Happy 49th Birthday, Jimmy and 26th Birthday, Nick!

Happy birthday to two of my favorite guys!  I hope you both enjoy your special day.  Jim and Nick were the first in this family to share a birthday...I think Jim jinxed me when I was pregnant with Nick!  I also realize that I need to take many more photos of Jimmy cuz I didn't have many to choose from~
Happy birthday you two.  Love you!

Orvis Goetz

Orvis Goetz, grandfather to my sisters and me and close friend of Grampa John, died peacefully today at his home surrounded by his family. He was born the youngest of six children in a small town in South Dakota, where he grew up speaking German. Because he couldn't speak English when he started school, he earned the nickname "Sputter," which stuck for many years. Always entrepreneurial, he had a paper route as a boy, then delivered groceries with his bicycle, then sold sporting goods, then Fuller brushes door to door. Then, of course, life insurance. He officed with Grampa John in a space that was attached to Mel's Doughnut Shop (Mel took a trip to Mexico, discovered tacos, and his doughnut shop became the first Taco Treat). He and John would drive John's VW bug all around Montana to call on ranchers in their homes - where they would often be invited to sit for dinner and John would sometimes play the piano. Orvis had a magnetic personality and a sharp humor that will be missed greatly by all of us who love him. I'll post when we have funeral details, but it looks like it will be Wednesday.

Happy Birthday, Shannon

Today is Shannon's 25th birthday and her first as Mrs. Haraden.  It was a big last year for her and I'm sure this next year will be just as exciting and fun.  To an amazingly awesome sister: Happy Birthday!

Beautiful Ireland

What a trip!!!  We can't thank our eight beautiful children enough for the trip of a lifetime!!  The first picture is in our suite in Dublin before the Notre Dame/Navy game!!  The second is on top of a mountain that I climbed on the Dingle Peninsula.  The view was absolutely breath taking!  The next two are pictures taken from the hike up.  It is hard to imagine that a place could be so green!!!  Next is the ocean which was just feet away from our third cottage.  The wind could whip it right up!!  The next two are Marc and I - first in Ballintoy and second in front of a Neolithic tomb which was AMAZING!  Look at those round rocks.  They built this pre-Christ!!  Something to see!  The last one is some cliffs by our cottage in Bushmills.  We saw cliffs that would put the Cliffs of Mohr to shame and we didn't even have to pay for them!  We just want to praise our children to the skies for sending us on this trip!  We are planning on going again in two years and I am scoping out nursing homes for them to put us in!!

Happy 15th birthday, Maddie Jo!

Happy birthday to my sweet, wonderful 15 year old!  We celebrated her birthday a few days early with a dinner with Gramma Jeanne.  The puppy's name is Oscar and he was Maddie's birthday wish.  She thought it was too quiet around here without Sam.  Oscar does add a bit of chaos.  Maddie is loving her freshman year at Central.  She was voted a co-president of the freshman class and is a starting outside hitter on the varsity volleyball team! 
Happy birthday sweet girl!  We love you very much and are so very proud of the young woman you have become!

Mom and Dad