The Big 5-0 on 10-10-10

I honestly cannot believe I am 50 years old! 50! Do you know how old that is? WOW!

AnnDee decided I needed a surprise birthday party which was also a funeral. The house was decorated with black balloons, black streamers, and complete with a tombstone birthday cake and crying guests. There were so many friends and family members there--I am very overwhelmed and feel extremely blessed. I was VERY surprised!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a part of my life!

I am so blessed!

My AMAZING Uncle Ron models my old lady glasses!

My wonderful Aunt Zina and I pose for a picture. I lOVE this lady!


AnnDee made this wonderful cake for me!


This is the real me in the 'coffin' next to the skeleton me!

Grammy with her boy. LOVE this kid!

Lennis watches over the crazy kids! AnnDee, Lyndsie, and Micah.

TERRIFIC neighbors! Brent, Dave, Dean, Cecilia, and Dena!

Yep, 50 years old....am I wise yet?

The FINAL Countdown is on!

Almost 2 years ago, I made this chart in the hope that it would help time to go a little faster while Ian was gone on his mission to Brazil. Each month as fast sunday came, our family would take turns crossing off the month.

Yesterday, Lyndsie, Micah and I each took a swipe at the last month of the chart. Do you have any idea what a great feeling that was?

The chart is now complete, every month meticuliously crossed off. In 3 weeks I board a plane to Brazil to see my son who I haven't seen for 2 years!

Do you know how long 2 years is?

And NO it did not go fast!!

Yes, I'm ready for some FOOTBALL!

FINALLY! Football season is here! I couldn't be happier!

This is a perfect picture. This is Micah's common stance--notice football in hand!

Jones hands off to Romney!

Jones goes back for a pass!

Checking out the team.

The Freshman Viking football team played their first game last Saturday against Timpanogos. The result....Vikings win 51-0!


Yes, my friends...the only reason to LOVE fall is FOOTBALL!! (Oh and that Ian comes home this fall is a GREAT reason too!)

Happy Birthday, Lennis!

Yes, it's true. Lennis turned 50 recently. We had a special family birthday dinner for him--fried chicken, his favorite!

There are really 50 candles on this cake!

Pup, Lennis and Eli. I love this picture because this is their most natural state...pup sitting next to Lennis, Lennis with his camera, and Eli investigating stuff!


Gotta love Code's hat! I LOVE these two!


Moo and Lou, fighting over the hammock.

Aunt Louise and Mr. Eli

Mommy is helping Eli water the flowers!

Eli can't decide between the doggies and the wading pool!

Eli 'riding' Blue!

This was such a fun day! We had yummy food. We sat around in the yard and talked, and laughed at Eli. Lennis took pictures, Micah and Lyndsie wrestled in the hammock, Eli played naked in the wading pool...I LOVE MY LIFE!

Happy Birthday, Lennis! Can I keep you?

Thoughts on Being a Grandma

I turn 50 years old this year, which is only fitting since I am now a Grandma!

One of the most amazing things ever was watching as my firstborn grew a new life within her, and became a mother, and Devon became a father. Elijah, what a gift from God!

AnnDee is an amazing mom!

And this little man grew.....

...and he began to smile...

...and he began to laugh...

...and he began to crawl...

...and daily he discovers the wonders of God's creations...

...and now he walks...

...and brings unspeakable joy to his Grammy!

Yep, being Grammy is just about the best thing EVER!

Summertime!

Fireworks last 4th of July!

I LOVE summer! I think it is just about the best time of year.

Here is the 'short' list of what I love about summer:

*Fireworks
*Watermelon
*Swimming Pools
*Strawberry Days
*Finally being warm!

*Fresh fruit
*REAL tomatoes from my garden
*Green grass
*flowers in my yard
*4th of July
*24th of July
*Camping Trips
*Family Reunions
*Micah and his friends partying at my house
*Sitting in the porch swing

And that's just the 'short' list! I LOVE SUMMER!

Thyroid Cancer

Yes, it's true! Lennis has yet one more malady to add to his list of health problems. Truly, this is unbelieveable. When I found out all I could say is..."Really, no really?" (add sarcastic tone for true effect)

The good news is that it is treatable, and not with chemo, but with an iodine based drug that destroys the papillary carcenoma cells. This drug does not have the side effects that chemo does--good news!

Surgery is the other thing that is needed. Lennis will have surgery this Monday, May 10th. Most likely they will remove his thyroid and check the surrounding lymph nodes for cancer. If affected, they too will be removed. He will probably be in the hospital for a few days.

I've been told that if one has to have cancer, that this is the one to get as it has a 95% cure rate. Well, that's good, but could we just have avoided the cancer altogether?

Berlin, the Musical

Berlin, The Musical



Before Ian left for his mission, he had the wonderful experience of one year of college at BYU. He auditioned and was accepted into the MDT Program (Music, Dance, Theater). The kids in the program had the opportunity to work with Erik Orton, playwriter and former BYU student, in his musical, Berlin. In conjunction with the LDS Motion Picture Studio, the play was filmed and has been shown several times on KBYU. We saw the production when it was being filmed. Recently the production was shown at the LDS Film Festival, at the Scera Theater in Orem. Ian has been in Brazil on his mission for 16 months. To watch him on the 'big' screen after not seeing him for that long was a very emotional experience for me.



The soundtrack was just released and is available on itunes! What a fun thing for a mom who is missing her son, to hear him sing on a professional recording!



for more information: http://www.berlinthemusical.com/




This is what he is doing now... As all missionary moms know, I miss this boy so much. BUT, I wouldn't want him to be anywhere else in the world! I am proud of you, son!

PRIVATE BLOG

Hey Friends,

I am going to make my blog private. If you would like to continue to view our family blog, please leave a comment and let me know.

Thanks!
Patty

Thoughts...

I'm feeling like I want to post a few random thoughts....

I love classical music
I miss football
I am very, very tired of the cold
I am not feeling very strong today
I am too emotional
I love freshly baked cookies
I really miss Ian, 9 1/2 months to go!
I feel ungrateful because I love my job but I hate to go to work
I am jealous of stay-at-home moms
I freeze all the time, I am never warm
I am amazed by how wonderful people are

Random, yes.