The Drew Israelsen Family

I just wanted to honor a couple of people that
I think the world of on this memorial day. The
following are poems that I wrote in honor of them....


















OUR GRANDMA
Afton Mikkelsen Smith

She's a sister, wife, mother, and grandma of great
I'm her grand daughter of that I am proud to state
She will teach you how to stitch, iron, crochet, and sew
And from her house without a hug she won't let you go
Cookies in a jar, hard tack candy in her crystal bowl
keeping her family happy is grandma's lifetime goal
She loves her family and of them she is proud
And her family is getting to be quit a crowd
How is she dong she'll reply the same every time
"I'm short fat and sassy!" is her favorite line
I like to help grandma every chance that I get
To give back some of her love that I'll never forget
The love she shared with grandpa should be an example to us all
She treated him like a king and he treated her like a doll
I know I've learned from grandma and learning still today
There's just one final thing I would like to say
This is my grandma and I want her to know
I LOVE YOU GRANDMA! May your legacy grow!







ROBERT GLEN ISRAELSEN
It's going to be hard not having him here
And I'm sure everyone of us will shed a tear
But I know this holiday season his spirit is close by
Your dad was a hero and one heck of guy
Our memories of him will keep him close to us all
His present scratch and quit ways we need to recall
I see so much of him in you
Your tender heart and mannerisms too
You are his son of that there is no doubt
You'll keep his spirit alive and his memories about
His solemn ways his casual stance
Yes even the pee wee Herman dance
His camo pants you wear like a champ
And we'll remember him each time that we camp
His man size sneeze always made me jump
He'd chuckle at me and I'd feel like a chump
We now have a son who is his namesake
And I'm sure his parents proud he will make
He sees our son he'll watch him grow
He'll watch over him as well I know
He sees you too of that I am sure
And hopes one day we together become pure
He smiles down each time you succeed
And cries each time your heart is in need
He's proud of his son who's become such a man
Who provides for his family and helps whoever he can
He's there for you when the world gets to be to much
Or if you just need his help or his fatherly touch
I know you can't see him but he's watching you
Each hour of each day the whole year through

I LOVE YOU
I know you can't see me on Christmas or any other day of the year
But I want you to know I am with you and I am always near
I see your daily adventures I just want you to know
I watch you each day with your life I've seen your little son grow
You're doing a great job as a father so proud you're making me
My only wish for you is the joy on my face you could see
Soon you'll be getting a new one what a blessing for you all
A baby girl to hold onto, be sure to cuddle that sweet little doll
Give them kisses each day from their grandpa let them always know of my love
My memory never let them forget...And I'll continue to watch from above!!

Today the kids are having a play date with Isaac and Ben. Robert has been driving me nuts for 3 days wondering when Ben will be coming to our house. They always have a great time together and play really well with one another. Robert misses seeing Ben everyday and loves every chance that they get to spend some time together. Ben has truly been a blessing in Robert's life, and his mom Heather has been a blessing in my life. Lena thought it was just great having someone over that she could play with as well. Her and Isaac had a great time making music together. She loved playing with Isaac. All in all I think the kids had a great play day.

These are pictures that were taken over Mother's day weekend when we had a chance to see almost all of our family at birthday parties and visiting grandma's. For those of you we didn't catch up with we sure did miss you!! Robert and Lena just love spending time with any and all of their cousins. They have a lot of them and there are still more on the way. Together Drew and I have 26 nieces and nephews ranging from the ages of 20 years to 4 months old, with one on the way and we love each and everyone of them. Sometimes I just can't believe that Bonny is old enough to get married, (and yes is finally engaged) Andrew is preparing for a mission, and my little Tristan will be getting the priesthood. That makes me way older than I really am right? We enjoy spending time with our families and being a part of their lives. There is nothing better than hanging out with family and talking about a bunch of nothing and everything all at the same time. Robert loves it when his cousins get to come and have a sleep over with him. He would have one every night if he could or should I say if his mother would let him. Lena loves her baby dolls but wasn't so sure about baby Ava when she arrived and really didn't like Aunt Jeana or Mom holding her, but now she has really grown to love her! I still have her convinced that we don't want a baby at our house because they cry, poop, and take your toys away from you. Now we just need to convince grandma Jillene of the same thing!!!

We went and visited my mom on Mother's day and through out the visit I caught Lena doing some very cute spontaneous stuff. First I had just finished helping my mom clean up lunch and we were walking into the sitting room so she could show me the cute things she had bought for the grand daughters next "tea party" sleep over and I looked over and there was Lena on the floor just reading the funnies out of the Sunday paper. It was so cute she actually sat like this for sometime like she was in deep thought following what they were trying to portray. Then she got up from that spot and went downstairs were Robert Drew and Grandpa Rich were watching the Jazz game. We figured she had ganged up with Rob and had found something fun in the toy room. When we went downstairs to check on them she was no where to be found. As we went to the back room in her basement there she sat with her pooh doll propped up having a tea party with him. She was in her own world having a pot of honey with Pooh. IT WAS SO CUTE!! My mom couldn't help herself and sat down with her and continued the tea party. Lena is just like me. I would play with my dolls for HOURS. They all had pajamas that they would get changed into at night time and dressed in there clothes in the morning. She loves nothing more then playing with her dolls and being the mom. I grew up with a mom who loved playing house with me as much as I loved playing house. I have to thank my mom for feeding my imagination and letting it blossom.

Drew and Robert went out on Chad's boat last Sunday and had a great time. Robert has talked about it all week. Drew enjoyed the bonding time with his son and Robert is convinced that he caught a fish but it got away...already telling fish stories. Whitney forwarded these pictures to me wish I could have been there but I am glad I got to see their time together through photographs. Robert is definitely an outdoors man! Get him outside and he will find something to do. I can honestly say that Robert never says that he is bored. He is very good at finding something to pass the time. He also has a great love of video games and can beat out his mom and dad on almost every game we have for the Wii. I love Robert very much one minute I look at him and think how much he is like me and the next thing I know he is doing something just like his dad. He has such a great love for life and wants to live every minute of it going full speed ahead!!!

With Mothers Day coming up I wanted to give all our moms a big thank you! You are great Mothers. Since we are parents now we really understand all the hard work that went into keeping us in one piece to get us to adult hood! We also want to thank you for loving our kids and being proud of every accomplishment that they make, you are awesome grandma's. Robert has a label for each of his grandma's...there is the grandma with the pooh room and dinosaur puzzle....the grandma with the dog...and the grandma with the motorcycle. You all are leaving lasting impressions on my kids and for that I thank you! So thank you, thank you, thank you and WE LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Drew turned 27 on April 28th and he had a great birthday weekend with lots of family around. We thank everyone who came and shared this time with us!

This was another great weekend at the cabin! Robert taught Lena
how to do snow angels and they decided the roof made a great slide.