Cause For Celebration

We decided to celebrate the June birthday kids by taking them out to dinner, but Sarah's family was unable to go. Boo! Oh well. We had a great time with the Golden family. Our server was my hairdresser Suzy Duce's son Parker.

A birthday celebration at Texas Roadhouse isn't complete until the birthday people sit on the saddle and receive a loud "YEE HAW!" from everyone in the restaurant. Brooke went first.

Then it was Caroline's turn.

Seated at the table next to us was Dave and Jennifer Young from our ward who innocently got in on the double birthday celebration.

That wasn't all the birthday celebrating. Mark and Michelle's family came to town from Yakima, Washington, and that called for a celebration!!

We did this once before and everyone loved it, so we did it again. We cut a little brownie for every kid there and stuck a candle in each brownie and sang "Happy Birthday" to everyone regardless of which month they have a birthday.

 Another cause for celebration is we now have a new deck. Hurrah!!

WATCH YOUR STEP OUT THE BACK DOOR!!!!

 This Trex deck and railing will now prevent grandchildren from getting slivers. And another bonus--it is maintenance free!!   

We decided to switch the stairs and have them go down into the yard instead of the side yard.

 So many people and things to celebrate!!

Cause For Celebration

We decided to celebrate the June birthday kids by taking them out to dinner, but Sarah's family was unable to go. Boo! Oh well. We had a great time with the Golden family. Our server was my hairdresser Suzy Duce's son Parker.

A birthday celebration at Texas Roadhouse isn't complete until the birthday people sit on the saddle and receive a loud "YEE HAW!" from everyone in the restaurant. Brooke went first.

Then it was Caroline's turn.

Seated at the table next to us was Dave and Jennifer Young from our ward who innocently got in on the double birthday celebration.

That wasn't all the birthday celebrating. Mark and Michelle's family came to town from Yakima, Washington, and that called for a celebration!!

We did this once before and everyone loved it, so we did it again. We cut a little brownie for every kid there and stuck a candle in each brownie and sang "Happy Birthday" to everyone regardless of which month they have a birthday.

 Another cause for celebration is we now have a new deck. Hurrah!!

WATCH YOUR STEP OUT THE BACK DOOR!!!!

 This Trex deck and railing will now prevent grandchildren from getting slivers. And another bonus--it is maintenance free!!   

We decided to switch the stairs and have them go down into the yard instead of the side yard.

 So many people and things to celebrate!!

Cause For Celebration

We decided to celebrate the June birthday kids by taking them out to dinner, but Sarah's family was unable to go. Boo! Oh well. We had a great time with the Golden family. Our server was my hairdresser Suzy Duce's son Parker.

A birthday celebration at Texas Roadhouse isn't complete until the birthday people sit on the saddle and receive a loud "YEE HAW!" from everyone in the restaurant. Brooke went first.

Then it was Caroline's turn.

Seated at the table next to us was Dave and Jennifer Young from our ward who innocently got in on the double birthday celebration.

That wasn't all the birthday celebrating. Mark and Michelle's family came to town from Yakima, Washington, and that called for a celebration!!

We did this once before and everyone loved it, so we did it again. We cut a little brownie for every kid there and stuck a candle in each brownie and sang "Happy Birthday" to everyone regardless of which month they have a birthday.

 Another cause for celebration is we now have a new deck. Hurrah!!

WATCH YOUR STEP OUT THE BACK DOOR!!!!

 This Trex deck and railing will now prevent grandchildren from getting slivers. And another bonus--it is maintenance free!!   

We decided to switch the stairs and have them go down into the yard instead of the side yard.

 So many people and things to celebrate!!

Funeral For My Aunt Mary

My Aunt Mary passed away on May 25th. She is my mom's baby sister.

This photo was taken at my Grandpa and Grandma Malan's 50th wedding anniversary celebration.

I just love this picture of Mary's two children Nick and Angie standing next to my little brothers Mark and Andy.

This is another picture I found of Mary with Grandpa Malan. I think it was taken at Maddox.

I used to love to look at the huge, beautifully-framed portrait of Mary when she was young and had her hair styled on top of her head. It was so elegant and one of my favorite things in the upstairs bedroom of Grandpa and Grandma Malan's big white, two-story home on Jackson Avenue in Ogden.

It was nice to see Uncle Lloyd and Aunt Ann. Lloyd looks so much like Grandpa Malan.

Nani and I snapped a photo with Uncle Merlin (Dad's brother) and Aunt Helen.

It was a lovely funeral service for a wonderful woman. Mary was always so vibrant and busy and active and it really made me so sad watching her children and her six young grandchildren knowing how much they are going to miss her.

Lloyd and Mom were feeling a big void in their lives as well with the passing of their youngest sibling.

Glen had wished he could have stayed home from Minnesota to be here for the viewing and the funeral, and I was feeling very sad and lonely as I returned home from the viewing. My friend Diane was outside when I got home and came over to talk to me. She loves flowers and had just picked one from her garden that she was holding as we talked.

I told her all about Mary getting cancer and dying within a year and how sad we all were about how she had suffered. As I turned to go in the house, Diane reached out and gave me the flower she was holding. I can't even express how much that small gesture meant to me and how much I enjoyed looking at that beautiful flower the next few days in my time of mourning.

Glen and I thought it was so random that one day we just happened to be seated at the table right next to Mary, Angie and her family at a restaurant we went to in Centerville. It was fun seeing all of them and I was so glad I was obnoxious and asked if I could take their picture.

I think that was the last time I saw Mary. This is how I want to remember her--surrounded by her loved ones with a smile on her face.