Gavin Monroe Lace!!

I have a new grandson!! My daughter Lauren, gave birth to her second son on April 20, 2009. His name his Gavin Monroe Lace and he is cute!! Here he is several hours after appearing on the scene...

Here is the new, improved Lace family(Christopher, Lauren, Torin, Gavin)...

I spent a week in Dallas with Lauren and her family trying to keep up with two year old Torin. Did I really raise four children? I am so tried I don't really remember!! Any who, Torin must have enjoyed my visit because he wanted to drive me home when it was time for me to leave...

Congratulations, Lace family, on your new addition!!

Exciting News!!

Lest the whole earth be thrown into utter chaos, I am now going to update my blog.

Here is my new "springtime" door wreath. I made it myself!!

Here is my new doormat! I did not make it myself!!

Now, how is that for an exciting update!!

Cancer Sucks!

February 2009 is a special anniversary for me (Dianne)!! Five years ago this month I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer. And, you can take it from me, cancer does suck!! But thanks to my wonderful doctors, the advances in colon cancer treatment, the grace of God, and the loving support of my family and friends, I am still here and cancer free.

Looking through some papers the other day, I found the original paper my oncologist wrote on explaining my diagnosis and treatment options...

Did you notice the cure rates with the standard treatments? Then look at the rate with the newer drugs. I was able to take one of those new drugs. Later, more research data showed that it actually helped the cure rate by 8-11%. That's what I call a miracle!!

However, this is what happened after my first treatment...

And this is how I looked...

Pretty scary, isn't it!The really scary thing is that colorectal cancer is the #2 cause of death in the U.S and it often has no symptoms until it’s at an advanced stage.BUT, colorectal cancer is 90% preventable when detected early. You can make an early detection and reduce your risk through regular screening. Screening through colonoscopy should begin at age 50 or earlier if you have a family history.

Sorry Christine, Lauren, Steven, and Karin. You guys get to start having colonscopys starting at 37!! Something to really look forward to!

For those of you who have been putting off your screening, you have to check out this coloum:

Dave Barry: A journey into my colon -- and yours

You can check it out here http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/dave-barry/v-fullstory/story/427603.html

I wouldn't recommend reading with a full bladder - I almost wet myself reading it!

For extra incentive, Dave is throwing one these in...

March is right around the corner and for those grownups that don't know, March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. You can get some cool stuff at http://www.teesed.com/store/ccamlike this What's Up Your Butt! button...

Also in March, is Dress in Blue Day. It is celebrated on the first Friday of March. In 2009, Dress in Blue Day will be held on Friday, March 6th. The purpose of Dress in Blue Day is to promote awareness about colorectal cancer and encourage people to get screened.

So I want to see all of you wearing blue, with your What's Up Your Butt! item on, and an appointment card for your colonoscopy in your hot little hands.

If you or a loved one is suffering from cancer of any type, you could lift spirits with a Cancer Sucks! product at http://www.cancersucks.com/

I wear these when I go biking...

During these last 5 years I have experienced some of the hardest times and some of the best times of my life. Thanks to all of you who have seen me through it. Love ya! And, like me...

...in the words of Lance Armstrong, seven time winner of the Tour de France and cancer survivor: LIVESTRONG

CERT Training!

Boo! No, it isn't Halloween...

...it's CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training. Community Emergency Response Team training is a Federal Emergency Management Agency program that educates citizens about the hazards they face in their community and trains them in lifesaving skills. If needed following a disaster, these citizen-responders use their training as part of a neighborhood or workplace team to help others when professional responders are overwhelmed or not immediately available. CERT members provide immediate assistance to victims in their area, organize spontaneous volunteers who have not had the training, and collect disaster intelligence that will assist professional responders with prioritization and allocation of resources when they arrive.

Craig and I are taking the 8 week class and last night we covered fire suppression. After classroom instruction, we walked across the street to the fire station and actually practiced P.A.S.S. (pull, aim, squeeze, sweep) in putting out fires.

Here is a Houston Fireman using lighter fluid to light a fire...

Craig had more fun checking out the fire truck...


I am ready to roll...

Watch out fire here I come!!!

Memories...

I (Dianne) was looking through some pictures tonight and found some that really took me down memory lane. Come along and enjoy the show...

For those of you that don't know my Dad, he is a really fun and funny guy. This is Monroe in 1981 on the day of my brother's wedding...

He did take off the wig before heading off to the church. All these years later, he still keeps us laughing...

My son, Steven, has always had a "thing" with his HAIR. Here he is at 3 years old...

Some of you who have raised children may recognize this evil device....

These horrible horses are brought home by unsuspecting parents hoping to bring some joy into an innocent child's life. But instead they wrack wild unrelenting havoc upon American families from coast to coast.

In the 1980's Foster household, one of these spring loaded bouncing equines threw Steven off and causing a broken clavicle. This same "Mister Evil Ed" took Lauren on a ride to a bowling ally. During the ride, he bounced so hard that Lauren dropped the bowling ball onto Christine's foot, causing much screaming and a broken toe.

However, here is a picture during happier times with Lauren, Karin, and Christine in 1988 in Carrollton, TX...

And to finish off this trip down memory lane, here is one of my favorite pics of 3 year old Karin in the sculpture garden in Nauvoo, Illinois...

Hurricane Ike!!!

Yes, we know Hurricane Ike occurred several months ago. But we thought all of you might find the photos interesting. Ike made landfall on the Texas coast September 13, 2009 in the wee hours of the morning as a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 110 mph.

At daylight, this is how things looked out our front door...




Luckily we had our trees trimmed a week before the hurricane. Another view out the front door...





After the winds and rain calmed down some, the neighborhood went exploring...





This is some of what we found! Two trees obstructing the road and a crushed car. The word on the street was that, after the tree had been removed, the car still drove great.

The only mishaps we experienced were loss of power and wet carpet. The wind blew so hard that it forced rain through the weep holes into our house...

Craig, ever the little boy, had great fun playing in the rain:

After Ike blew on through, we went for a drive. Trees and limbs were down everywhere. It was incredible to see what the force of the storm had left in its wake...

Dianne's brother, Duane, came to the rescue and sent his generator to Houston so that we could continue to enjoy lights, fans, and cold food.

Thanks, Duane!!!

Apparently, Hurricane Ike was the third most destructive hurricane to ever make landfall in the United States. Our family plan is to be loooooooong gooooone before any other hurricane decides to make landfall anywhere near where we might happen to be.

What's the deal with Steven?

Dianne has recently received several emails asking about her son, Steven. Those emails then promted a very big light bulb to come on...


Oh wait, can't use that bulb!!

Okay, now we're legal...let's continue....

We are going to spotlight each of our nine children (Craig has five and Dianne, four) in the coming weeks and months, beginning with Steven.


Steven is 22 years old and is Dianne's third child and only son. He was a happy and joyful baby...

But sometimes afraid of strangers...

He was taught during his youth to love, honor and respect his Heavenly Father. At the age of eight he decided to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...

He enjoyed and participated in sports. Through the years he took part in soccer, football, track, lacrosse, and kung fu fighting...



Steven was and is a very smart individual. He didn't always like school, but he liked to learn. This is his 5th or 6th grade school picture...he called this his "Mr. Rogers" look...

As Steven grew up, he really enjoyed hunting for Easter eggs...

Just kidding!! Steven was always the real clown of the family and had a wicked sense of humor. All his sisters loved him and his parents expected great things...but, at some point things started to go terribly wrong...

They say things will always get worse before they get better....

And then a miracle occured...

Steven made the decision to serve a mission and was called to the Spokane, Washington Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from July 2006 until July 2008. While there, he learned to speak fluent Spanish and taught the gospel to many souls. After returning from his mission, Steven settled in the Salt Lake City area with his Dad. He is now working full time, going to school part-time, and dating girls again. Here is Steven with his sisters this past summer, shortly after returning home...

Steven, we love you and are proud of all your accomplishments. We support you in all your future righteous endeavors, and, thanks for the memories...