boys in the pool

the little boys love playing with russ in the pool...and they will do it for hours and hours...

10 years

so today was the 10th anniversary of tom's death...before he died he used to tell me...it won't be so long before we're together...and i'd say...yeah, only 40-50 years...so, it's whittling down...not that i'm ready to go...but, i do miss tom...he was a great man, a great husband, wonderful father, son etc. etc...tom would be turning 53 tomorrow...in my retrospect of the last 10 years...my kids have all graduated from high school, 3 from college (kerry's still at it), 2 with graduate degrees. (russ is starting his)...we've added a few people to our family...a daughter and son in law (they both have graduated, jeff as an attorney)...almost 6 grandbabies....our family has doubled in size! i think he is proud of all of them...i know that i am proud of all of them....they have turned out fantastic...and now we have this new generation to watch and be entertained by.... we've had alot of adventures...alot of fun times together...we've had fun traveling...working hard...enjoying our lives...i think that's one thing that i learned from tom dying so young...you have to enjoy what you're doing...you have to be thankful for the life you have...be grateful for everyday....life's an amazing thing..it's not always easy...it's not always fun....but, every day is worth living...tom loved life..he worked hard and he played hard....he loved going to work everyday, he loved working with his dad and brother...he loved to golf, play tennis, run, bike...he enjoyed every minute...that's what we have to all remember...one of my favorite sayings is 'live, love, laugh'....that's what we need to be doing every single day....thanks tom for being my love...

happy 4th everyone!

we are so lucky and blessed to live in this great country...i'm the first one to love going to another country to see the sites...but, there is no better place than the 'good old USA'....i love our flag, i love all the patriotic songs, i love seeing fireworks in red, white and blue...the 4th is a wonderful time....we can remember all those that went before us...that made this country what it is today...my flag is flying in salute to our wonderful America!

kelly and abba!

last night for kelly's b-day...we went to the "abba" concert at the hollywood bowl...no, abba has not gotten back together...this was a cover group...but, they thought they were abba...they had the exact costumes, dances everything...it was alot of fun...you can't beat abba's fun songs...they had everyone going....even sweet charlie...i think she was the youngest person there!

kel's b-day!

a few years ago...not too many, mind you....i was blessed to have my first baby...she was and is a joy to me...one of my best friends...she has grown up to be a beautiful woman ...kelly is gorgeous, fun, nice, smart, hardworking, creative...she's a great wife and wonderful mother...i'm so proud of her...i want to wish her the happiest of birthdays...love you and can't wait to celebrate tonight...

birthday....still

tonight lauren with some of my help threw russ a surprise birthday party...it was at sycamore beach...to get him there...randy asked him to ride to the beach...then, when they got there, we yelled 'surprise'...it was a fun party with fun friends...lauren did a good job with the party, she brought games to play...decorated...set up chairs, got the fire going...it was alot of fun...stay tuned for tomorrows birthday...it's kelly!

Happy 24 Russ!

Happy Happy Birthday to Russ....on his 24th birthday...where did the years go? He gave himself a birthday gift...a new look!

silly girls

silly girls and their funny pictures
at ty and melanie's wedding!

what a wedding!

we had a great weekend away..it was ty and melanie's wedding..a fun time to be with the despain's...the wedding day turned out beautiful, after days of 'june gloom', the sun decided to shine on their day...the wedding was really fun...every detail was perfect...they looked really happy...fun to be there and to see everyone

legoland

we went to legoland on friday...
the boys loved it..
not quite disneyland,
but, then what is?
we had a fun day together...
seeing all the fun things
they have made with legos....

my hat's off to you!

my hat's off to all of you young mothers...the ones that are up all night with a crying baby, playing with their little kids, cooking, cleaning, trying to have a spare moment to yourselves...my hats off to you! i'm proud of all of you...you want to do it all...you want to be the mommy, the bread winner, the athlete, the cook, whatever..it's a hard job and you do it well..just know that my hat's off to you! stay strong...the days are long, sometimes the nights are longer, but just know that one day those little babies will be grown up and off on their own adventures...so enjoy the moments of the sweet smelling baby, a grubby little hand, a kiss on a cheek, or a soft 'i love you'...those little babies grow up so fast...and then you'll be wishing that they were still with you...as the mother of fantastic kids (i did bring them up, right?) i have been there and know what's in your heart...so, i want you to know...my hat's off to you...for all that you do!

cute kids

aren't these just the cutest kids? i'm a bit biased of course! these are just scenes from the golf tournament back in april....

old photos

found these old photos today...sort of fun...

bagley cousins around 1966? love marty's curlers!
5th grade class

jo and kathy in san fran 1971

mom, mare and jo 1969..love mom's windblown look!

tee, mom and jo in kitchen

me at 17

mother's

my favorite...lilacs

This weekend is Mother's Day,and I can't give you all a bouquet of beautiful flowers.... so I thought a few quotes about moms was appropriate...moms are wonderful women...my mom in particular was an amazing women...my goal in life has always been to be just like her when I grow up...hopefully, I'll make it someday! So enjoy these quotes...some are sweet, some are funny...hope they make your day!!!


Some are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together. Pearl S. Buck

"Heaven is at the feet of Mothers." -Arabic Proverb

Food, love, career, and mothers, the four major guilt groups. Cathy Guisewite

A little boy forgot his lines in a Sunday school presentation. His mother was in the front row to prompt him. She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it did not help. Her son's memory was blank. Finally, she leaned forward and whispered the cue, "I am the light of the world." The child beamed and with great feeling and a loud clear voice said, "My mother is the light of the world." - Bits and Pieces, 1989

Good mothers know that their relationship with each of their children
is like a movable feast, constantly changing and evolving. Sue Woodman

I can't think why mothers love them. All babies do is leak at both ends. Douglas Feaver

Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. ~Charles R. Swindoll



Now the thing about having a baby - and I can't be the first person to have noticed this - is that thereafter you have it. ~Jean Kerr

There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it. ~Chinese Proverb

"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." - David O. McKay



"The hand that rocks the cradle usually is attached to someone who isn't getting enough sleep."- John Fiebig

"I'd like to be the ideal mother, but I'm too busy raising my kids."- Unknown

God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers. Rudyard Kipling

The mother of three notoriously unruly youngsters was asked whether or not she'd have children if she had it to do over again. "Yes," she replied. "But not the same ones."- David Finkelstein

A teacher gave her class of second graders a lesson on the magnet and what it does. The next day in a written test, she included this question: "My full name has six letters. The first one is M. I pick up things. What am I?" When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to find that almost 50 percent of the students answered the question with the word Mother- Unknown

“No gift to your mother can ever equal her gift to you - life”

someone new

today we got a special present! kelly and jeff had their baby girl...she was 7 lbs 4 oz and 19 inches long...what a pretty girl...looks like her brothers, but has alot more hair that looks blond! the only thing she's lacking is a name...maybe tomorrow...so glad she made it safe and sound...mom and daughter are doing great...