Is This Really Me???

You Are Ernie

Playful and childlike, you are everyone's favorite friend - even if your goofy antics get annoying at times. You are usually feeling: Amused - you are very easily entertained You are famous for: Always making people smile. From your silly songs to your wild pranks, you keep things fun. How you life your life: With ease. Life is only difficult when your friends won't play with you!

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

I saw this little quiz on someone else's blog and thought I would investigate. I answered the questions as honestly as I could, but REALLY . . . am I like Ernie? I do love him, though, and I do love to make people smile as I tend to be a pleaser and I want everyone around me to be happy and comfortable. I do make up songs, and I do sing with the radio. (Julie and I love to sing "Opera Style" when we are singing hymns in church, too!) And I am sitting here at my desk at work dressed up as the "Halloween Fairy" with green hair and a red eyeball head band on. I feel like a fool . . . but I love Halloween, so what can I say? Maybe I really am an Ernie personality. It could be worse. . . I could be Big Bird. I truly find him annoying.

Crash Landing of our Dream Vacation

Ouch! The fender was really smashed down.

Skid marks. I mean really, who crosses a double yellow line to pass someone on the left with their left blinker on!?!

You can really see how the fender is smashed into the tire.

Wednesday evening we were driving home from our trip to Disneyland. We pulled off to look for a bathroom in Redlands CA. We were on a little two lane side street and needed to turn around to get back to the park where we spotted a restroom. Rod signaled left and prepared to make his turn when the guy BEHIND him decided to make a real smart move and cross over a double yellow line to pass us on the left as we were preparing to turn. He rammed into our left front fender just as Rod started to turn. No one was hurt, but we were stunned at the stupidity of the driver that rammed into us. Even though we were not hurt, our car was not drivable. We tried to get it to a shop down the street, but smelled burnt rubber after only driving for about 20 feet. The fender was totally bent into the tire and we think the strut was broken. We were at the mercy of the tow truck driver, who took us to a motel. We had to wait until 10:00 AM the next day to get a rental car and drive home. Our car is still in CA and who knows how long it will take to get it repaired?! We did call the police, but they did not write anything up. They said it was a "No Fault" situation and our insurance companies would have to work it out. We'll see just how good Gieco is now...

Our Trip to the Magic Kingdom

Julie, Katie, Becca and Me in front of the big jack-o-lantern.

Part of the gang in front of one of the shops on Main Street.

I just love Minnie's witch costume. We could never get Cooper and Ava to look at the camera at the same time!

The kids were so excited to see Winnie the Pooh (especially Ava). Ha!

Petting the goats. One of the goats lifted its little tail and shot raisin out, just like a machine gun. I wish you could have seen Coopers face when he saw that! It was hilarious! Petting the sting rays and sharks at the Long Beach Aquarium.

This past week, Nick and I had Fall Break from school, and Rod had vacation. Becca just lucked out and missed school. Our family traveled to California where we met Katie, Ryan, Savannah, Cooper, Julie and Ava at Disneyland. We had this activity planned for almost a year. We saved a big part of our tax return in anticipation of our trip and then saved a little every month so we would not have to worry about expenses while we vacationed. We stayed at a motel right across the street from the main entrance and so we just walked to the park every day. We had so much fun!

It was especially colorful as the whole place was decorated up for Halloween (one of my favorite holidays). The kids were so good and loved everything. They especially enjoyed the petting zoo and meeting the characters. Cooper was a little nervous about getting on the rides at first, but he warmed right up. Ava cried so hard on the Dumbo ride, and then she got used to things. Savannah loved it all and wanted to sit by me on the rides because I “protected” her. It was just so great to hug those cute little bodies every day and hear to their off the wall comments.

After two days at Disneyland we went to the Aquarium in Long Beach. We all loved it! The exhibits were so beautiful, and we actually got to pet the sting rays and sharks. They enjoyed the colorful fish and we watched the scuba divers as they cleaned the aquariums and talked about the sea animals. Nick and Becca had a really good time, too, and enjoyed going on the bigger rides with Ryan and Rod. Rod had not been to Disneyland since he was 15, so he enjoyed seeing everything. My favorite attraction was Soaring Over California at the California Adventure park. I also loved the parade we saw the first night. But the best part of all was being with my family and my grandkids. We had such a great time together and I know we will always remember this trip.

Tribute to my Mother

Mom and Dad at Janet's house - I think it was for Thanksgiving the year before she died.

A young mother, mom always took care of us. I always felt safe and secure. The wash hanging on the line is a familiar sight. I think this is in 1961, after Dave was born. (yes, I am the one with the curly hair and pot belly)

Whenever we were on vacation, mom always made sure we had our meals and a good time. This is from our unforgettable trip to Yellowstone. We camped out in a tent.

My mother died two years ago on October 18^th. I have really been thinking of her a lot these past few days. There are times when I miss her so much! She was an incredible person and is a very large part of who I am. Many times I think “how would mom handle this?” or “what would mom say about this.” She was an amazing homemaker and she was ALWAYS there for us. There were many times in my life where she was my dearest and best friend and she seemed to know when I needed her encouragement, even though I lived many miles away as an adult. A few months ago, I was “dejunking” and came across a letter she had written to me in 1983, when I had surgery on my jaw. I read it and was so touched by her desire to help me through this difficult time, though I lived 800 miles away. Her words of encouragement and love, once again, saw me through a tough experience.

People always tell me I look like my mother, and I do. If I can always have a quick and beautiful smile the way she did, then I don’t mind looking like her! Even more, though, I would like to BE like her in her stalwart testimony of the gospel, her drive to always be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and in her constant and unwavering service to her family and friends. I don’t think my mom ever wasted one minute . . . she always had something to work on.

Each of her children spoke at her funeral. This is what I had to say:

Mother’s Hands

Sunday, as I was sitting with Mom in the hospital, I held her hand. As I stroked her soft, and worn hand thoughts came of many things those sweet and aged hands had accomplished during her life. These are some of my thoughts about Mother’s hands…

The small trusting hand of a faithful little girl reaching for her grandmother’s hand as they walked the 3 miles to church. They would carry a rag to dust off their shoes before going in to the meeting.

The hungry hands of a small child, anxious for a meal. She grew up in very poor circumstances and sometimes they did not know where their next meal was coming from.

Playful hands – Mom loved being involved in sports and always enjoyed a good game of softball. She was so good to sit and play games with her grandchildren. She loved a good party, too, and hosted many wonderful New Year’s Eve events.

Intelligent hands – Mom was always very bright and such a good student. She was proud of the fact that she was valedictorian of her graduating class. She had scholarships to attend BYU as well.

Loving hands – I can just picture her as she would hold hands with her sweetheart in high school. They continued to hold hands their whole life together. Those loving hands gently cared for each new baby that came as a gift to their home. I learned to care for my own babies as she came and helped me when they were born. I also learned how much she loved me as I felt the special love only a mother feels for my own sweet daughters.

Working hands – ever industrious and busy, those hands were always kneading dough, canning jam, juice, fruit and pickles, making gingersnaps on a rainy day to entertain her little ones, hanging out the wash, producing beautiful embroidered items, sewing clothing, stitching quilts, crocheting a border, washing windows, cleaning house (I think mom kept the cleanest house I have ever been in!), gardening, tending children for a neighbor. Always putting things away, sometimes before you were done with a project, she even picked up trash as she walked in the mornings. Just a couple of months ago, she even tried to clean a dead cat off the freeway while a flat tire was being changed. I never saw her hands idle. She couldn’t even sit and watch a TV program without something for her hands to work on. Can you believe she would always sigh and say, “I’m just not creative.” I make a challenge to find hands that have created more beauty in more diversified ways than Mom’s.

Hands of discipline – oh yes. I can remember getting in trouble a few times. Mom taught me the importance of telling the truth when I lied about cutting branches off her lilac bush when I was just 4 or 5 years old. I hid the leaves in the trash can thinking she would never know. I just had to have that branch for a fishing pole. I got to choose my own willow from the willow tree that day. I learned that you get in a lot more trouble for lying than just owning up and facing the music.

Hands of Service – Mom lived a lifetime of giving service to her family, the church, neighbors, and all who were fortunate enough to be blessed by her unselfishness. She and Dad served 3 fulltime missions for the church. I can’t even remember all of those who lived with Mom and Dad when they needed a place to stay, or needed special help in some way.

Primping hands – I loved to watch Mother get ready to go out with Dad. She would fix her hair, put on her lipstick and mascara and wear the most stunning dresses. She even filed and painted her fingernails. She was radiant. I though she was so beautiful.

Nursing hands – offered cooling comfort on a fevered brow. She took such wonderful care of us when we were sick. We always had clean sheets. Cream of wheat cereal, Jello, pudding, chicken noodle soup, and 7^up were on the sickbed menu, brought to our beds on a tray with a napkin and a straw!

Hands clasped in prayer. One of my most special memories of mom is when I was 15, and received my Patriarchal Blessing. She fasted that day with me and took me to Patriarch Ridge’s home. He asked her if she would pray before he gave my blessing. We knelt together and I have never felt the spirit of her testimony so strongly as when mother wept as she talked to Father in Heaven as if he were in the room.

Covenant hands. The gospel covenants were not taken lightly. Her temple marriage was sacred and important to her. Partaking of the sacrament was not taken lightly. Temple attendance was always important to mom and dad and our home was blessed because of it. I remember her ironing their temple clothes each time they attended, and she taught me the significance and importance of the temple covenants as I asked her questions. Her Christ-like example and dedication to living the gospel will always live in our hearts.

Hands of tradition – I loved the Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions in our home. Mom always made her special kinds of candies and cookies for the holidays. It was fun to go downstairs and sneak a taste or two of these wonderful sweets. We always got to choose the dinner menu for our birthdays. One tradition that I have not carried on, however, is liver for dinner on Primary day. I don’t think anyone else in the family has continued with that particular tradition either.

United hands – mom was always united with dad on everything. And it was evident that she was united with God.

Teaching hands – I think this is the greatest of all. The things my mother taught me will be with me throughout my life, and I have tried to pass many of these things on to my children. The mothering, the homemaking, the testimony of the gospel. She always gave me the confidence that I could do anything.

What a great example and influence these dear hands have been. Gentle, yet always firm in what is right. These hands of a daughter, sister, wife, mother, cousin, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, have touched us all and we are better people because her hands have touched our lives.

Football & Drums

Waiting to play.

Becca and Taylor enjoying the game.

The whole drumline got new uniforms. I think they look like MIB in their black suits!

This year Cortez had its first Homecoming Parade. Nick marched for 2 miles with his drum.

Since Nick made the drumline, we have been spending our Friday nights at the Cortez High School football games. I have never watched a band so intently, expecially the drumline. It has been so much fun for our family to enjoy this new phase in Nick's life. He has never played drums before, but took the beginning percussion class as part of his freshman schedule. His teacher spotted some talent and Nick said that he passed all the tests with 100%. He is the only freshman that was picked to be on the drumline. Since that time, we have been to the games to support Nick. Becca takes a friend, we get some fast food, candy and drinks, and we all sit next to the band. The first away game was at Cactus Shadows. It was quite far away and we got bogged down in traffic, so we did not get to see the pre-game performance, which is always done by the visitors. But we did enjoy the playing during the game. However, when the wind shifted, I kept getting a whiff of a pretty strong smell - kinda like a barnyard with something dead - only a little more rank. I told Rod we needed to move because I though it was this crusty old guy sitting in front of us. We moved up a few rows, but still when the wind shifted we would get this really bad odor wafting through the air. I finally figured out that it was the band! I guess their uniforms get pretty ripe. GROSS! So we make sure we sit down wind from the band and all is well. :0) On the way home one night Nick was rubbing his tired arms and discovered some big lumps. He was stunned when he discovered what these lumps were. It turns out that he is getting MUSCLES from hold and playing his big bass drum! Way to go Nick!

A 3-Decade Tribute

How does a mother even begin to write a fitting tribute to a wonderful daughter that is turning 30? Well… let’s just begin.

September 25^th, 1976. I started labor about 7:00 AM. My brother-in-law came over to our apartment and I made breakfast for Lenny and Scott. I did not eat because I suspected that labor had begun. I had a Dr. appointment later in the morning and he said it looked like things were getting ready for the baby to come. After that appointment we decided to go for a walk to speed things along. We walked down the street to an ice cream place – I was soooooo hungry! I just had to have a strawberry shake – my favorite. We went to the old Logan Hospital (no longer there) in the evening. Dr. Parkinson came in and broke my water before he went out for the evening. It gushed all over the sleeves of his suit coat. I was mortified! After a while, Scott got hungry, so he left to get some dinner. He came back and we watched walking tall on TV. The labor was getting pretty intense by then. It was close to midnight when they called the Dr. in. I had to do some hard pushing and she just would not come out! The Dr. waved the forceps and threatened to use them so I really got to work. Katie was born in a matter of minutes after that threat. She was so big! 8 lb. 11 oz., with a round little face and long dark hair that stuck out all over. She looked like a little papoose! She was very sweet natured and knew just what to do the first time I tried to nurse her. It was love at first sight for me, and I knew then just how much my own mother must love me. Never had my heart felt such strong love and devotion.

2 months old – learned how to suck her thumb. This made her a very good baby.

2 years old – Katie like to blow “gubbows” and help change the “sheeps” on her bed. I loved her little way of talking and she had a cute little lisp. I made this dress for her out of a sheet. I used the major part for a table cloth and thought this print would be a cute dress for her. I learned how to do machine smocking in this dress.

3 years old – had tubes in her ears and tonsils out. The Dr. burned her lip with the cauterizer, causing a huge blister to form on her bottom lip. He later did plastic surgery to correct the burn, but Katie still carries a little scar on the corner of her mouth from this. She had very thick fluid in her ears and had to have tubes two more times. To this day, she is susceptible to ear problems.

4 years old – On her birthday, Katie stopped sucking her thumb “cold turkey.” I had talked about it to her for several months, explaining that a 4-year-old was just too old to suck a thumb. I guess she really believed me and did not suck her thumb while awake after her 4^th birthday! I got pregnant with Julie and was very sick. To entertain Katie, I would lie on the couch and we would play a card game “Spank the Berry Bird.” I also read stories to her many times a day.

Kindergarten – Katie was playing “Superman” with Melanie and Michael Cox. They were jumping off the bunk bed at the Cox’s. She jumped off and hurt her wrist, but she kept playing. She jumped off again, and ended up breaking her wrist.

1^st grade – On the last day of school, Katie came home crying and said she would never love another teacher like Mrs. Huntington.

2^nd grade – joined the Blue Dolphins swim team and started competing.

4^th grade – played the part of the Tin Man in her class play. She was always active in her school activities.

5^th grade – Katie joined 4-H and raised rabbits. She won first prize at the fair. She had to make a hat for one of her projects and we had beautiful roses in our yard. This is the hat she made. This has always been one of my favorite pictures of Katie.

7^th grade – Katie started her cheerleading career. She was on a cheering squad all through Jr. High and High School when she decided her Senior year she did not want to cheer anymore.

Freshman year – Every time I passed the school the first week, I would cry because Katie was now in High School.

Sophomore year – In addition to wearing braces for two years, Katie had surgery to correct her overbite. Her mouth was held shut by very tight rubber bands for about 6 weeks. She could eat only soft foods – no chewing!

Junior Year – Katie was interested in FFA (Future Farmers of America). She raised a pig she called “Bill Clinton.” The judging at the fair was hilarious to watch. The kids creep around the pig with their long canes, never taking their eyes of the judge.

Senior year – Katie was the secretary of her FFA chapter.

21^st Birthday – Katie teased me that I was twice as old as she was.

October 13, 2001 – Katie and Ryan were married in the Salt Lake Temple - a wonderful day in the life of my daughter that I shall never forget.

As a wife and mother, Katie has been completely organized and competent. She is kind, compassionate, and loves her little family with the ferocity only a mother can muster. She is faithful to the church and fills her callings with excellence. She is a loyal friend, a devoted sister and a daughter that truly fills my life with joy.

Happy Birthday, Katie!

October Fun

I love October! Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and it is still fall (my favorite time of year). I love the traditions: the colors, the smells, the decorations, the costumes, dinner in a pumpkin, homemade chili and frenchbread before trick or treating, the scary and fun things, all of it! We always make our napkin ghosts (we call them ghosties) and hang them all over the house. I have this wonderful witch that always comes out of hiding to occupy her place on the table and I keep the treats out and available. We started off with lots of candy bars during conference (October 1st) so it would be somewhat enjoyable for the kids while they hopefully got some spiritual tidbits while listening to the Sunday sessions. We also had a "conference cake" we nibbled on (very chocolatey, of course). I sent all of my grandkids and grown children that live out of the home a little October present: decorations, socks and cards. I love to wear fun socks, so I decided to start a collection for all the girls. I had so much fun putting that all together and I found some really cute cards to send them. Hope they all know how much I love them! I wish they could all be here for Halloween. We could have such a great party! Oh, well . . . hopefully they are making their own fun traditions.