Memory Lane

 I'm turning 50 this year. (Ahhh).

So a walk through Memory Lane might be fun.
This is where it starts for me.
Denver Forest Bevans and Anna Joy Vadnais on their wedding day.
18 Oct 1961

Ahhh, look at the bundle of "joy" home from the hospital.
Dixie Deanna Bevans (8lbs of joy)
born about 4am 17 April 1962
Yes that is all my black hair!
Handsome couple with adorable baby, don'tcha think????
Mom is 18 and Dad is 21yrs old.
(For those interested the photo is looking east with Cahoon Hill just off to the left, in Leavitt,AB)

I'll let this one speak for it's self, and I think we still have those saddle bags.

Happy Birthday to me!!

Happy Birthday to me!!

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to me!!

What can I say?

A couple of "Dolls"!

H-a-a-a-a-a!!

Can't you just hear that little kid laugh that makes you laugh and laugh too???

Just some fun pic's, Oh to be so cute and carefree again!!!!!

 

Are you taking pictures of me?? Ok, I'll pose for you!

Oh, and for the record, I do have sibblings, but that will be for another post!

Dixie & Blondie in the barn yard. I guess I came by my love of horses at a rather early age!

That horse was great, he was a palamino that would roll with us kids if we let him get into water. I remember walking home crying because I couldn't get back on him once he rolled. (I'm going to say I couldn't get back on because I was "too little" rather than "too short"! )

Laurier Joseph Vadnais 1920 - 2012

January 5, 2012 at 5:15am my Grandfather Laurier Joseph Vadnais passed away, 14 days shy his 92nd birthday. He was buried in the Cardston Cemetery on the 7th of January 2012.

I thought he had a nice casket and I loved the flowers with the roses, daisies, and wheat.  Grandpa did all the important things in his life in January. He was born in January (-20C, snowy), got married in January (-20C,snowy), and died in January (not so snowy, but blowy and cold).

Laurier and Laura Vadnais in 2001

So lucky to have such great grandparents! Loved having a "Grandma's house" to go to anytime day or night! I would go there for food, change clothes on the way to somewhere, (oh should I say it?) I even skipped school a time or two and went to "Grandma's house". They had a cookie jar they kept filled for the grandkids!!

Grandpa loved fishing, I was lucky enough to go to Payne Lake with him, can't say I caught any fish, but I had a great time and loved every minute on the lake with Grandpa!

Found this picture today, I'm guessing it was taken in the early 70's at the house I grew up in, in Leavitt. I'm also guessing it was Grandpa's birthday, as I couldn't have "earned" quite so many candles at that point in my life. (Just in case you don't know, that's me on the left and Kelly on the right.)

LJV sold me my first herd of cattle and provided many happy memories when we got to spend the summer in Boundary Creek doing what ranchers do. It was always fun to take him to see the calves in the spring. He was/is a rancher through and through.

I'm grateful for the fact that Grandpa was an honest good man that served his family and fellowman with love and devotion. He was my Grandpa and I love him. I will miss him, but at the same time I am happy that he is in a better place.

Some fun facts:
Married in 1943, & as of the end of 2011 (68yrs, I'll do the math)
Laurier & Laura have:
6 children
28 grandchildren
71 great-grandchildren
3 great-great-grandchildren

Part of the Abundant Life, being the oldest grandchild of Laurier Joseph Vadnais!