New England…here we come!

We’re off to visit Shannon for a few days, then Martha’s Vineyard and Newport, RI. I’ll post some pictures when we return.

Orlando Vacation

Here are a few pictures of our week in Orlando. Weather was hot but beautiful! The kids had a blast…Blake said his favorite part was his nightly trip to the ice cream shop at the resort with MarMar!

Off to Orlando with the Kids/Grandkids

with the exception of Shannon…she already had plans to go to Sarasota. We leave tomorrow morning and return on Mother’s Day. We’ll take plenty of pictures and unlike Steve F. will post them when we return.

Happy Birthday Larry!!

Hope you’re having a great day! Where’s the birthday banner?

Blake’s 3rd Birthday

Blake’s birthday party was last Sunday. He had 12 friends, you’ll like this Larry…all girls! Of course Reid and Ethan were there, but they were no competition for the birthday boy!

Oh! There was a face painter, so it might be hard to recognize Blake. He was a blue lion!

 

 

 

Labor Day Weekend…a Labor of Love!

At 8:03 AM Saturday morning, Sept 5th, our third grandson, Ethan Thaddeus arrived! Arriving two weeks early he still weighed 7lb. 5 oz. and measured 19 1/2 in. long.  Andrea went completely natural, enduring a painful “corkscrew” delivery (his shoulder was stuck).  He is adorable…Brian particularly loves Ethan’s sideburns that match his. 

 

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My 60th Celebrations!

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Decided to keep the 60th a small celebration (unlike the 40th & 50th). Had dinner with some close friends last weekend. Note the beautiful orchid arrangement Dawn made (and small bouquets for each lady). Kenny, I do look much better when pictures are taken out of the sunshine, don’t I?

Dinner on  my birthday was at Dawn’s. Reid was sick, so he went to bed early. Blake helped Mommy decorate…he especially loved the balloons and the Mickey Mouse cake.

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Shannon put together a little book of “60 Things I’ve Learned from My Mom”.  Some were pretty standard things a mother should teach a child i.e., “Patience”, “Work Ethic”, “Pride” etc. Some were things our mother taught us i.e., “Kill them with Kindness”, giving people the “Benefit of the Doubt” etc.  Some things were applicable to just us i.e., “The Fall Family Lazy Gene – it does exist and I’ve taught her how to combat it”, “How much she loves Mickey Mouse cakes”, “How to pronounce things correctly – The ‘Mary’ test is a perfect example”, and of course “Family – Nothing matters more”.

It was a great birthday and would only have been better with all of you here. We got close on Christmas…we need to keep trying!

Happy Birthday Sweet Sixty

MARILYN, THE UTAH FALLS HOPE YOU HAVE A FANTASTIC SIXTIETH.

Nice, I can just see the curl in my bangs.
"Nice, I can just see the curl in my bangs."

IT’S NOT ALWAYS EASY BEING THE SECOND SIBLING.

Larry's going to be such a great Dad.
"Larry's going to be such a great Dad."

THE SECOND CHILD FOLLOWING SOMEONE AS CONFIDENT AS LARRY.

If you take my picture again I'll slug you with a broom.
"If you take my picture again I'll slug you with a broom."

THE SECOND PRETTIEST CHILD (FOLLOWING GARY).

Why am I wearing this miner's lamp on my head.
"Why am I wearing this lamp on my head."

THE SECOND SMARTEST (FOLLOWING KENNY).

What's Gary packin'?
"What's Gary packin'?"

AND THE SECOND CLASSIEST (STEVE & RONNIE TIED FOR FIRST).

BUT MARILYN, YOU ARE SECOND TO NONE WHEN IT COMES TO LOVE AND DEVOTION TO THE FAMILY.

I'm into younger men.
"I'm into younger men."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,

KENNY, LISA, ELLIOT AND NATALIE

Blake & Reid’s First Trip to Disney…

…far too much partying!

25 Years and we’re still having fun…

…in the sun! Yes, it will be 25 years of wedded bliss on Wednesday. To celebrate, we went to Key West, with good friends of ours, Ed & Mary Kipp. They are celebrating 30 years the day before us (and they’re younger than us!).

Here are a few pictures:  1) Sunset on the pier 2) Lobster dinner at an outdoor cafe 3) Poolside at our B&B

Next week we’re off to Orlando with Dawn, Chris & the “K-boys”. That should be interesting!  We’ll post more pictures upon our return!