Kathy & Todd

Kathy & Todd

Kathy & Todd with Lanie & Alex

Alex

Alex

Lanie & Alex

Dear Grandpa and Grandma,

Happy 90th Birthday!

I want to start my favorite memories with a favorite Grandpa question...  "Is that the oldest you have ever been?" Some other fun questions grandpa always asks are...

Are you a humphstydoo or a fumpstydoo?

Are you a good little do bee or a don't bee?

Sassafrass, antidisestablishmentarianism, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (or some other crazy word) ..."How do you spell that?"   .... T-H-A-T!

Grandpa loves to measure us.  He asks, "How do you measure up?"

He keeps a measuring tape on the back of the closet door, but the best ways to measur up are:

Seeing how tall you are by counting the buttons on his shirt.

Seeing if your arms are long enough (an excuse to get a hug) by putting your arms around his neck and seeing if you can touch your elbows.  Of course then you have to hug him untill he squeels... Ooooo Eeeee!!!!!

Grandpa also measures faces (an excuse to kiss cheeks) by putting his wrists together and makes a U shape with his hands.  Then you put your face in the U and he kisses your face.

Grandpa loves to tell stories about when he was a kid in school, when he was in the military, and stories of life lessons.

Grandpa loves to give math problems too.  Many of which are still over my head!

We didn't get to Grandpa and Grandma's house too often because of the 7 hour drive and weekends just aren't long enough.  But we tried to go nearly every Thanksgiving for Mom's birthday.  My Birthday was only two days later so we celebrated mine too.  I remember making birthday cakes to celebrate (along with all the Thanksgiving pies) and singing the Birtday song to to half the family (Mom, Me, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins too!)  Then we would watch old home movies from when everyone was much younger on the projector and picture slides too.  We would all get to pick a movie to watch from the collection (my favorite was always Pollyanna.)  I remember putting on swimming suits and playing in the irrigation water.  The girls would play house on the back patio with the pink kitchen.  We also liked playing in the sandbox and making mud pies.  We would play croque and frisbee and throw footballs, baseballs and softballs in the back yard.  When we got enough cousins, we would go over to the park and play basketball or softball, or swing.  Sometimes we went to the twisty slide park a little farther away.

Grandpa and Grandma came to our house in Vernal at Easter.  Sheralee, Kevin and Ann would come too when they were younger.  I remember coloring eggs for the Easter Bunny to hide and finding them Easter morning.  Grandpa and dad would hide them outside time and time again for us in the back yard after church.  There was always pleanty of candy in our baskets because you always brought candy too.

There is always pleanty to eat at your house.  Whether it is a Thanksgiving feast, a pizza frenzy or a left over free for all.  Treat and candy dishes are always full of peanut M&M's and chocolate coverd nuts.  Homemade rolls and bread   ( "the low fat kind" ) with butter and raspberry freezer jam are always in high demand especially when it is fresh out of the oven.  

I remember going to Festival of Trees and Thanksgiving Parades where Santa would turn on the Christmas lights.  Then walking through the square and seeing the village and finally getting to sit on Santa's lap and getting a candy cane.  I remember two dollar bills in birthday cards and candy bars at Christmas.  Playing on the tread machine in the basement and playing (pounding) on the piano.

I have memories of grandma doing cross word puzzles out of the news paper or else having a book of them.  Grandma was always willing to play games with us.  I remember her spinning the spinner for Twister and playing Skipbo, Battleship, and I could always find a puzzle to put together.  

I remember Grandma wearing curlers in her hair and putting on rouge.  Grandma always wears the prettiest broches, necklaces and clip on earrings.  

Grandma always has a song she is singing or humming.  It is usually a church hymn or a song from a musical.  I have never seen her upset with anyone or anything.  Grandma has a happy little giggle in her voice when she talks.  I love talking with her and hearing it.

I remember falling asleep in the middle of the floor in the early evening and waking up shortly after everyone else had gone to sleep.  The house was dark except for the kitchen where Grandma was cleaning up after all of us.  I asked if she needed help and she said " No, dear, this is when I do my cleaning.  This way I can put things where I want them."  So I stayed up and talked to her for a while, and then we went to bed.

I remember calling to let you know I was having twins and Grandma saying she always wanted twins.

Grandpa and Grandma, you have always supported me in my many activities and been to blessings, baptisms, weddings etc.  You are an amazing example to me of the kind of person I hope to become.  I love you both and the many memories we share and I hope to have many more.  Happy Birthday!  I love you!

Love, Hugs and Kisses,

Kathy Lynn, Todd, Lanie, and Alex Stephens

I love that my children ask to go see Grandpa and Grandma Merrill.  Here are their little memories.

Lanie- (age 5)

Hugs and kisses every time we see them

Counting fingers and it is funny.  1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10... Now count them backwards.  10, 9,8,7,6, and 5 more makes 11!

They followed behind us and came to the beach with us (Bear Lake).

I needed a bedtime snack and had a roll and a drink.

I always love them.

Alex- (age 5)

Eating pizza

Playing and having fun with them.

I love them.

They love us.