Grandma's funeral

Well, the timing of everything this spring has been both tricky, and also very right.  I said before, I'm so grateful I was able to be with my last grandparent one last time.  The question was how to get the rest of my family back to UT when I was going home Sunday and the funeral was five days later, Friday.  Marty can only take one day off for a funeral so we couldn't get driving to work out, unless we drove through the night Thursday.  So just a few days later we all flew back out, as a family this time.  I agonized over whether or not I should fly by myself with the four kiddos on the cheaper Allegiant flight, which was Wednesday morning.  But after the disastrous flight home with a VERY cranky Camille, I just lost confidence that I could do it on my own.  The big kids are no worry whatsoever, it was just the thought of the two babies.  In the end, it worked out to be home a little more before leaving again, and especially to be able to all come together.  So we arrived Thursday evening on Southwest.

By the way, the plane ride was so. much. fun.  Someday I will sit on a plane and read a book and have an adult conversation with someone that doesn't begin with, "Well, you've got your hands full!"  But then I wonder...I still think flying is cool.  I've lost count of my plane rides, but I still get giddy and want the window open the whole time, and love when you fly through clouds, and love to see all the backyard pools as we fly over Phoenix, and see all the beautiful land (I'm sorry, but I'm not buying the whole overpopulation thing).  So, am I the only adult who might, like, try to act like it's no big deal if I wasn't with my kids?  I guess I'm just saying that being with my kids makes my whole life more exciting.  I LOVE pointing out the pools to them and hearing them squeal as we are going up!  When the kids get really excited they also get really "huggy" and I just can't get enough of it.

I love seeing them interact.  These days I usually pair an older one with a younger one just to help us all out.  It's like the excitement gets passed from the baby, to the older kid, to me, and back again.  Ok, done gushing over getting to be a mom.

Gabe is our little plane lover.  Both the boys love cars, Bryce loves trains, and Gabe loves all things that fly.  So Marty and I just couldn't wait for his reaction.

After we were up in the air, all he really wanted to do was open and shut the window!  And he seemed pretty delighted about his drink.  I think he felt like a big kid.

That night we got the Oldham band back together, which might be the last time in quite a while.  I love it so much.  It's different singing/playing with them, just like it's different singing with Marty.  Your family just has that connection where you...feel the music more than read it?  We played "Somewhere My Love" for the funeral.  I hope it's ok to say this, but my absolute favorite place to sing or play piano is at funerals.  It is just so, so spiritual, and I can literally feel divine help.  The veil is so thin at those times.

Here are the kids trying their very hardest to be good at the viewing.  But funerals are just not a conducive environment to little wiggle-worms.  On top of that, my cousins left their kids at home, so these ones were the only kids there.  They were really so good, but every little thing stood out and was just making me nervous.  So St. Marty took them all took McD's for a cookie until it was time for the actual funeral to start.  Then he sat in the back with them so I could sit quietly with my family, and I just appreciated that so, so much. In these pictures, the Alaskans and I are standing in the background enjoying being together for just a few days.  

It was a beautiful funeral, and my favorite part was that every grandchild had a chance to share a few memories of Grandma.  Honestly, she was a funny lady and I just loved reminiscing with them.

The next day, Saturday, was Bryce's fifth birthday!  We had a big friend party planned for that day and initially I thought we'd just push it back a week.  But I decided to cancel that and make it a Johnson/Oldham SURPRISE birthday party!

I will never forget the very stunned and confused look on his face when he walked in the door and saw the big clan all yelling "Surprise!" at him!  It took him so long to even move, then he cracked a smile, then he decided it was all real and all for him and he didn't stop beaming the rest of the night!

Originally he said that he wanted a Star Wars party, but I asked if we could make it a little more generic, like a water party?  He was totally on board with that, but when we switched to a UT party, a water day obviously wasn't going to work.  So we went back to Star Wars. :)

Driving around the remote control car from Nickelle and Greg.

The next day, Sunday, we packed up and went home.  The little kids crashed and I made it just in time for choir, haha!  I'm so grateful I was able to be there, even for just a few days.  Because Grandpa Oldham passed away the week before Gabe was born, I couldn't be there and that was so hard for me.  It's still hard for me, honestly.  And I'm grateful my kids could be there, too.  All four of my grandparents have passed away in just over two years.  I've been able to watch the kids at all those funerals and see closure, peace, feeling the spirit, gaining a little seedling of faith about the Plan of Salvation.  Right now, I'm feeling so grateful for that plan, and so grateful for my family.  I really miss all of my grandparents.  There were always four people here on Earth that thought I was as special as it gets, no matter what was ever really going on in my life.  It didn't matter, they thought I was special.   But it's such a good feeling to know they are back with their eternal companions and at peace.  

Grandma Oldham

Gloria Ann Sperry Oldham

"Always in Our Hearts"

Gloria Ann Oldham slipped peacefully from this life April 19, 2014. 
She was born August 17, 1933 in Mona, Utah to Asa Hugh and Eva Laurene Vest Sperry. She was born prematurely and was feisty from an early age. As a young girl she loved to climb trees, was good at gymnastics, and although very small, could beat up any boys that picked on her. She grew up, married her sweetheart, Robert Oldham, in the Salt Lake Temple and went to work as a secretary. Her drive and dedication led to her position as the secretary to the President of Beneficial Life and for many years she kept things running smoothly. She served faithfully in many callings in the LDS Church including Relief Society President, Young Women's, Primary, and stake callings. 
Gloria will be missed by many close friends and a loving family. She is survived by her son, Allan (Debra); daughter, Barbara Davies (Edwin); brother, Jay Sperry; brother-in-law, Jerald (Mary Ann) Oldham; sisters-in-law, Beth Jones and Elma Sperry; grandchildren: Corey, Justin (Helen), Emily (Marty), Christy (Eric), Brent (Melinda), and Eric (Jeesoo); great grandchildren: Anthony, Kathryn, Molly, Brynn, Bryce, Gabe, and Camille. She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Oldham; parents; brothers, Hugh and Ronald Sperry; and sister, Ruth Anderson. Funeral services will be held Friday, April 25, 2014, 2:00 p.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road where a viewing will be held 1-1:45 p.m. prior to services. Interment, Mona Cemetery.



Memories of Grandma:

*The most perfect vacuuming lines ever seen on carpet
*Playing with her costume jewelry - my absolute favorite thing to do
*Her small but beautiful and immaculately kept back yard, picking raspberries and cherry tomatoes
*Learning how to make candy and dip chocolate (hers were perfect and mine stunk)
*Taking me out to mexican restaurants (we both loved spicy food)
*Writing letters and getting her perfectly professional typed and indented responses
*Going to the mother/daughter Relief Society event a few summers when she was RS president
*Watching her and Grandpa playfully tease each other (together they made retired life look pretty darn good)

Grandma was a classy lady.  She always looked beautiful and had a gift for making everything around her  more beautiful, including the people.  She was fun, spiritual, smart, inquisitive (especially after I became interested in boys), and had serious skills.  She was a leader.  I loved watching her marriage.  She was everything a little girl like me could ask for as an example to watch.  She was the full package, albeit a tiny one.  But great things come in small packages, and although she was small, she was a force; a lasting influence, and I'm so glad she was mine.  Miss you, Grandma.

my UT birthday

SO.  I turned thirty last month!  Back at the beginning of the year, I told Marty that what I would really like for my birthday was to fly to UT for a weekend to see Les Miserables at the Hale.  I've been going to that Hale theater since I was in...middle school?  And they have never performed Les Mis.  I have...not an obsession...just a very deep and abiding love for Les Mis (but don't ask my family, they might call it an obsession).  I have been singing those songs since I was pretty little, playing them on the piano, I've read the book multiple times but the first time was in eighth grade, you can quiz me on the Broadway performers (there have been many amazing Jean Valjeans, but Michael Ball will always be the one and only Marius, just sayin).  Anyway, it turned out that plane tickets were $49 each way on Allegiant and the closing show just happened to coincide with my birthday and with Good Friday (which Marty can take off), so it all seemed perfect.

We went back and forth about actually doing it, and then one morning in February Marty woke me up and 5:30 in the morning to tell me that he bought the plane tickets and that I was going!!  And then we realized he had accidentally bought the plane tickets for WEDNESDAY instead of Friday!  So...happy birthday to me, an accidentally longer trip, HA!  I was really looking forward to it.  It's been a big couple of years for us.  The back to back pregnancies and post-partems were intense for me, not to mention all that naturally comes with four little ones!  I truly love it so much...but I just needed a little break from the house. :)

When the big week came, I was a bit of a basket case.  For the two days I'd be gone and Marty would be working I had about 9 different people baby-sitting different kids at different times (I ended up bringing Camille with me).  And I just knew that things were going to happen, people would have to cancel, kids would get sick, and I was so stressed out about that.  I rarely leave them overnight, and then it's usually just with my parents.  And yep, most of the crazy things that could happen did!  But it really all worked out in the end, and I was so grateful for everyone's help.  I am surrounded by the kindest people, and I feel so blessed to be where I am.

Back in February when we bought the plane tickets, we had canceled the last couple of trips to UT and it had been quite a while since we had been up there.  So even though we knew I'd be going in April, we still decided we wanted Marty and the kids to be able to get up there, too.  So we planned a trip up for Spring Break in March.  We saw all the family, and we got to see my grandma's new place at her assisted living facility.  She seemed more frail, but still doing quite well.  But in just the few weeks between March and April she took a very bad turn.  So while I was there in April I was able to visit her one last time, and she passed away the day before I went back to Arizona.  I'm so grateful that Marty supported me in going up there and that the timing worked out the way it did.  I was able to hold her hand and sing to her.  I wasn't getting much response, but as I left I gave her a hug and she turned to kiss me on the cheek.  I'm so glad I was there, and I hope I was able to lift my dad's spirits a little.  I know Millie did!

My grandma passed away early Saturday morning, and the play was that night.  My parents insisted that my mom and I still go, and I think we are all glad we did it.  But I'll admit, some parts were very heavy and emotional.  All in all, it was just so beautifully done.  "To love another person is to see the face of God."

And here is the picture I'm pretty sure I wasn't supposed to take.  I mean, the play hadn't started yet soooo...no harm done?

Back at home, Marty was just being Super-dad and pulling off little things like two different Easter egg hunts, homework, piano, diapers, movie theaters, libraries, and what else?  Oh yeah, Easter!!

I actually flew in on Easter morning, so I was able to go to church with them and everything.  But Marty got the pleasure of watching the kids see the Easter Bunny's handiwork, which set the bar pretty high for next year.  Hope that bunny is happy. 

The kids thought it was hilarious that the Easter Bunny played with all of their toys and left behind the candy to prove it.

Cousin egg hunt.

One of the nights I was gone, Marty set up the tent as sort of a trial run to see if Gabe would be ready to go to the father-son campout.

The neighborhood egg hunt.






Thank you, Marty!

The Millie May turns one

This thing.



This scrumptious, happy, playful little thing turned one.  Seriously, where has the time gone?

Her birthday happened to be the day after we returned from Utah (my sweet grandma passed away, I'll post more about it soon).  So I felt like there was just so much to be done at home, but I still wanted to make it a fun day with her.  I decided the laundry could wait, but the grocery shopping couldn't.  So the preschoolers and I took a trip to Costco.  And right next to Costco happens to be Camille's favorite thing - the duck pond at Discovery Park!


So we fed the ducks and Camille was as animated as ever, squirming with all her might to try to dive in there with them.  And we all totally gushed over the cutest fluffy ducklings ever.


I see pictures like this and think I must be crazy to take all these kiddies anywhere, but they keep life exciting and entertaining.  Someday when I shop at Costco alone I will be much calmer...but I will also be alone.


Later that night...

I think I was often remarking about Gabe being our snuggliest baby.  Well this little gal is the huggiest baby the world's ever seen.  Frequently throughout the day she'll latch her arms around my neck and squeeze until my eyes bulge out.  Life can't possibly get any better than that.  When she is around other people she hugs me even more, so that's a pretty good reason to go out and about with her.  When she was just a few months old and wasn't quite capable of an all-out hug, she was already trying.  She'd smile at me and then tense up her body, draw up her legs, and nestle her nose into my neck, and I swear that was her early version of a hug (right Mom?  You got some of those...).

Right now she picks up a couple new words a week.  She has taken a step a couple of times and wants to walk so badly, but she isn't quite there yet.  I think she is dying to keep up with her older siblings.  She is content to hang out in the same room as them and I hardly notice her until they move on to something else in a different room and she crawls around to find me because she's gotten lonely.  But about half the time, they've most likely dragged her around with them.  When we get home from school, Brynn and Bryce fight over who gets to take her out of her carseat.  She loves to hang out with everyone outside and she's pretty trustworthy to not, you know, eat grass and what-not.  She and Gabe are still cute together.  I'm dreading the day they learn how to really get on each others' nerves.  Whenever I change their diapers together she'll reach over and tickle his tummy.  About half the time he'll giggle and sweetly say, "Mill!  Not a tummy!"  And then half the time he'll get mad and say, "MILL!  Dop it!  NO, Mill!"  He's quite protective of her and keeps a surprisingly watchful eye on her.  He'll run up to tell me if there is something in her mouth, or if she's trying to go downstairs without me there.  One of my favorite mommy images I've ever seen was just recently when she tried to go down my parents' stairs.  He grabbed her legs to pull her away from them, and she grabbed the railing and her entire body was completely lifted off the ground because neither one of them was going to give up.  All of the kids like to be the first one to her crib whenever she wakes up.  It is so darn convenient to be able to call one of the kids and ask them to take her when I am cooking or something.

Her new favorite thing is to go down the stairs.  She's been going up a long time, but just recently figured out how to turn around and slide down.  And by slide, I mean fly.  It makes me a nervous wreck, but it's her version of a thrill-ride, I suppose.

She is an amazing sleeper, always has been.  Like clockwork, she naps at 9:00 and 1:30, and at night she sleeps from 7 to 6:30ish.

She brings so much joy to our family and I am so grateful for her.  A baby just adds something so, so special to a family.  She is a little ball of energy, personality, chatter, and smiles and now that I know her more, I feel like I can see why she was so intent on getting here to our family as quickly as she did.  Our family needed her just like she needed our family, and I can't imagine the Johnson's without her.  Love you forever, Camille May!!!

A couple days

***I started this back on April 2nd, not sure why I didn't get it posted...

On Monday, we had a special family home evening at Marty's seminary classroom.  He had gone over there Sunday night and blacked-out his classroom.  It's crazy how just the tiniest blinking green light from a thermostat or something can let in a lot of light.  Anyway, he finally got it to the point where you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.  He was using it to teach about the darkness that fell over the earth after Christ died.  Last year he and the other teachers at Queen Creek put together a video of clips from various movies showing the timeline of Christ's death and his visit to the Americas.  In the middle of it there is total darkness with just a voice-over.  We wanted the kids to be able to experience it, especially with it being near Easter.  When it was over, we turned on the lights and saw that Brynn was crying.  She buried her head in Marty's chest and just said, "I know Jesus is real."  It was so sweet.  Marty puts so much time and effort into his lessons.  I know I've heard administrators encouraging the teachers to teach like it's their own kid, because it is someone's kid.  This experience brought a lot of enlightenment to that teaching principle. Afterward we went to the gym to play around and ate blueberry muffins (Muffin Monday!).  It was a good day.

On Tuesday, Brynn walked out to the car looking devastated.  Gabe was having a particularly two-year-old day and was screaming in the car.  I told her to tell me about it when we got home.  But through the screaming I could just hear her telling Bryce all the reasons she had gotten a "red," which is a huge deal, she's never gotten a red before.  I was biding my time and plotting all kinds of sinister disciplinary actions when I heard her and Bryce giggling about April Fool's Day.  She got me.  I guess her teacher sent everyone in the class home with a red ticket letter and got a good laugh out of it.  The rest of the day was spent something like this:
Brynn:  Mom, I'm going to throw up!!  April fools!
Bryce:  Mom, I'm going to throw up, too!!  April fools!
Brynn:  Mom, Batman just walked in the house!!  April fools!
Bryce:  Mom, I'm Batman!!  April fools!
Marty had late meetings that day, so we'd been waiting basically until bedtime to finally give him the special parfait the kids made for him, made with sour cream instead of yogurt.  I explained to them that you can't smile or laugh if you want to fool Daddy.  In all the agony of waiting, I should have known exactly how it would go down.  Just before they climbed into bed Daddy came home, and they ran downstairs, jammies and all, like this:
Brynn:  Dad, we made you a parfait!
Bryce:  There's nothing wrong with it!
Brynn:  Hurry and eat it!
Bryce:  Why aren't you eating it?
Brynn:  Are you ready to eat it?
And so on and so forth.  It was awesome.  He was such a good sport, he took a bite.  And then gave the kids the disappointment or their lives when he said it was the best parfait he'd ever eaten, and continued to eat it.  Tuesday was a great day, too.

These days Gabe says, "Oh my goodness!" and "Oh, my!" over many things.  I really don't see any possible way of that ever getting old.  He has Brother's genes, which include a high pitched voice mainly audible to dogs.  So yeah.  It's pretty cute.

Also these days, Camille is still a total chatterbox.  If she's not cooing and babbling, she's saying:
"Uh-oh" when I drop anything.  You can imagine what a TOTAL klutz I've become since she started saying that!

"N-n-n-o!  N-n-no!"  when I do things she doesn't like, such as washing her hair or face.

"Ma-ma-ma" when she cries and gives me a totally pitiful face like I've just run over her dog.

"Hi," but that's more a mimic than anything else, I'm pretty sure she doesn't know what it means.

And I can't be sure yet, but I handed her a toy and it sure sounded like "thank you" (kay-kou).  We'll see if it continues or if it was a fluke.  I looooove this phase.

She's also incredibly playful and loves to be teased, played with, and chased.  She is a little tease herself and loves to push a button on my phone and look at me mischievously while she waits for me to get after her.

I have this feeling she's going to be a drama queen.  She already knows how to fake cry when she wants something, and dramatically throw her limbs from side to side when she's mad.  That's at 11 months old.  I have a feeling she is going to be a handful.  We shall see.  But for now, she is just a darn fun baby and I would do it all over again up to this point if I could.

As for me, I'm suddenly feeling self-conscious of my blog. I never worry too much about what I post on here because I know it's mostly a few family members and myself who are the only ones reading it.  I write it quickly in any small snatch of time I can find.  There is very minimal proof-reading.  I know if I become an obsessive perfectionist nothing will ever get posted.  But Marty, being the amazingly thoughtful and good husband that he is, sent my blog to the printer to be published as a surprise for my 30th birthday.  I seriously can't believe he did it.  I've been meaning to for a long time, but I wanted to edit and perfect every post before it became our physical record and history, so it always got overwhelming to me and I gave up.  Well, it's history now!!  I hope I didn't write anything too embarrassing... :)