Thanksgiving.....2010

Family.......so much to be thankful for!

Uncle Grant, Jordan, and LULU

Nicky.....too much celebrating!

Grandma Sampson..(Aunt JoAnn) and Ella

Peace!

Cousins having fun!

Princess Raina

Emery Rose

Benjamin

Olivia

Tracy

Mom and Wendi

The WHOLE GANG!!!

the three little pigs.............

Grant (not really thrilled about this idea)

Sweet Caroline

she wanted to be the shy pig!

Miss Izzy

My dad passed away last Saturday. It was a miracle that he lived as long as he did with esophegeal cancer. Most patients die within the first year. He felt good most of the time, until about six months ago. He had surgery to remove part of his stomach due to bleeding ulcers. He never felt great after that. His kidneys started to shut down, and they told us there was nothing more they could do. We brought him home to be in his own bed, and to be with his dog Lilly. Me, my two brothers and sister moved with our mom and dad. Most of the time my aunts, uncles, cousins, niece, nephew, our kids, our wives, our husbbands were all there too!Incredible gift that we were given to spend time with our dad. I am very sad, but he would not want to live the way that he had been living. I know he is having a big party in heaven with everyone!!! This picture was taken last summer at the Lake of the Ozarks on the tritoon boat. His favorite place to be!

Happy Birthday!

The closer I get to "50" birthdays aren't that big of a deal to me......but I still want to celebrate!!!
Here area few of my awesome gifts that I received....

This is from my friend Marlayna. She always likes to make a "surprise" visit to my house! She got me this darling magnet board this fabulous paper weight! I won't ever let her in my house....its always a mess!!
The cutest damask bag with my monogram from my cousin Christen. It was an Etsy birthday from her this year!! She is addicted to Etsy, and so am I!! I love anything monogrammed!!!!

When I was in New York City with my friend Vancy she introduced me to Tory Burch! She sent me this wonderful Tory Burch dog tag, and a magazine all about Tory. I want to hang out with Tory!

My dear stitch friends Donna, and Charlene gave me these beautiful mugs. They know how much I love things with "words". Can't wait to have me some hot chocolate this winter!

My sister always takes very good care of me on my birthday. This frame is from Holly Christine on Etsy. I love her things! She also got me a ring that I have been wanting from Silpada, and a bracelet from J.Crew........also...is this chalkboard the cutest! She wanted to keep it for herself, but she gave it to me instead!!!

More gifts from my cousin Christen......note cards, return address labels, the cutest necklace with a bird, and a nest with three eggs, black and white chalkboard tags, some yummy lotion, and these divine coasters with my last name! Everything was from Etsy, except the lotion! My cousin always send the best gifts!

This candle is from my friend Veronica......love all the words....it smells so good. I am saving it for a special occasion!

This gift is from my friend Kacey at Doodlebugs Paper. Magnets from Holly Christen, the cutest chocolate brown necklace with my monogram, and green/black note cards! We have never met, but she always knows how to brighten my day!

My triplet friend Helen took me to Granite City for my birthday. It was a beautiful day, and great conversation. I always get the chicken sandwich with artichoke dip! Yummmm..it is my favorite!

I also got a Bath and Body Works gift card from my Aunt Marilyn.....already spent it!!!

A TRAPP candle from my Aunt JoAnn

Some fuzzy leopard flip=flops from my mommy and daddy.......

Iowa State Fair

Iowa has the BEST state fair. We love to go as a family. We have so much fun together! Sharing food, drinks, benches etc!!!!! Our favorite thing to do is sit on a bench and watch all the strange people. This year was the BEST year for weirdos!!!

Grant....Caroline......Isabelle

My niece Mallory and her fiance Troy

My sister Wendi having a photo op! She loves to pose!

My brother Steven and his beautiful bride Kelly

Nick and Callie on the roller coaster

The Menninite cousins.......I bought these hair thing-a-ma-jigs for the girls....it looked so easy when the guy was demonstrating.....now we can't figure out how to do it!

Nick just had to have these cowboy boots.....and they are in the wrong feet!

Grant doing chin ups for the Army. He did 6!

Jack hanging out!

Benjamin did 11 chin ups. He is so strong!!!

Liv and Nick riding the roller coaster

Nick driving the firetruck

Grant and Ben on their first ride of the day. Of course Grant got sick....he did the same exact thing last year. He spent the first hour at the fair under a tree with grandma!!!

My brother Steven and his son Nick. I think they went to the fair almost every day!

lake of the Ozarks 2010

Family vacation at the Lake of the Ozarks......2010. We are so lucky that my parents have a home right on the lake. It is one of our favorite places to be!!!! The kids were in the water the entire time. We went on the jet skiis, pontoon rides, tubing, and of course my favorite
shopping. It was so hot, so next year we have got to go earlier in the summer!!!! The water
temp was 90!!!!

Grant cooling down with a beverage.

My friend from highschool and her husband came from Colorado. They have plans to retire in Missouri........they have begun looking for a home! This is Dan's face after Patti spent all his money!HAHA

James driving the boat.......Mr. sun......he LOVES the sun!

I just got a new camera, a Nikon D90....and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!

My dads doctor has a home in the Ozarks, so we snuck onto his dock to cool off!

Izzy, Grant and Caroline at Captian Rons beach!!

brotherly, sisterly, sisterly love........

Caroline was Queen of the trampoline!!!

My three 7th graders!!!!!

Great shot of Caroline!

Suprise Lillies remind me so much of my Grandma Beulah. They have so many of them at the lake. Every year I try to take a photo!