The Stan & Carolyn Clan

Twins!!!

2010-07-05T12:31:00.000-07:00

Cannon and Carsten have arrived! The boys are healthy (their combined birth weighed was just under 15 pounds)! We are thankful to have them here. Parents, Trent & Taraleigh, are doing good. So is big brother Taven. Twins...are TWO cute, TWO fun...TWO amazing!!!!!!

Taven

2010-06-12T10:01:00.001-07:00

Taven and his family live close by, so he gets to visit Nona-Bobbo's on his own quite often. For now, Taven is an only child...until his twin brothers arrive!

Our "Little" Girl Graduates from 8th Grade

2010-06-06T12:18:00.000-07:00

Kaniesha has a remarkable sense of style and sense of self. She was so happy at graduation, so ready to move on to high school. It's amazing to think that our youngest daughter is growing up so quickly. It's also a blessing she's growing up so wonderfully. She is careful and confident in her choices to ensure a happy and successful future. You go, girl!

The Jelly Belly Factory

2010-05-31T09:52:00.000-07:00

This was Stan and Taven's first tour of the Jelly Belly Factory. Here is a link to take a virtual tour on-line for those of you who haven't been to the factory yet: http://www.jellybelly.com/Virtual_Tour/virtual_tour.aspx The only bad thing about this virtual tour opposed to the actual tour is that you don't receive a free bag of Jelly Bellies. Sorry about that.

Stan Turns 50!

2010-05-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Stan's 50th by taking him on a trip to Aptos Village for the three day Memorial Weekend. Aptos Village is just south of Santa Cruz at Rio Del Mar Beach. We hung out at the beach, bought fresh fruit at the Aptos Farmer's Market, BBQ-ed tri-tip, rode a steam engine in Felton (complete with Civil War Encampment and Renactment) and shopped at a garage sale. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Celebrating Stan's 50th at Aptos, CA

2010-05-23T11:29:00.000-07:00

For Stan's 50th Birthday weekend we rented a home in Aptos, CA. Trent and Taraleigh presented Stan with a booklet Taraleigh had made, titled "Just 50 of the Many Reasons Why We Love Stan". She'd collected comments and photos from fifty of our friends and family. It meant a lot to Stan (and HE means a lot to all of us)! Happy Birthday, Handsome! xo

Hiking at Muir Redwoods

2010-05-07T09:04:00.000-07:00

Monica, Daniel, and I went hiking at Muir Redwoods before Monica moved to Tennessee for the summer. Muir Redwoods is just north of San Francisco and is one of the most beautiful places in California. We hiked close to ten miles trying to find our way down to Stinson Beach, but we couldn't connect to the right trail. We enjoyed some incredible views of the Pacific Ocean, then drove to Stinson Beach after our hike.

Dollywood, TN

2010-04-18T08:28:00.000-07:00

Monica and I went to TN for a week to visit Rashauna, Josh, Brandilyn, Robbie and Mariah and we all spent a couple of days in the Smokey Mountains at Gatlinburg and Pigeon Ford. And... you can't go to Pigeon Ford without going to Dollywood! What a great place, very country-fied and family oriented. Thanks Josh for planning the Smokey Mountain trip for us!

Siblings...

2010-04-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

I am the Big Sister. My brothers are over six feet tall so I'm not the biggest, but I am the oldest. Being the Big Sister has always been an important responsibility to me, no matter how old we get. We are all in our 40's now and I still like to watch out for my little (but taller) brothers. "I love you, Eric & Robert!"

New Years Eve SMH Family Style

2010-01-01T15:54:00.000-08:00

Each year we buy our New Year's outfits at thrift stores, so check us out!

Tennessee Sunset

2009-10-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

"Know what you want to do,
hold the thought firmly, and
do every day what should be
done, and every sunset will
see you that much nearer to
your goal." -Elbert Hubbard

Robbie & Riah...

2009-10-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

Grandkids are the BEST!!!!!

Football anyone?

2009-10-21T08:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics at the awesome park we played at while visiting Tennessee.

Hiking in the Appalacians

2009-10-20T17:27:00.000-07:00

Our week in Tennesse passed quickly but we filled it with lots of memory making: Mariah's 5th birthday party, hiking in the Appalacians, playing games, talking 'til late, and just being together. Awesome! Here's our hike in the Appalacian Mountains and Rashauna's way of crossing rivers...

Flying to Tennessee

2009-10-19T16:57:00.000-07:00

During the kid's fall break we flew to TN for the week to be with the Davidson's and Rashauna. Here is our flight there (or our flight back...either way, we're on the plane). "No matter where you are going, enjoy the journey." We did.

About Airplanes...

2009-10-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

My son Seth wants to be an aeronautical engineer. He loves planes. We go to air museums and watch movies about WWII fighter planes. We have paper airplanes stuck on rooftops and furniture. There are books about airplanes on Seth's desk, nightstand, and bookshelf. There are also airplane books in our family room, in his backpack and on his Christmas wish list. He's assembled several model airplanes and uses the kitchen counter as his runway or the stairs steps as his hanger. It's not uncommon to come down in the morning and see an airplane sitting in the middle of the dining table.

What is it about airplanes?

I wonder if it's about the jets of an airplane that help it lift off the ground and to take flight. Or perhaps it's the wings that give it balance and help it soar at high altitudes. Just today Seth and I were walking across a parking lot when he stopped as soon as he heard a plane overhead. He looked skyward and said, "Awesome!"

This sounds amazingly familiar to my objective as a parent: to teach my children to lift off the ground as infants and toddlers, to take flight as a middle schoolers by becoming more independent, then to soar as teenagers and young adults with the belief that the sky is the limit to all they can accomplish as independent adults, navigating their own destiny.

Two of my children are "flying independently" in Middle School. The others are "soaring" as young adults. They are all amazing individuals, each charting out a course that is their personal destiny.

Just thinking about my kids causes me to stop, look skyward and say, "Awesome!"

If the shoe fits, wear it...

2009-09-30T10:05:00.000-07:00

While I was babysitting Taven he found my shoes. Of course they were too big for him, but that didn't matter. He just put them on.

Sometimes we think about doing things that seem "too big" for us. We let ourselves think we can't do it, so we don't even try.

The next time you find yourself thinking "I can't do it" let go of that thought and try it! Just put the shoe on, then put one foot in front of the other...

Even if the shoe doesn't "fit", wear it!

The Compliment Guys

2009-09-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

So, I read in the paper recently about a couple of guys at Purdue University who stand in front of the Chemistry building each Wednesday for two hours giving out compliments in the rain, shine, sleet or snow. They estimate that they give out 1,000 compliments per Wednesday.

Some students report changing their walking route on campus, even considerably out of the way, just to pass by the Compliment Guys. It makes a big (and happy) difference in their day to hear Brent or Cam say, "Hey, nice hat!" "Good job drinking the water; way to hydrate!" or "Great smile! I love your smile!" The two friends began their compliment routine because they noticed with the weakening economy more and more people seemed down. They set out to help people focus on the good and positive things in life. It's working.

A professor in the Chemistry building was interviewed and said that the Compliment Guys have literally changed his life. "I have learned that being nice to others really makes a difference. I try now to make eye contact and to be nice to people, even giving out my own compliments now. I have found that because of the Compliment Guys, I want to become a better person."

The difference that two people...or even one person...can make!

By the way: "Thanks for looking at my blog. You are an awesome Blogger!"

Cousins Come Visit!

2009-03-30T12:45:00.000-07:00

Cousins Luc and Jake Hoer came from

Las Vegas for a weekend visit . The

kids really wanted to make Smores

outside in the fire pit, however the

rainy weather just wouldn't cooperate.

The boys jumped on the trampoline in the

pouring rain, then the kids set up shop

indoors and made Smores in the kitchen.

When life gives you rain...

make Smores!

March Birthday Fun

2009-03-06T21:13:00.000-08:00

We celebrate three birthdays in March: Seth, Leshelle & Rashauna.

Christmas

2008-12-25T10:13:00.000-08:00

Mr. & Mrs. "Stan-a" Claus gave
the family DDR & Rockband.

Brandilyn's family joined us for Christmas this year, along with Gpa & Gma Hoer.

Boating at nearby Rollins Lake, California

2008-08-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

Kaniesha, Mariah & Seth on the tube.

Stan and Robbie heading back to the boat after our BBQ on the beach.

More photos from Lake Powell

2008-07-29T18:04:00.000-07:00

Kaniesha,
Seth & Carolyn ...
Jumping & Sliding off the houseboat.

Stan the Man and yours truly, Captain Seth.

Touring Upper Antelope Canyon near Lake Powell

2008-07-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

My nephew Kyle and I inside Antelope Canyon, a wonderland of eroded sandstone bathed in light from the slot. In our tour group we met people who were visiting from Holland, Belgium and Germany.

Apparently, Antelope Canyon is on the list of "Places to See While in America".

Goal: Find that list and visit more beautiful places in America.

Pictures at Lake Powell

2008-07-29T09:45:00.001-07:00

Seth and Kaniesha catching their daily quota of fish.

The kids hanging out on the houseboat.

During the mud bath...

...and after the mud bath!

Our First Trip to Lake Powell

2008-07-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

We went to Lake Powell for a week with Robert, Christina, Breanna, Kyle and Byrce Hawkey July 5-12th and stayed on a houseboat. We brought our motor boat with us and enjoyed wake boarding, tubing and exploring narrow canyons. It was a fun week!

On our way to Powell we stopped in Las Vegas to pick up our nephew Bryant Hoer (who came to Powell with us) and to spend the 4th of July with Eric, Therese, Elle and Sienna Hawkey. We watched the LV fireworks from Eric's backyard.

On our way home from Powell we dropped off Bryant and spent a night visiting Steve, Cynthia, Dianna, Anna, Luc and Jacob Hoer, along with some of Cynthia's family.

Now we are back home and making plans for trip #2 to Lake Powell in 2009.

Family Gathering in Elk Grove for Stan's Birthday

2008-05-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

It's always fun when the family gets together. Nephew Daniel Hoer joined us for this family outing for Stan's birthday.

Stan's Family Birthday Bash

2008-05-23T21:47:00.000-07:00

Stan turns 48...(two more years until he's antique status!)