HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAYLER

Tayler admiring all of her presents

A great Elmo Cake!

Sissy helping Tayler with her presents

Yesterday was our little Tayler's Birthday. I love to talk about my grand kid's birthdays because it is a time when I can reflect on them and them only! Baby Creed's birthday will start us off next February, but Syd's was the first Birthday for 2009, her birthday is also in February. Since January we have had one birth and four birthdays and we are only into May! But now we will slow down and we wont see anymore grand kids B-days until August.
Tayler was so excited about the whole party she was genuinely surprised at all her gifts. She literally squealed at every present she opened, I laughed so hard. It was so fun to watch Carlee helping her little sister open her presents. After the party Carlee disappeared, I think she was excited to put together Tayler's 4 wheeler that her mom, dad, Grandpa Dick and Grandma Ruth gave to her little sister. I called later in the day and Carlee said that the 4 wheeler was still charging. I wonder if that 4 wheeler is going to visit Ephraim when the Strong's go down to see Grandpa Bill and Grandma Ellen? Thank you Strong's for a fun day. We loved being with you and also getting to visit with Soupie's family. We are so blessed to have our little miracle baby with us. We love you Tayler.

THE PIANIST

What an awesome night! I got home a couple of hours ago, but can't seem to sleep, so I decided to write about our chorale practice we had tonight. I sing with the, "Sally Bytheway Chorale". We practice on Thursday nights and we are only a couple of practices away from our performances in May. Natalie was invited to play along with our accompanists, Pat with the song called "Cindy" by Mack Wilberg. It was the first time they got together to play and they were awesome! Might I add, Natalie had the hard part, their fingers were just flying over the keyboard! It was hard to concentrate on my singing because I was so caught up in their playing. We have a mini orchestra that accompanies us on several songs also. They come four weeks before our concerts and practice with us, they are also wonderful! I am so excited about our four concerts in May! I am especially proud of our daughter Natalie. Thank you Grandpa and Grandma Strong for giving us that piano when Natalie was just a little girl. You would be very proud of your granddaughter!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN

Logan had a great birthday, we were happy to host his party and loved having our family guests. Logan wanted his birthday theme to be designed around Pirates. So we all had to wear eye patches, etc and get into the spirit of it all. The grand kids had a lot of fun with the patches jewelery etc. Even Papa John joined in the fun.

Shannon made a "Pirates Treasure Chest" cake, Logan was thrilled!

We even hung a pirates flag.....Argh ..... Mattie

Logan got a lot of money from his Grandpa De and Grandma BJ.....I guess you could say he got a lot of loot! The Parrot Pinata was the most fun for the kids! Carlee finished it off in one big swat!

April 18th.......a very special day.

It's hard for me to separate the two birthdays. It's a day shared by two of my favorite people. Logan is a very lucky little boy to share his birthday with his Great Grandpa Ralph. Logan doesn't realize it now but he also shares some of Grandpa Putnam's talents. Drama (acting) being the most dominate of the characteristics. When Grandpa Putnam was a young man he had his own acting troop and they went around putting on plays. He was a great actor and singer. It's fun to watch this little guy act out scenes of all kinds and come up with new ways to catch his audience's and hold them spell bound. I think he could come up with his own troop, Sydney would be right there by his side, I would suspect that Savannah and Tayler would be right behind Sydney. It's fun to see them in their own little worlds acting out their own little plays.

CELEBRATING EASTER

We had a wonderful day with a special program at church and having the family over for dinner. I hadn't thought about getting together for Easter because John and I were planning a trip out in the desert when it gets warmer. We'd take the four wheelers and we would roast hot dogs and marshmellows with everyone. But I'm glad Soupie asked if we were doing anything. Her family got together on Sunday so we didn't get to have them on Sunday, but we had breakfast Saturday morning with them, thank you for the beautiful plant! The other family members came over Sunday after church. Even Grandpa and Grandma from Ephraim came for dinner. The grand kids had an Easter Egg Hunt and the adults sat around and visited. So thanks family! We are so glad you want to spend time with us. We love spending time with you too. The only thing missing about the day was not having our Cali kids here. But it sounds like they had tons of fun when you read their blog, but we missed them anyway! We hope the rest of our family and friends had as much enjoyment as we did!

HAPPY EASTER

We hope you have a wonderful day with your families. We will be thinking about all of you. We also hope you have lots of candy, colored eggs and all that good stuff!

But most of all we hope you remember the real reason we celebrate Easter! Don't forget to take time and thank our Savior for what he did for us. Don't mean to get preachy, but he is the reason why we can be with those we love who have passed on when we die.

HE IS RISEN

Matthew 27:57-60 Matthew 28:1-2 Matthew 28:5-6

It was hard for me to find a picture of Christ at the Tomb. Most images in google were of Easter Bunnies, Easter Eggs and Easter Candy, but then there were a few Crosses and Death Scenes. His sacrifice in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross are a very important part of his Divine Calling, but I am glad that we have been taught to dwell on his Resurrection this is why I chose a picture of him at the Tomb, rather than at the Cross.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DRESDEN

I can't believe how time passes so quickly! Didn't I just rock Dresden in my rocking chair only yesterday? Has it been that long since he was just a baby in my arms? Dresden, Happy 7th Birthday! Papa John and I are very proud of you. We feel very blessed to be living right next door to you. We love watching you grow up and turning into a wonderful young man. April 3rd will always be a special day for all of us.

Dresden had a great birthday party with friends earlier in the day on the 4th. Our family got together that evening along with Grandpa De and Grandma Birtha. We all had a great time.

BABY BLESSING

BABY BLESSING

We had so much fun going to California to see our kids!

The time went by way too fast, but we enjoyed every minute of it.

We loved spending time with our Cali family. Mike and Nicole are wonderful parents to three beautiful children, we are so very proud of them! Baby Creed's blessing was very special.

CREED WILLIAM STRONG

FRIDAY

DISNEYLAND!

Meeting our Cali family at Disneyland

The cousins loved playing on the island at Disneyland

Suckers handed out to help keep the grand kids still for a picture

Aunt Shannon and Uncle Larry entertaining the cousins on the tea pot

SATURDAY

Spending time with our Cali family

Cole, running from the waves

Savannah looking for Sand Crabs

Every ones looking for Sand Crabs

SUNDAY

The Strong family after church

Trying to get all the cousins to pose for a picture

Logan, Dresden (holding Creed) & Savannah

A big day for Papa John and Cole