Kaylee says, "Hi!"

Kaylee getting wet and Pa Pa and Kaylee together!

Neal and I have had the added blessing of having Kaylee stay with us this week. She is Jeffrey's 2 year old daughter. We are having so much fun and she is so cute. She is smart, too! She likes to watch, "Shawn the Sheep" movies, she likes to read, she likes to blow bubbles, or more likely catch the ones we blow. She can play the game "Matching" and find most of the pairs. She is blessed with a great memory. "Grandma, you said we would have ice cream before bed." Oops, have I forgotten how smart her dad was at bedtime. Anyway, Kaylee and Grandpa just finished having a water fight. Kaylee said, "Grandpa got me wet!" I said, "He is in trouble!" She said, "Why? I liked it!" We are going to be kept young with grandchildren like her around. Jeffrey works in Portland during the week and comes out all weekend. It works for all of us. Life is Good! Love, Laura

P.S. "Pa Pa, I love you! Kaylee :-)

Happy Anniversary to us!

Spring Break!!!

We had the most fun over the past few weeks. Melissa, Manhattan, Marin, and Maxwell came out from Ohio for my Spring Break!
Morgan was home working. Derrick, Jennifer, Rachael, Megan, and Ethan came out from Kennewick, Washington. Jeffrey and Kaylee came out from their home in Portland. We missed Michael, Esther, Chantelle, Lauren and Alexander as they could not come from Alaska this time. We hope to have them out next year. We had a grand time with everyone who was here. Bronner and Jessica were here to join in the festivities. We went to the beach and put 8 kites together, but guess what, no wind. This was a first that I can remember when the kids were here. We went to a wonderful park in Astoria. The kids went bowling one day while Neal and I were at work. We have a local park in our neighborhood and we walked there every day to swing and look for deer. We had several projects going on here at home. I made the kids all hats. We decorated and framed a picture of the Savior and had them completed for Easter. We went to church together with all of the children in the Easter best, so cute. The girls joined Jessica, my Achievement Girls, and myself for an Easter Activity. It was lots of fun. We colored Easter eggs. Jennifer and Melissa took turns cooking and I just totally enjoyed my grandchildren. They were all very well behaved and such a pleasure to be with and to play with all day and everyday. We then followed Melissa and the kids to Sacramento, California, and enjoyed seeing Morgan and his family for the actual Easter weekend. Morgan joined us all there so that both grandparents could be together for Maxwell's blessing. It was very special. Neal and I are very glad we have been blessed to be to all of our grandchildren's blessings. Life has really been very good to us. Well, enjoy the pictures and if you are still home with your children, enjoy them. Time goes really quickly.
Love, Laura and Neal

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Bronner and Jessica just returned from a trip to Ventura, California. They had a great visit with Uncle Bob and Aunt Jean. Brought some yummy oranges back and some beautiful pictures. Apparently, Uncle Bob and Jessica bought some new hats. In fact they have started a new Hat Club. The real name of the club is "Vintage" Uncle Bob. I laughed my head off when I found out that sweet Aunt Jean actually (by accident) named the club all by herself. One day Bob came home wearing the hat and she told him he looked like a "??". The name stuck. So, of course, Jessie bought me one as well and now I am a member. Yes, my children, Aunt Jessie is rubbing off on me and I am loving every minute. Whether you like our appearance or not, I have to tell you the hat is very warm and cozy when walking here on the cold and windy beaches of Oregon. This is a true story, no blarney! Love to you all and Happy St. Patrick's Day! Laura

Kaylee and Jeffrey's Visit!!!

Grandpa & Grandma

Kaylee and Papa

Kaylee brought our son, Jeffrey, to visit us at the coast this weekend. She is a beautiful little girl, if I say so myself. She is very self reliant and has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. (Which is as it should be!) We thoroughly enjoyed every minute with them. Whether it was watching a Disney movie with her, dancing with her to the music, building castles, reading books, and/or playing with our dollhouse together. She loves it all! We loved having Jeffrey here as well. He was helpful fixing a car with dad. He brings a quiet but sweet spirit to our home and I am always glad when he comes. We miss him a lot when we don't see him often. He works hard at his job and then is a wonderful daddy. We also went to the beach. Believe it or not, the wind did not blow enough to fly our kites. However, Jeffrey had bought Kaylee a smaller Tinker Bell kite and he ran up and down the beach to get it in the air for Kaylee. She loved it. She also likes to run after Abby and she lets Abby pull her around. She likes to dig in the sand with Grandpa and me. All in all it was a wonderful weekend. Bring daddy again, Kaylee. We had a great time!Love, Grandma xoxoxo

Collin Raye Concert

Tonight was our 40th anniversary! That is the anniversary of our first date. We went to Disneyland back in 1970. We obviously had a wonderful time. But, tonight was magical to me. Neal won tickets to the concert at work. He came home Friday night and he announced in a by the way, sort of voice that he had tickets to a concert for Saturday night at the Liberty Theater in Astoria. I had him repeat it to me, what, Collin who? I was on the phone with Esther and she said that he was one of Michael's favorite singers. Then, it dawned on me. He sings "OUR SONG". At least, this is what I call it. The song is called, "One Boy, One Girl". If you have heard it you will know that it is about a very young couple falling in love practically at first sight. Neal and I met on a Wed. morning, February 11th, 1970. He was dressed in a shirt and tie, very tan, and his hair was streaked with blond. He also had a life guard physique. He was, after all, a swimmer. I was also fit and trim with brown hair streaked with blond. I was a California girl, after all, and spent most weekends and the summer at the warm California beach. Anyway, to make a long story, sort of short. We noticed each other that day. We smiled and smiled at each other from two rows away. Later, Neal held the door of our classroom open for several students while waiting to talk to me. We began talking and walking together everyday after class. Then, we had our first date at Disneyland, and the rest is as they say, "History". So, last night we are being very entertained by Collin Raye. All of a sudden, I remember, it just pops in my head that our first date was on Friday, the 13th of March, 1970. I lean over to my usually very romantic husband as the song, "One Boy, One Girl" comes on and I whisper about it being our first date anniversary. What does he say, "Right, you know that for a fact???" I punched him lovingly in the arm. He is still, today, teasing me, questioning my memory, and my reason. Now, why would I lie about this! It really happened. We were both there. And, someday soon, I will find my journal and prove it to him. It was a lovely evening. I do love being with Neal even with the teasing. I swear to anyone who reads this, that I am telling the absolute truth. Any other man would have taken credit for remembering such a lovely day. Not my Neal, he has to argue about it with me. Anyway, Collin Raye was just wonderful. It was an enjoyable night. Laura xoxoxo

Family with us on the Coast!!

Build-a-Snowman!

Hi, Bronner and Jessica have moved to the Oregon Coast! We are so excited to have them here with us. They got here on January 5, 2010. Their boys, Jarrid and Blake, helped them move up here. We rode with them to Portland to drop the boys off at the airport. We had lunch with Jeffrey and Kaylee. A treat for everyone! Then, we stopped at the mall on the way to the airport. Jessica had the idea for us to make a snowman together. It was silly but totally fun! They had dinner with us last Sunday. It is really great having family here with us. Happy New Year to you all. Love, Laura