Dylan's Candy Store

city lights

Here we are, on Fifth Avenue, catching the window displays in Macy's and Lord 'n Taylor. They were really awesome. This doesn't capture them at all......the animation was really neat.....I was as enthralled as Payton was. Kris said they had really nice displays at Burgdorf & Goodman's, but it was still about 20 blocks away, and with the traffic (people traffic), it was just too hard to get there.

The weather was actually not bad. A little windy, as you can tell from my hair, but otherwise, not too cold. I was actually hot at times, with my scarf on.......I really didn't need it.

I don't know how we got this clear of a picture.....the hordes of people were over powering at times. This makes it look like we were the only ones there........NOT!

There really was some really nice decorations. The city was nice and lite up, but the homes and apartments weren't. People don't decorate like we do at home. Either they can't afford it, or they don't have access to decorating outside apartments, I guess. I think only one house on Kris' street had outdoor lights up.

This was really neat. The design on the building would change with the music. This right by the "tree" at Rockefeller Center. This is also the place where I got lost. I knew we were heading for the tree and the ice skating rink, but I didn't know how far away it was and we had been looking at the window displays on the way, so I didn't know if we were going to look at more windows, or the tree, or just what it was that we were going to see. As we got closer and closer (now I understand, since just around the little half corner was the Center and the tree), the traffic of people got worse and worse. You were literally bunched together like a pack of sardines. You could hardly move, it was so bad and if you tried to go against the movement of the crowd, well....... I was right by Kris and then she was gone. Andy was pushing Halle in the stroller, Kris had a hold of Payton's hand, and they were gone. I couldn't move and I couldn't see them. When the crowd moved enough that I could see around me, they were no where in sight. I looked up and down, side to side, but I couldn't see them. I started to panic......I'm claustrophobic anyway, so the crowd was hard for me anyway. I started feeling chest pain, and difficulty breathing, and I had to tell myself to get a grip on it. And to top it off, I didn't have my phone with me. I had left it at their apartment. I don't know Andy's phone number because he got a new phone while they've been here in New York (it's programed into my phone, but I don't know it, and I didn't think Kris had her phone). And, I don't know their address. So great.....what was I going to do? I decided I would just stand right there and not move, so they could find me. Isn't that what they tell you to do when you are lost.....not to move?!Well, I stood there for over an hour. I was starting to get worried. There were soooooo many people, how in the world would they ever find me. We had gone into the city by train, and I knew I could ask people and find my way back to Penn Station and ask someone, so I got on the right train. I knew what road they lived on, and maybe I could get a taxi and I thought I could tell them how to get to their house, just not the address, and hopefully they could speak English. I wasn't sure how long the train would run so I figured I'd have to be back to the station by 10 pm at least to catch the train back, because they only ran every hour. But what would Kris and Andy be doing.....worrying and looking for me? Would they leave and go back, thinking I could find my way, or would they stay there looking for me? So I was worrying about them, and worrying about me, and to be honest, it took everything I had to not just sit down and bawl. After an hour and almost constant silent praying, I turned and there was Kris......she found me. Then I did start to bawl. I was so relieved.....I've only been that scared once before in my life. Payton saw that I had tears in my eyes, and he was quite concerned about me and kept saying, "Was you lost Grandma?" "I love you Grandma". I kept thinking, if it had been one of the kids......we would never have found them. I just wanted to hug them close and get the heck out of there. I was done with the city. However, by the time we got back home, I was better and I wouldn't mind going back again.....you just won't find me there New Year's Eve. I have no desire to fight that crowd again.

I Can't Believe It's December!

Can you believe it is really December? The year is flying by. Thanksgiving was good, even if I had to work (they fed us turkey with all the trimmings), but I couldn't help but think of the kids. They had a GREAT Thanksgiving and that made me happy, but I'll let you read Kris' blog to hear about that.

Nothing new going on with me. I just work...that's all. I try to go to New York at least every other month. I'm hoping to fly out on the 26th....won't quite make it for Christmas, but close enough. I'll be working the holidays this year, but it will be fun even a day late.

I don't have anything exciting to say, but I'm excited to read about all the neat things you all are doing, so don't forget to write. I think this is a great idea and if we all do it, it will be great!!!! Just want to say, MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Love ya.

TWILIGHT IS HERE!!!!!!!

Alright, Twilight is here and this is one fan who has to eat her words. Now, it wasn't as good as the book, but honestly, I didn't think it would be. Most movies aren't as good as the books, so I was prepared for that. And yes, with the small budget, it was alittle choppy, but they only had two hours and you couldn't put everything in in that little bit of time. And Edward wasn't who I had pictured in my mind.............................................................................BUT,.
I LOVED IT!!!!! I was very surprised. I was able to just sit back and enjoy it and I did! I thought Rob Pattinson was great. He has a new fan in me. The scenery is awesome! The kissing scene was good and I loved the baseball game and that the Cullen family seemed so normal fixing dinner for her. There was humor, James was the perfect villian and Victoria, at the end, sent a shiver down my spine......we almost went back for another showing that night, but it was sooo late after we ate and discussed the movie to pieces, that we decided to wait and we'll all go again Monday, to a matinee. I think the youngest member of our little group is 23 and the oldest is 58, so move over you teeney bobbers.....Edward belongs to us!!!jk The only thing I felt bad about was that they left out him explaining the "twilight" is the savest time of day for them. Oh well. If you haven't seen it, you'll like it better if you've read the book, so you can feel in in your mind, the places they left out, but you'll enjoy it anyway. It's a hit!! Are there any Edwards out there???????????????????????????????????????????????????

Home Again!

Well, I made it home. I love visiting the kids, but when it's time to go or come home, it's just a relief to get there, or get home. We were delayed in New York (which Jet Blue has a new terminal and it was awesome! I couldn't believe how much nicer it is now. It looks like the terminal in Vegas or Salt Lake......big, roomy, comfortable, clean, neat. Soooooo much nicer.) Anyway, we were delayed for over an hour in New York because of the construction on the runway in Vegas. Vegas made us wait an hour. But I still made it there with plenty of time to spare to make the shuttle to St. George. However, it was pretty bumpy this time. Storm from the west made it bumpy most of the way home, but not to where I was a nervous wreck and sick. I just took another Ativan after about an hour and I made it okay. I was sure glad to land, and the worst part was coming into Vegas......talk about bumpy.

I worried so much about the plane trip and didn't think about the shuttle at all, but I'm afraid that this driver made me nervous the whole trip home. Again because of construction, it took us an hour to just get out of Vegas and he decided he would make up the time by driving faster. However, the guy is in his 70's and kept visiting with the guy up front with him, gawking off and running into the next lane. And going through the Gorge, I thought I'd have to ask him to let me out and I'd walk. However, I made it and my car was there and fine. I pulled into my house just at 8 pm. A long day, but I made it. I kept thinking, as I was taking care of Boo (the dog), that I had just been in New York that morning. Wierd. I was tired, but all in all, everything went fine. I missed Payton waking me up this morning. I woke up at 0530 this am (0730 in New York) and stayed up.....this is about the time that Payton would wake me up....between 0700 and 0730. My body didn't really get use to the time change, but I sure woke right up this morning. I'm tired now though, and it's way too early for bed.

It's back to work tomorrow. I couldn't believe the snow, cold weather and frost when I got home. I guess winter has come. New York was beautiful......fall is the best. So now I'm planning my next trip. I miss them already. I know....I'm crazy.

I am looking forward to Twilight though. Today on channel five, they spent the whole Studio Five show on Twilight. It was awesome. Can't wait. I hope you've all got your tickets, T-shirts, posters, CD's etc. I have and I can't wait. Just 15 more days. Kristen promised me she would read the book so I left it for her. I told her she's got 15 days.

Everyone, be sure to look at the Huntsman Family blog. Kris really wants to get this off and going. If you have questions, email her and she'll tell you what the goal is......family keeping in touch. What do you say....let's do it.

Again, just want to say thanks to Debbie. Without your kindness and generosity, I would really be missing the kids and lonely. You've kept me going. You'll never know how much I appreciate being able to fly to see the kids. Thank you soooooo much!!!!!!!

AREN'T THEY WONDERFUL!!!!!

I'm here, in the big apple, well.....I'm really on Long Island. And it feels great! The first night I got here, Payton kept telling me thank you, and I'm glad you're here grandma. I had brought them each a small gift and you would have thought it was the greatest gift of all time, they way they acted. It was just soooo cute. "I love you Nana....thank you Nana.....I'm soo glad you're here Nana." That night when I laid in bed, I thanked Heavenly Father over and over again, that I was here and that all was well.

Payton is really interested in his belly button. He keeps wanting us to take pictures of his belly. Sooo, here's Payton's belly! I think he's going to be a model....in really likes showing off his body!

Here we are carving pumpkins. At first, the kids weren't too interested. But they decided pumpkin carving was pretty neat. And when they were lit......WOW! That was really something. Not wanting to make Andy feel bad, but Kristen's pumpkin turned out better than his. He was trying for an oriental pumpkin......hmm?!

I made them take me into the city. It turned about to be one of the coldest days here. It took us forever to find parking, but after walking a little, we made it to FAO Schwartz's toy store. It was everything I thought it would be. We each bought about $20.00 worth of candy (a quart baggie full), yummy, yummy candy, and found one gift of their choosing, we settled down for story time. The kids have been here before and they knew just what to do.

I, of course, loved the big piano and so did the kids. It was hard to get them off of it. I would have loved to have bought one, but it was just a little too much (only $232,000.00, marked down from $500,000.00.....bargain deal).

I have to admit that they kids played better than I did. I was afraid I would fall so I was pretty careful. It seemed a little slick to me and you all know how clumsy I've gotten in my old age. But they flew down the keys!

I'm having a great time. I hate to think about heading home, but the time seems to whiz by even faster when I'm here. Probably because I actually do something. The kids are so smart and funny and wonderful. They are growing so fast. Halle talks alot and you can understand most of what she says. And Payton....well you wouldn't believe Payton. He talks and sings non stop. I bought him High School Musical 3 CD and he's almost got it memorized. We went to see the movie, just the two of us and it was alot of fun. It was AWESOME, Grandma!!!

The leaves are all in orange, red and yellow, with green and it is beautiful. I think I love fall here the best. It's been cooler than I thought it would be. I only brought light clothes and I needed warmer clothes, but it's sure beautiful. I took the kids Trick or Treating and the neighbors were really nice. New York really is a nice place. But I have to laugh.....it takes just as much time to get around here as it does to drive to town from Enterprise. Living in the city doesn't make things easier but there's more to do, that's for sure. Having a great time and I'll be heading home tomorrow. I'm trying not to, but I'm starting to feel nervous about the flight already. Oh, well....not going to think about it. Got to go play with the kids!

VACATION?

Soooooo, I'm officially sorta on vacation. I was suppose to fly to New York today, meet up with my niece Debbie and tour the eastern states. But here I am. Bummer! My work pulled a meeting on me for the 23rd, one I can't get out of because I'm in charge of the program, so I won't be heading out until next weekend. Debbie will be back home before I even get out there. All day, I couldn't help wondering, "what are they doing now?"

I wish I was out there. Especially since Kris has hurt her foot. It's hard for her to chase those kids, I'm sure, but Nana can chase them. I can't wait to see them!!!!!

Well, it's getting close. They start selling tickets for "Twilight" on the 24th. My friends and I are all excited. This guy playing Edward has got alot to live up to. I hope he's not really bad or I'll feel bad for him. I have Edward in my mind and it will be hard for anyone to live up to the Edward in my mind. We've got our T-shirts and we're ready to camp outside all day to hit the first midnight showing. Can't wait! (I feel 16 all over again). I still haven't been able to get Kristen to even read the first book. Where did I fail? I know she would like it if she would just read it, but for some reason, she refuses. Where did I fail? haha