Sweet Angel Maddie

Our dear friends for over twenty years lost their beautiful granddaughter to a tragic drowning accident last Sunday. My heart aches and the tears just won't stop for Lon and Tammy and their daughter Marlo, her husband Jordan (Maddie's wonderful parents)and their whole family. Lon and Tammy's daughter Brittney, who is serving a mission in Albania, has been Amy's best friend since they were three years old. We have known all of their kids since they were toddlers themselves... we love this family. Amy and I went to visit them yesterday and as we spent time with them we could truly feel the gift of healing and peace. We could feel Heavenly Father's loving arms around them lifting them up during this tragic time of such deep sorrow. They shared with us their amazing testimony of the Atonement, their love of the Savior and the promise of forever families. They know that they will be with their sweet angel Maddie again.

Maddie has made me want to be a better person, love more, give more, and live my life with more goodness and gratitude. This little angel has brought me closer to my Savior.
I am so grateful that I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and that I have a testimony of the Plan of Salvation. I know that we will be with our loved ones eternally and I know that Maddie is happy, well, and in the loving arms of our Father in Heaven and His Son.

Here is a link to Marlo and Jordan's blog... They are an amazing family.
http://www.mwalburger3.blogspot.com/

Levi Allyn

Here are some more pictures of cute little Levi. Jennie and Chad had a hard time agreeing on a name for this little guy... but I think they have agreed on Levi Allyn. (Grampa Al is pretty happy that he is named after him) I love his name and I love him!!! Levi and Jennie are doing great and even got to go home today...

Here are Jackson, Taylor and Kate on there way to meet their new baby brother.

He is here!!!

Our newest little grandson was born at 2:55pm... he is perfect and healthy in every way and weighed 8lbs.7oz. and is 21 inches long!! He is absolutely beautiful and my heart has completely melted. Jennie was so strong and did great...no epidural at all...she is amazing. What a wonderful, special day. It is such a euphoric, unreal experience to see your daughter give birth to her own child. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for this wondrous gift of life. We love you little guy and we are so glad you are here!!!

Monday Morning...

We are all so excited for tomorrow morning!!! Jennie is scheduled to go to the hospital at 6am... the doctor says it is way past time for this stubborn little boy to get here, and even though Jennie really wanted to go natural this time, the doc says it is time to be induced. So all the kids are spending the night here (we just got them all tucked in)...and we are all counting down the clock. It was really special to gather everyone together after dinner and see Allyn and Chad give Jennie a special priesthood blessing. I know Jennie felt such comfort and peace.... and now I just hope that she will be able to get a good nights sleep (it might be the last one for a while). I am so excited to hold this special new little baby and shower him with love and kisses...I am so blessed to be a Grandma and see my beautiful daughters have babies of their own.

Here are some pictures of the last few days...I have a feeling that the next little while all the pictures will be baby pictures!!


Aunt Ally spoiled the boys with a 16 foot, triple lane Slip-n-Slide!

Taylor had to wait until she turned eight to get her ears pierced...and so it was one of the first things she wanted to do on her B-Day!
Aunt Amy and Aunt Krista even came for the special event.

Tay Tay got to take four of her very best friends to Planet Hollywood for dinner.
The girls got all dressed up like little divas and had a blast! Aunt Ally and her friends even stopped by to wish Tay a Happy B-Day.

Saturday morning Taylor, Ella and Claire got to go to a High School Musical Camp at Green Valley High School... they even got to have a little part in the play!

The whole family is so happy that Ivan is here visiting from Puerto Rico for a few weeks... He and Amy are doing three volleyball camps at area high schools while he is here.
Ivan will be going to Spain at the end of August to play professional volleyball for nine months.

Everyone was all smiles after Sunday dinner...

we were all so happy that Olivia, Caleb and Brian came.

Taylor is 8 today!!!

Happy Birthday to our very first grandchild...Miss Taylor Colleen! She has been counting down the months, days, and even 1/2 days until she would turn eight. I can hardly believe eight years has already passed since our beautiful Tay Tay came into our lives.

This was the very first time I held Taylor and from that first moment my heart melted and Taylor has had her Grama Linda wrapped around her fingers...

Taylor and Kaden are just one month apart and they have been the
bestest cousins/friends ever from the very start!

It seems like these pictures were taken yesterday!! Wow time goes by so fast.
Before we know it you'll be 16!!! Yikes!!
We all love you Taylor...You are the cutest, most incredible, smartest, greatest big sister, most wonderful eight year old girl in the universe!!!!!!! Happy Birthday!!!!

Still waiting for baby...

So, Jennie went to the doctor today... no baby yet. They figure that the due date was off by a few weeks and that this little guy is doing great, & is comfy & cozy right where he is. We all just need to be a little more patient...definitely not a strong trait in this family. As Grami Colleen says, "He'll come when he's ready!" So, in the mean time we have been trying to keep the kiddos busy. Here are a few things we have been up to...

Art Camp was so cool...The kids really had a great time learning about Picasso, mosaics, dimensions, color, and even made some way cool masks.

Amy, Ally and I took Jackson and Kaden to the NBA Summer Games...Thank you Jon and Susan for the tickets... We had a blast and the boys were even given t-shirts by one of the UNLV staff. Needless to say, they were very happy about that!

Grampa Al and Kaden had a head stand contest...Grampa won, but it was close!

Big Al with some of his girls on his birthday...

Happy Birthday Allyn David...

Happy birthday to my wonderful husband...I LOVE YOU! July 20th is always a special, great day! Not because it is the day that man landed on the moon, as you like to remind us... but, because it is YOUR special day. We don't tell you often enough how much we love and adore you... well, we do! You are the greatest son, brother, husband, dad, & grandpa in the whole world and we all love you more than words could ever say. Thank you for all you do, and for always being such a great example of everything good, not only for us... but for so many.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!