A PERFECT WEEKEND!

We had the perfect weekend last weekend......that is from a mom's perspective! Griffin and Whitney came home for the weekend and they stayed at our house. We went to the Highland boys basketball game on Friday night.

On Saturday morning, Caitlin, Ryan, Griffin, Whitney, Bill and I went to the Temple. It is the first time that we have all been in an endowment session together. There is no greater joy for me than to see all of my family in the Celestial Room of the Temple. Someday we will all be there...... Saturday night we went to a movie together. It was action packed....a favorite for Bill.

Sunday we went to Inkom to church where Keith McNabb reported his mission. He just returned from Mexico. He had a hard time finding the right English words and had to ask someone for help. Griff loved it. He said that it made him so homesick for his mission. The Spirit was strong and Keith served a very honorable mission. Then we left from his report to atttend Rebecca Loveland's report. She served in the St. Louis, Missiouri mission. She gave such a powerful testimony. It was incredible. What a blessing for her and those she served.

We went up to John and Karen's for dinner afterward. It was so much fun being with all of our family. At these times, I get a glimpse of what it will be like with all of our family for eternity. There is nothing better than that!

Monday was President's Day so the kids were all out of school. We celebrated Griff's birthday. It is on the 25th. We had dinner and then the traditional presents, cake and ice cream. It is hard to believe that he is 23 years old. Where does time go? We spent part of the weekend watching videos when the kids were little. It made my heart ache a little bit for those days. We have been so blessed with our family. We are so grateful for Heavenly Father's blessings in our lives...................FAMILY IS EVERYTHING!








The birthday boy sharing his hat with Kira. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRIFFIN!

Everyone needs a little help.......All those candles.......one, two, three....GO!

The Birthday Bunch....Erin, Josh, Kira, Mom, Kirstin, Whitney, Griffin, Dad, Caitlin, Rhonda, Austin and Ryan.....We love you Griff!

Erin's Life....homework, homework, homework!

This is what Erin does for 2-3 hours everynight after school. She walks in the door and goes right to work. I am the one who is always whinning about it. She goes to a charter school that is very academic. It has taught her a lot about responsibility. I am so proud of how positive she is about it. She is a real trooper.....you go girl!

WOW...Josh!

Josh has had a busy winter. He came home from school the other day with P.R.O. Award for his class. That is the"People Respecting Others" award. His teacher wrote on the bottom of it "can do attitude". Josh works very hard at school. It doesn't come easy for him. But he always tries his hardest and does have a great attitude. He is like that with everything he is asked to do. He rarely complains....even if he doesn't want to do it. He is such a blessing in our family.

Josh and Erin got snowboards for Christmas. Josh has gone up to Pebble a couple of times with friends. He use to have a little plastic snowboard and was pretty good on it so I think he thought he had it all down. He realized a "real" snowboard it a little different. With his persistance and "can do attitude" it won't be long until he is swooshing down the slopes. Who could resist that smile anyway......

One more celebration....

Bill's last birthday celebration was on Sunday the 30th. The Branch members wanted to have a mingle after church to honor him. We bought Winger's sticky fingers, Bill's favorite, for the mingle. I got a cake at Costco that said "Over the Hill....Happy Birthday President McNabb." He tried to tell them they couldn't have a mingle but that didn't go over too well. While everyone was eating, I gave a slide presentation entitled " President McNabb, this is your life!" I thought it would be fun for the Branch members to hear stories about him growing up. Here are some of the pictures and stories......







Bill was born January 29, 1959. When he wa a newborn, he was

very sick and didn't want to eat. He was losing weight and the doctor didn't know why. One day his grandmother said, "I think he has a hernia." Joy took him to the doctor and asked the doctor to check it out and sure enough that was the problem. He had surgery and has been healthy ever since.




Bill has always loved sports. The first organized sport he played was little league baseball.

Bill did 4-H as a boy. He always had to care for a sheep and show it at the fair. It wasn't his favorite thing to do, but he learned how to work hard and care for animals. It also kept him out of mischief.

Bill earned his Eagle Scout award a year before he was old enough to be presented the award. He had worked on all of the merit badges with John and then had to wait until he was old enough to be presented with his Eagle Scout.

Bill has always loved to ride horses. When he was in high school, the sheepherder that worked for his dad was afraid to stay alone at night. Bill would get home from practice after school, jump on his horse and ride back into the meadows to stay with the sheepherder. Then he would have to get up early to ride the hour back home so he could get to school on time. He loved every minute of it.

Bill was so happy when he was finally in high school so he could play football. As a freshman, he only weighed 98 lbs. What he lacked in size, he made up with hard work and determination. He started his junior and senior years and was awarded the "athlete of the year" award as a senior.

Bill also played basketball for the Marsh Valley Eagles all 4 years of high school.

Bill ran the hurdles in track and qualified for state in them as a senior.

Here is his handsome Senior Picture. Marsh Valley High School class of 1977.

Bill wanted to play college football so badly. He walked onto BYU...played one year and then went on a Mission to South Africa. He returned for another year of football before earning a scholarship his Junior year. He always gave everything he had and he earned the respect and love of the players and coaches. Our closest college friends are those that we met when Bill was playing football.

Grandpa Burl McNabb (John's father), John McNabb, Bill and his brother Mike. This is when Bill was leaving to serve his mission in South Africa. Bill's brother, John, was on his mission in Spain.

Bill in South Africa with the son of one of the families he was teaching. He loved the people of South Africa and was so grateful that he was able to serve his Heavenly Father. We wrote the entire time he was gone and it was fun to live his experiences with him. What a blessing it is to be able to serve a mission! Nothing can replace the things learned in those two years. Bill was able to serve with his mission President, Lowell Wood, during the last year of his mission. He grew to love him so much and learned so many valuable things from him.

What a wonderful husband, father,and grandfather we have! We are so grateful for all that he does for us, for the great example he is to us, and for all the love that he shares with us. We are so blessed! Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

Happy Birthday Daddy-O......

Did we ever celebrate Bill's birthday! We started the Sunday before his birthday....Grandpa and Mindy invited us up to their home for his birthday dinner. Yummmmm, it was so good. Mindy is an awesome cook and we enjoyed not only the good food but the great company. Oh, how grateful we are for our families. We are so grateful for the love and sacrifice of our parents and the wonderful examples they have been to us.





Grandpa John and Bill......like father.....like son!







On Friday, the 28th we went to Salt Lake. It was Daddy/Daughter night at the Utes gymnastics meet so Kirstin and Kira went with us and we all went to the meet. It was fun to be together as a family. Caitlin and Ryan stayed home because Ryan had a track meet. We missed them. The Red Rock's just barely lost to Stanford. It was exciting and fun meet to watch.





Daddy and Daughter (and a little bit of granddaughter) at the meet.

Go Utes....Erin is cheering on the "Red Rocks"!

Jordan in his usual pose when he wants to zone out from the noise.

Y-M-C-A....Erin loved dancing with the crowd.

After the meet we went to 5 Guys and Fries for dinner. Then we went to Griff and Whit's for the birthday cake and celebration. Whitney was so nice to make Bill a birthday cake. It was Texas Fudge Cake, our favorite.....it was so so good.

The party animals....Kira, Josh and Griff waiting for the party to start.

How many candles are on that cake??? Not 52 but enough to burn bright.

We all thought Bill would have enough wind to blow out the candles...

but just in case he doesn't, Kira and Jordan are ready to help out!

Griff and Whit gave Bill Secretariat...one of his favorite movies.

Jordan loved playing with Roxy. This is a little scary........

On Saturday, January 29, Bill's actual birthday we went to Majerle Morgan's baptism. Her dad Mike and Bill played football at BYU together. We have stayed close friends ever since and our children have grown up together. Keri, his wife, is a member of the church but Mike is not. Majerle called Bill about 3 weeks before and asked him if he would come baptize her on the 29th. She didn't know that the 29th was his birthday. Majerle is 14 years old and has some good friends who are members and have taken her to church and mutual. What a wonderful birthday present.....and a wonderful blessing for all of us to attend her baptism. The Spirit was so strong at the baptism. Afterward, we went over to the Morgan's and reminisced and just laughed and had a great visit. Oh, how we treasure those friendships!

Run Ryan Run!

We have had lots of fun watching Ryan run indoor track. We went to Boise via Nyssa to one of his track meets. Austin, Caitlin, Ryan and I drove to Boise on Friday. We went to the mall to do some shopping for Caitlin. Her tummy is getting so big that she can't fit into anything. We went into a maternity shop and Ryan, Austin and I sat and laughed watching her try on clothes. Everything was so big on her except for her tummy. She finally found a couple of things and as I went to pay for them I had to explain to the sales lady that she wasn't a teenage expectant mother but that she was 22 (almost) and has been married for 1 1/2 years. It was funny. We drove to Nyssa and spent the night at the Long's. It was so much fun to see them all. The kids are growing like weeds......where does time go?







Little Branson just scooted right into the middle of the girls.

He is so blessed to be in this wonderful family....and they are

blessed to have him! (Mal, Bran and Avi with Boo behind.)






Mal and Boo are playing basketball on the same team. They

are doing really well......scoring most of the points. Future Lady Bulldogs!



This is Ryan running in a track meet at ISU. It was the open mile and he

got 1st place and ran his fastest time ever. He also qualified for conference

in the 5,000 meters at his meet.

Papa's Buddy!

We love having Kirstin work here everyday. We LOVE having Kira here with her. It does keep me from getting the things I need to done....it is just too much fun to play with her. Grandpa or "papa" as Kira calls him loves to play with her, too. This is the reward from raising our children.....beautiful grandchildren to spoil, I mean LOVE!


Kira and Papa....working or playing????



Wish they could stay little a "little bit longer".

Reading a book together....Papa and Kira.

Happy New Year!

We went to Josiah and Melonie Dahlstrom's to bring in the New Year. Melonie is Whitney's sister. They just moved into a new home....it is so pretty. Rachelle and Shawn were also there, Whitney's other sister. Kira went with us and she loved all of the kids to play with. Griff and Whit were there too. We ate (imagine that :)) and played games. It was so much fun. At midnight, Josh helped light off fireworks....his favorite part of the night. We are looking forward to 2011. HaPpY NEw YeAr!





Is it time to go already? I was just getting started!


Make some noise.....it's 2011!

Oh No! Griff just got killed in the card game.

Kira insisted on sitting in the high chair to eat!