Danny's 15th!

Danny turned 15 today!  My, how the time flies (I know, I sound like a broken record)!  Danny is such a great kid!  He has grown soooo much this year.  He is quite a bit taller than I am now.  I think he's 5'10" now.  He is in his Freshman year at Highland High.  He is really involved in things.  He is taking an A Hour Spanish class so that he can participate in Choir and Orchestra.  He is also on the JV Volleyball team and played club volleyball in the Fall.  He is funny, considerate and pleasant to be around.  He is such a great young man and we love him very much!

 What . . . an IPad!

The "Love" Baby :)

Ryan was due AND born on Valentine's Day and he absolutely loves it!  He turned 10 this year and I cannot believe that my baby is already 10 :(

 All situated for attention and gifts

 Isn't that a cute face?!

 His food of choice was Dad's homemade buffalo wings or "hot wings" as he calls them.  I think from looking at his hands and face that he enjoyed them :)

Things I love about 10 year old Ryan: He is almost always happy.  He seems to just be a happy Spirit.  He has the best attitude about life.  Everything he eats is the best he has every had, every movie is the best he's ever seen, etc.  I would love to have that kind of attitude.  He has a great smile. He LOVES to read.  He seems to be reading constantly.  We are always scrambling to find him something new to read. He is pretty obsessive about whatever he does for long periods of time, i.e. reading, video games, computer, tv shows.  There was a time this year where I think he watched every single Mythbusters there was on Netflix!  He is a great friend and a great little brother.  Brad and I talk about how he is our "dessert" in life!  We enjoy him and love him so very much.

 It was his year for a party.  They had a great time with an obstacle course that Brad and Taylor set up outside.  He also made a killing with money and gift card this year!

 Part of the obstacle course

 Ryan, Jack Raymond, Ryan Lundgreen, Quinn Samms, Hunter Kasprzyk, Connor Bowers, Braedon, Kolton Law

Lest I forget - which I wouldn't - it was also Valentine's Day.  My sweetheart gave me the most beautiful roses.  I love him more every day.  I truly can't imagine my life without Brad.  I don't even know where our separate selves begin and end.  I am so blessed that he loves me.

Half a Century . . . Say What???

Well, it had to come sometime.  I turned 50 on February 5th!  Good thing Brad was there before me. :)  Actually it was a really good weekend.  As I mentioned earlier - we got to go through the temple with Alex and Emily.  That was such an awesome experience and it really started the weekend out great.  That night we went out to dinner with the fam and Dad spilled the beans that he had a little family trip all planned!  We left early Saturday morning and drove to Knotts Berry Farm!  Taylor and Mallory followed us in the truck and it was so fun to have Mallory along!  When we stopped for breakfast, she and Taylor whipped out a giant heart sugar cookie for my birthday and it was delicious!

We spent the whole day and into the night at the park and it was a blast.  We love that place!

The next morning Taylor took Mallory to the airport so she could get home in time to study.  We were sad to see her go, but were so grateful that she got to spend that time with us.  We think she is awesome and she fits right in with the family.  We went to church and then drove to the Crab Cooker. :) - then . . . we drove to the Cheesecake Factory for dessert and presents.  Am I spoiled or what?!?  They did the whole shebang with a tiara and a feather boa!  Hey - I guess you only turn 50 once!

After we finished there, we went out to the parking lot and said goodbye to all the boys.  They went home for work and school.  Then we took Emily to the airport so she could get back to Provo.  But wait - it's not over!  Andy and Suzette were sweet enough to let Brad and I stay at their condo in Oceanside for a couple of days!!!  It was so great!  We just laid around and read and relaxed.  It was so nice to just do nothing but enjoy my sweetheart. :)  It was a great birthday and I love my family so much!

The Big "Five-O" . . . Really???

Today is my wonderful husband's birthday!!  He is 50 years old!!!  Wow, where did the time go?  The weird thing is that I am following close behind :)  Brad, you look great at 50! I love your graying hair - I truly do!  It makes you look distinguished and very handsome :)

We had a huge party for him on Saturday night and it was a blast!  Thanks to the boys and to the Lee family for helping us so much.  We missed Emily and are sad that she is so far away - but she is doing good things with her life. Tons of people came and it was so fun to see so many friends and family who care about him.  Thank you all of you for being in our lives.  And thank you for braving the huge rainstorm to come and wish Brad well.  We love all of you.

Brad, thank you so much for sharing the last 25 years of your life with me.  I am so very blessed and grateful that I get you for my eternal companion.  You truly are the best friend and husband a girl could ever have and I really don't know how I got so lucky to share my life with you.  Thank you for our beautiful family and for always taking care of us.  Thank you for honoring your priesthood and for serving God so diligently.  You are my love and my life and I love you more than I can express.

Happy Birthday!!

"Dan the Man" aka "Boonster" Turns 14!

Our Danny turned 14 today!  Wow, I know I say this all the time - but "where has the time gone!"  I don't have many digital pictures of Danny.  I need to go back through all the old pictures and scan them.  But, I was lucky to find some old ones that Brad took before I even had a digital camera.  I remember thinking that he was crazy to do it that way.  I liked my film camera. :)  Anyway, here are some cute memories of Danny.

 Danny was a slow walker.  The doctors were really worried about him and were testing for muscular dystrophy because he was so slow.  Thankfully, everything was just fine.  This pic was taken in Tom Sawyer's cave and my favorite memory then was that this was the first time he walked so long.  He hadn't been walking very long, but walked through the whole cave by himself and we were so proud!

 Danny has always been a great camper - I guess all our boys have.  But I LOVE this pic. So cute!  He was my little buddy back then.

 I'm not sure how old he is here, but he has such a cute grin!

 Ditto!  See the puppy calendar in the background?  When he was about this age, he used to crawl all around on the floor and pretend he was a puppy...constantly!

 Look at the tall handsome young man that he has grown into!  He was so surprised to get this BYU "Jimmer" jersey for his birthday.  We have all really enjoyed watching BYU do so well in the NCAA tournaments and we have all gone a little Jimmer crazy.

Happy Birthday Danny!  You are growing into such a kind and wonderful young man.  Dad and I appreciate so much how seriously you take your church callings and are proud of your growing knowledge of the Gospel.  I love to see you at night reading your scriptures right before bed.  Keep up the good work and you will go far in life.  We love you more than anything :D

I Feel Like Super Mom!

 

This is the awesome quilt that I made for Emily's birthday!  It is made up of t-shirts that she has saved for YEARS - I'm talkin' some from 4-6th grade.  There are shirts from "Battle of the Books", "Jump-Rope-for-Heart", church girls camps, band, choir, you name it, it's there!  I am so glad that she saved all of those shirts.  What a great way to keep some memories :)

I am really proud of myself for making it!  I have tied quilts here and there, but never started completely from scratch.  It was a lot of fun and I am so glad that she loves it!

First Born

THAT is the number of years ago that my first-born and only daughter Emily was born!  Emily was born on February 19, 1988.  I want to dedicate this post to the wonderful sister that she is to her FOUR little brothers.  Every time we had a baby, she would be sooooo excited and always hoping for a little sister.  I have to admit that she cried a couple of times when she found out each time that we were having a boy.  But...I do have to say that there was never a better sister ever.  When she was little, she made do with Taylor and conned him into playing dress-up with her and even barbies!  Taylor was given Ken and the "beast" from Beauty and the Beast so he would play with her!

She has always been so good to play games with them and hang out with them.  Especially since she has been gone for 5 years now.  She makes the most out of every minute she is home and the boys love it.  A week or two ago, she wrote the sweetest blog post about being a sister.  You can find it here.

 San Diego

 Washington D.C.

 Taylor and Emily Band Buddies

 Ryan HAD to be in the Senior Prom picture

Danny leaving Emily at her dorm at BYU - 4 1/2 years ago!

 Em had just gotten back from Mozambique

 Leaving Taylor at the MTC

Alex & Emily at Christmas

Nothing better than siblings :)

We love you so much Emily!  We are so glad that you are our daughter and sister.  You set such a wonderful example for us.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!