The rest of Britt's wedding

There were just so many nice photos from Brittney's wedding, that I had to do a double layout.  And it was filled to the brim.  They did such a nice job of decorating and making it look beautiful though, I couldn't resist using a lot of them.
Thursday was Jeff's last day at work, and it was pretty weird.  I almost cried when he shook hands with Scott and walked out the door for the last time.  When I got home, he even admitted that it really hit him...I'm not coming back to work.  I've been employed since I was 16 years old...and now I'm unemployed.  It will probably be an adjustment for both of us.
Robin and the boys came Friday night to spend the weekend with us.  It has been so much fun.  She did a photo shoot for a friends son Saturday morning, and then one for Mikayla on Saturday afternoon.  I cooked all day...it seems like.  I made two huge potato salads, about 4 dozen cupcakes, lunch...but it was all good.  The Easter party was fun.  And Mikayla's photos look like they should be awesome.
Robin spend Friday night helping me get started on my Project Life, and I think I'm going to really like it.  Simple way to use photos and document life by the week.  Shouldn't take me too long to get caught up now.

Brittney & Dustin's Wedding

I know I keep promising that I'll clean up my photos, but these are still layouts that I finished before Christmas and I'm working my way through them.  I'm so excited that I finished all the layouts I took as kits to the retreat, that I'm excited to post them and haven't edited them....soon.  I'll be finished with all these "old" photos and I'll try to do something with the new ones.
We have been super busy with Jeff's impending retirement.  Tomorrow is his last day...it will be so hard to go to work without him.  We've worked together since 1982....long, long time.

Boulder City Ride

Jeff, his Dad, and a couple of his brothers all took a ride up to Boulder City.  I had already been with them, and didn't feel bad that they went without me.
Thursday evening we had a very nice dinner with employees and former employees at Jaker's in Twin for Jeff's retirement.  It was very, very nice.  Dave Schulz read letters to myself and to Jeff from Dean Bursch...the President of our company.  Out of 6000 employees (plus) he wrote such a nice note to us.  Jeff got a 35 year pin with a diamond in it, and I got a 30 year pin with an emerald in it.  He also read a few other letters to Jeff, and then passed the "microphone" (salt shaker) around the table for each person to tell something they remembered about Jeff.  Danelle about made me cry.  She said how grateful she was that Jeff had excepted all my family...lots of kids and grandkids...and made them feel so loved and welcome.  All in all, it was a great night.
Friday we had the retirement party at work for customers and friends.  We probably had 150 or so people come.  Lot's of reps from out of town as well as a lot of my family and then of course, lots of customers.  It was very humbling for Jeff and I know he will never forget it.  Braquel and Danelle did all the food for us and took care of keeping it prepared and ready.  I just can't thank them enough for all their efforts.  It was great!
Saturday morning we got up to snow and wind, but still headed out to Salt Lake City for Chris's robotic competition.  It was actually quite fun.  I had never seen one before, and it was very interesting and entertaining.  The kids acted like they were having a ton of fun.  They played music the whole time, and the kids got to dancing and swaying and just having so much fun.  Taylor went down front and did some air guitar and dancing that was worth the whole trip.  I sure hope Robin posts the video on facebook so I can see it up close and personal.  We had a nice steak dinner Saturday night and then got up and came home early. 
Now I'm making Easter cards and just relaxing.  Time sure is going by fast.  I need to get started on my project life....only three months behind.

Horseback Riding and Elk hunting

Jeff and his dad love to take rides.  Especially up to Driggs since that where they are from.  His dad will be 89 this fall, and still went elk hunting with Jeff last fall...and rode the 4-wheeler and the horse.  The last couple of years, he tells Jeff on the way home..."I think that's my last year".  Then within a couple of months, he's talking about "next" year.  I think it's awesome that he can still ride and he enjoys going.  And Jeff loves spending the time with him.  I think Vern is his best friend.  Don Wade and his brother and some sons and son-in-laws usually meet them and hunt with them, which helps Jeff too.  I can not begrudge any time that Jeff spends with his dad.  I think it's wonderful that they enjoy each other's company so much. 

Cupcake layout

I love how Robin sends me a disk with photos from their year.  This was their Valentine's Day.  It makes me feel like we share some times...I was so excited to finish up all the layouts I had taken to the last retreat...it seemed like tons of them.
Now it's time to start putting together kits for this one...it's only four weeks away and I haven't even started getting ready.  YIKES...

Gibbons Christmas

I promise that I'll run out of the photos that I have saved before too long, and I will start editing them so you don't see so much carpet...instead of the layout.  Sorry.  I've just been super busy and haven't had time to really learn to stupid Windows 8....I'm really hating it.  I keep thinking I get used to it and start working better in that environment...but ...no such luck so far.
This layout is from photos that Robin gave me.  We don't usually get to see the boys for Christmas, so I really appreciated her sharing these with me.  Love you!

Bathroom remodel

For Christmas a couple of years ago, the girls gave me a new shower curtain, rug, and bathmat.  Danelle told me it was TIME to re-do the bathroom.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to paint a wall brown or red, but I bought red towels and a cream colored rug, so it made sense to paint it a dark brown. 
Jeff had told me that we would NEVER paint a wall anything but white.  I kept putting it off, but finally when he went to the manager's meeting in Portland and I stayed home that year, I did it.  I waited to see what he said, but he didn't even seem to notice.  When I asked...did you notice anything different in the spare bathroom?  he said yeah...and that was it.  I guess he figures it will be me that has paint over it at some point....so why be upset about it now.
I love walking in there to just look at it and enjoy it.  It does look nice, and I love the colors.

January exchange card #3- 2013

It seems like I've used a lot of sympathy cards lately.  Between people our age or younger, and our friends parents.  People we have worked with...it's sort of scary to me, that I'm at the age our friends and schoolmates are passing away so quickly.  Every time I read about one, it makes me stop and ponder...how long will I live?  I'm sure my mother never thought she'd live to be 91, which she will be next week, or that my father thought he'd die at just 62.  I guess none of us know how long we have here on earth.  It's a reminder to live life to the fullest every day.  Make memories with our families.