TJ's Birthday

Well TJ is a year older but was too sick to do much celebrating. Him and Zaden both had the flu. So he spent the day in bed (which is kind of celebrating) and Trichelle cleaned up after Z and got both boys the things they needed!

TJ is a great guy! He takes good care of my daughter and grands. I am thankful for TJ and all his hard work and kind and giving heart!  He has successfully Wiesel-ed his way into my heart!

Dinner with The Howe's

It was so much fun going to dinner with Mark and Jill.  I really like these two and I'm so glad that we are friends.  I went to school with Mark.  When we lived in Roy so did they and we would visit them. That's when I really got to know and love Jill.  Larry and Mark are both business men and have worked a lot together.  We went in on a house boat when our kids were young because of the Howe's. They had a share in the boat "Fire Fox" and invited us to get a share.  It was fun going in on a share with the Jones family.  We have so many wonderful memories going to Lake Powell.

We don't get together often but try to at least once a year. (years go by fast)  Jill and I had mentioned it and then Larry got hurt and was going to be laid up for awhile.  Spontaneously we decided to go before he had surgery and it worked out great.

We had good conversation and laughs.  I had said something funny that opened the door for Jill to share a story with us about her red pepper.  She had a picture which made us all laugh out loud.  Let's just say that when Jill cut into a red pepper at home it had a little surprise for her....the pepper was a male. (wink)  When we were ordering dinner and the waiter got to Jill, Larry piped up and said she would like a red pepper.  We laughed and told the waiter it was an inside joke.  The waiter was great and just went along with us.  He even came by our table once and mentioned they were working on that red pepper for her.  Belong long the Waiter and the Manger visited our table bringing Jill and large red pepper.  It was so funny....we ended up showing the waiter the pic and he blushed.  It was just a fun night.

I love having a variety of wonderful friends.  I feel so very blessed because of the friends that I have been given.  I love my hubby and I'm glad that he is so friendly and easy to get a long with and that we are able to share our friends with each other.  Life is Good!

2014

Last year was a great year.  I was happier than any other year...which I think should be said every year ...we should always continue to improve our lives and our out look on life so it should always be better.

I look forward to this year.  I look forward to being kinder.  I am going to purposely watch for ways that I can show kindness to others daily.  I am going to continue giving out "Scatter Sunshine" bags.  I am going to compliment and smile and be happy.  I'm going to continue having fun and making fun happen.

We have lot's of things planned this year.  A few vacations...Puerto Rico, California, Washington DC, Hawaii and a cruise to Alaska. We have a few weekends scheduled for camping. We have a few babies joining our family.  Macie Marie is expected to arrive January 7th and Kevin and Julie's little one in July.  Oh I love adding to our family.  Speaking of adding to our family....Braxton has chosen his wife, Kelsi Bangerter.  I'm not sure the exact date of their marriage yet but in the spring when school is out. I'm so excited for the things ahead.  I welcome 2014!

"At the advent of a New Year, I challenge Latter-day Saints everywhere to undertake a personal, diligent, significant quest for what I call the abundant life----a life filled with an abundance of success, goodness,,and blessings.  May we remember these (things) as we begin our journey into the New Year, cultivating a positive attitude, a belief that we can achieve our goals and resolutions, and the courage to face whatever challenges may come our way.  Then the abundant life will be ours." President Thomas S. Monson

Wrapping Up Another Year!

Another year has come to an end.  I can't believe how fast the years come and go these days.  I would consider this past year one of my favorites.  My attitude was so much better and I helped others to smile.  I looked for ways to help people and I consciously smiled more. I looked for opportunities to make fun happen.  I just felt so much better which goes to show that when we are thinking and doing for others and keeping a positive out look on life it is just better!

I love how we celebrate the ending of one year and welcome another.  For about 20 years (or more) we have spent this day with our dear friends...the Jones's.  We include our families which I have really enjoyed.  Family means everything to me and so why not celebrate with them.  We go bowling and then trade off who's house we go to.  This year we got to host the dinner and party.  It doesn't matter who hosts because we all help and it is fun. The advantage to hosting is you are usually in bed sooner since we live a ways from each other.

I'm not going to lie.....having Dave gone left a huge void!  I could imagine him at the front desk talking to the owner of Morgan Lanes...laughing.  I "saw" him with Larry and sitting by Vicki patting her leg. I couldn't help but tear up a few times!  Dave left a great legacy.  We all miss him so much!

For dinner we had crab, shrimp, chicken and salads.  Dave would have liked that.  We did it in honor of him.  We all enjoyed our dinner which kind of surprised me since we all snacked so much at the bowling alley.  I loved the noise of everyone enjoying our time together.

After dinner we played games.  The kids played pool and shot the basketballs and played barbies and dress up and had such a great time.  The adults played a few card games.  This year one of the tables played the Dave Jones game.  It's a card game similar to phase 10 and years ago we started calling it the Dave Jones game.  I think it's because Dave liked it so much.  We had hours to play and those hours flew by too.  Before we knew it horns were blowing and people were screaming and couples were kissing and the New Year had begun.  The kids went outside to watch the fireworks from the streets close by. Some kids were actually asking to go to bed...it was wonderful!

I'm looking forward to the New Year.  I plan on just doing what I have been doing and when I am prompted to do something new ... I will!

Lorrilee and Me

It's been awhile since Lorrilee and I have visited and so we decided to go to lunch.  It was a 3 hour lunch and would have been longer but I had things I needed to do...which by the way didn't get done because I didn't have time by the time we said our good byes.

I cherish my friends.  I care about them all so much and their families.  I love hearing how they are doing and what is going on in their lives.  I'm proud of Lorrilee and how she faced her cancer and conquered it.  She was so positive through all her treatments and always wore a smile.  She didn't get discouraged.

Lorrilee is such a great example.  I am so glad that we have been friends for so long. (almost 30 years) It has been fun raising our kids together, and learning and growing from each other.  It has been fun making memories and making our friendship stronger.

Oh how I love my friends!  What a blessing friends are!

Happy Birthday Larry Joe

This year Larry wanted to have a cook-out with our kids instead of going to dinner with the others that share his birthday. (Cole & Suzie)  Last year he mentioned it and this year we did it!  It was so much fun having everyone over for the day.  Justin ordered Vegas Steaks and came and cooked them.  Larry paid for the steaks and we took care of the drinks and the kids brought side dishes to go with it.  It was yummy!

The kids all came at 2:00 and they didn't leave until that evening.  It was so much fun and Larry loved it!

I love Larry!  He is such a great guy!  He just keeps getting better.  He cleaned the pantry Dec 24 and my side of the garage.  He is so fast when he cleans and does a great job.  Then on Dec 26 he cleaned the upstairs room.  My car was full a few times with things for the DI or Rescue Mission.  Larry's truck was full with garbage.  It is so nice to have those rooms cleaned.  I dread the hall closet but I am encouraged now and that will be a project for the new year.  If Larry had more days off I bet he would just do it.  He doesn't clean much but when he does he gets a lot done quickly.

Larry is a wonderful dad and husband.  I hope my kids have paid attention so they will do as good of job at both callings. (so far so good)  Larry treats me good and still makes me laugh.  He is my favorite guy!  Larry is a good friend and I know many consider him one of their best friends.  He is nice to everyone and has a huge heart.  Larry is a spiritual GIANT and has always tried to please Heavenly Father and Jesus...I think he has done a great job.  I love that Larry is my Eternal Companion....Together we have had a good life...and raised some pretty awesome kids.  I'm glad we chose each other.  I'm thankful that Larry was born.  I'm thankful that he has lived a good life.  I Love Larry!

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas

                                 

This Christmas was so wonderful!  No one complained, everyone was grateful, we thought of others more than ourselves.  It was what Christmas should be like.

Diana and Gaby came from Mexico and arrived on Dec 24.  They ended up staying with Gramps and Braxton.  They are sisters and Braxton met them on his mission. They expected nothing but I was able to come up with some gifts for each of them.  It wasn't a lot but I know it made them feel loved.  I even had a little cloth bag and stocking for their stocking stuff. (Larry & I shared our stocking stuff) 

The kids each got a stuffed toy, which my kids all still love.  They also got one more present and they were thrilled.  It was more than they expected and just being thought of made them smile.  I truly have some of the best kids ever born.  They never ask for much if they ask for anything at all.  Santa left a few things under the tree.  I don't think Santa paid very close attention this year to what he was leaving.  The sled was for people under 80 lbs, (I told my kids they could ride it anyway) and the Wii game was really a Wii U. (oops....silly Santa)  He also left a few new barbies for the grands to play with.

After some doughy cinnamon rolls we got ready and went around to the married kids homes so the grands could show us what Santa brought them.  I love seeing their excitement.  They are so stinkin cute!

Later in the day we went to my mom and dads where things get crazy.  We all squeeze in their little house and my mom gives out Christmas.  My mom always makes it so fun for the little ones.  She collects gifts all year for them.  Even though the space is limited I love having us all there together. Susan and a few of her kids were there also.

It gets a little hectic and this year Trichelle's card got lost.  Trichelle didn't have her kids later when we went and so she was just planning on visiting Grandma another day.  Between me and Julie we were making sure that their gifts were kept together and put in the Santa Sack grandma has for our family. The card got lost for a few days but when Trichelle made it to my mom's the card was there.  I was so glad because mom thought that me or one of my kids had it with our things.

We stopped on our way home and visited Larry's mom and Clark.

It was just a peaceful, perfect kind of day!  A Very Merry Christmas!