Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas all!

Had a nice relaxing Christmas day here in the Shade. We stayed up Christmas Eve til about 11, 11.30 watching It's a Wonderful Life, always a classic. Did you know that that movie initially did horribly when it first came out? It didn't even make enough money to cover the production costs at first, but then apparently became a staple as tv channels began looking for holiday programming. The kids all stayed up pretty late (2 am?) BDan and Keaton watching videos on YouTube, while Julia and I worked on the finishing touches of some Christmas presents. That meant we only got up and at em around 9.30 am. Pretty wild. Mom and I were up the earliest, about an hour before everyone else, and contemplated waking everyone else by jumping on their beds like we did to mom and pop as little kiddys on Christmas morning.

I love our Christmas traditions, the stockings first and then just passing around presents and eating cinnamon rolls, watching newly opened movie-presents and lying around in our pjs. Mom made a delicious lasagna we had after all the presents were opened. This year Brother Garcia came over to take some quick pics of the family- Mom put them up on her facebook- and we just finished a grueling game of Mexican Train.

I love my family. So glad we could come out to spend the holidays with them. I love love love Brandon's family as well, but the two are very different creatures. Weather pending, Brandon and I will head back, loaded up with presents and my old things from high school to sort through, stop for some WaWa hoagies at the top of the NE extension and be home in time for Christmas with the Stumps Tuesday evening.

Love you all, thanks for being an excellent family. :D

Liberty

Plus a bonus pic:

PPS- that killer Viking hat mom's wearing in one of those pics? That was the last-minute present that kept me and J up so late Christmas eve. Totally forgot how much I had left to do to finish it, but it was definitely worth it.

Adventures and Excitement

OKAY!!! as we're waiting here for Christmas for the Moho and Sumner family to kick off we figured that we'd do a little bit of updating so everybody knew that yes we were still alive and that also we have been doing lots of exciting things. NOT to say that sitting at home together and finally being able to enjoy married life as a newlywed couple properly should. But Indira is going to be here a total of 5 weeks. There needs to be some planned activities. But fiiiiIIRRRRSSSTTT...

INTRODUCTIONS!!
This is the hotel that I had booked for Indira for the first couple of days that she was here, she would've stayed there longer, I made my reservations later than I should've, so we had to be out by Wednesday. Yes those are Christmas lights, Yes I put them up before Indira even arrived to surprise her with a romantic "honeymoon suite" and yes our bed is completely unmade, or sheets were dirty so we had to go downstairs and ask about them. they took the sheets and this is before they had brought new ones... <--- ---- (That was a Filthy Lie)
Our first adventures off base (once we got her registered into the system so she could get back on) were sort of limited. We didn't do a whole lot as it was FREEZING I think the wind chill was in the low single digits. ICY as you can see in The picture the sun was going down as well, and of course that made it even colder. we didn 't do much this first day, it was pretty much, "let's go out to eat!!" This was when Indira tried Kimchi for the first time, it was slightly spicy to me, and not at all spicy to her (you know Mexican taste buds) ha ha, but it wasn't anything too bad. I've heard that there are lots of different typed of kimche out there, and really, depending on where you go is what decides what kind you get. here's a video of that dining experience along with some pictures...

The food was really really good and we plan on going back again soon. There's lots of places that I want to take Indira, 4 that I can think of off the top of my head right now here sitting and thinking about it. So yea, there will be more posts about food and restaurants and such so stay 'posted' heh heh heh

see you all SOON, there's more to come, we promise! lots of adventures and fun AWAITS Love you all. -Blake (and Indira, she's passed out early, not feeling well and such)

ANYEONG HASEO!!!! (hello!)

this is the first of many, we hope you enjoy our adventures as much as we are.
We need to get on skype sometime. And we promise to get better at video blogging. haha
Love you,
Indira & Blake :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY INDIRA

Happy Birthday girl! Yes, we're a day late, please forgive. But we love you!

Random pictures to celebrate your awesomeness!!!

I think this is proof Indira is gonna be the pretty sister. (sorry J, but you can't argue with that)

What a cutie-patootie!!

Glad to hear your birthday was so wonderful. :] Now I can put it on my calendar for next year :D Love you girlie!!
Liberty

KZ just what is it about him... (ha ha I know)

Keaton. Other then the delightful fact that his siblings named him, Keaton is everything our family needed in a "Last Child" ha ha (Did you get the Aerosmith song title there...?) I just didn't want to say "baby" as the last child sometimes gets that "honorary" title. (certainly Brandon and I can relate). The most fun part about Keaton has to be his hair! Would you all agree. I had hair like his when I was young, I remember my brother John messing with my hair, waxing on and on about how full and thick it was... ( :( was ). I cannot begin to count the times i have messed with his hair, and shook it, and ran my fingers thru it, and shapped it when it was all sweaty and nasty, and and and . ha ha The next thing would be his general easygoing character. May I be so bold as to say... a lot like my own... ha ha Imaging Keaton getting angry. Now, don't get me wrong he has been frustrated and a time or two not happy, but I don't think I have ever seen him really mad. Sort of like Pop Yelling "Shut up, bunch of idiots back there!" and you ask yourself, is he serious?

One of my favorite Keaton things is waking him up every morning for seminary. I always try to be gentle and kind. Sometimes it takes 4 or 5 times of "stirring" him, but I don't mind. Only a couple times did he not wake up and I just said, "oh forget it. I'm going back to bed..." but that is our quiet time, I crawl into his bunk and snuggle with him a little and start rubbing his head and face and pat his back tummy, legs and arms to get him up,gennerally messing with him as he slumbers. (I consider it payback for the several times at the Father & Son outings we went on; where we slept in the same bunk so I could keep him warm and he ended up sleeping all over my head and woke me up hour after hour...)

It has really been different with just Keaton home, I get to do more with him than I did with the rest of you all. Not because I didn't want to, but because I was more outnumbered. Like when I would bring you all to bed, one in each arm and one on my back, and one hanging around my neck... Playing Basketball together has been a blast, Blake I know we played a little bit, but keaton has been able to play more with me, and he is gettign pretty good. hitting more of those power shots from the low post then missing. I am excited to see him play his sr. year in "church ball" he should be a scoring machine, (but the rest of the team is pretty weak...) I got him out playing tennis once. What did he say, "it is easier on the Wii" or somthing like that...

Well, what else, I am sorry I don't post more. I will be able to get on the computer more when KZ goes to college, I mentioned to Liberty today she used to always socialize on the computer and I would never get to log on, well, now it is KZ's turn. I have to wait my turn.

I love you all, you'll never know how much. Life is good, I'll post more later. give you a Wall entry. The concert was great. Went with KZ Tuesday and with Della Thursday. spent money but it was worth it. Loves to all, Pop. :)

HELLLLOO SUMNER FAMILYYYY

well la de da! look who's posting!! me silly!

so i missed the last post about the great and wonderful KEATON!

so keaton is pretty much awesome. he plays chess and is pretty good at that since i can't manage to beat him. keaton is funny and smart and a good friend and brother in law! sorry this is short but sadly i don't seem to know the awesome and wonderful keaton as well as i should. my only excuse is that i'm relatively new to the fam... sorry i'm a lame-o!

K.E.A.T.O.N.

Keatonal Sumner. Hmmm, what do I like about him? The first thing that comes to mind is playing Dynasty Warriors. Dynasty is an xbox game where you just beat up chinese people back in the 1100's or something I guess. Well, me and Keaton would play on a team, and I would always die. If I die, we have to restart the whole level. Keaton would always tell me "okay Julia, stay here while I got fight okay? defend the base!" And I would do do a great job defending the base until I got bored and decided to go fight on my own....and die! Keaton would give me a "....julia..." look but then I would always say "Keaton! one more time, I promise I will stay put this time, I'm not leaving the base!!!" and then we would restart the level...and repeat the cycle. haha. So I like keaton in the face that he always ALWAYS gave me second chances (in chess too! I start the game with at least 4 re-do's!!!) So Keaton is always willing to forgive and give second and third chances and he doesn't hold grudges.
I also love his humor. Keaton is so funny. He cracks me up with his antics when he's talking about how awesome he is haha. I mean, I guess he is awesome. I remember when he was embarrassed to show his armpit hair....now he's sporting the tank tops all over the place! I miss him a ton, even though he never tells me anything (like he's the lead in the freaking school play this fall) I miss him a lot, I'm excited for him to graduate and be awesome. I can't wait to see him at Christmas! Love you Keaton!

Not much happening her in Provo, it's cold, there is snow on the mountains, my car is my love. No boyfriends haha, a couple of cuties but nothing for me. I'm going with Dubon (my roommate since freshman year) to California for thanksgiving! Im' stoked! holla!
Oh and Blake, way to go, breaking your finger. That's awesome hahaha. Love you all family! Miss you all so much, we will have a festivus miracle at christmas! (from seinfeld haha) Blog something you fools!

Mr. Wonderful

Keaton began his fabulousness at an early early age and was an early trend setter. This photo, taken at Kashana Graddy's first wedding, has him pairing his beloved cowboy boots with ever appropriate prep-school jacket and little-boy white shorts. He was The Man. Keaton often dressed himself and had Very Definite Ideas of how he wanted to dress. Part of it was having two older, twin-like sisters who loved to play dress-up and who sometimes incorporated him (at the tender age of 2 to 3 years) into their tea parties.

It was at this time that the Great Toe Polish Incident occurred. As has been mentioned earlier, when a little boy who begins to show serious Calvin and Hobbes tendencies, silence from him for longer than 8 minutes means serious trouble.

One of my favorite stories of him is from when he was 5 years old and his teacher at school challenged the children to dress up for the Halloween party and try to STUMP her so that she could not guess what they were dressed as. WELL, Keaton had it ALL figured out. He was going to dress up as a pickle He brought me a sweatshirt and jeans to sew buttons onto (the pickle bumps, you know) and then he painted them green. The kid is FIVE!! Pure Genius. She was stumped.

So now, Mr. Wonderful has made it through grade school, middle school, Jr. High and into High School where he continues his fashion sense (his "lucky socks" for Church Basketball) and pure enjoyment of dressing up. Perhaps it is his own delight at life around him. He cannot help but see the joy in living and it infects all of us. There is the Heroic Keaton and there is the What Will I do Next Keaton. I am glad that we have Mr. Wonderful all to ourselves this year.
I have to squeeze these last two pictures in here because I LOVE them and you will too. Thank you Keaton for choosing this post. Perhaps we should do this every once in a while and give good natured kudo's and memories about one another. It is nice. "I like it" said The Horse from Ren and Stimpy.

KEATONAL!

Some self-serving prompt, eh Keaton? Anyway, just glad you did one.

Hey! Did you notice! I finally got our picture and heading to be centered! Small thing, yes, but it always bothered me, and I just got around to cracking the code to fix it.

So... what is my favorite thing about the wonderful and marvelous Keaton Z. Sumner? Well, he is silly, which is good. Also, he is a good sport. We teased him for years, but for some reason he still likes us. :] I'm glad we can be friends. You're a pretty cool guy. Also cool about Keaton? The hair. It's a plus. Especially when it's so fresh and so clean clean! (I don't even get that reference. ppthb to me)

That pic up there is from when we had that webcam on an old computer. I used to find Keaton in the background of several of my pics and made this icon from one of them. ;]

This one is from Fiddler on the Roof. Keaton's goofiness begins to emerge...

Other random Keaton memories: The nail polish in Utah... the plays and musicals... "When there's Keatons at hoooome!".. Didn't Nicky used to say something like "Keaton is a wheaton"? Fighting over Pokemon Photo Shoot or whatever it was called... Keaton using my tweezers to dip Oreos in milk. Keaton's excellent intro blog post that has yet to be followed up on!!!

I keep thinking of not so flattering memories- so in an attempt to save both Keaton and myself some embarrassment, I'll end there. Oh, here's one: I NAMED YOU! :D (the Keaton part anyway.)

Anyway, Keaton, we love you. Hope you know that. I mean look at that picture! What's not to love?! :]

DFTBA* little brother.

Love,
Liberty

*DFTBA is nerdfighter speak for Don't Forget To Be Awesome. And that goes for all of you!!

Recent Liberty-lings.

Hey team!

Right now I'm siting in Psy class (Intro to Learning- the classical/operant conditioning kind, not the how-to-be-smart kind) and am choosing to write my blogpost now. (edited and actually posted tonight when I should be studying for a test. go responsibility!) :D
Anyway, recent pictures I like... Brandon and I bought 3 posters recently during the allposters.com sale and got them framed all nice.

This one, Hokusai's "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" is hanging over our couch in our 'nicest' frame.

We also have Van Gough's "Almond Blossoms" in our bedroom:

And the 'tank man' from Tiananmen Square is in our dining room.

Of these three, I probably like the Great Wave the best. Partly, I'm sure, because its frame makes it look the best, partly because of the great colors and partly because it's just a pretty awesome picture in general. Tiananmen Square is probably my next favorite. Brandon and I both wanted to have this somewhere prominent, and we have it in a silver frame. I just like what that photo means. Against all reason, one person chose to resist. That's the kind of moral stamina I aspire to. Almond Blossoms is nice, but I don't like it as much as the other ones. I think that's because it looks so obviously like a poster- in part due to the cheapest frame we could find, in part because the brush strokes are so pronounced yet so 2D.

Here they are in our home, so you have a smidgen more of an idea what they look like- all taken at jaunty angles to avoid glare. (click to view larger size)

There are also several photos of Brandon and I that are my favorites- you can see them all in my facebook profile pic folder here.

In other news, school is wearisome. I only have one more semester left after this one, and I can feel it. I need to conduct an Honors Projects in order to graduate with my honors certificate, I'm taking a class where I need to write a grant, and I'm balancing 3 jobs and an internship at the Boys and Girls Club as well. Working at the club has been very fun. Challenging, oh yes, but I enjoy it. There's a lot more yelling than I'd like, but when you have a ratio of like 1 adult to every 10-20 kids, that's what you get. Learning their names has been the hardest, but I'm doing better. It's hard to have any sort of relationship with kids when you can only call them 'hey you'.

Brandon and I have purchased fabric to make our Halloween costumes- we'll probably end up working on that during our fall break next weekend. I'm gonna be Strawberry Shortcake (the old-school chubby lady version, not the new current-stereotype-appropriate edition) and we're making Brandon a Matrix trench coat. We'll see how that goes. The success of it really hinges on making time to get it done.

Anyway, love you all, sorry I don't talk to any of you very much, but I think of you often and wish you all the best. I'd write more but, well, I have that test I need to get to work on. ;]

Love,
Liberty

Heaven Sent

Have you seen anything more tender and sweet. I loved precepting in the NICU (Neonatal Intesive Care Unit) because everyshift I was able to love and care for these little ones. I saw them and I would recall our Heavenly Father's love for us. I loved these babies and they weren't even mine, but I really loved them and wanted to do the best to care for them. I felt joy when I would see them get better it was an unbelievable experience. They are so helpless, perfect, and precious. This picture to me inspires hope, perfection, love, meekness, and LOVE. One day I know I will be able to work with these little ones.
Indira

Bloggings

Picture time! This is a picture of Strawberry Lake, (kind of near Heber in Utah) I took it when Indira and I were driving back from our Vernal trip. The picture doesn't do it justice, the water was a beautiful sapphire blue. I kept on "putting off" this blog because I wanted to find a really cool picture, but then I was just said to myself "just put up something pretty" so I did. Indira, do you remember this? haha, I climbed down the cliff thing and went in the water hahahah. It was really pretty tho, and a nice break from the long drive. I like this picture because it is really pretty and the sky is just wonderful. Beauty Beauty Beauty. God loves us so much because he puts beautiful things on the Earth for us to see and look at. Also be thankful for eyes so we can take it all in. (see primary song "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" haha, I'm cheesy)

Not much else going on in Provo. School is mad busy, I'm pro at taping ankles now, BYU football lost 3 games in a row (idiots), I'm practicing my Spanish as best I can, I cooked chicken parmesean the other day for fast Sunday, and I'm so excited for General Conference! I hope everyone else is doing well! You are in my prayers! Go EAGLES!!! (Playin the redskins sunday! watch out Mc Nabb!!! ahhh!)

What Chores???

Ha ha. I have to laugh at this one... I remember when I was young and at home and learned the meaning of "chores" from Grammy Sumner... (my mom) it was much more of the traditional old home family sort of thing... the inside the house chores were for the girls, the outside "'man" chores were for the boys...
I remember mom always was making something for dinner. We almost always had a family dinner together when Dad would get home. It was pretty regular, and you could tell the day of the week by the dinner. We did fish on Friday's, (from Mom being raised Catholic), Tuesday was beans and cornbread. Sunday was a big dinner full blown "meat and two or three" with an occasional special dessert. Then the clean up would almost always be Mom washing dished and Kathryn and Claudia helping or clearing the table or whatever else needed to be done. Saturdays was another big day for cleaning. the girls would dust, vacuum , sweep (kitchen floor was swept not vacuumed) outside the boys would do all the lawn care, raking, trimming the hedge, shoveling snow, (we lived on a corner had a double wide driveway, (including shoveling several walks for elder church members in town) and anything that ever needed to be worked on that was car related. A number of us children also delivered papers either morning routes or evening routes. This was the childrens' means of earning spending money instead of asking for mom and dad to for spending money. Best I can remember all the children at one time or another did papers. After school delivery M - F, no Sturday, and then early / before church on Sunday morning, the morning routes I think were every day... Then there was the weekly collecting that had to be done every week. (I want my $2.00) And on Saturday getting a ride from dad, or riding our bike to the newspaper office to pay our weekly bill. I think the paper was $0.60 when I first started, and inched up from there in the 4 or 5 years I did papers...

We all had to make our own beds, put our dirty laundry in the hamper, put away clothes once laundered, but Mom did all the laundry, she ironed and we would spend countless hours in the dining room while mom would iron and we would be doing homework and or just listing to her wisdom... it was a grand time to be alive, no worries. Mom didn't work outside home till I was older, then it was mostly to fund her Geneology research and pay for missions and stuff.

You children may have gotten off easy as Della never did the regimented weekly routine. we did a little while in Utah, that was the extent of it. We all had our room assignments; kitchen, bathroom, living room, and all but we all know whoever had living room never did anything, the kitchen was alway getting help from Pop. and we all shared in the outside stuff. but the boys usually did the lawn mowing... ha ha
I guess that will wrap up this post. Hope you children are all doing well, we pray for you all, with teh activity on the blog, being so light, clearly school has started and is keeping you all very busy. That is a good thing. School should be your focus, blog when you can. We'll all be around when there are breaks. Love you all. Study hard! Play hard! :)

Memories

I will attempt to follow the format, Car / Road Trip

There are a few that stand out, but forgive me if the memory is a little foggy, in no particular order: 1) The trip to AZ where we picked up Granny In AK and she helped drive thru the night, and with granny driving it started to snow about an hour before Armarillo TX., (this was in the little blue van). So I started driving after our gas stop and was doing the best I could to get us thru, having had more snow driving experience and could maybe go a little faster. It turned out to be the worst conditions I have ever driven in. There was, in some places up to 4 inches of frozen snow and ice on the roads, it was a real wet heavy snow and I was actually suprized we got thru to Albequerque. if you chech the map, it is a pretty good hike, several hundred miles, well once we got to Albequerque, we turned south to get to more clear roads, the word at the truck stop was it was like that all the way to Flagstaff. UGH. We were stopped a couple times, cars were slidding off the roads all around, there was a truck with a fullsize airstream trailer blocking our lanes we drove around them off the road. but wow. 2) the Niagara Falls trip and the Toll Booth episode has to be a classic. I loved the way Blake wrote the dialog he and Kevin had after I yelled for them to "shut up"... bunch if idiots back there..."
that is so funny. "Is he serious?" "No, he's never serious." "But I can"t tell with those glasses on." "But he has that smirk on his face."... ha ha I laugh just writing this. And a few honorable mentions, the Trip to New Jersey from Utah including the adventure of the car dying and the Black Hills camping, and all we did, (that was a great time). Universal Studios, Space shuttle launch. Combined with the T-Bones steak house memories! That was a Sumner Classic. (J, this is one I would play and replay once we get our lives on CD up in heaven, ha ha) Insane that we did all that traveling. Countless trips to Grannies, Aunt Claudia's, when we were still in AZ a few trips to Utah. Yikes, Ya'll got your million mile club pins yet?

I think I will come back to this and add the "crazy" memories and "movie" memories on a Part II and Part III... Love all you guys, It is great to hear from you all Keep bloging. Hope school is going well for those in school. Ha. no me. KZ's last "First Day" is this Tuesday... We'll take pictures. :)

Road Music

Hello. I am going to catch up on the list of labels and entries to the Blog... I'll not make these too long...so here is an attempt.

I will list my favorite Road Tunes, not in any order but as Blake has mentioned by mood or desired effect of the tunes being played... I have some favorites so lets get them out first. Of course you should all know one of my favorites is Rush 2112. the first side of the "album" but now that it is on CD, the whole thing. Another Rush favorite is Farewell to Kings. Title song, Zanadu, Cygnus X-1. I have my other favorites, anything Pink Floyd, Alanis Morrisette, and Shania Twain. And after that, there are selected songs from a multitude of artist that I just love to "cruise" to. Tom Petty, AC/DC (Live "The Jack" from Let there be rock, Bon Scott version). The Coldplay X&Y was turned on to me driving home from Grannies for the last time with Della pulling a trailer in the Park Ave. (very heavy that trip, so many emotions, specifically the song Fix You. Della and I had a great "We Miss You Granny" cry together playing that one several times in a row. I still can feel the emotion of that tune and that section of road north of Tampa on I-95. Della and I had some great tunes experiences when we were first married in WI. Pete Townsend: White City, Dire Striats, ZZ Top, Greatfull Dead, Stevie Nicks,

One quick story, when I left Albert Lea to go live in Reno (pre mission) I was playing cassette tapes in the Blue Flame. I was playing them as they were in sequence in the "brief case" so, about midnight or later, I was in Wyoming getting really sleepy and Neil Young was playing and I cranked it for another hour or more. "Rust Never Sleeps", "Tonight's the Night". If you don't know that one, I highly recommend it. But that was one of those fun times just me and the Blue Flame out in the middle of no where! Thank you Heavenly Father for keeping me alive on all those road trips! Well, I am sure I am missing some, but that will have to do for now.

WHY I LOVE THIS MAN!!

If you look closely at great comedy teams, there is always the really funny guy and then there is the 'straight' guy - the one who never laughs or the one who sets up the really funny guy to seem even funnier. George Burns is really funny, but it was his wife, Gracie Allen who played the straight guy and allowed him to be even funnier. Every once in a while he would set her up to be funny and it would be great. My life with Benet is wonderful but it is kind of like living with Roger Rabbit. It helps that he treats me like Jessica Rabbit too. So this is my favorite image of late. it makes melaugh every time I see it. I found it the other day and KNEW it had to be the image of the day.

Swords and Shields: Your Move!

Julia here, still didn't figure out how to make an ID. oh well haha.

Lets see, family road trips. haha, "I'm in your garden" I remember that. I remember mom asking "whoever guesses the right amount of miles it takes us to drive from here to that hill on the horizon get's the last orange" or something like that. Listening to some Black Sabbath and RHCP always reminds me of road trips. More recently, I remember Dad, Lib and I (was keaton there too?) flying out to Utah and driving out that bucket Lincoln from cousin...whoever and visiting Nauvoo and driving back together. Also me and dad driving out to BYU and picking up Sarah in Ohio. And then driving straight from the Wijin (I forget their name) house in Iowa all the way to Utah, and stopping for frosty's in Wyoming. Me Sarah and Dad were all wired and punch funny at that point. Dad drove the rest of the way (and it's like 2-5am or something like that) and he told us afterwards that he almost drove off the side of the mounatins a couple of times haha. Good stuff. And of course the toll booth. I will never forget that. I think when I die, I want to have that on my heavenly tivo or something so I can watch it over and over haha.

Favorite "family" memories? Too many. Christmas cookies, sunday night movies, videogames, chore charts, wearing a big "M" t shirt for bed and sitting on the heater to make the shirt get all big and puffy, Liberty getting burnt by the Turkey baster, the hand of midas that as from keaton's washer/dryer toy, sledding on the big toboggan, of course all of the Granny trips and shennanigans, the m&m game "dont eat pete!". But just being together. I really had a good time at the "sumner family reunion" and visiting in Vernal with Indira, it's all about togetherness and family. :)

Favorite shows to watch? hmmm. First of all, let me apologize to mom for watching the Lion King every single day. my favorite movie, what can I say! Pete n' Pete, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Guts! (dundunn, dundundun, GUTS!), ren&stimpy, The Simpsons, House, Seinfeld, Hells Kitchen (where's the lamb sauce!!!!!), Nascar with pop haha, going to baseball games, GO PHILLIES,  and of course, Jackie Chan Adventures--uncle says "One morreee thing!"

FAvorite movies? Does the best of will ferrell count? "Hayy....if themoon were made of SPare riBs, woulD you EAT IT?" Anything Jackie Chan, like Blake said. Amadeus, Ten Commandments, Breakfast Club, Moulin Rouge, Mission impossible (Eathan.....EAthan!!!), Men in Black, Armageddon (which I recently learned-Brandon thinks is one of the wost movies ever haha---but we both like Independence Day) Hercules, and I cant think of anymore right now, but it's good to eat Blake's heart attack popcorn haha.

In other news, BYU starts this monday, Aug 30!!! Yikes! It's been fun working 8 hours a day over the summer, but I was losing my mind at the library haha. Time to get back into the grove of things. My arms and back of my neck is mad tan from athletic training, I gotta tape some ankles! Miss you! love you family! :)

-J

PS-extra bonus memory! I was apparently the only one in the family who had imaginary friends. Dandu and Dootodoo. remember them? and I was apparently the only child on the planet weird enought to kill my imaginary friends with bricks and a rake in the backyard with my sister. At least I turned out alright....right? haha

Motivated

This is in response to my own prompts, it's fun reading about everyone else's because then it triggers my own memories.

I remember making the "AAAAAAAAAAACCKKKK-lahoma" tape, and then I remember the Kermit the frog sketch where it was him interviewing Pinocchio. "My name is Abraham Lincoln and I'm 500 feet tall!!"

One constant on the early road trips was mom and dad talking quietly at a gas station in the middle of the night on a trip to somewhere, we'd be sprawled around the car and the distinct sounds of the car slowing down and their voices is something I almost got to looking forward to. I remember playing the "I'm in your garden" game where we'd push each other off of the top of the back seat onto all the luggage. ha ha. I remember putting our feet on the back windshield. I remember that I would put my head right next to dad's left shoulder, poking over the seat and talk with him about stuff. I think some of the most fun I've had was the aforementioned oll-booth incident....LoL that was hysterical. and then the being pillowheads. it was just getting dark, we were driving somewhere and Liberty and I had had entirely too much sugar, so we put our pillows on our heads and just went wild, extreme silliness.

My own road trips.... driving across the country, twice. what an adventure. it was pretty cool I will admit, it'd be better of course with someone to share it with but it was still pretty great. Driving all the way down to the middle of Georgia by accident on the way to Arizona. and still making that trip in 3 days. and then of course driving back to new jersey. I saw a lot of cool stuff on that trip. Brandon and Liberty would know, New Mexico is one of the prettiest places to drive through. And of course a road trip would not be complete without frosty's, a tradition that is still carried out today, (grand canyon) ^_^

Family spending time together? hmmm..... there will always be sheppard's night. making ridiculous amounts of Christmas cookies. I remember playing baseball as a family with the big kickball in the side yard of the first jersey house. A lot of Sunday night popcorn..........A LOT. that used to be huge. Sunday night would be movies and popcorn. dad would make a special batch for mom with light butter and no salt or something and we'd be stuffing our faces and almost always making a mess. That was always something to look forward to. I remember that turning into going over to the Graddy's house, and sharing popcorn and movie time with them. Sticky popcorn = super happy family fun time.

Favorite movie/tv show? back in Tennessee we'd always watch bozo the clown, back when mom was a seminary teacher. "Bucket number 6!" And I do remember waking up in the middle of the night to watch cartoons, ha ha, I'd usually go get the ice cream and a spoon, no bowl, and just eat ice cream and watch starwars.... I also remember getting busted.. heh heh

watching BYU games in Utah, or watching the Jazz and the Bulls play. Watching the Simpsons together. Arthur as siblings or ZOOM. i always like batman beyond. now i still like cartoons. if you watch enough in a row it's like reading a book with pictures. it's pretty cool. but a lot more time consuming. I like Bleach now. I remember watching that with Keaton on the computer, ha ha ha, "If you wanna see some action!!!....." best battle song ever. I love the show Life. it only aired for two seasons but it's awesome, it got cut because of the writer's strike back when that was going on, which is dissapointing because it was a good not to mention successful show. I've seen all of the episodes of DBZ that probably took too much of my life. but it's a good story. I think that's why I like some cartoons. because it's not just cartoons... it's a good story. I think that's why I liked halo so much. the story was awesome. (that and I was really good at it :)
And I'll tell you, back when i worked at the CVS warehouse I used to see how much of the entire script of The Princess Bride I could quote. I got pretty close to the entire movie, only missing a few lines here or there. Mr. nice guy was always fun watching together, Jackie Chan and his silliness and cool kung fu.

(sigh) good times!!!


I Love you family, I'm super grateful that we are close.

Love
-Blakester

Cat Soup

All of you have had such good stories to tell. I will tell some from the early days. Back when you were younger. Okay - Memorable Driving Experience - When we were moving from Arizona to Tennessee we had all of our belongings in the big Penske truck which Pop was driving and I was driving the white Bonneville filled with 2 year old Blake and 2 month old Liberty. Then the fusible link in the electrical system fried and the alternator quit working on the car. We were dirt poor and could not afford to stop at a garage to get it fixed. This happened somewhere between Memphis and Jackson, TN. We ended up tying the car to the truck to tow it along, but it was not secure and it needed someone to ride in it and steer it and brake it. This was fine. Blake was riding in the car seat up in the truck with Benet and I was in the car with Baby Liberty. Until it started to rain. The electrical system was shot, remember, so the wipers were running off the battery and everything started to go downhill. We switched drivers. I was now driving the truck and Benet drove the car. I had never driven a big truck before. Then there was construction. All of the traffic was down to one skinny lane with a steep drop off cliff on one side and hardcore orange cones on the left, pouring down rain and I don't know what I am doing. I am overcorrecting all over the place, Benet is behind me being towed by a piece of rope with his head out the window because the wipers aren't working trying to see what he is doing so he doesn't smash into our truck, smash our car or go out into the oncoming traffic. Oh, and yeah, the children are awake, hungry and irritable at this point. I really felt like the pioneers going out west because we had truly put our trust in the Lord's hands at that point. We had NO CLUE what we were doing, only that we were supposed to do it. I had a severe case of white knuckles.

2) Most vivid memories of spending time together? Going to Florida for Gramma Vacations. The First Year we went to Gramma's was the year The Badgetts had kindly told me "Everything Wrong in Our Lives is All Your Fault and We Want Nothing To Do With You Ever Again." I was pregnant with Keaton (It was April of 1993 when they dropped that bomb on me) and the doctor said he was going to induce labor because of the stress. Keaton was born two weeks early and weighed 9 pounds at birth which is HUGE!!! (I get gestational diabetes and the stress really complicated it) So the first year was running away and finding my bearings. We did so much - being chased by seagulls, going to the ocean, learning about Gramma and being fussed at by her, quilting, going to the IMAX, going to the Mermaid place and going to Sea World that first year. It was awesome. We stayed two weeks that first time with Keaton as a newborn. Let me throw in a music thingy here - I listened to Guns N Roses continuously as it helped my soul that year. Following years were spent At Grammas - weeks during the summer or a week during Easter. Fun Times.

3) Favorite TV shows.... My favorite one that you don't know about is Match Game. it is hysterical. I would watch that with Esther, one of my gramma ladies I was a care-giver for. I watched it growing up too and thought it was awesome. I don't care for TV that much. It sucks my soul because I am attracted to moving pictures and will stare dazedly at it and realize I have watched a whole hour of So You Think You Can Dance or Hell's Kitchen or other such drivel when I could have read a book. I do like Hell's Kitchen though. Simpsons. yeah.

4) Movies with Family: Princess Bride, Disney Movies, Ferris Beuhler, Ten Commandments, HEATHERS, Shrek... I mean, c'mon... any of these movies we can just close our eyes and repeat the script word for word. But NOT Planet of the Apes. Liberty is right. The soundtrack is just plain horrid. Even John Cage would not take credit for it.

Memories

Throughout my life I have been an observer. Let me explain. My disability limits what activities I can actually participate in and also gives me a great excuse if I don't want to participate. Who's going to say "oh you're not THAT crippled!" (Sorry that was a joke in poor taste but that's how I roll) Because of this fact, there are many memories that as a family, I have, but they are just memories of others doing things rather than my participating in that memory. I have come to terms with that fact though and have been a better sport as of late.

With that out of the way, I do have a memory that I will always hold dear to my heart. As a family tradition, during the Summer Break of that kid they get to choose where to go on that vacation. As the youngest child, when it came my turn I was the only kid still at home and I wanted to do something a bit more my speed instead of the beach. I decided that I wanted to go to Philadelphia and see all of the historical sites. This didn't seem like very much fun to my mom so just my dad and I went. We had a blast seeing all this history. On our last night we went to a fabulous restraunt called Morimoto's. He is a chef from the show Iron Chef. We decided that since we had spent a little more than we probably should have we decided to head back home. On the way back to the car we past a homeless man and we just past him by. On the drive back to the Fort, we both realized that we had made a terrible mistake. Spending so much on a single meal and not even being willing to give something, anything so someone in need. I had just experienced the dichotomy of the haves and the have-nots. I had always considered myself someone who didn't have much, but that night I realized how much I did have. How much I could do if I was but willing.

I remember that vacation not because I saw something so cool, or because it was so much fun. I remember it because I learned a valuable from and with my Father. This event cemented the respect I have for my dad.

Road Music

As it turns out I am a couple posts behind once again! So for this time I am to write about what music I listen to in multiple situations. So to begin, on a daily basis I listen to a variety of music. In the car on the way to work I listen to rap/hip-hop. Lately though I've been listening to audiobooks on my way to and from work because I listen to the same books while I work. While I'm on the computer I really don't listen to music, I usually watch something on Netflix or Hulu. For a road trip, this past trip I did audiobooks again but usually Liberty and I just chat while we drive. When I just need some tunes, either iPod or what have you, I listen to Muse or Lady GaGa or Cake when I'm in a good mood, Rob Zombie when I'm in a more angsty state, and that's about it! Sorry my musical taste is limited, music was never really played in the house unless my mom was playing it on the piano. My siblings sometimes played the music they were interested in at the time which ranged from country to metal to rap. Other than that, my music is pretty limited, sorry my new family who is crazy about music!

M.C. Stumpy

Family memories and such

Great prompts Blake!! I hope we all take the time to answer...

Number 1: what is your most favorite/most vivid/ craziest memory of family road trips/driving experiences? (the more the better) :

Brainstorming ideas to answer this I think of a ton of different little memories but not one huge big one: watching movies in the car... playing Gauntlet (Green Knight has gained a level!)... making tapes when we were reeeally little (AAAAAAAAA-klahoma!)... the little tiny potty chair? (eeeew), sleeping in terribly uncomfortable positions, hiding out in the back-back-back with the speakers waaaaay too loud- so I muffle them with pillows and blankets so you guys would turn it up even louder so you could hear. I even remember when Dad got pulled over for speeding and Blake and I were both hiding out (seatbelt-less of course) on top of all the luggage in the waay back, trying to be still and unnoticeable. But definitely the best memory would be when we were driving up to EFY with Kevin McAvoy, and we see some raceway Dad thinks it'd be cool to visit. He says we'll ask the toll booth guy how to get there, but when we get there, the rest of us kids decide it would be hilarious to make hideous throwing-up noises when we pull up to the toll booth. This makes it impossible for Dad to hear anything and he suddenly whips around and yells at us- what exactly I can't remember (can anybody fill this in?) Something about a bunch of idiots back here or shut up I don't know. He had his sunglasses on so we couldn't tell if he was truly furious or just peeved we were being childish. But it was hilarious. Hahaha

Number 2: Besides driving what is the most vivid/favorite/craziest memories you have of the family spending time together? Hmmm I don't know, I have a terrible memory as it is, so trying to think of something without any specifics to clue my memory in is hard... Going to Burger King for Christmas Eve dinner was good. :] All those Easter Egg hunts in Florida where we'd get mad at whoever found the money egg, or smashing empty eggshells on top of each others heads... building a green snow dragon in Utah... Climbing the kid tree and exploring the cave back there-- Lots of memories about that cave- how it was a witches lair, or if you walked in you'd immediately fall down a hole, or how it actually just led to KMart. I remember when we saw some teenagers sniffing glue up there by the swing, and once, Will Furan and I were out there alone, and we looked up into the cave, and we saw two big red eyes, real high off the ground, and we went running and shrieking back to the house, but no one would believe us (heck I don't even believe it anymore). Fond memories of growing up. Sorry I listed so many. :]

Number 3: What were your favorite tv shows? favorite cartoons? favorite sports? watching with the family? by yourself? Well first, another memory... I remember once in Tennessee waking up to find Blake watching cartoons on Cartoon Network waay late once, and I was jealous I'd never had this great idea, and stayed up watching with him until Mom found us. :] Favorites from growing up: All That, Angry Beavers, Card Captors, Smurfs, whatever anyone else was watching (Arthur, Julia?!). Now? Phineas and Ferb is hilarious... Simpsons, of course. Love watching that with all you guys (Brandon doesn't find it nearly as funny) As for real-live tv, House, SNL, Glee, If I Can Dream are all on my Hulu queue. But Better Off Ted and Community are great odd ball ones too. I don't watch sports on tv, so that's out. Anyway, right now our tv is out of commission- we get no signal without a digital tuner and Brandon's computer monitor is bigger anyway (does anyone want to by our puny 19" tv? really?) so all of our tv/movie watching occurs on the computer through netflix or hulu.

Number 3-b: What was your favorite movie to watch as a family?

Um. Good ones? That make us laugh and quote for hours afterwards? Toy Story... Bill and Ted (watching that with Brandon now-hahaha first time in a long time I've seen it). Planet of the Apes! Actually a momentous moment for me happened while watching PotA (what a terrible acronym) I made a joke about the terrible music during the opening credits- the music byline popped up and I said 'now we know who to blame' and you all laughed and I remember that was the first time I ever thought I could be funny. :] Of course then I said it a few more times later immediately making it lame, but still. It was somewhat important for the development of Liberty. :]

Anyway, Love you all and hope to see you answer at least some of Blake's questions soon.

School starts next week - Brandon's pumped, but I'm definitely not too excited. I've just enjoyed being a do-nothing so much this summer I don't really wanna go back (Senioritis anyone?). :\ I'm sure I'll get into the swing of things quickly, but I will continue to be whiny about it until then.

Love you all!

Liberty

Ketchup

SO here I am, starting off!!
After the local spot (which was more or less a joke.....the potty picture remember?) I'd really have to say that my favorite hang out spot was probably with ray and the boys. Always messing around, running around jersey having adventures, through thick and thin, when I burned my face, getting in and out of trouble with the authorities and our parents ha ha ha ha. So really any place where ray and the guys were that WAS my favorite place to hang out and chill. NOW it is of course with Indira. Even though we're far apart right now, it's been a growing experience for both of us and we're happy to report that we're both doing very well...
Chores? really? well hmmm, MEMORIES of chores would include the time we cleaned competitively in Utah for whatever it was we were competing for. I found out that I was the most thorough cleaner. (anybody else remember that?) I remember doing dishes in Tennessee washing silverware and bottles and stuff (Bottles!!!!) ha ha. In jersey probably the biggest chore that I can remember doing the most was mowing the lawn. At the first house when we had the tractor mower I always cut the grass super short (killing it >_<) so I wouldn't have to cut it for as long as possible. I remember the house now, trying to get all grass in the back back. trying to stay away from scary bugs and things. Vacuuming was probably the easiest for me, or cleaning the living room, everything had a place and then a good vacuum later would provide a nice clean floor to lay all over. Cleaning my room was probably the least favorite (how many hands agree with that? lol) so yea that's about it for chores.
Favorite music to drive to? This is pretty specific, and it's a relative question because it depends on what kind of mood you're in. If you're driving angry you want to listen to metallica or some other head-bangin stuff. If you're being contemplative or thoughtful maybe some coldplay. i liked U2's Joshua Tree the most. But i think that's more of a fantastical imagining from a movie or something, convertible driving in the desert with the wind in your hair and U2 blasting. I remember the trip Liberty Mom and I took to go visit granny for the last time. We listened to a lot of coldplay, that's when the new x and y album had just come out. See? The rest of this post could go different directions because I don't drive here in Korea. I walk or ride my bike everywhere. Music in general is tricky because it really depends on what you're doing. It can either influence you or maybe you're just looking to get some emotions out. I love breaking benjamin, they have a really solid sound. I also enjoy coldplay, jack johnson, john mayer, those acoustic sounds just for chilling. I wouldn't say my music tastes are very diverse at all. I usually stick to to or three genres. I have a sweet spot for good cover songs. If there's a cover song with a different feel but it feels great i love that kind of stuff. I also enjoy classical music to a hidden degree. ha ha ha, Bach's cellos suites are exquisite, there are numerous other pieces that I find particularly delectable. I think that my overall music tastes reflect my personality very much; mostly chill, a loud crazy fast bit, and a small refined dignified taste for the skill and ability of composing classical pieces. I do like new music, and by new I mean things that I haven't heard before, but I don't go out of my way to find new things that I like. that's not disappointing to me at all. just something that i personally don't actively pursue.
NOW
as far as prompts....
I know I have the 15th, but because we've been lacking in prompts for whatever reason I'll put down a couple... I don't know how to put them in the little box area so I'll just do it here.


Number 1: what is your most favorite/most vivid/ craziest memory of family road trips/driving experiences? (the more the better)

Number 2: Besides driving what is the most vivid/favorite/craziest memories you have of the family spending time together?

Number 3: What were your favorite tv shows? favorite cartoons? favorite sports? watching with the family? by yourself?

Number 3-b: What was your favorite movie to watch as a family?


I don't know how it'd work, but I think if we had something where we had a full conversation from movie quotes that it would be funny and a good time, heh heh just thinking about Julia's super epic quote mashup on fb.


I LOVE EVERYONE hope everything is going well, as soon as everyone posts from those prompts I'll do mine and then we can move on to the next prompt :)

I love my family
-Blakester

Road Music

Hey team!

Just a sidenote- Sorry I never post comments. I always feel happy and special when someone posts comments on mine so I'm sure you all feel the same- I'll try to be better at it.

Anyway, we're finally home from our massive-three-week-triangle-adventure-of-awesomeness! Our vlog didn't last at all. Hahaha. Nice try noobs. But we had a great time hanging out (and meeting!) Sumner family and friends from Brandon's days at BYU. It was fabulous. And surprisingly not as tedious driving as we thought. 80 hours on the road, 6 hotel nights, 3 flat wheelchair tires, almost two full audiobooks (plus bits of 3 others), and about 5,000 miles later we're home again home again. Sleeping in our own beds!! Woot!

So fresh off our road trip we should have a good idea about road tunes right? Well, we didn't listen to too much music... We listened to a lot of audiobooks, like I said, and Brandon loves listening to comedians on cd, so we did a lot of that. I think the most important feature of road tunes is that everyone enjoys it. Or at least you switch often enough (shuffle the ol ipod) that everyone can enjoy it. The Travel Song from Shrek the musical was my theme song (listen here- I was Donkey;Brandon, Shrek). Styx, Queen, Lady Gaga also popular choices, but we did a fair share of just chatting too. :] Good to get in some decent conversation.

So dad tells me I should post some pictures up.... but it's late and I should be in bed. Sorry!

Plus my camera I think is in the van and I'm already in pjs. Soon enough, my friends!! Soon enough!!

Love you all,

Keep writing.

Liberty

Tunes

This is an awesome topic Julia: Cartoons. I was always such an audiophile, albeit a broke one, that music played a HUGE role in my life. I started making mix-tapes to take to youth conferences. They never heard of such a thing back then. BACK THEN - a mix tape was a time-consuming event involving tedious recording of cuts from your favorite records and even borrowing records from friends. Now, all you gotta do is push Ipod shuffle, no work at all. What first attracts my attention, is a pronounced funky. U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Prince and TOOL has this. What I love is something that jams forever and does not end after 3 minutes. LOTS of my music does this. Neil Young, The Cure, Dave Matthews. I love voices with interesting textures and inflections like k.d. lang, Roger Waters, Alanis Morisette, Elvis Costello, Lou Reed and Matisyahu. I love bands/musicians that don't take themselves too darn seriously like Queen, ACDC, the Beastie Boys, Eminem, EnVogue. I love music that I can get my anger out with like Guns N Roses, Nickelback, Pearl Jam and Rage Against the Machine. I love music that uplifts me like Handels Messiah, bassoon sonata by Mozart, cello concertos and Beethoven. I love guitar music like Dire Straits, Pat Metheney and Santana. I love music. I love music. I love music. It saved my life many a time. It soothed my savage beasties more times than I can count. I have lost myself in the pounding throb of the Chemical Brothers and found myself weeping as the Tabernacle Choir sang O Divine Redeemer (MY ALL TIME FAVORITE PIECE BY THEM). Toons. Gotta have them. Can't life without them. *My apologies for all the music I have missed and forgotten to put in here.

Blog Face

Julia Here.
Despite Liberty being in Provo for the past week, I still managed to forget to ask her how to make an "identity" or author thingy or however you call it. im a dingus
1) favorite chore--uh, I was the only sumner child that inherited the "sumner" cleaning gene (and liberty knows what that is now after seeing uncle wayne in action!) So I like to clean everything. I'm down with brandon on the dishes. Waiting for a big pile--that's my way. Until them, let 'em soak right! I am a custodian for my job, so obviously, I must be doing something right in the cleaning area.
2) favorite road music. (by the way, this was my 'writing prompt' and I couldnt think of anything better, sorry you have to answer a lame question--or dont answer at all!) Something about Red Hot Chili Peppers just makes me want to drive across california or something. Also Neil Young, Broadway sing-a-long stuff (me and Keato did Les Mis on the way to Ogden!) and of course Shaggy!!! I am missing the cd! maybe I left it in Jersey! :(

The sumner family reunion was a blast! We got some old slides of dad lookin just like keaton (big nose and all) and I heard some stories about dad hahaha! It was fun to hang out with the family, and I really wish we all could have been there together! I cried watching the video of grandpa bearing his testimony (aww, I'm lame) and I'm blessed with such a great family and we can be together forever! (dont cry!)

Not much else happening in Provo. I started 'shadowing' for athletic training at UVU. I'm pro at making ice bags haha. Cousin Kim comes home from France tomorrow! uh oh, time to overhaul and clean the house!
I can't think of anything else to write, and technically I'm on the clock right now at work (hehehe....watch out for the boss!)
-Sending out some Utah love! -J

Pop's Favorite Spot

What a silly prompt. I don't know if I have a favorite spot. I am afraid it may be driving in the car... would that seem lame'a (French spelling). lol I have been thinking on this one for a couple weeks and have not yet been able to come up with an actual place that I would consider my No. 1 Favorite spot. I can however think of many places I like to be; in addition to the drivers seat of my car...

How about sitting on the patio on the back poarch, with a cold drink, tunes from Julia's (and Liberty's) window, book in hand and working Le' Grille.

Could be in front of the TV watching any number of sporting events. I even watched the FIFA world cup. It was interesting watching the consolation game and contrasting it with the championship game. (go Spain) one much more loose than the other. Several of my European contact (from work) said Spain had the best team. Go Vikes, Go Twins, Go Phillies, Go Eagles...
I smell a championship on the horizon. oh, Go Flyers. ( not in season, forgot)

Another "series" of favorite spots are anywhere I am actually playing, Tennis, Hockey, Bowling, Basketball, Football, Softball, Pinball... That is ACTUALLY playing for all those WII heads.

And lastly but maybe the most important favorite place (that is not a place) is with Della, Whereever we may be, Movies, Pat's eating calzone, (what zone? Cal zone) sitting home computering together, and especially Kicking her butt in backgammon...

Well, enough for now kiddies. Got to check the scores, and read more in "The Pillars of Creation" Loves to all, Pop.

Slacker....

So apparently I'm a slacker... SHOCKER! LOL So I need to catch up on a few prompts. First things first though is that, WE'RE HERE!! HOLY MOLY THAT WAS A LOT OF DRIVING! We did really really well though. 12 hours a day for the first two days and then 10 the last day. Glad I've already met so many new people who already care for me so much. Ok so back to the prompts I missed.

1) So my favorite spot in Fort Wayne is probably at my computer. It is the place I spend most of my time and it is also kinda my proxy child for now. It is hand built and it is pretty sweet. 4 gig of ram, 2 hard drives (1 300 gb and a 1 tb drive), a AMD Phenom x4 II 3.2 Ghz processor, a Sapphire 4890 video card. It isn't the fastest thing in the world but it does everything I ask of it.

If I could chose a place that isn't in the town that I live in it would be the Sloss Foundry, yes the place that popped my tire. It was incredible! I'll have to dedicate an entire post about Sloss it was that amazing!

2) Chores: so my big chore in the apartment is dishes. I actually love doing them. It is very cathartic for me. Gives me a nice sense of zen, of being alone in my mind and allows me to think about how my life is going at that current moment. It is a great way for me to relax and clear my head. Other chores though, they suck. I don't mind doing them but finding the motivation to get started is hard for me.

Ok well I gotta go get my chair fixed again.

LOVE YOU ALL!

Road Trip Update!

Hey there!

So Brandon and I have safely arrived in Utah to stay with J at the Flewellens and all is well. The drive was beautiful and I was really amazed at the variety of landscapes we drove through: swampy bayous as we left New Orleans, grassy prairies and wide open spaces through Texas turning into deserts and mesas in New Mexico. Winding mountain roads in Colorado (I drove through that, and it was almost scary. I was terrified to cruise down the mountain at 80, but if I lost too much speed then the little van wouldn't be able to get back up the next rise) then huge rock formations and canyons into Utah. Fun times!! New Mexico was probably our favorite- we both would love to live there in the desert, it just felt great. Though we did pass through some pretty podunk rinky-dink towns. :\ It's been so wonderful to see the variety of nature across the country, but kind of disconcerting to see so much poverty at the same time.

We left Mexico Beach Saturday, leaving right on time around 7.30am. We drove to New Orleans to have lunch in the French Quarter. The restaurant we had picked out looked pretty packed when we arrived- just a big open space with as many tables as they could squeeze in there- I thought we wouldn't be able to find a place where Brandon's chair could fit, but we got right in to a little space at the back that was perfect for us. The building was reeaaally old, apparently from 1788 and served greaat Creole. We forgot to order the alligator meat appetizer we were joking about on the way there (I don't mind. It just feels wrong to eat alligator to me) but the food was great- Brandon had a sampler of jambalaya, red beans and rice and gumbo and I had a great corn/fettuccine dish. Brandon really loved it, and I thought it was great too, but I'm afraid the nuance of Creole cooking is lost on my puny po' pallet. Then we walked up and down Decatur St looking for a bakery that sells beignets. ;] Not quite a Benet but close enough to be good for a laugh to bring to the reunion. hahaha. Lots of street performers, musicians, artists, and crazy people. As we were driving out we passed this big ol lady wailing on the keyboard and Brandon asked me for a few dollars to pass her- I scrambled through my purse for some cash and passed what I thought were two ones- my bad. That was an $11 dollar donation to the culture of New Orleans. I felt silly afterwards (wasn't sure why she was hootin and hollering for just 2 bucks, til Brandon told me what I'd done) but hopefully we made her day... .. and not given her a drunken night hahaha.

We drove northwest to Marshall Texas, stayed at a cheap Motel 6 where the AC would literally roar to life every few hours and wake us up. :[ Then continued across Texas to Abilene, where we ate at this family owned Middle Eastern restaurant. The dad took orders and ran the place while his wife cooked in the back and his poor son sat miserable, head down, at the counter. It was a weird experience. I asked him what he suggested and he acted surprised, like I was stupid for thinking he could tell me what I would like. Then when I asked about a different dish he seemed offended that I wasn't taking his advice. So then I was offended that he'd treated me so rudely but Brandon told me I was just being culturally insensitive. But then he gave us a free appetizer, so I guess it all worked out in the end. We drove on to Albuqurque and stayed at another cheap Motel 6, where the room next to us housed both crying children and a loud tv show Brandon suspected of being... unsavory. :O I bet Brandon he wouldn't be able to wake up and be in the shower on his own, but he slept poorly on account of being hungry and I lost. (Well, not really, I'd bet him a blizzard, but Brandon can never finish his and I end up eating the rest. heh heh heh). So we woke up early and head out in time for a stop at Waffle House (you can't pass through the South without going there) then drive on through the SW corner of Colorado and into Utah. In Prove we drive around not finding the Flewallen's then give up and go to wait for J to get off work to follow her home. She helps us get set up then we go out for some great pizza and to buy Brandon a pillow (we left his in Albuquerque. :[ oops).

We've been listening to The Host along the way (Mom, did you ever finish that?) and keeping surprisingly entertained on the looong drive. A little nervous about the lack of firm plans for the reunion. :\ If it's just a make-your-own-play-date kind of reunion I feel a little out of place, not knowing who the heck I'd want/need to hang out with. Ah well. We'll see and play it by ear.

Sorry this post was so long. Hope you can forgive me.

Eventually I'll get around to posting pictures. You know, the half-blurry, taking it with my hand out the car window kind. :]

Don't Forget To Be Awesome!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Liberty

Chores

I guess I need to write about chores. It seems that anything that has a deadline and that can be procrastinated upon can be considered a chore whether it is taking a shower, preparing a lesson, creating a menu or washing the dishes. If one waits till the very last minute then the adrenaline takes over and it gets done very quickly, or the spouse gets sick of waiting and does it himself / herself. hahaha. I grew up in a household of 9 children, I was the oldest and they just kept coming and coming and being born!!! As the oldest, i was given the chore of being The Responsible one while my mother was busy being pregnant or recovering from being pregnant which was (as I determined) about 6 full years of my childhood. Much of this time she was president of something or other at church or PTA or other school auxiliary and I was left in charge a lot. She cooked as well as I do (i.e., not much at all - now you know where I get it from) and the only time she cleaned was 5 minutes before the Home Teachers came. ("Quick!!! Shove everything under the couch!! NOW!!") So I know my skills are lacking. My greatest teacher is Gramma who taught me how to deep clean everything when we used to visit her in Florida. I can DO IT, but it requires great concentration, effort and energy and by the time I am done, I am in the throes of a massive allergy attack from the attacks of the disturbed dust bunnies.
My Most Hated Chore growing up was dishes. Dishes for 11 people without a dishwasher is a daunting task. I despised it and hated it when it was my turn. I always thought I would grow out of it and be PERFECT when I was an adult (as if all children go from larval form and metamorphosis into perfected adults) and always brush my teeth, always keep the house clean and never lose my temper. I was adding GUILT over my non-clean house onto my already massive pile of guilt when Jane told me to let it go. It liberated me. It stays cleaner longer now that there are fewer squidlets at home. One day it will always stay clean and Benet and I will long for it to be messed up and noisy with you visiting us.

weekend extravaganza

  
    Hey fam bam! Wanted to share our mini vacation with ya'll. Tryna hook you up with our Vernal bonanza. We also played this sweet card game called 'Bohnanza" it got a little tense, ;) but it was mad fun. Julia got to experience the Moho competition. (like when we played monopoly new year's eve and all hated each other the rest of the day). So it was cool hanging out with each other, bonding hehehe and what not. : ) Sorry the video sucked like Liberty and Brandon's first video but.....ummm.....it was a long day with spartucus.  Hope everyone is doing well and njoy our beautiful faces and oh don't drop the soap ^_^

ummm....test....testing 1 2 3. ok : )

-Julia and Indira-

over.

Opps

I inadvertantly deleted the "Contributors"...  Sorry I won't do that again...   I was trying to add me...  :(
Lowly Pop

First Pop Post...

Who am I?  That is a pretty good question.  I have a pretty good idea, but do you really know who I am..  ha.  I will write a brief history, and you may ask questons, as you may want to inquire into more detail.  But I suspect that in time by way of the Clog, (my phone keeps coming up with this when I text) more info will be forthcoming...  :)

The youngest of 9 children I would often find myself persecuted and beat upon, but there were plenty of perks to being the youngest too, so eat your heart out!  I grew up in southern Minnesota, some of my earliest memories have a lot to do with being outside. in the summer playing at the parks, lakes and helter shelter Primary events in Austin.  In the winter, skating, sledding and when lucky an occasional snowmobile ride or pull on a rope and innertube.  The parks were very close to our house, I played hockey or just skated and bowled all winter, and baseball, football in the fall and a myriad of assorted summer games.

   I lived in the same house till I left for college.  I drove the Blue Flame to Rexberg, ID. (where I learned to play Backgommon)  I drove out with a girl from the ward. We had a good adventure as we experienced minor car trouble in Rapid City SD. (alternator went out).  That is when the adult adventure sort of began.  Having to be responsible and feel the full weight of my decisions; it was fortunate to have left the state and all my gentile friends, ha ha.  (especially after hearing stories about their college experiences v. my own).  I somehow managed to serve a mission to Japan, 1981 - 1983 and that fall, '83 I met Della.  Not quite really knowing the full impact that meeting would have on my life.

Well the rest is History.  Lots of things not mentioned.  I'll throw in some randomness, but not to drag this out.  Played a lot of Pinball, (a by-product of bowling ally living) some original table "fooseball"  ha ha  not the kind in Waterboy...  softball, working as a park and recreation director was fun.  First real concert, Rush "Hemispheres" tour, still one of the best being I was right up front.  First professional event, cub scouts 1969 Twins game, Harmon Killabrew hit a homerun.  Best friend growing up, Edsel, and Ellard.  Best friend now, Della

I will catch up on this clog thing.  I love you all so very much,  I am certainly not worthy of all your collective greatness,  but am truely thankful for the blessing of such greatness in my life,

Love,

Pop

My Local Spot

Well my favorite local spot is kinda obvious... it is my studio. I love to be out here working and putting my creative energies to use. I have to admit, though, since changing to watercolor I love using daylight and so coming out here at 2 in the morning does not seem helpful to me. I need to find a way to get around that. With oil painting, it was okay because the oils are opaque. Watercolors have transformed me as an artist and I need the light. Starting to work at a real job has been kind of challenging because I need to focus on making time to go out to the studio on a daily basis. So far, I have gone out there 2-3 times a seek. Once I get situated into a more regular schedule, I hope to go out there more often. As they say: This is where the magic happens.