Today is a Special Day

Today is Our #2 Grandchid's Birthday. Michael is turning 9 years old! We were so lucky to have him and his Sister come to visit for a week this summer...it is a;ways such fun to sharie in all the growth they are making.
Michael lived in Wrightwood for 5 years and we were able to spend lots of time with him and his family. Grandpa J and Michael became really good buds! This is a snowman they built.

We have spent a lot of time at the lake at the Wrightwood Country Club. Michael is like a fish in the water and this summer was so happy the be able to swim and play in the deep end!

After they moved far far away, we went up to visit and this is Michael playing with a tractor at the Children's Museum.

On another visit here, Michael was excited to drive the bumper car!

We were ever so proud the day that Michael chose to be baptized. Isn't he a handsome one??

This was this summer, now he was nearly 9, more independent but still a whole lot of fun! We are so happy to have Michael in our family and to share in his warm and loving spirit.

Happy 9th birthday to our #2!

What a great summer

Here is a little re-cap of our summer of 2009. It is backwards..so you have to enjoy it this way..hope you can figure it out!!

I ended my summer with a Sisters in Law's escape. We went to Oceanside. It was a lot of fun and I am hoping we can do this again.

Legoland was a lot of fun with Michael and Danielle. There was something for everyone, and the weather wasn't too hot, but they still really enjoyed getting all wet in the kid's water-play area. i think their favorite part wa driving their own cars and getting drivers licenses!

We had a lot of fun at the Lake here in Wrightwood, Michael was so happy to pass the test and be able to swim and play in the deep end.

Michael took this shot of all of us in the backyard! I don't know where Danielle went.

Then Michael and Danielle came to visit us for a week while Teri Le was in Arizona attending classes for her PhD. We had a lot of fun. Here they are making their Great-Grandma's day a lot brighter!

While on our trip south from Lincoln, we traveled to Carthage Illinois. I stayed in the van while Lance slept, everyone else went in to see the jail where Joseph Smith was held and killed. I had ben here once before, and remembered the feelings I had while there. It is a sacred spot.

We traveled to Nauvoo Illinois, a wonderfully historic place in the History of our Church. We haven't been there for nearly 8 years, and enjoyed being there with the Drapers. The temple is beautiful and the statues and monuments are all so touching.

Being able to share in Dylan's baptism day was a true highlight. His Dad gave him an amazing blessing and Dylan's Mom mad sure the day was perfect in every way.

We traveled to Nebraska to spend time with Amy Quinn and their kids. This will probably be our last trip out there to see them, since they are leaving in December. We have really enjoyed our visits in Lincoln, ...it is a beautiful place.

We spent a great week in Hawaii to start the whole things off. It was a terrific trip and we did some new and fun things.



It is over. I have been back at work for several weeks now...but it was one terrific summer! I'm already looking forward to next year, but I wonder, how can I top this one!!!

Our # 3 turned 8 years old!

Last month Dylan, our super-terrific #3 turned 8 years old! He has been such a wonderfully fun kid! When he was born, I traveled all day to get to Pocatello Idaho the night before his birth, and I drove alone, so I ate lots of sunflower seeds to stay alert! Needless to say, my mouth was swollen from all the salt when I got there that night!

Dylan has lived in Idaho, Nevada and now Nebraska, and in December off to parts unknown. He is a great young man! He LOVES video games, swimming, Webkinz, money and sports, (especially baseball and soccer)
When they were moving to Nebraska, Grandpa J and I set him up in his 'Huskers' uniform!

Dylan is a real Pal to his Grandpa...he makes us laugh! He has the most infectious giggle!

Dylan was baptized with his 'Best Bud' Caleb..it was a really special time for us all.

We have loved every minute of the 1st 8 years of Dylan's life. He is growing into a super guy, and we are looking forward to pictures of him in his new Cub Scout stuff as he adds another fun things to his list of 'likes'!

We love you Big D!

35th Anniversary...Hawaiian Style #1

We are home once again, but the memory of this trip will be with us for a long, long while. We spent our 35th anniversary in Hawaii, in Waikiki. Other people really like some of the other Islands, but this is our favorite place. (so far.) I think it is becaiuse I am living in rural-land, and am a city-girl at heart, and we have spent so much time here, it is familiar to both of us.

We took a short hike up to a beautiful waterfall, then we even swam in the 'pond' and sat under the waterfall! This was a first for me!

If you look closely you can see us under the spray!

Now, I wonder why...when we rent convertibles..which we love, Jerry always looks like this...
but I look like this????

Stiil we enjoy them, and I have told Jerry is ever I leave snowy-land, I want one!!

On our 1st morning we watched the King Kamahmaha Parade..quite different than our parades here, I would guess only the Rose parade has more flowers. This is the Princess of Oahu.

We did another thing we had never done before...we rode the horses! For me it was good...very calm, well-trained trail horses. They gave us instructions on how to kick, and steer, but I think they are somewhat like the Autopia at Disneyland...they would just plod along and retun home without any help from the rider!

Yep...thant's me! Only the 3rd time in my whole life I have been on a horse. It was fun.

Our 35th Anniversary...Hawaiian Style! #2

We kept busy and who would have thought there were so many things we still hadn't done? We went to Kaulua Ranch where after we rode horses, we rode this fun vehicle around the trails with beautiful views. Jerry said he wants one of these for Wrightwood!

On our anniversary we went to the Paradise Cove Luau. It was really beautiful, good food, great entertainment. It is on a cove, one we took our family to for a fun, calm day in the water 2 years ago.
Yep...this is us 35 years married!

We spent a day with 'Snorkel Bob' and had a blast! We went to a 5 mile long sandbar, for those who needed to practice snorkeling, volleyball was set up to play. Lunch was served then off to the coral cove. We saw 3 sea turtles as we got there, Jer and I even swam with one for awhile! The sailors would toss cheese and bread and hamburger out and the fish would come like crazy! I saw more beautiful-colored fish than I had ever seen. It was like swimming in an aquarium!

Our last day we did one of our favorite things. We rode the Outrigger High Speed Catamaran. It is a fast and wet wave-jumping experience that Jerry and I both LOVE! We tried to figure out how many times we had ridden this..and think at least 5!

We love Hawaii. We had a wonderful time, and look forward to going again.

Which anniversary will it be?

We are so blessed. Aloha to you all.

Today is a Special Day

I couldn't let today go by without posting a short tribute to my Jerry, the love of my life. Today we celebrate his birth..It wasa quiet day, one we were able to spend together. We spoke in the Fort Irwin Branch, and I marveled at his wisdom as he shared the words of the Prophets and Savior. We attended a Memorial Service for his Uncle, a really great man and while there I appreciated the good family that Jerry has come to me from.

We talked to each of our children, Jerry was sung Happy Birthday to by all the grandchildren, and another year has gone by, with another wonderful, amazing and fun one ahead!

Happy Birthday to you Jerry.

Thank you for being the wonderful husband, father and grandfather that you are! I love to watch him with the Grandkids
Being with him makes me very happy.

As he and Tyler served as Pallbearers for Jerry's father, I was touched with his compassion and dedication.

Now you tell me..how could I NOT just love this guy???

My Mountain Man

My favorite Mountain Man
Yep, there's still snow up there

Narrow is the road and wind-ey the way

Do you think he does it for the views?

We have lived in Wrightwood for nearly 14 years now, and Jerry still can't seem to get enough of the mountains. He is training now for and early Autumn hike to the top of Mt.Whitney. For the past 2 weeks, at least 2 times a week, he comes home from work, changes his clothes and heads up a mountain trail.

He truly loves the experience. He has taken a few pictures so I thought I'd share a few of them.