Happy Birthday Garret!!!!

So our youngest turned 13 yesterday!!! I can't believe it... I think I feel another hair turning gray, hahaha...

Anyway, we had a wonderful day... We went out to eat and had given Garret an I-Pod touch for his present (We still haven't figured out how to get the music downloaded yet, but Dan is working on it).

Today Kerri made him a special dessert and everyone loves her cooking so he had extra :)

We had went to my mom's a week ago and had a big family birthday party while we were there so now I think we will just have a few guys over to have a WII tournament in a couple of weeks when things slow down...

I can't believe I have all teenagers now... I am grateful that Garret is a wonderful and thoughtful teenager :)

Happy Birthday Buddy!!! We love you!

Happy Birthday Kerri !!!

Our Kerri turned 16 today!!! What an exciting day this was....

Kerri asked for an old fashion bicycle for her birthday. One of her teachers thought this was absolutely toooo funny since she was turning 16 and most kids her age would want a car, or at least a different one than they have. (she has the bug for now)

Kerri wanted a purple bike, but we looked high and low and found this pink bike. She fell in love with it and so we brought home "Lady Katherine". She is so excited!

Our tradition is to go out to eat wherever the birthday person wants to eat, but since it was Sunday, we did not do that today. Kerri's favorite meal is Steak , so we bought all the fixings and made her the best birthday dinner ever!!! Steak, baked potato, salad...etc...

And on top of everything, we got to stay in our jammies all day and watch conference.

It has been a great birthday. She celebrated all weekend long. Kerri was "kidnapped" by her friends yesterday morning at 6:30 am and taken to breakfast then we took her to her grandmothers in Tulsa for the day where we had a birthday party with lots of family.

I can't believe she is 16!!! She gets her license on Tuesday. She can't wait!!! Excitement is in the air ;)

Happy Birthday Kerri... We love you MORE :)

Dan Graduated!!!!!

So my sweet and dedicated hubby graduated with honers this weekend from OCU. Dan ended his school time with a 4.0 National Honors "Delta Mu Delta". We were very blessed to have lots of family come in for the graduation.

Dan started and completed his undergrad at Phoenix then went to
OCU to do his Masters.

He had promised the kids that his school work would never interfere with their time with him. You would often find Dan doing
homework after 11pm at night, but more often than not he would get
up at 3am and do homework before work, school and kids activities..
oh, and did I mention Bishopric duties :)

He never tired of the school work and may even teach in the
Masters program at OCU during the evening this semester or next.

We are so thankful to all of our families and friends for their support and love!

WOOOOHOOOOO..... IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE... CONGRATS DAN!!!!!!

Time for reflection and celebration... Part 2

16 years ago tomorrow....On July 17th, 1993 I was sealed to my eternal companion in the Dallas Texas Temple. Ashley was almost 3 and I was pregnant with Kerri. I truly believe it is because of this wonderful gospel that Dan and I have such a strong and blessed life together. I love my family soooooo much :)

Dan took me to the Temple this past Tuesday night for date night. It was so peaceful there and I was able to totally relax and focus on the work being done there and reflect on that time 16 years ago that I made those sacred commitments and covenants and celebrate the blessings I have received over the years by abiding by those covenants.

I pray that each of you (my online buddies) will be blessed with time to go to the Temple this week.

Time for reflection and celebration

I can't believe it's been 20 years today that I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. What a wonderful and marvelous experience this has been. I was baptized along with my niece, Kiamitia on July 16th, 1989 by Nathan Sams. Now, twenty years later I look back at the moment that changed the course of my life and the blessings that my family and I have received from that one choice I made so long ago....

The words from this song say it best....

I WILL

I've made my choice
You can mark this day
The day I pledge
To take His name

I will be strong
I will be brave
Standing for Him
As I take my place

I have felt the Spirit
Burn Truth in my heart
It's in my heart

Chours:
I will stand
I will not fall
In a world that's weak
I will be strong

I'll be true
I will choose His way
I know what's right
And I will not change
In a world where so many will not
I will

I may be one
But one becomes two
When you stand with me
And I stand with you

As we unit
Our cause is great
We're not just the candle
We are the flame

I will Take the light He gives me
And I'll hold it up high
I'll hold it up high

Chours:


From the cd..."Be Thou an Example"

Sister Hess

Do you remember Sister Hess????

We had a surprise visit today from Laura and her husband Gordan Cooper. We were so excited to get to see her again and meet her husband. Dan gave Laura a ride on our Harley before dinner. She loved it.... Here is a picture of her and her husband. They will be moving from Delaware to Utah in the next couple of months when Laura has finished her internship for Gordan to finish his schooling at UVU and he will be doing ROTC also.

Have fun and good luck Laura and Gordon!!!

Our Graduate....

So graduation came and went... it was a whirlwind week. Ash had 21 family members attend her graduation and 3 more were on the way but had a wreck (they are ok). It was wonderful to get to see everyone. We are glad that Ashley has done so well in accomplishing her goals and ended her year with straight "A's"...

So Congratulations Boog, we love you!!!
Dad, Mom, Kerri and Garret

Time to go back to work....

Well after recovering for 2 full weeks at home, I go back to work tomorrow. I am still on restrictions for a few weeks. I can not lift, push or pull heavy things but overall I am much better. The doctor told me that I would love him in another 6 weeks :) We will see! Right now I still have so many stitches in my throat and nose that need to go away ASAP! Thanks to all that brought me slushies and popsicles... I love you all!!! You along with my family made my recovery much easier. I was truly a pampered princess during my recovery ;)

She did it!!!

It is official! Kerri now has her drivers permit. I can't believe she is 15 1/2 years old... I feel old :) She has driven around the neighborhood the last couple of days and is doing great. She will drive with Merkleys next week and then there will be no stopping her! What a great week she is having. Congratulations Kerri!

Scary things!!!

Ashley has been working late during spring break helping reset displays at VS in the mall (midnight to 1am) every night. She has brand new tires, I mean that they are only 2 1/2 weeks old!!! She went to work on Saturday around 1pm and got off at 6pm. She only worked half a shift that day because we had plans that evening... This is what she found when she came out to her car. Someone had slashed one of her brand new tires. At first I asked her who was mad at her, but then upon thinking about that comment I told her that if someone was mad at her they would have probably slashed all four tires. Therefore, we are thinking that someone has been watching her and knew that she had been working late every night and thought that she was not leaving until midnight again and would be out in the mall parking lot by herself at midnight... What a SCARY thought! Now mall security is escorting her out every night, thankfully:)

PS... We are also getting MACE for her to carry!!

Spring Break

So spring break came and went!!!! Here are the highlights...


Our nephew James came down on Sunday evening and stayed until Thursday morning. We had loads of fun. He is the little boy in the red. We get to spoil him every year during spring break and then again during the summer.

On Monday evening the Muir kids came over and we had a blast!!! We taught them things that were very EDUCATIONAL!! Can't you tell???
But then again... "what happens at the Silfies', stays at the Silfies'" hahaha...

During the week we each had the flu bug and took turns passing it around. That was not so much fun. But we are all well now... Hope you all had a safe and healthy week!!!

A family that plays together, stays together ;)

So a couple of weeks ago Dan and Garret went to the young mens get together at Jordan and Amy Williams' house. They had the Wii band and everyone loved it including my son and husband! Jordan told Dan that the Wii band would bring all families closer together and so therefore wanting our family to be even closer, we immediately went out the next day and bought it! (ha-ha) What fun we have had on it. Even with Dan's leg up on a chair from having knee surgery last week, he can still JAM with the young ones!!! Thanks Jordan for the tip...

The girls are at the Church Winter Formal tonight and they look absolutely gorgeous!!! Kerri and I went shopping for her dress this past week and it was quite an experience. The very first dress we tried on we both LOVED but just to be sure we proceeded to go to 3 other stores and try on another 43 dresses. Then we went back to the first store and continued to try on more dresses. I finally convinced Kerri to try on the first dress again and we both still loved it so we bought it! You can't really see it, but the dress has beading all the way down it... She looks so gorgeous!

Today was a whirlwind of activity. It started with Kerri having a nail appointment. Since we could not find a purple dress, she got purple nails ;) They look lovely.

Then I took Kerri home and proceeded to take Ash prom dress shopping. I had seen a dress the night I took Kerri shopping and thought Ash would love it so I took her to the mall and we went from store to store trying on dresses and then I took her to where I had seen the dress I thought she would like and guess what...She loved it!!! She has it on :) She looks so beautiful!

Then I proceeded to go home and straighten Kerri's hair for her and feed both of them while they were getting ready and off they went....

The pictures attached show what lovely young ladies we have... We are truly blessed!

AMY'S VALENTINE'S TAG!!!
For all you married people out there! I am tagging all my married friends!
1. When is your "engagement" anniversary: June, 1986
2. When is your "marriage" anniversary: October 25, 1986 and our Sealing anniversary is July 17th, 1993
3. How long have you known your spouse: 24 years
4. How long did you date/court before you were engaged: 14 months
5. Where did you meet your spouse for the first time: At work
6. What is your spouse's full name: Daniel Garret Silfies
7. Do you have any children yet: Yes
8. How many: 3... Ashley 18, Kerri 15 and Garret 12
9. Do you have any house pets: No
10. Do you own a house or rent: Own
11. Do you live in the country or town/city: City
12. What is one of your favorite activities together: We love watching football, exercising and just spending time together.
13. Do you have a favorite vacation spot: We love Smithville!
14. How many siblings (including in-laws): 10
15. What church do you attend: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
16. Is this the church you were married in: Yes
17. What town is your current address: Edmond
18. Do you work or stay at home: Work
19. Where did you honeymoon: Branson, MO.
20: Leave a piece of marriage advice: Never go to bed mad at each other....

In Memory of "papa"

So this week was very hard for me and my family. My step-father passed away last Friday. He was at home, which is where he wanted to be. He had only been out of the hospital for 2 days. It was an unexpected but expected death. We thought we were going to loose him last year when he was in the hospital for almost 2 months and the nurse called us in three different times thinking it was over. But, he surprised us all and we had another full year with him. Peace was made among those that needed it and for the rest of us we were blessed with an additional year with "papa" (that is what all the grand-kids called him).

In Loving Memory... Harvey "Nolan" Carrell

God saw he was getting tired,
And a cure was not to be,

So He put His arms around him
And whispered "Here, come with Me."

With tearful eyes we watched him suffer,
And saw him fade away.

Although we loved him dearly,
We could not have him stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,
Hard working hands to rest,

God broke our hearts to prove to us,
He only takes the best!

With deepest gratitude and thankfulness to all of you that have sent thoughts, prayers, flowers and cards our way.

...Tonya

Hope you all
Have a
wonderful
week!!

This week we had a special treat. An old friend of Dan's that he grew up with in Owasso found Ash on facebook and got a hold of us. It was great to catch up with him and his family. They live in Indiana now and we miss seeing them. So David, when you see this entry...here are a few pictures just for you!!! It was a great blast from the past. Can't wait to hear from you guys again!!! Keep in touch.