Flashback Friday

Yesterday, while searching for a picture I know I have but couldn't find of my parents and brother in our front yard the 1988(?) morning it snowed in Vacaville - see previous post, I came across this one of my dad and me, taken in the summer of 1989.  Upon discovering it, I was immediately reminded of another picture of my dad with a different little girl, taken last September during my parents' annual visit. 

My dad talks all the time about how much Chloe reminds him of me when I was her age.  I love that.  And I love that he can now experience many of the same joys with Chloe that he experienced with me.  They certainly have an unbreakable bond, those two.

When Ryan hopped on my lap and saw this picture, he immediately said, "But where's a picture of me and Grandma Jill!?"  Sweet boy, never wanting to leave anyone out.  I also might add, Grandma Jill, that Ryan requested your scrambled eggs for dinner tonight!

Flashback Friday

It's been a while since I did a Flashback Friday post.  I figured today was an appropriate day for one since tomorrow marks a certain special event.  The picture you see below of my very manly husband and yours truly was taken 8 years ago tonight.  We had been hard at work in my parents' yard preparing for the following day's festivities. Not sure how my wedding dress slip ended up in the picture, but clearly Neil made the best of it.  While horribly blurry, this picture portrays, with perfection, the excitement that was in the air that night.   

Happy Anniversary Eve to my Neil, whom I still love with every ounce of my heart, 8 years later.

Flashback Friday

My little ham at 16 months! Love this girl.

Flashback Friday

Here we are in our first apartment just days before tying the knot.

Neil is sitting on 3 boxes containing his belongings.



{mid-August 2002. Provo, UT. Photos by Mama Jill.}



So in love. So excited for our future together. Awww. Has it really been 7 years?

Flashback Friday

Since this picture was taken 10 years ago TODAY, I found it fitting for this week's 'Flashback Friday'.

Vacaville High School graduation
June 12, 1999

GO BULLDOGS!

Flashback Friday

Here are my wonderful parents as kiddos.

I couldn't resist since these photos go so well together!

I saved these onto my desktop a few weeks back with the intention of using them in a 'Flashback Friday' post. I never got around to that post and then forgot about it and these photos all together... until today, when I discovered they were still sitting on the desktop! And so, here they are!

Something else I discovered on my desktop today is a file containing a handful of Ryan's newborn photos, which I'd planned to put into a slideshow but never got around to doing. I am so grateful! Those are probably the most valuable to me of any of his photos! I am still keeping my fingers crossed I get ALL our photos back some day.

Flashback Friday

{late '60s, early '70s?}

My drop dead GORGEOUS mom. No Bond girl holds a candle to this hotness!

Flashback Friday

This was taken around 1999 in Ventura, CA, where Neil served a mission for our church.

Still cracks me up every time I see it.

Flashback Friday

Yep, that's me. December '98. Age 17.

Flashback Friday

Today's Flashback Friday honors two special people and two special occasions.

First, my Grandpa Butterfield, who would have celebrated his 95th birthday today. He entered this world and left it on Friday, the 13th, and my mom is convinced that was no coincidence! She's probably right considering he was quite the jokester and loved the number 13.

The second special occasion, which would have been celebrated Monday, the 9th (also a special day for Neil and me, as noted in my previous post), was my grandparent's 70th wedding anniversary! Amazing. Don't they make a beautiful couple?

I have heard so many stories about these two; what strong, loving, and enduring individuals they were, and how their spirits touched the lives of so many. I'm sad I didn't have a chance know them better, but I do have a handful of very fond memories which I'll hold dear to my heart forever.

Flashback Friday

My cousin, Wendy emailed me this picture last night. I'm assuming she took it. What's funny is I didn't even know it existed! She told me she was reminded of it when she saw the picture below it, which I included in my recent post about our Salt Lake trip. This is actually very timely considering Monday is the seventh anniversary of our first date, and when our journey together began.

{March or April(?) 2002} Are those highlights in your hair, Neil?

December 2008

Pretty amazing how similar these are, eh? Good eye, Wendy. Good eye.

Flashback Friday

When I noticed Ryan lounging in his bouncer just moments before the New Year's ball drop, I remembered a VERY similar picture I'd captured of Chloe exactly three years earlier. Can you see why?

Chloe - New Year's Eve, 2005 (6 1/2 weeks)


Ryan - New Year's Eve, 2008 (7 1/2 weeks)

Flashback Friday

In honor of the recent additions to the Andersen family, I felt these pictures were appropriate for today's edition of 'Flashback Friday'.

Pictured below are brothers, Neil and Jeff, with their dad, Grant, who passed away in 1985. Not only are Neil and Jeff's new boys just 23 days apart, but they share the honor of carrying their grandfather's name (Ryan Grant and Grant Sterling).


{Jeff is on the far left, and Neil's on Grant's lap}


{Jeff is on the left, Neil is on the right}

And just for fun...

{Neil and baby Ryan}


{Jeff and baby Grant}

Priceless pictures. I sure do love these Andersen boys - every single one of them!