Reunion Video

For those who were not able to attend the reunion, we the opportunity to honor our Mother and Grandmother, whom we all love. Part of that was this video that was made to remember all the fun we have had with her.

All the thank you cards in the video were cards that came from Grandma. She has distributed a great deal of them throughout the years, and we want to let her know how thankful we are for her.

Family Reunion 2009

I was unable to get very many pictures since I was running around with my head cut off, so please, PRETTY PLEASE post the pictures that you took.

Everyone made it despite the fact that the pavilion wasn't rented under Ellsworth.

The lake was a little bit of a walk from the pavilion

There was eating

It was a little windy

and a little cold when you got wet. (not that I would know since I never got wet)

I'm not ccccold

I think someone wants grandchildren.

Steve wet his pants when he couldn't find the right place to land the canoe.

Mini-me, the Ashley version

Roger said he was having a bad hair day

As was noted by most every person who spoke to Patrick, he has gotten much bigger since the last time we all saw him.

Ok, so after looking at my pictures I hardly got any at all. Please post pictures that you other people took!!

We all had a great time at our family Thanksgiving gathering. Those who were able to be there were: Vera, LaWanna,Debbie, Brad,Tyler, Jasmine, Randy, Butch, Jodi, Mandi, Heather, Ross, Kaitlynn, Mike, Cindy, Brandon, Melissa, and Kevin.

After we had all eaten, everyone had a chance to tell us two unique things they were thankful for. (They couldn't say the usual "family, home, etc.") So here are the things that we were thankful for in November 2008.
(I apologize if I didn't get them 100% correct--I couldn't read my writing..... -Cindy)

Vera: clean air to breathe and clean water to drink

LaWanna: a good boss and a great general manager (who happen to be Mike and Butch...)

Debbie: having a job, heat in my house this year (they went 1 1/2 years without a furnace)

and having a home that Brad built

Brad: baseball and a business that's doing well

Tyler: the store "Aeropostale", my parents who buy me stuff, my bedroom

Jasmine: my art easles and my bedroom

Randy: ...that only two people asked him where his wife was...and his never-ending education

Butch: that he got to Kaitlynn's diaper before it got too bad. He said that Kaitlynn was making

room for her bottle.

Jodi: good health, medical science, that she's not dead, and having a job with good benefits, and

not being at her previous job.

Mandi: hormones that can be injected and hormones that are made naturally (allowing her to

be pregnant with twins) and vampire mythology.

Ross: --that the Dodgers made it to the playoffs & won and that he only had two cold days of

football practice and that he now has his afternoons back (He teaches highschool &

coaches football.)

Heather: television and time (to heal all wounds)

Kaitlynn: blah,blah, gurbles,slurp, suck, spit, drool, smile, poop

Mike: life and the pursuit of happiness

Cindy: rainbows and the ocean and all the wonderful things in the ocean, especially turtles

Melissa: ...for Brandon's boss for letting him come home for Thanksgiving and the technology to

keep in touch while he is gone (He is working in southern California for 6 months

and they use a web cam to keep in touch, plus email, phones, etc.)

Brandon: my boss's wife for making my boss get me a ticket to come home and for a new job

and learning new things.

Kevin: my wife's job (she's a nurse) and that I have the freedom to think for myself. (He's been

reading about China's history and how personal thinking was banned.

**I was also able to contact a few of the people who were not at the dinner (and would encourage anyone else to add their own gratitude ideas.....)

Mindy: working pipes that don't flood. (she spent the day cleaning up a flood at her inlaws') and

pillows

Michael: a good night's sleep, my religion, pizza, my step family, the cool way my wife

looks at me, and when Carson runs into my arms.

Jen: ...that I can cook a little bit and for mountains

Ryan: for having a good job during these times, going to school, my family's support, and piano

music--especially with symphony stuff.

It's fun to see all the many things we are thankful for. We are most thankful for family and time to be with them.

LaWanna's trip to Oregon

Solena's dance recital

Darian in a school play, Oklahoma
Danielle's and Lisa's family at Danielle and Laurant's home

Jodi's Health

Since I'm on anyway, I thought I'd add another short post about my mom. Jodi was diagnosed with uterine cancer last week and even though it's bad news, the prognosis (is that the right word?) is pretty good. It's in between stage 1 and 2 and they think they should be able to remove quite easily with a hysterectomy. So, send all the powerful good thoughts of this family her way on July 30th for her surgery. Prayers, cards, phone calls and email all welcome!

Ashley's Baby Shower

Hey All, it's cousin Mandi reporting on Ashley's Baby Shower. The event was a huge girly success with great attendance despite an unfortunate invitation snafoo. So thank you to all those who could make it. Ashley was properly embarassed and pink cheeked to have so much positive attention directed at her. (After spending so much of her teenage years receiving the other kind of attention you can understand why. Note to self: expect aggravated phone call from little sister regarding this post) Great company, pretty good food and after lots of fun had by all, Ashley took home more presents for my soon to be popping out niece Kaitlynn, than she could fit in my mom's trunk. Hope you enjoy the photos as soon as I figure out how to load them and Mindy can stop harassing me about participating! Everyone wins. Love to all,
Mandi

Hortons

YEAH!!! Wendy decided to make a blog!! Now we can keep up on her family! Heather said that she will be posting pictures on here, so watch for those. We look forward to seeing EVERYONE ELSE's pictures too. HINT HINT