Autumn Day bright and gay

Ok, so I just included this first picture of Kaden because he is so much fun! He is our family toy. At 2 3/4 he is finally able to sit still, say "cheese" and pose for a decent picture. (is that a boy thing?) We're finally getting cute pictures of him. We're not prejudice or anything, people have just told us that Kaden is SOOOO cute!


We all went to the school's fall walk-a-thon. Who cares about the walking though...it's really all about the food. Emmy was dying at the huge caramel apples...she HAD to have one. (she gets excited about anything edible). Ady really wanted one too but knew she couldn't because of her expander-thing inside her mouth. She was a good sport anyway and enjoyed these yummy brownies instead.

Someday I am going to be taking my photography classes and become proficient at taking photos to capture how things really are in all their array of color. This view from the school was amazingly beautiful! The leaves so bright and so varied. This is a lame attempt at getting across the point of how beautiful the Washington Fall is.

Saturday Jeff, Kaden and I went to the pumpkin patch to pick our pumpkins. We won't go into detail of the behavior of our other 3 children who weren't allowed to go on our outing...but I had to get my Fall/Pumpkin pictures and we needed pumpkins. The second we got out of the car we remembered that the only reason you would want to go to the pumpkin patch is for the photos for calendars you would make for October or November for the following year. The pumpkins were still SO green. If they weren't green they were smooshed. If they weren't green or smooshed they were totally lopsided and not good for carving and even if you did get a wowzer of a pumpkin your shoes would be caked with mud. But, at least we got some Fall pictures. We decided that the grocery store is still the best place to get perfectly shaped pumpkins.

It was actually nice to only have one child with us. Kaden loved all the attention.

a GREAT lady!

One of the most influential women in Jeff's life passed away on Saturday morning...his grandma, Dodney Jones or Mertie, as they called her. She was 96 years old. We know for sure that she lived so long because she loved her family and they kept her active and young and laughing all the way until the end. From what we understand her last few moments were peaceful and beautiful and also a witness to those present that our life after this life is very REAL. We know that she is happy and in a wonderful place and still loving us all very much.

Jeff took the chance in June to make a trip to Buffalo, New York to visit Mertie. Of course now he is so glad he made the effort to see her. Mertie didn't know that Jeff was coming. When she got up in the morning and made her way to her chair as normal there sat Jeff in her chair. She was so surprised!

She was so happy to see him!

No matter how old Mertie got she still was quite a feminine lady wanting to always look her best...wanting to have her make-up on, her hair fixed, always looking snappier than anybody else in the group. She almost always had her fingernails painted and she loved pretty smelling lotions. It appears that this morning was no exception.

Mertie always had a joke to share. When she told a joke she not only cracked us all up but she cracked herself up too. Mertie made sure that there was always some laughs. Here she is sharing jokes with Jeff in June...cracking each other up. Jeff talked to Mertie this past Wednesday evening before she died and the last thing they did on the phone together was tell a corny "knock-knock" joke. Jeff will cherish that last memory of a joke with her forever.

In the years that I have known Mertie (and Jeff can also admit) we have never heard Mertie say a negative word or mean word about someone else. What a great example that is! The proof of her goodness is in the family she has left behind...great, happy, close-knit and loving family. The only sadness we have is that we didn't get to see her as often as we would have liked. Maryn does have memories of playing cards with her. Mertie loved playing cards and at 95 she still could beat almost everyone. Our challenge now is to follow in her footsteps, in the 96 year legacy she has left behind to be more like her in living a wonderful life; to be more positive and kind...and by golly if we live that good, we'll be just as healthy and we just might to live to be that old too.

I'm in Time Out!

On Thursday the 16th of October my friend, Jennifer Debenham and I(she was my good friend when we lived in Lake Forest and now she lives up here too...how lucky is that?) drove 3 hours to Portland, OR. Since there is no shopping taxes in Oregon we were hoping for some awesome hours of shopping...but because of traffic and enjoying ourselves at the most yummiest pizza place in Olympia we didn't get to Portland until after 9:00. We actually did an hour of shopping. Friday morning we rode the MAX (Portland's train system) to the convention center where we were part of Deseretbooks Life Seminar. The glorious Sheri Dew was the featured director of the event and then we enjoyed great talks from Virgina Hinckley Pearce, Wayne Boss who taught about the Principles of Power---super great! and Tom Smith who taught about how to let your experiences give you the results you want in your life. Wow! Both of these men teach companies and business how to incorporate their teachings to become more successful. They work with American Airlines, Nestle, Ihop, Pfizer, etc. etc. It was so great to learn some skills that can be applied both in the home with my family and also in a spiritual ways too.

We came back at 6:30 for the Friday night Time Out for Women. The singer/songwriter Kenneth Cope was the emcee/entertainer for the night. He was amazing. Chieko Okazai who is now in her 70's was the featured speaker. She has always been a favorite of mine ever since I can remember. Jason Deere )who is well known in the music world writing songs for Jessica Simpson and others) and also Dan Truman (who is a member of the group Diamond Rio) they performed their music from "A Nashville Tribute to Joseph" and "A Nashville Tribute to the Pioneers." They were fantastic...a bunch of rednecks singing uplifting songs about what we believe in and making us laugh and cry. I immediately bought their Cd's that same night! SO good!

Saturday morning at 8:30 we were back in our spots ready for more. We were in the presence of the "greats"...Emily Watts, Camille Fronk, Elia Gourgouris, Mary Ellen Edmunds, music by Cheri Call and lots more music by Kenneth Cope. By Saturday's session there were around 2,000 women in that huge room. There was so much energy of regular old women just hungry to be uplifted. We walked out of there elevated to a higher plane and so filled and so motivated to do better, having more understanding of our roles as moms and wives and being reminded that we are children of God too and we have much to offer the world. We were given tools of how to do all this. The only problem was that after sitting through a little over 15 hours of "upliftment" and mad note-taking I felt like I just drank from a fire hydrant. It was SO much info in such a short time. It was a huge pick-me-up that I needed that filled my bucket to overflowing. Now I just need another weekend for mediation and application. Ha! Every time I get away to do something for myself it hits me in the face that I have to do this more often. It's so hard for mom's to get away but we have to do it! We can be better moms when we miss our children and they miss us too.

We finished off our fabulous weekend enjoying Jeff's birthday present...the Celine Dion concert.

Jeff and Jim met Jenny and I at the Tacoma Dome for the concert. All I have to say is that Celine is SO talented. Her talent is real. She is so good and genuine. I'm very curious...at her age how does she have such amazingly fit and trim and shapely legs? Every outfit she put on emphasized her body making her quite a sight to behold. Her hair was thick, long and luscious...extensions perhaps? Her singing was the superb cherry on top! It was a great concert!!!

So, while I was gone to Portland Jeff really stepped it up. He was the "dad of the year" for sure. As I was leaving he said, "Don't even say 'thank you' for this because you deserve it." Ah, that was awesome! Naturally, everything ran so much smoother than it would have had I been there. Don't you hate that? No one fought. Everyone got along. Everyone did their jobs and homework and practicing. Every time I called Jeff said, "everyone is so good!" Well...what would you think? Because my bucket was filling up I wasn't even offended or misinterpreting that message. I was just grateful. Jeff proved his skills again getting Emmy ready for a birthday party....buying and wrapping a girlie present and then dressing Emmy up like Sleeping Beauty and creating a doo filled with ringlets. What a guy! and what a beauty Emmy was indeed!

now back home to reality... just waiting for the moment when I can apply what I've learned.

Ground Hog's Day

Do you ever feel like your life is the movie "Ground Hog's Day?" For the last several days I have been feeling like Bill Murray on "Ground Hog's Day" waking up to the same day and doing the same things over and over and over again until I feel like I am turning into a lunatic. Then, Jeff came home from work today and said, "Do you ever feel like our life is like Ground Hog's Day?" I started laughing so hard because he had no idea that those have been my exact thoughts lately. All I do is wake up, get the kids off to school, homework, make breakfast, lunch and dinners, clean-up, change poopy diapers, get everyone to bed and then stay up too late enjoying the quiet house knowing it will all start over again too soon. So, when do your children learn how to function on their own? When is the part when they do their homework, jobs, practicing without taking it to the boxing arena with their parents? Just wondering. I know everyone says that this time in your kid's life passes too quickly and soon you'll wish that your kids were back to put their fingerprints on your glass doors and throw toys all over the floor. I don't know...I can't imagine getting to that point. Is it just me? Just wondering. I really am trying to enjoy the special things they say or the snuggling as we read books together. I love to watch the kids play together. I love it when we're driving in the car and they want to play "testimony meeting" and they say, "can I bear my testimony to you?" and then I hear them in the back bearing their little sweet testimonies to each other. What is more precious than that? OK there are many wonderful moments that I treasure. I agree. I do love being a mom, but it is way harder than they taught me about in Beehive class. They never taught us about the patience and the exhaustion I'd feel as a mom when I was a Mia Maid. My Laurel teacher didn't tell me that my children would dare to disobey me. I was not prepared for the repeated "Ground Hog's Day" moments that make up motherhood. I was probably having too much fun as a kid and too busy in my own world to realize that my mom probably felt much the same way. I don't know. She always seemed to be involved in a gazillion things for all her children plus make the time to nourish her own talents plus make healthy meals from scratch every night dancing from service to song in between. Anyway... here I am... just let me wallow in this moment. Just let me grovel in the feeling that I am running my fastest and reaching for the "bar" but it is always just barely out of my reach and so I just keep on running faster...totally out of breath...but never giving up hope. I'm glad that I have tomorrow to try again. Who knows, tomorrow could be the day when I wake up and am part of the movie "Mary Poppins." She's the kind of mom I'd always imagined that I'd be... "practically perfect in every way" and saying, "spit-spot" and "doshisaliexpidiciousfragicalirupus." Anyway, for now I'll enjoy being in "Ground Hog's Day." I like to specialize in things. I like that movie. I like change too but I'm telling myself that I don't. I'll just treasure my little ordinary moments. I'll treasure Kaden pouring his milk all over his plate and putting his hair all in it. I'll treasure Emmy putting her whole hand in my fresh chocolate pie, thinking she's going to make her hand print..."just like we do at school." I'll treasure Maryn making all her friends call and ask me if Maryn can stay just "30 more minutes to play." (thinking that the friend will have more power than she would.) I'll treasure Ady's art projects strewn throughout every speck of carpet including markers... Kaden loves markers. It's the small things that make up the big things. It's the little moments. Didn't Jesus also clothe the naked, feed the hungry and bless the poor? Isn't that exactly what I am doing each and every day to my little offspring? They are so needy. My question is do I have to feed and clothe and bless them until the day I die just like Jesus did? Just wondering.

Emmalicious!

Emmy has been cracking us up lately... I had to share her latest funnies.






Emmy was born with an ability to talk. She developed her vocabulary early and has always been able to express herself while speaking very clearly. A month ago when Marc was here we went picking blueberries. We were in the rows of blueberry bushes not able to see who was on the other side of the bush or on the next row. We picked the berries and put them into our bucket that was hung around our neck. Emmy and Kaden had their buckets around their necks too and were helping out. Emmy spent the whole hour talking and talking and talking. She talked to Kaden in a motherly way telling him how to get the blueberries, how to hold his bucket, showing him worms etc. She talked to Marc and I about the blueberries, about the weather, about her shoes. And she talked to herself about everything. (She has always entertained herself for hours just by talking to herself). Marc and I mostly ignored her saying, "uh-huh" or "yep" every once in a while. As we were leaving we saw that there had been a man on the other side of us picking berries the whole time, listening to all our conversations. As I passed and said hello he mentioned to me that he had never heard a child who could converse so well before....he was impressed with her ability to articulate and express. Marc walked by the man a few minutes later and the guy said, "Marc, you have your hands full!" We had a good laugh about that because if the man was listening to Emmy the whole time then he learned more about us than just our names.



Emmy was practicing the harp yesterday. She was catching on to everything so well and playing so nicely. I was amazed at how well she was picking up new things and learning new notes. She was taking a lot of pride in her ability to play the harp. I said, "Emmy, you are playing so well! I bet you were an angel up in heaven who played the harp for all the other angels." She looked at me and without missing a beat said in a very put-out voice while rolling her eyes, "yeah, and Jesus would make me practice too Mom."



Yesterday I wrote out Saturday job charts for the kids. Emmy and Ady wanted me to hide theirs somewhere in the kitchen so they would have to find it. Emmy found hers high in the doorway. She sat at the table looking at it wondering how she was going to get it. She got some paper and said, "Hmmmm...I will make a map of how I will get my chart." She then drew a doorway and then a stick figure doing the Chinese splits up the frame of the doorway. She thought some more with a pencil in her mouth looking up at the piece of paper. Finally realizing that she could never do the Chinese splits she said, "I know. I'll just try and try to get it and never give up."



A couple of weeks ago we had the idea to go swimming for Family Home Evening. When Emmy found out we were going for FHE she looked at me a bit puzzled and said, "does that mean that we will talk about Jesus while we're in the water?"

The Primary song, "I Am a Child of God" has been a favorite of Emmy's. It wasn't until recently that we found out why she like it so much. In the car she was singing the first verse, "I am a child of God, and He has sent me here." then here comes the kicker, "Has given Emmy an earthly home with parents kind and dear." She said with huge excitement, "Mom! That song has my name in it." I couldn't believe it either. I asked her if the song had Kaden's name in it. She sang the whole song through again with the best part... "has given Emmy an earthly home..." then said, "nope, it doesn't have anybody else's name but mine in it." Today when they were practicing the Primary program sure enough I saw her sing, "...has given Emmy an earthly home with parents kind and dear." For those of you who aren't familiar with the song, it really goes, "has given me an earthly home." Talk about personalizing a Gospel principle. Emmy sure did it with the pure innocence of a child.

We love Emmy!

We were slimed!

One thing we noticed soon after moving to Washington was the size and quantity of slugs around. Perhaps because it rains a lot and they thrive in the constant moist climate but they are plentiful and sometimes even look like baby snakes. They are huge! They are disgusting! Blah! My mom once stepped on a slug barefoot... she couldn't stand talking about slugs without remembering the slime and grossness. She loathed them and I think those feelings trickled down to me because I get the shivers whenever I see a slug. So...imagine looking out your back sliding glass window and seeing a slug on the door. Kaden and Emmy couldn't stop watching this guy. When I opened the door to get out to take this picture the door touched the slug and it shriveled up a little...this isn't really the full length of it...
But this is the full length of the creature. It was SO long! It moved so slow up and down our sliding glass door getting its slime all over... and grossing me out!

Our Birthday Boy!!

Tuesday, October 1 was Jeff's birthday. Even though he talks and sometimes acts like he's nearly 90 I believe that he is an early 40' ish in years. Here's the run down on his day... He was up and off early to have himself a great "spinning class" at the gym. He spent the majority of the day going to several of his buildings for things that I won't pretend to understand. At each building they had balloons, cards and cake for him. He was not hard up on celebrations that's for sure. When he came home he also found cards and balloons to add to the collection, but he also found wild children so happy to see him.
Jeff's requested favorite meal was homemade Spaghetti that had been simmering in the crock pot the whole day, garlic bread and salad. Instead of birthday cake he chose birthday milkshakes with candy bars mixed in.

Jeff got cards from everyone, new pictures to hang in his office, and some other things. Ady wrapped the presents and made him go on a scavenger hunt for each present to keep his old arthritic joints moving. His last present came out of the freezer... frozen deep in the container of ice was his last gift that he had to thaw out.

It was tickets to go see Celine Dion in concert in Tacoma on the 18th of this month. I love to give presents that I can share also.

One long-standing birthday tradition that I grew up with is called "Honored person" where we go around the table saying all the reasons why we like the birthday person. That's one tradition we've kept. The kids were a bit wound up and silly but we did get some nice things about Jeff said....he sings to them all each night; he reads stories to them all each night using different accents for each story; the kids love to ride in his car because he lets them turn up the music loud with the sun-roof open; he has a super belly laugh; he is a good tickler; he draws good; he's good at math. Jeff really is one of the best Dad's around. He has always been very hands-on and involved. He has nearly mastered the art of fixing little girl's hair with curling irons, bows, pony tails and everything. He's handy in the kitchen when he puts his mind to it. He has always been very generous with me in buying me clothes, massages, allowing me time to get away whether for an evening or for a girl's get-away. Jeff really is amazing!!! I think of Jeff 19 years ago (I can't believe it's been that long) when he was having the missionary discussions in the Sacred Grove. I am amazed that after 2 years he had the courage to track out the missionaries and get baptized. I am amazed that he had the courage to stand out in his family, who is SO close and all still living close in New York. I am amazed that they were so supportive of him making such a huge change in his life. I am amazed that after a year of being a new member he had the courage to go on a mission even though he was 3 years older than the missionary age and it would have been acceptable for him not to go. I am amazed how the Lord prepared Jeff for his baptism and for his service in the Church from early on in his life. He became a diabetic only a few years before his conversion and has never once let that stop him from achieving his goals or from staying healthy. He is a great leader both at work and in the church. He has the ability to make people happy through his enthusiasm for life. When we were dating I was very attracted to his zest for life. He was zesty! He's a snappy dresser on top of all that and still has a full head of hair (with only a couple gray hairs...well, maybe more than a couple.) I am amazed that he has such a handsome tenor singing voice and he has never even had a voice lesson. He is always so willing to share his music with others whether at church or work or in community musicals. He realizes that his talent comes straight from Heavenly Father because he didn't have to work hard in getting it...although now he's realizing that he has to work hard to keep it.

Anyway, as I am writing all of this down I am getting some ideas on some posts I need to document...like the time Jeff and I were in the Nutcracker...or the time when Jeff shaved his legs and ate baby food so he could get his driver's license back from me that he lost...or the time Jeff was Nephi in the Hill Cumorah Pageant and still has post cards sold with him on it wearing a great blond wig.

Anyway...HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFF! We love you!

thought provoking questions?

Emmy has been asking some really big "thinker" questions that has me stumped. She began asking questions as we were driving in the car like ,"how did how did a man put that big tree right there?" or "how did all of this sand get to be at the beach? or how did all that water get in the river?" We had some discussions about Heavenly Father creating the Earth and creating everything on it. So then her questions took a bit of a turn... "how did Heavenly Father make car seats? Where did He get all of the parts?" "How did Heavenly Father put the lead inside pencils?" Sometimes her questions are a little much for my tired brain and I have to answer, "just because honey." Ady joined in on the asking question game with some thought provoking questions of her own of which I have no answer to... "who decided to name that a chair?" "Why is this called an elbow?" Who was the person that said, 'let's call this a cantaloupe?" "Who made up the word 'sneeze?'"

Even though my brain is pretty much spent I have come up with some of my own questions. Who gets to name the hurricanes? Can I sign up to be a namer? Whenever a hurricane is in the forecast I am always sad for the damage and stuff, but I always get a little chuckle out of the names and the meteorologists talking about a storm like it is a person with real behavior problems. I actually did some research and found that the World Meteorological Organization has a rotation of 6 lists of names that are rotated every 6 years. The names are supposed to be short and easily identifiable. Of course the names are in ABC, except Q, U and Z in order to better keep track of how many hurricanes we have. Up until 1978 the names were all female. I take offense to that. After a deadly or costly storm the name is retired I suppose much like a great sports player's number is retired. Curious about some of the more difficult letters I looked up X, Y and Z.... Xavier, Xina, Yolanda, York, Zeke and Zelda are rotated every other year on the lists. I wonder if they have ever even been used... probably.

My last question... one that I haven't taken the time to investigate is this... What are people called from their states? I know the easy ones like Californians, Utahns, New Yorkers; but what about people from Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware or Vermont? I have no idea...
Mainers? Mainans? Massachusites? Connecticutonians? Delwarens? Vermonti? Arkansasans? Some sure are impossible and some are plain silly?