Happy day to my sister Alice!!

 I could probably make a book of photos of Alice and me!!  It is so great to have a sister close in age.  I love all my sisters, but growing up it was really great to have someone close to share things with - a bedroom, clothes, paper dolls, chores, secrets, good times - the list goes on and on.

Her birthday is almost exactly one month before mine - and Grandma Stevens always gave us the same gift - but in different colors.  So when Alice opened her gift, I was left to guess what color mine would be.  One year they were red and green umbrellas.  One year they were red and green lunch pails. One year they were blue and pink dresses.

Fun memories!!

Have a great day Alice - and a wonderful year ahead!

Happy Day to Grandma Stevens!

Today is my Grandma Stevens' birthday.  My sister Alice's birthday is tomorrow, and I used to say, "Gee Grandma if Alice had been born one day earlier, you'd have the same birthday."  

And she would always say, "Might as well have been a year, she missed it!"

I loved her - she was a kind, loving woman.  She had her quirks, and the more I study her life and ask my mom questions, the more I wished I'd talked to her more!!

But the memories I do have are precious indeed!!

Happy Day to you - Mima Lillian Wamsley Stevens!

Happy day to the Bruce-man!!

We count it as the best day ever when Bruce joined our family!!  I can't believe he's now older than we were when he and Bonny got married - where do the years go??

Have a great day - and a wonderful year ahead!!

Happy Birthday Eliza!!

We are in Boston right now - getting ready for the marathon.  The very first year Harry ran it, it was Eliza's birthday on the Sunday before the race!!  Eliza has come to most of them too.  But she has an excellent excuse this time - but it would be nice to have her here to give her a hug!!

Happy day to a wonderful young woman who has brought us much joy and happiness!!

Boston - where we are right now!!

These shots are from Harry's first Boston Marathon in 2002.  It was quite an adventure for us.  We stayed near Bunker Hill in a bed and breakfast that had once been a sea captain's house.

By "dumb luck" we connected right after the race - that's never happened since!!  Actually we just meet at the park with the swan boats now - and after the bombing, we were certainly glad we hadn't been at the finish line waiting!

 

Harry took phone calls that afternoon - everyone seemed to be keeping track of us!!

I have posted this to run while we are gone - hopefully I can post some stuff on FB and Instagram.  Just know that we are hopefully having fun getting ready for the big race and enjoying some downtime!!

Remembering Frau Campbell

 There was a memorial service today for Marianne Campbell, former German and English teacher at Monrovia High School.  It was held at Bethany Church in Sierra Madre.  Jenny Dequer Graves was there, and was Dawn Dequer Christensen, and Eliza's friend Jennifer.  You can't really see this great photo they had of Frau - just take my word for it that it was stunning!

I sat by Anne Battle - Louise Taylor, Linda Harding, Grace Yoshimoto, Tom Anderson, Linda Simmons, Mrs. Berry, and many others were there.

 

We enjoyed a luncheon afterwards - this is Karen Johnson - who graduated with Harry F. and said she knew Bonny and the Dequer twins too.

 

Also saw Randy Jewkes - maybe that's spelled wrong - and his wife Kendra with their son.

Should have gotten a photo of Tom too!

The event had been planned by a student who had stayed connected to Frau all these years - and he graduated in 1975 - and most of the program featured students from the 70's.  But it was a lovely service - and those who shared remembrances did a nice job.  

The music - piano prelude and postlude by Sue Hart and violin solos by Jenny Viseck - was lovely also.

Frau was a very private person - her birthdate  year was not revealed - on the slide show - which included photos of her from her childhood in Berlin - it said 19?? to 2014!  But the bio that apparently Frau had written some years ago detailed some of her experiences during and after WWII.

One speaker noted that she had served over 6,000 students in her 42 years of teaching - a pretty impressive record.

Hannah and Eliza are the members of our family who took German from her, and she impacted their lives in many areas.

Frau said that teaching is an act of love.  And the tributes attested to the love she had for her students - and the love they had for her.

A little more tbt!

St. George in the summertime - a Terrill tradition for many years.  Here's Eliza and Dad relaxing I suppose - maybe Dad was trying to take a nap!

 

Eliza with baby brother Noah - cut his teeth on St. George!

 

Grandma and Grandpa stopped in one year on their way to SLC I think.

And Hannah more than once celebrated her birthday in St. George.

 

Hiking and picnicking around Zion's was often on the agenda too.

Good times!!

Easter fun!

Spring Break for the Bolanders involved Bonny, Bruce, and the big girls going to Provo - and the little girls coming out to stay with us.  When Esme and Annika come, Eve and Isla cannot be far behind!!  It's fun to have everyone here - and of course, Grandpa Bob stories are on the menu!

 

We played lots of games and watched movies and ate snacks and went for walks and to Yogurtland and Jonah's grave - the weather was pretty great - the girls went with Dawn and everyone to the beach too.

 

Saturday afternoon session of conference - complete with popcorn!!  Ara showed up later to drive everyone home - they joined us again on Sunday at Harry and Dawn's.

 

Sunday after conference was the egg hunt at Harry and Dawn's - they had friends join us too - the more the merrier we always say!

 

Isla was a determined little egg hunter!!  Love her ears!!

 

The crowd of kids!!

The front yard action!

 

Deacon just woke up - can you tell??

 

When it gets too crazy, Porter hops in his bunk and starts reading - a man after my own heart!!

 

Love these girls!!

 

And these girls too!!  (Bruce was in New York on business.)

 

Harry W. is into yearbooks I guess!

 

And Deacon is into iPhones and swaddling blankets used as shawls!!

 

The lovely Miss Ara Grace - probably her last Easter party - unless Easter comes late next year!!

Fun times were had by all - holidays are the best!!

(Taylor and Noah were at her aunt's house - lest you think they weren't included!)

A busy Spring!!

I tried to upload photos from Easter, and the computer seemed to object to the load I was asking of it, so I'm divvying up the work, so to speak!  Helen enjoys weekly visits from Dawn and Deacon - and she prides herself on being able to hoist him up to her lap by herself!!

 

Arcelia's mother and sister have been here for a month-long visit - she had not seen either of them in almost 20 years, so it's been a happy time.  We enjoyed having them over for dinner!!  Dessert included flan!

 

My new calling is Stake Young Women Camp Director - and we have regular meetings with the YCL's - a fun group of girls.  A capable group too - good thing, can't see myself doing spreadsheets and teaching certification!!  I'm focusing on being prepared for the hike!!

 

Enjoyed a Spring Break visit from Heather, Madi, and Drake.  They came early and brought Grandma to Church, then had dinner and a visit with her.  We enjoyed a brief visit with them too - we miss having the Cieslas around!!

 

Cub Pack meeting featured a very fun version of Hungry, Hungry Hippos - maybe you've seen YouTube videos of it - how can you go wrong with skateboards, balloons, and 8 to 10 year old boys??  I was busy supervising and everyone else was busy watching and laughing - so no pics of the activity.  It was lots of fun!!  Dawn's Den did a very great skit too!!  We have a happening pack!

I've done some subbing, visiting with Grandma Mary, walking, going to Curves, sewing aprons, and reading a lot of books - I will hit the 52 book mark in the summertime I think!!