Millie and Bernie

We got a dog!!!!  (No, you are not seeing double vision...)  We actually had TWO dogs to begin with but had to sell one because two was just too many!  LOL!  Here's the story behind it all:

On Monday, April 28th, I had just received my try-weekly infusion of Bevacizumab.  Although the side effects are minimal, it makes me very tired the first 2 days and should we say... I may not have been thinking straight???

Matt sent me a KLS ad that day of a cute looking black and white (tuxedo) male Coton de Tulear puppy.  Somehow the kids also saw it and begged to get him.  I told Matt he could inquire and before we knew it, we were on our way to South Jordan to see the little pup.

When we got there, to our astonishment, there were two pups - a girl and a boy.  The breeder said we could choose.  BUT we couldn't!!!  They were both so cute!!  So then the breeder said she'd sell them both to us for a really good deal!  We couldn't resist!

Gavin knew right away that he wanted to name his pup Bernard "Bernie."  Laynie wasn't sure what she should name hers but after a day or two settled on the name, Mildred "Millie."

Well...  the next day, Matt went off to work and during his lunch break researched having sibling pups.  It turns out it's NOT recommended!  The pups will bond with each other first and family members second.  Also training is extremely difficult.  Two crates are a must and you have to leave one pup crated while you train the other then train them together.... so it's triple the work.  Well... the whole point of having a dog was to have him/her bond with our kids and being first time dog owners, we needed to start out small.  

So... we posted on Matt's fb account our predicament and offered to sell one of the pups (their choice) for what we paid for it.  It sold quickly.  They chose the boy pup and now Bernie lives in Idaho.  We have Millie and she's been so sweet.  She has learned to go potty on a potty pad, learned to sleep in her crate by herself, and I'm working with her one being picked up.  She is a bit shy of humans wanting to pick her up.  Hopefully that will change with training and trust.

I gave her a hair cut too!  For Mother's Day, I was gifted everything to groom Millie.  I think it'll save us loads of money in the long run.

 

Mrs. Sorensen-Bowers

Nanette tied the knot!!!!!  It was a beautiful morning on April 26th, albeit windy, in Manti.  Nanette and her sweetheart, Wade were so happy, and I couldn't have been more happy for both of them!

After the wedding in Manti, we headed back to Saratoga to pick up our kids then up to SLC's This is the Place Park for a ring ceremony, dinner and reception.

Nanette was so beautiful and the girls were so excited to toss the flowers and walk down the aisle.  Most of Wade's family aren't members of the church, so they planned a ring ceremony in their behalf.

Some of the 'deer' guests (Look closely in the background.)

Kami's job was to make sure Nanette's veil and dress looked good for the ceremony.

The kids had fun and loved the ice cream at the end.

My hear is sooooo happy for Nanny Poo!  In college, she swore up and down that she wouldn't get married.  She would live alone with 70 cats and be perfectly content.  I was starting to think that might really happen... minus 69 cats.  She and Wade have known each other for YEARS, but the timing of things was just never right until now.  She is 45; Wade, 54.  I'm so glad they are finally together forever - sealed in the temple and have each other for the rest of eternity!

 

Easter 2025

Dad always makes sure we stay true to tradition and dye those eggs!  :)

Grandma Kathy hosted yet another amazing egg hunt...

With tokens and prizes galore!

My sweet friend, Nicole Cremaschi Sorensen, came over for a visit from Denmark.  Kami and I visited with her at my house as we ate potato soup and breadsticks.

Happy Easter Sunday!  The Bunny hid their baskets so they didn't find them until AFTER church.  The primary kids also sang, "Did Jesus Really Live Again?" during sacrament meeting.

The bunny also hid eggs downstairs.

We hosted Easter Dinner.  Kathy, Loren, Jeremy, Diana, Ben and Aunt Greta joined us.  I made special bunny rolls for the occasion.

 

Leo the Egg Baby

in Gavin's 7th grade health class, his teacher had them take care of an "egg baby" for one week.  Gavin had to "feed" it, change its diaper, take it places, and play with it.  He even had to wake up in the middle of the night to tend to it on weekend days.

Gavin LOVED this assignment and took it VERY seriously.  Here he is with Leo at a yard sale.

He even gave Leo a nice present.

(a Barbie jacket!!!)

Leo hung out in the Barbie house a bit and...

in this basket - a playpen Gavin made for him.  As part of the assignment, students had to make a secure way to transport their egg baby.  Leo made it through the week unscathed and by the end, I said, "Ya know, I'm going to miss Leo" to which Gavin replied, "Me too!"

 

We've got a TEENAGER in the house!

This kid... I love him with all my heart...  He is a warrior, a brave disciple of Christ, a valiant soldier of faith.  His name in Gaelic means "white hawk," referencing a fighter for all that is good and pure.  Sir Gavin's was also one of King Arthur's knights.  Before he was even born, I had a strong feeling he would be a warrior for all that is good in this world.  Life hasn't been easy for this kid.  He's had to deal with things beyond his control in so many different aspects.  Yet he is sympathetic to the underdog.  He is bright and good.  He is FUNNY - sarcastic puns galore!  

We went to Olive Garden to celebrate this boy a few days before his birthday.

He ordered birthday donuts and shared them with everyone.

We had Irish guests (my mission mum, Sharon Kearney, and her husband, Ger, and daughter, Stacie) over the Friday before and Sharon bought a cake to help us celebrate.

It was fun having the Kearneys visit.  I love Sharon and am so glad we have kept in touch all these years.

Grandma and Grandpa Anderson came over on the 5th for dinner, cake and presents.  Grandpa's birthday is one day after Gavin's, so we always celebrate the two of them together.

The Kearneys gave Gavin a light saber for his bday.

Mom and Dad bought him a foosball table, and during Saturday's conference, I painted this German Book of Mormon for Gavin.  He's been learning how to speak German, and he's so cute when he does!

On Gavin's actual birthday, we took the Kearney's to General Conference.  Afterward, we walked around Temple Square a bit to see the different buildings.  A lot of it was under construction still.

Gavin took this photo while there and I thought it was amazing!  Sunday evening, my Aunt Dixie, Uncle Robert, cousin Carly and her daughter Rosie came over to visit.  We celebrated Gavin then too!

On Monday, Gavin went bowling with his best friend, Michael.  Laynie and I came along.  Then on Friday, April 11th, Gavin had his school friends over - 6 rowdy boys with stinky feet!  LOL!  They played foosball, ate a hot dog meal, had cake and ice cream, then watched Star Wars episode IV.

L-R: Lucas, Liam, Gavin, Jackson, ?, and Quinn

I hope Gavin felt special the whole week long.  We had 6 different celebrations for the boy, so he better have!! lol!