An old Christmas photo with Santa - I suspect my mom had my dad take the kids to see Santa so she could get some rest or get ready for Christmas - or probably take care of my new baby sister Donna!!
Christmas memories are complex and sometimes weighty to contemplate. I remember always being excited about Christmas coming - and being disappointed when it actually happened - I think I enjoyed the anticipation more than the event.
But there are still lots of good memories to share!
Month of gratitude - a late start - it's already day 6 - but that covers these 6 wonderful kids of ours - who are the best!
When she turned 40 - about 13 years ago - or maybe when she turned 30? Anyway, at some point, Bonny designated her birth month as Bontober - and it stuck - and we all acknowledge Bontober now. And celebrate the other October birthdays in Bontober!
So happy day to Deacon (7), Jonah (8), Phoebe (11), Porter (11), Ida (12), and Calvin (25)!!
Bontober is actually lots of fun - and it's pretty nice when your birth month segues nicely with your name!
The Sisters' Reunion happened - and a wonderful time was had by all. We went to church together and Alice was the Gospel Doctrine teacher that day. We went to the temple and did the names of 5 sisters who were 6th cousins on my mom' side. We ate a lot of good food - home cooked and out to eat. We played a lot of Scrabble - and Leslie won every time. We shopped til we dropped - and found some treasures.
We prayed together each day. We sorted old photos. We took walks - well, some of us did. We shared stories and memories. We did see three of our brothers who live in Utah.
And we are already planning next year!
Summer is still here - but school has started. There was a hurricane headed to California - but it was being downgraded to a tropical storm. Noah had a chance to work overtime, so he brought the boys to our house so he wouldn't have to drive so much.
The storm did damage in some areas, but thankfully not ours. But it was a gray, cloudy Monday - not the usual backdrop for a school starting day!
You just never know what August has in store for you!
On this day in 1967, Harry and I went on a date to the Hollywood Bowl. The previous Sunday he had asked me to marry him. And then he said, well, maybe we should fast and pray about it and not try to answer our own prayers.
It was a Friday 56 years ago - by the way - and when he called on Wednesday night to confirm our Friday date, he didn't say anything about deciding about getting married. So I got to thinking - over-thinking actually - that maybe I had misunderstood.
So he picked me up Friday - and I didn't say a word about our decision making. And he didn't either. And we stopped for hamburgers somewhere in Hollywood - and pulled over on a side street and we were eating and finally he said, "Well, what do you think?" And me, well I said, "About what?"
Oh my, the folly of youth!
It's a good thing we got past that impasse!
And drove on to the Hollywood Bowl where we saw Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn dance the duets from Swan Lake.
Oh the memories - better than photographs - since we have no photos of that time!
June is slipping away quickly - it's a short month anyway - but seems to have zipped by!
First of all, there was the "June Gloom" which some don't like. I love it - it's going to get hot - and hotter - so why not enjoy the gray and cool??
Lars had a birthday - his 12th. This is my fave photo of him. In the first place, he doesn't like to have his photo taken. Seems to be expressed here. And at the time, he didn't want anyone else to be holding Polly! Total Lars moment!
Lucas had a birthday - and Ella and Lucas had their 3rd anniversary. They are growing a sweet little family - and we are so glad they are in SoCal!!
Hannah and Robbie had their 15th anniversary!! Can you believe it? I can't - it just doesn't seem like 15 years. Although Eliza was pregnant with Ida at the time - and Ida is pushing 15!!
On to July - with a myriad of birthdays and some visits coming up and the expected warmer weather will certainly pay a call.
Maybe one of these days I will post something that is deep or significant or important. Until then, happy scrolling!
The Magnussons - Harry served as his counselor in the Arcadia Stake Presidency - and we have known them since we came to Monrovia in 1979 - stopped by for a visit on Tuesday. What a treat - we have not seen them for 2 or 3 years since they moved to Utah and then went on a mission.
We are not very good about seeing friends and family when we travel - especially to Utah - seems like we go for a specific event and then don't have time or resources to see anyone else. But this was such a lovely visit - maybe we will try harder in the future.
And Happy Birthday today to Lucas - of Ella and Lucas fame - seems like he's always been part of our family - what a blessing. Hope it's a good day and a great year!
Porter had his march with Pomp and Circumstance tonight - and we are proud of his accomplishment!! First in-person high school graduation for the family - since Eve's was co-opted by Covid!
He's heading of to for a visit to Spain and Italy this weekend - then it's home to work and get ready for college classes starting in August.
Oh these grandsons grow up so quickly!
We were in Boise for a week celebrating Calvin's high school graduation. We also got to see Henry and celebrate his birthday - and meet his girlfriend. And we had fun just being with the Fillmores - sharing meals, praying together, playing games, working and getting ready for the celebration.
I love being in my kids' homes - when I call or hear from them, I can visualize what's going on - I love that!
Looks like I'm about a year old in this picture. There is a picture of me at about 6 months - and another at about 3 months - then this one - and one when I look about 3. Then there is probably one for every year of my childhood but they are not labeled and so I'm really not sure. Someone didn't label photos!
I have random, spotty memories of my childhood. They are lovely, happy memories for the most part. I am pretty sure I had a happy childhood - some minor trauma - but forgetting seems to help that aspect.
As I grow older and can't always find the right word, or remember what I came in to say, or forget something I had every intention of doing - I am pretty amazed that I recall as much of my childhood as I do!
I'm waiting for the technology that shows you a video of your life!!
I wonder how much would feel familiar?
My May birthday calendar is full of birthdays - close family birthdays, extended family birthdays, friends birthdays, strangers birthdays - lots and lots of birthdays.
And I have a birthday in May. As a child, birthdays were pretty important to me - but they really weren't terribly important in my family. I have not done any research, but I suspect that in times past, birthdays might not have held the significance they do today.
Some of that probably has to do with the fact that many did not even know their date of birth. Before written language and recorded history, birthdays were often a matter of conjecture. Recently listened to a Daily podcast that enumerated the societal problems caused - in our day - by the unavailability of birth - and death - records for a large portion of the earth's population.
So I was delighted many long years ago when my sister planned a surprise 22nd birthday party for me. And my mom curled your hair the night before your birthday - a random pretty hair day was a treat indeed. She also let you choose the dinner menu and cake flavor. Best of all though, you didn't have to do your chores on your birthday.
My grandma Stevens always brought us gifts. Alice had a birthday in April, so she brought them both out in April - they were always the same, just a different color, so the surprise element was muted. But as kids who didn't get lots of new stuff, the gifts were still a delight.
I have been celebrating birthdays this month - in person for several - which isn't always the case - but I love it. Polly's 8th. Lee's 4th, Francis' 8th, Zeke's 2nd - and more to come.
"If I had a wish, then it would be, a happy, happy birthday to you from me!"
My birthday is in May. My mother's birthday is in May. I have a son born in May, a daughter-in-law born in May, a great grandson born in May. I also have quite a few nieces and nephews born in May. And three grandsons and one granddaughter. And a host of friends who call May their birth month.
I didn't think much about it as a kid. Your birthday is your birthday. But then you have a child born in a particular month and that starts dictating other facets of your life. It's easier to have a birthday party in some months rather than other months. I have a nephew born less than a week before Christmas, so his mother started celebrating his birthday in the middle of July - called it a half-birthday - and the kids who came certainly didn't care.
All families and cultures don't celebrate birthdays - and I have become aware of that over the years. I had a friend whose birthday had always been a very big deal. Her husband came from a family where birthdays were hardly noted. It created conflict. I advised her to just celebrate herself - and we'd help her so she didn't have to get upset every year.
I grew up in a large family - and was one of the older children. There were years when my mom barely remembered - she could usually get a cake made - but not always. She did start a tradition of not having to do your chores on your birthday - and frankly I thought that was better than a present.
I try to remember birthdays. I send lots of cards. I have a perpetual birthday calendar. But as I get older, I start thinking that I won't always be able to do this. And wonder how I should taper off.
If you usually get a birthday card from me, you'll know when that happens!
