Thursday, April 30, 2009

Jake Runs

Jake warms up!
Ready, set...
GO!!

Jake has impressed his coach this year. He started out running the 800 and has now been moved "up" to the mile.

I love Jake's love of life...you can just see it in his face!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Trampoline Fun

I'm so thankful the weather is nice! Liv & I played outside after school!
Love that static!


Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Memories of Grandma & Grandpa - Supplement

Since I was traveling yesterday I didn't get to participate with the others in FHE. I did write my thoughts down in my notebook while on the plane though. So here is my contribution to our memories of our grandparents.

Grandmommy
My favorite memory of Grandmommy is so prominent in my mind that I have a hard time picturing her in any other way. Whenever I think of her my thoughts instinctively go to her greeting us as we arrived from our long drives to her house. I cannot remember a time that she was not waiting at the door to greet us when we arrived. We would drive into the driveway and go in through the side door. She would be in the kitchen there next to the stove as you stepped up into the kitchen from the doorway. She always required a hug. Regardless of my age or how far down I had to stoop to hug her with her crooked back, she would wrap me up in her arms and tell me to give her some sugar, followed by kisses on the neck and cheek. Once the embraces were done, our attention would turn immediately to what she had on the stove to eat. Hot or cold, fresh or from the day before, there was always some kind of food on the stove - always tasting better than it should simply because it was on her stove. The love I feel with memories of the heartfelt welcome in Grandmommy's kitchen can only be surpassed as I think of a similar welcome she will give me the next time I see her.

Granddaddy
I don't remember why our whole family didn't go on this trip but as I remember, it was only Ryan and I that went with Grandmommy, Granddaddy, Uncle Curt, Lunts, and Paramores to a reservoir fishing and camping. Uncle Curt hauled both the tent trailer and the boat behind his truck. My favorite part was out on the boat trolling with Granddaddy. I was always amazed at the incredible assortment of silver, gold, and red tackle on the end of those lines. I don't think the fish were actually any bigger or fought harder than others I had caught but it always seemed that way when we were trolling. On the shore we fished with wads of very stinky cheese that was specially prepared for the trip, or with some of the Georgia Jumpers from Granddaddy's worm farm. We caught more fish that trip than I had ever before or probably ever will.

Other memories of Grandmommy & Granddaddy
Granddaddy sitting in his chair over by the window with the air conditioner watching TV.
Chinese checkers.
That shiny leather couch in the basement that folded down like a futon couch.
Climbing the big tree in the back yard.
Playing the car game sitting on the curb in front of their house.
The make-shift shower on the wooden pallet in the basement.
Grandmommy's hands as she mixed and kneaded biscuit dough in the wooden bowl with the flour.
How fun it was for us kids and how angry it made Dad when Granddaddy was drinking.

Grandma
When I think of Grandma in the Sacramento house I think of her sitting at the table in the dining room just off the kitchen playing scrabble with Mom and with us. When I think of her in Spokane I think of her standing at the kitchen sink doing the dishes as we came home from school or wherever. No matter how much noise I tried to make as I approached, she would always get startled and jump when I finally made it to her to say hi. After she died, I loved going to visit Aunt Midge just because I could see and hear and remember Grandma again.

Grandpa
I have two favorite memories of Grandpa. The first is putting walnuts out on the fence beside their house in Sacramento, then waiting and watching for the squirrels to come and get them. The other is going with him as he collected newspapers and took them to the recycle center for the church. He impressed me with his willingness to serve and the work he did.

Other memories of Grandma and Grandpa
Sleeping out in the screened porch off the garage in Sacramento, playing with the old guns on the wall.
Going to the park down the street to feed the ducks.
Grandma with one foot in the canoe at a lake near Spokane and the other on the rock, the canoe sliding further and further out, Grandma going straight down into the water, then seeing nothing but her hat floating on the water.
Building a fire in the formal living room in the Sacramento house.
Looking at Grandpa's coin collection in the trunk in their basement.
Picking fresh grapefruit from the tree by the driveway.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Memories of Grandma & Grandpa

We each wrote in our journals tonight our favorite memories of Grandma & Grandpa Weston for Family Home Evening. Rance's mom is compiling all of her grandchildren's memories for us all to read and share. She is also compiling her children's memories of their grandparents. I love this idea so I wanted each of our children to write their memory in their journal first, so their children can read about their great-grandparents. We love them so much.

Grandma Joanie

Scott: One of my favorite memories of Grandma is a couple of years ago we went out to Utah for Christmas. We went skiing for the first time. Grandma came with us and helped teach us how to ski. I really liked watching her ski because she was so good and I was proud that my grandma could ski. She is so cool!

Chloe: My favorite memory of Grandma was when we lived in Utah while my dad was in Japan. I was five years old. I remember coming home from a soccer game and her giving me a big hug and she told me she was proud of me.

Sophi: My favorite thing about Grandma is her big hugs when we come to visit. I get so excited as we are driving up the hill before their house because I know she will be waiting at the door.

Jake: One thing I remember about Grandma is when we went to Utah for Christmas and Grandma and Grandpa didn't know we were coming. When they pulled up in their driveway, my family ran downstairs except me. I sat on the couch with all of my cousins. When they got in the house, Grandma came in the room and said hi to everybody. When she got to me, she realized who I was and got very excited. We all laughed and my family came upstairs and we all hugged. So far, that is one of the best Christmas's I've ever had.

Olivia: One thing I love about Grandma is that she never gets mad. I've never seen her with a mad expression on her face. She writes us letters every year that tells us how great we are and how much she misses us. I love her cooking too. She makes the best meals.

Grandpa Jim

Scott: One of my favorite memories of Grandpa is how he took me driving a lot the last couple of years and taught me how to drive a stick shift. It is something I will always remember and how much fun I had just driving with my grandpa. Another of my favorite memories is going on the boat with him. I still have a blast going on rides with Grandpa, even though the boat isn't very fast. Seeing him take every one of his grandchildren shows me how much he loves his family and me. I am very grateful for both of my grandparents and how much they love and care about their family. I love them very much and wouldn't trade them for any other grandparents in the world! They are the best.

Chloe: My favorite memory of Grandpa was when we went crawdad fishing at a lake. I remember coming back to their house and cooking them. I asked why they turned red and he told me it was because they were nervous in front of me because I was so pretty.

Sophi: I remember grasshopper hunting with Grandpa. He would help us and then give us a penny for each grasshopper we caught in their yard or the empty lot beside their house. One time, we microwaved some of the grasshoppers...but Grandpa didn't know about that!

Jake: A favorite memory is when Grandpa took us out to a lake to go fishing. We didn't catch any fish but we caught lots of crawdads. Grandpa taught me a trick to catch crawdads and it worked! The crawdads liked our bait so we used our fishing poles just like you would for fishing. The crawdad would grab on and we'd reel them in. I love Grandpa so much and wish I could see him more often. He is so fun to be around.

Olivia: I remember something about Grandpa that I will never forget. I was seven and we went to Grandma & Grandpa's house for Christmas. It was the worst Christmas ever...because I got very sick. Not just cough, sneeze sick. I mean bellyache, puking up anything I ate or drank...16 times...that kind of sick. The day I got sick was Christmas and every present I opened wasn't even exciting because I was so sick. But that night, Grandpa and Dad gave me a blessing and the next day I was better.

LaDawn: I am so thankful for Mom & Dad. Dad made me feel so special when I first joined the family. He was always talking about me being a southern girl and would rave over my cooking. Mom is alway interested in my activities...whether they are creative projects or my callings. She is a wonderful example to me...mostly of patience...which I have struggled with my entire life! I can't relate to people who have trouble with their in-laws because I don't really feel like they are my in-laws, but my second parents. I love them very much. Below are some shots of a visit from them back in 2005.








Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Trying To Keep Up

It's always fun when Carla is in town...too much fun for this old lady!
Carla had a great idea of hanging upside down on Joanna's couch for fun photos...and as you can see above, I don't possess this skill. Now a day later, I am so sore that I think I'm going to need to see Doc Griesemer!


Thanks for a fun Girls Night!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Our Jakey is THIRTEEN!

Jake turned 13 today. He was so sweet...last night he came and sat on my bed and asked me for the exact time of his birth. I ended up telling him all about the night he was born...the highlights were: 1. My water broke for the first time and I thought I had peed the bed. 2. I had Rance turn around at the end of our street to go back for the video camera. 3. I delivered Jake within an hour of arriving at the hospital. 4. I had to have an oxygen mask and lay on my side for most of the time because Jake was in distress. 5. Jake's cheeks got stuck on the way out. (They only got bigger...see below!) 6. LaRae almost passed out during the delivery! 7. Jake was a sweetheart from the start!


Jake used to take naps with me. While he laid beside me, he wouldn't poke at my eyes or nose...instead, he would stroke my cheek.
Krispy Kreme instead of cake...he's my kind of guy!
(Thanks Mom & Don for bringing them!)

The happy couple!


Special birthday breakfast request from the birthday boy.


You can tell he's thrilled to be a teenager.



Granny knows what Jake likes!


Not ready for kisses from the ladies yet!



Our FOURTH teenager!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Relief Society Fun!

W H O Can Find a Virtuous Woman?

We performed this skit for our Relief Society's Birthday celebration.

Monte Sebastian as the Conductor.
Wylie, Opal & Hilda...
the angels assigned to find a virtuous woman!

So this is Indiana!

No virtuous women in this magazine!
Not in THAT DVD either!
We've put on our thinking caps!
Could these be virtuous women?

Observing the ladies' actions...


The End!

The cast & the writer, Nancy Metheny!

The virtuous women in my life!