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Showing posts from June, 2010

Summer at the McFarlands'

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A guest post by Maddie [One of the kids' chores is to do something 'academic' every weekday. This is pretty loose; Will learned how to load the digital frame, they've learned how to make a playlist, import a CD and burn a CD on iTunes, update their reading on Shelfari and other tenuously academic pursuits. This is one reason that my blogging all but stopped in June -- I haven't been able to come near my computer since the kids got out of school! This post was one of Maddie's entries, and I was tickled by it.] Things are pretty crazy here now that we are out of school. No, we aren’t schlepping ourselves and a load of luggage over to Europe , but while that means less hassle, it also means more house to clean up (and more swim team for will & I). So, this is a typical (crazy) day at our house: 6:00ish:Mom and dad wake up and take turns jogging/ making sure godzilla doesn't eat us in our sleep or something. 8:00ish: will, seb and I wake up. We then m

Anniversary Thirteen

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This quote by Michael Chabon in Manhood for Amateurs explains his relationship with his wife, and was immediately familiar to me. It articulated our relationship so closely, though I am years from being able to put this into words: "Not very long afterward, in an on going act of surrender to the world beyond my window, with no possibility of knowing what joy or disaster might result, I married her. And since that afternoon in Berkeley, California, standing along the deepest seam of the Hayward Fault -- no, since our first date -- this woman has dragged, nudged, coaxed, led, stirred, embroiled, mocked, seduced, finagled or carried me into every last instance of delight or sorrow, every debacle, every success, every brilliant call, and every terrible mistake, that I have known or made. I'm grateful for that, because if it were not for her, I would never go anywhere, never see anything, never meet anyone. It's too much bother. It's dangerous, hard work, or expensive. I l

Eunice Elizabeth Johnson Nelson

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Eunice Elizabeth Johnson Nelson October 18, 1917 to May 23, 2010 My maternal grandmother passed away about a month ago at age 92, and I wanted to put down some of my memories of her just like I did for m y grandfather . I remember Grandma Nelson as the grandma who would drive to town with Grandpa in the Chevy Impala with a 9 x 13 pan of applesauce brownies on the seat. We would always meet them at the Nut Tree , which was about an hour away from home and seemed like The Longest Ride In The World. She was there to take care of the family each time there was a new baby. She bought me crocheted hair ribbons and pink clothes. My favorite thing to do with grandma was to go on a really long walk and get lost in Piedmont. I thought it was so exciting, and if she did know where we were, she never let on. This was the picture used for her LDS missionary farewell. She served in Portland, Oregon and before she left, her brother cautioned her not to let on that she knew how to type, or she would

Alle Meine Entchen

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Last Friday it was such gorgeous weather that we wanted to feed the ducks after dinner. We tried the BYU duck pond, but those poor birds had been inundated by student mothers and kids. So we visited Oma instead. There we found 48 ducks and ducklings who were much hungrier. Your aim had to be pretty good, or the trout would surface and snatch it away before the ducks could get it. Joss was as delighted with the fish as he was with the ducks. Will and Sebastian tried to spear them with a large stick. I was partial to the ducklings. Oma is so pleasant to visit. Rob went in and saw her staring vacantly at the TV with the others in the high security unit. He speaks to her in German because she's sharpest in that language. Rob: "Come on, Oma! It's time for a walk!" Johanna: "You're taking me ? Just me ?" Rob: "Yes, I'm here for you." Johanna: "But your German is so good! Who taught you such good German!" Rob: "You did, Oma!"

Picnics in the Park

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We have been trying to go up to South Fork park each week and have dinner with friends. It helps us enjoy summer a little more to get out and enjoy the weather. Since our yard really has no place to eat or sit, we take to the road. Last week we went to Nielsen's Grove which was also fun. I'm always amazed now when I can actually sit and talk with other adults for a few minutes. I'm also surprised to have a more adventurous soul at the playground. Unlike his older brothers and sister, this one will climb up to the highest slide and actually come down it. He'll tackle ladders and rock climbing walls that are way too hard for him. Then he'll do it again and again and again and again until he has it mastered. And if his parents don't put shoes on him? He doesn't let that stop him!

Swim Lessons for Sebi

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Our little fish is back in the water and having a wonderful time. He was swimming 5-10 feet before we left for Vienna. His biggest problem was that he hadn't figure out how to breathe! So he's working on that and on learning actual strokes. He wants to get onto the swim team with his big brother and sister. On the last day of class, the kids get to ride the water slide. Sebastian was the only one in his class who didn't take a life jacket, and didn't ride down with a teacher. Instead, I heard him shrieking the enTIRE way down. When he got out, he shouted "That was AWWWESOME!!" One of the very best things about summer. And if you happen to be a parent who gets to sit quietly and read poolside? Mmmm. Even better.

What Happens When You Say

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. . .you can't go outside because you don't have shoes on!

Siblings

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It's an odd moment when the four Shumways are together without kids swarming us like a human jungle gym. We got one picture of us during the family reunion, and that was during breakfast with mouths full. And it's a big year as we're turning 30, 35, 38, and 40.

The Maypole

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Each year Wasatch holds a dance festival. The traditional sixth grade dance is the maypole. Maddie and peers practiced for nearly a month and she really enjoyed learning it. After the graduation ceremony and again the next day for the whole school dance festival, they got out three maypoles, one for each class and danced until the ribbons were all woven together down the pole. Then they turned around and worked it back out until it was all undone. It looked like they were old pros at it, but Betsy told me later that the teachers pray mightily to the gods of the maypole each year so that the kids don't make an unholy mess of ribbons in front of everyone. It was so festive and felt like a real ceremony to end graduation.

Sixth Grade Graduation

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Maddie's sixth grade graduation was an impressive event. There were lots of awards and musical numbers and talks. Maddie was chosen to welcome friends and family and lead them in the Pledge of Allegiance. She was cool under pressure, and looked, of course, about four years older than most of the other kids there. Here she is getting her diploma. And a hug from her marvelous teacher and aunt. And here she is with Betsy and friends afterward. It has been a great year for her, doing the medieval checklist, the after school Shakespeare, early-morning Kodaly choir, the art expo, science fair, and the class play. She's absolutely loved it and has made some wonderful friends.