Graduation and Blessing Day

Still catching up here. Please don't judge me!

So my [our] Rexburg trip concluded with two big events: Cecilia's graduation, and Blessing Day for our sweet little Giselle. Cecilia has worked hard to keep her grades up and get everything done and complete for her graduation. This is no small task when you consider that she was doing it while pregnant, and then also as the first-time mom of a newborn.

Commencement -- we couldn't even find her in the masses here:

Brandon was pretty proud of her, too.

It's not easy juggling a new baby and school, but she sure did it!

So proud of her!!

The family came down to Rexburg to join us for graduation and the blessing, and one evening we slipped down to the river at Idaho Falls for some pictures.

Oh, it was so beautiful there, and so, so peaceful.

The following Sunday, we went to church with Brandon and Cecilia, and Giselle was blessed. Cecilia's mom made a pretty blessing dress for her, and I made a little memory bouquet for her wrist.

Todd's aunt LaRee came, too -- it was so good to see her again. It's been a long time!

(Do we look old enough to be grandparents? Don't answer that!!)

My sweet niece, Lyndsey and her hubby Ross also came that day -- so fun to see them again and have them join us!

I'm such a sucker for baby-yawns.

At the end of the day, THIS is what it's all about.

Since it's so much later now that I'm recording this, I have a different perspective, perhaps. Or maybe it's just that I've had more time to think about it. Right now, this little angel is pretty far away, and we haven't gotten to see or hold her lately. I think I've got newborn withdrawals. (Even though she's not a newborn anymore!) Just sure am missing this little one.

But oh, what joy comes with a baby!!

Oh, Baby!!

So, this post is throwin' it back ... like to July.

Because that was when Todd and I became grandparents for the first time!

Hard to believe, right? That's what we keep thinking, too.

And after some thought, I finally figured out why I don't "feel" like a grandma. When I was a little kid, my grandparents were already elderly. They were in their seventies. Retired. Gray-haired. Moving slowly. Lots of wrinkles. In fact, three out of four of my grandparents had passed away by the time I was 13 years old. And the fourth grandparent passed away before I got married.

So in my mind's eye, a "grandparent" was a really, really old person. If I stop to compare, I am a quarter of a century YOUNGER than what I remember my grandparents being. It's a completely different place in life than they were.

Yeah. Now I feel a little better!!

So, this is Giselle -- the beginning of the Next Generation of Huffakers!! Isn't she a doll?? We ran down to Rexburg to hold this little sweetie, almost as soon as we got the news.

(She did undergo light therapy for jaundice for a couple of days, but we think she's pretty darn special.)

Her first outing --- to the Fourth of July parade.

While we were there together, we celebrated our anniversary -- 29 years together!!

Cecilia was a real trooper, and got right back into things right away. She and Brandon had three more weeks of school until the end of the semester, and Cecilia was heading for graduating with her bachelor's degree. As adorable as they are, a newborn baby isn't real conducive to classes, homework, projects, and finals.

Since Cecilia's mom was unable to come, we decided it might be best if I stayed in Rexburg until the semester's end, to help out with meals and baby care while her parents worked madly through the end of their school year. We had Emma stay with me, since the rest of the family was busy with work and Girl's Camp and activities that would limit what Em could do.

And Emma absolutely LOVES holding Giselle!!

And I can attest that our two lovely new parent-students ..... were more than just a LITTLE tired!

We had to come up with some ideas to keep busy while we were there, since we don't get to hold a baby ALL the time.

One day, we went to Cameron's apartment, and gave haircuts to him and two of his roommates. How about a before-and-after?

(Yes, he really needed a haircut!!!)

Here's a few other things that Emma and I did ....

Roller blading. And yes, I got up on rollerblades. And no, there are no photos of me here. I was lucky to fit my foot into the skate. (More on that in another post.)

 

There is a city park that has a carousel AND a free kids' splash pad. Score!!! We liked that a LOT!

We bought a cheap little frisbee at D.I., and played frisbee together after dinner at a pizza joint.

Emma likes helping out with food preparation -- but she really only wants to help make things that she already knows she likes. Like brownies. And meat loaf.

We went up on campus a lot and hung out and played games while Brandon and Cecilia were in classes. I think I read three of the "Work and the Glory" series while we were there.

And we took every opportunity to snuggle with this cute little bug! 

Cute little family!

Now, if I can only figure out what to be called ..... Nana, Gran, Gram, GG, ..........

but I'm thinkin' I will stick with the classic, "Grandma".