Turning 16

I think that the most exciting birthday for all of us is when we turn 16. I definitely remember my 16th birthday. This month it was Doug's turn. He passed his driving test with a nearly perfect score and he is so happy to have the freedom of driving himself to school and back.

He has also been preparing for a piano competition. I posted one of his pieces. This is Excursions by Samuel Barber. He has given a few practice performances for various audiences and while I have enjoyed his playing, I have really enjoyed watching him speak to the audience. Doug has not ever been verbose, especially with adults. It is wonderful to see him with confidence in public speaking. His introduction of each piece he played made all of us enjoy the music so much more and his cute smile just makes us laugh. Well it made me cry. At one of the performances he invited to two hottest teachers on the high school campus. His friends are so jealous and he is so proud.


Last Saturday he played in his first baseball scrimmage of the season. I love these pictures.

Thomas

A couple of weeks ago Thomas came home from school excited to tell me about an essay contest. A special dinner with local professional baseball players was to be awarded to the top 6 essays in each of the middle schools in town. These players included 5-6 minor players but also Brian Fuentes (A's) and Doug Fister (Tigers). Because Doug is LDS and also because our Doug played with his cousin in Little League our family follows him during the baseball season. Needless to say, Thomas wanted to win 2 tickets to this dinner. The essay topic was "If you could have dinner with a professional baseball player, what would you ask him?" and it was limited to 250 words. After Thomas wrote his first draft I thought I would sit down and help him craft a very clever essay. Then I decided an 11-year old boy should write what he really wants to know. So with a little grammer help from Ben, here is Tom's essay:

My name is Thomas Rowan and it would be very exciting to be able to spend an evening with professional baseball players. Baseball is one of my favorite sports. I’ve always had questions for pro baseball players and I hope they will be answered.

The first question I would ask is:

Did you have a favorite team growing up? Who was it? My favorite team is the San Francisco Giants. I think it would be weird going to a team that you had hated growing up. Did you ever have that experience? I bet that would really stink.

The next question I would ask is:

Was baseball always your favorite sport? I know sometimes baseball isn’t my favorite. If baseball wasn’t always your favorite what was? Did you play any other sports like soccer or football? I bet you’d be pretty busy if you did.

Another question I would ask is:

Do you ever get homesick when you are traveling all over the country? Do you ever miss your family or do they come with you when you are traveling? When I go to soccer games my mom or dad comes with me, whether it’s in Lodi or Merced.

Again I would love it if these questions were answered. I’ve always wanted to become a pro and I hope these players will give me the advice I need to become one. Thank you very much for this amazing opportunity.

The next week when I picked him up from school he was so excited to hand me an envelope that contained two tickets to the dinner. A dream come true.

Here are some pictures of Tom in his current soccer season. He plays on a competitive team that travels up and down the Valley. He loves every minute of practice and the games, he loves wearing jerseys, carrying a sports bag and drinking Gatorade. I love seeing him so happy.

I love the first three pictures, watch the ball and the boys faces. The next two picture are of his coach and assistant coach (son of the coach). I just have to laugh because of the earrings, they are the nicest people in the world and pretty good coaches too. We haven't lost a game yet. I love that he gets to be around such diversity and that he understands Spanish, at least all the soccer phrases. I love that his name becomes Toe-mas during the season. I love that he is healthy. I love that I get to be his mom.

Celebration

Yesterday, Matt had his PICC line removed which means 6 weeks of antibiotics is over and he can shower without wrapping his arm in saran wrap and he can dress without snagging his line on his clothing. It also means that today he is very cheerful!!! I was surprised by how long the line was, I had no idea. I'm sure dad and Jay have inserted a thousand PICC lines but it was a new experience for me. So glad I got it on video.

To My College Graduate

I am so proud of you, how exciting to be a college graduate!

I love that you love your life and that you find the lovely, humorous and tender moments in this world.

I loved watching you shop for your freshman dorm room. It was so fun to buy pink hangers, shoe organizers and baskets and help you set up your room. I'm so glad that you and Kyra color coordinated everything. What could be more cheerful than a lime green and neon pink dorm room? I remember driving away that year and being so excited for you and so sad for me.

I love that you love yourself. I love that you love others and that you have found a direction in your life that allows you to serve others and also brings you so much joy.

I love that you went to Paris. Standing in airport as we said goodbye, tears filled our eyes and there was a slight hesitation, but I'm so glad you turned and got into that security line and then had a wonderful time abroad. I'm so glad you learned so much, ate too much and made lifelong friends. I love that we could Skype while you were away and that it made my daily life so joyful to see and hear you.

I'm glad that you share your funny and oops moments on your blog. I still love the snail story, it makes me laugh every time I think about it.

I love that after Paris, you came home and spent the summer with me. I love that you went to every baseball game that your 3 brothers played in that spring and that we had time together as mother and daughter again.

I love that when you are home there is always a batch of No-Bake cookies on the cupboard.

I love that you found Ben. I think you are the luckiest girl in the whole world.

I have loved that when you walk across campus between classes, you call me and tell me about your day.

I love that you love Utah. I think it's a pretty great place too.

I love that you spent time with my sisters - slept on their couches, ate their food, and went to their children's birthday parties, baptisms and other gatherings.

I love that you don't like Utah winters, because Merced has really nice winters.

I hope you dance all your life.

I love you.

My Favorite Holiday

I believe that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the feel of Autumn. In Merced, the leaves are still in the process of changing colors and only about half have fallen to the ground. Everywhere I drive it is so beautiful and everywhere I walk has the musky aroma of leaf piles. On Thanksgiving morning, I ran 5 miles and it was so nice to exercise at 7:30 in the morning rather than in the dark at 5:00am. The run was quiet, with very few other pedestrians on my path. A light fog was lingering in the trees, but behind the fog was the warmth of the sun. I listened to the Great American Trombone Company and felt so satisfied by the time I returned home. I love that families gather and we feel one another's gratitude for blessings. I love that it is few days of resting and being outside and talking and just feeling happy.
Here was my contribution to the family dinner - Dutch Apple Pie, and Banana Pudding.

On Friday, Emily and I went for a bike ride. When we returned I decided to take off her training wheels. Matt tried this last Spring and she wasn't very excited about it, but this time she was ready to try. Doug and I took turns running beside her and in about 5 trips down the street she was starting, riding and stopping all by herself. She even wanted to try Tommy's old bike which is a size or two larger than her bike. After a few trips down the street and back, she was riding this bike standing up and winking at dad. I love that Emily wants to try new things. I also love that she likes boys toys....she didn't need pink or flowers and instead she was very excited to be on the rocket-ship bike.

On Saturday, she and I rode 4 miles together. Whenever she rides her bike and her legs get going, she says it feels like her "legs are pumped up". I think that is such a cute expression. She probably rode another 4 miles around and around the driveway. I love that as we rode, she looked up at me and said, "I just love riding a bike". I do too.

The boys gathered for gaming and I was so glad to hear such laughing and hollering. Especially from Matt who is going stir crazy resting his back.
We had lovely weather (although you can't judge by Doug because he wears this all the time), the boys played a lot of hoops and Matt shot off several rockets that he and Thomas have built for friends and cousins.
I am thankful for this time of year - for time to reflect on all that is good in my life. I am thankful for family and friends, my children and for Matt. I love the world I live in. My life is good.

What I Love About 1st Grade

I love that in First Grade a child believes everything a teacher says. Emily has been so concerned that her Halloween candy might be poisoned by some mean stranger - a fact explained to her today by her teacher. Did they ever really find razor blades in candy or was that a myth from my childhood?

But the best story this week goes like this.....we are standing in front of the bathroom mirror brushing her hair, I look up at her reflection and her eyes are crossed. She then says, "don't worry mom I won't do this for long because if you do it for a long time your eyes get stuck and then you have to go to the doctor and he has to put sharp things in your eyes to fix them and then you have to wear glasses for the rest of your life."

Oh the things you learn on the playground.