Time to Say Goodbye?

I don't know how I'm going to say goodbye to these little people.

I guess the really big question is how do I get through a week without seeing them, they have become such an important part of our lives.

Yesterday I was visiting with some very good friends, or you could say I was crying on their shoulders about the up-coming departure of two of my children and 5 of my grand children and they told be to buck up and be strong, that a move away form parents would be a good thing for everyone...I STRONGLY DISAGREE..

~

Ashley and Brandon are re-locating to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Jayson and Brigitte are re-locating to Idaho Falls, Idaho.

How dare they take our Mack, Andi, Hewitt, Linford, and Harper away from us.

I'M THE MOM AND I SAY NO!

They can go they just can't take my little "rugrats."

Thank goodness it won't be forever......

I guess we'll be taking a lot of trips to Idaho and Oklahoma.

(I'm really hoping they're just plying a huge and cruel April Fools joke on us.)

~

I've seriously been thinking about getting a yard gnome..

Aren't they so cute. A little "tacky" I know But who cares..

I just love the one in the hammock. But I think I really like the one in the middle. If only I could find one like that in BYU swag instead of Purdue.

A BYU gnome would certainly send a message.

Maybe then I could finally win the Orem city beautification award.

~~

I think I'm going to do it.

I'll let ya know..

~~

I have selected the perfect spot(s) for my gnome.

What do you think?

~~

Or here.

~~

Jay said I could put it in the back yard behind the play house.

I DON'T THINK SO JAY..

No one would ever see it there, and what's the point if no one see's it.

BTW

Look how green my lawn was last summer.. Can't wait for those days to return.

~~

Our Weekend in Review

Happy Birthday "Big Mack"

Where has the time gone my little Mack is already 4.

He is such a bright spot in our lives, such a fun kid, and an amazing little athlete.

so much like his dad.

Jay made him a Batman cake---he loved it..

And in "good old Jay style" it's completely edible...

We had such a great weekend spending time with the "OFFSPRING"

We just love Sundays with the family especially when it's warm enough to spend the day outside.

**

Did I mention~~~~Jay is the "BESTEST" grandpa (Poppy) on the planet..

**

McCartney is so "Cute" we all love her so much, she is such a good baby. She was quite enthralled with uncle Jayson and aunt Brigitte. She's getting so big. It happens

WAY TOO FAST.

When McCartney looks at you...

YOU KNOW YOU'VE BEEN LOOKED AT...

Case in point.

**

Some of my sweet little "ADORABLES" They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I concur! What precious little faces..

**

I remember wondering when the kids would be old enough to really play together and have a good time doing it. Well the day has finally come. Such good buddies. Jay and I just love watching them have fun together.

**

Trampoline "dodgeball" is back, we all love this game it's so much fun.

I'm so glad I'm young enough to play this way with my grand kids.

**

Jay keeps telling the time is close to get our lives in order and get the paper work into our Bishop for a mission. I am ready too, but I don't think I'll be able to leave these people behind.

What to do, What to do.

**

BTW

Lawn fertilized, Sprinklers on....Green is on the way..

Flashback Friday, Good Old College Days!!!

I guess It looks like I'm grasping for straws for "Flashback Friday" When I start posting old college football program covers and old student ID cards.

But it's my blog and I think they're FF post worthy. and when I came across them I had a good laugh and thought that some of my followers may feel the same. So here they are...

**

Neither of us knew he was going to be on the cover this week. But when I got to my seat and looked at the program I realized it was Jay. It was kind of exciting to see that out of all of his team-mates they chose Jay to grace the cover this particular week. Of course I kept this program..

He was quite the standout back in the old college days...

And in my very humble opinion he still is.

**

-JAY ON THE COVER OF THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PROGRAM-

**

My BYU ID card 1982

This card seemed like my passport during these years. You couldn't get into anything on campus without it, but with it the campus and all of it's many amenities were totally mine.

Wow that's such an eighties picture..

**

Just to shake things up, I think I might change my "Flashback Friday" to "Fabulous Friday" and post pictures of some of my fabulous moments in stead of old memories.

**

I'm starting to look so OLD....
For the first time in my life I look in the mirror and wonder who that old person is looking back at me.
Would I seriously consider cosmetic surgery at this point in my life? or at least botox?
What do you think about cosmetic surgery?

**

Let's be REAL here.

We color our hair to hide the gray, hair transplants to cover baldness, weight loss gimmicks to get rid of the fat, etc. So really what's the issue with a little cosmetic surgery or botax here and there?

I'm wondering about the idea....

Then I look at CS gone bad and I think the wrinkles don't look so bad.

Bruce Jenner looks pretty good, and honestly I think Kenny Rogers looks better than he did before. However he looks like a very different person.

**

Now the women are a whole different story.

Farrah Facett and Joan Rivers look totally plastic and it appears disastrous.

**

What say you?

**

A Beautiful Day, With Beautiful People.

Our day at Discovery Park.

This is such a fun and exciting park. Jay and I went with Jayson & Brigitte this weekend and it was a BLAST..

The kids had so much fun running around, climbing and exploring.

If you haven't been to Discovery Park in Pleasant Grove/Manilla you really need to go.

We had so much "FUN"

**

The earthquake platform was quite a hit.

**

For all of us, including the adults.

**

It was so much fun to spend the day with Mack and Andi. Mack made a new friend while at the park.

**

Jayson's whole family on the earthquake platform.

**

Jay trying to walk the narrow beam.

It looks like he has some pretty great moves,The beam wiggles, so it's pretty hard to keep your balance.

**

Jayson looking on and of course giving his input.

**

Jayson actually had some success crossing the beam.

**

But as much as he would like us to believe, it appears that he is not infallible.

**

Oops there goes Jayson.

Nice view buddy....

**

Taking a little, much needed break.

**

Jayson & Brigitte are moving to Idaho.

SNIFF, SNIFF... More like

"SOB"

I hate this "free agency" stuff, I want to tell them they CAN'T take Mack and Andi away from me, but then I remember about the "free agency" thing we chose before we came to this Earth. Did I really choose that?

My heart is truly aching.

Not a day goes by that I don't think about the move.

How will I ever get through every week without a dose of my Mack & Andi?

**

They keep telling me it's not that far, distance is all relative... They might as well be moving across the country..I just love this little family. Oh how I'm going to miss them...

I just want to bury my head in my pillow and cry for days...

Then I remember that I am an adult and I can't have everything I want.

**

None of the other kids better be getting any ideas..

SPRING is in the air... The signs are
EVERYWHERE!

Lazy Sunday afternoon naps.

**

New buds on the trees, The snow is almost melted.

**

I LOVE Spring, But I LOVE Summer even more..

**

Baby McCartney

Beautiful Baby McCartney 6 Months old
Where has the time gone?
**

Lot's of Flashback Friday Today

My Gorgeous kids

Jordan was a Sr. in high school and Ashley was a Jr. At the time of the 1st. photo

They have always been the best of friends. I loved watching them grow up together.

They dated each others friends and often ended up in the same groups for dances.

Jackson and Jayson were also good buddies and each others biggest fan. It's going to be fun to watch all their little boys play sports together.

Jay and I have been very blessed with the worlds greatest children..

They are all amazing and the center of our whole world.

**

Jordan & Ashley 2001 All the kids 1999

Just some old coaching pictures.

Jay was definitely the favorite coach in the county and very loved by all the young men he coached.

I don't know who that kid in this picture is, but I'm sure Jay does he never forgot who any of those boys were. Even still today we will be out somewhere and grown men will come up to him and ask him if he remembers coaching them and he always does.

There are many things I am glad we did as parents but one of the best things was having our kids involved in athletics.

Boy did it ever build their character.

**

Jay is so handsome in these pictures...

**

Before we were married

Strange, I know.

**

Last but not least.

Linford's and Jackson's

When I think of our great friends the Jackson family I always think of the quote by Wilbur

"Good friends are hard to find"

(He said that referring to Charlotte)

But isn't it true. We love this family our kids grew up together and I think it's fair to say that we helped each other raise our kids. There were so many years sitting side-by-side in the stands cheering our boys on.

I'm grateful to call them friends even still today.

Get a load of Jay's "swag" One word

"HOTTIE" LOL

**

A Little of This and That

It was such a beautiful day today.

The kids came over and we all played outside for a good portion of the day.
**

Harper Loved the sand box and the trampoline.

I love, Love, Love these days. I think I actually got a little sunburned.

McCartney is our little "DIVA" today.
**

Hewitt was just dying to wrestle with Jordan.

"It's just what Linford's do"
**

I really hesitated to take pictures because as you can see the grass is not yet green.

I'm (Im)patiently waiting..But It's sooooo hard.

**

As I stated before

"I SIMPLY LOVE THESE DAYS"

**

Remember the post I did on "Jerry Rigging"?

Well today I went to the fridge to get some cookie dough for Linford and I found this...

**

Cookie dough stored in the fridge closed with a zip tie.

Guess who opened this bag and then closed it back up with a "ZIP TIE"

If you guessed Jay----You would be correct

Other wise known as the

"MASTER JERRY RIGGER"

Never mind the fact that I have zip lock bags, zip lock containers, and various other storage containers, not to mention a food saver right within an arms reach.

Oh well this works, and it gave me a good laugh.

**

31 Years

We spent yesterday evening at the Governor's mansion for Jeanette Herbert's (Utah's first lady) birthday party. It was such a wonderful evening and a great party. We had a great time with wonderful friends.

The Lettermen performed for Jeanette, they sang many of their old love songs.

They were awesome. I was a little skeptical considering their age but they were amazing. What a great evening.

Does anyone remember the Letterman?

**

I guess it seems a little odd to be spending my 31st. wedding anniversary at a friends birthday party but our celebration is yet to come.

Today in Sunday school Brother Hawkins mentioned that the love we have for our spouse when we first get married is nothing compared to the love we have after many years together. .

I EMPHATICALLY AGREE.

I remember how I felt about Jay the day I married him. I thought I was so in love and nothing could ever compare to the feelings of that day.

Boy, was I ever wrong. I realize 31 years later that I didn't really know what

"LOVE"

was or how it truly felt to really be

"IN LOVE."

**

What a blessing Jay has been in my life. I am so grateful for such an amazing "Sole Mate."

He is my TRUE NORTH.

Sometimes I wonder what I ever did to deserve such an outstanding man by my side.

**

I LOVE the way my hand fits perfectly into his.

I LOVE it when he puts his hand on the small of back as we are walking.

I LOVE the way he loves our children, and always has time for them no matter what.

I LOVE the way he loves our little grand children, I LOVE watching him play with them, sometimes like a kid himself.

I LOVE the way he is always willing to drop everything and go help a friend in need.

I LOVE the way friends and family know they can always count on him.

I LOVE those big, strong shoulders and knowing that I can always lean on them when I am weak.

But most of all I LOVE the way he loves me, and how he makes me feel like I am the most important person in the world. I know there isn't anything he wouldn't do for me.

**

I think I understand now what it means to truly love another.

I thank the Lord everyday for giving this man to me, it is the most wonderful blessing in my life.

I LOVE YOU "PUMPKIN"

THANKS FOR THE MOST AMAZING 31 YEARS EVER.

HERE'S TO 31 MORE....

**

Flashback Friday!

Doing Time On Palisades Drive...Great Memories..

I forgot how much I missed this house, we had the greatest back yard. It was huge and private. We all loved that yard and Palisades Drive holds some very sweet and treasured memories for all of us..

I remember this beautiful warm sunny July day.

Jay and Hewitt were just hanging out on the trampoline.

**

**

One of the attributes I love so much about Jay is his patience and kindness with our children and grandchildren. They all love him so much and for good reason.

I love Jay's "HUGE" hands they're so strong and yet so tender.

**

Brandon and Ashley in the Ferrari..

I just love this picture it gives such a great view of Palisades Drive.

Isn't it a beautiful street in the summer..The car ain't too bad either.

**

Last summer with Some of my very "dear" Friends. I just love these ladies.

**

Deb, Judy, Me, Vania, and Lisa in front..

**

Just Another Ordinary Day.

Last nights activity was a good success.

The Bishopric was wonderful and so were the SSH 6th. YM/YW.

Last week joint YW, this week Combined YM/YW.

Glad my turn for planning the BIG ones is over, but pretty happy with the end result of both activities. I LOVE MY CALLING..

**

Today I think I'll spend some time with Harper while Ashley works.

He's such a bright spot in my day.

**

I guess that means I won't get to my aerobics class this morning at Golds I love those classes they are so much fun and entertaining, and I might also add "HARD."

**

Which means I'll have to ride the elliptical tonight at the Orem Fitness Center. Does anyone enjoy riding the elliptical or the treadmill?

**

I hate the elliptical machine it's so boring. But tonight I'll go with Diane and she and I can workout together while our husbands beat up on each other in the racquetball court.

And I do mean beat up on each other. I can't believe how hard Jay, Scott, and JB play. You would think they were still in their 20's. But they sure do love it..

Men----I'll never understand them.

**

I think I'll spend some time on the golf course today (if it warms up a little more)

I really need to work on my DRIVE before I start playing in the women's league at Hobble Creek again this year (I'm proof that they'll let anyone play in those leagues.) Jeanette, Debbie, and Diane all have such amazing drives...

**

I wasn't getting the results I needed with my driver so my coach told me to switch to my #4 iron for a while and hard as it might be to believe it gave me some good results. I drove the ball as far as many of my friends with that club. But it's time to go back to my driver..

**