SUMMER FLIES BY!!!!

Wow! Another summer has whisked past and another fine year begins!  The fam is mostly dispersed again into various corners of the world and Cal, Mattie, and I are here holding down the fort.  I'll try to post a short overview... The first are some images of a June trip to meet Em after her italy semester abroad.  Chelsea, baby Jane and I flew to Amsterdam then Rome and then met Em in La Spezia.  Angie met us there also!  We hiked the Cinque Terra, visited Florence, then continued to Athens and the Isle of Santorini.  Cal and Mattie partied at home!

A week later, Mattie and I road tripped to San Jose, Ca  for the Nat'l Jr. Tramp and Tumbliing, where Matt competed in the level 5.  She did a great job and took 12 out of 40 in tramp!..We had an great time going to San Fran, Monterey, and Santa Cruz w/ Steph and Sue Purcell then stopping in Quincy to see Mamo and Papa and cousins on the way home!

Here are the pictures.....

 

The top 3 pics are "the b'day"

Then enjoying the beginning of summer.

The gymnasts!

More in May!

May's almost over and we've enjoyed little Milo's birth...the arrival of Milo and parents in Salt Lake for the summer....sharing Em's adventures overseas via blog and skype, and...not the least, Matt turning 11!!!  Yesterday we opened the pool and today, Matt and Steph have given it an orientation.   Every toy we own was in it!  It's been lovely outside and we've enjoyed the hard work we put in on the yard.  One week until we have a visit from Chelsea and family.  We look forward to the added activity!  Cal's busy putting together his bearhawk and training on his bike.  Summer's just about here!

Another use for a dance recital costume!!! And Milo pics!

Matt likes the costume so much that it's now her "designer tennis wear"! And she was awesome in her 'walk like an egyptian' dance!!

Also wanted to show off new club member.  I hear he may be getting his own blog soon!!

We look forward to seeing these guys in a few days.

This week was catchup.  I am learning that ebay selling can be lucrative unless of course, you consistently underestimate the shipping costs!  So sad.  I hope the learning curve is short because this really is fun.  It very cathartic emptying out all of the things you stored because you knew they would be needed "soon"!  

I'm also working on the yard.  I'll take a picture of before because it's pretty impressive.  The cottonwood trees take an amazing toll every year with the 3 weeks of "snow" and pod dropping.  Our yard is covered!  

Milo's arrival

Cal and I are proud grandparents of Milo (no.5!)  He arrived after a 15hr unmedicated labor and was in fine form!  He weighed in at 7lb13oz and 19in.  The little guy packs a very efficient pair of vocal chords but has rarely used them!  He is an "observer" and at the ripe age of one week...we believe he has a personality like his dad.  A very alert and less vocal child!!!

I'm so proud of each of our children as parents.  They are amazing and prepared and smart.  Lucky babes!!    

Dave finished finals yesterday and they will be moving home for the summer so he can work.  Did you know that you can get A+ in law classes?  He proved you can!

Rob has been taking full advantage of being out of class and only working in the clinic.  Robbie has enjoyed so much time with him...golfing, swimming, you name it.  Dad's boy.  We are looking forward to seeing them in a month also.

Em says she is staying in Italy.  Guess that means she likes it.  I'm afraid she may be over living at home after this 2mo. away.  We'll miss her!

Tay just finished midterms and is doing well as usual.  He actually called yesterday!  He was enjoying sun in Portland and getting ready to skateboard.  Can you imagine how good a person could get at whatever they wanted if they put the time and effort he has put in because he loves skateboarding!  

Jared and Maria check in now and again.  He sent a surprize pic yesterday but I'm not telling till he does.  

Matt's answer to Swine Flu!

This is the finished science project.

This is the finished science project.  She learned about aerodynamics and had a fun time folding some pretty complicated planes.

So, can you believe it?  Mattie and I took Hannah to the airport this morning.  It's been a few hectic days for her of finishing 5 finals early, saying bye to friends, and of course, packing everything at the last minute!  And repacking..and repacking!  Darn that 50lb limit!!!  She has a long journey ahead with some pretty daunting layovers but hopefully all will go well and she'll check in when she gets to Rome.  

Miranda and Dave are still hanging in there waiting for little Milo...so are we!  I'm just on call for the call.

I had some thoughts today.  I was thinking how sweet it was a year ago.  Most people were prospering.  We still had a relatively stable government, and we were not having to worry about another pandemic flu.  What is going on?  I am an absolute, positive optimist but I'm having just a little trouble with this adjustment.  Here's my take....Wow, we have a great home, I play tennis almost every day.  I feel great.  Cal feels great.  We have amazing, unique kids and grandkids.  We have a faith that only gives us hope for the future, we have great friends and family....sooooo  I guess I say,  maybe if we eat out less, we'll eat healthier,  if I do my own yardwork, it burns calories, I've been selling things that have been sitting in storage for ages, and, we already try to live pretty clean because Cal doesn't like germs.  We can roll with the punches and hopefully have some stuff left over to help in some way.  We can still be happy!!!

What are we doing now???

The window's open and a cool breeze is blowing into the room as I sit here making the "real" plunge into blogging.  I'm not a writer.. never have been...but life is passing by and there are so many things to remember.  It might take some patience to figure this out but I'm ready!!  

I just love this time of year.  I've played tennis outside twice today and feel like I can eat a couple of oatmeal chocolate chip pecan cookies without guilt!!   This "blogging" may be a way to postpone the daunting job of spring cleanup outside but .... in a minute...  I'll get there!  Just turn the music up to pop oldies and start swinging that shrub trimmer!

What's everyone up to?  Jar and Maria and pups are still in Singapore.  He's good about checking in every couple of weeks.  He's tweaking his business to accommodate the economic changes.  People aren't hiring so much now.  So, I think they're doing lead generation and something with nascar in China.... not clear but love to hear from them!

Taylor still goes off the radar occasionally.  We almost had the police out checking on him last weekend.  He is NOT good at returning calls!  Apparently while we were worrying about him, he was enjoying the Oregon coast.  He says his favorite class currently is Jewish philosophy.  Glad he likes school.

Chels and Rob are good bloggers.  You can see their funny, personable kiddos on her blog.

Miranda and Dave are too.  We are expecting a call any time from them.  Can't wait to meet "little" or "big" Milo!  And then they'll spend the summer with us!  I need Mir's energy and motivation around here!

Em is a blogger too.  What a week for her as she takes 5 finals early, nannys, and tries to get ready to leave for 2mos.   

Cal is busy repairing planes and riding his bike.  I think he's doing another 100 miler in St. George this weekend.  It's been 2 years at the beginning of this month since his transplant and he is in amazing shape.  

Matt's just finishing a science project.  She made 11 different types of paper planes and flew them each 3 x's then averaged the distance.  She's applying aerodynamic principles to say why the winning plane won!   That's the project to finish tonight.   

Last week she competed in a state tramp and tumbling meet and did great...a third and  a fifth!  Her scores qualified her for nat'ls at her level.  Proud kiddo!!