50th Celebration

Our family celebrated Mom and Dad....aka...Grammy and Grampy's 50th Wedding anniversary this past weekend. 

It was such a wonderful night.  Mom and Dad didn't want too much of a fuss, so we obliged them this request.  We didn't hire a band or rent out any fancy/schmancy facility and we didn't invited 1000 people.  We did invite our family and their closest friends and business associates and we had enough food for all to enjoy.

We highlighted the night with a slide show of 50 years to togetherness.  This was a lot of fun to put together!  As I scanned image after image of my parents and our family growing up, I was flooded with all sorts of memories.  It was definitely a blast from the past!

(Yes, that is me!)

Our family up in Yosemite...a long time ago!!

(ALL the grandkids!)

The evening was a success and I think we all enjoyed seeing so many family and friends from our past.  We also played a fun game where we learned that Grammy and Grampy still remember with fondness their courtship days.  We each expressed our love to these wonderful people in a notebook that is as unique as each individual cousin and family. 

For me, it was a night to remember.  I loved seeing all the people come and give my parents a huge hug and express the respect they felt.  I enjoyed opening up our home for such a wonderful celebration.  I couldn't have done it without my family....all the behind the scene work that goes un-noticed.  It was worth the effort.  Watching my parents enjoy such an evening was a treasure to me.

They are great examples and are going to be hard to follow in their footsteps.  We will try!!

Beginner's Luck

This whole "extreme couponing" craze has me intrigued.  No, I haven't watched the show.  But putting in a little time/effort to save money is never a bad thing.  I'm not so converted to the whole "stashing" 100 of something you will never go thru.  But... stalking up on basics as a minimal cost....well....I'm pretty sure we've been admonished to do this FOREVER!!  So, I decided to try my hand.  I went to a website that I had been watching, looked at their tips and then went to Walgreens.  Here is what I came home with - keep in mind...I'm starting small!!

The trick is learning how to use "Register Rewards" and becoming brand friendly.  I figured there is about $35 worth of product here.
My total after store, manufacture and Register Rewards?
Brace yourself.........

$2.22
That's right.  For about 1 hour of my time....I made around $30.  And if I don't like the BAN deodorant....I can throw it knowing I only spent $. 34 on each one.
NOT BAD...(for a beginner!!)

50 years and counting

Today marks the 50th anniversary of my parents' wedding.  That deserves a special blog.  We are celebrating this special day family style next week.  But we gave them one present early, while Pam was here.

I found some quotes from conference that describe my parent's marriage.  They have always strived to make their family happy, watching over their girls and now their families with love and devotion.  Dallin Oaks said: 
"A good marriage does not require a perfect man or a perfect woman. It only requires a man and a woman committed to strive together toward perfection." 
These two people are not quite perfect.  But they love their family, and each other.  A very long time ago, this wonderful couple met, fell in love, and started an eternal marriage.

(right after Dad/Grampy got off his mission in 1961)

They were quite the dancers back then....

Still dancing...and enjoying each other!

In the last LDS conference, Richard G. Scott spoke on the eternal blessings of marriage.  When I think of my mom and dad, these words resonate within my heart:

"The temple sealing has greater meaning as life unfolds. It will help you draw ever closer together and find greater joy and fulfillment in mortality.....You have times when you are extremely happy, times of testing, and times of trial, but the Lord guides you through all of those growth experiences together."

My parents have had all these types of experiences.  Through everything, their faith has held strong, their example has been a light to others, and always, always...their family has felt their unconditional love.  They are two of my favorite people in the whole world and today, I want them to know how much I love them!!

Happy 50th Anniversary!

Mom and Dad..aka..Grammy and Grampy

PINK....#2!!

I woke up this morning and as I dressed, I thought I would wear my new pink polo.  Maybe it was a premonition!  Why do I love pink??  Remember THIS post??  A few of my favorite PINK things include:

Yep....another little grand-daughter is coming!  Two of these precious angels around us!
Tyler and Jenny are expecting their 2nd daughter at the beginning of November.  It will be a great way to start the holidays!!

JADE!! (take #2)

2nd Post - AFTER Jacque has done her editing. 

I was so excited to post these pictures, I didn't let Jacque work her magic! 

Enjoy!!

How this little munchkin is growing!!  After many attempts, Jade had some new pictures taken.  I was only going to post my favorites.  I counted and there were over 25 that I absolutely loved.  I cannot believe how expressive this little one is!!  It fits the great big personality squeezed into this beautiful little body!

Now...THAT should bring a smile to your face!!