Catch up for all 2010

I'm grateful for Diana's posts. I have a lot of catching up to do for 2010. This year is flying by.

This was one of the best school years the kids have ever had. It culminated in their STAR testing which I feel they were well prepared for. As room parent, I assigned people to help bring snacks to Emily's class on testing days and it made it really fun. We enjoyed Excelsior School's open house, featuring all the state report displays. Emily learned so much about Florida! We were very excited we would get to travel there to visit Grammy.

In April I became determined that I will get Emily's bedroom organized and decorated. I attended a fun design class with Cynthia at Pottery Barn Kids and plan to have her continue helping me until it's done.

Emily was recognized as "Swimmer of the Week" early in the season. Here she is with Coach John and getting ready to fly their mascot Sponge Bob on the tarp with Scout Sanders and Jordyn.

Returning home from Monterey, it was time to enjoy Easter. Emily and Lyndsey Benner helped me color eggs and bake and decorate sugar cookies. The ward's full time missionaries, Elder Brunetti and Elder Pancheri, came for dinner Saturday night. Sunday we were home to watch General Conference on TV and have a hunt for filled eggs in the house since it was raining. Marv is the best at hiding eggs so I rewarded him with DVD of one of his favorite stories, "The Velveteen Rabbit".

We ended March and began April with a spring break from school. I orchestrated a crazy cast party at Strikes Bowling alley with the cast members all signing a big document for Dana Sanders the director, just like the Golden Ticket winners do in the show. The next day we left for a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I'm happy Peter had Blake Clarkson along and Emily at the last minute was able to bring Jordyn Sloan when Marv couldn't come. Although Luke may not have appreciated the trip as much as I'd hoped, he's good company and I was grateful to have Diana along as another adult. We loved staying at Embassy Suites. We watched Luke so Diana could get a morning workout (preparing for her half marathon) and Luke showed us how he likes to go "splat" on the bed.

Emily attended a humanitarian event with her Girl Scout troop at Katie Carson's church where they packed food for third world countries.

Peter was awarded the Life Rank in scouting in March. He has worked hard, his leaders are also truly amazing. I applaud Brent Newbold, Mark Evans, Howard McKeon and Bishop Cota for running an amazing Young Men's program in our ward. It doesn't hurt to have three older brothers who are Eagle Scouts to look up to and chase after.

Kevin got to come home for his spring break. It's always so nice to have him around and see his friends. We went to Roller King with Nathan Mills to bring back elementary school memories.

I have a few pictures here of our wonderful production of "Willy Wonka" with Theatre Alive, but I hope to add more to a scrapbook when our lovely friend Christian Sanders gets his to me. Emily also participated in the school talent show as an MC in March. This would never have been possible with her crazy schedule except Diana Benner, who was in charge of the event, really looks out for Emily.

Kevin and Emmy with cast friend Megan who played Veruca Salt.
Nancy, Pam, Lorna, Michelle Z., Dianna, Michele S
Nikki, Sophie, Bailey, Emmy, Lyndsey, Phoebe
Katie and Nikki

Many happy memories in March, including Luke accompanying me on days when I would go to shelf books at Emily's school library. He and Diana would play at the park while they waited for me. Early in the month, Beth Thomas and I led the Read Across America for Excelsior. We brought the members of LaRee Florence's TNT troop to the school to give presentations on their favorite books and Shakespeare, then they performed their "Music and Melodies of Laura Ingalls Wilder" at the end of the week. Wow, they do a great job.

Emily at the wedding reception for Kate Huber's oldest sister, Danielle.

The new Disney version of "Alice in Wonderland" premiered this month; Emily and Allie had to be there opening night. By coincidence, we set next to Megan who played Emily's mother in "Willy Wonka." Our friend Emmaline Fletcher from TNT introduced Emily to "The Looking Glass Chronicles" books which are and adaptation in the same style as the movie--she's enjoyed reading that series. (She still reading Harry Potter series books on almost a daily basis; I think she's read some of them seven times. Peter is reading the Dave Barry "Peter and the Starcatchers" series, but he doesn't read very much.)

Kwabe's and Corban's folks (Mabel and Alex and Daron and Betsy)
Brandon, Kwabe, Paul, Blake, Corban, Peter

In February, I was able to arrange a hair appointment on a Friday so I could show up with a new, darker color at Peter's last basketball game. Don't remember if the team won the game, I do know I received compliments from the other basketball team parents! Here we are at Chipotle after the game.

February's highlights were the big sales of Girl Scout Cookies. When Emily first started as a Brownie at age seven, she said,"I've always dreamed of selling Girl Scout cookies!" She's made her dream come true with many neighbors, friends, family, co-workers, even cast members of whatever play she happens to be in at the time, anxiously supporting her. She sold about 140 boxes this year, by far the most in her troop, and had fun at booth sales. No dream is without its flip side, the nightmare. There's the time it takes to sell--going door to door in the cold, rainy weather. Whent the orders arrive, cookies take over the entire dining room table. Did I mention my problem of addiction to the peanut butter patties? Then, there was the day I had a big scare because I had misplaced an ENTIRE CASE, but it was located by sincerely praying. God helps even with Girl Scout cookies!

How to have a great time at a swim meet

First, have the Mom come really early and set up the tent so you get a good spot.
Then, have the weather cooperate nicely.

Follow the above advice with:

Rest between events...


The cutest mascot you ever saw...


An ipod (for Mac) and an iphone (for Dad)...


Coloring pictures of "Bampa"...


Snacks, goodies, and playing...


And it'll pay off in the end! Em got 1st place in backstroke and set a new personal best. Despite her best efforts and a new personal best Em didn't qualify for Meet of Champs in 50 free. Luckily she only has to shave off a few more milliseconds and she'll qualify. When she gets her 50 free qualification that'll mean she's qualified in every. single. event. Wow! Luke had such a great time that when I asked him if he'd rather go swim at Nana's house, he said "No! Stay."


I was gonna upload the videos, but I can't find them. Plus, even if I could, it's hard to tell which one is Emily.

Super Bowl Sunday

If there was one phrase that I could have heard less of, it would have been "torn ligament". I can't even remember which player, from which team, but somebody had a torn ankle ligament, and Dad was just in awe of the fact that he was playing as well as he was and kept saying it over and over throughout the game. The rest of us kept teasing Dad about it, bringing up the torn ligament as often as we could, too. We even joked that Mac was finishing the puzzle despite a hang nail and fractured finger.

Luke has gotten to the point where he is just as comfortable with everybody else as he is with me. You might even say he is no longer a mama's boy, but I really don't want to admit that. Sometimes if I try to take him from Peter or Emily, he totally doesn't want to come to me. He just loves those two. He sat for a while with Peter...

...and for a while with Grandpa.

The game couldn't hold his attention forever, so Nona (as she now wants to be called) entertained him with pans and songs.


The evening wouldn't have been complete without sibling bickering. Peter and Emily were kicking each other over who would have more leg room on the couch. I split them up, sending Emily to my chair. Sometimes Peter just needs to be sat on, so that's what I did. He's very much still a little kid- he needs a sibling to wrestle and fight with, and I'm the only one around that's bigger (at least in weight, for the time being).


In the end the Saints won, and it was a really fun game to watch. I think we were all kind of rooting for the Colts, but at least we didn't put money on it!

Peter's First Shave!

Before After Yesterday, Peter shaved for the first time. I got some before and after pics as well as a video.

A Fond Farewell and a Close Shave

Last year my goal was to post to my blog every week. This year I'm settling for once a month. Marv has my camera in for repair as a birthday present, so please excuse the weak pictures from my cell phone.
January has been a month with great opportunities for me. I was blessed to be with my dear friend Kim Booth before she passed away after her battle with breast cancer. I felt the love of her family and friends as I visited before her passing and as I attended her subsequent memorial service. I thought it said a lot about her (and her boys) that some of the boys' elementary school teachers were in attendance! Education really mattered to her. She was such a great person. To say that I miss her hardly captures my feelings. I've experienced sadness, anger and frustration about the situation, but overall gained renewed hope and faith in Jesus Christ. Here are some other tender mercies I experienced: Lyle was able to speak to her by phone, but she was very weak. He told her how much he loved her and how he thought of her as a second mother. Her response was, "Lyle, my son." I caught her in a lucid moment and said, "Do you know I think you are a wonderful friend?" She said, "Now I do." Bryan traveled from LA to sit beside her, but she was already slipping into a coma as he spoke to her. It was still so good to have him there. Kim's son Ryan led us in telling favorite stories and memories around the bedside the night before she passed--I hope to take some time to record these.

Her family published a published a beautiful obituary in the Modesto Bee:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/modestobee/obituary.aspx?n=kimberly-anne-lee-boothe&pid=138741218
Somehow, time marches on, so I celebrated another anniversary of my 29th birthday on January 28th! I couldn't help but think of a few of my loved ones who have already passed away. It certainly seems the good ones die young, so I must be hanging around to learn something. I was humbled to be remembered by so many friends on my special day, and my family took good care of me as well, as you can see by Diana's post. She didn't mention that she, Mac and Luke showed up on my doorstep at 7:15 on my birthday to make me breakfast! It was delicious--a layered bowl with yogurt, granola, berry smoothie and topped with sliced banana. Lucky me!
Yes, Peter has passed a milestone--his first shave! He's hairy at this age than all his brothers combined. He's such a cutie.

Hot Mama

Yesterday was Mom's birthday. Peter, Emily and I headed to Tar-jay for her gift while Mom watched Luke. We first picked out a purse, which was actually a pretty tough decision. We wanted something that was the right size and neutral enough that she could wear it with most things. Then I decided a purse wasn't enough, so we picked out an outfit based on something she showed me she wanted from BH&G (Better Homes and Gardens, duhr). Turns out I actually do like to shop- I just prefer to do it for other people. While we were at Target we also picked up razors and shaving gel for Peter because his mustache is getting out of control. He's starting to look like one of those 20 somethings that is ironically trying to grow a mustache. I told him his options were bleaching, waxing, plucking, or shaving. He gave me the death look and told me shaving was his choice. When we got home Emily and I blindfolded Mom and got her dressed in her outfit and had her open her eyes and step into the bathroom to see the look. I'm not into fashion, and I was only copying something from a magazine, but I was really pleased with how it turned out. Emily chose the necklace, which really pulled everything together. I think if I had chosen the necklace it would have been silver, and way too blah, but the necklace she chose brought out the colors in the sweater. Watch out, Olivia (from the City- I watch way too much reality tv), Emily is gonna take your job as accessories editor at Elle. Mom is so hot that Emily said her tush looked great and the belt will have to have another hole punched in it because she is too skinny.