April, Part 4 - Old Friends and New Baby Charlie!

 The Cranny's Are Coming!

When Roger and I were at USU 100 years ago, we were friends with Mike and Kathy Cranny.  Kathy is my KD sorority sister.  In fact, we were in the same pledge class and I love her. I was friends with Mike, too, because he was in the same fraternity as Bruce Shields, who was Mary Ann Schluss's (one of my best friends and KD sister) and my good buddy. Through Bruce, I got to know a lot of the SPEs.  In fact, after Roger and I and Kathy and Mike were married, Roger and I babysat their firstborn, Stacy, when we lived in the apartment above them "down on the island" in Logan.  In fact, we liked the name so much, we named our first girl, Stacy!

So, here's the good news!  The Cranny's have purchased the home three doors down from us!  They will still live in Oakley, Idaho, (yes, they know and love Nedra  and knew and loved Ray!) most of the year, but will visit St. George when they can.  We hope it is a lot!

Roger spotted them moving in, so invited them over for dinner.

 We had maple-brined pork chops, mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus and baked carrots, and 3-cheese bread.

 strawberry custard trifle for dessert

 Here Comes Charlie!

On Wednesday, April 18, Roger and I drove to Las Vegas, then flew to Houston, where Jeff picked us up at the airport and took us to their lovely new home in the Woodlands.

We had fun opening birthday/baby gifts.  Jack and Addie loved our Pirates of the Caribbean scarves we got on the Disney Cruise!

Charles Battle Lind is born!

At 4 pm, April 19, with absolutely no complications for mother or child, we welcomed  adorable Charlie! I was thrilled to witness another profoundly beautiful grandchild entering the world!  Thank you, Mindy and Jeff, for letting me be there!

Why Battle, you say.  Roger's grandmother's maiden name was Battle, and his dad was Keith Battle Stratford. End of story, you say.  Nope.  Before Jack, Mindy and Jeff's oldest, was born, Jeff told his friends, particularly those on Wall Street, that they were going to name their firstborn, Thunder. So when Jack was born, he put it out there that his name was Thunder, and many believed him.  He just liked the strong name, and the family often calls him that.  So when he realized that Mindy had a Battle in her family tree, he was excited!  Now he could have Thunder and Battle!  

So, with an older brother called Thunder and a younger brother named Battle, NO ONE should mess with Addie!  Jeff says, you're welcome, Adelaide!

We think he looks a lot like Jack when he was born.  He is such a sweet, precious baby!

 Roger got the kids ready to come meet little Charlie.

 Addie is proud of her new role!

 Meet your new baby brother!

 Yep, he's got a belly button!

 Happy family of five!

 Grandma and Grandpa were sure glad we got to be there for this happy occasion!

 Jeff stayed with Mindy overnight for two nights in the hospital. After the first night, we took the kids to Chick Filet, where they played in the playhouse, then had ice cream cones.  We cracked up watching Addie eat ice cream.  About every 30 seconds, her little tongue would flash out like a lizard catching a fly, then immediately flip back in her mouth with the tiniest amount of ice cream.  Grandpa had already eaten most of the cone, or I think we would still be there, waiting for her to finish it!

 Apple juice break from the ice cream

 In Las Vegas, before we got on the airplane, we picked up the new iPad (we traded the black one for a white one, which had been out of stock when we bought it before the cruise) that our kids gave us.

I found lots of silly songs the kids loved.

 Next day visit at the hospital

 Isn't this baby adorable?!

 You can't see it in this pic, but Addie's nose is just starting to get out of joint - not a lot, just a little!

 Jeff made a great blue "balloon" for the kids!

 I love Charlie, Daddy!

 Jack says, I've got a new brother to play with!

 One of Mindy's (and Jeff's) requests was for us to make lemon blossoms. So my fabulous sous chef and I had them waiting for them at Mindy's welcome home. Roger was so great to be my chopper, handwork assistant, cleaner-upper, diaper-changer, etc. etc. etc. and all-round amazing helper the entire time! 

 We had an extra little helper help us make 52 lemon blossoms!

 Addie and Jack each made a card for their mommy.  And a bouquet from each of them of Mindy's favorite flowers, daisies, was waiting for her.

 They're here!

 Marzi's checking out Charlie, too!

 Surprise, Mommy!

 So glad to have Mommy home!

 Charlie was pretty brilliant to bring a present for his big brother and his big sister at his homecoming!

 Addie, with her Pugsly, crawled right in with me while I was rocking Charlie.

 Peace

 What a sweet little cuddler!

 Near Mindy and Jeff in the Woodlands is the most wonderful kid-friendly shopping area with upscale stores and restaurants.  Jeff met us on his way home from work for a little outing.

 The squirting fountains out of the ground were a hit!

 Ooo, you're brave, Jack!  This was completely his idea?!

 This was just one of several times they did this, and yes, he did get it up his nose, but it didn't bug him much, or stop him!

It was a beautiful spring day, not too hot yet, though we totally noticed the humidity, so different from dry St. George!

 My precious baby daughter

 We surely do love these kids!

 Drying off after the "swim"

 Jack loves animals!  When Dad took the kids to the park, if anyone was walking his dog, Jack asked if he could pet it.  After this shot was taken, he pet the horse.

 For our farewell dinner, we had roasted caprice salad, Long John Silver's fish and panna cotta for dessert.

 Saturday morning, April 28, we left for the airport.  On the way, we stopped downtown to see Jeff's office in the beautiful skyscraper where Linc Energy is housed. We also had a little journey during that last week to the other downtown area to the Galleria to shop and eat lunch at Chuy's, a yummy Mexican restaurant. We felt that we got a good "taste," literally and figuratively, of Houston, their new home!