Happy Father's Day from Laura

Dear Dad,

Happy Father's Day!  I love this old picture of me crossing the finish line at the Rose Bowl cross country course because you are there in the background, cheering me on and encouraging me to do my best.

I have always felt your love for me and know that you are always there in whatever I am doing--a loving supporter, a loyal fan, an inspiration.  Your belief in me has helped me achieve many goals.

I love you!

Laura

Can you find Tom in this picture?

Big News in the Pearson Family

Calling everyone to attention!

Steve just climbed a really big mountain!
Steve is also getting married to Stephanie in a few weeks!

Here's a preview of what their bridal shower might look like!

And another preview of what their smiles at the wedding luncheon might look like.

On another front,  Tom and Kathryn just had a baby!

Here's what Tom looked like shortly before Jeffrey was born--a little bit of sympathy weight.

Father's Day Weekend in Sunriver

We spent the last couple of days in Sunriver (near Bend OR). We played in a tennis tournament and had fun biking, hiking through a mile long lava tube and playing at a park. We are so happy that Mom & Dad came up! Josh played singles and doubles. John played singles. John & I played 6.0 mixed doubles. Everyone had some great shots. The biggest surprise was that John and I kept winning and had to keep playing even after Mom & Dad headed back to Vancouver (we recruited some friends to help with the kids). We actually won first place for our division! All in all, it was a grand Father's Day weekend. John missed out on his traditional Father's Day grilling feast. But he said that was ok. Happy Father's Day to all the dads!

Happy Father's Day 2013!

Strange to think that someday in the future Rachel, Kate, Ben and Will will look at this photo:

And think the same way about it as Eric and Danielle think about this photo:

How young everyone looks!

But whether it's 2043, 2013 or circa 1977, we will always think of Don as a wonderful, amazing, caring, mentoring father and grandfather!  Happy Fathers' Day, dad!

"I heard it's Father's Day!"

For all four weeks and one day of my life, you have always been an excellent grandpa, example and friend.  My dad says that's been true for all of his life too. 

Happy Father's Day!!! - JWP

Happy Father's Day 2013 from Steve and Steph

It's been a busy few weeks!  In actual order of occurrence: get engaged, watch Boston get bombed, Steve flies to Nepal to climb Everest, Stephanie plans a wedding, Steve graduates, Steve moves out and drives across the country with dad, Stephanie has her last day of work, and Stephanie moves out and drives across the country with Steve.  We spent today (Saturday the 15th) looking at houses in Utah and may make an offer on one in the next few days...

We would have gone crazy and failed to achieve half as much without help from many of you, but Dad, you have been particularly wonderful.  Thank you SO much for coming to Boston on short notice, sharing in graduation, and helping us with everything on our plate.  Here are some highlights from that trip:

Harvard Commencement

Dinner in Concord

I did it!

Dad had some pretty amazing Harvard experiences too!

Looking good in Kirtland

He looks very presidential; fits right in, don't you think?

Devil's Tower, WY

Badlands Natl Park

Split Rock and Martin's Cove

 Happy Father's Day!  We love you, Dad!

Happy Father's Day June 2013 from the Whitts

Happy Father's Day to Dad, to my amazing husband, and to all of my brothers and brothers-in-law!  Here's a big kudos to each of you for being amazing fathers to your own children and to ours (Steve, you definitely fit in this category too -- Uncle Camel is never forgotten around here).

We have had a bit of excitement since Mother's Day with the end of our school year, starting to say goodbye to some good friends moving home, and getting ready to come home for vacation.  We can't wait to see all of you!

Here is just a little Spanish tutorial for those of you wishing to increase your vocabulary.  I'm guessing that you will be able to decipher almost all of these based on content!

We love all/each of you!

Allison ginando

Sarah sonriendo

Luke esta encantado con mi beso!

"Alguien quiere jugar croquet conmigo?"

Luke como bombero.

Luke con el esposo de mi companera.

Una de mi companeras de la mision.

Sarah en el concierto de violin.

Allison en el concierto de violincello.

Juntas!

Un "lateover" con las amigitas.

Mirando la película.

Cumpleanos de Luke -- PIRATA!

Jugando con el papa al parque.

Otra companera!

Gemelas (identical twins)

Bradshaws' end of school update

Becca can crawl up the stairs! She's very proud of herself and makes a break for the stairs whenever she can. She has discovered the joy of making it to the landing and then throwing anything that is there off the edge and laughing. The downside is that she can not go DOWN the stairs. So I am constantly dropping what I'm doing to stand behind her as she summits. She will also now eat a bit of ice cream off a spoon. Progress!

Hannah had her big dance recital. She was a sheep in the opening ballet and about as cute as they come. Her class did a danced called "Falling Stars." She is a voracious reader. She's been reading the fairy books (Rainbow Magic by Daisy Meadows if you want to give them a try) and so I put a few at a time on hold at the library for her. The other day, we picked 3 up from the library on our way to dinner. Then on the way home, we got gas and John and the kids waited in the car while I ran into the grocery store. By the time we got home, Hannah had finished all three!! The next time I went to the library, I determined to get longer books and more of them! Hannah also turned 7! She had a fun party with lots of friends at an art studio. We were so glad to have Mom & Dad here to help with the party! She requested Dad's steak and beets for her birthday dinner.

Josh had his piano recital. He played his two pieces very well (Ecosaise by Beethoven and then an arrangement of the Darth Vader Imperial March). When he finished, his teacher announced that he had something else to play. I couldn't imagine what it was! She went on to say that one day at his lesson he said, "Look what I can do" and proceeded to play the left hand of one song with the right hand from the other song and then vice versa. He did it in the recital, and we were all amazed. When we came home, he showed me some of his other tricks. He can play backwards (standing up with his hands on the keyboard behind his back) and doing a backbend over the piano bench with his hands up above his chin. We obviously have had some very effective piano practicing going on at this house! He's playing tennis and soccer and working on his Webelos badge. Here is his at last week's Raingutter Regatta:

John has been working and playing tennis. He spent several days last week in Dallas at a medical conference for radiology geeks. He was one of three presenters at a round table discussion (which went great) and attended lots of sessions. He can't wait to have our pizza oven in . . . we've been a little slow on our plans but we've got a good plan in place.

The MBA program asked me to mentor a couple of students during their summer internships so I've been getting to know them and helping them establish their goals. I am still working with World Joy (training teachers in Africa). This summer we are rolling out a reading instruction program. One of the tools it suggests the teachers make is sets of ABC "tiles" for the kids to learn letters and make words. I decided that we ought to send a bunch with the trainers . . . and recruited friends in my ward to cut up 250 cardstock alphabets and they're in Ghana now. And I've been playing a bit of tennis too! 

The kids' last day of school was June 11th so welcome summer. Here they are on the last day:

We are heading up to Sunriver tomorrow for a little start-of-summer vacation and a tennis tournament! We'll be there for most of Father's Day so send our best wishes to all the dads and especially to Dad for a wonderful day!
(And yes, I noticed that all my text is highlighted in annoying white. Not sure why or how to undo it . . . but I do need to pack, etc for our early departure tomorrow and so am posting as is even though it is annoying).

Deseret News Article

Link to the Deseret News article featuring Steve and his Mt. Everest climb: There and Back Again