13 Birthday Parties

Today is Calvin's birthday. He would have turned 15 today. I thought in his remembrance I'd show you some pics from his previous birthdays. Sometimes the photographer didn't take very good pictures, or hardly an at all. (That photographer oughtta be fired!) But there are some good ones in here. Lots of him laughing, showing his love for fun, family, and most of all, life.


Calvin's 1st Birthday

We got a cake and he wasn't sure what to do with it. He finally dug in.

Grandma & Grandpa came down for Calvin's 2nd Birthday

He had some friends over for cake

Calvin had an exciting 3rd Birthday

He was pretty excited he had blown all the candles out

Time to eat yummy cake

Calvin turns 4

He just loves getting presents

He wore this cape constantly, as did his little brother

The 5th Birthday

Blowing hard to get those candles out and get that wish!

Playing games with his friends

Calvin made it to 6

One of the first Pinatas

The kids were all lined up to run for the candy

the 7th Birthday party

The favorite - a Pinata

And since there's so few pics from that party, here he is a few days later with Santa

Calvin turns 8!

Some present he was really excited to get

Another party at Nickelcade

Calvin's 9th Birthday

Somewhere between 8 and 9 he really grew up, no more little boy.

The family party at Los Hermanos

And an awesome picture with lots of cousins and his great-grandparents

And he turns 10!

Friends just as eager to see what he got

Calvin and the party crew

His 11th Birthday

Cake and friends

Calvin and all his Friends with their balls

Hopefully getting a strike

At the Family Party he got a lot of camping stuff since he officially started
camping on a regular basis as a Scout and not as a Tag-a-Long

His 12th Birthday

Shooting the gun from Grandma & Dave

Playing his guitar

The 13th Birthday

Cards

Shirts

More presents

And a wild-eyed Brother

Thanks for sharing the pictures and day with Calvin.
Remember him tonight at dinner and tell your kids another story about him.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

The weekend is over. My little brother is married. The whole family got together and had some fun. We stayed with Sister Homemaker, who's about to have a baby. When we checked in at the temple for the wedding, the cute little old guy at the front door took one look at her and said "We don't have an OB on staff today." She laughed and walked on in. I don't know if he was joking.

Several days later I was hanging out in the basement with Olaf, Big Little Brother, and Sister Homemaker's Hubby. Somehow Sister Homemaker's antics as a child came up in conversation. Her Hubby found out that his second daughter, A, is much like his wife.

"You know, Sister Homemaker was the Drama Queen at our house."

Hubby, "No way! A is our Drama Queen!"

"When she would get in trouble and sent to her room she wrote notes and sent them downstairs. They usually said 'No one loves me" or "I'm gonna run away!'"

Hubby, "You don't say! A does the same thing!"

"You know, Sister Homemaker thought she was always getting picked on and it was always someone else's fault, never her's."

Hubby, "Oh my gosh! A is just like that! I'm not stopping her anymore! Sister Homemaker gets to deal with A as payback!"

Sorry Sister Homemaker, it looks like your Hubby might not run interference anymore. Hopefully A is still around when we come up for Thanksgiving. If you've had it she can come home with us.

Seatbelts On, Cell Phones Off

It has been an emotionally exhausting week and a half for me. Last week I had written a bunch of stories about Calvin so everyone could witness some more of his fun-filled antics. As many of you know October 15 was the one-year mark from our accident and Calvin's passing. We celebrated his life by planting a tree at the cemetery between his and Olaf's dad's spots. Olaf went and talked to the sexton and he said we could plant a tree as long as it wouldn't grow over six feet tall. That's a hard requirement! We searched several nurseries before we finally settled on a Korean Lilac Tree. While it will grow up to 10 feet, it's a slow-growing tree that won't be huge.

Getting ready to break ground

All the wonderful mementos family and friends left

Family and Friends digging a hole

Baby making sure it is the right size

Olaf putting in the tree

Baby putting in some dirt

The other boys helping as much as possible

Some of our family that came and helped

More family coming to lend support

Finished!

Tuesday of last week we met with a group that was formed several years ago in an effort to prevent teenage deaths on the roads. Last year they put out a book with the stories of these teenagers in an effort to make a difference. The thought process is statistics are boring, real stories make it personal and make more of an impression.

Yesterday we were lucky enough to attend a High School assembly promoting safe driving for the school Calvin would have attended and Olaf did attend. The kids around us were acting just like a real assembly, chattering and goofing off until one of the presenters announced that two mothers of deceased teenagers were in the audience. It became quiet. Slowly the noise level crept up until Calvin's and another boy's pictures from the book were put on the wall. It became quiet and the kids really started listening. I heard a few whispers around us "I know him" or "My little brother was friends with him."

Today all our hard work culminated in a news conference to announce the book for 2008. We just want kids to drive safer and wear their seat belts. We talked to a few reporters and hope the message to wear your seat belts and don't drive distracted will reach more kids.

Here is the news story on the 5 o'clock news:

Families hope their tragic stories will save teenagers' lives

And here is a story from the local newspaper:

Parents hope their losses will save others

And finally, here is the book we all worked so hard to put together. It's the book at the top of the page titled "13 Stories We'd Rather Not Tell." It's hard to read. When they sent me last year's book I almost threw it away because it was so hard to read those stories of other families. But my sisters helped me see the good this can do and hopefully it will help others.

Next week, I promise, I will quit talking about Calvin. We've got a family wedding and I'm sure something funny will happen there that will lift everyone's spirits. It's hard for something funny to not happen when seven siblings and their families get together.

Nap Time

Nap Time

Imagine our surprise when we opened the door to let Baby Calvin out of his room from naptime! He had much greater adventures than just dreams.

It took a lot of carpet cleaning solution and lots of time to get this mess out of the carpet! But we'll never forget the happiness he had while making a mess. Truly a Boy!