February

...freezing, Februany subways, Frosties from Wendy's, fun adventures, funny stories, fat desserts, faulty body parts, fantastic birthdays... fabulous February!

The second day of February. It's not a groundhogs shadow... it's mine! I guess that means 6 more weeks of winter. That's OK. We haven't had it yet.

February 4

Kelsey and Chard went to Elko, Nevada.... Cowboy Poetry getaway weekend.  Makaela and Brayden stayed the weekend with us.  It didn't take long for the creative imaginations of a child's heart to take hold.  Makaela made a trip to the bonus room, pulled out some fabric and went to work making sword holders.  Brayden found a "spy" scope (upholstery fabric tube), and soon the two were off playing  Bridge to Terabithia.  Liberty Mae, their new Australian pup, always by their side.  Notice the wrap on Liberty's leg.  She fell out of the back of the truck and hurt her leg.  She didn't feel very well and was a little quiet over the weekend.
Notice the bed... each morning Makaela made the bed up perfectly.  Their blankets nicely folded at the bottom and Brayden's stuffed animals placed neatly at his pillow.  She's her mother's daughter, that's for sure!

February 5

Always an excuse to get together, it seems.  Today it was for Super Bowl Sunday.  Kelsey's and Audrey's family came for the evening.  We had sloppy joes, chips and dip, veggies and dip, brownies and pop.  We served from the party kitchen in the basement next to the theater room.

February 7

All in a day's play... in grandma's room.  Audrey had a doctor's appointment today, so the kiddos and I played.

• hide and seek... Ben discovered mom's sewing basket in the corner behind the chair
• rock-a-bye babies (I had the rocking chair sitting in my office, and when Alia saw it for the first time after I got it from mom's house, she said "that's grandma Bates'" -- no prompt.  I couldn't believe a 3 year old would know and remember that!)
• run and jump on the bed (only a grandma would allow that!)
• marble races on the roller rack
• peek-a-boo!  I see you!
• oink, oink, pig! 
• milk box break, courtesy of Gossner's Cheese Factory in Logan ( I stock my pantry with these delicious and healthy treats-- strawberry, rootbeer, banana, mango, etc.)

Riley had a birthday today.  He turned 12 years old.  He will get the priesthood soon.  I am very proud of him.  Riley has a very kind heart.  He is always watching out for the underdog  (just like his mother). He loves Tinkerbell (their Chuwawa) and takes good care of her. He likes to ride motorcycles and play a variety of sports for fun.  He loves to wrestle with Clint and finds every opportunity to pounce on him.  He will eat some cake today, but prefers to eat good wholesome fruits and veggie-- especially fresh from the garden.  Happy Birthday!

February 8

I was invited to Makaela's school tonight to visit a Country around the World.  She and 3 other classmates picked the country Germany as their presentation. The bulletin board and display was bright and colorful.  It was fun to see all the different countries represented and the excitement of the students as they shared their knowledge.   Makaela is quite the talker and knew her facts well.  I'd say she earned an A+!   She is in Middle School and is growing up way too fast!

February 9

The red, rich looking velvet, yet lightweight theater curtains were just what we needed to make the theater room complete.  I feel like it takes us back in time... to the good old days when theaters had curtains in front of the screen.  The curtains are controlled with a remote and will open and shut at the touch of a button.  Now the grandkids can really put on some plays!

February 12

It was New Beginnings tonight at the church house.  The theme centered on being a "princess", a daughter of a King.  The new Beehives each received a white rose and was welcomed into Young Womens by the older girls.  The blueberry cheesecake was delicious!

Chad's birthday is today.  He is still working at Anvil as their only construction guy.  He works long hours.  He still works on the volunteer fire department at Corrine, too.  In his spare time he enjoys riding Ruby (his horse), playing soccer, cowboy poetry, and being with family.  Happy Birthday!


February 13

I made Valentine cards for the grandkids today. I put the traditional presidential dollar in each one.  I enjoy making the cards every year.  The grandkids also look forward to that gold dollar.  Amie's kids like collecting them and as soon as they get one, they put it in their collectors coin folders.  Audrey's kids keep theirs, as well.  They also got a bag full of "cupid poop"!


February 14

Dave started some week long army meetings at Ft. Douglas this week.  We couldn't very well spend Valentine's day apart so I went to Salt Lake to spend the night with him.  It was great fun.  We stayed at the University Guest House on Ft. Douglas.  We ate dinner at the Ruby Red Steak House on 4th South and spent only $20, thanks to Military discount.  We then went to the Gateway and watched a movie.  Tuesday's are Matinee prices, so the movie only cost us $13.00.  This year was one of the best Valentine's I can remember.

I got up in the morning to a skiff of snow.

February 15

Tea... if you please!  Rather, Strawberry Banana Smoothies. Alia naturally and properly held her pinky fingers out away from the cup. It was a candid mother daughter moment. It was so cute!  
I fixed Audrey and kids dinner today. We had chicken cordon bleu, asparagus with Holandaise sauce, winter salad, and smoothies. We made heart sugar cookies, too.  One of favorite things to do together!

February 17

Brayden had his birthday today.  He had some friends over.  They played video games inside and sword games outside.... entertaining themselves for the most part.  When they sat down to eat cake and ice cream, Brayden said, "this is a peaceful dinner!".  It made us laugh.  He is always saying something funny.  I love that he runs up and gives me a great big hug everytime he sees me. 

Brayden and Diego

A story:  told by Brayden

I went outside looking for Ellie (his cat).  I couldn't find her, so I went to the neighbor's house (Jean).  I knocked on the door and no one answered.  I looked in the window, and Ellie was sitting on the couch looking at me!  I asked Brayden how she got in the house without anyone letting her in. He said she got into the house through the doggie door. Apparently she frequents the neighbor's house and felt quite comfortable letting herself in!

I laughed my head off!  That's just one of hundreds of funny stories from the Bywater household.  There's never a dull moment there!

February 18

I love breakfast!  This morning I fixed Dave and I Texas French Toast, topped with powdered sugar and fresh strawberries.  Notice the powder sugar shaker... that's mom's!  I also made an egg omelet.  It was filled with mushrooms, ham, onion, green pepper, and cheese.  Fresh grapefruit and orange juice rounded off the hearty and scrumptious meal. 

Afterwards, we went outside to fertilize the grapes.  Our pruner, Raul, was out in the orchard... not only pruning, but serenading us with delightful Spanish songs.  I thought I was back in Mexico!  Nice, peaceful morning!

February 21



Since moving to Willard, I decided I needed to stretch myself and get out of my comfort zone a little.  So I decided to join a Book Review group.  Several ladies in my ward read a book every month and then get together to discuss it.  I hosted the Book Review at my house this month.  The Last Lecture, written by Randy Pausch, was the book we read.  It's about a professor who is diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and only has a few months to live.  The book is based on his last lecture. To me, he seemed a little over zealous in making sure everyone knew how great he was.  Although, he had some great quotes and tidbits about life, I would have liked to have heard him tell how the experience of dying affected him and what kind of person he had become because of it. By the way, his last lecture became a utube sensation and was also featured on Good Morning America.

February 26

The Young Women's lesson was on Divine Roles.  I made the girls divine cinnamon rolls, made purses to fill with divine (motherhood) quotes, and gave the lesson on reaching our divine roles as women in the gospel and the Parable of the Purse.  The parable goes as follows, as re-told by Quienten L. Cook, from a recent conference talk.  A young women's purse was found left lying on the counter in a restroom after a multi-stake New Year's Eve dance.  Upon discovery, the Y.W. leaders apprehensively pulled some items from the purse to find the identity of the girl.  They found a For the Strength for Youth pamphlet, a small notebook filled with scriptures, chap stick, and a recipe from her grandmother, before finding her identity.  The parable teaches a telling and valuable lesson on how this young women saw herself now and in the future.  She was on her way to reaching her divine role as a woman of God.  I love my calling in the Young Womens.  The young women are very strong spiritually and they all sing like angels!  I look forward to teaching  lessons and participating in the activities every week. 

And now, even better... having Makaela and Morgann in Young Womens, gives me an opportunity to work on Personal Progress along with them and I get to give them my lesson handouts and talk about stories we read from the New Era.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to share Young Womens with my granddaughters.  Even though they don't live in my ward, it's wonderful how we are all on the same page.  The Church of Jesus Christ  of Latter Day Saints is awesome!

Dave and I also had to talk in church today.  We introduced ourselves and bore our testimonies.  I was glad to get that over with!  I like being in the Willard 1st Ward.  It is a good ward.


February 29

What's so special about today.... It's the day Makeala was born!  Three years ago according to leap year.  But, she's really 12 years old.  She is old enough to start Young Womens now.  I think that makes her very grown up!  She is very responsible for her age, helps with chores, is tidy and organized, and looks out after Brayden.  She is taking piano lessons, likes to sing, and plays percussion in the band at school.  She is highly self motivated, creative, uses her imagination, and is always doing something to improve herself.  She is trying out for the live play Annie at a community theater (the Old Red Barn).  Good luck Makaela and Happy Birthday!

Another day at the eye doctor.  Good news and bad news. 

The good news -- the fluid in my right eye (my bad eye -- detached retina and cataract) is slowly improving.  The blurriness isn't quite so noticeable. I will be weaned off the steroid eye drop over the next few weeks.  Three drops this week, two next week, and one the following week.  The ocular (swelling reducer) drops will continue at 6 drops a day indefinitely. 

The bad news -- my good eye, which is my left eye, has too high of pressure.  I am in pre-glaucoma stage.  The doctor put me on eye drops twice a day to keep me from losing my eye sight.  I will be on these drops the rest of my life.  Bummer!!  I suppose this is the first of many age signs to follow.  I didn't think I would ever get here.  Where did the time go?
By the way, glaucoma is hereditery.  Did dad have it? 

Month in Review