Dr Anthony Callison, D.D.S

Today was the day we've ALL been waiting for. Anthony is officially a doctor and graduated from dental school from Baylor College of Dentistry.

As I was getting into an elevator leaving the graduation ceremony, another person said Congratulations to me. My natural response was, "Oh yes, thank you!" Then I looked down and noticed I was carrying Anthony's diploma and graduation cap. It took me a second...but I eventually realized --they thought I had graduated!!!

Well -- even though it was Anthony that graduated, it's so much of BOTH of our lives, I let myself get the credit for it too!!

My dad loves to tell the story of when Anthony and I were dating. When it looked like things might start to get serious, my dad called me out on it. "No way, he has WAY too much school left!" I had just recently graduated from BYU with Masters in Accounting and after 5 years, I wanted to get as far away as school as we could.

But honestly, Anthony has made the past 4 years of dental school seem so easy. While some of his friends study 24/7 and never leave the school, Anthony has made time to prioritize our family. He let's me do all the stressing out and worrying for both of us.

He's done very, very well in school, so good that he could have easily specialized, but decided general dentistry was the way to go. His professor's also nominated him for the "American Dental Esthetic's Award" for doing such a great job.

We also accomplished our goal of graduating debt-free!! And if you know our parents, you know they weren't footing the bill either :) Considering the average debt-load is over $100K for dental school, it's quite an accomplish!

Here's some picture of HIS special day:

Tanner kept asking "Where's my Daddy?"

He wanted to be right next to him.

Walking across the stage

My boyz

The 'rents

The bros

The sisterz

The gang

Celebratory Lunch at Buca De Peppo

Easter Festivities

April was a month filled of Easter Festivities ---

Ward Easter Egg Hunt:

Tanner was all about running to the eggs, but as soon as he found them, he just wanted to open them immediately and begin chowing down on the goodies.

He's a smart kid...as soon as I get a hold of it, I ration it out!!

For Easter weekend, we drove to KC for what was suppose to be Chelsea's baby shower. She ended up delivering little Q a few hours after we got into town. Nothing ever goes as planned with our family, but every now and then, things work out even better!!

Driving up to KC is always an experience in and of itself with my brother Lance in the car.

When we stopped halfway for food in Oklahoma, Tanner was not on board. "Why are we stopping?? We're not at Avery's house yet!!!"

When Lance was signing his infamous Funky Town or Survivor in the car, Tanner was going berserk and laughing hysterically.

Lance inspired Tanner so much with his signing that Tanner began to endlessly sing "Wise Man." Lance came up with his not-so-politically correct version of N'Orleans. "The white trash built their house at sea level, the white trash built their house at sea, the white trash built their house at sea level, the hurricane came tumbling down."

Tanner's response: "No, stop. You're singing it WRONG!"

While we had hopes of Tanner falling asleep early, he had other ideas. It was nearly 10:30 before he finally puckered out. Trust me, we tried everything!!

Lance, on the other hand, didn't have any problems falling asleep. We forgot to bring extra pillows/blankets for the car ride, and Tanner does not share his blankets, so he settled for a sweatshirt and hit the sack. So typical of Lance...

Easter Egg Drop:

In Kansas City, we went to another Easter Egg Drop with a helicopter delivering 50K easter eggs. Turns out everyone in KC had the same idea as us and there were so many people there.

At first, Tanner just wanted to play on the bounce houses.

It wasn't until he saw the helicopter that he changed his mind.

Checking out their loot:

I love how Mason was hiding in a corner and packing it in as fast as he could.

Easter Lessons:

Easter is one of those Holidays were the commercial side has little to do with the religious purpose of the day. For that reason, it's easy to miss the true meaning of the day. It's one of my favorite holidays and times of the year. I just love the Spring season and the renewal of life it brings.

Here's some activities we enjoyed doing to remember Jesus Christ's atonement and resurrection:

To teach the kids about Easter, we made these Resurrection Eggs where there's a little item in each egg along with a wordstrip or scripture to correlate to the Easter story. The last egg is empty, corresponding to how Jesus' tomb was empty when He was resurrected.

We also told the Story of Easter adapting from the scriptures and Gospel Art pictures. The April 2011 Friend Magazine also had a great article with pictures and scriptures. I've also seen the idea here.

We made these resurrection rolls last year, but ran out of time this year. Maybe next year, right??!!

Arrival of Little Quincy!

Literally, we made it just in time for the arrival of little Quincy. When we got to KC, Chelsea headed to the hospital where she was induced for pre-eclamsia [De-ja-vu all over again -- had the same thing with Tanner]. When I woke up in the morning, Quincy had made her arrival!

Over one month earlier, she weighed a whopping 7 lbs 8 oz and was as healthy as good be.

The Happy Family

Proud New Sister Avery

Memorable Moments:

I offered to change a diaper the first day Quincy was home. Tanner and Avery quickly enlisted to help.

Avery: I can do it -- I took the big sister class!!

Tanner: Is it chocalate poo-poo???

Quincy: Seriously folks, someone just change my diaper!

Avery was all aboard until she saw the explosion. I still can't quite understand how one cute little girl can deliver such dirty business.

Driving in the car on the way to see little Quincy again:

Avery: Isn't my sister cute?

Tanner: Yeah!!! My sister is cute!

Avery: She's MY sister. And your COUSIN!

Tanner. Oh [with a long sigh]. Well, my sister is cute!!

No matter we tell him, he's still claiming Quincy as his sister rather than cousin.

Just look at these two!

And the smile of his face...priceless.

Shhh...she's trying to tell me a secret!

Tanner couldn't remember her name at first, and was calling her Cozy.

Tanner and Avery couldn't get enough of holding little Quincy. When they began arguing over who got to hold her first, I suggested that Tanner find a baby doll [Anthony didn't hear me say this] and find a baby bottle to feed their baby. Tanner didn't give up and searched the house high and low. He couldn't find a baby bottle, but he found a doll's pacifier. He came running up the stairs, exclaiming, "I did it! I found a paci for Quincy!"

Tanner "flubbing" Quincy's little cheeks!

You never know how a toddler is going to respond...but he was so gentle with her.

At Easter Dinner, we were talking about a couple that gave a talk during church.

April: Does the couple have any kids?

Brandon: No, he's really smart!! [Coming from the new dad who only had minimal sleep the past 2 nights]

Brandon [a few seconds later]: "Oh wait, that didn't sounds right! I didn't mean it LIKE that!! The guy is just really smart and intelligent."

My father was also sharing a compliment he received from his brother on his recent trip to Phillie about how close us siblings and family members are.

My mom replies, "Well, those epidurals really help!!!"

We were all laughing -- that conversation was 5 minutes ago -- but she was still fascinated with the topic. To her defense, she was trying to say Facebook. But let's face the honest truth -- my mom has had more epiderals than times she's been on Facebook.

The Paparazzi

Yes, it's true. I'm her number one fan :)

Uncle Keith

Uncle Lance

Grandparents

Uncle Anthony

We didn't get to throw Chelsea the shower liked we hoped. But I've learned nothing ever goes as planned... as sometimes it's better that way!

Weightier Matters of Life

This past week, I've experienced the birth of a new neice, Little Quincy. I arrived intown just in time for arrival...and I consider it no coincidence. [more on her later]

But this Easter, we also commemorate the passing of another, my Grandpa Knick.

Knowing the end was not much further, my dad made a trip to see him and had just returned from visiting him when he was updating us at Easter Dinner. While he was still in amazing mental capacity, his physical help had been rapidly detoriating. He was in a lot of pain and had lost the motivation to keep fighting. My dad mentioned to him how proud he was to have him as a Father and to bare his name. And not being able to talk, Grandpa Knick just held on to his hand and didn't let go.

Looking back at my own childhood, I remember how Grandpa and Grandma Knick gave me my first set of scriptures when I turned 8. For the next few years, I wouldn't let anyone mark in them or lay a finger on them -- they were priceless to me. In college, I remember reaching my last semester and being completely and 100% broke. I thought I had exhausted all financial resources, but then remembered the savings bonds I had been given as a child. For my wedding, he made the special trip to be there, even though it had become more and more difficult for them to travel. In the celestial room of the temple, I remember seeing my grandparents in the room, and then looking into the reflective mirrors all the past ancestory our family has been built upon and the legacy Anthony and I hope to leave.

My only regret was not spending more time with my Grandpa Knick. We lived miles and miles away, and with a large family, traveling halfway across the US was a treck we only made a handful of times.

Looking back and my own childhood, I can see how much my father resembles my Grandpa Knick. In essense, I know him well because of the legacy he left with my own father.

My Dad mentioned how Grandpa Knick wasn't perfect but was human. Yet he had installed in him how to work hard and go after what you want -- and was always his number one supporter. My dad's no different - he has always supported my in all my ambitions. In college, I can only imagine how hard it was to have me leave thousands of miles away to BYU. Unlike my mother, who couldn't ever past the distance, he was my number one sounding board and supporter, whether it was the weekly calls, the voice of reason, or helping out here and there when I was dirt poor.

I'm grateful for the life well lived and the legacy left behind. I'm grateful he's left his frail exisistence on earth to return to a much holier sphere and will be re-united with other loved ones who have passed. I know Grandma Knick has been waiting.

Last year, we celebrated his 80th birthday. He was happy, healthy, and cracking jokes as usual. This is how I'll always remember him.