Meli's birthday - a week late. Oops!

I've been doing these birthday tributes for about a year now, so I need to change things up a bit.  

 

I love focusing on the birthday child on "their" day, so I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out what to do.

So, here goes.

Memorable sayings by the BIRTHDAY GIRL - AMELIA!!

She turned 26 on May 12, 2011.

Happy B-day girl!!

 

Here are some of the more out-standing things that I remember Amelia saying to me over the past 26 years:

*I'm sorry, mom.

*I love you a million!

*I'm not smart cuz you bottle-fed me.

*I'm sorry, mom.

*I see 'boo-bees' (birdies)!!

*I'm neglected cuz I'm the middle child.

*Oh mom, don't be so silly.

*I never got to wear newborn clothes!

*Wanna see me dance? 

*I'm sorry, mom.

*Madre, you are the best mom.

*You are ruining my life, mom.

*Let's have a sleep-over in MY room!

*I'm going to Poland!!

*Don't worry so much, mom.

*I'm NEVER getting married!!

*I'm HOME!!

*Let's go on a Road trip!!

*I'm engaged!!!

*What would I do without you?

*Sorry, mom.

 But my favorite (2nd to "I'm home") is:

"Nini - I love you!!  

Looking forward to many more favorites - 

and next year, I think I will copy some of her numerous apology letters to me for her birthday.  That'll be a kick!!

P.S. And I promise you a cake when you come visit!

Easter in Phoenix with Danny

For Easter weekend 

we took the girls out of school early, loaded up the car (and squished together in Amelia & Jon's Fusion) and took off for Phoenix!!  We were heading down to help Daniel with some of his "new home" projects, enjoy some warmth, and...

color Easter Eggs!

We had a great time putting together furniture from IKEA, repairing his laundry room door, giving advice, going to Farmer's Market and fixing meals. 

Our #1 furniture assembler.  She's awesome!

 

 

On Sunday, we colored Easter Eggs in diluted colors - thanks to a lack of vinegar, laughed and teased each other and then had awesome Egg Wars (of which I didn't get any pictures). 

But I did get these other cool pictures of the concentration on the "Egg decorators" faces!!

Some of us ate lots of candy.  I won't say who....

  Rachel and Danny tried to cheat and put reinforcing tape on their eggs.

 
  Someone sneaky even thought of freezing their egg!!

 
In the end,  Dad won this year, but since we don't have pictures to prove it, then it doesn't count, right???

22 Years Ago

My second son was born.

Loren Spencer Tyler Stone

(big name - big personality)

Some interesting facts about Loren's life:

He was born "at home", but technically, in the rec room at my sister's house in Tucson.

He was so blond, that my mom insisted he was bald.  It caused a fight.
 

He was raised on goat's milk.

People thought he had a different father than my first 3 children - due to the blond hair. 

He loved boogers. 

He loved to help his Dad do anything.

He began camping with his Dad before he was 1 yr. old.
 

He was very, very mischievous.

 Some of his antics included:

*stomping on his pre-school teachers asparagus

*running his tricycle down the road and pushing it into the flooding creek

*surprising the neighbor in her bathtub

Don't let that cute innocent face fool you!!

*causing trouble in Nursery so that he'd get sent out

*I'm sure there are many more of which I am ignorant.

As he grew up and we moved to Utah, he was still full of antics and surprises.

 

He was home-schooled in 4th grade and through High School.

He was a great soccer player.

He started a field on fire.

He could run like the wind, but didn't like the "sick" feeling before a race.

He loves to tease the girls and women in his life.

One of Loren's first girlfriends

He saved a girl's life when she was buried in a sand cave-in.

He is an artist and self-taught musician.

Still likes helping his Dad do anything.

He is a writer.

He is a VERY deep thinker.

He challenges the ideas that come his way and tests them.  He's not afraid to do it either.

He is a loving and very thoughtful son.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOREN!!

Loren's final girlfriend - and fiance!

 (sorry it's a day late - couldn't find the baby pics!)