Thanksgiving!

We went to Utah to spend Thanksgiving with family this year.

This is the first time we've traveled back home for Thanksgiving since we moved to Chicago almost twelve years ago.  It was fun to be with family again and to pack a lot into our week there!

I made my dad and early Christmas present--a quilt with pictures of all of us the last few years.

I told him then we'd always be watching him when he hangs us on the banister by his chair!

Aunt Brittany, Aunt Sarah and Aunt Kelsey entertained the girls one day with gingerbread houses!

The girls love to hang out with their cousins and having a fun activity made it even better!

We introduced our kids to the lights on Temple Square-

it was beautiful and fun, even with the crowds!

 And just hanging out with Grandma is always a good time!

Nora loves to cuddle-and Grandma and Grandpa are happy to be the cuddlers of choice...

Happy Father's Day!

I have loved watching my dad as a grandpa-

He plays with the kids, takes them to movies, hangs out with them

and enjoys just being a grandpa!

I am so glad that my kids will always have great memories of my dad

and all the fun times they have together!

It reminds me of so many memories with my grandpa (my dad's dad)

-My kids are so lucky to have two Grandpa Buntings-

Giddyup!

One of my favorite memories growing up

is horseback riding with my grandpa.

It was just Heather and me and our grandpa

We rode all day on the "roller-coaster" trail

At the top, we'd get off and eat our lunches

Then mosey on down the mountain.

Heather rode Chuck and I rode Dapples

This summer, my kids got to go horseback riding with my grandpa

Chuck and Dapples are no longer around,

but say "Hey" to Buddy and Sandy!

It was beautiful up at the cabin

and brought back so many memories growing up

I am so glad I got to share this with my kids.

Happy Birthday Grandpa Walker!

Today is Grandpa Walker's Birthday,

but we celebrated earlier this week

so that all 10 grandkids could be there!

When I was pregnant with Halle,

Grandpa Walker did something that I'll always remember:

He sent me a card and a little gift, just because.

It is always nice to know someone thinks of you

when you're not around!

We hope your day is great--love you Grandpa!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Bunting!

My dad is a really fun grandpa-

here he is playing with Halle.

She is very attached to him now.

She requested that he sit by her at dinner last night.

We are so glad that we can be here for his party tonight.

Undoubtedly, Halle will want to sit by Grandpa again at dinner.

A new favorite memory of my dad happened yesterday.

Nora found the mirrored pocket closet doors in the master bathroom

She loves to open, close, open, close, then crawl through, open, close...

My dad spent the whole time playing with her and the closet doors.

Nora may not remember that as she grows up, but I'll remember for her!

Happy Birthday Grandpa--we hope your day is great!

Happy Father's Day!

I was asked to come up with the "thank you" for fathers at church today.

So I arranged and helped bake 80 mini-loaves of banana bread.

I was also asked to speak in church,

which made me think all week about my dad...

My favorite memories of my dad involve our daddy-daughter dates

We would drive to dinner and the BYU basketball game

Dinner varied, but I always got cinnamon bears 

and Sprite at the game

I picked out cinnamon bears because I knew my dad liked them too.

I think about this now because that was a significant experience growing up

to know my dad liked to spend time with me

I am sure I talked on and on about nothing and everything

and my dad just listened.

Thanks for being a great dad--I love you!

And now he's an awesome Grandpa...

He changes diapers, plays battleship, 

picks out a guitar book for Afton

and sincerely enjoys playing with them.

The kids are looking forward to spending time with Grandpa-

feeding his fish, going to the golf course, 

and of course, more battleship!

We hope you have a wonderful day!

(you can rest up for our visit!) 

Happy Birthday!

It's Paul's dad's birthday today. Happy Birthday Grandpa Walker--we hope your day is fun and relaxing!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

It is my dad's birthday today! Thanks for the fun and laughter and always making sure everyone's taken care of! We hope you have a great day--we love you!