Happy 26th Birthday Travis!!

Happy Birthday Travis! Your a big whopping 26 year old!! Today, Travis took the day off work. (what do you think this is, your birthday?) He bought himself a birthday present, a new home weight gym set. I guess he's got too big for the one he has. (ha ha) He drove down to Ogden to pick it up and spent the rest of the day putting it together, which has been quite a big job! When it was time for him to come over home to have his birthday dinner, he still hadn't finished it. So, after dinner, cake and ice cream and some ping-pong with Jordan and Brandon, Travis had to hurry home to finish putting it together so he could work out tomorrow. We hope you had a good birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRAVIS....WE LOVE YOU!!

The "Big Ride"

This past weekend, Alan, Judy and most of Troy's family camped out at the Bear Lake Camperworld. Alan invited Gary to come up on Saturday and take a 50 mile bike ride around Bear Lake. Gary accepted the invitation and these two old farts made the trip with no problems except dodging an occasional lightning bolt and periodic rain! Actually, the weather was usually ahead or behind them. Gary was impressed with Alan's abilities. He hopes he'll be able to ride 50 miles when he is 64.

After the ride, Troy barbecued hamburgers and Judy added the rest of the fixins for a great meal. And, of course, everyone visited Lebeau's for the traditional raspberry shake. Gary had a great time with Alan and his family.

By the way, September 22nd (today) is Alan's birthday. Happy 64th Birthday!!!

HAPPY 32nd ANNIVERSARY

On our anniversary I want to thank you for being with me for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, through everything! Thanks for being a great dad, grandpa and husband. Happy Anniversary Gary!! I love you!

A TRIBUTE

I wanted to write a tribute to my parents. They are my heroes and my examples. I couldn't have asked for better parents and grandparents to our children. Wednesday, Sept. 17th, my mom will go home from the re-hab center. It has been about 4 months since her bad accident. She is a true miracle. We never thought she would make it past the first month. To be going home and walking with her walker is a miracle!!! Also, to have her mind as alert as she was before the accident is a miracle with the head injury she had. She spent several weeks in ICU and a few other times on other floors in the hospital and at an assisted living place besides the re-hab center. For the first month, she was in a "different world", mom says. She saw and heard members of her deceased family and many other people who were around her (My sister and I say it was her guardian angels). I remember a time I was talking to my brother, Lynn after being with mom and said that I didn't think she was going to make it. It was a very hard time for us all, especially my dad who has never been apart from his sweetheart until this accident. Mom told me she remembers hearing her sister, Lova (who died in Feb. '08) talking to the doctors and telling them what to do. Mom said, "she always was bossy". I'm not surprised that my mom was partly in the afterlife because mom is one of the most intune and spiritual women I know. She is also like the "Duracell bunny", she just keeps on going! She is fiesty and a fighter. We know this because how she has been able to overcome this trial and many other physical trials she has had. Mom's hearing was affected by her accident and she could hardly hear. Both her and dad has now got new hearing aids and has made a big difference for them, especially mom. Dad has had a tough time. He has been very lonely without mom. As much as the family tries to be with him it still is hard. His health hasn't been good but considering all thats happened, he's done amazing well. A few weeks ago, he dislocated his collarbone. It took a few days to get him to the dr. and figure out what was going on. It has healed some but it won't be totally better from what I hear. He is just going to have to be really careful when he uses his arm. My parents are very good and unselfish people and have always helped other people in need throughout their lives. Having help has been hard for them but it is now their time to let other people help them. I hope all goes well with mom being home. I know both of them will be a lot happier just being together all the time again. Mom will have in-home health care and therapy to help her continue to heal. I'm sure all our children will agree that they have been very lucky to have such wonderful grandparents, both my parents and Gary's parents. They will always be our heroes and someone to look up too.

Good Job Stacy!

As some of you know, Stacy started her own blog (with thanks to Nicole). So I won't be saying too much about her life in New Jersey. I'll let her keep everyone up on things there.

Update on Stacy

Just an update on Stacy. She is doing well and loves the family she lives with and adores the children. The family treats her very well. She has a cute bedroom downstairs with her own bathroom. Shelly, the mother has fixed it up really cute for her. She has been traveling around trying to get used to where everything is there. She has made acquaintances with Wal-Mart and Target, which are very important!! ha ha
Yesterday (Wed) she had to go to the boys private school to get some training which is about 45 minutes away from their home. She struggled a little bit finding her way there but found it without too much problem. Coming home was a different story. She kind of got lost and spent an extra hour or so trying to find her way back home. She did get back home safely and got a lot of sight seeing done (LOL)! She says the roads and freeway system is really different than here. I guess I will see for myself when I go back to visit her the end of October. I'm so excited!!!

Jordan can drive a 5-speed!!!

Jordan has finally conquered the gear shift delema and now drives our "infamous" Geo Prizm. He got his official license in June and its actually been kind of nice not having to take him places now that the "horror" of him driving by himself has eased up a bit for us. But, we are sure glad the learning to drive thing is finally done with. He didn't quite have the desire to have his license right when he turned 16 in January like his siblings were when they turned 16 but that was all right with Gary and I. We had been letting him drive my Nissan Altima but glad he's got the Geo now. He is very glad too that Stacy didn't sell her Jeep (not that we are not trying) when she went back to New Jersey because now there is a car for all 3 of us here when Gary can't ride his motorcycle any longer because of the weather. However, he is having to start to learn the expense of having your own car (even though it's not officially his) which will be good for him and he has to keep his grades up.