Monday's Memory

Santa

Notice the Santa on the Fireplace? I'm not sure if this was his first Christmas appearance, or if he came a few years earlier, but I do know that he was still hanging up this last Christmas. His place of honor has changed, since we don't have a fireplace. He now hangs on the wall, surrounded by lots of stockings. And he doesn't look quite as perky...but cut him some slack, after all, he is over 55 years old!
There is a fun story about how he joined our family...Mom used to work graveyard at a bank. One Christmas Eve, after the regular day shift left for home, the bank decorations were lying around. Mom spotted Santa and wanted him, so she just took him! I'm not sure how she got him out the door when work was over, but she managed to get him home and up on the fireplace. I guess that makes him a "hot" Santa! And it may explain Mel's Disneyland problem...genetics!

Monday's Memory

Mom

As I reread the last entry about Mom's birthday, I realized that I told about her birthday, but not her... so for my memory today I'd like to talk about Mom and some of my favorite memories about her. I obviously don't have a memory about this picture, but I thought it was pretty cool. This is her Grandma Thomas...that would make her my Great Grandma. In the picture with Grandma Thomas is Mom's brother, Jack, and little sister, Lucile. Mom is about 4 or 5. I think the car in the background is amazing!



Hubba Hubba...Again, no memory of this, since I wasn't even a twinkle in her eye. But isn't she a beauty! Mom was a very popular young lady, with lots of friends. She was even her high school's student body president, the first girl to have that honor. She sang in a group called "The Blue Notes", played lots of tennis, and says that her high school days were the best. This picture was actually taken after high school, when she came to California to go to USC.




Mom is always ready to have fun. We have spent some wonderful times on road trips and camping trips. Her kids and grandkids are probably the most important things in her life and she loves spending time with them. We all have gotten a strong sense of family from her. Traditions are important; Christmas Eve dinners with everyone wearing Christmas socks, chili dinners on Halloween, beach cookouts, and Easter breakfasts in the park. This picture was taken a few years ago at the park. What fun to see her trying to ride after so many years. One of my favorite pictures of Mom...her Halloween costume. The outfit really belonged to Mel. As the overalls started to wear out, he sewed patches to hold them together. And as I understand it, this hat has really been around a very long time. After Mom retired, both Amy and I have worn this outfit on several occasions. Mom, you have been an amazing influence to many people, family, friends, and students. I hope you know how much you are loved.

Happy Birthday Mom

This week was mom's birthday...88 years old! I made her a nice breakfast and then had to go to school. But her friend Jeannie Wilson, and Aunt Agnes both came to visit during the day. That afternoon, Amy and the kids came and Mark and Kris showed up for dinner...pizza, mom's favorite. She had a great birthday, tired but happy.
As I was looking for pictures for this post, I realized that there are very few early pictures of mom. This picture is when she was 4...she was "Miss Liberty" in the 4th of July parade.

Monday's Memory

Cookies Nursery School

I don't have a very good memory...just ask anyone in my family and they'll confirm this fact. I don't remember much about my life before 5th or 6th grade. But one of my "flashes" takes me back to nursery school. I must have been around four. I can remember being on a big stage, dancing. There was a boogie-woogie number, a hula, and this ballet number. I think it is so fun to realize that I have a picture of both Amy and Emma at about the same age in ballet poses too. I love this picture because it looks like I'm loving it, all dresses up and fancy. And the ringlets are classic!

Send in the Clowns

Amy outdid herself this year with the kids birthday party...a circus better than Ringley Brothers puts on. The back yard was set up with all kinds of carnival games, food booths, a candy table, body boppers, and even a popcorn machine. But my favorite part was the circus acts performed under the "Big Top." Carson acted as the ring master, introducing the various acts. Emma was a very talented tightrope walker, and Carson was an awesome strong man, succesfully lifting 10,000 pounds! Wyatt performed an amazing feat, shooting an elephant out on a "cannon". It's a good thing that Todd's juggling is better than his elephant catching. Tucker even got into the act with his ferocious lion imitation. (No, that was not a brown tutu around his neck!) But I think the people who had the most fun had to be the clowns, Wyatt and Amy. They were adorable, especially Wyatt as he got to put a plate of whipped cream into his mother's face...I've never seen his grin so huge...a kids dream come true.

Birthdays

Emma and Wyatt turned five this last week and Owen turned one!! They had to make a quick trip to Silver City, New Mexico for Todd's Grandmas funeral, so their birthdays were spent in the van. Because of this, they actually got birthday pancakes at the hotel, and several birthday cakes. Happy birthday Emma, Wyatt, and Owen.

Mary and Martha

Last week we had an awesome discussion in Relief Society about Mary and Martha. It gave me an opportunity to do some soul searching. I know that we need to develop both of these character traits, that we need to be able to serve as well as seek the spiritual. But what really hit me was a picture that Lori Fronk had on the table. It showed Martha in the kitchen, doing her thing, with a big, ugly scowl on her face. She resented the fact that she was working while Mary was with the Savior.
That picture hit me hard because that must be what I look like much of the time. At a family dinner, I find myself in the kitchen, unhappy, because I'm doing the work...I'm the one watching the kids...I'm the one picking up. I'm serving, but not very happy about it. I'm a great martyr.
I've known this about me for a while and I have been working on it. Here's to finding joy in serving.

Joy

Joy comes in all sizes and shapes. This last week, it came in the shape of a one year baby old named Owen. As I was holding him, he reached his little arms around my neck and gave me the biggest hug...a real hug! And then, to complete the moment, I got a wonderful, open-mouthed kiss as only babies can give. He melted my heart.

Monday's Memory

Spider Man

A childhood hero of Todd's was Spider man. He had tee shirts, underwear, PJ's, and even a piggy bank with "Spidy" on them. But his favorite had to be his doll. (Todd would probably be upset if he knew I said he had a doll, so let's call it a stuffed toy.) I'm not sure where he got it, but it was always treasured.
Tayson also loved Spider man. So I passed "Spidy" on to him. Wouldn't it be cool to be passed on to a third generation?!