My Dad, He's the Best

September 2023

My dad, he's the best.  The End.

The end except for a little explanation of each picture.😉

 

I walked into his office, and he was on baby duty.  He didn't even remember he was holding the doll.  My mom sometimes tires of caring for her and lets him know it's his turn!

His girls: Beck, Mom, me, & Brit abt 20 years ago probably

Brit, Beck, Mom and me (A caregiver took this picture of him taking a picture of his girls, and I love it!)

He has thousands and thousands of pictures of our lives which he has put in physical and digital albums.  We get to relive everyday moments like this because he has been so diligent over the years.  It has also been a big blessing for my mom as she has been homebound for the past two years.  He has a digital album playing on the TV every day for her to enjoy. 

He is great about showing love to his grandkids.

He's always been an example of prioritizing exercise. I remember him jogging, rollerblading, swimming, attending step aerobics classes and more.  This past year he has been biking, going to a spin class or working out at the gym regularly.  This picture was taken when Tanner, Kaide and I were going on a morning walk at UTPB and ran into Grandpa out for a morning bike ride.

He takes really good care of my mom.  He is her safe place.  They complete each other.  

A Silly Video and Sunday Nights

When I was posting Park's release online, I saw this little gem from "Sunday night" that I believe Stevie created in 2019.  I love it!  (Minus Parker mooning the camera...cough cough.)

 The Video

As a family, we gather together every Sunday night.  It is very casual.  It's not dinner.  It's just a few random snacks and lots of family time.  Often smaller groups break off for at least part of the night.  (Little kids, teens, adults or a mixture of each.)  The older cousins are good about taking time with the younger ones.  The past couple of years, Charlotte (10) and Ella (8), have really loved evolving from the always being the "littles" to being the "bigs" with Adam and Megan's little kids.  (Lincoln 6, Christian 4, Noah 2 and Grace 5 months.)  

Here are a few current Sunday night pictures:

Fun to have the Merks in town for the wedding and Sunday night gathering! (Griff and Tanner)

Ella, Aub and Grandpa Vore

Adam with Noah (2 years old)

Ang, me, Brit and Adam 

Over the years we have rotated locations.  Many years ago, before Gram and Grandpa Vore were called to serve in the Lubbock Texas Temple presidency, we always met at their house.  They served there for almost six years so we had to improvise.  We would loosely rotate between the siblings' homes, but the past year we mostly meet out at the Bird's.  

The Bird home is really a great place to gather.  They have a playroom right off of their main family room.  This makes it nice for the littles to be close, but the adults/teens can still visit without too much chaos.  They have a huge backyard with a trampoline, wooden swing set structure, a covered porch and lots of room to run around.  Almost every week the teens and older kids will go out to the shop and play pickleball.  Sometimes when I feel sad that I am still somehow living in Odessa, Tx, I remember this: FAMILY, and it makes all the difference.

August Blur

August 2023

August was busy!  We had the wedding/reception and helping Tanner and Erin get moved, of course and also: Brian's b-day, Aub's preseason volleyball, Aub's first day of school, getting Parker ready for BYUI (clothing, dorm stuff), and everyday life.  

Picture highlights of August (minus wedding stuff) below!

I made these cute volleyball shirts and sweatshirts for some of Aubrey's team.  

I have Kaide on Monday and Wednesdays for two hours because Tanner and Erin's college schedules overlap.  It's been so fun!  He explores and plays at our house.  I try to read him a few books.  Aubrey comes home for lunch some days and is so happy when he is there.  Kaide and I often go for a walk to Gram's.  She loves seeing him.  I love having that time with him each week.

We sold Brian's truck and got Parker a car.  

These two cute Gwilliam cousins chose to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and we are so proud of and excited for them.

Max with Grandma and Grandpa Gwilliam. He will be serving Spanish speaking in the Washington DC mission.

Lindsey, Washington Spokane

me, Sister Packer, and Sister Taylor

So one of Lindsey's very best friends, Sister Packer, is serving in our mission and her very first area was in our ward!  How cool is that!  We haven't had sisters in our ward for years.  It was a tender mercy.

Aub has had chronic headaches for years.  I've been having them more and more frequently as well.  Brian found this icepack head pressure thingy online and bought it for us.  She rocks it!

Handsome Gwilliam men.  (Bri and Parker)

Taco Villa Monday on Wednesday at....Taco Villa!  Gram was even able to go.  

I love snuggling with my mom on the green couch.  She is usually on the go moving from one room to the next.  Her mind doesn't let her stop.  Sometimes though, I can convince her to sit with me for a few minutes on the couch.  I rub her head, sing to her and think about how many times she did those things for me over the years.  

It's been sooooo fun to have this girl home.  I'm really glad she was able to come for Parker's homecoming and then again for Tanner's wedding.  We love and miss her.  And she ADORES Kaide, obviously.

Park having a little leftover pizza.  I've gone to the store quite a bit more since he's been home.

Sisterly love.  Aub kept convincing Bryn to let her hang on her.  She used to do this to me up until 6 months ago, but my back does not agree.  I do miss it though because Aub isn't very into physical contact/hugs.  At least she would hang.  Brinley was a good sport.

B-day boy.  He's 55 this year.

Aub made him a #1 Dad shirt to match hers.  (I made her this one for homecoming week last year and Bri is always teasing and asking to borrow it.)

Aren't these three so cute!?  Parker 20, Brinley 23 next month and Aubrey 16

Bryn was only home for a few days and then back up to Provo for work.  Tanner and one of our favorite missionaries, Nate Quilter, set Brinley up on a blind date with Nate's brother.  They had a fun time.  (Elder Quilter is far left and Brinley is far right.)

Thelma Dahl Davis and Brinley

And this CRAZY photo...  Thelma and I were freshman roommates at BYU.  We had the Best year and are still dear friends and keep in touch to this day.  Brinley works with one of Thelma's students and somehow, they both recognized each other at meet the teacher.   WHAT?!!!!  

We really loved having Sister Packer in our ward for a transfer.  Sister Taylor was awesome too.  They helped us set up for Tanner and Erin's reception.  They also served food there.  Sister Packer loved getting to see Bruce (Lindsey's dad/Brian's twin) when he came in town for the wedding.

Erin sent this to our family group chat which is appropriatly named "Kaide Cult."  The majority of our communication focusses on this handsome guy.

Parker drove up to Utah about a week before he was to start school at BYUI (Idaho.)  He was able to see Grandma and Grandpa Gwilliam which was a huge blessing.  They got lots of visiting in, and he was able to talk about his mission and share some pictures.  Bruce and Denise are awesome to always open their home to family.  Parker stayed there some throughout the week, and Brinley came up from Provo to Draper to join the mini reunion.  

We sure love Grandma and Grandpa Gwilliam and wished we lived closer.  

Volleyball game at BYU.  Parker and Brinley had a blast together.  They were both glad he decided to come up early.  They squeezed in two lake trips, a volleyball game, a football game, game nights and more.

Wedding Video

My Dad made this beautiful video for Tanner and Erin's wedding.  After they were married, he went back and added some wedding pictures.  It took hours of work, and I am very grateful he is always willing to share his time and talents with me.

We played the video the night before they got married at a dinner gathering as well. It was so fun to have it playing on the big screen in Kerry's shop for all to enjoy.  I love seeing Tanner and Erin growing up side by side.  They went to the same Middle School and High School, and although they didn't realize it until they started dating, Erin lives 2.5 blocks down from us on the very same street.

Congratulations Tanner and Erin on your marriage!

The Wedding Video