Saturday, May 23, 2009

NOTALGIA AT IT'S FINEST

Every year for Memorial Day we make our annual trek to Mt. Pleasant, Spring City, Ephriam and sometimes Manti. If you don't know where these places are, you are certainly missing out on some old town charm . They are located in South Central Utah, in Sanpete County. They are the towns that real people are made in. By this, I mean my Ancestors all the way down to my mother. I think my uncle and she were the last of our family to be born there. They were born in a small two story white clapboard house that was destroyed by fire some 25-30 years ago by vandals. I still remember that house. Although I never stepped inside that boarded up old house, it was as though I was coming home. But the barn that my Great-Grandfather Hansen built is still standing--it is nice and sturdy and built with old fashioned hard work, grit, and sweat.

I get a little sentimental around this time, as most of us do, but not for the reasons you think. Mostly because I sometimes wish I had been born, not necessarily in that era, but in the AREA. I think my life would have turned out differently had I been raised in the country. I am a country girl at heart, but I do enjoy the convenience of the city.

It's is about seeing to the decorating of the graves where my great-grandparents are buried. I was going to turn 21 the December after my great grandmother died. Every year we would go and see her while we were down there at Decoration Day.To this day, I really don't care for apricot nectar or apricots for that matter, but this woman was the sweetest woman on the face of the earth. I drank that stuff as though I were savoring it for a lifetime. It's also about this same woman who was widowed for more than fifty years and lost both her husband, in his forties; and some children to a various and sundry deaths; before she passed away at the age of 98. Each year in the cemetery the locals post 10 more American Flags to be admired by all to see and honor the local military servicemen that fought and gave their lives in the name of freedom for our country. I cry every time I see those flags. I cry everytime I see an American Flag--anywhere.

We then trek about 6 miles to Spring City to look around the property and wonder how we can get our hands on it and make it available for us to build a cabin or something on it, but I think at this time it's only a pip dream. We look around, see how some of the area has stayed the same and how some of it is so overgrown with monster houses, I just get sick--because one day it just won't be the same. It's not the same as it was 30 years ago. Nothing ever stays the same--darn it.

We then took the backroad entrance into Ephriam for the Scandinavian Festival. You have never seen so many Scandihoovians in your life, unless you have been to Scandinavia. You can pick everyone of us out from 5 miles away. We're all blonde, blue or green eyed, with a smattering of dark here and there for added flavor.

This year is was very slow because it was cooler and raining. But we did it none the less. Without coat or umbrella. But upset of all upsets was when we got there a little too late for Swedish Meatballs and Cucumber Salad. They had run out. I guess this means we have two helpings next year, Yummy, Yummy.

After leaving and heading home, we stopped at the old homestead and dug up and STOLE--yes STOLE some wild flowers growing on my Great-Grandfather's property (now before you say anything, they were in the overgrowth of the public parking, so that makes it okay, doesn't it?). I get a little sentimental and nostalgic over flowers from my ancestors (I have some buttercups that are in my backyard that were brought over on the ship from Norway with my Great-Great Grandmother when her family joined the LDS Church). So we dug them up and brought some home. Hopefully with the intent of beautifying my horribly ridiculous, pathetic looking, backyard.

This is nostalgia kicking in for me, so please bear with me. This is my heritage!
(I don't know what I did wrong--but all of the pictures are backwards--I hate this program!)

Below you will see the pictures of where we went today and among them are the flags in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Grandpa's Barn, The Hansen/Larsen girls at Grandpa Hansen's Barn, the flowers that I dug up, Great-Great-Grandma Larsen's home in Spring City, Utah My Great-Great Grandmother Larsen's home, The Bishops Storehouse est. 1905, Spring City Public School (where my uncle attended school while living with relatives), The Orson Hyde home (with the street markers in front), and the low lying clouds which show the drizzly/coolish day we had.
























Thursday, May 21, 2009

EIGHT THINGS (I'M A LITTLE BEHIND)

SORRY SHANDA! IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO GET TO THIS ONE. i'M NOT SURE WHY--BUT IT DID.

8 THINGS:

1-THE GOSPEL
2-MY HUSBAND
3-GRANDCHILDREN (WHEN I AM FAR TOO YOUNG TO HAVE THEM, TEE HEE!!!)
4-FAMILY
5-MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC
6-BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS AND MORE BOOKS
7-THE BEACH
8-MODERN MEDICINE FOR WHAT AILS YOU IN SO MANY WAYS!!!

8 THINGS I DID TODAY:

1-SLEPT UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK WITH A SPLITTING HEADACHE (THANKS TO MOM AND KEITH I COULD)
2-TOOK ASHLYNNE TO THE DOCTOR FOR AN INFECTION
3-CAUGHT UP ON MY BLOG READING
4-WORKED ON 30 YEAR SCHOOL REUNION
5-E-MAILED PEOPLE ABOUT THE REUNION
6-TOOK A SHOWER
7-READ FOR AWHILE
8-WAS A BIT LAZIER THAN USUAL DUE TO NOT FEELING WELL

8 THINGS I WISH I COULD DO:

1-TRAVEL MORE
2-BE HEALTHIER
3-PLAY THE PIANO BETTER
4-HAVE UNLIMITED MONEY FOR MY HOUSE AND YARD
5-GO TO EUROPE (MORE SPECIFICALLY: SCOTLAND, SCANDINAVIA, GERMANY, GREECE & SWITZERLAND
6-GO BACK AND FINISH SCHOOL TODAY INSTEAD OF IN 6 YEARS
7-READ MORE CLASSICS (IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME)
8-GO TO THE TEMPLE MORE

8 PEOPLE I'VE TAGGED:
KERRI, LIZ, CARLY, KORIANN, JENNY BETH, CLAAR, EMILY & BRENNA.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

HOT WEATHER SO SOON?

It was so hot yesterday, May 18th (91 degrees, the record for the date was in 2006 at 92), that I decided that there was no time like the present to pull out the sprinklers and let the kids run wild. Yep--they did and it was wondeful. They spent the entire day in their swimming suits. Now if the heat would just go away long enough to set up the pool without me suffering from heat prostration, then we will all be happy!



Have I ever mentioned that I absolutely abhor the heat. I can never get comfortable and pray for snowfall as soon as the heat begins. I apologize in advance of my earnest prayers for the cold weather to return(to those of you who enjoy the heat).

Monday, May 18, 2009

ANY TAKERS?

I know a great new manicurist in town--actually right here on my street, right here at my house.
Austin came up to me today with Ashlynne's bright pink polish and said " I want to do your nails, can I?" Any takers?

Thursday, May 14, 2009

GOOD WEATHER, ACTIVE CHILDREN

There is something about good weather that allows kids to be kids. These two monkeys thought it was a good idea to take out the sprinkler head with the dog leash. They did this for several minutes until they were completely exhausted when they finished.



































This little monkey girl loves it when Papa comes home. She was jumping and yelling because she was so happy to see him.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

SUMMERS FIRST CATASTROPHE

Our first Summer catastrophe happened yesterday when Ashlynne took a tumble from her brand new bicycle. She skinned her elbow. Once we got her all cleaned up, she was raring to go, however, she did make a great show out of it. And the Oscar goes to: Ashlynne Rodriguez--best performance in a small fall.
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Austin promptly took over the new bike when she fell because--well it's new. And when anything is new--it belongs to him, or so he believes. He didn't even care that it was a PINK GIRLIE bike. He felt so that it was his so much that at the end of riding he took the tassles off the handlebars. Somehow I need to teach Austin (and his parents) that selfishness is not becoming and we don't ruin others toys because we don't like something about it. And besides it isn't YOURS to ruin. When I asked him why he did it, his reply was because he doesn't like them there. Man was I angry.




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Janessa was here as well and she wanted to ride too, but declined the bikes for the "Big Wheel" which is more her speed. She didn't have much speed, because she refuses to use the pedals--on any of the bikes. She just pushes off with her legs and feet and goes. Trying to teach her to use her feet was like forcing her to eat something she doesn't like. Oh well, she got done what she set out to do.
Summer came far too fast. I am still waiting for Valentines, St. Patricks Day and Easter to come--but wait, that is what happens when you age. Time goes really really quickly and you can't enjoy the fun things as easily.
Happy Spring and Summer

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

AUSTIN HAS A NEW PAIR OF "FEET"?

It has been a particularly difficult week here at Hartford Hotel. Monday seemed like it took a week--today and yesterday were a little better, but not by much.
Tonight I had the kids by myself while my mom was with my sister on an emergency. Yes, I said emergency. But more on that later.

I was having a difficult time with all three of the kiddoes, with absolutely no help from my husband, because--weh, weh, he has a headache and you would think the world stopped spinning because, let's face it, he is a man and the world did stop spinning, because as a man with a headache, life ends and nothing gets done unless I am really yelling at the top of my lungs for just a minor bit of help.

The scenario was as follows: Austin and Ashlynne were wanting to play on the computer, but they aren't allowed to unless one of us is in the room. Mom had to leave, so of course that left me with a crying baby and two screaming children (nighttime around here is no bed of roses). I went to the stairs and hollered for his help. He comes up with pathetically sad eyes and says " I'll do what I can" (Oh give me a break--what he is really telling me is that I interrupted his 15 hours of sleep again because of his horrifically horrible headache). Girls, why is it that when we have headaches, we still manage to get them dinner, change the kids clothes, feed the kids, maybe clean the bathroom, a few loads of laundry, all while not feeling too well; but they can't function with a simple little headache? Enough of my soapbox. As you can tell I have absolutely no sympathy in this department.

So I said, just watch the big kids while I change and feed the baby and when it is 8:00, the computer goes off, on go the pj's and bring them out and we will have quiet time.
AT 8:00 he had them there in their pj's, with no time wasted-- and there I was on my own again until it was time to put them down. Then this happened.

I was getting Andrew ready for bed and getting his medicine ready when I looked up at Austin, sitting in the Rocking chair with his legs crossed with the cheesiest grin on his face.
This is what I looked up and saw.

It was hilarious. He is very funny and generally at the most inopportune times, but tonight it is really what I needed to get me through.

Nana: Austin what is on your feet?
Austin: They are my new feet.
Nana: Where did you get your new feet?
Austin: Out in the kitchen, under the old table.
Nana: They look like duck feet, you don't know how to swim.
Austin: They aren't duck feet, they are "GLOVE" feet
Nana: Why do you need new feet?
Austin: To make you laugh.

Well, laugh I did! I hope this makes your day like it did mine.

About Me

My photo
Keith and I were married on October 12,1996 in the Manti, Utah LDS Temple. We have no children but raised one child, Kassie, who is actually my niece. We have 3 adorable grandchildren, Austin 5, Ashlynne 4, and Andrew 1. It has become apparent that our home has an OPEN-DOOR policy, since a lot of people have come and gone through our doors. I retired from the medical profession in Aug of 2007 after nearly 30 years and spend my time taking care of these three very lively, often funny,and very active children. My mother lives with us, however she is serving in the Illinois Peoria Mission and will return in July of 2011. Keith is an R.N. and works at a local rehab center in the Mental Health department. One day we hope to finish our home and travel more;