Happy Sixth Birthday to Abbie Rae Stucki!

Our first granddaughter made her grand arrival on September 5, 2003. Abbie Rae Stucki finally arrived after being 10 days late! Her mom didn't think she was ever going to get here!

It didn't take us long at all to fall in love with this little one! She was so adorable!

Abbie always did the silliest things! This was their first Christmas in Arizona and Abbie's first taste of root beer. I am happy to report she loves the stuff now!

We took her on the Dolly Steamboat at Canyon Lake. She had a good time despite the face in this picture!

Abbie didn't have much hair at all and it took her about two years to get any! I remember how excited her mom was the first day she could get it into two little pony tails!

Abbie loves to help in the kitchen and is the best little chef you could ever find! She comes up with some pretty interesting combinations!

Such a pretty girl! She loves to be outside with her daddy. It is hard for her mom to keep her in the house if Karlo is home.

This past summer, Abbie got to be in T-ball. She loved it! We have a funny video of her getting to be the last batter of the day. When you are the last one, you get to hit a home run and everyone gets to run home. Well, Abbie hit the ball, and started running the bases. But, with those long legs, she caught up to the runner on second base and passed him before third. They had to call her back. The other team member ran ahead, but Abbie was hot on his heels all the way home!

The video below is one of our absolute favorite videos of Abbie. She was about a year old, playing in the yard while her dad was working on the sprinkler system.... Kolby loves this video and still asks to see it every time he sees my computer! Enjoy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PEACHES!!

We love you!

Happy 5th Birthday to Baylee May Shoopman

I am behind on my birthday wishes for September! But at least the month isn't over for another few minutes so I can still get them in!
Baylee May Shoopman made her grand apprearance on September 4, 2004 in Cheyenne Wyoming. We were so excited to have another granddaughter!

Baylee was such a happy baby! Her hair was so fair she looked completely bald! I love this picture of her!

Baylee was THE CUTEST fairy princess in all the land!!

Baylee loves to go on the boat with her daddy and loves to play in the water! With her being so fair though, her mommy has to practically dip her in a barrel of sunscreen!

Baylee is such a daddy's girl! She wants nothing more in life than to ride horses and be with her daddy!

She has the WHITEST hair I have seen in a long time! What a beauty she is!

Baylee loves to ride horses and Travis likes to tell the story of when he had her at work with him one day and she was sitting on one of the horses and something spooked them and she fell off. He immediately picked her up and she was crying pretty bad. Travis was looking her over to make sure she wasn't injured and trying to calm her down. Once he finally got her calmed down he discovered she was crying so bad because she wanted BACK on the horse!

She loves to ride and it is always dramatic when it is time to get off and put the horse away. I just know she is going to be a star rodeo queen!

Baylee is so pretty! She has the bluest eyes and the whitest hair. This past summer, we took our niece, McKenna with us to Wyoming for a family reunion and she got to spend some time with Baylee. On the way home, McKenna asked us, "What's with Baylee's hair? Why is it so white?" We laughed and told her she came that way.

Baylee is like all other little girls these days. She LOVES Hannah Montana! She had a Hanna Montana birthday party and got the wig, glasses and microphone! Personally, I think Baylee is much prettier than Hannah Montana!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BAYLEE BABE!!

We love you!

You Will Be Missed....Remembering Wade

Following is Wade's obituary:

Beloved husband, father, son and brother Wade Archibald, 35 years of age passed away September 27, 2009 at his home surrounded by his loved ones.

Melbourne Wade Archibald was born March 31, 1974 in Murray, Utah to Bruce and Ann Archibald. the family moved to Vernal, Utah and then to Yuma, Arizona in 1978 where Wade attended and graduated from Cibola High School in 1993. After graduation Wade faithfully served a two-year mission in the Tennessee Nashville Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Wade is survived by his wfie Stephanie and their children McKenna and Bryce of the family home, his parents of Yuma, Arizona, sisters Teri Burinda of Knoxville, TN, Andrea Archibald of Yuma, Angela Archibald of Tucson, Arizona and his brother Kevin Archibald of Yuma in addition to many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews and cousins.

Wade met his eternal companion Stephanie Shoopman before he was called on a mission and waited for Stephanie to return from her mission to England to marry. They were married in 1996 and Wade worked in the construction industry until he was hired by Bowman Concrete where he worked most of his adult life other than a short time when they returned to Yuma. Wade was in their employ up to his passing. We are most grateful to them.

Wade was a member of the Silvergate Park Ward of the Pueblo Stake in Mesa, Arizona where he served in the Elders Quorum as a teacher. Wade and Stephanie served as the young single adult leaders for a time, a position that he loved and learned from.

Wade's loves were, first and foremost, his wife and children and extended family, followed by Diamondback baseball, scuba diving, trap and skeet shooting and sushi. Wade never found a fish he would not eat raw. Wade's bucket list was almost complete when he beat his dad and shot a perfect round of trap shortly before he lost his strength.

Friends and family will have an opportunity to visit the family on Thursday October 1 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. on Friday followed by a celebration of his life to be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday October 2. Both will be held at the Silvergate Park Ward building at 1315 S 24th St, Mesa, AZ

In lieu of flowers donations would be appreciated to the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center, Campus for Exceptional Children, 300 N 18th St, Phoenix AZ 85006 (602)340-8717.

We have many great memories of Wade and we will all miss him until we are reunited.

A few of my favorites....

Our "adopted" kids and grand!

our silly Kolby man


"What chocolate??"

"Look grandma, I don't have any feet!"

"Hmmm....what would mommy do?"

I love LOVE LOVE this picture!

When daddy babysits....

The helmet is on backward, not to mention bigger than her head!


"Well hello there! Welcome to my house!"

"Rock on!"

Birthdays and Goodbyes

Okay, I have ONE more day before September is over so I HAVE to get our birthday grands posted on here! It's hard when you have two birthdays one day apart! But I will get their posts done today if I do nothing else!

On a sadder note, we said goodbye (for now) to our niece's husband, Wade. He lost his valiant battle against colon cancer on Sunday, September 27, 2009. I will post his obituary when I get a copy of it. We miss him terribly, but are thankful we know where he is and that his pain has been lifted.

Where to begin???

I've been gone so long and so busy since we got home, I don't know where to start!

We have had grands starting school, surgeries, birthdays, check-ups, travels, parents, preschool, and plenty of cute and funny things that need to be remembered.

I guess I'll just pick some random shots and go with the flow:

Kolby started 2nd grade! I can't believe our only boy grand is in 2nd grade already! He will be 8 before we know it!

And then to top it off, our little white-haired princess started Kindergarten! I can't believe our Baylee May is in school! It only took her until the second day to punch some boy! That's my girl!! haha!

Our Idaho princess also started Kindergarten! Although she really needs to be in 1st grade! Abbie's birthday falls 4 days after the deadline in Idaho, but we are hoping that they will jump her up a grade once they see how smart she is! She can already read, write and do math!

And just so you don't think I've just been gone having fun and games....our daughter-in-love (she's more than an in-law!) had back surgery recently. She did amazing and is recovering very well. I still think she is doing more than she should be doing, but who listens to their mom??

No sooner did we get Robin home from the hospital, then Travis (our son and her hubby) had to have surgery on his neck! He had ruptured discs that were pressing on his spinal column and causing much danger and pain. Taking him in for his surgery and waiting brought back many memories for us. He and I spent a lot of time in hospitals over the years...

Once we got everyone home and on the road to recovery, we enjoyed the grands and had a good time! Taylor especially likes to climb "Papa mountain"

And Kallie enjoyed having her daddy back!

Until next time, keep your face to the sun and bloom where you're planted!

Coning Soon!! ...... Updates!!!

And plenty of pictures!!

We just returned from a trip to Wyoming where we helped take care of Robin after she had her back surgery and got a bonus service opportunity when Travis had his neck operated on the same week!

We got to spend time with all our kids and grands and see our parents as well. It was a very busy trip.

There are plenty of stories to share: two birthdays to celebrate, first day of school pictures and stories, a very short fishing/pack-trip, visits with parents, the trip back to Arizona, and Kallie's latest check up with the cardiologist.

Stay tuned.......