Ward Talent Show

Last night we had the funnest Ward Activity night. We had a Talent show and Potato Bar. Our family was half the show and I was so proud. Jaycie & Brenton were our MC's for the night introducing the acts and telling a few jokes. Trace played his saxophone with a friend, Cara did some acrobatic moves that I can't imagine how, Weston came all the way from Moses Lake dressed in full western attire to tell us some cowboy jokes, Haley and Emma along with some friends did a lip sinc, and to top it all off Hallie was the absolute Princess Ballarina! We had lots of other ward members participate but I am so proud of our family. Jaycie, Chad and Lyn are on the Activites Committee with me and Lyn worked so hard over the food I appreciate them so much. Its fun working with family - I don't think I would enjoy it without them.

Are Looks All That Important?

Well it depends. For those of you that have seen me lately you might be wondering when I started undergoing chemo treatments - No I'm not sick - My hair is very short. Last week end I was debating whether to get my hair cut in a salon or have Ed cut it as usual. Well he talked me into going - and I don't know why because he has seen me cry every time I get my hair cut in a salon) well I have never had my hair cut that short & I have had short haircuts! I told her exactly what I wanted but the only thing I can think of is a guy in the chair next to me was getting a mohawk and she must have been watching and got crazy with the razor. Well I did cry all the way home but Ed consoled me and kept telling me how good it looked. (He later admitted he was just glad he didn't have to cut it- he even went so far as to tell everyone to tell me how good it looked.) But I'm over it now and trying to work with what little bit I have. I was listening to the news the other night and they were looking for a criminal on the run. They were describing the person's looks- they never say good things - they never say - we're looking for a slim, attractive, flawless complexion white female - its always 200 lb white female with stringy hair, mole on side of nose & unsightly zit scaring on face. Now that right there would keep me from committing a crime and hiding out. Who wants their weight & blemishes shouted over the TV - its bad enough to have them. Not that I'm ever going to commit a crime but if I do I want to look my best. I don't know why I'm blogging this, This is what happens when you don't have any kids at home to blog about!

Funny Memories

I know you've all heard this before but one of the funniest memmories I can remember with Grandpa Cox was when we went to Rick & Sharon's wedding in Arizona. But we took the scenic route around by Colorado to visit Aunt Vicki. If you can imagine 5 of us kids and mom and dad in the tiniest camper that sleeps 4 at the most. Dad kept promising us we would stay in a motel but I realize now that he was probably the thriftiest dad ever - As I remember it - Dad had slept in the cab of the pick up the morning we left Colorado so we could get an early start. We get to keep sleeping while Dad drove. Also know that we have no communication with the cab from the camper. Well by the time we pulled into New Mexico we had to go to the bathroom so bad & were so glad when dad pulled into a gas station. As soon as he stopped Deby jumped out and dad decided the gas was too high so he started going again. We hollared at Deby who was already halfway to the bathroom and she came running behind the camper. We had a hold of her hand and she was hopping on one foot as we were trying to pull her in. We were laughing so hard and trying not to pee our pants at the same time. We finally got her in and the funny thing was that Dad didn't know any of this was going on until he finally found a gas station with cheap gas and stopped!
That trip was probably the worst trip of my life but the funnest and most memorable. I was getting married in 3 weeks and Deby was getting married in Nov. So we were lovesick and being cramped in that small camper with 7 people (some snorers) was not where I wanted to be. But I will never forget it. (P.S. We did finally get to stay in a motel on the way home in Salt Lake City)

Grandpa Cox's Birthday

February 18th is Grandpa's birthday. I have been thinking about him alot lately. I remember one time when I was little - I was riding the tractor with him and we were way up in the field - it suddenly started to hail and so we got off the tractor and got against a concrete ditch wall and he put tumble weeds over us to protect us. It didn't last very long but we couldn't have stayed out in it. Grandpa was very ingenious I think. The one big birthday party I remember having for Grandpa was when Michael & Mishelle & Shana were about 6 months old. I was pretty much stuck at home with kids and so I decided to have a birthday party at my house for Grandpa. The day before his B-day it snowed and snowed. The next day on his B-day the sun came out and it all melted. We had a big flood at our place. The water all around us was about a foot deep and running like a river. So we called everyone and told them to meet at Grandma & Grandpa's place and Ed picked everyone up there in the big white van. He had a sign on the van "The Love Boat" Then he had a gang plank he put out so you could get from the van to the house. Inside I had decorated the house like Hawaii. I even made a palm tree out of green crepe paper and a coat rack. We put a piece of plywood on cinder blocks and had a luau around it. It just proves you can do anything if you put your mind to it and with not much money either. Those were the good ole' days. I miss Grandpa alot and I'm sure he misses us too, but I know he is happy and anxiously waiting for us all to be together again someday.

Thought For The Day

"Think about your particular assignment at this time in your life. It may be to get an education, it may be to rear children in righteousness, it may be to be a grandparent, it may be to care for and relieve the suffering of someone you love, it may be to do a job in the most excellent way possible, it may be to support someone who has a difficult assignment of their own. Our assignments are varied and they change from time to time. Don't take them lightly. Give them your full heart and energy. Do them with enthusiasm. Do whatever you have to do this week with your whole heart and soul. To do less than this will leave you with an empty feeling."
by Marjorie Pay Hinkley

Valentine's Day

A few months ago I saw an article in a magazine that asked people to send in a story about their best Valentine's day - they would choose a winner and the winner would win a romantic trip somewhere for 2. It sounded like a great idea but I thought and I thought and couldn't come up with anything that would win me a trip. I thought I could make up something but they would probably check it out. I had a steady boyfriend in high school who always broke up with me right before Valentines day and then we got back together afterwards. What a jerk! I always have had this dream in the back of my head that Ed will suprise me with diamond earrings or a cruise. Something that wasn't my idea or something I don't have to figure out how we're going to pay for - for the next 2 years. He once told me he would rather hang by his toe nails than have to pick out a gift for me. So that right there tells me that I won't be getting any suprises. Its not that I'm picky, I just want him to read my mind and know what I want. But I have to say that after being married for 38 years I know he loves me, I know he would do anything for me, and I know he would buy anything I pick out. What more could a woman ask for? Romance is overrated anyway. McDonalds, Table for 2 please.

Dear Mr. President

Yes thats right. I just addressed an envelope to President Barack Obama and I'm mailing it today. No it is not hate mail or complaint mail. Our owners are having us send 7 varieties of our pea and bean seed to Washington DC for a vegetable garden that President Obama has asked to be planted on the White House grounds. We might be just a little seed company in a little town but we are making a name for ourselves. So when you are listening to President Obama next summer talk about the wonderful peas he has been eating out of his own garden at the White House, THAT WILL BE OUR PEAS!!!

Words we don't like to hear. . . .

I know I just posted today but I can't help it. When something comes to mind I have to say it before it gets lost in la la land. Here are some words that we don't like to hear and the person that said them:
Things in the Past...
- Mom: "This is going to hurt me alot more than its going to hurt you."
- Child:"I think I'm going to throw up."
- Neighbor kid: "Have you seen my pet snake?"
- Boyfriend: "I think its time we started seeing other people"
Things you don't want to hear now....
- Husband: "I got a ticket today"
- Bishop: " I'd like to talk to you after church today"
- Husband: "I got another ticket today"
- RS. Pres. "Have you got your VT done?"
- Husband: " I think that cop has it out for me, I got another ticket today"
- Daughter: "Mom, the kids have pink eye and the Dr said I had to tell you
since you just watched them Sat.
- President Obama: " I really screwed up"
- Husband: "I got another ticket today."
Things you don't want to hear in the future:
- Police: "Mam could you come bail your husband out of jail?"
- Husband: " I just couldn't take one more ticket."
- Dr. " You both have pink eye"
- President Obama: "I don't know what I'm doing."

Goodbye Mary and Joseph . . .

Well since its the first week of February we decided it was time to take Joseph and Mary off of our front porch. I told Ed that either we had to put them away or put a heart shaped box of chocolates in Joseph's hands. I looked around the living room and noticed I had replaced my pine wreath over the fireplace with a nice springy floral wreath but my Christmas village is still on top of the TV. Its interesting that the longer something sits out the easier it is to get used to it and not really see it. I think the cold weather makes it hard to put away winter decorations. Its just that blah time of year. I noticed that I'm not the only one though. I still see Christmas lights "on" - by the way - here and there and we drove by a house last Sat. night that still had their Christmas tree up with lights on in their living room. Time just flys by so fast that its hard to move from one holiday to another without crossing over. As I sit here at the table with my red Christmas holiday tablecloth - I really think I just don't care anymore. Valentines Day decorations are red. I paid 5.00 for this tablecloth and I should be able to use it for more than just 1 month. I am planning on taking down my Christmas Village though, but if you happen to come visit me and you see any Christmas decorations would you please tell me. Ed doesn't care - he thinks its still December.

Steelers vs. Cardinals

When did the Super Bowl become a National Holiday?! If anyone went to the grocery store Sat. you would have thought that they were getting ready for Christmas or Thanksgiving. We had to drive to 3 different grocery stores (not my choice) so Ed could find oysters to fry up for today. They were hard to find - not because they just didn't carry them- they were sold out! Yuk! I really could care less about the game - it could be the Sonics vs. Red Sox for all I care. Our family went and saw a football game in Seattle once and it was the Steelers vs. Seahawks. (free tickets) They stopped every play for a commercial break! Its all a big money thing. And I'm sure plenty is made from it. Everyone kept asking me who I was cheering for today and I really didn't care - I did know this much - the Cardinals were the least likely to win - I'm always a softie for the underdog - but what really made me want them to win is when they announced that President Obama was for the Steelers. (sorry, I can't help it) The thing I do like about Super Bowl is that it brings families together. It seems to be kind of irreverent for a Sunday activity - but at least its after church. I'm ashamed to say I even have money riding on this game. Its a pool at work. Brian has explained it to me a hundred times and I just don't get it. I told him to just tell me if I win anything. Now that will excite me. Especially since I have $2 whole dollars on the line! Well it could turn into $25 Brian said. I'm not promoting gambling in anyway - that would just be wrong! I'm just doing my bit to stimulate the economy.