So IT'S thE BiG 30

I remember distinctly my 30th birthday. I was 9 months pregnant with you and living in Denver. Our first time living away from family. I was worried with no family close who would love our new little baby and enjoy watching her grow up? I needn't have worried! Our little Elly was adored by all her older sybling from the minute she arrived home from the hospital. They even waited to see her before leaving for their Easter Egg Hunt. They were all old enough to appreciate having a beautiful little sister. AND there was Dale and David, our neighbors next door and across the street. It was hysterical! They would fight over who got to hold her first and for how long! Their wives were not even in the running. Elly has been loved, adored and spoiled from birth!

Ellynn Marie, was named for her Great G'ma Ellen. I changed the spelling so she would also have part of her Aunt JacLYNNe's name and Marie for Aunt Joan. I was proud of myself for getting all 3 covered. I was wearing out and didn't think I would have any more so this was it. Aunt Sally said she always wanted to name her little girl Ellen Marie if she ever had one.

Elly is a non-stop party! The house was never empty when she was a teenager. As each of the kids have moved away from home the emphasis has kind of shifted to the next oldest in line. When Meagan and Cory moved back into the basement while he was going to school I wondered how Ellynn would feel about that and so I asked her. She told me she had been born into a big family because Heavenly Father knew she liked being around a lot of people! She didn't like it when people left! Even when she comes home for a visit now we can plan on seeing all the old friends she has in the area! And we can plan on the over all volume of noise in the house going up several decibels!

The trip to Oklahoma/New Orleans would never have been as much fun! Elly is the best DJ ever! And no one reads out loud like she does. We would request all these different accents and she would do her best to accomodate. However she does suck at a French accent! Will we ever forget Dixie Chicks, Earl's Gotta Die, and The Hiding Place! She is also the Tetris Queen, Both the game and in real life. No one can beat her packing a car...even Adam. We would pass a car with things strapped to the top and she would say in all seriousness, "Obviously they don't know how to pack." How did we get in those #$%%@cats? Thanks Ellynn!     

I think she has built the most igloos of all the kids. Including the one that collapsed on her and Alicia in the middle of the night and the one that collapsed on her when she climbed up on top of it for pictures. Maybe she's not that good at it? (No really there was a warm wind that came up the night with Alicia) The paramedics came and we had her flown by helicopter to the nearest hospital. Her recovery was almost immediate...Thank heavens! After her VERY expensive helicopter flight, x rays, and exam she was able to attend that evening's performance at the high school as hostess. Really? Thanks Baby Adam! You can ask Elly what I mean by that. 

She does know how to work. Remember carrying the old toilet out and dropping the whole thing into the garbage can at the little Provo house?  Remember later standing quietly.....and fearfully by while G'pa Les tried to seat the new one? Remember everything we had to do to that house? I don't think you missed a project. The night we tiled the whole kitchen til 3 in the morning and it was beautiful. Still can't figure out why it turned out so well. I think God felt sorry for us and helped us work it out!
Spreading bark by moonlight! The hikes! Your mission!

YOU are a peacemaker. You bawl in movies and embarress yourself. You are an amazing hair stylist. You make people feel good about themselves! Your sense of humor is so fun!You can get away with murder!!! You are the only person on earth that can get away with calling Mike, Captain Buttercup, now Major Buttercup. (Is that a promotion?) To name a few of the things I love about you!

I could go on and on.......so many many years....so many many stories!

I love you, my beautiful little girl from the top of your head to the tip of your Flinstone Toes. You are the Best, as our little Tristan would say. And I am so blessed to be your mother! Have a Wonderful Day!

MOM

Happy Belated Birthday Blog

Dear Geofy George,

Blame your big sister that I didn't get anything posted for your birthday. We were babysitting in Lacey. You did get a call and we did celebrate at Disneyland....THe HaPPIesT PLAcE ON EARtH!

I have never met anyone more determined that you Geoffrey and disciplined!!! You told me once that I was the only one that didn't think you knew how to work. I take that back now...YOu have improved a bunch since you were a teenager! I watch you when we go to visit. You sit for hours working, never leaving your desk....not even for meals. This from a boy that has always loved to move! YOu work so hard to provide well for your family!

You are brilliant! While you are writing up all your reports at record speed and typing faster than I can read you are listening to some podcast to become more informed about whatever. I can barely concentrate on one thing at a time.

I remember you taking time to write a poem for Kathleen's 50th birthday. You and Adam and I went to her surprise party, remember! She still has it! Thank you for your thoughtfulness. You have a poet's soul.

When you were a teenager I would ask you to do something and you would say no. You would get so mad at me because I would ignore it. You asked me if I thought you were weak willed, did I not think you meant it? I told you I never thought of you as weak willed but I knew your heart. I knew you didn't want to do it...YOu really didn't in your head, but in your heart you knew it was a good thing to do and you would do it. I did ask at one point if we could just skip to the part where you JUST DID IT!!!

You really are a funny kid. I remember you kept losing one of your Sunday shoes. We were always running late for church...Imagine that? So one week I wrapped your shoeless foot in an ace bandage and had you go that way. Then there was the week you forgot to put on your shoes. You had on good socks so I told you to make a game of it and see how many people noticed that you didn't have shoes on that day and give me a count. Then there was the time your nose peeled and all your freckles came off. You thought you looked funny and were pitching a fit so I carefully drew some freckles on your nose with my eyebrow pencil. Getting you out the door for church was always a bit of a challenge. I am so glad you are so faithful now!!!

Well I have to save some stories for another year and I do need to write something for Elly's Birthday before I burn out. It is her Big 30...

I love you Geof. George with all my heart! YOu are the BeSt Man EVer!

MOM  

When you finally call it a day your first thought is what you can do to entertain Cole. He does help you remember that that should be your first thought! Then it is on to your girls. What can you do that is fun with them! Never an empty moment!

Never Summer

What we did while you were in DL

Happy Birthday, Danna!

My girls and I are reading the blog together and Sierra, especially, is beside herself with sadness to see the DL pics. We so wish we could have been there.  Another year. Grandma we hope your birthday was divine! We all think you and your 60 years are something to celebrate. You are the funnest mom/grandma around! We have so many wonderful memories with you and so many of your attributes to admire.  You are the heart of a phenomenal family and one of the most remarkable matriarchs imaginable. WE LOVE YOU!

Le Anne

Dayne picked all these daffodils for your bday, Gma! Wish you were here so she could give them to you!