Monday, April 26, 2010

I Hope You Don't Expect Much

If I had thought to take my camera out of my purse tonight, I would have had a ready made blog.  Sally Lewis, Marilyn Hoggan and Marsha Parks took Sheryl Brown and me to dinner tonight at the new Elephant Bar for our birthdays.  Being with them reminds me that I do have friends.  These friends have been with me through all my struggles and they still love me and I really love them.  They know my children and I know theirs.  We will always be friends and support each other when we can.  I miss seeing them.  I know I can do something about it.  I just have to do it. But we were so busy updating each other on our families and lives that I forgot to pull out the camera.  Next time.

Here are a few pictures I did remember to take:


Does this look familiar?  How many helpers does it take to blow out these candles?


How many days do we celebrate JR's birthday?



Do you think the marines and young adults enjoyed celebrating JR's birthday?  They'll do anything for a homecooked dinner--Hawaian chicken and orange rolls.



Early morning flower planting.  All those flowers I bought last week had to get in the ground before I leave tomorrow for SLC and Aunt Sharee's funeral.


In N' Out opened in Utah.  Cafe Rio opened in Lake Forest just across the freeway from work.  Every time we go we see many old friends from around the valley who are church members.  Today we ran into Kim Gardner with her son Tyler.  She told me how she had run into Ashley and Todd when they attended church in Boston.  Imagine that!  Beth and Dave Green were there too.  A real gathering place.

Today I am especially thankful for my family and my friends.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LACEY!!

Lacey turned 12 today.  Twelve is a big birthday!  Young Women, Middle School.  More responsibility. We are so proud of who Lacey is becoming.
 
This is baby Lacey.  Isn't she darling? Can you believe she is real?


Lacey and her mom.  Beautiful!

Here are some things I love about Lacey:

1.  She has always been tuned in to the spirit. Her mom tells me that the thing she wanted the most when she turned 12 was a limited use temple recommend so she could go frequently and do baptisms for the dead.  Even though it was Stake Conference today, because she had been planning ahead, her bishop met her at the church and issued her the recommend and plans a Tuesday visit to the temple. 


Lacey was so prepared to be baptised.  This was a great day.

2.  Lacey really loves to participate fully in all that is happening around her. She has had gymnastics lessons and learned to do back flips, volleyball, basketball and surfing lessons to name just a few. She is very coordinated and a natural athlete. She puts a lot of effort in to excelling at so many things.

Volleyball with her friend Kennadee.



At surf lessons last summer

3.  Lacey has a lot of unique personality and has a lot of fun expressing it.
How can two such darling girls make their faces look like this?


The three cousins are so cool!


4.  Lacey has many friends and is a friend to many.  She knows how to include others in her circle and is sensitive to those who might feel left out. She can get along with many people of all ages.


5.  Lacey faces any fears she has and works quickly to overcome them.  She was not happy about going on the X ride at Magic Mountain, but faced that fear, rode it, and was less anxious about other scarey rides.  She wasn't sure she was comfortable with horses, but became a pro before long.


6.  Lacey makes Papa and me feel so loved and welcome.  We get lots of attention from her when we come to visit and when she visits us. 

7.  Lacey is a good student.  She tries very hard at school and always excells.  She is usually one of the teachers' favorites because she is so cooperative, helpful and smart.

8.  Lacey has always loved to be on stage.  A trait she did not inherit from her parents.  As a little one she and Bailey would hop on the table or the hearth/stage and sing, dance and perform for us, their adoring family.  She still likes to perform and had a special part in the school play. She was Danny's girl, Louella, in "Bugsy Malone."

Lacey as Louella, looking way too old.



I have many pictures of her cute costumes for Halloween.  Here are a couple:













9.  Lacey is a wonderful help to her mother.  She has learned to work and to help.  She has been doing some babysitting and is very responsible.  That doesn't surprise me because she has loved helping her mom with each of her sisters and brothers as they came along.  She loves her brother and sisters.



With baby Jack and Halle.


10.  Lacey is a happy person who is enthusiastic and positive about all the important parts of life: family, school, church, and extracurricular activities.  She takes direction well and makes the best of every situation.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

JUST A BLOG TO KEEP A COMMITMENT

We started off this day with breakfast at IHOP to celebrate JR's birthday two days ago.


Kayla was cold and Dad's lap was warm.  (It wasn't that cold.)


Candy card joined us too.  Notice the chocolate chip chocolate pancake.


Bailey gets a true close-up. Her dad avoided the camera as much as possilbe.  Jen was putting on a baby shower this morning for someone she visit teaches.


A little swimming and tanning between meals.  Don't you wish you lived in So Cal?


Bailey has invented another weird swimming get-up.


Ethan poured his chocolate milk in the bucket with some water.  What are babies for?

Friday, April 23, 2010

CHRISTMAS AGAIN

It is lucky for me I have a year's worth of pictures I haven't posted or anything, because this boring workday produced nothing worth posting.  But I have posted the days after Christmas and the days before.  So here is Christmas Eve 2009 and Christmas morning.  Mostly the pictures speak for themselves.

We asked Bailey to put together the story of Christmas for the children to act out.  They all had a wonderful time planning their parts and their costumes while we got ready for dinner.

Mackenzie was Mary, Toby was Joseph and Kayla was the cutest donkey.

Jade read the story from the scriptures.  Ashley was the cinematographer.


The Donkey really got into her part.


Bailey was the beautiful angel.  Ben was the shepherd /wise man.  Ethan was a sheep, but wasn't sure he wanted any part.


The audience really enjoyed the performance.  We were happy Candy joined us.


Time for a bow! The donkey was still in character.


Mackenzie played several Christmas songs for us.  She has just started piano and really likes it.
It was a real treat for us.


The children sang some carols also.


Then they each got to open a few presents.


Bailey and Jade got matching new pajamas.


Ben got the knight's armor he had been wanting.


He definitely knows how to use it!



















The living room after Santa had been there but awaiting the children's excited discovery.

The boys discover their treasure.


Toby's helmet has a voice synthesizer and a power glove.


Chase is excited? He entertained us.


Jen always enjoys the children.


Bailey and Jade had a good morning.


The aftermath.


It was wonderful for us to have all these children around for Christmas.  Our home was full of love and joy and giving and thanks.  We only get Santa Claus to visit our house once in a while nowadays. This was an awesome year for us.