Happy 4th!!

Happy 4th of July!!! hope everyone has a fun day...it's always a great day to barbecue, go to the beach, have people over, i love the music, the parades and the flag and of course, watching fireworks...i'm so grateful for our country...in the midst of all the terrible things that go on...the bad things people say about the usa...i'm just thankful that i live in this country with all of it's freedoms...we can do so much..we can become whatever we want....so celebrate this great country that we live in...have a great day...

click on this site for a preview of some fireworks:

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/id/1153917220

violation

well, to end a perfectly fun trip...we were in vancouver just for the day...parked and went into a mall...when we came back, jeff and kelly's car had been broken into..suitcases...gone...laptop...gone...jeff's backpack with passports.....gone...can you believe it???? that's crummy...so, we had to go to the police...while they were inside the station...i watched the babies in the car...in the worst part of town...it was sort of scary...it was not a safe spot...even though i was right in front of the police station....so, then we are rushing to the airport...they get there...through many, many delays..they actually got on the plane....kelly said the passport guy thought they were joking when they said they had no passports...so everyone got home safe and sound...i feel so bad though because kelly lost all her new birthday clothes, etc. etc. etc...it's such a violation...these thieves do more than steal your belongings..they ruin your life for the next few weeks, while you try to put everything back together..so, now, they have to get their passports, because we are leaving on monday....

wedding trip

friday harbor, san juan island


buchart gardens..the sunken garden

buchart gardens..the rose garden

we are on a fun little weekend trip...went to seattle on thurs morning...6 am flight!!! way too early...we came up for adam pollock's wedding..his fiancee, ashley is from anacortes, washington..so, thurs..we drove around seattle a bit..saw the space needle...went to pike's market place, then drove up to anacortes..about 2 hours...it's on findalgo island..although, you just drive to it...stayed at a really nice little hotel, the majestic inn...that night was a dinner for the couple...nice time...soooo tired...went to bed, in the morning of friday we drove down to the seatlle temple, about 1 1/2 hours...the wedding was nice...started pouring..went to lunch after with mollers, hannemanns and other boys...that night was the reception, it was at the hotle..very nice, but raining, so it had to be inside...too bad...they were very happy...so, this morning, we...pollocks, kelly and jeff, mollers, hannemanns and roarks went over to san juan island..to friday harbor...very pretty...cool little island...drove around a bit...the our family caught the ferry to sidney, vancouver island...we are staying here for a few days...went to buchart gardens..fantastic...beautiful...now are at our hotel...the aerie...it's lovely...gorgeous view...anyway..it's been a fun little trip...

jeff, my favorite son-in-law

jeff at buchart gardens

kel and jeff in spain
jeff and russ at the matterhorn
handsome groom
jeff, kel and gav in ireland

jeff, kelly and gav in switzerland

happy birthday to you! hope your day is fantastic...hope you get to do whatever you want...jeff, you are a wonderful man...kelly is lucky to have married you...you are fun, love to do things...work hard, want to succeed, you're a great father...you have so many talents...you can do so many things...as kerry says, whatever it is, jeffs done it...i'm so proud of you, you went to law school, passed the bar..you a fun to be with...we are lucky to have you in our family....so have a wonderful year!

to my darling daughter

young kel at easter

kelly in tall flags...8th grade


kelly and tom


beautiful bride
mba graduate from pepperdine

happy, happy birthday dear kelly...you are the person that made me a mother...you helped me grow up, you got dad and me on the right track, meaning...he got a job....so thank you so much..,and you did it before you were even a month old! amazing things, babies...so kel, you've been with me through all my ups and downs and hopefully, we've had fun...i've had fun with you...because you were the oldest, everything was new and very exciting...you have been on the go since you learned to crawl at 6 months and walk at 9...you have never stopped...when you go for something...you go hard...none of this mamby pamby stuff...you go for the gusto....i'm always so proud of you...whether its you being a tall flag girl, an officer in asb, a tennis player, a graduate student, a wife or mother..you have always done your best...you are such a hard worker, you are so creative and talented...i just have a great admiration for you...you are my hero and i look up to you greatly...plus, you're fun to be with..and you're darling to look at....so it's a win win ...so, happy happy birthday...i love you...mom

my big handsome hunk

adam, randy,shem and andrea and russ
cute bug with his favorite, mickey mouse
russ and tom
russ and willie
high school graduation


HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUSSIE

tomorrow or in about 5 minutes..it is russell's 22 birthday....wow! can't believe he's that old...22 years ago he was 2 weeks late and i was crazy...kelly was 7, willie was 5 and we hadn't had a baby for a long long time...so we were ready...finally they decided to start me....the doctors had assured me that russ would probably be smaller than willie who was 8lbs. 14 oz...so, as tom sat working, eating butterfingers !!! i delivered my bouncing baby that weighed in at 10 lbs 4 oz....just a touch bigger than willie! he was always so cute...so big and squishy..russ was named for his great grandfather russell, and his uncle russell...his middle name is bagley, for my side of the family...we have always called him bug, because when he was little he bugged the kids alot....but,.he loved his older brother and sister from the start...always followed willie...and sweet willie would give him whatever he asked for...as russ grew, he started playing tennis...he took to tennis...played alot of tournaments as he grew..he was ranked #4 in the 12-14's...then he had to take a break because the tennis caused a problem in his back, turned out it was a fracture...so he didn't play for awhile...when your child says, mom my back hurts...don't wait for 8 months to go to the doctor! russ got pretty quiet when tom died...they were very close..luckily he had some great friends...they were so close...pretty inseparable...as he got older...he grew and grew and grew...he's a handsome hunk at about 6'3"...and since we always had him have a buzz...he now has hair to wave in the wind...he stills plays tennis...loves to snowboard...bikes, loves to work out...surf...hikes...russ has always been pretty quiet but has a very quick wit..he is very sweet and kind...watches out for kerry...he's a great brother...he is so cute with his nephews and niece..you can tell how sweet he is, by how he treats them...he works hard in school...russ is a wonderful son to me..i'm not saying he's perfect...he can be stubborn and he has tom's gift of winning every argument with me...but, i know he loves me...i'm very proud of what he's accomplished...how he's turned out as an adult...he's fun to be with and i love him soooo much..i'm so lucky and blessed to have him as my son....so, happy birthday to my baby boy.....love you....

spotlight effect

i read an interesting article in oprah magazine at about the "spotlight effect" ...how many of you have ever felt self-consious, walking into a room, giving a talk or lesson...being in the spotlight? i have many many times...the article said that alot of times we try to avoid embarrassment by just not doing something...but, the problem with this is that we don't become who we could be..how many times have you not worn some outfit because you thought too many people would notice it or not like it? how many times have you known the answer, but not said anything? these are self limiting behaviors...and i have many of them...i've overcome alot..but, still have to work on quite a few..how do we do this? what we have to remember is that when we think everyone in the room is staring at us...most likely that is not the case...we need to act as if there is no spotlight on us..we might need to practice this..but after awhile it will feel natural...and in the long run..so what if we are embarrassed...at least we have tried..we need to realize that we can survive in the spotlight..we need to go out of our comfort zone...and realize that we will gain more positive than negative reinforcement...in the end, people will be impressed by your daring..and want to do the same...so stop hiding and step out into the spotlight!

graduation

russ, jacob and carissa pollock, adam pollock, kelly and owen at graduation
nick
kerry, nick moller and ashley pollock
heidi gibbs, julia pace, kerry and kimmy dane
kerry, jason anderson and ashley

graduation was last night...it was a great time...everyone loves to listen to the great speeches etc..the kids were very happy and in great spirits...afterwards, we had a big party with all of kerry's friends and families...it turned out really nice...we had people here until about 1..the moller's, cooley's...allison took charge...pollocks, andersons and gibbs....plus the kids friends...it was alot of fun...so until the grandchildren graduate...that's it!!! except for college of course....

more fun pics

kelly and kerry in a photo book
kerry and willie in florence
the little princess
russ and kerry..first day of school
beautiful senior

here's some more great pictures...it's hard to choose....

graduation

dave, kerry and ashley in catalina
nick and shannon, colin and kerry, derek and ashley..prom
nick and kerry
kerry
kerry and grayson at the grand canyon

so, today's the big day for kerry...it's been a long time coming...she's excited and ready to face the world...she has big plans and i'm thrilled for her...kerry is so talented...she is a beautiful artist, she is so creative in her artwork, her journal making...she is just so clever...i love to see what she will come up with...she is talented in her fashion sense..always looks so cute and stylish...everything she wears looks beautiful on her..she is fun to be with...she entertains me greatly...always has some story to tell about school or her friends or whatever..this year has been a very fun year...she's been so busy and had a great time..kerry is a very sweet girl..she's a good friend, worries about everyone...wants everyone to be happy..she has a very tender heart...she's easy to be around (unless she's hungry, then you better watch out!)...she isn't the type that has to have it her way...she lets me have mine too...i am so proud to kerry...i know that she will accomplish great and wonderful things...she has greatness in her...so go out and conquer the world, kerry...we'll all be watching....i love you....mom

happy birthday mom....it's flag day!!

FLAGS in MOM"S HONOR!!!!
mom and dad
mom
marty, tom, mom, me and polly---her favs
tomorrow is my mom's birthday and everyone will always remember it because it is flag day...she always said that everyone flew the flag in her honor...so, i'm flying my flag and talking about her in her honor...her name was june for the month that she was born...my mom was a beautiful lady...and i really mean it...even as she grew older she was beautiful....and she was a real lady...she had beautiful manners and always did things just right...she always dressed with such cute style...she had a huge smile...it was really pretty...plus, she was very talented...she was an excellent seamstress and loved to make dresses etc..it was calming to her...something that i didn't get...she loved fabric...loved the feel of them...the textures and colors...she had great decorating style, her homes were always so beautiful, but comfortable...she was good at crafts and had lots of different hobbies...but she also played golf with my dad...they had alot of fun together...after she died we realized that she was the glue that held my dad together...he was so lost without her...she loved to give parties and get together with friends...and best of all, she was a great mom....she was strict and i have to say i was afraid of her while i was young.but, i have to say, i usually did what she told me to do...but, after i was married, she was my best friend...she was always there for me and it didn't matter how far away i lived...i knew she was there...i think i talked to her almost every day...i have to say that after she died,that was the hardest thing...i would think...i'll have to tell mom that, and then to realize i couldn't...so, now i just talk to her...just in my mind, you know...she taught me many things throughout my life.how to cook, clean, iron, have fun, be a good mom..but i know the most important for me, is the knowledge that she loved me so much, she always encouraged me, she let me know that i could do it...that everything would turn out..she gave a great feeling of accomplishment in everything i did...so, i'm proud to be her daughter...i hope she's proud of me....

old friends

i heard something very sad this morning...my sister called and told me a friend from my youth had died...it's really sad to think of that...he had a pretty rough life due to drugs and alcohol..it makes me so sad because i remember him when we were kids...we were friends all through elementary school...we had a big group..4 or 5 girls, 5 or 6 boys that would play and hang out..as we got older we got crushes..he was one of the cutest boys on the street. we had such fun...we would skate board, play basketball, when we got older the boys all had little motorcycles, we would run the streets in the summer, playing kick the can..it was such a care free life and so much fun...in the winter a neighbor would hook this huge long board to his truck, sort of like a sled and pull us around the streets before they were plowed...at church the boys all played basketball or softball and we would have these great hot scone parties...it was so much fun...so we have to remember the good times and hope that now he can really rest in peace...

good friends

this week is becoming a hard week...kerry's graduating...leaving...then one of my best friends sold their house and are moving...i just think what will i do? but, then...a really sweet couple in our ward, the daltons, dropped by with a gift for kerry...they have always been kerry's friend (and mine) jean works in the library at church and kerry and ashley used to ditch sunday school to go help her out...she was always so nice to them and they formed a very special friendship...i so appreciate that friendship...it's wonderful to know that wherever you go, people love and care about you and your family...so even though my kids are leaving, my friends are leaving...i know that there are many more out there that care about us...it's a great feeling...

no more school

SCHOOL'S OUT!!!!


it's the last week of school...kerry's done with finals...now she just has practice, disneyland for grad night, and graduation...the baccalaureate was yesterday and very nice...then, we had seminary graduation...hooray!! it's a wonderful thing, but, i'm sure glad it's over....and forever!!!! that's one of the great things about kerry graduating...no more school...no more calling to call her out, call her in , excuse her etc...i will not miss homework, projects, book reports...anything like that...since kelly started school in 1983...it's never stopped...so, yippee!!! that's me celebrating...now, i just have to figure out what to do with the rest of my life...as i was having a melt down yesterday...one of my friends said i could become a gypsy..i'm thinking maybe, more like auntie mame...she had alot of fun...so here' to our last week of public school....YIPPEE!!!

new look

a few of my favorite beach scenes

gav
kate and kerry
russie, kerry, and shannon
seek, rand, russ, and max
jeff and gav
well, i've redecorated...i was told that i could add pictures etc...so,i've been playing at this...anyway, i always like to redo things...i figured that i like to go, so i'd show one of my favorite places...the beach...preferably with me laying on it, with a book and a coke in hand...ahhhh bliss....