Remember Kelly?

I met with Kelly Lepine last night for about three hours at the Westin Kierland and just talked. It was so cool to catch up with her and listen to her talk about how her life stopped in 8th grade when she left Arizona.

It was so interesting to talk to her about her family, her sisters and her parents. She told me about her sister Tracy's children and the new man in Tracy's life. You will have to ask me about that one. I wish I could have seen Katie, but she was asleep and taking care of children so Kelly could hang out with Lisa and I. I also didn't get to see Carol, who was out with her mother who turned 80 this weekend. Speaking of Carol, we talked about her parents divorce and how bad it was when they got divorced in the mid 90's. Kelly was so funny telling that story about how it all happened. I was shocked to find out that all three sisters, Carol, and Mark and his new wife and children all live within like 25 minutes of each other in New Jersey. They all spend holidays and birthdays together! - Mark, his wife, and ex-wife all in the same home! Weird. Kelly was telling me how Mark's new wife always complains to Carol about Mark and how untrained he is. She says that Carol and Mark's new wife are like buddies. That is odd.

We also hung out with Lisa Pettorossi. She was also very funny - she works at the Westin Kierland and has been there for 11 years as a corporate sales manager. Kelly and Lisa were very good friends in 7th and 8th grade and Lisa I were pretty much best friends our senior year of high school. I was very interested to learn that Lisa and Mom went to a show together with Lisa' Mom????? Never knew that, or at least I forgot it. Mom, Lisa says to say hello and that she would love to see you.

Happy Birthday Nat!

Happy Birthday the lovely Miss Natalie!

Today is Nat's birthday and I had to wish her a very happy day. I love my 3rd daughter - the real middle child :) Even though she is turning 32 - she really looks and acts like she is still 22! Nat continues to be very caring and very generous. She buys clothes for herself and then loans them out before she even wears them! She loves those little boys - and the big boy Jay too. Nat is a good listener - and she is the first one to drop everything she has on her plate to help one of her family members or her friends. Another thing I love about her is - that she tells it like it is. She gives good advice - even though it might be painful to hear. She continues to be the make-up and clothes counselor for the East Valley:). It's crazy - I don't know how she knows what is in style and what looks good and what doesn't (could it be all those In Style magazines she reads?) She is a great daughter, sister, mom, aunt and I'm sure, wife (I'm sure Jay would agree) - and dearly loves her family and extended family. She has many friends in her ward and at the gym - they appreciate her humor, her craziness and her concern for them. Happy Birthday Miss Natalie! We love you :)

Tidbits....

Just a few thoughts and reminders....Aug 10th....Family Dinner to celebrate Michelle's, Nat's and Ben's birthdays. Dinner will have to be 5 ish because church isn't out for everyone until 4 PM and Nat and Jay's isn't out until 5. With the new freeway (yeah!) completed hopefully you can make it in time except for Nat and Jay. Any ideas on the menu???

Also this is the day that Grandma will give out her dollars for learning the songs. God Bless America, Yankee Doodle, I am a Child of God, The Star Spangled Banner for the older ones, America the Beautiful and for the little ones (under 3 or so) they can pick their own Primary songs.
I hope you have reserved this date for your calendars.....we haven't had a family dinner in such a long time!!! (So we'll have two 1 week a part :))

More..

At the top you can see Justin while eating his cupcake....the kids had a great time on the slip n slide and then the trampoline. Justin was the hit of the evening - he was putting quite a show on for the kids ...until it was time for bed:)

We also played Clue, sang our songs, had a movie theatre with LOTS of popcorn and then we went to bed really late - too late for grandma.

Some Fun Pics...et al

My Day on the Lake

Just needed to share this picture with everybody. This is about the dumbest thing I have done since swan dives off of Stoneman Bridge in Yosemite - 15 years and 40 pounds ago. This was at Bartlett Lake yesterday with all of my Young Men watching from a boat down below. Not my brightest move and a horrible example to my young men. My neck, back, shoulders and lower back are killing me today.

You have to admit though - sweet picture. Right about that time in the picture I was thinking, "Uh, oh - I am going to die." I especially thought Rick would enjoy this picture.

Happy Birthday Rog....

I don't know if any of you have seen these pictures before....the first one Rog was probably around 2 or 3.....the 2nd was his mission picture.....the 3rd one I was probably 6 or 7, Greg about 2 and Rog about 8 or 9 and the last one was taken October 1961. He must have been home from BYU his Freshman Year and my junior year in High School. I was always so proud to be his sister. He would be 65 today.....Happy Birthday Rog!