A man for all seasons

I swore I was not going to play on this blog anymore today, but I just got on to add one picture and I found this comment from my brother in law Todd.

"I can not believe there is not a page for the brother-in-laws. A woman with such incredible men in her life should give greater visibility to their talents. To read the blog one would think only your nieces and nephews walked on air. What about David and Todd? Huh-they are pretty special. Don't ya think."

Since I have to get to bed, I will have to just take care of Todd tonight. The rest of the men are coming soon!!

Here is to Todd, a man that is almost as great as the children in my life.

Todd and I were introduced when he came to meet the family just prior to his engagement to my sister Laurie. I was 15 and pretty good at it. Todd and I immediately started expressing our polar opposite views on life. I would say I think it is warm today. Todd would say I think it is cold today. Todd would say I think we should have ice cream. I would say I think we should have ice cream later. Todd has continued to be patient with me, and I have moved past being 15 and hold grudges against my brother in law for eating my steak while I was at the stake dance. See, I forgot all about it and forgave him.

Despite our differing opinions Todd and I do agree on a lot. We agree that our family is fantastic. As the saying goes, Welcome to our family - where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking and all of the children are above average. Our own slice of heaven.

Here are a few of Todd's many talents.


Last summer we were off to a National Park and thought we might want to ride our bikes. Todd, the man here showing off one of his many hats, drove that van loaded with bikes about 900 miles so we could enjoy our family bike trip.

Todd is also very resourceful. This wide screen is in his basement and he uses a projector to provide wide screen movies for the kids. Family picture shows on this thing are a hoot!

I call this one Man Asleep. After a lovely night of camping at the lake, Todd took a little more time to enjoy the air mattress.

And finally, the truth. Todd loves me! Our relationship wouldn't be any fun at all if we agreed on everything. Here is to my fantastic brother in law - a man for all season - and a man who has put up with the redhead for over 20 years! I love you Todd.

13 Nieces and Nephews

Of all of the titles in my life, Aunt is my favorite. Cousin is a close second, but that is for another post. My career as an Aunt started when I was 12. I was sitting on the floor at Grandma's house in Canada watching Flash Gordon, and Uncle Jerry came in and announced that I was an Aunt. Tyler is my oldest nephew and is getting married this summer to Carissa - who dressed him very well for this photo. Tyler has that same mellow contentment that his Dad Kevin has. It is hard to explain if you have not meet either of them, but there is something about the manner that says - ok I can take care of that - they are cool without jumping in the limelight. If you ever saw Kevin with his long 70's hair - where he would slightly lean forward and then sweep his hand through his bangs with a slight flick of the head, that is the cool, suave, mellow, aura that Tyler has.

Jared is next and my only red head. Jared was married a year and a half ago to our adorable Sam. They seem to share much in common, except height. Jared is just shy of 7 feet and Sam claims to be 5 ,feet tall. The difference does not seem to bother them much. Jared was such a mischievous little boy who grew up to be very responsible. I sometimes still see that mischievous grin, which Sam seems to be encouraging here. Our Jared is clearly set for great things in this life.

Sweet little Megan was my first niece and she was married last Spring. She is about to have her first baby, which I still can't seem to believe. She and John share a shy disposition, but they seem to be very well matched. Megan has never been afraid to be different from the crowd. An archaeology or is it anthropology major, she worked for a professor at BYU translating Mayan holographics. This is my favorite picture of them at the temple. They are clearly happy, but not too interested in looking at the camera. I think they both would have been very happy to not have anyone looking at them, but they were also equally happy to be looking at each other.

And then came Scott, who was born in Orem while I was at BYU. Cathy and I walked into Laurie's hospital room not an hour after he was born. He was a beautiful baby and I don't think any of us put him down for the first 6 months. Scott has always been confident. Grandma found him walking the railing of the deck one day and told him to get down (Grandma was actually quite sure he was going to fall). Scott very clearly explained that he was not going to fall on that side, and he was not going to fall on the other side so there was no problem. Luckily Scott does have very good balance and did not fall down the two stories to the gravel driveway. He continues to be able to do anything he puts his mind to - except wake up on time. Scott is our current missionary (and you have not seen a more excited missionary!) This picture is from his farewell (not a farewell just a talk that we happened to drive 700 miles to hear).

Chelsea was born in San Francisco while her dad Craig was in law school. Her first ward was the Golden Gate Ward - my current home. And she was dropped right on her head in our cultural hall (by her Dad of course!). She was the most beautiful baby anyone has ever seen. Really. (despite being dropped on her head). She looked like a china doll, and she always always always had a big bow and adorable outfits. That flair for style has stayed with her. Chelsea just finished her first year at BYU and seems to have picked up a boyfriend. I used to get responses to my texts and emails, but apparently that boy gets all the attention now. Maybe when he leaves on his mission I will get back on top. She is currently using her business skills and natural nurturing ability to run a summer getaway nanny business. She is raking it in - and is the favorite nanny in all of San Clemente.

Michelle was born just a year and a half after her big brother Scott. There were times when I thought the two of them were going to push their Mother right over the edge, but the two babies are now two High School graduates, and Michelle starts school at BYUI in August. Michelle has always had a flare for the dramatic and is not afraid to share her talents. I have lost count of the number of plays, but every one of them that I have seen has been amazing. She really is a fantastic actress. She also needs to duplicate this haircut before she leaves for college. Isn't it beautiful? She barely has to brush through it and it looks like this! Amazing. Michelle, remember that I know more about style than your Dad. Cut your hair before you leave for school! Trust Aunt Cyndi - she knows things.

It is amazing that I found a picture with my twins. (see two photos above that Cathy sent me. I have these on my fridge too!) These two boys are so very talented at not being photographed! In this picture, Matt is hiding in the trees (I have another shot where you just see Matt's back as he is running out of the picture. Chris is better at staying in the photo - but it is not his favorite thing. I think you would be hard pressed to find twins that are as different as Matt and Chris. They definitely each have a distinct personality. The babies of the family (a great place to be!) Matt and Chris were very good at working in tandem as toddlers. The entire house had to be tied up and protected against their quick fingers and very cleaver minds. They had a thing about spoons. They could find the spoon drawer and then they would drop them down the furnace vents. They have given up this past time and taken up driving and taking the ACT instead. When they graduate next year and leave for school, Kevin and Julie will officially be empty nesters. This is what happens when you start being a niece at 12 - they all get old - while I am still oh so very young! P.S. Notice Michelle's previous hair cut. Beautiful, but don't you all think that she should choose the style I like above?

My Carly bo Bear is next. I lived with Craig and Susan when Carly was just over a year old. Not long after I had arrived in Maryland, Carly came down from her nap asking for someone but we could not figure out what she was saying. Finally we broke the code. Ninny grew into Nindy which equals Cyndi. I am very glad to be Aunt Nindy - a nick name that her family continues to use. Carly might be the kindest person that I know. She has a pure heart that loves everyone unconditionally. She does not hate - it is not in her. She is also terribly responsible and organized. (She might not have gotten the loving kindness from Aunt Nindy, but I do recognize the severe attention to detail and taking charge skills.) Carly will be 16 this summer and is about to get her license. No worries about road rage or crazy driving. However, I do think we will see her picking up friends and planning movie parties more often. She is the light of any party - glowing with happiness.

I love this picture of Camille, but she did just get her hair cut and got glasses - she looks so old now! Very sophisticated. I will have to get a new picture. Camille and I share several qualities. She is an in charge girl and knows what she knows. Her mom, Laurie, told me that Camille was getting an award at 8th grade graduation. I asked if it was the award for being right the most often? No, it was an award for her passion for music. She plays the piano, saxophone and oboe, and has decided this summer to teach her self to play the trumpet. Why not, her neighbor has a spare one sitting around. She just got home from band camp which she says is the happiest place on earth. Camille is about to be the last one home with her parents - as Scott is on his mission and Michelle will be away at school. I had the same experience - and I am confidant that Camille is up to the job! It takes a lot of organizing and control of the patents, but being the last one at home can be a lot of fun.

When I saw this picture of Sam, I knew it was no longer our little boy. Actually Sam was never a little boy. He was 10 - almost 11 lbs when he was born, and has always looked about 3 years taller than he is. Sam has some serious passions. He is an amazing gamer. From the very beginning he could figure out any video game and be the top score in an afternoon. But Sam's most amazing talent his is voice. Our Sammy can sing! He has been in tons of shows and programs, but now he is in the All American Boy's Choir and is having so much fun. This is actually his passport photo for his trip to China this summer. CHINA! My Sammy is also a very sweet kind boy. He has a loving heart and is very kind to others. I am always impressed at how he remembers to include others and is just nice. Sam can also talk me into things. He called one Friday afternoon to remind me that he was going to be in Narnia that night. I was in Utah and he was in California. He wanted to see if I was coming. I said - oh Sammy it is too far away and I can't come. I tried to explain how far it was, but he was not deterred. "It is going to be great, and you'd hate to miss it." With that, I was online looking at plane tickets while he continued to encourage me. I made it just in time - and he was right I would have hated to miss out. There was a scene where he was frozen by the ice queen and stood still like a statute for 3-5 min. I had never seen him that still before! It was worth the ticket.


William joined us with all kinds of fan fare. He started life in the NICU and has been high maintenance ever since. I love to joke about how wild and crazy and naughty William is, but the truth is I love him to death. He is naughty, just like his Dad Craig. The twinkle in his eye means something is coming - and you had better watch out! I play a little game with the kids when they are little. I say, "William, guess what" they are excited...WHAT? and I reply, "I love you!" I do this with William and he says - "I know that trick". William is a living breathing cookie monster. I think he would rather have cookies than other other food and most toys. One year when they were still back east, for his birthday I sent him a box of store bought cookies with my picture on the top of the box. A few months later they came to visit, but he was not sure who I was. I said - hey I am the one who sent the cookies. "Oh, I remember you!" See the trick of being a good Aunt is to learn their soft spots early and then bribe them lots.













And finally we have Anna. Anna is Cathy and David's only girl, only child, and the center of their universe. Let's admit it, Anna is pretty high up on a lot of people's lists of fantastic toddlers. We waited a long time to get Anna, and now that she is with us I can't get enough. Everything she says cracks me up, and I love it when she says, "I love you Aunt Cyndi!" Anna also has a bit of the stubborn independent streak that seems to be prevalent in our family. She is a girl who knows what she wants to do. It does not always seem to be what her mother wants her to do, but that does not deter Anna. She is a thinker - and can get around rules with out breaking a sweat. Mom says no water in the play room. She says I am very good, I clean up all my messes. See the reasoning? I like to send Anna things that parents don't think of getting children. Like lots and lots of paints that might occasionally spill on the carpet. Children should know that Aunts will look after them when they need more exciting toys and experiences. The Aunt will buy the big ice cream and get them pony rides and take them swimming. Of course with Anna, her dad wants to spoil her just as bad as I do!



Well that is the gang. I spend my free time and my money keeping up with them. I just gave Scott this scripture - and it is how I feel about all of them. Alma is talking to his son when he says, "I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments". These are great kids, who have been steady and faithful. They often have to keep me in line - as Aunt Cyndi is often irreverent. I can't think of anything I would rather do than to be with these kids - laughing and having a good time.

Girls Camp and Foster Freeze - is that Diet Coke in there?

I just got back from girls camp. My friend and neighbor, Hillary, asked me to be the certification leader. It was my first time back to camp since 2001, and I loved it. The seven year absence was way too long. The girls were fantastic - 30 of them and not one problem. Great attitudes and so enthusiastic. It is so fun to watch them learn and grow in the gospel. After an outing to a swimming pool with the girls, President Carter treated the girls to ice cream. What a guy. Here I am with my tent buddies (aka the Stake YW presidency - Hillary, Andrea, Me and Joanna - we are missing Marissa who could not be enticed to sleep in our tent - and to be honest Joanna ditched our tent after the first night). Thanks to Andrea's suggestion we were enjoying Diet Coke Freezes. A tasty treat indeed! When I finally learn all of the tricks of my new photoshop program, I can get Hillary's eye open. In the mean time I will master one new technology at a time.

Here my girls are working on a certification class. There were listing elements of hiking safety. My favorite one was to avoid strange men. The girls were great, and enthusiastic to get all of their certification done.

When you take the stakes out too early, the tent will collapse. Can you see me and Hillary still inside?

The Beginning

I am not at all sure that I can keep up with a blog, but I feel so behind the times by not blogging that I simply must give it a whirl. Let's see how it goes. As the title implies, my life revolves around my family. The gang was gathered together for this family picture (with only a few needing to be photoshopped in) at Christmas. We are a wild and fun bunch, and they are the light of my life.