Another birthday buddy!!

Over the years, I have met some birthday buddies.  My sister-in-law and I are even born the same year!  A woman moved into our ward a year or so ago and we figured out we were birthday pals!!  And then there was a man in our ward who came up to me a few years ago and said, "My birthday is May 23rd also!"

 

So I was pleased to discover, while reading the biography of President Eyring, that  his mother, Mildred Bennion Erying, was born on May 23rd also!!

 

It's always nice to find yourself in good company!!

It's February - it must be Blue and Gold time!!

Harry and I continue to serve as Stake Cubmasters - and it's especially fun since Porter is a Cub Scout - and Harry W. will become one in November.  Harry the Dad pointed out that he was wearing blue and gold too!

 

Dinner, games, contests, dessert - always fun!!

I love those Cub Scouts!!

Happy Birthday Ry!!

Harry and Ry have been friends for a long time - college roommates even!!

 

An extraordinary artist too.

The Terrills and the Nebekers - friends forever!!  Just as it should be.

Happy day to you - and all year through!!

We love you guys!!

Happy day to Esme'

I clearly remember when Esme' was born - I went to help and Bruce was suffering the ill-effects of poison oak!!

 

Esme' has the biggest and brightest smile!!

 

She is clever and funny and smart and talented - and I think she always has been!!

 

I sure hope someone doesn't correct me and say this was a shot of Annika - for some reason there are no solo shots of Esme' from Hannah's wedding!!  And I think this is Esme'!!

 

This is Esme' for sure - this year - just before the new year began - and here is a wonderful new year - the year of being 12 - opening up for her!!

May it be the best ever!!  Happy day to you - and all year through!!

Happy Day to David!!

So glad Phoebe found David and brought him into our family!!

Here's to the best birthday ever!!  And a wonderful year ahead too!!

A "Mammoth" weekend!!

The drive to Mammoth was traffic-free - and Saturday a.m. the skiers got ready and headed to the slopes.

 

Had some time in the cafeteria at the lodge - saving places!!  Then headed to the gondola and the village.

 

Dinner at "The Stove" and then some old-time video games for the girls to enjoy.  At home, we enjoyed movies and ice cream and conversation.  Also some episodes of Full House - apparently a Bolander family fave!!

 

Saturday night brought a snowstorm - several inches - and some snow-shoveling was in order!!

 

The Mammoth Lakes Branch is tiny - but full of a big spirit!!  They count on the tourists to add to their Sabbath experience - kind of nice to know you have a role when you visit!!

 

We even got in on the "linger/longer" afterwards.  As usual, Harry felt the need to help fold up the chairs!!

 

It's great to find the warmth of church members wherever you go.

 

The exterior of the chapel.

 

Annika had been itching to build a snowman - so the girls and Grandpa helped make it happen.

Monday a.m. was more skiing - and reading and napping for some of us!!

We got home tonight around 6 p.m.  No traffic to speak of  - and a great Louis L'Amour novel to keep us awake.  Thanks Bolanders for a very fun weekend!!

Valentine Memories!!

I post it every year - it's still the best Valentine I ever came up with!!

 

"Grow old with me, the best is yet to be!!"

Robert Browning

Another run up the Stairway of the Stars!!

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Tonight,  the band performances in the 65th annual Stairway of the Stars show for Malibu/Santa Monica Unified School District were held.  Esme was in the middle school band - here she is in line, getting ready to go onstage.  The bands were all great - guest conductors, soloists, a beautiful venue.  Way to go Esme!!

Ara was in the high school Jazz Band - she had a flute solo for part of one number - and did a great job.   All the numbers were well-done - these musicians are so talented and enthusiastic.  And the numbers they chose to perform were moving and innovative.

This music program is so impressive!  The school district is committed to keeping music - and all its benefits and beauty - part of the educational program.

It's inspiring!  So glad we were there!!

A little holiday in GH

It was a school holiday for us today - we take two Mondays in February instead of a Friday/Monday for President's Day -  so I went out to visit my mom.  Ostensibly I was going to sew dolly dresses again, but we got to talking.  And the talking was more compelling!

I started out telling her about our adventure Saturday with our "stair walk," and in the process mentioned driving by the Angelus Temple, where Aimee Semple McPherson "reigned" for many years.  And she told me about a time in 1937 when she and her friends went to the Angelus Temple to see Aimee Semple McPherson!  

She described these clotheslines they had stretched from the stage to the rows of seats - it's a pretty large building, in case you've never seen it.  There were clothespins on the lines, and you were supposed to pin money to the line.  Apparently Ms. McPherson was an incredible fundraiser.

When I got home, Harry googled her name, and we took turns reading out loud to each other about her rather tumultuous life.  I may need to check out a bio on her!!

Later in the conversation, she mentioned that my dad had always wanted to be an optometrist - a fact I did not know.  She said, "You never heard him talk about it?  Well, maybe he only talked to me about it."

The things you don't know!

Stairway of the Stars - 2014

Last night was the start of the 65th annual Stairway of the Stars musical production by Malibu/Santa Monica Unified School District.  The ones we have gone to in the past were at the Santa Monica Civic, but now they are at Samohi.  For that reason, they are now spread out over 3 nights.  Last night was the choral portion - and Ella sang in the women's high school choir division.  

 

Bonny, Bruce, and Esme came to cheer Ella on.  Samohi has a lovely auditorium - very vintage and great acoustics.

 

The theme for the choral numbers - elementary, middle school, and high school choirs - was African American spirituals.  And the groups performed beautifully!!  I thoroughly enjoyed my evening.  Learned about a new song - "My Long White Robe" - which I had never heard before - I think it will become a new fave!!

Tuesday is band night - Ara and Esme are performing - I will let you know how it goes!!  Bonny and her family are certainly fortunate to live in a school district that puts such a high value on music.  Other districts should take note!!

Rhoda's Blessing Day!

We went to DC for Rhoda's blessing. It was a quick trip, but so worth the time and effort!!  Many friends of Hannah and Robbie came.  It is always nice to meet your kids' friends!!

 

Robbie, Hannah, and Rhoda are just the cutest new family!!  Don't you think??

 

Even remembered to get a group photo outside the church!!

 

Hmm - not sure how I chose this shot!!  When they are tiny, it's hard to tell!!  (The photos, not the kids!)

 

Hannah and Robbie had a "pie" theme - all kinds of pies - chicken, quiche, apple, lemon meringues, strawberry rhubarb, key lime, the list goes on - and it was all delicious.  Hannah made the paper flowers!!

 

Grandpa and Rhoda!!

 

Grandpa and Rhoda and Rob's friend Christian!!

 

Girls just wanna have fun, don't they??

 

These are some of my favorite girls!!

 

A perfect day!!

"When the family gets together!!"

We took a very quick trip to Washington DC for Rhoda's blessing.  We took the red-eye Friday night, had a quick nap after we got in at 5 a.m. and then headed for the air and space museum that is connected to Dulles Airport.  It was great to see the space capsules and old German bombers and the French Concorde.  It is a large, cavernous building - very evocative of air and space!!  The kids were all in fine form, and a wonderful time was had by all.  It was a beautiful, sunny day too - they'd been having very cold weather so we were delighted to not really need our coats!!

 

The rest of Saturday was taken up with pie making for the reception after Rhoda's blessing - which was the next day.  Diane and Dave were there, so it was fun to have a crowd to visit with, work with, and just share a good time with.

 

Miss Rhoda did an excellent job as star of the show!!

 

She's at the very smiley, responsive stage - hard not to just sit and hold and play with her the whole time!!

 

We are getting good at enjoying take-out around the Selander dinner table!!  And the Selanders are good about finding great places to get the take-out!

 

I asked Lars if he wanted me to read him a story.  So he ran and got a book - and brought it to Grandpa!  Grandpa Bob made an appearance too - with his Milanos and chocolate milk - another big hit!  When we got home Sunday night, Ida wanted Grandpa to put her to bed!  He's a popular guy, old Grandpa Bob!!

Fortunately for all of us, Robbie and Hannah's ward doesn't meet until 12:30, so we could clean up, visit, get ready for Sunday - and still not have to get up at the crack of dawn!!  (I was trying to explain the idiom "crack of dawn" for Theo - not sure it translated very well.  I will need to do some research!)

Watch for the next post of the big event.  It was so good to be with everyone on just a regular old Saturday, too.