Grannybirds Birthday Celebration

On Monday we celebrated Grannybirds 85th Birthday. We all got together at Richard and Angie's house for dinner and the birthday bash. I think that everyone that lives in town was there....plus Carol and Walt arranged their schedule to be there also. Just look how good the bird looks for 85!!!
It's always so much fun to have your great grandchildren help to make sure all the candles get blown out!

Grannybird got lots of fun presents from everyone....and cute cards....I think cards are her favorite! I know she spent the whole next day reading every card again and again. Lots of her great grandchildren gave her $1.oo bills in their cards which are reminiscent of her childhood. Brooklyn made her a special artwork card and Jordan gave her one he made special at work.....
The surprise gift from all of us was a special book that Amy orchestrated....Everyone contribute to it with pictures, writings, and sayings. I think I can say it was the highlight for Grannybird...I think partly because she is still amazed at what modern technology can do....but mostly because it represents years of our family together. Days after the party Grannybird was still in disbelief and claims this was the best day of her life!!

Just being together with family makes any celebration that much more fun. It was so fun to have Carol and Walt here for the day....She got us all together earlier in the day for a sibling lunch at Cheesecake Factory.

Happy Birthday Jordan and Welcome to the Family

Today is Jordan's 23rd birthday....and we are excited to be sharing this birthday with him as he will soon be the newest member of our family. In the relatively short time we have known Jordan we have all grown to love him....Brittany is lucky to have him as her eternal companion. I love how responsible Jordan is, he always steps in and makes sure things are taken care of. It's a nice feeling to know that your daughter is going to be well taken care of....I've almost stopped worrying about Britt....but not quite...does a mother ever stop worrying??? I love how Jordan is always smiling and willing to help... he's always one of the first ones up from the table taking dishes to the sink. I love how happy he makes Brittany and how her face lights up when she sees him. I love how he is so strong in the gospel. Jordan is an awesome guy and we are blessed that Brittany found him. Happy Birthday Jordan...We Love You.




I think Brookie is as excited as Brittany that Jordan will soon be marrying into the family! It's fun to watch how excited they are when he's over to play and plays with them.

Happy Birthday Grannybird

Today is Grannybird's 85th Birthday.....and what an amazing 85 years she has had! I am so grateful to be able to call her mother. She has and always will be an example to me of the epitome of the perfect woman. I marvel daily at all she does for everyone. She never misses a family birthday....blessing.....or baptism. She knows everyones anniversary, and celebrates any good thing that happens to anyone. The sayings she lives by echo daily in my mind....if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all....I always thought that was a Grannybird original until I closely watched Bambi with my grandchildren and found out Thumpers dad started it. We keep on telling Grannybird that now that she's 85 she can slow down and not do so much for others but I know she will just keep going, what an inspiration she is to us all. Mom, you truly are the best and I love you!

Happy Birthday Lloydie

Today is Lloyd's 59th Birthday....and when he thinks that next year he'll be 60, 59 isn't sounding so bad!!! Lloyd and I dated in high school, so all things considered we've been together a really long time. Through the years I think we have grown to greatly compliment each other. I keep him positive and trying to always look for the best and he keeps me grounded and moving in the right direction. I love him to pieces and don't know what I would ever do without him. I love how he quietly stays involved with doing so many amazing things for other people... no one can imagine how busy he stays! I love how he thinks it's so cute to do anonymous things for others. I love how I know that I can always count on him and I know that he will always be there for me. I love his dedication to the church and his love for the gospel. I love how his family is the most important thing to him....(although I don't always love his teasing which he thinks is so fun!) Happy Birthday Hon......and here's to eternity.....I love you for always!

What happens at Grandmas stays at Grandmas

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to have Cooper and Brady for the afternoon while Kara took Brookie and her friend for a birthday adventure. It was so fun to have the boys....we sat outside in the sunshine and played....then we went in the house for lunch, Brady and I had chocolate chips and marshmallows....so yummy! Then while Cooper was sleeping Brady and I watched Scooby Doo on Boomerang. This was a special treat for Brady because Kara likes them to watch educational shows....not boomerang. It was fun for me because this Scooby Doo was a scary one and Brady is not my bravest grandchild so he cuddled real close.....so fun!

Brookie and her friend came back with cute animals from build a bear.

Hola from Rosarito...

Here we are with Mark and Linda at their beach house in Mexico and the word for the day is RELAX.  It is gorgeous here, you look right out to an unbelievable view of the ocean.... it makes me feel old to have such a great appreciation for scenery....isn't that an old people thing?  Anyway we are just hanging out, having fun.  So far we have watched all of the first season of 24 (but it did take us 48 hours to do it)
When we were walking on the beach we ran into some guys that were collecting mussels... of course that gave Lloyd the idea to get his own...so guess what he had for lunch?  Linda and I didn't try them but we think Lloyd and Mark burnt off extra calories just chewing them.

We took a break from 24 to play a game....Settlers of Catan....Linda and I weren't to excited because we thought it might take to much brain power but after I won I thought that it wasn't so bad after all.

What better way to end the day than with a perfect sunset!

Happy Birthday Zaira

Happy Birthday Zaira..... Zaira is our newest daughter in law and it has been so exciting having her in our family and getting to know her....she is a real sweetheart. There are so many things to admire about her. She has an extremely upbeat attitude and always strives to stay positive. She is so patient and I am so grateful for that because if any of you have ever gone through any decision process with Zach you know he analyzes it to death....he never follows my advice of just putting it out to the "Universe" so I really appreciate the fact that Zaira listens to him. I admire Zaira for always staying strong, her and her younger sister are the only members of the Church in her family and her love for the gospel is amazing! We feel blessed to have her in our family and know that she and Zach will have a wonderful life together.....We Love You Zaira!




As well as being gorgeous, one of Zaira's best qualities is how happy she makes Zach.... I can say for a fact that no one has ever made him smile so much. He is lucky to have her for his wife.....

One day Zaira is going to be an awesome mother.....but not till Zach graduates and is in Medical School.....whenever she is here with the nieces and nephews she always has one in her arms or is playing with them.