Tennis Season is over!

Alyssa McCoy, Cara and Jocelyn Bertolina all played on Varsity this year for Portage Central. It was a year of wind, rain, fun & food.

I love this shot of the girl's. It was their first tournament of the season and we played in Paw-Paw. The blanket they are on was my sister's bedspread when she was little! It pays to save things! We never got to finish this tourney because of the weather on Monday!

Jocelyn and Cara played at #3 Doubles for the team and won one game at regionals. It was a blast watching them play around the state of Michigan. They are such nice girls and played really well. One tournament they played two sisters who were also LDS and between all four girls all had a parent teaching Seminary~ maybe a first in this state!!!

Happy Mother's Day

This was the shot from our condo in St. Lucia, just last year! If I was rich I would send all of my Mommy friends to this island in the Carribean. I hope all of your day today is serene and peaceful and full of love from your families! I want to share a Mother's Day story that happened to me a couple of years ago that will always be cherished.
We had just moved back to Enumclaw, spring of 2007, and Cara was the only child home for Mother's Day. She came up with the idea to not only give me a Mother's Day gift but four close friends, as well. She went out and bought a huge bouquet of flowers and then divided them up between the five of us and delivered them to my four friends with a note attached thanking them for their friendship to me. Mother's Day morning I saw my portion of the flowers on the table with a similar note attached telling me what she had done. I was truly touched by her thoughtfulness and kindness. She has always shown a maturity way beyond her years and this was another indicator of that. This is my last Mother's Day with her at home. Because of other trials in my life right now.... no job and no place to live once the end of June hits, I have had to put in the back of my mind all of the emotions I have about my baby leaving the nest. Maybe, this is the Lord's way of protecting my heart. I love you Cara and you will always be my baby.
I was the Mom the first day of school who would leave with tears streaming down my cheeks as I knew this was one less summer I would have with my children. After a few years of embarassing myself with my emotions I learned to wear my sunglasses to school that first day. I know it always looked weird as there usually was not any sun out in Washington state! I have always wanted to be a Mom and feel so blessed to have had the chance to stay at home with my children. Now my children are beginning to be parents and what a blessing it is to see that happen.

This is what slack lining is!

I was the last member of the family to try slack lining. I LOVED it! It was so much fun and I'll have to ask the Elder's to bring it whenever they come for dinner! The elder helping me is from Pleasant Grove and knows are nephew Camaron!

Kelsey was the second to try and did really well. The elder helping her knows an elder that she knew in St. Lucia! Connections everywhere!!!

Rick was the first brave one from the family to try this new sport (to us!). He kept his shoes on which made it a little harder. The line is about 2 1/2 feet off of the ground and attached to two trees. It's all about balance!!!
This is our cousin Elder Kleinman with all of his cousins from Michigan! We have a common grandfather ~ Conrad Kleinman who is from Burkweiller, Germany.

Easter weekend with family!

Conrad and Kylie eating carrot cake! Kylie is going to be a big sister in November! Finally!!! Kylie jumping for joy that Bapa is back in Michigan with Nana and Cara!!!

Jamie and Kylie and Conrad happy to be out of the car after a long drive from Rexburg. They are thrilled to be having another little one.

This is our little Kylie. You should hear her tell her stories!

We went to Milham Park and fed the geese and ducks! Kylie was so much fun to watch!

Easter Sunday

Elder Anderson jumping for joy for an Easter dinner! Elder Kleinman agreeing! Cara, Conrad and Rick enjoying our Easter feast of ham, rice casserole, beans and asparagus!

Elder Anderson from Orem and Elder "cousin" Kleinman from Mesa, AZ.

Our tyed dyed Easter eggs! The girls loved doing these!!

The Smith family in Portage during Easter 2009. We were so excited that most of our family was here. Conrad took the pic and Kurt and Jen were in Utah.

Elder Cousin Kleinman

The elder's were over last night for dinner and we had Elder Kleinman's yummy Chipolte Chicken Quesadilla's. Afterwards Elder Kleinman asked if he could set up his slack line between the trees! We said sure and had a blast trying out this new adventure! It really was fun and a challenge! The elder's that were over are Elder Kleinman, Baker, Worthen and Anderson.

Here we come...Walking down the street...

Here we come, (lds elder's in Safford, AZ) walking down the street, get the funniest looks from everyone we meet! (if this sounds familiar and you are old enough to remember The Monkies, it will be familiar~or not!) Hey, hey we're the elder's....

Actually, at least one of them is one we know from Enumclaw! What are the chances that we would meet up with Elder Blain Thomas and his "new" companion from Canada ( his name starts with a R~sorry!) Those of you who know me, know that I can find anyone if I try. Well almost! Elder Thomas was all smiles and so happy being out in the hot Arizona sun! This ice cream store gave them their treats for free! We were going to buy them some but if the store is going to offer... why not?!

What a treat to see and spend a few minutes with the elder's in Safford, AZ! Elder Thomas is one happy boy and loving the work.

Arizona Birthday!

We spent my 49th birthday in Tucson! Really we were there for Cara to check out Eastern Arizona. A small college in Thatcher. Cara is learning to love the cacti that is everywhere in AZ!

Cara and her Dad! We stayed at the Omni Resort.

Tiptoe thru the snapdragons!

Baby Shower for Sonja

Cathy Hampton and Lisa Cowin at the shower.

Cathy and Sonja. We both moved to Michigan about the same time and both from Washington state.

Alisha Siebers, Sonja and Pam Ellsworth.

Shandy Piorkowski & Janeen Bertolina at the shower.

Christy and her girls.

Baby Shower for Sonja

Here is the menu for the baby shower we had for Sonja Staples. She is pregnant with no. 4!

Sara Freestone, Sonja & Sharon Gilbert

Sonja and the beautiful blanket that Pam Ellsworth made for Andrew.

Some of the gals at the shower eating lunch.



Sara, Jacque Bair (who is due this week!) and Sonja waiting to open the gifts!