Happy 50th Anniversary Mom and Dad

My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 3rd of this year.  They were married in 1961.  Wow!  Way to go you guys!  (I won't comment how old that means you are....let's just say, you both look great!

In honor of their special accomplishment, my siblings and their spouses all went out to dinner....just the adults!  I think that was the first time we've ever done that without at least a kid or two.  They wanted to go to Red Lobster, and since we aim to please, we granted their wish.  I am not a seafood lover and neither is my brother's wife, but we survived.  I had chicken, just incase you were wondering.  Todd, however, was so excited.  We've only been to Red Lobster one other time and I don't remember much about it.  So he was thrilled when he heard we were going there.  My  poor, deprived husband!

Mom and Dad.....still smiling!

I decided in order to be fair, I would post the family pictures in chronological age....sorry Wendy.

Wendy and Anthony 

Melissa and Todd

Brad and Michelle

(my younger sister wasn't there)

And here is the beautiful card we gave them.  Yes, I made it.  I know, you can hardly contain yourself because it's so cute..... :)

50 years...

...and still swimming!



It was a fun evening.  We gave them a gift certificate to Red Lobster, so they could go again sometime....they love the place, but don't go very often, and 6 movie tickets.  After dinner, we got all the cousins together and "hung out" at our place.  It really was great!

Congrats Mom and Dad for 50 years!  I didn't say you were swimming well, but at least you're still treading water.  (HA)   Keep it up!  We love you both!

Happy 17th Birthday Eric!

Eric turned 17 years old on June 5th.  I know I always seem shocked whenever my kids have a birthday because they are growing up TOO fast......and since I still feel the same today, I'll spare you the details of my pending doom of growing-up children!  Just know that I AM shocked of how quickly the time is going and I don't like it!

Since his birthday was on Sunday (and a Fast Sunday at that), we had a pretty mellow day as a family. Eric requested Chicken Alfredo for dinner, so of course, I obliged. 

This cake looks terrible.  I know that. You don't need to tell me. I asked Eric what kind of cake he wanted and he said, "white with pink frosting."  I didn't have 17 candles to put on it, so I decided to write on it instead.  It was cuter in my head.....for some reason, when I started to write, the gel "frosting pen" leaked and exploded on the cake.  I'm sure it had nothing to do with me......either way, it still tasted good and my boys didn't seem to mind that you could barely read the sentiment.....

Eric got a guitar strap and a "clamp-thing" for his guitar too.  He also got a new game for his PSP. 

We love you Eric.  You are such a wonderful example of righteousness to your brothers and we are so proud of you!

Happy Birthday Eric!

Oh, and one more thing.....Eric made Madrigals last week.  The current Mads came and got Eric at 2:30 in the morning (Tuesday night) and took him  away for the rest of the day.  They had breakfast at someone's house, walked around a bit in the dark, blind-folded, then went to school.  The Mads made him wear a sign that said, "Hello!  My name is Eric Jones.  I made Madrigals!  Please make me sing I'm a Little Teapot."

Congrats Eric!  What a fun experience you are going to have!  Way to go son!

Planting the Garden

We planted our garden this year as a family.  What a great idea!  Sadly, we've actually never done this all together, so this was a first.  It was fun and it might be the starting of a new tradition.....stranger things have happened.....

Jacob was thrilled to be in on the planting.....

Even I got my hands dirty.....and trust me, the other hand was dirty too.....

Kyle was sick with Strep, but he came out with his blanket and watched, so we could all be together.  Poor kid.....he didn't feel well at all.

Brandon was a great help!  Way to go Brandon!  Beautiful!

Eric and Dallin planting together.  I am really going to miss these days when these kids are all grown up....

We borrowed a tiller and Eric did most of it.  Good job son!

Even Dad helped.  He still couldn't bend well or get down on his knees, but he was a trooper! 

Sweet Kyle.  He just couldn't smile, he was too sick!

Brandon and Ziggy.  Yes, Ziggy was there too.  He didn't help much though.  I wish we could train him to do the garden.....

Cute Jacob!  (And FYI:  this outfit he is wearing is an Eric original)!  Awww, I can hardly stand it. 

This is a picture of only one side of our garden.....it's not too big, but it's just right for us!

Unfortunately, Todd says the cucumbers are already dead.  It's probably because I helped this year.  So much for tradition.......Oh well, maybe it's not the "harvesting" that matters......right?