Happy Birthday John, John

You sure are growing up fast!! I remember babysitting you when you were a tiny baby and you wanted fed and we had to wait 'til your Mom came home. You weren't too happy about that but you made it. Have a happy birthday!! Love ya'!! Grandma

Happy Birthday, Erin

Hope you have a happy birthday and lots of good things happen. We love you! Grandpa's assessment of you still holds--"You are the best thing that ever happened to David." Love ya'! Grandma (hee hee Remember Fudd Ruckers at your wedding in Georgia?) Did I get that right?

Happy Birthday, Adam

My Goodness, Adam--here you are a great big 5 years old!! I love reading all about you on your Mommy's Blog and seeing all the pictures of you. And this year you go to school. You sure are growing up fast. Love ya'!! Grandma

Happy Birthday, Charles

Happy Birthday Charles. My favorite memories of you are sitting by you most of the way across the country and showing you how to find places on the road maps and on the highway signs. You picked that up so quick and it kept you entertained for hours. It was also nice when you put your head in my lap to sleep. That was a fun trip, huh???
Hope you've had a happy birthday and are getting acquainted in your new home. Love ya'!! Grandma

Happy Birthday, Gloria

Happy Birthday. Gloria--You are now officially a teenager. Keep up the good work at being a good example to all your brothers and sisters.
I remember about your birth that aunt Carolyn came to see you and your Mom in the Hospital and after visiting with you, she went and checked in to have your cousin Charles! It was so fun to have all the cousins together for 4th of July.
Hope you have a happy Birthday. Love ya, Grandma

Happy Birthday, Symarah

Aaaagh!! I'm getting behind on birthdays! Fourteen birthdays in July. I can't type that fast!!!

Happy Birthday Symarah. A great big 2 years old. How exciting. You are such a pretty little girl and I hope you had a fun, happy birthday! Love ya'!! Grandma

Happy Birthday, Johannah

Happy Birthday, Johannah! Here you are starting a new year in a new home! Write and tell me about it. Are you liking Washington? How is your ward and all that? It isn't always easy moving as a teenager but you'll do great. Have a happy birthday!! Love ya', Grandma

Happy Birthday, Samuel

You are really growing up fast. I remember when you were born and having a great time with your Mom decorating a room for you. And then your allergies to milk and struggling through that with you. I love it now when I catch you reading after the problems we had with your vision and am happy that's fixed. And I love seeing you helping at church. You are growing into a responsible and helpful young man. Happy Birthday. Love ya', Grandma

Happy Birthday, Vicky

I still can't think of anything clever to say for your birthday, but I enjoyed our conversation today.
Vicky was telling me about her garden--most things are an inch high but the potatoes that we planted because they were too shriveled and sprouty to use for food any more are doing amazingly well. We just dug ditches and laid the potatoes, sprouts and all in the ditches. They came up rapidly, 2 or 3 days, and have grown past Vicky's knees. She noticed yesterday that a bean seed finally came up and said, "there it sat with it's two leaves looking at the potatoes and thinking, 'I'm 2 or 3 months too late and I'm not sure it's even worth continuing to try.'" Ah Vicky, you think just like I do but if you wrote a blog it would be much more entertaining than mine. And you can post pictures.
Here's wishing the best to your little bean plant--I hope he makes it and that you have a happy birthday. Love ya' Techno Grandma

Happy Birthday, Jared

Jared, I remember when you were born--Your parents sent me airline tickets and I came down to visit and help your Mom. We visited the Alamo and other fun places. That was the first time I had ever been in Texas and It was fun. You were a cute baby and it was fun to help take care of you. Have a Happy Birthday and write me a letter so I will know your new address and can write to you! Love ya'!!!! Grandma

Happy Birthday, Steven

Yes, you were born on the 11th but it was only 20 minutes before midnight so I'm not really late with your blog. You were due closer to the 4th or the 6th-our wedding anniversary- but you held off until chicken canning day. All day long we were stuffing cut up chicken into Jars and processing them in the pressure canner. We were on the last canner full, Just got it picking up steam and my Mom and Dad left to go home because we had given up on your arrival. Stan came home with hamburgers and shakes for everyone for dinner although it was nine o'clock pm. Mom and Dad had forgotten something so they came back and since the pressure was holding steady on the canner I sat down to drink my milk shake and It was about half gone when I had a hard contraction and my water broke! When I said "my water broke" the girls ran downstairs because they thought the pressure canner had broken something. We grabbed some towells and went to the hospital about 9:30 and you were born at 20 to 12. Stan called home to make sure my mom knew when the chicken came off and announced that we had a nine pound chicken. They just asked if it was a hen or a rooster. When you actually came you weighed 9 lbs 14oz (I think) and until my Dad corrected me I thought you were born on the 12th.
So you had an eventful entry into this world. You were really excited to be here and just looked all around at everything--very alert. The doctor didn't think you were crying enough to get enough air so he spatted your bottom and I knew right then that you weren't taking any guff in this life--You wouldn't shut up and you were obviously mad!!! Anyway, we took you home and kept you. And now your children can know about when you were born. Love Ya'!!! Mom

Happy Birthday, Oaklee!

Happy Birthday, Oaklee!! You are such a doll!! And this is the great big Number 1 !!!
Love ya'!! Grandma (did you get your card?)

Happy Birthday, Jessica

Yes, we have two Jessicas--just one week apart and they have loved it.
Jessica, remember when you stayed here and I showed you how to write the letters and you learned the sounds they make? You had the prettiest hand writing for a four-year-old I had ever seen. It was so much fun to show you off!! Most people just wouldn't believe that you wrote the words yourself. Your brothers and sisters say that you still have the prettiest handwriting of all you kids. I loved you then and I love you now!!! Have a happy birthday!!!

New family picture

Any body notice? We have a new family picture!!! It's only missing 3 people-Nathan who just left for Alaska on a mission and Jacob and Josh who had to work that day. We'll photo shop them in but anyone want to place bets on whether that will happen before the picture becomes obsolete in Dec. or Jan. when new babies arrive? I'm happy about the update anyway. Maybe we can add the new babies when they get here, too.

The one included in this post is the realistic one.

Happy Birthday, Jesica

Happy Birthday, Jesica!! Your Dad came and helped get the filter fixed on the pool so we should be back in business as soon as Jenny finishes cleaning it. That's a nice birthday surprise isn't it. I don't think I'll ever forget coming home and finding a large buffalo in my kitchen. Every time I think of that I'll have a good laugh and it will cheer me up!! Thank you for being you. Love ya'!!! Grandma