Toro! Toro!

Professional Bull Riders got nothin' on G'pa Paul...


We got a new toy...a "ride it" lawn mower!
That's right - - - we're ridin' a "Toro!"


We finally have the back lawn in and the Toro will get the grass cut quicker so we will have more time to play on the River or with the G'kids. Life is good!

Happy Birthday G'ma Jenny!

Adia made G'ma Jenny a cake (with the help of her mom who was supposed to be resting!) - It was not only darling, but delicious! Lookout G'ma Gloria...looks like you've got competition!

We invited the local kids for dinner to celebrate G'ma Jenny's birthday and G'pa Paul decided that we needed to play games so the g'kids would feel like they were at a "real" birthday party. Adults forget how to have fun at parties, all they do is sit around and eat and talk. That's really boring for kids...so G'pa Paul was in charge. He got a "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" game and a "Pinata" full of goodies. SO LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!

What birthday party would be complete without PRESENTS?



A new flat iron so G'ma could be "stylin" -



Kenyon helps G'ma unwrap her present because she is too slow!



KARAOKE?...BRING IT ON!



I have always been jealous of our Carter Cousins in TN because they are the Karaoke Kings - - - well, not for long!

THANKS FOR HELPING TO MAKE G'MA'S BIRTHDAY SUCH A GREAT HIT!

PS - Tomorrow (Feb 22nd) is Uncle Ty's birthday - he will be 21 yrs old, his LAST BRAZILIAN birthday. We miss you, bud.

A Valentine's Day to Remember...

A trip to Yosemite.....I was just beginning to think he liked me!

Our Wedding Day...Viva Las Vegas!

I LOVE Valentine's Day! Every year I get to remember and celebrate the day Paul asked me to marry him...he is so romantic. We were dating long distance and he was coming to town to take me to dinner that evening after work. I was working as a bank teller after teaching all day at a local junior high school and shortly after I got to the bank, someone came to my window and delivered 2 dozen roses from Paul. My co-workers were impressed. About an hour later, someone else came to my window with a giant red velvet heart-shaped 5 lb box of chocolates. This created great excitement among my colleagues. Still another hour later someone came in and delivered a poster sized greeting card with a mylar balloon attached to it and suddenly I realized that Paul had to be sitting outside the bank all this time, sending people into the bank to deliver these things to me! My manager sent me outside to the parking lot to see if he was there and to bring him in so everyone could meet him. Sure enough...there he was just grinning.
Later at a very romantic restaurant, he gave me several very special sentimental gifts through out dinner and by the time dessert came along he got up, walked over to me, got on his bum knee, offered me a ring, and asked me to marry him as the restaurant was playing "our song" over their speaker system. He had gone to a lot of effort to make sure I knew that he loved me. It was a perfect Valentine's Day and a perfect proposal and I get to spend EVERY Valentine's Day with the perfect husband.

jill holyoak photography

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

It is frustrating to learn how many Americans "never get around to voting" yet, they never have trouble complaining about politics/elected officials. We are all blessed to live in a country where we can at least choose who represents us in our government. I believe it is my sacred duty to vote and I take this privilege seriously. Voting is one way I can follow Pres Hinckley's advice and "stand for something." The elections may not always go the way I would like them to, but at least "my voice" was heard. Don't "forget" to vote!