American Idol 2008...My Faves

American Idol is the best! I am a total Fan. This season especially has so many good singers. Of course I have my personal favorites. Who can believe how incredible David Archuleta is! I am predicting a win for him.....probably just cause I like him. What an unbelievable singer he is at such a young age. The best! Hate to see him spoiled by Hollywood. He is the real thing. Brooke White is a close second. So cute! Then there are the ones that I have to question???? Danny Norriega....love that smile and those eyes, yummy (not), Amanda Overmeyer.....just don't believe she can really sing unless she is in her Janis Joplin mode. The hair definitely has to go. Jason Castro....cute kid, but lose the dreds. Anyway, what a great contest! Some of the good ones go too soon and some just hang around way too long (Danny are you still there?) Stay tuned!

Little Sophie's Quilt

My very favorite past time and hobby is quilting.....that is piecing quilts! I must say it is an obsession! There is nothing I would rather do than turn on my T.V., grab a Diet Coke, walk into my sewing room, sit down at my sewing machine and piece a quilt. MMMMMM sounds so good! What could be better than that??? Every time I have a new little grandchild I love to make them a quilt especially from Nana. It's so fun to pick out the pattern and fabric.....I am really getting good at making little girl quilts!!!! Sophie is my 6th granddaughter. We seem to have the little girl gene in our family just like Grandpa Schaar. When I finish my quilts I love to make a tag for the back personalizing my quilt for my little grandchildren. This has always been fun for me.....only it takes me a while to figure out what to put on the back! I always hope my grandchildren will love their quilts as much as I love making them. I consider them a treasure because much time and thought go into making them. I loved making this little quilt for Sophie. I hope it gives her many hours of snuggle time! I love you Sophie.

Little Sophie's Tag

Does Sophie Like Her Quilt?

Sophie Raine....Eight is Great!

Riley, Maddie and Lucy at the hospital with

surprises for mom and baby.

New Little Sophie

Finally Maddie warms up!

"Sweet Sisters"

Sophie is here! She was born on February 21st, weighing in at 7 pounds. She has just a little bit of dark hair. She is so tiny and petite! Sophie is the fourth of four girls in Ryan and Julie's family.  You always wonder how many different looks these girls can come up with? Well... Sophie looks just like Riley.  It makes ya where Maddie came from because Riley, Lucy and Sophie look alot alike. But.....we will have to see if this holds true, little Sophie is just three days old....too soon to tell.   Sophie's middle name "Raine" is my great-grandfather's middle name (Alexander Raine Curtis).  That's kinda special....!   We are wondering what color eyes Sophie will have. Riley poses all these questions! Ryan (Dad) and Maddie have blue eyes, Riley and Lucy have brown eyes. Julie (Mom) is odd man out with green eyes. Riley has all the details down pat. Another one of Riley's observations..... the whole family has even-numbered birthdays, except Sophie....she broke the pattern. Julie went in for delivery on the 20th, but unfortunately she did not deliver until 12:30 p.m. on the 21st.                                      

Riley, Maddie and Lucy stayed the night with me. I had to keep them busy! We watched movies, made rice krispie treats and popped popcorn! The next morning we got up early and went to the store to buy balloons and a pink bunny for mom and baby. Those little girls were so excited to see their new sister! Riley is already a little mom.  I am expecting her to be the one to take care of Sophie.  At six years old she is already so grown up.  She can certainly take charge. When we got to the hospital Riley and Lucy were so enthralled with Sophie. They loved to touch her hair and skin.  It was so soft.  Lucy especially wanted to hold Sophie. Ohhh.....it was so cute. Maddie on the other hand took a little while to get warmed up. When we were almost ready to leave, Maddie decided she would hold Sophie for a few minutes. It is so fun to have such sweet little grandchildren. It makes me miss the years of having my little kids. MMMMM grandkids are so much fun. Eight is Great!!!!! Welcome little Sophie! We love you...

Big Buzzzz...Suns + Shaq HMMMMMMMM

Yes, I'm a Suns Fan.....NO I am not a Shaq Fan! I hope I don't have to eat my words...but I am not a fan of the Marion/Shaq trade. I have never liked the guy and I am doubtful that he can run with the Suns. Is it normal for you to be a bigger Suns fan than your husband!!! Tonight is the debut of the big guy on our Suns team against, of course, the Lakers. We have four season tickets and yes, my husband wanted to sell them. He received several phone calls from my daughters begging to be considered fortunate enough to attend the game. What about me???? I am being a dutiful Nana and tending my cutest grandchildren while their mother is, at this moment, having baby #4! For sure another girl! Needless to say my husband gave in and gave my daughters the tickets. Go Suns!....Shaq? hmmmmmmmmm We will see.............

Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma Visits

Riley and Maddie with Great-Grandma Schaar

Great-Grandchildren....Riley, Emma, Kate, Maddie

Drew, Lucy and Zack

Emma, Kate and Drew with Great-Grandma Schaar

During the first week of February my mom and sister, Cari, decided to visit sunny Arizona. It has been so cold and snowy this year in Utah. Mom was dying to come down and spend some time in Arizona. She usually comes in the winter and stays for 2 or 3 months, but her health was giving her some problems and they had to cancel this year. She was disappointed! So my sister Cari talked her into coming down for a few days to shop and enjoy the sunshine. We had such a good time. My mom LOVES movies (so do I!) We managed to see our fair share.....27 Dresses (for sure a girl movie must see), The Bucket List (not my fave) and August Rush (definitely my favorite!) I usually save my movie going for Mom....either here in Arizona or when I visit Utah. We managed to get a pedicure and go to lunch everyday. Cari did the shopping thing (she made sure we did not tag along.....she wanted to be ALONE!) Cari has five kids, so this was "It's all about me" vacation time. We dropped her off at Scottsdale Fashion Square and she shopped all day....FUN

Saturday was the day for my mom to see the Grandkids and Great-grandkids! All of my kids and grandkids live in Arizona, so Grandma Schaar and Cari do not get to see them much. This was a fun day. We had lunch in the back yard. It was such a beautiful day. We fixed a fairly new recipe....pork tacos in the crock pot......so yummy!!!!! thanks to Amy girl!

The afternoon took a competitive turn....the grandkids started to have some fun races....three-legged, running, pillowcase jumps and whatever we made up. Of course, Kevin and Amy had to get involved. They are always in the middle of it. They challenged Cari and myself to a three-legged race. Kevin and Amy thought it would be no contest.....no way!....they went down as losers twice over....Hmmmmm not surprising! They know better than to challenge their mom! Losers!!!!!

Happy Birthday Doodlebug

Well, here I am behind in my blogging effort!  Last month (January 29th) ZACK a.k.a. scooby, doodlebug, Love Bug and Z-man, turned ONE!  It's hard to believe it has been a whole year.  I have been lucky because Amy, Scot and Zack have been living with us for 7 months!  So we have seen the scoob grow up quickly.  I love, love, love him.  We had to have a little birthday celebration with the family to watch Zack eat his first sweet, a chocolate cupcake.  (Little does Amy know I have already broken him in with a little diet coke and chocolate!  It is my duty as Nana!)  He loved

licking the beater.  He couldn't believe his good fortune.  Happy Birthday Zack!!!

On the morning of Zack's birthday we let him open his presents.  I got up early and bought him a balloon and wrapped all of his presents.  Of course he did not know what was going on, but he did have a bunch of oooooos and ahhhhhhs for us.  He loved the balloon and toys.  If one year olds only knew their good fortunes......Zack, Nana loves you!