Russ and Neil

Where do I begin...

It has only been 3 months since Russ passed away...who would have thought one of his closest friends would be joining him so soon. Niel Quinton (who is Sheri's father in law) and Russ were such close friends...Niel's death has come as quite the blow to all of us. Niel passed away 1 week ago (Wednesday, October 7 2009)...only 10 days after finding out he had cancer. The whole time he was in the hospital we are told Niel kept saying he was ready to go and to just let him go as Russ was waiting for him...that there was lot's of "work" that needed to be done and he needed to go help. It was AMAZING to hear what Niel had to say.

Niel's funeral was on Monday (Thanksgiving Day). It was a really nice funeral and it was neat to learn more about this very selfless man. Russ was mentioned a lot and the tears were steady as this is all just too fresh...and SO similar to what we just went through with Russ. It was hard to be there, but we wouldn't have missed it for anything.

Our love goes out to Sheri and her family. Sheri just lost her Dad and now her father in law whom she was close with...plus her boys have now lost 2 grandpa's within 3 months of each other. So hard, but they are doing OK!

Southern Alberta trip this past June...

Niel and his wife Donna were generous enough to offer to take Russ and Deb down to southern Alberta this past June in their motor home so Russ could accomplish his "wish list." Here are some photos from that trip...

Niel and Russ in Waterton enjoying ice cream. Love this picture as they are both so happy...they were both diabetics so them having ice cream was a HUGE no no! LOL

Niel, Donna, Deb and Russ

Niel pushing Russ in his wheel chair around Waterton. Love the view of the mountains in the background...

What an AWESOME photo isn't it?! So fitting, such great men!

We are So thankful to Niel and Donna for taking Russ and doing this special trip for him and giving him the peace that he needed to get his "wish list" done...it wouldn't have happened without them.

Niel will be sadly missed! We are SO thankful that he didn't have to suffer long. We can just imagine Russ and Niel together "gettin'er done!"

HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY Tyson!!

Tyson Jeffrey Stanford

October 9, 2000

9 pounds 2 oz. 21 inches long

When Tyson was born he was born on Thanksgiving Day. Isn't that neat! To be honest at the time I didn't even realize it was Thanksgiving Day until after he was born and the nurse brought me a small Thanksgiving dinner...it even had a pumpkin pie tart on the tray.

Cole and Tyson are 2 years and 9 months apart. When Tyson was born Cole was the happiest older brother around. When I was in the hospital and Kent brought Cole up to meet Ty for the first time it is a moment I will never forget. I could hear Cole's little feet running down the hospital hallway towards my room and he was saying, "my brader, my brader!" He literally came busting into my room (thank goodness I had my own room) and the door banged open really loudly.

I was in tears already as my heart was just SO over joyed at that moment. I had 2 boys (all I could have ever asked for at the time). When Cole came over and saw Tyson he was so in love with his new baby brother. We loved how he loved him...ohhhhh how he loved him!

Random pics of Ty over the years

School Birthday celebration...

Bryn was one angry girl that morning. In the bottom right picture you can see she finally fell asleep once we left the school. She had a frown on her face and tears down her cheeks and red blotches all over her face from crying so much...but she was FINALLY asleep!

I took a cluster of helium Birthday balloons and cupcakes to Tyson's classroom at the elementary school Thursday (Oct 8) for Tyson's Birthday. His birthday wasn't until (Friday, Oct 9) but they didn't have school that day so I figured I would do it Thursday instead.

He was SO thrilled when I walked in holding all those balloons and cupcakes (and a crying Brynley LOL). He took the cupcakes from me and started handing them out. Today was his buddy Paden's Birthday and he is in Ty's class...I didn't want him to feel left out so I told Paden this was all for him as well. I took half of the balloons I brought for Ty and tied them to Paden's desk so he would feel special too. Paden had the biggest grin on his face...it was AWESOME! I tied the rest of the balloons to Tyson's desk and everyone was happy and loading up on cupcakes. Nothing feels better than making people feel good =)

Birthdays are ALWAYS a big deal in our family. I love making them feel so special and loved!

9th Birthday party at Chuckee Cheese...

Tyson wanted his bday party this year to be at Chuckee Cheese. Every other year we let the kids have "friend" bday parties and the off year is just a family bday party. Chuckee Cheese is a VERY expensive place so we let him invite 1 friend (Paden) and then he wanted to have his brother and 4 of his cousins (Taylor, Josh, Jade and Logan) that live close by us.

All the kids playing at the games. We ended up buying more tokens as they just don't get that many with the bday package. They all did very well and won lot's of tickets and then got to go pick out whatever prize they could with the amount of tickets they had won.

Tyson got sang to and hugged and danced with Chuckee Cheese himself. Ty was VERY embarrassed by this as EVERYONE there was watching. There were 2 other bday kids getting it done to them at the same time as well.

Tyson wanted a Harry Potter cake, so that is what he got. When he blew out his candles there were 4 that he missed. He got a lot of teasing from his cousins and friend. Ty had a big grin on his face as having 4 candles left meant he had "4 girlfriends."

Ty opening some of his gifts. Part of his gift from his Aunt Melanie was a massive box of mini chocolate bars LOL I couldn't believe it...Tyson thought it was the best gift ever.

Kent surprised Ty with a Jerome Iginla Calgary Flames hockey jersey. He made Tyson one happy little boy!

A special thanks to Niki for coming and helping with everything. I couldn't have done it without her help =)

Here is Tyson on the way home from his party (ha ha) do you think he is tired?! Poor Paden didn't know what to do or think when he realised Ty had fallen asleep on his shoulder LOL!

Had to put this picture in as I thought it was hilarious! Here is Brynley on the way home...she is ready to party. She has Ty's bday hat on and her hands in the Chuckee Cheese tokens cups and couldn't be happier =)

We love this boy very much! We can't get over how big he is getting...time seems to be flyin' by! He will always be our baby boy =) He is our tender hearted little boy and I love that he is still at that innocent naive age.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mr. T!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Brynley!!

I cannot express to you how quickly this past year has gone by. Hard to believe that our baby girl is already 1 years old!

Brynley Colleen Sheri Stanford

October 5, 2008

9 p0unds 4 oz 21 inches long

Birthday Party...
We decided to have Brynley's birthday party on Friday, October 2 as it was just easier and more convenient for family to come. I have been planning this day for a year now (ha) and let me tell you it was fun getting ready for it, but stressful.

Thank goodness my Mom came up from Cardston Thursday afternoon. She met me in Calgary (by Niki's home) and picked up Bryn and took her to my house for me as Niki and I were trying to get Bryn's cake iced and decorated. It was turning out to be a nightmare as it was WAY harder to decorate than we thought it would be....PLUS having 2 babies crying and what not didn't help. I thought it would take us 3-4 hours to decorate...it took 12 hours...I kid you not!!! It was midnight by the time we were done and let me tell you we couldn't stand looking at that cake anymore LOL

The cake

Niki and Lucas came and stayed over night Thursday night to help with everything that needed to be done before the party Friday. Niki and my Mom have been incredibly helpful and SO needed the past few days...THANKS AGAIN you guys!!!

Here is Bryn the morning of her party (this past Friday). She was hanging out in the computer room with my Mom. My Mom put this tiara on her and she quite liked it as you can see.

Tyson put on the Princess Jewellery quite willingly...we had a good laugh and told him this picture would come back to haunt him one day. Brynley thought it was great! He loves having a baby sister.

Some of the decorations

We had a FULL house for her party. It meant A LOT to us all that came and showed their love and support for Bryn. She had NO CLUE what was going on, but she was happy to be there. Between Kent's siblings, their spouses and kids and some of my siblings and their families...we were packed in there!

Bryn seeing her cake...her reaction was WONDERFUL! She loved it and was shaking she was so excited...the 12 hours was worth it (ha ha).

Cole was supposed to be gone camping with his scouts from our ward. But there was no way he was missing Bryn's Birthday he told. She is one lucky girl to have brothers who love her so dearly!

When I brought the cake over to and everyone started singing Happy Birthday to her I admit I had to stop singing as I tears started to well up in my eyes. I was having one of those "oh my gosh" moments and I just couldn't believe she was already turning 1 years old.

Brynley eating her cake...and enjoying it too =)

She has the craziest hair as you can see. We did have what little hair she does have up in a little pony tail on top of her head with a cute red bow...but she pulled it out of course and then it was sticking up all over the place.

Bryn right before she pulled her hair things out

Present opening...she was quite spoiled! She loved all of her gifts and plays with them daily.

A quick shout out to my sister in law Johanna who was SOOOOO good about video taping the party for me. After the party was done and everyone was visiting Johanna got busy in the kitchen and cleaned everything up for me before she left. I was so thankful for her kindness as there was a BIG mess to clean up. THANKS JOHANNA you are wonderful!

Brynley's Aunt Niki made this cute apron for her. How cute is this eh?! Looooove it! Niki is making me a matching one with the same fabric, just a different pattern.

Playing with her "new" toys

Thanks again to Niki and my Mom for ALL of their help! I needed both of them in order for me to be able to get things done and they did above and beyond what I could have asked for...love you guys! =)

These are some of my FAVORITE pictures of Brynley over the past year...

5 week old Brynley

More random pics throughout the past year that I LOVE!

Our 1st Family portrait...one to be cherished!

This family picture is one of my favorites. We will be getting new ones done again here right away...but I truly LOVE this picture! It speaks volumes and it was a long awaited for. Our family truly is complete and it is such a good feeling. Brynley was not expected and so welcome when she FINALLY did arrive after waiting 6 LONG years for her.

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY Sweet Girl!!