Another March birthday!

Happy Birthday to Lauren who turned 31 (!!!) this week. Her best present is baby Evan who was born 2 weeks before her birthday. Lauren was a delightful baby and little girl, who loved doing everything big sister Emily did, including drawing, going to the library to get books, playing in the sandbox and on the swing set. She grew up into a young lady who enjoyed playing piano, getting good grades in school, singing in school choirs, drawing, and helping entertain all the babies who came along (shown here holding youngest brother, Carl). After high school, she attended BYU where she met husband Dan, and, while married and expecting her first baby, managed to graduate with high grades just a few weeks before Elayna's birth. Today she is a busy mother to 3 little girls and a boy. Her hobbies include reading, decorating, and photography.

Happy Birthday to Carl !

Our "baby", Carl turned 17 on Mar 2, sharing same birthday as niece Avery. He is a sweet son and a fun uncle(Uncle Ta-Ta) who's always willing to entertain his 5 nieces and 4 nephews. He's living life in the fast lane now, as an only child (his 7 siblings have left the nest) with old grandpa and grammy. You'd think that after raising a bunch of kids, that we'd be able to keep track of only one. Last summer, when we dragged him along on a vacation trip, we left him behind at a gas station. I didn't notice he'd left the car to use the restroom. We drove on, not realizing he wasn't with us, since he was so quiet the whole trip, sleeping on the back seat. Luckily, he had our cell number memorized. Just as we were about to pull up at our destination, we get a call,"Mom, you left me!" Everyone in the gas station was laughing, watching him run after our van as it was pulling out. Carl's birthday post is a bit late, since I've been very busy taking care of these two sweet granddaughters and picking older sister up from school. Their mommy, Lauren, is even busier, taking care of newborn Evan.

Kyla was so cute, helping me clean up the kitchen by washing down the benches.

Grandchild #9 arrives today (Feb. 23, 4:00p.m)!

Just a real quick post (it's been a busy day!) so all the family can get a quick peek at this cutie (I think he looks a lot like Lauren when she was born). After having three girls, Lauren and Dan are sooo excited to finally have a boy who probably will be named Evan Daniel (they are 99.9 % sure at this point, but things could change). He weighed in at 8lbs.9oz, being induced a week early so he wouldn't end up an 11 pounder like sister Avery.

Sweet Valentine's Day in San Antonio

Grandpa and I had a super Valentine's Day with our not -so -little, sweet 11 week old Colby, and his sweet Mom and Dad. He's grown so much since we'd last seen him at Christmas, and is very strong-- tries to do sit-ups. He's also very smart and doesn't miss a thing. I'm sure we're not prejudiced and his other grandparents (who'll see him again next week) will agree 100%!

Do you see the resemblance here? He's definitely a mama's boy, but he enjoys hanging out with his Daddy too.

"My Mother made me go to this." (Carl)

Carl (pictured here with his friend Adam) is "enjoying" the big banquet, held last Fri. evening at Moody Gardens Conference Center, honoring recent Eagle Scouts.

The featured speaker was Texas Governor Rick Perry. He gave a great speech on the values promoted by Scouting, and how we can't remain silent in the battle between good and evil in our society. Hope Carl was listening when he mentioned how "Eagle Scout" really stands out on a resume. I got to shake Gov. Perry's hand-- his handshake is very firm.

Happy Birthday to Jessica

Born on Feb. 4, 1984, Jessica was the baby sister 6 year old Lauren prayed for every night!

As a little girl, Jessica enjoyed playing with dolls, reading,writing in her journal every day, friends like Ashley (whom she's known since kindergarten), fun times with family and cousins like Kristyn (who's the same age). She endured much teasing from older brother Andy.

Teenage years brought her more reading ("Sweet Valley High" books in junior high), continued journal writing, a new hobby - scrapbooking, too much flirting with boys, fun times in cross country and track, and her future husband,(pictured above at senior prom). After high school, she was able to fulfill many dreams -- running a few marathons, graduating from BYU, marrying her high school sweetheart, and getting a job that she had always wanted since she was little, a teacher. She's enjoying teaching pre-K at a charter school in Houston. She's also helping her husband fulfill his life-long dream of becoming a doctor.
Happy Birthday, Jess! We love you. May all your birthday wishes

come true.
(P.S. -- the reason you are now hearing the song"Fur Elise", instead of the usual birthday song, is because that is Jessica's song, and where she gets her middle name "Elise". While I was pregnant with her, I played that song everyday on the piano. (My piano teacher wanted me to memorize it.)

Catchin' up on January happenings

Day after New Year's, we drove this car out to Provo with Jeremy (he's happy to finally have some wheels other than his bike). We were there just 3 days, and were scared of driving around in the snow and ice. Regretfully, we never made it outside of Provo to visit Carl's sister who lives north of Salt Lake.

We walked around in a snow globe, enjoyed visiting the Hinckley Alumni Center (in background), hung out with the boys, took in a BYU basketball game, spent time in the library, bookstore, visited some great classes, attended Devotional with Jeremy, etc.

When we got back to Texas, we headed to Emily and Brian's home, where we attended the blessing of their sweet baby, Laila.

Now, that I'm back home again, I'm going to start cutting out this cute material Courtney picked out for the baby quilt that I'm making for my newest grandson, Colby.