Today was Uncle's 80th birthday! We had a little party for him at our house.

He was served Swiss Steak, Mashed Potatoes (Dad's specialty) A broccoli cauliflower mix and the ever important Lemon Meringue pie by the famous Julie Potter.

I bought him a giant silver 8 and 0 and tied them to his regular chair. ( However it took 2 chairs because the balloons were so large)

Happy Birthday John Robert Christensen it is an honor to know you and be part of your 80 years on this earth.

Enjoy the pictures below.

Hugs

Marilee

Uncle posing with his silver

Balloons.

Happy Birthday Uncle

The birthday boy leads us in

our Happy Birthday song.

The Birthday Boy blows out his

candle.

Hello Family:

Many of you have seen our trip to the pumpkin patch in Fillmore, CA on Mommy's Facebook page but I have decided to share some of the pictures on Auntie's blog.


Auntie drove us to Fillmore and we picked up the Pumpkin Liner. This is a 45 minute train ride that drops you off in the middle of farm land where they have set up a small pumpkin patch and booths to sell Halloween goodies.

I loved the train trip because there was a window open and I love the wind in my hair.


In fact if Mommy had not been holding on tight I would have jumped out the window.

However when we got to the pumpkin patch I was not very thrilled because my parents set me down on the gravel amongst the pumpkins, and it was hot, and it poked thru my pants, and the sun was in my eyes. But I guess I will like the pictures they took someday.

The silliest part of the trip was the lady that painted faces. I have attached pictures so you can share in our day.

Hugs to all

Mary Jade





Here comes the
train.



My 1st Halloween and my 1st train ride, this
is awesome!!



My Mommy & Daddy are so cute!



When we got off the train a very nice lady
offered to paint a pumpkin on my hand. This is
what it looked like before I smudged it.




Posing with the pumpkins and the hay. I
love Fall.




The sun is in my
eyes and the gravel is
hot get me out of this
pumpkin patch!!!



My mommy tried to get me to smile but I am
wise to her tricks.



Mommy & Daddy insisted on posing as the
monster family..Hello the SUN IS IN MY EYES
how many times do I have to tell you this!



Before the train arrived to bring us home Mommy
& Daddy decided to have their faces painted..They
are so silly!





Wow Daddy looks tough with the spider on his
face.



Mommy got a witch on one side



And a kitty on the other side.



Auntie shows one of the beautiful pumpkins
Mommy picked out. Mommy can't wait to
carve them.

We're Swingers

That's right, you heard me right. The Potter / Ostler families are now swingers.

One day Dad came home and said his Mary Jade was going to want a swing. So I was thinking, something simple hanging from our well developed Mulberry tree.

But if you know my Dad, if a little is good a LOT is BETTER. All of a sudden lumber started to show up and then bags of cement, and then chains and then rope. All I could think was, uh oh!

He said he was going to have a swing built. I then found out that this was something Mom wanted also because she heard that swinging is good for your knees.

So the next day, the crew showed up to build "The Swing of all Swings"

I have pictures attached so you can appreciate it's building from the ground up and how much we enjoy it.

If you are ever in La Crescenta, please stop on by and come swing with us. We would love to see you.

Love The Potter / Ostler Families.



Our Empty backyard



The lay out of "The Swing"



Having the deep support holes dug



The guys let Dad mix the cement so he felt
like he was part of the crew! :-)



Installing the frame. Those look
heavy!



My rude father says he was measuring
the seat but I think he was using it as an
excuse to beat me, after all these years!
:-)



Time to let the frame dry! Almost time for
the Grand Opening Swing.



Mary approves and says when
can we swing Grandpa!



And after a beautiful green paint job completed
by Dad and yours truly Grandma and Mary are
ready to ride!



I decide to give it a try. Here we go!



Mary wouldn't look at the camera because
she enjoyed it too much that Grandpa was
next to her.



It's time for a family swing.



Grandpa..Thank you so much for the swing
You Rock. Love Mary Jade

The Sara & Andrew show!

Hello family:

Today at church Sara & Andrew had to give their moving into the ward talks.

Sara told all how they met and fell in love touching on her many blessings she has received through missionary work and Andrew finished the meeting with a talk on missionary work as well.

But Andrew was recently called as church organist so on top of his speaking assignment he had to play for the first time today. He was very impressive as he had to walk back and forth between the pulpit and the organ.

He is a good man Charlie Brown. They both did a great job. Three cheers to them!

Bring it on Baby

Hello Family

Big News!!!! Read All About it!!!!

Amanda Braga who starts her freshman year at Arroyo Grande High School this year is one of the newest Arroyo Grande Eagle Cheerleaders.

She Made the squad today.

Way to go Amanda!

40 & Fabulous

Hello all:

The last 2 weeks in April for my 40th birthday were SO FUN!!! I wanted to do something special for my 40th year on the earth so I told my family I wanted a party with friends and family.

I also took a week of vacation time so I could relax and enjoy it properly. I was even more surprised because as luck would have it David's vacation time landed on my birthday week so he and his lovely family (Michelle,Ruby, Noah, Holly & Lily) made the trek from Utah to spend a week with us.

Since they arrived the day after Easter, the 1st thing we did was have a belated Easter Egg Hunt.



On the search for the elusive Egg



Ruby scores some eggs



Noah scores some also



It would seem Auntie Marilee
put the Egg too high..Sorry Holly



Holly showing us her prized egg



I walked into my room to find that
Holly dumped out all the eggs and grass
and decorated herself with stickers while eating
the loot. Never leave this girl alone.. :-)

Grandma then broke out the new toy which we call the worm.



David filming his kids in the worm



Ruby strikes a pose



And Miss Holly does the same

Then they broke out the bubbles that the Easter Bunny brought. Oh how fun it is to blow bubbles.





Then they all piled on the swing with Grandma



We have had a tradition with the men that we call the RED MEN. Michelle captured a great photo of the boys.



Grandpa, Noah & David..How handsome!

Because David still has California Beaches in his soul, we went to the beach in Santa Monica. Unfortunately we chose a cold and windy day..But did this stop us--NO WAY!



Noah, Holly & I get blown down to the beach.



It's cold but Michelle & I smile anyway.



Ruby poses as she gets sand blown in her
face.



Lily is just happy to be part of
the group.



They are so cute.



Holly showing off her new shades.



Blowing away..but who cares. :-)




This beach scene should have been our first clue,
not a soul in sight..LOL!



My cool dudes agree it was a good day.

On a side note, the temperatures increased by
20 degrees and David took Ruby & Noah to the
beach a few days later.

The next day we all went to Memorial Park in La Canada and had a fun day. The kids LOVE the park.



Lily goes for a swing



Noah searches for land.



Ruby, Michelle & Lily chill out and pose for the camera



Auntie Marilee poses with all her Potter babies.

Sara, Andrew & Mary arrived late on Thursday, so on Friday they came to hang out and get ready for the party of the century the following day. I was surprised to receive beautiful flowers from Barbara & Morgan.



Me and the pretty flowers.

Friday evening David, Michelle & the kids went to go visit friends and Mindy, Mikaela, Amanda & Ashley arrived. We all decided to go out and have pedicures. What a fun day.



Ashley & Sara have their toes worked on
while Andrew & Mary watch



Mindy & Amanda relax on the other side



Cousins Ashley, Amanda, Mary & Mikaela.

Friday evening I had present opening with just my family because of the special gifts they wanted to share with me.



I got a copy of a Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode that I have always wanted.



Very cute purple pajamas



A digital key chain, so I can bore people with pictures of my nieces and nephew.

My wonderful siblings also got me an Auntie necklace with all my babies birth stones and Andrew, Sara & Mary made me a picture DVD of my life set to music. I loved it.

Saturday was my big day and I woke up to my bathroom mirrors decorated and my car windows decorated. Unfortunately I never made it outside to take a picture of it, but trust me it was very cute.

I was then taken to breakfast by my siblings. We went to Everest, which is our favorite place for pancakes.



Being silly with David..My 40th birthday necklace said--"Behold the Ageless Wonder" Very Funny.



Sara, Andrew & Mary say good morning.



Cousins Lily & Mary wish they could have some of our yummy food.




Mary puts on her party hat and says, "Let's get this party started"

Sara made me a yummy chocolate cake but I must give credit to Mindy & Michelle because they frosted it.



Behold 40 candles



Sara lights her up..better have those fire extinguishers near by.



Blowing...Blowing..Blowing..



And out they go. Let's cut the cake.




I got so many lovely presents



My party ended with a picture of all my babies. Man is it hard to get a good shot of everyone, oh well..we will keep on trying.




Ruby, Lily, Me, Mary, Noah & Holly

As quick as they came, David & Michelle had to go home... :-( I guess all good things can't last forever. Andrew, Sara & Mary got to stay with us a little longer but I also eventually had to go back to work.

When I returned to work, I got to celebrate my birthday with my co-workers..That's right I milked this birthday for all it was worth because let's face it, you only turn 40 once.

My co workers told me I had to be blindfolded to go to our destination. Since we did not have a blind fold I had to use a towel we had in the office, so I'm sure everyone that saw the car assumed I had a migraine. Cindy drove in circles to throw me off the track and Theresa read to me out of US magazine so I wouldn't pay attention. We ended up at my favorite Italian restaurant for lunch Divina Cucina where we had a fun girly lunch and then enjoyed my favorite chocolate cake from Cakery Bakery.



Getting ready to drive in circles



Cindy & Barbara posing with the blindfolded one.



I love chocolate cake



Blowing out the last set of candles for my 40th year.

Again I send thank you's to all my family that came and celebrated and made this the best year of my life.