A Star is born

Our very own McKaela made her first appearance on stage today has the beautiful Cinderella. She even danced a little with a boy and only got stepped on once that I could see. Great job Mack, Disneyland may want you in a few years to come work for them! I am hoping Kari got better pictures that she can post on her blog .

She got lots of hugs from Paige and Hadley at the end of the show

Body Paint by Haddie

It was such a nice warm day here which is unusual for us here in Utah that I decided to take advantage of it and let Hadley try painting. Since she loves to mash and cream most of her meals I figured she would be a natural when it came to finger painting. She was a little timid at first but then she got into it.

Recycled

Bored again not much to write about so I thought I would show you the table that has been recycled a few times and am thinking it is time to change it again. The base of this table came from a table that we bought along time ago the top of the table came form my husband parents house that was the typical formica covered kitchen table that came with the extra leaves to it so we ripped off the formica and recovered it in some oak flooring that we rescued out of a building that was being demolished. The first time I did this I painted the base white and just sealed the oak with a clear finish then after we remodeled our old tv room into a dinning room I decided it need a face lift the first paint technique I tried was a copper patina effect did not like it so I started over by thinking *What if* I could make this look like a piece of material so I took left over paint from the dining room and did the first layer then I started to a tape out different ideas and added other colors to it, for the life of me can not remember really how I did it and will never try it again it was just one of those one and only things.

....PARENT - Job Description

Got this from my DIL Jennifer it sounds hard to me.

POSITION:
Mom, Mommy, Mama,! Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team players needed, for challenging,
permanent work in an
often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication
and organizational skills and be willing to work
variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends
and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to
primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in
far away cities!
Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,
until someone needs $5.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a
pack mule
and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat
in case, this time, the screams from
the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,
such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets
and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and
coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings
for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute,
an embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a
half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for
the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and
janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:
None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining,
constantly retraining and updating your skills,
so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:
Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because
of the assumption that college will help them
become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that
you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:
While no health or dental insurance, no pension,
no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and
no stock options are offered;
this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional
love,
and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.


Forward this on to all the PARENTS you know, in appreciation for everything
they do on a daily basis,
letting them know they are appreciated
for the fabulous job they do...
or forward with love
to anyone thinking of applying for the job.

** AND A FOOTNOTE: THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!! * *

APHORISM

Your laugh for today comes from my cousin Leeann , #19 is my favorite, thanks for the giggles!

An APHORISM is a short, pointed sentence expressing a wise or clever observation or a general truth. Here are some "gems."

1. The nicest thing about the future is that it always starts tomorrow.

2. Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail.

3. If you don't have a sense of humor, you probably don't have any sense at all.

4. Seat belts are not as confining as wheelchairs.

5. A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you're in deep water.

6. How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night?

7. Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without.

8. Why is it that at class reunions you feel younger than everyone else looks?

9. Scratch a cat and you will have a permanent job.

10. No one has more driving ambition than the boy who wants to buy a car.

11. There are no new sins; the old ones just get more publicity.

12. There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong number at 4 AM. It could be a right number.

13. No one ever says 'It's only a game.' when their team is winning.

14. I've reached the age where the happy hour is a nap.

15. Be careful reading the fine print. There's no way you're going to like it.

16. The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket.

17. Do you realize that in about 40 years, we'll have thousands of old ladies running around with tattoos? (And rap music will be the Golden Oldies!)

18. Money can't buy happiness - but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than in a Yugo.

19. After 50, if you don't wake up aching in every joint, you are probably dead!!

20. Always be yourself because the people that matter don't mind, and the ones who mind, don't matter.

*1976*

Still trying to get caught up on birthdays, this is Jared my second son he was born March 3, 1976. At the age of two I knew he was going to be hard to keep up with. He was born with no fear that included strangers, mad dogs, or anything else that moved fast. He could tolerate almost anything except socks that did not fit just right or tags on his shirts, trying to get him out the door sometimes was crazy if his socks did not fit just right he would keep taking them off and on till they did or go with out. I had a real fear of him being picked up by a stranger because he was so friendly he would go up to anybody and talk to them . At times he has a sixth sense about him if something is lost he can find it . He can pick out fossils in a pile of rocks he can find arrowheads in the dirt or Easter candy that I thought I had hidden well.
One deer hunting season Dennis's Uncle had lost a knife that his grandfather had made out of an old spring tooth plow it was a real family treasure, he had loaned it out to a friend and they had lost it up in the mountains. The next day Jared, Dennis and JD were up in the same mountains when Jared came across this knife he was so excited over the treasure he had found and what 8 year old boy would not be, not knowing that it belonged to his great uncle. When the three of them returned to camp Jared was showing off what he had found, Vernon was in shock that it had been found after he himself had gone back to find it. Jared knew that he would have to give it back after Vernon had told him how much meaning this knife had to him. Vernon's wife Ann was with them that day and being the kind hearted woman that she is she asked Vernon if he would will it to Jared, that is all it took for Jared he knew one day that knife would be his . From that point on it was called the Will -It knife. The next day back up on the mountain Jared asked if he could see the knife one more time, he figured out it was going to be along time before Vernon left this earthy life and the knife behind, but Vernon got such a kick out of Jared that he let him have it that very day.
One of the other things Jared has a knack for is letting secrets out of the bag never intentionally just not thinking far enough ahead. One Christmas Dennis had taken the kids out to buy a gift for me. I am sure all the way home Dennis told the kids to keep it a secret. At the dinner table that very night Jared announced to everyone that " You would have be so proud of Dad today that not once when he as standing in the long line of crowded shoppers did he get out of patience while buying you a new TV!" You should have seen the look that he got from his Dad and all the other kids. It just cracked me up even then Jared did not realize what he had done.
He is a comedian, he will be the one making me giggle on my death bed when I am on my way out. Love you Jared.

Five Generations

Dennis , Lee, Naomi, Jared and Connor

Through The Years

Seventy-Five to be exact! This is Dennis's lovely mother Ora Lee it is her birthday today. She grew up in Idaho then migrated down to Utah where she met a handsome young man from Monroe. I guess you could say it was love at first site and they have been together ever since .





It is hard to talk about one with out the other they really go hand in hand.
The love they show for each other and the family is truly an inspiration for us all. Her devotion to her faith, her husband and all her family is amazing. She was a New Born Intensive Care nurse for many years flying out to the four corner states transporting premature babies back to the University of Utah Hospital. She put in long hard hours helping save such tiny lives. And still enjoys taking care of some of her newest additions to the family tree!

This picture was taken at their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary with some of the great-grandchildren I think I have lost count as to how many have been added and soon to be added what a legacy!
This is the all the grandchildren and some spouses .
And of course Little Miss Sunshine who lights up her life one day of the week when they spend time together. Happy Birthday Mom you have been there throughout they years for me you have helped me through some hard times and I thank you , love Clydene.

Double the Fun *Jennifer and Brianna*

I am so behind on my birthday list. Need to wish these two Happy Birthday! Mother and daughter that share the same birthday, the same good looks, and most of all the love they have for our family.

Memory Box

Cheryl had an idea for Mom's birthday it was for all the kids to come up with a written memory. She asked Kadie and Kari to help out with her idea. Kari decorated up this little box with paint, paper, vinyl lettering and some little embellishments that now holds all the written memories of the grandchildren and great- grandchildren for her to read and enjoy. Thanks girls you did a great job.

Feelin-Great-At-Seventy-Eight

Here is a slide show from Moms party was waiting to get another few pictures but Aunt Sue told me to hustle so when I get the pictures I am waiting for I will re-post it. If you would like to check out the book that I made for my Mom go here .

Party Highlights

Practising blowing out candles.

Here are a couple of clips from Haddie's party she was so excited when her guests started to arrive.

iT's gReAt tO bE sEvEnTy EiGhT

Can you believe this lady is going to be 78 and she has no and I mean no gray hair! (well maybe just a titch) It's not that us girls have not tried to give her some and no Kacy does not color her hair. Since my sis Denice was coming in from the cheese state to visit we thought it was a good time to throw Mom a little party. I have been busy making up a little surprise for her and Kacy made up this cute invite. We all had such fun when we all got together recently for Uncle Tom's 80th birthday that we thought let's do it again soon. I think it was one of Mom's cousins that stated *It's a lot more fun getting together for birthdays than for funerals!* I agree with that so we are going to party.


Happy Birthday Mom!

My HEART loves your HEART

How can you not be smitten with this little face! It is hard to believe my *Little Miss Sunshine* is going to be two! She is really starting to become a little entertainer for us, I love it when she scowls and even when she is throwing a little tizzy fit, she can not help but make me smile ( much to her mothers dismay) There are times I just need to turn my head and laugh. I know when she does this at 16 it will not be so cute but for now I love it.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET PEA!
(cute photo by Kacy & more here)

The Big Rock Candy Mountain

This is my Step-grandmother Mary she was a part of my life when I was very young . Mary grew up in a very small town down south called Joseph. I knew that when ever she went down home for a visit that when she would return she would bring all of us kids candy from the Big Rock Candy Mountain. I would have dreams about this wonderful place and what it would look like. And after hearing the old song about it, it was a place all children would love to live.
After I was married I soon found out that my husband grandparents lived on the other side of Joseph and once I found that out it was my dream to go see this magical place. Well all I can say is in my eyes it was a big disappointment not that the beauty that surrounds this area itself is worth the trip but when you go expecting a mountain made out of candy it can be a little disappointing. One weekend my son JD had major truck failure when he Jennifer and Alex had gone down to Escalante which turned into an unexpected trip for us to go pick them up and tow them back home. So on the way back we stopped and let Alex go see what this magical place looked like, he to was crushed to see that the Lemon-aide Springs had dried up.

Alex and JD hiking up you guessed it the Lemon-aide Springs



the cigarette trees

This could look like a big carmel

The surrounding area is breath taking

i"M BaCk

Just in case you had not noticed I have been missing. Been working on a secret surprise for my Mom's birthday. What great fun it has been but lot's of hours working on the computer. Hopefully I can figure out a way to share it. We have lots of birthdays coming up besides Mom we have none other than Little Miss sunshine is turning two and Jen & Brianna share the same day together what are the odds that a mother and daughter share the same day?

Red Tin Heart

Catching your smile. . .
"I'll catch your smile on some one's face

Your whisper in the wind's embrace

Through diamond stars and songs and dreams

I find your love in everything

The sun, the sky, the rolling sea

All conspire to comfort me

From sorrow's edge life's beauty seems

To find your love in everything

I've come to trust the hope it brings

To find your love in everything

Even as I fall apart,

Even through my shattered heart

I'll catch your smile on some one's face.....amazing grace."

~Beth Nielsen Chapman

To my friend at Red Tin Heart, I started to read her way over a year ago when her name was put in to a prayer circle, due to her husbands accident when he had fallen and had broken his neck just like my Dad's. Where Dad passed quickly her John hung on and was even in rehab trying to rebuild his strength so I became interested in her stories she is amazing woman who has struggled thru some extreme hard times during this past year. John did not make it it has been a year for her today, I feel she could use some good thoughts and prayers sent her way, so if you have words of encouragement for her please send some her way.

You know your blog is boring when???

When you start posting pictures of a bathroom! I needed to do a quick spruce up of the basement bathroom one weekend. Took down the ugly wall paper border, it was so ugly that it had even started to grow mold( not due to lack of my cleaning it) Took the natural finished pine vanity and painted it black and distressed it then went and got some of the barn wood I had been collecting and put it to good use other than hiding in the garage where no one could see it. Dennis and I framed out the mirror and made a new towel rack. Found a Roy Rogers and Dale Evans clock and hung it by one of the boys old pair of boots. Made a new shower curtain got a new rug and some tin accessoires wah lah a rustic latrine !For those who might not know who Roy and Dale are go to Happy Trails to you.