Little Pianist

Sitting at the piano is one of Lonetta's favorite past-times. She gets so excited when she gets the instrument to make a sound. 

ACD's Reunion

A bunch of the ACD's from Zion Camp, came over for a "Super Smash Brawl" tournament. Apparently, they all spent a lot of time at camp arguing who was the best at the video game. I was surprised at the seriousness that they took this challenge. Three hours later, and still nobody was crowned "king". James claims he won the tournament, however others say Craig deserves the crown. In any case, they had fun getting together again.

Productive Hands

Today was Justin and Steven's first day at their new jobs. A summer intern job opened up at Micrel for Justin while on his mini mission. He works in his Uncle Mike's department with the daunting task of archiving endless stacks of CDs. 

Steven has begun his year long commitment with Kaiser as a volunteer. Playing the violin in the lobby, bringing coffee, tea, magazines, and warm hand towels to patients are a few of the responsibilities he will be doing. 

I am proud of my older children for choosing to keep busy. 

"Idle hands are the devil's workshop."

"Momma"

 Loni finally has enough hair to qualify as having"bed hair".

She is learning and growing at lightening speed. She can now say, "Momma", which tugs at my heart strings. She can also identify my nose and mouth when I ask her, "Where's Mommy's mouth (or nose)?" I have scratches all over my nose from her grabbing it.
Watching each of my children develop and grow is one of the best parts of being a mom.

The world is at Lonetta's fingertips.

Home

Steven's favorite part of Zion Camp was the 11 mile bike ride. He told me there were lots of "sketchy" moments on the mountain bike trip. (Not something you should EVER say to your mom.)

His least favorite part was "free time" because nobody wanted to do anything.

James's favorite part was building hover crafts as part of the "Dale Smith Memorial".

His least favorite was the first night. When he returned to camp, his tent was broken in half (as if someone or something had fallen on it). On top of that, he forgot to pack the plug to his air mattress. So, he ended up sleeping under the stars for the week; which he said ended up being kind of fun.

Before leaving for camp, James took a short video of Loni on his phone. I reminded him that electronics weren't allowed at camp and he said that he's only going to turn it on to look at Loni when he was missing her. When I picked him up from camp, his friends told me that James showed them all the video of Loni. Blake was especially grateful for the fudge I sent that James shared. James also commented that of all of us, he missed Dave-o the most. (What am I, chopped liver?) 

I'm glad my boys are home. Our fridge is too full and the pantry in need of cleaning out. 

Girl Play

With the boys gone, the girls will play. Kirsten had a few friends over to swim as well as her cousins, Emily and Owen.

Behind the Wheel

Justin took his behind-the-wheel drivers test this morning. The longer we waited for his turn to come up, the sicker he felt. (Notice the barf bag on his lap). Justin was so nervous. 

Unfortunately it didn't end well. When we saw the lady instructor walk to our car, Justin said, "She doesn't look nice." I can't be sure, but she appeared to be the very same instructor that James had for his first driver's test. And she scared him to death.

As luck would have it, it was garbage day. The instructor told Justin to go around a garbage truck that was stopped in a residential neighborhood. He did what he was told, and was then told he made a critical driving error (a lane violation). She told Justin that he took to long to get back over and wrote on his test, "Drive unnecessarily in the on coming traffic lane." 

Aarrrg!

We went home and set up another appointment. This time, not on a Thursday morning. 

Five Year-old Davids

While sorting through a pile David's classic school photos, I froze when I saw his kindergarten one. 

If Dave-o had darker hair and a clef chin, the two could be twins. 

Bowl for Free

I signed the kids (15 and under) up for Cambrian Bowl's "Kids bowl free" summer program. For the entire summer, they will be able to bowl 2 games every day that they want for free. We just have to pay for shoe rental.

 Dave-o was super excited for this. We tried to go yesterday, but they lanes were booked with an hour waiting list.  

None of us are great bowlers (even with the bumpers). But we had fun.

Monday Madness

This morning I dropped James and Steven at the designated meeting spot attend a week of Zions Camp at Pico Blanco (in Carmel). James had been going back and forth between wanting to go. In the end, he gave into the pressure from his friends and family to attend. I think he will enjoy it this year because he will be an ACD (assistant camp director). 

Next on my list was to mail fudge to the boys at camp. The night before, I was up late making a batch and pouring it into a the box that butter comes in; just like my mom did for my siblings and I when we attending camp. 

In the evening, I dropped Justin off at West Valley for his first summer basketball class. Then I hurried home to feed the missionaries (Elder Mohl and Elder Olsen). They encouraged us to come up with a family missionary plan.

Our house is so quiet now. 

Great Dad Material

"Fathers, by divine decree, you are to preside over your family units. This is a sobering responsibility and the most important one you will ever assume, for it is an eternal responsibility. You place the family in its proper priority. It's the part of your life that will endure beyond the grave." 

Elder L. Tom Perry

David, and countless other dads that I know and have known, quietly go through life doing what's right while enduring pressures from work and other responsibilities with thanks often unsaid.

Thank you David!

Thank you for your selfless acts of love that our family continually reap from.

It is because of David's hard work in his profession that I am able to pursue the work that God has called me to do; which is a MOTHER. He has never devalued what I do at home. And, most importantly to me, he is a dedicated and loving father to our children.

During my teenage dating years, I penned many lists of ideal attributes for my future husband. "Good looking...Smart...Dark hair...Religious" made the list, but not "Great dad material". Thankfully, Heavenly Father was watching out for me in that department and sent David into my life for time and all eternity.

Happy Father's Day to my Father, 

Father-in-law, 

and to David.

RMM (Return Mini-Missionary)

(Elder Staker, Justin, and Elder Jackson)

Justin came HOME this evening! Just in time for Father's Day.

Before going to bed, I called a family meeting to give Justin the opportunity to share his experience serving in Los Gatos.  

Here are a few things Justin shared with us:

• First off, he mentioned that he immediately bonded with Elder Jackson (who reminded him of his two best friends, Kyle and Braydon). 
• The people in Los Gatos are rude to missionaries.
• They are also VERY rich.
• Missionaries play a lot of basketball (which he had to sit out of because of knee problems).
• He had no problem going to bed at 10:30 pm (due to pure exhaustion).
• The mission president, Pres. Watkins, is so rich that he offers to pay the college tuition of each missionary (in this area) when they return home. Elder Jackson told Justin that he's even offered to buy him a car.
• Giving away a Book of Mormon isn't as hard as he thought.
• He never felt homesick
• Being a full-time missionary is hard work, but fun.

Next Year One-Thousand Finicky

For some unknown reason, Dave-o uses the phrase "next year" when he's referring to a VERY large number. For example, after eating breakfast, Dave-o walked over to me bundled up in his Angry Birds Star Wars blanket with a rare scowl on his face. I asked him what was wrong. Here is his reply:

"Mom! I'm VERY, VERY next year one hundred in a bad mood."

While trying not to laugh, I asked Dave-o how I could help him be in a good mood. 

His suggestion was to do school. 

So we did. 

And it worked.

On a side note: Dave-o's blood work came back last week and he is anemic (just what our doctor thought). This doesn't come as a huge shock because he has been an extremely finicky eater. More so than any of my other children. We've got him taking Flinestone's Complete Vitamins. 

Remember taking those as a child? 

I do.

A Perfect Evening

Just thought I'd post some fun pictures from yesterday's "photo-shoot" with Loni. 

Dave-o loved exploring the many skinny trails that meander through the park. You know the ones I'm talking about? The single file, steep, and rocky paths. Once we made it back on the main trail, a lone deer, that was obviously humanized, confidently shared the trail with us people. He (or she) sides-stepped into the tall grass only when passing a human. Then it would get back on the trail. Eventually, it decided to leave the gravel and headed toward a tree for dinner. 

Before going home, we stopped at the playground.

I love spending evenings like this with my family. 

A Silly Smiley SEVEN Month-old

Our Lonetta is SEVEN months old!

Her toothy smile is so adorable.

She loves to explore now. I let Loni play in the sand for the first time yesterday and was shocked that she didn't try eating it. She spent an hour grabbing it by the handfuls and watching it fall to the ground.

This past month, she has become a mommy's girl. David tells everyone that Loni loves him best, after Mommy. 

On most days, I push Loni in her jogging stroller while exercising. She usually gnaws on my keys before the movement of the stroller lulls her to sleep.

Sleeping schedules and such are the same as when she was six months. 

I've been slow (or rather reluctant) to feed her a lot of solids. What I do give Loni, she loves. When I'm cooking meals, she enjoys eating graham crackers while sitting in her chair on the kitchen counter. And Loni absolutely loves her sippy cup. Right now all I put in it is water. 

Her favorite word to say is, 

"Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah."

The lighting here by this boulder, which was happily situated under the protection of a huge shade tree, must be magical. Every single photo that I took here captured Lonetta's eyes in a striking blue color.

The Little Mermaid

David and I at his parents home in Saratoga.

September 1989

This afternoon, Dave-o watched "The Little Mermaid" for first time. As I sat next to him on the couch, memories of seeing this movie for the first time came flooding back. The year was 1989 and David and I had only been dating a short time. On this particular date, we went to the movie theater in Saratoga to watch the newest Disney movie "The Little Mermaid". I'll never forget David's reaction to the scene where the french chef is chasing the lobster, Sebastian, around in the kitchen. David laughed so hard. Up until then, I had never heard anyone laugh as loud and as hard as David did. 

That is when I fell in love with him.

Symphony, Soil, Shovels

Steven had his last concert for the season. Between practices every Monday evening and all of the volunteer hours that David and I have put in, being a part of the San Jose Youth Symphony has proven to be quite a commitment. It's one that we will be doing again at the start of the next school year. In April, Steven auditioned with the symphony again and was placed in the Concert Orchestra. Steven is excited to practice in a full orchestra setting.

In the evening, we all began the groundbreaking work on our latest project. A raised bed garden enclosure. My mother-in-law recently showed me hers and I knew we had to have one also. Harvesting vegetables is nearly impossible for us due to pesky varmints like squirrels and rats. Thankfully, I have a handyman for a husband who immediately jumped at the challenge. I can't wait for it to be finished. 

This is the inspiration.

(Steven is seated in the middle to the right of the conductor.)

Book of Mormon and Food Trucks

I received this text from Justin this morning:

"I gave out my first Book of Mormon." 

Hooray!

Justin must be on a high right now. I'm so proud of him.

Tonight, David and I took Matt out for dinner. We drove to Curtner where we bought a variety of food from the local food trucks. Three folding chairs set up in the parking lot behind our car was our dining room. The time flew by as David and I enjoyed catching up on Matt's life. We had so much fun, I forgot to take pictures. 

The food was amazing and the company extraordinaire.

Matt's Here!

(Me with Loni in her sling, Matt, Kirsten, Steven, and Dave-o laughing at how silly we look in the thermal camera.)

 Matthew is in town for a few days. Yeah! The kids love their older cousin and were so excited to hang out with him. 

(Just for the record, David and I were also excited to see Matt.)

Yesterday we took him to the Tech Museum. 

 Matt and Dave-o navigating the jet pack chair.

Kirsten and Matt checking out the hockey exhibit.

Kindergarten Shots

Yesterday, Dave-o had a physical and his five-year-old shots. Not too long ago, he had seen Steven courageously endure getting shots. Dave-o kept telling me (or rather himself), "I'm going to be brave just like Steven." And he was. In fact, Dave-o was more brave because he didn't shed one tear as the nurse gave him three shots and a blood test for anemia (his growth is slow). Our doctor told Dave-o to watch closely as the technicians take his blood to make sure it wasn't green. Then he'd be a reptile. Dave-o took her words seriously and was relieved to find that his blood was red.

Keeping with tradition, I let Dave-o have ice-cream after his shots. We drove home, picked up Steven, Kirsten, and Loni, and drove to Ghirardelli Square. I wouldn't normally drive this far for ice-cream, but I owed Dave-o a trip to SF for his birthday.

 Ice-cream takes away most problems (especially Mint Bliss).

 Thank you Loni!

 We had a little bit of time left to spend at the beach near Ghirrardelli

 Dave-o is wearing a huge smile on his face in every single photo I took of him at the beach. He sure has turned into a beach bum.