Not to dimish Ara's big day in any way...

but it appears that Grandma was ready for the announcement to be made (not that I can hide it much longer)!

Our new baby will be making it's appearance in mid-July. So far everyone, even Agnes, is excited. I guess we'll see how they all feel after the baby actually gets here :)

Ara Grace - on to the teen years!!

This photo was taken just a few weeks ago, at Isla's blessing. It's a nice little retrospective of the oldest grandchild holding the youngest grandchild. Of course, it will change - and I will have to get a shot of Ara holding the newest grandchild next summer. But it works for now.

Ah, and here she is as the first and only grandchild - and oh how excited everyone was. Only one person gets to be the first grandchild - it's just the way it is. But we are so grateful for Ara and the beautiful young woman she is becoming. She is setting "the gold standard" for those who follow. And she is doing a great job.

Maybe I post this every year, but it's a fave of mine. I love the contrast - the ballerina battling it out with Grandpa at Zim Zam!!

Ara now steps out into the teen years. We are all excited to watch the these years unfold. Enjoy the journey Ara!! Maybe you will let us "consult" now and then!!

In the news!!

Never let it be said that Dad and I were never in the news!!

This is from today's LA Times - an article about the closing of the Pasadena Playhouse - and it's a shot from last night's show - Dad and I are in the lower right hand corner as you face the picture - if I knew how to circle things I would! We are 2nd and 3rd from the right on the last row you can see in the picture. And you can only see the backs of our heads - but hey, it's exposure!! (Obviously clicking on it makes it easier to see!)

The Week That Was

I have spent the last week getting ready for Saturday's annual Women's Conference. I love these events - we get lots of positive feedback - but the week before I start to panic and think that I won't get everything done - or that something will go wrong.

I thought it would be great to make aprons for our keynote speaker and the presenters of the 4 classes. I need to quit having great ideas!! So I spent last week getting 5 aprons made - the last one this afternoon. Our theme is provident living - and I didn't go buy any fabric - just scrounged around - they all came out great. (One presenter's sister gave me the fabric for hers.)

We were given tickets to Camelot at the Pasadena Playhouse for Christmas - for tonight's performance. I was panicking tonight thinking I couldn't swing it - but Dad, the world's greatest helper, saved the day - and the night I guess!! We even had time to go over while they were setting up - and I set up the classrooms. The show was pretty good too. I have loved that music for years - my roommate Janet had the soundtrack and played it a lot my first two years of college - but I don't think I was very familiar with the actual story. It's really pretty sad - and tragic even. I have been reading the Arthurian legend with my 1st period class. And I have read Le Morte d'Arthur with the student I home teach - and Idylls of the King too. So I'm feeling like I'm "in the know" now!

Thursday night was a baby shower for Dawn and Isla at Nadinna's house. It was nice. Sylvia did the cakes.

And Mom and Donna came out too. Had dinner with us beforehand, so we got a chance to visit. Mary had to work, so she couldn't come.

The "generations" shot -we are even almost color co-ordinated!

Katherine and Christopher came too. Baby Harry looks a little non-plussed, doesn't he?

I'm off to bed - an early a.m. awaits - we'll let you know how it goes.

A hard working dude!!

That was your dad, a box boy at Market Basket - circa 1962.

He can still pack a grocery sack just right too! (And make comments about how badly some box people do it now - come on, bread on the bottom??!!)

Big news from Norway

Check out Hester's big news here!

It's a Perfect Day for Bananafish

J.D. Salinger passed away.

Link here


So sad.

"Rain, rain, go away. . ."

I know that our week and more of rain and cold and threat of mudslides doesn't elicit much sympathy from those of you of live in truly cold climes, but we don't generally "do winter" around here, so it's a very big deal!!

I mean, a chance to wear sweaters and coats that hardly see the light of day takes some planning and scheduling!!

Have some compassion!!

Rollin' with the Bowlin'

Happy Day to Hester!!

I think it's pretty much agreed that it's not a Hester's Birthday Post unless I post this photo.

But this one is also emblematic of those "cousin" days of yore!!

Oh, those silly girls!! (This is from that long ago era when I had my very first digital camera - and took almost no photos with it. I was still resisting technology at that time - the mid-90's. I think there are about a dozen photos I took. Dad took over the camera and took "work" shots mostly.)

What is so wonderful is that the "cousin" days go on and on!!

Hester the Scholar!!

I think this is Phoebe's wedding??

Beach shots truly say "SoCal cousin days of yore!!"

You know, Alice is a great letter writer - and she always used to write me - before we resorted to email and phone calls - and she sent lots of pictures - which I have stashed in boxes and folders everywhere.

I could probably start a Kerksiek blog of my own!!

Except I might not be able to identify and offer commentary!!

But I have loved staying so connected to all of the great Kerksieks this way.

Do you love the 80's as much as I do!! It's a perfect look for cute little girls!

They grow so fast, don't they?

Hester is a wonderful young woman - and I have always loved her!! I was thinking that these two photos are representative of where Eve and Esme are at this point in time - they are midway between them in fact - and how I hope the cousin relationships in the Terrill family can be as great as they are with the Kerksieks!! (We love all our cousins - but we certainly see more of some than others - and some stay in touch better - hint, hint!!)

Hester - we hope you have a happy day and a wonderful year ahead - no one deserves it more than you!!

More Bikes

This is Bruce - these are a few of his bikes.

Annika - fierce as always


Mom - she was there - documenting

Dad - I think this is where Annika gets her fierceness.

Happy Birthday Curtis!!

I do not know the year on this one - maybe someone does - Joan and Donna often figure these out!!

And I don't even know if any of the Richard Claytons read the blog - but Happy Birthday to you, Curtis!! And best wishes for a great new year ahead!!

The rest of the visit -

Some kids doodle - Ara draws diagrams of DNA!! Gotta love that girl!! We had some major white board activity this weekend. I had salvaged some classroom posters that you would write on and erase, so that was a big hit.

Naturally we went to Urbane and had manicures.

And as usual, the tow-headedness of the group was noted.

They actually remember us well there - even though we only come in a few times a year as a group.

And since Eve was wearing a brown jogging suit, the one gal called her "the brown one" to distinguish her from her cousins.!! I thought it was pretty hilarious to call Eve brown!!

The order of the day was French tips, flowers, and jewels!! Afterward we did Wendy's and Dawn, baby Harry, and Isla joined us. (Harry and Porter did the manly thing and went to the barber shop!!)

Ara finished her quilt - just in time for New Beginnings next Sunday!

We said goodbye when Bonny came for them. I will miss them -it's mighty quiet around here.

They did their best to polish off the chocolate milk, but not to worry - Grandpa Bob is helping out!!

We love having the girls here - they are our "little women" and they do indeed make us smile and bring us joy!

Long ago and far away!!

A few months ago I was posting something about my BYU days and mentioned a young man we knew there named John Johnson. And I knew I had a photo of him - in fact, I knew just what the photo looked like!! But I couldn't find the photo.

John Johnson, Barb Clayton, Janet Jackson, Joy Jensen
I cleaned out a hall cupboard this afternoon, planning to make room for sheets and towels. And as I was clearing stuff out, I discovered a pile of 10 or 15 posters I had made when I was YW President. Some were of events like Youth Conference or Girls' Camp. Some were for lessons on friendship - as in "College Friends Then and Now." (I am so catchy and original!!)

And there was the photo of John Johnson - November 3, 1963, BYU Homecoming. I remember thinking Homecoming was a strange kind of event - since I went to a brand new high school - it opened the day I started - I'd never heard of Homecoming. (I tend to still think it's a kind of overrated event.)

John was the young man who was from Virginia. He was a superb dancer, very snappy dresser, knew so much about popular culture that I'd never even thought about or heard of, and he's the young man who introduced me to Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and the whole peace/anti-war scene.

And I've often wondered about where he is now. (The photo simply does not do him justice - but it's the only one I have.) I'm pretty sure he didn't go on a mission. He was also the one I took a history class with - and our seat mate was D.Todd Christopherson - they knew each other from "the east coast!"

All this info - from cleaning off a shelf. I may tackle more shelves!!

Weekend Wrap-up

I have been remiss in my blogging. I have been inundated with January I think. It comes way too quickly after December and the holidays, don't you agree?? Not to mention the plethora of January birthdays that dominate my birthday calendar!! It's a good thing we love everyone on said calendar!!

But the Bolander Beauties came for their annual Anniversary Visit - the one where their parents go celebrate their anniversary that is - and they remain with us!! After a Friday night repast of spaghetti and warm, fresh French bread from Pavilions, we went to the Centre Stage production of Little Women - our own Sarah Cornwall starred as Marmee. It was a great production, Sarah did a great job, and as Little Women afficionados, we were delighted to be there.

Saturday was fun - we went to Michael's for some project supplies for Ella and scored in the Grandma's Treasure Box department - as in the dollar bins were marked down to 20 cents!! Yep, 20 measly centavos. We are set for awhile!! Then we did Wendy's for lunch, visited the wonderful Monrovia Library - and spent a whopping $4.75 at the Friends of the Monrovia Library Bookstore while hauling out treasures!!

The new playground is pretty nice!!

Eve joined us for some Saturday afternoon fun - she was sick on Friday so we were glad she got well!! Saturday night the girls were at Ogilvie's while we went to Stake Conference - they all enjoyed that.

Sunday a.m. we headed out for the same broadcast all the rest of you Southern Californians enjoyed. I was distracted a bit - we had 7 of 8 grandkids there on two rows at the back of the Stake Center. But they behaved quite well, and the talks were right on the mark - just what we needed to hear!!

Later that day, some sisterly computer time - both Ara and Ella had homework - which they have dutifully picked away at.

Ara also worked on her Young Women Value Project - and burned her fingers with the iron. Nurse Dawn provided some wonderful "instacare!!"

Sunday dinner was also fun - I practiced on the group - making the soup we are serving at the Women's Conference in 2 weeks - yikes, can it be coming up that fast?? Anyway, the jury came in with a thumbs up! Can't ask for more than that. Except maybe to see Baby Harry in his favorite costume - maybe you had to be there, but he's pretty hilarious, especially when he gives up on keeping the legs up and just crawls around!!

Count on Little Harry to clue everyone in on a great YouTube video - the group gave that a thumbs up too! Our laundry/sewing/computer room seems to be the "local hangout!"

Ella loves holding Miss Isla - who is growing by the minute it seems!!

Grandpa and the girls wrapped up the evening with a movie - Escape to Witch Mountain - the remake I think. Grandpa built a fire too - and they roasted marshmellows. Perfect for the rain that has started to fall. (There are supposed to be back-to-back storms this week - 4 of them. Hope we don't float away!!)

Noah, little Harry, Greg and I were there - even if we are not in the photos!!

Have a great week!!