Family Fridays...Matthew

It really seems hard to believe that it has been 38 years since Matthew joined the family as the first born.  What a brave soul he was and still is.

Fun Facts about Matthew:

Cheam Park Farm School Soccer Football Team

Matthew Team Goalie

Mayors Cup...yup I'm tired

• He served a mission to Bordeaux, France.  As an Englishman in France that was very brave.
• He tried his hand at being a horticulturalist in high school during which time he babysat plant(s) for a friend.
• He loves sports and is a soccer ref who when a coach was complaining about a call asked him how much he got on the ref test.  Matt calmly let the game proceed and then in a break answered the coach..."99%, Sir".  
• Helped run one of the biggest Soccer Tournaments in Utah for several years.
• He is a great singer and helps keep his dad in line when they are playing in the band.

Things we love about Matthew:

• He married a sweet girl, Steffanie, and they gave us four cute grandkids, Caleb, Ben, Joseph, and Chloe.
• His sense of humor.  He used to take a joke book to church and entertain the older sisters when he was little.
• His love of the gospel and his willingness to serve when or wherever he is needed. 
• His hard work in raising a family and graduating from BYU with a MBA, while a young dad.

September 30, 1994

April 25, 2003

Memories of Matthew:

• The strange sounds that used to come from his bedroom.  I thought he was talking rubbish and really he was practicing his Latin!
• The night he called and asked "Should I get a plastic surgeon or not to stitch up my face?"
• Peter trying to change his dirty nappy, diaper when only a few days old and ....well maybe that is not a story for here.
• The smelly goat cheese he brought back from France on a school trip.
• Tickle fights with Peter and his siblings.
• His love of video games
• Never sleeping as a toddler...right up to when he started school. I still think he exists on very little sleep!
• The Gotcha Song by the Beatles...I love when you sing that and Johnny Be Good and.....

Like I said earlier...Matt was very brave being the first one to come to our family.  No manual is given when your children are born and you try the hardest you can to do the right things.  Mistakes are made but in the end you hope they will always love you as much as you love them.

We love you Matthew!!!

Band Practice

Peter, you're in the way!!

Family Friday...Tiffany

I remember being at a friend's house in high school and the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's was on tv. I turned to my friend Dianne and said I'm going to name my first daughter Tiffany. I've never loved the movie but I love the name. It was just as well she wasn't our first child as Peter wasn't in love with the name until the next time I was pregnant. (her middle name was because of Princess Anne and sort of after Nan Cheeseman.  We are certainly glad she is our daughter and love her very much.

Memories of Tiffany

Dec. 1975

• She was very obedient as a child and would almost always choose the right way.
• She never looked where she was going but where she had been (or at the people or events going on around her. This lead to several lamp poles being walked into.
• She still to this day loves to "people watch"
• There used to be an advertisement on t.v. in England about "Would you give your last Rolo away?" and she would!
• She loved to play with dolls and would sit on the bottom stair and play church with her dolls.
• There used to be a capped off pipe fitting in the corner of our hall that was about 4" high.  She used it as a microphone to play church.
• Her requesting a song, on the radio and being sent from one department to another all the while she was live on the radio.
• Falling face first asleep in her plate of food because of jet lag when she was 4 years old.

Times to duck:

• When there is a snow storm and she has to be driven in it.
• Flying in an airplane with her.
• When someone brings up the subject of scouting. (she is not alone in her thoughts though)
• I am sure there are others but let's move on....

Things we love about Tiffany:

May 2011

• Her enthusiasm.
• Her willingness to work hard on a given task.
• Her laughter
• Her "Tiffany words"
• That she teaches her children how to work and how to play and in the right order.
• Her love of traditions
• Her party planning ideas
• Mike, Megan, Luke, Ellie, Joshua, & Drew

When she was born it was October 22 in England but still only the 21st in America.  Technically time wise that time hadn't even happened here.  So it is fun, that when it is her birthday, she can celebrate it for two days.

  'Cause if you know Tiffany she loves her birthday!!!!  

She is our only daughter...and we are so grateful that she survived the constant teasing from her brothers

May 2006

both younger and older and choose us to be her parents.

Age 4

Things we love about Tiffany

We love you Tiffany!!!

A Weekend to Remember....

Mother's Day Weekend 2011

What a great weekend I just had!  

It started out with James graduating from the University of Utah and telling us he had a new job that would take them to St. George to live.  In this economical climate how exciting for him, Kristin, and Annie.  Although I am sad they are moving,  it is only a few hours drive away.  With them moving to St. George it makes it half way to Casey, Cindy and Lucy who are also moving....but alas not Utah but sunny California.  Road trips, mini vacations, weekend get-aways...ummm I could enjoy a few of those! (okay, a lot of those)

• We went out for a Chicken Tikka Masala curry to celebrate Friday's graduation. (and it was one of the best I have ever had there!)
• A sweet friend of mine got married and I was lucky enough to be a part of the planning from the beginning to the end.  There are a lot of very wonderful women in our area who helped with all the planning, serving and making it a wonderful day to remember. Okay, a shout out to the guys in  Last Chance the Band, Peter, Kort, Matt, Gerry, Russ & Derick who made a great wedding even better with their music!   Last Chance Website
• I learned all over again why my daughter-in-law Kristin is so super...She took all the wedding photo's along with James's help from time to time. 
• Mother's Day....what a fun afternoon we had.  It started with a family traditional sloppy joe dinner and just got better and better with laughter and lots of love being shared.
• I was able to spend Mother's Day with all my children and grandchildren, my mom, my brother and his family including those who are married with children of their own.
• My sweet niece, Keyara, painted my fingernails, blue-green while she was here!
• My other sweet niece, Heather, gave us a cute book called "Five Minutes' Peace" and a book mark about mothers that even brought tears to Peter's eyes!
• I discovered this morning on my iPhone some cute pictures of Drew, Joshua and Megan. My sweet Ellie Ellie's Family Friday took those as a surprise for me!

As I tumbled into bed last night after a very busy weekend, tears came to my eyes, I felt so blessed to have sweet friends, children and their spouses, grandchildren (yes, I have the cutest!!), a brother and his family, my mother, and of course Peter who love and support me!

Lucy, Nana, & Annie

How could it not have been a great

 Weekend to Remember?!!!

Congratulations

and

Shout Hooray!!!

To bad I wasn't a bit smarter and saved James for this week's Family Friday. Family Fridays...James  However, we want to say how excited and proud we are that

 James Thomas...

today joined his siblings in being the last of our children to graduate from University!! 

May 6, 2011

Many thanks also to Kristin and Annie for all their support!!!
We love you!!!