My Baby Girl is 36!

This is my all time favorite photo of Brandee. She looks like a little rag-a-muffin with that fly-a-way red hair. She is so darn cute with that sweet smile and little pug nose.

My water broke with Brandee about 11:45 p.m. Her dad had already left for work which was 59-60 miles away, my mother was there from the Heartland but didn't drive, so I called my mother-in-law Fern and she drove out to take me to the hospital. I called Norm Soto to come give me a blessing, he was so nervous I thought he would faint. When Fern got there we headed back to Mesa. I wanted to go to her house for a while but she said absolutely not we were going to the hospital. By the time we got there it was about 2-3 mins. after 1 on August 21, 1973, Brandee was born at 1:21 a.m. She was by far the easiest birth I had of all my children. There was no place for her to go but out. We went home the next afternoon. Brandee was a good sweet baby and very cuddly. She loved to be held and sung to. Her sister Jan Ericka claimed her for her own although only 15 months older. Those two were inseparable when they were little. Brandee didn't have to talk because Jan talked for her. I believe Brandee talked in full sentences when she finally began to speak, it was kind of shocking.

She was a long legged, long armed, RED HEADED little gal with a sprinkling of freckles across her nose. Her favorite teacher in school was Mrs. Rye, she would do anything for her.

Brandee has had some really tough times in her life and like this photo she has had to learn how to bend so as not to break. She is very tender hearted and sentimental.

Brandee, I want you to know how much I love and miss you, how much your Heavenly Father loves you and wants to bless you and desires the very best for you and longs for your return to His presence along with the rest of your family. Please do all that it takes to make that come to past regardless of what you have to give up. Your mortal probation is but a moment in time but the outcome of your choices while here on earth will resound in the eternities.

Brandee, you are a daughter of Deity, remember that every day and act accordingly. You are so good and have a heart the size of Texas.
This is Brandee and me when I was the tall one, now she is several inches taller than me. She still has the wonderful head of red hair and she still has that big heart. Use it for good Brandee.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GIRL
I love you to the outer reaches of the universe and beyond!!
Your Mom

My Baby Boy is 39!

Chad Sundance all spiffied up and . . . .

what he really looks like.

These photos were taken by my daughter Jan Ericka. She has a good eye, don't you think?
We were on a camping trip in another state when I started labor on August 13, 1970. As soon as we got home we got things put away, kids bathed, pajamed and distributed. We came back home and waited and finally decided to go to the hospital. Chad was born on Friday, August 14, 1970 at 4:51 a.m. He weighted 9# 10 oz. He was a very cute, sweet, happy baby from the get go and I do believe he was born smiling. We use to call him Happy Jack.
Chad was always looking for an adventure and still is. He was good at whatever he chose to do and he still is. He loves music and plays it constantly, loves movies and watches a lot of them , he loves horses, rock climbing, making things, and his boy Dakota.
When I was pregnant with Chad my appendix ruptured and he and I were in some peril for a bit but I knew we would be okay and here we are today.
Chad has had some tough times in his life but always manages to survive them and come out on top. He has stamina and perseverance.
One of my fondest memories is teaching Chad how to two- step. When he got it down pat he nearly two-stepped my feet off.
Another fond memory I have is Chad's love for Pan Dolce. Dad and I had been in Mexico and brought some home and Chad fell in love with it so I got a recipe and would make it for him.

Chad liked going to Primary to see his buddies especially one little toe-headed fellow whose last name started with a V. I think his favorite teacher was Brother Hobbs. Chad's favorite guy in the B of M was Samuel the Lamanite Prophet.
A not-so-fond memory is hearing, "MOM!" one Saturday morning. Little did I know what I would be seeing when I walked into that room, what I did see made my heart stop for a moment. Let me set the stage; Chad had a remote control car which had a stiff wire sticking out of the back end for the remote control to work. This wire, still attached to the car, was hanging from his eye. He had fallen off the top bunk while attempting to open the window, I think, and voila there he was--wire, car, eyeball!

Of course, it would be a day when Dad was on maneuvers, so I got him in the car and headed for the ER. Mind you, we lived in the foothills with a ways before we connected with blacktop but let me just say we got to the ER in good time. I drove with one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding up the remote control car. Chad was quiet and calm which in turn helped me to remain calm myself.
After the Doctor extracted the wire and did all else necessary we finally headed home with a detour to get his favorite donuts. All ended well with no problems later on.
A few years ago Chad had an accident while rock crawling which didn't turn out so well. His leg was crushed and is held together today with a lot of hardware. He tells me it aches like the dickens when it's cold or rain is coming.
Every phone conversation starts out the same way...MOM!. I always love to hear his voice on the other end of the line. Sometimes he calls me and sings to me or plays a song and wants to know who is singing it. He's a character, a cook, a father, a husband, a son, a son of God, a brother, a dreamer, an inventor, a sweet boy.
Chad is a good man and I'm so happy he belongs to me, he occupies a special place in my heart and I want him to know how much I love and miss him. His Heavenly Father loves him and desires to bless him with all that he is entitled to.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHAD, I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BEYOND....
Your Mom

My Oldest Son is 41!

Christopher Shane's Wedding Reception Shoveling Snow in Show Low
Wow! How time flies.
Chris was born at 2:52 a.m. on Wednesday the 26th of June 1968. I started labor on Wednesday morning with a lot of back pain radiating into the pelvic area and the tops of my legs where they connect to the hip. My first labor was mild compared to this one. Time finally arrived to go to the hospital. I'm thinking why can't I have babies in the morning after a good nights sleep. I was exhausted. Upon examination we discovered the little man was up side down. After manipulation he got head down and with various and sundry attempts with different instruments he was born. Had he been born today I would have had a C-Section. Chris's little head was so bruised and cut from the instruments that it scared me but it turned out alright.
As a little boy Chris loved cars, trucks, and tractors he would spend endless hours making hills, tunnels and things for the equipment to fly off of .

Chris loved Primary when he was little and was so excited to be baptised.
When we moved up on the mountain and had a pool Chris, his brothers Chad and Mark and the neighbor boy Sam would spend countless hours in the pool playing Marco Polo and seeing who could make the biggest splash.
He loved to camp and still does, he liked to fish and still does. We spent a bit of time camping when Chris was young and he would always be the first to help pack when it was time to load up and head to Sycamore Creek.
Chris turned out to be a big man, I believe he's about 6'4" in his stocking feet and has arms big enough that I can't close my middle fingers to thumbs around.

Chris is a father, son, brother and son of a Heavenly Father.

I love to see him with his youngest daughter Sheyanne. She is a tall and hardly weighs anything and he's so sweet with her. He looks like a bear and she looks like a twig. They're sure cute to look at.
Chris loves the outdoors. I think he would like to have a job in the forest and be outside all the time.
One of my fondest memories is watching Chris scarf down sopapillas and honey. He could eat two dozen all by himself.
Chris has always been a good worker and dependable, that's an admirable quality.
I want Chris to know how much I love and miss him.

Chris is a
Chris is a good man who loves his family and wants the best for them, I'm proud to have him as a son. I wish we lived closer so we could go fishing together and camping with the rest of the family.
Your Heavenly Father loves you Chris and wants the best for you. If you live up to the covenants you have made things will work out, maybe not like you would always want.
I love you to the stars and beyond.
Your Mom

Happy Birthday Jan Ericka

Jan Ericka was born on a Tuesday the 9th of May at 8:47 a.m. My only baby to be born in broad daylight. Your dad took me to the hospital about 4 or 5 in the morning and I labored on a gurney till we headed for the delivery room. That gurney was horrible, I couldn't turn over without fear of falling off. Labor wasn't too difficult, it's the delivery I'm not good at. I sure was glad when it was over. You had to be turned as did all my babies except for Brandee, and extracted with forceps. (Sounds like pulling a tooth, doesn't it...) You had a few scratch marks on your head but otherwise you were beautiful!

Grandma French came for your birth, she was the first to bathe you. You liked to suck on her chin when you were fussy and it was too soon to nurse you.

You were named Jan Ericka after your dad James Eric because you were suppose to be my last baby. (Little did we know, eh?)

The photo above was taken the day you were blessed. I don't remember the date but you have your blessing certificate so you can check. Grandpa Tieman stood in the circle with your dad and other priesthood holders for your blessing. You were blessed at the Crismon Road chapel. I made your dress, slip and bonnet.

You were a pretty baby with red hair. You've grown up to be a beautiful woman who always wants to change that beautiful red hair and that's ok cuz it makes life interesting.

A little tidbit about your dad...as soon as he got home he would pick you up from your crib, carrier or wherever you were, even if you were asleep, and go about with you.

You didn't get to be a baby very long because 15 months later Brandee arrived. You were already potty trained and weened. You were such an easy baby to take care of. You even got your nights down pat pretty quick.

You've turned out to be a good woman and a fine daughter Jan, I'm proud of you. You take your job as a wife & mother seriously and I'm grateful for that. It's one less thing I have to worry about. I know you will always be okay.

I'm so thankful Heavenly Father has allowed me to be your earthly mother. I've learned a lot from you over the years. I admire you for all that you are and will yet become.

I wouldn't have missed being your mom for all the pretties in the world.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAN
I LOVE YOU, Mom