Happy Birthday Taylor

Even though we celebrated awhile ago, happy birthday to Taylor. . . 26 years old on Valentine's Day! Taylor, we are just getting to know you in our family but I appreciate your gentle nature, your love of basketball---especially the Jazz, and your determination in staying in school. I also like your "attitude of gratitude" and getting to know your kind heart that I have heard about first from Brent and Sonya Davis and since then, from many others. Bob Eckles told me the other day that you were a hard worker in basketball and always wanted to improve your game. That determination will always pay off in your life. I hope this birthday celebrated in our family will be the beginning of many more to come. Love, Michele

Eva Sophia Turns Two Today!

Happy happy birthday to our two-year-old Eva!
You are hard to capture on film because you are always moving!

Eva, you are so darling. You are such a joy to Grandpa and Grandma. We both love it when you run into the house and into our arms. You are so very special to us and we love you so much. You are so energetic and bright. You are extremely active and coordinated for your age. I love to cuddle you in the rocking chair and read stories and sing, especially the motor boat song that you like. I love to try and figure out what you are saying to me. I especially love that you love me. You have brought me joy beyond measure this past year as we have spent more time together. I'm so glad you are now two years old. Happy Birthday to our special girl! Love you lots, Grandma


Your mama takes very good care of you and dresses you up so darling. She makes sure you have lots of pretty dress up clothes to play in since you LOVE to play dress up.
Your daddy is always very tender and sweet with you.

You have lots of people that love you like Aaron and Stephanie...
Grandma Great tries very hard to get you to hold still even for a minute!

At your birthday party, I could tell that you loved the new beads and sparkly purse that your mommy and daddy gave to you.
You and Uncle Taylor share a birthday party together at Grandma's house because your birthdays are so close together.
I think you will really like your little monkey book.
You have such a wonderful family who love you very much!

Happy First Birthday Olivia!

Happy first birthday precious Olivia! In your one short year of life you have brought us tremendous joy. You are the most giggly and happy little baby I have ever known. You are so smart and observant. Your momma spent hours preparing for the most amazing party, complete with a new outfit, decorations, a beautiful cake, a balloon artist, your own video, and throngs of people who love you. We are so happy you have come into our family. I love you! From Grandma

New Year's: Look Not behind Thee

Beautiful Annie Turns 5 Today!!

Happy 5th Birthday to beautiful Annie Michele Call. I can't believe you are such a big girl now. There are so many things I love about you, I hardly know where to start. You are so much fun to be around. I LOVE spending time with you. You have such a sweet personality and always include everyone when you are playing with cousins. I like how you giggle, how you are learning to read and can do a perfect cartwheel. I love to visit you and read stories on your bed and look at your beautiful princess dress-ups hanging on your wall. You are so very beautiful but most importantly to me and grandpa is that you are so beautiful and kind on the inside. That makes you a real princess and we are so proud of you. I love you you dearly and can't wait to see you again soon.

Love,

Grandma

Sister's Retreat 2011

This past weekend we held our 3rd (or 4th?) annual Sister's Retreat in Seattle, Washington. Robyn organized it around Taylor leaving for his mission to Brazil. She did a great job getting us where we needed to go. We stayed the first night at the "Camlin," a very cool older hotel in downtown Seattle. We spent most of the next day visiting in the top floor remodeled piano bar, where Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin used to play. I flew home that night and they went on to take the ferry over to Discovery Bay and the animal park. I understand Alyssa and Denise fed the moose and elk bread from their car windows. . . lots of slobber but they loved it.
Ella was the lucky twin who got to come. She was mothered all weekend by six of us and was so darling.
Denise is wise beyond her years and the perfect oldest sister to lead the way.
Everyone "shared" a gift, thought, message. . . something we have learned this year and hope to learn in the next year. Alyssa gave us all this cool head massager/itcher thing that was awesome! Amber gave us a great cookbook, Denise and Alyssa shared books they had read, I gave the Time Out for Women DVD and mom paid for our dinner. Mom had to raise her hand to get her five daughters to quit talking and laughing long enough for her to make a comment.


Robyn picked us up from the airport and we first went to Cheesecake Factory to eat and wait for Alyssa to arrive. Sadly, the airport made a HUGE error and Alyssa couldn't fly in until the next morning. It's amazing what coordination it took to have us all there at the same time. Good job Robyn.
Unfortunately for me, it was also the weekend of our stake women's conference which I did NOT want to miss. So I traveled up and back twice over the weekend. I can't believe how blessed I am to have FOUR sisters and a wonderful mom---all who love me despite my faults and weaknesses and women who I love, admire and adore. Denise said she felt like it was "Sister's General Conference," and I whole-heartedly agree.

We finished the weekend listening to a very well-prepared nephew speak like a RM, then had a great dinner at Robyn's. Thanks for an uplifting weekend. . . I can't wait until next year!

SO FUNNY!

Every now and then, Tim does something quite hilarious. A few weeks ago I LOST an SD card with the interview of Sister Janice Kapp Perry on it. I was devastated and could NOT figure out where it was! We searched for hours before giving up, finally deciding it would turn up at some point. Well, it DID turn up. . . in the refrigerator of all places!

So last week, when I couldn't find my temple recommend, Tim left me this note. I had left my recommend in Tim's shirt pocket and Durfey Dry Cleaners returned it. When Tim discovered it, he left this note on the door and put my temple recommend in the fridge---same place I found the SD card. I'm afraid this joke will never die. One good side note---I can get into the temple without a temple recommend; all I need is Tim to vouch for me. Do you think that will work in heaven? I'm counting on it!