San Francisco

On June 18th we became the proud parents of a new daughter....our French foreign exchange student, Clotilde. Clotilde is from Paris and she is 16 years old. She is very sweet, she is quiet and funny and very polite. We are enjoying having her in our home until July 9th. I am hoping that she is learning and having a good time with our family.
This opportunity came through the High School here. Nick came home and asked if we could host a student (in that same pleading often associated with "can we get a puppy, please") We thought it over and decided it would be a great experience. I am learning so much every day. Especially learning to create dialog each day. Sometimes I expect Clotilde to just speak up and start telling us things, but then I have to remember that she might not feel comfortable doing that, or might be nervous of her english language skills, which I might add are excellent, or that she just might be trying to find common ground as well. She is the middle child of 3, she has an older brother and a younger sister. She and caitlyn are getting along and for the most part, Caitlyn is doing a great job of including Clotilde. It is hard when you feel like you are the one who has to do the entertaining and such for 3 weeks. She is doing great. Both girls are! :)
Saturday we decided to take Clotilde and Nate into San Francisco. Clotilde has been before, but Nate has not. Kris thought it would be fun to climb up to Coit Tower. Let me just tell you, those hills are STEEP!!! Get ready calf muscles....but we all made it and the view was spectacular. We learned that the heir to the Ghiradelli Chocolate lived in a building right up at the top of the hill. We could see Alcatraz, the bay bridge, the city, etc
We walked from there to the Italian section to get pizza. Everyone got a personal pizza, I think Nick's was the most creative, his toppings were clams and olives. Nate had a chicken Parmesan sandwich and I think he enjoyed that. While we ate, we caught the last of the USA vs Ghana game and were saddened for their loss.
After pizza, we hiked down to pier 39 and then onto the Merritime museum. We boarded several different sailing vessels from a paddle boat to a steam tug boat to a tall sailing ship. It was interesting to learn about each of them. The sailing ship was my favorite! The kids even made a new pirate friend.
From there we hit Ghiardelli Square and some of the shops and museums and galleries near the pier.
All in all, it was a great day. Very windy, very cool but awesome!

This is a shot of Caitlyn, Clotilde, Nick and Nate at the top of the hill before the final ascent to Coit Tower


This crab picture was my fav. We parked and were walking down the side walk and saw these signs. We were in China town and I thought the signs meant 'no dumping crabs down the drain" No, they are just a friendly reminder that crabs live down stream, or down ocean, and to only dump water down the drains. No signs saying "watch out for crazy crabs running amuk through the city".....

GRADUATION!!!!!

It is truly amazing how fast time flies. Can it already be 18 years since my first born entered this world? 18 years ago Kris and I moved to Colorado, away from the comforts of family. Away on a new adventure in our life, with 3 month old Nate in tow. We learned a lot about being new parents and a LOT about the advice and council of our parents. We had entered a new realm with this new little life and found ourselves wondering what his life would hold for him.
18 years later, Nate has had his share of trials and tests, his share of ups and downs. His Senior year has been a test and trial in and of itself. What parents move their Senior all the way across the country before school starts? Well, that would be Nate's dorky parents....But through all of this, Nate has been amazing. He dove right into the school year and in true Nate fashion, let others see his unique and amazing perspective on life and the world as he sees it. He made friends and found another great core group of kids. I have been impressed as well, with the kids of Caribou, ME. They have been open, welcoming and very polite and gracious. I will say that it has been a great journey to live in a place where there is not a lot of worry about the kids, who they are and what they are up to. It is just the nature of this part of Maine.
As Nate goes on from this journey and ventures into the future, I wish him success, wisdom and the ability to see the whole picture around him. I wish him tolerance for others and enough insight to see what really matters. I hope at some point he will see and understand the great love his parents have for him, no matter how crazy the journey has been and most of all, I wish for him the ability to find his relationship with God. That he might know there is a divine plan in motion and that he has an important part in it.
Congrats Nate on an amazing graduation today. The Senior Class of Caribou High has class and style. Graduation started with an awesome processional in which the Seniors marched in perfect time up through the isle and to their seats. There we appropriate talks and awards. The Valedictorian, Emily, talked about finding their rainbows, despite the rain they may encounter. There was a great song done by the Senior Choir and an amazing musical number by the band. Each student that received a diploma did so with grace and poise. It was fun to watch them even after the commencement was over. No one was just crazy, they hugged, talked and took pictures. I cried a little as the mom, but held it together for the most part. The end of an era for my oldest.
You are no longer the little baby I used to hold in my arms, no longer the boy who loved his "crucks" and would fall asleep with a matchbox or hot wheels car in his little hands. You are my son, inquisitive, talented, smart.... and you are loved
Congrats Nate!

Graduation announcement


Nate and his friends
Nate with his friend Emilie. She was in our ward as well and in our Early Morning Seminary class.
Caribou High School Class of 2010 Class Motto:
Right before the Big Event!
At home with his newly acquired diploma

deals to meals blog

Ok, my friend Debbie showed me this site and they are awesome. I am learning all sorts of yummy new things! :)
I can't wait to try some of the roll recipes on there and then they just posted the Wingers sticky salad! :)
So right now I am trying to win the bosch mixer as well. Can I tell you how wonderful it would be to make my homemade roll dough in a mixer that could actually handle it?
I think I may have to bake everyday! :)
So, here is their link. Try it out and see what great things you find there! :)
http://www.dealstomeals.blogspot.com/

Water girl

I don't know why I fight it. You know for years, Oprah has been pushing us to find our authentic selves. I think I know who that is, but now it is a matter of trying to get where I am now, to where my authentic self is. Let me explain
Ever since I can remember, we have had a boat (growing up) My parents started out with a small boat and progressively got bigger as the years pressed on. We had many family trips to Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge, not to mention Pineview and Willard Bay. I have just always loved being on the water. When I was in High School we moved to Massachusetts. We lived about half a mile from the ocean. It was the most peaceful place I had ever been. I loved sitting and listening to the surf crash up on the rocks, watching as the waves would roll in. Laying in the sun, the smell of the salt and seaweed. I was hooked instantly. And from that time forth, when ever I am near the ocean, it is like this whole new person emerges.
When we moved to Maine and went to the ocean it was an instantaneous love! My heart was so happy. I had found my way "home" again. It was a bit cruel in Maine to be 4 hours from the ocean though, just far enough away that it was a major deal to go to the ocean. But now we are in California and the ocean is only an hour away. Much more manageable. If I had my way, we would live right by the water, there may be a time and season for that, but for now, an hour away is ok.
Last Saturday we took Nick and Caitlyn to Half Moon Bay Beach. It was remarkable. I stepped onto the sand and took a deep, cleansing breath and filled myself with the scent of the salt water. Ah, home again. It was that instant love affair once more. Kris watched as my whole demeanor changed. I lit up like a kid on Christmas. I was "home" again.
I have posted these pictures on Facebook as well, but enjoy... Half Moon Bay Beach