Aaron, present day.

I feel the need to put a bit in this, our family journal, about how our kids are. Aaron started another year of Pre-School through the district this year to receive speech therapy and help with some fine motor delays. His teacher, Mrs. Waker, always tells me that "Aaron really is way too smart for this class." I just smile and nod.

Aaron has and continues to be our sweetheart. He is so full of love and compassion and he wants to give it to anyone who is around. He calls our 14 yr old neighbor, Jared, his "bff". And was in tears just the other day when Jared was out playing basketball with some of the bigger kids in the neighborhood. "Jared doesn't want to be my friend anymore. He only wants to be with the big kids. I'm not big, I'm only 4!" Bless Jared's heart. I told his mom about how sad Aaron was and the next day Jared invited Aaron over to play on his gaming console with him. Today I saw him bringing Aaron along while a few of the older boys were playing hide-n-seek in the neighborhood.

Along with Aaron's deep compassion comes immense emotions. He was absolutely FURIOUS yesterday when we went to church and he did not have scriptures! "Take me NOW to the bookstore and buy me SCRIPTURES!" All through sacrament meeting. Until of course he got up to bare his testimony. It was his second time, the first time being last month with Dad. This time he went up with Olivia. He says next time he's going on his own. In primary he's funny to watch. He'll raise his hand for any question and then lean forward to me and say, "What's the answer?" One time a guest speaker was talking about the mission call he had just received and asked the kids, "How old do you have to be to serve a mission?" Aaron blurted out, "19"! I was impressed. But I really shouldn't be amazed at what comes out of his mouth anymore. His teacher said that she was talking to his occupational therapist and had said, "In the beginning I just thought he was l-a-z-y, but..." Aaron quickly cut her off and said emphatically, "I'm not lazy!" In Bed Bath and Beyond the lady told me what I was looking for was in the "cleaning" aisle. Aaron pointed to each of 3 signs in a row and said, "There it is, cleaning". He was right on.

He rides the bus to and from school and actually enjoys it this go around. It's a short ride both ways. His pick up driver's name is Ms. Shiela and she mistakenly always calls Aaron, Lucca (the boy who is picked up after Aaron). One day she opened the bus door and said, "Goodmorning AARON!" and started laughing. I was confused. She told me that the previous day, as Aaron was getting buckled up with the help of the bus aid, Ms. Lily, when he said, "What if I called you Ms. Lily all the time?". Ms. Shiela thought that to be a good point and has never missed his name since.

Aaron tells me he loves me out of the blue all of the time. He'll be washing his hands, eating lunch, watching tv or sitting on the toilet. "Mom, I love you."

He is a BIG kid too, or so people tell me. At 44" he weighs 48lbs. People look at him compared to other 4 year olds and assuming the size they go to pick him up and, "Ugh!". Yeah, he's thick. When it turned cool the first time a few weeks back I told him to put some jeans on for school. He came in barely even able to pull up his size 5 Levi's. He's got his dad's "birthing hips", I call them, and those monstrous thighs. Dad tells him all the time he's going to be our middle line backer and we'll travel all across the country to watch him play for his university. (Nothing like setting high expectations.) Aaron's caught on. Yesterday when he just walked in the door from church, he hadn't even taken his shoes off yet, "Dad, Let's watch FOOTBALLLLL! Who's playing? Who do we want to win?" Would I love it if he was that excited about church? Of course. But you have to admit, it's pretty darn cute. He knows his strength and is very aware of his "size". Admittedly probably because he hears us talk about it frequently, other people comment on it often as well. But he will go up to a boy who is smaller than him and just stand there inches away from his face. Just staring. Once I even saw him push a boy in the chest with his finger and say, "I'm bigger than you." AAHHH! I couldn't believe it! I have a bully!

His favorite song to sing as of late is Nephi's Courage. He only knows one part and he sings/yells it with all his might. (He does it so vehemently he goes red in the face. "I WILL GO, I WILL DO THE THING THE LORD COMMANDS!" Over and over and over again. I guess it's better than what he used to sing/yell, "COME FOLLOW ME THE SAVIOR SAID!" (The drill sergeant voice matches Nephi's Courage a little better. Somehow I can't picture the Savior yelling "come follow me".

All in all he is my sweetheart. My mom had told me, when we were thinking of the name Aaron, that it is a soft name and that it might "affect" him. I can't think of a more perfect name for him.

For Time and All Eternity

On Thursday, August 5, 2010 Angela Claycamp entered the Oakland temple along with Matthew Van Duren, and with loved ones watching, knelt across the alter to become married on earth and sealed in heaven. It was a wonderful ceremony and very touching.

Tuesday, after Grandpa's house, the kids and I drove down to Sacramento to stay with the Dressers and picked Bill up the next day from the airport on the way to Oakland. We all stayed at the infamous Holiday Inn (where the rest of us Claycamps stayed the night before our weddings) and went to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. (Once again, Krazy Glue to the rescue as Aaron tripped and fell into the back of a chair causing his lower right canine to go through his lip... hardly any

scar!) The four of us all chose different cheesecakes, and I loved them ALL! The Richins were all there, sans Eric, finishing out the last few months of his mission in Baton Rouge, LA. Karen and Andrea and Kira made the trek out as well. It was great to see everyone, and meet Matt's family.

I drove the bride, Gretchen and Kristi to the temple Thursday morning with great precision in only 20 minutes. We all three were given permission to be Angie's escorts. What a beautiful blushing bride. Mom was definitely missed but she was very much present.

It was cloudy outside which I felt bad about but it kept Angie cool and made for fabulous pictures that our Uncle Randy and his son-in-law Justin took. Then off to Jan and

Don Preston's house for a luncheon and swimming in the pool. (Jan and Don and set my parents up on a blind date!)

Matt and Angie took off for a night together in Napa Valley and the rest of us headed back up to Redding to finish getting ready for part II. The reception.

Friday we took a bit of a breather and enjoyed some R & R at Whiskeytown Lake. I don't know why we don't go there more often when we visit Redding. It was so much fun. Ryan brought out his parents' patio boat and took us over to the rope swing. I couldn't believe my eyes and Aaron and Olivia (with a little more coaxing needed than Aaron) swung out over the lake and dropped into the cool water. I was peer pressured into it and will admit that it was a fun rush.

Saturday was busy getting ready for the reception. I had to stop and get a shot at the med clinic. Apparently I had got poison oak when I fell into the bushes on my maiden voyage of mountain biking earlier in the week. Oh man, did it ever itch. Across my stomach on my arms and even on my face! I had forgotten how bad it gets.

The reception was very nice. Everyone stayed and enjoyed themselves. The kids loved running around and playing on the grass of of the country club while the adults visited. TONS of yummy desserts and fresh fruit for a chocolate fountain. The photographer got great photos of everything.(Hopefully I can get a few of them for myself.)

CONGRATULATIONS ANGIE AND MATT!

Summer in Redding

Sunday, before Bill flew home from the Redding airport, we got to have breakfast at the soon to be VanDuran home and go to Matt and Angie's ward which happens to also be the Reasbecks' ward.

We spent most nights out in Palo Cedro with Bill's Aunt Tenley and Uncle Jim. The kids loved "swimming" in their hot tub as we sat sweating in the Redding heat watching them play. On Tuesday, the 27th, Tenley took us to a wonderful waterfall right below Mt. Shasta along with a little hike from which we could see Mt. Shasta and the start of the Sacramento River. We had a great picnic lunch where the kids and I tried fresh mango for the first time. I am sad to report that none of us cared for it. We even stopped for some soft serve ice cream at a little roadside diner.

We spent the night at my brother, Garrett's house. I got to babysit their 4 kids while they spoke on being "Fun and flirty" at a church activity. We swam til it was too dark to see and then the 4 older kids rinsed off in the shower together while I got the 2 little girls in their pj's. I got a great video of the kids doing chants in the shower. We went to see The Wizard of Oz in the Anderson River Park with the Claycamps as well.

We also visited with Grandpa Bill a few times. We learned that he had attended the LDS church the previous Sunday and had been meeting with the missionaries for a while now. They had simply knocked on his door and he invited them in, remembering how he would've wanted his

son treated on his mission. I rejoined him for church on Sunday the 1st where I was able to bare my testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and the importance of the temple. It was very richly emotional and we were able to share a very special moment together. The following Tuesday the kids and I went back down so that they could do a woodworking project with Grandpa and also I was able to join in on a missionary discussion. We too had a wonderfully intimate discussion.

We played at the Reasbeck's and spent the night there. I finished sewing my skirt, Livi's dress, Kristi's blouse, Chase and Aaron's pants, Gretchen's zipper on her skirt and a hem on her blouse... I even glued Chandler's eyelid back together. Krazy Glue is amazing, he doesn't even have a scar!

Fishing with the Cabezuds

When we got back from camping, Bill flew home to work and the kids and I stayed in Redding to have fun and help get things ready for Angie's wedding. I really tried to take advantage of our time in Redding and spend some time with loved ones we don't see all that often. Monday, July 26th, we went with my dear friend Natalie Cabezud's parents, Frank and Pat, fishing in their boat on the beautiful Shasta Lake. I don't remember the last time I saw the lake so full. Frank admitted it was hard finding his way around without the usual landmarks (they were all underwater). Pat packed a fabulous picnic dinner complete with all her wonderful foods I remember as a child. Yummy sandwiches and delicious cookies... YUMMM! At first the kids weren't terribly interested in fishing. Frank set some lines and we swam. Livi couldn't get enough of the water and had a ball puttering around with Pat. Aaron couldn't decide if he wanted to fish or swim so he kept bouncing around, loving every minute of it. The life vests for the kids were a little on the big side, but... we made do.

Once we decided to hunker down and really get to business Frank was ready for us. He had bought out Target of a fishing lure that he claimed was the best. Unfortunately he did lose one, but boy

was he right on its effectiveness. Out of maybe 30-45 minutes of total fishing time, Olivia caught 5 fish, all of which were "keepers". Pat said that Frank is not the average fisherman. He doesn't like to touch or eat them. He has developed quite the grab, twist, flick method for dehooking his fish and getting them back safely in the water. The kids were loving it. Every fish caught had to be touched by both of them and each time they would squeal. By the

end Livi was staring soberly at them as she fingered their tiny metallic scales. Aaron did catch 2 fish and wouldn't dare tell a "fish" story of

how big they were. He was proud of his 2. Or was it 10. Maybe 20. The number kept changing. Olivia was so funny though because as Frank drove, Pat and I caught up with one another and Livi would tell us she caught one. We wouldn't believe her but sure enough... there was a fish. After the 2nd time of us telling her it was probably just a weed and she and Frank pulling up a fish, she didn't even tell us any more. Our conversation paused as we looked over and saw Olivia reeling in a fish all by herself! It was an absolute blast to be with them. It was so fun to catch up with the going on's of the Grant community and hear how everyone is doing. I am so blessed to have people in my life who truly love me and my kids and whom we can love and be with in return.

Camping 2010

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture. From left to right: Ellisons, Reasbecks, Dad, & Claycamps. This is our spot at the beach. We do the same thing every year. Suckers for tradition? Yes. But more than that, it's what we did with Mom.

How we manage to bring more stuff every year is beyond me but we did. This year we had the luxury of a fabulous new bike rack and a "coffin" as Grandma called it for on top of the car. With Annie in the middle seat and wedding gear on top of the camping gear we were packed to the brim. The trip up must've been just fine, I don't remember it one bit. As for the rest of the trip, I'll keep it simple... (lots of pictures, small amounts of text).

Friday morning, I do remember, it was Olivia's LAST CHEMO APPOINTMENT!!! YAY!!! And then we hit the road...16-17 hrs later and 2 days we arrived at the coveted camp spot of #38 in Millcreek Campgroud in the Del Norte Costal Redwoods of Crescent City, California.

Crabbing on the Pier (Emily is such a cutie)

Kristi and baby Abby

Playing games back at camp. I LOVE Livi's hair!

Our little man LOVES and thrives on affection. So darn cute. I was pleased with myself this year and did not use a blow dryer or any make-up. One might think, "Who uses those things while your camping???" Oh, it's been bad. One year we actually brought a generator for the hair dryers! I think I pulled off the natural look pretty good.

Happy 10th Birthday Evan! Double digits...WOOHOO!

The grandkids love their Uncle Adam and Aunt Gee. Of course cool gadgets always help.

Both kids were successful with 2 wheels this year.

What's a trip to the beach without Aaron laying in the sand. I think this year was his cleanest to date. Playing at the beach always includes some digging/building of sorts. This year we added some new depth to the whole beach experience and incorporated some sports. Soccer was a huge hit and then some volley ball. Ryan thought he had purchased a volleyball net, not a badminton one. Ah well, ya can't win 'em all. It was a lot of fun regardless.

Front: Chase, Emily, Logan. Back: Dax, Livi, Ethan, Aaron

The younger kids enjoyed playing down in the creek bed. (This is everyone, sans our youngest Abby, 6 yrs and younger. It was Daxton's first year camping with us, and actually first time camping. He looks a little overwhelmed here, but he had a good time.)They would throw rocks into what was left of the dried up pond. Apparently not all the campers were as fond of our kids playing on their own and letting us adults sleep in 'cause the ranger came down to our sites and told us to zip it! 9 o'clock is not that early!

This was one of those precious moments that I know my mom was watching. I love seeing my brother being tender with his girls.

Hiking (Livi. I think I take these beautiful trees for granted.)

Livi being her hammy/sassy self while Adam ponders if the Chinese ever did use "chinese handcuffs".(Thanks to Dad's friend, Sue, who joined our group this year and brought along some fun things to try out.) And of course, Aaron enjoying his food. Another of Sue's fun things!

The tide pools were really good this year. The best weather we've had at the pools for as long as we remember. Aaron and Livi with their finds.

Aaron and Ethan sunbathing

Bill and that wretched Celtics sweatshirt. I threaten to burn it every year. This year I will admit, I reminded him to pack it. Yes, tradition. The green is actually growing on me. Much like kelp on the ocean rocks.

Mine and Gretchen's possibly first official camp picture. Chase is cute too.

Grandkids!

Oldest to youngest, starting on Rt in back: Evan, Code, Chand Livi, Logan, E-Man, Aaron, Dax, Chasers, Emmy, and Abby(in Cody's arms). 11 great kids!

Ellisons

She wore her Cancer Shmancer shirt for this day. Back at camp we had a special celebration. This day, Thursday, July 22, 2010 was the last time Livi had to take chemo pills!!! We bought a cake at Safeway and had a bit of a ceremony. I helped Livi write down everything that she was "throwing away" with her pills. Things like, limitations of cancer, loosing her hair, not being able to play sports, fasting for spinal taps, meds, surgeries...etc. We filmed it. She then threw the list in the fire and poured her remaining pills in a box and smashed them with a hammer. Some of the shot out of the box and we joked about coming next year and finding a giant hairless chipmunk who ate Livi's chemo pills and steroids. After a good beating she threw the box in the fire and we clapped as she watched the sparks. I'm not sure about everyone else, but for me, the tears were definitely rolling.

, Ryan, Bill, Cody, Chandler and I went on a bike ride along the original Hwy 1. It was a good ride and very difficult for the boys but they pushed through and made it, only walking up one fairly steep hill. I laughed when Bill asked if that's how hard my rides are. At parts of the road you could see, through the overgrowth, the old road. FUN.

Packing up is always a chore, but we are getting better. The kids are helpful by playing with one another. Livi and Ethan kept Abby happy.

Ethan, Aaron and Emily

Every year we have taken a picture on our last day in front of this tree in front of campsite 38. I think next time the kids will be on the ground!

We've tried a new tradition the last couple of years. It's seeming to stick.

Lunch at Samoas Cookhouse just outside of Eureka. It's a bit out of the way but good family style food and we're not cooking it! Bill did some worthwhile life skill teaching. Chan caught

on rather nicely. Everyone had a great time. I lost a filling... and Livi was lovin' on Aaron!

Until next year...