Ten things you need to know about George...

.....because he's going to be ten years old tomorrow. He loves the primary colors.....and green (he has green hearing aids). His favorite food is um....I think macaroni and cheese. He can't eat candy because he has braces but he let me buy him a milk chocolate Hershey Bar the other day. Before braces, he liked Jolly Ranchers. He loves Club Penguin (not sure what that is) and he loves to play games on my computer and his Nintendo DS. He loves Science and Art at school and is good at both and loves to read. He reads most anything but especially has enjoyed the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, especially "The Lightning Thief". He is so good to read to his little brother at bed time (it always gets him a little extra time). He has a great imagination and wants to be a mechanical engineer and create roller coasters. George can dance and loves to be in plays. He recently finished a run at Tuacahn in "Once on This Island". He could keep up with the best of those high school kids. The number one thing I love about George is his ready smile and hug and "Grandma, I love you"....melts my heart. Happy Birthday, George. You make me happy.......

The picture above shows the box...this is the Loopin' Lightning" roller coaster he made out of the contents in the box.......and....

....he got a new bike. We like to meet at my mom's every Sunday night for cake and let the cousins play and get to know each other. Clint and Jandy showed up tonight in their fun new jeep and we were all out admiring or I should say.....lusting over it a bit so I had to add a picture.

This is too cute.....as they drove off with their little ones buckled in tight....

Evan and Matty are strapped in ready to go as well.....a good Sunday evening at Grandma's.....

If you've got a good book to read....

.....you're never bored and this book has been my best friend the last couple of days. Click on it to see what it's about but in a nutshell, it's about a woman surviving cancer who takes up fly fishing. Just reading it has taken me back to some pretty great "fishing" moments in our family. I'm so grateful that Scott was able to give each of our children some "fishing time" in one form or another and he tried early on to convert me....but I always thought fishing was about the "catch". Only if I knew then what I know now.....I would be his biggest fan whether I ever even held on to a fishing pole or not. I would be there cheering him on with the utmost of patience, listening to the quiet and watching the water glisten....for hours on end.

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Scott always loved fishing but in his later years, he took up fly fishing. He was so excited to get all the gear and try it on.

He only got to use it a couple of times, the first being at Pine Valley Reservoir and I was there, taking these great pictures that I treasure. He cherished his equipment and looked forward to learning this new skill. Reading this book has given me a new and greater appreciation for the sport, even to the point that I may take it up one day.

Before fly fishing, there were the "first day" of fishing season trips he would take the little ones on up to Enterprise. Sometimes we'd try our hand at Baker but Panguitch Lake is where he liked to take the girls and you can see here, they did have a bit of success. I think we even fried these up for supper that night.

Pretty soon, the little lakes and reservoirs around here didn't quite cut it so they headed up to Canada for the "big time" fishing and the boys were able to enjoy this with their dad a couple of times. Kyle, I do hope you get a chance to do this one day. (Kyle was on his mission and didn't get in on these).

....and just so you know, he's always been a "mighty fisherman". Here he is in his younger days....

....and we're watching from the shores of Pine Valley Res....waiting for the big catch. You'll want to know that we did catch enough for dinner that night. See if you can recognize who's in this pic.

This is what we used to do on date night ....and, to end with a fishing quote...."give a man a fish and you feed him a meal, teach him to fish and he'll be gone for a several hours every week-end..." or something like that.....!!!!! New on my "Bucket List"...."Learn to Fish". How do you feel about fishing?

I took a vacation from my vacation...

...if you consider a vacation doing whatever you want to do whenever you want to do it. That's what my days are like at home but I took a quick trip north to take James and Lauri's stuff up to them and to attend the wedding reception of Brittany (Mike and Karlene's daughter) and Tyler at La Caille.... Have you ever been there? Oh, my....talk about being transformed into another world. It was hidden (I got lost for about an hour trying to find it) along a little path just off Wasatch Blvd. and what a beautiful place. Worth the effort just to drive down the cobblestone path to take a peek and it was mighty fun mingling with all the Wells relatives. I love them all to pieces.

Then I pampered myself with a night at Little America and got lost in the memories of days gone by when Scott and I would stay there on our many trips for medical reasons and for seasonal vacays with the kids....good times. Now back to my summer days of leisure.....I do love a trip to Salt Lake once in a while. An added bonus was a visit with Diana and Phyllis, a stop at Blazing Needles with Phyllis, and as always, a sentimental stroll of Temple Square and the Church Office Building grounds reminiscing my days there on my mission. Last trip it was George Strait that got me there and back; this time it was North and South book on tape. On this Thankful Thursday, I'm grateful for my Ipod.

Happy Birthday to a dynamic duo...

.....and they will forever share their birthdays. Jakey will be 2 years old tomorrow and Scotty will be 4 on Wednesday. It's a pleasure to watch a daughter become a mother, especially to two, almost three little boys as I remember my days of mothering sons.

Here's one of my favorite poems from those early years that seemed so "never ending" then but passed ever so quickly: HER TWO LITTLE SHADOWS by Barbara Burrows

"I saw a young mother with eyes full of laughter, And two little shadows came following after; Wherever she moved, they were always right there--Holding onto her skirts, hanging onto her chair, Before her, behind her--an adhesive pair. "Don't you ever get weary as, day after day, Your two little tagalongs get in your way?" She smiled as she shook her pretty young head, And I'll always remember the words that she said: "It's good to have shadows that run when you run, That laugh when you're happy and hum when you hum--For you only have shadows when your life's filled with sun (sons)"

...and these two little boys do fill Traci's day with hard work and delight. Happy Birthday, to my North Carolina boys. I'll see you again real soon.

Oh my....please pardon my mistake...

.....and I'm giving Spencer his own post to prove that he too, is a dancer. I just forgot. My most vivid memory of his childhood when it comes to the arts is that I tried to make a singer out of him, trying to promise him the world if he would just perform....big mistake, but the boy can dance.

Isn't it good we have pictures? I don't remember this little jig....but I do remember the poncho and the Mexican Hat Dance. I have that poncho down stairs if any of your kids need it for future

programs. So sorry, Spencer....didn't mean to leave you out.

...and we all know that Lauri is the best dancer of all. Here she is gettin' down with the kids, teaching them some kind of line dance, I think they call it the Love Dance....Oh, I don't really know what it's called but it's fun. I just call it Lauri's dance.

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O.k....so I have a little "down time" since the wedding and so I finished a book today. I'm not sure it's one I'll recommend to any of my friends but I really liked it. Lately, I've been drawn to memoirs....(because I'd like to write my own). They seem a little different than just biographies as they are "stories" from people's lives, not just their life story. This one is about a woman that lost her husband (I always relate to those) in a tragic car accident. She became a Chaplain and was hired by The Game Warden Service of Maine. "Here If You Need Me"....is the story of kate Braestrup's remarkable journey from grief to faith to happiness--as she holds her family together in the wake of her husband's death, as she pursues his dream of becoming a minister, and as she ultimately finds her calling as a chaplain to serach-and-rescue workers. Her story is dramatic, funny, and deeply moving--an uplifting account of finding God through helping others and of the small miracles that happen every day when a heart is grateful and love is restored." From dancing to reading....there you have it for this day. Happy dancing and happy reading one and all.

I hope you dance....

.....I truly do. I wish we would all dance, every day, and I loved going to Maycee's Dance Review tonight and watching all the little kids dance. Some definitely better than others but everyone getting a chance....to dance.

I think I missed my calling in life because there truly is a "dancer" in me and I don't dance well but I love to watch it and imagine me doing all the fantastic things that real dancers can do and as I watched Maycee up there tonight, never missing a beat, it took me back to the day my girls were in dance and how I loved Dance Review night and watching the culmination of the whole year of dance even if it was...."this is my left foot, ha..ha..ha..ha..ha..ha..this is my right foot, ha..ha..ha..ha..ha..ha..that's why I'm laughing with delight, I know my left foot from my right." They have to start somewhere, right and that they did.

Dancing has always been a part of our family as the little girls and their friends spent countless hours and all through the house dancing and putting on shows.

(Here she is struttin' her stuff in Footloose)....and lest you think Traci is the only dancer in the family (she's the only one that pursued it, so to speak) let me set you straight.

Kyle can "cut a rug" believe you me....and it's pure joy to watch him and JoEllen break into country swing when they hear the beat....but Kyle got his start even earlier than that....here he is in Disneyland at Carnation Plaza with Heather May. They just happened to be there the same day we were and the two of them got out on the floor. I wonder if Heather did the asking? hm..........

...and I'm sure as Mason's reading this he's got to know this is coming because it's just got to be one of my all-time favorite "Mom Moments" when I went to the school on this day to a Homecoming Assembly and saw this amazing line dance that these boys had been working on for months....seriously, the coolest thing ever and I never miss a moment if I can get anyone to sit and watch the video; even to this day I have it close by and you know if I could, it would be posted here and on YouTube. I'll figure out how to do it one day for all to see.

Just wishing right now I had a picture of Kyle doing "Splish Splash" when he tried out for Mr. Dixie. I've shown that video to many an onlooker as well. So....if you have the choice to either sit it out or dance.....I hope you dance. I'm going to pull out my Zumba CD and get dancing....maybe there's still hope for me.

I need to fly....

After a couple months, I just get to missin' my friends on Southwest.

I think the first airplane ride I went on was back in the early 70's when I would fly with my little boys from Pullman, Washington to Salt Lake....I was always nervous then. The first time Scott took me over seas, we went to Finland and I was a nervous wreck. Now, it's like my shuttle and I just love the feeling of packin' the ol' suitcase (as much as I can get into a carry on) and head to Vegas to board my Southwest flight to Louisville, and now, Hillsborough. I have to keep a flight booked about every other month, that little something to look forward to. I get giddy when I think of cuddling in to my window seat, hoping for a clear day so I can look down and marvel at how high I am and still able to see the vast America below me or, I put on the Ipod playlist or book on tape and see how much of a knitting project I can get done on the 4 hour flight.....or just sit there and think. It's like being in another world for a few hours. I don't like to talk....I guess I should get to know people but it's so hard to carry on a conversation over the buzz and sounds of the plane. I have met some really nice people in flight but lately, I prefer the solitude. I haven't seen my Kentucky kids since January....way too long so I'm off in another week or two for a week in Louisville. I'm thankful on this "Thankful Thursday" to Wilbur and Orval Wright for their invention that keeps me connected to my faraway family. What are you thankful for?

Two years ago today.....

.....I was in Louisville, Kentucky waiting for Miller to arrive. Mason had graduated; Joyce had flown in and she and I were going to drive Mason's car cross country, home to Utah. As soon as we saw him and held him we headed out. My, how time flies when you are having fun and it has been fun to watch this little guy these last two years. This past few months he has really started talking and wanting to be one of the big boys.

This kid is fearless....he loves to climb, jump, run, throw....but it warms my heart when he gets a book and then backs up to me to have me lift him into my lap to be read to.

Here we are out to Joyce and Jay's and it's fun to see how he adores animals....especially dogs. Mason's neighbors have a dog that's the scariest thing ever...but he's Miller's best friend; constantly asking for "Bear" when we go outside. Maybe this kid's going to be our next veterinarian!!!!!Happy Birthday, Miller....you cutie patootie.....

You can have your cake.....

....and eat it, too and we did and it was sooooo good. (Is this just the most beautiful cake ever?...thanks, Jan. Amazing.)...and I want to do a little editing to this post and let you know the "truth" about this wedding. One of theeeee most agonizing experiences of my life.....because I HAD TO MAKE DECISIONS and they all seemed to be the wrong ones because deciding is not one of my strong points and I spent many sleepless nights perplexed over every one of them knowing for sure there was something better lurking out there but too late to do anything about it......but this cake was not one of them, in fact, it's the best thing that ever happened to a wedding and JoEllen's sister Jan, is an amazingly multi-talented busy woman that has done this two times for our family. If I have to pick my favorite part of this day (other than the whole temple experience) it would have to be this beautiful cake.
I have to be honest and admit that I was sleep-deprived and in pain with worry clear up to the big day but the decisions had already been made, the chairs and tables were placed, the tent was up, the video was finished and the cookies were in the jars.....(Lauri has given her chocolate chip cookies to about everyone on the planet so in honor of her, we decorated with "her" cookies).....

...(and a few other favorites to add some flair).....

....and as I arrived at the Alumni House about 12:00, after the pictures at the temple, it was like magic....every decision I'd made in the last 3 months was the right one....no, not just the right one but the "perfect" one. Things couldn't have gone more smoothly....the food was plentiful and good (better too much than not enough), the colors were bright and very "Lauri", the day was perfect, the guests were fun and it was just awesome to be surrounded by my family for the whole week-end and have their help and support (I did miss Spencer and Traci's families). Jason stayed with me the whole day, asking me several times what he could do to help me and ever-so-willing to do anything I asked. The boys had a few minutes before the guests arrived....a little "Dew" time to catch a breath before the crowds arrived.

Lauri is beautiful.....

James is a happy man.....

D'ya love the bow ties?.......Kyle's idea, professor that he is, but not willingly accepted by his brothers except for this picture. Thanks, guys, for humoring us a bit.

Thanks to my sister and Cynthia for letting me moan and groan about this for 5 months, to my children for helping me with "last minute" preparation and for clean-up, to my boys for doing all the heavy stuff (Kyle, thanks for the tent; it was perfect), to Traci for arranging the flowers so beautifully and professionally, to Jan and crew for the cake, to JoEllen for helping me make decisions and cookies and to Grandma Tobler's for coming to my rescue because I got tired of making cookies and to all the friends and family that came from far and near to help Lauri and James have a wonderful day. It was lots and lots of fun and as I know for sure, it's the hard things sometimes that are the most memorable. This was hard because it was miles out of my comfort zone but sometimes I can do hard things and I'm sooooo glad it's over and something we can look back on with a smile. The hardest part of anything like this is a few "regrets" and the biggest one is the thought that I may have left someone out. Hopefully, I will be forgiven.....but I'm grateful for the few I'd neglected sending invitations to that came anyway because they wanted to for Lauri, and I hope in the future I can learn from that and be one to support those I love. Thanks to anyone and everyone that not only helped us get through this but helped make this day shine.

I just love little girls and their twirls....some day it will be their wedding.

Like I'm gonna forget....

.....but just thought I'd post a sticky note for anyone out there that might not have this on their mind. I certainly do but I did take a bit of a break Saturday and headed up the road again to one of my favorite hang-outs with my good friend Stephanie Reber.....

Oscar's in Springdale.....a mighty fine place to dine.

Always a fun place to hang out with a friend and reminisce days gone by when we would take the kids to L.A. to Dodger ball games, San Francisco or San Diego following Bruce Hurst or hang out at the Sand Dunes and definitely, countless hours at the ball fields and even a run at the Western Regionals at San Bernardino. Now her son Dallen is fulfilling all the boys' baseball dreams and is heading to University of Kentucky. We will for sure be following him on his journey to the "bigs"......

I'm for whatever brings family and friends together....

.....and "Relay for Life" did that for us all last night. This is our 2nd annual gathering as "Hurricane Dental Group" to come together in celebration of those we know who have battled or are battling cancer and we do it to honor Scott but mostly we do it to come together for a night as a family, both the Wells family and the Dental Group family to participate in this good cause and support the Hurricane Community....(can't pass up an opportunity for a little pr work as well). I stayed all night last year....but, I'm a year older now and the arthritic joints started to call out to be home in bed so I gave in after my hour walk at 1:00 a.m. Ya gotta hand it to Joel for coming out for the 3 a.m. run though....wish I had a picture. (Penny and Sophie took the 1 a.m.)

Brent, Jillynn and kids, Cathy and her kids, Karen and Len and as always, Beverly and Feral come out to take their turn around the track. Bruce, Anita and Venetta joined us this year too. It's getting bigger every year.....

Darth Vader and the crew show up every year too.....

Like I said, good time for a little pr. We passed out little dental hygiene packets as well.

Mason fires up the grill ready to throw on the burgers......

The kids bust a move to the music playing over the intercom. This is one night they can do anything and eat anything they want. It's a party atmosphere for sure....

Showing off a little face painting........

Matty even came along and enjoyed the fun. Have I got you convinced to join us next year? I hope so....the more the merrier. Come on out on this Mothers' Day weekend. We'll sign you up.