'June Babies are Nice Babies'

For years I used to say 'June Babies are Nice Babies' and we often had a June Beach Bash to celebrate the birthdays. Where did the saying come from? 1--We had two babies born in June, and both had very easy going, pleasant temperaments and my brother David is a June baby, also with a very easy going, pleasant temperament. Then my loan assistant Connie, who came to work for me for 12 years, was also a June baby with an easy going, pleasant temperament, as was Meagan's mother Jennifer and then James' wife Camber. It just seemed right to say with all those nice family members born in June that--'June babies are nice babies'.

My sister Carole just told me her sons David and Eric and two grandchildren Amber and Darien also have birthdays in June. Plus my nephew Roddy and his son Conrad, Cheri's husband Jeff and son Tanner and Sheree Thayne and her daughter Rachel. Wow, we have a lot of June babies in the family!

Of course, everyone knows that James was the bonus baby. After a traumatic emergency cesarean section birth with John the doctors had said: 'No more than three births, because of the type of cesarean.' But Linda came naturally--(because she came too soon, and with the doctor not having time to do a cesarean) so the doctor said: 'We will see next time, maybe another natural birth.' But then Maria did a breech and they had to go cesarean again, so the doctor said: 'One more and that is it.' And we were blessed with our bonus, Jimmy. Two boys, two girls, just perfect.

Happy Birthday, James and Linda, you have both been a joy and a blessing to our families all your life. We have had 43 and 47 years of NICE! Here is my wish for your very happy birthday and many, many more. I love you both very much.

Yea! Matt was here!

He came, he saw, he conquered! And I am all ready for winter again.

It always amazes me how fast and thorough grandson Matt is in his work habits. In two hours he had cleaned off the roof, cleaned all the rain gutters, trimmed an obtrusive cedar tree, chopped the remaining wood, stacked new wood on the deck, changed the light bulbs in three places and fixed my broken wagon.

I don't know how I will manage here without my grandsons keeping my life in order.

Matt had not seen the river rock patio since it was finished with the help of the Pulsiphers last summer. He was quite impressed. It was five years ago that the first work was done on my backyard and it is Matt who has done most of the hard labor.

After John died, Matt helped me create the two mourning gardens below. He hauled all the rocks from around my lot to make a circle and then filled them in with dirt from further back in the lot. He also dug out and leveled the area for the river rock patio. It had been quite a slope and then the dug out dirt made another little garden where the plum tree is planted.

I would still like to gather a few more river rocks for a path to the hammock and other birdbath. (PS Forget the path to the hammock--hammock #2 bit the dust--between the squirrels and the sun? the ropes just disintegrate--Matt took a nice tumble checking it out!)

For some reason not even the weeds grow in the dirt--no idea why except the dirt is very rocky and compacted.

'Ain't nobody happy growing in that there dirt' but with the help of my children and grandchildren we have created a little slice of heaven here for Bandido and me. Thanks Matt, for all your hard work yesterday.

A Great Father

Today I would like to pay tribute to my Dad. He was without a doubt the best Dad a daughter could have. Some things you need to know about him.

In 1934 he brought his family of five (before Carole) from Utah to Glendive, Montana where he was to manage a department store. He and Mom saw that we all attended church and bible school and he quickly became not only a part of the community, but a leader in the community. We rode the Anderson's Float in the 4th of July parade, attended all the band concerts which he supported, went to the Elks picnics and Christmas party which he helped to organize and he taught us to mow lawns and garden. He took us on picnics, took us fishing, took my brothers hunting, saw that we always had a pet dog, took us to Yellowstone Park and Utah to visit our cousins and when I was in high school always drove my friends and me to out of town basketball and football games. My friends were always treated as part of the family.

He taught us the value of work. We worked at the store with him doing whatever he felt we could handle. (I remember making price labels, unpacking boxes, fringing scarfs and later taking inventory long before I was old enough to clerk.) Later I worked as cashier and organized and paid invoices.

His great teaching which always stuck with me was "to always be worth more than you were paid". Once when I was cleaning a house to earn a little cash he told me there were better ways for me to earn money and he helped me get a job caddying and sweeping greens at the golf club, much better.

Dad was a very kind and gentle man, he never raised a hand in discipline or said unkind things. Once when he was tired of a record I played over and over and over he just walked over and softly turned it off. I got the message. In junior high when I wanted to understand the Virgin Mary bit he found something I could read and understand before he discussed it with me.

When I had my first car accident (car slid into another at the stop sign) he was called and came right down. He did not criticize or yell or make me feel badly. He did, however, insist I drive the car home, instead of him. I think he wanted me to know he trusted me and I needed to regain my confidence.

We used to eat dinner at home every noon instead of at night. And always I remember Dad dancing around the kitchen with my Mom and giving her a kiss before he went back to work. Dad loved us and he love our Mom and we knew it. My aunt Erica once gathered us together and told us to be careful what we asked our Dad for. He would want to get it for us. I have long since forgiven him for selling the Shirley Temple doll that was to be my present. He just did not understand the significance of a Shirley Temple doll over just a doll.

Dad had about three children in college at a time for quite a long time. He always wanted us to have a job but this usually just took care of spending money. Lucky for us, he owned a store with great brand name clothes and we never felt deprived. But he worked long and hard to see that his family was provided for and educated.

Being the leader in our little branch of the Church for so many years could not have been easy. He had to prepare so many talks and guide so many people while he ran a store, was a leader in the Elks, on the school board, chamber of commerce, etc. He was a leader who served well but never for his own glory, always modestly, doing whatever was needed.

A kinder, gentler, more caring father could not be had. A better example for his family and community does not exist. I only wish my children could have known my Dad as their grandfather. He died when my youngest was only 2 and my oldest was only 8 but not before he had instilled in John a great love for fishing and Montana.

Happy Father's Day, Dad, I love you.

Another Graduation!!

Just because Mitch did not 'walk' in his graduation ceremony we did not get an actual graduation picture. But I love this one of him with Bruce looking at him so adoringly.

Mitch graduated from Susanville and will either start a new music career or head for college either in Sacramento with his brother Mike or San Diego area with Mom and Melissa.

Mitch is very talented in music and very smart so has a great future ahead of him in whatever he chooses!

Congratulations, Mitch!

Maria Graduates from National University

Maria made it! A Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from National University!

Commencement Exercises were at the San Diego Convention Center.

Now it is up to you daughter Melissa to follow, and soon...

• James wishes big sis Maria congratulations with a lei and bouquest of flowers...
• Beautiful Maria, we are all so proud of you...
• The Graduate--it only took over half of her life! Wonder what she will do with the next half century. We can only imagine.

• “There is a good reason they call these ceremonies 'commencement exercises'. Graduation is not the end, it's the beginning.” Orrin Hatch quotes (US Senator)

Graduation Dinner Celebration

Maria's family gathers at Busters at Seaport Village for a Celebration after the graduation!

Happy to be here, Camber and James...

The Appetizer!

James and Camber share...

Maria, Linda and Melissa...

Two of the three desserts--Hardys can't have a celebration without desserts.

Brownie Deluxe

Banana Fritters

Great dinner and great fun...

More on Maria Graduation

 

Graduation Day for Kelly Pulsipher

"A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that 'individuality' is the key to success." - Robert Orben

Ah, but Kelly certainly has individuality so she will be successful--here she is dressed in her lookalike cap and gown.

At last the final march for the diploma from Grossmont High.

 

 

The Graduate!

Whew, that's all over...

Kelly with her best friend, Matt.

Kelly with her Dad and Mom.

Kelly with her grandmother Janet.

Kelly with her brother Tanner and his friend Ron.

Graduation Lunch

After Graduation there was lunch at The Cheesecake Factory in Fashion Valley--attending were: Kelly, the graduate and her friend, Matt!

Dad Gary and sister Sarah of the graduate.

Janet and Linda, grandmother and mother of the graduate!

Brother Tanner and his friend Ron were there, also. The lunch was so delicious!

Afterwards there was shopping for the perfect graduation gift and here it is...

Kelly's bling from Tiffanys--graduation gift!

The Graduation Party Saturday Night at Pulsiphers

We didn't get many pictures but all the cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and a few friends were there. We took pictures of:

       Stephanie and Kelly--the Graduates! 

 

                Kelly and Matt at the Graduation party.

 

Casey and her boyfriend with Jamie's baby.

 

                                                                                            Sarah and her cousins in her redecorated                                                                                                       playhouse.

 

O Remember, Remember

Ever since an experience in my life when I was prompted to acknowledge the hand of the Lord in my life I have tried to express gratitude to my Heavenly Father always for my answers to prayers, tender mercies and little miracles in my life. This Mormon Message by President Eyring expresses that well. Just click on the title!

Memorial Day Weekend

Lea is looking so grown up and beautiful. She is also very strong and surfs with Jacob and is quite a basketball player and inline skater.

Kelsi was ready for Sunday School so she posed for me. The next day while traveling she gave us an interesting version of her Sunday School lesson. She is a real sweetie and can be very chatty when she wants to. She can also tryicycle so fast I have to run to keep up.

Jimmy and Kelsi ready to go with Grandma on Memorial Day morning.

James and Camber had about three shifts of friends and family over to eat barbeque and play in the surf on Memorial Day. I only got pictures of the last group!

Jacob and Lea were making Popeye legs with their wet suits and a hose!

The kids were alternating between boogie boards and little round rubber boats.

Camber said this was here last bikini! She still looks very good though, so I doubt it!

The tiny speck in the middle of the ocean picture is Maria and Linda kayaking!

Maria, Linda and James in a pix...

A pix of James' partner and wife...

Jacob and his friend enjoy dinner after lots of time in the ocean.

While the adults were partying on the deck, Sarah and Lea were conducting school for the other little ones upstairs--what a lot of clean up!!