Life is Crazy . . .How does it go so fast?

It's already been a whole year since Adam joined our family, yesterday was his first birthday. We are always dissappointed about the miles between Greg and Jess and the rest of our family, and having to miss out on being with them as these milestones happen and as they grow and change is sad. So we have to rely on sweet Jess to always be up-dating their blog and sending us pictures.

Just look what a whole year can do! Adam is so cute and we wish we were able to be around him more. Sorry to have missed your first birthday sweet baby. Have mommy and daddy bring you down here and we'll all go to Disneyland, again!

Now that you can see over Dumbo's head I'm sure you'll enjoy it more.

Our First Baby!

This picture was taken March 13th, 1975 when we brought Jenny home from the hospital. We were so pleased to be parents with a darling new baby girl!

Gene and I have been parents for a long time now, it was Jenn's 34th birthday yesterday. She continues to bring so much pride and joy to us; her earthly parents, and has from the day she was born.

There are several dates that become and remain special to us through the years as they pass. Every birthday of each of our children (and each of our grandchildren) brings tender feelings and moments of deep reflection to me. It always brings memories of the day of their birth, and of their baby years. Oh, the time goes way to fast!

I am so grateful for the blessing of each child that our Heavenly Father blessed us with.

Happy birthday my sweet girl, I love each and every day that we still get to spend together! I love you!

More old photos

March 13th, 1975

Brand new Parents

Gene was so excited to be a daddy! He had wanted a girl, but hadn't told me that. He even gets the credit for giving her her name. There was no arguing with him.

She had to be his Jennifer Lynn

After about 6 months Jenny became a "happy baby" maybe it just took me that long to get the hang of it myself.

During Gene's "softball years" this is one way Jenny and I spent a few evenings each week.

August 2, 1975

Dave and Karie Bourne's wedding day

That dress was a problem for a nursing Mommy and her baby!

This one was taken Nov. 15th, 1975 on Gene's 2 6th birthday, he looks so young. Jenny was so sad when daddy blew out his birthday candles.

New Layout

This is Jenny. Here is a layout I did recently of my parents with Kylie on her baptism day. My mom made her dress and Kylie was pleased as punch with it. I was too. Look how beautiful she looked.

The real reason I'm here though isn't to show off my page. My mom asked me to come on here and update her look. Check it out and leave her some feedback about HER new layout. I hope you like it and I know she hopes so too.

If you are reading this in Google Reader, then come over here and look! I think you will be glad you did!

The Perfect So-Cal day!

We are among many Southern California residents who have annual Disney passes, and today was a beautiful day, a perfect day for Disneyland! It was about 80 degrees and we met Kevin, Brandi and their kids there and then Julie and Dustin met us too. Saturday is not the best day to go to Disneyland but it is the best day for the bread winners in the family. The best thing about having passes, as anyone who has one will tell you, is that it affords a whole different experience than when you don't have one. If you can only get on 3 or 4 rides because of the lines it's O.K., if the park is crowded and hot it's O.K. because you can just go home and then go again when ever you want to. I'm sure I go more times every year with our grandkids since I have my pass, than I did the whole time when our children were growing up. We were there and in the park by 10:30 and home by 3:30 and don't feel shorted at all. We'll be going again soon, probably even next week with the Stockards.

Why I Do The Things I Do

I am starting to understand why Grandmas are the way we are. We cater to our grand kids in a way that we didn't quite have the patience for with our children. I have this cabinet in my kitchen, that when we put it in, was intended for the storage of potatoes and onions. That ended up just being a mess,

so now I have a much better use for it.

As the grand kids came along and spent a lot of time with us, we started adding baby locks on our cupboards so they wouldn't get into them. You know, kinda baby-proofing, but I felt bad keeping them out of everything, thus stifling their inquisitiveness. I wanted them in the kitchen with me too. So now I keep my Tupperware and other storage lids in there. It is very frustrating when you are trying to find the right lid for a certain container. But I love it when they find the special little play spot I have reserved in my kitchen especially for them. They love it and it keeps them busy too. Isn't Adam darling?
My grown-up kids and kitchen helpers think I'm crazy not to be more organized, but I bet that when they become as wise as me, they will have a special little spot for their grandbabies too.

Am I Really a Blogger?

So . . . . my favorite blogs quickly become my less favorite blogs when they aren't updated very often. You know, we all have our favorite ones, but when they aren't updated very often it's disappointing. Well, here I am only about 2 months into my blogging and I'm guilty of that very thing myself. I guess it's because I always feel that I need to have a picture to add to the interest. My pictures on my computer are kind of a mess, they need some serious organizing. And then there's the question of what to share and how to make it interesting. I love blogging and keeping up with my people this way, but I'm just a rookie.

Another Temple Open House

While in Utah last week, we went to the Draper Temple open house. It is so beautiful just like all of the other temples. It is wonderful that we get to enjoy these open houses before the new temples are dedicated. I wish that I had been able to attend one in my youth, but I really don't think there were any. Going to the temple was always a worthy and the ultimate goal for me, one that I hoped to reach, but somewhat mysterious and hard to visualize. Being able to go into a temple and see for yourself the absolute beauty and feel the spirit gives the goal more reality. It is really great for the youth to be able to experience the beauty found inside the temple to help solidify this goal into their hearts and minds more fully.

I used this poster in a lesson for the Young Women a few weeks ago. I love the temple and am so grateful for the blessings we receive there. I really hope that we can teach the youth and especially our grandchildren the reality of this statement.

"Marriage is perhaps the most vital of all decisions and has the most far reaching effects, for it has to do not only with immediate happiness but with eternal joy as well."

A New Picture

I was looking through my picture files to see if I could find some more of Gene and myself together. I had to go clear back to Oct. of '07 to find these. That just tells you how bad we are at taking pictures of ourselves. Here we are just messing around with the camera one Sunday after church, hence the fancier hair do. I have never been the type of person who could just naturally "strike a pose" when a camera is pointed at me. I'd usually duck and run, hide, scowl or stick out my tongue. I have always really envied people who can just smile and say "cheese" so naturally. That could be one explanation for the lack of pictures of myself and my sweetie.
It really makes me sad though that we don't have more pictures of us through the years, documenting our life together. So, if you are reading this, take a lesson from me and take more pictures of yourself and you sweetheart together. Someday you will want to look back, not only at your babies growing up, but of yourself growing up and getting older. As you do you will see that you look pretty good now. Smile and document yourselves growing together!
Just another lesson from an older wiser sister.

My Beautiful Parents

Wayne and Marjorie Haws

I am so lucky to still have my parents around and part of my life. They have always been such a strength to myself and Gene, excepting him into their family and loving him all of these years. They are wonderful examples of everything good and true; they are my pattern of who I need to be. I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father has lengthened their stride and their lives and given them good health and strength to continue as my earthly parents.