Edition:
March, 2010
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TH News Editor
The Clynes are a refreshing return to the yesteryear values of putting family first in everything they do. Both Kevin and his wife Michelle make no bones about what they want for their children and how they plan to achieve and maintain it. The couple and their children moved into Tuscany Hills in 2001 and they point out they were looking for something affordable with a high end quality.
"That's what we got," says Kevin, who points out no one can put a price on an area that is quiet with a full view below the home of Canyon Lake's waterfront. He notes that sometimes the evenings are almost too quiet but quickly adds the neighbors in his area "are great and everyone watches out for each other and the homes here."
The couple add that the hilltop community "just seemed like the place to be." Kevin notes he really liked the planned community aspect without having gates and he also liked the fact that Tuscany Hills had a lot of nice landscaping. Michelle points out that the houses are unique and while each home is unique, all the housing is a cut above what is ordinarily thought of as tract building. "These are carefully laid out neighborhoods, not just cracker-box homes," she adds.
Kevin and Michelle met at work in Irvine, the same company but different divisions, and they first saw one another at a company softball game when they played. "One look was all it took for me," smiles Kevin, and the couple married in 1995. Michelle continued to work until she became pregnant with daughter Megan, 13, and after her birth she "became a full time mom," she says. When Michael was born, she just continued her role, but in between children she has worked as a media assistant at Tuscany Hills Elementary and was also a teacher's aide, starting in 2002. Like other mothers in Tuscany Hills, Michelle wanted to be fully engaged in the life of her children and volunteering or working in classrooms where they attended school was as natural as breathing.
The oldest child, Timothy Birt, was featured on the front page of the February edition of Tuscany Hills. This Elsinore High graduate is a 1st Lt. from the USAF 80th Flying Training wing's Euro-Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training program. He graduated from Elsinore in 2002, as one of the school's valedictorians, and from the Air Force Academy in 2007 with a B.S. in Engineering Mechanics.
The pride in the oldest boy's achievements are clear as each of the family members talk of his deployment to Afghanistan in just a couple of months.
Megan, now 13, attends Canyon Lake Middle School, along with younger brother Michael, 11. Both "can't wait" to be in high school, although Mom and Dad want them to enjoy where they are right at the moment. "No need to rush things," says Michelle.
Both Michelle and Kevin enjoy being involved with their younger children's activities such as Christian Youth Theatre, Thunder football, Elsinore Little League, and Megan this past December just finished being a featured soloist at the Crystal Cathedral in the "Glory of Christmas."
She has been singing since she was small and has been featured in other Christian Youth Theatre productions, charity events such as Relay 4 Life, at the Senior Center, and even for the Storm team. The family belongs to the Canyon Lake Community Church where she regularly sings. She was asked to audition for the Crystal Cathedral production and says she "was thrilled and surprised" when she learned she was one of the 20 invited to audition to get a part. She was in all the shows, and appeared with the live donkey singing the wistful English carol "What Child is This?" in the 22 performances.
Her mother attended every one and filmed her performances on the "Hour of Power" production.
Along with her school work, Megan is a certified babysitter. She took special classes at the Community Center and babysits for several families in Tuscany Hills.
Younger brother Michael is into video games and according to his father, "is really good at it." He also enjoys playing football and has gotten to like riding dirt bikes.
Michelle is an expert quilter, and at one time was creating a quilt a month. Right now she has set aside the quilting for photography, but still enjoys sitting down to make the patchwork creations. According to Kevin, she can make quilts "better than anyone else I know," but she points out that depending on the pattern and the size of the quilt, plus her time, she would rather take pictures now.
She has a "little business called Clynes Candid Memories" which she takes videos and candid shots then turns the two into a DVD . "I like seeing people laughing or being serious in thought and no stiff with fake smiles. Capturing the person's feelings in a picture is the best," she says.
Kevin also had a passion. It sits in the family's garage, a 1968 Bronco that he is carefully and painstakingly restoring. "It's a slow process," he admits, "for one person it sometimes seems impossible, and it's not an inexpensive hobby. But I've at least got it running," he grins.
As a family, they like to water ski, snow board, wake board, and go to Lake Havasu. They have traveled to Canada to visit family and are hoping to do more travel with their children. What they are determined to do is not get caught up in the material "have to have" rat race of things. They have outlined a lifestyle of caring and careful nurturing of each other that cannot be missed. And just happening to live in Tuscany Hills is like adding frosting to their cake.
