Utah Fun

We've been back from Utah for a few days and I've finally had a moment to blog. Utah was hot in the summer. Not a lot different than right here in So. Cal. We had a jammed packed 5 days of fun.

One evening my daughter and I got to go shopping without any children. It was a rare treat and we had fun acting goofy. Trying on ugly sunglasses and hats and then taking pictures of us in them. We sent the pictures to my future daughter-in-law to see if she wanted us to wear any of them in the wedding. I'm not thinking that she bought off on any of them. My daughter also introduced me to Starbucks Chai Tea while I was there. Thanks. Thanks a lot.

We celebrated The Rock Star's 3rd birthday with a Pirate themed party at the local pool. We don't have pools like this here. This pool was complete with water slides and giant buckets dumping water:

The Rock Star had fun with his friends and even Little Buddy enjoyed the day:

Several of us went together and bought The Rock Star his very own 'Hopper' teeter totter. Papa had to sit in 'Garrett's Hopper.' Papa might still be trying to get out.

While we were there we bought The Rock Star a new big boy bed so that Little Buddy could move into his crib:



On The Rock Star's actual birthday we took him out to lunch. He even told the waitress that it was his birthday. All of the waiters and waitresses sang Happy Birthday to him. He looked a little serious and embarrassed when it was all happening. Grandma had bought him a shirt proclaiming that it was his birthday, which he proudly wore. (I just realized that only a grandparent would buy a shirt for a child that they would only wear once. Hmmmm.....yep, I'd do it again next year too.)



Besides celebrating a birthday we also got to see Little Buddy taste his first solid food. He loved it, but got angry when it didn't come fast enough.





We walked to the park a couple of evenings. Both boys seemed to enjoy the wagon ride and, of course, the play equipment.

As always, the visit went to fast, but we will see each other at the end of August. We get to have the boys for two evenings while their parents go out. I'm already planning all of the fun we will have. Maybe the Wild Animal Park to see the dinosaurs. Maybe a picnic at the beach to build sand castles. There's always Sea World and the zoo. Only 33 more days.

In the Blink of an Eye

You always hear people say that this happened or that happened "in the blink of an eye." Sometimes life just feels that way. For instance, I blinked and now it's already July and Christmas is in just another blink of an eye. Scary thought, but that's not what this post is about. This post is about how on earth I blinked and my grandson turned 3. I really think that something is wrong and it can't be possible.

Dear Rock Star,

From the moment you were born your Papa and I have loved you beyond anything we ever thought possible. We had people tell us that we would love you more than we loved our own children. I don't think that that is the case, but I can tell you that we love you deeply and unconditionally.

Since you were just a tiny little baby you have had an amazing connection with your Papa. It started when you were old enough to interact. There has just always been something special between the two of you.

We loved to take you places when you still lived here. Over your first year we watched as you expanded your world and explored the things around you.


And in the blink of an eye, you were a year old.

Over the next year you grew in leaps and bounds and changed so much. We loved watching you turn into a toddler. We went camping, went to Hawaii, helped move you to Utah and laughed whenever you were around. You started to communicate. In the beginning you called Papa 'raw-raw' and you called me 'gee.' We blinked and you started calling Papa 'raw-paw' and me 'gee-gee.' Gee-gee was said with an accent that made me sound like a french woman. You loved to visit Papa at his work. You wanted to sit in each and every helicopter.

We visited The Wild Animal Park, Sea World and Disneyland:









And in the blink of an eye you were two:

When you were just a little over two your language skills exploded! We were able to start talking to you on the phone and you started repeating everything that we said. Almost everytime you spoke you made us laugh. Raw-paw became 'graw-paw' and then Papa. Gee-Gee became Damma. Just the other day you called me Damma Ginny. We went to Lake Tahoe where it was quickly determined that you, like all Shellhammer's before you, LOVE the lake. We visited each other several times this year. You became a big brother to Little Buddy. You were strong willed one moment and sweet and loving the next. Everytime we saw you you were bigger and taller. You still loved to visit Papa's work and sit in the 'hoppers.' You and Papa started the tradition of sleeping in the tent in the family room when you come to visit.











Papa and I are coming to visit you today. I just got off the phone with you and you asked me if I was going to the airport after I got dressed. You wanted to make sure that I was bringing Papa. You have told us on several occasions that at your birthday party you are going to slide down the big slide with Papa and that the big bucket is going to dump water on both of you. You know that we are buying you a new bed so that Little Buddy can have your crib. You have been all excited about your Cars bedspread. You have told us that you want a brown cake with beige frosting for your birthday party.

On Monday, we will have blinked an eye and you will officially turn three. This coming year you will start pre-school and make new friends. Your world will begin to expand even more. You are going to be a ring bearer in your uncle's wedding. You will grow taller and you will no doubt say something to make us laugh almost on a daily basis. And, in the blink of an eye, you will turn four.

Papa and Damma wish you a very Happy 3rd Birthday on Monday! We are so excited that we get to share your day with you. When you got off the phone with Damma a few minutes ago you said, "Bye Damma, I love you." Ditto, Rock Star, Ditto.

The One Where I Go Semi-Postal

One of my New Year's resolutions this year was to just go with the flow. I don't tend to fly off the handle all that easily anyway, but I decided that nothing good ever comes out of getting angry and upset, so I was going to avoid going there if at all possible. That's not to say that I don't get bugged about things and voice my opinion, especially to Hubby, but I really meant this in situations where I was dealing with people out in public. I decided that I needed to be a good Christian example. I vowed to try and give people the benefit of the doubt and be nice in all situations. And, I'm pleased to say that I have been able to do just that. Until today. I admit that today I couldn't do it and I am actually quite proud of myself for not going even more postal. Here's what happened:

I went to the dentist last Tuesday. I have this strange bump below one of my teeth. That tooth also has a crown on it. It doesn't bother me at all. There is no pain or discomfort. My dentist x-rayed the tooth and decided that I should be referred to a specialist for a possible root canal. This story just affirms that NOTHING good can come out of a root canal.

When I was leaving the dentists office they gave me paperwork with all of the information about where I was going and the phone number so that I could call to schedule the appointment. They also told me that when I knew the date and time of my appointment I needed to call them back so that they could send over the referral. I. did. all .of. that. I called and told them that my appointment was this morning at 9:45. The girl that I spoke to told me that the referrals are good for 48 hours and she would send the referral to the specialist on Monday so that it would be good today.


When I arrived at the new dentist's office this morning the receptionist informed me that they hadn't received the referral yet. She said she had called my dentist and they told her they were short handed and they couldn't send it until tomorrow. Could I come back then? I explained to her that I lived 45 minutes away and that that would be very inconvenient. She understood and explained to me my options:


1. Do just a consult today and not start the work. (Just means 3 appointments instead of 2)


2. Start the work on the assumption that my dentist would send over the referral with today's date on it and pay a $130.00 co-pay. (We all know what happens when one assumes, right?)


3. Start the work and IF my, already lame, dentist didn't get the referral sent over battle with my insurance carrier because of the date issue and have to possibly pay full price of $1000.00. (OK, not picking that option.)


4. Drive back tomorrow and start all over. ( Grrrr........)


At this point, I told her that I was going to step outside, call my husband and my lame dentists office and make a decision. I should probably say that the receptionist was great and very helpful given the fact that my dentist had tied her hands behind her back.


I called Hubby and we both agreed that option #3 was.not.happening. Next I called my dentist. I spoke to Nellie(name has been changed to protect the not so innocent. Also, this person reminded me of Nellie Olson from Little House on the Prairie. You know, just not such a nice person.) and asked what we needed to do to get the referral faxed over to the new, super nice dentist's office. Here is our conversation:


Nellie: Like I told them, we are short handed and it isn't going to happen today. The first I knew about your appointment was this morning when they called looking for a last minute referral.


Me: Your office did know about this appointment because I called last week and told so-and-so when the appointment was. She told me that the referral was good for 48 hours so she would send it over on Monday.


Nellie: Stop Talking!


This is where I threw my New Year's resolution out the window. Game On! Let's do this! Now I'm mad and not responsible for anything else that may come out of my mouth.


Nellie continues: I already told you that we are short handed. Do you honestly expect me to pull someone off of patient care to take care of faxing your referral?


Me: That is exactly what I expect you to do. My butt might not be in one of your chairs, but I am a patient and I absolutely expect that referral to be faxed over here within the next 15 minutes. I did everything that your office told me to do and I expected to be able to show up at this appointment and actually have had YOU do your job.


Nellie: I can't promise you anything, but I'll see if I can get it faxed over late today.


I'm not sure how we ended the conversation. I know I had to actually take some deep breaths when I got off of the phone because I was sooooo angry.


I went back into the new, super nice dentist's office and told the receptionist that I had tried, but didn't really get anywhere. We again discussed my options and I decided that it would be best to just do the consult today and not put myself in the position of incurring any unnecessary costs or battles. She left the room and returned a few moments later laughing. She said that she didn't know what I did, but that the referral had just come across the fax. Hmmmmmm.....couldn't have been too short handed.


Then I was taken back to the exam room faced with the prospect of having a root canal started today. The dentist came in, examined me, took more x-rays, ran some tests on my tooth and declared, " I want to see you in 6 weeks. I'm not convinced that you even need a root canal. Let's just watch it and see if it bothers you."

Really, all of that for nothing, but seriously. I'm writing a letter to my dentist to 'tell on Nellie.' I am prepared to change dentists if I don't get some form of an apology or satisfaction. I'm also irritated with Nellie because she is the one who is responsible for my only making it 6 months into my resolution. And, as I'm typing this, I clearly hear God letting me know that no, that's not the case, I am responsible for losing it. Yah, whatever.

Just One Comment

Last night I couldn't help myself. I watched Jon & Kate plus Eight. Even though I knew what was going to happen I still couldn't help myself. It made me sad. It made me question anyone's desire for fame. What on earth is good about it? I know that Kate says that none of this is the result of the show or the paparazzi or yada, yada, yada. Bottom line...10 lives were turned upside down.

I have a lot of opinions about how they should have tried harder. I have some suggestions of things that they could have tried, but then I read this post over at Falling Out of the Wardrobe. Well said. I think we should all take her lead and try praying for the Gosselin's and those innocent little kids. A truly heartbreaking situation. That's all I have to say about that.

It May Or May Not Have Happened

I haven't blogged in such a long time. I really haven't had anything to say. We have been busy, but we haven't done anything that has been, well....blog worthy.

Most of you know that I try to spend a day a week with my dad. I just feel sorry for the guy. Being all alone is something that I can't wrap my brain around and when I try it makes me imagine life without my Hubby. Then I think about how that is something that I just don't want to think about. You get the picture. Anyway, sometimes it is so painful to spend time with him because he just does the most embarrassing things. Other times, he is just fine and through our conversations, I find myself learning all sorts of interesting things about him. This week we went to run some errands together and we went out to lunch. Our first stop was Kohl's where he bought himself a new set of pots and pans and some new towels.

On the way there he may or may not have told me for the 3,416 time that he just doesn't get why the people who inherited the mobile home next door to him put any money into remodeling it before they rented it out. He may or may not have told me that he just doesn't see why they don't sell it.

He may or may not have told me for the 5,329 time that he doesn't get why the lot on the next street over is still sitting empty.

He may or may not have, while waiting to be seated at the Olive Garden, said in his loudest voice, "They call San Fransisco the City by the bay. I call it Queers by the bay." Yep, you read that right, but he may or may not have said that.

Then, while walking through Kohl's a completely different, totally random old lady, may or may not have said the following:

(Seeing my dad carrying a large collage picture frame that I was buying)

Her: You sure must have a lot of people in your life to buy a picture frame that big.

Me: I actually do a picture frame like this for every five years that I've been married. We just hit 30 years and I need to do a new one.

Her: (Looking toward my dad) Well, congratulations! Enjoy him while you have him. I just recently lost my husband of nearly 60 years.

I don't think my dad caught that she was implying that WE were married because he told her that he had lost his wife after nearly 57 years of marriage too. Hopefully that cleared up any confusion, but seriously! Come on now! Do I look like I could be married to an 82 year old man? I was so horrified and so grossed out. I let it go and washed my brain out with soap.

Then just to make me feel guilty about how I don't always have the happiest of hearts when I spend time with him, he may or may not have insisted on paying for lunch for the 1,287 time to my like 10. He may or may not have let me borrow, or keep, my mom's old food processor so that I could shred and dice my bumper zucchini crop. And he may or may not have bought me a set of towels at Kohl's just because I thought they were pretty. Believe me, I tried to say no, but he may or may not have listened.

Congratulations!

There are times in the life of a parent that you are just so dang proud of your kid that you think you are going to burst. Those are the moments that you have to share with everyone. I think it's a law of parenting or something. My son has given me many such moments. He won more than his share of awards while growing up for both academics and athletics. He graduated from High School. He graduated from UCSD. He finished his classes for both of his Master's Degrees in December. Friday night was the graduation ceremony.



The night before his graduation he was asked to speak at the graduation banquet. Nothing about the evening went the way that he thought it would. I'll let you read about it for yourself on his blog.

After the ceremony a man approached my husband and I. He asked us if we were our son's parents and proceeded to tell us that he had had the privilege of sitting with our son at the banquet the night before. He said that he was so impressed by him, and by his speech, that he wished he could see our son in 20 years. He said that he would want to see how the Lord had used him and what our son was doing for the Lord. That moment, and those words, coming from a total stranger, were incredible. I was already proud of my son. I was proud of how hard he had worked to finish those degrees. I was proud of the fact that he was the youngest student in his class. I was proud of the decisions that he was making for his life. I was proud of the fact that he was choosing to serve the Lord. Yet to have a total stranger tell us how our son had touched him in such a short period of time was a testimony about the man that he had become. I know that God is going to use my son in a mighty way.

Here are a few pictures from the graduation:

Receiving one of his two degrees. Counseling Psychology maybe?


My favorite. Some of the graduates kneeling in prayer at the close of the ceremony. It was awesome to see them on their knees thanking Him for their successes.


Picture taken afterwards of the smiling graduate with us and his beautiful fiance:


Congratulations to my son!

Please Check Out This New Blog

All of you are aware of the drama that surrounds my youngest grandson. It has yet to play itself out. Our family holds tight to the promise that God is good and He is in control. No matter what happens in the next weeks and months we will cling to that promise and we will praise Him!

My awesome son is new to the blog world. Like his sister, he is an amazing writer. Please visit his blog and read his recent post about his nephew. Warning: Bring kleenex.