and
Dorothy's son Timothy is on the right.

Ben and Jessica's youngest son, Jonathan.

Benjamin and youngest daughter Victoria.

Alexis and Abigail, two of Ben and Jes' daughters.

Our Nutcracker buddies, Howard and Sandra Burnham, with Layne
just after a delicious Japanese feast in Dublin, CA.

Audrey and Cliff's suave son Isaiah, mixing
up a sour dough potion for his own special batch
of sour dough bread.  Mother's sour dough
starter lives on!