Two thirds of them are coming!!!

One week from today I get to pick up Aubrey & Jay at the SLC airport and bring them back home for 10 whole days. I am so excited! The only thing better would be if Brett could come with them but studies call for him. Oh, how we have missed this little family. I tell them all the time that I don't remember having the conversation where they told me they were going to move away from me with my grandkids!!! Thank goodness for priority mail! I love you three and miss your guts!

ENTERTAINING GRANDKIDS!!!

I have the perfect suggestion for all you grandparents out there. Forget the expensive stuff, remember when we used to pull out the pots and pans? How about the boxes from the furniture store? I have discovered the latest and greatest in modern day tot entertainment...chip clips! You know what I'm talking about, open the drawer that has all the odds and ends and be creative. This is my grandaughter, Courtney Rose, with every chip clip in my house. She as thrilled with her new toys and they kept her busy for quite awhile. Only advice.........watch the skin Grandma! Oh yea, and don't clip one where they can't reach until they are at least 2 yrs. old, that just frustrates them!

"Mom, how does it feel to be half dead?"

I awoke the morning of Feb. 11th by a phone call from my daughter, Ashley, asking me how I felt to be half dead. It was my birthday, I did turn 50, and it had only been one week since I had some surgery. Puzzled by her question, I found myself reflecting on that question most of the day. Without my knowledge, my sweet hubby had sent out a mass email and spent countless hours calling friends and family to see if he could get 50 people to call, email, text or come by the house to wish me a Happy 50th Birthday. And so the adventure began................

The day before my birthday I received a call from a friend in Green Rive, Wyo. He wished me Happy Birthday and I quickly told him he was a day early and reminded him that we haven't talked for years then asked why now.............that got me thinking! After Ashley's call on the 11th I still suspected nothing as I knew all my wonderful kids would call me sometime during the day. But then something strange happened, my cell phone kept ringing, the house phone kept ringing, I received texts from Maddie's friends wishing me happy birthday. We are still one of the few remaining families on the whole face of the earth that does not have caller ID so I had no idea who was calling. I received a call from a man I don't even know but he wanted in on the fun! I got a call from my neighbor who was in Spokane doing business! I got a birthday greeting from family in Chile and Egypt! I got visits at the door accompanied by flowers, roasted almonds and yummy smelling lotion! Five yr. old Adam brought me a balloon, his sister came 5 minutes later with another, and then their mom showed up! My very doctor that did the surgery had his whole office staff sing to me. Our former Mayor, and my good friend sent an incredible bouquet from his flower shop. They kept coming and coming! It didn't take me long to figure out the surprise and so I actually started keeping track so that Ron could know of his efforts.

By about 2:00 in the afternoon Ron called and asked how things were going (wink, wink) and I told him I was exhausted and needed to take a nap. "Couldn't you email everyone and tell them to give me 1/2 hour?" He said, "Happy Birthday Jill." All of my kids did call, Ding-Dong... another nieghbor, my siblings skyped with me, Ding-Dong....you guessed it, another friend, there were facebook well wishes, a heart-shaped pizza, my mom, Ding-Dong.........and on and on.....................Dave & Claudia Walker, some friends, were the last around 10:00 p.m.!

Never have I felt more alive with love and support from so many family and friends but also half dead because of the post-op activity. All in all over 100 people shared with me birthday greetings. It was a wonderful day. I have a wonderful support group of family and friends and most of all I have a wonderful husband................you got me good sweetie!

And He's Off...............................

Elder Tanner Dean Anderson left for his mission to Raleigh, North Carolia on Jan 7th. This day is always one of great emotions of all kinds. We came down the night before and Tanner chose to eat out at Tuscano's, a total veritible smorgasboard!!! Good night's rest for all of us at Grandpa and Grandma Bestor's house. I'm positive that Tanner was the last one asleep as he had those 'last phone calls' to make. We arrived at the MTC around 10:30 a.m. and were among the next barrage of mssionaries showing up for duty. Suits, tears and luggage everywhere! It really is an awesome sight and you can't help but feel for all the families that are there. We are all in the same boat! Sending off sons and daughters to unknown places to experience "LIFE". I wonder if all these places realize how lucky they are? We are excited for Tanner, we will miss him greatly but are so happy where he has chosen to be in his life right now!

I know it's after the fact but........Christmas was a blast!!!

Christmas time was full of fun, family and final moments with Tanner as he was leaving for his mission to North Carolina on the 7th of January. Brett, Aubrey & little Jay were able to come for almost two weeks and the rest of the family lives around here so we were together often. We played games, ate our faces off, changed diapers,

laughed during Kareoke and cried while singing. We had our traditional "Pickle Hiding" on Christmas Eve and finally Aubrey found one. Her first time in some 20 yrs.!!! The traditional Christmas cereal awaited everyone in the morning.............if we keep up this tradition, it might have to do as their only present!!! Ron, Tanner, Maddie & I all worked hard on the married kids presents this year. We decided to send the three couples to the Destinations Inn (www.destinationsinn.com) in Idaho Falls. It is a very nice place. Each of us decided which country we would send the couple to and then we did research on the country and played a game with each of the couples so they could try to figure out their destination. Venice, Paris, and Egypt were their destinations and we also sent them to dinner together. We sent Tanner and Maddie on their own dinner & a movie date. All this while Ron and I watched the two grandkids. WE think WE go the better end of the deal. There is NOTHING like being with family. I had a blast doing everything and anything all that was planned and not planned. It may be while before we are able to have this "together time" as the kids are spreading their wings of opportunity and who knows where they will land in the years to come. Thanks family for making incredible memories for me. I love you.