Anniversary Celebration

Summer is almost over.  We did make it to the ocean.

Once.  And maybe going again this Tuesday while Stewart is in town.

EmmaDean & Stewart came to celebrate grandparent's 50th anniversary.

It's a big deal to get John & all his sisters together.

And all the grandkids, minus Suzanna--on a church mission in Portugal!

Sam will leave in a month to serve in Mesa, Arizona LDS mission!

EmmaDean left this morning, back to work in Utah.

Stewart will stay with us another week.

Roxie is gearing up for school as a sophomore.  People ask all the time when she graduated, or what college she is attending.

My beautiful children!

Nice to have time together.

John is always obliging to kiss in public.

The End

Beautiful!

Alena is easy to love!

Sister Superheroes!

"Daddy" Michael's face that Luanna helped nephew Jack make to distract him from abandonment.  Those green Good & Plentys are his toes, and nose.

I look at us, exactly where we stood 25 years +2 months ago, noticing the hair changes, added weight...but thankful he is holding my hand tenderly.  Marriage is good!

Did I mention the lake? Bear Lake

Sam with cousins.

Nephew Jack "fishing" after our adventure finding a place to pee.

Successfully getting nephew Evan to take a nap so his parents could jet ski.

Suzanna on deck overlooking lake & rainbow after storm.

We had a great family reunion 7 years ago at Virginia Beach.  My parents rented a home right on the beach, and it was wonderful being able to play in the water.

The Bear Lake cabin was further from the water, but close enough.  The cabin was AMAZING, huge, many slides, almost enough rooms for all of us.  Could have used a few more bathrooms, more eating space.  Everyone was good about taking off shoes before coming in, and keeping food only on tiled kitchen, dinning area, and decks.  The kids never got tired of the slides! 

Thank you, Mom & Dad, and Happy 50th Anniversary!

Anniversary Wishes

 (photo credit:  Sam Landbeck 15 years old)

To celebrate 25 years we are not going on a cruise (someday we will, not this year), not even going away for the weekend (I miss the work conferences John used to have).  Not buying a rug at IKEA I have been drooling over (that would pinpoint a color palette in LR!).  Not going to Hawaii (sister envy).  Not going to Cheesecake Factory (no sugar diet still in place).  Not going to a local spa, not going camping (wouldn't recommend that for a honeymoon like we did).....

We are going to the DC temple together.  Maybe getting crab cakes at our favorite Riverside Pizzaria place on the way home.  Take a hundred couple photos and try and get our eyes both open.

We are saving up towards a trip west at the end of June for the 50th wedding anniversary of my parents and my family reunion at Bear Lake, Idaho!  Which will be great fun and worth the sacrifices to make it happen.  Thinking of a caravan out with siblings and families.  Making memories.  Laughing at our human foibles.

Happy THANK-YOU-FOR-GETTING-MARRIED Anniversary Day!

This is a mementos day.  A Happy Celebration Day.  First, Billie said yes to Stewart, and they chose today.  Then Ken asked Jane, and they got married today in the Salt Lake Temple 47 years ago.  Then Sandy said yes to John, and Gordon B. Hinckley sealed them in the Salt Lake Temple, too.

That is three big reasons for me to be thankful for marriage!  I wouldn't be here without those decisions, without that commitment, without that love.

Tis love brings us here  (repeat singing to "Happy Birthday" song).

Thank you for your good examples of how to love.

Good Examples of Love

My parents are still in love. Nice secure feeling. They actively do things to keep their relationship growing. Serving a mission together sounds like ultimate unity!
Today was the day we got engaged 22 years ago. I remember telling my parents, at my younger sister's wedding reception, that John and I wanted to get married. He had asked me that morning, after Deb & Roger's sealing in SL Temple (Happy Anniversary, you two!). We had a long distance engagement, two months to prepare. I was working and going to school full time. The BYU sewing studio made my dress. Somehow, it all worked out.

Nice to know who my Valentine is! He said "Yes" and so did I. Sweet!

Happy Birthday of Our Family

John has been blogging more. I copied his scanned in photo from his blog this morning, did the tilt thing. Lightened it up. Good memories and good times now!

What do you do when you have no money for a trip away together? Go on a working date. This Friday we will drive down to Ocean City and set up and take down risers for a choral concert. They pay us, plus a free hotel room=anniversary trip! Yes, with a couple of hours of sweaty lifting risers (do you know what a Sissy Bar is?). I am looking forward to it! Emma will be home before we leave, so the kids will be safe all together with two legal adults home. It will be the last time they will be all together for awhile. I hope they have fun without us.

21st Century Love Story!

Which shape collage do you like best? Happy 21 Years Still Married!