Caleb took a dive off a stage into a brick wall hitting and inuring only .... his head.
August 2013
Neal and Nicoles's Wedding
Miles attempted to fly backwards off of a spinning chair and injured... his head.
He sustained a cracked skull, and some swelling on the outer head but fortunately he was blessed to have no pressure on his brain. We also were able to compare his CT scan with the one taken 5 years ago and his head has healed nicely from his surgeries in 2001. (We'll take our perks or silver linings however we can get them) He's on Dr.'s orders to take it easy including no computers, physical activities such as PE class or sports and he's to take a break from practicing his instruments)
Please do not get married in August.... it doesn't end well for my children's heads.
I am unsure if this has anything to do with the fact that.....
August 1994
Patrick and Nova's Wedding
To my knowledge no heads were injured. But I did eat a bug... accidentally.
Don't get me started on September Weddings and runaways!...
We planned a day at Liberty Park, one of my favourite summer water park getaways in town. It's a relaxing atmosphere with plenty of exciting and simple fun for kids of many ages. We determined that for our purposes the under 12 crowd would have a water play jr. day at Liberty Park and I think they had an enjoyable time. Here they were taking a break from running through the splash pad to make music with water bottles with varying amounts of water in them.
Paddle boats was the surprise water activity of the day for the jr. crowd. We have been to this park a few times and never mentioned that paddle boats were available. Our group size meant we needed three paddle boats. We all compared tired leg and difficult steering mechanism stories when we docked. The boats weren't exactly kid friendly. The seats were adjustable but not enough so that the kids could reach the peddles. We managed to switch driver mid ride without anyone falling in thankfully.
I wish I had a photo of Valerie's crew out sailing. Valerie ended up kneeling in the back and leaning up front to assist with the steering. Both of her shipmates needed slightly longer legs for peddling to be more effective. The paddle boats were fun, but definitely could use some maintenance and or some updating.
I was fairly nervous heading out with Whittaker and Alyssa rear facing and out of arms reach. It was difficult to maneuver with the life jacket on. The ride was calm and fun.
By the end I was tired of constantly trying to turn around to check on the two little ones, so Kenzie and I brought them up front and I peddled with one on my lap while Alyssa helped steer. It made the ride so much more of a work out and less comfortable, enjoyable.
Three 8 year olds cheering us on!
You can't tell from the shore, but I told Whittaker and Alyssa to hold hands, then they wouldn't be able to lean over the side of the boat. They were so well behaved and adorable back there holding hands.
The locals couldn't bear to watch the amateurs on the pond trying to steer the boats.
They finally could stand it no longer. They set out on the water to show us how it should be accomplished gracefully.
Keeping hydrated was important on this 102 degree August day that we chose to spend completly outdoors!
Not every moment was filled with fun and cheerfulness by all. In fact it took Cooper over an hour at the beginning to decide that he wanted to take part in any of the water day at all. Then Derek spent some time at the end of our long day impatiently waiting for a turn on the paddle boats.
Of course, there were some who were so unimpressed by the fun and excitement that they slept through it all.
All in all it was a good day for the jr. crowd... the adult chaperones may have taken in a little too much sun and gone nutso though!
The Olympics are over and we won. We all won. Everyone in their own way. We won by participation. The event is after all meant to bring the world together and it did. We won because instead of standing around water coolers, bus stops and playgroups and discussing depressing economic times and devastating catastrophes, instead for a while we discussed incredible feats of athleticism by athletes of the world. We discussed incredible record breaking races and events. We mourned em-pathetically with those who met with unfortunate accidents that thwarted their efforts at achieving their goals. But this has come to an end. As I tucked Duncan in after the closing ceremonies tonight he had tears in his eyes.
"I'm going to miss the Olympics."
They were inspiring, incredible and emotional. But it's only a two year wait until the summer Olympics. He was intrigued.
"The summer Olympics? What kind of skiing do they have then?"
No, it's very different. There's running, and jumping, and gymnastics and swimming.
"Can we watch that too?"
Sure, if you go to bed now. :-)
Winter too seems to be coming to an end. It may not have been much of a winter for us it seems but an end it is. There may be more storms but spring is calling, it is awakening feelings of excitement and gardening dreams are surfacing. Now time just needs to be on our side. Time. That ever elusive and ever moving forward time. It doesn't stand still, doesn't sleep, doesn't wait, time. But it's time that will make what began only moments ago as February suddenly slip away and become March.
And March will fly by too. Fly by with fun events and moments of it's own to cherish and tuck away in our memory vault. Looking at the calendar this evening to plan out the month and start penciling in the activities on the horizon, I'm forced to consider it March madness. As if February wasn't fool of it's follies.... But we'll pack it in and enjoy the roller coaster that we call day to day living.
And part of that madness will include birthdays for,
4th - Eden, Miles
7th - Valerie
16th - Mackenzie
And as if that isn't enough I noticed today as I looked over the Primary birthday roster there are 11 other children just in our neighbourhood alone having a birthday this month. We ought to put up balloons on the street signs and just have a neighbourhood birthday bash!
other activities and days to create madness in March ,
picking up Daddy from the airport and handing him our to do list that we created while he was gone... he'll appreciate that we missed him!
changing our clocks again on the 14th so that we can lose yet another hour of precious sleep... it better not confuse Whittaker! I finally have him sleeping on a somewhat regular schedule.
St. Patrick's day. Love the Irish, love the green, I think we'll delve into a little more Irish heritage research this year now that we know about Patrick's deep Irish roots.
Loney Saga.... a long awaited conclusion.... yes... it's been a year since I sat down and began this saga. It's about time I sat again.
I began Lent a bit early.... if you think I'm going to give up something else you're insane. Giving up dairy is HUGE! Ok.. so I didn't technically give it up for Lent. I never have done any giving up for Lent. But since I had to give up dairy for Whittaker's sake anyway, I might as well claim that I'm giving it up for Lent and get double duty out of it!
Of course the day to day scouts, school, seminary, errands, chores, book clubs, daydreaming, projects, bedroom makeovers, blogging, cooking, exercising, squeeze in a trip to the ranch, piano lessons, Dr. and ortho. appt.'s, movie nights, lie abouts and general goofing off and more, will somehow make it in to the schedule without missing a beat... and we'll just love it!
They seek him here, they seek him there Those Frenchies, seek him everywhere Is he in Heaven or is he in hell, That damned Elusive Pimpernel!
Back in November of last year whilst Valerie was making one of her visits I learned that my cultural training had been lacking. In a conversation with her and a neighbour they learned that I had never heard of 'The Scarlet Pimpernel'! "Oh horrors!!"
This play/movie had apparently been very memorable to both of them in the past and was so excellent that they simply couldn't let it go... I was required to see it post haste! So it was that we rented the movie and commenced watching it one late night.
They did not disappoint me... It was a great movie!
Fast forward a few weeks when a flyer arrived in the mail advertising Hale Center Theaters shows for the 2009 season... and lo and behold 'The Scarlett Pimpernel' was listed. Not only listed but opening on Aug. 11th.. my neighbour / friends birthday!... I knew just what to do!
Earlier in the fall the kids and I had gone on a field trip to tour the Hale Center Theater... at the conclusion of the tour we received a voucher for a free ticket to any show in the upcoming year.... Bells started ringing in my head and a plan was launched! I spoke with her husband regarding her birthday, 10 months in the future, and I ordered the tickets for opening night... her birthday!!
Fast Forward... February 2009... I'm pregnant and learn that my due date is in late Aug. 2009... it's ok.. I can go to a play when I'm big and clumsy... I don't have anything to do except get more excited for August!
Fast Forward... July 2009 .... Doctor schedules my c-section... I opt for Aug. 12th instead of the 11th so that I can still attend the play.... a few days later my friend casually mentions that her parents are coming to town and they are having a family reunion in August now instead of September..... of course the week of her birthday... After a few questions I have to tell her of my surprise birthday plans that I had for her. I go to the theater box office and reschedule the tickets for after Whittaker's birth. The date my friend and I decide to go that we both have available next... is Sept. 24th. Oh well... so it's not her actual birth date... and it's not opening night anymore... and I had to spoil the surprise instead of whisking in and kidnapping her as I had planned.... I probably wouldn't have been able to do much whisking the day before my c-section anyway!!!
Fast Forward .. Sept. 23rd, 2009... Miles, who has been waiting for 4 months now for the Scout pack meeting so that he can finally receive the awards he's been working on is scheduled after many postponings to Sept. 24th, 2009. AHHHHH.... Well... Grandma promises to take pictures and Sarah agrees to video the awards... So, without any further ado.....
Sept. 24th, 2009... we attend 'The Scarlet Pimpernel'.... OH VALERIE... it was incredible.... you totally should have flown in from Virginia for the evening!!!! They will likely do it again in 4 years .... so plan for it now!
For those who haven't ever seen it... ever heard of it.... it's worth the time and effort.. but be sure to watch the 1982 version with Jane Seymour... it's better than some of the other versions... (I watched another version last night that wasn't as good.. perhaps there are others.... I'll be sure to check them out soon!)
They seek him here, they seek him there Those Frenchies, seek him everywhere If he's not on Netflix, nor TV Try your local library!
Since going to Portland is essentially visiting grandpa's for us... and I had responses to that effect from Valerie and Patrick I thought I'd post them separately here...
VALERIE
I loved holidays at my grandparents. We would do our Easter egg hunts there, and Christmas Eve. We had all sorts of Christmas Eve traditions. We did a Pinata, had a ornament hunt, a wonderful dinner, but the best was the Christmas Pageant. All of us cousins would dress up and put the pageant on together. Thanksgiving dinner was another wonderful day. My Grandmother would cook all day, and the smells and tastes were divine. My Grandparents had a fabulous play room, and we would play with our parents old toys (Barbie dolls from the 60s with bobbed hair) and watch TV while using my Grandmother's exercise equipment. One of us would be on the rowing machine, another the treadmill, another the stationary bike and another the trampoline. We would play pool, making up our own rules, as we had no idea how to play, and could barely lift the cue sticks. We loved chalking our cues. We loved watching all of my Grandparent's movies, "Charlotte's Web," "Pippi Longstocking," and as we got older all of the "Road Tos" with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, and "Alfred Hitchcok Presents." We enjoyed trying to pick out his cameo in the episode. PATRICK
By the time I arrived at the ranch my grandma nini (nee nee) was living in an apartment in pinedale... I visited her a few times there... she fell and we moved her into the retirement center but an apartment type living situation... with partial care... I visited her every sunday for a long time... we took her the sacrament.. and then after church always went for a longer visit... probably until she died.. actually she got very sick just before she died about three months and she was moved to another section of the retirement center for more care and us kids didn't get to visit down there except a couple times for a few minutes. She was all together her faculties... sharp as a tack... we had nice visits... she had a candy dish and we could help ourselves to mini chocolate bars. (note.. the retirement center is across the street from the chapel.) my dad's dad had already died before I came to the ranch
A cross country move from the Pacific Ocean as a student to the Atlantic ocean as a bonafide working man. Sparky is officially a grown up... And lucky for us he had to drive across the country through Utah so we became a pit stop. Not the normal type with oil changes, and tire rotations, but instead with as much as we can pack into a three day pitstop with cousins and siblings who don't know when the next visit might be!
The night before Channa departed for her long drive to visit family in Canada we got together for a quick cookout. Tinfoil dinners were good but it's the dessert that got us all out to assist Patrick cooking at the firepit. We did traditional marshmallows for those who wanted them, but the new favourite is the sandwich desserts of Apples and cream cheese with cinnamon and brown sugar or a s'mores sandwich.
An afternoon of fun with playdough. Cooper wasn't sure at first that he wanted to have anything to do with this activity.... but after an hour or so he was the only one remaining in the Dining room still impressed with all the ways he could manipulate the dough.
Habitats became a very big hit during this pit stop as well. Elaborate habitats with room dividers and grass carpets for all the plastic snakes and frogs they could find!... I drew the line at live ones!!
The new Oquirrh Mountain Temple was having its' open house this month and we got tickets to go during their quick little pit stop. We had attended the open house for the Draper Temple back in cold February. It had been a very cold and crowded event since we had tickets for 8 pm on Saturday night. This time we had tickets for 9:30 in the morning on a Thursday morning and it was very calm and relaxing... in comparison we were almost alone in the Temple! We were so glad to have such an experience together squeezed into our three days.
A morning hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon was planned for first thing Friday morning... By the time we had finished a quick breakfast the rain was pouring down and we knew the plans would have to change... we considered another game of clue. However the skies cleared up after only an hour or so and we decided by noon that we could still venture out on a hike. So glad we did.. and I'm glad that at literally the last minute I opted to join them. We enjoyed a romp through the forest and over hill and dale following after the leader (Sparky). Tall grasses made it a jungle, and the exposed section of pipeline leading into a small cave was a submarine marooned here long ago. The water was high and fast from all our recent rains but it was lovely. We frolicked and romped and generally had a great time.
After returning from our hike the neighbourhood children greeted us at home with what they had found while we were gone! ... A snake... I went inside... but the kids fascinated with the reptilian adventure accompanied Sparky to the canal to rescue the little water snake.
Our days were full with fun and family and friends. Our last evening with Sparky in town we discovered that the Shumways were also visiting in town. We were so glad they could squeeze in a quick visit. Time with family and friends always goes by way too quickly.
(Just a side note... for those following my twisted mind... It was almost a complete year ago that this grand lady Janet Shumway inspired me to begin stalking.. blogging in the first place! And just think... she's visiting at my house now!.. see sometimes stalking can pay off... ok, those who need a refresher into my psychotic psyche can read about it here!or just click on her name in the label cloud to the right on the blog!)
We enjoyed Sparky's home made pizza's for dinner and some apple cobbler and then..... yes even though we had already filled our day with fun... we played another game of Clue!
Saturday morning found us wondering what to do. The past few days had been long and full. Sparky had left to continue driving eastward and Valerie and the girls had a few days before we would be putting them on the plane to join him in Virginia. We found ourselves feeling a bit lazy and exhausted.... we lounged on the couches while the kids entertained themselves with potato heads and math manipulatives... After an hour or so of vacantly watching them we inquired what they were up to.... They sure showed us up! These energy efficient creations were amazing!... Miles had created a home for their recently made cottonball catterpillar creations that was energy efficient in the extreme, with wind turbines, a hydro electric power dam and solar panels. Caleb, the potato building inspector, was quickly overcome by an aggressive Alyssa who didn't think potato heads should be used by teenagers! Sarah and Audrey had designed an entire village with magical properties I couldn't keep up with!
There was so much squeezed into every moment.
Clue games Wii races Playing at the park Jumping on the Trampoline (boing, boing) Chasing chickens Clue games Chit chatting Wii races Plenty of tasty food and way to many goodies! Clue games Bike rides Enjoyed every moment we had together!!
We sure like to squeeze a lot into pit stops! Valerie even had a surprise visitor who joined us for a game of clue and some french pastries and cinnamon rolls. Our visitors tend to overlap each other... and Jim and his girls arrived a few hours before I took Valerie and her little girls to the airport! So as we bid farewell and good luck to Sparky and his girls we welcome Jim and his girls for more adventures.
I've introduced "Roquefort" the rat before. The IKEA plush that Duncan has. Cooper also has one. He has "Cheese". The boys acquired these friends at the same time. How they tell them apart is beyond me! Derek recently acquired his own rat.... he's joining the big boys! He has "Cheddar"... the white rat.
Why the fixation? I've no clue... and one might think they would shy away from them after what our cats brought in one night early this spring! In one weeks time the cats decided to brag about their hunting prowess! EWWW... the screeches could probably be heard in many areas of the world....
Thankfully, the hunt had been successful in not only catching but ending the wet, icky rats life. But discovering it in the hallway was not what Valerie wanted to do.
I have a love/hate relationship with the doggy door. There is a slight draft thanks to the doggy door, and the smallest visitors to my house enjoy the freedom to access the great outdoors... Derek and Alyssa!! I have been grateful that I don't have to be on top of letting the dog out to do her business, or making sure that the cats have come in for the night.... BUT.... as for the 'I'm-still-trying-to-erase-the-image-from-my-mind-rat-in-my-house' I'm tempted to put in a new door ASAP. Unfortunately this isn't the first 'critter'... It is however just this spring. We've been here 2 years and this spring they decided to bring their 'game' indoors.
The bird wasn't deceased and banged into one window and then another as we scrambled quickly to remove the screens so it could fly out... I'm not a bird fan in the house, never have been! The second bird ended up downstairs though and the mess of feathers as it attempted to escape the paws of Figaro.... I clogged the vacuum more than once!
The very worst was the mouse though... Audrey was visiting for this particular intrusion and found the guest intriguing. Duncan was quick to inform that he was brave. Sarah wanted to rescue her shoe from the Den where the dazed but oh yes still alive mouse was hiding out! I wanted it gone... and not to tell his friends and family about our welcoming doggy door either, but remind them about the two cats that would do them in should they ever try to darken our doorstep!
Thankfully since that dreadful early spring week... we've been critter free, except of course for Roquefort, Cheese and Cheddar... but I've come to terms with these three rats! Oddly the cats aren't even interested in them!
In coming up with uniquely personal birthday blogs for over 100 people in a years time I oftentimes am stumped with how to approach each persons birthday blog... but none has stumped me as much as Valeries did! I couldn't come up with a kind angle for anything. Which is an awful realization when you know that Valerie is a kind soul and deserving of a kind wish on her birthday! As I looked through some photos that you had downloaded onto my computer last summer I began to wonder if perhaps you were trying to blackmail me somehow....
And then I realized I could turn it around and blackmail you back... I have photos of adorable moments that you have yet to blog and I could threaten to blog them before you get the chance. but then I began to wonder about my own psyche and why it was that I couldn't come up with a pleasant Valerie birthday blog and what it really would be saying about me if I were to go forward with such unpleasant and unprofessional behaviour.... so I Googled your name to see what other angle I might take and upon finding this....
According to one version, she was pressured to marry Duke Stephen, who was a pagan. For her refusal, he had her beheaded. The incident most insistently retold about St Valerie is that she was beheaded for her faith and then carried her own head to set before her bishop, Saint Martial, who had converted her.
The original Latin clan name, Valerius, is masculine and denotes strength, health or boldness. Valeria is simply the feminine form of this. Both masculine and feminine given names are derived via French into other languages.
In Catholic Europe, given names always related the individual to a saint, so the popularity of a name often reflected the importance of the cult of a saint. There were several important saints who bore the name and were widely venerated in the middle ages, as well as more locally in recent times. St Valerie of Limoges probably exercised the greatest influence in spreading the name. Her cult was practised on the very important Way of St James and, as a cephalophore, she became a favourite subject for the early modern ceramics industry.
I realized... I was mild in comparison to what I found (not wishing to send you a beheading wish) and felt vindicated.
And No... a Simple Have a Happy Birthday... would not have been sufficient!
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie... what can I say... these blogs are in part all your fault! If you hadn't come to visit, and you hadn't laughed at Janet's amusing blog, then I wouldn't have read it and I wouldn't have stayed up all night and become inspired. And if you hadn't been here to show me how to set up a Google reader then I would not be the obsessed and possessed blogger being accused of falling off the face of the earth when I don't blog for 10 days!
So... it's all your fault... Happy Birthday anyway!
However it would not be fair of me to truly blame any of my foibles on you! Unless of course you don't get the job in Utah and move to some remote corner of the earth and then I don't know if I can be held accountable for my blogging actions then! Duncan was in tears the other day because the house down the street across from Ambers' just sold and we couldn't figure out why he was so sad about it. We reminded him that it has been empty and now a family will move in and maybe there will be a new friend... To which he replied.."No, Valerie can't buy it now and let Audrey run up and down the street to my house!" Perhaps we should have let him know that the Utah job is still a hundred miles away! We're just glad it isn't the thousand that you are now!
I'm not sure if we'll ever be able to untangle ourselves from the many ways we have our bodies crossed to ensure you get the job! I still think we should go appeal to the hiring department ourselves! I'm sure it would be the best birthday present of all but the stars may have something different in mind, and of course as a member of the star alliance (as SuperNova that I am) I've done all that is in my power to do on your behalf!!
In all honesty your visits have been charming and your girls are delightful. As long as Sparky continues to let Pat and Caleb beat him at MarioKart he'll be allowed to visit again as well. I hope we can make a visit this summer work and where ever you end up you must have a camera and mic hooked up to your computer so the kids can stay in touch! (we're having way too much fun with it here) I'm afraid the blog addiction is strong and you will continue to be inundated by the mindless fodder that escapes from my fingers as I bumbingly type along! I refuse to be treated for my blogging afflictions!
As far as birthdays go we didn't have our annual birthday bash for all the close birthdays this year... instead celebrating each individually... sometimes that's just the way it crumbles... so I hope you are spoiled silly today and the gourmet chef you hired in years past visits again to delight your taste buds!
Alyssa for most adorable niece to pitter patter through my home! click here
Channa for dealing with only half a face the longest and pretending to be interested in all my blogging.... I know it's just so you can be favoured a little more than Amber!
Mum for persevering and holding on to all those treasured memories! Forties File Fridays will continue in 2009... I'll ignore all protests and groaning! John for meeting the most famous person this year Prince Charles!
Jill for staying the busiest and still choosing to find time to read my blog!
i cant speak for everyone, but here is my response.. the questions are great and fun, nothing wrong with them.. when i read them, i instantly have visions and memories that come to mind... but unfortuneatly i am usually in a hurry, dont have time to respond right then and there, and it is just so hard to get back to it, and take the time that a good question and vivid memories command.. it has a very busy time for me, and i cant even blame xmas..it isnt even a factor for me yet,, but i work mon-fri, i am single parenting dayton thru his hockey and school, trying to spell myself between town and the island, attend daytons game on the weekends, see doug at some point, my singing career, rehearsals, poster making, advertising, press release deadlines etc. the list goes on and on.. and to take the time to get back to the question at hand is often difficult at best... but rest assured that your requests are not the only things in my life that are suffering from back burner syndrome... i have not done a lick of anything for xmas, none of the usual, like baking, xmas partys, shopping, decorating.. none of it!! i cant remember the last time, i called someone , or sent an email, just to chat and catch up, i have not acknowledged a birthday for longer than i can remember,, including yours, the most recent.. and not because i forgot... that whole week of your birthday i thot of you, but did i take the time to call or write? no,, i have lists ofunfinished projects as long as my arm, and another arms length of projects i dream of an d have not yet begun,, so it is the same with the 40's questions.. i'm afraid it is also similar to how i treat housework, and the attention i should be giving to my husband.... i'll get to it when i get to it... regrettably, auntie favorite...
Paige for being the most dedicated reader! (sometimes multiple times a day)
Sparky.... hmmmm I guess you can have the most focused individual... since you likely won't even read this blog for a month or better!
Eden for teaching Sadie to enjoy my blog from a young age and for multi-tasking so well in order to even read it!
Dad for checking my blog at work... he's got his priorities straight!
Patrick... for putting up with my newest addiction... and going out of town so you don't realize how much I really do blog! shh (he doesn't really read it much... )
Caleb, Sarah, Miles and Duncan for always giving me fodder for me to blog!
Socks and chocolate gold coins, sometimes batteries... (which just meant you were likely getting something cool that would need them) VALERIE
Loved the tangerines and peanuts. We'd all sit around and look through our stockings, while discarding peanut shells in a big metal bowl. My Mom loved to put little goodies with our names on them: pencils, magnets, key chains, ornaments, etc.. Sometimes a fun, inexpensive piece of jewelery as well.
NOVA
I loved that our stockings were delivered to our beds for us to dive into when we woke up. Enjoying every item as it came out of the stocking in the dim light of a street lamp would often be the first look at the stocking.. then another look when the dumped out items were hastily tucked back to transport to others sleeping areas to share in each others treasures and then a final transport to M&D's bedroom where everyone would meet to share stocking contents before being allowed to make the excited entrance to the downstairs living room.
A few chocolate gold coins, a mandarin orange, for many years an individual box of treat cereal, and some toiletries like chapsticks or nail polish, lotion or hair items. Many other items over the years but nothing that stands out in my mind.
JOHN
Christmas Tradition that I love!
I love the Christmas Oranges... I always did as a kid! They were so special because little fingers could peel away the skins so easily. The first time I ate them was at Grandma and Grandpa's home on Lulie Street. They called them Jap Oranges, They did not have any thing at all against Japan but that is what they were called. Grandma told us that the ones that came from Japan were much more tastier, easier to peel and had no seeds. One year I was talking loud enough for Santa to hear. He must have heard because we got them in our stockings! I was so happy. I am even happier now that I live in Japan. The oranges are beautiful and when I see the elderly working in the fields it reminds me a Christmas Elves.
I also love the special story that goes with these Oranges and why they are a Christmas Orange. I tell my children as part of our Christmas tradition and would love it if we could all share this for our families too!
MUM
Christmas stoicking..
No commercial stockings in myday……felt,colourful, festive,andred andbig!!
We put up a sock ! an ordinaryeverydaysock . Thetraditionwastoput upour own ordinaryeverydaysock!( You'veseentheoldendaysillustrationsofsockinghanging onthechimneyfrom themantle..themumanddadsizes an d thenthedecliningsizesof the children's…Notlikenowwheneveryonehasthesamesizesock..
However,when I waslittlewe would put up our dads sock.. I imagine those that had farmer for a Dad, would have the bigger longer work socksto hang,but I had a government office working dad so I had the regular men's dress sock.. truly ,an ordinaryevery daysock.
(I would of course, choose the tallest sock
(Imagine your dads church or dress sock and you'll realize that Santa wouldn't have nearly as muchof a task to fill those stocking.. that he has now!Santahada basicroutine.
The first thing to go in the toe of the e stocking was a ''jap' orange as they were called... Only in December could you buy the Asian orange and it wasn't from china! .....an d was a little different than the mandarin oranges that we get now.. it was such a treat .. it was as sweet it was seedless and it was i easy to separate into sections.. ! and most of all ..thosefeatureswereso ''unique to us at Christmas. Theywerenewontheinternationalfoodimportscene…..notapracticeuntilshortlyafter theendof the warwhenJapanentered morefullytheworldtrade.
Thenicknameduringthewarfor the Japanesewas"theJaps.Thusthename for theorange..Itwasnotimported into theU Sat thattime…so itwas indeeda uniquetreat.TothisdayI heartheChinesemandarinorangescalledJaporanges !
( MyfirsttriptoJapanasanadult…. Wasadelightforme toseetherealJaporangesinthe openmarket… justas they hadbeen inmychild hood..
Again I digress..
The next thing that would go in the stocking (sock)would be nuts... straight from the wooden bowl on the coffee table ! at least 2 walnuts and many filbert nuts .... all still in the shell..
Thiswouldofcourseover- fillthefoot .
Then, wouldcome a little tree decoration.......the leg of the sock would have always a small tin Japanese wind up toy.. a little bird that hopped.. or some animal that crawled ora littletinecarwithpoorlyrotatingwheels..(Post war,CanadaandtheU Swouldsend shiploads of oldtin cans toJapan,and theywouldshipbackcoarselymadecolorfultintoys.)againIdigress.
Thesocknownearingthetopwouldhave some of the hard unwrapped ''Christmas candy'' that hadpieces stuck together in a clump.. Thensticking outthetopwouldbethecandycane! !(see thecandycanehistory….allwhite for nearly 250 yearsuntilearly1900'swhenpeppermint stripingcameintovogue…Itwas theautomationbroughtinbyHenryFordand his carsthatfacilitated themachineryfor thisstriping innovation.)
Nothinginthestockingwas really significant as i don't remember a specific. Thetreatwasin thefooditems,thefunwasingetting togetherwith othersand playingon the woodenfloorwiththewind uptoys..
Oh yes IrememberwhenthetraditionstartedthatIhad 2 new pencils for school ! Our family tradition wasn't, as in the Christmas book drawings, that showed.. stockings hanging on the fireplace > but ourswere ''hung'' at the end of our beds... I never questioned our deviation from what artists thot traditional.. That was just in print.. I assumed , justasIassumedthateveryoneinreallife ,hung theirstockingtotheendoftheirbed.. A large pin was used to anchor them to the top blanket.. In the morning we would find them filled and grope in the dark to guess what was there by feel ! I don't know why we considered it necessary to do it n the dark.. We didn't get up to turn on a light... Maybe it was just so early that we didn't want to be detected as being up.. After thestocking discoveries.. we'd go down stairs to the tree... I don't remember mum and or dad getting up at that unearthly hour... I remember enjoying Santa's loot just as he left it.. lots of look look looking.. don't remember playing or handling anything.. Just look look look and assess what was there..
InterestinglyI don't remember asking for anything for Christmas.. no requests, just anticipation of surprise.. and was always surprised.. always delighted ... Now ,even tho as I look back to thelater years, we did askSanta forsomething specific,soI guessthatwedidmakerequests. Certainlynota list !
Now..formy most memorable gifts.. children stationary.. whichI promptly used to send out thank you letters to aunts an uncles..
a matching towel and facecloth.Americanandcuttingedge. a doll an d buggy one year.. roller skates another ..
I remember a small tea set made of glass . no plastic setsyet !
and then the year of the bunny...A bunnynamed"bunny" that some 60 years later now, is a sought after collectors item...andstill exists. !
Onefinalmemory , one year that isnottothought ofasgreedy, ortobeinterrupted as a desire for more...but was simply an observation that bought forth a logical question ... I remember after allthe tree was done.. i looked around and then with not ungrateful eyes………… wondered .. aloud....Santadidn'tleaveanythingfor muman d dad and mum and dad.. didn't give giftsto anyone..WasSantasoonto bedethroned!?? !
the year that Santa....expecting credit.. was soon indeed dethroned. !Reply
VALERIE Growing up in Los Angeles, snow wasn't a big part of my life. The only experience with snow that I remember from my childhood was my parents driving us to the mountains to play in the snow. We were so excited and had big plans for hours of frivolity and snowman-making. When we arrived, we eagerly scrambled out of the car in pursuit of winter's delights. We probably lasted 30 minutes. Soon we were back in the car, stripping off our wet clothing, rubbing our raw, numb hands, howling for more heat, and vowing never to go back. My parents were both perplexed and amused at our about-face. In all our imagining, I think we somehow had missed the concept of snow being cold.
My next encounter with snow didn't happen until I was 14-years-old. I joined my uncle's youth group on a ski trip. I was really excited to learn how to ski, and fly down the slopes with grace and ease. Well, despite a ski lesson, I spent most of the day, face-planted in the snow, and never did master the bunny hill. I would fly down it, uncontrollably, and people all around me would scream, "stop" and the only way I could stop was to fall over. My uncle took pity on me, and taught me to snow plow, but it still wasn't much fun. Especially, when I'd fall over in line, or coming off the ski lift, and wouldn't be able to get up again without help.
I prefer to enjoy snow, from an indoor window, or curled up next to a fireplace. This So.Cal girl never got used to the undeniable. fact that snow is cold. MUM Snow in the olden days ..... of my youth you ask... hmm. Never enough snow to stop our world from carrying on..
It was in the days before snow tires.. but then there weren't as many tires on the road !
It was in the days. of ''carry on'' rain or shine (or snow)though our city didn't have a snow plow
It was in the days.. where we had a little more snow than Victoria now has... (with one exception) we really had more slush than snow ..it was so often mixed with or diluted by rain..
It was in the days.. when everyone who had to commute on such days turned to the buses and that seemed to handle the intrusion snow made into our winter lives..
It was day that we always hoped for a white Christmas.. but that was rare rare rare.. and if snow did come in December.. and we held out hope..for it staying till Christmas.... it didn't ! as rain also came in December and that was the end of snow..
It was a time when big brothers threatened little sisters..
It was a day when i had red woollen legging that matched my hooded coat and i delighted in making snow angels. without fear of really touching the cold of the wet clumpy sticking snow..It wasn't a snow that you could brush off
It was a climate of wet snow that rolled well into snow balls huge for snow men
It was a day when we actually had coal from our basement bin.. for the snowmans eyes!
It was in a day when we first heard the song of frosty the snowman. published in 1950 . I was 8.
It was in a day of Bing Crosbys winter wonderland.song .. that always increased our our hope for a snowy winter. ( Bing was born in Tacoma! and sang I'm dreaming of a white Christmas) in 1954.. I was 12.
It was a day when it was an exciting opportunity to shovel side walks with wooden homemade shovels
It was a day before the days of rubbermaid or plastic.. and for the few times shoveling was necessary.. no one would''purchase'' a shovel ( if they were even for sale). the dads would just quickly make one in the basement
It was a day when people walked to the store for groceries every few days and usually pushed babies or toddlers in buggies or prams.. but what fun it was in snow times.. to be taken on a sled..
It was a day when you always walked to school.. (up Hampshire Hill both ways,) and it took much longer in the snow.. we walked home for lunch always,.. but on snow days we got to take our lunch ! now that was special !
Yes it was a special day .. but snow to kids was the same as it is today ... fun fun fun.. with cold wet mitts to hang to dry.. .mitts that were made of wool not fleece or vinyl or thermal... and would be caked with snow.. they would dry faster if you soaked them in warm water first, ironically, the only way to quickly remove the snow !
And the worst thing that could happen would be that you were sick (in bed) with a cold and only saw the snow through a window ! and had the real fear that it would likely be gone before you were allowed out! just such a time happened to me.. Now that's a memory of a sad lost opportunity of a childhood.
JILL wet cold snow, down my neck, and down my sleeves, being pelted with hard ice snowballs by older brothers and their friends, being the younger sister, i didnt have a fighting chance, suffocating ' face washes' where you are choking for air. in yet. like everyone else, i too felt the joyous anticipation and hopes for knee deep snow as the first flakes would turn to flurries outside the classroom windows, turning even high school students into giddy children at the sight of the white stuff. i recall checking out the windows at night and finally seeing the white flecks blowing about in the light cast by the street lights. i remember feeling that excitement for the next day of a world in white ,and hopes of school closures and snow angels and igloos. but more often than not, the reality was the contrary. these visions were swiftly dashed . usually the snow had turned to rain, and there was nothing but dirty slushy mess , splashing up by passing cars on the long walk to school,and stepping off the curb to cross the street and that seemingly harmless bit of snow would easily give way, to the pool of water underneath, sinking just deep enough to spill icy cold water down inside the boots. cold wet feet for the duration of the day.. a particularly unpleasant situation if one had been coached to wear cozy leotards. resulting in removing the wet stockings, and spending the day in bare legs with the mini dress style at the time, perched on the cold desk chair. ohh the memories.. and i havent even brought up the wet mitten saga, and the restricting tangled string threaded though the sleeves of my stiff and bulky winter coat, all in the name of keeping the mittens from becoming lost from each other, what a magical invention! and so comfortable , especially when trying to ride a bike , with arms extended to as far as the strings would allow.... memories... and of course the static cling that always accompanies winter, magnified by knitted touques and long hair.. i do recall, some snow men over the years, getting creative with gender and accessories, and hoping that it wouldnt be completely melted by the morning or the end of the day. and usually, if it was ever cold enough to not melt, some mean kids would knock it down in the night. with all this said, i still feel giddy inside when i see the first flurries, besides it has been a long time since someone tried to give me a face wash!
i forgot to mention, shoveling stairs, walkways, paths, it was fun at first, but when it would get so hot inside the stiff bulky winter coat, it was less fun,, and when that was done there was always other peoples driveways and walkways to clear, to do the good Samaritan act, for the older folks on the street. but the warmth felt in the heart was usually worth the temporary discomfort of the stiff bulky winter coat and the wet mittens..besides there was often hot chocolate waiting inside with toasted raisin english muffins.
Snow wasn't a big part of growing up in Victoria and even less so a part of living in Texas. Nothing that would have prepared me for the snow that I would experience later in life, first in Idaho at Ricks, then in Wyoming at the ranch, and also in SLC. But there were still some memories of snow filled moments in my childhood.
I know we must have had enough snow to create a few snowman over the years.... of course all the snow in the yard was likely used with grass showing all around the snowman. Snow never seemed to last more than a few days if it lasted that long. I know one time that older siblings and parents?? were up later than the little kids when it must have started to snow and they built a snowman and then woke us to let us see it in case it was gone by morning.
I know that in highschool it began to snow one day which was a surprise to us since I had ridden my bike to school and then had to ride home in the snowy slush. Snow was always VERY WET. It wasn't until my years in the ID, WY, UT snow that I learned that there are different types of snows. Also that snow could be fluffy and that it wasn't always bitterly, bone chillingly cold just because there was snow outside... although it certainly can be. In Victoria snow always came with the bone chilling cold. Or should I say that there was a bone chilling cold in Victoria and that sometimes it even snowed.
I don't ever remember sledding but I do remember as a young teen going on a skiing trip with John and Jim. It didn't take long to know that I enjoy sipping hot chocolate and waiting by the fire in the lodge for those who have the knack for moving too quickly down a snow packed mountain on two skinny pieces of fiberglass and plastic... To this day I dislike ski lifts... especially in the summer time when there isn't many feet of snow to bring the ground level a little closer... (we took on the alpine slide in Park City and to my chagrin.... the only way up was the ski lift)but I digress...
Childhood snow although not frequent or deep was exciting to anticipate and to enjoy regardless of how quickly it melted away!
EDEN
I remember snow in Texas once or twice. nothing that stuck, but I remember the light flurries in the wind.
I remember the way the tree house looked with 5 inches on it's roof. and the pool with a layer of white
I remember the blizzard of '96 with snow drifts 4 ft deep between the trailer and the container.
I remember face washes
I must have gotten hot chocolate after playing cause thats what I do now with Sadie and it feels natural.
I remember all the work involved in getting ready to go out, only to be too hot and have cold wet hands. I remember all kinds of snow, crisp light morning snow and than slushy dirty afternoon snow.
JOHN
Snow!
I remember a snow so deep that we dugg tunnels in it! I remember walking in the Snow to Grandma's house for Lunch! It can remember being so grown up sitting in the Living Room drinking hot chocolate in the same cups and Grandma and Granpa drank their tea! I remember the first snow we saw was in Prescot Arizon on the top of a mountain! I also remember thinking if it is so cold on the top of a mountain while it was so hot down below where we lived the whole thing about burning in hell must be true. It must be very hot! But, I don't want to go to heaven because it would be so cold! I sort of remember asking if we wore jackets in Heaven and the answer that came back was no White Robes! I just figured at that time that they must made of fur!
When I was 8, I swallowed a staple. I remember, playing with the stapler, and putting one in my mouth. ( What was I thinking?!) I told my mother, who took me to urgent care. They did an x-ray, and found the staple in my upper rib area. The doctors said that if it didn't pass naturally, they'd have to surgically remove it. My sweet mother, spent the next week, bravely checking each bowel movement, until she found the staple. Needless to say, that was the end of my staple-tasting career. PATRICK
to view Channa's entry visit her blog by clicking on her name above!
PAIGE Her official answer is: Ever since that head injury, I can't really remember!!
Elastics around her leg as a toddler. Almost resulting in having her leg amputated! Rode a bike off the step by the back door at Haultain and cracked her head open and got stitches. Some car accident at 15 years resulting in permanent selective memory loss forever after! This would be at the time that she joined the Bells Palsy club. JILL
Thanks for doing this Nova, sorry I didn't get last weeks done, the short version of my injurys and illnesses submission..... pretty simple.. I am slightly retarded.. end of story.
These elections were rather exciting around my house. More so I suppose than others because I had my own campaign headquarters right under my roof. I had been trying to follow debates and read about issues online and watch broadcasts in order to make up my mind. And then the ole' pro arrived! Move over, Valerie is in town! Valerie, like so many other Californians, was doing hardcore campaigning for Proposition 8. She had undecided voters to call, she had blogs to write, she had articles and youtube videos to rate. She had an agenda of things to be sure to accomplish before election day to make her voice heard and educate the public! She gave it 110% and then some! She was passionate, she was determined, she was dedicated... she was exhausted! We had far too many late night political discussions. It would have perhaps been understandable to go to bed the same day we were getting up again if we were on different sides of the issues and were going at it... but really we were simply agreeing with each other and staying up late!
In the course of campaigning, Valerie, unfortunately, lost some old friends. Differences of opinions which they simply couldn't see past. One in particular was rather spiteful and rude. On one such late night we finally said enough is enough and actually went to bed. But, I didn't sleep well. I woke around 4 am very tense and suspicious! I had woken from a politically and emotionally charged dream.
I had woken and heard loud knocking on the front door. I alerted Patrick and looked out the office window to see who it could possibly be in the middle of the night! Once I saw who it was I told Pat to get rid of him or if he couldn't at least stall him. I had to get Valerie to safety! I snuck out my bedroom window. I climbed over the rabbits and into the playroom window downstairs where Valerie was sleeping. Amazingly, I didn't wake any children. We could hear the heated argument brewing upstairs between Patrick and the irate other side of the issue protester! We didn't have much time. We snuck back out the window and quickly made it to the back fence. We somehow scaled the back fence and hid out in the canal. We were trying to decide whether we should seek refuge in the Baptist church up the road to the North or the grocery store to the south. Oh, which would be the least likely for him to suspect us to have gone to? We could hear him getting angrier and wanting revenge on Valerie for successfully campaigning against him.
This is when I woke up, feeling tense and suspicious. I can't imagine how tense Valerie must be, living the campaign life for the last month or two. I only had to deal with it for a few days and I'm a dreaming wreck! I guess I should think happy thoughts as I drift off to sleep. Or maybe now that the election is over and Valerie can have her life return to a semblance of order I'll be able to sleep easier.
On the final night before Valerie and the girls left, we decided to do a cookout in the backyard. Audrey was so excited. Patrick who arrived home late and exhausted from work, was bombarded when he came in the door, so that he would light the campfire so we could roast marshmallows. Forget that we had to cook the dinner first... forget that the temp. outside was over 90..... forget that it would take a while after he lit the fire for it to be ready to cook on... learning patience was a lesson for a different day.
It was dark outside when we were ready to finally cook.... (good thing there isn't really a bedtime on the last night of a vacation). The kids found plenty to keep themselves busy with while they waited for the dinner to be pronounced 'done'. Tetherball didn't last long but climbing the pole was a real accomplishment! Alyssa took a nighttime romp on the trampoline... she didn't really care about the campfire... she was glad to be up late and outside jumping. Our foil dinners were done rather quickly and they were oh so yummy. The kids roasted a few marshmallows and Patrick made our desserts in his campfire sandwich cookers... s'mores don't stand a chance to the dessert sandwiches! mmmmm!!
The day Valerie and the girls left we caught a photo of Grandma with all the grandchildren here at the time... 10 of them.... and it's only half!Duncan, Marina, Caleb, Miles, Derek, Cooper, Mackenzie, Audrey, Sarah and Alyssa
Obviously we didn't expect to catch them all looking at the camera or smiling for that matter! Derek was done with sitting, Audrey was heartbroken about leaving, Alyssa could see mummy, Cooper had just been reunited with his stuffed Rat "Cheese" after he'd left it at my house for a few days and the others just wanted to have the photo over with! But we took it anyway!
Four Cousins born between Sept. 2003 and June 2004, Duncan, Cooper, Audrey and Sadie!
In August 2003... the pregnant bellies... Expected were two first babies(Eden and Valerie), a second baby but first boy(Channa), and a fourth baby and third boy(Me, the veteran). All wildly anticipated!...
In August of 2004, Valerie and Audrey stayed with Nobles while Sparky (Graton) worked at BYU. We had a blast and the three amigos enjoyed some hot summer days together.
In August of 2006, Nova's crazy summer of cousins was coming to an end and Audrey brought her parents for a weekend to join in the fun. Duncan and Cooper... old buddies by now.... were anxious for her arrival as all the other cousins were all older and now finally one their age was coming... They are all cell phone chatting two year olds! We had a great day at the pool, an evening out on the town and then they had to go again! Not long enough!
August of 2008! The four year old contingent! Just over three weeks of fun, fun, fun. This was the best visit yet. They were a fun age and got along well. They had adventures and enjoyed even the quiet moments together. I hope we don't have to wait until another August to have another visit!
