girl party

My sister Jolyn and her family are in town for what was to be our family reunion.  Because of a tiny case of cancer, we postponed our reservations in Oregon and are now staying here in Idaho...mostly at my mom's house.  

Last night Steve, Dan, Andrew, Carter and Colby went to a movie and the girls stayed home.  There was a little sadness by a few until Jolyn and I declared the night a GIRL PARTY!!

Let's be honest, Saylor is in heaven- HEAVEN- having Sadie and Leah in town.

Who wouldn't want two fun girly cousins at her back and call?

To start the girly night off, we fixed Saylor's hair to be just like Leah and Sadie's.

(Because of her Colby cut..it wasn't quite the same, but we tried to not notice the difference.  Ok, I noticed but tried not to cry too hard.)

 Next on the party agenda was changing into girly nightgowns.

I didn't realize what having "matching" nightgowns would do to three giggly girls.

I soon found out!

 Insanity all around!

Popcorn and "My Little Pony" (scrawny and bony) were next on the party list.

The movies were short lived though because these girly girls realized what true entertainment is...

Grandma and Grandpa!!!!

My dad's surgery was originally scheduled for this last Thursday.  If that had worked out, Jolyn and Dad would have been here the exact ten days Dad would have been in the hospital.  How fortunate I feel that his surgery was postponed until this next Monday.  Jolyn's girls and Saylor were able to spend what I feel was the most precious priceless night of their lives.

 Grandpa initiated the girls into the elite group of small children that has now heard the ever famous Bear Story.

It is the same story he told my siblings and I many years ago except it's now grown in exaggeration and includes props.  All the grandkids know it by heart and I'm so happy I was there to witness these girls hearing it for the first time.

I'm even more happy Jolyn got the entire thing on tape.

 "The rocks booming down the mountain waking up the bear."

"The bear banging on the cabin door."

"The firework went right here between the bears toes."

 There was some intense listening going on...Grandpa is a great story teller.

 The "actual" bear claw that grandpa took home as a souvenir.

 Each of the girls got to try on the claw...

 and hold the claw...

 and smell the claw.

It was unanimous.  It smelled like a bear.

 Grandpa next told the girls the "poopy owl" story.

The owl's wingspan was this big.

 Or maybe it was this big.

 And the owl pooped right on Grandpa.

Phhhhhht...just like that.

 The encore event of the evening was Grandpa talking to the girls in his ever loved Donald Duck voice.

No really...he sounds just like him!

The girls giggled their guts out and begged for more.

 Grandpa Walker we love you!  

Thank you so much for spending time with us and showing us how much you love us!

My mom, Jolyn and I had a hard time fighting back tears during this entire story time.   Our tender feelings are close to the surface when it comes to Dad at the moment.   I feel like time has slowed down for me a little where Dad is concerned and I'm grateful for that blessing.   I'm grateful for every minute I have with my parents and if nothing else, that tiny case of cancer is making life more precious and meaningful.  

 Thank you Dad for sharing a piece of yourself with my daughter last night.  I will never forget it.