Cox Family News

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T22:37:00.000-08:00

What a great way to start out the New Year with the blessing of a new family member. Congratulations Levi & Dania! I decided to make a tally of our family members. There are 30 grandchildren & 59 great grandchildren. By my account and I could be wrong - of course, the numbers change so fast around here we're always afraid to ask whats new. But I do know there is another great grandchild on the way. (TJ & Misha) There is also a wedding coming up - Emma and Marshall and the date I heard was Feb. 18th. I'm not a very good reporter I work mostly on hear say but I know someone will correct me if I'm wrong. The family Christmas party was a success and we are looking forward to next year. The decision was made to put a family in charge. Ricks family took this year and the Olson's will be in charge next year. The scarey thing is that it will be here before we know it. As I was taking down my Christmas tree today I went through a little sadness as I always do at the end of the Christmas season. But I know that time passses so fast I'll be putting it up again soon. Am I the only one that thinks that way? Well, here we are in 2012. A new year - a new beginning to be better than we were last year. Yes on Monday we will start our new diets, we'll vow to be a better friend, a better mom, dad, sister, we'll make a new committment to read the Book of Mormon, to de clutter our homes, get more organized. Do any of these sound familiar? I wish you all a Happy successful New Year and Good luck with those New Years resolutions. As for me I am working on all of the above and added a new one this year - I hope I can figure out my new IPHONE! I hate it right now and I know hate is a strong word, but I hope to turn it to love someday. Happy New Year Family!

Christmas Shopping

2011-12-04T22:23:00.000-08:00

I had a rude awakening yesterday. I cannot shop til I drop anymore. I now drop way before the shopping is done. Its pityful. Do you remember when you were in school and how you felt the day after your 1st day of PE. Well times that times 10 and thats how I feel today. I hate to admit it but I now envy the 250 lb. grandma on her scooter shopping away. When did standing and walking become such a dread. Maybe its sitting for 9 hours a day that has made me so unfit. Maybe its my age. I used to love shopping and go for hours and hours. I remember when me my sisters and mom would load into a car and we would leave early in the morning shop til the stores closed. We spent hours looking for that one special doll or toy that one of the kids wanted. It was go go go till we could go no longer. And the shopping didn't end until Christmas. I was never done and always looking for that one special thing. Then there was the baking and wrapping & grocery shopping. Well, that still has to happen. Now that we've added daughter in laws, a son in law and grandkids my list has grown & grown. Ed gets mad because he thinks we should just give them money. But how personal is that. It just wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't worry my self sick, shopping, trying to find exactly the right thing, and then watch them open their gifts and wonder if they really like it, and in then end wish I had given money or gift certificates. It just wouldn't be Christmas. And it takes a whole year for me to rest up, relax and start all over again. I don't know if its because my list gets longer every year or that I'm getting older and tireder but as I say every year, next year we just might give money and gift certificates.

Fasten Your Seat belts

2011-11-30T21:37:00.000-08:00

We are approaching December at a high rate of speed so fasten your seat belts and hang on. I don't even know where November went but I do know we went through it because I vaguely remember turning 61 years old and then something about mom taking a tumble in the Safeway parking lot, Thanksgiving at the church, eating a little - and I do stress little - bit of turkey, a laugh out loud game of family fued, Austin's successful heart surgery, Haley & Matt's beautiful wedding, and on the very last day of November, two new beautiful babies born into the family. Preston Chamberlain and Aleana Bisnett. Whew!!! I know December is going to fly by as fast because the calendar is already filled with work, parties, programs, birthdays and Christmas celebrations. If it wasn't for the work I would half way enjoy my job, and even though it consumes me to my very core, as God as my witness I am going to enjoy the month of December. I'm going to take a deep breath, laugh alot more, stress a little less, sleep the whole night, and keep in mind what is most important this time of year. Its all about the birth of our Savior, being with family, and giving yourself permission to shop till you drop. Happy December everyone! Enjoy it before its gone!!

Thanksgiving!

2011-11-07T20:37:00.000-08:00

I really think this blog should be turned over to someone less busy and stressed than me. Well, who should that be. I know, I know, everyone is busy and stressed! There are many exciting things happening in the family right now. Haley's wedding Nov. 26th, Levi & Dania's baby, sadly Austin's surgery which we are all praying for his fast recovery, and November has more family birthday's than any other month! We also have Thanksgiving coming up. Which we are having at the church this year. The main food has been assigned and we are asking the married grandkids to bring salads and side dishes. Whatever you have brought other years is just great. I think the traditional Cox-Martinez football game is still on. I myself have never gotten to see it - but maybe this will be the year. We have many things to be thankful for this year. Our family is growing and when all is said and done is there anything more important in this life than family!! I love you all!!!

Is it October already????

2011-10-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

OMgosh!! Where has the time gone. I haven't even changed the family birthday calendar. I don't think anyone is reading this anymore anyway but I'll try to do better. I have found out that no matter what is going on, life stands still for no one! September was a full month of celebrating. Rick & Sharon and Ed and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversaries, Just can't believe how fast those 40 years have passed by. Our kids are grown, and we've doubled our families with wonderful daughter and son in laws and grandkids. We couldn't wait for our kids to grow up and move out and now we long for them to come home and bring the grandkids. The clean house that once seemed an impossible dream sits quiet and polished begging for little ones to come mess it up! We made it through the rough times and the poor times when we wondered how we were going to make it to the next pay day and how we could make 1 lb of hamburger feed a family of 8. You would never find a family now eating homemade hot dog pizza, or mashed potato pie, heck my kids probably wouldn't even eat it now, but they loved it then. I remember once finding $5.00 and Ed and I were so thrilled we could go to Burger King and have two Wopper meals for five dollars! We didn't have much when the kids were little but they didn't know it. I long for those days, but am greatful for what we have now. One thing I do know is that I don't have to worry about how many more years we have together because I know we will be together for eternity.

Consumned By My Job!!

2011-09-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

I feel like I have been in the twilight zone the last couple of months. Its the Pure Line Twilight Zone. Like nothing else exists. The owner closed our corp office and moved everything to Warden except finanical stuff. So Kylee & I have been over loaded with 2 past secretaries work. I am now the foreign order shippier. Since I have taken over this responsiblity I have been responsible for shipments to Sri Lanka, Morrocco, China, Pakistan, Colombia, & New Zealand. The paperwork is overwhelming and so maticulous! (never thought I would use that word!) My whole life revolves around this work and I think about it 24/7. One of these days I will either relax & comprehend it or I will quit! I see a small pin light at the end of the tunnel but we have a new Chief operations manager who is driving us all nuts with his big company changes and who, in all of our opinions, doesn't know what he is doing! The good thing about it all is the owner likes me and trusts me and respects my opinion because, bsically, he doesn't want me to quit. Kylee has been a real trooper through it all and is my shoulder to cry on. Well, actually we cry on each others shoulders. I'm not sure, at almost 61 years old, I am wanting to take on such a huge task but there is one thing really keeping me here. The money and the benefits. The 2 ladies who were laid off from our Corp. office are my age and can't find a job anywhere. Both are single ladies with no other income. So I will count my blessings and gird up my loins, and stick it out until I, #1 get it, or #2 drop dead from exhaustion.

In Memory of Chessie Olson

2011-08-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

Chessie Olson left this earth to frolic with the angels on August 1st, 2011.
Chessie's birthdate is unknown because she was orphaned at a young age. She was found abandoned 5 years ago by Ed. He brought her home and begged if he could keep her. I said she could stay in the garage even though it was freezing cold outside.She had long mangy hair and we weren't even sure what kind of dog she was or if she was potty trained. I know it sounds cruel but you have to understand that I grew up on a farm and dogs were outside animals. They ate our leftovers because we never bought dog food. Ed has such a kind heart and couldn't stand to see her out in the cold, so the next thing I new she was living inside. I made it clear that she was not ever, ever sleeping in our bed. I've seen other people with indoor dogs and how they share a plate of food or kiss on the mouth and heaven forbid, sleep in their beds!! So if she wasn't going to sleep in our bed we had to buy a doggie bed. I finally agreed to let Ed take her to the doggie barbershop just so we could see what kind of dog she was. How shocked we were when she came home - "a Schnauzer". What a cute dog. And she was clean and they had put a little hankerchief around her neck. Next thing I knew we were buying a collar, leash, doggie toys,shampoos & clothes. What do you know, we had another child. If she had one bad habit it was barking at everyone who tried to enter our home or even walk by. We felt protected. Chessie loved to go with Ed and if he left without her she pouted all day. When he came home she would get in her bed and turn her back to him. What a personality. If he left a chocolate bar in the pickup she would sneak and eat it. The grandkids loved Chessie and she loved them. They loved to see the 2 tricks Ed got her to do. She would roll over & she would stand and walk on her hind feet. But only for a treat.
Almost every day for 5 years she went to work with Ed. It was a normal work day the day she died. She was running along side of the pickup as Ed checked the bean field. All of a sudden he heard her yelp, he stopped and when he opened the door he found her laying dead. She had somehow lost her attention for a moment and thats all it took he had accidently run over her. I never thought I would cry over the loss of a dog, or see Ed cry over the loss of a dog, its suprising how much she was a part of our life. There will never be another Chessie. RIP Chessie dog.

Never thought I would say this . . .

2011-07-06T20:05:00.000-07:00

I miss my kids! Years ago when all my kids were at home summers were chaotic. The first few days after school was over it was nice sleeping in. Not having to make breakfast, find shoes, clothes, homework, book bags, and race the clock to the approaching bus. Then after about a week into summer, I realized I had to feed the kids all day, clean up messes, referee the fighting, and not panic when I saw them jump from the roof of the house onto the trampoline. There were trips to the ER, bag balm & bandaids for the lesser injuries, tears to comfort and fears to calm. But inbetween all that the good times out weighed the bad. Camping trips, swimming, picnics, one major trip to Disney Land, memories that will never be forgotten. At the time I didn't appreciate our time together. Now that they have families and reponsibilities I'm so proud yet I really miss and yearn for those days long ago. Each time in our life has its good and its bad. I would say raising my kids was one of the best times of my life. I was born to be a mom - I feel blessed - I miss having the kids at home, chaos and all!!!!

You're Never Too Old

2011-06-01T20:40:00.000-07:00

This last week I did something I have never done before. I traveled 125 miles all by myself and stayed in a Motel by myself for 2 nights. You young people probably laugh at that because you are so much more fearless than me. If you know me very well you will know what an unbeliveable task that was for me. Pure Line Seeds is closing our Corporate office in Moscow Idaho and I had to go over and be trained to take over MORE responsibilities. Just what I wanted. Our new COO/Chief of Operations who is 40 years old and who doesn't know the difference between a pea and a bean is now in charge. He is supose to be a financial wizard and I guess that qualifies him to run a Seed Company.(That and he is the owners nephew) My most interesting experience on the trip was going to lunch and dinner with him every day. He is very religious (Catholic) and said a blessing over every meal. So it was comforting to know that his beer was blessed as well as my ice water with lemon. He did, however want to know all about Mormons and I was able to give him the first discussion during one of our dinners. I never thought I would be doing the things I am doing at this age. I'm old and tired and worn out. Not sure how long I can last at this job but I do enjoy working with Brian and Kylee. I guess if I can't keep up maybe I'll be offered a severence like the secretaries in Moscow. I could live with that.

Empty Nesters No More

2011-05-02T21:15:00.000-07:00

I haven't decided whether it was guilt or a desire to do what is right but we decided to let the missionaires live in our basement. It is an adjustment for us, no more screaming matches, no more running around in underware (that would be Ed) the TV has been turned off more often, and I must say there is a different feeling in our home. I'm not used to sharing my kitchen, especially with 2 young men, and they do cook alot, but they clean up after themselves. We're not used to accounting for our where abouts or telling anyone where we are going, and we're not used to someone coming and going except each other. When I hear bumps & noises in the basement I have to remind myself the missionaries are down there. For now I have turned half my house over to missionaires, but we have received blessings already and a feeling of peace in our home I can't describe and was not expecting. Its an adjustment for sure but we are going to give it a try. I'm sure each missionary will bring new experiences and maybe some challenges. When you come home from a hard day of work and see two young men cooking in your kitchen and have the biggest mess you just learn to disapear and hope when you come back the mess will be gone. And so far so good. I keep thinking "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are in the service of your God" I'm sure we'll have some interesting tales to tell when its all over- Maybe I'll start a journal or write a book "The Boys In the Basement".

Family Easter Party

2011-04-20T17:46:00.000-07:00

I know there are lots of things going on Saturday but if you were wondering about the Easter party at Aunt Sharon's - it is still on. If the weather cooperates! Saturday 11:00. The eggs will need to be there earlier for the Easter Bunny to hide. So please provide those. Bring and something to cook on the fire salad or chips or dessert. Now also please note that if the weather is bad the party will be cancelled. Who would have thought we would have freezing weather this late in April. If there is any question on Saturday please call Sharon to see if the party is on.

Family Gossip

2011-04-11T18:51:00.000-07:00

Please notice the invitation to the right of this to Abby's Party>>>>>>>
Family rummors : I heard that Emma is wearing a shiny ring on her left hand -- fact or fiction? I heard Sharon turned the big 60 this last week end. We could hardly get any sleep from all the partying going on down there. Almost had to call the cops. Fact or Fiction? I heard Rick has been going to night school to be a State Patrolman. Fact or Fiction? I heard Kyle and Mishelle took their kids to Seattle over Spring Break and ran into Brian and Ronnie and their kids at the Cheese Cake Factory? ( This was a fact) Answers: I did hear Emma has a ring, No there was no party at Rick & Sharon's - that I know of, Rick's going to school but I'm not sure what for. I've been sick and out of the loop for so long these are things I have heard second hand. I think they are true. I would love to hear any news about the family if anyone knows any.

Pink eye! What Next?

2011-04-07T20:09:00.000-07:00

For the 3rd time in a little over a month I am sick!! And this ain't no April Fool's joke! This started Monday morning with my eye sealed shut. By Tuesday I realized it wasn't going away when I woke up with my eye swollen shut and I couldn't get out of bed because by body was raging with pain. No it was not a pretty site. I couldn't believe this was happening - AGAIN!! I don't know how but I got my self ready and drove myself to the Moses Lake Clinic. The walk in clinic had a 1 1/2 hour wait already even though it was very early in the morning. I just prayed no one came in that I knew because I didn't want to talk to anyone. I looked awful, eye sealed shut, no makeup and I didn't even do my hair. I wished I could have written down my symptoms and just handed them to the Dr. cause I didn't even want to talk to him. And you don't just have to tell the Dr. You have to tell the lady that checks you in, the nurse who takes you back and the Dr. For Heaven's sake, can't they all just be there together and hear the story. No one really cares but the Dr, anyway. So I told the Dr. my sad tale about how I had been sick so many times and everytime they were just viruses. So $125.00 later he said it was a virus. And guess what there is nothing they can do for viruses. Why oh why can't I have a bacteria infection. At least then I could have an antibiotic. Well he could give me something for the pink eye. So thank goodness for that. And did say if I got one more virus they were going to do tests to see what was causing this. I know that because almost every chair in the waiting room was full - I am not the only one sick. So hopefully thats it. I am thinking good thoughts and hoping I get my voice back fully and get rid of the headaches and cough soon. AGAIN!!! Its a good thing I don't have a bunch of chickens to take care of!

Olson's Chicken Farm - Eggs for sale

2011-04-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

So Ed decided it would be a really great idea if we got some chickens and had our own eggs. I didn't think we could have chickens in town but he said he asked and we could. So he bought the lumber for the chicken coop and the wire and all the stuff. I told him I was deathly afraid of chickens because we had them when I was growing up and the rooster always chased us when we went to get the eggs. Besides with the stink of chicken poop--and the crowing of the rooster I knew our neighbors would not be happy with us. But he was determined to do this and I couldn't change his mind. So he got on the internet and actually found a place where you could order chickens. Did you know you can get 20 baby chicks and 1 rooster for $35.00 not including shipping and handling. And they ship them UPS! Well, yesterday they showed up, the problem being that Ed didn't have the chicken coop ready yet. I called him and screamed "THE CHICKENS ARE HERE - what the H - E - double hockey sticks are we going to do with them!!!?? I don't see Ed panic much but he did rush home and there I was with this cardboard box of chirping chicks. Chessie was going crazy trying to get in the box.
And evidently they have to be kept warm and need food, water & shelter of which we had none!! I will not go into detail of the words spoken that night but I know a lot of repenting will have to be done. Ed decided the chicks would have to be put in the house for the night and well, I won't repeat what I told him. We rigged up a water pan and did you know baby chicks can eat dog food!! Today I am exhausted from no sleep, Ed is building a chicken coop and our house smells like chicken poop. And if it wasn't april fools day and if it was a true story Ed would be packing his bags to go live with his mommy!

Things that never go away.

2011-03-26T10:23:00.000-07:00

I have always looked forward to the day when the kitchen table and counter was not covered with back packs, books & homework. I dreamed of a table with a beautiful tablecloth and centerpiece. When the kids were all gone my house would be immaculate with no shoes, coats, and school stuff laying around. Well, here we are, several years later- kids grown and gone - and my table is now covered with Ed's laptop and stacks of copied pictures of tractors, several used car magazines, a nickel saver and finally his briefcase with his geneology. Every chair has a coat draped over it - work coats, nice coats, and sweaters. The kitchen counters are covered with mail waiting to be opened, my Young Women's lesson and materials and a few handouts. There's at least 5 pairs of shoes in the living room and a couple of hats. I don't wear hats. Well, here we are, no better off than when the kids were home. Maybe working full time I'm just too tired to care at this point. The dishes are always done because after all, how many dishes can you use between cereal, toast and cold sandwhiches. I am still hoping to have the immaculate home someday, a table cleared off with beautiful tablecloth and centerpiece. Kitchen counters cleared off. But as long as I have church callings, incoming mail, and no big fancy office for Ed to work in we will have clutter. You can't exist without clutter. Unless you have a full time housekeeper. Maybe I could get me one of those. Anyone know of one?

Not again!

2011-03-20T19:43:00.001-07:00

Yes I'm sick again. I never get sick. But the last 3 weeks have taken their toll. Maybe its the stress at work, or maybe its cause everyone at work has been sick but I would like to blame it on daylight savings time. What would ever possess someone to say "We're not tired enough, lets make a new law where every Spring we'll make everyone move their clocks ahead one hour." And what would possess us to say "ok". And even if we thought it was a good idea at first until we realized it wasn't doing anyone any good - why oh why have we kept doing it all these years. Enough already! Its not natural for the human body to change in the middle of the year like that. So then were're exhausted for the next 6 months and finally get used to it they suggested " Hey, lets move the clocks back an hour." It has to be a communist conspiracy to keep us in zombie states of mind so we do whatever the "they say. Who are "they" anyway. I really wonder what would happen if I started a petition against daylight savings time. Would you sign it? I'm going to check it out.

Mommy I'm Sick

2011-03-03T21:56:00.000-08:00

Those are the 3 words I can't say anymore but would love to. The sad thing about getting old is - when you are sick you pretty much have to take care of yourself. That is if you are a woman. I don't want to husband bash. They can't help it if they've always had a woman to take care of them. I almost felt sorry for Ed because he had to make his own toast for supper the other night but I got over that when I had to put his dishes in the dishwasher and clean up the mess. He did offer to go to Moses Lake late last night to get me a vaporizer - I know he was tired of listening to me cough - bless his heart. Or so I thought until I got in the car this morning and found evidence of the ice cream treat he enjoyed without me! Well, maybe I would have done the same thing. And yes I have been working everyday inspite of my illness. Everyone at work is sick too, and I felt guilty being the only one staying home. Guilt - a big topic for another blog. Well, my sickness is the reason why I haven't kept up with the blog. I know I have a Valentine's background. I promise to take care of it as soon as I feel better.

Sunday News

2011-02-16T16:37:00.000-08:00

This coming Sunday - February 20th - Ben is giving his mission report at church. Everyone is invited to come and after church there will be a potluck lunch in the gym. Lyn & Rich are providing the meat and asking everyone who comes to bring a side dish or two. (cause there are so many of us you know!) We hope lots of you can attend because its so good when we all get together as a family.

He's Coming Home

2011-01-28T12:10:00.000-08:00

Attention Family: Wednesday February 2, Elder Ben Bisnett will be returning home from his mission. He will be flying into the Tri Cities airport at 3:45 pm. We are inviting any family that can, to be there in full force. He is afraid that the Elder flying in with him will have a bigger welcoming crowd than he has. Lets all try to be there to welcome Ben home. We can't hardly wait to see him!

Sleepless in Warden

2011-01-20T20:33:00.000-08:00

Well a Dr. finaly confirmed what I have been telling Ed for quite a while now. He stops breathing in his sleep! We just didn't realize how many times he stops breathing. 70 times an hour!!! You combine that with his loud snoring and it doesn't make for a very good nights sleep. A couple of months ago I decided to spend the night in the spare bedroom and got the best nights sleep I had had in a long time. Ed could snore and not breath the night away and I could sleep. I know that sounds mean of me, like, what if he didn't start breathing again. Not to worry, I could still hear him snoring so I knew he was ok. What did make me feel guilty was when I started trying to decide how I was going to decorate the spare bedroom to make it into my Master suite. I was really getting serious about it when I heard Dr. Phil say that one of worst things a couple could do in their marriage is sleep in separate bedrooms. And we all know that Dr. Phil is always right. So our next plan was to find out if a different Dr. could help Ed. Last weekend he spent 2 nights at the sleep clinic hooked up to all kinds of wires and we found out how bad he was. Tonight he came home with his miracle breathing machine. Hopefully we will both get a good nights rest and Ed will be like a new man! Whoo Hoo!

Snow, snow go away . . . .

2011-01-12T21:06:00.000-08:00

Snow is fun if you are a kid. My dad used to pull us on a big sled with a tractor. The whole neighborhood of kids were on that sled. We'd go around a corner and everyone would fly off into the ditch. It hurt like heck, but we laughed and laughed and jumped back on for more. Now I'm afraid to walk out to get my paper for fear I will fall and break my hip. I shuffle around like a little ole' lady. I can't tell you how many times I haven't been able to get up my drive way and into my garage this winter. What good is a garage if you can't get your car into it! Ed shoveled it one time and it about gave him a heart attack. So now he just drives up and down it with his pick up packing it down. I found out that if I turn around up by Brent & Cindy's I can get up enough speed coming in at that direction to make it up into the garage. I don't know why but it works. So far I haven't lost any side mirrors or anything. The snow is packed so tightly that we might have snow on our driveway till next winter. I now know why old people go to Arizona for the winter. If it wasn't for my kids and grandkids we would go too, well except for our jobs, if it wasn't for our kids and grandkids and our jobs we would go too, except for money. If it wasn't for our kids and grandkids and our jobs and money we would go too. I guess we're stuck! thank goodness for my warm fireplace and my dear husband who keeps it burning everyday. If we just didn't have to shuffle off to work everyday!

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T08:43:00.000-08:00

I guess the big question is "are you better this year than you were last year? Every year we make New Years resolutions and never give them another thought. Lose weight, spend less money, be a kinder person, - you know. I really want to do those things, I really do! First of all I never thought I would be 60 years old. That was too far in the future to even think about and I never thought I would be working at this age. I'm just so glad I've taken care of myself so I can keep up. Yeah, right! I always thought Ed would take care of me. Now he is close to retirement and thinks I'm going to be the bread winner. Such a silly man! But back to New Years Resolutions. This year I think I am going to make some I can keep, like, I'm going to quit smoking, drinking and gambling. Should take about a day to quit those. Then maybe I could start working on the others, like losing weight, spending less money (might be too late for that one) and being a kinder person. I have lots of hope for the new year. No gloom and doom here. I hope you all do too. Just let the sun shine in, face it with a grin, open up your heart and let the sun shine in!

Christmas in Review

2010-12-27T22:08:00.000-08:00

I feel like I've been in a small tornado for 3 days and just got thrown out of it. Cooking, cleaning, eating, playing, cooking, cleaning,eating, playing. Not much sleeping, and throw in teaching YW, a temple recommend interview with the Stake President, Kevin & Amy speaking in the Spanish branch, and ending with a big Cox family Party. Could we have squeezed anymore in? Oh yes I forgot - Ed and I got new callings too. (Added on to our old callings)
Thank goodness I don't work this week, I slept all day today. But I just would like to say a few words about our family. I love them to pieces! Saturday was so fun being all together. We had a new BB ball game in the basement that kept everyone entertained as well as nerf rifles for the grandsons, even though their dads seemed to have more fun with them than they did. I would also like to thank the whole Cox family for another successful family party. I know that we are all pooped by the time this party rolls around and I am probably the first one to say we shouldn't have it, but it always turns out. You always come through. It takes alot of love to hold a big family together and I hope you all know you are loved so much. I know that mom is overwhelmed by the money given to her - and she wants you all to know how much she appreciates it. I was looking over our big group last night and I thought - how blessed we are - its not easy keeping a family this big -close. Thanks to a Mom and Dad for all you've done to keep us this way.

Cox Family Christmas Party

2010-12-18T22:36:00.000-08:00

OK everybody. There will be a Cox Family Christmas Party. It will be held at my house on Sunday- December 26th 5:00 pm. Notice this is not on Christmas - its on Sunday! There will be a gift exchange game so. if you want to participate bring a gift. (a nice gift please) Bring something you might want to win or take home. It can be something new, slightly used or something regifted. Of course there will always be the gift every wants and fights for and the gift no one wants but gets passed around and around.
Also bring finger food or treats to share with everyone. We will also have a Money jar for Grandma Cox. You can donate what ever you wish - small or large - this helps pay her car insurance for the year and she appreciates it so much. (And she does not expect it - we just like to do it)
I know my house is not that big and it will be tight but hopefuly we can all fit and the kids won't be too rowdy. If you have any questions - call me. Aunt Lorrie

Tree's up!!

2010-12-05T22:05:00.000-08:00

Yes its artificial. But when you have a husband who builds a big fire in the fireplace 24/7 and keeps the room at 80 all day there is no way a real tree would survive. My trees are getting smaller and smaller as the years go by. And I'm putting up less decorations. Turning into my mom I guess. Something I never thought I would say. Some year we'll just put up a wreath and call it good. I love the Christmas music and all the memories it brings back of the wonderful Christmas's my mom and dad used to make for us. I hope my kids feel the same way. We didn't have alot of money most years but we tried to make each one special in some way. Now each of our children are making memories for their children. I do love Christmas time - its stressful but I love it. I love the message of the first Presidency in their Christmas message tonight, Take the worldliness out of Christmas and make it more about Christ. I do think gifts are an important part of Christmas -not getting - but giving. And I don't think big and extravagant are what its all about either. I think when we worry and stress about gifts thats what ruins the Christmas spirit. We should be more about helping others who have less, and giving suprises to people who aren't expecting anything. Not expecting anything in return. I think thats what Christmas is about.

One Holiday down . . .

2010-11-29T20:06:00.000-08:00

One to go. I don't know about you but it seems like I just put my Christmas tree away from last year! I know they start putting Christmas stuff out in the stores in October, but it seems unreal and I don't pay much attention, but once Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas music starts playing I really start getting the Holiday Spirit. I think my favorite time of the year is the week after Thanksgiving. It kind of goes down hill from there. I mean you go from not thinking about Christmas because your so worried about Thanksgiving to OH MY Gosh only 25 days till Christmas! And every day that goes by is one less day to shop, one less day to decorate, and one less day to bake. Now, all of these things we have to do on top of work, church and activites that we were already squeezing into our busy lives. I'm not a shop ahead type of person. I'm still finding gifts I bought 3 years ago and forgot about. I'm not a simple shopper. I have to find just the right gift. I worry, I stress, I don't sleep. And the closer Christmas comes the more stressed I get. While I am out pounding the pavement, Ed sits in the car with his crossword puzzles and Christmas music all relaxed and calm. I am sorry to tell my kids that if anything ever happens to me you will never get a gift of any kind from dad. He's just not a shopper except for himself. If I tell him we are going to town to buy him a new shirt he's the first one in car with the motor reving. But I have to say that he is very patient while I am shopping and he drives me anywhere I want to go. I know in the whole perspective of things that everything will work out - I just wish there was a way to take the stress out of Christmas so I could enjoy it more.

How much food does it take?!

2010-11-20T20:08:00.000-08:00

I was checking out of Walmart today with my 40 lbs. of potatoes and the conversation with the checker went something like this: "Why are you buying so many potatoes?" answer " Well I'm in charge of the potatoes for Thanksgiving" "Why do you need so many?" Well we have a large family." That many for just your family? Yes How many family members do you have? Oh about 75. 75?!!!! Your immediate family? yes. Where do you eat Thanksgiving dinner? Well we used to eat it in one of our homes but now we go to a community center. Oh my gosh, I can't even imagine feeding that many people! How many turkeys do you have? -----The questions went on and on and I felt sorry for the people behind me but they seemed to be in shock as well. Ed and I were not going to be here this year for Thanksgiving, we were driving to Kansas to pick up the family tractor that was gifted to him. Thank goodness he got on the internet and found someone to haul it up here for less than we could drive there and back. I have to admit that I was thinking it was time that we split into families and do our own dinners this year. Because of our enormous numbers. I was just going to have ours before we went to Kansas. But thanks to Rick and Sharon the dinner will go on as usual. I know the year will come when we won't be able to all get together for Thanksgiving - but I'm sure mom is very pleased that Rick and Sharon took on the challenge to make it happen. Its not an easy one for sure! Thanks!

Goodbye 50's

2010-11-12T21:45:00.000-08:00

Today is my last day of being in my 50's. Boo Hoo! Which makes me wonder - when does middle age end and old age begin? I know I'm getting close because I ache everywhere, I have no energy and my body is giving out on me. Gosh, I sound like my mother. I went to the store today to try to find a new Birthday outfit. What happened to cute clothes? The department I used to shop in now has racks and racks of tight fitting, sleezy, low cut, short sleeve see thru tops. It doesn't matter whether you wear small or extra large, they all fit the same. Pants are just as bad. Where did the waist go on pants? Who voted to move the waist band from the middle of our body to below our big bellies? I'm just not that comfortable with my belly hanging over the waist of my pants. I may be wrong but I believe Waist bands were meant to hold in the belly. So here I am in the old ladies section - pants with elastic waists, tent looking tops - comfort, comfort, comfort. I guess thats a big sign of old age, when comfort is more important than fashion. Although my brain thinks I'm still in my 30's - I want to look young and stylish, my body is telling me I passed stylish about 10 years ago. You just can't look stylish in stretch pants and orthopedic shoes no matter how hard you try. My goal for the 60's is to get healthy and lose those 30 lbs. that were my goal in the 50's. Hey, you're only a failure if you totally give up. I feel I have alot of years left in me - now if my brain could just tell my body that we'll do just fine.

Thanksgiving?

2010-11-04T20:33:00.000-07:00

This is Grandma Cox speaking: Its the most happiest time of the year - again- "The Holidays" and here we are trying to figure out what to do for Thanksgiving and Christmas. As many of you know our family isn't getting any smaller - and thats ok - we love family! You are my family and I guess you can blame it on Grandpa and I cause we are the ones that got this started. When we were young and having our kids the last thing on my mind was that someday I would be 81 with 120 of my posterity wondering where we were going to be having Thanksgiving dinner and a Christmas get together. I would have you all to my little apartment but I don't even have room for a 14 lb. turkey let alone my family. And if I did I would. My dear sweet oldest daughter, (who is just about as old as me) -and who has hosted many Thanksgiving dinners - has just informed me she won't be here for Thanksgiving this year. I was wondering if anyone else would like to host Thanksgiving this year? So what I'm asking first of all is if you could respond to this and tell me how many of you are planning on being here? Second - would anyone like to host this year? We could just skip this year and not all get together? What do you think? We will discuss Christmas on my next blog I dictate to Lorrie.

Its that time of year!

2010-11-01T19:31:00.000-07:00

Yeah! Halloween's over! Party's over!! Nov. 1st - Christmas ads have begun! A new month a new stress! Christmas gift shopping. What to get everyone? Will they like it? Will it be good enough? Its now 54 days that will fly by faster than a cat covering crap. And as each day goes by I start hyperventilating faster and faster. How do people shop all year "for Christmas"? I am the kind of shopper that buys something and if I find something cheaper or better I take it back and exchange it. I would never be done because I would be shopping and returning all year. I also have a bad memory and am still finding gifts I bought and hid 4 years ago. So the longer I wait the better it is but the more stressed I am. It would be nice if we only had shopping to do but there is work, church callings, family events, Thanksgiving and now another road trip to Kansas thrown in there. (Thats another blog story all its own!) I don't have any answers other than doing away with gift exchanges - not a real popular idea - So ready or not let the shopping begin!

Halloween-Holiday From Hell

2010-10-19T20:37:00.000-07:00

Its no secret that I hate Halloween. I post it every year and my family has heard about it for years. I thought that once my kids were grown and finding their own costumes that I was off the hook, but here I am - almost 60 years old and planning another ward Halloween party! I keep hoping no one will show up but each year it gets bigger and bigger. Hoards of children running thru the church scattering candy wrappers, costume pieces and smearing gum and makeup on the walls as they go. On top of all of that I have to come up with a costume for myself. The first year I went as an overweight Snow White, black wig and all. Hardly anyone knew who I was but the little girls loved me. I was so suprised how many wanted to take their pictures with me. The next year I wore my pajamas and everyone kept asking me who I was supose to be. I didn't really care, I was comfortable. This year I'm thinking about going as a gift wrapped box. Just think I could put a box over my head- 2 peep holes and no one has to know who I am. I could just hide out in there except for the fact that I'm in charge. I am just sure that this is my last Halloween Party (I know I said this last year) And I will do my best to make it a good one. God forgive when I whine, I have good health the world is mine.

Pumpkin Season-Again!

2010-10-06T17:18:00.000-07:00

Well here we are again - the one and only month that Ed and I really have enough free time to take off and do things. Harvest is over and shipping season is slow- but someone has to man the pumpkin patch. The whole month of October!I'm not saying I don't like pumpkins and I do get a kick out of taking the grandkids to the "pumpkin patch" but other than that its alot of work for a little bit of money. Not my money - his money. In the past I have shared in the planting, the weeding,& the harvesting of the pumpkins but I soon learned that the income from this venture is "his". So it doesn't excite me too much to participate. I have learned that, much like "demo derbys", this is another one of Ed's passions- Raising pumpkins. He has studied it, read about it, and dreamed about it. He does a good job because every year the yield gets bigger and bigger and bigger. I wish the sales were as good - but somehow I don't think its so much about the money. Otherwise we would be retired and living the good life. Right now its a hobby but someday we might be living on the sale of his pumpkins. What a scarey thought!

Restless Night!

2010-10-05T22:51:00.000-07:00

I think this is going be a long night- I can't sleep - I'm sitting in the living room listening to Ed snore away even though he's clear in the bedroom. He just went in there 2 minutes ago and now he's sound asleep. How do men do that? I can go to bed exhausted beyond belief and toss and turn for hours before drifting off and the slightest sound can bring me wide awake. I have learned that ear plugs help a little and are much better than poking and jabbing him to stop snoring all night. If he does wake up its just for a second and then back to the snoring. I could almost take the snoring but the worst is when he quits breathing for a couple of minutes and then comes the loud snorting. You know its coming and you brace and prepare yourself but it still makes me jump. I usually end up moving to the couch or other bedroom where I toss and turn all night anyway. When my kids were little and waking up all night I dreamed of the time when I could sleep ALL night. Then they grew up and didn't come home in time for curfew. I would pace and worry while Ed snored away. I would beg him to let me sleep while he paced and worried and he said he would but then I would hear the snoring. I decided that he just couldn't help himself. The thing that irks me the most is when he gets up in the morning and says he didn't sleep at all. I wish I had his gift of sleeping anywhere, any place, any time. Although I couldn't imagine if we were both snoring in church, at least one of us is awake to poke the other one now. We've tried the throat sprays, & the nose bands - can't talk him into nose surgery. So I guess ear plugs will have to do for now. Now if I could just find a cure for the bags under my eyes.

Blog Dilema

2010-10-04T20:28:00.000-07:00

I don't know whats going on but I can't get onto my blog at work which is where I find time to post. And I can't get into the calendar. All of your blogs have disapeared from my blog blog addresses. I am shocked that this has let me do this. I might have to start a whole new blog. I don't know what I'm doing and then this happened. Its been going on for quite a few weeks. I apologize. I really enjoy doing this and its become so frustrating. I hope I can figure it out soon. Life is the pitts right now anyway!!!

A Blast From The Past

2010-09-15T18:36:00.000-07:00

I hate class reunions. Maybe its because I had some of my most embarassing moments in high school or maybe its because I do not resemble in any way shape or form the person I was in high school. But this year the class of 1970 invited several former classes to their reunion and against my better judgement - at the last moment- I decided to go. I didn't have time to lose 50 lbs. I didn't have time to get a new outfit that made me look skinny and I didn't have time to worry about who was going to be there. Ed and I were one of the first ones there and imagine my suprise when I picked up one of the old annuals on display from 1967 and it was mine! I can't imagine how come I didn't miss my own annual all these years. It was autographed by all my old classmates. It was like reading them for the first time. Another suprise of the evening was when my old boyfriend and his wife walked in. They saw me before it was too late to hide or runaway. As it turned out we had a wonderful visit catching up on our families. Other friends came that I didn't know was coming and some I hadn't seen for 41 years. Some I didn't recognize and some hadn't changed much. We talked and laughed and reminised and I could hardly wait until the next night when we met again - both times in the school cafeteria of all places. The next night we all showed up with pictures of our families - which both nights seemed to be the most important topic of most of my friends. I guess it didn't matter that I had gained tons of weight, that I had wrinkles and bags and sags, it didn't matter that I still lived in Warden after 41 years - it didn't matter that I wasn't the most popular girl in high school all those years ago and it didn't even matter that my old boyfriend was there with his skinny wife. What mattered is that I wouldn't change a thing about my life now. I would like to be skinny but other than that I have a wonderful husband and a wonderful family a good job. My life is good.

Our trip to Kansas

2010-09-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

A few days after we returned home from Wisconsin we got the word that Ed's brother had passed away in Kansas and so we started making arraingments to fly to Kansas. Luckily we have a great boss who gave us more days off. I don't fly often and so this was quite an experience for me. Especially since we had Ed's mother with us. The airports have grown so big that now you check your baggage and then get on a trolley and ride underground to another location to go thru security and then onto the plane. I paid $25 each way to check my suitcase that had my extra special $10 can of hairspray. I knew Grandma Olson thought I was nuts and that used to really bother me but I'm almost 60 years old and if I want to do that I will. When we got to Denver we had to practically run a mile thru the airport to catch the plane to Wichita. I kept looking behind me and Grandma kept up all the way. It was almost midnight by this time and we were all draggin! Our dinner was from the motel vending machine. "Crackers and diet pepsi". Their time is 2 hours ahead of ours so morning came early. We arrived in Hutchinson and visited with Ed's sister in law before heading to the funeral home. They had asked Ed to speak and so he took all of the Baptist ministers time as well. But I do think he did a really good job telling stories about his brother and even had a chance to bear his testimony. His nieces loved being with Ed and said he reminded them so much of their dad. Personally I do not see the resemblance but if it made them feel better that was good. Now, things are more laid back in Kansas than I am used to. The funeral dinner was held at one of Ed's nieces home. Everyone changed into shorts and T shirts (except us) and the beer flowed freely. They had 3 huge black labs that ran around and grabbed at our plates and licked our hands. Not the usual funeral dinner I am used to. But Fritz's kids are great and we enjoyed visiting with them. I'm not used to chickens on porches, but that just me. I've always been terrified of chickens since I was little but thats another story. On Monday we headed back to Wichita to catch our plane and our rental car quit on us. 2 hours and many phone calls later one of Ed's nieces came and picked us up and took us to the airport just in time to catch our flight to Denver. Denver's flight to Seattle was delayed which put us into Seattle after midnight. Another man had the same seat # as me and it caused a big chaos on the plane but finally we were on our way to Seattle. After much searching we found my suitcase with my $10 special can of hairspray and headed out to see if we could remember which station we were to go to get a shuttle to our car. About 1:30 a.m. we were on our way out of Seattle. Ed's mom was already asleep and I was trying to keep Ed awake. At Ellensburg we switched and I drove/slept the rest of the way home. It was the hardest time I have ever had trying to stay awake. The hardest was between pheasant run and Warden. At one point I did fall asleep and heard Ed hollar, I woke up just in time to keep from going in the ditch and looked over and Ed was sound sleep. I guess we were being watched over. I was amazed at Ed's mom and her ability to keep up with us as we ran from place to place, climbed stairs, waited in line and all this was usually late at night. This trip was not an easy one. Many things will be left unsaid - I am glad we got to spend time with some of Ed's family, and I am very thankful for Ed my family and all that we have.

Ed & Lorrie's Vacation

2010-08-20T07:45:00.000-07:00

I wanted to blog about this before I forgot all the fun we had. At my age- the short term memory is the first to go. Now what was I talking about, Oh yeah, our vacation. We left last Wed. afternoon - destination for the night was Missoula Montana. Ed had made reservations at the Super 8. Not knowing there were 2 Super 8's - he of course reserved at the one 5 miles off the freeway. But we were on schedule and so time wasn't that important yet. The next morning we were off and hoping to make it to Bismark North Dakota. The speed limit in Montana and North Dakota is 75 miles an hour so you really make good time - The weather started turning really bad in North Dakota and our radio station had alarms and warnings to find shelter from a severe storm that was approaching. By the time we got to Bismark we found the last room available and paid a fortune for it. The TV kept having alarms & warnings that 100 mile winds were coming and to take cover away from windows. Not much cover in a hotel room. We made it through the night and reached our destination the next morn. They are 2 hours ahead there and we had eaten breakfast at the motel. We visted Ed's cousin who insisted we eat lunch. When we got in our car to leave there it was almost noon our time. I told Ed, we've eaten 2 meals and its not even noon yet! We got to Hayward, Wis. and checked into our room which was awful. I'm usually the complainer but I was suprised when Ed said he would go insist on a different room. The population in Hayward in the off season is about 2,000. During the summer its about 10,000 so I was really suprised when he came back and said they were moving us to a different room. Ed's 50 class reunion was that evening so he decided he better take a nap so he could stay up that late. When we got to the reunion the lady that checked us in asked him if she remembered him, he had taken her to a homecoming dance one time. Its funny - because I wondered how I would feel meeting women that he had dated once but they were old and not intimidating at all! In fact as I looked around the room "I" was the youngest one there or at least looked the youngest. People were looking and pointing at us wondering who we were, I wanted to say "Hey, I am way younger than any of you and I didn't graduate with you."!!!! I sat at the table with Ed's cousin's wives while Ed made his way around the room seeing people he hadn't seen for 50 years. He was in 7th heaven! The one thing I did enjoy was the band that played 50's & 60's music. The next day we had breakfast with the Metcalfs and about 30 of Ed's relatives. Then back in the car and heading home. We made it to St. Cloud Minn. that night. On Monday it was on the road again hoping to make it to Glendive Montana. We got there late and every motel was full.So we had to drive about 200 more miles to get to a town with motels. By the time we got there I had been sitting for 3 hours. I could hardly walk. Our room was on the 2nd floor and we were so tired we didn't even take our suitcases. I grabbed my PJ's and told him I was just going to wear my same clothes the next day. It had been a long day. But it got us closer to home and so the next day we made it all the way home. We got to see lots of deer along the way,flooded rest stops, hurricane weather, up rooted trees, we stopped at the $50,000 dollar bar, going and coming, gas was only $2.59 - $2.79 a gal all the way, our new van ran great, it was a good trip. Long but just good to get away for the longest vacation I have ever taken. Yeah we could have flown, but look at all the adventure we would have missed!

Mom's Physical Therapy

2010-08-09T10:33:00.000-07:00

Grandma's doing lots better thanks to her great physical therapist!! I am just curious about his procedures though. When you think about how much it cost to go to physical therapy school and how many years it took: Mom's therapy includes swinging a broom stick back and forth then lifting soup cans up and down while shrugging her shoulders. AND ITS WORKING!!! Just kidding Chris, I know that you are a very qualified Physical Therapist and that theres way more to it that I'm saying. And you're the first one I will call if I need a physcal therapist!

Grandma's Fall

2010-08-02T14:02:00.000-07:00

A week ago last Friday Grandma Cox took a bad fall off of a curb in Moses Lake. Many people came to help her and wanted to call an ambulance. She refused, because other than being embarassed at falling and feeling a little pain she just wanted to get to her car and rest for a minute. Deby was with her and helped her quite a bit. Well, the next day she felt more pain and the next day was worse with many bruises showing up. The worst pain was in her shoulder and so after a few more days decided to go in and see if it was broken. Luckily it wasn't but he did put her arm in a sling and gave her a perscription for pain pills. He also told her she might need a MRI to check out any other damage that might be causing the pain. So today she is at another Dr. finding out if she needs one. I will keep you posted of her results. Hopefully it is something that will heal on its own and she will be as good as new. As new as an 80 1/2 year old woman can be. (Sorry Mom, I can't write and be serious at the same time)

The Adventures of Ed & Lorrie

2010-07-29T13:36:00.000-07:00

I thought about writing a book "The Adventures of Ed & Lorrie" because lets face it, we have alot of those. It might be funnier if my name was Mable but thats beside the point. I'm sure you think I make some of these stories up but honestly our life is a comedy. Sometimes its not funny to us - but when we tell other people - they laugh. Like the other day when we decided to go to Tri Cities and look at cars. Ours has alot of miles on it but it was in perfectly good shape. I emphasize "was". We knew it wasn't good for a trade in but maybe someone would be looking for a great "older" van. Ed was tired and so being the kind wonderful wife that I am I offered to drive so he could nap on the way. Now, I have driven in and out of our garage at least twice a day for 4 years without any problems. I have even driven with Ed in the passenger seat but for some reason on this particular day Ed thought he needed to tell me how to back out of the garage. As I proceeded to back out Ed told me I was too close to the door on his side. So I pulled forward and turned the steering wheel to back up again, he again told me I was too close, so I pulled forward and turned the wheel the other way and because his head was in the way and I assumed he would tell me if I was too close and he was making me nervous I started to back out, he didn't say anything so I kept backing out and pushed the garage door remote closer. We were half way out of the garage and I hit the retaining wall on Ed's side and stopped - as I looked forward to pull forward the garage door was on its way down. I couldn't go forward and I couldn't go backward. So I threw my hands in the air and waited for the garage door to hit the front hood. Its an old door and doesn't have the sensor that tells it "I'm not out yet!!" So after it hit the hood it raised back up and I was able to pull back in the garage. This scene was straight out of an "I Love Lucy" episode. I waited for Ed to yell at me but he just got out and looked at the damage, then got back in and said "Now there are dents in the car." So I said "So I guess we aren't going car shopping?" I guess he Knew I was plenty mad at myself for both of us. We did end up going to town but not to look at cars. A couple of weeks later we did sell the van dents and all. Now we have a smaller van and I don't think I'll have any trouble backing out of the garage. You never know though, Stranger things have happened!

Having Twins Makes You Strong!

2010-07-27T14:35:00.000-07:00

I think having twins made me a stronger woman today. Think about it. If you just have one baby eating and crying and pooping its not too bad, (unless you have other toddlers). But if you have two babies eating and crying (and crying) and pooping its a nightmare (other toddlers add to the zoo!) You can't send them back, you can't let someone else take care of them (unless your rich) and you can't put them in a room and shut the door and ignore them. Which of course I never did. So you pull yourself up by your bootstraps (or tennis shoe laces) and put on your happy but tired face and trudge through each long day and night. I never slept the first 3 months of Michael and Mishelle's lives. But one month led into 2 months and 2 months led into 12 months and 12 months led to now 31 years. I can hardly believe it. There were days when I wanted to give up, many days I cried right along with them, and then it got better. They starting sleeping through the night, and then they were potty trained, and they were walking and talking. Everywhere we went people stopped us and were so curious about twins. At that time there weren't many around. But as they grew we realized they were entertainers. Michael the comedian and Mishelle the singer. Sometimes they switched because Michael can sing and Mishelle can be hilarious. What a joy they have been in our lives. I'm glad I didn't give up. They have taught me patience, endurance, long standing, tolerance and love. They have taught me not to give up during any challenge and that I can really accomplish anything the Lord sends me. I still whine & complain (just ask Ed or Brian) But I know in the end everything will be ok and I can do it. I've had some real challenging church jobs, I've had challenges at work, my kids have stressed me to the max, but here we are 31 years later and we've made it so far. Thanks Michael and Mishelle for making me stronger. Thanks to all my kids for the bags under my eyes, the gray hairs, the endless worry wrinkles the rolls of fat (oh yea, thats my fault)
Thanks for making me the strong woman I am today.

Pleasing Your Man- Rated G

2010-07-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

When you are a young married woman you try really hard to be the best wife you can be. You make his favorite foods, you keep the house clean, you try to look your best all the time (I know I'm exaggerating a bit) but you get the idea. Then kids happen. And your whole life takes on a whole new interest. Your husband is lucky if he gets dinner,clean house (whats that) and even the idea of looking your best seems like a magical fairytale beyond comprehension. I'm not sure why woman weren't given enough energy for kids AND husbands and I'm not blaming God, but it might be one of the first questions I ask when I get to heaven. But move on about 38 years - if your lucky - and the kids are gone - and there you are. 2 old people who barely resemble the newlywed couple they were 38 years ago. Now that you have the time to cook, clean and look good - its almost too late and what little energy you did have is used up getting out of bed, brushing your teeth and moving from room to room. And if you still work, forget any other activities. Well, thats what I thought until Saturday. Ed and I finally had a day with nothing else going on and he asked me if I would go fishing with him. In his dingy. (This is a true story, I promise) I had no excuses, I had had my coritzone shot so now I could get in the boat, I didn't have any other events going on and so off we went early Sat. morn. A stop for worms, McDonalds for breakfast, and we were in the lake by 8. Ed, Chessie and I. Yes I would have rather been having a pedicure or shopping but I have to say that the couple of hours we spent putting around Blue Lake was really relaxing. We didn't catch anything and once the water skiers, and jet skiers came out the relaxation was over. In fact- from the waves of the big boats we were bobbing up and down like 2 giant puff marshmallows on high seas. We made our way back to the dock where a very kind young man helped load the boat onto the trailer. (Another advantage of getting old) And Ed was a happy man. He had got to go fishing and I was along for the ride. I didn't have to cook, or clean or comb my hair. How easy was that and he was happy. I'm a lucky woman!

Life Happens!

2010-07-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

I am a new Woman, thanks to Cortizone. What is Cortizone anyway? All I know is I have been limping around for a year, continually getting worse- finally went to the orthepedic Dr. who offered a cortizone shot and I was desparate and said yes without asking what it is - and I didn't care as long as it took the pain away. I guess it has steroids in it so I if I seem to start talking with a deep voice and get a little huskier thats why. Just can't seem to get rid of the headache that came along with it. But no knee pain for now and supose to last for 3 to 4 months. Yipee! So I can keep throwing away the scooter ads I keep getting in the mail for now. Its been a busy month for family happenings and I know I'm going to miss some here, but congratulations to Heather and Shawn on their new baby. We now have 2 Ethan's in the family born a month apart. Its a good name. Congratulations Josh and Jen got married a couple of weeks ago and are planning a reception for Aug. 21st. Brian, Brennen and Tyson participated in Hoop Fest in Spokane last week, Brian's team didn't do too well, Brennen did better and Tyson out lasted both but didn't win in the end. Demo Derby coming up in Othello July 3rd, I'm sure we'll have some family cars in that, Nick I know of for sure. On a sadder note: Rich's mom passed away and they had her funeral on Monday, Joe had a bad accident at work Wed.almost losing his right hand. He had surgery Thurs. morning and now a long process of recouperating and physical therepy. Uncle Vern Cox passed away last Sunday and his funeral was Thursday.
Life happens, good and bad, thank goodness we have each other, and so many of us. Want to wish everyone a great 4th of July! Christmas will be here before we know it! Half the year is over already!! Scarey!

Where did June go?

2010-06-24T22:39:00.000-07:00

This has been one busy month. In just one blink June is about over. I'm not ready for June to be over. I had so many plans for June and its almost gone. I wanted to go to the Cox reunion this year. But mom left without me without so much as a good-bye. But with the week I've been having I would have had to stop every half hour and take a nap in order to drive all the way there and by my calculations we might have made it by next June. You see every year - at this time - we have customers from all over the world fly here and visit our pea trial fields. So for 2 days I am the caterer. It takes all week to get ready - they come on Wed and Thursday and we entertain them night and day. Last year we did the lunch, steak dinner, band, dance all in the fields. This year my boss decided it would be a great idea for me to find an airplane that would fly everyone around on a site seeing tour. the only one I could find was a 3 passenger little dinky plane. We had about 25 people wanting to go. So my bosses set up a taxi service with Kylee, Brian and I chauffering everyone back and forth from the Grant County airport. On top of everything we were already doing. I was the last one at the airport and my boss who had promised me I wouldn't have to fly - talked me into riding with him. I later realized he just wanted to show me he could fly. and do dippity doo's and all kinds of stomach turning tricks. I told him I wasn't afraid of flying I was afraid of crashing. Anyway we made it back safe and sound. Well the pea trials are over for another year - I call it "Hell Week" but we also have Bean trials in July which my bosses informed me will be bigger than our pea trials. yipee! I can hardly wait. I might be recouperated by then. Kylee - who was supose to be my big helper this year was a great help on Wed but was sick today. I missed her terribly. I also missed Lyn this year who was such a great help last year. So sorry to hear about Rich's mom passing away but I know she was so sick and this was a blessing. I guess we really are becoming the older generation. Its passing by fast. I'm not ready for it but you can't stop the inevitable. Well here we go into July. I'm not sure its going to slow down anytime soon.

Vanessa's Baby Shower

2010-06-11T11:16:00.000-07:00

Just a little reminder about Vanessa's baby shower Sunday. If you need directions to it let me know. I know its busy times for everyone but just wanted to remind you. There will be good food! My cell phone # is 750-0532.

No Ordinary Memorial Day

2010-06-01T09:40:00.000-07:00

This Memorial Day was no ordinary Memorial Day - to me anyway. But I think it was our best ever, (except for missing family members that couldn't come.) There are some things you can always count on for Memorial Day and crappy weather is one of them. And yes this year we had rain, but we had alot of sun also. And I just think compared to other years the weather wasn't that bad. We decided to change things a bit hoping that more of you would come to Warden Cemetary if we met later in the morning. And by golly, you came! 76 of you showed up! I was shocked at how many of you even came earlier to Moses Lake Cemetary. Mom is so thankful and greatful that you did and also for the flowers you brought. We are hoping this is a tradition you will carry on when we are gone. I know Grandpa Cox must have been so proud to have so many there to honor him and other family members who have passed on. You can't have a get together without food and I think the food was outstanding! The only thing we need to remember next year is to have 2 BBQers. Tyson you did a great job trying to keep up with one but 2 would have been better. We did have rain, but thank goodness it wasn't cold and the rain went away and the sun came out and it was great. I was worried no one would stay to play softball, it had been such a long day already, but by golly we had enough for 2 teams and a pretty big audience as well. I am so glad this tradition was added to Memorial Day. Its so entertaining and funny and we always like to watch Aunt Lyn hit the ball although she hit fly balls this year and so we didn't get to watch her run or slide into 3rd base. But the day ended with good memories I think. Our family has their ups and downs, we aren't perfect, but we love each other no matter what. We missed those of you who couldn't make - maybe next year.

Memorial day plans

2010-05-30T14:58:00.000-07:00

After lots of discussion we came to this decision for memorial day. For anyone who can make it we will meet at Moses Lake cemetary first this year 9:00 am. then we will travel to Warden cemetary meeting at 11:00. HOpefuly you will all be there for that one. Then we will go to the grade school playground where there is an area with tables and we will bbq. Please bring your own meat to BBQ, and salads or side dishes. Lyn and Sharon are bringing a cake for Emma & Haley. We will have ice water. Bring lawn chairs, base ball mitts and if someone has a basketball there are basketball hoops there also. We will have access to the bathrooms there. If anyone has flowers please bring some, we are having trouble finding any this year. Any questions please call your parents or me. See ya all tomorrow!

Memorial Day Question?

2010-05-27T09:03:00.000-07:00

I would like to toss this question out to everyone? How would you feel about having our Memorial Day picnic somewhere in Moses Lake instead of coming back to Warden? If you would like to - does anyone have a suggestion of where? There is the old West Lake State Park, McCosh park, Cascade valley park. It would be nice to go somewhere we could still have the softball game. Maybe we could have it at Grape Drive church "legacy park". I don't know if they have restrooms there though. Well I would just like to work it out so more could and would come to the Warden Cemetary and be there for our family picture. If you can't answer on the blog then text me or call me or e mail me. I need to know so I can let everyone know. Thanks.

Memorial Day

2010-05-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

While other people are packing their campers and cars for a 3 day vacation our family celebrates Memorial Day in the old traditional way. Why do we spend every Memorial Day doing exactly the same thing we have Always done Every year since I can remember, on Memorial Day my mother has packed her trunk with jars and cans covered with tin foil and buckets of water. Also in her trunk were flowers, not boughten flowers, but flowers she had grown mixed with flowers generously donated by the neighbors. Then off to the cemetary we would go to put flowers on the graves of our family members who have passed away. What started off as an hour at the Moses Lake cemetary has turned into an almost all day event including Warden's Cemetary. Then finishing off with a family BBQ. There is something I haven't quite figured out yet. After all the years of doing the same thing - when Memorial Day arrives - everyone is still asking "What are the plans for Memorial Day?" None of us have very many flowers growing in our yards to glean from, and the day is still cold and windy. So I guess - even though it is traditional - we can always plan on those things. I'm just going to go out on a limb here and say: We'll start at the Warden Cemetary at 9:30 am. Everyone bring all the flowers you can gather!! (For those of you who haven't made it to the Warden Cemetary you really miss something special. We gather around Dad's grave and say a few things and then Rick always offers a family prayer. We also take a family picture. Its very special and you are missing out by not coming.) Then we move on to Moses Lake where we play the "Find the Gleed Family Graves" game. So by this time its about noon and we all head back to the Warden Park for a BBQ.(Bring meat you want to BBQ and salads & desserts) (Not sure if this is going to change but I will post it if it does) We finish off the day with a New tradition. A family game of softball. Some play and some watch. If you would like to spend a traditional Memorial Day with the Cox family please come this Monday. P.S. Dress Warm!

Growing & Growing & Growing.

2010-05-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

I just can't hardly keep up anymore! In one more week it will be June and OMGosh where did May go! Am I the only one that thinks time is flying by. When my kids were little time just dragged by. Maybe because everyday was the same as the day before. Up all night with kids, breakfast, messes, cleaning, lunch, messes, cleaning, dinner, messes, cleaning, etc. Get my drift. So time was slower, but now that we're older and we want time to go slower because its not so hard I feel like I'm in a whirl wind. Our family has been blessed this month with a new grandson, Ethan Edward Olson. Only 6 lbs. 8 oz. About the same size Michael was when he was born of course he had a twin sister to share the space with but she only weighed 4 lbs. 8 ozs so he must have gotten all the nourishment first. We are so happy for Michael and Rachael (especially Rachael) that they finally have their new baby here. Another suprise was seeing Ashley come in and have her new baby the next day. Castin Cache Iverson. 8 lbs. He looked so much bigger than Ethan. Can you just imagine their last day in heaven with Grandpa Cox before they came here. What advice did he give them. How excited they must have been knowing they would be cousins on earth and live in the same town and everything. Makes you think a little, huh? Well Ethan and Castin bring the total number of Richard and Bonnie Cox's family to 112. All because 2 people fell in love. And theres 2 more on the way that I know of, Heather & Vanessa. Watch out world, the Cox's are growing, and growing and growning!

The Day After Mother's Day

2010-05-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

I have to say that this has been one of my favorite Mother's Days of all times. Did Ed get me the wonderful Mother's Day gift that I have always dreamed of? No. Did I get breakfast in bed? No. Did I get to kick back and relax all day? Heck No! In fact my stress level was probably in the danger zone as far as stress levels go. But after having to speak in Sacrement meeting I think the rest of the day was a piece of cake. The highlite of my day was sitting on the stand and watching each one of my kids and their families come into the chapel and Ed trying to find places for all of them to sit. I know it was a sacrifice for some of them to come and I love them for it. (See kids, it really doesn't take much to touch a Mother's heart.) If thats all they would have done it would have been the best gift ever. Our day together was icing on the cake. Ed really did try to do most of the cooking although he let the boys take over with the BBQ. I did find the stickers still on the apples he cut up in the fruit salad before we served it but I know they were washed. He tried hard, bless his heart. (He knows fathers day is coming) The kids gave me some really nice gifts but I want them to know the greatest gifts they have given us is the grandkids. When they come running with their arms out to give hugs, thats the best feeling ever. Today I am exhausted but it is a good exhausted feeling. Its interesting that the older you get - its the little things that make you happy.

Mother's Day

2010-05-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

Another Mother's Day has finally come when we get to sit in our easy chair and relax for the day while sipping ice cold lemonade and our husband and children wait on us hand and foot . . . ( record scratching sound) What? That doesn't happen at your house?! Mine either. We can dream can't we. I guess our fulfillment comes from knowing that we had children, we didn't lose any of them, none of them have been injured too bad by our mothering technics. Yes Brian still has an enlarged nuckle from a jammed finger in 7th grade because we thought it would heal itself. And there are a few scars that might have healed better if we had taken our kids to the ER at the time of the accident but that was before insurance and even though we did make plenty of trips to the ER anyway, I still think Bag Balm and liquid Lysol are miracle drugs. Externally of course! Kids now days will never know the thrill of being thrown against the dash or back seat of a car when Mother slams on the brakes. They will not know the joy of riding in the back window looking up at the clouds as Mother whizs along on dirt roads. Or the excitement of hanging their heads out of the window going 50 miles an hour. I still remember riding home from church on mom's lap driving the car, she ran the gas & brakes of course. I am sorry but if I had to choose between riding loose in a car or being strapped down like a crimnal waiting for lethal injection - I choose riding loose. Of course there were 6 kids and mom and dad in a sedan. No way you could fit kids car seats in those cars. Seat buckles did not exist. If you rode in the front the only restraint was mother's arm coming across to block you from hitting the dash as she slammed on the break. I know car seats and seat buckles save lives and its the law, but life used to be so much more fun without them. I would like to take this opportunity to say Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful mom and all the moms in our family. It isn't an easy job, But as we watch our kids grow & become good decent adults, we wipe our brow and say WHEW!! So Far So Good! What an awesome responsiblity we have for at least 18 years. Sculpting, modeling and shaping babies to be adults. With the most important tool, "Lots of Love!"

You Don't Get Better With Age

2010-04-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

There's a reason old people can't have kids and the reason is because they can't remember things! Ed and I would be the worst. We would probably forget we even had kids. We would be one of those couples who left their child in the back seat all day while they were at work. Ed is in court as I am writing this trying to stay out of jail for forgetting. He got a letter a couple of weeks ago in the mail telling him that if he didn't show up at court today they would issue a warrant for his arrest. Why? you ask would they want to arrest a sweet man like Ed? Well he had jury duty the month of March and he called in the first week, didn't have to serve. But he forgot to call in the rest of the month. A big no no I guess. Hence the letter from the judge. His only reason and defense is he is old and he forgot. On Wed. I got a call reminding me of an important church meeting on Thurs. nite 8:00 and I had the spiritual thought. Thursday nite at 8:40 I was washing dishes and I remembered the meeting. I never used to forget anything. The really sad thing is that that is not the first time I have forgotten that meeting. And I have no reason except that I'm old and I forgot. We live in our own little world of clothes left in the washer for days, doors left unlocked at night, lights left on all night - even the TV sometimes. A child would not survive in our little world. We can barely take care of Chessie the dog. Poor thing. Its a good thing she can't talk. The other day I came in the house and hollared and hollared for her and she wouldn't come. I shut the door and turned around and there she was, standing- in the house- looking at me like I was an idiot. I don't know whats going to happen to us, If you see us and we have name tags on - its so we can remember who we are. I'm not ready for the old folks home yet so as long as whats his name remembers who I am we'll be ok.

Tax Day

2010-04-15T10:44:00.000-07:00

I know most of you younger readers love Tax Day as you go about frolicking and spending the big windfall you just received from Uncle Sam. But I am here to tell you that the frolicking will end someday as you have no more dependents to claim, no more babysitting to claim, all those wonderful little claims to claim. I guess I am sounding a little bitter as I send off a huge check to the IRS. Its not enough that they take hundreds out of each of our checks but come the end of the year we owe hundreds more. Why you might ask? An older "married couple" has to combine their income which throws you into a different tax bracket and then when your much older husband decides to collect his social security to add to that income it throws you into a way way way higher tax bracket. Our nice tax lady told us if we each contributed $6,000 dollars to an IRA we could reduce our payment by 1/3! Big deal. On top of all this our tax lady told us we might have to pay a penalty because we owe too much tax. Its interesting to see that our income stays the same but our taxes increase. It gives me such great comfort to know the IRS is the one who will be incharge of the Government Health Insurance plan. Some people think the goverment owes them a living. The rest of would gladly settle for a small tax refund.

Am I that Bad!

2010-04-07T09:26:00.000-07:00

Everyone who has read my last blog has commented that they believed the story until they got to the part where I jumped out of the boat. You all thought I would make Ed jump out before I would jump. I am shocked! Just shocked!

Adventures on the High Seas

2010-04-01T09:25:00.000-07:00

You know how Ed and I are always having some kind of an adventure in our lives. Well last fall I found out Ed had bought a boat. He is always buying things and not telling me and then I find out and everyone knew but me. After I found out, he kept telling me he was fixing up his new "boat". Me picturing a nice size fishing boat that all the family or at least some grandkids could go fishing in. So the other day I decided to go look at the new "boat". What a shock. Its a dingy- a small little tiny dingy. I told him I didn't think both of us could fit in it at the same time or that it would hold us. But last night he insisted that we take it out to Warden Lake for a "trial run". Fishing season is starting you know. I don't know how he talked me into it but off we went. He backed the boat & trailer down into the water so we could unload the boat (dingy). After we both got into the boat (dingy) I asked where the life jackets were and he said he hadn't had time to get any and besides we didn't need them because his boat (dingy) was safe as a cruise ship. He started the little motor and off we putted like a heard of turtles (as my dad used to say) till we got to the middle of the lake. I had been so busy watching the rising water level on the outside of the boat that I didn't notice the rising water on the inside of the boat. And Ed had been so busy fiddling with the boat motor that he hadn't noticed either. I felt my shoes getting wet and looked down. Panic swept over my face as I screamed "we're leaking"!!!!!! All we had was two diet pepsi cans so we dumped the soda out and started baling water while Ed started steering us back to shore. One note of advise here is that pop cans don't bale water very fast. I was worried because I know Ed can't swim well and I didn't think I could save him and me too. The water was freezing and we had sweaters and coats on. I don't do well in a panic situation and my voice rose 10 octives as I blamed Ed for everything from not having life jackets to buying a silly little boat that couldn't hold 2 normal size adults without leaking! I don't know whether it was the pidley little motor or the rising water that slowed us from getting closer to shore but I told him one of us was going to have to get out of the boat! We were about 20 feet from shore and I don't know why but I just stood up- closed my eyes plugged my nose and jumped. I went under and came up gasping - it was so freezing cold I thought my eyes would pop out of my head. Ed just sat there with a shocked look on his face. His face and my face became more shocked as I stood up. The water was only to my waist. So I grabbed the rope and pulled Ed and the dingy boat to shore. Nothing was said as he loaded the boat on the trailer and I sat shivering in the pick up. As we headed home Ed looked lovingly into my soggy wet eyes and said "Want to go on a cruise, honey?"
I hoped you all enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed telling it. The only truth in it is that he did by a dingy boat and it did leak the first time he & Michael took it out. I will never, and I repeat never - ride in it. Happy April Fools Day!

Family Easter Party

2010-03-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

Ok - this is what I know about the family Easter party- It starts at 11:30 on Saturday. Bring something to cook on a stick in the fire, a salad and or dessert. We always have such good selection of food. Hopefully the wind and dust won't ruin it this year. Now anyone that wants to and especially the young marrieds with children - you need to contribute eggs for the easter egg hunt. I'm not sure if you do real or plastic eggs - I thought I saw more plastic than real last year. They need to be gotten to Aunt Sharon earlier in the day so they can be hidden before the kids get there. So all little kids bring Easter baskets so you have something to put your eggs in. And lets all pray for Warm Sunny windless weather. Any other questons: call Aunt Sharon Buck

Going Digital- losing weight

2010-03-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

So I've been trying to diet since Feb. and I've lost and gained the same 3 lbs. 10 times. I decided my scales must be wrong or that somehow it was to blame. Its one of those kind that if you lean forward you lose 2 lbs. and if you lean backwards you gain 2 lbs. I needed somthing more accurate so I went to Walmart to get a new scale. They are all digital now. They have one that records your weight - heck no - I'm sure I can remember tomorrow what I weighed today! And I sure don't want Ed to know or anyone else how much I weighed yesterday. When I get on the scale I want to look as fast as I can and get off and let it disapear. It records for 2 or more people. So do you scan backwards and see what everyone else weighed till you find your weight (if by some magical reason you forgot!) No thanks. I don't want to know how much Ed weighs either. So I finally found a digital one that does NOT record. When I got it home Ed put it together and got on it. "Holy Crap!" he said. "I don't think this is right." I said I was sure it was because the digital ones were more accurate. He wanted me to get on it and I said no I never weigh in the evening because you weigh more. Well before I went to bed my curiosity got the best of me so I decided to weigh myself. "Holy Crap!" My old scales could not have been that far off. Its like starting all over again plus 5 lbs. And I have been really good this week too. Dieting is like walking a tight rope with people throwing spears at you. Today our owners suprised us with pizza for lunch. Its always some delicious temptation being thrown my way. As you get older your ability to resist gets weaker. Your eye site gets bad and you think you look thinner than you do. But I am not giving up. This week I will again try to lose that same 3 lbs. And hopefully 3 more after that. Lets see, now I have 5 months to lose 30 lbs. Thats 6 lbs a month. Well 20 lbs might not look so bad. Right now I really would be thrilled with 10. Or just getting down to what I thought I weighed when I was using my old scales. Cheesh, I hate dieting.

A Glimpse of Grandpa Cox

2010-03-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

I know I mentioned this on facebook yesterday but there wasn't room to write the whole story so I would like to share this with you. Thursday we got a truck in from Canada to load and the trucker came into the office very agitated and upset with his co driver saying how dumb he was and he had left his (the drivers) US customs papers at the border. Now he had to have them faxed to us - but he seem mad at the world. Our forklift driver came in and said that the co driver was a young man and said he didn't want to go any further with the driver -he had been abusing him for a week and he couldn't take it any longer. Brian and I kept talking about it as we watched the driver jerk the kid around and yell at him. When the truck got loaded the driver came in with the young man and again told him in front of all of us how stupid he was. When they left Brian said "Poor kid, I wish I could help him" I said " Brian there must be something we can do" I went back to work and in a few minutes I looked out the window and saw Brian with the driver and the young man with his bags. The driver was ranting and raving but Brian was just standing there calmly listening and then talking. This went on for an hour. Finally Brian came in and said" Well, the boy is here, now what do we do with him." The boy hadn't eaten since the day before so Brian took him to get something to eat. Then Brian told me the story. Brian had went to the boy and asked him if he was ok and if he wanted to go with the trucker. He said no he was not ok and he did not want to go with him. The trucker asked him to leave them alone so they could leave and Brian told the trucker that the boy didn't want to go with him and was not going. The trucker said he had to go with him or he wouldn't take the load. Brian told him he would get the forklift and unload the truck but the boy was not going with him. The trucker denied abusing the boy but the boy told Brian later that he had hit him several times and screamed at him constantly. He also told him that the trucker had left his own customes papers at the border and couldn't figure out why he was blaming him. The boy - who looked 16 - but was actually 30 - is an African refuge going to pharmacy school in Canada. It was his spring break and the trucker had offered him 250 dollars to help him drive the truck. But found himself in a terrible situation with this trucker. He told Brian he had been praying all night for someone to help him get away from this guy. He had no money and no one to help. Brian, it turns out, was the answer to his prayers. Well to make a long story longer, Ed came and we got on the computer and found out how much it would cost to buy a bus ticket for him to get back to Toronto Canada. We all pooled our money to get him a ticket and have a little extra for food. Brian called Roni to explain the situation and she said yes bring him home for the night. The bus didn't leave until 2:30 am so they fed him and with Tyson's help showed him the town. He seemed to be really religious and was a very humble and greatful young man. He thanked Brian over and over for helping him and I do think Brian has made a life long friend. He has a cell phone and has been texting Brian as he travels home on his bus. That day as I watched Brian stand firm and bold for that young man I saw my dad. He reminded me so much of him. Dad was always quiet and a bit timid but he always stood up for the underdog, and had a soft heart for everyone. I will never forget what happened that day. And it touched a Mother's heart to know that her son would stand his ground for what he knew was right. All of my children have given me cause to be proud. And this was just one of those times.

Its been a while. . . .

2010-03-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not keeping up - its our busy time at work and life too. I'm not sure when Seth and CarolAnns baby is due but if its in 2010 that will be 9 new grandkids in the Cox families this year. Wow! Its hard to keep count. I just know I'm getting older by the minute. Today I got something in the mail that really made me feel old. At first I was excited, It was a letter from "The Scooter Store" I have been wanting a scooter to drive back and forth to work. But when I opened it up it had a picture of a 90 year old woman sitting on one of those old people scooters, you know, the ones that just about run you over in Walmart! I wouldn't feel so bad but the letter was addressed to me personally. Not current occupant. How come someone assumes I need a scooter for old people. Well inside the envelope is a test to see if you really need one, so just for fun I took it. #1 Do you sometimes feel left out by not being able to get together with family and friends? Well, yes but not because I can't walk. #2 Do you have health related issues that limit your mobility" Well, yes my knee hurts alot. #3 Are you having trouble getting to your kitchen or dining facility by yourself for a meal? Thats a big fat NO. It would take 2 broken legs and a barricade to keep me away from my kitchen. #4 Are you unable to easily access your clothes and dress yourself each day? Yes, Sometimes I button my shirt wrong or forget to zip my pants and I have been known to accidently wear my underware inside out but I'm not sure a scooter would help. It says if you answer yes to any of these questions to call them but I don't really think I qualify - Yet. I still can't figure out who gave them my name and address. But its sure better than the letters Ed has been getting on "Cremation insurance" OH MY.

Time Our For Women info

2010-03-02T13:22:00.000-08:00

As the oldest daughter I guess I am going to be the ticket orderer for Time Out for Women in Spokane for OUR FAMILY only. If you order at least 5 tickets you get a discounted rate. So I will order but this is the deal: I am going to place the order on March 15th. That is 2 weeks from today. If I have your money by then I will order your ticket. I can't order and then hope I get your money, I need your money by then. Now that being said I will tell you that this is one of the greatest experiences you will ever have. I've gone several times and have never been dispointed. It just gives you the boost you need to go on no matter what stage of life you are in. You will laugh, cry and sing. Its a wonderful thing to go to. I would advise you to do anything you can to go. The dates are Friday April 30th 6:30-9:30 and Saturday May 1st 9 am to 3:45. They are giving us 80 minutes for lunch and there are lots of good places to go around there for lunch. If you can't go on Friday try to just go on Sat. This is the price for early registration and group rate only for Friday & Sat. Its $47.00 ea. Its way cheaper than ordering by yourself. The reason they charge for this is to cover the expenses of bringing these wonderful speakers and musical people to do this. But I tell you it is worth it. They prepare their talks for every women not just LDS women. And talk on topics that we are all dealing with. Most of the speakers are so funny and yet inspirational too. They also set up a book store in the front of the building so you can shop and they even have give a ways and prizes. Last year I got the most beautiful picture of the Portland Temple. So please let me know as soon as possible if you want ticket. Cell phone: 750-0532 e mail olsonedo@yahoo.com or leave a message here. It would be so fun if all of you went. If you want to know more you can go on line Time Our for Women and see who the speakers are and stuff. But please remember if you want me to order I am ordering the group rate of $47.00 and thats for Fri & sat. Still cheaper even if you get that and only go Sat.

Marching into March

2010-03-01T10:46:00.000-08:00

Even though its Monday - Could the first day of March be a better day! Its suppose to reach 60 degrees today and the sun is shining. I think I will take this day to stop and thank Heavenly Father that I live in this beautiful town, state, and country. That I belong to such a wonderful family and have been blessed to be a mom myself. This life is passing by so fast and its a shame if we spend one moment of it wishing it away. You know the wishes I'm talking about,(I've made all of these) I wish I was thinner, I wish I was younger, I wish my kids were grown, I wish my kids were back home, I wish I had more money. It is what it is. Love it or hate it. I say Love it and embrace the moment because things change so fast. Ask the people in Haiti or Chile if they wouldn't give anything to have things be the way they were a few months ago. We need to spend each day loving life and whatever it brings that day. If its a bad day (Mondays always are) think of something you can possibly do to make it better for yourself or someone else. Some things you can change and somethings you can't. But you can change how you feel. Today I'm just going to like being me.

Special Day Today

2010-02-23T18:13:00.001-08:00

Many of us don't realize what a special day today is - and I didn't either until Karen Savage mentioned that 25 years ago today her family was sealed in the Boise Temple. I knew that we were sealed in February so I called mom and asked her what day and she thought a minute and said today!!! So we did some figuring and realized that 51 years ago today 6 little angels all dressed in white kneeled around the alter with their beautiful parents and were sealed for time and all eternity. Now here we are 76 strong and growing. Thanks mom and dad for wanting us forever!!!!

Cox Reunion

2010-02-23T10:45:00.000-08:00

Just incase you are one of the lucky people who get to plan your vacations far in advance Mom wanted to let you know that Uncle Bill called and the Cox Reunion in Idaho has been set for June 28th. Its a long way to go but everyone who has gone has said the trip was worth it. Good Food, and conversation. Everyone is welcome to stay overnight but the reunion is only on Saturday.

One of the greatest men I ever knew.

2010-02-18T11:01:00.000-08:00

Today we celebrate the birthday of one of the greatest men I ever knew. My dad.He was a great dad, so patient and tolerent. When I think of the things us kids used to do its a wonder we're still alive. We rode the tractor anywhere we could hang on, we rode on the grader, the combine, the hay sled, the back of the pick up and trucks, standing up, hanging out, nothing I would have let my own kids do. But we had a great time. We built forts in his hay stacks, towns and roads in his corn rows, and dams in his ditches. The only time I remember him getting mad at me, in fact I got a slap, was when I was disrespectful one time. I deserved it but it hurt most because he was mad at me. I remember going to Curlew lake in the back of a truck. We rode all the way there standing in the back of the truck - wind blowing our hair - singing and shouting at cars going by. No seat belts to tie us down and restrict our fun-ness! He was a great dad but an even greater grandpa. He loved seeing his grandkids. And he loved taking all the grandsons camping. I will be forever grateful for the love he showed us and Brian when he came home early from his mission. He loved unconditionaly - was honest as the day is long - and could put a smile on anyones face. He loved telling a good joke and had all kinds of little sayings. He gave us all nick names: mine was "Louie", Deby was "Dubbs" Lyn was "Linny Lou" Sharon was "Stubbs" I don't know why I can't remember what Rick and Tom's was. Being a girl did not matter on the farm. We worked in the fields too. Weeding. shoveling, riding the planters and diggers, driving truck, bucking bales. I will always be grateful for dad teaching us how to work and encouraging us to go to school and become prductive. I see my dad in all of the grandsons and happy they are carrying on his wonderful traits. (sorry about some of your balding heads) But wasn't he the greatest. We miss you and love you dad. Happy Birthday!

Oh, Valentines Day. . .

2010-02-12T09:34:00.000-08:00

The dreaded Valentines Day where in my wildest dreams Ed takes me to a wonderful resturant for a candelite dinner and we sit and talk about love and stuff (not cars, or pickups or motors & tires) and he brushes the hair away from my eyes and hands me an evelope which I cautiously open and read, I've booked a night in the fantasy suit and if you choose to stay here is the key. (record scratching sound) Back to reality. Our Valentines day is spent going to Moses Lake asking each other "where do you want to eat? "I don't know, where do you want to eat? I don't care, where ever you want to eat." Eye yi yi! After 39 Valentines days together, 40 counting the year we were engaged, (which,I might add was the one and only romantic valentines day we ever had) You would think we could come up with something better. (Or he could) I'm just sayin'. But in his defense, he says he has tried and I complained so now I'm gettin' nothin'. So there you go. Warning to all young marrieds, even if all you get is one of those miniture rose plants and a hershey bar, don't complain, it might be the last Valentines gift you ever get!

Don't Mess With Momma!

2010-02-09T08:45:00.000-08:00

There are some things that just come with a natural instinct and that is the protective nature that a mom has for her kids. Even animals are born with this natural instinct to protect their young. They will fight to the end and give their life if necessary to protect their babies. I don't know about animals but I do know that human being mommas will protect their young and their old. It doesn't matter how old you get you never quit being a momma to your kids. Let's take Grandma Cox for instance. Lets just say she see's her son Rick standing on the road and a truck is coming. Even though he is 62 years old do you not think that she would try to warn him that a truck is coming and at last resort jump to push him out of the way. Well jumping is a bit of an exaggeration, but she would give it her best shot! The point being is that - and I'm speaking to ALL of you Cox grandkids - you have been blessed by the best moms ever. As much as you might not like it, we have a God given instinct, (sometimes its a curse) but none the less its the strongest desire to protect our children, no matter how old they get. You can push us away, make your own choices, live your own lives, but nothing can ever take away your Mother's Love and her desire to want only the best for you. You might not realize it now but someday you will realize that " No one, and I mean no one will ever love you like your Momma!

Some of Us Is Leaving. . . .

2010-02-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

Well, pretty soon you will be seeing less of Ed and I. (I hope.) Next August, less than 7 months away, is Ed's 49th class reunion (you heard me right) and we decided if we had to go looking old we might as well NOT go looking fat! Those are 2 combinations that don't go well together. (I also found out his old girlfriend is still alive and will be there.) Of course I am 7 years younger than Ed and for sure I want to LOOK younger. I'm just afraid losing the fat in my face will leave wrinkles in its place and therefore will make me look older - you know - more his age. So now begins the regimen (that means system of diet & excercise) which I should be doing anyway for my heart and well being, but there's no incentive like a class reunion or meeting your husbands old girlfriend that gets you motivated. You might see us bicycling & walking, and hopefully we'll walk our butts off. 7 months should be long enough to lose 25 lbs.. Heck I've lost and gained 25 lbs in 7 months. Maybe I should wait another month before I start. Valentines day is coming up - You can't diet on Valentines day. Well, enough with the excuses, LET THE DIETING BEGIN! I'm sure I will keep you posted on our experiences.

OK! I'll keep blogging.(For now)

2010-02-02T11:06:00.000-08:00

So Ed and I went to Walmart Friday night. . . .(You asked for it) Now usually when we go into Walmart together Ed heads for the sporting goods department and I tour the whole store. We decide on a time to meet back up front which usually means I'm on time and he's alot later. Anyway, on this particular night, for some unknown reason, (and this is a first for him,) he decides to #1 push the cart and # 2 follow me. So I decide that the only thing we're buying tonight is food. I do have a list and so we proceed to the first thing on my list. I'm not used to someone shadowing me while I'm grocery shopping and now the questions begin. Why are you buying that? I think you should buy this. Do you really need that? Ei,yi, yi! As we continue through the store he decides he forgot crackers, so he tells me to stay right where I am and he will be back. (What, am I 5 years old!) I don't know what there is about getting older but when someone tells you to do something you want to do the opposite especially if its your husband!) So I continue looking for the things on my list which means I have to leave the spot he told me to stay in. As I'm returning to the spot I was supose to stay in he is just getting back and I get a little lecture on not being where I should have been, what if he had had to go looking for me, blah, blah blah. So needless to say my list was cut short as I decided it would be better to go without a few things than endure the torture of grocery shopping with Ed. Don't get me wrong, I love him dearly. But we each have our duties, his is to go to the sporting goods department and mine is to buy whatever I want. When we cross those lines its unnatural, weird, and just plain wrong. We're gettin to old to change our routine now.

Love Means Never Having To Say Your Sorry

2010-02-01T11:28:00.000-08:00

This is a line from a movie I have never understood. Of course we need to say we're sorry - especially if we love someone. I am going to take this first day of February, the month of "Love" and say to anyone who reads this blog that if I have offended you in anyway I am truely sorry. Sometimes I get carried away in my writing and say things I think are ok but when I read them another day I shutter to think how some people would take them. I started out blogging because I love to write, and because I wanted to keep the family up to date on family plans, birthdays & stuff. It might be someone elses turn to take over that responsibility. If anyone else would like to do that please let me know. Until someone does take over I will try to keep things a little lighter and not so serious. I love you all and hope everyone knows that. This is a great family and I feel blessed to be a part of it.

Sad Story

2010-01-29T10:15:00.000-08:00

I heard the saddest thing last night and can't seem to get it off of my mind. We went to Jacob's pinewood Derby last night (and by the way Jacob - you were awsome!) Its interesting to go to another town & ward and see how they do things. There are always kids running around crazy. But across from us sat a young man holding a little girl. Amy was just put in as the "compassionate Service" person in her ward and she told me the story about this young man. Well he was young to me. Probably about my boys age. He has 4 children - the oldest 8 - 2 weeks ago his wife just decided she didn't want to be a wife and a mom anymore and she left them all. Now its true that I don't know all of the story but I don't understand how a mom can leave her kids. Everyone needs to get away once in a while but how can you stop loving your family? I watched as this man held his daughter, helped his son race his car and attended to the other 2 boys. He is a good dad. Amy said that the ward was trying to help him with babysitting and things because he has to work. This story has broke my heart. I have heard other stories similar to this and it has made me think back to when my kids were young. They totally drove me nuts. And some days I didn't want to do it anymore. But then there was a good day and it gave me strength to go on. Ed has always told me when I was ready to give up on many things, "give it a day or two and it will be better." And it always is. There were many days we didn't have any money, but we had a warm house and plenty of potatoes. There were lots of nights without sleep, and days without naps, and a husband working long hours for us. I didn't appreciate them as much as I should have back then. Now - that my kids are grown with kids of their own and we watch them be good responsible adults - I know that it was all worth it. Where would they be if I had given up or Ed had given up. The sacrifices that you are making now for your children will determine who they will be when they grow up. You are building adults. And its a big hard job. Hang on, Hang on, it will all be worth it someday. I promise.

Most Embarrasing Moment

2010-01-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

I've had alot of embarrassing moments over my life time - but this last weekend has to rate right up there and I'm not sure why I'm even sharing this. It was one of those moments you see happening to other people and you say "gee, I'm sure glad that wasn't me, what a dork!" Now someone has probably said that about me. Ed and I went to Spokane and we were done eating at a resturant. I went to the Ladie's Room and came back and went about emptying our tray, refilling my soda, putting on my coat, when a young man came up to me and said "excuse me mam, but you have a long piece of toilet paper stuck to your shoe." Sure enough, I looked down and there was about a 2 foot streamer of toilet paper stuck to my shoe. As my face turned crimson red I thanked this brave young man & told him how embarrassed I was. He just smiled and went back to his seat. I really was embarrassed but I thought what a brave kid that was. Sometimes its better NOT to know if you did something embarrassing. Then you can go about your business and never know what a spectacle you made of yourself to strangers. But in this case I really appreciated him telling me. Who knows how long I would have walked around with that toilet paper stuck on the bottom of my shoe because Ed never noticed it.Well, maybe he did and just didn't say anything. But this is my advice to others: If you see someone with toilet paper stuck to the bottom of their shoe, TELL THEM. They will be greatful for sure! Even better than that - help them get it off the bottom of their shoe- Ed & I had a heck of a time.

New Year - New Goals

2010-01-20T10:13:00.000-08:00

So its been an exciting New Year already hasn't it. Abby getting married New Years Eve and new babies being born & blessed. Spring weather in January. Wouldn't life be so dull if nothing new (good or bad) ever happened. Well, for my New Year's resolution I decided to pick something besides losing weight. I'm on a constant diet and will be for the rest of my life. Lose then gain, lose then gain. Ho Hum. So my New-New Years resolution is to become financialy fit. To start with I am cutting the pork spending as John McCain would say. I have thrown away so much food that I bought with intentions of using and it gets lost in the fridge or I don't have "all the ingredients" for a recipe. You know thoses drawers in the bottom of the fridge called "the crispers" - well ours are called "the rotters" cause thats what happens there. So,last weekend I made a menu & shopping list for this week. I went to Walmart for my shopping. The trick was to not leave the food section. My eyes kept veering towards the clothes and electronics but I kept control of my shopping cart and only bought what was on my list. To help matters out, Ed stayed in the car. I couldn't believe how much lower my walmart receipt was. Now, I realize things will come up, such as unplanned company for dinner and you only planned fish for 2 and your husband has asked his 3 big sons to come for dinner and help him on a project. Thats where you improvise and thankfully have hamberger in the freezer and yes I did have to buy buns. But all in all it has worked out good so far. Its actually alot like going on a diet. It takes alot of self control to stick to the menu and shopping list. I have to actually "cook" which is a whole new goal in itself but I think its going to be good. Of course we're only on day 4 - but I have high hopes for this one. What will I do with all the extra money I save . . . hmmmmmm.

Check this out!

2010-01-15T08:36:00.000-08:00

I hope Roni doesn't mind me sharing this but they had a photographer come to their house the other day and take pictures of Jeremiah and they are the cutest things. Go to Jonda Spurbeck Photography and bring up her web site. They are the first pictures. Theres one of him in Brian's race car helmet. So cute!

Baby Blessing Announcement

2010-01-12T08:13:00.000-08:00

Erin & Chris would like me to post this announcement for them: This coming Sunday they are blessing their baby girl, "Cassidy" and have invited any of the family that wants to come. It will be at their ward in Ephrata at 11:00. The address of the building is : 1301 E Division. After sacrament meeting they will be having lunch at their house : 14133 Wenatchee Ave. and if you plan on going could you please bring a salad or side dish. Also if you are going could you please respond to Erin's e mail so they can get a head count.Her email address is: chriserincox@yahoo.com
(evidently our big family dinner last Sunday didn't scare them too much)

Sunday Dinner

2010-01-07T09:14:00.000-08:00

I knew that would get your attention! Sharon wanted me to tell everyone that Sunday Chance is reporting his mission and would like to invite all the family to come. After church she is having lunch for anyone who wants to stay and is asking you to bring a BIG salad. I am guessing she is providing the main dish. So pass this on to all of your family members so everyone knows. It should be a really good Sac. meeting. We love you Chance and are glad to have you back with us again!

Sweet experience

2010-01-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to blog for the last week and I just get started and something happens. Well last night something really big happened. Watching a new baby being born has got to be one of the most spiritual experiences ever! Mishelle's were all C-section and for some reason they will only let the dad in the delivery room, so thank goodness I have daughter in laws who want me to be in with them when they deliver. (I'm not sure I would have wanted my own mother in law in the delivery room with me)and I was very hesitant at first, I don't do well with things like that I didn't even watch my own babies be born - but I'm telling you when they are pushing - everyone in the whole room is pushing - and when that baby comes out and makes its first cry - everyone crys. It is something you can't explain. The baby had a few complications while Roni was in labor- his heart rate kept dropping and they would try all kinds of things to get it back up. So you can imagine our relief when the baby was out and crying. I was happy to share this experience with Paula too. These kind of things just make us closer as a family. I have lots of things I want to blog about - and I will - but right now thank you for letting me share this most wonderful experience with you.

Reflections 2009

2009-12-30T08:25:00.000-08:00

Well there is just one more day left in 2009. When I was in school the year 2010 was a science fiction movie theme. We would all be traveling in outer space by this year and wearing space suits, our mode of transportation would be the monorail. Here we are nearing 2010 and the biggest change in our lives has to be electronic devices -no space suits yet. How did we ever survive without cell phones, DVD's, video games, even microwave ovens!? This year we broke down and bought a Wii. For excercise purposes of course. After I had Jacob- my 9 year old grandson, show me how to run it and how to play it I have been using it morning and night. All we have is the sports games that came with it. Now you would think playing those games wouldn't make me sore - I have been doing arobics every morning - but, but, my BUTT hurts, my shoulders hurt, my arm aches and I think I have Tennis elbow already! Does this mean its doing some good. When I first started I was good at bowling, terrible at tennis but now I'm pretty good, Look out Jacob! Then I tried golf, Hey watch out Tiger Woods! I am good! Haven't tried baseball yet. I guess we can just sit around and let the world pass us by or we can jump in and try the new stuff. Life is good, I can't wait to see whats next.

Christmas in the Future

2009-12-29T11:16:00.000-08:00

It was a good Christmas I think. If I had one bad thing to say about Christmas it would be that everyone has so many places to go during that time that it makes it hard to all be in the same place at the same time. Some suggestions made: Maybe we could have the huge Cox party every other year or move it to the summer when the kids can run and scream outside to their hearts content. I just know some things are going to have to change. Something to ponder when you get together in your own family groups. We need some feed back. As you know our family isn't getting any smaller in fact we had a new announcement at the Christmas Party. Congratulations Tyson and Vanessa - New baby due July 28th. That will be 51 great grandkids for Grandma Cox. That we know of for now. Thanks Chad for renting the Senior center for us and thanks everyone for cleaning up. Did you know that you have to pay a $300.00 damage deposit along with the $100.00 for the rental. Thanks everyone for chipping in so that Chad could get his money back. It seems we are no longer a family - we are a Corporation. Who knew we would grow this big?!

Cox Family Christmas Party

2009-12-21T15:01:00.000-08:00

60 years ago a young handsome man married a beautiful young woman. In those 60 years that cute little couple has evolved into a great big giant massive family. This great big giant massive family love each other very much - but - they cannot all fit into one house. Oh, they can fit, but its not a pretty sight. Now they only want to fit a few times a year but still its alot of family. And alot to ask one home to take. So on Thanksgiving we rented the Sr. Center and it worked very well. So we thought we would try it again for our Christmas Party. A few of us paid for the time at Thanksgiving but this time we are asking everyone to donate a little bit to help pay for the rental of $100.00. Everything else will be the same: Everyone bring finger foods, and a gift for the gift exchange game. One suggestion that was made is that Couples can bring just one gift if they want to and play for one gift. It might help cut down on the time but everyone is welcome to do whatever they want. It will start at 6:00 this year and we hope everyone will help clean up. (P.S. I have heard thru the grapevine there might be a special announcement made that night)

News of an Engagement

2009-12-13T18:19:00.000-08:00

I think I was the last one to find out that Abby is engaged! I was gone all day on Sat. and read it on Facebook at 10:00 sat nite. I guess there were rose petals and a rose and a ring on a rose and a guy holding the rose. Pretty much a scene out of the "Bachelor". Congratulations Abby.

Cats In The Attic!

2009-12-09T10:17:00.000-08:00

Sounds like a horror movie. But its happening in our house. I was sitting on the couch the other morning reading my scriptures and thought I heard Ed getting up. But no -he was still snoring away so I thought it was just my imagination. The next morning the same thing happened and the thought came to me that someone else was in our house. Since Chessie wasn't all upset I thought I must hearing things. When Ed got up I told him I thought someone was in the attic. He said "yes, there are cats up there - They are getting in through the garage" He said it like he was talking about the weather. I said "well get them out, now, today!!!!" They used to live above the hot tub room and since Ed fed them all summer I guess they decided to move into the house. When I came home from work I found Ed putting together some kind of a wire trap. He went out and set it (I'm not sure where) and in 10 minutes caught the cat. This morning I hear the same sounds coming from the attic. So we have the one in the trap and I don't know how many in the attic. Gayle Noyes wants them at his dairy so I guess Ed will transport each cat as he catches them to the dairy. This is a new problem for us. We've had mice in our houses, bee's and wasps, even birds came down our chimmney one time, but never cats in the attic. Just when you think you've seen everything. Life is always keeping us on our toes.

24 Shopping Days until Christmas!

2009-12-01T10:11:00.000-08:00

21 if you don't shop on Sunday! I am barely getting rested up from Black Friday. Yes Ed and I were up before the butt crack of dawn and thought we were getting a real early start on things only to find 500,000 cars and shoppers beat us to Walmart. The lines were backed up to the Garden section with full carts. We finally found someone to ask "where the Laptops were that were to go on sale at 5 am" The kind Walmart helper replied," Oh, those were at the pharmacy and they were gone by 4:15." I guess we didn't get the memo that they don't really stick to the sale rules. We ran into Michael whose eyes were still wild with "sales frenzy"! He had been there since 4 am and did not seem normal to me. We talked for a few minutes and then he was off again. I hope he got home ok. The only thing we were looking for was a laptop for Ed and we found one in the regular aisle for not much more than the one on sale. I looked and looked and really did try to find something to buy but it was too early and my mind was not working properly at that time. They ought to have a "Black Friday Afternoon" for Seniors. One you don't have to fight the crowds and you can look leisurly - even sit for a while and think about it, have a cup of cocoa maybe some cookies or lunch. Well here we go into December - credit cards ablazing. If life gets too crazy - sit down and listen to Christmas music. It really calms the sole.

Turkey Bowl -Turkey Dinner

2009-11-28T08:15:00.000-08:00

I didn't get to see it but I heard the football game was awesome. I will try to get some pictures to post. I think the dinner at the Sr. Center was a success. WE didn't have as many people as we thought we would have but still had a crowd. The food was delicious. Such a good variety of everything. Too many potatoes this year - so I know I will be cutting back on that. Thanks Jodi & Erin for bringing games for the kids to play. Everyone was right on time for the dinner so we were able to start on time. The day ended earlier than expected when all of the toilets plugged which put a damper on the day. We were glad to find out that it wasn't our fault because they had been having trouble with them before we came. It was really fun to be all together and have such good food. I feel bad about the bathrooms though. We would like to know how everyone else felt about it? Would we want to do this again, is it time to break up into individual families? Inquiring minds want to know?

The Big Day Almost Here. . .

2009-11-25T08:19:00.000-08:00

Turkey, check , Potatoes, check, Pumpkin Pie for 70, check - football check! Are you ready for the big day? This will be an interesting Thanksgiving as we move to a new location and hope to have room for everyone to sit down. I always worry if we will have enough food. I remember one year we ran out of potatoes, and one year hardly anyone came to moms and we didn't have all the fun side dishes and salads that we usually have. Isn't it interesting what we get used to and have to have traditionaly. What would Thanksgiving be without Aunt Lyn's carrots, or Aunt Sharon's pies. We have learned to live without Grandma Cox's homemade rolls so I guess you can adjust. I remember one year mom made white milk gravy instead of turkey gravy. It tasted good but it wasn't the traditional gravy. Are we spoiled, or what. I just guess tradition runs deep. A family football game has been played on Thanksgiving since Tom and Nick were little kids. thank goodness we all had boys first so a team could be formed ASAP and Tom & Nick would have someone to play with. Now to think all of those boys are grown and still playing. Now they have brought the Martinez family on board and can play against someone else. I love this family and hope you are all getting ready for tomorrow. I, myself, have been walking and excercising in preparation for the feast. See you all tomorrow, 1:00 PM Sharp!

CHANGE OF TIME !!!!!!!

2009-11-23T08:15:00.000-08:00

PLEASE TELL ALL THE GUYS WHO ARE PLAYING FOOTBALL THURSDAY THAT THE STARTING TIME HAS BEEN CHANGE TO 9:00. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CALL TYSON 855-2659

3rd Annual Turkey Bowl

2009-11-17T15:05:00.000-08:00

While many of us are worrying about the Turkey dinner, "the boys" are getting excited about the "Cox's vs the Martinez's" football game. Brian has asked me to announce this and the place and time. I guess you girls will have to pass this on because I don't think many of the men read the family blog - at least they never comment so I assume they never read it. Anyway - The Kick off time will be 10:00 AM Thursday morning, the place will be the same place as last year - Leavitt's turf farm - If you plan on playing please call Tyson 855-2659 and let him know. (I hear Grandma is going to be one of the Cox team cheerleaders so it might be a game you won't want to miss.) I myself have never seen the game because someone has to be cooking all morning. Don't forget the dinner at 1:00 PM SHARP!!! We're on a time schedule this year.

Thanksgiving dinner

2009-11-16T15:03:00.000-08:00

The family council met Sunday (yes we have a family council) and made some final decisions on our Thanksgiving dinner. You know when we get this big we have to be organized a little so that everything comes off without a hitch. It only took us about 4 hours to decide to rent the Sr. Center for 4 hours, so you see we put a lot of discussion and thought (and in some cases, raised voices) to come to the final decision. After all the chattering ended this is what we came up with:
We will be renting the center for 4 hours. This has to include setting up and cleaning up - CITY OF WARDEN RULES! So We will start at 1:00 hoping everyone will show up as close to 1:00 as possible. NO one wants to eat cold turkey. All food must come prepared as we won't have a kitchen or electric appliances to cook, beat or boil. There is however, a microwave. The Aunts & Uncles are bringing the main dishes, so we would like all the adult grandkids to bring side dishes and salads. We would like you to bring LARGE salads or side dishes. Think about how many we are feeding. If you don't want to bring one BIG salad or side dish bring 2 smaller. The idea is to have enough food for everyone. At approx. 4:30 we will begin cleaning up.We need to be out by 5:00. I know this sounds so military and kind of takes away from our free for all family events but think of it as having a reservation at a resturant at 1:00 pm except you are bringing the food. We are hoping everyone comes on time so that we can eat at the same time and have all afternoon to eat, visit and watch football on the big screen TV they have there. We do not want this to be an inconvience for anyone and we realize some of you have other family to visit that day. We just wanted to try something different and make it easier this year. Who knows what we will try next year. If you have any questions call me. Looking forward to a great family Thanksgiving.

Its My Party and I'll Cry if I want to. . . .

2009-11-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

This is a sad birthday for me. I know next year will be even sadder but . . I did't mind turning 30 or 40. 50 was a little tough and tomorrow I will be turning 59!!!! (There's just no happy way to turn 60.) But I will cross that black road, slowly, when I come to it next year. When your in your 20's you can't even imagine being in your 50's. Heck,you can't even imagine your parents being in their 50's. Now fast forward, and it does seem like it was fast forwarded, here I am, on the brink, top of hill, preparing to descend "over the hill." Somethings I never thought I would have at this age is, my own teeth (whats left of them), blonde hair(with grey roots), a job (with my son as my boss), 40 extra lbs.(I've lost & gained a 100 times), energy to get up at 5:30 every morning and walk 2 miles.(but not enough to stay awake past 8 pm), chills during the day (hot flashes at nite) and a mini van. We all have hopes and dreams for our future and although things haven't worked out exactly like I planned I'm very greatful for a wonderful husband who isn't rich but alot of fun, wonderful children who found wonderful partners and together gave me my greatest blessings - 15 grandchildren and 2 more on the way. I might cry a little tomorrow as I begin the end of more than half of a century of life,(oh my) but by the end of the day I will be laughing with joy as I spend the day with my family & friends.

Please Forgive Me Lyn

2009-11-06T10:18:00.001-08:00

I guess I have to apologize to Aunt Lyn about the comment I made in my last blog about if we divide the family in half and half goes to her house and half goes to my house it would be too hard on Grandma running back and forth and half would be missing out on all the fun at Aunt Lorrie's. I think she thought I was serious. I'm not serious very often but I guess me being the oldest and she being so much younger (and prettier I might add) I should be more grown up. I really think if the family took a vote everyone would rather go to her house than mine for Thanksgiving. I know I would. But because we have become an increasingly huge family both of our homes are too small, even if we have basements. Heather asked why we don't have it at the church. If you asked the men its because they wouldn't be able to watch their football game, if you asked the women its because the kids run around like wild indians and I can't even imagine the messes we would have to clean up all thru the church. We have had a few family dinners there and the noise level is above my tolerant level. For those of you who didn't know the SR. center is now the Community Center and has been remodeled with beautiful laminate wood floors and it doesn't even look the way it used to. You will really be suprised. The rental of it will be paid by us older generation and so we just want you all to help with the food. We have talked about having an auction to earn money for future family events and thats something to think about. For those of you who have asked if you can bring guests - of course you can. The more the merrier. Lets just make sure we have enough food!

New Thanksgiving Plan

2009-11-03T09:35:00.000-08:00

Everytime I have to change the blog background I think "didn't I just do this"? As I said last year our family has more birthdays in November than any other month and I think 2 more will be added this month. By this time next year we will have added at least 6 new babies to this family. As we continue to grow I have scarey thoughts of inside family events. Mom's birthday party was an eye opener for me as to the enormity of it all. Sometimes I find myself envying the Thanksgiving dinners you see on TV where everyone has a seat at the table with cute little place cards and decorations and even a centerpiece. They all hold hands and say what they are thankful for. Can you imagine us doing that. We would never get to dinner until the next day. I'm not sure what the weight compacity is for our house floor but I'm sure the firecode for maximum capacity is below 70 people. Taking this all into consideration Grandma and I have discussed different solutions to this growing dilema. #1 We could all go out to a resturant to eat.(Too expensive, too many of us)
#2 We could split up - half at Aunt Lyn's & Half at Aunt Lorrie's - Grandma running in between. (Too hard on Grandma and half missing all the fun at Aunt Lorrie's.)
#3. We would not have Thanksgiving all together at all. (Can't even imagine it, yet)
So we have come up with an idea and would like everyone's imput. I have checked into renting the Senior center, which has been remodeled and is very nice. We would all be able to sit at a table, we could all eat at the same time, the "Big Game" would be on the big screen TV they have there so no one would miss it. The only draw backs I see would be keeping the little kids entertained and the money for renting it. The fee is $100 dollars for 4 hours or $200 if your going to be longer than 4 hours. We would have to set up and clean up in those amount of times. What I am asking is how many of you are planning on coming to Our families Thanksgiving dinner and would you be willing to be here at 12:30 or 1:00 so the majority of us would be here for dinner at the same time? Do you think this will work? I need to know what you all think?

Rainy Day Thursday!

2009-10-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

Today I just want to curl up in bed and take the longest nap! I have still been getting up and walking every morning at 6 am with my neighbor and although its cold, it is invigorating. Plus I have lost 7 lbs. and thats what I am most excited about. But anyway last night we had our Ward Halloween party and once again Lyn, Chad and Jaycie, (who Ed and I couldn't do this calling without) came thru. I'm going to say there was close to 150 people there. Alot of kids but adults also. Lots of cute costumes. This really is a big holiday for everyone, I have said before that I hate Halloween. Its a lot of money and alot of work. And right before the 2 biggest Holidays of the year. (Well three if you want to count my birthday.) But I love seeing the clever costumes everyone comes up with especially since I don't have to worry about doing that anymore. People are so creative. Did you see my grandkids last night? Ok Ok everyone elses grandkids looked cute too. I complain alot about Halloween but the only thing worse would be having your birthday on Halloween. Huh, Deby? It's almost a gurantee what you will be doing on that night while your raising your kids and its probably not dinner at a nice resturant. Well, Happy Birthday Deby - You're the kindest sweetest person I know and you've been thru so much in this life. I feel honored to be your sister. Have a great day even though its Halloween. We'll try to make it special for ya!

2009-10-19T15:49:00.000-07:00

It Must Be A Guy Thing

2009-10-07T11:27:00.000-07:00

The mighty hunters have returned. Although they look like hunters I'm not really sure they were actually hunting. They have nothing to show for it. They had orange vests, hats, guns & amm. . . but no deer. Ed has been preparing for months for what has become an annual event. This year he decided to buy a huge army tent for them all to sleep in. A week before the trip they set it up on Brian's front lawn much to the terror of his neighbors. I'm sure they were thrilled to see it come back down. Now I don't get it. I would find no joy spending the week end in a stinky tent, no bathroom, no running water, cooking over a fire. It took Ed hours to pack and hours to unpack for 2 days in the wilderness. But you can tell by the smiles on their faces they loved it! It must be a guy thing.

Birthday fun & New Announcement

2009-10-05T13:33:00.000-07:00

Sorry no pictures. But my heck, what a party! I could't believe it when I counted up how many family members were at Grandma's Birthday party. All day we watched outside as the wind roared and nothing but dirt for miles. I told Ed, I don't think very many people are going to come tonight. And then I thought well, maybe thats a good thing cause the kids won't be able to play outside and everyone will be inside. But as it turned out almost EVERYONE did come. I went downstairs one time to look for Cooper, Jodi had been down there and couldn't find him, but he was there. With about 40 other kids!! It is a wonder we didn't lose someone. It was potluck and I was afraid we would have all jello salads and no main dishes, but what a wonderful buffet of delicious foods. Just the right variety of everything. It was standing room only and I'm sorry that everyone didn't have a place to sit at the same time but hopefully we "musical chaired" enough that everyone got to sit at one time or another. I was really suprised when everyone took their plates and kids and left that we didn't have much of a mess to clean up. Mom was the last to leave and I think she was totally thrilled with the whole night. At the end of the evening she took some time to thank everyone and give some advice to all of her grandchildren. These are treasured moments that we will remember forever. The one new announcement for the evening was that Michael and Rachael are pregnant! Poor Rachael is going thru the 24 hours a day morning sickness. But after last night I did some caluculating and here are some family statistics: Mom & dad have 6 children, 30 grandchildren and 44 great grandchildren with 5 on the way. Out these - 69 were in my house last night!

Grandma Cox's Birthday Party

2009-10-01T13:16:00.000-07:00

As you all know Grandma's birthday was last Monday and since we were all recovering from our fast weekend trip we didn't have time to have her party. I think that when you turn "80" you deserve a party, don't you? It's going to be at Lorrie and Ed's SUNDAY at 4:00 pm It will be potluck so I hope everyone will bring something yummy and big enough to share. Hope to see you all there!

Skyla & Michael's Wedding

2009-09-28T10:12:00.000-07:00

Heading to Skyla's Wedding

2009-09-24T08:14:00.000-07:00

A very special event is taking place Saturday - Skyla's Wedding. Sharon, Mom and Deby are leaving today - the rest of us are leaving Friday morning. If anyone wants to send a gift or card with us let me know. I know this is going to be a very special occasion and that her dad must be beaming from Heaven. Her mom, Lisa, has done such a good job raising her and we are so proud of Skyla. I am so glad we get to be there. Its going to be a very fast trip but worth it I'm sure. WE WILL TAKE PICTURES. And they will be on the blog.

38 YEARS !!!!

2009-09-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

Wow, has it really been that long. 38 years ago today Ed and I were married in the Cardston, Alberta Canada Temple. The only people there were my mom and dad. As my memory serves me we went to a little resturant afterwards and had chicken fried steak. I can't believe it has all gone by so fast. I came home from our honeymoon a new wife and a mom to a little 4 year old boy. We had a nice little house in the country that cost us $50.00 a month. We lived there for about a year and then bought a new single wide trailer that cost us $99.00 a month. We put it on a little piece of property next to mom and dad. It was fun living there because Ed worked with dad and worked close to home. Nick went with Ed most of the time and was quite the little worker. It took me 5 years to get pregnant and then we had 4 kids in 4 years. After a 5 year rest we had Tyson. In that time we had changed out the single wide for a double wide then sold that and moved to Moses Lake for 3 years and back to Warden. In our marriage we have had 7 different homes and a zillion different cars. I only left Ed one time and my mom told me to go back home and make things work. That was the best advice I ever got. Life has been a roller coast ride - lots of laughter, tears, and love. Out of this 38 years we were blessed with 6 beautiful children - 15 wonderful grandchildren and one on the way (so far) and 5 awesome daughter in laws (one future daughter in law) I joke about the things Ed does that irk me but he has been a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He has given me a wonderful life and beautiful children. I can describe our marriage with the quote "it was the best of times - it was the worst of times." But we have weathered many storms and lived to tell about it. I love him more today that I did 38 years ago and all I can say to all of you is marriage is hard work, but so worth it in the end. When in your older years you not only have a husband-you have a best friend. Happy Anniversary Ed!

Hello, Is Anyone Still Out There . . .?

2009-09-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

Where have all the bloggers gone
I feel so all alone.
It seems you've all abandoned
our "Home sweet blogging Home"
Erin keeps on posting
I'm just so glad for that,
Now we have to see the rest of you
On Face Book for a Chat.
Just when Grandma learned to blog
what a long time that one took,
She had to learn a whole new way
And join you on Face Book.
I miss the old times on the blog
Where life was shared detailed
with stories, pictures, music
Now its on a smaller scale.
I understand that times have changed,
I've just learned how to text,
I'm getting tired of keeping up
What the Heck is next!!!!!