Up, Up, and Away!

Last week Luke decided to wrap himself up in my birthday balloons, and run around the backyard.  Maybe he thought he would float up, up, and away, or maybe he was playing with them and somehow got caught in the net of the interwoven streamers.  Who knows?  But when I saw him running around in the back with a bunch of colorful balloons, I knew I had to grab my camera quick!  He didn't want me to take his picture, so he kept running away from me, but I loved the look of all the balloons floating right behind him as he ran.  Later it was fun to play with the color on the computer - only with iPhoto.  I haven't had enough experience with my Photoshop yet.

 I really love this one.  I think I need to crop it, but am not quite sure the best crop to make.

He was trying to pop the balloon here.

I think this one is funny because the balloons say "Happy Birthday" and the look on his face is anything but happy.

He hid from me and my camera under the trampoline, but I got the shot anyway.

As it turned out, Luke never got air born, but he sure wore himself and the photographer out trying.

How It All Began...

Today Dennis and I are celebrating our 17th wedding anniversary!  I can't believe it has been 17 years.  Let me show you how it all began...

 First I must take you way back, much further than 17 years, way back to 1989.  I was 17 then, and had no idea who Dennis VanBuskirk was, or that he was working hard serving on his mission in Mexico.  But I did know "he" was out there somewhere, just didn't know exactly who "he" was.  I also knew, or at lest I hoped I knew what "he" was like.  In one of my young women classes, I filled out a list of the qualities I wanted in my spouse.  Here it is, in no particular order:

Qualities I want in My Spouse Forever:

1. Ambitious

2. Attractive

3. Family Centered

4. Fun

5. Honest

6. Kind

7. Loving

8. Positive

9. Self-Esteem

10. Spiritual

I just found this list the other day, and was amazed at what I had written so long ago, because it IS Dennis.  If I were to write a list of Dennis' ten best qualities today, it would be that very same list!  I couldn't change a thing.

But I am getting ahead of myself.

So I had this list.  Now all I had to do was find him.

I did, pretty easily.

I was 18 and a freshman at UCSD.  I was home on winter break and my best friend Alicia and I went to young adult family home evening.  He was giving the lesson, well, at least he was attempting to.  You see, he had recently returned from his mission, and he was speaking about his mission experiences, but his Spanglish was so bad that I couldn't understand half of what he was saying.  Poor guy.  But I couldn't hear him anyway, not above the sound of my heart pounding!  He was SO cute!!!

I worked up the courage to talk to him, and he wrote my name in his little black book that looked like it hadn't bee cracked open in two years.  He was SO cute, even cuter up close!

When I walked in the door that night I told my mom "I met a really neat guy tonight," as I floated past her.  She took one look at me and her jaw dropped.  Then she turned to my dad and said "Dear, Shelly just met the man she is going to marry."  No kidding.  Sight unseen - my mom knew!  She has always been very open to inspiration that way. (I brushed it off, but secretly hoped she was right!  Did I mention he was SO cute?)

But he didn't call to ask me out.  New years came and went, and it was time to head back to school.  But classes started on a Friday, and I decided to skip the first day of classes (which is not usually my practice) and stayed home for the weekend.  He called that day - the day I should have been back at school in SD, and we went out that night.  Oh what a night!

Our date?  Edward Scissorhands and Subway- the very same subway that is right next to our taekwando school today.  Oh the memories!

Oh ya, and he kissed me, by the way.  Let me make it clear, since his version is different.  HE kissed ME.  (I'm not that kind of girl!)  

He asked me out to go up to YV to see his family the next day.  I found out later that he had already had asked another girl.  He called and told her he wasn't going, and took me instead.  Poor girl.  She'll never know what she missed.

I'm sure glad I didn't miss.  Cutting classes proved a good thing in this instance.  And the decision to skip class might just have changed my life.

It sure was hard to say goodbye sunday when I had to head back to campus. He wouldn't let me leave without my promising him I wouldn't date anyone else (I had been in SD a whole semester and hadn't had a single date, so I knew it wouldn't be a problem.)  I had a boyfriend - and he was WAY cuter than any of my girlfriends' boys!

We did the long distance romance thing for a while, and Dennis got a few speeding tickets to prove it.  He just  couldn't stay away, what can I say.

It sure was fun! We were talking about marriage within weeks, but he didn't actually ask me until June when I got out of school.  He came to pick me up from school, and instead of driving home, he surprised me by driving to LA where we caught a boat to Catalina Island.  

This is us on the day he proposed.  It is a long and really funny story that has something to do with a imaginary "little cactus", a swarm of gnats, and a sudden need to pee in the bushes.  Like I said, you need to hear the whole story.  Maybe I'll blog about it at #18.

This picture was taken just moments before he asked me to marry him.  Come on.  Look at him.  I told you he was SO cute.   I just couldn't say "no" to this face.  Who could?

And so it was.  These were our wedding announcement photos.

And then, and whole year later (TOO LONG!) and 17 years ago today we were married in the LA temple.

That was a happy day! And that's how it all began, this adventure that has become the VanBuskirk clan.  I knew I had done good, and I've never looked back.

This picture was taken on our Honeymoon.  We travelled up the coast, camping in Big Sur, staying in a Victorian B&B in Santa Barbara, then Monterey and San Fran, then home again.  I couldn't believe how lucky I was to wake up and have breakfast with this guy every morning, who was just SO cute!

Looking back, I can't believe how lucky I was to wind up with him.  He is ALL that I wanted him to be, and so much more.  Every one of those ten qualities that I wanted he has, and my life, and the lives of my children are blessed by each of them every single day!  

These 17 years have gone by in a flash.  They have been so very good.

I remember on the day we married, we said that we wanted to grow old together.  Now that we are starting to creep into that bit by bit, I remember that that is exactly what I always wanted - to grow old with HIM.  HE is what I always wanted, even before I knew him.

I love you, Dennis!  I truly do.

P.S.  You are still SO cute!  And you still make my heart pound (even though your English has gotten much better)!

A Horse, of Course

Last week I went to Riverside to visit with my Friend's the Muchenjes.  They were having a party out in their beautiful property.  I got there a bit early, because Dennis dropped me off on his way to the Angels/Dodgers game.  A neighbor, Justin, who happens to be a real Wyoming cowboy, brought his beautiful horses by and took me for a ride in the hills and canyons behind the house. 

I have only been on a horse a few times, and it has been at least 25 years, so I wasn't quite sure about it.  But I couldn't pass up a chance, could I?

It was fun.  A nice ride through the hills near dusk.  But that poor horse was panting pretty hard by the end.  Poor animal.  Justin's horse was doing fine.  I must really have been weighing that poor horse down.

Then my friend Kylee took a turn.  Off into the sunset.
Farai wanted me to take pictures of him to make him look like a real coyboy.  I dunno. I did my best, but he just isn't the cowboy type.  

The sunset was amazing that night.

I'm not much of a partier, so I spent most of the evening playing with my camera trying to capture the ambience of the lights, the drums, and the belly dancers.  Yep, it was that kind of party.  (Taking pictures in the dark is tough!)

My Kind of Graduation Ceremony

I just realized that I neglected to record for history's sake the auspicious commencement ceremony of the 2009 Ronald Reagan Elementary School Kindergarten class where the very accomplished and esteemed Caleb, donning a pair of ears instead of a mortar board, stood in front of an audience of his peers to be named ...a silly field mouse and be bopped on the head by none other than infamous Little Bunny Fufu.  It was a proud moment for any mother.

He flapped and flailed when bopped on the head so convincingly that you could almost feel the bop yourself.  A born Thespian, to be sure.

All the kids sang all the songs they had learned throughout the school year.  It was very entertaining!

I am amazed at how much our little Caleb has changed this year.  It is always that Kindergarten year that turns a "little kid" into a full-fledged kid.  Caleb was no exception. (In fact, he would argue that he went from a little kid to a teenager this year, but I have to disagree with that.)

Mom, Dad, and Grandma came to the event, and Derek and Dylan even stopped by during an extended last-day-of-school recess.  

What a great year for Caleb.  There is just nothing like kindergarten.  I'd say I'm sorry that it is over, only I am ecstatic that it is over because I don't have to drop everything to take a kid to school in the middle of the day anymore.  Yay!

Mrs. Cathcart - a VanBuskirk family tradition.  We LOVE her!  Don't worry, Mrs. C.  We've got one more coming down the line in a few years.

Luke ran off to the playground with his brothers.

To celebrate afterwards, I treated Caleb and Luke to kids meals and a trip to the park.

Caleb discovered the sweet and salty combination of French Fries dipped in a Frosty.   he convinced me to try it.  Yum!  Really.

Luke takes his Frosty straight. 

On to first grade - but first lets do the summertime thing!

Dad is...

For Father's Day, my boys made Dennis a book about their dad.  They each had a page where they had to fill in the blanks.  Here are some of their answers:

Alex:

My dad looks like a strong god looking man.

He is as strong as Superman.

I think my dad is funny when he play fights with us.

I would not trade my dad for a brand new sports car.

Nate:

My dad looks like a pro football player.

He can lift 6 kids.

I think my dad is funny when he is cheering for the Lakers.

I know my dad is mad when he says things three times.

Derek:

My dad looks like a ninja warrior.

He is as strong as the Hulk.

I know my dad is really mad when he knows the Lakers lost.

I would not trade my dad for all the money in the world.

Dylan:

He is as strong as duct tape.

He loves to golf in a green place.

I think my dad is funny when he jokes around.

I wish my dad would stay home with me everyday.

Caleb:

I think my dad is funny when he just farted.

I know my dad is really mad when he has a grumpy face.

I wish my dad would jump on the trampoline with me everyday.

I would not trade my dad for a real robot.

Luke:

He is as strong as a bupalo (buffalo) and can lift work at his office.

He loves to eat food.

When dad was a kid he used to poop in the toilet. (guess who's potty training?)

If I could spend the day with dad we would play Superman in Superman foes (clothes).

I would not trade my dad for a hot-lit (chocolate) bunny.

He is the best dad any six boys could ask for!  Happy Fathers Day, Honey!  We Love You!

Thirty Seven Candles

Thursday was my birthday, and it was a great day.

 I made my debut at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, Utah.  (I bet more babies are born there than just about anywhere.) Yes, I'm a native Utah'n, but I won't readily admit it.  Hey, I only lived there a few weeks.  For all intents and purposes I am a California girl.

Fast forward 37 years.  Another birthday.  

I started my birthday with an early trip to the temple with my mom.  I decided late the night before that that is what I really wanted to do on "my day".  It was absolutely wonderful.  I really got some great insight into my life and what I need to be doing.  I put everything in perspective, and made me appreciate the family and friends that I would see/hear from all day.

After the temple mom and I were asked to an impromptu lunch party at Panera with my sweet friends Nonie, Denice (hiding - she'd so sneaky), Jenie, and Alysa.

I love all these beautiful women!

I opened some gifts.  Mom's was really wrapped in plastic and bubble wrap and took forever. What a mess.  And the gift wasn't even fragile.  It was a serious tape gun for stamping that I am really excited about - thanks Mom!

Denice gave me a bunch of fun balloons (it has been forever since anyone gave me balloons for my birthday!), a wonderful book by President Hinkley, and a relaxing fountain so I can find my peaceful place.  (Hope it works 'cause  I need to find my peaceful place!)

My sweet friend Diane dropped of a scrumptious coffee cake and this oh-so-darling oilcloth apron with cherries on it.  It just screams domestic goddess.  I LOVE it!

I saw Nonie again when she a Keith brought over my birthday cake - a towering homemade Italian wedding cake (I love all things Italian!) filled with nuts and coconut and just super delicious! 

When I got home my boys announced that they had made me brownies, but when they presented me with them, they looked like this:

I'm thinking that the candles were originally all over , and kept getting moved over as the brownies were nibbled away.  Hilarious!  Thanks for saving me some of my birthday brownies, fellas.  You were so thoughtful.

 I really had it sweet!  There was cake, cookies, coffee cake, cheesecake, caramel corn, and  brownies.  Good thing calories don't count on your birthday, huh?

My dear Dayna was out of town, but before she left, she delivered my gift, this super-cute picture.  It's pink, and black, girly, and quotes Shakespeare.  (Shakespeare and I are tight!)  Perfect for the pink room.  That girl has me figured out exactly!

Alysa gave me that fun chandelier vinyl sticker for my pink room, and some great books (only one turned out to be a bit porn.  Oops!  Posting no pics of that one.)

Everyone must know I love chandeliers because this is the incredibly darling card Mom made me.   It is bejeweled!

My friend Diana sent me this card from Utah.  I love everything about it!

Dinner was so romantic - OK, not really.  Dennis signed up to feed the missionaries. But he did all the work.  I just sat back and enjoyed not having to do the entertaining.

Little Dylan made my most special gift - a sculpture of our family as it looked when he and his twin brother were born.  Isn't it wonderful?  That kid!

See the poster in the background that my boys made for me?  It is still up, but will likely be replaced by a Father's Day poster very soon.

In the evening, my wonderful friend Shari dropped by with a fabulous new purse filled with moose munch popcorn (yum - ee!)  I moved right into that purse already.  Her "quick visit" turned into a two hour conversation in the front yard.  Her youngest sat and watched an entire movie in the car while he waited for us to quit yaking.  Oops!  

Dennis gave me a new bluetooth device to replace the one he gave me for Christmas and then accidently threw away (remember that?) and a new professional wide angle zoom lens for my camera that I am SO excited about.  (All my excuses for lousy pictures are quickly disappearing.  I better start learning how to take a photograph now, huh?)

It was a great day, and didn't even end there, because early the next morning I snuck out of the house to drive to Riverside to do some Martial Arts training with my dear friend, and instructor, Kylee.  It was SO FUN!  I loved every minute of it.  Afterwards she took me to a belated birthday lunch.  I really love that girl!

I love birthdays, and this was a good one.  I had so many visits, calls, cards, and emails from people who care.  It was so fun to open my emails and see the whole page filled with birthday wishes from my facebook friends.  I was so impressed with all the thoughtful gifts from my friends who really knew just what I would love.  Bravo!

Thanks everyone for my wonderful day!  You make getting older really worth it!