School has started and summer is over!

I love and hate this time of year. I love fall and it is just around the corner. I hate that we don't have more days to play. I love that the house is quiet when I come in. I hate that we have to get up so early. I love that we have a daily schedule. I hate that we have to go to bed so early!

Jeff started his job at the Jr High. I miss him terribly! I know. Wierd, huh? But we have been on our own schedule now for almost 8 years. We worked together as much as we could. We didn't get as much done sometimes because I was driving and he was giving me bad directions! (just kidding, Jeff!)

We talked about everything: church, politics, our neighborhood, our church callings, our kids, our extended families, our job, friends, money, the future, the past, our kids, our house, friends, money...

Last week I was by myself and actually was looking forward to that. But I was so blurry brained that I couldn't keep anything straight. (I even forgot TWICE to give papers to the secretary when I met her. Duh.)

I even went to the Jr High on Wednesday and ate SCHOOL LUNCH so I could visit with Jeff for an hour! Good grief.

This week will be better, right? Right.

I was reminded of the first day of my sophomore year when I asked Lori how Taiters was doing without Linx to play with. She said Tait was having a ball and kind of liked having the house to herself! She and Lincoln are only a year apart and have been the best of friends. I remembered when Alan started kindergarten way back when...

Alan and Crystl are only a year apart, too. They were also best friends. The bus pulled up and we all got on except Crystl and Alan. Mom was trying to get Alan off the porch to the bus but he wasn't budging. He had his arms wrapped around the porch poles and was hanging on for dear life. Crystl was wrapped around him and Mom was crying. (She always hated us to go off to school and even tried to home school us once so she could be with us all day.)

Anyway, I got back off the bus to help Mom. Alan started crying and then Crystl started. Then I started. I finally pulled Alan off and Mom took Crystl. Alan and I went to the bus and he got to sit in the back with me and all the big kids.

Poor babies. Poor Mom and poor me. We (Mom and I) still get teary-eyed when we talk about that day.

Anyway, a new season has started and it will be memorable. Meg is in her second year of college, Maddie is a Sr and in her last year of High School, and Hunter is in his last year at Elementary School!

Looking forward to fall weather...

Yup!

"Hillary Clinton says it takes a village to raise a child. I've seen the village and I don't want it raising my child." - unknown

Can I get one ticket to...Asia?

I love this! MacGuyver can fix anything! Too bad this salon is in Asia somewhere. Unless they style your hair to LOOK like MacGuyver! (then, never mind on that ticket!)

Huh?

So, Meg and I were just in Walmart. We were in the checkout line and this guy next line over was holding one of those fishy bags with the twist tie. Except he wasn't buying a cute little fish. He had a big, ugly eel that kept jumping straight up like it was trying to get out of the bag through the twist tie.

Anyway, a woman in front of him turns around to see look at this eel. She was asking him about it and then shook her head and said, "People just keep coming up with new things."

Eh?

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!