This is my neice, Natalie Vance, at her fifth birthday party. I can't believe she is five and neither can her mother. She was born right before we were married though and sure enough we are coming up on our fifth anniversary. She is named Natalie Catherine. I don't think her mom knew my name was actually Catherine Colleen at the time, but I like to brag that she was named after me. We did name Kylee Jasel after Lorna Jasel--so we have swapped names.
And here is her brother Ryan. We love them both and wish we saw them more. Ryan is doing the kid tractor pull at the county fair. He pulled 175 lbs while Natalie got up to 100 lbs!!
(The pictures didn't transfere. I still need to learn how to do that. Sorry.)
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Apricots
It is that time of year, and we are canning apricots. The girls love it because they eat and eat and eat. The other day, we were at Grandma Tingey's house. Karla was picking the apricots up off the ground. She did really well opening it and eating it. Then she would plant the seed in Grandma's flower garden. Grandma Tingey was the first to notice what she was doing and laughed. "If we have an apricot tree there next year, we will know that Karla planted it."
Well Karla finally grabbed one and just ate it. Then she screamed and dropped it. "Yuck mommy. BUG, BUG, BUG!" We laughed and gave her hugs. She dropped it before I could see if there was a whole bug that starlted her or if only a half a bug was left. After that she wanted me to come pick them off the tree for her. And she has been very careful to see that there are no holes before she eats them now. If there is a little bug hole, she won't eat it.
Kylee on the other hand has been taking a bite or two, putting them in my bowl, and picking up another one. Todd is very frusterated with this. But we love them both. And we are glad they like the fruit. We are grateful to God, Grandma Tingey, and Gordon for the fruit.
We are anxious for the blackberries to come on in OR... at the end of the month.
Well Karla finally grabbed one and just ate it. Then she screamed and dropped it. "Yuck mommy. BUG, BUG, BUG!" We laughed and gave her hugs. She dropped it before I could see if there was a whole bug that starlted her or if only a half a bug was left. After that she wanted me to come pick them off the tree for her. And she has been very careful to see that there are no holes before she eats them now. If there is a little bug hole, she won't eat it.
Kylee on the other hand has been taking a bite or two, putting them in my bowl, and picking up another one. Todd is very frusterated with this. But we love them both. And we are glad they like the fruit. We are grateful to God, Grandma Tingey, and Gordon for the fruit.
We are anxious for the blackberries to come on in OR... at the end of the month.
Friday, August 8, 2008
A moment of nasalga, a shout out to old friends
My mom has encouraged us to write down our personal histories, in our last FHE. So you can see some of the past interspersted with present posts. Please endulge me in this. It seems this is the best place to keep some of these stories too.
Todd and I will sit, late at night, and talk about our memories. Old friends show up in our dreams, sometimes in weird ways. We wonder how they are doing and hope things are going well for them. If you ever come across this, send us an email and let us know how you are doing. We love you all.
Todd wonders about Katie Marler, his high school girlfriend, and Matt and Mindy, his best friend from forever it seems, (JR high, high school). He misses their friendship and hoenstly wishes the best for them.
I have a little longer list as I have moved around.
JR High makes me think mostly of Becca, Stacy, and Jeremy. My best friends and Jeremy, my first love. Becca and I kept in touch till she graduated from collage and lost her collage email. I do still keep in touch with Holly and Eric Turnidge. Their mom was my mom's very best friends. But I love them for themselves as well as their mom. It has been fun to watch as their lives evolve and change. They always make me smile and want to be better.
High School
I think of Chris Walters and Joseph Harshberger where they each had my heart for a time. I sincerely wonder how they are and hope life is good to them. I also wonder about my laurel girls, Heidi especially but not exclusively. It's been fun to run into a few of them as I have moved home. I also wonder about my band buddies, my freshman little brothers: Thad Posipical and Mitchell Rawlins, and Christina, Brianna, ect.
Collage
My best friends were Amber Young, who I have thankfully kept in touch with and love still, Kirsten Larsen, Eric Jones, Adam Hyer and Sister Morgan. I would have married either Eric or Adam and still wish them well. Kirsten taught me much of things of the spirit. And I am so grateful she was my roommate. We would often stay up till midnight talking about things we found in our scripture study. And occassionally it would end in a pillow fight. I was sad that we did not room together longer. I am also sad that I lost her in her transfer from BYU to BYU-Idaho.
Anyway, to all those who have touched my life, I thank you. There are many more that I haven't mentioned I know. I got to see Bishop Shacklee and his wife a few weeks ago when they came through the Tri-Cities. And my life has been richly blessed by so many dear friends and loved ones, family and adopted family. I thank the Lord for you all. And Todd and I don't forget.
Todd and I will sit, late at night, and talk about our memories. Old friends show up in our dreams, sometimes in weird ways. We wonder how they are doing and hope things are going well for them. If you ever come across this, send us an email and let us know how you are doing. We love you all.
Todd wonders about Katie Marler, his high school girlfriend, and Matt and Mindy, his best friend from forever it seems, (JR high, high school). He misses their friendship and hoenstly wishes the best for them.
I have a little longer list as I have moved around.
JR High makes me think mostly of Becca, Stacy, and Jeremy. My best friends and Jeremy, my first love. Becca and I kept in touch till she graduated from collage and lost her collage email. I do still keep in touch with Holly and Eric Turnidge. Their mom was my mom's very best friends. But I love them for themselves as well as their mom. It has been fun to watch as their lives evolve and change. They always make me smile and want to be better.
High School
I think of Chris Walters and Joseph Harshberger where they each had my heart for a time. I sincerely wonder how they are and hope life is good to them. I also wonder about my laurel girls, Heidi especially but not exclusively. It's been fun to run into a few of them as I have moved home. I also wonder about my band buddies, my freshman little brothers: Thad Posipical and Mitchell Rawlins, and Christina, Brianna, ect.
Collage
My best friends were Amber Young, who I have thankfully kept in touch with and love still, Kirsten Larsen, Eric Jones, Adam Hyer and Sister Morgan. I would have married either Eric or Adam and still wish them well. Kirsten taught me much of things of the spirit. And I am so grateful she was my roommate. We would often stay up till midnight talking about things we found in our scripture study. And occassionally it would end in a pillow fight. I was sad that we did not room together longer. I am also sad that I lost her in her transfer from BYU to BYU-Idaho.
Anyway, to all those who have touched my life, I thank you. There are many more that I haven't mentioned I know. I got to see Bishop Shacklee and his wife a few weeks ago when they came through the Tri-Cities. And my life has been richly blessed by so many dear friends and loved ones, family and adopted family. I thank the Lord for you all. And Todd and I don't forget.
Independance Day of our own
Our mommy and me group had a pool day at Sister Hazel's house. Karla, Kylee, Garth and I had a lot of fun and stayed cool. Karla and Kylee used the small entertubes left over from the Nef family reunion. They put them around their waist while I encouraged kicking. We swam around with a death grip on each arm for a while, but as they got more confident they loved their new found freedom. And on their own, with mom close by in case, they kicked to the deepend of the pool and back a couple of times. We played ball. Garth liked the squirt gun and also preformed a few cannon balls for us. It took Kylee a long time to try the water slide while Karla didn't get up the guts till the next day. She had a hard time understanding that her chance was gone. "Go back to the pool mommy."
This month Kylee got the hang of petaling! So both girls ride their bikes while Mom and Dad walk. Soon we will need our own bikes to keep up. We are so proud of Kylee. Karla found a stick while on a walk and brought it home. Then she wanted to paint her stick. After she had asked politely three days in a row, we painted sticks. Karla painted her entire stick. And Kylee painted one of my wooden spoons they have been using as a shovel in our dirt pile. Karla has asked for ribbons, and soon we will have some amazing home made wands. Karla likes to be Princess Presto off Super Why. "I a princess mom." How true it is. We love our girls.
This month Kylee got the hang of petaling! So both girls ride their bikes while Mom and Dad walk. Soon we will need our own bikes to keep up. We are so proud of Kylee. Karla found a stick while on a walk and brought it home. Then she wanted to paint her stick. After she had asked politely three days in a row, we painted sticks. Karla painted her entire stick. And Kylee painted one of my wooden spoons they have been using as a shovel in our dirt pile. Karla has asked for ribbons, and soon we will have some amazing home made wands. Karla likes to be Princess Presto off Super Why. "I a princess mom." How true it is. We love our girls.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Blessing Baby Ben
Mom, Garth, and I ditched Todd and the girls and ran out for Cyntha's baby blessing. We had a rocky start and didn't leave Tri-Cities until 10 am Saturday morning instead of 3 pm Friday night. First we couldn't stay with Amy. Then Todd had to work until 8 pm. And then Mom didn't feel good on Saturday morning. But we made it. We listened to Tomarrow's Dream on the way out. Good book, I cried half the drive. We joked and teased and laughed a lot. A lot of the jokes I couldn't repeat here. But we enjoyed each other's company, and it was good to be together. Fran (Cyntha's other mother) left us talking and reading scriptures. It was fun to read with my family. It's been a long time. And then in the morning Fran came out to find us all still talking. Dot got up because she wasn't feeling well and caught Garth eating M&M's. He threw a fit and woke Mom and I up. Then I got up and went to the bathroom, since I was awake anyway. And Mom hit the floor. When I came back, Mom went to the bathroom and I hit the floor. We got giggling. When Garth got up to use the bathroom. Mom took Garth's spot, and Dot took Mom's spot. And then we were really giggling, as we teased Garth. Cyntha joined us to nurse baby Ben.
Sean blessed Benjamin Thomas Brady. Of note, He was told to love his mother. We had a chance to talk over serious issues and have a family counsil. It was very good for all of us.
On the way home I got to stop and have a good talk with Dad, short but good. It was nice to see him. And Mom and I listened to the book The Peacegiver. It's a book I think everyone should read. My goal is to give away a 100 copies. It was good to read it again. And hard, but good to share it with my mom.
As for the kids, Todd took good care of the kids, cleaned the livingroom, washed two loads of laundry, cleaned my bathtub, and fixed my vaccum. I am so impressed. But it didn't look like he'd done much when I got home. Momma Nef and I comiserated with him. Todd said he understood that this is what I delt with everyday, but it really hit home this weekend. It was a good trip.
Sean blessed Benjamin Thomas Brady. Of note, He was told to love his mother. We had a chance to talk over serious issues and have a family counsil. It was very good for all of us.
On the way home I got to stop and have a good talk with Dad, short but good. It was nice to see him. And Mom and I listened to the book The Peacegiver. It's a book I think everyone should read. My goal is to give away a 100 copies. It was good to read it again. And hard, but good to share it with my mom.
As for the kids, Todd took good care of the kids, cleaned the livingroom, washed two loads of laundry, cleaned my bathtub, and fixed my vaccum. I am so impressed. But it didn't look like he'd done much when I got home. Momma Nef and I comiserated with him. Todd said he understood that this is what I delt with everyday, but it really hit home this weekend. It was a good trip.
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