How popular has your name been over the last 100 years?

The Social Security Administration keeps track of names registered for new babies.  If you go to http://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi, you can put in a name and it will tell you what RANK that baby name was in the years since 1912.  It tracks the top 1000 names.  I created spreadsheets for all of the names of grandchildren in our family and found out some interesting facts. For example, this year, Mia is the 9th most popular name for girls born in the USA.  But it doesn't even show up on the list until 1964.  (Does anyone know a famous Mia from 1964?)  Fiona doesn't make the top 1000 until two years after OUR Fiona was born... I guess she made a big splash.  William has maintained a steady popularity for 100 years.  Chantry never makes the list. 

Tomorrow is the first of May--big month for birthdays in the family:  Chelsea May 2, Meredith May 16, Gwen May 17th and Annika on the 24th.  Happy birthday to all of you.

We've had visitors from Germany all during the month on April.  They just went home on Friday.  So we are busy catching up on all the things we have left undone while entertaining them.  I still find myself trying to think through a German sentence before I speak and keep reminding myself I don't have to do that any more.  I made a lot of mistakes, but Grandpa helped me when I talked myself into a corner and couldn't get out.   It was fun having them here, but also a hard to try to express myself in a foreign language all the time.

Well, happy May to everyone from us.
Love, Grandma and Grandpa.

This isn't the best photo of Kurt and Gerd, but all I could find at the moment. This was Christmas, 2005. We didn't see them in the photo Talisa sent, unless that is Kurt with the red shirt with his back turned.

Talisa Meets Kurt and Gerd!

Many or most of you have met my best friend Talisa Vistaunet, who is currently serving a mission in Sweden. Before she left (over a year ago, now) Grandma and Grandpa gave her the names and address of  Kurt and Gerd Sjöqvist, old family friends of the Davis clan. Well, turns out I was a few weeks behind reading Talisa's letters when her mom Tonya told me to go read them to see some interesting news! Here are some clips from Talisa's last 3 letters:

February 29, 2012:

"Also this week I had the chance while Syster Hill was here to visit some members and have lunch. Kurt and Gerd Sjöqvist - who are both amazing artists! She actually went to BYU and James Christensen was her teacher. They are the mormon artists who made the really neat Tree of Life model that was in the conference center a couple of years ago. The big model with lots of color. Really breath taking. Anyways, I felt right at home when I was there."

March 5, 2012:

"This has been a week full of music and that has made me very happy. I have the coolest district ever and before I came here they had planned a music night with our branch, Uppsala. and Borlänge. The music night was held on Saturday and we had about 70 people show up!! We had a potluck dinner and then the music began. We had about 15 different numbers. One of my favorites was Kurt Sjöqvist. He sang some Swedish folk songs with his guitar and it reminded me a lot of Dad and Brian´s music. I was happy."

March 15, 2012:

"One last thing.. I was looking through my notes that I got from people before I came here of Swedish people that any of my friends or family knew. I found one of those and read off the names of Kurt and Gerd Sjöqvist, friends of Caitlin´s grandparents!! They are the artists that I talked about a couple of weeks ago. But, I just put two and two together that they are friends with Donnette´s parents! Small world in the church." 

So cool! It sounds like they are living close to each other, so hopefully they will see each other again soon and Talisa will be able to explain the connection to Kurt and Gerd. 

Grandma and Grandpa, do you talk to Kurt and Gerd often? Can you tell us a little about how you got to be friends with them in the comments? So fun to have this connection. 

I don't remember what Kurt and Gerd look like. This picture of the aforementioned music night is from Talisa's blog: http://surfingonawildcat.blogspot.com/. Are Kurt and Gerd in the picture?

Here are a couple of photos from Chantry's wedding. It was wonderful to be together, even for the short time. Thanks to all of you for making a special effort to be there and support Chantry. We love you all very much.

Here are a couple of emails about Erik's surgery. You have to read Sarah's report first and then this one from Erik:
It's not just the morphine. I get to lie in bed and watch SportsCenter, and when I push a little button a girl brings me chocolate pudding! Seriously, though. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers and well-wishes. I really truly appreciate it. Erik (Mom and Dad: could you post these emails on the Grandpa Garold Herald too? Thanks).Sent from my iPhoneOn Mar 5, 2012, at 8:54 PM, "< On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 2:48 PM,

Sarah Davis <wrote">davises@broadweave.net>wrote:>>>>> Hi everyone. I just talked to Dr. Reichman who said that Erik's>>> surgery went well. Apparently he had a large bone spur that they were able>>> to get most of and he said things were good. It was nice that Dad had>>> dropped by the waiting area so that he was there too when Dr. Reichman came>>> to report. Thanks Dad!>>> Thanks to everyone who has been keeping him in your prayers today!>>> Sarah

This came from Chantry this morning:
On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 9:01 AM, Chantry Davis wrote:Hey Grandma and Grandpa, We are moving up the reception to 2pm instead of 2:30. This should give people a little more time to eat before we have to move to the patio for cake and stuff. Can you help pass the word along? Thanks!

See you all soon!