The HAPPY in Happy Thanksgiving!!!

All the kids and grandkids plus Tammy's sister Sherry and her husband and Baby Michael joined us for our Thanksgiving Feast and Celebration. I have always loved the smells of Thanksgiving. I love that turkey smell in the wee morning hours and the baking of pies smell that is followed by the aroma many other family favorites. It reminds me how thankful I am for the family that I have and for the blessings of health, security, and safety that we share. It reminds me how grateful I am to live close to kids and grandkids. It reminds me of past Thanksgivings and traditions that we share. I want so much to hold onto these special memories that it is almost like my mind is taking a picture of the days events that will last forever. Thanks Craig, Christopher, Valerie, Dallin, Kate, William, Tammy, Madison, Hailey, Michael, Sherry, Jeff, and Baby Michael for a wonderful day!

Spoiled Milk!

Over the years it seems that I have purchased three gallons of milk at a time and sometimes twice a week. This effort really kicked into overtime with the missionaries here, Michael (a straping young lad)living at home,and the married kids and the grandkids showing up often. Since the missionaries moved out followed by Michael...I have been buying one gallon of milk of week. For the first time in years, yesterday, I ended up with spoiled milk. What a shocker and so unexpected! Who would have ever guessed? I guess we really ARE empty nesters! I guess I need to have the grandkids over more often! haha!

Halloween Birthday!!!

I am blessed to have a Halloween Birthday. Generally, this means Trick-O-Treating or at least giving out treats at the door. Usually EVERYONE remembers my birthday because it is a holiday. This year, Halloween was on a Sunday which meant that it was celebrated as just my birthday as we don't participate in Trick-O-Treating or the giving of treats on Sunday. Fall Festivals and Trunk-O-Treating had been taken in the days before by the kids and grandkids and I was blessed to be able to go with them. I have the BEST kids and grandkids in the world.

This year for my birthday, I made a Maple Nut Cake...a favorite from my high school years, which I had forgotten all about until just before my birthday. William made my favorite...Chicken Courdon Blue, yum! The rest of the family made the sides and did the decorating, setting up and tearing down. Thanks so much dear family for making my memories so special. This year, I was blessed with an update of my Grandkid Photo Picture on the piano. I also received a Nana Brag Book, tiny enough to be pulled out in an instant, and this year...a special video of the grandkids. It literally brought tears to my eyes. The only thing missing was Michael who did call to wish me a Happy Birthday. Thanks dear family for the special love you bring. You are all so dear!!!

Our Red Raider Rides in for a Visit!!!

Michael just came in tonight for a long weekend visit. It is so great to see him. We have sure missed him. He sure looks good. College life has been good to him.

Empty Nesters!!!

It seems like just yesterday when we were in the big middle of diapers, school, soccer, band, young men,scouting and endless parenting adventures. All to soon, those days are gone. Today, we just got back from taking our youngest to Texas Tech University in Lubbock Texas. This taking our kids to college thing certainly is not a new adventure for us, but it seems that you remember each and every moment of this parting ritual each and every time. With Michael, we were able to get our student set up in his dorm, purchase last minute needed items, and take him out to dinner one last time before saying good-bye. We also met his new roommate and it seems like they have a great possibility of hitting it off as good friends. We gave him all our last wisdom and advise hoping that we hadn't forgotten anything. The kids ears probably fell off on the six hour trip to Lubbock. As parents, we worry about those types of things as you know...we want OUR kids to have the greatest advantage at a wonderful life. We hope that they can avoid mistakes and pitfalls that cause sadness or dreams that are unfulfilled. Then we send them on their way knowing that now they are in God's hands. We will sure miss Michael. He has sure worked hard over the years and it is our hope that he can take these things that he has learned to benefit him in his future.

Hobbit Adventure!!!

I flew to Rhode Island to meet my sister and mother for a road trip. I just felt that we probably wouldn't be able to do these types of things together for long and that I needed to spend this time with them. The road trip took us to Rhode Island, Boston, Niagra Falls (Canada side), Chicago, Wisconsin, and Minnasota. The thing that I probably remember MOST besides Chicago Pizza,Chicago Hot Dogs,founding fathers grave sites, Niagra Falls,figuring out how to eat a whole lobster looking at you, the farm lands of Wisconsin and Nancy's birth place (our home when we were little), meeting Nancy's family, WAS RIDING AN ELEPHANT. When I think back on this trip I will think back on fun times spent in the car, laughing so long and so hard, AND RIDING THE ELEPHANT. I was grateful to have this time to experience special events with the family that I started out with. I am grateful for these memories as I carry them back home to add to the memories that I have created there. I am thankful for family and dear friends. I have been blessed to have the best! Thank you!

Michael becomes an Elder!

Michael became an elder today. His dad ordained him and his brother William and brother-In-Law Christopher were able to stand in the circle. It was awesome as our whole family was there. The little ones cheered him on. We are all so proud that he would choose this next step in his progression.

Thank Heavens for Texas Tollways!!!

Changes happen every day,it seems.  Michael was to start work at Jack-In-The-Box a local fast food place.  When he went back to sign in, the manager who hired him was never there and we found out later that he no longer worked there.  A little awkward...then on with the job hunt.  Michael landed a job with the Texas Tollway working in a toll booth.  It turns out that this job is a 40 hour a week job instead of 27 and it pays 2.00 more an hour.  There really is something to the saying that God knows what we need more than we do...and when a door is closed, he opens a window...or sometimes a better door.  We are certainly grateful for how it all turned out, as Michael really needed to earn money for college tuition this coming year.

Stuck On You!!!

Stuck on You gives a whole new meaning to last nights follies! I decided that I was going to fix the lamp that the grandkids had broken a couple of months ago. I also heard that evaporated milk would act like glue with porcelain...well I was wrong and decided to use SUPER GLUE. It DID work but in trying to get the fit as close as possible I didn't realize that I had glued the bottom of four fingers together and that my wedding ring was glued to my skin in a permabond situation. After several hours..I managed to loosen my ring and unstick my fingers. That certainly gives a new ring to the phrases "Bound Together Forever" and "Stuck on You". You just have to laugh some days.

Friday Night Lights

A couple of weekends ago, Valerie and Michael decided to make a little extra cash playing extras for "Friday Night Lights". This is a series that plays on NBC. Anyhow, they play a couple of fans for the panthers one night and the second night Michael was a Rangers fan for the whole night and Valerie was a Rangers fan half the night and a Lions fan the other half of the night. Look really hard in the stands and in the crowds and you might be able to spot them this coming fall. Hey, a new Where's Waldo! How cool is that!

Old Friends, Old Times, Old Places!!!

Yesterday, Valerie and I took a drive to Grand Prairie to meet up with old friends from our old ward of about twenty years ago. There were only about ten of us but it was a wonderful time. I have the best memeories of that time period in my life. We were all so young and so full of life and knew the answers. Just ask any of us!! Haha! I certainly wish I knew as much now as I thought I knew then. What a wonderful time to catch up with some pretty awesome folks. They haven't changed a bit other than a gray hair or two. I love the old sense of humor. Nothing changed much! What cherished memories! What refreshing moments! What awesome friends! Thanks for the memories!

Seminary Graduation

On Sunday, May 30th, Michael graduated from four years of seminary! Seminary here is early morning. It starts at 6:00am and goes to 6:45am every school day during the year. Michael had a 95 plus percent attendance for the entire four years even during early morning band season. It is certainly a sacrifice but one well worth it. Michael read the entire Book of Mormon in addition to the readings that he did for class. Again, good form Michael! It is hard to believe that getting up before the sun is over,for the Texas Sharps, at least for now.

The Graduate!!!

Michael graduated from High School in May 29, 2010. He graduated as a Texas Scholar Candidate, A Distinguished Candidate, and a 4.0 GPA Recipient. He also graduated in the Health Science Academy and with a Tigers In Service Cord. Michael will attend Texas Tech in Lubbock TX in the fall. He will be majoring in Computer Engineering. Way to Go Michael! You did yourself proud.

The Missionary Migration!

After 14 months of housing missionaries for our church...our time has come to an end. We have had 12 missionaries in all and have enjoyed all of them. They will certainly be missed by our entire family. The grandkids thought that the missionaries belonged to them! Our whole family will be a little lost I'm sure as each missionary has certainly etched his mark on our family and into our heart. Old Settlers Ward Missionaries...You will certainly be missed!!! A message from your home away from home. What an awesome experience!!! Farewell to Elder Criddle, Elder Askew, Elder Keyes, Elder Woodhall, Elder Miller, Elder Allred, Elder Peterson,
Elder Lund, Elder Scow, Elder Nielson, Elder Maka, and last but certainly not least Elder Howard! May God Bless You All! You have certainly blessed us!!!

Step by Step...

Michael says farewell to Good Ol' Stony Point High School. He took his last finals today. Graduation practice is on Thurday for two hours, then...it's farewell. It's funny, I remember his first footprints of life as they put them on his daddy scrubs the day that he was born. He has taken several steps throughout his life. He stepped through pre-school, grade school, soccer teams, t-ball,swimming lessons, junior high, junior high band...concert band...symphonic band...woodwind ensemble, scouting...all the way to Eagle, Duty to God...all of them, four years of seminary, 300 plus years of service, 12 years of 4.0, and completed high school with honors in the science academy. There will be many more steps as he becomes a man and as he faces adulthood. May he walk in the steps less traveled and always follow the choosen path. We're so proud of you Michael!

Go Zebras!!!

Craig became Dallin's soccer coach again this year. Howeever, this year Dallin was not in the YMCA league...he decided to switch to the Rounnd Rock Soccer Association. It would be a little more challenging and Dallin does have some talent in this area. This year, the newly established team needed a coach and an assistant coach. So Craig was asked to be the coach and Uncle Michael was asked to be the assistant coach. Both did an awesome job as they had their work cut out for them as Dallin was the only one on the team that had played before. I do have to say that they did an awesome job and those little boys really looked like a team by the end of the season. Way to go Coaches Craig and Michael. And did I say Go Zebras! The team colors were black and white. The four year olds chose the team name...so yes, us fan types were yelling "Go Zebra" in the proudest of fashion. Thank you Dallin for providing us with many fun adventures! We all love you!

The Boultinghouse Reunion Revisited

The Boultinghouse Reunion happens every year at Marble Falls Texas. This year, Will, Tammy, and Maddie went with me while Craig stayed home for Dallin's last soccer game of the season. The reunion was awesome with more Boultinghouses than ever in a great location with great food and great conversation. Boultinghouses are never shy about telling you about their history and they ALL know it. They are all such a friendly bunch and I love seeing everyone every year. Thanks to Cousin Madolyn Frasier for making sure this happens every year... and ALL the Boultinghouses who work together so well! It was awesome!

Welcome to Jack-in-the-Box!

Michael has a new job with Jack-in-the-Box. Congratulations Michael! William had this same job about the same age as Michael is right now. It's funny how 10 years doesn't change much!

It's Teddy Bear's Birthday

Today I was supposed to babysit Valerie's kids as she had made a commitement to be away for about three hours. When I arrived to pick up the priceless cargo to bring them to my house, I was in for a surprising discovery. Today was Dallin's teddy bear's birthday. Plans were already in the works for his special day. We were to busy our selves making pizza, making a birthday cake for teddy, and you get the idea.

Not wanting to disappoint the little lad...we went to the grocery store and purchased the items for teddy's big day. Without a hitch pizzas were made, a birthday cake was made... iced, sprinkled, and candled.

Yes, we did sing Happy Birthday to Teddy Bear and we helped him blow out his candle. We dished him up a piece of cake which disappeared. Hum....

Feeling quite sucessful in the nana department...Dallin then asked "Where is Teddy's presents?"
Oh Dallin, you have such cute thoughts. You make me laugh.

Wrapping paper was sent home for Dallin and Kate to continue their celebration there. What a busy and fun day!

Thanks Dallin and Kate for keeping Nana young!

Happy 2010!!!

Happy New Year!

It is hard to believe that another year has come and gone. They seem to go by much more quickly than they used to.

I am reminded at this time at how fortunate I am to have family near.

I have certainly been blessed with the love of those who matter the most in my life. You all know who you are!!!

May God Bless you all and may you have a wonderful adventure in 2010!