Brittany's Engaged

Our baby is engaged and we are really happy!!!! We really love her fiance and are so excited for them. Brittany just glows....it could be a reflection from her ring but it has more of an inner quality. We have been impressed with Jordan from early on, he has tons of great qualities, he's a get it done kind of guy....and we think that is a good thing. He sees things that need to be done and does them, like taking out the garbage and refilling the water....little things that impress. Jordan came over on Sunday and asked Lloyd for permission to marry Britt....Lloyd said YES! Jordan already had Brittany's ring made....yes, without Brittany knowing or seeing it......I thought to myself, "Brave move" I hope she likes it.....and she loves it...it is perfect....thank heaven!!! He surprised her with the proposal later that day. If he does as well throughout their married life as he did with this whole engagement they will be really happy. I can honestly say that I love all my children's spouses and feel like each one of them found their soulmates and I know Brittany has also found hers. Brittany has never been so happy, Jordan is perfect for her and the reason for all her smiles.... I think this was another match made in heaven.....Welcome to the family Jordan!

Who could go wrong with a ring made by Jeff White....it's kind of fun because Jeff made my ring

Party Time

So Brooklyn turned five on Friday and that called for a Party! After Kara stressed for several days as to what to do she opted for a doggie party at her house. We all met at Josh and Kara's and had a wonderful dinner of tortilla soup and special hot dogs that Josh got on his trip to Costco. The kids played a couple of games and the adults just visited and took it easy.... everyone had a great time and Brookie thought it was the best....it really is amazing how little it takes for kids to be happy.....we should all remember that!

Of course Grannybird made it to the Party.....it just wouldn't be a party without her!

Brooklyn got a dozen roses from her Dad. There is no doubt that little girl has her father right where she wants him....you go girl! When she was a baby Josh use to say that he could never love another child as much as he loves Brooklyn. He said, "She came into my life first and stole my heart!" I know his perspective has changed with the addition of his sons but I know Brooklyn will always have a special place in that great big heart of his.

Brooklyn was really excited to get her Polly Pocket Mall from her cousins in Tucson. Savannah wrote Brookie the cutest card to go with the present.....I'm just impressed that Amy got the present mailed....it was really big.....and it arrived in time. (She did not get that characteristic from her mother)
Brittany took Brookie shopping at Nordstroms and let her pick out her own dress. I was really proud of Brittany because she bought the dress Brookie liked even though it wasn't her favorite. I think it is darling and doesn't Brooklyn look like the cutest model!
Happy Birthday Brooklyn.....I can't believe you're five....We love you and think you are amazing!

Today is Steve's 33rd Birthday and when I talked to Tyler last night he couldn't believe that Steve has to work today....on his Birthday.....bummer! Steve is the perfect son in law, we have told Amy that he was her prize for being so good....and I think that's true. He is a perfect fit into our family. He loves to hunt and fish and he could be a farmer as easily as a dentist. Lloyd refers to Steve as the son he never had because Josh and Zach just don't share the same zest for a lot of things that Lloyd and Steve find so amazing! We feel blessed to have Steve in the family and love that we know that we never have to worry about Amy and the kids because Steve will always take good care of them, he is a wonderful father and husband and we love everything about him....Happy Birthday Steve.....We Love you!

So today Brooklyn turns 5. There are not many children who get as much out of life as Brookie does....she lives every minute to the fullest. I called her this morning and sang her a song I know about turning 5...her immediate response was "Grandma it sounds like you could dance to that song!" So I sang the song again while she danced on the other end of the phone. I know whenever Brookie has the choice to sit it out or dance....SHE'LL DANCE. If you have ever spent time with her you know what I mean, she has an imagination to top all others....she can be the best dog ever or practice being the perfect princess! We are blessed to have a grandaughter as precious as her....just ask her dad....she came into our lives and stole our hearts! We love you Brooklyn. I hope you have the best birthday ever!

Happy Birthday Tyler

Grandchildren are what make having children worthwhile. Today is Tyler's 9th Birthday.... Happy Birthday Tyler!! What a special day for a special grandson, I only wish that we could be together for this birthday. Grandchildren are so amazing and we are especially blessed to have one as awesome as Tyler. He is our oldest grandchild and no grandparent could ask for more. When he was a baby and Steve was in school and Amy was working, I was lucky enough to be able to babysit him sometimes....what a special opportunity this was for me. I always looked forward to our time together. Tyler has always been what you would consider the perfect child. He is so so smart and has shown this quality since he was little....I think he gets it from his Dad. Tyler loves life and has always excelled in whatever he does. He learned to swim at a really early age and last year when he swam for the Blast Swim Team he won tons of medals and ended the season placing second in his age group for the whole city of Tucson!!! It has been so fun to watch him grow up....he is such a good big brother and you can see that him and Savy will have a bond forever. We are so proud of Tyler....just the thought of him brings a smile to my heart! We Love you Ty.....

Here are some random pictures so you can all see how cute Tyler has been his whole life!!

An Afternoon at the Bellagio....

Mom's sisters, Fern and Norma, have been here visiting....they are escaping from the extreme Canadian cold and catching up on bonding time with Grannybird.  It is exciting to have them here.  We have always thought our Canadian relatives have something extra special about them...they are just "good stock".  Anyway it is so fun to have them here and it was extra special for me to be able to spend an afternoon with them.
We went to the Bellagio to see the garden display.  They have it decorated for the Chinese New Year. 

This is a replica of a statue that many Chinese have in there homes, it helps bring them prosperity.  If you throw a penny and in lands in the center of one of the gold dings them you will have prosperity for the coming year.  If you throw it higher and it lands in the cup then you will be set for life....Grannybird landed her penny in the ding on her first try!!!
We had lunch in the cafe and since we had all gotten our pennies in the dings we thought we would try our luck at Keno....we only marked the cards for fun, which was a good thing because no one would have won anything!
The Bellagio has the largest chocolate fountain in the world.  It is worth going to see and while you are there you can check out all the scrumptious desserts they make....to die for!!!

In the interest of calories we all shared a Gelato....

It's going to be a Great 2009

It's a new year and one of my new years resolutions was to keep my blog updated....I think that I am already behind. At the end of last year I was sad that I had missed several opportunities to post about special times and special people....hopefully I can redeem myself this year. I have learned that I am going to have to get back in the habit of taking more pictures and posting promptly.  Anyway we had a wonderful Christmas and were so blessed to have all of our family with us....so fun.  I am truly blessed to have such wonderful children, daughters in law, son in law and grandchildren....and an amazing husband.  I am also blessed with an awesome extended family! Lets hope 2009 blesses us all!

We all spent New Years Eve at the house...except Brittany whose boyfriend Jordan offered her a better option!  We had a fun filled evening starting out with dinner.  Wilbur and Rhea joined us which was special for us all.  Grannybird also came down.  We started the night out by telling our fortunes.  This is an old Swedish tradition that we learned one New Years eve that we spent the night with our friends the Hollands.  You melt lead and then pour it into water and tell your fortune from the form it makes....Everyone looked like they would be going on a trip.....

Lloyd and Wilbur figuring out what Wilbur's year will bring

The hit of the night was Guitar Hero....Everyone joined in and tried there hardest to be the best

Note the concentration on their faces....can anyone guess who might be the most competitive??

Just hanging out and waiting for the New Year....

On the internet we read that if you eat black eyed peas on New Years you'll have good luck in the coming year.....now who doesn't need good luck in 2009???  We decided this might be a fun tradition to start....so here's our pot of peas.  If 2009 turns out to be good...or even ok....we'll continue the practice.

  Lloyd wanted as big of bite as possible.....he needs lots of luck in '09!

The only one who wasn't excited about having the black eyed peas was Josh....I don't know if he doesn't need good luck for '09 or if he just wasn't happy about being disturbed from his power nap!

The only kids that made it to 12:oo were Brady and Tyler....now does that surprise anyone?