It's Good To Be A Falke...

Turlock High School Election Convention...Abby2 for Rally Commissions/Spirit Leaders

2010-04-15T11:11:00.001-07:00

Our New Turlock High School Rally Commissoners/Spirit Leaders

Abby Degrazia and Abby Falke = Abby2

Darcy and Abby

Campaign Dancers and Manager

Abby and her buddies

Ty and Marco...silly campaign dancers

In the following videos you will see Turlock High School's Election Convention.

In the first video, the Abbys are running against two other opponent groups;

then it is narrowed down to two groups;

then the winner is announced!

In case you didn't see Abby's Jr. Miss photos, scroll down about four entries...they are worth seeing!

Kylie's National DanceSport Competition...March 11-13, 2010

2010-04-02T15:44:00.000-07:00

Kylie competed in the National DanceSport Competition held at BYU. Here she is with her partner Seth Grover during one of their Open Latin dances.

Oh la la you two!

Rumba anyone?

Kylie and Seth...they competed in Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba and Paso Doble

Kylie and Seth have an awesome partnership and great chemistry when they dance

One of their latin poses

I love watching Kylie compete and I was tickled pink to be there in the Marriott Center for three days of competition...I am so proud of you Kylie!

Lovely Kylie and her Daddy

We were able to meet Seth's dad and sister (by the way, Seth is Emron's brother in case you notice a resemblance)

Kylie and her friend Alex...she brought Kylie flowers...so sweet

Kylie's standard partner Walter. They competed in Waltz and Quickstep

Kylie teaches a 5th grade ballroom class at Northridge Elementary School in Orem, Utah and her kids were competing at the Team Match at DanceSport

Kylie's students received the honor of the "Top Notch" Award.

They also each received gold medals.

It was so fun to watch her with her students...they love "Miss Kylie"

Her students with their gold medals and Top Notch Trophy

Miss Kylie and her kids

Kylie and her student Zach

Seth came to watch Kylie's students and was a great help to her...

Thanks Seth!

Kylie's dear friends Karson and Betsy had their daughter Izzy at DanceSport
Kylie babysits for Izzy and they are buddies!

Kylie and adorable Izzy

Kylie and her teaching mentor Cheryl

When we came out of the Marriott Center the first night this is what we saw...

Kylie's kids receiving their award

Kylie and Seth...keep watching and they will come closer to the camera

I love these Falke ladies!

2010-03-28T16:47:00.000-07:00

Dorothy, Kuulei, me, Nanny and Robin Falke...sister-in law lunch with Nanny 2008

April 2009 Fast Sunday Dinner at Nanny and Pop's
Me, Linda, Robin, Dorothy and Nanny

We miss our Macy!!!

2010-03-25T06:21:00.000-07:00

Macy is at the BYU London Center doing study abroad for four months. It has been so much fun following her experiences. She has already visited Rome, Paris, and so many wonderful places in England. We miss you Macy Moo!!! Click www.macyfalke.blogspot.com to see her blog.

Abby's Junior Miss Competition, February 20, 2010

2010-03-24T17:21:00.000-07:00

Abby received two scholarships/awards at the Jr. Miss Competition. She won the "Spirit Award" that is voted on by the girls themselves and the judges awarded her the "Be Your Best Self Award" for outstanding service. We were so proud of her. In total she won $400.00 in scholarship money.

Walking up to receive one of her awards

Abby during the "Poise" section of the competition

Lovely Abby

Abby singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" during the Talent Section of the Competition

Abby dressed as Dorothy

Abby during the Fitness Section

Awesome push-ups Abby

Abby had such awesome energy during the Fitness Routine

Fitness....it consisted of three dances...about 10 minutes of straight dancing

High Energy Abby

One of the Fitness Dances

Abby...our Jr. Miss Star

Thank You Jill for taking such amazing photos of Abby during the competition

Abby during the opening number

Our Lovely Abby Girl

Abby with her Daddy

Abby with Jessica and Jenna Gauthier

Abby with Nanny and Pop

Abby with Camille

Abby with her friends Jacob and Kirk

Abby with her buddies Michael, Marko and Davis...they were some of her cheering section

Tahoe, February 13-20, 2010

2010-03-08T15:29:00.000-08:00

Kylie flew in from Utah for a few days with us in Tahoe...yeah...it was so great having you there with us Kylie!
My little buddy Jared...is he cute or what!

Brad, Jared and John hanging out at the ice skating rink

My girls (minus Macy...we missed you Macy...she is in London)

Jessica and Abby...sweet friends

I couldn't resist...Jocelyn feel asleep waiting for her mom to valet the skis

Ski bunnies plus one adorable boarder...Taylor Ann and Logan came over for the day to ski/board and when we took them back to their cabin, we had a great evening with the Tilbys and the Jones'...dinner was awesome you guys!

An awesome shot of Brad taken by Jill

Taylor Ann, Jessica and Abby

Lake Tahoe taken by Jill...Beautiful

Kylie's friend Emron came up for a day

I love this shot...Brad and his girls (miss you Moo)

Could you ask for a more beautiful place to ski?

The Iceskaters! The Falke and Gauthier girls...ColdStone anyone?

More iceskating

Jessica, Jocelyn and Abby

Three friends

Kylie and Emron riding up the Gondola

Abby's Winter Formal, 2010

2010-03-02T15:31:00.001-08:00

Abby took Davis Woods to Turlock High School's Winter Formal

They are best friends

A little clowning around prior to dinner at our house

The boys...Michael, Davis, Marco, Eric and James

The moms made dinner...chicken, potatoes, salad, vegetable, bread, sparkling cider

and ice cream cake for dessert

Camille and Abby...besties

The whole gang...Michael and Brianna, Marco and Rachel, Davis and Abby

Eric and Allyn, James and Camille...

Davis and Abby

Adorable

Do you think Abby can pick him up?

Maybe not!

I think they make a pretty cute couple

Slipping Through My Fingers...X3

2010-02-09T14:56:00.000-08:00

Something new we did this year was spend New Year's Eve and New Year's Day together in Carmel

We stayed at the Coachmann's Inn and welcomed in the New Year on the beach

At the stroke of midnight we toasted with sparkling cider on the 10th hole at Pebble Beach
Yes, we climbed up!

Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey with Kylie

With Macy

With Abby

Macy Marie and her purple purse (19 years old)

Kylie Kay (22 years old)

Abby Ann (16 years old)

Our Three Girls

I have been thinking a lot lately about how quickly the years slip by...

I love the words from the song by ABBA entitled, "Slipping Through My Fingers"...
If you will read them below or listen to them as they play, you will know exactly

how I feel about my girls...

Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning

Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile

I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness

And I have to sit down for a while

The feeling that I'm losing her forever

And without really entering her world

I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter

That funny little girl

Slipping through my fingers all the time

I try to capture every minute

The feeling in it

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Do I really see what's in her mind

Each time I think I'm close to knowing

She keeps on growing

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sleep in our eyes, her and me at the breakfast table

Barely awake, I let precious time go by

Then when she's gone there's that odd melancholy feeling

And a sense of guilt I can't deny

What happened to the wonderful adventures

The places I had planned for us to go

(Slipping through my fingers all the time)

Well, some of that we did but most we didn't

And why I just don't know

Slipping through my fingers all the time

I try to capture every minute

The feeling in it

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Do I really see what's in her mind

Each time I think I'm close to knowing

She keeps on growing

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture

And save it from the funny tricks of time

Slipping through my fingers

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Schoolbag in hand she leaves home in the early morning

Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile

My Visiting Teacher. Ruthie Davenport

2010-02-06T22:37:00.000-08:00

She makes me smile and laugh

She takes silly pictures with me...we took a ton to get one decent picture
She calls me when I'm sick
She goes with me to "look-e-loo" at Christmastime

She is my friend

To Blog or Not to Blog?

2010-02-04T08:21:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting here this morning contemplating whether I should keep this blog going. It seems that I do pretty good for awhile and then life happens. When it does, I get so behind that it is hard to get back to it. I don't think that I have anything extraordinary to share or post, but my college girls who live away from home like to check in and see what "Mom" has posted and what the family has been doing while they are away. So, I think I owe it to them to post today. They have been commenting to me that it is about time I put something new on the blog.

It has been great fun to keep up with Macy's happening in London as she is there for BYU Study Abroad right now. I know how much I love reading her posts and seeing her photos of the people she is "loving", places she is seeing, things she is eating, feelings she is having, etc. So, look in on her if you want as her link is to the right on my blog.

Kylie is enjoying teaching elementary ballroom at a school in Orem, Utah. Her kids got a Gold rating at their recent competition and she said there were very few given out that day, as it is the highest award they give. So, it was so fun to see that Anne Marie had included a few photos of attending that competition to see Kylie's kids in her blog (link to the right).

So, I guess all in all, it is pretty fun being a part of the blogging world. Even if I do get behind and mostly just check in with other family and friend's blogs. Bless their hearts for staying current and not being like me....either in a state of blog-a-ria or the opposite (if you know what I mean). Life...funny how that works out!

Kristy

Christmas photo 2009

2009-12-26T23:13:00.001-08:00

Kylie, Kristy, Brad, Abby and Macy

Just for fun...Merry Christmas!

What shall we give this Christmas?

2009-12-19T10:28:00.000-08:00

So much to be Thankful for....November Blessings 2009

2009-12-11T09:33:00.000-08:00

Even though it was November, we got up to the lake three different times in November. This is a photo of Brad wake surfing and having a blast it appears. You will notice that he is in a full wet suit...it was only days before Thanksgiving.

Macy looks ready for a surfing competition...you go girl!

Macy's friend Brad Stears came to visit for a few days before Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, Macy took all of the photos of Brad (as not to get confused with our Brad) on his camera, so I don't have a photo of his amazing wakeboarding or surfing...believe me, he is good at both.

Can you tell it was cold...we are all in sweats!

We took a day trip while Brad was here to Carmel and Monterey on the coast. It was a lovely day!

The girls wanted to stop by the Lewis beach house, as Nanny and Pop were staying there with Marjorie and Richard Lewis. We have so many memories of this beach...this is one of my favorite pictures of the day.

Macy and Brad

Carmel Highlands

Sisters (we missed you Kylie)

Sisters at Sunset

I think Jared has his eye on Abby....she is a cutie!

We love the tradition of Thanksgiving at Nanny and Pop's house. Kylie's friend Emron joined us again this year and we had a wonderful weekend. Brad and Emron enjoyed plenty of football, including an awesome win by BYU and the girls dragged Emron to New Moon (what a trooper you are Emron!)

At Nanny and Pops

Last trip of the year on the boat...sad face...even though it was cold and very windy, we found a secluded cove where it was protected from the wind and had a great picnic and even did some dancing. As you will see in the next three photos, Wags came along for the ride. He loved it! He did wear a coat though....brrrr in the wind, but great in the cove...We missed you Macy!

Blessings...our family has many and we are so grateful for cherished family and friends at this wonderful time of year. We were so happy to have the girls home for Thanksgiving and they each had friends here. We enjoyed having you Brad and Emron!

This is a silly video of us having fun speed walking in Carmel Highlands. What a sport you are Brad!

November brings thoughts of my dad

2009-11-17T11:36:00.001-08:00

It was two years ago on November 2, 2007 that my dad passed away. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about him and about my mom, but this month of November is especially tender when I think about my dad. He was such a charismatic and genuinely friendly man...everybody loved him. He was such a wonderful father and I miss him so much. I was with him when he passed away and he died just six days shy of his 90th birthday.
This is a photo that my cousin emailed me recently. In this photo my dad is holding Garry Rick, my cousin. It was taken in Lyle, Minnesota where my dad grew up. My dad was 100% Norwegian and we often heard him say, "ufdah," a Norwegian word that means pretty much whatever the speaker wants it to mean. I have always thought that my dad was a pretty handsome guy...notice that he has a full head of hair in this photo. He was a fighter pilot in WWII and flew in North Africa during the war. I learned that he had to bail out of his P38 plane three different times...once in Egypt in the dessert, once over the Mediterranean Sea and once over Three Sisters in Oregon. I guess we were lucky to have him around as long as we did, for he certainly had several close calls during the war. We didn't find out about his war experiences until a year before he died. I guess it wasn't something he had ever wanted to talk about before that time. I was grateful that he finally told us or we would never have known.

My parent's gravestone in Portland, Oregon. My mom passed away on January 10, 2005 and I was there to witness her passing as well. She will have been gone for five years this January. My mom and my dad were special parents and grandparents and we all miss them. My comfort is in knowing that they have gone on to a better place and that we can be together as an Eternal family after this life. I am grateful for this blessing from our Heavenly Father.

Halloween 2009

2009-11-08T10:48:00.000-08:00

Jessica (Elphaba from "Wicked") and Abby (ballet dancer)
Jocelyn was a ladybug...three adorable girls!

Camille "jelly bellies"

Spook Alley Buddies (4 times through)

Jared was my buddy...he was a dragon! It warms my heart every time I see him and he holds his hands out for me to hold him...he makes my day every time. John and Jacob were hunting and so we took Jill and the kids with us to the Bjarnason's Trunk or Treat, Spook Alley and Chili Cook-Off.

BYU Homecoming 2009

2009-11-07T18:04:00.000-08:00

We took a quick weekend trip to Utah for BYU Homecoming. We had so much fun watching Kylie dance in the Homecoming Parade
Kylie and her partner Doug

Kylie's Ballroom Team girls

Kylie and Doug

They danced the Lindy Hop for the whole parade route...

they were so exhausted by the end of the parade.

Saturday evening we attended the BYU Homecoming game against TCU (Texas Christian University)...we got creamed...we still had fun though. Macy came down from BYU Idaho for the game.

The Hyers invited us for Sunday dinner and Lesa got out some of her mom's old hats for us to try on...Abby and Kylie

The Hyer and Falke girls...we missed you LynsieAbby and Randie in some of Leah's old wigs

Brad and Abby flew home on Sunday and I drove to Idaho with Macy to spend a few days with her. We had a great time.

I love you and miss you my college girls!

Abby's Turlock High School Golf, Junior Year 2009

2009-11-07T17:42:00.000-08:00

Stephanie and Abby played in the #1 and #2 spots this year.
Conference Champions

Abby's Turlock High School varsity golf team were Central California Conference Champions for the sixth year in a row. Abby placed 2nd in the Conference Championship; she was 1st Team All Conference and she was a member of the Central California Conference All Academic Team. Needless to say, we are very proud of our Abby girl! Go Bulldogs!

England and France...September 11-24, 2009

2009-10-30T16:34:00.000-07:00

Brad and I went to England and France in September. We first went to England on our own and then spent a week in France with our dear friends Roger and Liliane Gondelmann. It was a wonderful trip full of new sights, tastes and experiences. This first photo is a Beefeater at The Tower of London. They are the official guards of the Tower.
This is the London Eye. It was right next to the Marriott Hotel where we stayed in London. The River Themes runs right through London.

The Marriott where we stayed. While in England we visited Trafalgar Square, Stratford upon Avon (the birthplace of William Shakespeare), the Cotswold's, Christ's Church College in Oxford, Windsor Castle, Eton College, Buckingham Palace, The Churchill War Cabinet Underground Rooms and Museum, The Tower of London (Brad had an interesting conversation with a Raven here), Westminster Abbey and we took a Thames river cruise.

Roger and Liliane's home in Valencienne, France. We had a lovely dinner prepared by Liliane. Their sweet friend Annie came for dinner. She and Brad enjoyed talking golf!

Roger and Liliane Gondelmann

They took us to a favorite crepe restaurant in Valencienne where Brad had his favorite dessert ever...Le pain perdu (french toast with caramel sauce and ice cream)

Roger and Liliane's daughter Delphine, her husband Yver and their adorable children

Elsa and Johan.

While we stayed with Roger and Liliane in Valencienne, we visited the Roman ruins in Bavay and saw the walled city of Le Quesnay (Look-n-nuwa)

First Day in Paris...standing in front of the Avenue des Champs-Elysees

Arch de Triumph
We also visited the Lafayette-Galleria

Eiffel Tower

We found some LDS missionaries on the street who helped us find the church building where Kylie attended classes and church during her study abroad in Paris. We were very grateful to find them, as we couldn't seem to locate the building.

The church entrance...notice there are no marking to indicate that you are at the church facility. The missionaries said that the sign had been taken down for some reason. Let's just say that we felt very grateful to find the elders when we did.

Kylie wanted to make sure that we tasted her favorite Paris treat...Amorino gelato!

Yumm-O!

Overlooking the River Seine

While in Paris we also visited Montmartre, Sacre-Coeur, the Louvre, St. Louis Island or Ill de St. Louis (we loved it there), the Latin District on City Island, Notre Dame Cathedral, and last but not least, we got the hang of the Metro.

Normandy-Omaha Beach

We went to the D-Day Museum in Caen. It was a very touching experience.

Roger and Liliane enjoying their seafood platter

Brad playing with his food...he ordered prawns and

they came out like this....eyes, claws and all

Mont-St-Michel by night

It was absolutely beautiful to behold

Mont-St-Michel by day

Deauville, France

This was a beautiful coastal city where they have an American Film Festival every year.

Honfleur

In Honfleur Brad took this photo of me petting a puppy

because he said it was such a common occurrence on our trip.

This video of Brad was taken at the Satie Museum in Honfleur

The funny dancing video from the lake

2009-08-21T16:11:00.000-07:00

Don Pedro Lake with the Gauthiers and Tilbys, August 2009

2009-08-21T15:43:00.000-07:00

Kylie, Abby and Jenna after their crazy tube ride!

Abby, Jenna and Kylie riding the tube!Macy and Jocelyn...do you think one of them was asleep?

Such a cute picture of these two!

Macy Moo and Mini Me!

Abby and Jessica

Abby and the girls..I think Jess is hiding in the back

The Falke girls...we don't know where Abby got her height!

Macy and her "Daddy-O"

Abby and Taylor Ann

Cutest friends...Jocelyn and Ashlyn

It wouldn't be a day at the lake without Jared!

Brad riding with his buddies, Ashlyn and Jenna

Whoo-hoo!

Kylie and Jocey

Brad showing us some air...you go boy!

Abby's Choir Award

2009-08-21T14:03:00.000-07:00

Abby received "Most Outstanding Soprano II" for Cantate for the 2008/2009 school year. This year was Mrs. Clark's (in the photo with Abby) last year at THS as she retired. Abby will miss her.

Fall 2008

2009-08-21T13:44:00.000-07:00

This is a copy of a side post that I didn't want to loose from my blog and this was the only place that I could put it. I realize that it is out of order, but here goes.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder and it is so true! Kylie is in Utah attending her fourth year at BYU and Macy is at BYU Idaho attending her first year of college. So, it is just Abby, Brad and I home this fall. But, we wouldn't have the girls anywhere other than where they are, as they are both healthy, happy and loving their college experiences. Brad and I are blessed to have Abby home. She is a sophomore at Turlock High School and currently busy golfing on the Girl's Varsity Golf Team. She is quite the golfer...she takes after her dad. She ended the season by taking 4th place in League and achieving Academic All Conference for both her freshman and sophomore years. We feel so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. Thanks for coming to visit us on our blog. Leave us a comment...we would love to hear from you.

There once were three sisters.....

2009-07-27T16:12:00.000-07:00

Macy's Pinup Shot!

Macy's roommate Emily took this photo of Macy for a photography class

Abby and her friend Michael at Abby's Spring Concert at Turlock High School

Abby, Pop, Nanny and Kylie at Spring Concert. Abby and Kylie sang, "For Good" from the musical Wicked.

Kylie in the BYU Homecoming Parade (this was actually in the fall, but it was so cute I decided to add it....better late than never)

Kylie is an EFY (Especially for Youth) Counselor at BYU this summer.

Here she is with some of the boys in her group.

Kylie and one of the girls in her youth group.

Kylie and another counselor she worked with this summer.

Kylie has loved being an EFY counselor!

Macy attended BYU Idaho for Spring Semester. Here she is playing dress-up with her roommates.

Macy with some of her good friends this summer in Rexburg.

Abby and her friend Julia attended EFY (Especially for Youth) at BYU in July.

Abby with some of the young men in her EFY group.

Abby and Julia jumping for joy at EFY!

Abby and Jared at EFY

Abby turned Sweet 16 in June and got her driver's license!

Brad doesn't look like he has adjusted yet!

Abby went to visit Macy at BYU Idaho in June.

Macy had an ice cream social at her apartment to introduce all her friends to her sister.

Sweet Macy!

Macy's roommate Emily took some fun sister pictures

Blessings

2009-07-19T10:31:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking of my blessings this morning and I wanted to mention my three greatest!

A great husband/father who provides beautifully for our family; provides fun adventures for us, and provides us with the Priesthood in our home! Thank you Brad. You are my best friend and the love of my life!

Three daughters who are each unique and special and beautiful and fun and the three joys of my life as a mother.

My testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful to know that we can be an Eternal Family and that there is a Plan of Salvation and that Jesus Christ is my Elder Brother and that he died for me so that I could live again. What great comfort this brings in my life.

Maui with the Wilsons, May 2009

2009-06-05T19:49:00.000-07:00

Blowhole Fun

Buddies at the Blowhole...Brad and Jeff

Eating in Paia Town...Josh, Nicole, Jeremy, Kylie, Abby and Macy

The Wilsons and the Falkes

Sisters

Maui, May 16-23, 2009

2009-06-05T19:06:00.000-07:00

Waiting by "Cheeseburger in Paradise" in Lahaina as the

Shrimp from Bubba Gump stops by for a visit

Macy, Abby and Kylie

Outside of Hula Grill in Whaler's Village

Fun, fun time with the Wilson Family

"Sisters, Sisters, there were never such devoted sisters!"

Highlights: Snorkeling with the turtles, hiking to the blowhole, Catamaran trip to Lanai and picnic on the Lanai beach, barbecuing at the Maui Ocean Club on Kaanapali Beach, eating at Jawz in Kihei....fun times with good friends!

Spring Break, April 2009

2009-04-18T23:10:00.001-07:00

Mikey wanted his family to come and see the Falkers instead of going to Disneyland...Oh how we love this family!
Cousins

Macy and Lukey

Lukey, Britt, Keaton, Macy, Mikey and Abby

Hot Tub Fun

Kylie's BYU Ballroom Concert, April 2009

2009-04-18T23:06:00.000-07:00

Kylie center, bottom row

Kylie is the 3rd from the left

Kylie's BYU Ballroom Concert, April 2009

2009-04-18T22:31:00.000-07:00

Kristy, Kylie and Abby

Kylie and her good friend Gio

My neice Jen and her girls came to see the show...we had so much fun together

Cousins

Brad's Annual Bandon Dunes Golf Trip...March 2009

2009-04-18T22:12:00.000-07:00

Two funny, silly boys...Brad called this his "Bandon Bucket hat"
It rained A LOT

Brad, John and Jeff

DanceSport March 2009

2009-03-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Macy drove down from Rexburg to see Kylie's Ballroom DanceSport National Competiton in March 2009. I think this is an especially sweet sister picture!! It was hard to miss this, but Abby and I will be going to Provo to see Kylie in April for her Ballroom Spring Show....I can't wait!

Jill and Kristy on the Heavenly Flyer in Tahoe!

2009-03-24T15:21:00.000-07:00

Abby and Brad on the Heavenly Flyer...Brad asked the worker, "Do you give out diapers for this ride?"

2009-03-24T14:58:00.000-07:00

John and Brad on the Heavenly Flyer in Tahoe

2009-03-24T14:33:00.000-07:00

Skiing at Heavenly, Lake Tahoe with the Gauthier Family, President's Holiday, 2009

2009-03-24T14:11:00.000-07:00

Heavenly Flyer Buddies
I think that Abby is getting almost as tall as her Daddy!

Skiing and Boarding Friends! Jessica is about the cutest "knuckle dragger" we have ever seen!
Give me some sugar!

Pixar, Napa Valley, Novato, Bodega Bay, Jelly Belly Factory...Valentine's Weekend 2009

2009-02-27T20:02:00.000-08:00

Macy came home from BYU Idaho for a long weekend and so we look off on an adventure! We went to the Jelly Belly Factory, Bodega Bay on the northern coast (best clam chowder ever according to Brad, Abby and Macy) and then went to visit the Kurtz family in Novato. We also toured around Napa Valley and then went to see our friend Emron (he works at Pixar...thus the Monster's Inc. characters). It was an awesome Valentine weekend...the only thing that would have made it perfect...Kylie.

Motherhood Musings

2009-02-06T13:20:00.000-08:00

I'm listening to a Taylor Swift song entitled, The Best Day, (playing on my blog)and I am thinking about being a mom. I miss the days of dress-up, performance plays on our front room hearth, princess stories before bed and rubbing arms to go to sleep, pink fuzzy bear ear coats, spa birthday toasting with Martinelli's, happy meals from McDonald's and chicken Stars from Carl's Jr., dancing in the front room, onesies, bike rides with the girls on the back seat, being the hang out and dress up house...I could go on and on. Where did the time go? I am so grateful to have these memories to cherish. I am grateful to be a mom to my three wonderful girls...each so individual and precious. What a privilege my Heavenly Father has blessed me with. I think about my own mom and how much I cherished being her daughter. She was a wonderful mother and I learned so much from her example.

I'm grateful for 15 year old daughters and how I get to drive everywhere with them; once the license comes, they are always driving on their own...I miss that Kylie and Macy....I am enjoying the learner permit phase with Abby right now.

So, like this song, I hope and pray my girls each feel as though they had their "best day" with me on occasion and that we have many more to come. I know I did with my mom at the Oregon Coast in the last year of her earthly life. I pushed her in her walker up to the Seaside boardwalk and we talked and talked and she told me then that she knew it would be her last trip to the ocean. My mom was never afraid of death, as she knew she was going on ahead of us to be with her family who had gone on before her. She was an incredible lady!

Motherhood...I am so grateful for it.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and then went to Carmel and Monterey

2008-12-05T18:14:00.000-08:00

Photos from Kylie's Dancesport November 2008

2008-12-05T11:47:00.000-08:00

Kylie's November 2008 Ballroom Dancesport Competition

2008-12-05T11:43:00.000-08:00

Trunk or Treat 2008

2008-12-05T11:41:00.000-08:00

Abby's Summer Pioneer Trek, August 2008

2008-10-15T20:20:00.000-07:00

The youth of our church went on a pioneer handcart trek this summer. It was a challenging, wonderful, spiritual three day experience for Abby. She said that it was awesome! Thank you pioneers!

Mothers Weekend at BYU Idaho!

2008-10-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

On October 9th, 2008 I left for Mothers Weekend at BYU Idaho. I was able to have dinner with Kylie during my lay-over in Salt Lake City and that was an added treat! Thanks for coming up to meet me Kylie! This was a bit of an interesting trip because I have vocal chord nodules and cannot talk, whisper....nada for one month. So, it was a quiet weekend on my part but lots of fun. Let's just say I did a lot of writing! We had a great time together and it was fun to meet all of Macy's new friends. We hung out with McKay and Denise Stiles on Friday night and Saturday morning...thanks for the yummy crepes Denise! We did a nice Sunday dinner at Macy's apartment with her roommates and their moms and then visited with the cousins on Sunday evening. It turned out to be a wintry weekend with lots of snow...I left early Monday morning and it was back to sunny California! I miss my college girls!

A quick detour to see Kylie in Utah!

2008-10-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

We couldn't be 4 1/2 hours away from Kylie and not stop in to see her...so, we took a detour on our way home from Idaho to Provo, Utah. We picked her up, took a ride up to Sundance and rode the chair-lift up the mountain and went for a beautiful hike. We met her friends Betsy and Karson for dinner and had a great time. Kylie is loving school, her ward, the Ballroom Dance Team, her roomates and friends. She is also teaching ballroom classes at two elementary schools this year. Way to go Kylie!

Taking Macy to college!

2008-10-15T09:11:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, September 3, 2008 we took Macy to BYU Idaho to start her freshman year of college. We had a great drive together...lots of laughing, listening to Sarah Palin's acceptance speech, "Depeshmode" jokes...fun memories! We got her settled in at The Ridge which is right next to the Rexburg Temple, went to a fun luau, got acquainted with all her new roomates, did some shopping for her apartment, had lunch with Wendy darling and took Tony Pipes for dinner at Big Judes. We left her on Saturday morning and she is doing great! She loves her classes, her teachers, her ward, her calling as FHE Mom and all her new friends. We are so proud of our Macy Moo!

2008-09-26T17:47:00.001-07:00

The Falke Family Pets

2008-09-20T18:29:00.001-07:00

Golfing Fun with Nanny and Pop

2008-09-18T15:12:00.003-07:00

Brad, Kylie and Abby took Nanny and Pop to Stevinson Ranch one evening this summer. It was the first time that Nanny had ever seen Brad and the girls golf. Nanny and Pop were so cute out there...they all had so much fun and made some cherished memories! Summer 2008

Summer Fun in Maui 2008

2008-09-17T14:30:00.000-07:00