Party time continued...

We went to birthday dinner at...where else...Brick Oven Pizza!  We love their homemade rootbeer and their pizza too!  David got sung to and a special dessert.  There was a young man doing balloon art and he made David the cutest little ninja turtle!  Jacob got a fire breathing dragon!  He was a great balloon artist!  It was a fun evening and a great way to end the birthday celebrations.  

Cowabunga! It's party time!

David is 7!  Wow!  He wanted a Ninja Turtle party and his mom delivered!  She made the cutest turtle things (cake, gift bags, games, etc) and I think David had a great time!  We were gone to my aunt's funeral but got home in time for the tail end of the party.  It was a wild time!  I made him a ninja turtle bath towel, I think it turned out pretty cute.  Jacob wants one too so I guess it is good enough!  Here are a few party pictures of our sweet little man who is growing up too fast!  Happy Birthday David!  January 24th 7 years ago was a wonderful day!  Made me a grandma!  Love you!

Another Brown family passing...

Well, this is one of the reasons I moved to Utah.  So I could be closer to family and be able to attend weddings and funerals.  Our sweet Aunt Pauline passed away this week.  She took a fall at the store and hit her head on the 8th.  There was massive bleeding on her brain and the family decided not to intervene but let nature take it's course.  She was in the hospital until the 13th when they moved her to a hospice.  She passed away 2 days later.  I once again am so grateful that I got to see her at our reunion this summer.  She is the second one to pass away since then.  Her funeral was on Saturday (the same day as David's birthday) and Dave and I drove over to Duchesne for it. She had an amazing life and has been a widow since 1996 when my Uncle Deon passed away.  She has had years of back pain and problems but I have never seen her not smiling.  She looked beautiful and peaceful in her casket.  I have never seen so many flowers in a chapel before!  We counted over 20 bouquets just across the back!  Then there were some on both ends of the stand and then the large ones on stands on the floor.  I absolutely loved the wreath with the pictures on it.  So beautiful.  Aunt Pauline did beautiful needlework.  I am fortunate enough to have one of the houses like was on display (that was where the guest book was, I took the picture afterwards).  She gave one of those needlepoint houses to each of her husband's sisters...so I have my moms.  It is in a blue frame and done in blue and cream on a beige background.  So pretty.  I am glad my cousin's daughter Angie took some pictures and shared them with us.  Her husband also put together a beautiful picture video with lots of old pictures and family pictures.  It was very nice!  The printed program was a tri-fold so it looks a little different all unfolded.  But it was beautifully done by my cousin's son Travis.  My cousin Denice happens to live in Lehi (not very far away from me!) and we have gotten together a few times for lunch.  I LOVE being here and close to family!  No close friends yet, but family everywhere.  Love you Aunt Pauline...love picturing the reunion in heaven.  As her daughter said, "I can't wish her back.  She is pain free and with our Dad again." I love the picture of the 4 kids at the cemetery.  We didn't go to the cemetery but stopped at a diner to have a quick lunch with  Aunt Lew and Curtis and Uncle Valoy and Elaine (my mom's sister and brother) then headed back home to get in on the last of David's birthday party.  It was a busy and beautiful day.

16 months!

How can time go so fast, yet seem so slow?  Today is Joel's 16 month mark on his mission.  It HAS gone fast, I know...but sometimes it seems like forever since he left.  And waiting from Monday to Monday for his emails seems to just DRAG.  I am so happy everytime I get to fill in another spoke on the bike wheels.  It's getting closer.  He says time is flying way too fast and he is wishing it to slow down!  That is a good thing for a missionary to feel that way.  In other news, the boys were sick today and needed to stay home from church.  So I stayed with them since Amanda teaches primary.  We stayed in our jammies and I fixed a nice lunch.  Then I introduced them to The Secret Garden.  One of my favorite stories!  I think they liked it. (I might mention that one day I was watching Little Women and they sat down and watched the whole thing with me!  I may not have granddaughters but thankfully my grandsons like my movies!) We still tend Zander who is 10 months old now!  He is getting around and into everthing.  He is so cute and fun.  He really adds to our otherwise not-too-eventful days. Life is good here in American Fork.

Happy Birthday to Clark!

I love starting the new year every year with Clark's birthday!  We love and miss you Clark!  We know you are working hard and we wish we could come help you celebrate this special day!  You were a surprise blessing to our family and we are forever grateful to our Heavenly Father for sending you to us!  Have a happy birthday handsome son!  (This picture is from our reunion here last summer).