Happy Birthday !

Today is LuAnn's, Mom's, Grandma Rich's birthday. Whatever you call her, whether she is your wife, mom, grandma, sister, aunt, cousin or friend (did I miss any?), she is a great woman, and we love her. This is one of my favorite pictures of LuAnn, holding Tagg and loving him. Everyone of us knows that she loves and cares about each of us. She and Ben are a great support to their family. We love you Grandma !! Have a happy day :)

Our Life Lately........ Easter Egg Hunt Recap

Treyson and Zac - ready to run

Me and Tagg

Lindsey & CJ

My sweetheart - Roger D.

The starting line........... a part of it

Taggarino

Somebody got lucky !

Part of the Dickson Family

Easter Morning

I am so grateful for the sacrifice which Jesus Christ made in my behalf. I know that one day we will all live again. There is life after death, thanks to Him. May we all remember our Savior at this special time.

Wicked

Guess what I saw today? YES !! Tickets were sold out weeks ago, but before EVERY performance they have a drawing. My SWEET sister and her husband have been down there for 3 days, trying to get tickets. Two hours before the show starts, they take names..........then 30 minutes later, they draw for seating. If you are lucky enough to be a winner, you only pay $25.00 (cash) per ticket for two tickets, and they are AWESOME seats !! Erika and Aaron were able to score two tickets last night, and again today! When I got the call - I dropped everything and zoomed down to Salt Lake. I went with my niece Tiana. All I can say is WOW - now I know the REAL STORY ;) behind the Wizard of Oz. Thanks Kuk !

Double Trouble :)

Here is Zac and CJ's new DOUBLE garage - one door
Yea!!! We can get the vehicles in now !!

I was able to watch the boys for a little while - what an adventure !

You have to watch him close, or he'll pitch right out the front, and into the bushes

This looks like fun :)

Tagg likes to peak around the corner at the dog (Diesel) - he doesn't get too close though

Preserved forever...... Where the center post of the garage used to be

Always on the move - can't hardly get a picture

Everytime I see this little house - I wish Cam and Manda were still here :(

Treyson was getting upset, he couldn't make a basket

Oh - now he's pushing broom !

I mean shovel..........

I don't think Dennis likes the rocks on his grass

I taught him he needs to aim for the square - and do a "bank" shot

Busy....Busy....Busy....

Woah - THAT one's a keeper :)

Vvroom Vvroom - Grandma, watch out !!

Zac spray painted a blue line on the asphalt, because Treyson couldn't remember where the driveway ended, and the road began.

Yes - that's right. Don't go past THIS line

Tagg doesn't know much about blue lines yet

And Treyson likes to live as close to the edge as possible

Hang on !!

This is all the cement from the fence project last fall. Hopefully it'll get hauled away soon.

But Grandma, I don't want to look at the camera !!

I've got a big stick, and I know how to use it

Love that smile :)

Busy Busy Busy - never stops

Woo - mom's home, she's going to have a fun time keeping them away from Marsha Ann's dogs this summer

Want some boys ??

Happy Birthday Manda !

Today our second daughter, Amanda is 29 years old. She was raised as the "oldest", because her older sister passed away before she was born. I think it's very hard being the oldest. The oldest child is the one that new parents make the most mistakes with. But, there are pluses to being the oldest ................. when I figure out what they are, I'll let you know :)

In no particular order...........

Amanda is sensitive. Amanda loves music. Amanda is smart. Amanda is a hard worker. Amanda is independent. Amanda is a good mother. Amanda is a good friend. Amanda likes "eclectic" movies. Amanda does not like to see others hurt in anyway. Amanda is a good money manager. Amanda is a good daughter. Amanda has an amazing smile. Amanda prefers to be called Amanda, not Mandy. Amanda loves Arizona. Amanda is "one in a million" and we are so blessed to have her as part of our family.

Bucket Filler

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose . I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?'

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze.

'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked.

She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...'

'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.

We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.

Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.'

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, ' We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.

We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!

There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.

If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.

Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.

The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.'

She concluded her speech by courageously singing 'The Rose .'

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a Living by what we get. We make a Life by what we give.

General Conference

Some of you may wonder why I have entitled our Blog, "Come What May, and Love It". This was taken from a talk given by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, an apostle in our church. I was there in person, in the Conference Center last fall when he gave it. It spoke to me, and has helped me, and I will always remember it. Elder Wirthlin passed away in December. Today as we watch General Conference, his position in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will most likely be filled. I am grateful for the gospel in my life. I look forward to hearing the words of our leaders today and tomorrow. You can watch conference here if it is not broadcast in your area.

Our girls

Camryn Dee
Manda & Cam
At a friends birthday party

Peek a boo !


Having Fun

Cam's birthday is next month - she will be 5.........my how time flew by

The Joke that didn't happen