Happy Birthday Grant. Big 6! 6/1/2010

Boys and girls are not created equal! All Grant wanted to do for his birthday is have his friends come over and play football with dad....we did just that! The game. Even Carly and Camille got involved.

The balloon toss.

The football cake created by big sister Carly.

The group shot after the silly string. Classic...hot, sweaty, smelly boys. They really do not come any cuter than this! Josh, Nathan, Grant, Blake N., Aden, Blake B., Brooks.

Blowing out the candles.

This was an easy party and Grant was so pleased with it because he got to do just what he wanted to on his birthday. That is how all birthdays should be. He couldn't ask for a better group of friends.

WARNING: BLOGGING MAY CAUSE TEARS! 5/2010

Among the MANY things that people did for us as we prepared to move....was throwing this great party at my dear, darling, skinny,funny, hip, friend Stacy's parent's ranch. (she will love that) She knows that this is one of my very favorite places. Stacy wanted to make sure we were able to spend one last time there. I can not think of anywhere I would rather be to relax with friends....Thank you friend/friends... This little work of art (below) is classic Stacy's mom (Tish). You can find little treasures like this all over this beautifully manicured ranch.
The band 7 Car Pile Up came to play. We also love them. They create a party mood wherever they are. The bonus is that they are all dear friends!

This post has way too many pictures....but I really do not care!

Friends we love:

Daren and Stephanie Connel and Jill Young.

Angi, Me, MBB, Stacy and Traci.

Steve, Angi, Kyle and Stacy (The party hostess with the mostess) Yes, it was HOT as you can tell in this picture.

Sisters..Melanie and Caroline Anderson on my favorite bridge.

Steve and Tom Honeycutt riding out to see the rodeo bulls. Isn't Tom darling? I love that hat!

Rich Anderson (The leader of the band) everyone loves Rich, Tim Simmons.

Steve and Connie Hickson. Love them!

More of the gang. We miss these guys...

What is up with Leslie Rousseau's face! Ha

We had a great spread...BBQ brisket and all kids of sides. What a feast.

Connie, MBB and Christine.

Raleen, Melanie, Lauren and Maureen...OK OK my YOUNG friends!

Rick and Barbie Malmberg with Tom and Toni Honeycutte.

Tracie,Stacy, Mbb, Angi and Carly. Carly was in town and got to come to the party as well. She was so excited as this is one of her favorite places as well.

Stacy with her Mom and Dad. (Tom and Tish Peterson) They have such a beautiful place and are willing to let all of us come and enjoy it. If you haven't been there you are missing out on one of the great wonders of the world! ;)

This is such a fun post to do and reminisce but boy does it bring the tears. What fond memories. Thanks friends. We love you.

End Of Year Recital. 5/2010

Camille's last recital. It seems like we had a lot of "lasts" to deal with before we moved. It was a time full of mixed feelings. SAD, because we are leaving a people and place that we LOVE but oh so grateful for all of the experiences and blessings we enjoyed there. Her friends, Carley, Alexis and Camille after playing their masterpieces!

Her beloved piano teacher BethAnn. Camille loved taking piano because Beth was so young and hip and let the girls play music they loved to play. Thank you Beth Ann for inspiring Camille to love the piano. We will miss you.

Our dear friends The Fitzpatrick's (McKenzie and Kelly) were moving (to PA) at the very same time we were moving (to Canada). Here Beth is giving them a farewell gift. We see smiles but there were tears as well.

I am searching for a new teacher here in Canada. I hope she inspires Camille as much as BethAnn did. I love to hear Camille practice. It fill the house with music and sets a wonderful tone.

Keller Rockets 5/2010

Grant had his last soccer party with the Keller Rockets. What a great little team. He played for 3 seasons with his buddies (Nathan, Josh, Blake B., Blake N., Adain and Grant) from church. MaryLee King was his coach and she was fabulous! Here she is giving Grant his much awaited trophy. She also gave him a ball that she and all of the boys signed. It is one of his treasures...

Who doesn't love this..it was a hit!

The scramble!

I must say that this is truly one of the things that we (I) will miss the most. What a fun experience with great little boys and their parents. ....Go Rockets!!

Grant Graduates From Kindergarten 5/6/2010

Where does all of the time go? Our little Grant graduated from Building Blocks with flying colors. It was a day that he looked forward to and was so much fun. Here he is right before the graduation precession. :) Walking in. His classmates and much loved teachers helper Mrs. Johnson. Grant's class did a readers club. He was the butterfly. It was so darling. I have to admit I did shed a few tears.

Grant receiving his award from Mrs. Vermette (his teacher) and Mrs. Bair (the principal) They were such great influences in his little young life. I am so grateful to these women. They loved him and he knew it. He loved them back. This was a tough year for Grant as Steve was living in Canada most of the time in preparation for our move there. They always asked me how he was doing and were so good to him and me through this transition. They wiped both of our tears more than once during those months....

After the program they gave the kids these darling bears that they could have their classmates and teachers sign. It was such a darling idea and the kids loved it!

What a fun and full year. Everyone should have a Building Blocks experience! Now on the "Grade 1".

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN??

Where do you start when you are so far behind? With the big move, family, vacation, Blake's mission and life it all got in my way of blogging. I have talked myself out of blogging because I want things in order. Steve has begged me to start again because we use this as a little family history/journal. It means little to others but it marks where our path has lead. When I post so much at once I loose a little of the detail but at least it will be written down. We have had many twists and turns in the last several months...so hold on for the ride.....WE ARE BACK!

Look Who's 29! 5/2010

My darling friend Dina called me while I was in Banff to tell me she and our friend Christine were throwing me a birthday party Hawaiian Style. Boy what a party they threw!
Here is a picture of us at the party. Dina and Christine have been such wonderful friends to me. We have worked on many assignments together and I have such great memories of those time. I am not sure why I have been blessed with such wonderful friends..but these two are among the BEST!! Everything was done Dina style. The decoration were darling and the food was fantastic. many of my dear friends brought yummy salads to add to the feast. It was really one of the funnest party I have been to. Granted it was for me...ha but it was just so fun!

This is the sign that welcomed all of us into the party!

The serving table.

McKenzie and Camille.

Dina called me and told me to bring my kids. I am so glad that she did. They had a blast as well... My darling kids Grant and Camille.

I have several pictures of my dear friends on this post but I wanted to remember that fun night!

Melanie, me and Joy.

Getting ready to blow the candles out! OK so I am not 29! Well I am half right...it does have a 9 in it! :)

friends, Beth Ann, Xela Laurens' Roman) , Kristen, Leslie, Lauren, Me (grant) ,and Chris.

Dianna, Caroline and me.

The Stacey's or is it the two Stacy's?? That girl always makes me laugh!

Amanda, Xela, Michelle, Linda, Jen., Me, Alecia, Kristen and Joy.

Mary Ann, Mary Beth, Me, Michelle, Claudette and Kelly.

Me and my darling girl Camille.

Michelle, Angie, Stacy and Roman.

Angela, Mary Ann, Mary Beth and Amanda.

Lisa, Raleen and Joy.

So one of the fun things we did is play..."sing that song" Beth and Melanie picked beach songs that we have to fill in the rest of the words to. It was a cross between musical chairs and name that tune!

It was so fun to let loose and enjoy the evening. Look at my rockin friends go!

The group. Dina's house is so comfortable and fun to be at. She does it all.

OK so I happened to mention to Dina that I took a hula class at BYU Hawaii when I went to school there for a semester. She told me that she would make me show them what I know! She actually made me do it. It has been years and I have forgotten much of it but it was so fun to try. HA It kicked off a hula contest! Me doing a very poor version of "little Grass Shack" to Tiny bubbles! Ha

Here Melanie and Beth are doing the updated version...Hip hop Hula. I think they have invented a new dance! :)

Dianna...Brazil style...only she told us how they "really" hula. Glad I don't live in Brazil! :)

I don't know how I got away without a picture of Marybeth and her Hula. You should have seen her move! Go MBB

I could not have been more surprised when they gave me this BEAUTIFUL painting by Dale Parsons . Dina remembered from a year ago that I saw hers and really wanted it. What a treasured gift and memory!

What a fun, fun party. Everything was over the top. Thank you dear friends for everything. I love you all.