Nathans Birthday

We went to Oregon to celebrate Nathan's 1st Birthday on April 2nd! Heather made it a Baseball Theme and we all wore baseball or sports apparel. We played a Baseball WII tournament and Heather made "baseball" cupcakes.

Our beautiful baby grandson is growing up!

After we got home on Saturday we dyed Easter Eggs with some of Jesse's friends and Kevin's friend Aleesha. Leslie won the prize for most creative egg which she made look like a carrot!

We're still here!

I have just been overwhelmed with life in the past month! Although I didn't get anything posted for St. Patrick's Day I actually got some cards sent this year and of course we had corned beef and cabbage.
All 5 of us in the family at home got the flu the week before St. Patrick's Day. It was just like a domino effect. Heather also got sick when she and Nathan visited for a week, even though we thought we were all over it. Thank goodness Nathan stayed well.
Rick had a business trip to St. Louis for 5 days. He missed Leslie's first Violin Concert which was wonderful. Jesse is hanging in there with school and I am busy driving him over to friends or to other activities. Kevin only has one more semester and one class before he graduates with his AA degree.
We are seeing signs of Spring and looking forward to Spring Break this week. We will take off to Oregon for a few days to celebrate Nathan's 1st Birthday then return home for Easter Sunday. It is hard to believe he will be a year old. Time flies!

For the love of Jennifer

I can't believe that it has almost been a year since my dear friend Jennifer passed away on Valentine's Day. It's hard to find the words that express the gratitude that I feel to have been friends with her for 25 years. We never "get over" anyone's death - we just learn to live without them here on earth.
I have little reminders of her in lots of places. Cards she sent me in the past are still on my desk. Perfume, jewelry or clothes she gave me as gifts. The gardening tote she had for me, but didn't get sent Christmas 2008. Holiday decorations, photos, gifts to my kids etc. The most special reminders of all are of times together and her words to me. Don't wait until it is too late to say "I love you, I know you can do it, your amazing or thank you dear friend." I wish I'd had the time to say those things one more time to her.
Many years ago she sent me a photo of herself in a picture frame that has these words around the edges: "Hey Girlfriend, We may not see each other for ages, but we never seem to miss a beat? Our friendship is a never ending conversation..."
Today I have a more recent photo of her in a frame that says around the edges: "Love all those around you, live life to the fullest, and laugh as often as you can." This is what she did.

Ward Family Photos

I felt so fortunate that my friend Debbie offered to take family photos while we were all together for the holidays. They turned out great! It is so fun to have memories of time spent together as a family. It was so fun to have the Bartrons and our son Ryan home for Christmas and New Years this year!

This was also Nathan's first Christmas and first time in a family photo. No one can ever really tell you how wonderful a grandchild is! What really matters most in life is family and friends.

Christmas 2009

It has been so wonderful having all of our kids home for Christmas! We have gotten to know Nathan so much better by having him and his parents here for 10 days. We have all played games, laughed, and shared and made new memories to sustain us until we can be together again.

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Here is our sad gingerbread house... First the frosting was too thick then we

got the frosting too thin and the candy slid off the roof! It was still fun to

make and fun to eat.

Our Nathan who has brought so much joy to us on

his first Christmas!

Our traditional Savior Supper by candlelight.

Jesse and Kevin on Christmas Eve when we each open one present.

I still make the kids, old or young, line up on the stairs in order of age

before they can go down on Christmas morning!

Here is our son Ryan on Christmas morning.

Heather, Ryan and Nathan

Here is a cute photo of Nathan and Papa!

Our Christmas tree

Here is our Christmas tree - we always have a live tree. In our 27 years of marriage we have never had a fake tree although there have been years I would have liked to have a fake one. I suppose it's because Rick has a BA in Forestry! Every year the kids get a new ornament until they are 18 years old. Ryan's ornaments are Soldiers, Kevin's are Teddy Bears, Jesse's are Snowmen and Leslie has Angels. Heather has Ballerinas, but I gave them to her after she got married. Each child will take them to use in their own homes and I hope it will bring back happy memories of Christmas's as a child at home.

November 2009 was crazy busy!

I had to be at classes for the MHTP (Music for Healing & Transition) program for 4 1/2 days at the first of the month,

in Eugene, Oregon. Normally the classes would have been held in Washington, but there were not enough people here

so I joined the Oregon students for a 4 day camp. I really had no choice because I could not wait another year to take the classes, but it turned out to be a great experience. The bonus was that I was only about 15 minutes away from Heather & and her little family. I got to see them a couple times while I was there. Thank you to Rick and Kevin who held the fort down while I was gone!

Then I had a week to catch up at home before my birthday, Jesse's birthday, and Thanksgiving. That's a lot of cake and pie!! We had fun with Heather, Ryan and Nathan here for Thanksgiving and look forward to everyone being home for Christmas. Blessings to everyone!

My favorite birthday cake with 7 minute frosting

Jesse's 14th Birthday

with his Reese's ice cream cake

Fun with Nathan at 7 1/2 months old

Rick brined & basted our turkey to perfection

Enjoying our Thanksgiving feast