BYU blue?

We may be the accidental BYU family.

Lonny and I met at Ricks College and married after graduating.  (only in the church does it make sense for a girl from Oregon and a guy from Washington to meet in Idaho and get married in California) We lived in Oregon for six months before moving to Provo to attend BYU.  We both had preferred Ricks over BYU initially but after graduating with only associates degrees from the then two year school we had to move on.  I don't remember considering any other options at this point.  Since we were married we had to agree.  Lonny had grown up as a University of Washington fan.  I had grown up in the same town as the University of Oregon.  My mom had been an employee and a graduate of the U of O.  I had worked at concessions during football games while a teenager.  Although we cheered for our home teams in athletics I don't think we thought twice about attending either for undergraduate.

So we moved to Provo.

Lonny graduated from BYU with a bachelors degree in economics in the spring of 1982.  He only applied to BYU and the University of Washington for law school with every intention of moving to Seattle.  Turning down Washington for law school was hugely disappointing.  BYU offered a scholarship that meant we would pay $600 total for the three years of tuition  Even then that was a bargain.

In the spring of 1985,  Lonny graduated from Law School and I graduated with a bachelors degree in fashion design.

I also have a picture of myself like this but not scanned into this computer.  Someday when I go to my other home it will sit here.

And so we were BYU fans wherever we were.  We bought our kids a BYU shirt here and there.

There was no plan for where they would go to school.  Justin was an Oklahoma State fan but wanted to attend Utah State primarily to reunite with a childhood friend.  The out of state tuition determined the outcome and he reluctantly made his way to Provo.

Justin and Miranda graduated from BYU in the spring of 2006.  He graduated from BYU law school in 2010, twenty five years after his Dad.

Jenny originally turned down BYU and spent her first year of college at BYU Idaho.  She married a BYU student and so transferred to Provo.  Jenny and Jon graduated from BYU in the spring of 2005.  Jonathan's a University of Oklahoma fan and attended OU his first semester before transferring.

Geoff graduated from BYU this past April.  Alayna graduated last April in 2012.

Geoff will attend BYU Law School in the fall.  So in three years another graduation.  And in the mean time a graduation next year when Eric finishes his degree at BYU in mechanical engineering.

That is a lot of BYU graduates and graduations.

Emily has a couple of years to weigh her options.

BYU Cougar or possibly a pirate.

Birthday overload

Starting now, no one else in the family is allowed to arrive between March 22nd and April 29th.  We are already at the limit with 7.

This most silly and photogenic girly turned 3.

Alayna is 25 and apparently baby Adelaide is not amused that her parents are so old.

This cutie pie has a mama who adores her.....cause that is one amazing baked cake for a one year old.

No one has changed in 52 weeks more than this adorable five year old.

And eight is great especially for this big sister.

Some boys insisted Emily was 61 but that was actually the number of party people in attendance.

I believe child psychologists recommend one guest for each year of the birthday girl's (in this case)age for the party guest list.  Oops.

We never did capture a complete group photo.....cause there was crowd control stuff.

These are the party goers that stayed past midnight when it was her actual birthdate..... 

And one more party for a birthday boy.

Okay no more cake, that is enough.

Wait, today is this kid's 22nd.

Happy Birthday Eric!

One Grand Easter

Colton-Kirsten-Max

When Justin and Jenny were tiny tots I rarely entered a store to buy clothes for them, as in rarely I mean never.  We did not have spare change so we just never went to the store.  I know you are thinking my kids must have then been bare.  Fortunately for all of mankind my mom gave them clothes, Lonny's aunt gave them hand me downs and I could sew.  I had sewn most of my own clothes since learning to sew at age 10.  I think that is why it is still such a marvel to simply acquire clothes you like.  I feel blessed my grandkids mom's indulge me.  Of course, these kids are naturally good looking without my interference.

Adelaide

Camryn

Reese

Bryce

and just when you think your parents can not be more embarrassing........

they find a way.

I said I like blue,

how many times do I have to say it.

Where am I?

I came home yesterday to this scene in the driveway.  

I guess they are going in another direction on one of the houses within our wall.  Which made me think how much our house differs from the one we moved in to but it would take some dynamite to compare to some of the homes in our neighborhood.  I am okay with staying away from the explosives.

Looking through the pictures of the house before we moved here reminded me how much has changed.  This is our front door and the window looking into the kitchen.  No wonder it looks like a jungle from the inside.

This is the front of the house on the other side of the front door.  The windows in the center look into our family room and on the far left is Eric's room although he rarely comes home to sleep.

This is the pool at the park through our backyard gate.  On the last weekend before school started a month ago Emily had friends over and they went to the park.  I went to go check on them and they were all wet.  They had jumped in the pool with their clothes on.  They were worried we would be mad as they explained it was their last fling of summer.  I thought it (their soaking wet selves and their desperate explanation) was funny and thankfully their parents did as well as we sent them home with all the towels.

And really who could have resisted, when the pool was so irresistible.

The living room predynamite, or paint or

reupholstery.  

The newest addition is that air conditioner on the wall.  I forgot how it use to look or maybe I just did not frequent the indoor oven.

My friends and I like to go to the Inka Market.  The first time I went I thought to myself I will never buy anything here but now I am slightly addicted.  I am sure it is only for the tourists, no self respecting native would shop there.
The shops look like overkill.

We like to joke that we should not shop so often or our living spaces will look like this and that would just be frightening.

Our neighbors painted their house a month or so ago.  Our house is on the right.  Not sure their color preference is socially acceptable.  And then I remember this isn't Kansas.

  I find myself constantly asking where I am and still a bit surprised when I realize the answer.

Grandpa Townsend

Lonny's Dad passed away March 13th, 2013.

He was 79 years old 

 and had been married to his high school sweetheart for 60 years.

Lonny's mom had been living with friends or her sister since she was 12.  Some how she ended up at the same high school as

Eugene Townsend.

She was the cheerleader, he was the athlete she cheered for.

Lonny is the oldest of five children, first three boys and then two girls.

This is how I like to remember Grandpa Townsend, before the Alzheimers. 

 He was quiet, and I don't remember much of anything he ever said except the first time we met.  I had gone home from Ricks College with my boyfriend, Lonny, to his house on Whidbey Island.  The first day there Lonny proposed while we explored Fort Casey.   I met his Dad that night during dinner.  Lonny said this is Lori and we are getting married.  His Dad said and I quote, "Why would you want to do that?"  I have no idea if he was talking to me or to Lonny.  It turns out it doesn't matter.  We have missed him not talking for the last ten years or so.  

I wouldn't say the funeral was exceptionally sad,  it was more just gratefulness for the love and example of a Father to his children.

The funeral began with Grandpa's seven granddaughters and Alayna singing "I am a child of God."  It was beautiful and I wish there was a photo of that.

 The graveyard service included all eleven grandson's carrying the casket.

 One final act to thank Grandpa for his life.

All eighteen grandchildren gathered for the funeral from near and far.  I don't have to look at the map to assume Emily flying in from Lima was the longest distance traveled but there were sacrifices made by others coming from Vermont, Oklahoma, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Utah.

These two, Nathan and Michael, lived right next door to their grandparents and although they did not travel far they sacrificed continually to take care of Grandpa.

Burying your Grandpa is tough but as long as you can hang on to your favorite cousin.  Actually these three are the crazy limb on the family tree.  Every family should want one.

Grandma is the talker in the family and here is the proof.  I think she looks cute in this photo and I love how my brother-in-law, Karl, looks like the chief of her security service.

Here are the grandchildren with Grandma (minus Michael and Nathan) from youngest to oldest.  This is my favorite because of Ashley and Jason.  They all looked like that when they were younger but now they can mostly stand still and smile when someone gets the camera out.  Boo, to kids growing up.

And another with Grandma talking, it must have been funny because everyone's laughing.

We are so glad we were able to be with everyone.  It sounds odd to say it was a great weekend.  It is a great family to be a part of and we will never forget Grandpa AND Grandma's influence as we look at their posterity. There are seven returned missionaries and eight temple marriages among these grandkids pictured. And eighteen great grandchildren not pictured. What a blessing.  And that Grandpa is why we wanted to get married, so we could have all of this.