Wonderful Memories

I have been scanning in our old pictures. So many of our photos are fading. I figure it is time to do something else with them. Years ago my mother put together a baby book for each of us and through the years we certainly enjoyed our books. I put together a book as soon as Jaim was born, and added to it regularly, as each child joined us.  I glued them and cut them up and did some of that cutesy stuff, that I now know ruined them, sigh
oh well, I took that apart and put them in the "magnetic photobooks." It became known that the pages with adhesive would destroy the photographs and we were encouraged to get them out off of the pages immediately. I tried a couple of other tries at a book form, and then just put them in some order in envelopes, I won't bore you with all my attempts at organizing them. Somehow they got quite disorganized over time, so this has been quite the time consuming thing. Some had a date stamped on the back, some I wrote on, some I have to ask some of you to see if you remember. I will then try and put them in JPeg or tiff form and get them on a CD. It is a bit sad that I was not a more careful photographer, many great memories are barely visible, and so many are out of focus and I only have that one picture of the event. The good news is that we moved so often that if I can identify the house or city I can get them in the right order.
      I ran on to this photo of Tyler when we lived in Pittsburgh he was probably about 3 years old. He wore this outfit often, wonder what was in the bag?  He took those glasses and took out the lenses. One day just the two of us went shoe shopping (wearing the glasses), there were a few teenage girls in the store. The girls thought he was so cute, they said he looked like Elton John and laughed with joy at this cute little boy. When we left the store Tyler took off the glasses and threw them in the trash, I was shocked and sad about this development. I asked what was going on and he said, "No one is going to laugh at me!"  As he walked resolutely away I asked if he was sure, he didn't answer but I got them out and put them in my purse, just in case he changed his mind. He never did!

Great Plan of Happiness! Part One

 This blog thing changes every time I use it. Perhaps I need to blog more often to keep more current, however it seems that they are making it easier to do... so I have really lost nothing. GOOD FOR THEM, so glad it is easier and thus quicker also.
The plan here is to post pictures and add some sentimental additions as we go along.
I am very glad to go visiting, I love it sooo much, but when I come home I realize all that I am missing in your lives. This has always been true, even when so many of us lived in the same house, but now it just seems so sad.
When I went to California to visit with Tim's family we went to downtown San Diego and got to see the Mormon Battalion museum. It was so fun, at first Sam wanted to just go home, and we could sympathize with that but in all we had a good time.

 There are homes and a Jewish church building that they have near the museum. They must have brought these in a few years ago, but now they are painting them in what seemed to be original color combinations and wonderful landscaping. They whole area is just wonderful. Sam wanted to take some pictures of us.

 Glad Hadley came for this picture, it was a great place to explore. Sam did a good job taking pictures.

Sam was interested in this cupboard

 This was my favorite house.  Some of these will be Bed and Breakfasts.

 We were finished with the tour and it was time to go out panning for gold. It was also raining. The kids didn't seem to mind and the missionary sister was kind to indulge us.

Sam has gotten really good a posing for pictures. 

 Tim is a cub scout leader and Sam is a cub scout. At Sam's request I went with them one night. I took my crocheting and one boy asked Sam  "does your grandma knit you things?" Sam said, "no". When someone lives in Southern California what does one need knitted? I was making a scarf, and from what I have been hearing this winter is going to be a cold one. I will be glad for the scarf crocheted in the late summer.



 




 One day after picking Hadley up from pre-school we went to a little park that is close and played in this little area with her friends and then we went to feed the ducks.

 I figured that there would be some down time so I brought the hat looms. Hadley helped me finish up this little baby hat.

They surprised me by being interested to do a hat on their own. I would wrap the yard and they would flip the yarn over the pegs with the special hook. Hadley is only four but she was able to do it and interested in it. I was really surprised when Sam wanted to do some. Now I have heard that the church is not collecting these for Humanitarian Aid. That was disappointing. 

This was the evening before Laura and little Miles got to come home. That is the second part of this blog..... to be continued

Just Add Water~

I got a planter box and a support to hold it on to the railing off the deck of our 3rd floor, 3 room condo and what did I plant? Parsley, Rosemary and Basil. They were growing fine. When we went to the Family Reunion in Fallon we took the box with our other plants to my visiting teacher. Maureen lives in our building and lives on the first floor meaning they are on the courtyard level. They took great care of the plants. The plants all doubled in size while we were gone. They must have loved the place. When I went to Corpus Christi in August, LaVar was given charge to water them.

     When I got back I went out to check on the parsley, rosemary, basil and what? BABY BIRDS?
I didn't plant any birdseed, we are growing baby birds??
      The dove couple we had seen being protected on our deck all winter and again used to come visit while I sat in the sun to get a Vitamin D boost, had now roosted in our planter box among the spices. LaVar said he saw one egg one day, and the second egg the next day. He just watered the plants as usual. I would go out there and with parent bird ( I never could tell the difference between the mother and the dad) I had an agreement that I would water as usual, pretending to not see them, and they would hold real still and pretend not to be seen. One day LaVar and I watered together and he talked softly to them and we seemed to be just fine. OK, so then I started talking to them and assured them that I was not torturing them for finding such a ridiculous  place to put their precious off-spring, I was watering the protecting plants. If the plants died they would be subject to the hot sun..... such things as that. The parent just fluttered the water away a little bit if I poured the water in too fast. I hoped the nest would protect the little dove eggs.

One day they hatched and had the funny little slimy start of feathersish stuff. I took a picture but I needed to be so careful, one couldn't see them very well, just a few days later they had real feathers. I was very impressed with how fast these guys (gals) grew. One day parent bird flew in when I was sitting out there. It didn't go into the nest until I left, my time in the sun was up anyway, but I watched from behind the glass. It fed those babies in what looked like quite a most violent way. Everybody was flapping and hopping up and down, I thought surely someone was going to get knocked out of that nest, bird heads were being swallowed by another bird, one couldn't tell where one bird started and the other began.

Roll over, I'm crowded!

  They let me do my daily ritual. They also fluttered the water away, but never flew away.  Mom and Dad left them alone for longer time. Then one day.........

There was only one. I felt so sorry for this little guy (gal) here he was the youngest and everybody left him.  We looked and looked down off the balcony for the other baby bird, but we didn't see him. It was raining outside too and there he was, out and on his own. Ok, guy (gal) what are you going to do now??

He stood on the edge forever. I was a very LONG way down. He was breathing very hard and I thought of how I feel on the high dive. He stretched his wings over and over. I thought many a time that this was it! he was going for it..... but no. Where was his mother at a time like this. I determined that I wouldn't leave him.... I wanted to be there for the big moment. "You're ok, it will be ok when you are ready". "Wait I hear somebody, you heard it to?? answer them!" "Hey, there is someone down in the top of that tree."

In coming!

 While I was standing there at my post, a bird tried to fly in, but seeing me, got startled and landed on the screen flapping and holding on for dear life. I sat down quickly and in landed the parent? No, wait the coloring is not right.

It was the brother (sister). I honestly didn't know that birds return to the nest after flying away!! Yet here he was, I was amazed. When this happened the other baby bird got off the side of the pot and calmed right down in the nest.

Skwooch over I'm home for dinner!

Soon the parent bird came and indeed they both got dinner. That time I was positive someone was going out of that nest, on purpose or by accident. The parent sat down on the railing after that traumatic feeding, he seemed to need to gather his composure before he started flying.

I bet this big sister (brother) got to tell his little sister (brother) all about it. How flying was just wonderful though scary at times, all that he saw and happened. That little bird probably just knew tomorrow might be his day too. He loved his sibling but soon it would be time to go, never to really share a nest again.

Wait there is no real "nest" just a few straw pieces, huh, who knew.

Yup, the mom was there early and after breakfast we went out to water and they were all gone. I keep looking out to see if perhaps they will be home for lunch, but no. Perhaps dinner, perhaps as all things, it was time for them to be on their own. Collect their own food and find a mate and have a family of their own. Circle of life~ priceless. All we added was water.

Just "Dandy"

This was the finish up of "Christmas in July" that I missed twice. Couple of ladies from the ward came to our house and we finished these in one night. They are those fold out books, for pictures/photos, quotes, scriptures etc. whatever. Loved the papers she selected, really fun.





Day after my birthday but the weekend, and Micah and Stephanie's 5th anniversary, so we decided to go together, much more fun!

Lovely evening. We had a nice dinner not great food, but we got to visit a lot and then after dinner we got to go up on the upper deck for the rest of the cruise. It was wonderful weather, hurricane Earl was long gone, we didn't get any weather from him anyway. The scenery was the best, just beautiful in every way.

Thanks all for a wonderful night. It was a great birthday. Too bad I will never turn 60 again.

I have been young a very long time!

September 2 1950 I was born in Denver Colorado to Ethelee Mae Knapp and Robert Fiske Hightower. I had an older sister Nancy and two years later a brother Robert Roy. Many a year my birthday was on "Labor Day" funnier for me than for my mother. Other years my birthday came the first day of school, I always thought that was ROTTEN luck. One can't exactly show up the first day of school with birthday cupcakes! My mom lucked out on that too, Nancy had a Dec 24th birthday, and Rob July 9th so she never had to or got to bring birthday cupcakes to school.

     I love this picture, looks like I adored my mother then and I still do.

Just one happy baby! Dad was a bit of a photographer as I see in my baby book. He took a long time to get set up. How he would have liked digital camera now!

Then there was the three of us.

Think maybe I was finished taking pictures?? Cute though huh? I still remember that little rocking chair that I am in. Check out the tv and the "wingback" chairs all 50's stuff.

One finally smiling. Nancy just got hit in the head with a swing so she is battered up. I think those dresses we have on are so cute!

First grade, never went to kindergarten, at Columbus school in Grand Junction, Colorado. Miss Angel was my teacher, I thought she was too. She would have us join in circle time and tell us all about "Ol Mister Alcohol" and "Ol Mister Tobacco" and how we shouldn't use any of those things. That was tough because my parents did both. Wonder if I lectured them about that? Can't remember, but surely I must have been conflicted. It was early training for the word of wisdom, surely could have used more practice in reading and math though.

This is my second grade picture. Mom always cut our hair. She used to cut mine just as it got long enough to be put into a ponytail. I don't know maybe I wasn't very co-operative when it came to hair styling. I remember sitting on the floor on a Saturday night and her putting "pincurls" in my hair. Which is basically hair wrapped around her finger, and a bobby pin put in to hold it until it was dry or all night which ever came first. That doesn't sound painful but sleeping on bobby pins, was not all that comfortable and as I remember sitting against her "prickly legs" wasn't either. Ha! I laugh just thinking how I used to complain about that, it's funny to me now. ( how embarrassing rather like the "big underwear" story, oh out of the mouth of babes). Save that one for another time. Sorry, have to pause now and give a good laugh.......

Now this was suppose to be FOURTH grade. Guess mom gave up on the hair at this point, but look how young I look, for a fourth grader.....ummm maybe I should have waited a year or so before starting school? As I remember I couldn't wait to start school, just because Nancy, who did everything wonderfully LOVED  school and raved about how fun it was.

Ok, this was quite a skip. One, I don't want to bore you to death and two, I can't find my pages to my baby book. It fell apart many year ago, I was redoing it and now, ummmm, just can't find...... but hope to soon. So this is me about a Junior in High school with Danny our pomeranian ( looks like he is smiling, funny dog!) and Babe a rescue dog. Mom work as a volunteer and this dog would jump up all the way into your arms to be held. Mom felt sorry for her and brought her home for the "night". She and Danny got along good they were the best of pals.

The cheerleading pictures, and other high school and early college pictures will have to be for another time perhaps. Besides LaVar said many years ago that he love me in spite of my high school "accomplishments", now he says he was just joking about all that...... the real truth is??
Well, we will go straight to the wedding, that was what is really important here anyway. June 19th 1970.  Aynsley that is the dress made be BYU homemaking department and yes, I still have it in Fallon NV.

Here we are before the hair went gray or was lost. I forget my hair was quite dark too. I think the picture shows it darker that it actually was because LaVar's was darker than mine and here it looks about the same.

These are the most important people on earth to me and us. They each have brought great joy and pride to us. They in turn have brought other precious people into our family and added even joy and pride, I can't even start on the 14 1/2 angels that have been invited to stay for eternity with us. (Milo being the 1/2, whole in October). There are 23 of us now, big enough for a fun FAMILY REUNION don't you think??
              Thanks dearest ones for all these years, some days were just a HOOT, other days deep sadness but through it all we have stuck together, so far, and I guess we can just plan on more hard times coming our way, and more fun days if we plan them. Certainly we can stick together through it all right?

             You are all our favorite, can that even be possible? well, I guess so because you are, rather be with you than anyone else. 

           So see Micah after all your mission companions were right, only now am I really 60! AAwwwk sounds so old, and yet I feel as young as I ever have. (memory must be going to).

            I have just been young for a very long time.

Don't Mess with Texas

They don't mess around in Texas either!
I had plans to go to Texas and be with Alyssa and her family in Corpus Christi, I really didn't think about being in the "ugly heat". The heat is hotter, the humidity is greater, the sky is bluer, the clouds fluffier, really things are "greater" in Texas. Life there is "intense" though we arranged a few "down days" that were very fun and we were grateful for them.







Steve took us all out to eat Pizza! Alyssa wasn't feeling well enough to go. We went to CiCi's and everyone had about as much as one could hold. Even Katie was completely filled up and just couldn't eat any more.

He gave everyone a quarter for the toy machine and that is what is in Jake's cheeks but this is how we all felt. Stuffed!













 All the kids liked the iphones and the ipad. Steve and Alyssa bought the new iphone and they were a big hit. Evan took this picture, and a few others. He always asked before, he got us in film. We spend many an hour in this 15 passenger van. I certainly felt powerful driving that thing. I never had to worry whether someone saw us, surely they did. They potholes around that city and other uneven pavement was felt every time we drove. Only once did I get into a situation that someone else had to move before I could solve my parking mistake. Aynsley about died but she was supportive and I didn't turn the van over which was a concern. In fact Aynsley was my gps for most of our outings. The first time out the first day there, Alyssa and Steve had gone to Houston for much deserved rest and retreat, and we were to take Katie to school. I thought I was listening to Aynsley but pretty soon Katie says from her backseat position, "you missed my school", so she is getting to know her way around too. U turns got less frequent as the time went on. Thanks Aynsley and Anna for being my navigators.

Aynsley helped me clean a room in the garage and with that she asked to be helped to learn to sew. She already knew the basics. When someone is willing to hand wind the bobbin they are wanting to sew pretty badly. I didn't get pictures of her sewing or the Barbie dresses she made, without a pattern like her mom liked to do. They were very cute and very original. Anna then started making lace scrunchies that were also very nice. It was fun to set up a sewing room with them and I was very glad to see these girls interested in sewing.

Not to be left out Max and Evan wanted a try at this new skill and enjoyed trying out the different stitches. They would have liked to do more but, the ipad and Jelly Car kept calling their names. It was fun to do with them, who knows who will end up being the real sewers??

 Aynsley and I got a few times to go out shopping. ( Note to photographer, watch the background it's not THAT funny! What, you want her to think she is loosing her mind? brain looks like it is coming out the top of her head and out her ear! If you don't notice that, it is a really cute picture of the girl in 21 looking glamorous and older.) We had a great time and even something for our memories. Priceless.

I even got to stick around for Emily's birthday. Aynsley talked us into getting fondant for a cake. So armed with a book, boxed fondant she selected a bee. Anna and Alyssa helped too. It was great fun. The other children didn't like the taste but the cake itself was a big hit. Sooo CUTE!!

One night we got to go across the street to the beach. The sunset was fabulous! and the breeze was refreshing. We loved getting shells, getting a little wet, and enjoyed each other.

Anna had this gymnastics meet at the very gym she goes to. It was a great treat for us not to travel. There were over 500 girls competing from all over Texas. She did well and we were glad to be there.

I also got to be there for the first day of their new school, Science and Technology! I looked like a great place with nice teachers. Jake and Aynsley went one day to practice opening the lockers. Evan and Max got to meet their teachers and sweet Anna stayed with Alyssa since she had surgery, and we didn't want her to be home alone. 

Evan on his rug in his kindergarten room!

(this is a far away picture Rachel). Thanks for the memories guys, it was fun, even if we didn't get to do a lot of things that were planned. Glad to be there and be a part of your lives for just a little while.  Love you all!! yup, even little Sophia