THE Mission Call - Milan Italy

Day after Thanksgiving - There
it was. Finally. in the mail
so good to be here. We gathered
at Cindy and Raouls and David
opened THE letter. Suprise.
Milan, Italy. Wow.
Ok so now what - Well, I will
tell you. Move and shake,
Shake and move and then make
sure your boy is good to go. So far so good. now if I can
just get him to get up before noon. Well, that will come.
So He leaves March 3, 2009 for the Provo, MTC. We are excited and we are anticipating a wonderful marvelous adventure. He is even studying a little Italian now. Woohoo!! Congrats David - We love you!!

WOWEE!!

Time flies when your having fun.
Just so you know David Michael
VanAuker Jr. has put in his
mission papers. Its been 10
days. We look forward to
knowing where he is going
this up coming week. Will
keep you posted.
So much happening - so
little time to write about it.
Cruise, tutu making, craft fair, New Moon, David preparations
oh . . . and school HOpe to write soon.
PS - This is our Thanksgiving Tree. 2009. We love it.
Ok, most of us do. David is still a little skeptical.
He'll get over it soon.

WOW

i CAN'T believe it has beeen 2 months. I tell you what!! Time sure does fly. The last 2 months have been packed with fun and exciting adventures. Unfortunately my computer is dead too. I want to post soon with all the fun we had. Stay tuned.

Julie And Kathy come to visit

Aunt Julie and Aunt Kathy came to visit for Davids
Graduation. Yes we put them to work, Cutting hair,
making beans. We had a wonderful time. We went
to the beach, had a party for David. Ahhh so
wonderful to have family. We love you guys.
Come visit again soon.

David Graduation June 2009

He did it. ANd with that graduation - he did it with
style - not knowing quite 100 percent if he did do
it til the end. smart kid. Panicked parents. We are
very thankful he graduated. Now onto Real life.
Getting ready for a mission and working hard.
Congratulations David We Love you!!!

Holly Track meet - High Jump

Holly got second place in the High Jump for 6th grade.
Pretty good for being the alternate. Out of 6 schools.
She did awesome!! Congratulations Holly - We think you
are awesome!!

Mothers day!!

My Wonderful Children. That is what Mothers day is about.
Look how gorgeous they are!!! I had a superb Moms Day!!
Breakfast in bed, wonderful gifts, and a day with my family.
To be a mother is a blessing. They grow up and seem to
take wings without you being aware of it. I can't believe
in a few short months my son will be on a mission. My
daughter is in track and loving it!! At times I couldn't
wait for them to be independent and now I look back and
think - What can I do for them now?
I love you David, Holly and Sarah.

DENTIST?

Yesterday Mike and I both had the lovely pleasure of going
to the dentist. I can't tell you that Mike is afraid of
the dentist. He would not like that. But I can tell you
he doesn't go too often and well - has to have 2 root
canals and 2 crowns. Money - money Money - We need Money
- for my Husbands mouth!!! I had a few cavities -but
nothing near Mikes worries. I'm sorry Hunney!! I love
You!! I'll take you to disneyland Friday if that will
Help!!

THank YOU!!

Emily And Holly
I would like to thank all those that purchased the blocks
for their families. What a blessing it is to have
wonderful family and friends to help with Holly's
fundraiser. She has earned 149.00 with the sale of her
blocks and babysitting for her cousins children. She
has only 1.00 dollar to go. She is so proud of herself
and will enjoy camp knowing that she raised the money for
herself. Thank You Thank You THank You!!!!

Bonnie Hunt Show

Hey Ya'll. Mike, David and I went to the Bonnie Hunt
Show yesterday. What a beautiful day it was. Bonnie
loved us soo much she gave us a hot dog, rootbeer, a
Bonnie Hunt Show Mug and Gift card for Walgreens for
$50.00. We had a fantabulous day!! It was good to
be with my 2 main men in my life without the cell
phone. We missed the girls - but hey - the ain't
no 14 years old. lol. Sorry I couldn't put up a
pictures - no phones of cameras allowed.

Spring Break 09

My brother Mark and his family came down for spring break.
We had a rip roarin good time. Here are a few photos.
Thanks for sharing spring break with us.!! Love ya!

40 Birthday

Family at Cali Adventure


Me kissing Mickey

Circle of friendstoes


Say SPAAAAAHHHH!!

Hey I turned 40. Yep-me.
And I survived. Wonderful
family, wonderful friends
- what more can a girl ask for?

Me, Terina, Disneyland and the Bonnie Hunt Show

I understand there should be moderation in all things. BUt
having a great time to celebrate ones birth - over and over
again - is that so wrong?
So this last week on March 19th - my friend Terina had a
wonderful birthday - so we headed off to Disneyland to
celebrate. Well - they do give you a day for free if it is
your birthday. So we enjoyed our day first at Cali-Adventure
Park with Toy story Mania - my fav - then screamin - and I
am here to tell you I have never been on screamin' before.
What was I thinking? I love that ride. It was a smooth
magical ride. I loved it. Then we headed to tower of
terror. I laughed the whole time. Next we headed over to
Disneyland for some more magical fun. - Seeing the Water mist
fairy and Tinkerbell






Hitting the teacups - or did they hit me? Well I certainly
hit the toilet. hee hee. Thunder mountain, pirates, haunted
mansion - eating nummy fried sandwiches and onion soup
It was a lovely time. Thanks for having a birthday and
inviting me Terina.
While we were there - I mentioned to Terina that the only real
thing I wanted for my birthday was to see the Bonnie Hunt
Show. So she got on the horn and told me to be ready
Monday morning at 10:00 for a suprise. yes - I went to
the Bonnie Hunt show with her and some crazy ladies -
Elaine and Karen. We had a ball. I can't tell you the
fun I had yesterday. I felt like me again. It has been
a long time since I felt like me. We were number 21 in
line and I got to sit next to nick and reggie in the band
I was in heaven but on earth. It was fabulous. Sorry
No photos to share. They wouldn't allow cameras or cell
phones.
We almost went to spagos after - Elaine was wanting that
real bad. But we settled for Island Hamburger place.
It was an awesome day - and my birthday is still coming.
Thanks Terina - for taking me to the Bonnie hunt show.
I loved it!!

Mikes Birthday Weekend

One year older and wiser too - happy birthday to you!! This
was the evening fun for mikes birthday weekend. It began by
the girls making him breakfast in bed followed by Mike and I
trying to go to the beach for a little relaxation. We got
halfway there and realized that it was pretty foggy and
overcast - so we turned around and hung out at the house.
Then we cooked up some porterhouse on the grill with some
friends - the Mathesons and the Jorgensons. Nummy. They
brought over great salad, bread, potatoes and mushrooms. We
headed to pole position and then back to the house for a
little cheesecake and Karoake. Today March 15 is his actual
birthday - Church day. We will head over to the Sanders for
family dinner tonight and his favorite cake - German Chocolate.
Happy Birthday Mike. 42 and still going strong. LOL.
Love you. Your Family


Me and the Birthday boy before the big race.


In the pit before the big race strategizing.

Suiting up for the races with the boys. You are going to
race and nothing else right?

This is Mike after the race - all smiles and a little sweaty.


During the race - go mike go.

CUTE Name Blocks for SALE!!

My daughter Holly and her friend Emily are raising money
for camp. They are makeing name blocks. They are fun to
have on a mantle or in any room. They are so good so good
you see. You can do your first name, last name, holiday,
family, just about anything. We have several colors of
vinyl - white, tan, black and chocolate brown. We can do
the block in almost any color. THey have 2 sizes - 3 1/2
and 2 1/2 high. Up to 8 letters for the 3 1/2 is 13.00
and 2 1/2 is 10.00. After 8 letters we will charge an
extra 2.00 a block for 3 1/2 inch and 1.50 for 2 1/2 in.
IF you would like another saying on the back of the block
- just add 2.00 more. We can do a few symbols
and flowers on the cricut. Get your orders in now to
me, Holly Or Kristi and Emily, and we can start making
them for you.
They make great gifts for Christmas and birthdays and
Mothers day.
Shipping please add 10.00 more.
They look forward to creating for you.
Thanks.

My girls Valentines Dinner

So the girls had their friends
over and played with the digi camera. This is what they came
up with. Cute. They had a special dinner (grilled chicken
and rice) with their friends - Kami and Emily - made sock
puppets and hung out all by themselves. (We were at their
parents eating nummy melt-in-your-mouth steak and playing
Canasta) They felt very grown up and Had a magnificent
time. It's so hard to believe that they are growing
up so fast. What wonderful young women they are becoming.

Valentines DAY

Ahhh - Day of love. For the
VanAukers it has always been -
get the taxes done and we can
have a little more cash to play
with. But alas - not so - this
year is the year to pay. YIKES!!
But Valentines should be exciting this year. Big Stake Adult
Valentines dance tonight - live band. Yeeeehaw!!
And romantic dinner with friends tomorrow night.
Ahhh - relaxing fun.

Weekend Wedding

I had the wonderful opportunity - thanks to my niece Crystal - to
attend a wonderful wedding. Meagan and Chad Peterson. (meagan is
my niece). What a wonderful woman Meag is. She was gracious and
kind and loving to all this weekend. And it was a dooozie!!
She looked gorgeous!! - Chad - eh he was ok.

It was so good to see my brothers and their wonderful children.
I am sad that I live so far away from them. I truly enjoy their
company and enjoy teasing their families. I have to let everyone
out there know how much I love my brothers. They have both been
thru their shares of ups and downs. But they have stayed strong
in what they believe and have set wonderful examples to their
children and mine also. They were the ones who were their for my
mom and dad when my mom was having all her heart attacks. They
loved them and nursed my mom best they could. And when she died -
they graciously invited family into their homes for dinners and
lunches and did all they could to help us all ease our sorrows.

Their wives are even more awesome!! Love them with all my heart
for marrying them and doing all of the above with them.
Love you Mike and Cathy, Mark and Julie. Miss you tons. Wish
I could live next door to celebrate all of you and your families
triumphs and help with the pick me ups!! Hope to see you soon.
Love your sister - Julie

Keeping in touch with friends!

I am so lucky to have found some dear

friends that I haven't been in contact

with over the years. It is so wonderful

to hear how they are doing and what

they have been doing in their lives. What a blessing it is to have friends

and family who love and support us thru our times of trials and also

our times of happiness.

As we go thru our life we seek the good in others. We seek that good

to help us be better people. To be stronger in our convictions and to

help us chose the right. I have been blessed to have wonderful family

to share my life with - but have also been very blessed to have friends

that have been my family when my family was not around because

of distance or otherwise. Thanks for being around, thanks for listening,

thanks for being a great friend and example to me and my children.

Davids minimission

David had a great time
on his mini mission that
he served near here.
Well - everything but
the biking up the huge
hill 3 times a day.

Here is is with Elder
Tomlinson on right
and Elder Ellidge.
I can't believe that in a few short
months he too will be headed out and on his way to somewhere to
serve the Lord. His Cousin RJ is out serving in
Nicuragua. It is amazing how time flies

Happy new year?

ok - so Everyone I seem to know has a blog about their
family . . blah blah blah. So 2009 - Julie has decided to
get with the program. So here it is the
VanAuker Valley News.
hopefully will post monthly on kids - jobs etc.
So I am new - so that is all for now. VanAuker out!!