It was a great year...hopefully many more to come!

Its wonderful how life evolves. Even though there have been many times I would have liked to make time stand still, it has kept marching forward. I find it doesn't do anyone any good to long for the past, or try to stop time from moving forward. I find that we have to decide each day what we will do to make the next days better, and take time in our days to enjoy the moments we are living and experiencing.
I feel a little sentimental and "old" because I see my children growing up. It seems like such a short time ago I spent almost every waking...and some of the moments I needed to be sleeping, caring for them...loving them, teaching them, policing them, directing them, nurturing them and making sure they were safe, healthy and progressing. Now I find myself with great memories, some regrets, and marveling at who they are becoming.
It is a payday for me to spend Sunday evenings with my family. It seems that is the day we all find time to spend a few moments together. There are other times too, any time I get a few minutes in their busy lives is wonderful! Can't move on to 2012 without remembering some of the great things from 2011...I wasn't a very good poster! I resolve to do better...but here is are some of the important things from 2011.

Cameron's Nursing School Graduation May 2011

• Cameron graduated from SLCC with a RN degree! Lots of years of studying and working hard to finally reach this goal…..and for an encore, he passed his NCLEX exam and is trying to find a nursing job. Not quite the shortage of nurses that there was when he started studying nursing. Never fear Cam, the job market in nursing ebbs and flows with the economy, I have faith it will turn around! For now he is focusing on his job at the Apple Store at Gateway Mall in downtown SLC. He has been given some promotions and really loves what he is doing there.

Ryan on a "Swamp Tour" in Louisiana

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Ryan's High School Graduation...1 month after he graduated from Salt Lake Community College...kind of funny....

Ryan and his friends in Oceanside for his Graduation trip

• Ryan Graduated from High School and Salt Lake Community College with high honors! He starts BYU in the fall. received a scholarship sponsored by Coca Cola and went to New Orleans, LA to receive it. Greg and I accompanied him and it was an awesome trip! Great food, jazz music, warm weather when we were freezing in Utah…it was a true adventure.

Greg and Karine--Hawaiian Cruise February 2011

• Greg and I went on a fantastic cruise to Hawaii. We went with Karine's parents and some other friends...a neighbor organized the cruise, and many people from the neighborhood went. What a way to spend 10 days in February! Wish we were there now. Whenever it is cold here I have warm relaxing thoughts of Hawaii!

Matt and Sharlene's Sealing in the Salt Lake Temple July 1, 2011

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  Matt and Sharlene were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in July--so happy for them and their cute little family.
  
  
  Juliette Kay Romero born Oct 11, 2011

• Juliette Kay Romero was born in October! We think she is absolutely perfect! We adore her! Matt and Sharlene are such wonderful parents!

Taylor with Juliette...the whole family can't get enough of her!

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Cam and Lindsey's dog Bruce...

• We had a great Christmas. Cam and Lindsey have moved into the basement for a while. Cam's graduation gift was a dog, a puggle, they named, Bruce. He is the most photogenic dog I have ever seen. He has found his way into our hearts and loves romping with Milo and Rocky. They are saving for a house and seeing what job opportunities are best for them right now. It was nice to have them around for the holidays...I think Taylor has enjoyed having his brother back home too!

Entering the Grandma Era

Just before we left on a spectacular vacation to Hawaii, (to be blogged in another post), Matt and Sharlene came over to our house to announce the future arrival of our first grandchild! I've been waiting to post about it until she had been to the doctor and was ready to make the announcement to everyone, but now it is official!
Greg decided we should call him/her Rango, until we know what sex the baby is and Matt and Shar decide on a name. I think it has a cute ring to it, and it will motivate his/her parents to decide on a better name! Rango is a lizard from a new animated movie we saw last weekend. He is a funny little character, and lets face it, fetal babies really do look a bit like lizards!
Congratulations to Matt and Sharlene. The due date is October 14, 2011.

Welcome to the Family

Matthew Allen Romero and Sharlene Witt Romero

Family Picture taken May 29, 2010 at the Joseph Smith Building

Matt and Sharlene Witt were married on May 29, 2010. Can't believe it has almost been six months and I haven't put it on my blog....it is because I am not technically able, but I will try. Sharlene was a beautiful bride. I thought of her a couple of weeks ago when I was watching TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress"...the show depicts girls grieving over which overpriced dress to buy. I was flabbergasted at the prices of the dresses! It made me think of Matt and Sharlene. Sharlene's dress was far less than 10,000.00 and she was absolutely gorgeous! I can't imagine that choosing which overpriced dress to wear for a day, could be of any importance in the realm of what is really important in this world!

Sharlene and Matt have been friends for many years. As we started to think back about how long they had known each other we realized it had been since second grade. Their sixth grade school teacher, Mrs. "O"-Ostermiller, came to their reception. She said it was the first students from the same class that she taught that actually got married. They had an on again off again relationship because we all know that timing is everything...and sometimes the timing has to wait. They always had mutual love and respect for each other.

Matt returned home from this mission in August or 2009, and by October, had proposed to Sharlene. She had a very full plate at the time. She was just going to graduate from Southern Utah University with a BS in Business, and ready to find a "real job". She was very involved in her Sorority-and very stressed. Somehow they both made it through. They were married in May of 2010, in the Joseph Smith Building. It was a beautiful wedding, and the reception was at my parents house in their yard. The weather was beautiful, and it was a fun reception.

Sharlene started a job as an assistant event coordinator for the Salt Palace Convention Center, and Matt is working at Oakland Construction in their IT department. He is hoping to get back into school soon. They have one of the cutest little dogs in the entire world. His name is Baxter, and I am a proud grandma....he is house broken, doesn't bark, entertains himself with the funniest games and is so entertaining. They really lucked up with such a wonderful little dog.