Auntie Emma!

 

Emma has decided she is going to be the favorite aunt-there has got to be one good reason for being the only one still left at home!

This is hard to beat....

 

Amazing that I can spend hours holding this little angel and I'm completely content. I've always heard people say how wonderful it is to be a grandparent, and I imagined it to be great. But I had no idea how deeply this experience would affect me. I'm in love with her..... When I look at her it's like I'm looking at one of my own little girls but with a different perspective-a better one. Is it strange that I can't bring myself to wash this pink hoodie because it smells like Lily?

First Great-Grandchild

 

Jana was their first grandchild and now Lily Jane Eliason is their first great-grandchild!! An interesting thing about her name....my mom's name is Elizabeth Jane and she was named after her grandmother, Elizabeth Jane Edwards. I only knew my great grandmother as "Gran" but as a younger woman, she was known as Lily Jane. I just loved learning about their shared names....Can't wait to share what I know about my great-grandmother with little Lily!

Two of My Favorite Things....

 

When I make a list of my favorite things, of course my family is on the top of the list.... my parents, my brother and my sisters, my husband, my children, and now my grandchild (gasp!) After that it's hard to determine an order of favorite-ness, but the beach house definitely ranks up there. My dad was raised in this house in Aptos and as a child we spent a great deal of time visiting my Nana and Papa Schaffer and of course enjoying the beach. I hold wonderful childhood memories centered there. When my Nana passed away, my dad and his brother were able to keep their family home. And now, we are able to enjoy it and I know grandparents are thrilled-I can feel it when I'm there.

Finally-Corey hiked the Y!

All the years at BYU Corey never made it up the hill to the Y on the mountain. So we rallied on Monday morning after conference and hiked to the top. A first for Emma and Megan as well!

Too Funny For Words....

Emma and Megan had no idea how much they would miss living together when Megan left for BYU. Each are fun and funny girls, but you put them together and it's insanity at it's best. They laughed non-stop the whole time we were together and it's entertainment for the rest of us. (I guess I'm running for Provo's City Council-there are Vote for Cindy signs EVERYWHERE!!!

We all left our hearts in San Francisco....

 

 

After our trip to Utah we couldn't wait any longer to go and visit our granddaughter. We got to spend 2 days taking turns holding her and loving her. She had already changed quite a bit from those first few days of life in the hospital.....so had Jana. They are both doing so well-she's such a natural mother and because of that, Lily is so content. We took a couple of outings-a walk down Irving Street so Emma could check out some great resale shops and had lunch at a yummy spot called the Crepevine. I'll have to make and blog some crepe recipes soon! Then we drove up from their apartment to Twin Peaks-it was a crystal clear day and the view of the city from there is amazing.

On the road again....

Jana insisted she was doing well enough for us to travel to Utah as planned to see the kids and enjoy General Conference. We all "camped out" at Erin and Chance's apartment-Megan has totally adapted to life at the Y and is loving each new experience. Even though it's a long way to travel, we are so so grateful our kids have chosen to attend BYU and receive their education there.

Lily Jane Eliason arrives!!!!!

 

 

 

We were woken up by a phone call at 4:00 a.m.on September 29th telling us that Jana and Joe were on their way to the hospital....Jana's water broke 3 weeks before her due date! I threw some things in a bag (no one told me to have my bag packed....) and headed over to San Francisco and arrived before the delivery. I was able to spend three blissful days holding and falling in love with Lily. It was truly a sacred experience.

Erin's Wedding Day....beautiful in every way

 

Erin has had quite a year.....

 

 

This year will be hard to top as far as exciting events happening in Erin's life.....Engaged in April, Graduated from BYU in August, married a week later, and started graduate school 2 weeks later! WOW!! We have all shared in each amazing event with such pride, and joy, and gratitude.