America! First! July 5, 2021

Happy Fourth for the Third Time

Here we are on day three of celebrating the fourth! On Saturday we took the G and C to Cruella and then to the STADIUM of FIRE. It's been over 20 years since we've gone, which means that you have never been, which is insane because growing up, I went so many times. You still had fun fourths though, right? When I told Mallerie that the headliner would be LEE GREENWOOD, she insisted we go. It was a good time! There is so much more going on IN the stadium than you can get a feel for from the outside. Of course, we all stood to sing "God Bless the U.S.A."

There were also motorcycle stunts, a floor show, another country singer, Colin Ray, a surprise appearance by David Archuleta! Woot woot. Honestly, I think he could have been the headliner and people would have been just as happy. Course, the event was also broadcast to the troops and 170 countries. My favorite was the paratroopers who landed in the stadium and of course the flyover. Chills.

It made for such a late night! Thankfully church doesn't start till 10:30. I was glad I wasn't teaching. As we stood for the opening hymn to sing the National Anthem, my heart swelled at the beauty of it. To be able to freely gather and worship is a privilege I don't take for granted. There really is nothing more American than going to church on the 4th of July.

Grandma came over for Sunday dinner! We were so happy to see her well enough to do so. She looked rosy and smiley, like her old self. Dad BBQed but we ate inside since it was 92°. The day before when we walked out of the movie theatre, you could feel the sun baking the earth. Oh, the extreme heat! I loved it! "This is what July should feel like," I said aloud. For our Sunday night movie, we watched the second National Treasure. Grandma hadn't seen that one. I texted Mal, "Connor Rocks!" She was just getting ready to watch it.

The kids got up early to put up flags today, Monday. This holiday just goes on and on…

Graham is most excited about getting his own DEBIT card from America First. When the gal asked which image he would like on it, he chose the flag right away, "I'll always remember that I got it on a Fourth of July weekend." He was NOT too old, however, to still get a sucker.

The Extraction

Grayson was left out of the fun because he was supposedly home recovering from his wisdom tooth extraction on Friday the 2nd. He made all ya all's look like babies, especially me—he bounced right back! 

As I walked with him into the surgery room, a boy was being helped out of the recovery area. He seemed to have a team of people around him and was moving like Frankenstein. Another girl, apparently his sister, had also just had her teeth removed. As she sat in the chair with ice packs strapped to her face she sobbed and sobbed. Her mom said, "She can't stop crying." Something struck me so funny about this. I met the mom's eyes and we busted up! I had to keep my face turned away from Gray. He was nervous enough!

However, Gray never needed more than ibuprofen and he only wore the ice packs for a few hours. He was sitting at the counter with us that night for dinner before going out with his pals! I couldn't keep him down. On Sunday, he was telling Grandma how he had felt normal even after waking up from the anesthesia. 

Well???

Though he did recover quickly, I wouldn't say that he was totally himself either. I pulled out my phone with a lil' video I took of our conversation after he came out of surgery. He watched in SHOCK. He had no recollection of the conversation we had about Donovan Mitchel. He felt betrayed, not by me, but by his brain. He couldn't believe that he couldn't remember it. Nor did he remember the full confession that he had made. 

"I poured a bowl of soup down the sink once. I heated it up but I didn't like it. Full disclosure." 

He was very chatty right after surgery, despite his mouth being packed with gauze. He decided that he could rule out being an oral surgeon. "Does that interest you?" he asked me, "Some strange boy coming in..." He concluded, "I can rule out this job." He also confessed that seeing the boy walking weird had made him nervous.

Gray was actually being extra sweet to me after surgery, "You are just a happy person. You only care about your kids. Moms have the best heart."

All the while, the conversation was peppered with, "I feel normal, I'm happy about that. I just need a little time."

He lamented that our family won't be all together again for a while. His chance was at Thanksgiving, "And I missed it. Everyone is gone. It's sad," he recalled. He said, "When I get home from my mission, we all need to rent a cabin, just the 8 of us." 

He was making me wanna sit in the chair and bawl!

We were BOTH relieved surgery had gone well. I said, "You got this." 

He told me, "That is what I need to hear every week on my mission, 'You got this.'"

Speaking of missions, Alivia came out to Utah to bid farewell to family. We met at a park in Bluffdale but I could be happy that it was closer than Elko! She is ready to go go go!

Green bean casserole anyone?

So I also say to you AND Alivia, "YOU GOT THIS!"

No Excuses, No Explanations! 6/28/21

Face Timing with Ava on Father's Day. 

Binne, 

Here is Callie's Point of View on summer thus far:

So recently Mom and I have been going on bike rides. And last Monday we went on a bike ride around the neighborhood by TMS. and while we were there, we saw one of our friends from lake pow. so we talked to him for a while. then later on in the week we road down to the food trucks, and ate at the Grassy Cow. I know it doesn't sound appealing, but it was pretty good! mom and I shared a burger, and we were still full. we also went to the movie theater and saw In the Heights. it's like Hamilton, but Better. and Shorter.  We saw the play Moana at TVT. Mom guessed right that a Magelei would play Moana. we also road down to the library, I got The last voyage of Poe Blythe. and No I did not choose it because the main character's name is Poe. but because I liked the author. so ya! we have been biking. love you and miss you. 

Callie

Market on Main

It is true, we have been enjoying summer evenings on our bikes. The Market on Main is back in full swing. As the sun set, Graham, Callie, and I started walking back to our bikes when a gal asked for the time. "Nine o'clock," I told her. 

She replied, "So, can you?" 

"Excuse me?"

"Can you help me?"

How did I get that she was asking for the time when she was really asking for help? "Sure!" I told her. She is a face painter and subsequently had bags of brushes and supplies to haul across the park to her car. We each picked up a bag and started walking. I had so many questions for her, such as how long has she been face painting? How is it going? Is this her usual spot? How did she get all her supplies set up?" 

She said, "I just asked someone for help like I did with you."

From a do-it-all-myself kind of gal, I found this fascinating.

As we walked to the bikes, G and C asked how I knew that lady. I told them that I didn't. They said that they assumed that from the way we were chatting that I knew her well. In truth, I didn't know her any better than the guy selling water-bottle stickers-we chatted it up with him too. 

It's a good Town. 

The Pool is Cool

I still have been going to the pool nearly every day. Besides the regulars, I usually meet someone new. Everyone has a story to tell. Some stories are so complicated, layered, and deep that there are times we tear up—right there in the pool. Last Friday, the competition pool was closed for the National Water Polo Championship. There was a team gathered out front in a concentrated huddle. The huddle broke just as I tried to pass. They were headed one way, I the other. Talk about a fish trying to swim upstream. It wasn't till I was inside that I realized my class was canceled. I tried out Zumba in the other pool. Eh. Lots of complicated footwork (impossible in water) and lots of water slapping in my direction—like I was in a flabby-armed car wash. 

Clubbin'

Book Club. I missed last month due to Gray's Graduation. I guess one lady had knitted bookmarks for all. She probably didn't remember that I wasn't there because she didn't offer me one, which is fine since I only have time to listen to the audio each month. My friend Ann—that you know—said that when her husband sees her reading a novel, he tells her that he thinks it's a waste of time. I told her that she should say to him, "If you think my novel is a waste of time, wait till you see my bookmark!"

YC!

I went on visits one night with Dad last week. We got six families in. Again, everyone has a story. Back at the church, I helped Dad move the tents from the youth trailer into the shed. They are heavy. I quipped, "Bet you are glad I eat my spinach every day!" 

He was getting things organized for Youth Conference. They went back to Moab—like we did a few years ago, but they did totally different things. Our catastrophe was the hike in 104° heat, theirs happened on the river. The guide steering Dad's raft (along with 11 others) turned sideways and "taco'd a rock"— how they described it. Then around the bend came an equally unruly raft of twelve more. It hit their raft, flipped over (dumping everyone out) before floating on. The only way to get their own raft free was to jump ship. The sides of Dad's life vest weren't secured, so it went up too high on his shoulders, and he had a hard time coming up for air. Thankfully, they all made it out okay. I think I'll take our catastrophe! Graham isn't a big outdoorsy guy, but I think it's good to experience it all. He, fortunately, was in a raft that had gone ahead and so he missed the whole thing. Apparently, his group was only wondering what was taking so long because they were waiting for their sandwich bread, which miraculously arrived dry and unsmooshed.

Fadder's

The Sunday before, when the Primary kids got up to sing for Father's Day, Grayson asked Callie why she didn't go up. "I'M NOT IN PRIMARY!" She reminded him. Then as the boys got ready for Youth Conference, he asked why she wasn't going. "I'M NOT OLD ENOUGH!" That day I thought I'd surprise the brethren with those mini pies from Walmart. However, the Primary was already handing out jerky. Double love turned into double trouble. I'll call that my pie debacle. 

Gamin'

I haven't taken my phone on many of these outings so I don't have photo documentation. Besides, Dad got me and the babes apple watches, which do all that a phone does, except for the picture thing. As he was getting them set up, Grayson came into the kitchen, "So, can I suppose that the reason I'm not getting a gift is that I am leaving on my mission?" Did he forget that he just set up his new phone for said mission? (Oh, I am glad yours is working out as well!)

Everyone has stayed pretty busy this summer, for which I am grateful. In fact, there was a day last week where the boys were downstairs playing a video game together. They were laughing and chatting. Because they keep themselves productive with good things most of the time, this carefree moment was music to my ears. Last summer together! 

We are rarely all home together at dinnertime. Grayson came home from work one night, late. I hollered, "There is fish in the fridge." 

He seemed disappointed as he mumbled, "I want cow." 

I'll borrow a phrase from Julie Child that I came across as I read (listened to) My Life in France, "No excuses, No explanations!"

Do you know the Muffin...MAN! 6/26/21

Last Saturday morning, I asked Callie if she'd like to make banana blueberry muffins while I worked on my Gospel Doctrine lesson. She was excited to use up the VERY ripe bananas, which had been sitting on the counter. As the muffins baked, I clicked away on the keyboard. When I smelled burning, I hopped up to find quite the scene inside the oven. 

These are not muffins, I thought to myself. 

Callie is not sure WHAT happened (perhaps the butter was too melted?) since she is confident that she followed the recipe exactly.

Surprisingly, they did not taste bad! They aren't burned—it's just the blueberries giving the offensive color. They tasted like warm banana pudding. We scraped the contents into a bowl. Then the bowl fell into the sink of water.

Soon after, I accidentally added two scoops of wheat flour instead of protein powder to my green smoothie.

We called it quits and drove to Dottie's for breakfast. 

We had quite the chuckle about those "muffins." Just picture if that was the photo in the cookbook!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

I texted the photo to the FoodNanny herself to let her know that the Kamut flour still made them taste good!

Her response was one of shock, as you can imagine.

I did notice, however,  that the very next week, she showed a video tutorial on what?

BANANA BLUEBERRY MUFFINS.

Naturally, I had to give them a try again today.

As I made them with Callie this time, she realized that she hadn't added the flour. So I take back what I said about the Kamut!

(Nor did Callie have the Dixie Chicks accompanying her as she baked;)

This experience turned into a metaphor for life.

Life is like the Muffin Man who either lives on Dreary Lane or Drury Lane.

Life Marches On

Binnie,

LIFE IS PRECIOUS

It has been a somber week in our valley. A 12-year-old girl, Brooklyn (student at TMS) died in a moving accident on June 3rd. On Monday, June 7th, two seniors, who just graduated, Emma Call and Payton Caldwell were on their way to the lake when they collided with Amy Nelson (mother of another WHS student), all three passed. Then on Thursday, June 11th, 20-year-old Michael Riviera-Vasquez died on Hwy 40 in a collision. His Aunt, Martha, lives next door to us. Emma was in our stake—I see her mom daily at the pool (she works at the front desk).

Since Payton and Amy also lived near us, there was a vigil on Tuesday that went to all three women's houses. I stood on the lawn with Callie as hundreds of WHS students passed by on foot. Martha came outside and watched with us. She stated that she was coming home from Sam's on Monday night (I had gone to Sam's that day as well) and she saw the burning cars. We spoke of how precious life is. Then yesterday, as I worked in the yard, she came to tell me that the Thursday wreck was a member of her family. I am just heartsick for all of them. She was bringing me plums.

In the photo, Payton and Emma are sitting next to each other—to the left of Principal Johnson at Graduation 2020.

Grayson was sustained as an Elder at Stake Conference today. Bishop Richards offered a moment of prayer on behalf of those who have experienced loss. There will also be a special fast on the 27th for the families. 

WE NEED MOISTURE, FAST

The fast will also be for moisture. It is the beginning of summer and we have already been asked by the Governor to ration watering our lawns. It just feels heavy here right now. 

The talks and messages this weekend were all beautiful and poignant. I figure that what the families need, is time. Something that no one can give.

(Note: I am loving the low-maintenance of my silk flowers in the window box;)

GOLLY

Grandma had surgery on Friday to have the gallstone removed that has been causing her constant nausea since coming back from Hawaii. The stone was the size of an avocado. They found more stones as well so she had a second surgery. Today she is running a fever, which signals an infection. She will stay in the hospital on antibiotics till she recovers more. Many people to pray for at this time! I took Callie to spend some time with her on Wednesday while I donated plasma. Grandma marveled at what a sweet, mature, girl Callie has grown into. 

BLOCK PARTY

We had a ward party with the newbies on Wednesday night. We picked up about 25 families—many of them came—as well as others from the neighborhood who just wanted a night out. Getting back to normal, little by little.

Note: Socializing seems to exhaust me though! I came home pooped. On Saturday night we were invited to a couple's home to watch the basketball game outside, which means they wouldn't be starting it till dark. I said, "I already did that this week!" We declined. I was in bed before ten.

MARCHING ON

Graham was busy this week with band camp from 8-5 Mon-Thurs. Loooong days. They have begun to learn the marching routine. It seems so hard but he enjoyed it. I am glad he will have a niche from the get-go.

BOUNCING BACK

Callie used her bounce back at Lagoon on Friday. Dad was a gem to drive her and three other friends there. Since we were also on the docket to pick up, I suggested we make a date of it at Lagoon that evening. Dad and I got there about 5 pm. It was weird pulling up and then just waltzing in. Usually, we are unloading chairs, coolers, etc. We got dinner in Pioneer village, people watched on the Midway, caught a show (with Dippin Dots, of course), and then rode the sky ride. Super low-key and delightful. We met up with the girls at sunset to make sure we all knew where to be at 10 pm when the park closed. Again, when it was time to leave, it was strange to just leave! No camp to clean up, no sore feet to baby. I didn't hate it.

 

THE PLAN

And so, life marches on. We are grateful for each day and the knowledge we have of THE PLAN. There was a lot of emphasis on standing in holy places (D&C 45:32). I also studied that section in my institute class this week. I love this quote by Ann Dibb,

“We might first consider the word place as a physical environment or geographic location. However, a place can be a distinct condition, position, or ‘state of mind’. This means holy places can also include moments in time—moments when the Holy Ghost testifies to us, moments when we receive an answer to our prayers (Ann M. Dibb “Your Holy Places,” Ensign, May 2013)

a holy place can be a moment in time. I love that.

ROUD OF IT

I began volunteering at JR Smith this week for summer school. There was a gal, Britney Burton, who asked, "Are you Mallerie and Ava's mom?" 

I am, and proud of it!

Love, your proud momma.

Now, let's just take one more look at that windowbox.

I think I'd Prefer Tarzan for the Weekend 6/6/21

Binnie, 

It was nice for Memorial Day to finally not fall on a school night. We gathered Sunday night at the Shafer's for dinner and visiting, then again on Monday at Provo Cemetery. Grandpa shared tales with the grandchildren. I loved that he did that. That morning, I made my Grandma Taylor's homemade vanilla ice cream, but it wasn't ready in time. At the park, Grandpa said, "Remember that one time you brought Grandma's ice cream?" I was bummed that I couldn't pull it out of my bag. Soooo, I will keep it frozen till the 4th and hope to see him again. Instead, we had our traditional baguette sandwiches. 

Eliza thought my homemade picnic all looked rather complicated. As we were leaving, she struggled to find a trashcan for their fast food waste. I pointed out that, though my meal was complicated, my trash was not.

Today a new stake was created in Heber! The Old Mill Stake. I always think it sounds strange when something new is called old. We are staying in the North Stake. However, we picked up some of the 7th ward, so this will be good.

While Callie and I were down the canyon on errands last weekend, Mallerie texted a picture that she had just made zoodles. We were able to text back that, we too, were enjoying zoodles at Noodles!

Graham started a job this week! He works for Rex hauling, sawing, cutting, drilling, and sweeping. Somedays he is in the shop, some days he's building decks and fences in Park City. It's good for him! He's got dollar signs in his eyes, as you can imagine.

 
As I bit into a S'more at Girl's Camp this week, I felt like I officially got my Summer on. Callie attended her first girl's camp Tuesday-Saturday. She bought some things for her Secret Sister, but she didn't know what to write on the notes. I asked what she bought. 

She said, "A scrunchie." 

I suggested, "Our tent might be scrunchie, but HAIR ya go!"

She liked that. She also bought some teal nail polish.

"This can tide you over TEAL you get home for a manicure."

I could have gone on all night.

After testimony meeting at camp, as we roasted Starbursts, one of the girls wondered, "What if a girl fell into the campfire...and died!" 

I said, "They would say about her, 'She had a burning testimony." I guess they weren't prepared for that kind of irreverence. Their eyes grew wide before they started laughing. 

The burning testimony line made its way quickly around camp, "Sister Bocanegra, I heard about the burning testimony!" 

All night folks.

Another girl, around the firepit, said to Callie, "I thought you would be stuck-up because you are the Bishop's daughter, but you are so nice."

I pointed out, "Gurl....we don't got nuthin to be stuck up about."

It was rather nice to get to drive home that evening and sleep in my own bed. I did feel a little stuck up, though.

Dad and I saw The Quiet Place 2. I enjoyed it. It's just nice to be back to life. Dinner and a new release—no complaints. I told Grayson he should see it with Grandma as he did for the first one. He called her up and asked her out for Thursday. He said she screamed at all the right places. She said that in the days leading up to it she told everyone about her big date night!

On Thursday, Grayson called to ask if he could bring home a baby kitten to babysit for the weekend. With how skitterish Poe is around other animals, I told him that it wouldn't work out. However, that night when he got back from the movie, he got the cage out of the truck and took it to his room, "Mom, you will never even know it is here." The next morning, when I got up to go to my class, the hallway smelled like Hogle zoo. Apparently, the kitten was allowed to roam around his room all night and it must have marked its territory. Poe was nowhere to be found. When she did come inside, she was hesitant and very nervous. She spent the entire day under the stairs in the storage room. When I opened the fridge, a waft of wet cat food met me—there a can sat, uncovered. Grayson's words, "Mom, you'll never even know it is here." were seeming like a joke! As he scrubbed his carpet, he realized what I meant about it not working out." Oh, man. 

Dad treated the four of us to the outdoor production of Tarzan at Scera. It was an absolutely perfect night for an outdoor production. A line that caught my attention, when Kala decides to keep baby Tarzan, "Kerchek, you won't even know he's here." 

It sounded oddly familiar.  

Second Chances—May 9, 2021

Having a son has been different in many aspects; there was no baby or baptism dress to sew. I enjoyed a little photo shoot with each of my girls in their new baptism dress before their special day. I enjoyed sending out announcements with their picture on them. As Grayson's baptism neared, I planned on still doing a photo shoot with him in his new dress shirt and tie. 

Reality. 

The day that I had planned on taking the photos was a mess. We were not getting along. We had some rough times! That evening, I told Matt that I wasn't going to do the pictures after all because I didn't want negative feelings whenever I looked at the pictures. Matt decided to take Grayson out for a photo shoot instead. The pictures turned out cute. We sent out the invitations.

 Now, fast forward a decade.

Grayson asked, "Am I going to send out graduation announcements?" 

Since he doesn't like getting his picture taken, I didn't think he'd want anything to do with any of it.

I replied, "Sure, we can if you want!" He did want. 

When I told Ava about this, she informed me, "The grad announcements are a big deal, Mom."

Grayson asked when we could take some pictures. I decided then and there, "Sunday at 6 pm."

That day (which was also Mother's Day and Grayson's birthday), Matt told us he had invited the missionaries to come over at 6 pm. I informed him, "That won't work because Grayson and I have an appointment."

Since Graham's suitcoat fits Grayson better than his own, he asked to borrow the coat for the pictures. I think it's so crazy that they are about the same size now! We headed to Midway at photography's golden hour—i-phone in hand!

The first couple of shots turned out so great that I figured we could stop there, but we kept wandering. As we did so, the shots kept getting better and better. This handsome guy could not take a bad shot.

We were having such a great time! I recognized this TENDER MERCY that made up for the shoot we missed those many years ago. When I look at these pictures, I feel nothing but love, happiness, and gratitude. Also, a reminder of the promise, "All your losses will be made up to you..."

Time. 

My best friend.

Grayson.

My other best friend.

 

Do you remember how someone forgot to put powder on Elder Uchtdorf before his last talk at General Conference? Grayson thought his face was dripping with oil! I told him it was just the lighting and not enough powder. Well, as the sun got lower in the sky, I said, "Now your face is looking a little like Uchtdorf."

Gray said, "I wanna see." 

Gray even got to make up for letting a bag blow into the wind by removing someone else's bag. 

The next day, I designed an invitation and sent it to Walmart's 1-hour photo. This was going to be perfect! They would be ready in time for him to pass out as his surprise party. 

UGH.

I was so disappointed when I picked them up! No disrespect, but total Uchtdorf going on. They were shiny, orange, and his shirt looked filthy. The backdrop looked like he was at a JCPenny's studio. What. to. do? I needed a second opinion. There was a guy behind me, so I asked what he thought. He used some colorful words. But he was right! They did look like horse poop (when did it become okay to curse in front of a lady?) Nonetheless, I thanked him profusely for being my sounding board.

I declined the purchase, came home, got online, and found a better company to go through. We waited with fingers crossed. A week later, they arrived. MUCH better. K—I may have lighted them a bit much, but I was nervous after how dark they turned out at Wally's.

Not as good as the original, but close enough!

When Mal received the announcement, she texted me, "Handsome! Who took the photos???"

Seminary

I failed to mention on the announcement that Grayson is also a Seminary Graduate. A four-year accomplishment—no small thing! He brought his non-member friend with him most of the year—she attended more than he did (she went with another friend on gold days). 

Grayson spoke in Sacrament Meeting on May 16th with the other graduating Seniors in our ward. Grandma Donna came to support him, then stayed for dinner, and our Sunday movie.

The night before, Matt and I drove to Provo to pick up Gavin from the train station (he had been at Powell, training for his upcoming HFY trip to Beliz). We got to enjoy breakfast with him the next morning before I drove him to the airport. I got out the chocolate milk, poured a glass, and he took a swig. He had a sour expression, "Maybe I should have shaken it first?" I looked at the date and smelled it. I had just served our guest curdled chocolate milk:/ I was teaching Gospel Doctrine that day (our first time back in person since the pandemic) so maybe my nerves were getting the best of me.

We absolutely loved our—short but sweet—visit with Gavin! When Callie looks at these pictures she says, "Gavin's smile is just so cute!"

Don't Hate the Playa'

As a side note: Grayson and some friends decided to treat themselves to Jazz tickets to game ONE of the NBA playoffs! Matt asked, "What if the game ends up being on a Sunday?" 

This hadn't occurred to Grayson. He said, "That wouldn't happen...would it?"
Well, game one DID fall on a Sunday.

The SAME Sunday as Seminary Graduation. Since Matt would be handing out the diplomas for our ward, I also was invited to sit on the stand.  I said, "Gray, even I have to go to Seminary Graduation."

We all got ready to go…

…our separate ways, that is.

Seems that in the end, we all had an enjoyable evening. The nice thing about having adult children is that they get to make their own decisions.

We have decided. 

Grayson is a good one.