Christmas

Christmas was wonderful having all our children and grandchildren around us. Dave had put out a wonderful spread of good things to eat. The little ones were so excited to open their gifts but since our house is so small we had the boys open their gifts first and then the girls. Dave and I were showered with wonderful presents from all of our children. Thank you to all of you for sacrificing what you could have given to your children or each other and shared with us instead. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Next Christmas Eve will be when we have dinner together and open gifts. Someone has already volunteered their home but I will leave it at that until further notice, like say...November!!!

Also, another birthday has come and gone and I'm a year older. Thank you for all your birthday wishes. They meant the world. I love you all. I'm sorry there are no pictures but what can I say, at least I FINALLY blogged.

Tradition

My Nephew, Brian, sent everyone pictures of his family. Among those were pictures of their Oregon trip with Ryan, Erin and Quentin. Such a darling picture, I just had to post it. They have this wonderful tradition of going to a cottage by the beach and spending several days just having fun together as family. I love that. Thank you for sharing the pictures Brian!

Family

Dinner out with family. Hildi, Don, Ingrid, Dave and me. We went to Chuck-O-Rama and had a really nice time. Wish Gitti could have been here too. I miss her!

Happy Birthday Oakley

Here's little Tiffany looking adorable, beautiful and ready to seize the day rather than having just gone through labor and delivery. She was a trooper through everything. One push and little Oakley was here greeting the day with a song. A very sad and loud song. She is the most adorable little newborn but then again we always say that don't we? After a while, Oakley just latched onto her mom and started nursing like this was just old hat for her. I'm so thankful that I was able to be there. Randy took pictures and had the biggest smile on his face you can ever imagine. Just a proud dad and very loving husband. Here are a couple of pictures but I'm sure they will have lots on Tiffany's blog when she's up and around again.



Here's little Oakley, 6lbs 15oz, 20 inches long. Cute, eh?


We are so happy you are finally here with us little Oakley.You are a beauty!

Wedding Shower

Jacob Anderson is getting married to the sweetest, most darling girl. Her name is Kacie Kitt Ludlow and I just love her. They had a wedding shower for her at Ingrid's house and it was so much fun. My niece Judy and her daughter Sarah did a good job putting it on. Here are a few pictures that don't even do the evening justice. I wish I would have taken pictures of the caterers and of all the people etc. BUT I didn't. I did have a couple of Judy but they didn't turn out very well. Judy is so much fun and Danielle is always so funny. I love going to parties where they are. Also, my Juli and Robyn were there and they always crack me up. I'm so happy I didn't have to go alone. Thanks my girls for going with me. Tiffany would have gone but she'll be doing her clients hair all the way up to the minute she's having Oakley delivered for sure. That poor girl has swollen ankles from standing so long but she's good to her clients and doesn't want to leave anyone out. My Jenni would have been there too had she been able. Anyway, after all this talk, here are 4 pictures!

My sister Ingrid next to her very own Coke machine!

Danielle holding up two outfits Judy gave the happy couple.

Cute little Danielle and her mom. Judy's stepdaughter is in the background.

My little Robyn and peeking Juli. I wish I was a better photographer but this is better than nothing right?

Miss you Jeremy

After I worked at Hildi's today, Dave and I went to Jeremy's grave and I cut around the stone and shined it all up with baby oil. I so hope that he knows how much he is loved and missed.

Lost

Well, I can't seem to find my camera. I don't get to take pictures and that makes me sad. Today, Juli and her kids, Tiffany and her kids and I went to Day Break beach. It was so much fun. I could not believe how many people were there and me without my camera. The kids had such a good time playing in the white sand. I'm sure Juli and Tiffany will have darling pictures to share. I'll keep looking for my camera. No Jenni, it's not in my purse.

My First Bonnet

My Robyn asked me to sew her an apron for Trek. I got pretty far and gave up when it came to gathering a ruffle and the waist so I called my friend Pam Park and she showed me how to gather and then took the rest home to finish. She is just the sweetest thing. Now I decided to try my hand at the bonnet and "Voila" I made it. It looks pretty cute but don't look close. The inside is really terrible. But then who's going to wear it backwards, right? I haven't sewn anything since Jeremy was about 2 so it's been a minute.

Pioneers were fashionable. They even put a cute little bow at the bottom.

See even us oldies can learn something new. Now if I could only remember this!

Lunch with High School Friends

Six of us from High School met at Red Lobster today for lunch. We had such a wonderful time. I love getting together with these wonderful friends. Lyn and I took some pictures and our waitress took our group picture. Here we are:

Hey, I think we look pretty good for 60? Don't you think?

This is Lyn Lynch and me.

This is Sue Maxwell and Kathy Rudelich.

This is Lora and Linda.

We had such a wonderful time. I'm very thankful for friends and I'm really looking forward to doing this again SOON!!!

Afton's Birthday Party

We were invited to Afton's 6th birthday party last night. Juli made the best pizza, a great salad and a yummy grape salad that I would still like to get the recipe for. She also made lots and lots of Happy Birthday cupcakes. All the kids were excited about Afton's presents. In this video, everyone is singing happy birthday but Afton seems to be REALLY liking her new shoes that Ryan, Erin and Quentin gave her but then who wouldn't, they're adorable! Opa took this video. Thanks Opa!

Happy Anniversary

Today is Dave and my 18th Wedding Anniversary. The time has gone so fast and I'm more in love with him today then ever. What a sweet man. He's so kind to me and makes me feel loved and even though he has MS, he still makes me feel safe.

I love you my Dave, and I'm looking forward to the next 18 years. You're mine forever and I'm so very happy!!!

Beautiful Jackson

Stephanie had little baby Jackson on Saturday the 27th of June at 7:11 p.m. He weighed 8lbs 1oz and 20 inches long. We went to see them today and mother and baby are doing great. As you can see by this picture of Stephanie, she is very happy. Jackson looks so comfortable and peaceful. What a little doll.


Here's proud Grandpa Grangroth holding his newest grandchild. We can't wait to go see Stephanie and her family when she takes Jackson home. We are so happy for the Murdock family. Actually, we are pretty happy having another little grandson. He's gorgeous!

Fathers Day

On Father's Day, Trisha, Ryan and Reed took their Dad to lunch at Red Lobster. Well of course I went too and we had the best time. They bought him a Web Cam which he is really having a fun time with. He also heard from Stephanie and Robb and nice cards with fun money for him to spend. He's got sweet kids and he appreciated so much being remembered by them.
Thank you Grangroth kids for making his day!!!

A visit to Green River

I stayed with Jenni in Green River from Monday until Wednesday while Burke went to scout camp. We did a lot of great things and had so much fun. Here are a few pictures of what we did.


We had fun at the Park where we went a couple of times for the kids' lunch. The city pays for lunch just for kids. It's so much fun. They had burgers one day, hot dogs another day with chips and drinks. Then we stayed and played. After we went home, Jenni and I had lunch. No snitching off of your children's plates.
We also went to the Green River Museum where I forgot to take pictures, oops!

We went to the Thrift Store and found 8 cute place mats that cost $1.00 for all 8 of them if you can believe that. We took them home and made these cute bags. The dark bag is Kaleb's whose bag was made out of his dad's old jeans. Jenni had left over material from her darling bedspread Jenni and Burke made and we used those for the handles. It was so much fun and cost virtually nothing.

There's nothing like Ice Cream and Popsicle's on a hot Green River Day!


Wednesday we went to the beach which is a lake that has wonderful soft, white beach sand. It was so much fun. We had a great time.

I had such a wonderful time. Thank you for everything!

Fun with friends and family

Puck is a friend of ours from the Netherlands that Juli taught while on her Mission. Puck joined the church and has visited us when she comes to visit her daughter. She is staying with Dave and I for a week and we've had a great time. Puck and I picked up my sister Gitti (short for Brigitte)from the airport on Monday morning and then went to the Park City Outlets. We had so much fun shopping. After that we went to the movie "Angels and Demons" that evening with my friend Kaye Derrick. What a great day.

The next day the 3 of us met Ingrid at Morellia's for lunch. We went to Fashion Place Mall after that and had a great time. We also went to a church distribution center that I didn't even know was there over on Union Blvd. Bought garments and Lion House rolls and Berry pull-a-parts. Yum!!!

On Wednesday, Puck and I worked at Hildi's Gift shop and Gitti came with us until Ingrid came and picked her up. Gitti bought lots of fun things for her kids and grandkids. Ingrid and Puck found some fun things too.

I've been really horrible at blogging BUT have been doing some fun things. Dave and I went to Spokane to see Robb, Mary and their 2 little boys. We had a great time. Dave ordained Robb to a High Priest because Robb's been called into the Bishopric. Dave really felt honored to be asked to do that for his son. We had such a good time there. I still need to blog some pictures from that.

Brand New

We just barely got a BRAND NEW washer and dryer. I am so excited so decided to post a picture. Beautiful, eh?

We have our new washer and dryer sitting right next to our food storage. I hope that's an OK thing to do because it's the only place we can put these things until we figure something else out. What a happy day. Just thought I would share a worldly necessary happiness. :)

Blessings

After going to the an ENT doctor and a Voice/Speech Therapist for the last 6 months since I haven't had a voice since last October, I decided I needed to ask the Lord for help. Dave and our used to be home teacher, Spencer, gave me a Priesthood Blessing and about 3 days later I had my voice back totally. It was an expensive 6 months going to all these doctors. Of course the insurance company paid most of it. I could have started with a blessing but for some reason I guess I didn't want to bother the Lord with my little trials. Silly me. I love the Lord so much and am thankful for the Priesthood. I'm happy!

Change

What a difference a week makes. Last week our flowers started to pop out of the ground and everything was stretching toward the sun and sky with a smile. Yesterday it snowed on their parade and the flowers' little head drooped toward the ground. Kind of reminds me of us and how we go through ups and downs in our lives. Maybe the snowed on flowers will grow even stronger and more beautiful this year.

I WON!!!

When I went to "My Tiny Sweet Cheeks" Website, I signed up and won Bobbi's Friday give-away. She asked me what I liked and I wrote back that I loved old Victorian and she made me this little address book. Cute, huh? It was fun to win something and it's really cute. You should check it out.

Baby Website

I found the cutest website when I visited Jen Johnson's website called "My Tiny Sweet Cheeks". It is so cute and she has weekly giveaways. Next Friday she will be giving away the cutest one of a kind address book that she made. Please go to her website and see. You'll love it!

A TICKET???

OK so March is coming in fast and strong. I headed to my voice therapy session, Foothill Blvd off of Sunnyside and low and behold I got my FIRST ticket. I was going to ask the kind officer if I could take his picture for my blog BUT decided against it. I know, it would have made a nice picture but what d'ya do? I do have to admit that when Dave and I picked Juli up from her Mission in the Netherlands, I got a ticket there but never in the U.S. I've driven for 45 years without a ticket. Is this what March is bringing or my being 60 is bringing? Whatever, I think I'll take TRAX.

IT's THE NEW REED!!!

Reed cut his hair. Well, actually Tiffany did and he looks so great. Love it Reed! This is BEFORE


AFTER


YAY Reed!

Memories

This is December 1954, the Becker family's first Christmas in America. My sister Hildi on the left, Mama, Papa, Ingrid and then Gitti is just below Papa and I'm just below Ingrid. I know, we've changed. Since I don't have anything big and exciting to write about, I decided to find a picture from long ago. I remember the doll I'm holding as if it were yesterday. This doll had a particular new doll smell that I will never forget. It's happened that when I've held one of my girls' dolls or grand daughters dolls that same smell was there and it brought a smile to my face and this is the Christmas I remember.

Hi

I have no pictures and no magically funny post BUT I will write a few of my feelings anyway. I finished "Train to Potevka" two books ago and it is sooooo good. Mike Ramsdell, who wrote the book, is a member of the church who tells his story as an American intelligence agent from Utah who was working under cover in Russia. It just made me thankful to have a warm home, food and people that live close who I love and who love me. Also, I've been putting off going to the temple with the 2 names I asked for from the High Priest group in November because of my cough. Again my testimony has been strengthened by going anyway and not coughing through the entire session just to head home in a coughing fit. I'm so thankful for the gospel and the power of prayer.

Lunch with Friends

I got an e-mail the other day from my friends from work at the Utah National Guard. They wanted to take me to lunch for my 60th birthday. We went today and met at McGrath's Fish House and we had SO much fun. They gave me the nicest card and a great book to read. It's called "A Train To Potevka". I'm excited to start reading it. They told me it was a true story. Anyway. I asked a girl that worked at the restaurant to take a picture of us. It's a little blurry but fun.

I just don't know what I would do without friends. I really am thankful for them.

Date with Sophie

Today Opa and Omi took Sophie to lunch that we promised her because Sophie and Omi share the same birthday. Sophie and I like to do something to celebrate together. We went to IHOP where she very seriously colored the paper they gave her. She's wearing her new Hannah Montana shirt and cute glittery Levi's she got for her birthday. Also, her mom put her hair in cute braids for our fun outing together.

We're anxiously awaiting our lunch but the place was very busy so it took a while. We had fun visiting anyway!

After lunch Opa was nice enough to accompany Sophie and I to Bath and Body Works where she picked out little bottles of shampoo, bubble bath, lotion and hand sanitizers. We had so much fun smelling many beautiful scents.

Thank you Sophie for coming with us and sharing your adorable personality with us. We love you very much!