Hazie has a Birthday Today! She's 4!

"It's My Birthday, Gramma!"
"Happy Birthday, Hazie!"
"Thanks!"
Please note her beautiful birthday hat!

If you have been around Hazel anytime since our family reunion in June, all you have to do is insert your name where I have put Gramma in the above caption and you have 'been there.'

Happy Birthday from all of us, Hazel!

Auntie Laura planned a big family birthday party at the reunion and in Hazie's mind it has been her birthday ever since. There is a calendar on the wall in their kitchen near where Hazie sits at their bar for various meals. I thing every time I have seen her since the reunion and she is sitting in her chair, she'd look up and she'd remember that her birthday is September 24 and we'd go through the whole scenario again. So to say that Hazie is excited today would be an understatement! This girl loves a birthday, especially hers!

She wore the paper birthday hat
for two days, even to bed!

So her mommy bought her the cute fabric hat with the fancy cupcake you see in the first photo of this post! Speaking of cupcakes...When I talked to Jen yesterday she said that she 'accidentally' invited 40 people to Hazie's birthday party this afternoon! She was exhausted after making 120 cupcakes and getting ready for the party!

Fortunately she had Piper helping her!
Aren't the cupcakes beautiful?

Personally, I think Jen and her girls should open a special order bakery for fancy birthday cupcakes. They have always enjoyed making fancy cakes! Everyone gets in on the act. Even Lowell bakes cakes, Cheese Cake is his specialty! And he even does a fantastic, operatic rendition of the Muffin Man with his amazing voice! Yep, they are all about cake over there at their house!

Cutie Pie Baker, Miss Hazie!

This is one of my favorite "Blast From the Past" photos of Hazie baking. How funny this post is turning into a hat post! But more than that it is celebration of the life of our littlest angel.

Her Angel wings!

She is pretty cute with no hat too, don't you think?

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A virtual cake I found for her!
Cut and paste, my favorite kind of baking!

She only had a little bit of hospital time
this year so that has been great!
Her fancy hair accessories even went there!

And then the exciting first day of school!
Pink shoes and hair bows!

It is a big beautiful world for Hazie Jo!

And off she goes to take full advantage
of that life and all the love in it!

I guess she could not stay a baby forever!
Happy Birthday to our Growing Up Beautiful Girl!

If you'd like to wish our little Sweetheart
a Happy Birthday, please leave a message
in the comment section and
we'll make sure she gets it!

A Very Happy Birthday, Hazie Girl!

Love, Kisses and Hugs
from your Gramma and Grampa
that love you with all of our hearts!
You bless our lives every single day!

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Giddy-Up!

Chloe Jane rides the horse!

I love how our kids give our grandkids enrichment opportunities all the time. Recently Lowell's sister and her family moved to Utah not far from where our kids live. On Labor Day they went out to visit and have a barbeque. The girls' Uncle Gordon gave them each an opportunity to ride their horse. I thought these photos were just so colorful and fun.

Miss Julia gets a turn!

Hazie rides the horsey!
She looks rather excited about this, don't you think?
She looks so tiny up there!
Hang on to her, Daddy!

Miss Piper gives it a try!
She looks so grown up on the horse
when you see where her feet are!

Hazel fell in love with their beautiful dog.

Jen said she spent about three hours doing this!

What a great and fun family day. The girls will never forget the wonderful things their parents expose them to when they are young. Isn't it fantastic that activities don't have to be expensive or elaborate to be meaningful in our lives? The wholesome times we spend together with our families are what make up the beautiful moments of life.

It is in times just like these that passions are born, talents and interests are developed, and family bonds are deepened. We have heard that families that pray together stay together. I think it can also be said that families that play together stay together too. Each little moment like this add to the glue that creates a heart print that endures.

Hazie Found One!

For Hazie~Our Song!

I introduced Hazie to this song and she loves it so much. She always wants me to sing it to her. If only I could....but I try. She knows most of the words herself. I love you little one! Gramma

P.S. Sleep tight! ♥ ♥ ♥ XO

Fall+ Fun in UT @ Ayns' Baptism and Hazie's Party

Autumn is in the air!

While in Utah we stayed exclusively with Chris and Missy. Ideally we like to stay with everyone if we are there long enough but the past three years it has been very heavy on the Jen and Lowell side so we could help out more with Hazie. Chris and Missy have been very understanding but it has been hard on their kids. We feel better now that things have evened out a little more.

They worked like dogs to get as much of the basement remodel done before we came and bought a nice trundle bed for Aynslee's room so we stayed in there. Thanks Aynslee! It was great being with all of you! Jim had the opportunity to go to see Chris in action with his engineering students. He sure loved that! Missy and I did some shopping with Owen while the other kids were all in school. My favorite clothing stores, Christopher Banks and CJ Banks are there so I bought some things to take back east. Missy was kind to wait for me. I don't like having people wait but she didn't complain. She is a very gracious and giving person.

Our main reason for stopping over there was to enjoy Aynslee's baptism and party and to celebrate Hazie's birthday. We also got to go to a fun Harvest Festival at the kids' school and had a super fun BBQ at the Canyon with family and friends for Hazie's birthday. Here are a few photos of those fast four days.

This is Aynslee on her baptism day in the beautiful white dress her other Grandmother made for her. Barbara did a beautiful job and Miss Aynslee looked so sweet. What a wonderful day for us all to share.

Chris is all prepared in his white jumpsuit, to baptism his only daughter. What a blessing and a cherished memory. When the little children are baptized the other kids are invited to come up to the edge of the font and watch. It was so joyous to see seven siblings and cousins all gather around sitting on the floor seeing Aynslee take this important step. Oh, I do love being a grandparent!

The boys helped me finish up some mini-cherry cheese cakes Missy was serving as one of several desserts she made for the dinner after the baptism. She is a fab cook and very creative in the kitchen. Great menu!

Chloe, Owen and Hazie!

I love how after dinner the kids all played outside together. Hazie sits out in the yard and they all make sure to include her. To me that is the sweetest thing of all. They are so aware of her and her special needs.

The Harvest Festival at school

This was a big deal for the kids and their families, lots of fun things for the kids to do, face painting, hair styling and painting, lots of games with prizes, pizza, desserts, a silent action to raise money for the school, a DJ, it was a fun time.

Julia with some sort of face paint and a fancy hairdo.

Chris and Missy and Connor and Zach with their fancy hair.

Connor had a flag football game that Grampa and Chris and Owen went to see.

Chris and Owie at the game!

We were so excited about the fall foliage tour we were planning in New England that we had Jen drive us out to the canyon one afternoon in hopes of getting a glimpse. There was excitement in the air after last year when we hit it just right. Wanted Jim to see it first hand! (I think this looks just like part of our street without the houses on it!)

But we did not get there at prime time, still a little too early.

Last year in the canyon on a peak day.

JJ 'Whippin' Her Hair' (Google this) in the canyon! It probably looks just like this right now. Does it get any prettier than this. Not really!

Fishing on the river at Hazie's party!

Lowell was in charge of the fire for cooking and
warmth and marshmallows!
Shelby watches!

Hot dogs for the family and core friends,
all celebrating Hazie turning 3!

Hazie loved her new baby.

She was so adorable with her. She kept hugging her and saying, "Grampa, she's soooo tiny!" She could not be more adorable I promise you! She loved this birthday present so much!

She loved this doggie too but already had her baby stripped
down getting ready for bed!

Morgan and Piper and Mitrian getting ready for a little cooking.

Mesmerized by the camp fire,
snuggling with Aunt Missy and waiting for
marshmallows and birthday cake.

Finally it was nearly dark and time to sing to our baby!

She loved it.

It was a wonderful four days and the next morning came pretty early for our flight to Rhode Island! We are so blessed to have these wonderful sweet people as our family members and good friends. God is so good to us all!

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice...

Seed Pearls and Lace

A Jewel of a Face

Grins that won't stop....

And a Cherry on Top!