November 18. . . . Yippee, whoo-hoo, hip, hip, hooray!!!

Besides that date being my Buddy Melanie's birthday it is ~

Al's retirement date!!!!

How many ways can you say,

I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!

Thankyouthankyouthankyou Al for all your years of hard work.

You got up every day (literally here towards the end) and went to work.

Thank you for rising so early, going to workout before work to take care

of yourself so you could take care of the rest of us.  Bankers are NOT

 meant to work on the weekends and for 10+ hours a day,  but you have, time and time again.

Your hard work is appreciated.  We love you!

Now, enjoy coaching wrestling, more golf and taking care of all those kids!

You are THE BEST Granddaddy EVER!!!!!!

How many Granddaddys are secure enough in their manhood to

 sport an earring at the request of a grandchild?

NO earrings here. . . this is one of MANY photos of the

Grandkids riding the tractor with Granddaddy!

Here he is with Cy ~ this boy can do some serious yard work.

(Cy is McKenzie's ~ twin brother to Piper)

There is hope :)

Granddaddy, we look forward to making MANY more memories!

May your legacy of HARD work continue for generations to come!



This and that. . .

While in Utah for the birth of grandchild #21,

beautiful Meredith Jasperson, Al was playing with the girls one day.

Hailey says, "Granddaddy you be the Mother."

Al ~ "I can't be the Mother.  What is a Mother?"

Hailey ~ "A Mother is just like a Father, except she doesn't work

and takes care of kids."

AL ~ "Well, that sounds like me in a few weeks.  I guess I can

be the Mother!"

And he's a very GOOD Mother too!

Hailey, Granddaddy (aka Mother), Alexis

You do not attract into your life what you want, you attract what you ARE!

Simple thought for today :>)

Melanie, I love you . . . will get some posts up ASAP ~ may not be until I return from UT ~ many obligations today. . . but I will TRY to get some pictures up.

XOOXOXOXOXOXXXOXOXOOX

Best Advice. . . RELATIONSHIPS ~

When you fight you have to decide how much it really matters to you.  If it's not worth getting upset about, let it go.  And if it is worth getting upset about you have to be brave enough to bring it up with the other person.  And if you aren't brave enough to do that, you have to let it go.  Once you've discussed it, it's over and you never bring it up again. 

I found this little gem in my jewelry box this AM but I can't read my writing to give proper credit to the person that originally gave it ~ Danielle ----------.  This is why I NEED McKenzie to help me sort, organize and THROW AWAY ~ I get TOO distracted.  Love this advice tho' and just HAD to share ~ now I'm going to go practice it!

Happy Birthday America!

What a blessed woman I am!  Not only do I live in freedom surrounded by loved ones, I have a testimony of Jesus Christ ~ I know He lives and loves me!  Our Ding Dongs in Hong Kong are on their way HOME ~ as they enjoy time in CO with Jen's family  I am getting anxious for their arrival home ~ 11/12 days away (they arrive on separate days so it will be 12 days before they are all here). . . so close.  It has been good to have Trip here ~ he's a good man, however, no one hugs as well as a grandchild :>)  My life is not perfect, however, I love my life, my family, my friends, my church ~ my Savior, Jesus Christ.  We will be moving back to Stones River Ward just in time for the Merediths to move back into their home.  Working out the logistics of moving has been a good distraction from anticpating the Merediths return.  Now if we could only wiggle our noses and have our UT folks appear!  I'm proud to be an American ~ so VERY grateful to be an American ~ THANK YOU to all our servicemen and women who have past and are presently fighting for our freedoms ~ this is a great land.  God is so good.  Thank you for your love and friendships!  Have a safe and enjoyable 4th as we celebrate ~ Freedom, Life and Love. . . . .

Until my computer and I can work together in harmony ~ just a few more pictures. . .

In Nashville, 2011, at Time Out for Women with my

beautiful daughter and friend, Meghan.  Wonderful weekend!

Beautiful Piper getting a hug from cousin, Heath, following her

Wee-cital.  Piper performed magnificently.  Bravo!!

We love you Piper! 

 If you're happy and you know it. . . SMILE! 

This little guy's dark eyes and hair still shock me for some reason.

Especially when he is around other children that are mostly blonde.

Love you Heath, you make me smile too! 

Ellie came to visit. . .

Trip brought Ellie with him when he came in May.  It was heavenly  having one on one with Ellie ~ or as she would say, "you can call me Elizabeth".  Our new expression is "Oh, my silliness!"  VERY fitting.  She ate her weight in cantaloupe every day, took a bubble bath, went shopping . . . lots of fun. Also while she was here she got her hair cut and enjoyed time with her TN cousins. 

Ellie before. . .

After. . . she loved her curls.  Thank you Sarah! 

Trouble X's 4. . . .

Cy, Ellie, Heath and Piper.

Ellie & Heath are 2 1/2 weeks apart followed by the twins 9 months later.

LOVING time with my babies.

This was following Heath's Sonshine School graduation. . .

It's off to Kindergarten for him and Ellie in August.

Piper is SO happy to have her Ellie coming back HOME!

Ellie, Piper, Cy, Adaleigh & Heath with Mama Mary



Catching up. . .

Spring is a BUSY birthday time for us. . . We have many March/April birthdays followed by a few in May and then more in June. . . etc. etc. . . well, until October. . . we have not had any October birthdays ~ until this year!  Mary Kathryn's little gal will be born in October ~ she will have the whole month to herself!  The following are random pictures from birthday celebrations or just daily silliness around here. . .

Preparing Piper and Cy's birthday cake, with help from Logan and

Kierstyn looking on (does she look like her Mom, or what?!?!)

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. . .

Happy 4th Birthday Piper and Cy!  We love you!

Happy Adaleigh enjoyed wearing/eating the cake too!

Doesn't she just make you SMILE!  

Beautiful cousins and friends ~ Kierstyn and Mia ~

No guessing who these girls belong to, huh?? 

Handsome cousins and friends, Landon and Kyler.

Kyler is sporting new braces.

Piper and Cy showing the cute birthday cards that came from

their Utah cousins!  They LOVED these cards.  And Piper

especially loved the jewelry sent by Hailey!  Simple pleasures!

You've heard it from here before, but I just LOVE this little guy!

Another picture worth a thousand words. . . or more! So CUTE!

Our Logan!

Again. . . Trevin and his girl, Adaleigh and

Adaleigh and her man, Trevin.  These two have a love connection,

for sure! 

Skinned nose and all this one steals your heart. 

Oh, let me count the ways Trevin is CUTE!

And sweet, and smart, and athletic and, and,  and. . .

We love our Trevin!

Kierstyn is at her happiest when she has a baby on her hip!!!

And this is what we think about birthday celebrations!!!



Taking a poll. . . your two cents will be appreciated!

Looks like we have found a house to call HOME!  In the contract exchanging stage; need to pass inspection etc. etc.  . . . Looking good thus far ~ Al and I both had "that feeling" I'm been waiting for (and KNEW it would come) and began to put the wheels into motion.  Pictures and details to follow.
I NEED YOUR HELP:  We will be buying a new washer and dryer (and an iron) so I want to know what you have; if you like (love) them and why; if you do NOT like them and why; and any and all information that would benefit one who is ready to make a purchase.  Thank you so much!   

and we continue. . . spring of 2011. . . .

Lesson learned (I hope!). . . I CANNOT do two things at the same time when one of them is blogging.

Jake saying "CHEESE". . .

more "CHEESE".  .  .

How cute is this one?!?!?!  A big smile for Granddaddy back in TN

Alexis ready for her 7 year old pictures. 

Hailey ready for her 6 year old pictures.

Chloe getting the finishing touches for her 3 year old pictures.

Doctor, doctor. . . is there a doctor in the house??

Yes, m'am!  Here I come to the rescue.  Dr. Jasperson is in the house!

Not only is she beautiful, she is a wonderful big sister!

Giving piggy back rides!

More "CHEESE" !!

He's had enough.  I love a good thumb sucker!

My sweet girls. . . growing up so fast!!

What do you expect from a little man in a house with 3 older sisters??

100% CUTE!!  and SO proud of himself! 

I love the backside of little people!

Thanks for the memories.  It was a fun visit!

I'll be back for the birth of this next little guy or gal!

OXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

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Better late than never. . . here we go ~ spring 2011

In March I took an unplanned trip to Utah to help out a bit in the Jasperson  home.  Mary Kathryn told the family she was expecting #5 ~ exciting news, however, she was having some complications and was put on bed rest ~ like she really stayed in bed!!  Fortunately I was able to fly out to play with the other 4 kiddos.  Everything turned out fine and she is 1/2 was through her pregnancy now! The following are pictures from that trip. . .

Whenever I go to Utah the girls play "beauty shop" with me and fix my hair etc.  With my hair being long they really went to town putting it up. 

Here I am with Chloe.

Smiling Chloe!  Cutie, cutie!!

Posing Chloe!



Missing my Ellie. . .

Just a quick post - can't get my pictures to do whatever they are suppose to do, so until I figure that out. . .  Had such a fun time with Ellie ~ her new nickname is "Cantaloupe Girl".  How that gal LOVES cantaloupe.  I miss waking up to her sitting at the kitchen table eating cantaloupe.  She also devoured many strawberries.  I have to remind myself that she isn't even 5 yet. . .she will be SOON, like in days, however, she is SO smart.  We had fun talking and being silly using an English accent.  Our new expression is "Oh, my silliness!". .  .and we were silly.  Now tell me how smart is this:  Ellie was playing with her plastic Easter bucket.  McKenzie had returned theirs for me to store and Ellie asked for her's - which was easy to get to.  She was so excited and picked out 5-6 shiney eggs to play with as well.  She wanted to take the bucket back to Hong Kong with her.  We took it to her suitcase and I showed her that her suitcase was full and there was not room for the bucket.  Without hesitation she said, "Oh, yes there is.  Take the clothes out, put the bucket in and fill it with the clothes.  Then it will fit."  Gulp!  She was right.  Smartie!!  From there I explained that they would be packing their things up soon to move back to Tennessee and it would be best to leave it here where she could have it safe and sound when she returned.  She excepted that.  Now, I'm a packing wizard and can fit things where no-one would expect, but a soon-to-be 5 year old coming up with this solution. . .pretty smart in my opinion!  It was a fun week.  Have pictures to hopefully post soon to prove it.  Actually, I need to post pictures from my trip to Utah in March. . . yikes! 

WwToyota Statement in Response to NHTSA/NASA Study

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OK. . . I'm a tad bit frustrated. . . still trying to figure out this blogging without having a complete melt down. I had saved the below blog in order to come back and "fix" some things and add a few more pictures. Well, that did not happen. One of my favorite pictures did not show up. ??? So I will add it here (hopefully). I also wanted to make a disclaimer ~ IF your picture did not show up on the blog before this one. . . I am working (mentally) on another. I have SO much respect and appreciation for all you bloggers out there. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks and I AM going to learn to do this. . . I AM!!!

Need I say more. . . I just love this boy. . . LOVE this picture
and his genuine HAPPY face.  I love you, Kyler!

Because I have been given much, I too must SMILE. . .



I ask you. . . how can one person be so blessed?  Hope you will smile with me!  

Mama Mary and Kyler. . . yes!  He really is taller than me!!

















Rub a dub dub. . . two boys in a tub!!
Cy and Logan



Aww. . . McKenzie and Zack!

Million $ smile!

Just plain CUTE ~ our HAPPY Adaleigh. . . always has a smile
. . . always!!



King Josiah

Girls will be girls
Hailey, Mia and Alexis (8/2010)



Granddaddy and ONE of his many girls!   Chloe :>)



Heart throb!

Beautiful Ellie!

My boy Chase!

Cousin lovin' counsin. . . Logan and chloe

Just one of many tractor rides with Granddaddy. . . .

Lost tooth!! Hailey Bug!



Handsome young man. . . our Landon!





!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Precious Piper!!





Love this happy boy. . . and Legos REALLY make him HAPPY!!

The Gang ganging up on each other.

 Heart breaker!!  Watch out for this beauty ~ Alexis!