Summer Birthdays

Abby is officially a TEENAGER!!  Ahhh!  Isn't she cute with her hair braided and the curls flowing down?  I made the mistake of erasing birthday pics before I got them downloaded.  For her birthday, Abby chose to go shopping with just her sisters and I.  We had a fun day helping Abby choose clothes to spend her b-day money on.  We went to lunch and made sure to get her a warm brownie with ice cream and hot fudge at Cold Stone!  It was one of my favorite celebrations with her!

Once in a while, I can squeeze a hug in from Abby.  She's a beautiful young lady, but doesn't like to hug much.  She's also at that "I'm too cool for my mom" stage, but I sure enjoy her.  She's my little cleaner who will just get on a roll and not stop.  I appreciate all that she brings into our family!

Chicka, Me, Abby & Whitney right after returning from Lake Powell.  We all have a nice suntan.  Wow!  How did Evan and I get such beautiful young girls?!  They are each so fun and unique!

One of my accomplishments this summer was making my first ever rag-top quilt.  Whitney had selected the fabric nearly two years ago, so I decided to surprise her and complete it for her 21st birthday!  It was so much fun to make!  Taylor designed how the squares should come together and Abby stayed up late visiting with me.  I thought of my mom and how often she sewed into the night hours creating clothes, quilts, curtains, etc. for us and/or our children.  I am so thankful she taught me some sewing skills!!

And though she's of legal age now, she was thrilled to have a new quilt for her condo bedroom.  She thought she may be too old to pose with her "wubba", but I told her to smile anyway!  LOVE IT!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, ABBY, AND WHITNEY!!

Small Town Celebrations

Long before we moved to Lincoln County, Evan & I came out to visit the Wiscombes.  Evan loved the small town celebrations and was usually playing on a softball team.  Now we have been here 10 years and enjoy family coming out to celebrate with us. 

Poor Uncle Wayne hadn't been feeling well since Grandma's 90th celebration.  Little did we know here, he had come down with pneumonia and was admitted into the hospital the next day.  Removed a large mass of infection and lung tissue.  No wonder he didn't want to visit with anyone!

Evan showing the German boys and Josh some of his exciting adventures while patroling the land of Lincoln!

It's not a Schimbeck gathering without a couple games of Nertz!  Very competitive bunch of girls, especially Grandma Linda!  I do better at taking pictures!

Aunt Mindy and Body gathering coins at the traditional fireman's game.  It's a sure way to cool off in a hurry!

Chicka and Jacey tumbling after losing balance and rhythm in the wheelbarrow race!

Chicka w/Jacey. . . . Marc w/Jonas at the ready mark!

Waiting for the parade!  Siggi LOVES photographs and LOVES all the crazy Schimbeck boys!

Jacey, Abby, Sydney and Chicka looking pretty cute in their red, white & blue!

Gpa Deon giving hugs and advice (I'm sure) to Whitney and Allie while Gma Linda grins at all her family!

Waiting for parade to start!  Girls have their sodas, boys have their sacks for gathering candy!

Whitney organized a "dance off" competition with all the family!  Wish I had the energy of these boys!

PARADISE aka Lake Powell

Ahhh!  Beautiful scenery, cool water, plenty of sun and fun for everyone!  What's not to love about this amazing vacation spot?!  It's been tradition in my family since before I was even thought of.  Dad & Mom used to tell us about their first trip to the lake when it was still filling up.  They'd drive 20 or more miles down the canyon just to reach water!  If you ask me, Lake Powell is right up there with the other 8 wonders of the world!!  I'm so glad that the Schimbeck Family loves Lake Powell too; it has become one of their favorites as well with the exception of Gpa Deon.  With a few teenage grandchildren talking to him, he's usually a good sport about coming and we've learned to ignore his whining!

In keeping with tradition, we usually bring along a few extra kids--friends, cousins, or roommates. I can never get good action shots, but this is Hannah wake boarding.

It is also tradition to take a cruise to the marina for an ice cream and look at all the houseboats that cost more than our own house.  Here we have Evan, Aaron and Kirby no doubt solving all the world's problems together!  he he

German cousins!!  Mark, Tonja and Tom posing at the marina.

It's rough; but somebody's got to do it!  There are enough water toys for everyone to lounge on to get a real good tan.  If you're not careful...a real good sunburn!

Sydney, Evan, Whitney, Abby, Tay, Hannah, Stephanie

Parker LOVES his older women!!

Jonas posing on back of boat.  He loves visiting America every few years!

Catching some rays on the bow are Parker, Whitney, Stephanie, Taylor, Hannah & Abby.

Such bathing beauties!!  Parker keeps us all entertained!

It was too hot to sleep in the tents so we all brought our air mattresses out in the sand.  We all snored harmoniously together until the bright morning sun woke us up along with the squawking crows!

Well, atleast MOST of us slept comfortably.  For whatever reason, Parker slept in this very small food tent between three coolers and two bins of food.  How he did this remains a mystery.  Not a morning person either!!

Parker and his harem of women visiting after ice cream at marina.

Linda and Siggi posing at the Sand Hill.  They may be in their 60s and 70s, but they climbed the massive sand hill like champs!!  Everyone LOVES Aunt Siggi! 

Polka Dotty Grandma Turns 90

Grandma Ruthie turned 90 on June 3rd. This big birthday event had been in the planning for the past year. It was a grand occasion and nearly all her living children and their families were able to attend. What a wonderful posterity she has. Wayne, Siggie, Tonja and the boys flew over from Germany to celebrate and spend some time with everyone. We all took family pics together. The room was decorated with a time line of her life with clothing, documents, photographs and other memorabilia.

Each of her eight children was assigned to bring a cake that represented their family. Evan volunteered to make a JAZZ cake to remember the time he took his Grandma and Mom to a Jazz game. (They are big fans of the JAZZ!) This was his first time making fondant. Move over Martha Stewart!! It was a great evening spent together seeing family we don't get to see too often.

Good Ole Summertime

Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?  Do you fish in a stream, or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds roll by?  Is that what you do?  So do I!

Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?  Do you swim in a pool, to keep yourself cool, or swing in a tree up high?  Is that what you do?  So do I!  (visiting with friends at Kershaw)

Summer, Kaylee and Taylor posing between dance numbers.
"Just Dance" has been a favorite in our household this year!

Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?  Do you march in parades, or drink lemonades, or count all the stars in the sky?  Is that what you do?  So do I!
(a favorite Primary song)

Abby, Taylor and Chesnee posing on the grass at Kershaw.

Bathing beauties catching some summer sun.

I think I could write several more verses, but I'll just get some pics posted for now.  I haven't done much this summer except nap, plan and prepare for Girls Camp.  I haven't even blogged lately.  No motivation.  No events.  No energy.  Nada.  Just been planning Girls Camp pretty much since school let out with the exception of a quick get away for my birthday.  (Evan knows the only way to get me to relax and let go of things (at times) is to take me away from it all.)  We enjoyed a weekend in Mesquite just lounging by the pool or in the air-conditioned room reading, sleeping, and watching movies.  We only left once to eat out.  We brought food into the suite and ate quite simply as we wanted.  It was great; the very thing I needed to regroup and focus on what matters most.  Now I'm off to Girls Camp early in the morning.  This year I'll be with the Stake Youth Leaders (SYL).  I'm pretty excited and hope it's everything I expect it to be!

Dance Dynamics

This past weekend was Taylor's dance recital; it was amazing! She has taken dance classes all year with Aunt Mindy and performed on the Dance Team. We are so proud of her dedication to homework, keeping up with her responsibilities, and doing something she loves. We are grateful to have Aunt Mindy's talents here in Lincoln County as are about 90 other dancers! It was one of the finest entertainments in the county.

Cousin Sydney makes dance classes so much fun!

Taylor has been so committed to dance and has worked hard to improve her skills and flexibility. She looks so graceful and calm dancing in front of an audience.

Disturbia:  One of my favorite numbers of the evening.

In Loving Memory of Uncle Gordon

Gordon Freeman, loving husband, father, grandfather, school teacher of art for 29 years, artist, classical music enthusiast, avid reader, chocolate lover, roofer, chess coach, soccer coach and regional competition director, sports lover, racer of pigeons, temple servant and oldest brother of nine, passed away at the age of 73 on Saturday evening, May 7, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.in Salt Lake City, Utah. Gordon was born in Murray, Utah on December 12, 1937 to Russell Hamblin and Ruth Olsen Freeman. Gordon was the first of nine children, and he helped to financially support the family starting at the age of eight, by helping his father Russell roof homes. Gordon also became a father figure to his eight siblings and when he was 18 years old his father died.

Today we attended the funeral of Uncle Gordon.  Listed above is only a portion of the magnificent things he did during his mortal life.  He was one of Evan's favorite uncles.  Uncle Gordon and Aunt Colleen were always so good to everyone.  During our time of crisis, with Abby coming early and both of us in the hospital, they opened their beautiful home up to us and any of my family members to stay whenever and however long we needed to at any given time.  It was such a relief to have their home as a refuge from the hospitals and to ease some of our financial burdens.  Taylor was only two at the time and lovingly referred to them as, "Aunt Gordeen".  She loved helping Colleen water the flowers and looking in the pigeon coops with Gordon.  We will always be grateful to them for that.  It was a full day to SLC and back, but I am so glad we made it there.  The funeral was a loving tribute to a wonderful man.  I'm so glad to have known him and his family.  

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Softball season is here again! Abby and Evan are practicing at the fields nearly every day except game days. There are very serious moments and then hysterically funny moments. Abby made an awesome hit which took her sliding into second. Then she went on to steal third base and tripped on her own feet as she was overrunning it. She was going down head first and broke into laughter as she landed. The coach had to remind her to hurry and get back on base. She was still laughing long after she came home in the dugout. It is so embarrassing when her mother's genes interrupt a good play! We enjoy watching her play and seeing Evan coach a bunch of middle-school girls full of emotions, opinions, and attitude!

Aaahhhh....Retail Therapy!

In spite of the winter weather when it is officially spring, the girls and I headed for St. George. We all felt the need to get out of town for some retail therapy. We met up with Shawn and the kids to celebrate Hannah's upcoming birthday at Iggy's, then shopped again. It is so much fun to shop for anything besides groceries. It is even better when there are great sales, incentives, BOGO deals, and freebies. We found all of the above this weekend. We are staying at the Wiscombe Bed and Breakfast Inn. (Definitely a 5-star hotel!)  We also attended the baptism of niece, Kennedi earlier and enjoyed a BBQ with the Schimbeck clan. The only thing that would make this weekend better is if there was sunshine, Sue, and Evan! The sun is still not shining, and it's quite drizzly outside, but in my little world the sun is shining for today! I love my family so much!

Have I Done Any Good?

Ever have those days when you wonder if you've done any good? It seems I've been having more of those kind of days than I'd care to say lately. My former traits of organization, tidiness, and creativity have been nearly extinct while trying to maintain the aspects of well-being. I'm not complaining, just wishing I could be the wonder woman I always seem to have in mind for myself, even though it is clearly a high and unrealistic expectation. Of all the goals I've accomplished successfully, my greatest is that of being a mother to three beautiful girls who bring great joy in my life. With that, they are also my challenges, heartaches, worries, comforts, and loving reminders that motherhood is the most divine calling I could ever hope to have been blessed with. So.... when I long to be that perfect being that I think exists, I have to step back and look at what a kind and loving Heavenly Father has blessed me with. And that is when I realize nothing else really matters, no nothing.

Abby:  She has such a quiet disposition but with strong determination.  She loves animals and has a special way with them no matter how big or small.  She is athletic, smart, and funny.  We enjoy watching her play basketball and softball.  She has acquired my list making trait and my occasional OCD cleaning trait.  What a joy she is to our family.

Taylor:  She speaks her mind and stands her ground.  Things are either black or white for her.  She is also determined and knows how to get what she wants.  It is entertaining to watch her dance whether its for family night or for a performance.  She has acquired some of my creativity (but more) and the need for things to be equal and fair.  She keeps us in stitches with her unique perception on life.

Whitney:  Our college girl with strong organizational skills.  Keeps her school, work, spiritual and social life balanced with her planner and lists.  She is level-headed for her age and so responsible.  At times, I feel she's more the adult than me.  She can see the silver-lining in any situation and makes the most of everything.  So grateful to have her as an example in our lives.

These girls have so much in common and are yet so diverse in many ways.  They can keep my good traits and make them better. Through their eyes, I am reminded that though the things I do on a daily basis may be small and insignificant, they are the things that matter most. Knowing I am trying to be the mother that He would have me to be helps me to forget my weaknesses and to press on in trying to do good.  Thank you girls for continuously reminding me of things that are right and good in this world!

Aaaaahhhhh...What He/She Said

It is Reading Week at school which means dressing up, guest readers, mystery readers, muffins with moms, donuts with dads, popsicles with the principal, and many other activities all centered around reading.  It is a fun week that is needed this time of year to melt the winter blues and give us the motivation to carry on strong.  I was looking for a particular quote and found one from Dr. Seuss I'd never heard before.  I found some great pearls of wisdom to remind me of what matters most.  Here they are...Enjoy!

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. Dr. Seuss

A child can always teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires. Paulo Coelho


There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow. Orison Marden

When you realize how perfect everything is, you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky. Buddha

I cannot always control what goes on outside. But I can always control what goes on inside. Wayne Dyer

Just for today, no matter where I am going, or what I am doing, or who I am doing it with, it is my intention to focus on the positive. Lucy MacDonald

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in, forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day, you shall begin it well and serenely. Ralph Waldo Emerson