Two birthday boys (son and son-in-law)!

Happy Birthday to Andy, born Jan. 23, 1982. The nurses called him the "bully of the nursery"when he was born, because he was so strong and active.

Here he is, a very young Eagle Scout, holding his Eagle Scout project, one of several cars he made for the church nursery. He was a very happy baby and boy with many friends who still are loyal friends.

Andy grew into a fine young man, excelling in sports, school --serving a two year mission (Utah, Salt Lake City), graduating from BYU, while developing his artistic talent, and looking forward to pursuing a masters degree.

Birthday wishes also go to our fine son-in-law, Dan, husband and father extraordinaire! Dan shares Andy's birthday, Jan. 23 (out of respect to his advancing old age, I won't mention the year!). Dan's favorite birthday present will be his little boy, who will be born in about a month.

Remembering KoKo -- Nov. 30, 1996 -- Dec. 31, 2008

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone, that pet goes
to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor;
those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember
them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone
very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks
into the distance. Her bright eyes are intent; Her eager body quivers. Suddenly she begins
to run from the group, flying over the green grass, her legs carrying her faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling
together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
(Courtney was so sweet to share this comforting poem with me.)

Another Christmas to remember

The joy of having almost everyone together. (missing-- Andy in Utah, Walter and Jessica celebrating with Walter's family, and KoKo, feeling too sick to join in the group photo.)

The joy of babies' first Christmas. Laila and Colby are just one month apart in age.

The bitter-sweet joy of having KoKo with us for her last Christmas. She mainly kept to herself, being in pain from a sudden, rapidly growing and huge cancer tumor. But on Christmas Eve, when we were gathered in the living room celebrating the birth of our Savior, she joined us. She is out of her pain now, and passed away peacefully this morning. How I am missing and sorrowing for her. After we get back from our trip, I'll post a memorial for our beloved pet.

Christmas is for remembering...

Christmas pasts -- 1954, with brothers Wally and Charlie. Lots of snow, icicles hanging from the doors and windows. Getting up in the wee hours to see what Santa brought and waiting for parents to wake up before we could open our presents. Seeing the decorated Christmas tree for the first time on Christmas morning, following the custom of my mother's native Austria, where the tree would be decorated while the family was at mid-night mass.

First Christmas in Texas, as newly weds in 1974. Our only Christmas without kids. What added joy each new addition to the family brought each Christmas.

Christmas is for remembering all of this and much more -- loved ones who have passed on, family members who can't be with us this year( our Andy in Utah), our extended families, and friends who have touched our lives. But most of all we remember the birth of our Savior, who has given us all that we have, and brings peace, hope, and light to our lives. Merry Christmas to all our loved family and friends!

Happy Birthday to Mark!

It's hard to believe that Mark, our oldest son, is 29 years old. It seems like yesterday when Mark's older sisters were first introduced to him after he was born, and 21 month old Lauren said, "What a silly baby!"

Mark was a sweet, happy little boy, who played well with his siblings, loved the new babies, and didn't give us any worries, other than the time he fell out of a two story window. He miraculously survived without injury, defying gravity and missing a square of concrete below.

Mark grew up to be an artist (he created the mural pictured above for a wall in our high school), an Eagle Scout, adventurer, out-doors man (he is snowboarding with brother Andy in above photo). He went on a 2 year mission to Latvia, Estonia, Belarus (bottom, left photo), and then graduated from BYU (microbiology/chem) and went on to dental school at U.T.San Antonio (he'll graduate in May). His two greatest accomplishments are marrying his lovely bride Courtney and .....

becoming a brand-new father! Mark loves children and will be a great Dad to sweet little Colby. We love you Mark!

a birthday salute

Couldn't let this week go by without doing a birthday blog for our oldest child, Emily, who was born on a beautiful sunny day on Dec. 3, 1975. ( For this year, I'm going to do a birthday blog salute for each of my children and their spouses (so look out!).) Next year, it'll be for the grandchildren -- after that, who knows.) We feel so blessed to have had Emily as our super exciting first child. Emily was such a sweet, good baby, and as she grew, showed a very compassionate nature. She'd clean up the house without being asked to, and,with her sister Lauren, was such a help with babysitting. The highlights of her life are her mission to northern Germany and her marriage to a very sweet, caring husband and the birth of her own four beautiful children. She is also a very good cook, interior designer, and an awesome graphic designer and artist (who is a few credit hours short of her degree in graphic design, due to the birth of her first baby). Emily also loves music, has played the piano growing up, and has sung in choir in junior high and high school. (When she was a toddler, my piano teacher heard her singing and told me she has "perfect pitch".) Well, hope all this bragging hasn't embarrassed you too much, Emily. Happy Birthday ! We love you!

Something to be thankful for!

On Wednesday, we headed to San Antonio with a turkey and all the trimmings, and came back on Saturday, the proud grandparents of our 8th grandchild, Colby Michael. Usually, the gang all comes to our house, but with Lauren and Dan's family heading to Utah and Emily home with her new baby, we decided to take Thanksgiving to Mark and Courtney's, hoping the baby would make his arrival while we were there. On turkey day, Courtney was feeling too miserable to eat anything. That evening, we all headed for the hospital and got to be there to welcome this precious baby, when he entered the world, very early the next day.

Three generations of Ellis men (including the first grandson to carry on the family name)

The number 8 is Colby's lucky number: We have 8 children. Colby is our 8th grandchild. Colby was born on Nov. 28, 2008, weighing in at 8 lbs. 9 oz.