There's nothing like the SUMMER! June 2015

Things that scream summer:

Visiting Mallerie at "The Spot"

Beginning of summer dental apts. No cavities!

The local theatre was showing movies every Tuesday and Thursday at noon. The movies as you can see were pretty hokey. None the less. The kids were going to the movies! "I don't care if it's Nightmare on Elm, you are going!"

Time to pot and plant, cut back, and freshen up:

Fairy land back in business.

"Lemonade! Lemonade! Lemonade! Lemonade!" We get it.

Bursting Peonie bushes. I love.

A missing cat for 24 hours (she was trapped in the neighbors garage...long sad story....for another time....) Loves and books when Poe came home. 

Cousins! Landrie, Scarlett, and Hartman stayed with us while the rest of their family was at camps and conferences.

Oakcrest! I got to drive Ava and Alivia to to Kamas for Beehive Camp.
(Lots of uncertainty on the first day!)

It was fun to go back at the end of the week and see how loosened up and bonded they had become with their new friends and Spence, their counselor. "Best week ever!" they said.

Ava got some real life pen pals out of her week at Oakcrest. She was eager to write them each a letter. However, Ava had no idea how to address an envelope!

If we had waited until summer to have our last family trip I don't think we could have found one week where all of us would be home at the same time (or even in the same state!) Matt emailed me at the beginning of the summer and asked me to send him everyone's schedules:

June

Girls Camp: June 9th-12th (Mallerie and Ava) (Grayson will have bball camp during this week as well)

Oakcrest: June 15th-19th (Ava)

Father's and Son's June 19th-20th (Matt, Grayson, and Graham)

Youth Conference : June 24th-27th (Mallerie and Abby)

FBLA Chicago: June 28th-? (Mallerie)

July

Brighton: July 6th-10th (Ava)

Palm Springs: July 17th-19th (Mattnabby)

Wasson Visit: July 19th-31st

Sun Valley ID: July 27th-30th (Mallerie) (also fair days)

Aug

Beehive Camp: Aug 4th-5th (Ava and Abby)

Minor's Retreat: August 10th-13th (Taylor Times)

Good Gads we have a full schedule~!

Since Matt and I were going to be in Palm Springs during the Father's and Son's campout. Matt scheduled a time in June to take the boys to Wasatch State Park and Camp. They were gone all ding dong day while I tore into the yard. It was great.

Graham's Coach Pitch games.

Youth Conference at Snow College, Ephraim Utah June 25th-27th 

It was a privilege to have Mallerie on our Youth Committee to plan for Youth Conference. 

She was the host for Family Fued (dating style). She was cracking. me. up.

The theme for Youth Conference was chosen a year in advance, "The Family is Ordained of God." It was inspiring to see the need for this revelation when the Supreme Court changed the Marriage ruling. On that same day the youth of the Heber North Stake were being taught that marriage is between a man and a woman.

Oh how I love my ladies! L to R: Jaynee, Ashley, and Sally. We got our own dorm room and really made the best of it! Besides, it was nice to have some air-conditioning to retreat to when the June 107 degree temps became too much ;)

Pictures in My Head:

June seemed to be a month for reconnecting with friends: My friend Alyssa was visiting from St. George and we spent a good five hours with Jackie who is fighting breast cancer. Remember the "three musketeers" from the townhouse days? That's us. I really wished we snapped a pic.

Emily and Darren were passing through Utah to drop their oldest at BYU. We met for dinner at the Grill Room where we sat on the terrace and reminisced and caught up. It was wonderful! It was like a day hadn't passed since seeing each other six years ago. Laughing and eating at the same time probably isn't recommend, but it couldn't be avoided.

Eliza's birthday at the Carillon Bell's Concert. I met up with Eliza and Lindsey at Chic- Fil-A then we went to the concert where the kids ran a muck! We always joke that we can't really visit until those darn bells quit ringing ;)

Life is beautiful when it is full of beautiful people.

Malmal and friends at the bean in Chicago.

Malmal growing up! SEVENTEEN 6/3/15

Mallerie's day started off at the crack-of-dawn just like all of her summer days stated out. She is 100% dedicated to her Cross Country team. You'd have to be to give up the chance to ever sleep in as a teenager. When she showed up to XC on June 3rd all her teammates were sporting two braids:)

When buying a shirt for Mallerie I really only have one criteria to go by: must have stripes.

Next Mallerie tried on her new skirt over her shorts. She and Binnie were a checkerboard!

After sending her out for a surprise hair apt we headed down the canyon. From all the rain we had had everything was so GREEN.

I was driving and it was fun to be the only one who knew where we were going. As we drove UNDER the freeway into the industrial park of Orem, Mallerie asked, "Where are we going?" As I parked I said, "I thought we could do some shopping!" I handed her a gift bag. She opened up a ring box with a green, adjustable CTR ring inside. Hmmmm. She had said that she wanted a real CTR ring and specifically requested, "Not a green, adjustable one." I told her we were at LDS Bookstore where she could pick out a real CTR ring.

 I thought it would be neat if she decided what she wanted engraved inside. She chose the scripture reference Phil 4:13, and her name and birthdate. It is so pretty on her.

The cashier suggested we add on a ring box for $3. I asked Mallerie if she would ever use it. She said, "Nah." Graham piped up, "Boy, I sure would use it...." The lady was sweet, "Well, I'll tell ya what. This one is too dusty to sell so I will let you have it for free." Graham left the store with a big smile while Callie left the store with a big frown.

For an afternoon snack we each chose a cupcake from the Sweet Tooth Fairy. Graham couldn't even wait for a quick photo before digging in. I was happy to see Callie's toothless smile return.

As we drove to the mall we were fascinated as we watched the removal of Mervyn's Department Store. Callie was all of a sudden distraught, "That was my most favorite store..." (though I don't recall her ever actually going there.) Callie's emotions change by the minute.

The swimsuits were on clearance for only $12. I had noted on spring break that Callie was in dire need of a new one (why do they get so baggy??) We found a cute one and I asked her what she thought. She looked at it and said, while holding out jazz hands, "It's just so...Disney!"

Still, she was happy to show her big sis's her new purchase.

We had to hurry and check out because we were cutting it close to Graham's coach pitch game back in Heber. However, we did make time to run into Village Inn to buy a birthday pie.

It was nice to cheer on Graham all together. Mallerie even went home and picked up Grayson and his pal. After the game, I attended a musical event at the library with the babes. A bit cheesy for my particular taste...and I like cheese.

Dinner was at Cafe Rio. It was a "YES" day for Mallerie, she got whatever she wanted.

When I asked her in the days leading up to her birthday if she wanted to have people over for a party she said, "Everyone is going to be gone for the summer already." However, when I was at grocery shopping just a couple of days before, for some reason bought a TON of food. I ran into a friend and she said, "Whoa!" at the sight of my piled high cart. 

The evening of Mallerie's birthday she said, "I guess some kids are going to come over after all." The door bell rang...and rang, and little by little the kitchen was full of friends. That girl can fill a room! I was so happy to have plenty of food on hand. I served fruit and veggies, chips and salsa, homemade cookies, and ice cream. It was a tender mercy.

Mallerie's friends said, "I hardly recognized you without your braids!" Mallerie assured them that her braid days were not over, "I had a hair apt." 

The friends were talking about scary movies so and I suggested they watch "What Lies Beneath." It's one of my favorite scary movies but I haven't seen it in years. When I watched it a week later I questioned myself for recommending it to a bunch of teens:/ 

We didn't dig into that pie till the next day. 

(I didn't feel like being as generous with the banana cream as I was with the carrot sticks). 

Oh how we love our Mallerie! We will support her in life no matter what hat she chooses to wear.

Memorial Day

We were awakened to a delightful sight from Graham and Callie:

Complete with a menu.

The fruit bowl on the menu consisted of watermelon and grapes. I asked them to leave out the watermelon and was presented with this:

So cute I had to Instagram about it ;)

 During breakfast we told Graham and Callie about when Katrina and Mallerie did this when they were their age. They had combined their names and their restaurant was called, Kallerie's Kitchen. Hehe. They used the Easy Bake Oven to make all the food so no matter what they served it was in a round disc. I remember Katrina putting my plate in front of me and having to point out, "That is the pancake." 

We headed to the Provo Cemetery as per tradition! It was such a pretty day and we were the first ones there. I took a little walk over to the Veterans area. They were selling small American flags. I knew the littles would enjoy them. 

I was correct.

My auties had been at the gravesite before us and left a pretty display for the Taylor side. I had my facts mixed up about the Woolf cemetery reunion and missed it the weekend before. 

From the Cemetery we picked up lunch to eat at Kiwanis with the Whitmore's and Geertsen's. 

To the past, to the present, and to the future. We salute you.

Another School Year in the Books May 2015

I am not going to start this post by saying, Can you believe another year has ended? Because that goes without saying right? I get tired of every newsletter and note that comes home through the year beginning with, "Can you believe the first month of school is already over? It is hard to believe we are already at Christmas break, The months are flying by and we are at Spring Break..." Yeah, we get it. Time goes on.....and there is nothing we can do about it! :(

 Spring picture day. I forgot. (I wouldn't have done anything differently.)

Graham's Cultural Event, Cinco De Mayo! 
He was supposed to wear tan slacks and a white shirt. He only has tan shorts, which I was glad for once he put his mask on. I could pick out his bird legs easily. Though he complained to me later that he was the only one wearing short sleeve pants ;) You correct him and I'll pinch you. Hard.

I get a kick out of how enamored the parents are at assemblies. Hey, I am right there with them.

Top row fourth from the left:

 Graham's adorable Spanish teacher/Selma Hayeck look alike. Both his teachers were so wonderful. They were always singing Graham's praises around him. That is why it surprised me to learn how nervous he gets during parent teacher conference. He said his back gets all sweaty. I am so glad he told me so I can give him a lot of reassurance.

Graham also told me that he blesses his food everyday at lunch in the cafeteria.

Graham is a deep thinker and will do amazing things, we are sure of it.

Towards the end of the year Callie's front tooth started to wiggle. I knew once she lost it her baby face would start to change. One night she was complaining about it bothering her and Matt said, "Do you want me to yank it?" I reminded him it was her front tooth. "Let's leave it in as long as possible." He feels the same way. Besides once one goes, the other isn't' far behind...

 Graham was a winner in the Crayon's to College program. 

He got to deposit $35 into his savings account and take home a giant blue crayon.

Mallerie's Inauguration as Vice President of Legislature next year:

I am excited to see the adventures that await her her senior year!

"Let your Light so shine..." Mallerie does that!

Let me share what Malmal's coach shared with me (which I thought was so thoughtful of him to take the time to write):

I am often impressed with honors kids in general, but Mallerie has really been impressive lately with both her class workload and her extra-curricular activities.  I know how busy she is with her running (XC and track), her recent trip to New York, a trip to Idaho, and everything it takes to be a Junior at Wasatch High School.

Anyway, I just wanted you to know that what she is accomplishing is simply impressive and it isn't going unnoticed.  Because, in addition to all of her extra-curricular involvement, she has managed to stay on top of everything in my Honors English class--which isn't always easy.

Thanks for sharing her with my class.  She really brings the entire class up a notch with her comments and preparation.

Thanks,
Coach Foster

The youth had a service auction in May that they were all supposed to bake something for. Mallerie signed up to make a pie. A few days before the auction, she had a date cancel on her because the other couple they were doubling with couldn't go. To apologize, the guy gave her a pie. That evening I said, "Let's break out that pie, where is it?" She said, "I put it in the freezer, I am going to auction it off." Then at the YW auction some friends of ours bought the pie. The reason was because their daughter was at our house on Pie Day and she had gone and on about how yummy the Bocanegra's pies are! We felt bad that she mistakenly bought a mixed berry store bought pie! (The story ends well, Mallerie and I made this family a delicious apple pie to make up for it.)

Also at this auction I was sitting by a friend of mine who has recently come back to the church after a 40  year absence. She has had a very colorful life. As she sat there looking at all the families together she said, "I wish I could do my life over. You are lucky." I felt very blessed. I know I take my life for granted at times and this was a good reminder for me.

Binnie's Band Concert

Ava's last band concert. I say last because even though I thought she was loving playing the flute and had big plans to play in High School even, she announced that she did not sign up for band in the 8th grade.

 I guess you could say it was a pipe dream on my end.

Ava has impressed me as she serves as the Beehive Class President. They make sure to invite ALL the girls on the roll to everything and visit them when needed. As she gets a little older it is neat to see her leadership skills shine through.

A Kindergarten Field Trip to the Hoogle's ZOORASIC! 

It was a rainy day at the zoo, and a tad chili. I was only in charge of a few kids so that wasn't too hard. The second we got off the bus they wanted to know when lunchtime was. We didn't get as far as the elephants exhibit before I decided we better just eat and get it out of the way so we could enjoy the zoo! We sat in the kiva in front of the elephants to eat. I realized it maybe wasn't the best spot when papa elephant came over and did his business. All the kids were in unison, "Ewwwwww!!!" Fruit roll up anyone?

 Callie with some schoolmates and her dual immersion teachers.

It seems the zoo has been under renovation forever, but things seem to be complete and it's very different! I had to look at the map to figure out where I was. I enjoyed the sea lion exhibit.

 So long to Timponogos Intermediate 

Gray will be moving on from there next year. His teacher retired at the end of the year and from the stories that Grayson would tell us it sounds like the timing was just right. There wasn't a lot of fluff during the year, which was fine with Grayson. On Valentines Day the class didn't even exchange notes or candy. One girl brought Valentines for everyone and the teacher huffed, "Pass them out after school! Kids don't need candy." (Maybe he could use some). 

Grayson rode his blue beach cruiser to and from school once the weather warmed up...and then until someone said it looked like a girl's bike. I wished he had the confidence to not care. He hasn't ridden that bike all summer. Darn kids.

City Park

We had a play date on the last day of school at the park with most of Callie's class and their mom's. Callie and Jessie became close friends this year. The mom's are most of my friends as well. It is funny how that worked out that all our kids are doing dual immersion!

Next year Callie will join Graham for all day school. Hot lunch and everything. Oh man. 

This is a big deal.