On Wednesday, Ginger had an ultrasound to find out the sex of her baby. She found out, but wouldn't tell us until tonight when we all got together, those that were here, to find out the long awaited news--is it a boy or is it a girl. Ginger, being the creative person that she is, didn't just come and tell us, she presented us with a cute cake with chocolate icing and inside the cake it was either pink or blue. We all had to wait for Jonathon to cut the cake to find out the exciting news. And of course, we were all very happy to find out it is going to be a boy. (Actually we would have been just as happy if it would have been a girl). So these are the pictures that I took of the evening--all of us enjoying eating a blue cake and ice cream.

The cake

The proud parents.

Colton

Holly

Lorrie and Ginger

Alex

Mark

Scott

Maddy, the big sister, checking out the family pictures.

Gary

The kids checking out the video cabinet

Shane

Jamie

Tyler playing with the little nativity
Evan

Double Trouble

On Oct 29th, 1949 Gary came into this world. He was born in Star Valley, Wyoming. Gary was the middle child of what would be a total of 5 children. He had two older sisters and two younger sisters and so being the boy that he was, he learned well on how to tease, which he still does to his kids and his grandchildren. He is a good man who loves life and is always happy and joking. We have all been blessed to have him be a part of our lives and we love him lots. Happy 60th birthday, Senior Man, with many more to come.

How blessed we were to have Shane come into our family on Gary's birthday, way back in 1984. Everyone was so excited to have this little person come into our lives. He was such a happy little guy and even let the kids dress him up in girl clothes (maybe he didn't have much choice)and they even called him Shauna. We all have had fun with Shane. He's been a great addition to our family. Gary is happy to have him take over the birthdays. Gary says he hasn't had a birthday since Shane was born. (If that is the case how come Gary keeps getting those birthday presents every year. hmmmmm) Shane we love you lots and hope you have a great birthday.

Girl's Weekend in St. George

Over Labor Day weekend some of us girls got together and went to St. George. We really missed Ginger, Jamie, Toni and Amy, but things just didn't work out that they could be with us--hmmm, go figure. Jeri, Lorrie, Kaci, Alex and myself made the trip. We had a really fun time just laying around doing what we wanted to do, which was mostly nothing, well maybe some reading, watching television and a little swimming and of course eating. Just relaxing and enjoying ourselves. On Saturday afternoon we met up with Beth, Randi and Joey, had dinner with them then went to Tuachan to see Aida. What a good play and it was just fantastic at the Tuachan. Come Sunday we were on our way home. It was a great time together and a good time to relax and revamp for whatever lays ahead.

Alex and her crazy glasses

Alex and Kaci sporting their cool eye wear
Lorrie taking a rest

Jeri posing for us

Kaci and Alex taking a dip in the pool
Alex and Lorrie
Jeri was involved in her book, but took the time to wave

Heading to Tuachan. Alex and her glasses--too funny!

Thelma, Randi and Beth

All of the girls

Part of the props for the play

Fall is Here

I really believe that Fall has made it's arrival, at least up in the mountains. I went for a drive on Sunday and the trees have been putting on their fall apparel and they are beautiful. As I was driving through the canyon all of a sudden through the green trees I could see this bright red that looked like a big fire, but it was a tree all made out in it's beautiful red leaves. Awesome. I took some pictures, but of course, my camera doesn't do them justice and I couldn't take pictures of the whole canyon, it just doesn't work, but I did try though. But here are a few that are not too bad. Enjoy fall because winter is right around the corner.

Lorrie's BD

It was at 1:08 a.m. on July 24th that our first little daughter was delivered and started our family beginnings. This cute little girl came to us weighing 7 lbs 11 oz and 21" long. We named her Lorrie Anne Lancaster. Lorrie after her Daddy's middle name (Lorraine) and Anne after me (Joanne). We were so excited to get our little Lorrie and she didn't disappoint us at all. She was really a good baby and a good little girl and was and still is a great big sister to all of her siblings and a great daughter to us. I remember she had tonsilitis a lot and the doctor said that he wouldn't take her tonsils out until she was three. Well she got walking pneumonia and ended up in the hospital. After that the doctor agreed to take out the tonsils and after that she was really healthy. She loved her brothers and sisters as they came along, helping to take care of them and play with them. When Brandt was just a baby and I was going to let him cry when he woke up in the middle of the night, however, the first night that I let him cry, it woke Lorrie up and she crawled up onto the crib and pulled Brandt out and brought him to me, telling me that "the baby is crying." She was only four and was concerned for the crying baby. That ended the crying in the middle of the night for then I had to go get him so he wouldn't wake Lorrie up. Lorrie pretty much potty trained Jeri. Everytime she went to the bathroom she took Jeri with her and helped Jeri go. It was the easiest potty training I ever did. (thanks Lorrie).
As Lorrie grew older she helped me a lot with the babysitting and she was always so responsible. She helped me do the kids birthday parties which really helped me. I couldn't wait for her to turn 16 so she could run errands for me so even before she turned 16 I gave her the keys and had her running to the store and picking up some of the kids. As I think back on it I can't believe I did that. If she would have been picked up she would have been in big trouble. Lorrie was always active in the sports, particulary softball. She loved softball and played a really good game. She was happy and always willing to help me and anyone else out that needed her. She hasn't changed much over the years in that aspect. She is a server and as we all well know she is an awesome cook. We love eating anything that Lorrie fixes to eat. Lorrie is a great example of service. When she went to work as a dispatcher for the Springville police she met Scott and was swept off her feet and they were married and have since given us 3 wonderful grandchildren. Thanks Lorrie for being you and for you great example to all of us. We all love you and hope you have a very happy birthday.

This One's For you Brandt

On July 16, 1974 at 12:58 am our first son came into our lives. He weighed in at 7 lbs 8 oz and was 19 inches long. We were excited to have a boy. Since Gary is the only boy in his family with 4 sisters and then 2 daughters he was happy to have a son. Lorrie and Jeri were excited to have a "brant new baby" for them to play with. We didn't know what to name Brandt and it took us about 6 weeks (on his blessing day to get his real name). Gary called him our little Generic baby and threatened to name him Gene Eric. However, the day that Gary blessed his little son he named him Gary Brandt (Brandt because the girls called him their "brant new baby". Of course he has been known as Brandt ever since. Brandt was a busy little guy and kept me hopping. He was a good baby and hardly ever cried, except when he had his ear infections, which he had plenty of. He finally had to have gamma shots once a month to boost his immune system and I guess they hurt a lot because when we would pull into the doctor's parking lot he would just start crying and saying "no, no, no." Brandt loved his He Men, GI Joes, his Legos and anything he could play in the dirt with. He loved to climb and could get into anything even from an early age. He spent most of his senior year of High School in Hawaii working on a pineapple plantation and going to school. He still has a love for the Islands. When he graduated from high school he joined the Marines and left home. He came back with his sweetheart, Amy and Austin and was married. She has been a great blessing to Brandt's life and together they have brought us 2 more little grandsons who are just as active as Brandt was. (sorry Amy) We love them all and are happy to see Brandt moving forward with his life and doing good things. We love you lots Brandt. Enjoy your birthday.

This is Your Day Jeri

We were so excited to have Jeri come into our lives on July 15th 1972. She came to us at 9:47 pm weighing 8 lbs 15 oz. and 21 inches tall. We were happy to have a 2nd daughter, even though her Dad had said he wanted a boy. When Jeri came he was thrilled. Jeri was such a good baby and a happy little person. She was also very strong willed. I remember Jeri playing with the dials on the television and I would tell her "no, no" and move her away from the television set and before I could turn back around she would be heading right back to where I just took her from. Finally I would slap her hands and tell her "no, no" and move her away. She would go right back to turning the dials and just a crying because she had had her hands spanked but she was not going to let anyone tell her what she was and wasn't going to do. She has always been that way--had a lot of drive and a strong will. It has been a good thing most of the time, but there were those few times that we wondered. One day we went to the sewer plant to pick up some fertilizer that they made there and we kept telling Jeri not to run around the edges of the wet ponds. (these are the ponds that had the sterilized sewage in them and it was in the process of drying but still very wet) She wouldn't listen to us and kept running around the edges until one of the times she fell in. We had to pull her out of the pond and when we got the truck loaded with the dried stuff Jeri ended up riding in the back of the truck because she was too wet and dirty to ride in the cab with the rest of us. Thank goodness she survived the whole ordeal. Jeri has been such a fun person to be around and always adds so much to any activity that she is at. We all love the way she makes our hair so beautiful and keeps us in style. She is a awesome stylist. We are so proud of Jeri and the things she has and is doing in her life and we love her lots. She met her honey, Lee, and fell in love and they got married and have had two great kids--and we are so glad that they are all in our family. Jeri hope you have a very happy birthday today. This is your day.