Birthday Fun!

I wish this picture had sound...Dalin was really giggling. It's so adorable when he thinks he is being funny....how wonderful and innocent! We had a fun birthday dinner for George last night. Chantile made Papa some delicious brownies that we SHOULD have gotten a picture of BEFORE we dove into them, but we just couldn't wait! Matt, Chantile, and Jasmine stopped by to wish Papa a happy birthday and drop off a gift and wonderful card. The Kotter's and LJ came over for dinner - taco salad - one of Papa's favorites. Ciara made a beautiful card ALL BY HERSELF, writing and all! It was so sweet. We had a good time and now George doesn't have to admit he's 50 any more!!

Friends, food, and fun....

We all had a great time at Amber's house after the sealing on Saturday. She put on a wonderful luncheon for everyone - plenty of yummy food for all! It was so amazing to have Amber there with me. She sat at my side in the temple, in the very chair that I, not too long ago, sat in for her as she and Zane were sealed. How many moms can say that? Amber, you are an amazing woman. I am so humbled when I think about how blessed I am to have you in my life. Thank you for making our day so special, for being the example you are to me, and for being my best friend! I love you Amber!!

From left: DawnMarie Neugebauer, Julane Wells, Whitney Wells, Duane Neugebauer



From left: Dan Wells, Mary Bullock (George's sister all the way from Colorado!), Valerie Betts, Dante Betts, and Elder Cheney's back :-)



My sweet Doodlebug came to help us celebrate!



Chantile and I sharing a laugh. Chantile has been so supportive of George and I, on so many levels - thank you Chantile - "YOU ROCK!"



George's Mom and Dad enjoying Amber's delicious food.


It was a great afternoon - icing on the perfect cake!

Eternal Blessings

Here are a few pictures from Saturday at the temple. It was a beautiful perfect day! We were surrounded by family, both relatives and ward family, and there were many more who were there with us in spirit. Again, George and I would like to let each of you know how deeply grateful we are for your love and support. We both feel such a great sense of peace knowing we are sealed for time and all eternity and an equally great sense of excitement for opportunites to continue serving the Lord together.


George and Julie Wells - sealed this day 2.21.09


At the temple doors



The Billings Montana Temple

Eternal Blessings

This morning we are preparing to attend the temple. Today George and I are being sealed for time and all eternity. We are very humbled to be given this opportunity and thrilled for the experience. We know it will deepen our firm commitment to each other and open many doors of service opportunities, which we are thrilled about. I will post some pictures on Monday, maybe even later today if there is time. We want to thank all those who are so supportive of us in this. It means the world to us to have your love and support! Pictures coming soon!!!

A Look Back.......

I thought I'd share some of the old photos that my mom and sisters sent to me for my birthday. Vicky put some on a disc so I can easily share those. The others I am going to scan and put on a CD. I had such a good time looking at these. I can't remember seeing most of them, so it was great to have them!


This is my mom, my older sister, Vicky, and me (the chubby bald one!)



This was PJ (pre-Jenny) Mom and Dad Fuqua with Vicky on the left and me on the right. I wish this one was bigger, Matt really looks like dad in this picture! (Notice Vicky's stylish purse and cute vogue stance......and then there's me......such a little lady haha)



Mom Fuqua, Julie (blurred due to my perpetual motion!), Dad Fuqua, and Vicky. (Dad's got the Elvis look goin' on pretty good!!)



Mighty Snowman creators Julie (left) and Vicky (Right) with Brownie their fearless protector - yea...that's him....rolling in the snow...or maybe ... licking something...I don't know....



Ahhhhh...Jenny arrives and makes us complete! From left: Jenny, Dad, Vicky (back), Julie (front) and Mom. So, does anyone else see Joe in this picture or is it just me?

Birthday Blessings

On Monday 2.9.09 George took us all out for dinner to celebrate a milestone in my life. It was a pretty big birthday - 50. Hard to believe I'm that old! It certainly has prompted several hours of reflection. I suppose time will tell what affect those reflections will have on me. Hopefully for the better. I do want to say I have the best family! I received cards and phone calls and they all meant a great deal to me - thank you all for remembering me! Amber and Chantile each spent a great deal of time preparing a memory book for me. Amber created hers with pictures and Chantile's was through words. Wow, what an amazing gift they both were. Thank you to all who contributed to that project!

My sweetheart!



Amber and my laughter was from the balloon that you can't see bobbing - I love Dalin's face - not sure what he thought he did wrong - he's such a cute little Dudie!



Happy smiles all around!




Oh how I love my babies - I really missed Griffin and Ella!
We missed Joe and Tabby and Nate and Heather too! LJ was there with us, but he is rather talented at avoiding the camera! Too bad too - he's a handsome young man!! (Thanks for coming LJ!!)

Family Milestones

ELLA'S BLESSING
Well, we were fortunate to attend Ella Lorraine Swenson's blessing on Sunday January 25th in Idaho Falls - certainly a milestone for their little family as well as ours. Ella looked like a little princess - in fact that's what her Uncle Derek calls her, "my little princess." Several of Nate's family were able to attend and George and I were there. It was a really quick trip, but worth every moment on the snowy roads. We would not have missed it!

Ella in her special dress from Grandma Kayanne!



A very proud Papa and a sleepy Ella!


Is she a tiny might or what?!?!



Heather, Ella, and Nate


Sweet kisses from mom and dad.



A beautiful mom and her daughter!



Family....what could be better?



Being a grandparent is the GREATEST!!!



Three generations of love....I think this is my favorite picture of the day.



Ooooohhh yeaaaaa ....back into soft clothes!

Gratitude

I have found that gratitude has been something that has always come easy for me. A silly thing to say or even think about I suppose, but I have always been.....well.....thankful for that. Even in the hardest of times I have always been able to find things I am grateful for. As a new year starts and things look a little bleak in many respects I am grateful for all that I have. I am especially grateful today for the kind thoughts and acts of others. This past Christmas was great. I was thinking of the wonderful gifts I received and I thought about how I was just as grateful for the thought that went into them as the gift itself. Matt and Chantile got George and I a cool lantern / radio / cell phone charger that you crank up, so no batteries are needed. They knew we have been trying to follow the counsel from our church leaders and be prepared. Kind thoughts and acts. Amber and Zane got us a foot massager. They knew how it could be a good stress reliever and how George and I both have trouble with our feet at times. Kind thoughts and acts. Joe and Tabby got me a beautiful book with collections of Greg Olson paintings that go with the song "If the Savior Stood Beside Me." I took it to share with my nursery kids the very next Sunday and they were mesmerised with it. The best part of the whole book was Griffin's little signature in the front. Kind thoughts and acts. LJ got us a gift certificate to Pizza Hut. He knows how busy we are and how we often get a bite to eat on our way home at the end of a long day. Kind thoughts and acts. Perhaps the gift that touched my heart the most wasn't for me or from me. I received a call a few days before Christmas. Vicky, my sister, had an unusual excitement in her voice. She had read Amber's blog about wanting a certain nativity set but lamenting that the expense was going to leave her wanting it still. Vicky happened to have the set and packed it up and sent it to Amber. Vicky's joy about the surprise was very contagious and I found myself giddy with excitement to see Amber's face when she opened the package. Well, a comedy of errors pursued with incorrect zip codes (MY FAULT!) and UPS sending it all over the country, but finally the package arrived. And it arrived on a day that I was babysitting so I could see Amber's face first hand! Tender mercies for sure!! Well, needless to say she was thrilled beyond words. I found it hard to hold back the tears as a spontaneous cheering erupted in the room. Zane was snapping pictures, Ciara was dancing around singing, "I love it, I love it!" Dalin was squealing with delight, not knowing perhaps what was really going on, but feeling the spirit just the same. It was wonderful. It was an amazing Christmas gift for everyone. Kind thoughts and acts indeed. I am grateful for that. I am grateful for my family. I am grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who gave us the ability to have emotions.

Griffin's First Sleep Over

About a week ago Griffin got to sleep over - his first sleep over at Grandpa and Grandma Julie's house. It was fun. Is this a cute little cherub or what?! Check out those gorgeous eyelashes!!

Riddle: What's more peaceful than watching a sleeping child?


Answer: Snuggling with one!!! We love you Griffin!!

More Birthday Fun!

Splish, splash!! For Jasmine's birthday, Matt and Chantile gave her a party at a local indoor water park. We had a family party on her actual birthday. I think there were six girls that went and had a fantastic time! I stopped by to snap a few pictures - what a fun place!! There was an enormous bucket (like 8 or 10 feet in diameter and probably 10 feet tall) that would fill and then spill out on any thrill seekers brave enough to take the beating. Ciara thought it was absolutely hilarious and I could hear her squeal and giggle above the roar of all the water. What a funny kid. Jasmine seemed to be having the time of her life. A very welcomed departure from the ice and snow only feet away on the outside of the building. Chantile was brave to chaperon. Me, being the Nervous Nelly I am, would have been a reck by the end of the afternoon, but Chantile was loving it. Matt bailed and went to see Russ - party pooper. :-) I regret I didn't get a picture of Chantile watching the kids play - she was really cute.

These are Jasmine friends that got to go with her.



Ciara - laughing at the bucket dumping.


Happy Birthday Jasmine!!