Category: Extended family

Family Tree

Our tree

Richard comes home from work most evenings and looks immediately out the back window and makes a comment about the state of our crape myrtle tree.

This little tree has weeks when the blossoms wane and it looks more like a spent dandelion that has lost its fuzz. That little trunk and my thumb share the same diameter. But despite its small size,  this tree can blossom like there’s a party going on. And for some reason, Richard follows the ebb and flow of our tree with great interest.

I think it has a lot to do with the investment of time he puts into our back yard. After checking the tree each evening, he takes a walk out to the tomato plants, surveys the strawberry patch, adjusts sprinklers, and takes an inventory of  his kingdom.

Are you ready for my simile or metaphor? Faithful readers, surely you were expecting it.

And so it goes. Some weeks our family seems to be in sync with our moods and schedules and we’re in full bloom. Other weeks, we are stretched to the limit by our outside commitments and we feel like spent dandelions.

We’ve had a spent dandelion week. Even trying to pace ourselves, the stress of life has crept in a little and I am ready for a weekend break.  We look forward to a week of full-bloom soon… despite missing out on a Stewart reunion at the Weber.

Dear Weber family

Princes among Men

Today I celebrate two special people, my grandpa and my dad. I am a little teary today over it all.

Ruth and John Sanchez 1947

This is my grandpa, John Sanchez. He passed away four years ago today. I still ache over it. I miss you, Grandpa.

Grandma Ruth looks just like my sister Sarah. I see Grandpa’s looks in my Dad sometimes.

My Dad 2008

Happy Birthday, Dad. I’ll see you soon for one of our late night chats about grand things. And maybe some jelly toast. With peanut butter.

I love you.

-A

Danish Delight

Nielson

Soren and Serena Nielson

Nielson reunion 7-4-09

and a FEW of their descendants on the 4th of July. Note all the blonde hair. Go Denmark!

I wish we’d all taken some more time and arranged ourselves near our children (and allowed Richard and me to sit in those two empty chairs.) I think most were just in a hurry to get out of the sun, as evidenced by the group yell of, “Melanoma” to the camera to make our group unite in smile. (Those Danes!) Daniel and Timothy are on the far left and Paige is holding Mark in the middle. Richard and I are in the far right, kneeling just behind the kids.

Eric and Camille Nielson hosted the reunion in their lovely home in Holladay. Look at that awesome treehouse behind us. The boys spent the whole time exploring in the trees in the back yard.

Tanks Ablaze

The competitors

As a warm-up for July 4th the next day, Paul and Care invited us to Tank Wars at their house. After dinner, Paul shared his fireworks and we doctored up some tanks so they had some real power. Here, the competitors assembled for the carnage…

Timothy and Mark's tanks

They proudly displayed their arsenals.

Paige and Mom's arsenal

Paige and I even prepared some Barbie Carnage Tanks.

Timothy reacts

It was dearly entertaining to watch the reactions of the kids…

Mark reacts

This was Mark’s first experience with fireworks. He was mesmerized.

Ruby and Timothy react

It was loud, but most of the kids watched from the edge of the curb, which is as close as we would let them sit.

Solomon reacts

Cutie Solomon was amazed.

Paige and Ruby

Ruby and Paige were less impressed, but found some things to chat about.

Isaac "likes smoke"

Isaac confessed, “I like smoke!” as he chased it down the street.

Ammon reacts

Ammon was just happy to be there.

Charlotte reacts

Charlotte blew patriotic bubbles since she was too young to make a tank.

Tank Carnage

Tank Wars Day 1 was a fiery success. Tank Wars Day 2 took place at the Round House with even more competitors with a larger army of tanks. Installing that hornet rocket on my Big Mama Tank was definitely against my better judgment a great idea!

Hip, hip, Parade!

Parade 1

We drove 14 hours to attend Provo’s July 4th parade with cousins and family. You can’t beat a really good parade. Mom always loved the parade more than the kids. I’m finally getting it and I’m pretty sure I loved it more this year than I ever did before. Why?

Daniel in tree

…Because the parade gave Daniel a chance to climb a tree;

4th of July 013

I got to sit with my siblings and their families at the old TPM homestead on University Avenue, in a place so traditional that even Mayor Billings searched the crowd, mouthing the word, “Sanchez” to his daughters trying to find us from the convertible in which he sat for the parade.

4th of July Tank

We saw a tank in action. Now when do you ever get to see a tank rumbling down the road?

4th of July Missionary standing ovation

There was the standing ovation for the LDS Missionary float. I lifted Mark on my shoulders and he caught the excitement and waved to the missionaries with all his might.

Henry

Our nephew, Henry was in a band in the parade. So was his sister, Katie.

Why do I love a parade more than ever? Well, it’s all about beautiful things; it celebrates youth, honors old age, and makes me feel patriotic and reminds me of my childhood. That’s something to get excited about.

Sarah Sees Sahuarita

Bryan and Sarah at the lake

Yesterday, Sarah and Bryan had a Sahuarita experience. We took them sight-seeing at the lake.

water lily blossom

We showed them “our” pond where a water lily was in bloom for the occasion.

tortoise ride

Daniel and Mark showed off the tortoises.

Mark runs free

And Mark enjoyed some freedom.

Daniel and Timothy puppeteers

In the evening after a meal of fajitas and watermelon, we embarked on adventures in entertainment. Audience admission was a slot to perform in our talent show. Richard played piano, Paige danced (on film), Daniel played piano, Timothy produced, directed, and acted in a Potato Head Puppet Show, Sarah sang an awesome solo, and I played the guitar and as we all sang together.

Bryan on the harmonica

Bryan gifted us with his debut harmonica performance. Nicely done, man!

We like to Move It

Mark’s talent was all about dance, running, and a basketball. He then got us all moving to one of his favorite songs, I Like To Move It…

We Moved It some More

And then we were all on our feet, dancing despite the storm outside…

Defying Gravity

And suddenly my hair defied gravity and for this and many other reasons, I call the day a success.

Newlyweds

Thanks for giving us a reason to celebrate, you two.

We love Sue

Susan

We are praying for you, Susan. We love you! Get well soon.

(Photo from Sanchez blog)

The joie de vivre that personifies Susan is affecting. Her attention to such details as specially wrapped chocolates on a sick bed or blue corn tortilla chips over more commonplace varieties makes us feel special. Her fashions, whimsical and elegant, so willingly shared with me during my teenage years made me feel like an heiress; her laugh, engaging and full, has invited us to join in her enchantment for just a minute as we have laughed along with her.

Susan embraces all things lovely and makes them seem more lovely by her attention. And God who knows and loves her best is watching over her in her illness while we pray for the recovery of her heath and spirits.

I feel blessed to have a very special Great-Aunt Susan, who is much greater than this terrible cancer.

Are you a Federal Employee?

Hess Family

Ryan and Margie Hess are our friends. In addition to prayers, there is something else we can do to help this family. We have learned that if you are a Federal employee, you can donate leave time to Ryan. Margie sent us the following:

***FEDERAL EMPLOYEES- PLEASE DONATE LEAVE TO RYAN HESS***

My name is Margie Hess, my husband Ryan was diagnosed on June 12, 2009 with a rare and aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  Since this is an aggressive form of T-Cell Lymphoma, his doctor has put him on an aggressive chemo regimen that will result in him being unable to work for the next 4-6 months and possibly longer.  At the time of diagnosis he was finishing up his 1st year as a Podiatry Resident at the V.A. in Tucson, AZ.  Ryan is a devoted husband and father of two children, Hallie (5) and Max (2).  By the end of this month (June 2009), Ryan will use up the last of his vacation and sick leave and will have to go on unpaid leave.  Ryan is the sole provider for our family; I stay at home with both the kids.  Without him working we have no income.  I need to stay home to help care for him, so I cannot get a job right now, either.  As difficult as it is for our family to have to ask for help, we have realized that we must do so at this time.  We were told that any federal employee (ie: military, Border Patrol, DEA, FB I, Dept of Justice, EPA etc.  EXCEPT Post Office employees) can donate vacation time to be used as sick leave for another Federal employee.  We would be so thankful for any number of extra paid days we can accumulate.  Thank you so much.

How can you help if you ARE a Federal Employee?

Go to your HR department and request to donate leave to Ryan Hess who works for the VA.  (Your HR person will know the form that needs to be filled out- each Federal agency has their own form to donate leave)

Once filled out and signed, the HR person will then need to fax or e-mail the form to:

OLIVIA McCLURE – Benefits Specialist (TUCSON V.A.)

Phone #: (520) 792-1450 x 6076

Fax #     :  (520) 629-1849

E-Mail   :  olivia.mcclure@va.gov

ALSO, for those who are federal employees, please print out this message and post it in break/lunch rooms to help get the word out as well as emailing it to co-workers!

How to help if you are NOT a Federal Employee:

PASS this along to ANYONE and EVERYONE that you know and then ask them to pass the message along.  Post it on blogs, Facebook…whatever you can think of.

Thanks again everyone- this will help SO much!

GO TEAM RYAN HESS!

(E-mail teamryanhess@gmail.com to receive updates or to send a message!)

Neighbors extraordinaire

Susie and Maria This is my neighbor, Maria and her daughter, Susie. Maria excels in all things neighborly.

Today Maria kidnapped my boys (even Mark) for the day so Paige and I could have some time together. Neat-o. Maria kidnaps my kids occasionally. It’s always well-timed and spontaneous. It’s really uncanny how she seems to know when the kids need to be spoiled for a little while. Today was the first day that Mark was old enough to come along. When I told him to get ready to go, he stopped, mouth gaping, and said, “I. Can’t. Believe!” and then threw his hands into the air and ran around the driveway six times.

I’ve been trying to think of a title for Maria, like “Aunt Maria,” but it just doesn’t fit. She’s more magical than that. She’s like a fairy godmother, appearing with marvelous kindness at just the right time.

Some days she shows up with a specially wrapped lunch prepared just for me. Other days she shows up with batches of cookies that she’s decorated which are worthy of a magazine cover. I have no idea why she chooses us to shower with her kindness, but I won’t rock the boat by asking too many questions.

Her husband, Jeff is just as generous. His wheelbarrow has spent more time in our back yard than in his own.

Her daughter, Susie is our talk-over-the-fence backyard friend. Ok, the kids don’t just talk, they traffic lizards, toys, and squirt guns across our friendly border fence. In fact, I would say Susie will someday be an ambassador to nations, ready to talk to anyone and she’ll always wear impeccably coordinated outfits. She’s charming.

We count ourselves lucky to have these two ladies & Jeff next door.