List Your Aunts and Uncles and Tell One Thing About Them

I have been blessed with many great aunts and uncles.

Mom's Side

Craig and Sue: what can I say!  It was only about 5 years ago that I began to get close to my Uncle Craig.  Craig has become my adrenaline rush buddy!  He goes skydiving multiple times a month and just last weekend he met Eric and I in Ogden to go with us on our first skydiving adventure!  He and I always end up in a water fight when we are together.  We like to give each other a bad time and tease one another!  He and I are currently training to run in a half marathon together the end of August!

Karen and Scott: I love every opportunity I have to spend with Karen and Scott. They live in Arizona so I usually see them when they come to Utah.  Karen has always been interested in what I have goign on in my life and I know she is there if I ever need anything.  We give Karen a bad time because she always freezes when she comes to Utah because it's not as hot as it is in Arizona.  Scott is a quiet man but interested in what is going on in our lives and would do anything for anyone.  I admire their strength as they face the struggles and trials that have been put in their path!

Moe and Theron: I got close to them when I was going to school at BYU-Idaho!  Anytime I needed something I knew I could call Moe.  Anything from a kitchen utensil, camping stuff, or a place to store my belongings during the summer months!  It was nice to have some family in the same town as I was going to school!  I would visit her a couple times a month while there.  Theron spends a lot of his time working up at their farm!  I do remember goign out to the farm once and having a good tim there.

Wally and Gwen: Several years ago Gwen told me that Wally was ticklish on his mustache.  Now everytime I see him I have to tickle his mustache.  Wally will do ANYTHING for ANYONE!  He will give his shirt off his back if that's what's needed.  He is a true example of christlike charity! Gwen likes to do cross stitch and other crafts.  She cares about Wally and will do anything to make him happy!

Dad's Side

Vicki and Chuck: They have always had lots of animals.  I remember them having horses and dogs! We went to their ranch once to ride horses.  Vicki lived close to grandma and grandpa so everytime we would go visit our grandparents they would come to grandma's house too. 

Curt and Suzanne: Curt has a huge sense of humor!  It is nonstop laughs when you are around him.  He has a positive outlook on life.  We went camping with them several times and I remember playing cards, and walking on the trails with him. I remember goign and visiting them at their home in Oregon.  We went to a mall that had an ice skating rink in the center of it.  Suzanne is one of my heros!  She is a breast cancer survivor!  She went through her chemo with a smile on her face and a determination to beat it!  I only hope that if I am ever faced with something like that that I can have the positive outlook on like as she did!

Tell about an embarrassing moment

I try not to place myself in situations where I will be embarrassed.  I don't like to stand out in the crowd (unless I am fully comfortable with the group-AKA my family).  I have thought all afternoon about this question and even called mom.  If any of you think of an embarrassing moment of mine please jog my memory!  Here is what I came up with:

1. It is always embarrassing for me when people find out that my sister Jen would pay me a quarter to smell her farts.  I earned many quarters by doing this!  And, why am I admitting this on here where others could read it??  I don't know!

2. One year for my birthday my mom chose to throw me a surprise birthday party.  I HATE surprises.  Mom and I had gone to the grocery store and I was complaining to her that we hadn't done anything about planning my birthday party.  Well, we got home and I walked in and was greeted by many smiling faces yelling "surprise!"  I was MAD at my mom for doing this because for whatever reason those type of things embarrass me.  I am not a fan of surprises!

So, if any of you can think of a better embarrassing story for me please do share!

Tell about a favorite vacation from your childhood

When I read this question the first thing that popped into my head was camping!  I remember going on several camping trips with my family and I loved them.  We were big campers.  One of our favorite places to go camping was Samuel P. Taylor park (I think that's what it was called).  We spent time at the lake, exploring, going on hikes, cooking together, talking around the campfire and playing games.  Sometimes my dad's siblings and their families would join us on our camping excursions.  

There is one camping trip that stands out in my mind most vividly.  We brought our dog Ben with us and we were in our tent asleep.  Mom and dad were in a tent and then us kids and Ben were in another tent.  Pretty soon we started hearing scratching on our tent.  We thought it was Mom and Dad trying to scare us but it didn't take long for Ben to start barking.  We got worried that it was a mountain lion or a bear.  We unzipped the window and saw that we had several racoons in our campsite.  They were trying to get into our food and they were eating Ben's dog food.  I remember mom describing the way they were eating his food as "little kids eating popcorn." Handfuls at a time and they couldn't get enough.  One raccoon took the gallon glass jar of dog food and carried it up the tree.  It was cute to watch these raccoons in our campsite but they got into our food and that wasn't so fun.

Another family vacation that I remember going on is to Disneyland.  We went to Disneyland a few times growing up.  I don't remember a lot of specific details but I remember driving there and spending time as a family.  I remember one year I was scared of any of the big roller coasters.  My dad MADE me go on the Matahorn and I was so mad at him.  I was scared and I did not want to go on it.  I think I came off the ride enjoying it and being glad that he made me try it.

I also remember going to Hawaii with my parents and my brother.  My dad was there for work for a couple months and my mom told Brandon and I that if we could pay for our plane tickets then we could go to Hawaii.  We spent 10 days on the island of Ohau.  We went snorkeling, shopping, spent time on the beach, went to the Polynesian Culture Center, visited the temple grounds, Pearl Harbor and many other things.  I enjoyed this time in Hawaii with my parents and brother. 

I am grateful for the many times we spent together as a family.  It is spending time with the family that I remember most.  I don't remember specifics but I remember being together, laughing and having a good time.

How many brothers and sisters do you have? Describe them and tell a story about you and each of them.

Jen, me, Eric, Kim and Brandon

Kim: Kim is my oldest sibling and is 6 years older than me.  She and I went off to Ricks College together!  We were roommates for a few semesters where we were able to share in many college experiences.  She is musically talented and growing up I enjoyed listening to her play the piano.  She is always willing to help anyone in need!  She often went up to grandma's house on her 5 day weekends so that grandma wouldn't be alone and she could help her with anything grandma needed done.

Jen: Jen is 4 years older than me and the two of us are most alike.  I gained my love for volleyball by watching her play in high school!  Anytime the two of us are together there is a waterfight bound to happen.  Once when she was babysitting a neighbors kids she called me (I was at a friends house playing) and asked me to come change the babies dirty diaper!  She hated changing diapers.  She's been an example of magnifying her church callings and taking her church membership serious! She loves her Heavenly Father and teaches her children the importance of it.  She's never afraid to share her testimony to family members and friends!

Brandon: He is 4 years younger than me.  We joke that he is my "little 'big' brother" because he's much taller than me!  I remember playing outside with him all day growing up.  We loved to be outside together.  He and I wrote to each other on a regular basis through his whole mission.  He was a great example to me of dedicating two years of his life to serve the Lord!

I am grateful for my siblings and all the many fun memories that I have with them!  They have all taught me so many things!  Family is one of the biggest blessings in my life!  I don't know how I would go through life without them!!!

Life in a Jar

SEVERAL years ago my siblings and I gave my mom a jar with many questions about her family history for her to answer in a journal.  She never really answered these questions but came across the jar the other day.  She's decided that she is going to take a question a day and answer it on her blog.  After reading her first post I decided that it would be a good idea for me to take those same questions and answer them on this blog.  When the questions are all answered I will turn the blog into a book and have a great family history! :) So, that is the purpose of this blog!