30th Birthday for Stephen

How well I remember the day Stephen was born ..February 13, 1981.  I was scheduled to help at the school Valentines Day Party, but at 7:00am we headed to the hospital and he arrived at 8:26am.  

This was the best Valentines Day ever....A beautiful healthy baby boy.  (A big deal to all of us and especially his 6 sisters!)

He loved to play army.

Sunshine Pre-School

and the cutest angel for Christmas. We love you Stephen!  Happy 30th Birthday!  

Susie Shines

Brian, Spencer, Susie, Jeffery and Larry 


Kinlacheeny







On December 17, 2010, Russell and I attended Commencement at Northern Arizona University, where Susie received a Masters Degree in Education.  She is an amazing person.   She is the first to graduate from college in her family and the first to obtain a Masters Degree.

In 1969, when Debbie was 5, Diane 4 and Peter 6 months old, it was announced at our weekly women's meeting that the church social services were seeking homes for children on the Indian Placement Program.  The purpose was to give children from the reservation the opportunity to learn the gospel by seeing it in action in the home and to gain a good basic education that would be a base for lifetime learning.  I had an immediate confirmation that we should take one of these children.  What a great blessing it turned out to be!  (Here we are visiting the San Diego Zoo.)

We lived on Barkley Street when Susie came to live with us.  Debbie and Diane were happy to have a big sister!

 Rocky Point. (April 1972)

Susie was a great example to the younger children. When Susie set goals, she accomplished them...and  was very efficient in all she did. Debbie watched her and learned.  We love you Susie!!

Full House

It has been wonderful to have a full house again for the past month.  Stephanie had her surgery on May 20th.  Christian also had surgery, so I was able to spend many hours with the children.  The Zoo visit is always a favorite, until it get too hot.  

Claire and Jane were delighted to discover that we were the first visitors when the gate opened at 6:00am. It was fun to have the Zoo all to ourselves!

 And now for the good part.....the favorite ride.

Arizona Spring Garden

 

We are growing beautiful grandchildren too!  (Here are 15 of our 37 darlings)

I love my garden.

These Old English Roses are my favorites...Their fragrance is amazing and I love how they resemble peonies.

...

Arizona gardener

Springtime in Arizona is long and wonderful. This is what is left of the poppies in our yard that have been blooming for months.

Bee's are buzzing

.

40's Baby

My husband had a milestone birthday this year.
He was born in the first month of the year
1940.

This cute little baby has been blowing out candles for 70 years,
and
he's an expert!


To celebrate his big day, we decorated our house like a WWII USO Canteen.

We offered 40's food,

40's dress,






40's hair styles,




Soldiers,


and Soldiers in Training.

(Draft notices were passed around in the game of "Hot Potatoes",
and kids were grouped in Army, Air Force or Navy.)




Games were played....


Big band music set the mood,



HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUSS

Photos from my October 19, 2009 Birthday Party

My Birthday Party

Alice and Jay sang one of their clever tributes, by putting new words to the song "Proud Mary".  Lot's of laughs!!!

PROUD MARY (for Mom's Birthday)

She had a good job as a chauffeur

With eleven children she worked night and day

She always gave up many hours of sleepin’

Sewin’ a prom dress, or in the dark room

Big family keeps on growin’

Proud Mary keeps on goin’

Rollin’, rollin’, roll in the suburban.

Cleaned a lot of kids and messes

Found a lot a bargains down at Harvest Food

Tho’ she dress so pretty, she don’t spend much money

She buys it all at Last Chance, she’s the bargain queen

Good deals, she can find ‘em

Fancy bows, she can tie ‘em

Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ down to Last Chance

Rolos, Rolos, Rolos in her handbag

If you go up to Bluewater

Bet ya gonna find a woman whose a martyr

The internet she’s surfing, answering her email

Or cookin’ up a big roast beef and peas

Suburban wheels keep on turnin’

Crock pot keeps on burnin’

Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ down a ranch road

Noddin’, Fallin’ Asleep-in’ the church pew

Workin’, Prayin,’ Stayin’ up all night

Cookin’, Teachin’, Playin’ with her grandkids

   

      

  Our DJ was like a Pied Piper.  Kids loved him!

 

Even the adults got in on the action.

Jacob and Michelle Singing and Dancing

 

Mark Haslip and Owen with another funny poem. 

     More laughs!

   Dancing Queens------Alice and Diane 

 

Jay doing "Born to be Wild" and finishing with some acrobatics!

 

Peter and Jeff Lee performing    "Wanted, Dead or Alive"

 Cousin time:  Maddy, Michelle, Perry, Carol and Molly

   

      

Molly, Samantha and Carol

   Maddy's music

    

Justin, Penn, Cole and Tate 

        










Michelle, Maddy and Savy

Lucy, Mary and Grace

             


Maddy, Savy and Michelle

               


Marcus and Ashley

                    



Fun Night!!!!