For he's a jolly good fellow.....

....which nobody can deny! Spencer graduated on Friday....the only "Pain Medicine Fellow" and as funny as it sounds, in academia it means "a period of medical training that a physician may undertake after completing a medical specialty" Spencer's specialty being "pain management" so he has been a "Pain Fellow" which I think has a magical ring to it, don't you? Anyway, mighty proud of this kid and of Shana....they've put in a lot of long years and persevered to pursue this goal and now they are heading "home".....and, with sad endings and new beginnings come a lot of tears but Kentucky has been good to them and as I have seen their neighbors and friends come in droves, I know the Wells Family has been good for Kentucky. Well done, Spencer and Shana, Laynee, Drew, Seth and Jack. As my favorite quote from the movie "Hope Floats"....."....endings are hard, beginnings are scary....it's what's in the middle that counts" and you made those years in Kentucky count. Welcome home......
We enjoyed a lovely afternoon together at the Audubon Country Club. The graduation gift is supposed to be a large pottery bowl with his name engraved but someone dropped it on the way.......
....but he did receive this "huge" bowl of cold cereal in honor of his years at University of Louisville, probably thriving on nothing but cold cereal as the rest of them headed out for their expensive lunches. I guess the story is that he was willing to share a locker with a colleague only if the colleague kept it filled with cereal. This will get him through the next two weeks for sure. I always knew something good would come from those cold breakfasts you consumed all through your growing years,Spence. Didn't hurt you a bit....say I!

No cold cereal here.....Ballpark hotdogs.....the best. I forgot how much I love the ball park. We had a great evening at a Dodger/Reds game.....fireworks night, the best I've ever seen. It was just an amazing evening.

One last picture in front of the Louisville Temple. Good bye Louisville. It's been a great nine years.
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And now on to another "fine fellow".... meaning: a "really good guy". Happy Birthday James. We are glad you joined the fam.....and we know you are a good husband but it's been so fun to watch you be a really great dad.

Hope you're having a great day......

Lucky to be in Kentucky.....

......I've been coming here three or four times a year for the last nine years while the boys have been in school and, a little sad that this is my last time here....but happy 'cause the last of the Kentucky Wells Clan is moving home....so what do we do to celebrate? We find our Kentucky faves.......which consist of....

.....wings at B-Dubs.....yum....(Shana has a Mac @#$%#@! and I can't put these pictures in order so this will have to do.....random favorites.......

Bourbon Ball French Toast at Lynn's Paradise Cafe....(as seen on Throw-down with Bobby Flay) on the Food Network....

.....Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip ice cream at Graeters......double yum....Seems like we're "eating our way through Louisville" and we probably are. I remember the good ol' days when we lived in Fresno and would travel north to San Francisco area with Mark and Marian and would eat non-stop at all their favorite places. That's what we're doing here pretty much.

....another shot of Paradise......

.....a little b-ball on the front lawn .....

....and Drew "ramping"....... We waited for dark hoping for some fire flies but none appeared. I enjoyed watching Spencer hit tennis balls to Mason and Drewby and just enjoyed the nice Louisville evening. This afternoon we're headed to a Reds game in Cincinnati then graduation tomorrow. Later......

Just so ya know...

......this will be my address some day and I have to come up once a year to make sure I haven't moved in yet. Another great day to meet at the cemetery and honor our loved ones that have gone before....(and actually be grateful that I'm not one of them)....

It's always good for the kids to know where their names are from and be able to see it on a headstone and learn a little bit about those they have not met.....

.....and my favorite part of it all is the anticipation of who might also be there....

....then breakfast at "The Corral"....

...after which I headed on up the road for my first day on the job at the Pine Valley Chapel. I volunteered to help with guided tours and it sure felt good to wear the badge again....so much fun. I'll be up there about every 3rd Monday this summer....yay for me!!!!!!! (This picture looks like I'm being bonked on the head by Relief Society!!!)

...and to make a great day even better, we ended with an early birthday celebration for George and we learned it is actually to ones advantage to be indecisive.....just buy him one of each. Happy Birthday to a really special kid....they don't come much better than George Elliott Wells.

Hope you had a great Memorial Day 2011....I sure did!!!!!

Speaking of birthdays...

.....I got this idea for my next birthday from Wed. night's episode of "Modern Family". It's Jay's birthday and the episode was about the crazy gifts that everyone decided they had to do the last minute to make it special for him when all he wanted was a quiet day of fishing by himself. Anyway, Claire and Mitchell decided to recreate a picture that was taken of them as children and they sneaked into the yard at their former childhood home and a vicious dog chased them up a tree....anyway....TMI. So...I found the picture I want re-created for my next birthday and I'm just giving my boys a "heads up" so they can see that it happens. Let's get crackin' boys.....and, um....make sure you capture those same looks...gotta be as authentic as possible. ********************************
Just a few pics from Memorial Days Past.....a yearly tradition to visit the graves of our loved ones...............
...and I love the flags at the graveyard each year in honor of those who have lost their lives serving our country. Lot's to be thankful for.....and many great lives to honor and remember. Have a safe and happy Memorial Day Week-end.

Sending wishes to my Birthday Boys.....

I just love this picture of these two little guys...they almost share a birthday, just a day apart and two years apart in age. There will come a time they will want their own day, but for now, I'm sure they are happy to share. Happy Birthday, boys. There's a grandma here across the country that misses you so....
I have to depend on Traci's blog and a WebCam once in a while to keep up on the lives of the Staheli boys....they sure are growing and changing fast.

Traci is my hero....making life exciting for these little ones. Can't wait to see the cakes and hear about the celebrations...wishing I were there to share.
I'm going to add my HAPPY BIRTHDAY poem as I loved reading Traci's. Click HERE to read her versions. Hope you don't mind, Traci, if I put my version right here on my blog. Couldn't get Mr. Blogger to cooperate so I had to print it out and scan it in. So here it is..........

Traci's three little shadows....."...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 full of sun"....and I'm glad your life is full of "sons".

It's Miller time again...

....and just three years ago this very day, Joyce and I greeted Miller and welcomed him to the world then headed off on our amazing road trip across the U. S. of A. It was a very good day when Miller was born and today will be a good day too. Let's go to Mickey D's....k?

...or we could go get a Blue Sumarai at Swig....

...or just hang out at the pool and eat pizza. Whatever you do, big guy, just make sure you party like it's your birthday 'cause it is. Happy #3 Miller.

My weed has bloomed...but I just looked up Holly Hock and it's really not a weed but I always thought it was so I let it bloom then have one of the boys try to dig it up but it just won't go away. Not sure from whence it came but I do like it when it blooms. What I've read about them is that they are stubborn little buggars and some people don't like them and try to get them to go away but they just won't.....so I'll just let my little Holly Hock keep on bloomin' whenever it wants to. Anybody got any info on Holly Hocks?

Where were you...

....one year ago today? We were all at James and Lauri's wedding and a glorious day it was. I hope they are celebrating in fine fashion. Take this time to think of your own wedding day, remember your vows to love, honor and cherish and if you are lucky enough to have your spouse close by, give him/her a hug and an "I love you" in honor of Lauri and James.

I love "family time" and it's always fun to have an occasion that gets us together.
...speaking of "time", how about "Hammer Time"......
Ya gotta dig those M.C. Hammer pants....and Mason had the moves when he was a young 'un. He was picked to do an anti-drug music video in 6th grade and got to show off those dancing genes he inherited from my dad (who loved to "cut a rug" as well and could do it with the best of 'em)....and speaking of "dancing genes"......
....Mason passed his on to Maycee and we got to see her strut her stuff last night at her dance review. I love to remember those days and Mason was a much better sport about it than his father. Once my girls were done, Scott was outta there.....but Mason stuck it out to the very end with a smile on his face the whole time. Maycee was adorable....and maybe some of those genes came from her mother 'cause Mandy was a Super Stepper. Great job Maycee and once again, Happy Anniversary today, Lauri and James. There's always lots to celebrate!!!!!

Do you hear what I hear?

.....could have been the name of George's Science Fair Project and he did a mighty fine job, I must say.
He studied the effects of a high pitched ring-tone that only "young ears" can hear and tested people to see if this was true.....and it was and he won 2nd place at the Regional Science Fair yesterday at the Gardner Center. Way to go George......
....and you didn't even use our Wells Family "recycled" science project about germs.
That one served us well for many years. Kyle's started out with testing to see if a dog's mouth was more "germy" than a human's mouth by having Traci and Lauri share an ice cream with Blondie then testing both mouth's for germs. Seems the dog won out on that one.......
....then Lauri took another "twist" on it and proved why it is important to wash your hands and Traci even another one.....which restaurant's have the cleanest tables. She went to eating establishments and took swabs of their tables....if I'm not mistaken, those little green place mats at Fairway Grill were a breeding ground for germs. It's been fun through the years to watch the kids succeed at their science projects (even if the dad's come up with the ideas)....it's good bonding and good times.
********************************
MY LITTLE DOSE OF "STARS HOLLOW"....at our annual Dixie College Employee Carnival. The skies were blue, the weather mild and just a little bit of "small town America".
I love Don Reid's family that plays for 3 straight hours every year and Emily "rocked it" on the climbing wall.

In my kitchen you have two choices....

.....take it or leave it...but at my mom's there's usually at least two...and oft times even more when you figure all the stuff you can do with cake, like put milk on it, eat it with ice cream, eat the ice cream separate with chocolate or caramel sauce or do all of this at once....you get the picture....if you don't, I'm giving you one here from the days gone by!
You have to take the "cheesy" scrapbook page that comes along with it. I was just going through some of the scrapbooks tonight while the wee ones were ravaging (to bring heavy destruction on, devastate) and came across this little beauty and thought it would make for a good blog post along with Sunday Evenings Present.....which consisted of not ONE but TWO choices this evening....
....and the kids taking a break from a very intense game of "Anti I Over" or "Andy I Over"...whatever.....(I tried googlin it but no one seems to really know about this one).
...and remember when I talked about "the drawer" where the Cinnamon Bears are stashed? Well, guess what they found in there tonight?? A little "left-over Easter" perhaps?????
I just have to pay tribute to my WONDERFUL MOM who never tires of letting us reak havoc and who fights through her pain on a daily basis to keep our lives "normal". I saw her on Saturday and she was hurting so badly she could hardly move....but Sunday morning, up and gone to church...."might as well be there as here" is her mantra and she even made a custard for Jimmy and two cakes for us. When I'm in pain and whining or when I see people that think they know pain, I wanna just kick 'em in the britches and tell 'em they don't even have a clue about pain.....bless your heart dear Mom 'O Mine. I don't tell you enough that you really are my hero in a lot of ways. I hope you had a fulfilling Mother's Day.
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Now I'm gonna give a shout out here to all of my "Out of State" kidlins...they got to be all together this past week-end in North Carolina hosted by Traci. Nothin' makes a mom's heart happy like children that want to be together and it was fun to hear about the fun they had.

The Staheli and the Wells kids hoopin' it up at the Children's Museum. Click on the picture to get the full effect of these sweet faces. Love y'all. Glad the cousin's got some good ol' bonding time.

"I get sentimental...

....whenever I hear, the school songs of Dixie, or meet with the old gang....." I was feeling a bit sentimental today as I anticipated Dixie's 100th graduating class walking through the "D"....ironic enough though...they didn't actually walk through the "D" for the first time in a long time. They had graduation then separate convocations in different colleges where the diplomas were presented. Times they are a changin'.....but I couldn't help get some of the same old feelings I got way back 41 years ago when I graduated and had to say goodbye to some really dear friends....and realized it was time to "grow up" and move on.
Clark had gone on his mission and when he got back, we both finished Dixie together. Those were good years and good memories.....it's good to still be here and experience the growth and watch Kyle as he participates. I slipped in and saw him sitting with the faculty in his regalia....It made me pretty darn proud. President Monson (click HERE to read about it in the Church News) was the guest speaker so tickets were hard to come by but I watched it on the internet. Dixie College has been good to me and to my family....and once again.."we've sung the last refrain, it's time for us to part...strange how quickly the moments take flight, la la la la hate saying good night....but we must, though it's just.....for now". (Can't remember the words right there if
there's anyone that wants to help me out).

Need a good read?

One that will calm you down and put you right to sleep? Here's what I suggest.


I'm actually reading it right now....well....actually, just Chapter 19. You can pick one up on Amazon.com (click HERE) for a mere 58.65, just marked down from 95 bucks.

Congratulations, son....way to be published.

It's just what we do....

.....and glad to do it in the name of giving these little ones the very best start in life they can possibly have and James gave a wonderful blessing today to his and Lauri's little Lucy. The white dress (looking a little "off white")was worn almost 28 years ago by Lucy's mom and by her Aunt Traci a couple of years later. Certainly getting our money's worth out of this one but she looked mighty cute today.......
Kyle and Mason motored up this morning and joined us for the big day....thanks, guys. Lauri's yummy luncheon made it even more worth the trip, right? Thanks to Gawain and Gayle for letting us use their place and for the support of their family. They have become James and Lauri's family in Provo.
Lucy's giving up her smiles a little more easily lately. I caught a few of them in this recent photo shoot..... ...and in case you just may want to know, I made it to my first Women's Conference. Did it exceed my expectations? Well, I'm not sure I had any but I've wondered for all these years why women go and wear themselves out running all over BYU campus all day to be motivated....and I've also wondered, do they really get motivated....I'm gonna tell you "I'm motivated" but will it last? We shall see. I certainly enjoyed it and learned a lot and took in a lot. Am I better for it....I think so. Will I go again next year? You bet....and the best part....I GOT TO GO WITH MY DAUGHTER!!!! Year after year I've watched mothers and daughters have this experience together and this year it was my turn. I'm "in" for next year. Wish I could blog about everything I learned but you just had to be there so I won't try but I'm excited to put to use some of those lessons and hopefully try each day to be a better person. I got to see a lot of my favorite people from Susan Easton Black whom I've admired for a lot of years because of her extensive study and knowledge of Joseph and Emma Smith, to John Bytheway and his wife, to S. Michael Wilcox who gave my very favorite talk of all time that I listen to on tape about monthly, "The Fourth Watch" to a panel that consisted of one of my favorite Mormon Bloggers, Courtney (C. Jane) Kendrick and her sisters to many other fun unknown (to me) speakers that were both uplifting and entertaining. Come go with me next year!!!! I know you'll love it to.