A Proud Day

Last Friday we had 2 new graduates in the family. Okay, Rachel isn't exactly new because she was done in December, but both Eric and Rachel participated in their college commencement ceremonies - unfortunately on the the same day! So Paul and I had to divide and conquer! I spent the day in Orem and Paul traveled to Logan. Here are the photos:

Noah fell asleep and missed the whole thing!

Rachel earned her Bachelor's degree in Music from Utah Valley University.

Eric, receiving his hood, earned a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from Utah State.

The Best Birthday Ever!

Turning 50 really doesn't feel a day different than . . . turning 49! It's really okay (for any out there who are dreading it)! My wonderful husband did something that I've never heard of before - he threw me a surprise party in the temple! Without going into too much detail, here's how it played out:

Early in the day on a Friday, I get word from Paul that the Stake President wants the presidency and their wives in the temple that afternoon for an emergency or something. I had already been to the temple that week! I thought I was done! I murmured . . . and I felt bad about it so it was not a good day. (Didn't help that the skirt I wanted to wear no longer fits me!)

We get the to the parking lot and he informs me that no one is waiting for us in the temple. After some sweet surprises, we head on in. I should have clued in when one of the workers told me that another Sister Ruben had just come through. Thought my sister-in-law must be there. So we walk into the chapel and there are all our married children and their wonderful spouses taking up almost a whole row! I was immediately caught by a flood of emotion. Words cannot describe my gratitude! Simply put, it was the sweetest moment of my life. With family starting to scatter a bit, I don't know when this might be possible again.

Side note: I might add that Adam was home during all this time babysitting 4 neices and nephews! Yes, the Adam who has never babysat in his whole life. All during the session I was either weeping or smiling from ear to ear whenever I thought about Adam! Here are a few pictures from the party afterwards. Paul had purchased dinner and we ate at home - a good idea! Thanks so much to my kids for the Cricut machine! And to my fabulous husband for my new elliptical!

Catching Up

Got some catching up to do on our missionary! He sent me these pictures a few weeks ago and I haven't had time to blog them until now. For those of you that are used to getting an email forwarded each week from Nate, well you're not getting them because we're not getting them! I do get short notes in the mail each week that lets us know a smattering of what's going on. Basically, I can tell you that he's been transferred and is serving as an office elder now - "in the position I never ever wanted to be." I'm getting the idea that at least one week he was too busy to write home and some of the others were because he was too busy to push the "send" button! In a nutshell, here is what he's doing these days: hearing missionary complaints, fixing cars, selling cars, distributing cars, etc. Soon he will be adding the work of a departing office couple: Housing! All I can tell you is that he is now LOVING this transfer and expects to be doing this for at least 6 months. Proselyting is still happening in the evenings. These photos were taken before his transfer, back when "life was slow and oh, so mellow!" Simply can't wait to talk to you next week, Nate!

"Oh how lovely was the morning . . ."

Sunday Good Times

Remember that Sunday dinner I just told you about? Well, here are some pictures from that. Definitely good times!



Noah and Kennedy - getting reacquainted again.

I have no idea what Sydney is doing in this picture! Trying to give Noah Dumbo ears?

Hangin' with Uncle Eric.

Fun game that Grandpa likes to play - drag them around on a blanket. Such joy!

Sweet Maci Jane

My Little Darlings!

All I wanted last weekend was a picture of all five of my adorable grandchildren together! So we had a chance to all be together for dinner on Sunday and I made this the first thing on my list before little ones started running all over! This is what we came up with - pretty cute, huh!!

I wish like crazy that I had turned around and taken a picture of the paparazzi behind me because that was hysterical! Camera flashes were going all over the place and as you can see by the stunned looks on those faces, those poor kids had no clue what was going on. Only Sydney knew she was supposed to be smiling for this mayhem!

Here are some more pictures of the ever-changing new baby Maci with her beautiful mother this time!

Our Little Maci Jane

Wow! What a time they had getting her here!! These are pictures we took of Maci on the evening or her birth, Sunday, February 22. She weighed 8 lb. 6 oz. If you haven't heard of her traumatic birth, I'll refer you to Eric's blog (earuben.blogspot.com) for the whole story. I'll just focus on what a beautiful little baby she is!! She's still a little beat up in these pictures, but Eric says she getting prettier every day. Who'd have thought that after a picture-perfect pregnancy, her delivery would be so dramatic! We couldn't be more grateful. Way to go, Andrea! And a big congratulations to the happy parents!

Trying to get those eyes open!

The End of an Era

We are officially DONE with swimming (competitive swimming) in this Ruben family!!! Boy, this swimming thing started a reaaaallllly long time ago for me, because I used to watch Paul swim in high school! Now after 3 boys going through the Murray High swim program, I'm not sure how to feel about all this - happy that I don't have to sit for hours on hard bleachers watching my kid swim for . . . oh, at the longest, about .53 seconds at a time! But I must admit, part of me will miss the excitement and the adrenalin that runs rampant at those state meets, the determination that surfaces all season to swim just a little faster every time, and the elation that comes when that happens. I will ALWAYS be grateful for what swimming has taught our sons. They have learned stamina, teamwork, and just simply how to get up and get going early in the morning! Not to mention that they've all had pretty nice builds as a result! I guess swimming is not really over in the Ruben family. Though Nate is obviously not doing any of it, Paul and Eric continue to swim to stay in shape and now Adam has launched a full-blown triathlon training program. Okay, well, I won't miss those bleachers!

On the medals podium receiving a 1st place in the IM relay. Adam swam freestyle.

Adam is the bottom guy in the air, swimming in the 200 Free relay. They took 2nd.

Notice all the hair!! No shaving this year! Swim caps works just fine!

I almost forgot - the team took 3rd in state this year. Not what they had hoped, but not bad either.