Grandma Cooley #2

Stacia, Thomas and Amy couldn't resist sending their own Top Ten Grandma Loves!!!!

Amy's 10 Favorite Things About Grandma:
1) She is the best story teller around -- adding lots of funny details and keeping us all laughing
2) She's always up for a game. Whether it's Candy Land when we were kids or a Catch Phrase at the cabin, Grandma will always play - and she's competitive!
3) She is so considerate. This is such an admirable trait -- Grandma always knows how to help out. 
4) She is always so supportive. Even when I stumble, she cheers me on and tells me she's proud and things will turn around. 
5) Grandma is unfailingly generous. She has compassion for everyone. 
6) She is so easy to talk to. Grandma will put anyone immediately at ease.
7) Grandma would be the last person to say a negative word about anyone, and her optimism is contagious.
8) She is the kind of Grandma who came to "Grandparent's Day" in school, who always knew the details of what was happening in my life, who would drop everything to come over and watch us. She has always made such an effort to show her love and to be involved. I couldn't be more grateful for this. 
9) She keeps tabs on everything and everyone. I think her effort to do this really strengthens our family.
10) Visiting Grandma and Grandpa is one thing I look forward to most when I visit home. I love you both so much!


Thomas' List:
Favorite grandma things

Grandma has 5 nice things to say before I'm through the door.

Grandma is proof you can be lucky at cards and lucky at life.

Grandma is so funny- she doesn't need a punchline.

Grandma reminds me every day that I can be having a good time.

There ain't nothing better than a Grandma hug.

Sometimes we find out that grandma taught us something before we knew she was giving us a lesson.

Nobody loves more than Grandma!

It is mathmatically impossible to be categorically both 100% honest and 100% nice but that doesn't stop Grandma!

Grandma told me bread crust will make my hair Curley!

A priest, a rabbi and a civil engeineer walk into a bar... The rest isnt important because Grandma already has the whole room laughing!

Stacia Marie's...

1) I love how she is ALWAYS down for a good game at clue
2) I love her stories...she keeps everyone laughing and updated on family.
3) I lover her hair.
4) I love her spicy little attitude when somebody REALLY deserves it.
5) I love how she supports and accepts everyone. She is the nicest lady I know!
6) I love that she loves her grandkids more than her real kids!
7) During Thanksgiving I am more excited for Grandmas comments than the Turkey Dinner...no offense Aunt Cathy.
8) I absolutely LOVE grandma during karaoke 
9)Grandma always tells me I look good. She is a confident booster!
10) I love grandmas will power! She is one strong lady!!! 
LOVE YOU GRANDMA COOLEY!!!!!!! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Grandma Cooley

Today is Grandma "Kool-Aide's" birthday. She is such an awesome Grandma/Great Grandma. We love you so much, and we hope you had a perfect day... Brilee even sang "Happy Birthday to Grandma" tonight before bed...

TOP 10 Grandma Cooley's from Kelsey!

1. Grandma stayed with us while my parents went to NYC when I was six. It was the best week ever! She played LOTS of nintendo with Del and me. Let Del and me eat Star Crunches for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Walked us to get icee's 2-3 times a day. Then I fell into the rocking horse and messed up my mouth, and she babied me and cared for me in a way I never realized my Mom wasn't there. (Sorry Mom, she was good!)

2. Grandma and I climbed into a car in Gila Bend while we were waiting for everyone to go to dinner. We were talking away when she said (just as I thought) "I didn't know you got a new car." haha we totally sat in a strangers car!

3. Grandma is sooooo tough! She gets her knees replaced, and when you talk to her she makes it sound like she got a pedicure. She never complains!!!

4. She is so open and kind to everyone. She rarely says a bad word about anyone, and when she does it is followed by "bless their heart."

5. She is seriously HILARIOUS! You can't be with her for more than a minute before your side hurts from laughing. She makes everyone around her happy. 

6. Back to being tough... when we took our girls trip to NYC we were running late for our dinner cruise. The traffic was horrible so we decided to walk/run. Grandma's shoes were hurting her feet so she just took them right off. She walked bare foot for many NYC blocks! Love all the memories from that trip.

7. When I was a junior in high school my parents left me alone for a week. Grandma and Grandpa didn't want me getting lonely, and so they came to visit me! I had to work one of the days and so they came and sat in the Wendy's lobby while I worked. It was so cool that they were there, and in no rush! The next day I was off, and so Grandpa did a little yard work while Grandma and I went and got Blimpie sandwiches for our picnic. Blimpie's has Fresca on tap... we were both sooo excited! We got our sandwiches, picked up Grandpa, and went and spent the afternoon at the Dinosaur Quarry. Such a cool day... to bad the building collapsed this year.

8. Grandma loves the National Park Service, and she has passed that on to her kids/grandkids. She has done her research on the Park's and she knows a lot about all of them!

9. Grandma has never once gotten mad at me (or my cousins or siblings). She can keep her cool better than anyone! There were times that Del, Thomas, Amy, Stac, and I deserved to have her mad or at least annoyed, but she never showed it to us.

10. I will always love and cherish the day Grandma said, "My grandkids are all so smart. Really, really, really smart. I know my own kids weren't that smart, but I am glad my grandkids are. Not you, Kev and Roger, your smart." We love you Grandma! We love that you love your family so much, and are always willing to do anything for us. 

Up and Running

We switched internet providers, and so we have been without the net for a couple of days (wow, how did people do it??). Here is what I would have blogged about...

My birthday was such a fun day! We spent the day in Vernal playing Mario on the Wii, and just hanging out. My Dad made us a delicious Chinese dinner, and we spent the night over there. My parents gave me a cool miniature pie maker (like a waffle maker, but for pies). It is way cool! Jake took Brilee to the store with him to buy my present and the checker lady kept telling Jake, "Your little girl looks just like me when I was little." Jake thought it was the weirdest thing ever... It cracks me up. We went back to the store that night so he could show me which one it was. haha!

Me and my girl on my b-day! 

Here are all the crusts we cut out for the pie maker. It's kind of like making sugar cookies...

Yummy chicken pot pie filling! We got squash, broccoli, and tomatoes in our Bountiful Basket so we through them in our filling. Delicious! We LOVE Bountiful Basket!

The pie maker in action!

The pie baker in action!

Yum Yum Apple Pie!!!!

We also got brussels sprouts in the basket, and they were tasty!

Granny also had a birthday, and you know the Birchell's love to party! Thank goodness we have Julie's big house and good chef's.

Garn and Aaryn made a lot of good pizza's!!!!

The rest of us played the Wii.

Girl table.

Boy table.

The three little girls escaped the bustle to go break into Chazzlynn's make-up. They were all pretty painted.

Granny got a 2010 scrapbook... the kids loved going through it with Granny and Grandpa. 

Bear and Scoot enjoying their cupcakes...

Brilee LOVING her kitty! (I swear, that cat is different than all other cats.)

Whenever Jake watches his horse shows (so... ALL THE TIME!!!) Brilee gets her horse out of her room and starts to ride. She yells, "WEEEEE HAW" over and over. It is hilarious! 

She really gets that thing rocking too. She has gone over both sides already today...

Good Stuff!

Yesterday, while Brilee was napping, a surprise package came in the mail! It was addressed to a Miss Brilee Birchell, but there was no explanation of where they came from... I did a little exploring, and I heard from the rumor mill that the California Dogs had been doing a little boot shopping for their good friend Brilee. Well, dogs...

SHE LOVES THEM!!!! She won't take them off (even to sleep), and she talks about them all the time. She gets really proud whenever anyone talks about them... Thanks so much California Dogs... you raised the bar for the rest of her birthday presents!

Today she wore them with just a onsesie all day..

It's a blurry picture, but you get the idea how happy the boots make her!

Yesterday Brilee also went on a Bob Cat hunt with Jake and I. We wore our sunglasses, and so she had to wear hers too.

On our way down South we ran into a herd of these big guys! Our dogs caught the bob cat in about 30 minutes. Jake was so proud! Brilee and I watched from the truck. Brilee actually watched Dora more than anything! It was way fun. 

While we were hunting I remembered I had put two cookies (to finish up the batch) in the oven. I couldn't remember taking them out, and so I started getting nervous. I couldn't get cell service in the canyon we were in, and so I was yelling at Jake to call Granny because there were cookies in the oven. He was all sorts of confused. We finally got it squared away, Granny turned off the oven, and called to report the cookies were "Crispy critters." 

2011... So Far

My New Years resolution for Brilee was for her to quit being so mischievous, and making so many messes... 

Epic Fail!

But, she's happy!

Just to make everyone jealous... this is the temperature in Ballard, UT (at our house) today at 1200... WOW! Last night when we got home it was -21...

Our Bald Eagle is back in our tree. I love how every January we can count on taking this picture. There used to be two eagles, but now there is only one. Sad...

Happy New Year

We spent New Year's Eve hanging out with friends. We went back to XS for dinner. It was really yummy, but very busy and so the service was a bit rough. Brilee stayed with Granny while we ate. We picked her up and then headed over to the Wilcox's. We hung out and had a lot of fun. Brilee and Jacsyn got in a couple of cat fights, but had fun playing together. Both little girls made it to the New Year with out sleeping. Brilee's new favorite thing to say is, "HAPPPPPPPY NEW YEAR." She kissed her Daddy at midnight, but refused any kisses from me :( Today we have had a low key day. Brilee got a visit from Grammy and Stacia this morning before nap time, and then go to go party with the Birchell's this evening. It was a wonderful evening! Thank you soooooo much to Caleb for Brilee's cute shirt. Thank you Julie and Kevin for our camp chef!!!! And a huge thanks to Granny and Grandpa for our camp table, and Brilee's ADORABLE quilt! 

Heading out to celebrate the last day in 2010.

Thanks for such a fun night guys!

Brilee and Jacsyn dressed themselves in their jammies. Jacsyn's pants were on backwards, and Brilee's shirt was. haha!

CHEESE

Brilee loves when she gets to hold the real Haddy.

Getting ready to open presents.

Brilee LOVES her quilt!

She opened Grandpa's big gift for him before it was his turn... he didn't complain!

She was EXHAUSTED and just wanted to cuddle up in her quilt and go to sleep.

Chloey and Leeber showing off their cute quilts!

The boys all got guns and then used their quilts as their cover... 

Brilee was over it! But I love how she is burrowed down in everyone's quilts.

Grandkids 2010 (except we didn't have Rowdy and Haddy... DANG!!!) with their adorable quilts made by Granny.

Scooter was pretty tired too. He had his gun and his thumb so he was ready to sleep.

26 Shopping/Anniversary

Jackie, Grandma, Stacia, and I braved the storm and the crowds to continue our Dec. 26th shopping tradition. It was such an amazing day. I love spending time with them, and the shopping and yummy lunch is an added bonus. We start our day off at Crate and Barrel. They have really good after Christmas sales! Then we hit up Macy's... WOW Macy's didn't disappoint this year. My Grandma got an IPAD for Christmas so we needed to take her computer to the Apple store so we could update the system. It was nuts! She made an appointment, and we still had to wait 30 minutes. I don't know that I have ever been in a store with that many people. It was crazy. We then went to lunch at the yummy Cheese Cake Factory. I have NEVER tasted diet coke that good before. It was an awesome day! Thank you so much Grandma and Aunt Jackie.

Love them!

12/30/2010 marked Jake and my FIVE year anniversary! What a great five years it has been. We are going on a cruise to celebrate our anniversary in a couple of weeks, but we couldn't just do nothing on the day of the anniversary. I texted Josie, and we made plans to go to XS for dinner. Jake said that they might feel awkward (he's goofy!) since it was our anniversary. So I said we wouldn't say anything. haha Josie and her memory like an elephant put it together quick! After dinner we went and saw True Grit. I really enjoyed the movie. Jake made me watch the original the night before, and so it was fun to compare them. It was such a fun night! Happy to have celebrated it with the Nyberg's! 

Stac got me all trendy. She bought me the cute boots for Christmas, and she did my hair like it has never been done before. ATTA girl!

Love you Jakey Jake!