Christmas Party with the Kids and Grandkids

Our family Christmas Party, Dec 12, 2010


Here is the family at the Bland Family Christmas
party at our home on December 12, 2010.
We can't believe how big we are getting. We had
a great time and the highlight was singing Christmas
Carols. We love our sweet family!

Traci, Chris, Jen & Jayden

Jen, Ryn & Denver

Tatelin, Julie & Jon

Julie and Ryn Grossnickle

Brandon, Tatelin, Steve, Cyndi & Kelli


Shirleen Bland

Traci Swertfeger

Kelli Swertfeger

Cyndi Collins

Julie Grossnickle


Jayden Collins
We had a great evening!

Passey Family Annual Christmas Party

The Passey Family Annual Christmas Party
was a great success!


This year our party was sponsored by Grandma Dorothy Passey,
and my sister Peggy Helton. They did a fantastic job! We had wonderful food and Grandma
read some great stories. Peggy also told a personal story of our
families Miracle Christmas back in 1962 when we lived in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The kids all had a great time.We sang Christmas carols and "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" for the little ones
Here are more pictures of the fun party:


Me and my step mom, Dorothy Passey.


Here is a picture of my whole family (except Jon).
We also had Chris's friend Jen there
with her two children. It was quite a feat
to have so many there.

Ryn Grossnickle & Grandpa Steve Bland


Cousins, Jayden Collins & Kelli Swertfeger

The Adult Dinner table


The kids dinner table it was huge!



My daughter Traci and her husband Brandon and
their two children, Kaleb and Kelli Swertfeger

My daughter, Julie Grossnickle

My daughter, Julie's four children,
Tag, Tate, Denver & Ryn Grossnickle

My daughter Cyndi and her husband Denny
and their daughter, Jayden Collins

My son Chris and his girlfriend Jen's son, Bo Brower.

My son Chris' girlfriend Jen and her daughter
Peyton Brower.


My Neice Marcella and her three children,
Samantha, Nate & Veronica Heywood

My Neice Teresa and her two children,
Stuart and Audrey Coates

As you can see we had a great family gathering for
Christmas! Thank you to everyone for coming.
I love my family!

Thanksgiving Happiness

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day this year.
Family is the greatest joy on earth! I love my family to pieces!

Shirleen, Steve, & Tatelin (age 3)


Tate, Jon, Denver, Tag, Julie Grossnickle


Our sweet little Ryn Grossnickle sitting in her
Bumbo Chair. She is five months now.

Cyndi, Jayden & Denny Collins

Olives are always a temptation to put your fingers in
no different with little Jayden. (1 1/2 years)

Denny and Tag ready to play a round Golf.


Chris and his sweet friend, Jen playing Golf


A couple of happy cooks, Julie & Jon

Cyndi helped Julie cook too!

This was the game of the day! Tag (5) and Denver (age 6)
loved to play the Wi with Jen and Chris

Tag was the BIG winner!!!
We had a great day! Thank you Family!

New Grandbaby

On Sunday, June 27th, our newest little sweet grandbaby, Ryn Rachelle Grossnickle, was born to Julie and Jon. She was 7lbs 13oz and 18 1/2 inches. The rest of family has been so excited.


Here is Ryn's happy family! Dad, Mom, Tate, Tag
and Denver.


This is Ryn's Happy Grandma with Denver


This is Ryn's happy Grandpa and Denver.
What a great gift to Grandpa born on his birthday.

Wooden Shoe Tulip Gardens

Today we got to go to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Gardens with our friends the Westovers, their grandson Jake Lopez, and our Grandson Tag Grossnickle. Here are some pictures from the day.







Tag Grossnickle


Steven & Shirleen Bland


Fran & Ernie Westover


Tag Grossnickle & Jake Lopez

Jayden's 1st Birthday

Jayden is such a cutie pie! One year old, we just can't believe how quickly she is growing.

She is a very unique beautiful baby with a wonderful personality. She also has the loudest squeal I have ever heard. She makes us laugh and gives lots of love to others. Happy birthday Jayden!

A New Post

It has been at least 3 months since my last blog. I have been ignoring the idea of posting. You would think I would blog more often as I can't wait to see what my family posts, they probably think the same thing. So I am repenting!

Things are a little different around here with more of our family living here with us. Jon and Julie's family have joined the ranks and we are really enjoying having them around.

Tatelin my two year old granddaughter is the cutest little rascal, and her voice has the sweetest sound. I love how she says "I want you" then I say "I want you too" Then she says, "I want you too". She loves the independance of getting older. The other day her family went bike riding and she was riding around like a little grownup little hot rodder.

Denver my Granddaughter, is very creative whether in the sand, or with a sticks, pen and paper or paintbrush with watercolor. She is my new art sidekick. She writes me lots of love notes and pictures that I hang on the wall. I love how sweet she is to me.


Grandpa has new buddies to mow the lawn with now and they love hanging out with grandpa when he works. Especially Tag, he is right there wanting to help everyone in anyway he can.

I get to teach tag preschool twice a week and loving it.

He is learning so fast and doing such a great job. His favorite part is "snack time", he loves his juice boxes that his moms sends with him.