Easter at Grandma & Grandpa's House--With LOTS of Pictures

 Daddy and Ruby

 Grandpa hid eggs for the grandkids to find.

 Ivy Joy with her collection.

 My dad's 63 birthday fell on Easter Sunday so we had

more than one reason to celebrate.

It was a beautiful day and Abram loved being

free to roam on the grass and sidewalk.

After a delicious dinner,

Grandpa and Linnea got the horses out.

 Elizabeth loves the "ee-hees" (horsies).

All of the children have no fear being atop the horses, whether they be 

big or little.

Ruby on Dusty

Even Daddy was able to help with the handling & riding today.

Christopher helped to keep tabs on Elizabeth.

She wants to "go see" everything and doesn't always 

take heed for her personal safety.

Christopher willingly served as her guardian.

 Uncle Mike and Uncle Aaron

helped little girls with little ponies.

Christopher is quite the young horseman.

Here he is helping Ruby with a boost on to Holly, his pony.

Abram's and Grandpa's birthdays are a week apart so they blew candles out together.

Grandpa kept Abram's inquisitive hands out of the flame. :)

Elizabeth and Auntie Bethany 

Abram got to open gifts from aunts & uncles and Grandma & Grandpa.

 There was a rubber ball at the bottom of this tall gift bag

that he was determined to get to by himself.

Oh, how we laughed to watch him nearly climb inside!

Success!!

He also got a drum and knew just what to do!

Terminology

Ruby:  "Mommy, do you know where Grandma is?  I called her home phone and her gone phone and she didn't answer either one!"

I'm Blessed

Writing along with Gretchen's I'm Blessed Series

We hosted an Open House for my parents' 40th anniversary yesterday.

I wrote about them here.

I snapped this picture of them

and wanted to share it with you.

I'm so blessed to have them as my mom and dad,

to have been raised in their home and under their guidance.

I'm so thankful for our immediate family

and our extended family who came to celebrate with us.

We are so blessed to be able to have get-togethers that don't contain petty or large disagreements that divide.

I'm blessed that all my life,

this is the image I have of my parents:

Not only do they love each other,

they genuinely like being together.

40 Years

Today is my parents' 40th anniversary.

We are planning a party for them later this month.

Forty years...four decades.

In 1972, a gallon of gas cost $0.55.

Nixon was president and Watergate began.  

(My dad actually worked in the White House at that time--no kidding!)

An era of lava lamps, 8 track players and fondue

when people watched Here's Lucy, Hawaii Five-O, and The Brady Bunch.

In 1982

gas was $0.91 and a postage stamp was $0.20 and a major recession hit the US.

The first cd player was sold in Japan and the Weather Channel aired on cable for the first time.

People watched Magnum, P.I., Dynasty, and Falcon Crest--when they weren't watching Dallas, of course.

Who shot JR??  Do you remember??

In 1992 a gallon of gas was $1.05 and a pound of bacon was $1.92.

Ross Perot announced he would run against Bill Clinton and President Bush.

The Mall of America was built and DNA fingerprinting is invented.

America's Funniest Home Videos came on the scene and Andy Griffith played Matlock.

2002

Gas was $1.61 and the No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law.

 George W. and Tony Blair were household names.

Forty years, four decades, four children, and now 12 grandchildren!

Some of the things my parents have imparted to us were strong moral values,

love of family, a strong work ethic, discipline, consequences,

and a sense of humor. 

One of the things that my dad has said that has always stuck with me is 

when we would see my mom and dad being affectionate (and they still are!),

we kids would roll our eyes, make gagging noises, turn away, or do all three.

My dad would smile and say,

"You just wait--one day I hope you find someone to love you as much as I love your mom."

There has never been any doubt that my dad loves my mom.

(and vice versa--my mom is a SAINT!) 

*wink*

I'm so thankful for the relationship they have with each other.

They have stayed together when falling apart has become the norm.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!