HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIAN

Will someone please tell me where the past 11 years have gone. It seems like only a few short days ago that Brian was born, and instead it has been eleven years. How did that happen? We have had so much fun over the past few weeks planning his birthday party and finally today the big day arrived. Last night he was going crazy just thinking about his party. He said that he wished he had magical powers to make time go by quicker so that it would already be his party and then that he could relive it over and over after it was done.
The day started out with Gio and the boys hiking up "Y" mountain. I told them to beware because I heard that University of Utah fans get burned up there, but it least I knew that Brian would be safe and make it down for his party! Ever since Max Hall (the QB for BYU) moved into our neighborhood Brian is a fan! They had a fun time hiking up and even ran into one of Brian's friends, Kache, who would be coming to the party later today. (I got to stay home and clean the house, do laundry, and get things ready for the party!)



They had a really fun time on their hike and Brian was glad they went. I was just glad to see that my two "U" fans made it home safely! They were smart to leave their "U" shirts home today, especially since there was a BYU home game!
Then this afternoon several of Brian's friends came over to help us celebrate his birthday! It was a fun afternoon. We had a total of 11 boys (plus the three of us). We had pizza and cake outside in the play area where we live. It was great to have September 26th be a nice sunny dad and with 80 degree weather so that we could be outside!


Then we went back inside the house to open presents! (It was much to hot to stay outside!). Brian recieved some nice gifts from his friends, but I think he was most excited about the $80 total that he recieved!



Then it was off to Jump On It. It is a trampoline place that is near our home. The boys spent an hour or so jumping around and having fun. The were doing all sorts of flips, etc. It was really fun to watch them and their imaginations as the played together. Thank goodness no one got hurt!! It was really fun and I think we will have to go there again sometime.


It was a great day and I hope that Brian enjoyed it because we enjoyed doing it for him!
Here are a few pictures of Brian from the past. I don't have too many in the computer to pick from, but just wanted to share some since this post is dedicated to him.










Just a few quick things about Brian:
He loves his family and especially his brother!
He loves any sport that involves a ball
He is good in math and loves challanges with math problems
He loves to make up stories and draw them out
He enjoys playing with is friends as much as possible
He is a good student at school and is diligent about getting his work done
He loves our cat, Tibi
He is looking forward to being and 11 yr old scout
He hates clowns (our fault for that one-it will take another post to explain)
He loves to ride his bike and rip stick
He loves popcorn
He isn't too much of a sweet eater
Golden Coral is is favorite restraunt

Brian we love you!!! Happy Birthday!!!

WHAT'S UP!

It has been another fun week. We are trying to take advantage of this great weather as long as we possibly can. We know it won't last long! Today was somewhat cooler 67 degrees, but by the weekend up to 80 again...How long will it last??? No one really knows.
This past week Giovanni and I went for a walk up to Bridal Veil falls. It is up in Provo Canyon about 10-15 minutes from our house. We took lunch up there and had a great walk and had some nice quiet time, something that doesn't happen much! The leaves are changing and it was so nice to be up in the middle of nature.

This past weekend we had another Italian night! Oh my what fun!!! By the time people came and went, and stayed, we figure there were close to 80 people. We had such a fun time. There was music, food, dancing, talking and laughing, and the kids loved the pool. We are so lucky to have the clubhouse, but for sure the next party will need to be in a larger place. I hope a tradition has started with this and we can get more people to come! It was so nice to hook up with old friends that we haven't seen for a while, and to make new ones!




The highlight of the week however, came on Sunday evening. Robert was ordained and Elder in our church. What a neat experience for him and our family. We are so proud of him and that he has lived his life in such a way to be ready for this next important step that he has chosen to take.
Grandpa Norman and Grandma Lorraine came down to share this special time with us. It was nice to have them there. I know that Grandma Martha was looking down and smiling as well. The next big step will be turning in his mission papers and getting his call.

Robert with Bishop Chipman

We have been busy with work for Gio and I, and school work for the boys,along with institute, scouts, work for Robert, and some play time too. Our lives never seem to be dull and I think that is a good thing!

TIME FOR CELEBRATING AND A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE

This past week we had a lot of fun! Last week was Giovanni's 45th birthday. We just did a small family celebration. Gio isn't too big on parties. We went to Tucano's for lunch (love it when we get coupons for free meals!), then we went and bought him some new shoes for working out in. Excercise has become his new hobby so we thought it was an appropriate and useful gift. Then we went to FatCats and played a few games of bowling! It was a fun day spent with boys!



Then this past weekend I attended a Fremonters in Utah reunion! It was such a great afternoon. And to think that I didn't want to attend! After not seeing people for 25 years it was so good to catch up with everyone! I saw old friends, bishops, young women leaders, etc. It was a true walk down memory lane. I am so thankful for the chance I had to "re-make" friends. I look forward to keeping in touch with them more often! We were all so young and to see how we have grown and where life has taken us. How great. A lot of them don't realize it, but they played a huge part in my life and helping me to be the person that I am today. I didn't know how thankful I was for them, until this past weekend!



After the reunion, we went to the annual Grandview Neighborhood Picnic. It was good to spend the evening with friends and enjoy the last days of summer! We live in such a wonderful neighborhood. I really can't imagine living anywhere else! It has been a wonderful place to raise our boys and we have made good friends. This really is home!


What a great life we have! And what a great week it has been to celebrate and take walk down memory lane!!!

61 YRS AGO TODAY!

Today is a special day! My mother, Martha, and my father, Norman, were married! I know that mom has been gone for 5 years now and dad is remarried to Lorriane, who is a wonderful person (and we are so thankful she is in our family), I still had to put up a small post just to say Happy Anniversary. In my mind and heart they are still married and always will be.
Love you mom and dad! Thanks for starting this great family!

SEPTEMBER 11

I will always remember where I was that morning. I will never forget the feelings that I felt. As I sat and watched the news that day all I could think of was the lives that were lost and what horrible people would want to do such a thing.
As days past and stories came to surface about all the heros I realized that in the middle of tragdey people found courage and strength. I found hope and pride, in myself and in our country. I have always been proud to be an American, but that day and the weeks and years since then, I stand a little taller and I love my country even more.
No words will ever be able to express the feelings and emotions that I felt, or that others have felt. I will not know the pain that families have suffered, however, I hope that by my actions and words and I can pay tribute to all those who died that day.
I will never forget! And they will never be forgotten!

PAPERS

This week went by pretty quick!
Robert and Brian are slowly getting into their routines with school, work, scouts, callings, etc....
Brian feels very independent because we are letting him ride his bike to school while the weather is still good and not too cold in the mornings. I have to admit that the first couple of days I followed him up the hill to the school just to make sure that he got there safely. I hate the round about that he has to go through and they are doing some road construction close to our house so it makes me nervous. He's done a great job and I feel okay about it now. He loves it because after school he'll call me on his cell phone and say something like, "hey mom, this is Brian, I've finished my homework so can I go to so and so's house to play?" and off he goes. It is nice to not have to drive him everywhere all the time.
For fine arts at school he is doing ball room dancing and loves it. There are several boys and girls in the class that he knows, and one of them is Talon, one of his best friends, so they have a blast! I can't wait to see him perform. He will practice at home, and has a lot of fun with it!
Robert on the other hand is so busy! Thank goodness for weekends so that he can relax and play some. I know he is looking forward to Monday and no school! He has classes every day, and home work all the time (finally has figured out the on line home work thing, but still weird for him), he has a study group for Chemistry, and then institute, Webelos (assistant den leader) and work, plus what ever else comes up so his plate is full.
These past couple of days have been exciting. He has met with our Bishop (in our church ward) and has begun the process for submitting his mission papers! I can't believe it. When he brought some stuff home the other day I got a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. We are so proud of Robert. He has made this choice on his own and he really wants to go. He has said that he isn't going to write me because I will just cry and worry about him. I told him if he didn't write I would be on his door step, or calling his mission president. I know he'll write, he better write, I hope he writes! Also in about two weeks he will be ordained an Elder and receive the Melchizedek priesthood. What a wonderful event in his life. This past year he has grown so much.
Brian and Robert are very close even though there are almost 8 years between them. They both teach each other a lot and have been a good example for each other. Robert is now setting another example for Brian. That is what brother's do!
Gio and I are doing the same thing...work and boys!
This past week was filled with some fun football games! We watched the Utah Utes on Thursday night and they won their first game! It was great! We bleed red!, except for Brian! Then on Friday night we went to the Provo High game. It was their first home game. They were 2-0 and we were hoping for a win, but they lost. It was still fun to be there with all the kids....though not the same without Robert and all his peeps around, but fun. Then last night we watched BYU against Oklahoma. What a game!! We aren't huge BYU fans, but we always want them to win, especially since Max Hall, the QB is our neighbor, and this is his senior year. It was so fun to watch and we really got into it at the end! This year I think we are red and blue until the final game against each other, then we are a house divided....
Hope you all are doing well....and enjoying these last few days of summer.

"IT" has begun!

It has begun! We are 2 weeks into school for Brian, and one for Robert and here we are....doing homework. I don't get it! That is what I should be saying, but instead that is what the boys are saying, so Gio and I are starting our 5th grade and college educations all over again.
Brian has forgotten his homework folder at school once already so I had to take him to school and go inside and sign his paper for him. He didn't want to break his run of having 100% homework assignments turned in since Kindergarten. I don't blame him, however, he now knows that if he forgets it mom won't be going in to sign anymore.
He has left his water bottle at school a few times too. Thank goodness for drinking fountains to fill it up. The winner was yesterday. He just HAD to go out and play with a neighbor friend and had done his math and said he would read in the evening. As reading time came around he sat down with dad to do it, then found out that Robert was having a girl from his Chemistry class come over to do an assignment together, and Brian forgot everything. He was more interested in the new person coming to our house. So at 9:45 PM as he is going to bed (already 30 minutes late), he remembers that he has some vocabulary words that he needs to do. So needless to say this morning we are doing homework, and he is eating breakfast, and trying to rush through everything so he can ride his new bike to school...well...he had to redo the assignment about 4 times until he got it right. Is alphabetizing that hard?
No bike today. Maybe on Wednesday.
Then there is Robert, that had never done a homework assignment on line...oh my! That is all I want to say. He finally figured it out and got a 100% on it, but it took a while. And he really needs to figure out that for Chemistry you need to read the book (just like for all his other classes as well). It is going to be a long semester. For all four of us!
But, I love it! I go crazy and so does Gio, but I'm so thankful to have those two boys, and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for them.
Also....I have started a diet. I think that if I put it here in the blog I will have more pressure to stick to it. I'm doing something kind of crazy for about a month. A liquid protein type of thing, then starting October I'll be on solid food again, and doing Weight Watchers. I'm not the best at doing diets and I seem to yo-yo...up and down with my weight, and right now I'm on the up side...so time to do something about it. Peer pressure might just help out some! Gio has done great! For about 2 months or so he has exercised 4-5 times a week and has lost about 10-12 lbs and is in much better shape. I admire him that he can stick to it and do it. He tries to motivate me, but I just need to get up and do it, so here it goes!
It has begun! (Whatever it may be!)
Wish us all luck!