my little family

my babies

i started off with just tom...and then we grew and added kelly, willie, russell and kerry....and through the years we've grown some more....well, it's happening again!  in 2 weeks we will be adding austin to our family!  what a fun day that will be...my youngest child is getting married...it's a bittersweet moment...i'm so happy that she found austin...but, it's sad to know that she's leaving me...but, i am so very, very happy for her!  she just sparkles these days...she is so happy!  so, from 2 to 10...and then some, because i have 6 wonderful grandchildren....and more to come, i hope!! so, i guess that's the gift i get for giving my children away....i get the grandchildren..that's a pretty good pay off....it's just funny, when i think about it...i lived in a fantasyland when i got married...i never thought my children would grow up and leave...so, it was a shock when they did....now the issue is staying close with my kids...it gets harder as they leave school and start working...as they have children...as they get established in their lives...everyone has responsibilities...playtime is over...it gets harder and harder to be together...so, i'm thrilled when we have a reason to be together for a few days...it's fun to reconnect as a family...i hope we can always be close as they were when they were young!!!

 i hope that my kids want to be together...instead of our small little family...one big happy one!

the family at russ and kristen's wedding, last summer

home movies

tonight russ and kristen decided to watch our old home movies....hope she wants to stay in the family after watching those!  but, i loved it....seeing my babies again...the one we were watching started when kerry was 3 months, russ 4, willie 9, and kelly was 11....so much fun to see them jumping around, crawling, riding their bikes, birthdays, a little attitude and alot of silliness...i miss those days!!  it was great to see my dad playing the piano and both he and my mom singing the old family songs...and tom being the funny guy i married...so glad to have those memories...only a few more tapes...and hours and hours to watch...where did russ and kristen go???

gratitude

i loved pres. monson's talk on gratitude today during conference...made me start thinking how many things i'm grateful for...i have so much in m life...i've had such a wonderful life...so far...i know it will continue...i'm so blessed...my greatest blessing is my family...they are the best thing in my life...it's great to be with my family...they are so talented, smart, fun...i'm very proud of each and everyone of them....and my grandkids are the best ever...i'm sure they are the smartest and cutest kids ever!!! i also have the greatest friends ever...i'm so lucky to have such fantastic people to be my friends...they are my confidants and keep me going when times are tough...i also have wonderful brother, sisters and sisters and brother in laws...neices and nephews...i have just been so blessed...it is wonderful to know that i have so many people on 'my side'...if i wear out one person...i can call on another!  so thanks to all of you for being in my life...love you all...

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!!!

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'...

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

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

after the calm...craziness!

i'm not this women....yet, give me a few days

after blogging everyday for a month, i thought i'd give you a break..actually not much happening...just trying to get back in 'the swing of things'...unpacking, cleaning up, putting things away..trying to get organized before the next big thing happens...actually i've been running around crazy...our golf tournament is in 10 days..and since i've been gone, karen has been doing all the work..so it's time for me to help out...plus, kelly and willie are coming next week...kelly is due with her baby any day now..it's amazing how you can go from not having a thing to do, to having so much to do you can't think...and all i want to do is nothing...guess that was last month...gotta get back into life...no more vaca! so onward and upward!!!

wedding

beautiful bride and handsome groom

craig, katelyn, lindsay, justin, taryn, kathy and steve
russ, ker, kel, jo, tar, just, whit, kel

tar and justin and parents

kel, russ, whit, ker, kel

i've been in slc for 10 days...i went up for my good friend taryn and justin's wedding...it was a beautiful wedding..the day was pretty windy outside, but that was ok..everything else was perfect...tar looked so pretty...like a 1940's moviestar...then the reception was up in park city...a great dinner...lots of fun people...it was a great time..

the rest of the time i got to spend with family...all the kids except willie were there..so it was a fun time...crazy with the babies..it's so fun to see kate and gavin run and hug each other...owen and tommy aren't quite the bud's yet...but, tommy is starting to walk..so anytime...gavin built a snowman...we played, the kids snowboarded...i saw different friends and family...it was great as always...

barbara

bagley cousins (check the hairstyles between this pic and the other family pic..they sure got fancy!)

last weekend i met this girl and this sister in vegas...it was an unexpected trip as our aunt barbara died...

bathing beauties-barb and june

my aunt was a fun lady, married to a really fun guy, my uncle mel...they have 4 daughters and 11 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild...

barbara, mel, june, jiggs

i remember many fun trips to vegas during the summer to see them...we would stop on the way to california, have a sleepover, sometimes polly and i would stay and visit...it was always really hot...so we would swim and swim...

bagley family--what fancy hair...

they would come to slc to visit the family...we would have dinners at grandma's which always included singing and shows...what a fun time and great memories...

it was wonderful to see the family...talk to uncle mel..it's like talking to my dad...they are so much alike...he told some great stories of their growing up...

what better way to honor people, than to hear the stories of past years...i'm grateful i could be there...

what could be better?

What could be better than:

Swimming in the beautiful turquoise blue ocean?

Being at the beach?

Giving your favorite cousin a kiss?

Trying to fill some big shoes?

Having fun with your aunt?

Being snuggled together in a bed?

Being with your sisters?

Playing on the beach with your uncle?

Swimming with your daddy?

Digging in the sand?

Taking a walk with your mom?

Being with your whole family?

Taking your first trip to Hawaii?

What could be better?

Nothing!

whit and jason

blushing bride

sistas

mother of the bride

kel and willie with cousin bud

ker and whit

cousins

sisters

big bro/lil sis

beautiful cousins

great friends

sweeties

family
happy couple

i've been away...it's been wonderful...we celebrated whit and jason and their big wedding day...what a fun time it was..couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day....here are a great pics of that special day....

happy anniversary to me

a long, long time ago...in a galaxy far away....i started a new life...and what a life it's been...it's had it's ups and downs...mostly ups...when i was young all i wanted to do was be married and have children...and now i can say...that was the best choice for me...i didn't want to save the world...(i'll do that now)...i just wanted cute little kids and a fun husband...well, that's what i got...and now those cute little kids are handsome, beautiful, smart, successful people...(not that i'm bragging)...maybe they will be the ones saving the world...i'll just sit and watch! so happy 31 years!!

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!