and....they're off!!

august always brings that day when the kids go back to school...in my case they drive off to college and leave me behind...it's always a sad day in my house...summers are always so fun...easy...exciting...full of fun..they go way too fast..i always have a hard time when they leave.....she's going away for her second year and moving to slc...so, today kerry and russ drove off...her car was packed...they were ready to go and WHAT? the car didn't start...the battery that was supposed to be replaced, didn't quite get there...lucky we live on a hill and lucky her car is a stick...so, after a short pause...they were off! they are driving up to zion's national park to meet up with big bro, willie...they are doing some hiking and rock climbing...a trip that russ and willie planned and then were sweet to include kerry...so, that will be a fun time for them...a last adventure before the year starts...as for me...kelly and i will have our own adventure when we drive up to utah on monday...

some happy thoughts for the day

HAPPINESS

"A good laugh is sunshine in the house." -- William Makepeace Thackeray"

Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it." -- William Feather

"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts…take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature."

-- Marcus Aurelius

"Will and I could hardly wait for the morning to come to get at something that interested us. That's happiness." -- Orville Wright

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open.

--John Barrymore

"Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life."
--Burton Hills

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."
--Helen Keller

"People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be."
--Abraham Lincoln

"Good humor is one of the best articles of dress one can wear in society."
--William Makepeace Thackeray

"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up."
--Mark Twain

congrats

did you hear the news?

this darling girl is engaged to a sweet, handsome guy, named jason! i'm so happy for both of you...what a great couple you make...enjoy this time...love you...

it's birthday time

august is the end of my summer birthdays...they start in june with russ and kelly, then there is jeff, then we have willie and kerry in august...the rest of the family is scattered during the year...but for 6 weeks, we seem to have birthdays galore!

willie celebrated at our house with a little help from kate

so lucky me...this year willie and kelly and their 2 darling babies were here to celebrate his 28th birthday!! what fun...it's sad as your kids get older and you're not always with them for that special day...willie has always been a sweetheart...he is kind, generous, loving, fun, just an outstanding person...i so admire what he has grown up to be...what a lucky person i am to have him as my son.....

kerry had a barbecue and swim party with alot of her friends


yesterday, it was my baby's birthday...kerry turned 19!! how can that be? it seems like yesterday she was 5...we had a fun party with her friends, she went to the beach on a gorgeous day...it was a very nice day for her...and she deserves it...kerry is my buddy...she's been here, alone with me for many years...i love to be with kerry, she can make me laugh, i love to hear what she's thinking...she is so talented...she is artistic, crafty, fun to be around, a great friend, loyal, loving...i love to see how she has grown and changed...just this last year, being away in college, she has turned into a beautiful person....


russ was celebrating at machu picchu

in june we celebrated russ' 23rd birthday, it was a special birthday spent at machu picchu...the hotel even made him a cake...russ is the big strong silent type...but he can be very funny when he wants to be...he is so very kind...he doesn't like to hurt others...he is athletic, smart and very loving...he is hardworking, just graduated from the u of u...he is a good artist, loves fishing and many, many sports...

kel went to disneyland with her family

kelly turned the BIG 30 in june also....so, what does that make me? old! but, she's a very beautiful, classy 30 year old...she has accomplished so much in her life...she has always been a go getter...she has a million things going at once...she is also very talented with sewing, making quilts, art work, jewelry making...plus she is chasing her 2 darling boys...i'm amazed at all that she does...she gets more done in one day than i do in a month! she's a great entrepreneur and i know she will make her mark in the world...

jeff, kelly and kerry went to see coldplay for his day


jeff turned 33 in july..he is a great son in law...he is working hard at making his law firm a success...he is always learning new things..he loves sports, any and all...biking, snowboarding, surfing, whatever...he never stops moving, it seems...he loves music, plays different instruments, he is smart and fun to be around....plus, he shares those 2 cute boys...

so, as you see...i'm a very lucky mom, with a fantastic family! and that's only half of us!