Today is Alice's birthday, and it is

 

Maddy's birthday!  I always thought it would be fun to share a birthday with a family member - and I do, actually - with my sister-in-law Roseann.  

Both these photos are from a summer time visit with Alice and kids - while they were in the foreign service, they would come down to SoCal in the summer to visit my mom - and to stay at our house too.  It was a nice set up - our kids got to know each other and to share some good times.

Happy day to both of you - and best wishes for a great year ahead!

Happy Day to Hannah!!

I love my Hannah - she was the 4th daughter and the 5th child - and that could mean "getting lost in the shuffle!" But our Hannah made sure we knew she was special - a big smile, a happy laugh, a genuine interest in many things, my only "climber," and a real "team player!!"

Who remembers Carmen San Diego?? Hannah was indeed an explorer and an innovator!

A love of softball!! And some good skills too!

Always a happy child! And easy to please too. (In spite of a birthday dinner that featured a potato bar!)

A "better half" who makes her complete!!

Have a great day and a great year ahead!! We will be thinking of you and remembering you too, with love and smiles!

Weekend update!

It's been a busy weekend - we had Ward Conference in the Arcadia Ward, then 2 hours later we had our annual Young Women Transition to Relief Society. It was a nice event - these girls just grow up and away don't they??

Then Dawn fixed us a lovely meal and made a cake with a singing candle!! A nice weekend - and a lovely way to start the new week!

Everyone says, "What are you doing for your birthday?" as if we have options besides going to work!!

But we'll probably do dinner and a movie - I'll let you know!

Happy Day to the Friends and Relations!

February 1st gets the month going - 2 birthdays for the Terrill family to celebrate!! First off, our good friend Greg has a birthday today!! Happy Day to you Greg!!

And of course, the Cousin Karls has his big day on the first also!!

Not sure how "politically correct" this shot is - it's from 1996 btw - but those two boys are pretty dang cute!

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

A Birthday Celebration for Mary!!

Mary celebrated her 60th birthday a week ago, so on Monday night, some of us hardy folk gathered to recognize it in fine style!!

Olive Garden was her venue of choice, and some of us stuffed ourselves on bread sticks and appetizers and had to take our dinners home in boxes!! (Mother and I had soup and wisely saved room for dessert!)

Mary graciously acknowledged Harry's upcoming birthday, so they gave him a candle too!

Bill joined us - looking a bit like Santa wouldn't you say??

Donna took this shot, so that's why there isn't a photo of her. (Mary thinks she looks unnaturally tall in the photo I took that included Donna! But I'm thinking Mother looks unnaturally far away in this one. I need to take a photo class!)

Happy year ahead to Mary - a wonderful sister and friend!

Happy First Birthday to Our Lovely Miss Isla!!

Guess who is ONE today??

Can't believe it's been a whole year - we were in Virginia last year when the lovely Miss Isla made her precipitous debut - and what a lovely year it has been with her!!

Happy Day to you!!

Happy Birthday Donna!

Just one year ago, we were celebrating the BIG BIRTHDAY for our own Donna Jean.

So this year we will look back - and I don't even know what year this is!!

Donna is the favorite aunt in our family. She is always up for dinner or a movie or a conversation or a trip!

And she's a wonderful sister too!!

Happy Day to you and all the best for a wonderful year ahead!!

More photos from the party

Well, it may not have been the party of the century, but it was pretty much the party of the year around here!! I suspect we will talk about it for years to come!

Mom with Anne and Wayne, Joe and Jane, and Pete and Lois - the Claytons you can count on to always be there!!

Ara and Alyssa hang out together.

Bruce and Tom catch up.

Uncle Byron regaled everyone with his tales - in true Clayton fashion!!

Bobby's family would probably get the prize for having the most Claytons there!

Isla may not go to many, but she was happy with Uncle Richard.

Camille with Leslie - and Derek - who wasn't keen about being kept from his appointed rounds!

Laurine Cihak - a member of Bonny's ward - and Alice's former missionary companion!! Don't you love the small world in the churh??

I couldn't seem to get Derek to show his face to the camera!

David, Paul, Reid and Noah.

Grandma Helen made the trek out with Dawn and kids - a good sport!!

The "photos" on this cake were printed with "edible" ink - although no one wanted to take a bite of someone's face!!

Dad was a good man to have in the kitchen.

Harry F. had to work Saturday night - so he came over to say hi before we all left for GH.

Byron's daughter Candyce - got him there - and we are grateful - I think he was too!

Happy Day to Eliza!!

Here are some random photos of Eliza - but in fact, they tell quite a true story about Eliza!!

For example, Eliza is quite clever and creative!! (And color-co-ordinated!!)

And she can be a little bit coy too! (And she knows how to deal with "growing out bangs!")

She's also a very nurturing soul - always has been.

And she's always been pretty dang cute! (With a flair for fashion!)

And I just can't believe how the years have flown by!!

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

More good news on the baby front!

A big welcome to Fiona Scott Clayton, daughter of Richard and Rachel Clayton, born January 10th, weighing in at 7 lbs. 22 oz.


Donna emailed these to me and asked me to post them. She thinks we have a larger readership than her blog - go there for a great family shot of Bill and Debbie's kids.

This is certainly a sweet little shot.

Looks like Mama and Baby are doing fine. She would make a great little playmate for Isla - the great-grandkids could almost start a school of their own!!

and still more...

more party pix