Catching up with March and April

I haven't posted for a whole month it seems....time flies by. Since my last post I have been to Mesa and back with Hans to attend my nephew, Dustin's wedding. Hans and I left early on a Thursday morning and met up with Ditte and family at a Marriott Hotel early in the afternoon where we stayed in Mesa. We let the kids swim a little before getting ready to go to the wedding and reception at the "Wright House".

It was so much fun seeing all of my siblings together at once and many of their children and spouses! I had such a great time dancing with my baby brother, Jon and Hans got to dance with his Arizona cousins.

Driving across the desert was quite beautiful as there were lots of yellow and purple flowers blooming this time of year. I will always have a special place in my heart for my home state of Arizona!

Before Hans and I drove home Friday afternoon, we stopped with Ditte and her children at the Center Street Cemetary in Mesa to visit my parents' and my brother and sister's graves there. It's still strange to look down at my mom and dad's headstone and realize they are both gone. I feel like they are still with us, just on a mission or one of their trips together...which in a sense, that is true!

When I got home late Friday night, John was just coming home from an all day sailing trip out to Santa Cruz Island again with our son, Erik and some friends. They had a good time. We enjoyed a weekend of family in town and spent Saturday enjoying walks near the Ventura Pier together.

Jonathan, Haans, Erik, Kirsten, Tyson, Hans

Jonathan, Erik and John watching the surfers at C Street Point

New mommy Else, and Gramps John swinging

For Spring Break, John and I, Mette and Hans, drove up to Utah to attend General Conference and we had tickets for the Sunday morning session in the Conference Center. We enjoyed being there so much and it was Hans' first time actually attending conference in person since he is old enough now.

We stayed with Trine and Larry's family in Provo and enjoyed being with them a few days, including a day of skiing at Brighton. We had a GREAT day of spring skiing there. It was absolutely a beautiful day.

This past Sunday, we enjoyed Easter and had 40 at our house for dinner this year. We had a fun Easter Egg Hunt in our front yard, too.

Cristin with Charlie....cousin Jacob Lassen

Cousins, Isaac Kent, Kalob Lassen, Wyatt Wager and Luke Lassen

Four fulltime missionaries we enjoyed having over for Easter Dinner

Hans loaded up after the Egg Hunt
Else with Charlotte on her first Easter

Auntie Doris, Bedstemor and Bedstefar participating in the Easter Egg Hunt

Auntie Mette holding little Scotty Wager....his first Easter, too.

Uncle Tyson Endecott holding his niece and our newest grandchild, Charlotte

Erik with his two boys, Charlie and Luke

Kandra Lassen with Brendon, Cristin Lassen with Charlie and Ditte Wager with Scotty

We have had some lovely family times. We miss Christian and his family up in San Francisco and Trine and her family in Utah, and Steffen on his mission, but are grateful whenever we get together.

Springtime Photos

John leaving for his weekly drive down to the temple where he serves as a coordinator for the Tuesday Evening Shift

He loves to drive with the wind in his hair....nice way to get rid of stress
Riding bikes from Hans' school to home in the afternoon

Allen Jenkins

John...working together at Camp Willett on a service project

repairing a damaged outhouse for the Scouts

Hans went along as a helper

Welcome to our 14th grandbaby, Charlotte Oda Endecott, born March 12, 2009!

Else during labor...still gave us a smile!

Where am I?
Gramma Debi loves baby feet

Sweet family time

Gramma captured her first little "pout"

My latest joy was to be present to welcome into this world our granddaughter, Charlotte Oda Endecott, born to Else and Haans last Thursday, March 12, 2009.

I was so blessed to be with them through some of Else' labor at their home Wednesday, met them at their birth center in Ventura at 2:00 AM Thursday the 12th and then when Else's progression came to a standstill at 6 cm Thursday morning around 7:30 am, she needed to go to the hospital across the street, Ventura Medical Center, where she was able to get the help they could give her so she would progress again until delivering that night at 8:31 PM !

She did an amazing job and Haans was such a loving support through it all.......it was very emotional and joyful for us as we were able to hold her little fingers and look into her sweet newborn eyes and ponder on where she just came from....if we could only imagine!

She already has her daddy "wrapped" around her little finger!
Haans has his "pink" little baby girl! All is well and we are so happy she has arrived safe and healthy. Her mommy and daddy are just loving her to pieces.




Gramps Lassen gets to meet Charlotte for the 2nd time as we visit the next night, too.

Gramma Debi enjoying 1 day old Charlotte
Uncle Hans loves another sweet niece

Else and Haans and Charlotte enjoying each other....2nd night at the hospital

Gramma Debi drives up to San Francisco to meet baby Leif Christian Lassen

Monday morning, I drove up to San Francisco to spend 3 days with Emily, Christian and baby Leif. I loved meeting our new little grandson and enjoyed spending a little time with Emily while Christian was at Dental school during the day.

Wednesday, I took Emily and Leif to the Oakland Airport, where I was allowed to escort them all the way through security and even onto the plane itself to get them settled for the flight. They were flying up to be with Emily's parents, Mike and Kitye Robbins, who had been with them the last 3 weeks and then drove their little 3 year old, Gracie, up to Utah with them. They will be up there until Christian gets through his finals in the next couple weeks for this term and then fly back

I'm so glad I was able to make this quick trip and enjoyed being gramma to Leif and hopefully a support to mommy, Em.

Sweet baby boy

Baby Leif Christian Lassen at 2 weeks

Daddy Christian and new son, Leif

Who is this "hairy" man???

Christian began growing his facial hair when Leif was due and he hasn't had time to get a haircut, just trim the beard a bit!

Had to take one of these pictures...he does cry, but mostly when he needs mommy to feed him.

Christian doing homework assignment in their dining room

View from Emily and Christian's dining and living room. Such a beautiful place to live in the Presidio, near the Golden Gate Bridge! San Francisco is such a beautiful city.

Celebrating Leif's 2 week birthday at Cheesecake Factory with mommy Emily, Daddy Christian and Gramma Debi

Isn't he cute? Gramma Debi couldn't get enough kisses

Leif waiting patiently for a little trip out of the house. He seems to have a very calm, patient personality. What blessed parents he has!

Missing big sister, Gracie!

Haan's Birthday

Our son in law, Haans Endecott had his birthday last Thursday. He wanted to celebrate all weekend...so Friday night we went with Else and him, Mette and Tyson (Haan's brother) and some wonderful friends, Becky and Tyler Garrett and their children to Golf 'n Stuff in Ventura. We had such a good time.
Sunday we enjoyed having Ditte and Jeremy's family and Kirsten and Jonathan's family join us for dinner and continued to celebrate his birthday with cake and ice cream! We love you Haans!

Birthday boy, Haans! #29

Hans, Wyatt and Isaac enjoyed "dressing up" for the celebration.