The Solari Sentinel, October 18, 2009

Welcome to Fall!

Thank you so much for sending in your letters and pictures. It's so wonderful to keep up our family connections and to try to focus on the things that matter the most.

Speaking of family connections, Grama Sue is working hard to coordinate a Solari Family Reunion for 2010. She would like some input. (See below.)

Until next time,
Mel :)

FAMILY REUNION SURVEY

Here are the logistics of the locations of our families.:

CALIFORNIA:

L Hudack 2

M Hudack 4

J Hudack 4

J Solari 4

Granaroli 2

Total 16

UTAH

M Boulter 6

B Boulter 2

Total 8

TEXAS

D Solari 1

M Solari 3

M Solari 4

S Solari 1

Katy 2

Total 11

FLORIDA

D Solari 2

Zimmerman 4

Spurlock 4

S Cooper 4

Total 14

ARIZONA

R Schaaf 3

Here’s the deal – Delbe cannot travel far from home. My thought is this: Most of us have access to air travel. Ft. Lauderdale has an airport that has most airlines. What if we try to get together in Ft. Lauderdale? It has a good beach and I’m sure we can find accommodations. You have time to save up and get free flights on Southwest. Us “old” folks are not getting any younger, and the main reason for a reunion is to get together! I know it’s hot in Florida in the summer, but we’ll have to make due. I know we already voted on dates, but I would like to hear from you again. Is June or July better? I know that the Hudack boys are playing football in the summer, and I would love to try and find dates that would work for all. I imagine that is impossible but let’s try.

Let me know your thoughts : sgsolari@suddenlink.net ASAP

P. S. Those of us who want to go to California can do it in 2011.

The Cooper Clan

Howdy from South Florida!

While many of you are enjoying fall weather and getting ready for the winter, it still feels like summer in our neck of the woods. However, cooler weather seems to be on the horizon. We'll see how long that lasts. In spite of the hot temperature, we are getting very excited for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas and can't wait for Stephen to get a break from school and the hospital.

Since the last Sentinel, Kyle turned 2 and had several parties: one in Utah, one in Texas, a small dinner with friends, and a zoo party here. I think he could get used to all of that attention! Stephen had to stay in Florida for most of the fun, while Kyle and I took 2 weeks to visit both grandparents.

In August, Stephen and I made a trip to San Diego with Stephen's brother, Jordan, and his wife, Julia, for a dual purpose: Stephen needed to attend an AANA conference and we celebrated my 30th birthday! In between conference meetings, Stephen and Jordan were able to play some golf, Julia and I got to do some shopping, we saw a baseball game, made a trip to Uncle Larry and Auntie Mare's place, and had an amazing time seeing the sights.

Around that time, we also found out we are expecting our 2nd child, due in April 2010. Quite a surprise, but we are excited! We should find out if it's a boy or a girl in November or early December.

After San Diego, it was back to the grindstone for Stephen. He is quite busy with school, which now involves less class this semster, with a focus on clinical rotations at various hospitals in the area. We are counting down the months until graduation in December 2010.

Kyle and I keep busy doing preschool lessons and art activities, going to play group, checking out books from the library, keeping up with errands, and trying to stay cool at the pool or beach.

We wish all of you happiness and great fun during the holidays and look forward to catching up in the New Year!

Love,
Stephen, Melodee, & Kyle

P.S. For for pictures and info on us, check out our blog: Cooper Chronicles OR click the link on the side of the page!

Sue's News

Hi ,

Greetings from Midland , Texas . It seems like forever since I have written. My summer was very slow and easy – enjoying the wonderful weather and just relaxing. Then September arrived and everything started up again. All the organizations that I belong to seemed to be meeting at the same time – but it was fun to see everyone. I have been writing grants for the Midland Opera Theater and that seems to take up a great deal of my time. It has paid off since we have received money from all the ones I contacted. I was able to spend 4 days in the mountains in Ruidoso with Terri and friends in July and it was fun to shop, eat and just relax. We even gambled and I made $2.25! Mark and Terri have adopted two new puppies and I have really enjoyed taking care of my grand dogs (a female King Charles spaniel named Copper and a male miniature Australian Sheep dog named Foster). They are so cute, but it’s like having a new baby. I helped take care of them when Mark and Terri went to Italy in September to celebrate their 25^th anniversary. Mark and Terri are building a cabin at Lake Brownwood, so I am looking forward to seeing it. Deb is working hard, but I manage to see her often. We have been taking a course at church called Outflow and last Sunday when it ended about 30 groups of people went out to do random acts of kindness. Deb was our leader and we took 100 bags of goodies (money and soap to do a load of laundry, shower gel and candy and other goodies) to the dorms at Midland College . Others went to a gas station and sold gas for $1.99 and others went and washed car windows at gas stations. Others went to nursing homes and sang and took goodies and lots of other neat things. It was great!

Fall weather has arrived and it is so nice. Next weekend Terri, Deb, and I are going to Lubbock to the A & M –Tech game. Mark won’t go since he says the people in Lubbock are rude to A & M (sound familiar Stephen and Mel). Then Sunday Maridell Fryar and I are going to Dallas to the opera in the new opera house. In November Mark, Terri and I are going to A & M to the Baylor game and take the trailer. Should be fun! Haven’t made plans for Thanksgiving yet so will just take it a day at a time. Mark and Terri and her whole family are going to the new Dallas Cowboy stadium for the Tech-Baylor game on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

In December the Midland Opera Theater is planning a big concert with Susan Graham (a world renowned mezzo soprano from Midland ) who is coming to town to perform for us. It will be at my church and we are having a reception for her the night before. Don’t know what Christmas will bring but it is approaching too fast.

Hope all of you are well! I am so blessed with good health and am trying to keep it that way. I will look forward to getting together with all of you in 2010. Have a blessed holiday season coming up!

Love, Sue Solari

P.S. Love Melodee and Stephen’s blog. It is such fun to keep up with Kyle. Wish you best of luck on your photography, Wendi and Joe.

The Boulter Bunch

OCTOBER 2009

This has certainly been an interesting “season of transition” for Mike & me since the last Sentinel. Our youngest child, Emmalee, graduated from high school in May. (Congrats, Emmy!) She now attends Utah Valley University and is majoring in Behavioral Science right now. Even though she lives at home, between her schooling, work, and social life, we hardly ever see her! So it feels like we are “empty nesters”-we’re kind of getting used to it-and LIKE it!!!

In June, I left for 2 weeks with the Tabernacle Choir to tour the Midwest. We started in Cincinnati with Eric Kunzel & the Cincinnati Pops. (He was battling cancer at the time and was an inspiration to us all with his enthusiasm & energy-he recently passed away after completing his Pops Summer Season.) We did concerts in St. Louis, Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, and ended at the Red Rocks Amphitheater outside of Denver. It was quite a rigorous tour-lots of LONG bus rides, little sleep, lots of standing & waiting, a virus that spread through many in the Choir & orchestra, etc. But getting to sing for the thousands of people made it worth it. As Dan Fogelberg put it, “The audiences are heavenly, but the traveling is hell”! The last concert was especially good for me because Mike, Jules, and Emmy were able to drive to Denver & come to the outdoor concert. That made everything worthwhile! (Plus I didn’t have to ride back to Salt Lake on the “wonderful” bus!!!!)

The day after we returned, Melodee & Kyle flew in for a few days & celebrated July 4^th with us (& an “early” Bday party for Kyle). It was SO good to have them with us! The next week I went to Tab Choir and gave my “2 Week’s Notice” to the Choir President! The decision to retire from the Choir came after months of pondering, discussion with Mike & the kids, and lots of prayer! I’m SO grateful that I could get a “confirmation” from my Heavenly Father that my (& my family’s) sacrifice serving the Choir is “acceptable unto Him”. Otherwise, I don’t think I could have left! So after more than 15 years of service, I sang my last broadcast with the Choir on July 18, 2009-the day we were commemorating 80 years of broadcasting “Music & the Spoken Word”! It was quite a big day to have as my last! I can honestly say that I haven’t missed it at all EXCEPT for the interaction with the wonderful friends I have in the Choir. And it has been SO nice to sleep in on Sunday mornings & get to go to Church with my husband again!!! We’ve also had a great time all of August & September going up the canyon in the Fiat-what fun!!

Right after I left the Choir, the construction company Mike worked for went under! So he’s joined the ranks of the Unemployed for a time. It’s a little scary, but we’ve got some resources & Mike’s working on different things so we’re not too concerned. In the meantime, he’s been getting lots of things done around the house & has had time to work on his latest project: restoring a VW Camper Bus! He’s had some trouble with getting the engine running, but it’s looking good. Look for pictures of it in our Christmas letter-if it’s running!

The kids are all good-busy, but good. I wrote about Emmy…Matt will be done with his mission in Guatemala & be home at the end of December-YEA! Jules is now teaching music (Pre-K through High School!) at a private school in Orem near her apartment. Bryan & Lacie are REALLY busy with full-time work AND going to school & their 2 doggies! (Lacie passed her nursing test in August-Congrats!!!) Brandon enjoyed his summer internship with the Justice Dept. in D.C. He’s back at BYU Law School, is on the staff for the Law Review, and is a T.A. for one of his favorite undergrad profs-quite a busy young man! And we’re so excited for Mel, Stephen, & Kyle to have an addition to their family in April-such fun!!!

So that’s what’s happening with the Boulter Bunch right now-we’re thankful for our many blessings and look forward to catching up on everyone’s exciting summer experiences. As I said, look for pictures in our Christmas letter-since I will have time to do that this year!!!!

Lots of love, Dee & the Bunch

Mike, Kelly & Olivia

Welcome from Austin.
A crazy hot summer ended up near Destin, FL for a week sharing a house on the beach with some friends. Beautiful white beaches there, so we recommend it highly. Rushed back so Olivia could start 8th grade the next day at Harmony Science Academy, the charter school she has been attending since 6th grade. Kelly has been busy taking care of us and our 2 Pekingese dogs, Daisie and Laidie. Kelly's sister, Kristen, is expecting their first, a baby girl, any day now. Kristen and her husband, Joe, live in Philadelphia and are very excited, as well as the grandparents. Mike is busy at Hitachi Data Systems as the technical side of the Sales team for Austin and San Antonio, and because of their successes, is spending a lot of time on the road. He even opened up the "San Antonio Office" by taking the camper down to an RV park so the travel and mileage wouldn't be so crazy.
Hope your Autumn and holidays are happy. Go Longhorns!

Matt, Kristen, Riley & Kate

Hello all from not so sunny California! And I am not speaking metaphorically referring to our State's economic situation!

The fun filled busy summer moved right into the busy school year. Both Riley and Kate made jumps to new schools. Riley entered Foothill High School (our alma mater) and his days are filled with football, homework, guitar, friends, endless texting and soon lacrosse season. Kate entered Hewes Middle School and is enjoying 6th grade. Her days are filled with homework, soccer, ballet, Nutcracker rehearsal, piano and friends.

Matt is filling his days with work, coaching Kate's soccer team, helping to run the freshman football chain gang and anything else that gets thrown his way. I am keeping up with everyone's activities, tennis, Hewes PTA, and way too much laundry!

We are enjoying having Joe, Dawn, Amy and Joey back in California! They left Bill Clinton country to come back to Arnold country - not sure if that's a good thing ???? Anyway, we are glad they are back and the cousins can spend more time together!

We wish you all happy holidays and look forward to hearing about a reunion soon!

Love,

Kristen, Matt, Riley and Kate

Ange & Marie

Hello Everyone,

Boy, are we happy today. This morning when I checked the rain gage it said 4.25 inches. That was a shock but we will take all we can get. We thought we would be happy if we got an inch.

In September we flew to Seattle with two of our friends. We arrived at one and were me by our friend. Then it was off to the space needle restaurant. What a view from up there of the city. Next is was to find the Queen Ann farmers market. Danielle is doing an internship on an organic farm at Port Hadlock. It just happened that she would be selling vegetables they raise that day. She was so glad to see us. Then it was to our friends home on a lake near Bellingham. Our friend had it all planned out for day trips to Whidbey Island, Mount Baker, Boeing Airplane Factory, overnight visit to Victoria and just see the sights. It was a great eight days. Four of them went on the train from Vancouver to Montreal and we rented a car and headed to Port Townsend where we spent 4 days visiting Danielle before we flew home. We got to see the farm and the area where she is staying. We had a nice day trip to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park where we had a picnic. Saw lots of deer and wild flowers. She will be coming back to Santa Barbara in November in time for Thanksgiving. Then she will be job hunting. Don't know if she will be going back to the farm in the spring or not.

On September 29th Ange had a knee replacement. He is doing just great. He can already bend to 117 degrees but has to work on getting the strength back in that leg. He uses a cane or walker but can walk by himself. He is using the tools to help walk so he won't fall. He finishes home therapy this week and starts working out here in Carpinteria twice a week. Gets his staples out next week too.

This is about all the news from Carpinteria. Is everyone planning to come here next summer? We hope so. Wishing you all a happy winter.

Love and hugs, Ange & Marie

Delbe' and Mic

Hi Family!!!

I just read the last Sentinel news to see what I'd written and since I left off with a mention of my church's 50th Anniversary, I'll begin with that, mainly because we had our big rededication/reception October 3rd. The church was packed and the parish hall was full of food and drinks. So much food that we were able to put some out for both Sunday coffee hours and there's still some left. Our ex-priest, Fr. Lou came down from Jacksonville and we had a few Satellite Beach city dignitaries as well as the very first organist who lives in Orlando and some of the local ministers present.

The best part was our Diocesan Bishop's assistant came over to do the sermon and tell his story. July, 50 years ago, he and his family were moving down from Virginia and on their way over the Eau Gallie Causeway when the drawbridge opened. People got out of their cars to see what was coming up or going down the river. Canon Bennett said they looked south and there on a barge was our church, Holy Apostles, being brought up from Fort Pierce where it had been St. Andrew's. Fort Pierce built a larger church and gave the old to the Diocese. Satellite had no church so all the "founding fathers" had to do was move it. The move was featured in a Life Magazine issue years ago. If you want to read more about Holy Apostles you can log on to our web page at www.holyapostles-sbfl.org

Delbe' kept the home fires burning while I helped the planning committee with the anniversary projects. A lot of people were involved and much was accomplished thru the summer. We had a big ice cream social after Vacation Bible School and invited everyone back with their families. A potluck celebrated the actual date the church arrived. We have our parish picnic soon and the last thing is the Founders Day Parade that Satellite Beach puts on ever year the first Saturday in November. A few of our men have made a replica of the church, complete with stained-glass windows and it will be put on a trailer and pulled in the parade. We've had anniversary t-shirts on sale for parishioners to wear while marching along.

Every-so-often when I go out in the morning I can feel a little difference in the air but so far we've been unable to turn the a/c off and open up. The summer hasn't been too uncomfortable and we can rejoice that there have been no hurricanes. Of course we haven't had a whole lot of rain lately, either.

Drew came down from Savannah a couple of months ago and Sue came over for the day so all of us could go out to lunch. Delbe' and Kurt were at work. Drew really likes Savannah and working with his friend Kenny. We miss him popping in every so often. Sue, Drew, Delbe' and I went out to dinner and then she headed to St. Pete and Drew to Savannah. He'd come down to get the rest of this things. Likes his apartment and has gotten another cat to keep the first one company when he's gone.

We haven't done much this summer. We have fun getting together with our friends Bill and Helen and going out to dinner or having dinner here or their place. We were down there just last week for "livering and onions" as Helen calls them. We see Spurlocks often and Zimmermans less often, only because Z's live further than a couple of blocks.

Delbe's off to the eye doctor. Looks like he'll have to have cataract surgery. One eye was done a few years ago. Otherwise things are moving along as usual. We hope ya'll had a good summer and are getting geared up for all the holidays coming up.

Take care

Love to all,

Delbe' and Mic

Joe and Dawn

Well after 12 plus years in the Arkansas we just couldn’t take it any more and moved back to California. Joey and Joe left Arkansas in a Denali pulling a trailer in Mid July. Joey Started Football with his new school, Lutheran High School of Orange County (aka Orange Lutheran). After 2 weeks Joe went back to Arkansas and left Joey with Pops and Mare. Mare got to drive him to practice every day from Murrieta to Orange and wait the 4.5 hours for practice before driving back home. Thanks Mare for all the help.

Back in Arkansas , Dawn and Amy went to Florida for a few days to spend time with Dawn’s best friend and her kids. Dawn’s best friend has been going through a tough divorce and this was a court ordered visit (long story). Unfortunately she had to return to the chore of packing. She and Amy packed the house and got things ready for the move. Dawn’s Mom was a great help in this process as she took care of the house and helped do some packing while Dawn and Amy were gone. What a real blessing she was, always running out to get things when it was needed. Thanks Joyce for the pizza. When Joe returned they spent one day packing and then loaded up 2 U-haul Trucks. Yes that was two trucks, 26 feet in length. We could not even open them for the California inspection station to look so they just waved us through. We left on Monday August 3^rd, Pop’s Birthday, Joe driving one truck pulling Amy’s car loaded with stuff on a trailer, Dawn driving the other truck and Amy driving Dawn’s car loaded with stuff. That is right every one, Dawn drove a 26 foot U-Haul truck 1600 miles and did a great job. Each vehicle had an animal. Joe had Joey’s cat in the front of his truck, Dawn had her dog in the front of her truck and Amy had her dog in the front of the car with her. We spent the night in Amarillo and Flagstaff before arriving at Pops and Mare’s house on Wednesday night. Boy what a drive that was. For anyone driving, books on CD were the way to go. Kept me awake and interested the entire drive.

We spent a week at Pops and Mare’s house and got to see the Cooper Clan while we were there. A few days after getting there, we lost a dog. Dawn’s dog Scrappy went missing on a Tuesday night. No idea what happened to him but he is sure missed. Dawn keeps up with all the web sites and lists. She is sure he is around some where.

We moved into Matt and Kristen’s old house on Singing Wood. Thanks to them for all they did to make the house so nice. We moved in on a Thursday and by the next Saturday we were headed to San Diego to take Amy off to college. She is attending Point Loma Nazarene University . She really has it rough as her dorm room only has a view of the ocean to look at each day. She is really loving school and doing well in all her classes. She made the Cheer Squad and is making a lot of new friends. What a time. She has only been home 2 weekends so far but we are hoping she will see us a little more. I am sure that she is enjoying being away. She is currently recovering from Mono (no not from kissing we have been assured) so she enjoys coming home to sleep.

Joey hurt his shoulder lifting weights in Arkansas for football and was diagnosed incorrectly by 2 surgeons. After being in California for a week it was determined that he needed surgery. He had that surgery on his shoulder on September 3^rd and spent the next 4 weeks with his arm in a sling. He was finally been cleared to start physical therapy last week. So Dawn will add another stop to the list on the drive home with Joey. Joey is really enjoying school and making lots of new friends. Grades are coming along good despite the fact that he was out for a week from surgery. He had a choir concert a week ago and did a great job. Glad some of the Solari musical talent got to him.

Dawn’s parents had moved to Arkansas about 8 years ago and just sold their house to move back to California . They are in the process of buying a house and settling in so that all the family will now be in Southern California . Holidays will be interesting again, but we will have to get back on the rotation schedule again and start some new traditions.

Dawn has been busy getting the house unpacked and livable. She makes two trips a day to Joey’s school and has been taking him to all his doctor’s appointments. Between Real Estate Consulting and getting my real estate license, getting licensed for Insurance and marketing Cost Segregation, I have been really busy. We are hoping the Lord will open the door and allow us to make things work out according to his will.

We hope you are all doing well and look forward to hearing more about the reunion.

Love Joey, Amy, Dawn and Joe

Steph, Nick, Shelbe and Marc

The Spurlock family has had an interesting year. Nick was laid off in May after twenty-two years with Progressive Insurance (Boo, Flo!) and remains unemployed. We agreed that he would confine his job search to Florida for four months. That period of time has come and gone, and he has applied for positions in Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Still nothing. He is working for some former Progressive employees; it's a three-week stint, and this is his final week. Last week he was contacted by a head hunter regarding a job in the Miami area. Keep your fingers crossed for him and send up some prayers.

Shelbe is home with the flu...type A which may or may not be the swine flu. It's the mildest case of the flu that I've ever seen. Low grade fever, coughing and stuffy nose. She's got a great group of teachers who have been emailing her homework, so she's managing to keep up with her assignments. She is still playing the bassoon and joined the cross country team this year. West Shore's homecoming was October 3rd, and she went with a group of friends. Nick and I can't believe how much she's grown up over the past year.

Marc is in his final year of elementary school. His twelfth birthday is on the 19th, and he's been busy planning all kinds of things that he and his friends can do during his slumber party. He has asked for a four-tiered "slawberry" cake; it's something he saw on the cartoon "Chowder." Wish me luck figuring that one out! There are currently several glow sticks hanging from our air conditioning vents so they can play hide-and-seek in the dark. It's going to be a long night!

I have been working for Dolphin Girl Cruises and Eco-Tours since May. A good friend owns the business, and I handle reservations and have been dabbling in some marketing. You can check out our website at www.dolphingirltours.com .

Best wishes to all for a Happy Halloween and Thanksgiving!

Love,

Steph, Nick, Shelbe and Marc

Joe, Wendi, Piper, + Finley

Wow, so much has happened since our last entry.

Life has taken a wonderful turn and the journey has been so much fun these past months!

Where to start: In September I (Wendi) worked my last day at CB Richard Ellis. Commercial real estate was never my passion but we have always been blessed that it helped pay the bills. Now I am concentrating on our photography business full time. Solari Photography is up and running and it has been a long time coming! We have a website: www.SolariPhotography.com and a blog: http://solariphotography.blogspot.com/ (you can also reach the blog through the website). Joe and I have always taken photos for family, friends, and fun but now we have made it our business too and I couldn't be happier about that. We shot a wedding together at the beginning of October and we found out that we make a great team (I guess we already knew that though)!!!

Also in September Joe started back on the Disney Channel series "Zeke & Luther" for season 2. So far, so good. See the photo of Joe filming on a scissor lift (he is on the left). He has a set schedule of Monday through Friday which is great for family life. The girls love having him there on the weekends.

Piper turned 4 years old on August 7 and is in Jr. Kindergarden. She is learning all the things that will prepare her for Kindergarden next year. They have a letter of the week and a color and shape of the month. She has homework 4 nights a week and I am still not sure if I agree with that. Getting her to bed by 7:30pm has become a thing of the past and Piper NEEDS her sleep! She has a wonderful memory and such a good sense of humor. She loves to play dress up and sing in the mirror! Piper still adores her baby sister and is a great helper.

Finley turned 16 months on October 2. She is a ball of independent, hot-headed, tough girl ENERGY! We have our hands full with this one. Her very favorite thing is to read. She cannot get enough of her books. She regularly raids Piper's bookshelf! Finley is a climber and LOVES bananas (so much so that we have had to put them out of sight) so she has earned the additional nickname of "Monkey" recently. We keep forgetting that she has an older sister to learn the ropes from so she is ahead of where Piper was at this age in so many ways! It is baffling to watch how fast she learns from Piper. Fin is learning to talk. She uses her sign language but also likes words that start with "s" or "sh"...like "shoes" with an over-emphasis on the "SHHHHHH"!!!

We have tons of amusement with the two girls!

We hope everyone has a great Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year!

Love to all,

Joe, Wendi, Piper, + Finley Solari

The Solari Sentinel, June 15, 2009

Welcome to another edition of the Sentinel!

Thank you for all your emails and pictures. I think it's so important to keep the family connections going, and this is just one small, relatively easy way to do so.

Speaking of family connections....the prospect of Family Reunion 2010 has been brought before the committee. Now, we need to decide exactly where and when to have it. Please, please, please vote for your choice! (See the right-hand side of the blog for the 2 polls.) Once all the votes are in, we'll announce the month and location for the reunion. Remember, if you don't vote, you can't complain about the outcome!!! The polls close on July 1st, so hurry up and vote. For those of you who happen to be procrastinators, just do it now!!!!

Have a wonderful summer and enjoy catching up!

"In truth a family is what you make it. It is made strong, not by number of heads counted at the dinner table, but by the rituals you help family members create, by the memories you share, by the commitment of time, caring, and love you show to one another, and by the hopes for the future you have as individuals and as a unit."
~Marge Kennedy

The Cooper Clan

Howdy from Miami!

Life is great in Sunny South Florida. We are really enjoying our new [temporary] home and are already starting to count up all the things we'll miss about this area when Stephen is finished with school. We are loving summer: the beach, the pool, and all the fun places to visit in this area. Stephen has even picked up golfing! I've started doing home preschool lessons with Kyle, and I'm SO grateful for all the opportunities for field trips I have to choose from in this area.

It's been fun to have lots of visitors. It's amazing how many more people want to visit us in Miami compared with dry ol' dusty West Texas! After Granna and Gramps (Dee & Mike) came in January, we had Grama Sue, Uncle Brandon, and one of my friends from clear back in Jr. High head our way. How fun it is to have an excuse to get out to the Everglades and also explore different beach locations.

Stephen and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary in May with a nice night out to dinner and a movie. We're hoping to do something big, not for the 10th (since Stephen will still be in school), but for the BIG 11th! :)


Kyle and I will be making our cross-country trip in a few weeks. We fly from here to Houston to see Stephen's family. From Houston, we fly up to Salt Lake to see my family. Then, we'll head back to Houston for a few more days and then back home. (Since I'm traveling alone with Kyle, it's so much easier to just see everyone at once and break up the trip.) We can't wait to see both sets of grandparents and most of the aunts and uncles. (I'm sure there will also be much celebrating, as Kyle turns 2 YEARS OLD next month!!!)

Since Stephen is required to attend at least one American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) conference while in school, we decided to go to the one in San Diego this year at the beginning of August. (Stephen was going to go alone, but no other male students were going. Since he was going to have to pay the full cost of a hotel room anyway, we thought that I might as well go, too!) Stephen's brother and his wife, Julia, decided to join us there, so we're turning the whole trip into a little get away and a way to celebrate my THIRTIETH BIRTHDAY!!! The BIG 3-0. Wow. (I bet that triggers a few "I remember whens....")

I hope you all are enjoying the summer as much as we are. It's great to hear from all of you.

Until next time.

Love from,
Mel, Stephen, & Kyle

Sue's News

Hi all you Sentinel Readers,

Greetings from Midland , Texas . What a year so far. I started my traveling in March when I went to Florida to visit with Mel, Stephen and Kyle. Mel and Kyle came here first for a visit and I was able to fly to Florida with them. They have such a nice place and it was fun to go to the beach with Kyle.

Then it was off to Satellite Beach for Katy’s wedding. What fun to see the Florida gang. Mike Solari flew in for the festivities, also. I celebrated my 75^th birthday there. Unfortunately I didn’t feel really well and when I got back, I was in bed for four days with the flu. Luckily no one else seemed to get it. Mark, Terri and Deb gave me a wonderful birthday party after I got well. April flew by and then in May I went to San Antonio with Jane for a convention.On May 23, I flew to Utah for Emmy’s graduation. On Sunday I got to go see the MoTab do a patriotic concert. Monday Mike had us all up at 5:30 A.M. to go fishing. I caught the two biggest fish! Then we took them home and Mike barbecued them. YUM! On Wednesday the whole gang got together for dinner in honor of Emmy. I didn’t get to stay for the actual ceremony since I had to get home.

I came home, washed my clothes and flew to Austin the next day. On the 30^th Kelly, Olivia and I flew to Cabo. We overlapped Terri and Deb for one day so we at least got to go out to dinner. We had a great time. Kelly and Olivia snorkeled, zip lined and rode horses. She celebrated her 13^th birthday on Friday and she was able to swim with the dolphins. We took her out to dinner and I think she had a great day. Then it was home on Saturday. I came home on Monday to try to get back in the real world. I am going camping in few weeks but after that I hope to be home. We are looking forward to a visit from Jules in July. Hope everyone is having a great summer. Congratulations to all the graduates. Hope to see you sometime this year.

Love, Sue

The Boulter Bunch

Greetings, all of you Solari Sentinel readers!

I think I caught up on most things with the letter I sent out with Emmalee’s graduation announcements so I’ll give a little update, a “Preview of Coming Attractions”, and attempt to include some pictures!

Emmy finished her last month of high school on a high note-literally! She got to be “Tracy” from the musical, Hairspray, in the school’s musical theater showcase. She was sensational! It was fun to see her shine! And it was great that Auntie Deb could see her too! She then was in charge of the closing Drama Banquet, took AP tests & finals, went shopping & out to dinner when Grama Sue was here, and made it through commencement exercises. WHEW! Now she’s in New York enjoying her Drama Club tour, seeing lots of sights and tons of Broadway shows! Then she’ll come home and work her tail off to pay for her trip & earn money for school!

Her graduation was interesting for Mike & me-it’s weird to think that our “baby” is out of high school & that we don’t have to go to any more high school graduation ceremonies for a VERY LONG time! It was also weird because it was only Mike, me, and Mike’s mom at graduation-we’re used to having more family there. In fact, Emmy moaned a little because she had to attend everyone else’s graduations & none of her siblings came to hers….But I told her that she didn’t have to put up with everyone’s griping PLUS she got more “stuff” than the others did so it all evens out!!! (By the way, thanks to all of you for your generous gifts to her-it really means a lot.)

Now that we’re through Em’s school stuff, I’m having to focus on getting ready for Tabernacle Choir tour. We leave next week on June 18 & fly to Cincinnati & then bus to St. Louis, Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, & Denver. ( If you want more info about the tour, click here go to Concerts & Events or Videos. I would love for any of you to be able to come to any of the concerts-let me know if you do!) I’m trying to get packing done this weekend because our big bag has to be ready by Sunday & will be “trucked” to St. Louis, the SECOND stop. So we get to live out of our carry-on bag for a couple of days-oh well! I’m also struggling to memorize 2 ½ hours worth of music-I need more memory on my old “hard drive”! But I’m sure it will be a wonderful trip. I’m especially looking forward to the last concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater. Mike, Jules, & Emmy will drive out for that & then I’ll get to home with them-and not ride the ?*&!!*&! bus back to Salt Lake! I feel badly about leaving Mike alone AGAIN, but at least this year he has his VW camper van to keep him busy.

He’s making progress on it slowly but surely so it will be fun to see how much he gets done while I’m away. (I won’t be around to distract him with Fiat rides up the canyon!)

On July 1, the day after I get home, Mel & Kyle will be flying in, just in time to celebrate the 4^th of July-woo hoo! So there’s lots to look forward to this month!!!

That pretty much covers the updates & previews so I’ll say “adios” and wish all y’all a wonderful summer. Please consider coming to Utah to visit & vacation-anytime after June! It’s a wonderful place to be in the summer & fall-so much to do! (Be sure to ask Grama Sue about her 2 BIG trout she caught!)


Anyway, we’d love to have you come see us. Have a wonderful summer! Love from the Boulter Bunch

Mark & Terri

Howdy from Midland,

Summer's here and the living is easy. Rachael and Michelle are working this summer and taking classes. They both did fantastic at school. Michelle pulled straight A's and Rachael had an overall 3.76 GPA in ME. WOW! I'm very proud of them.

The biggest news is that we have a new puppy with another to arrive next week.


Skylar arrived in Midland on May 16th. She is a 9 week old miniature Australian shepherd. She weighs about 7 lbs now and should grow to be about 20-25 lbs. She has been non-stop entertainment. Next week, we're getting a 9 week old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel named Copper. Terri and Rachael will go to Houston to pick her up on the 16th of June. It's like having a baby to look after again except we never threw the baby in the crate and left them for 2 hours. (Now there's a thought)

The other big news is that we're getting ready to start building a place on Lake Brownwood. It's about 3-1/2 hrs from Midland. We bought a lot last summer and are ready to start construction before the end of the month.

We've already spent a couple of weekends down there in Sue's trailer and had fun on the lake and 4-wheeler. We're excited because it will be about half way between Midland and Austin and College Station. It'll be a great place to meet family and have a great time on the lake. Y'all come! We'll let you know when it's ready.

Terri just got back from a trip to Cabo with Deb. Sounds like they had a ball. She'd never been and just loved it. I'm leaving for Alaska in July to salmon fish with my buddy J.L.

Hope all of you have a wonderful and safe summer.

Love , Mark

Mike, Kelly & Olivia

Hey All!

Greetings from Central Texas. Can't wait for summer to get here, since it's been 100+ the last 4 days! Things here are rolling along. Mike is still with Hitachi Data Systems (yeah, we might make a 3rd X-mas party!) Olivia has just wrapped up the 7th grade at Harmony Science Academy, a charter school founded by a Turkish Group. Hah! Please don't ask. She's doing well. Day to day, life is a crazy sort of calm. We've entered the world of Orthodontics, UIL, National Honor Soc. and, physical therapy (thank you scoliosis)as well as The Teens.

Mike has been traveling a lot. Thankfully not too far, but still away from home. When he is home, his newest passion is the back yard. We back up to the greenbelt, so we had a wrought iron fence put in last spring, It's amazing to watch the herds of deer come up to the fence. They've gotten used to us and the yippy dogs, so they'll just hang out and eat. They keep an eye on us, but only flick their ears at the yips from the dogs and just keep on munching. After the fence came "Mike's Big Deck". Yes, we had the cedar deck built across the entire back of the house. It has a pergola on one ends, and is much bigger in real life than it ever looked on paper. With the big deck came lots of landscaping. Reconfiguring flower beds, finding all of the native plants for the butterfly garden and hummingbird garden, respectively. Why stop there? There was also the 6 pallets of sod, the raised organic gardening beds, the special order grapevines etc. Let's not forget the fountain and waterfall. Yes, when Mike's not traveling, he's working hard in the yard. He enjoys it and it looks awesome, so who am I to complain?

Olivia & I had the pleasure of accompanying Grama Sue to Cabo a couple of weeks ago. It was a great resort, and we got to go out on some very memorable adventures. Olivia got to celebrate her crossover into the teen world with a swim with the dolphins, sunset cruising, zip lining, horseback riding (she got to do lots).


So we're back getting bottom braces on, more physical therapy, and just trying to grasp that it's summer vacation.

Hope everyone is doing well. I look forward to catching up!

Hugs to all!

Mike, Kelly & Olivia