The most significant blessing that Guenther could have ever received for his birthday is that Ryan chose to be baptized on Sunday, July 29th. Here Ryan is with Elder Ramirez, who baptized him. (Guenther confirmed Ryan on Sunday, August 5th). August the 5th is also special to me for another reason...I was confirmed on August 5th in 1951 by Elder E. Harold Jones from Ogden, Utah)

These are some shots taken at the baptism program. It was great that Ryan had so many friends and family there to support him.

We had a great time at Jackie and Brad's home after the baptism. In the top photo, Bob swings David over his shoulder, which David loves; then Jackie holds Ella Marcelle. Next shot is of Kyle; then Lincoln holds a "tornado bottle" that Brad made and the kids enjoyed; Lincoln on his cell phone; and Sariah...I loved her hairdo.(you have to click on this one to really see it. My new ultra-compact camera doesn't do so well with subjects that far away)







First photo is of Amber. You can also see Emily and Richard in there.; next, Amber gives her grandpa a hug, and then Emily hugs her grandpa to wish him Happy 80th birthday.

More photos of the celebration. David and his dad visit.Guenther is getting ready to cut his cake. and Eugenie and Crissy and Ella Marcelle enjoy the occasion.

Well, Lindsay tagged me to tell seven random things about myself. So here goes:

1. I am a happy woman. The Lord has blessed me beyond my dreams. The following random facts explain.

2. I have a marvelous family. Booth was a great man, and my children and grandchildren are good people who work hard for what they need. They love and support one another. They are always there for me, and I love and appreciate each one of them with all my heart.

3. Thanks to Guenther and Marcelle, I have a super "other family." Guenther's children and grandchildren are also great and they also are very good to each other. I feel honored to be a part of their lives in this season of my life.

4. I know that I am truly loved by a wonderful man. And I love and appreciate him so very much. Guenther and I were brought together by the tender mercies of the Lord...at a time when we really needed each other..and we know and appreciate that reality.

5. Now for other things that I love: I love to read and to listen to books on tape, and I love to research stuff on the computer...like which new camera to buy, and I love fiddling with my photos on the computer.. I love gadgets and kitchen tools...like George Forman Grills and cheese slicers and onion graters. I love electronic gadgets like Ipods and ionic hair brushes. And I enjoy baking bread and cooking new recipes. I also love to work out on my Nordic Track, and I love it when Guenther joins me and exercises on the treadmill.

6. I enjoy tending grandkids and great-grandkids. I think children are fun, and I like to play games with them, and take them places, and do fun stuff with them.

7. And now for what I hate...tonight Guenther and I joined Lisa, Terry, Nancy, Lindsay, Bryce and all the kids for some fried chicken at Lagoon. And I FORGOT MY CAMERA! and that's what I really hate...when some great photos were not taken.

Now...I tag Doug, Mary Ann, and Matthew

Robert and Genie came over on Sunday evening. Isn't David cute? He will be three next month, and in September he will be going to public school special education classes several times per week. He knows where to find his favorite toys and other entertainments. (He loves to manipulate the light switches and pull out Grandpa's tool drawer in the kitchen).

Climbing under the table is another favorite thing.








And here are some photos of his mom and dad. Genie is due on August 24th.

We have had some beautiful sunsets lately...there's so much smoke in the air...from all the forest fires raging throughout the state. Here is a photo of Guenther and his brother, Parker...taken on the 12th of July.
Parker took this one of Guenther and me.
This is Renee's son, Brock, and his friend, Carmen. They both attend BYU-Idaho, and Carmen is heading home to Wisconsin. Brock is going to try his hand at selling security systems in San Diego. This was the first photo that I took with my new camera...sorry that it is blurred.








I got to tend Summer last week, and when I asked her what she'd like to do, she said, "Bake a cake." So here she is with her creation.



We attended the Tabernacle Choir's Pioneer Day Program in the Conference Center on Friday night. Guenther's daughter, Jackie, her mother-in-law Sharon Howard, and Sharon's friend, Norma, went with us. Joyce Larsen, who lives in our ward, also went with us. (Actually, we all went with Jackie, who drove).

This is our little garden. The marigolds are struggling, but the petunias are doing well. Guenther does a good job of keeping everything watered.
Today (July 9th, 2007) I took Mike, McCall, and Drew to the Planetarium at the Gateway. We saw a great show on The Black Holes.

The Cook s stayed with me on Friday the 6th of July, and I paid McCall and Drew $2.00 each to memorize 3 Nephi 11:29. (Summer was busy playing with Emalise).Here they are working on the task. (Drew kinda dropped my scriptures when I told them to smile for the camera) I like these closeups of Drew and McCall.

Here are some shots taken on the fourth of July. We went to see "Ratatouille" and then had dinner at Dave and Tami's house. The first shot is of Jordan and his friend, Amanda. Next is of Summer showing off her new scrapbook that Aunt Tami and Katherine are helping her make.

This is Tami's lovely garden...done in boxes. And David brought home two puppies recently...Zeke (the Irish Setter) and Apollo.

Tami served us her delicous Beef Barbeque. Here is her recipe. Thanks, Tam!

A shot of Mike and Dave...Mike has shot up this past winter. Katherine helps with dinner.