Happy Birthday, America!

God Bless America

Committing treason left and right. Would I have been so bold? I am thankful for those who did and the sacrifices they made on our behalf. Am I showing enough gratitude today? Are you?

TREK! June 2009

Isn't Maddie a cute pioneer? But where's that bonnet?

I was so excited to go on trek this year and see Maddie. I stayed at camp and cooked, set up camp and got ready for the kids to get in at the end of the day. How wonderful it would have been for the pioneers to have dinner waiting when they stopped each night.


Each family received a baby doll which represented an actual baby that crossed the plains to Utah. Maddie's family got twin sisters, Emma and Clara. Maddie ended up carrying at least one girl most of the way. At one point on the trail, Emma died and had to be buried in the valley. Maddie was very upset and realized to a small extent what the pioneers had to do when they lost a child or family member.

Where is that bonnet?


About five o'clock, one of the men came into camp and told us he had just seen the first company back over the hill. They would reach us in about an hour. We had been talking about all the kids and especially our own, wondering how they were doing and if they were having fun.

We hurried to finish dinner and grabbed our chairs. We went to the edge of camp and lined up like we were waiting for a parade. Maddie's company was first and as each family came in, we were all cheering and clapping. Everyone was so excited that the first day was almost over and we had had no major casualties.

Four of the five families came in but not Maddie's. I was getting a little anxious as I did not know why they were late. Did someone really get hurt? Way off in the distance, we could see white family flags snapping in the wind. The next company was heading our way. As they got closer, I stood up and just stared at who I hoped was Mad. There she was! Walking, smiling and happy.

I couldn't help it. I cried. "Oh, mom! Don't cry." she said. "I'm ok!" Gotta love a girl who is happy, sweaty, tired and funny. But...Where IS that bonnet?


AHHHHH! Shade!


And cold water to clean up!


We moved camp the next morning and set up at our new site. The day became overcast and a cool breeze moved in. How nice for everyone! As the day drew on, the clouds got darker. When the last family rolled in, the rain started! And the hail! It sprinkled on and off until 10 pm. Bedtime...and then the rain did not stop until early the next morning. Everything was soaked!

We got to stay at that camp that Friday night. Thank goodness. The weather was nice and cool that entire day. The sun came out and dried the blankets, shoes and the muddy ground.


Maddie's family. Anyone seen Maddie's bonnet?



The last trail ends. YOU DID IT!

Bonnet?

What a great experience we had. I loved the dirt, sun, bugs, sweat, the testimonies and the feeling of gratitude for all I have been blessed with. How thankful I am for our ancestors who sacrificed so much for all of us. I love Utah and love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I wonder, though, what legacy am I leaving for the next generations to come? Will they want to reenact a portion of my life so they can feel closer to me? To my Heavenly Father? To feel the blessings he bestowed upon us?

Meg is 19!

So, nineteen years ago I was feeling pretty crappy. I couldn't walk, couldn't eat anything, couldn't bend over, couldn't sleep...well, you get the idea. I had been to a picnic with the Moores on Saturday, June 23 and was playing on the swings. I got STUCK in the tire swing! (how embarrassing)

I had had a pretty good day (all the "couldn't"s aside) and then woke Jeff up at about 3:00 Sunday morning. I couldn't move my leg very well. This thing was sitting so low in my body I think it was cutting the circulation off in my leg. We drove to the hospital and Dr. D came to see me. I told him I wasn't leaving until I was carrying something fun in my arms! He was in a good mood and said, "OK!"

About 12 hours later I was holding this thing which was by now, thank goodness, a little pink baby girl! We were going to call her Meg Anne (Meg after a cute little girl in the movie "Three Fugitives" and Anne for Anne Shirley of "Anne of Green Gables".) We put the two names together and it was perfect!

I had ALWAYS wanted to my first baby to be a girl and just knew that I would. When I had been dating Jeff a few months, his dad said to me "You know, if you marry Jeff, your first child will have to be a boy. Jeff is the firstborn son of a firstborn son of a firstborn son of a firstborn son of a firstborn son." (is that 5 generations?) I told him sorry but my first baby would be a girl. When I was pregnant, we would tease each other and I even found a button that said "It's A Girl!" and wore it when I was with Don.

When Meg was born she was the first grandchild on both sides of the family and the grandparents came to the hospital to get a peek. Wouldn't you know it, Don took her and hogged her longer than anyone else. I didn't even get her back for over an hour!

Meg has been a very busy girl since that first Sunday she arrived. She has been involved in theater, choirs, student government, family, jobs, friends and church. We love to hear her sing and watch her act. She loves her Sunbeam class and loves her little cousins.

I love Meg and all she does for us. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEG!

This is my sister Melody. She was born on Flag Day! How cool is that?

I was three when she was born. We lived in Alabama and flew to Utah so Mom could have her baby in Bountiful. Mom said she was afraid to have her babies in Alabama (she thought she would die)...(which she almost did when she had the next baby, Bryce, but that's another story).

I believe that I had my first remembrance when Mel was born. It was a life changing experience for me when I got a sister. Don't get me wrong, I had fun with Arden. But he really only wanted to chop stuff up and tear things apart, but a SISTER! Now, that had some great possiblity!

So, I remember the airports and being at Grandma Bishop's house. I took a nap in the front room behind Grandpa's big green chair and when I woke up, Mom was gone and we went to the hospital to see my new sister with the bright red hair. The nurse held her up to the window so we could see her.

Mel and I played dolls together all the time. Mom made us the coolest little beds for our dolls and cute little doll clothes. She made our dresses too that matched but were different colors. It was almost like being a twin!

Melody has three cute little kids and a nice husband. They bought Grandma's house (yes, the same one I mentioned before) which I think is very cool because Mel has Grandma's flowers and plants that Grandma loved! (And she shares them with me!)

I am glad Melody is my sister. We have a long history that only we can appreciate! She is organized and wise. Maybe one day I can be like her just a little!

Love you, Mel. I am glad we are good friends! Happy Birthday!

HE'S EMPLOYED!

Jeff went back for a second interview today and he was offered a job to teach History and Geography! Of course he accepted! YAHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Laurel's Birthday

We had Laurel's name for her birthday this year. I wanted to give her something that wouldn't break or be outgrown. Melody and I thought she might like to learn to use a sewing machine. I got her some easy patterns for capris and a skirt. I took her to the fabric store and she chose some really cute animal print fabric.

We cut out the patterns for capris and Laurel sewed the side seams and the inner leg seams. (You have to say "Inner leg" reverently while doing a Buddha pose) I sewed the waistband and hemmed the bottoms. We made two pair in just about 5 hours. Laurel loves the new capris and wanted to wear them to church the next day.

Good job, Laurel! Now you can help me with costumes for the next show! (hee hee, that was a great gift to give me, huh? Ummm...I mean "give her"!

What can you do with 2 Master's?

Jeff graduated from U of Phoenix this month. He has his second Master's and has already looked into getting a doctorate! He has already told the kids that when he gets his doctorate they can no longer call him "Dad". They have to call him "DOCTOR Moore"!

He had his first interview today at Roy Jr High. A small drive but nothing he can't handle. We are still hoping for a Davis County position but are not holding our breaths.

"Congraduations!"

Duct Tape and Chewing Gum, Anyone?

OH MY HECK! I loved Mother's Day this year! Jeff and Hunter gave me season 1 and 2 of MACGYVER! And Maddie gave me season 3! I need some duct tape!

MacGyver...what a hunk! Old tv, quick thinking cute guy and NO commercials. Awesome!

Meg got me a cute purse which I love. (It's the perfect size to carry some gum, tape, paper clip and a pocket knife.)

Thanks everyone!

One more...

The Baa-Studs of Wales-Amazing!

Happy Anniversary!

I just found these two commercials for the LDS Church. (see previous posts) They are so cute. We have not seen them at our house. This month marks the two year anniversary that our tv has been unplugged from the antenna.

We watch dvds and old videos. The kids think they are horribly picked on and can't carry on a conversation with anyone at school because they do not know what happened last night on ... (whatever the latest show is). Poor things.

I lived without a tv at our house from the time I was born until the middle of 6th grade. Our neighbors gave us a little 10" black and white tv for Christmas. Wow, were they rich! We didn't have videos or dvds and forget about renting them. They did not exist.

I don't miss the news, crappy sitcoms that make everyone look like idiots, or blood and guts shows with murder and more.

I do miss the old tv shows like the Brady Bunch, Little House, Andy Griffith, Perry Mason and The Amazing Race.

I would love to have tv with only uplifting shows and commercials. Since we don't have that, we boycott!

Swashbucklers

Runaway Stage

Hee Hee!

I first thought of Crystl when I saw this! Love you and all your little craft projects!

Laughter is Sweetness to the Ears

So, the girls and I have found this great website all about cake decorating. I thought Meg could get some really great ideas from it. She works at the bakery at the local grocery store. Anyway, we decided it is NOT the best place to find great ideas.

This website is pretty much all about "Wreckorators" who work at bakeries around the world. Some of their creations are hilarious, some make you shudder, and most of them leave you wondering...WHY?????

The hostess does post some wonderful ones on her "Sunday Sweets" and we ooh and awe and sometimes drool (sorry about that).

I thought you might enjoy some good laughs. The girls and I have been staying up too late at night to see all these. We aren't through them all yet. Happy looking!

"Show Boat" March 2009

Maddie opened "Show Boat" last night and it sounded great. I was in the box office for the first half and only got to see her at the ending.

These are two of the costumes I made. They are my favorites and only took me 6 weeks to make! I think she loves these dresses as much as I do. The plaid is a black and white taffeta. The fabric was fairly easy to sew on but I am no good matching plaids. I used a Civil War pattern and just moved the shoulder seams to the top of the shoulder instead of the side of the shoulder, the way it would have been worn in the 1860's. It has an under bustle pillow, huge petticoat, skirt and top.

The other dress is navy blue with small orange stripes and dark orange accents. It has an under bustle pillow, huge petticoat, skirt, back bustle, front apron and the top. I only needed 4 different patterns to make that outfit. Maddie has a great figure and looks wonderful in these dresses. Don't you think?

What?

Okay, so I know it's not Easter yet, but since all the stores are decked out with candy, etc. it must be time to put this up now.

It makes me laugh every time I see it. Happy Easter. (I'm looking forward to Spring)

This is my sister, Lori. She is a great friend to me and yesterday was her birthday. She is very busy with her five kids and husband but would help you with anything if you asked.

She keeps up with politics, helps at her kids schools, reads anything she can, has the patience of Job, (from what I've read; I never met the man), has funny kids who keep us all laughing, loves my kids, has more kids at her house at any one time than the zoo does on "free kids day" (hey! kids...zoo...lori's house...!)

I love Lori. She always makes me smile. Happy Birthday!