An anniversary, a wedding, a baby blessing and a birthday!

Roy and I have been married for 37 years as of this past Tuesday.  We opted not to celebrate it because of celebrations we will participate in in the near future.  We've also been spending a lot of money on the yard, etc. so we bypassed gifts.  However, even though it was an uneventful Tuesday, there is no question that I am so grateful for each of those 37 years that we've had together.  We have been blessed tremendously with friendship and love, and of course, with eight children and now 5 extra children and 13 (+1) grandchildren. I cannot let the week pass by without expressing the great love that I have for Roy.  He's been extremely good to me through the years and has always treated me like his queen. 

Our sweet little Ruby turned 2 this week (the 28th).  We were able to spend Sunday evening in Logan celebrating her birthday and little Greta's baby blessing.  Matt gave Greta a beautiful blessing.  Ruby's other grandparents asked us how we keep up with all the grandkids--their birthdays and everything.  I told them that besides my phone calendar, Elise gifts us a family calendar each year with birth-dates and pictures to remind me. 

Roy, Reagan Vance (the other grandpa) and Greta

The cute Vance Family

Ruby with Crista, Jennie and AJ helping to get the candle lit

She loved being the center of attention

Greta

We had a nice dinner on Ruby's actual birthday, but it was not with Ruby.  It was a delicious dinner made by Christine in honor of Andrew and Sierra's upcoming wedding.  Steve talked animatedly about Andrew-- You could see how happy he was for his son and how much he loves him.

 

Saturday was also a day to celebrate.  Andrew and Sierra Christensen were married in the Salt Lake Temple just before 2:00.  It was a beautiful marriage ceremony.  The sealer was a man in the Christensen's ward (Brother Ned Mangleson) who has been in that ward for many years and was a great friend to my parents.  

The 29th was also Phil's birthday.  Happy birthday Phil.  We were able to have lunch at  Mi La Cai Noodle house in Salt Lake with him and Char, Nan and Bruce (who have been in Hawaii for several months, so it was great to see them), Dave, and  Tiffany and Troy.  It was a very pleasant afternoon.  We had to hurry to Costco following the lunch to get croissants for the impending baby blessing, and a few other food items as well.  We arrived home in time to change for the reception, practice the violin with Adrienne for a duet we were to play on Sunday morning in Roy's YSA Ward, and then hop in the car to go to the reception.  We took Gunnar along with us.  Apparently, after about 10 minutes Ollie noticed his brother was missing and asked where Gunnar was.  Adrienne, being funny, said, "Oh no, we left him."  She quickly repented and told him where Gunnar was, because Ollie started to cry.  He was so worried about his brother. 

The reception was nice and the food was excellent.  We ate, even though we were still pretty satisfied from our late lunch.  Christine held up well throughout the day, even though I know she was a little nervous and unsettled.  She's happy about her new daughter-in-law, though.  It was fun to catch up with some of our family, including my cousin Carl Clyde and his wife, Heather.

At the reception--Roy and the Green boys (and Sarah Christensen)

The reception was at Wheeler farm.  The boys actually wanted Adrienne
to take their picture.

 

Sunday morning I attended the whole 3 hours of church with Roy  at his YSA ward.  They recently got a new bishopbric and most of the block was dedicated to introducing themselves.  The bishop gave a powerful talk about the Savior and it was a very spiritually uplifting meeting.  Adrienne and I played the violin/piano number we had prepared, "Did you think to Pray?"  Since I was playing in Roy's ward, I couldn't go to my own ward's Stake Conference.  It was a treat to spend the time with him, since we usually do everything separately on Sundays.  At least both our meetings are currently in the same basic time frame because next year I'll probably see Roy even less on Sundays.  We had a short nap before we had to leave for Logan to the aforementioned baby blessing and dinner at the park.  We were all dressed up to begin the evening with the baby blessing, and then some of us changed to enjoy the park without freezing to death.

Ollie, Doyeon, Finn and Ori

Matt's brother Spencer supplied the party with a couple of hammocks
and a rope swing.  Finn and Gunnar

Ollie, Doyeon, Ori

Adrienne

Cait and Effie with her new glasses.  She loves
being able to see.

Doyeon (in her favorite outfit--pajamas)

Roy and Finn

Ruby, Finn and Shannon Vance

It'll probably be a couple of weeks before the next newsletter, so Happy Birthday to Sarah tomorrow!  Happy birthday to Adrienne (and Bruce Cook) on Thursday. Happy birthday to Roy on the 8th, and to Jennie on the 11th.  It's a busy couple of weeks for birthdays.  

We missed our Texas family, but we'll see most of them in about a month.  Below are a few pictures of Mav and Max (and Elise).  

This elephant was given to Elise for Christmas when she
was 7.  Soon after her heart surgery.  She opened it up
and said, "Oooh, a fur coat!"  Then she found that it was
an elephant and she was very happy.  She said that this picture
reminds her of Tom, because he rode this very same elephant in the
same way that Christmastime.  

Last but not least, a picture of our darling Dojin.  Now 4 months old.