Tis the Season to be Jolly

what a busy month! that's about all i can say...i thought i was on top of things...
that was the first week...
the second, russ had surgery, no problems, but it set me back a bit....
the third i got sick...and from them on, chaos!! so our cards are just being sent out...
hopefully, they will arrive BEFORE, but if not, here's a preview...we hope you have a wonderful
holiday season and a very happy new year...in all the craziness, stop and take a breath...remember
what you're celebrating and why...everything will get done, it always does...and if not, no worries...
just have a fantastic christmas celebration...all our love to you...

my grandma...

it was my grandma's 119 birthday on dec. 1st...my sister wrote this beautiful blog about her...i'm so proud of my heritage and the strong people that came before me...thanks, marty for reminding me...

guess who?

guess who came to visit us????

2 weeks that flew by!

the last two weeks have gone by sooooo fast...where to begin? two weeks ago was the wedding week...kerry was home on monday for ashley's wedding...everyday more people arrived..we ended up with around 15 staying with us....it was fun..the girls had a sleepover wednesday...then, thursday we had a fun get together with all the out of towners...friday was the wedding...beautiful bride, handsome groom...all you could ask for...the reception was alot of fun...on sunday, we flew up to slc for thanksgiving week...landed in a snowstorm...monday was gorgeous with snow and blue, blue skies...we had a fun pizza party where jas and whit made us homemade pizza...delicious....had a fantastic thanksgiving at polly's house with her family...had tom and julie for dessert with their kids...the kids have snowboarded...we shopped...we ate...we've had a fantastic time....kelly and i took the kids to see the lights on temple square...they are always so beautiful..a great 2 weeks!!

i'm thankful...

what are you thankful for? i'm thankful for this beautiful blue, crisp morning...to be in salt lake with my family (minus one family), to have such a wonderful life, to live in this great country...i'm so grateful for all that i have...i'm so lucky...my kids are the greatest...they bring me joy in so many different ways...i have 6 wonderful little grandchildren...they are so cute and fun....i love being around them...plus, i have great a great brother, sisters and their wonderful families...and then my many friends in my life...so, as you see, i have many, many things to be grateful for...what about you? count your blessings...everyday!

power of positive thinking....OR don't worry...be happy!

The future is literally in our hands to mold as we like. But we cannot wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow is now.

Eleanor Roosevelt

this post by my daughter, kelly, this morning really lifted my spirits...reading uplifting thoughts always does this for me...so, why don't we just always think positively? unfortunately in life we have our ups and downs...but, that should make us love the ups, even more.if you really want help being positive read the book by norman vincent peale "the power of positive thinking"...that was one of my dad's favorite books so i grew up hearing about it and i know it has a great message....so get out there...try something new! be happy!! meet a new friend...smile to the store clerk...leave a tip for a waitress...make someone else's day a great day...and then you will find that YOUR day is even better...enjoy life...don't let people get you down...the only way to get the most out of life is to live it to the fullest...and if you get down, which will happen eventually...read some happy thoughts and go out and start over...positive and negative thinking are both contagious...which do you want to be?..be a happy person and people will want to be with you...we gravitate towards happiness..be thankful for the day and that it's a clean slate...you can do anything today...you can conquer the world!!! so get going!!

If you are not using your smile, you're like someone with a million dollars in the bank and no check book.

Les Giblin

I cannot always control what goes on outside. But I can always control what goes on inside.

Wayne Dyer

Joy increases as you give it, and diminishes as you try to keep it for yourself. In giving it, you will accumulate a deposit of joy greater than you ever believed possible.

Norman Vincent Peale

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain.

Author Unknown

Look at your past. Your past has determined where you are at this moment. What you do today will determine where you are tomorrow. Are you moving forward or standing still?

Tom Hopkins

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.

Mother Theresa

If you see a friend without a smile; give them one of yours.

Author Unknown

Happiness adds and multiplies as you divide it with others.

Leap

Have a Great Day!!!!

shower for ash

we had a fun day today! a shower for ashley! Ash is Kerry's oldest and best friend...she is another daughter to me...we've had wonderful times with her through the years...so we had a special day for her because she's marrying her sweetheart, Jake in 2 weeks...it's fun to see her so happy and excited...we had alot of fun with friends today and in a few weeks it will be more fun to see them united forever...congrats Ash!!! love you....

my mom

cute mom
june
mom and dad, my brother tom and me
my mom was the best mom ever...i'm so lucky that she brought me up and taught me wonderful things...it's been 12 years since she passed away and i've missed her daily...she was one of my morning calls...i told tom when we moved to california that i was going to be calling my mom, alot! and i did (that was when long distance cost alot).....she was my champion...she gave me great advice, she taught me how to clean, cook, tried to teach me to sew...she gave me a love of beautiful things..she was also a really beautiful woman, but would have been embarrassed if you said that and she was so much fun, she loved to hear my dad's jokes...she was a very talented person but had so much humility..... my mom taught me what it was to love...i know that she loved me with all her heart...i just hope that i have done the same for my kids...my mom gave me a great legacy...one that i'm so proud to be apart of...and hopefully, it will be passed on to my kids, grandkids etc...thanks mom...you're the greatest!

a whirling weekend!

i've been in slc for a quick weekend...it went whirrrrrling by....i came up for my nephew benji's wedding to his cute rachel...we had a dinner at the lion house on friday night..a delicious feast...then, on saturday at noon they were married in the draper temple...it was really nice, they seemed so happy...that night was a fun reception at a great place called cactus and tropicals...fun to see family...cousins, aunts, sisters, brothers...etc.etc...a really nice time...and i had willie, kelly and their kids here also...so, a bit crazy...but, fun...sunday night we had a birthday party for clayton and nathan at their mom and dad's with alot of our n.p friends...it's always great to get together...we need that, so we can all stay close...today, kathie, danece, her mom, gayle and i went to lunch...and then kerry and i went to dinner with our best buds, taryn and justin, whitney and jason...so it's been alot of fun...and alot of eating! the weather has been gorgeous fall weather...although tonight sounds like a storm's a brewin'...just in time for halloween!!! so, home to sunny california tomorrow!!!

fall fun

it's been a week of fun...goings and comings...busy busy...kelly and willie came last saturday...on sunday we drove down to kelly and jeff's for charlie's baby blessing...and gavin's first primary program...both were wonderful...plus, it was fun for the cousins to all be together...then, later in the afternoon, we went to the disneyland hotel where we stayed overnight in preparation for our big day at disneyland...what a fun day for the kids...we went to california adventure...they love 'a bug's land', toy story...we had lunch with all the princesses...kate was thrilled...then we went over to disneyland...rode pirates, nemo, a small world, matterhorn, space mountain..it was a fun, fun day...there is alot going on with kids that are 4,3,2,1 and 5 months and 3 months...all the parents are busy keeping an eye out for a runaway...a crying baby or whatever...but, watching the joy in their faces is so much fun...on tuesday after a much need looooonnng sleep...my feet really hurt on tuesday...we (adults) went to a dinner at pepperdine to honor terry and sharon, my in laws...it was really nice, kelly lewis gave a wonderful toast in their honor...the only glitch, was terry wasn't able to be there...while getting dressed he suffered a bout of vertigo and was so dizzy he couldn't stand up...so only sharon was there, the evening turned out lovely, though...this morning, kelly and willie, with russ' help had pictures on the beach with the kids and then tonight it was back to disneyland for them (not me), for a night of trick or treating with the cousins, of course....tomorrow, we're going to slc for cousin benji's wedding on saturday.....the fun never stops!!!

little joey

having a pet means you give your heart to them in so many ways...they are so loyal and trusting...fun and exasperating...and for all the naughty things they do, they give you their hearts forever...my friend kathy lost her little 'joey' yesterday...you can read about him on taryn's blog...i've always said that if my 2 dogs were children, they would be the terrors of the neighborhood...because they misbehave so much...but, for all that, i will be so sad when they grow old and pass on...i remember when my childhood dog died, my parents were afraid to tell me...and they were right, when i found out, i fell apart...and i was engaged then...it's just hard to lose someone you love...so my thoughts are with you kath...

love...until the end of time

taken nov '08 before the last 2 babies
my sister polly wrote a beautiful post about loving her kids today...it made me think of my own kids...i love them so much and i'm sure i don't tell them enough...in one of my favorite movies 'moulin rouge'...the song 'come what may' they say...'i love you until the end of time'...which is what i love my children...i was told once that my family would be the light of my life...they are truly that....my own children, my in-law children...and especially my grandchildren...they are what makes me get up in the morning....when we are together we have such a fun time...they are fun kids to be with...right now, it can get a bit crazy with all the babies...but, at least we're not out numbered yet! i love it when kate and gavin run to each other and hug....hopefully, they will always do that and feel that love...yes, i'm so blessed to have my fantastic family...so, thanks for 'lighting up my life'...

brrrr...it's cold there!

kate and kelly
jo and lexie
tommy and willie
over the weekend i flew to denver to see the babies that live there...after a delay (of course) at the airport we took off...i fell asleep and woke up to the clearest view of the grand canyon...it was fantastic....not a cloud...you could see right down the canyon...pretty cool...kate and willie picked me up...it was fun to be with the kids...they have all grown so much...especially lexie...she's now 2 months old...she's getting to the plump stage where they feel so good to hold...she's smiling at everyone....really likes to watch people...which is good because she has kate who wants to kiss her all the time...and little tommy who's not really sure if he is liking her yet...but, he's a happy little boy who just wants to vacuum...that's his favorite word...he walks around all day saying 'vacuum', 'vacuum' and is so happy when he gets to...kate is very much 'in charge'....she is a good helper...loves to play games, loves all princesses...she's very much a little girl...loves her makeup etc...willie and kelly are non-stop motion with those kids...on sunday, willie 'blessed' little lexie and then we got to see the primary program...kate did such a great job...she said her part perfectly...other than the fact that it snowed and was the coldest weekend in about 100 years for that date... it was a short, but fun trip...and next week they are coming here...

goings on....

thanks to kel for the pics

goings on...is that a word? probably not..this last week has been pretty busy....kelly came up with the kids...always fun and crazy...those boys...they are really fun to be with...and they are pretty crazy...it's fun to have conversations with them..gavin has alot to say...he's interested in everything...both boys love to be with uncle russ.....owen is a little hard to understand since he talks with his paci in his mouth...and poor little guy...he's been stung 3 times this summer, out in the yard..lucky he's not allergic...charlie is getting big, smiling, so cute...her hair is still so long and out of control...almost 5 months..fun to watch her new tricks!

onto bowling on wednesday...my favorite day...not that i bowl well enough to be happy about it...but, we have such a fun time together...

thursday was our temple day...busy, busy, then r.s at night...a fun wedding with great friends on friday...more relief society on saturday.. that was such a great meeting....then i spoke in church today.and that's a huge relief to have over....so, it's been pretty busy this week...which is good...so onward and upward...another week starting...nothing unusual...but keeping me busy....

another one for my sis

i was going to write a new post tonight...but, i read my sister's and decided that you all you should it too...she's also a much better writer....but, i loved it, especially since it was about my dad and how positive he was...he was one of my heroes....i'm so lucky he was my dad...he used to 'lecture' us at night...and we usually didn't want to hear it...but, it was always what we needed to hear...when tom was sick he would call me and tell me ways to think positive about life...it was such a great help...so enjoy my sister's great post...

my big sis

happy wedding day...tom, polly, jo, marty and dee
marty with the huge eyes
dad, jo, marty and gabi
marty and jo

tomorrow is the big day! it's my oldest sister's 60th birthday!!! happy, happy birthday marty....your're the greatest....you've always been there for me...i've always been able to learn from your examples....be it watching you fight with mom and dad...or being a fantastic mother to your kids....to your torturing me as a child....to you being such a great grandmother...i'm glad i have such a sister that i can turn to whenever it's needed...i love our late night chats...it's great to be able to 'vent' if needed...or just hear a funny story...thanks for being my big sister...even if you gave me a complex....made me think i had an orange head all my life....i don't...do i? all kidding aside...you're the greatest sister anyone could have...you are so talented...you can do anything you set your mind to...your'e a fantastic wife and mother...you give great advice...you're a great friend...i'm so lucky to have you as my sister... love you.....

home again

well, we made it back home...a pretty uneventful flight...until we got to atlanta...i'm banning the atlanta airport from my life! because of a storm we circled for 1/2 hour...then had to go through customs...took over an hour...then you have to find your luggage, show that, recheck it...well, after all that, we missed our flight....bummer....so, we try to rebook it...they mumble and groan a bit...finally we get on a flight...the guy takes our old tickets, which had our baggage tags on them...that's important for later...then, as we're walking to our gate, shannon says 'we're on a 9:30 flight?" and we say no, we're on the 5:30 flight...well, shannon wasn't...so then, we get to the gate and after waiting for about 1/2 hour we talk to the lady...after a while she finally says....i'll put her on the flight with you since you're all traveling together! wow! thanks...anyway, the flight was half empty because everyone else missed their flights...then, we got to l.a...and guess what? no bag for shannon! and we had no bag tags...what a pain! anyway it finally all got sorted out and we finally got home about 5 hours late.....been recovering ever since! it was a fantastic time, one we'll always remember...now....on to slc!

eagles nest

today was our last day of a fantastic trip...we got up to our only rainy day...off we went to the eagle's nest...that is hitler's conference room that is on top of a mountain....it was a really pretty drive up the mountain...only it was foggy from the rain...hitler was given this chalet in 1938 for his 50th birthday....it's a conference room, a tea room and a restaurant...he only came a few times because he didn't like heights...when the weather is good you can see to salzburg...after seeing the eagles nest, we went to berchtesgaden....it's a beautiful little city in germany...afterwards we came back to salzburg and packed up for our train to munich...so, now we're in munich ready to fly home tomorrow..

the hills are alive....

here we are in beautiful salzburg...today we took the 'sound of music' tour...what a fun way to see the city...we saw all the spots where they made the movie...we saw where they filmed the front of the villa, the back of the villa and lake, the gazebo, the church where they got married...it's really fun to see all these places...we drove up to the lake country where the church is that they got married...our tour guide was a pretty funny guy that acted out scenes of the movie for us...then we listened to the soundtrack...pretty fun...the city of salzburg is so beautiful...it's got such fantastic buildings...after our tour we shopped around..found some fun stores, had lunch...it was a great day...the hotel we're staying at is called the sacher hotel and serves the famous sacher torte chocolate cake...a tasty way to end the afternoon...

the adriatic

yesterday nena and stojan drove us down to koper and then pirana...these are 2 little towns on the adriatic...they are so beautiful...they are redoing an 800 year old house in koper to live in...it will be so lovely when it's done..then, we went on to pirana...what a gorgeous place...and my favorite thing to do...be at the beach..we enjoyed the day in the sun, swimming in the sea, just lazying around...it is just so pretty...and what a perfect day..it was hot, blue, the water was perfect..not too many tourists...after having lunch we drove back to ljubljana to meet our van that drove us to salzburg! stojan and nena were the perfect hosts...they took care of everything and made our stay so lovely...thanks so much!

ljubljana, slovenia

today we took a side trip...it was an adventure added into the trip while we were here...we are in ljubljana, slovenia...since i've been gone, i was contacted by an old friend of mine...her husband played tennis with mine on the university of utah tennis team...they came to visit us in the states back in 1988...we haven't seen each other since...she asked if we would like to come visit them and we decided that we would...slovenia is a gorgeous country...it's small, surrounded by alps...has lots of forests etc...we were told that you can drive to the mountains or the sea in 1 1/2 hours...so tomorrow we're going to the sea...slovenia is part of what used to be yugoslavia....it was broken up in 1991...that's when croatia, bosnia, serbia etc were all formed...we were picked up at the airport and taken to our hotel...very nice place...then we went to their house where we had a delicious lunch....after lunch we went to see the town..it's a very pretty city...the first stop was the mormon church...the building was built just about a year ago...we chatted with some missionaries...fun to see...next we went into the city and saw all the beautiful buildings...the castle...later this evening all had dessert at a little cafe...a really nice day...

cesky krumlov

today we took a drive south through the countryside...we drove for 2 1/2 hours to see the town of cesky krumlov..it's a really pretty little town...it's the typical town with a moat type of thing...the river surrounds the town, i'm sure in the old days, the bridges were probably draw bridges...it's really pretty...windy streets, you just wander until you reach the square where the old church is...then further up the hill is the castle...from the castle walls you get a really gorgeous view of the city and hills surrounding...it's so green and lush...we've had gorgeous hot weather also...so today we just wandered around, saw the castle, the town, the parks, the river...a very relaxing day....

discovering prague

today we were on our own for a day of discovery...we walked over to the old town...looking for shops and experiences...in the main square there was a jewish folk festival..in honor of gollem...sort of a creepy looking guy they have stories about...we saw these rolls that reminded me of the sticks wayne gave us a few years ago...they were delicious...then, we went off down all the different streets...we went into the jewish quarter..went to the oldest synagogue...inside there are thousands of names of families killed in the concentration camps...so sobering...then, we saw pictures drawn by little children that were in the camps...really heartbreaking...we then went into the cemetary...alot of headstones! unreal...the jews had to live in this area for more than a 100 years, so they only had a little space for the cemetary, that's why they are buried on top of each other....we then walked to the new city...it's really not that new...maybe built in the 1700's....shopped around...caught a tram which was free since we didn't know where to pay....we were going to the charles bridge, went over the other bridge and then got off and walked back...on the way we saw these odd statues of people with really weird faces....the charles bridge is a romantic bridge...unless you're with 2 girls and you're the mother....and if they weren't reconstructing it...so, it was nice but not the experience everyone tells you about...we finished off the day at the hotel restaurant which is supposed to be the finest in the city...very nice, we felt like we were the judges on top chef...everything was a little different...a fun experience...so more adventures tomorrow....

what a beautiful city!

we got up early this morning and drove through the rain to the airport...where we got on a pretty tiny little plane...i had thought of joking and saying' that's our plane', and then it really was...kerry's face was hysterical...it was a prop type plane..plus, luckily we checked in early, because it was supposed to leave at 8:55 am, but, we really left at 8:35 am...interesting...so, we got to prague...it is really gorgeous..i really think it's so beautiful...all the buildings are interesting and just really pretty..it's an easy city to walk around also..we found that out when we took a tour this afternoon...we went with a tour guide...she had sooooooooo much information...you'd almost fall asleep and then when you came too, she was on the same story...but, she was just doing her job...the girls were a few paces behind, missing most of it...we saw some fantastic sights though...the astronomical clock..it tells the month, horoscope sign etc...we saw the best preserved Jewish area in europe...the castle, changing of the guards...shannon saw a lady washing her teeth in the sink in the bathroom...we saw the oldest synagogue, we saw a statue to kafka, we had hot chocolate that tasted like a melted chocolate bar, the jewish graveyard where the people are buried at least 12 on top of each other, the square where the communist revolution started...and a lot of beautiful scenery...i'll tell you, i was exhausted after 4 hours...so we came back to the hotel and immediately all fell asleep...so, tomorrow, more of this beautiful city...

shopping!

today there aren't many pictures...we were too busy shopping! of course, we had bigger plans, we were planning to go to the thermal baths...but the sun wasn't shining...so we walked down the shopping street and found alot of fun stuff...after our long walk home...we all had a great spa treatment...what a great way to end the day...so tomorrow...on to prague...

buda and pest

i might have mentioned that budapest is actually 2 cities on the danube river...today we went on a tour of it...beautiful! we saw all of the 'hot spots'...the castle hill, the parliment, the synagogue, american embassy, we went to their biggest market which is huge and has tons of foods, goods, restaurants...we saw the small little cars that they used to wait 7 years for...after paying for the whole thing...and of course, you couldn't pick the color! we rode the funicular, saw the beautiful cathedral, the tiles on the roofs are so pretty...alot of the buildings have still not been fixed since the occupation by russia, and before that ww2...amazing to still see buildings that have bullet holes in them...budapest has had alot of people fighting over it for a 1000 years...they were part of the Austria-Hungarian empire...and because of that, ended up on the wrong side during both ww wars...because of that, they lost alot of their borders, so the country is not as big as it once was...at the end of the day we went to a fun folk art show...they had people showing how the old crafts were made...very fun to see everyone dressed up in their great outfits...what a fun day!

budapest

we're in budapest, hungary! we flew out of berlin early this morning..i had an interesting thing happen...i had an allergic reaction to something i ate...at least i think that's what it was...i'm allergic to hazlenuts which is in everything over here...and i'm wondering if that what it was...on the way to the airport, i started getting all tingly, then my skin broke out in a splotchy rash...i looked like i'd been sunburned really bad...i was hot...it was weird...i took a benadryl...then, after about an hour it went away...but, have been feeling sort of bad all day...kerry also hasn't been feeling so good..as a result, we're taking it sort of easy....so we got to the hotel...very pretty, on the danube river.we are on the pest side...budapest is really 2 cities connected by the river....we walked around a bit...it's really hot here..surprisingly..it's st. stephens day...a big holiday...we saw a jet show....lots and lots of people...tomorrow we'll see the city...so more later...

day in berlin

today we got up pretty late...then we walked over to the jewish holocaust museum...it's alot of squares called stelae that look sort of like a coffin shape...they are all different heights...pretty amazing looking...then we walked over to the brandenburg gate...it was behind the wall in east germany and the east germans changed the sculpure to be facing east instead of west...we took a bus tour around the city, saw parts of the old wall...check point charlie, where i actually got to go through about 33 years ago during my first trip to europe...back then it was still east germany...berlin is a beautiful city...so much history..pretty amazing...after our tour we walked back and went through the museum...pretty sobering to read about all the people that died...they had letters written to families...so sad to think of those people and the terrible things that happened to them.....it's a gorgeous blue sky today...we are so lucky to be here in this fantastic city...

berlin

yesterday barbara and i drove to berlin from wolfsburg...it's about a 2 hour drive...most of it is in the former east germany...barbara showed me the old border that still has the old guard towers...it's an amazing sight...then we drove to the airport...realized the girls were coming into the other airport...so we drove to the hotel, the girls grabbed a taxi...we met up at the adlon hotel...a beautiful hotel right in front of the brandenburg gate...guess it's the hotel that m.j. dangled 'blanket' off the balcony...so after getting settled, barbara took us to the ka de we...it's the biggest department store in europe...alot like harrods...has everything...barbara even found some ranch dressing...which we all know is impossible to find in europe...after lunch we went shopping and barbara had to start her drive home :( it was so fun to be with her! the girls and i walked around town...in front of our hotel is the berlin games...which are going on this week..they have booths, concerts etc. going on all day...pretty fun...it was fun to be with shannon and kerry and hear all about their trip..more later...