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!

Jessica

Another niece got married!  Don's daughter Jessica married Michael Riding.  Fun fact:  Brad and I always measure our time together by how old Jessica is!  She was born when we first started dating!  I had surgery on my knee the week before, so it was kind of hard to get around on my crutches - but it was fun and we are very happy for them :)  It stole these pictures off of Facebook because I didn't have my camera that day.

 The happy couple in front of the Mesa temple

 Great pic of Jessica, Mom & Michael

Don & Leslie's cute growing family!

Miscellaneous Cuteness

I just had to post these because they are too cute!

 Cool shades that Alex got from Taylor & Mallory for Christmas

 Suns Game

Scottsdale Rodeo

Blue & Gold Creativity and Something Wicked This Way Comes

It's time for the Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet again.  This year the Dad's and the boys were given a challenge to make and decorate a cake "all by themselves"  I thought my boys did a great job!

We also got to take Danny & Ryan to see the Broadway play "Wicked" this year.  I was really excited to take Ryan because he had never seen it.  He LOVED it and I am so glad we took the boys.

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.

Amanda

Jeanne's youngest daughter Amanda got married today!  She always loved the whole Disney princess thing - especially Belle and I think she really looked like a Disney princess.  She was beautiful and the wedding was really nice.  We got to sit at a table with Jeff and Debi Crandall which was an added bonus.  We had a great time!  Congratulations Amanda and Stephen Villalobos!

 Criss, Jeanne & Amanda

Greg & Mom

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!

Blessings

We had the blessing of going with 2 of our children to receive their endowments at the same time.  Emily flew home for my birthday weekend and we were able to take her to the temple at the same time that we were taking Alex to get his endowments before his mission.  It was such a beautiful experience!  I can't even describe the feelings I felt especially right before the session was about to start.  I was sitting there with Emily and I saw Brad and Alex together and then I turned around and saw so many loved ones coming into the room.  Right then I felt the love of so many both here and those that are not here anymore.  It was one of the most tender experiences I have ever had.  I am so thankful that my family can be together forever.  That knowledge gives me so much peace.  I am thankful for the temples and for the blessings that they bring into our lives.  Alex and Emily - we are so proud of you and we love all of you so much!

Generations

Ryan has gotten into geneology!  He called the "expert" - Nana up on the phone and asked if she could come over and help him with his geneology.  She came early for Sunday dinner one day and Ryan was all comfy in his lounging pajamas.  Then the next night for FHE, he gave us an awesome lesson and told us we need to get busy!  I love this guy!

Sew Sisters!

For the last year, I have belonged to a little group that we call "Sew Sisters"!  I have always wanted to learn to sew better and be a better homemaker.  This helps me do that.  But the best part of it is that it is a time to spend with some of my close friends and I really love that.  There are usually 4 or 5 of us that get together.  During the last year I made a quilt for Emily and made some darling aprons that I never finished at our Super Saturday.  I have actually finished several projects that I just had sitting around.  I also use the time to hem pants or sew on scouting patches.  It has been a great thing for me. :)

A Mission Call

Yesterday was a happy day in our family!  This little boy:

 got his mission call!  Elder Alex James McBride is reporting on May 16th to the Argentina Buenos Aires West Mission!!!  We were all so surprised.  For some reason, we were just sure that he would go somewhere in the States (I would have been totally happy with that).  South America wasn't even on my radar.  The majority of his friends are either gone or already have their calls and they are all really exotic.  So we thought it was probably time for someone to go close to home.

We are thrilled with his call and he is so happy.  We did some studying yesterday and learned that Buenos Aires is more like a European city than a South American City.  It is filled with descendants from Spain, Italy and Germany.  They call it the "Paris of South America".  Alex is really excited because he really wanted to get called to a big city.  We have a lot of stuff ahead of us to do to get him ready to go, but we have 4 months.

We are so proud of Alex.  He is such a loving, sweet spirit.  He will be a great missionary!