May 2012

 Our month of May started busy.  At 4 am on May 1st we left to California . 

We made it back early Saturday morning 12:30 am so that we could start

moving into our new house and get ready for Prom.

 Krystal and Dallin looked so cute and had a wonderful time.  The funny thing is she was able to drive and when she left for prom her room was in tact.  She went back to the old house and we weren't there and neither was her bed.  She did make it to the new home with a bed in her room but when the boys moved in the beds they weren't sure which room so she didn't have her bed but at least had a home and a bed.

We also finished the season of Lacrosse. 

 It is a great sport for Krystal and she is wonderful at defense!

 In addition to clearing out the old house (we rented it back for 3 weeks from the new owner)
We had David's graduation from Rampart.  It was on the Air Force Academy and was amazing!

 We're so grateful to all our family that traveled to come and share this happy day with us.  Aunt Jill or OJ (original Jill) from Minnesota, Aunt Jill from Denver, Nordgrans from Castle Rock, Steffes from Colorado Springs and of course all his siblings.

 My little boy isn't so little anymore. He has towered over me for a while but now is taller than most all the adult men in the family.

 Our next graduation was Laura from Mountain Ridge.  She is so excited to start High School next year and is growing into such a beautiful young lady.

Haley was our final child in Elementary school. She had the most wonderful teacher this year and really blossomed into a happy excited girl this year.  

We know that Mrs. Tucker had a lot to do with that.

 Laura's birthday was May 27 and we had 15 kids over with their parents.  The great thing is you couldn't really tell there was that many people in the new house. 

 Our final graduation this year is Mike.  He earned his bachelors degree in Business Information Systems.  His recommendation is, stick with it and don't change your major more then once!

 Here are some of the projects going on at the new house in May too:

basement finish

 changing the lovely pink dining room wall

Putting up walls where a loft use to be to make a 4th bedroom upstairs. 

Thank goodness for the Rams lineman from the football team helping hold sheet rock while Mike balanced on a ladder to secure the wall.  It was also fun painting the vaulted ceilings in the family room.  They guys are grateful I'm not picking a color too fast in the living room.

We are so happy that May is over and glad that we aren't trying to schedule painting with school, sports and graduations!

Ruca 6/5/2012

Today we had to make the hard decision of putting our Ruca down. She was our escape artist but in her old age she definitely mellowed. No more dog on the roof when we pull up or chewed up fence post. She was 14 yrs old and was the best dog.

Ruca didn't bark and would let the girls dress her up. She would wear hats, handkerchiefs and necklaces for a week. Our favorite is the trip to California when she wore sunglasses like she was a movie star.  If she could have talked we think that Ruca would have sounded like the very intelligent gorilla from George of the Jungle.  She was so smart and such an amazing dog.  We are going to miss our Ruca.

Laura Rose is 14

 Laura turned 14 on May 27.  She is so excited to move up to the Mia Maid class at church and move into high school.  So many big things for her this year. 

 On her birthday she had a lot of cousins come to celebrate with her.

 Laura was able to have her birthday party with some friends from her old school and some cousins and a new friend from our new ward at church.  She was all smiles and loved having everyone share her special time with her.

We are so proud of her and all her wonderful accomplishments this year! 

Good job Laura We love you!

A Real Good Man

 Grandpa Coke passed away on April 26.  He was a wonderful example to Mike on how to be a hard worker, a wonderful husband and a good man.  The one thing that everyone had to say about Grandpa was his wonderful smile could light up a room.  It definitely could.  Something that will always ring true to me is how much he loves his precious Wilma. 

 He was married to Wilma A. McCall July 13 1940 in Los Angeles, California. Merle was raised in Horton, Kansas and graduated from High School there. He moved to California 1939. Merle served in the Army in Europe during WWII. He moved from Hawthorne to Ojai in June 1948. He worked for Southern California Gas Company retiring after 36 years in 1984. Merle was Master at the Ojai Masonic lodge #663 and was a sergeant with the volunteer Ojai Security Patrol. Merle was a member of the American Legion and past president of Toastmasters. For many years Merle enjoyed camping, fishing and traveling in their motor home. He is survived by his wife of 71 years Wilma Coke, Son Merle Coke Jr. and wife Beverly Coke of Grove, OK, 14 grand Children, 45 great grandchildren and 8 great great- grandchildren. Merle and Wilma are longtime members of the Ojai United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by His parents, 5 brothers, one sister and his sons Gary Lynn, Lawrence Alan and Dale Malcolm.

We are so thankful to know that we will see Grandpa again and that we were able to make the trip to California to celebrate his life with the rest of the family.