Family

Check out this good lookin’ guy! This is Erik’s second grade picture. What a stud!

Its that time of year again! Erik started second grade, and Henry started his second year of preschool. They are great boys, we are so proud of them!

Grandpa Lee passed away last Saturday (August 29th). We all have different memories of Grandpa, mine are all very grand. Grandpa made Christmas growing up more exciting than Santa Claus ever could have. The first car I ever drove was Grandpa’s 1976 Jeep CJ-5. It was long before I was sixteen, and I was sitting on his lap because I couldn’t reach the pedals. I remember I was not quite navigating Salt Creek as well as he did. Most of my most cherished memories of Grandpa occur somewhere far away from civilization. I think I almost love the desert as much as he does, almost. I was very fortunate to get to spend a lot of time alone with Grandpa in far away places. I cherish those times. Now I cannot be in those places, my favorite places, without thinking of being with him.

I have included some pictures, and Grandpa’s obituary. When i was about 1 year old a photo was taken of the four generations of first born Janke boys. When my Erik was about 1 year old we were able to repeat the 4 generations of Janke boys, awesome treasures! I have also included a picture of me with Gramps in Canyonlands when I was around 3.

Leland Eric Janke 1923 ~ 2009 Leland Eric Janke, born May 9, 1923, to Eric Gustave Janke and Lillian Mary Durrant, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on the kitchen table with the doctor and the nurse in attendance. He passed away peacefully and unexpectedly on August 29, 2009, in St. George, Utah.
After living with his grandparents for the first 12 years of his life in Ogden, Utah, he attended Lincoln Jr. High School and graduated from South High School in 1942. Lee attended the University of Utah where he met and married Lois Nielsen (they later divorced) prior to enlisting in the Naval Aviation Program in December of 1942. He was awarded his pilot’s wings in Pensicola, Florida one year later and flew several types of multi-engine aircraft in the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters.
Upon his honorary discharge in 1946, Leland went to work for Salt Lake Mill and Lumber Company, where he later became President and CEO until his retirement 50 years later.
Lee married his sweetheart, Patsy Tucker and enjoyed a wonderful companionship filled with foreign travel and fun times together. A special thanks to Pat for her constant devotion and loving care to Lee. They relocated to St. George, Utah, in 2001, where they made many new friendships and enjoyed the sunshine and blue sky.
Lee was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, hiking and jeeping with family and friends.
Leland is survived by his wife, Pat; children, Lane E. (Janet), Mark L. (Annie), Jill Ostler (Gordon) and Grant all of Salt Lake City; step-children, Dean (Donna) Page and Lynae Page also of Salt Lake City; 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.
There will be a visitation held on Tuesday, September 1, 2009, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George. Friends may call on Wednesday, September 2, 2009, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Memorial Estates Mountain View Mortuary, 3115 E. 7800 S., Cottonwood Heights, UT. Military Honors will follow. At Lee’s request there will be no formal funeral service.

It has been fours years since our Jenny ventured out, and sadly did not return. We miss her, we miss all she shared with each of us, and we are grateful for how she made each of our lives better. Back in March during an appeal process which was ultimately denied, the appeal Judges spoke kindly of Jenny. Noting, “her wee soul didn’t have to be shaken any more…”
Here is a link to an article about Jenny in today’s Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo

This is a link to Brian & Ann’s most recent post on Jenny’s blog:

Jenny’s Blog

I just wanted to say publicly how lucky I am to have Jaren in my life. He is the most amazing husband, father and friend. He is so thoughtful and loves to serve anyone in need. He is such a patient father to our boys and a great example to them. I am the luckiest girl in the world. I love you Jaren. You are my soul mate and I am excited to spend forever with you.

Love,
Mo

Henry’s year end school program was held recently at the Draper Theatre. He is so fun to watch. He sings so loud it is easy to know if he is really singing, or lip syncing! He really gets into the all the hand motions and actions. He loves to get his groove on! This first picture is his best bud Collin, and I just had to share the hat picture.

I took the training wheels off of Erik’s bike last Summer, but he was never interested. He has always been really into his scooters, especially since he got his new red razor scooter for his birthday. I guess he decided that today was the day of the bike. He marched into the garage, grabbed his bmx, then rode off into the sunset, never having ridden without trainers before! What a stud, i am so pumped, and proud!

After almost three weeks in the NICU KeAnne and Pete took Andrew and Cooper on their very first car ride all the home! Wonder when the first motorcycle ride will happen??? Love you guys!

KeAnne delivered two beautiful twin baby boys on May 5th. We are so excited! Here is what Pete said in a recent email update:
Friday, May 08, 2009

Well here we are, some 4 days into this little adventure called parenting. Its been a little crazy trying to get everything figured out, as well as get ourselves back on track.

KeAnne will be discharged tomorrow morning, she is healing rapidly, and has very little pain considering the hole they cut into her. She is in excellent spirits, and is very happy to be a mom. She has been trying to feed the boys, but they may still be a little premature to master the whole “suck, swallow and breathe” thing just yet.

The boys are doing very good. They have steadily been increasing their feedings, and decreasing the amount of i.v. fluids they get. They have been receiving photo-therapy for the last couple of days to help control jaundice.

Cooper is taking the increased feedings and photo-therapy a little bit better than his big brother, and if all goes according to the doctors plans, Cooper may be off IV fluids completely by tomorrow. He should also be out from under the lights by the end of today.

Andrew is slowly responding to the photo therapy, but he has been on a lighted blanket, rather than under a spotlight, which seems to me to be the reason he is lagging a little behind. He is also a little behind on the amount they give him at feedings, as he has been a little slower to process his meals. The doctors have reassured us that there is NO reason for concern, which is a huge relief.

There are some new photos here as well.

The weekend looks busy with travels back and forth to and from the hospital, so I will send another update sometime the first of next week.

Pete

We had a great time in St. George with Grandpa Craig and Grandma Robyn! The weather was great, we spent tons of time outside in the pool, golfing, and hiking. Erik got to play his first real round of golf at Coral Canyon. He is still super excited about driving the cart, and his super cool ball marker Grandpa gave him! Henry didn’t shave for weeks in preparation for our outing to Pirate Pete’s, as you can see in the picture below. We love to be in the desert. I hope we can get Dan & Beth down sometime soon, it would be great fun to take Skulls and the TJ exploring into the Arizona strip. We love to be with Grandma and Grandpa!