To My College Graduate

I am so proud of you, how exciting to be a college graduate!

I love that you love your life and that you find the lovely, humorous and tender moments in this world.

I loved watching you shop for your freshman dorm room. It was so fun to buy pink hangers, shoe organizers and baskets and help you set up your room. I'm so glad that you and Kyra color coordinated everything. What could be more cheerful than a lime green and neon pink dorm room? I remember driving away that year and being so excited for you and so sad for me.

I love that you love yourself. I love that you love others and that you have found a direction in your life that allows you to serve others and also brings you so much joy.

I love that you went to Paris. Standing in airport as we said goodbye, tears filled our eyes and there was a slight hesitation, but I'm so glad you turned and got into that security line and then had a wonderful time abroad. I'm so glad you learned so much, ate too much and made lifelong friends. I love that we could Skype while you were away and that it made my daily life so joyful to see and hear you.

I'm glad that you share your funny and oops moments on your blog. I still love the snail story, it makes me laugh every time I think about it.

I love that after Paris, you came home and spent the summer with me. I love that you went to every baseball game that your 3 brothers played in that spring and that we had time together as mother and daughter again.

I love that when you are home there is always a batch of No-Bake cookies on the cupboard.

I love that you found Ben. I think you are the luckiest girl in the whole world.

I have loved that when you walk across campus between classes, you call me and tell me about your day.

I love that you love Utah. I think it's a pretty great place too.

I love that you spent time with my sisters - slept on their couches, ate their food, and went to their children's birthday parties, baptisms and other gatherings.

I love that you don't like Utah winters, because Merced has really nice winters.

I hope you dance all your life.

I love you.

My Favorite Holiday

I believe that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the feel of Autumn. In Merced, the leaves are still in the process of changing colors and only about half have fallen to the ground. Everywhere I drive it is so beautiful and everywhere I walk has the musky aroma of leaf piles. On Thanksgiving morning, I ran 5 miles and it was so nice to exercise at 7:30 in the morning rather than in the dark at 5:00am. The run was quiet, with very few other pedestrians on my path. A light fog was lingering in the trees, but behind the fog was the warmth of the sun. I listened to the Great American Trombone Company and felt so satisfied by the time I returned home. I love that families gather and we feel one another's gratitude for blessings. I love that it is few days of resting and being outside and talking and just feeling happy.
Here was my contribution to the family dinner - Dutch Apple Pie, and Banana Pudding.

On Friday, Emily and I went for a bike ride. When we returned I decided to take off her training wheels. Matt tried this last Spring and she wasn't very excited about it, but this time she was ready to try. Doug and I took turns running beside her and in about 5 trips down the street she was starting, riding and stopping all by herself. She even wanted to try Tommy's old bike which is a size or two larger than her bike. After a few trips down the street and back, she was riding this bike standing up and winking at dad. I love that Emily wants to try new things. I also love that she likes boys toys....she didn't need pink or flowers and instead she was very excited to be on the rocket-ship bike.

On Saturday, she and I rode 4 miles together. Whenever she rides her bike and her legs get going, she says it feels like her "legs are pumped up". I think that is such a cute expression. She probably rode another 4 miles around and around the driveway. I love that as we rode, she looked up at me and said, "I just love riding a bike". I do too.

The boys gathered for gaming and I was so glad to hear such laughing and hollering. Especially from Matt who is going stir crazy resting his back.
We had lovely weather (although you can't judge by Doug because he wears this all the time), the boys played a lot of hoops and Matt shot off several rockets that he and Thomas have built for friends and cousins.
I am thankful for this time of year - for time to reflect on all that is good in my life. I am thankful for family and friends, my children and for Matt. I love the world I live in. My life is good.

What I Love About 1st Grade

I love that in First Grade a child believes everything a teacher says. Emily has been so concerned that her Halloween candy might be poisoned by some mean stranger - a fact explained to her today by her teacher. Did they ever really find razor blades in candy or was that a myth from my childhood?

But the best story this week goes like this.....we are standing in front of the bathroom mirror brushing her hair, I look up at her reflection and her eyes are crossed. She then says, "don't worry mom I won't do this for long because if you do it for a long time your eyes get stuck and then you have to go to the doctor and he has to put sharp things in your eyes to fix them and then you have to wear glasses for the rest of your life."

Oh the things you learn on the playground.

Guess Who Has an Allergy

Mom, here are a few of pictures of Emily. I am hoping that the rash peaks today and then begins to diminish. The doctor checked her ears and the infection is gone so hopefully, she will be better in a few days. Who new that she would have such a reaction to Amoxicillin.

They're Off

It was a blue Monday when we sent Ben and Karin off to Utah. We have loved, loved having them spend so much of their summer with us. Ben enjoyed a successful internship with Ernst & Young in San Francisco. He came away with "high marks" for his performance there. Our family loves Ben so much, he is such a great example and so fun to be with. He is a story-teller extraordinaire, has a great sense of humor and is willing to try anything. Life was crowded whenever he was with us, we definitely could use a home twice the size of the one we own. But, Ben never complains AND is helpful in the kitchen. Love, love that man.

I loved having Karin with me. A mother/daughter relationship is so special. I am so proud of her attitude and the way she survived the SF living conditions and weather. My favorite week was "girls week", I enjoyed quiet time with her, me helping her sew (mother you would be so proud I actually put in two zippers) and she helping me on my computer. She is so kind to her brothers and sister, no wonder we all cry for a few days when she leaves.

Scott will be leaving tomorrow. It's been a quiet summer for me without him here. I love our conversations and book discussions and even our debates. He loves BYU and is such a happy kid. Tonight was special as he received the Melchizedek Priesthood and was ordained to the office of an Elder. His cousin Jeffrey returned from his mission in Guatemala just 30 minutes prior to Scott's ordination. My heart was filled with joy as I watched them talking together. I'm glad they will have time together at BYU.

So now my house will be quiet and I'll probably get organized again and maybe even clean out the closets that were on my "to do" list for the summer. But I'll be crying and wishing for the chaos, laughter, fun and family.

First Day of School

Monday was the first day of school here in Merced. Emily was very excited. Her favorite class this week was EP where she practiced hoola hooping. Karin figured out that EP is actually PE, I can't wait to hear her talk about EP all year long. Today on the way to school, which is Purple Friday - which means that if you wear purple you get an extra 10 minutes to recess in the afternoon - she pulled out a loose tooth. She was so excited! I think to be in first grade is very nice.

Thomas started middle school this year. He was nervous Sunday night and Monday morning but came home very happy and loves his teachers and is making new friends. Love the hair?

Doug is way too cool to show much enthusiasm for school. However, he just got his driver's learning permit and you should see him get excited about driving.

A Few of My Favorite Things

All of our children were home with one last weekend to enjoy before school starts tomorrow. We spent it in the mountains - one of my favorite things to do. This is Rainbow Pools.
Scott and Doug jumping together.
Ouch for Ben.
Camera in hand to catch all the action.
I love this picture of all four of the boys jumping together.
This is my favorite outfit - shorts, tshirt, baseball cap and backpack. I'm so glad Emily likes this outfit too.



Devils Postpile at Mammoth Lakes, California.


Rainbow Falls



Some of the boys wanted to catch a little fishing time.
Others just relaxed.
I love this picture of Matt helping Thomas.
My brave Emily, (actually very afraid of heights) did great on a zip line.
And both Emi and Tom tried climbing.
The four boys did some mountain biking. Unfortunately, Ben came back wounded.

We also visited Obsidian Dome and then ended the weekend at church in Yosemite Valley.

Joke of the Day

Karin and Ben have finished their time in San Francisco, Scott has finished his summer term at BYU, and school begins on Monday for Doug, Tom and Emily. I really wanted to have one last weekend with all of us together before everyone goes in different directions and I am home all alone during the day.

We came to Mammoth Lakes which is a ski resort in the winter and has hiking and mountain bike riding in the summer. On the way here, Matt was telling how we would travel through Yosemite National Park and then enter the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Tom piped in by saying "Oh so will that be in black and white"?

Farewell Concert

For two years Doug has been studying piano with a wonderful teacher at CSU Stanislaus, Dr. Stephen Thomas.Our family is very sad that he has left the University and moved on to a new position at Brigham Young University - Idaho. In July he gave a farewell concert and invited Doug and a few others to participate with him. Here are a few video clips of the evening. I did not post the solo pieces that Dr. Thomas played because I haven't had a chance to ask his permission.

In the home of our lovely neighbors, Jerry and Kathy Callister, Doug is playing Liebestraum No. 3 by Franz Liszt

Prelude in G minor, op.23, no. 5 by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Ashley Callister Carter, a former student of Dr. Thomas visiting from Chicago and playing Fantasie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor, op.66 by Frederic Chopin

Dr. Thomas concluded the evening by sharing his feelings about music and nature and God. Jessica sang "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" accompanied by Doug and then Doug and Steve played it as a duet.


Friends often say to me how proud I must be of Doug. I am proud of him, but my predominant feeling is that I am happy he has found something he loves. All people should be so lucky to find early in life something that touches their soul. Most, spend entire lives searching for something that fulfills them. How blessed we are to have the Gospel and music.

I am proud of the work that Doug has put in. All accomplished musicians make a performance look easy. But even if someone has a gift, there is still a lot of work required. Doug has practiced what I would consider faithfully for a 15-year old boy and he is getting better at practicing and doing more of it. It isn't easy when others are watching TV, playing with friends or just relaxing to sit with a metronome and work at the piano. This summer, when the Callisters were on vacation, Doug regularly hopped on his bike twice a day, rode to their home and practiced, sometimes 4 hours in a day.

I am glad that he feels this talent belongs to him. When he first began lessons with Steve, of course he was nervous and asked me to come along. After a short time, he told me he no longer wanted me in his lessons. Since then, everything he has done has been between him and Steve. I am glad for his independence.

Again, we are so grateful for the wonderful person Steve is and the sacrifice of his family as he spent nearly every Wednesday evening in a lesson with Doug. He is a generous, kind, funny person and of course a beautiful musician. We will miss him and we are still crying (literally).

Grande Finale to the Weekend

So, after Karin left us on Friday, Emily and I sat together and watched A Little Princess. This is one of my favorite movies and has been since I read the book in about the fourth grade. We were only half way through the movie before Emily started crying. I felt a little guilty, but it's such a tender story and I knew everything would end up ok and Emily would just love it, so I didn't turn it off. However, when I tucked her into bed she was still crying and said she never wanted to watch the movie again. Sigh.

But tonight, her Uncle Creed took her out for ice cream for her birthday. I'm sure all of his other nieces and nephews are wondering why she gets treated like a princess. Well, this is how it happened. On July 4th, just a few days after Emily's birthday, we sat in our backyard watching Tom light off fireworks and Emily asked Creed where his birthday present for her was. He replied that if she gave him a birthday present, he would give her a birthday present. That night, after the fireworks were over, I found her sitting at her desk making Creed a book for his birthday (only 4 months late) and so tonight Creed returned the gift exchange and treated her to Baskin & Robbins.

Boy Scout Hike/Girls Week

On Wednesday, the boys left for a hike in the Emigrant Wilderness, they will be gone until Saturday night. I am so happy for my boys and so grateful for Matt being willing to take them hiking. He is very generous to help the Young Men in our ward, 12 in all, have this experience. It is so much work and I think he is such a great man to do this. Here he is talking to them the night before, to make sure they all have their equipment (I've been to the store 4 times and spent $395. on food for them - so at least they won't go hungry), I love watching him work with the youth, he is a natural.

You may wonder why Emily is in the picture....no she didn't get to go with them. Like me, though, she thinks scouts have the most fun of anyone. She has said she can't wait until she is a Cub Scout. I always thought the hikes my brothers went on were much better than Girls Camp. One of these days she and I will have to take a hike together.
Doug getting his attitude on.
The fearless leaders - Stuart Spencer, Matt, Mike Jack, Cliff Schaefer, Leo Lopez.
What can I say?
So since the boys are gone, we get to have a "girls only" week here at home. Lucky for us, Ben was in Texas and so Karin joined us too. Emily loves to paint, sew, color and tape things together.
Karin and I went to see the Harry Potter movie - loved it - and left Emily with Louisa, the most artistic girl I know.
Sunday is Karin's birthday and so we celebrated early with her. What could be better than a tea party?

Karin left today and so tomorrow it will be just Emily and I. We will be baking with her new birthday gift, an Easy Bake Oven. I hadn't even considered buying her one, because somewhere in the back of my mind I remembered how much work it was to make a tiny little cake and how it didn't really taste good. But I've read my sister's blog and seen how much fun she and her daughter have with their oven and I wanted to share the same memories with Emily. Who cares about the work and the small return in baked goods - the time together is worth it. Doesn't she look cute in the apron and hat? Our friend Annie gave them to her for her birthday.