Junior to Senior

This post is . . .

. . . to a MAN who is loved by so many . . .

. . . to a MAN who reared a wonderful family . . .

. . . to a MAN who shared his hobbies and passions (including jokes) . . .

. . .  to a MAN who provides insight and a testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ . . .

. . .  to a MAN who has taught me what it means to be a Husband and Father . . .

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

 From a SON who owes everything his is to a Father who has sacrificed, taught, shared, laughed, given, explained, corrected, tolerated, forgave, listened, mandated, understood, shared and loved!

Love, Bill

Thanks, Dad

Today I looked back through some of my old pictures, searching for a few to post in honor of my dad.  As I browsed through the digitals I have (from a disc of scanned photos - a gift from my parents), I came to the conclusion that throughout the years, my dad has been the one taking the pictures for the most part.  But I found a few, and it caused me to reflect on the amount of time, energy and dedication that goes into raising a family.  Even for dads (since we moms are reminded of that every day).

I believe it's true that you can't fully appreciate something until you have experienced it for yourself.  As a child, I don't think you have any comprehension of the sacrifices made by your parents.  Then you become a parent, and you begin to understand.

(My dad with my younger brother Matt -- 1974)

(My dad with my sister Jill ready for a Daddy/Daughter date -- 1975)

(My dad with my younger brothers Marty and Matt -- 1977)

(My turn for a Daddy/Daughter date -- 1979)

(My parents with Rob -- 1983)

(My dad and sister Jana, ready for a Daddy/Daughter date -- 1988)

Somewhere along the way my dad assumed dual roles.  He became a grandparent while still in the child-rearing stages of his own family.

(My dad with Joshua and Taylor -- 1989)

He's a great Grandpa (but not a Great Grandpa for our family... yet).

Thanks, Dad.  For all you've done, all you do, and who you are.  Please know that, at last, you are finally receiving some of that deep, true, and full appreciation you didn't get when I was young.  I love you.

Happy Father's Day!

An Exercise In Photography

We had swim team pictures this morning.  Because we arrived early, there was a lengthy gap of time once Shi and Mar were done with their individual pictures until the team pic would be taken.  I snapped a couple of my own pictures while we waited.  Note:  I am not one of those good-enough-to-be-paid-for-it photographers (I know... I'm stating the obvious).  Someday, when the time and money are readily available, I may be.  It's great how almost anybody can take a great picture these days, with the right equipment.  For now, I have an older model point-and-shoot Sony Cyber Shot.  And the team picture didn't turn out great because there was some major glare coming off of the pool.  
Hopefully the pics I paid for turn out a little better.

(Pool glare picture that also shows the not-so-pristine condition of the water... care to go for a swim?)

Lexee, on the other hand, can do amazing things with the Cyber Shot.  
Just the other day she took this:

Very cool.  

I think I will ask her to give me some lessons.  

And, may I add, peonies are my all-time favorite flowers.  I'm going to plant more of them this year.

Nature and Science

Yesterday I went with Mauri and her class, AND their first grade buddies to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  Out of all the places that my kids have gone on class field trips, somehow I seem to always attend this particular one.  This was probably my fifth or sixth time.  We've gone a couple of times with our cousins, but field trips are different.  Although fun, they are not as fully enjoyable as when you get to go at your own pace, see what you want to see, and don't have to keep track of 10 kids you hardly know (except for your own, which is why you would even consider chaperoning a field trip in the first place).

The class got to wear their tie-dyed shirts because... well... they were DONE.

In the Expedition Health area, Mauri waited patiently (at least 15 minutes) for her turn at the Age Your Face display.  For kids, it was great fun.  For me, there is no possible way I would ever want to even try it.  I already look old, for goodness sake.

Above the display there was a collection of age progressive pictures with 5 different stages of aging.  I definitely fit into the 4th category.  Reality check.  I'm older than I think.

(Mauri and her buddy Phillip.)

We got to see the movie Hubble on the IMAX screen. I love movies on that huge screen, but I really struggled to stay awake after such a vigorous morning-after-a-late-summer-night. If the backs of the seats had been high enough rest your head on, I would have been out. Like a light. 

After snapping this pic on the way home, Mauri dozed off on my lap.  
(And you can see what I mean... no age progression necessary for me.)

I felt a little guilty as I talked to the kids in my group while we ate lunch outside, underneath a big tree.  I hate that feeling.  Several kids were talking about how they had recently been to the museum with their families.  Guilt twinge.  When was the last time I took Mauri to the park?  to the museum?  to the zoo?  She gets to go when her school class goes.  I used to take my kids to places like that all the time.  Back when I had to plan something just to get out of the house.  Now I just want to be home.  And I want my kids to be home.  I long for a day with nothing to do and no place to go.

But the museum was great.  We only saw a tiny bit of it, since we had a time schedule.  Maybe I will plan a day to go back with my kids.  Squash the guilt.

And we had a little nature going on right outside our front door this morning:

25 Shirts and 2 Plates of Cookies

Yesterday was tie-dye day.  I went to help Mauri's school class tie-dye shirts for field day.  I tried a new technique, and had no idea how everything would turn out.  The weather was stormy when I arrived (this was supposed to be an outdoor project), so improvisation was necessary.  We ended up on the floor outside of the girls bathroom.  Thanks to some great help, we managed to have every child create his or her own design.  Then the shirts needed to be microwaved, rinsed, washed and dried.  

Done.

The shirts turned out great, and every design was unique.  

And those shirts are ready to go back to the school to be handed out to excited, expectant third graders, many of which had never tie-dyed before.  It feels great to have them turn out awesome, and even better to have it done.

The teacher had also requested 5 dozen cookies for a surprise party for an elderly man who has been volunteering in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade B-track classrooms for several years.  He is moving on to a senior living center next year, and they wanted to thank him for his service.  I had other moms volunteer for the cookies, but had response from the teacher that he had not received 2 dozen of the cookies.  So at 9:30 last night, I started baking.

I dropped everything off at the classroom this morning.  
Can I be done now?  Can my stint as room mom be over?  Finished?  Complete?

One week and one day... I can make it.

Frozen Meet

We had a swim meet on Saturday.  Since the weather here has been ridiculous, we thought for sure the meet would be cancelled.  But, "lucky us," the team hosting the meet found a covered pool that was available.  Not an indoor pool, a covered pool.  Like a tent.  The temps Saturday morning were in the low 50s.

Does this look fun?

Just notice what all the spectators are wearing... coats, hats... you could see your breath, for pity's sake.

And this is what the swimmers were wearing:

Those poor girls were shivering like crazy.  In between events they tried to keep warm.

Despite the weather, I think they still enjoyed the meet.  Shilo was happy she went.  She won two of her three events, and had an All-Star qualifying time in her 100m backstroke.  Bill only recorded the last lap of it, but here it is:

Good job, Shilo!

I was ice.  My nose, hands and toes were numb.  It took a long, hot shower once I got home to warm me up.  Which way was summer again?  I think I went the wrong direction.

My Blue-Eyed Girl

Today is Shilo's Birthday.  

Sandwiched in between The Oldest Child's (And Only Son's) Birthday and Father's Day, along with the end of the school year and the beginning of summer, she's had to make some compromises in her celebrations.  It's a busy time of year.  But a Sunday birthday is the perfect time to reflect and reminisce about that sweet, blue-eyed girl.  And I mention the blue eyes because she is the only blue-eyed child in our family.  You need to have some claim to fame as the 4th out of 5.

There was no showing her peepers in the hospital, though.  It had been a long day, 14 years ago.

Shilo was the best of my babies.  Not to compare, because I know every child is different, but she was pretty easy going (which was awesome, since I still had three other children to care for), patient, and she was the best nurser (which for some reason my kids don't like to think about now).  She was also very entertaining... she could give the best crusty looks.  When people would coo and talk to her, she would throw a crusty their way.  It was so funny.

Again, since I'm confined to my digital access, I can only share the Ghosts of Birthdays Past since 2003.  

Shilo's 8th birthday... we had a party at the pool, and the weather was not the most cooperative.  It was cold, dark and overcast.  The good news was that for the hour we planned to swim, we had the pool nearly to ourselves.  Like a private party.  Yeah, it was planned.

9 years old.  I think Shi decorated this cake herself.  Pretty darn creative, wouldn't you say?

10 years old.

11 years old. We celebrated her birthday on the 24th this year... like I said, compromise. I know we had a tone of things going on all at the same time. Shi's patience has been a blessing.

12 years old.  We were at a Young Women's overnighter on her birthday.  Since she was turning twelve that day, she came too.  All the YW in the ward were there to celebrate with her.

13 years old.

I can't believe a year has already passed.  Time really does fly.  I wasn't convinced of that when my children were younger, but I am a true believer now.  

So today, on a Sunday, Shilo finally gets to move up to the Mia Maid class.  Being on the younger end of the school year means being the last in your grade to do that.  And we will be having a true Sunday dinner:  Chicken Cordon Bleu (which I've never made before, I'm crossing my fingers it will turn out awesome), Cheesy Potatoes (her #1 request), and Cheesecake for dessert.  Shilo's a foodie and was quite specific in her meal requests for the day.  I'd better get going on those crepes for breakfast.

Happy 14th Birthday, Shilo.

We love you!