TODAY IS A WONDERFUL DAY

to celebrate the anniversary of our kidney transplant - it's been two years!

OUR FAMILY DINNERS ARE

fun but even more fun when we have out of town family visiting.....

We had a belated birthday celebration for Uncle Dennis, yummy food and lots of laughter.

Our out of towners are leaving throughout the week.

Boo hoo for us...

IT'S A GREAT DAY TO

celebrate Dennis' birthday....

Dennis is the coolest uncle around, funny, loving, kind, interesting and interested, thoughtful, has the BEST sense of humor and can put a smile on any one's face.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DENNIS!

I LOVE YOU!!

4 WHEELERS, BABY FARM ANIMALS

and A LOT of family fun.....

It couldn't have been any more fun...

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS

and not coveting others, is a goal for this New Year.
I thought to jump start my counting blessings goal, I'd look back at some of my favorites of 2009...

January - Larry went to San Diego, I went to a rock 'n roll dinner, Larry J went to his first snow campout, I made my first t-shirt quilt, did glowstick photography with the boys and took a bookmaking class with the two older boys...

February - I did a 26 day self portrait challenge, had a wonderful Valentines Day, reconnected with amazing friends from my Boston days, had fun with latex gloves and Larry and I went away for the weekend...

March - I went to New Orleans for Steph's 30th birthday, took a cake decorating class, the older boys took a pottery class, I made my first apron, went to the Twilight dvd release party, got to ride my motorcycle again, Larry and I took a gun class and saw Wicked...

April - went on a Twilight movie tour girls weekend, had a wonderful Easter weekend and took a calligraphy class...

May - We went camping in the Redwoods, I took the wee ones to Alaska to visit Steve, had a Scarface moment, went to the Wolverine premier and Larry got his best ever birthday present...

June - Larry and I to Rent, we went to a book signing, there was an incredible Enrichment night, and I received one my my best ever birthday presents...

July - Larry and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary, Derek came to visit, we had an awesome 4th of July, went marionberry picking and we made jam, donuts, scones, oh my!, went to a Robin Hood festival, Harry Potter premier, went to the Bastille Day festival, met all the actors at a Leverage screening and then saw Christian Kane's band play and had a mini reunion with far away friends...

August - we bought our first house, went to my grandfather's funeral and made pickles for the first time with my Yaya sisters...

September - I went on a girls weekend to Forks, we had house guests from France and then Germany and I did a stranger photography challenge...

October - we had a night club race, Larry played football, took a screenprinting class, the boys made an ate chocolate covered crickets and mealworms, did an A-Z photography challenge, had ghosts in the house, had a spooktacular Halloween and celebrated the one year anniversary of our kidney transplant....

November - we tried a detox, had fun at the New Moon premier,much to my dismay, Larry participated in No Shave November, Adam came to visit, had a wonderfully delicious Thanksgiving and a awesome Black Friday...

December - I did a color photography challenge, Adam came to visit, we had a learning experience and had a wonderful Christmas celebrating with family and friends.

We have wonderful family and friends and we are very blessed and I'm thankful.
"Count your blessings, name them one by one"...

I WAS LOOKING THROUGH SOME

family photographs last night and these are some of my favorite winter photos...

Aunt Lucia, Uncle George and my father

My mom and Uncle Dennis pulling my Grandpa Mark

Grandpa Mark and Grandma Betty

Grandpa Mark pulling my mom and Uncle Dennis

These photos just make me smile....

WE CELEBRATED THE ONE

year anniversary of our kidney transplant tonight with an incredible dinner and a lot of laughter.... Dennis is doing fantastic, and if you're wondering, his eyes are still green.
Here's to many more years...

I LOVE YOU DEN!

TODAY IS A WONDERFUL DAY

to celebrate Dennis' birthday.... Dennis is kind, funny, loving, a friend to everyone, interesting and interested, inspiring and a wonderful uncle.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DENNIS!

50 YEARS OF

transplants at OHSU were celebrated today by donors, recipients and their families...

Dennis among other kidney recipients...

Dennis and I with other donors and recipients...

On the 31st, it will be our 9 month anniversary!

IT'S BEEN 83 DAYS

since the kidney transplant surgery....

Before the surgery, I had green eyes and ate lots and lots of chicken...


Before the surgery, Dennis had brown eyes and loved beef....

After the surgery, I still have green eyes and eat a lot of chicken and Dennis still likes beef BUT there have been changes.......

He is really liking chicken and the most amazing thing is HIS EYES HAVE TURNED GREEN.

He started noticing green flecks on his eyes, then he got a green circle and now they are green eyes. Amazing, isn't it.

Things that make you go hmmmmmm.....

Eye photos by SodaHead