Holy Cow, has it really been 32 years?

(Look close, this cow IS our #32)
Amazing enough, Bob and I are celebrating our 32nd year of marriage.
Yup, October 20, 1978. Wow, that seems so long ago.
We've had great years, struggles and heartaches, but that's what marriage is all about.
I was thinking about Bob and what a wonderful guy he is. You know that, and I know that! I sat down with paper and pencil and jotted down 32 reasons why I love this guy!
Enjoy!

1. Every Friday Bob brings me a dozen roses. (He says it's to remember him by all week long)

2. He's the Best Home Teacher. He takes that responsibility seriously. He remembers birthdays, calls to check up on family members, has mowed lawns, helped move in and out.. the list could go on and on.

3. He loves to host parties, big or small. We've had bonfires for missionaries, square dancing, "break the fasts" for the empty nesters every other month, Ward 24th of July parties. He loves having people over!

4. He enjoys reading and remembering facts, things that I wouldn't want to sit and learn, but he does and WOW, it has come in handy.

5. He honors his Priesthood.

6. He never leaves his clothes out. Really, never would I see a pair of socks left on the floor. (Alright, he's pretty much a neat freak!)

7. He makes the best chili! Many years in a row he has won awards at the Ward Chili cook off! (No he doesn't share his recipe.. alright, Josh Clawson got it out of him)

8. Loves being a grandpa. I think he has more fun "Playing" with these kids than he did when ours were little.

9. He has made our Sunday dinners for the last 24 years.

10. Also, he has done our weekly shopping for the last 24 years.

11 (On the same note) He cuts coupons and saves $$$ weekly. (Just don't get behind him in the check out line.. he has a system and doesn't really care who is behind him, or how many are behind him)

12. He will forever be patriotic, and sheds tears on Armed Force Holidays!

13. He is better at remembering special dates (Birthdays, Anniversaries) than I am.

14. He plans ahead. He has his, mine and Derek's funeral arrangements all organized and paid for.

15. He drives to Portland weekly (working so hard) so we can continue to give Derek the best program!

16. Always full of surprises. Loves being sneaky!

17. Enjoys chick flicks! (Don't worry, he loves action movies as well)

18. Cries in Disney Movies.

19. If you eject the current CD in his car, it will probably be the Tabernacle Choir!

20. He attends the temple every Tuesday

21. He will drive home on Friday, take me to and home from the Portland temple on Saturday, and then go back to Portland on Sunday. (Having a date with Derek while I'm enjoying the temple!

22. He exercises regularly, he watches what he eats and looks GREAT for his age (Just kidding on the age sweetheart.. YOU look, and will look GREAT always)

23. He handles our bills, insurance, medical,Derek's bookkeeping tax stuff etc.

24. He loves to sing, especially church music. (No Justin Kohler, he's not choir material, but he sure loves to sing)

25. Unless it is a BYU football game, he doesn't watch much t.v. (And that BYU team is not one of his favorites at this moment)

26. Has always cooked our Thanksgiving turkey. One missionary said it was the best turkey he had ever eaten. Seriously, you'll have to ask Bob his trick, very moist, always beautifully cooked!

27. Even though he is away during the week, each night we have a nightly prayer together with Derek... via speaker phone!

28. He loves my parents and my siblings as his own. He has all but begged my parents to move here and be closer to us. (Come on mom, let dad have his wish!!)

29. Plans great family vacations. He is good at each and every detail.. (Even which direction we should start,on our day at Disneyland, yes, there is a less walked path.. ask him)

30. While the children were young, he was the school clothes shopper. He would ask the clerk for a chair, and he would sit close to the dressing rooms and keep those kids going in and out, getting up to get them different sizes. Rebecca even remembers him driving her downtown Portland for some "hip" teen-age shops.

31. Makes an omelet that Martha Stewart would want the recipe for!

32. Makes me happy!!!

I could go on and on.
Love this guy and hope to have 32 more years celebrating our life together.

Happy Anniversary!!!

Taylor + Marley = Olivia Jane Sauter

Many of you know that Taylor has a beautiful wife Marley. They met in LaGrande while Taylor was/is going to school.
Marley comes from a wonderful family and we are happy to have her in our family.


September 2nd they were blessed with their first child Olivia Jane.
What a sweet little thing she is.


They call her their little monkey. Well, let me tell you, she is much cuter than a monkey, and much sweeter than any monkey I've ever seen.



We were so lucky to have Taylor, Marley and Olivia here for the weekend. Holding a playing with a baby is so relaxing, one of the best weekends I've had in a long time. While Taylor and Marley went to the Bend Fall Festival, Bob and I had fun babysitting (Derek didn't seem interested)


Bob couldn't wait to get home to have his time with Olivia. She snuggled in his arms, then down on his lap and slept and slept(I don't remember our kids sleeping this much.. lucky parents Olivia has).



This Sunday Olivia will be blessed in the LaGrande ward. Can't wait to make the drive over and see her and Taylor and Marley again.

Uncle Dee's Birthday Weekend!

The week after Kellen's wedding (July 17th)we all headed (well, not all of us, but I represented the Sauter family) to California for my Uncle Dee's 80th birthday party.
(Actually he turned 75 but it seemed like we heard about it for 5 years, so that is why I said 80.. (sorry Dee, I didn't roast you at the party, so now is my time).
My sister and I flew into Oakland, California and headed straight to Alta & Dee's house for a very yummy family Mexican Fiesta!!! Most of the relatives were there. Some I hadn't seen for such a long time. (Sorry Karl I mixed you up with Joann's son Jason, or did I call you Jordan?)

My sister and I stayed in Pleasant Hill (The first city Bob and I ever lived in as a married couple), and had fun 2 nights slumber partying!
The on Saturday we went to the Oakland Temple Visitor's Center. Our Niece (Mark's daughter) is on a mission in Oakland, Spanish Speaking. We heard she might be at the Visitors Center, and she was. The tears started coming even before the other missionary went to go find her. I think we did a good job surprising Meisha (I should say Sister Slight) My parents (Her grandparents) were there as well. We gave her a lot of hugs as she took us around the Center.

One of the highlights of our weekend was going to our good friend "Uncle Chris's" house. This house is amazing. Chris is amazing. I don't know if I know anyone who has such talent. His stained glass artwork is the best (Probably) in the country.
His current house was built on the same property in which his old house burned down in the Oakland Hills fire (sorry, can't remember the year), along with hundreds of other homes. Everything in the house amazed me. The views were breath taking. The family knows I'm not big on scenery, but I could sit out on one of his courtyards and take in the beauty for hours! Thanks Chris for the tour!




Later that night was the big birthday bash. The restaurant was the finest around, Zio Fraedo's. The meal was served beautifully, and so tasty! Uncle Kent was the hit of the night (Along with Chris' Ode) with the roast. Dee wanted to be roasted (Why, I'm not sure) and he sure was! WE laughed and laughed at the stories people had to share! Dee has a ton of great friends. I do believe there were 75 of us in attendance. Dee paid the bill for the whole affair! Dee and I have always shared the same birthday. What a fun way to spend my birthday as well.
And the best part was learning that we will all be celebrating Dee's 80th birthday on a cruise. "My bags are packed, I'm ready to go!!!"

Wedding Bells for Kellen & Shanna Mae

My very adorable nephew Kellen and his sweet girlfriend Shanna Mae got married July 10th!

What a fun couple they are going to be. Rebecca and I left Idaho that morning and made it in plenty of time for the ceremony. The beautiful part of it was my dad was the sealer for the ceremony in the Jordan River Temple.
I've never seen Kellen so happy. And I think Shanna Mae does not know how to do anything but smile!

After the ceremony we went to a luncheon at the famous Lion House. The most beautiful place, and the food was perfect. (Bob and I also had our wedding luncheon at the Lion House)

My cute niece and nephew Crystal & Garrett sat at our table. What cute (Available) BYU-I students they are.

It was fun getting reacqainted with my nieces and nephews, two that I haven't met before.

It was a very fast trip, but had a great time! (Thanks Kellen for giving me an excuse to go to Utah)

(Tressa, remember who I am, so next time we see you, we can bond again)
(Thanks Marshall for letting Derek try out the Hummer.. you always come in STYLE)

"Birthday Girls!!!"

After being out of town for the weekend, all I wanted to do was sit in my house and have a quiet birthday doing pretty much nothing. It was kind of like that. Derek had tutor Gina (Thanks for the vegetable bowl, and the beautiful plant), we walked the Butte, and then Derek and I made cupcakes.

Two cute little girl in our ward also celebrate their birthdays on July 19th.

Derek and I packed some cupcakes up and drove over to Sierra's house and then to Britlan's.

Sierra turned 10 and Britlan turned 2. (Oh to be so young!)

Thanks girls for sharing your birthday with me!

Fun at the Flatbread Pizzeria!!!

We have a very nice, generous (and a skilled volleyball player) friend named Phyllis. She has a special interest in Derek. They have bonded and enjoy being together. Phyllis checked out this fun place in the Old Mill District. Flatbread Pizzeria! Finally we went today for lunch. The afternoon was all about Derek. His most favorite food (O.K., tied with chicken nuggets) is pizza. At this place the kids get to make their own pizza, watch it cook and then finally eat it. While Derek ate his pizza (I almost wanted to say inhaled it) we enjoyed delicious salads! Thanks Phyllis for encouraging me to find new places for Derek to enjoy! We had fun and the food was delicious! (Phyllis got a kick out of the "Chocolate chip cookie mustache" at the end!

Trey had a birthday!

We love the fact that Trey gets to share his birthday with Father's Day... at least this year. The birthday was a 3 day event. The Bledsoe's got here on Saturday just in time to rush over to the Bend Airport for Family Day. So much fun. The kids (Derek included) got to sit in airplanes, firetrucks, and they even went for a helicopter ride (Thanks Justin for being the brave one in the group, taking Derek and Trey). Tian stole the show though getting his picture taken by the Bend Bulletin and seeing it published in the Sunday newspaper!





Monday was the real birthday! It was like Christmas around here. Trey woke us all up at 5:30 and wanted "at" his presents! Robert came over for breakfast (Omelets from Bob are the best)and to watch Trey try out the Spider Man skate board Robert gave him.




After presents were opened and the car packed up (whoops, the main suitcase was left here but finally made it to Nampa a few days later)we headed over to "Bouncing off the Wall". Everyone loves that place. This was the first time the Velcro wall as set up, Derek enjoyed himself.. I kind of wanted to try it myself!




Even Tian thought he was a big boy trying to climb up to the slide. He wasn't quite sure after he came down, but sure enough he did it again!


It's always sad to see the Bledsoe's drive away, but we will be seeing them twice in July, so it wasn't so sad! Thanks Trey for celebrating your big day with US!

Jori graduated.. and we were there! (Kind of)

Our very cute, smart, talented niece Jori graduated from the American Doha School...(Something like that). My brother and his family are "stationed" in Doha, Qatar. I felt so sad that they were once again moving out of the country (last time it was Chile), but poor, very cute, smart, talented Jori was going to have her senior year in a new high school.. out of the country. She and the rest of the kids have done wonderfully (Their next station will be Athens, Greece). My brother Mark sent out a site on the computer that we could tune into and watch the graduation ceremony. It started for us at 8:00a.m. I had such a good time watching it in my pj's and talking to my sister Kari, niece in law Rebecca, and daughter Rebecca as we were all trying to find Mark, Debbie and their children in the audience. Finally we spotted Jori walking in with the classmates. I had a tear in my eye seeing how cute she looked and how happy she seems. It was a very LONG graduation, with many, many talks. I couldn't hear the speakers very well, so I got out the ironing board and got alot done. (When was the last time you were able to watch a graduation, in your pj's and iron... and the graduation taken place thousands of miles)


I couldn't help but hope that Debbie wasn't wrestling the two youngest children during all the speakers (I found out later that she had left them with a neighbor). After she graduated, all the students went around hugging and talking to each other. Jori was so close to the cameraman... and just as she was coming even closer, Mark was walking towards her and WHAM... the ceremony ended and we didn't get a close up on Mark, but it sure was nice to see him anyway! Congratulations Jori! Can't wait to see you at Kellen's wedding (her brother) in July!




That is Jori, right there on the left with the cute, short sassy haircut!