Winter Carnival Friday

This Winter Carnival gig really isn't that bad.  Sure, it's cold and it probably could pay more but I love McCall and it was much warmer than Boise has been for the last month.  PLUS we didn't have to put up our stage and roof like last year so that was a bonus.

These are the pics from last year's festival:

This tent and stage were already up when we reached the park on Friday morning.  All we had to do was set up our tent next to the stage and add sound and lights. It was a bit of a contrast from last year. . .

The first band started around 6:00 and it was easy-peasy. . .

It was chilly but we had a heater in our little enclosed tent on the side of the stage so it wasn't too bad.  The band was good and the crowd was large. 

The first night of the carnival was a success!

Peas In A Pod?? Not Exactly. . .

I wish I could say that I was just like Gloria when I was her age. 

But I can't. 

 In fact, you might even say we would have been complete opposites if we had been in school together instead of being mother and daughter. 

 I would never have considered coloring my hair turquoise the night before the first day of school. 

Especially if I were a first time attender at a huge, new school, filled with bazillions of new people. 

I would have been too busy feeling sick to my stomach, worrying about how in the world I would fit in. 

But I would have really admired the girl who had the guts to do it. 

And I"ll bet we would have been friends. . .

 

Boys. . .

I love these boys:

I've watched them grow up into handsome, responsible men who are going out into the world to make a difference.  And I honestly believe, with all of my heart, that they will.

Adventure. . .

When I was about 14 years old, I took a Greyhound bus to Gooding, Idaho to spend a week with a friend that I met at camp.  I don't remember too much about it but I don't remember being at all afraid to ride the bus alone.  I guess that's one of the reasons I didn't really have a problem putting my kids on a bus and sending them off into the wild blue yonder this morning.

Of course, Zach hardly qualifies as a kid anymore, so that helps, too.  Mostly, I'm just really going to miss their company.  I enjoy my kids most of the time.  They certainly have their moments that push me towards the edge, but for the most part, they are pretty responsible and self-sufficient.  (Note to self: knock on wood.)

As I write this, they are (probably) comfortably situated at Gil and Louise George's house in Woodlawn, Idaho.  For 10 whole days.  (Ha! Just got a text from Gloria to say she is "good".)

When Louise called a couple of months ago to say she was contemplating putting on the play, Fat, Fat Jehoshophat at her church, I quickly volunteered my kids to help out.  After all, who can play King Jehoshophat better than Zach??

This is Zach playing the King in 2005:

The entire cast in 2005:

Zach in 2008:

And the entire cast in 2008:

So, you see, we just couldn't pass up the opportunity to do this again!!

I'll drive up and watch the play on the 29th and then drop Zach off at Quaker Hill where he'll be a counselor for 2 more weeks!! 

Really looking forward to seeing this older, wiser Jehoshaphat. . .

Easter Sunday. . .

One of the things that I love about my blog is being able to easily look back through the years and see the changes in my kids through pictures.  One of the most consistent things I've done is to take a picture on Easter Sunday of my kids sitting on the platform at church.  I almost didn't take the picture on Sunday but Gloria made sure that we followed our yearly tradition.  I'm so glad she did!!

Look at the difference from year to year!!!

2007:

2008: (I couldn't access my Easter pics from 2008 because they are in a slide show but this one is from a couple of months after Easter in the same year):

2009:

2010:

2011:

2012:

And, here are the links to the past posts with even more sweet pics!!!

Easter 2011
Easter 2010
Easter 2009
Easter 2008  (There are several slide shows in this post.  The second one down has the pictures from Easter Sunday)
Easter 2007

Looking back over all of these pictures tonight reminds me again of how quickly time flies.  So many of the memories feel like they just happened yesterday.  So thankful for the people in my life. . .

My Sees-tor. . .

My sister is my best friend.  Seriously.  We talk or text almost every day and we help each other out when the need arises.  I know that I can tell her anything and she won't judge or try to fix it.  She just listens.  And gives wise advice.  The ring tone on her phone for my incoming call is a recording of Ethan saying, "It's your sees-tor" in his best Taco Bell Chihuahua voice.  You'd have to hear it to find the humor but every time Shelly calls me, I can hear those words in my head when I see her name on the caller ID even without the special ringtone on my phone.  I love my sees-tor.

We celebrated Shelly's birthday during Spring Break by going to the new bowling alley, Pinz.  I was impressed with the place and the prices weren't too bad.  My parents and Gale and Tracie joined us and we had a great time celebrating with family!!

Happy birthday to my favorite sees-tor!!  I think that even if I had 20 sisters, you would still be my favorite!!!

Favorites. . .

This is pretty much my favorite picture.  Ever.

Actually, I guess it's a toss up with this one:

Just feeling a little sentimental these days I guess. . .

Connections. . .

Blogging in Real Time for a moment. . .

Interesting day today and I don't want to forget to post more about it later so I'll put this up now as a reminder!!  It's what I do.  Weird, I know.

GOOD day at church.  Haven't been able to say that for awhile so wanted to make a note of it.  Zach gave the message and it was GOOD.  And relevant.  Steph and I sang a special together for the first time.  Ever.  It was GOOD.  Both of these events were recorded so I hope to post them here later in the week.  Maybe.

And THEN, Gloria found out that her good friend from school is actually her cousin.  3rd or 4th cousin anyway but she is related to people I KNOW and used to visit on occasion!  Jessica stayed the night with us last night (she and Gloria had discussed things they have in common over the last two school years- familiar names, common places) and today we had lunch with my mom for her birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!) and more of the pieces came together.  My mom has done a ton of genealogy research on our family so she called me just now and I put it all down on paper. 

In this picture of my grandpa with his siblings, my dad's dad, my Grandpa Chet, is 4th from the left.  The only girl is his sister, my Great Aunt Lil.  I remember visiting Aunt Lil when I was little and I went to her funeral when I was a young adult. 

Lil's daughter was my dad's cousin LaVell and she married Gene and they had a daughter named Jeanie.  Jeanie grew up and had a daughter named Judy.  Judy grew up and had Jessica.  Gloria and Jessica have been hanging out at school for the last couple of years and now they find out they have common ancestors!!  Pretty cool.  One of these days soon we are going to visit LaVell (who I have talked with on many occasions) and show her the connection.  I'm pretty sure Jessica has already told her since it sounds like they are pretty close.  I'll be sure to post about it when it happens! 


PS I hope this Real Time Blogging takes off because I prefer it. . .

Baker Sock Parties. . .

Every year we celebrate Christmas Eve early with Rob's side of the family with a gift exchange called "The Sock Party". I detail the tradition on the blog every year so I thought it would be fun to look back through the years and post the links here:

2007
2008
2009
2010
It's fun to look back and see how much has changed and yet how much has stayed the same!! (This year also marks 5 full years of blogging!!)

And here's 2011:

 

As I was looking back over the past years, I found this funny picture from a couple of years ago that perfectly explains the two pictures that follow!!  Scroll down and you'll see what I mean. . .

Rob doesn't have to share his Funyuns anymore!!  McKenna received her very own bag this year!!  Jeanie thinks of everything!!

Merry (almost) Christmas!!