One year ago!

Just last year, Danielle and I drove out to Utah so we could "maybe" be in Utah for Ryders birth...well, just so happens we were!

The night before he was born, we had a girls night at Laura's house...Saundra was getting a little crazy, eating junk and laughing we had such agood time. I left at about 10 pm and after I left I guess life got a little crazier...here are a few pictures to remember what we were doing last year! Look how cute she is in Matthews shorts! In the middle of the night she went into labor! Then life got exciting!

Saundra you go girl!

Ryders Big Week!

Looking back over the last year, we are all just amazed at how fast time has flown by! Our sweet little Ryder was born almost one year ago. Since this is HIS big week, I felt like posting early for this sweet precious boy!

Ryder was born September 9, 2007, though is birth was anticipated there were so many obsticals against him. I am so happy to report that Ryder now approching his 1st birthday is doing well! His is healthy, happy and doing all the things little one year olds should be doing. What a difference a year makes.

Here is a picture of Ryder taken in late July! He is so adorable! I will post more as the week moves! But He deserves more than one post for sure!!!!!

Taylors day with Grandma

Today, Taylor and I spent the day together. We started off going to Walmart, where she talked me into buying her a new Dora Backpack (her mom told me later that she just got an Elmo backpack).

Then she talked me into buying some Halloween Oreo's, that girls got me wrapped around her little finger. After Walmart we went house hunting with papa and then she wanted to go to Wendy's, so guess what? I took her to Wendy's, now she is happily watching Dora, after I looked for Dora on TV for half an hour, her mom called and said "oh mom its right on Nick Jr!" Duh, I knew that!

Grandma, Papa and Parker

He was 1 day old when this picture was taken...

We have a new member of our family

Wayne and Laura had their little sweet baby!!!

Parker Wayne was born on Aug 11, 2008 on his grandpa's 50th birthday!!! What an amazing birthday present. Parker weighed 8 lbs 12.6 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long!!!

We are so thrilled to welcome yet another grandbaby. Parker makes number 8, we now have 4 boys, Michael, Connor, Ryder and Parker, and 4 girls Aubrey, Sariah, Taylor, and Aurellia.

Happy 50th Birthday Loren

I know, I know, I'm behind in my posting...so whats new?

Happy Birthday Loren.... 50 years, amazing just where does time go anyway?

Here are "my" top 50 things I love about you!

1. I love the gray in your hair...so beautiful!
2. I love the way your nose crinkles when you giggle
3. I love the way your eyes sparkle
4. I love the way you make me laugh
5. I love the way you let me travel
6. I love the comfort I feel when you are home
7. I love the way you looked in your uniform (oh baby)
8. I love how you have always provided for our family
9. I love how dedicated you are to your job
10. I love how you never get lost
11. I love our Christmas tradition of traveling
12. I love your laugh, it can be so contagious
13. I love watching you hold babies
14. I love how kind you are with our grandchildren
15. I love how you learned to pick up after yourself (hahah)
16. I love how you always do the dinner dishes
17. I love how you allow me to pursue my education and even encouraged me to do so
18. I love date nights!
19. I love being the mother of your children
20. I love when you stand up for me
21. I love how powerful your hugs are
22. I love cuddling early in the morning in bed
23. I love how you dance with me in the kitchen even without music
24. I love how when I'm scared you don't make fun of me, but try to easy my fears
25. I love and miss our military days
26. I love how one day you'll take me back where I call home...Utah! ;-)
27. I love how you hold my hand every time we ride in the car.
28. I love how you always pick such good movies for us to see
30. I love how much knowlege you have
31. I love how because of that knowlege I can pretty much ask any question
32. I love how when I am the absolute madest I can be, you walk up to me and say someting that makes me laugh hard.
33. I love all the little things you do
34. I love how wild and crazy you were when we first got married
35. I love when you are spontaneous
36. I love your passion for the church
37. I love listening to you speak in public
38. I love standing by your side
39. I love in the late night laying in bed talking
40. I love how you make the best shakes ever
41. I love when you read to the grandkids
42. I love that you are always willing to have adventures
43. I love your dedication to our country, your patriotism, and your service
44. I love that 30 years ago you asked me to be your wife
45. I love that today we have been married almost 28 years, 4 kids and 8 grandchildren later.
46. I love when you dance for the kids and to Oldies
47. I love that you learned to sing the hymns
48. I love how you always have these big plans..like carving that walking stick
49. I love that you are a honorable son of a loving father
50....I love YOU

Happy Birthday Aubrey

I can not believe that it has been 7 years, where does time go? Aubrey's birthday was August 3rd....

Happy Birthday Aubrey...you are such a special girl! Grandma and papa love you sweetie!

I will also post pictures of you soon too!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY Aubrey!

Happy Birthday Aurellia

Since I am not home I have not been able to post for birthdays! I didn't want to forget to post....

Aurellia's birthday was July 24 WOW, I can not believe you are 2-years old!
Happy Birthday Aurellia, you are the the sweetest girl! Grandma and papa love you so much!

I will post pictures of you when I get home.....

Happy birthday Aurellia!!!!!!!!

Happy 6th Birthday Connor

Connor Mitchell was born on July 12, 2002. How fast time goes! Connor loves having fun! He runs and plays from sun up to sun down!

Happy Birthday Connor Grandma loves you sooooooooooo much!

4th of July

There are some pictures from the 4th of July. The kid all had a great time. Matthew bought some firewords and the kids went nuts over them.

Look at Ryder standing with little assistance. He's getting so big!

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mother-in-law's brithday. Mom the whole country

Celebrates with you today! I hope you get a real bang out of your

special day!

Two unique things that mom and I will always have in common is

I not only first met her at church, but she worked at my high school

I always loved to walk in and say Hi mom. She would get all flustered.

The other unique thing we have between us is that we both have the same

Maiden name. So, mom we will always have a special bond.

I love you!

Sandie

Look at Ryder Go! He's on the move now!

This is so fun! Watching Ryder learning to crawl and move
around the house, this little boy has come a long way!

Aurellia's turn to bust a move!

Saundra and I got to laughing so hard when Aurellia decided
to bust a move in our loft. We turned on some music and wow,
that girl got right to work!

Taylor being well....Taylor

Taylor always likes to call her big sister and brother!
In this clip she is eating dinner, but grandma caught her on tape!

Taylor loves to dance, here she is putting her best move on..LOL

Happy Fathers Day Dad

I am late on this post, but I've been swamped...

Happy Fathers day to my dad, he's the greatest dad ever!
Last year when I had the chance to spend three weeks with
him and my mom traveling, I had so much fun! I have always
had a very close relationship with my dad. The trip was so fun,
I have not laughed so hard in years.

A few weeks ago, I was able to fly home and be with my parents
while my dad had surgery. My parents make me laugh, they are
truly comedians. My dad pulled a few funnies that cracked me up.
None of which are approprite to say on this site...LOL he's bad!

Dad, happy fathers day and you know I love you so much!


To my father-in-law, who next to my dad is the man I look up to
the most! He is always so good to me. I love you dad, thank you for
being part of my life for more than 30 years. I love watching movies
with you...we need to do that more! I love looking through your eyes
as you see the beauty of this country!

The only two fathers I have ever had...thank you both for being such
an important part of my life!

Laura's Baby Shower!

Saturday, June 7, 2008 was Laura's babyshower. The shower was

so nice and she has so many nice things. I thought I would post

a current picture of her pregnant in my blog. She is starting to

look like this baby wants to come soon! She is carrying the baby low!

I am so thankful that I was able to be part of her shower!

Laura you are beautiful!

Veterans I hold dear to my heart!

My father, father-in-law and husband were all veterans of

our military. Since this is memorial day and they have many

friends who have passed, I would like to take a moment to honor

my hero's. The veterans whom I hold dear to my heart.

First my father-one of the greatest, wisest men I know.

I love you daddy!

Second to my father-in-law the kindest, gentlest man I have

ever known. I love you dad!

Third and not last my husband who has worked hard to not only

support his wife and children, but he has fought hard for this country.

I love you sweetheart.

You are all my heros..I am honorned to know you, to love

you and to be part of your life!

Sassy Sariah

As I have said before, Sariah is a sassy little girl

(not in a bad way, but in a cute way). This girl has some

attitude, she is going to give her mom and dad a run for their

money when she is a teenager.

Sariah is absolutely the cutest thing. She says the funniest

things and I have to admit she is the most adorble little girl,

she makes me smile. She is teaching Aurellia a thing or two

along the line...watch out that house is going to be full of some

serious attitude. LOL

Happy Mothers Day!

Danielle

Laura

Saundra

Danielle and Saundra

Laura, Saundra, Danielle and Aubrey

These pictures will make all the girls mad! But Happy Mothers

day to our favorite girls ever! The date on that camera is wrong.

This was taken last Sept right after Ryder was born.

To Danielle who is a mother of three, what a joy it is to watch

you with your three beautiful children. To Laura who is expecting

her first baby in August what an exciting time for you and your

sweetheart. To SaundraJo who is our sweet daughter-in-law and

the mother of my four grandchildren, you are so busy with the

kids and all that you have been through this last year, we're proud of you.

Dad and I honor you and are so proud of you girls for all you do and

how hard you work as mothers. The greatest gift you will ever be given

is that of being a mother, you are beautiful daughters of God and he

loves you, he is mindful of your stresses and your joys. Always remember

who you are and your purpose in being a mother.

We love you all dearly,

Mom and Dad

Happy Birthday Michael

May 6 was Michaels 6th birthday.

Monday the 5th he had his first

T-ball game. I am so proud of Michael

and how hard he is working in school

and t-ball, how grown up he is becoming!

Happy birthday sweet boy!

I love you always and forever,

Grandma

Update on Ryder

I realized the other day that I have not updated on Ryder

in a long time. So, I thought I would take a little time and update

you all on Ryder and how well he is doing. Our family is so proud

of his progress and how well he is doing!!!!

Ryder is doing so well! He is 8 months old. Although, he

is still on Oxygen, he is doing remarkable. He is rolling over,

says da da, is talking up a storm (in his own little language).

He is such a growing boy and doing so well.

I will attached a few pictures of him! He is adoreable!!!

1st Picture is in April when Ryder was caught chewing on his

oxygen tube. LOL

2nd Picture was taken in March when they were out for Easter,

Ryder's first outing and we took him to Chuck E Cheese.

We tried to keep him back away from the others. He had a great

time though! 3rd Picture is of him in April when I was out there

visiting. He was just having fun!

The cats out of the bag part II

I told you all that Laura was pregnant with her 1st baby. Last Wednesday night I was with them as they went in for their ultrasound. Laura had asked everyone to guess what she was having. Well:

ITS A BOY!

The little things they say!

My grandkids are so funny. There are sometimes that I just sit back and marvel at all the funny things that come out of their mouths. Of course, since I live near Danielle's kids, I hear more from them that Matthew's children.

Aubrey who is the oldest of all the grandchildren, she comes up with some of the funniest things that seriously crack me up. Here are a few:

After we got our new carpet, Aubrey said to me, Grandma can I take my chips upstairs so I can eat while I'm watching cartoons? I said no Aubrey, no more food upstairs. She looked like I had taken the air right out of her, so I added, even grandpa can't bring food up stairs anymore. So, she thought about it a moment and then batted her eyelashes at me, well grandma seems like you should have kept the old carpet.

Aubrey is famous for batting her eyelashes when she is wanting to say something serious. When she does this she always starts off with "Well" when she was even younger (she's currently 6 1/2) she would say "When I was a little girl" then you knew she was going to tell you a real story.

Connor a couple weeks ago was kind of cute too. We had just left church and got in our own cars when the kids asked Danielle if they could come to our house. She said no, we're going to grandma's house for dinner today so we are going to go home and change first. Connor piped in why do you always call it Grandma's house its papa's house too. Aubrey said (I'm sure she batted her eyelashes on this one) well, Connor its like this grandpa pays all the bills and grandma is in charge. (I think I taught that girl right)!!!

You must know that Connor always calls Loren "Papa" as do all the other grandkids, but Aubrey refuses and always calls him "grandpa". I am not sure why but she's stuck on that so we just go with the flow.

Here is a story thats funnier than anything, only Loren hates it and I've debated whether I thought it was appropriate to put into this or not. Now, I've talked many times about the naughty girl that Sariah is sometimes and she's so so funny. Saundra always tells me the funniest stories about Sariah. Ok, here is one, but its a true story so excuse all the ugly things that might be said.

At Christmas time Matthew and Saundra decided to take the kids as well her Saundra's brother and his friend up to see some Christmas lights, the lights were on someones property and you drive through the property looking at everything. Because it was an hour drive for them, they put on a movie for the kids to watch in the van on the way up to see the lights. Once they got to their destination, Saundra turned the movies off. Sariah got upset and started saying turn the movie back on, turn the movie back on, turn the movie back on. Saundra said that she just ignored her after a few times of saying no we're going to look at the lights. Sariah got so upset that Saundra wouldn't turn the movie back on she started screaming (she's 3 mind you) turn the movie back on, I said turn the movie back on...Turn the ***** movie back on. To which her uncle turned around and poped her in the mouth and said Do not ever say that word again, Sariah was so shocked that she didn't even cry. Then he turned to Matthew and Saundra and said You better watch your mouths its your fault she talked like that.

Sariah is so cute though she always comes up with some funny stufff she says. She one time said to Saundra I'm going to tell Gee Gee on you (Saundra's grandma).

Sariah's first words to me, no matter how long it has been since I have seen her is always "can I have gum"..never hi grandma....always about the gum.

Aurellia has started to be a little chatterbox now. When I was at their house in February, She had learned to say Michael very well, she was always yelling "MICHAEL" then chattering up a storm. One time Sariah and Aurellia were up at the counter sitting on their chairs and Sariah started playing with a candle that Saundra had sitting on the counter unlit. Aurellia knitted her eyebrows, pointed her finger and said NO, NO, NO Sariah NO, NO, NO...shaking her finger at Sariah the whole time. Saundra and I just laughed it was so cute.

Michael is extremely smart, he has always been into super hero's. One day he was telling me about all these super hero's and went on and on in a story. I had no idea what he was talking about, he was so into the story, all I could think about was wow, he knows a lot. I had absolutely no clue what he was talking about. So, I just smiled and said oh really, he's say yeah grandma and on and on and on. I looked at Saundra like what took over this child, she just smiled and said he has a lot to say about super hero's.

Taylor is an interesting little girl. She is pretty funny. She has yet to learn how to say Connor, but she calls him Ka-ka instead. Taylor calls out Aubrey, Ka-ka... I mean, how could you not laugh at that?

I just think that kids do say the darnest things.

One Monday night at Family Home Evening (FHE)we had with Danielle and her children. We were talking about Prophets (this was probably a year ago). In our dining room I have a picture of Gordon B. Hinckley, the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum as well as Temple pictures. By our front door is a picture of the Sacred Grove with Joseph Smith, though you can't see Joseph Smith's face. Well, during this FHE Connor who was 4 at the time piped in and said I know where you have a picture of Joseph Smith and he ran to the picture of the Sacred Grove he said there thats Joseph Smith. I was blown away so I asked Danielle, did you tell him who that was? She said no, did you? I said no, to my knowlege he's never really paid attention to that picture.

Another New Addition...

Ahhhh, I need to keep up on my blog, but so much has been going on lately...

We have another new addition to our family, though not all that new, but now legally new.

Matthew and Saundra were married on December 28, 2007 after years of loving each other and being together as a couple and parents, they finally decided it was time to be a complete family.

We have always loved Saundra and are so indeed blessed to have her part of our family legally now. Thank-you Saundra for loving our son and giving us so many beautiful, beautiful grandchildren.

Matthew and Saundra have recently moved into a new home that is now big enough for their family of six. I was recently there and was able to spend some time with them. I had so much fun laughing and enjoying being around the kids.

Let me tell you a quick story....

When I arrived at their home the first day, Michael ran to me and said Grandma...big hugs and kisses. Sariah said "can I have gum"? Aurellia was full of smiles and kisses. Ryder was grinning from ear to ear. Ah, being around them made me wish I lived closer so I could spend more time with them. I love being their grandma. We have so much to be thankful for.

The Cat is out of the bag!

Now that the cat is out of the bag, I can post the wonderful news here in my blog.

Over Christmas Laura and Wayne announced that they are expecting in August. I know how long the road to pregnancy was for these two sweethearts. Our family is so excited to anticipate the arrival of our 8th sweet little baby.

Yes Laura, this is our sweet baby...how could a child come into this family and not feel loved and excepted. I'm so blessed to be your mother Laura and I'm am so indeed grateful to be Waynes Mother-in-Law. I love you both so much and I am so thankful for you two. As you know I love Waynes sense of humor, I know you get in trouble for it Wayne, but don't change its so endearing.

Congratulations, can't wait to have yet another precious grandchild to love.

Mom

Happy New Year! 2008

I have not had an opportunity to write on this thing for awhile now. We have had a busy time. Christmas came quick and fast, two days after Christmas we left on vaction for 10 days. Once we got home we had new carpet laid in the house (what a pain in the BUTT to do it with a house full of funiture, but I LOVE IT).

Have you ever gone to the carpet sample place and looked at carpet? I had a budget that I had to stay in...$30 a sq ft, nothing more, nothing less. Just that. So, I ruled out several types of carpet because it was not in the budget. Looking at the different carpet was crazy. I had a certain color and style in my mind before I went and while there, my mind was all screwed up, I could not visualize the whole house off a 5x5 square piece of carpet. This sample was not much bigger than a large index card. So, on carpet day, I worried that I had picked out the wrong color, I worried that it would look horrible. Guess what, I did perfect. The color in the store ended up being the exact color I had wanted. I would have never guessed that based on the sample I had to look at. Talk about relief. the house looks like a brand new house. My famous words now are get off the carpet with your shoes on, what are you thinking? The first night we had Danielle and the kids over for Wendy's...I made everyone eat in the Seminary. She said you know mom, one day you are going to have to eat inside your house. I said no, we can eat in the Seminary it will be ok. She just rolled her eyes at me.