New Years Day is Coming........

.............are you ready for it?????

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH

Happy Birthday Sarah...hope your day is just as exciting as it was when you turned 8!!!!

Happy First Birthday Witlee

It was fun to watch you dig into your very first birthday cake! I hope you are having a great time with all of your new toys, though like most girls your new phone seemed to be your favorite. So happy we can see you taking your first steps, and will get to watch you grow...You are sure a little doll-baby!

Labor Day Sing A-Long

Thanks Jay for the great tunes at the Labor Day Picnic. I enjoyed your playing so much. I really loved that you played our requests too...I got so teary at Puff the Magic Dragon because I sang that to my boys EVERY night at bedtime, and I learned it from the early years when I met Joe and you sang it at gatherings just like this one....so you were always a big part of my boys bedtime routine and I probably never said thank you for that....so THANKS>>>you are a wonderful brother (and Uncle) to have!

And really what better place to sing Country Roads than at ALMOST HEAVEN....it should be the theme song.

Luke

How can anyone resist this adorable face?

First Kiss

Taelor and Jordan's first kiss as a married couple. Seemed like a great moment in life to document on the Family Blog. Our wishes for lots more kisses from the newlywed year until your golden years! CONGRATULATIONS and HAPPINESS Always!

Relay For Life

Friday night was the annual Relay For Life out at Flinn Stadium. It was a hot but beautiful night. Right before the survivor lap, they released the doves. I had to take some pictures of them--they are so beautiful and I am still in awe of how they always find their way home. My hairdresser actually owns the Doves of Love business. When me and the boys get our hair done, there are always a few of them in the big cage in her shop. They are so beautiful and talkative.

I'm eternally grateful that my Dad is able to walk the survivor lap. (he's got his purple shirt thrown over his shoulder if you can't find him) It will be 3 years this fall that he is cancer free. Every year that passes and he is healthy, I say a prayer for one more, many more. He may not admit it, but I know it is often at the back of his mind, our minds. What if it comes back somewhere else? My greatest fear. That's what these walks are for, we need to find a cure for cancer. I see it everywhere these days, I could rattle off 5 names of people I know that have it without having to even think about it. That is so scary. No one should have to suffer through it.

Love you Dad.

Memories Part 5

ACE came and trick or treated at my college house. I just loved that. They are just too, too cute.

Cousins at the Gustison Reunion in 1994. I'm guessing that's Jessica Rogers on the far left?? Not sure about the boy behind her, her brother?

I would love to re-create this picture. Think Nate would sit in Todd's lap now? This was at Nate's 1st Communion. Todd looks so adorable but sorry, babe, the suspenders need to go. Only Mork was able to get away with them.

.

Memories Part 4

(Eventually I may come up with a better title.) :)

I've always loved this picture. This was taken at our favorite park that we liked to visit in Belleville when we went down to visit Grandma Reba. It had a really cool playground on it. I'll have to see if I can find a picture of it sometime. I can still see it in my head. I'm guessing this is November 1994 since we usually visited at Thanksgiving.

I love this next picture for so many reasons.

1.It took me quiet awhile to convince the boys that this wasn't Noah, but actually Uncle Nate.

2. This is Holly, my sexually ambiguous cat. (that's a whole other story.) He was my graduation gift from Todd's parents and I picked him out myself at the Humane Society. I had always wanted a white cat and he was perfect. I had about a month until Todd and I closed on our house so he stayed with mom and dad during that time. I still miss that sweet little guy, he gave us 11 wonderful years.

3. I think it is so sweet that Nate gave Holly his entire pillow and he used a folded up blanket to use as a pillow for himself. Such cute and touching picture.

Mmmm, what I wouldn't give to fry those mushrooms up right now and eat them. Dad did good that day didn't he?? My sweet little Holly had to go check them out. They probably looked like little trees to him.

Memories Part 3

Fall of '93----Jordan's Bday

Jess, Jenna, Nate

Halloween '93

Jordan and Sarah

Halloween 1993

Such a cute picture.

Memories Part 2

There are just so many things wrong with this picture.

1. I'm wearing a silk shirt

2. Matt's captain pose is slowly starting to evolve.

3. Nate has gum stuck to the front of his teeth.

Oh the good ole days.

I'm sure Sarah and Nate are happy that I didn't put THIS picture on Facebook. I'm sure they won't ever cross me now. heh heh heh (seriously, how cute are they?)

This was the house I lived in during college. Notice our fancy art in the background?? Posterboard, scotch tape, and pictures. You can't get that just anywhere. I'm guessing Rob is dressed up to be in a wedding but don't remember whose? Anyone?

Memories

I've been enjoying going through my moms' old photos and have started scanning a bunch in so I can have them for myself. I thought I'd start posting a bunch of them here a few times per week so the family can all enjoy them too. My boys have enjoyed going through them all too and have laughed at how different everyone looks. So here are a few to start us off.

The album I have now is from 1993-1994 so all the pics in upcoming weeks will be from that time period.

The cousins at Jim and Karen's wedding in 1993. My how we've grown!

Someday soon Matt will be able to say "Luke, may the "forks" be with you."

I just love this picture of my Dad and Sarah from the Gustison reunion. My dad looks so young and happy and Sarah is making such a cute face. Wonder what she was thinking......

The sibs that were at the Gustison reunion in 1993.

Stay tuned for more pictures!

Happy Birthday Katie!

Only got a few decent pics but wanted to share here for Kris & Brian to see.

 Thanks for letting us share in Katie's First Birthday! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IAN and Jimmy

Happy birthday, Ian. It's hard to believe that you are 2 years old already. We love you and miss you. Hope to see you soon. Love, Gramma and Papa

Happy birthday, Jimmy. It's nice that you share Ian's birthday with him. I hope someday we can get a picture of you 2 together.

Genius At Work

Deep thinking going on here.

"I got it! I got one color!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CRAIG AND KRISTEN

Hard to believe these little cherubs now have babies of their own. You sure were cuties. Love you.