Catch up --Scotty is an official Pre-Schooler

This little darling started preschool!

Goodbye Summer 2010!

We have had a very nice, long extended Summer.  All of September was very warm....sometimes close to 100 degrees.  It has been nice.   

So here's a tribute to Summer 2010 ...goodbye..... parting is such sweet sorrow....

I will miss the flowers.....

And those beautiful summer evenings.... when the kids in the neighborhood would play and play...  

I will remember Cub scout Day Camps..... and all that "man training" going on....

We won't forget the joy of climbing trees....

Or lazy Summer afternoons when boys are free to create and imagine.....  Like these two boys who created their own weapons..and then had very spirited fights...and set up forts....    

And oooh the joy of running around shirtless and barefoot in the warm summer air!

Hanging out with neighborhood friends morning, noon and night.... 

And stealing Mom's camera and taking random pictures with friends you hang out with morning, noon and night...

We won't forget the homemade waterslide made with a  ladder, particle board and a tarp or two.   Oooh the fun!

And more random pictures....taken with Mom's camera ...just for fun...

Oh the magic of summer days when you are 8, 9, 10 and 11!  There's is a secret world.....just like I remember.   Forts, games, anything they can imagine.  Lemonade stands, trips on their bikes to the grocery store to buy candy...with their own money!!   Few things make me happier than seeing my children experience the magic of childhood...  They have their own plans, own agenda, and played all day until they were exhausted!

 They played with water in the dirt, created dams and tunnels. And when a thunderstorm would roll in...it was pure excitement!  These kids would run out in the rain and scream in delight at the thunder!  Oh the magic!  

I also want to remember:

• Nightgames!  Played until as late as we would let them!  
• Trips to the Pool...  How much these boys love to swim!
• The endlesslessness of remodeling...we remodeled our three bathrooms this past summer.....   How torn apart the house was for about a month...it was crazy!
• Steve was gone for more than a month between scout camp, the National Jamboree and the 50 miler hike. I didn't like this too much....
• Jon and Joseph went with their Dad and a bunch of Uncles and Cousins on the National Boy Scout Jamboree (100th Anniversary of Boy Scouts...very cool)  
• Steve took a group of young men including Jon, Joseph and Eric up Kings Peak-50 miles hike.  
• Our splendid family reunion and send off of Mom and Dad on their mission to the Washington DC Temple Visitors Center
• A wonderful day trip with Barb and family up to "the Weber" their cabin up in the mountains in an area I had never been to...which is soo beautiful. It was a really great day!   

So goodbye Summer 2010.....   All good things must come to an end.... 

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Catch Up...First Day of School....

Hard to believe that it was time to start school again....

I think this will be the year we remember that we "slummed" our way into the first day of school.  Look at those clothes!  Who dresses those children?   I think I was a little distracted in getting Eric ready and off to college.  Plus these boys will do anything to get out of shopping for clothes!  And, I guess it worked!   Well, atleast they are darn cute!  So, maybe no one noticed that they look like little urchins...lost and forgotten by their mother.

4th Grade!  How can it be that this boy is starting 4th grade!  And he got the teacher he wanted..hoped for..Mrs. LeFevre!!!

Michael and his good friend Brandon.  They both made it into Mr. Cook's class...and this made them very happy!

Yes, they are the cool 6th grade boys..the top dogs..the big cheese..... 

And ...with some coaxing..this young man let me take his picture on his first day back as a JUINOR!!  Holy Cow!

And, well, I am sorry to report that the 9th grade boy was  too anxious to get to school early and therefore would not pose for a picture.  Jon will be the new boy on the block at Albion Middle after going to Churchill Jr High for the past two years. He decided he wanted to be with all of his friends ..and football team ...so he was one excited boy, anxious to get his foot in the door and make a great first impression.  I am happy to report that he went to school with just the right clothes, his hair combed just right, and ready to be the big man...  (He is fun  ..funny...to watch)  I know he will make it a great year!  And we are happy for him!

So, after school I tried to be a cool mom and have cookies and milk ready for them.  It will probably never happen again, but at least I was really cool one day this year.    

I love these boys and here's to a great year!  And now we are off and running into a great year!  

Catching up.....The Big Send off to College .....

So ....I didn't even want to write about this..... It was  a happy, exciting, wonderful and very sad day...

This was a day I knew would come....

It was a day every mother begins to dread from the minute  you hold that new baby in your arms--you know it is coming, way back in the back of your mind.  You know it's there every time you tuck him in, every time he starts another school year,   each time you celebrate his birthday,  each time you go on vacation....there is a little thought in the back of your mind  reminding you  that one day your child child will fly.......out of your nest and begin a life of their own.

We don't own our children.  We only borrow them for a while and teach and love them the best way we know how, but ultimately they are responsible for their lives.  And as they go, you just hope they remember all you tried to teach them and hope with all your heart that Heavenly Father will make up for all you didn't teach them....

And you hope that they know who they are and that their Heavenly Father and Savior love them and that they are never alone.  So many things... on this day if Eric had asked for the moon I would have tried getting it for him.    I am sure every mom feels so many emotions as she sends off her oldest to college.  

And so after 18 years of knowing just about everything they do from what they ate for breakfast to how math class went that day to who they are hanging out with....they go and you have no idea whether or not they are starving to death, brushing their teeth, hanging out with good people....nothing!  Poof!  Gone!

And I text this boy and he just texts back, "don't worry Mom, I am fine!"  And you suddenly feel like you really shouldn't ask too many questions...and let them get their feet on the ground and begin a life of their own on their own.  And it is exciting in many ways and so sad in other ways.


Here are some pictures taken the night before Eric left for college.....

The night before Eric left, we celebrated his birthday!

And he finally got what he has been asking for for the past 3 years...a laptop!!!  

Since, he left, I am happy to say that he seems to be doing just great!   He is rooming with a cousin and has a couple of other cousins close by...and seems to have a fun social life.  He reports that he has all A's, well, one A-.  We will keep our fingers crossed for him that his final grades are so good.    He is getting along well with all of his roommates except one ...and has learned to "just give him his space," and everything goes ok.  He seems to be making new friends....  !  He made Men's Chorus!  This is his favorite class.  He also just auditioned for a show choir with his cousins and they all made it!  Yippee!  BYUI is such a good place to be......so uplifting, testimony building....I hope everything continues to go well...  We are happy for him!

The Crowley Spectacular Summer Party

This is my family....

and I love each and everyone of them....




Our small group of 57 met up at our cabin on Bill's Island in Island Park Idaho.  Yes, that would be 57--which is why this year we had to rent an extra cabin down the road to house our very large group.  Everyone was able to make it except for Sharon and Thad (just had a new baby) Uncle Mike, and Elder Alex Crowley who is currently serving in the Bangkok Thailand Mission.  We missed you all very much!

This reunion was very special right from the start. .

Mom and Dad were scheduled to leave for their mission the last day of the reunion and it was a small miracle and blessing that their stake president just happened to be vacationing in the area and could come over to the cabin to set them apart.  




I am sure that it wasn't by chance that we could all be together for this occasion.  It was wonderful to be able to support and honor them.   



Are those beautiful kids or what?  



Aunt Joanne and Uncle Ray just happened to be in the area too and came by too....



It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that makes our family so happy....so strong...so able to endure adversity and it makes our time together so meaningful.  

Later we played in the water........

Hung out on the dock......

We did some boating....

..some jet skiing...

I love it that we can gather in such a beautiful place...

This area has really found a place in our hearts...

We ate a lot of good food....

and squeezed in as much talk and laughter as possible...

These kids didn't have fun at all......

Everyone enjoyed some hot tub time...

We made some cool 4th of July T-shirts. 

And our reunions would never be complete without our traditional campfire.  

Every family whooped it up with a family cheer.  

And every family shared a skit.  

This is the troll in the Three Billy Goats Gruff.  I wish I had taken more pictures of everyone's skits.  They were all GREAT! 

We ended the night with a surprise birthday party for my bro Steve...who had just reached a very important landmark... 50!  Richard put together a slide show and fun presentation.  Words were shared.  There were a few tears...and lots of laughter.  I adore these people!!!!!!!!

The next morning, We were up early getting ready for the Bills Island 4th of July Parade.  The float turned out so cute and the little kids had the time of their lives! 

Uncle Ryan was awesome for driving the float oh and for bringing the trailer!!

Thanks so much!!

Oh yeah, those kids had a great time.  The parade gets bigger every year and everyone loves it.  We love Bills Island..what a fun community.  

Next, we had a flag ceremony.  Aaron did a magnificent job.   Besides the fact that he is one of the nicest people I know, He is also an Iraq war veteran.  We are very proud of him.

Aaron asked a boy from each family to represent one of the ranks in the scouting program from Cub scouts to Eagle Scout.  

He also put together a special presentation to honor the Boy Scouts of America on their 100th anniversary.  It was just great! 

Next we played a bunch of great games!  Every family brought at least one to share.   

Dad checked out for awhile...ahhhh...

We opened up this gift from Sharon who couldn't come.  She is so thoughtful and we wore these socks all day to help us feel she was there in spirit with us. WE love you Sharon!! And the whole Call family.  

A few more pictures of the day...

Those shirts turned out so cute... :)

Don't you just want to eat this boy up?  Is he a cutie or what?

In the evening, we went to the Bills Island Dutch Oven Dinner.  Bills Island Association makes the most delectable delicious Dutch Oven Dinner complete with the main course, the most delicious potatoes on the planet, amazing green beans and a fabulous dessert.  Everyone else brings salads or side dishes to share.... It is such fun and the food is amazing!

This kiddos tried to get in as much hot tubbing time as possible...

Tried to do some of this..... 

and this...

The boys in the family helped clean up and put away tables and chairs after the Dutch Oven dinner (yes we are proud of you all....a servant's heart...that's what you have....) Then,  everyone gathered for our Square Dance!!


Thanks to Steve for setting up the sound system... it was awesome.

We had a great time!!  

We learned the Virginia Reel...and really whooped it up!

And Billy Bob and Sally Sue dropped in for a visit!!!  They are regular old celebrities around here and have been comin' on by to our reunions to say hello for years now.  Everyone was so excited to see them.  

There's a certain little problem with their orthodontia ..but we love em anyways.  

Crowley Cousin Hug....

Then off we went to watch a fireworks show in the GORGEOUS place.   

We ended the day with more fun....

Ok..that is a lot of shoes....

Movies.....

The next day we gathered at 10:30 for a bit of family time before church which started at 1 pm.  After our "opening exercises" we split into three groups for little classes...  

The primary age children went on a nature walk, talking about how Heavenly Father has given us this beautiful earth and that He loves us...

A big thank you to Christine and Caryn for heading this head....I love you both.. Thanks so much.

I can't resist posting all of these pictures...such darling kids. 

A big thank you to Evan and Tonya and Danae for heading up the young adult/teen class on the  "For the Strength of Youth," guide and how to live those standards and stay pure in this increasingly crazy world.  

And the adults discussed how to stay connected as a family through technology and also how to make the scriptures and scripture study a more meaningful part of our daily family lives.  

 We took a few photos before heading off to church.

Grandma and Grandpa surrounded by their beautiful grandchildren.  

  

Church was just wonderful...always is at Island Park.  A few thousand "visitors"  show up to worship together.  They only hold sacrament meeting due to the size of the group and skip the three hour block.  It was Fast and Testimony meeting and several people in the family bore their testimonies including Scotty...for the first time. It was a great meeting.  

After church we had a few really hungry boys who were more than ready to eat hanging around waiting....for dinner to start.  

I can just imagine what Jonathan is thinking..."Is Dinner ready yet?"

A big thanks to Caryn and Brian for putting together this Hawaiian Dinner.  We had it at the last reunion and it was back by popular demand.  Everyone loved it.  Caryn and Brian live right near BYU Hawaii and both teach there.  

Brothers.... Brothers..... these two never stopped messin with each other the whole time.  :)  and everyone loved it. 

Just two of my beautiful sisters...

Don't you love how her hair matches the wood?  Beauty.......

To close our reunion, we had a "farewell" for our parents who would leave in the morning for their mission.  They will be serving in the Washington DC Visitors Center, in the Washington DC North Mission and will be gone for 18 months.  We paused to honor them, talk about their mission, sing, and give them a chance to say a few words.  

It was a special night.... the spirit was very strong..there was a lot of love expressed..

Love those heart to heart talks....

And we sent these two wonderful people, Mom and Dad off with love and our complete blessing.  They were up at 4:15 am the next morning and left at 5 am for Provo Utah Missionary Training Center.  We sent them off with a hurrah!

What a wonderful reunion.....blessed with something extra special from start to finish... 

There were many special moments...we reconnected...made some great memories...grew in our love for each other. 

I loved putting this reunion together with my sister Lynette.  It was fun working with her and I wish we had some kind of "project" to work on together on a regular basis.  

And, being in charge is so AHHH-mazing when you work with this great bunch of people.  We made assignments and everyone put their whole hearts into whatever they were asked to do.....Thanks everyone... love you.