Quotes of the Week

"Remember that a successful marriage depends on two things: (1) finding the right person and (2) being the right person."
--Author Unknown

"A good leader inspires men to have confidence in him; a great leader inspires them to have confidence in themselves."
--Author Unknown

"Don't confuse activity with productivity"
--B. W. Lusher, Jr.

"Think only the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best."
--Author Unknown

Quotes of the Week

"I want the world to be better because I was here. I want my life, I want my work, my family, I want it to mean something and if you are not making someone else's life better then you are wasting your time."  

-- Will Smith 

"From this instant on, vow to stop disappointing yourself. Separate yourself from the mob. Decide to be extraordinary and do what you need to do -- now."  

-- Epictetus 

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." 

 -- Mark Twain 

"Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom."

--Theodore Isaac Rubin

Dilated Eyes, A Baby Visit, February Birthdays

It had been a while since Glen's last eye check-up. He was down to his last pair of reading glasses. Those were breaking. So that's what got him to go see an eye doctor.

These are some heavy duty temporary sun glasses they gave him after he got his eyes dilated.

We were just a few short minutes away from Sarah and the new baby, so we decided to drop in for a visit. Look at how tiny the little guy is compared to Glen's hand.

Jeff had taken Eli and Carson to get their hair cut. It was a quiet house with them gone. Sarah and I had a nice visit while Glen had a nice nap.

Later that day, we went to Texas Roadhouse for Rebecca's birthday.

This little girl looked happy to be out celebrating. Her first birthday was the following week.

Brooke was freezing, so she was happy when her grandpa let her wear his coat.

Look at those ribs!!

These are the striped-shirted people.

Rebecca is on the birthday saddle with the waiter yelling "YEE HAW!!!!!!"

Birthday ice cream.

Rachel and Maggie were the only February birthday people who were there for Mom and Dad's birthday dinner celebration. Amanda made the cutest birthday cake.

Clint has been recovering from foot surgery the past couple of months. He gets to look forward to having the same kind of surgery done on his other foot when this one gets fully recovered.

Austin and Lindsey have set their wedding date for June 25th.

We will look forward to seeing the wedding cake Amanda makes for that special occasion. She has become quite the expert cake decorator.

Quotes of the Week

"Expect problems and eat them for breakfast." 

 -- Alfred A. Montapert 

"Today is a brand new day. A fresh start. Replace any negativity with positivity. Think happy thoughts. Exercise. Drink lots of water. Fill your body with fuel. Healthy is happy. Inspire yourself. Create. Laugh. Play. Love. Learn. Give someone a compliment. Make a new friend. Do a random act of kindness. It creates good karma. Take chances and finally start living life to its fullest. But no matter what's thrown at you today, smile and remember, tomorrow's always a fresh new start." 

-- Author Unknown 

Dining Out With the Excells, Boys Giving Service, Valentine's Day "Getaway" For Glen and Me/Jeff and Sarah

Sarah's family spent the first few days at our home after she got released from the hospital and then moved back to their home when Jeff's parents came to town for a week.

They made the transition with a stopover early dinner at Chili's between our house and their house. Ben was here that day and went along for the meal. When we got to the restaurant, Carson yelled, "Ben!" Ben yelled, "Carson!" and bent down to receive the little boy running energetically into his arms. So cute!!

Even though they had just seen each other 15 minutes earlier at our house, Jeff explained that Carson had been wondering all the way there if Ben was in the car with me. Imagine how disappointed he would have been if Ben had not gotten out of the car.

The Excells came back to stay at our house for a few days after Jeff's parents left. The little boys loved being outside in the wonderful, unseasonably warm February weather. They liked rolling the cars and train down the driveway.

My neighbor, Julie, had surgery the same day Lincoln was born. One day the boys and I went to her favorite Mexican restaurant where we bought dinner and delivered it to her and her son.

Another day Eli helped pull her trash cans from the road up close to her house. I emphasized how we were giving service to Julie those days in hopes the grandsons learn that service is fun!

FINALLY Jeff and Sarah got the A-OK to bring baby Lincoln home from the hospital. Hurrah!!!!

One stipulation was Sarah needed to spend the night before his release at the hospital so she could become familiar with the monitor Lincoln would be wearing at home for the next few weeks.

We met up at Texas Roadhouse on Valentine's Day where we made plans for the transition of baby from hospital to home.

It just so happened Glen had a very rare occurrence the following day where he did not have any stake meetings all day Sunday because the stake president was out of town. It worked out perfectly for us to stay at Sarah's house overnight so Jeff could spend the night at the hospital with Sarah and Lincoln.

The little boys slept through the night. Oh, wait...! No they didn't! It felt like they did to me because I had my ear plugs in and Glen was the one who got up with Carson in the night and he was the one who got up early with both boys in the morning.

And look at him continuing to be the best grandpa in the world fixing them French toast for breakfast.

We took the boys to their church and Sarah might have gotten a text from her friend commenting on the lack of hair styling of their boys when they were spied with us at church. Oh well. We tried...

There was a roast in the oven and a new baby in the house when we returned home from church. Ben joined us at Sarah's house for Sunday dinner and to be part of welcoming Lincoln home from the hospital.

So wonderful to have their family all together at last!!

Abe's Ski Trip, Costco Entertainment, Weinermobile, Visits to Hospital

Abe came to town for a work ski trip at Park City the weekend right after Lincoln was born. He recruited Ben to be his ski buddy those days, so off they went to brave the cold and snow--wearing shorts.

Once the big boys had gone, I took the little boys to run errands. They each picked one toy to take with them in the car.

They were very good at Costco. Their favorite thing was going in the refrigerated rooms, which happens to be my least favorite thing to do at Costco.

Eli loved going through the car wash while Carson had a look of terror on his face as we got deeper and deeper into the tunnel.

We played games together.

And before the boys knew it--their mommy was released from the hospital. She was pretending to drink straight from the fancy apple juice bottle the hospital had given them. She said it had been a tough couple of days for her...

The toughness would continue as Jeff and Sarah made countless trips back and forth to the hospital to see their little preemie baby who ended up spending 18 days in the NICU.

Meanwhile, Glen and I spent a fun Saturday with our grandsons while their parents were making visits to the hospital. We saw the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile on display in the parking lot of Smith's.

The attendants gave them some stickers and an Oscar Mayer whistle which they blew and blew and blew whenever we were driving around in the car.

We shopped at Smith's.

We needed a few things at Costco and decided to feed the boys lunch there.

Glen was a good sport while running errands, but it wore him right out. That poor shoulder of his...

Abe and Ben cut their skiing trip a little short so they could be home on Sunday. Abe got in a little visit with Lincoln at the hospital in the middle of the day.

 He was also loving on Madison.

Later in the day, the grandchildren got their favorite popcorn treat.

Rebecca and I got a treat as well when we escaped for a little while to make our own run to the hospital to meet Lincoln for the first time. What a beautiful baby boy.

A week later we took Eli and Carson to see their baby brother for the first time through a glass window.

First Excell family photo with all three sons.