summertime!

what does summer mean to hailey?

s- swimming, sleepovers, service
u- ultimate tennis playing
m- making new friends at camps
m- master violinist
e- eating out for lunch, excitement for vacations
r- riding horses, reading books

"...and a little child shall lead them"

Last night for mutual (I was just called as the Laurel advisor) the young men and young women of our ward combined and made sandwiches and lunches for the homeless. When we were finished making them we got into our cars and drove down to Main Street and Owens and D Street to give out our sack lunches to those who were in need. Megan grabbed a couple of sacks and then grabbed my hand and we walked down the street toward where all the people were. Some folks were walking across the street and she gave out one of her sacks to a man there. Then the group stopped and we thought they would come to us as word passed that we had some food for them. While we were waiting Megan spotted an elderly man, in a wheelchair who looked like he hadn't had much to eat in a long while. He was eating a sandwich from his sack and she said to me, "Let's go talk to him and see if he got his card." We had placed a pass-along card in each of the sacks as well. I kind of looked at her and she started pulling me and the Bishop asked us where we were going. Megan told him we were going to talk to that man, but she needed her mom to go with her. I was looking at her and said, "Do you know what you're going to say? Are you going to do all the talking?" I was petrified. I'm sure she was thinking, "Are you the older one here? Have you just spent many months serving as a ward missionary? Didn't you just tell all the kids not to be afraid of these people? Whats the problem?" We walked over to this man and she asked him if he had gotten a lunch. He told us yes and thank you, and then she asked him if he had gotten the card that was in the bag. He said, "Oh yes. I saved it." And then he started fishing around in his pockets trying to find where he had put it. He started telling us he knew about the Church, and that he had lived close by when they built the really big one up on Bonanza. He remembered it well. We talked about what year that was, and how different he had felt back then. He wasn't in his wheelchair yet and so on. Then Megan said, "You should go to church sometime." and then she told him if he ever needed anything he knew who to call. The name of the church was on the card. She was very comfortable and natural, and I was amazed at how easy it was to strike up a conversation with this kind, sweet man and spread a little cheer and talk about the church.
Truly my child led me last night. I think I'd like to have her along when I get to go on my mission. I love you Megan, thanks for teaching me!



Megan the Missionary!

bff's

who would have thought that getting a driver's license and a car would have brought megan and molly together again, all of the time? were they afraid to ask rhonda and i to drive them to each others houses?, or do they mostly think that if they are playing together we trust them more and they can get out of the house with fewer questions? i personally believe megan knows that i will say yes when she tells me she is going to molly's (like molly has some big emergency that megan needs to help her with!), and that megan loves not getting the third degree from me about what she is going to do. i also believe she has fun searching molly's closet and visa-versa. they both love to eat as well, so that is usually where their fun begins! i have gotten a lot smarter in the past month and have realized that communication with rhonda is going to be very important from here on out! it has been fun to have molly around, and i love to hear them laughing together. when i look at their blog spot i get a little scared, so the real reason i am making this post is so everyone can see how cute they are when they aren't being so weird and crazy!

toe update

monday morning as we visited with dr. thomas he was amazed at the progress sadie's foot had made. as he explained what the mri had shown and what damage was done, he was pretty surprised that her swelling was so much better after only a week. the big question, "will she be able to dance in new york?" if things keep going like they have been, he feels like she could start dancing next week. that would give her a week of preparation before we leave. hopefully the healing continues to go forward with no hitches. thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. i know she has been very blessed.

dance recital 2007

Saturday the 16th was a fun, exciting, wonderful, hard, long day! The week had been full of emotion, but in my disappointment for Sadie, I was still very excited to see Megan and Hailey dance. Our day started about 8:00 am at Cashman Field and we got home about 10:50 pm! I get so exhausted from the hours, the drama (how to save enough seats:)), the nerves (for the girls) that it usually takes me a couple of days to recover and I haven't even danced. I'm not sure how the girls do it, but I know they are very sore the next day. It was pretty fun to have Sadie sitting close by for the first half, she was screaming like a crazy woman. Megan danced better than I've ever seen her, (she is getting sooooo good!), and Hailey did a great job and had a fun time too. I'm anxious to get the video so I can see it again:) HELLO!
Here are a few pictures in memory of the day/night!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Eventhough I'm a couple days late, I want to honor my great husband for being an amazing father to our children. We are very blessed!

photographer

I must say, I think I am becoming a pretty darn good photographer with my new camera!
Congratulations to me!

hairs and beards

clean shaven, scruff, or beard?
short hair, pho-mo, or a natural?
maybe the doo-rag is the best look after all!

the right great toe sprain

A little update on Sadie! (MRI report: Everything structurally is in place. (good news) Extensive tissue damage and hemorrhage around the first metatarsophalangeal joint involving the capsule with evidence of capsular disruption. (bad news)) We went to another physician today. One that deals mostly with sports injuries. We thought he might be more aggressive and we just wanted to hear what he might say and get a little more knowledge. "Barring a miracle from God, this will take awhile to heal." I keep thinking someone is going to tell us something more encouraging, but they don't. I wake up every morning and think she might be able to put some weight on it, but she can't. The doctors keep wanting to get her a boot, to protect it, even for the weeks ahead, and I begin to realize, this isn't going to happen overnight. They don't expect her to wake up and be able to walk on it. The aggresive doctor thought it would be 8 - 12 weeks. OK. I think I like the conservative one with the average being 6 weeks to heal. Shouldn't it be possible to dance after three weeks? Poor Sadie, maybe my optimistic view of the world is going to kill her. She is definitely more of a realist than I, probably better for her. So having said all of that, I am posting some pictures of Sadie and Megan at the most recent competition that we went to in SLC. (if I knew how to put them all to the side I would, someone needs to teach me)

sad, sad day

As many of you know, the week after school gets out, is full of adrenaline, stress, excitement and just plain craziness here at the Bunker house. It is the week of the DANCE RECITAL. This year especially with it being Sadie's senior year, she and Megan have prepared a duet together and Sadie a solo along with the other seven or eight numbers they are in. Hailey has a little less stress, but she is still doing three numbers. This year has had a little blip.
Sadie was at rehersal Friday afternoon and landed a jump wrong. She came down on her big toe area of her right foot, with her toe curled under. She really damaged the stuff on the top of her foot, but she didn't break it. After having seen a couple of doctors and trying therapy almost immediately, it became pretty apparent yesterday that, barring the miracle we are praying for, she won't be able to dance Saturday for the recital. She is actually being very good about it. Only a couple of meltdowns so far. It is quite a bummer though, after dancing close to fifteen hours a week since September to prepare for this day, they have sacrificed many other activities to be prepared. It is something that has connected Sadie and Megan at the hip these past few years and I believe this is just as hard on Megan, if possible, as it is on Sadie.
Anyway, Saturday will not be the day we were all planning on. But we will be cheering Megan and Hailey on with our loud voices and heavy hearts! Life has a way of showing us we are in control of nothing. We do believe in the power of the priesthood and the ability a young healthy body has to heal, but reality and doctors are telling us about the averages and they are not in our favor. Oh well, we WILL go on!

graduation day

miss sadie has graduated from high school. i'm sure this is a day she will never forget. it didn't quite turn out like she had always imagined it would. she had to do it with crutches!!! she was able to walk across the stage without them, but for the processional and recessional she was a gymp. it's hard to carry a diploma, your cap, and a cell phone and use crutches. luckily for her she has some sweet friends who came to the rescue! CONGRATULATIONS! you did it!

Grandmotherhood

I have really had to be careful in my posts so far to make sure I have included everyone and in a fair order. I have to tell you, my four children that aren't married are continually complaining to me about all the attention that Lauren (my granddaughter:)) receives. She has many pictures around the house in prominant places, I light up like a Christmas tree when she comes over, my voice changes, I get on the floor and race cars, I pull out my special stash of food that she is allowed to eat, I suck up to her in every possible way! I have tried really hard though, to not be over-bearing. I have been letting her decide that she likes me and trusts me all on her own!
Having said all that, today is Lauren day on the blog. Last week, all of my special efforts paid off, and when it was time to go home, instead of waving like a crazy woman, she gave her mother that famous dirty look and she came to me and cuddled up, and wouldn't let go. Yes, the "JOYS" of being a grandmother. I can actually stop when she comes over, because I know there is a limited amount of time to share, and when she leaves there is still time to accomplish all the other stuff that was so "important" that day! I always heard it was great to be a grand-parent, but you can't imagine how great until it happens to you!
(Just to make Tod even more bitter than he already is, I think I will have to include more than one picture of Lauren today. I know he is secretly worried that by the time he has a baby, all the good picture spots in my house will be taken by Lauren. I'm sure I can love more than one grandchild - I will prove it to him someday!)

School's Out For Summer!!!!!

Here at the Bunker house we have had some serious celebrating going on since about 10:30 this morning. The last finals were taken at Bonanza (ghetto) high school:), graduation practice was participated in, check-out was concluded and verification that Sadie would actually graduate received. Megan deserves some serious blog props for vast improvement in her grades from 3rd quarter to 4th. Studying actually works!!!! Hailey survived her first year at middle school and earned the coveted Computer Literacy award for 6th graders because she could type over 60 words a minute!! It has been a long year, but they have all done well and learned a lot. They should be very PROUD!

Hailey got to go to dance tonight to celebrate (not her first choice), Megan and Molly went to see Pirates III (I can already tell this summer is going to be a big drain on my cash flow), and Sadie is at GradBash 2007. (She was trying to jump for joy, but I was too slow to catch it. Oh well, try to feel it the best you can!)

OH HAPPY DAY!

My Two Boys

Tod has been home since May when school got out. He decided to come home and do a little internship at Community Bank. Not the best pay, but some good experience! It has been fun to watch him wear his father out so far this summer. They have been to the gym (early mornings), golfing (any time of day), in the spa (almost every night), to lunch (almost every day), up late talking (on occasion) and even on the basketball court (once). It has been fun to have him home, though I'm not sure how much more Jon can take:)

In the beginning

Since it is now June, 2007, and since I am older, and have more time on my hands (HA!) I have decided to become a blogger (not to be confused with a booger!)! So, in the beginning, my plan is to keep a record of life in the Bunker household, of all who may come and go, and hopefully it will be fun and when Alzheimer's is in full swing, I will be able to look back and remember my life. The GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY!