My big sister

Happy Birthday Teresa!

Growing up in a family with 8 children being spoiled, in the traditional sense, is rarely heard of. I realize now how spoiled I really was. I always had a friend to play with even if my friends privilege was revoked (which hardly ever happened. Yes, I'm an angel.). I was hugged and loved and reminded how wonderful I am. My parents never missed an opportunity to remind us how much we meant to them. However with 8 children, a demanding job, all our activities, church callings and for mom there was also the babysitting kids, sometimes personal attention was extremely limited.

This is where Teresa stepped in. Teresa, for those who don't know, is my oldest sister. Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when he sent her first. She forged the way for the rest of us. How grateful I am to her for being the "first". She broke mom and dad in on all the hard stuff like bikes, sleepovers, being the first teen, makeup, sports, driving, dating and college. She was blest with an ability to lead which she developed to an art. Teresa introduced barbies, music and dance, boys and the world of fashion into our home. To list her talents would take forever so here is a sampling; she dances, incredibly intelligent, gardens, teaches, travels, wins baking contests, designs, writes, expert hostess, wonderful mother and makes great smoothies.
An invitation to one of her garden tea parties is a great privilege.



So many of the major changes in my life are marked by her influence. Like when I dented the van and had to spend all my money for my senior year's school clothes on fixing the van. She sent me clothes while she was on her mission because she knew how I was feeling. Then when it was time for me to leave for college she was my first roommate. She helped me register for classes and find a place to live. She helped me plan and arrange my wedding.(Did I mention she was pregnant at the time.) Teresa has been there for births of babies, blessings, baptisms, babysitting, birthdays, accidents and illnesses. She is a wonderful bargain shopper. Which with 6 boys is the only way we can shop. She is always thinking of how she can help others. Most recently she has been there to take care of our mom and I know mom will agree, she has done a marvelous job.

Teresa, you give so much and expect so little. You make the world a better place just by being in it. You see its beauty and share your findings. You make me want to be a better person. Today on your birthday I wanted to celebrate your birth. I know I am not the only one, though you make me feel most important(another Teresa specialty), but I am privileged to be in your life and you in mine. You have style, grace and beauty which have only improved with each year. I love you.

Elevation

This certainly doesn't happen every day! Today while Justin was at work an airplane crashed a block away from our restaurant! The plane was an amphibious 1946 Republic Seabee that took off from the airport about 10 A.M. and suffered power failure seconds into take-off. From there it went through the power lines right behind the restaurant and crashed! Took out power for more than half the city for most of the day. Justin got a day off!!

The two men in the aircraft survived the accident and and were rushed to the hospital, and power was restored at about five-o-clock. Just in time for me to make it to work. Lucky me.

One scared ladybug

Today I was looking for Preston and Trevyn because I knew they hadn't finished their jobs and were most likely doing something they weren't suppose to. I found them outside on the sidewalk throwing something into the air and then watching it drop to the ground. Preston was getting rather upset. Trevyn kept telling whatever was in their hand to fly. My response, "What in the world are you doing?" They replied matter of factly "Trying to get this stupid ladybug to fly!"



Time for mom to solve the problem so two little boys can get back to work. I took the ladybug in my hand to examine it. It was quite dead. I informed the boys of the current state of the poor little ladybug. Preston replied that I was wrong "its not dead mom it's just scared." Yeah, scared to death. The Monte Python Dead Parrot sketch came to mind.

He continued to explain that it just needed to live on the roses and eat aphids. It would then take the aphid food home to its babies so they all could live. They would then come back and eat more aphids to protect our roses and thank us for the food. Preston has a wonderful imagination.

I skillfully distracted them and tossed the ladybug into the rosebush. They were very happy their plan worked and I was able to get them back inside to finish their jobs.

And we all lived happily ever after...until they found the ants.

Howdy Pilgrim

I mentioned before how I am reminded that I am not living in a metropolis. Further evidence on this matter was again presented when Justin was looking out the window of the restaurant and noticed a bit of a traffic jam, which is cause to stop and stare because such novelties rarely occur in Burley. The cause of said traffic jam was a wagon train! This was no little train either. It consisted of not one, not two, not three but four covered wagons and a buggy. No, we do not have any Amish in the area. We just live in the sticks. Tractors, bulls, tumbleweeds why not wagons?

Funny how that happens

Many of you know of Justin's little spill on the motorcycle he took last summer. Well, during his recovery we had a chance to talk about what he would do if he could pick any profession. Many of you also know that Justin is a talented artist. He said that if he could pick anything he would like to try custom painting on motorcycles. He got his wish. He just finished custom painting the motorcycle he wrecked. It is being rebuilt and Justin got the chance paint it as part of the payment for replacing the bike. Just from a few people looking at the pictures he took with his phone he might have three more vehicles to do. We'll see how it turns out.
Not bad for his first job.

Front Fender Gas tank Rear fender

Thanks for letting me brag about my awesome talented husband.

Running of the Bulls

The three younger boys and I were out running errands before lunch on Friday and they were being so good to wait in the car while I paid the final bill. I was hopping back into the burb when Trevyn shouted "There's a bulldog in the road. No, wait not a dog just a bull." I laughed because he is such a cutie and always saying something silly. I was sure he got is backwards. I looked in my review mirror but only saw that traffic was backed up so I continued on up the block. When I got to the next corner Trevyn said "See its a black one." Sure enough as I checked for traffic before crossing the intersection there was a huge black bull, complete with horns and trailing snot!

We followed it a couple of blocks because it was getting close to an elementary school. Being the caring mother that I am this is a concern and hey, it was a bull. Any young boy will tell you how cool that is! The boys were so excited. We watched as a couple of cowboy looking guys (they had cowboy hats) got out of there vehicles to get it off the road.
We have no idea where it came from or where it went but Trevyn was happy the rest of the day.

I try to pretend that we don't live in a small hic town but then just as I start to believe it a tumbleweed will cross the street in front of me or a bull will trot on down the main street running through town. Reality check complete.

Gesundheit

It is already that time of year for kids to stay home and give their teachers a break. Despite the weather and temperature they still call it spring break. This gives the children the illusion that it is time to play outside without coats and they run to put on the shorts. This unfortunately leads to colds.

I have yet to receive the Florence Nightingale award for my nursing skills and bedside manner. My father-in-law has expressed his gratitude that when he is sick he doesn't have to be at my house. I have friends that can make you feel better with their thoughtfulness and sympathy. It is second nature for them to know just what you need. I admire this quality for in this area I find my skills greatly lacking. So you can imagine the joy that fills my heart as I hear the first child sniffle and bark.





(Our nephew Garrett. No, that isn't an icicle.)


I would like to believe that by sheer self-discipline one can be cured from whatever ails them or decided that the virus or bug which managed to penetrate the awesome defenses of my body doesn't exist. My poor children because of my views on health care may never even consider going into the medical field.

I am not against going to the doctor. I just don't like to. I would rather find out the cause and eliminate it rather then treat the symptoms. Therefore until I find this mythical physician who can help me accomplish my goal we don't run to the doctor when the noses begin to run. Instead my children will hear phrases like "be tough" and one from my childhood "well, what have you done to take care of it?"

Keeping in touch

I am well know for my poor skills in "keeping in touch". In fact my first year of college my dad had to leave a rather sarcastic message about my mom getting out of jail and other such ridiculous comments just to drive home the fact that I hadn't called or written to them in oh, 5-6 months. I do however enjoy seeing family and friends and picking up right where we left off as though we have been in contact every day.
To be honest though I am quite content to be in my own little world and think about all of the people I should "keep in touch" with. Not that I don't want to know how they are or the exciting events happening in there lives but I tend to assume that everyone is in a similar situation I am in and therefore hope they understand my lack of correspondence.
I am a mom of 6 active boys and try to keep every ones schedules straight, homework turned in on time, cub scout projects finished, scout campouts prepared for, snowboarding rides arranged and diapers changed. I also have the opportunity to work. I am active in my church, which brings additional responsibilities with it. I am told time and time again to keep my priorities straight. Well, by the time I take care of all the top priorities its somewhere around 1-2am the laundry is still waiting, the Christmas cards never got sent, the camera full of pictures as well as the boxes of scrap booking that I should have done years ago, all waiting patiently.
But there is hope. We live in an age of technology when I can type in one spot and wether everyone or noone reads it I can still check "keep in touch" off my priority list (my lists are a whole topic by themselves). Believe it or not my family and friends did make it to the priority list.