More Birthdays!

I am indeed behind the 8 ball on the birthday acknowledgements - one in March - our own Keesa Rogue! So happy she was part of the package with Taylor!

 

Esme is a sweetheart indeed - love her spunk - and her voracious reading habits!! She is growing older - how can that be??

 

David - always a helper!! Shown here helping Aulvie Bourgeous at Harry's reception. A good man - so grateful Phoebe found him!

 

Ah, we miss Nebeker - such a great friend and artist!!

Happy Belated Birthday!!

I think Richard has grown used to his birthday getting lost in the holiday shuffle!! But I remember his birth - he was not the first baby born at Glendale Adventist - but he did get a silver spoon for being born on New Year's Day!

January Birthdays always seem to get away from me - so here's a group effort!!

Richard has a birthday on the 1st - and his card from me is usually always late!!

 

Scott's is the 12th - I usually have my act together by then!

 

Leslie gets a "Friday the 13th" birthday this year!

 

Jim's was the 3rd - we do miss him!

 

Dale is today - so I'm right on time here!

 

A couple of sweet friends - Margaret and Michelle Miramontes - have birthdays in January that I try to remember.

 

Uncle Paul's birthday is in January - but I'm not sure of the date.

 

Theo's is the 11th - and he will be 10! Golden Birthday coming next year

 

Hester has her birthday on the 24th - wonder why I don't have single photos of her??

 

My grandmother Agnes Busath Clayton - her birthday is Monday the 9th.

 

My sweet college roommate Pat Higbee has a birthday on teh 23rd - she often got overlooked in the stress of fall semester finals!

Ara rounds out the month with her special day on the 31st.  

Maybe I should do this each month? Maybe no one reads this anyway!!

But best wishes to all these fine folk!!

Oops - out of order!

I totally thought I'd done a birthday post on Mary - but apparently I didn't!  Mary's birthday was on the 9th, so I'm tardy!

I remember Mary's birth - mainly because I am pretty sure it was when Alice and I went to Helen and Grandpa Clayton's house to stay when she was born.

And there had been a burglary - and I recall seeing the muddy footprints under the window at Grandpa's house.

I thought it was pretty exciting.  I guess I was too young to be frightened!!

Mary - and Charlie - are the two Claytons who have no baby pictures of them.  Times were tough and photos were just not high on the agenda.  The youngest photo of Mary is in a group photo where Richard is the baby.

Mary is a wonderful sister - very loving and so willing to serve.  We could all learn a lot from her.

I am fortunate to have a wonderful sister like Mary!

Happy Birthday Bobby!

The day is almost over, but I still have time!!  Happy Birthday today to my brother Bobby.  One of the things I love about Bobby is that he is totally willing to be called Bobby!!

He is number 9 in the countdown - and sometimes seems more like a nephew than a brother - because he really grew up without me there.  A hazard in large families - a hazard for the older siblings anyway!

Bobby is a fine man - a good husband, father, and grandfather.  He's a good son too - and often came to visit Mom and help her out. He has a lovely wife and great kids.

And I can totally remember him in this bassinet - Mom often put it out on the patio so he could get his vitamin D!  I recall her return home from the hospital - just in time for Christmas.  I was old enough to know about Santa - but I still had some concerns.

It was a Merry Christmas though - how can it not be with a new baby??

Happy day to my sister Alice!!

 I could probably make a book of photos of Alice and me!!  It is so great to have a sister close in age.  I love all my sisters, but growing up it was really great to have someone close to share things with - a bedroom, clothes, paper dolls, chores, secrets, good times - the list goes on and on.

Her birthday is almost exactly one month before mine - and Grandma Stevens always gave us the same gift - but in different colors.  So when Alice opened her gift, I was left to guess what color mine would be.  One year they were red and green umbrellas.  One year they were red and green lunch pails. One year they were blue and pink dresses.

Fun memories!!

Have a great day Alice - and a wonderful year ahead!

Another weekend races by!! Mostly unphotographed too!

Monday is Keesa's 5th birthday, and she celebrated today.  The little boy sitting next to her is Taylor's little brother Robert - and it was his 2nd birthday last week, so they had a combined celebration.  Water balloons and water pistols were the order of the day - went well with the heat!

Noah did a great job doing pinata duty - there were two pinatas so everyone was happy to join in!

 

Every time I tried to get a photo of Keesa with her cake - without the gum in her mouth showing - her gum showed up!!  We are going to chalk it up to reality - the gum from the pinata was a big hit!

 

It was nice to meet Taylor's family - her mom, her grandma, her aunt, and her cousin - among others.  Good food, good company, good times!!

Now on to the week ahead - hopefully it will cool off!

Happy Birthday Ry!

Today would be Ry's 70th birthday.  We children of '45 are turning 70 this year - and there's a long parade of friends who meet this criteria.

It is with mostly sadness that we contemplate this anniversary.

Because we miss Ry, and we aren't totally used to his being gone.  It still seems like we can head up to Oregon and see him!

We are grateful indeed for many shared memories.  I could fill the page with photos of fun times.

Our prayers are with Sarah for peace and happiness in many good memories.

Cherish your friends!

Happy Birthday Hester!!

The Kerksieks lived a lot of years overseas, but I sometimes think we saw more of them than we would have if they'd lived closer!!  The fact is, when you come from far away, you really stay for a good visit!!

And good visits they were!  For several years in a row, Alice and family came to California for a few weeks - and some of those weeks were spent here in Monrovia!

When they do get together anymore, there is always talk of organizing the playhouse, dressing up, building the Barbie World out of Kleenex boxes and other assorted items, and trips to the beach.

Good memories - and many of those memories include Hester!!  Who is having a birthday today!

Happy Birthday Hester - love having you in our world!!

Happy Birthday Bobby!

Happy day to my brother Bobby!!  He was a cute little baby - I remember his arrival and the fun we had with a new baby at Christmas time.

He was just here for a visit - I had to pick him up from Bill's and drive him to Mom's - a long commute on the 405 - but we had a great visit!!

Have a great day - and a great year ahead!!

Happy Birthday Mary!

When I go through my photos, I have no photos of just Mary - not sure why!  And actually, there are no baby pictures of Mary and Charlie - I think that the one at the top is the youngest picture of Mary.

Mary used to come often when Bonny was a baby - she was at Ricks and loved coming down to babysit.  We loved it too!!

Mary's a great sister - always ready and willing to help and be supportive!

Here's to a great day and a wonderful year ahead!!

Happy Day to Harry W!!

Today is Harry's 8th birthday - but his party was two weeks ago - and it's a good thing it was, because he's been sick today!!  It was a Harry Potter Party - and it was great!

 

The participants were sorted by the Sorting Hat, made wands, learned about potions, and played Quidditch!

 

The Quidditch game was especially successful - I'm thinking we need to play it at Christmas time - maybe it should become a tradition!!

 

It seems amazing that this little guy is 8!  Harry and Dawn were living with us when Harry was born (they were remodeling their house) and so we really have known him well since the very beginning!!

I'm looking forward to his Grandma's Birthday Sleepover, shopping for his Cub Scout shirt, and his baptism next Saturday!!

Happy day to you - and all year through!!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my Dad's birthday.  He would be 98 if he were living.  Today we are all in Utah at my niece Robynn's funeral.  I suspect Robynn and Dad are with us - hope they are with each other!  Knowing my dad was there to greet her gave comfort to Richard and Julie.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy 94th!!

Mother's  high school photo - I'm sure she wasn't thinking about being 94 one day when she had this shot taken!!

 

This is a fairly recent shot.

 

And here we have the oldest and youngest posing together at the birthday bash.

Happy Day to you Mom - you're the best - and you deserve the best!!

Another birthday buddy!!

Over the years, I have met some birthday buddies.  My sister-in-law and I are even born the same year!  A woman moved into our ward a year or so ago and we figured out we were birthday pals!!  And then there was a man in our ward who came up to me a few years ago and said, "My birthday is May 23rd also!"

 

So I was pleased to discover, while reading the biography of President Eyring, that  his mother, Mildred Bennion Erying, was born on May 23rd also!!

 

It's always nice to find yourself in good company!!