this is my last birthday!

a new running shirt for my birthday! (didn't get the neck transplant I had asked for)

a few days after my birthday,

older, but more limber.

This month I had a birthday I hope none of my blogger buddies ever have to experience -- the big 60! I hoped I could avoid having a birthday this year. But it just happened, along with a few more wrinkles. How did I ever get to be 60? The only consolation is the following: all of you out there will also experience this traumatic event, and to some people, like folks in their 80's, 90's and 100's, I'm still a young chick. The other day when I was grocery shopping in Krogers ,I was horrified to find the store filled with senior citizens (I won't ever go back on a Wed. morning). In every aisle, old retired men hanging on to shopping carts followed their wives around the store. The worst thing was the realization that I was now in that age group. The only good thing about being 60 is that I have a 10% off Kroger senior plus shoppers card (you have to be 60 to get one). The only things that lightened my mood were the realizations that my husband was still at work, and that I could outmanuever all the retired folks down an aisle.

Now that I am a senior citizen, I have a few gems of advice for my blogger buds : 1. scarf up on all your antioxidents (blueberries, etc. -- if you were to visit me at 8:00 a.m. you'd notice that my fingernails are stained blue from all the blueberries I put on my high fiber bowl of oatmeal) 2. excercise is the fountain of youth (if I tell myself and others that often enough, I'll believe it). Take another look at the photo above to see not only how much I've aged since the big birthday but how limber I am! If you were to visit me at 7:00 a.m., I'd tell you to bring along your running shoes and excerise mat, handweights, balance ball, etc. On Mon, Wed. and Fri. I'd take you along for my grammy run (it's taken almost 2 years to build up to almost 3/4 mi. non stop running -- the rest, a run -walk (I'm in training for the age 80 and over ladies division of the senior olympics held in St. George, Utah). If you visit me on Tues. and Thurs., I am doing weight training and yoga with the slave driver excercise lady on BYU T.V. Well, I hope this motivates you. My motivation is pure despiration!

update on our missionary sons

Elder Philip Ellis (on the right) has been recently transfered from his first area, Longview, Washington to Vancouver. "I love to testify of this beautiful and wonderful message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and of His atonement which heals the broken hearted."

Elder Jeremy Ellis (in the ice telephone booth) is in Anchorage Alaska, and is entering the last 6 months of his mission. Nov.19--"I made it a goal for myself this week to talk to 70 people that I ran into even though it is cold and no one is out anymore. I was able to talk to 76; it was hard and I had to go to the extremes, going up to people sitting in their cars or at the stores and at the gas station....Well I'm doing great out here. I'm loving every minute of my mission and I love and miss the family."

my girls

Jessica (with husband Walter) is my youngest daughter.

Lauren with her baby, Avery Elizabeth

Emily, our firstborn, and
oldest daughter, with her youngest Ava Elizabeth.

I am so thankful to have 3 daughters, as well as a wonderful daughter-in-law, Courtney (will post a picture of her later, along with the son-in-laws.) I grew up with no sisters -- 4 brothers -- so I really appreciate and have fun with the girls in my family!

my babies

May 2007 (from left to right):Aiden, Kyla, Avery, Elayna holding Ava, and Dario. Aiden, Ava, and Dario belong to Emily and Brian. Kyla, Avery, and Elayna belong to Lauren and Dan.
Thanksgiving: Avery(with sippy cup) is amazed to have graduated from the high chair to the "kids' table". Kyla came over for Thanksgiving dressed like a princess. She told her cousin Aiden that he was an "ugly princess".


Elayna, 1st Grade, was so excited to invite her Grammy to her school's "Thanksgiving Feast".
With love and admiration, Grammy watched her nibble at her lunch (which was yukky).


Kyla delights us with her impish smile. We wish we could keep her a 4 year old forever!

What a sweet angel little Ava (just turned 1) is, such a joyful addition to a household of little boys!

One of the great things about grandparenting is being able to experience the joy of life through the eyes of a little one. Aiden puts his whole heart into everything.

Grandpa and I are so grateful to be blessed with these little ones. Every minute with them is precious. We treasure every hug and kiss because we know too well how very quickly they grow up.

and here's Mark!

Well, here he is, enjoying some x-box games at thanksgiving. Got ya, Mark. I know you'll love this photo! Mark is our oldest son (27).

my boys

Jeremy, age 21, is serving a mission in Alaska. This Texas boy is battling freezing temperatures, bears, moose, etc., but is working hard and putting his whole heart into serving the Lord, and having much success.

(from left to right) Andy, age 25, BYU student. Andy loves mountain biking, art (he stores his sculptures in the Provo River), and going on cruises with his buddies. Philip is a new missionary in Washington State and loving it. The "baby" Carl is a sophomore in high school and wears a size 12 shoe, and runs cross country and track but says his favorite sport is boxing. He drives me crazy by shadow boxing with the leaves of my huge indoor tree.

Where is a photo of my son Mark? You'll have to look at the guy in the far right of our Thanksgiving picture. He is going to U. T. Dental School in San Antonio and is married to the lovely Courtney, an adventuresome Colorado girl who loves being in Texas, especially on the Frio River.

I also have 3 wonderful son-in-laws, whose pictures I'll post later.

Thanksgiving

One of the fun things about being a Grammy is having the gang over for holidays. I've been in the kitchen for about 4 days now. Emily and Brian and 3 kids came, as well as Mark (3rd year dental student) and wife Courtney and their dog Akira, and Lauren and Dan and their 3 kids. Jessica and Walter and our son Carl live with us. It was a noisy, fun 4 days, a lot of cooking (for 16 people) and eating, and just hanging out. Before everyone left, we gathered for singing, prayer, to share what we are grateful for, and to hear Grandpa tell a neat story about Jim Thorpe and about our pilgrim 10th great grandfather John Winslow. (Sorry, Mark and Courtney -- you had already left for San Antonio and missed out on this) I have a little breather, and then another round of company hits tomorrow night, Carl's sister Sharon and her family (they are moving 5 minutes away from us!).