Doing this Monday memory thing has got me trying to think of memories from my childhood. One memory that kept popping up this week was when my older boy cousins (Hans, Adrin, Kenneth, Richard, and Eli....Eli was younger, but he hung out with us older ones anyway) and I would climb the tree in Anderson's yard, which was next door to Grandma's house. Every Sunday the family would descend upon her house to get together and have fun. The grandchildren often ended up eating pop cycles. One thing us 'older' cousins would do was climb the tree, make Chinese stars with the pop cycle sticks, and throw them at the younger kids. I think one of us would wait at the bottom of the tree so we could grab all the sticks that had been thrown before the younger kids could get them. (We were so mean.)
I remember thinking I was so cool because the boys would let me climb the tree with them. There wasn't a whole lot of room up there, so they had to be picky with who could climb up with them. I also remember learning how to make the Chinese stars that we threw down. (I think back now and there is no way I would make one of those things with slobber from 5 different people on the sticks....you needed 5 sticks in order to make one. GROSS!)
The tree didn't last much longer through our childhood. Anderson's soon cut down the climb-able part of the tree. (Smart on their part, sad on ours.)
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Leftovers
Here are some leftover pictures from my Christmas break. They are just too cute not to post.
The break was WAY too short. I wasn't ready to come back to school. But then I'm hardly ever ready to come back when I could be playing with my nieces and nephews instead. They're too entertaining and cute.
Ethan, my little monkey
Kirk enjoying his stash
Whitney and Wilson Christmas morning
Whitney and I the night before I headed back to Logan.
(She's in one of her princess dresses that her Grandma K made for her. She loves them.)
(She's in one of her princess dresses that her Grandma K made for her. She loves them.)
Whitney and Wilson playing dress-up.
(Their dad is going to hate that I posted it 'cause Wilson is in girly clothes. Oh well.)
(Their dad is going to hate that I posted it 'cause Wilson is in girly clothes. Oh well.)
I had to visit my other brother (who doesn't live in town with the rest of the family) and his gang before heading back as well.
This is Hayden with his gun. It shot little foam planes.
He loved it. (Especially shooting people in the behind.)
This is Hayden with his gun. It shot little foam planes.
He loved it. (Especially shooting people in the behind.)
The B-ry
It snowed a ton while I was there. Bryan moved the snow from one place and onto my car. It was pretty packed down when I left. Got a few weird glances until I cleaned it off.
Hannah and Hayden being pulled around by B-ry in the FREEZING cold.
The break was WAY too short. I wasn't ready to come back to school. But then I'm hardly ever ready to come back when I could be playing with my nieces and nephews instead. They're too entertaining and cute.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Happy Birthday, B-ry
Today's post is brought to you by the letter "B" (Bryan)
and the number "3" (brother number 3).
and the number "3" (brother number 3).
Happy birthday, you big hunk!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Memory Monday: Chats with Mom
This last week while I was at home I kind of wasn't feeling well. When I get tired and run down, I usually get emotional. I started crying and asked my mom to tuck me in, which she gladly did. It reminded me of how she used to come and chat with me on my bed all the time. I would usually be reading in bed before falling asleep and she would come in and sit on the edge of my bed to visit. I think those were probably some of the best times because I had one-on-one time with her, which didn't happen often in a household full of other kids. I don't remember anything specific we talked about, but I do remember being happy when she would take time to come and talk with just me. Sometimes the chat would only be for a couple of minutes, kind of a summary of my day. Other times she would sit with me for hours and listen to me whine about my problems and concerns. I think because of these chats, I can honestly say she has always been my best friend. She has never betrayed my confidence about anything that I've told her. (I can't say that about many people.) Mostly I just remember feeling loved because she cared enough to take time out of her busy and chaotic world to make sure I was happy and loved. I have been so blessed to have a great mom. I love you!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Christmas Eve 2010
Christmas Eve was spent with family. It's Sariah's birthday so we met for lunch at had sloppy joes, presents, and cake. She turned 9 this year. That evening we met at Mike and Nicole's for dinner, fish pond, a Christmas thought, a visit from Santa, and fun. Here are some pictures from the day.
Sariah opening her fish pond present.
(I'm not sure what she's wearing. She seems to find it every time we are at Mike and Nicole's house.)
(I'm not sure what she's wearing. She seems to find it every time we are at Mike and Nicole's house.)
Wilson and Sariah looking outside when we heard sleigh bells.
Ethan looking oh-so-cute in his outfit.
Wilson 'fishing' for his present.
Bekah in her Hollywood getup.
Me and Santa
Ethan in his cute bib.
The kids with Santa.
Janet reading a story to Whitney, Sariah, and Bekah, with Klete looking on.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Memory Monday: Grandpa Mayes
One of my resolutions this year is to blog about some of my memories at least once a week, hopefully on Mondays so I can keep the title of Memory Monday. Anyhow, I thought I would start by writing about a few of my memories about my Grandpa Mayes. He died when I was in 2nd grade. I remember that Aunt Claudia came to get Kenneth from school because he had died. I kept waiting for my mom to come and get me, but she never did. She later said she didn't think that I would understand what was going on and didn't want to take me out of school for it.
Grandpa was sick the last couple years of his life with cancer. I remember him being in a hospital bed in the living room. Us grandchildren were too young to really know what was going on, except for the older few. I remember one particular time when we kept running in and out of the house. Someone pulled us aside to tell us the grandpa was really sick and needed the quiet in the house. I think that was the first time I really got how sick he was.
Some of my memories of being with Grandpa were when I would spend the night. One time in particular we were going to eat dinner and it was time to say the prayer before eating. It was Grandpa, Grandma, and me. We all bowed our heads. I kept expecting one of them to say it. I probably waited a good 2 or 3 minutes before I spoke up asking who was going to say the prayer. They both chuckled and teased me that they were waiting for me to say it. He was a jokester that way. (I don't remember who actually ended up saying the prayer.)
He loved to work in the yard. There are pictures of me helping him in the garden, even though I don't remember doing it. I do remember him flooding the yard with well water. Us grandchildren thought it was so fun to run through it barefooted. It was so cold we never did last long.
I remember sitting on their old brown and orange couch that was next to the door in anticipation of him coming home from the body shop. He would always come in and say, "Howdy, folks." I thought that was the coolest saying and wanted to remember it so I could say it when I grew up. His hands were always looked dirty because of the work he did on cars. I remember when he came home from work he would wash his hands before he did anything else. I remember watching the dirt and grease come off his hands and wondering how they still looked so dirty all the time. He always had dirt and grease under his fingernails, too.
I remember sitting on his lap one Sunday at church. I put my head into his suit coat so it blocked out the light and I ran my hand over the walls (it was that prickly hay stuff that the church used to use). It was soothing and I fell asleep like that.
As a whole family (cousins and all), we used to go to Five Springs for picnics. There are pictures of us looking at fuzzy caterpillars that Grandpa had on a stick. I think there was one time he scared us by growling behind a tree and jumping out at us. (I can't remember if it was him or Uncle Lloyd. They're both pranksters, so they both could have done it.)
Like I said before, I don't have too many memories of Grandpa Mayes, but I do remember the feelings that I had around him. I don't ever remember being scared of him, even though he was a big man. I know that he loved my Grandma very much. I remember the way he used to talk to her and he didn't let us talk back to her at all. I look forward to when I can meet him again and get to know him as an adult.
Grandpa was sick the last couple years of his life with cancer. I remember him being in a hospital bed in the living room. Us grandchildren were too young to really know what was going on, except for the older few. I remember one particular time when we kept running in and out of the house. Someone pulled us aside to tell us the grandpa was really sick and needed the quiet in the house. I think that was the first time I really got how sick he was.
Some of my memories of being with Grandpa were when I would spend the night. One time in particular we were going to eat dinner and it was time to say the prayer before eating. It was Grandpa, Grandma, and me. We all bowed our heads. I kept expecting one of them to say it. I probably waited a good 2 or 3 minutes before I spoke up asking who was going to say the prayer. They both chuckled and teased me that they were waiting for me to say it. He was a jokester that way. (I don't remember who actually ended up saying the prayer.)
He loved to work in the yard. There are pictures of me helping him in the garden, even though I don't remember doing it. I do remember him flooding the yard with well water. Us grandchildren thought it was so fun to run through it barefooted. It was so cold we never did last long.
I remember sitting on their old brown and orange couch that was next to the door in anticipation of him coming home from the body shop. He would always come in and say, "Howdy, folks." I thought that was the coolest saying and wanted to remember it so I could say it when I grew up. His hands were always looked dirty because of the work he did on cars. I remember when he came home from work he would wash his hands before he did anything else. I remember watching the dirt and grease come off his hands and wondering how they still looked so dirty all the time. He always had dirt and grease under his fingernails, too.
I remember sitting on his lap one Sunday at church. I put my head into his suit coat so it blocked out the light and I ran my hand over the walls (it was that prickly hay stuff that the church used to use). It was soothing and I fell asleep like that.
As a whole family (cousins and all), we used to go to Five Springs for picnics. There are pictures of us looking at fuzzy caterpillars that Grandpa had on a stick. I think there was one time he scared us by growling behind a tree and jumping out at us. (I can't remember if it was him or Uncle Lloyd. They're both pranksters, so they both could have done it.)
Like I said before, I don't have too many memories of Grandpa Mayes, but I do remember the feelings that I had around him. I don't ever remember being scared of him, even though he was a big man. I know that he loved my Grandma very much. I remember the way he used to talk to her and he didn't let us talk back to her at all. I look forward to when I can meet him again and get to know him as an adult.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
The Stable/Dependable Thing in my Life
As of this week, I have owned my car for 6 years. It's the longest relationship I've ever had with someone who isn't family. I bought it from my cousin Mark. It was one of the first cars he every bought with a rebuilt title and fixed up. I'd say this is a great advertisement for him. (Plus, he couldn't really go wrong with a Toyota.) Here's a few reasons it has a place in my heart:
I have never named it. Nothing has ever stuck in my mind as a name because it's never really given me any problems (knock on wood). (Suggestions for names welcome.) It has gotten me through many snow storms and icy conditions...often pulling out of a spin at the last moment before trouble.
It gets GREAT gas mileage...over 40 on the highway. It's great because I drive home so often.
Yes, the CD player has decided to not work, but I still have the radio. (Thank goodness for old country while driving through the wilds of Wyoming.)
It's been patient with all the children I've piled into the backseat with their car seats. And with all the messes they leave behind back there. (Okay, some of them are mine.)
It has never complained about the dust on the dash that has piled up over the years. It doesn't mind that it doesn't get washed every week, or even every month. It rejoices in the rain baths that it gets.
It has been registered 4 different times in 3 states, and it doesn't mind wearing UT plates.
This past year it has loved having covered parking. It doesn't mind a little pile up of snow, though, which it has gotten this break in Wyoming (thanks to my brother who piled up the snow he shoveled onto it.) :)
Although there are a few paint chips, window chips, and hub cap chips, it still gets around with beauty and grace.
I couldn't have asked for a better car over the last 6 years. I figure I still have about 40,000 miles until it gives out. I figure the body of the car will go before the engine does. Thank you, Corolla!
I have never named it. Nothing has ever stuck in my mind as a name because it's never really given me any problems (knock on wood). (Suggestions for names welcome.) It has gotten me through many snow storms and icy conditions...often pulling out of a spin at the last moment before trouble.
It gets GREAT gas mileage...over 40 on the highway. It's great because I drive home so often.
Yes, the CD player has decided to not work, but I still have the radio. (Thank goodness for old country while driving through the wilds of Wyoming.)
It's been patient with all the children I've piled into the backseat with their car seats. And with all the messes they leave behind back there. (Okay, some of them are mine.)
It has never complained about the dust on the dash that has piled up over the years. It doesn't mind that it doesn't get washed every week, or even every month. It rejoices in the rain baths that it gets.
It has been registered 4 different times in 3 states, and it doesn't mind wearing UT plates.
This past year it has loved having covered parking. It doesn't mind a little pile up of snow, though, which it has gotten this break in Wyoming (thanks to my brother who piled up the snow he shoveled onto it.) :)
Although there are a few paint chips, window chips, and hub cap chips, it still gets around with beauty and grace.
I couldn't have asked for a better car over the last 6 years. I figure I still have about 40,000 miles until it gives out. I figure the body of the car will go before the engine does. Thank you, Corolla!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)