As I have said before, it has been a very busy summer

I really have let my Birthday honors slip by for the past two months. Will begin with my one and only, Stan who celebrated his big 64 on June 1. I actually did mention him in the May Birthdays, but it does not hurt to mention him again.
My son in law, Dave Hull, here baptizing grandson Benjamin, celebrated his on June 17. I think he was born the same year I graduated from high school. Love you so much Dave:)
Miss Chelsea Lynn #1102 turned 20 on June 19. She has been her Gramma's kindred spirit since the day she was born.
Abagail Evalina, the Romanian derivative of Evelyn, #6415 turned 8 on June 20. Abby is a very gifted child, drama queen, and dancer all rolled into one beautiful person. Remember Ab's Gramma loves you the most. Just don't tell the others:)
Brandyn Michael #4104 tuned 18 on July 3. He is an amazing person with a mind that never quits working. Gramma thinks he should be an attorney because he is the very best person I know to argue. Usually always right, but I won't concede that to him:)
Darian Evyn #2105 (notice the play on his middle name) turned 18 on July 14. He also graduated from High School this year. Darian is the family musician, artist and drama king.

His entire high school career was spent perfecting the arts. All to his advantage. Gramma expects him to do great things with his gifts.
Last but not least, on July 29, Angela Marie, my third child and I celebrated our shared birthday. Like Stan I turned 64. Angela was born on my 22nd birthday.

Happy Birthday one and all. I truly love each of you for the unique gift you bring into our family.

God has truly blessed us.

I almost let them slip by.....April Birthdays

Oops, I loaded them backwards:) Not going to take the time to change them either so in order of last to first, or first to last if you are talking age, above is Amanda Shaylene (3101) See her birth order? She is our third child's first child and our FIRST GRANDCHILD!! The one who started all of this. On April 21 this darling granddaughter of mine turned 20:) She is currently studying to be a Hairdresser. She was taking a test on this day, and I might add she got a 96%, counted down for time. I tried to tell her instructor she was slow because I kept stopping her for pictures. Didn't seem to matter. Well, in this gramma's book, she got 100%
Alysa Louise is my April Fools baby. We really had our hearts set on a baby boy. ( We like her though) When I got the call, at work, that she had been born, I beat feet up to the hospital as fast as I could to take a peek, I was sure they were fooling me. Sure enough it, she, was a girl.

Her grandchild number is 1307. Happy 16th birthday to you again Alysa.

Always remember, girls, Gramma Loves You The MOST!!

February Birthdays.

Our February Birthday month starts out with my daughter Tricia who blogs on It's my crazy life and I love it. I won't tell you exactly how old she turned on February 4th, but lets just say she is a child of the 70's. Tricia and her husband Dave moved to Alaska almost one year ago. They are on an adventure. Even if she may not always recognize it as such. Currently they are living in Dillingham. Some day she may even be able to meet Sarah while she is walking down the street.Next, on February 10, Brystan (2310) turned the big 13. Bry as we call him is the son of my daughter Karyn of Candarbry Garden. Bry is one of the most tender gentle boys I have ever known. All of the little cousins just love him and he is never to busy to stop and play with one of them. No matter their age, he will get down and play right along with them, whatever they are playing. Never forget Bry, Gramma loves you THE MOST!!!

Benjamin,(5113) is our 10 year old Valentine. He was born on February 14, 2000. This picture was taken when I visited them in Kotzebue this fall, right before they transferred to Dillingham.

Ben is our drama king. Seriously, someday you will see him in the movies! He also loves to cook and rivals one of his older cousins in the fine art of getting in the last word. Gramma always loves every minute we get to spend together. They are not as often as I would like now. Before he moved to Alaska, he would come spend two weeks during the summer and go to VBS at Gramma's. Ben, never forget Gramma loves you THE MOST!!Last but not least, Elizabeth, (#6314) shares her birthday with Great Grandma. She was born on Great Grandma's 80th birthday. This year she turned 9 years old. Elizabeth is a bit of an old soul in this tiny little body. She mothers everyone she can. We do not get to do it often enough, but Elizabeth and I do like to sew together. One summer she made a complete shorts outfit with little help from me. Her first sewing project. She has had the opportunity to do a couple of other small sewing projects with me too. Elizabeth's mommy is Gina over at A Handful of Life. Elizabeth, you know the truth is that Gramma loves you THE MOST!!!

Happy Birthday to all three of you and remember that Gramma does Love You The Most!
Oh yes, and Tricia, Mom does love you an awful lot too!

Today is my Mother's 89th birthday.

One year ago, I was doubtful that we would have another year together.
But we did, and I cherish every moment God sees fit to leave her here with us.

Thank you Jesus.

Since I have so many birthdays

through the year, I thought I would highlight the birthdays once a month. Was planning to post the last day of the month on whomever had a birthday that month. Already, I blew it. It is February 3 and I am late with my Birthday post.

So with my apologies to Shay, may I now, today, highlight her and her birthday?

Shay was born on January 12, 1993. Her family number is 3206, and believe me she has autographed many of Gramma's possessions with it.

Shay was born the year Stan graduated from Chiropractic College and was almost six month old when we came home. We rented an apartment right next door to her mom and dad. We were able to leave our doors open and she would crawl from her home to mine all the time. She was so tiny that her Gramma nicknamed her Peanut. She is still called Peanut by the family. When we came home, Amanda was three years old. When Shay would cry, Amanda would come over to our apartment and tell me to come get her and "look out the window" with her. Shay and I would look out our window and see what we could see. It always worked to get her to quit crying.

Today, Shay plays basketball for her school, Highland Christian School.

She is a cheerleader and,

She is so happy to be rid of her braces!!

Happy Birthday Peanut. Remember, Gramma loves you "the most!!"

Make your 17th year really count!!

Thursday was Olivia's 5th birthday

Her cousin Cooper sent her a moose from Build-a-Bear in Anchorage so Olivia, her mommy, cousin Jonah and I made the 36 mile trek to the nearest Build-a-Bear to have Moosie filled up.

Unfortunately, I forgot to check the battery in my camera so I did not get very good pictures.
The above picture is of them filling up the doggy we bought for Cousin Darius's 2nd birthday.

Here Olivia is fluffing Moosie up after she filled him. Jonah is holding Max his camo bear. You know you cannot take one five year old in to watch his cousin get a new bear and not get one yourself. After Build-a-Bear it was off to lunch at Applebee's but because the battery was not charged there were no pictures.

Olivia and I had spent the week working on her birthday cake. It is a Barbie wrapped in fruit leather to resemble a mermaid, sitting on her throne with Nemo Gummie fruits swimming around her.

Now if Caleb will feel better, we may manage to have a birthday party for him too. It has been canceled two times because someone at their house is throwing up or running a fever.

Today Darius #1419

turned two years old. His mommy and daddy were gone to a convention in Oregon, so it fell to Gramma, Shaylene #3206 and Olivia #3317 to make sure he had a birthday cake.
I drug out my trusty cut up cake book that was published by Angel Flake coconut at least 43 years ago. I am sure of that because I baked the same cake for his daddy for his first birthday and that was 43 years ago.

After a quick trip to Safeway for decorating supplies, we came home and got the first crumb coat of frosting on it.

Then I realized I had forgotten the coconut, so Papa and Shaylene made a second trip to Safeway so we could finish decorating his cake. Good thing the store is just at the bottom of the hill from us.

Here Darius is blowing out his candles while his sister Chelsea #1102, in the yellow blouse and his cousin Amanda #3101 look on. He loved blowing out his candles and asked to do it again. So of course Gramma lit them a second time.

Olivia got to enjoy the fruits of her labors by licking the spatula clean once the decorating was finished.

Mommy and daddy and Auntie Angie and Uncle Dave got home at eight o'clock and we all enjoyed birthday cake.

Now mommy has to do a real party for him soon. Gramma just did a fill in for the day.

Happy Birthday Baby D. Gramma loves you "the most."

Most of you know my

"Love Story"

So say happy 63rd birthday to my (most of the time)best friend and Love of my life.

Sorry for the bad picture, but they are some that were taken for a flyer he put out and they had to be head shots.

Happy Birthday Stan, you ARE the LOVE of my LIFE .

96 and Counting

This picture was taken two years ago. The four generations.

Elizabeth in the sweater and hat gramma knit. She wishes it were purple, but I was looking for a more neutral color for it. It is an aran pattern.

Elizabeth and GG today. Elizabeth is wearing the dress I made her. It is a white eyelet trimmed in her favorite color.

We had an unplanned lunch at Red Robin. Here the wait people are singing Happy Birthday to her.

Today is Elizabeth and GG's birthdays. Together they are 96 years old. GG is 88 and Elizabeth is 8.
What a blessing it is to have both of these beautiful people in my life.
My mother is a Saint. Literally. She raised 12 children in very poor circumstances. My father was a very talented man, but had a very bad habit, (drink) that kept us from ever having anything. My mother kept us together and loved each of us for who we were. Happy Birthday Mama, I love you so deeply and am so thankful that you are still in my life. I know our time is growing shorter and I dread the day I have to say a final earthly goodby to you. I look forward to you never being in pain though and I know that the only way that is going to happen is when our Lord takes you to his own.

Elizabeth (#6314) was born on her GG's 80th birthday. She is a beautiful and delightful child. She loves to help her grandma with cleaning when she comes to visit. She is very tender with her younger cousins and loving to everyone she meets. Elizabeth, you are the "Delight of my life" and I am very proud to be your gramma.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN MY LIFE

Two Birthdays

Gramma almost blew it. There were two birthdays this week and I let one go by unacknowledged.
On February 10th Brystan Wesley (2310) turned 12 years old. Gramma is so sorry I forgot to highlight you darling.
I am also sorry I could not find a picture that was not so fuzzy. Bry is one of the most gentle kind young men I know. When he goes out to play with his cousin and his little girl cousin wants to tag along, he takes her under his wing and lets her do everything they do. Climb trees, slide down muddy banks, ride bikes. He is there with her and protects her from any harm. He never tells her no, he adjusts their play to include her. That is the way he is. Kind, gentle, protective and loves to laugh. Gramma loves you the Most Bry. You make me proud all of the time.

Today, Benjamin David (5114) is nine. You have never in you life met a more energetic lively and dramatic boy than Ben. His mother made the wise decision to enroll him in Christian Childrens Theater this spring. Gramma is waiting for him to soar to great new heights. He will command any performance he is in. Good or bad, that is just the way it is. Ben is good at getting in and taking over. He wants to organize everything and he is good at it.
He is also a fabulous cook. Ben lives further away from me than some of the others so I do not see him as often as I would like. He does come and spend a week with gramma and papa during the summer to go to VBS. It is a week we all look forward to. Cousins and gramma and papa. Always remember Ben, Gramma loves you the Most.
Happy Birthday to both of you. You are true gifts to this family sent to us from God.

I almost missed it

TODAY IS LIZZIES BIRTHDAY!!
Happy birthday to Lizzie, one of the funniest bloggers in blogger world. She is also very caring and compassionate, except when it comes to mothers and blogs. But other than that she is the BEST and I hope she has the happiest of birthdays ever. Also hope the Honda was in her parking space with a big red bow on it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIZZIE

YOU ARE A WONDERFUL FRIEND.

BE SURE TO GO GIVE HER BIG BIRTHDAY WISHES IF YOU HAVEN'T

Happy Birthday To You

Happy Birthday

Dear Tricia

Happy

Birthday


To You!!!