The Red Bird Wacker Hat

The caption under my name on my email signature reads, "Everything is better in a cabin by the lake." And it is. That's why every summer I schedule a good long week to stay at my cabin. Every year I choose a week in which I shut down my life at home, leaving the stress of life behind, crossing over the mountain to a calmer me.
I love this week. I love the quiet time in which I get to unwind and put life back into perspective. Bear Lake is a peaceful place and something in my spirit craves the serenity that surrounds this beautiful calm environment.
People complain that I'm no fun during this week. It's not entirely true, but I think the reason they say this is because I spend an enormous amount of time on my computer when I'm there. I love to write and I love to work on pictures during this week.
I have eight giant glass pane windows that give way to quite the view and I always sit at my computer so I can gaze out those very windows taking in the lake and all it's blue. It's the prettiest sight ever and I never tire of soaking in the the colors of nature while I'm working away.
This may seem like a strange post but today while I was working I found this picture of Spencer in the red bird wacker hat. This hat has sat on many a little boy's head. I bought it along with some red down filled snow pants years ago when my boys were small. The hat is also filled with down and one of the warmest hats you could stick on a kid's head.
When I bought it I was so taken with it. If they made one now for an adult I'd go right out and buy it. You can tie it up on top of your head like Spencer is wearing it or you can pull the flaps down tight to shut out the cold.
The hat however is more than just a mere hat to me. When I see it I get all sappy. It embodies so many memories, memories of winters spent at the lake when my boys were small and life was simple. When I look at that hat with all of it's red stitchings all sorts of things pop into my heart and my head. Like the time we were driving to the lake and the roads were laden with packed snow. Goose and Des were with me and we were pullin' a sluff day. I've always believed kids shouldn't go to school on Fridays. It's sacrilegious!
We were headed up the mountain all of us singin', laughin' and gigglin' in the pitch black of night. It was snowing to beat the band and though I was driving slow, in all the frolicking of our antics I sort of drove off the road a bit. Immediately my jeep cherokee hit a pot hole and we did a serious tail wag. The trouble is we were right on the edge of a cliff. This sent Kelson into a heart gripping spasm. He started cryin' and then when he realized we were safe he proceeded to tell me how he saw his life pass before him all in the blink of an eye. We've laughed for years about that night.
I could go on with more tales of my time spent driving to the lake and all the fun we had once we got there; stories that embark on the best memories ever. I can't seem to part with the red bird wacker hat. It's been on too many sleigh rides down the big hill by our old trabin. Year after year I keep it with me hoping one of my grandsons will want to wear it. It's contained in so many of my winter memories, how could I ever give it away? I can see it as I look back over my life, always sitting on someone's head savoring up the best times ever.
I'm glad I found this picture of Spencer wearing it. I hope there are lots more memories with it waiting to be had! Winter is coming, I wonder if I can get my grandkids to sluff school? It's worth a try.

A Blue Ribbon Winner!

Sometimes things happen in life that catch you totally off guard. They happen in a split second when you least expect them. And when they strike emotion fills your heart like a tidal wave instantaneously washing through you seeping through every pore. Those are some of the finest moments in life. And it feels so good when they strike.  They are moments you can't quite get enough of.
That's sort of how I felt when Kaedell told me she entered the photography contest in the Weber County Fair. I got a lump in my throat and was so proud of her just for entering. I asked her which picture she entered and she told me all about the photo. I know this photo well. It's one of my favorites.
The picture came about after Kaedell, wanting to take some pictures of Corbin and update her book, took him down to his Uncle Lynn's farm. Kyle's uncle has the perfect place for photographing a little boy. Corbin was excited to wear his cowboy hat and boots and the old red truck that sat at the back of the farm made the perfect setting.
That day it didn't take Corbin long to climb up on the hood of the old truck and strike a natural pose. He has long grown use to his mother constantly having a camera in her hand.
At the time Kaedell took the photograph, Corbin was into telling himself jokes. The funny part is he would laugh for a long time after he recited one. He was clearly taken with himself! I think this is when the creative juices started flowing in Kaedell's head because as she saw him sitting there so perfectly she told him she wanted to hear one of those good jokes. It didn't take Corbin long to respond. After telling his mother the joke he giggled as hard as a kid can. That's when Kaedell snapped the winning shot.
She then took the picture home and edited it and now everyone who sees it gives it a rave review. It hangs on my fridge and I'm always getting comments on it when anyone new comes in.

I just wish I could capture the words to tell you how I felt when Kaedell informed me the picture won first place. I try to envision it sitting there at the fair with a first place blue ribbon attached to it. I'm so mad I didn't get to see it.
It sits in her living room now. The ribbon is still attached but I would have liked to have stood by it at the fair and pointed out to every guest that meandered by, "That's my daughter!" If I'd known I would have stayed home from Lake Powell just to brag!
Even now I can't hold back the tears. It feels so good to see your children excel in the things they set out to do. Kaedell really has talent with a camera and a computer. Oh she has talent with a million other things too, but I love her photography.  And this picture is clearly a winner!
Way to go Bug! My blue ribbon winner!!! Gee whiz, can you tell I'm as proud as punch? You had better get entering more of these contests Kaedelly! You're GOOD and I'm just so tickled you won! It's the cutest picture ever!

Happy Birthday Beano

I am trying to keep up with birthdays this month! August is jam packed full of birthdays as you can see. When I was hunting for pictures of Corbin, I found this one. He's just a little tike, but I love this picture. It always makes me grin!

Today I got to take Corbin out for his birthday. He is such a funny kid. Right now he is seriously into Legos. Kaedell is going to have to build another room on the side of her house just to store the Legos in.
He climbed right in my car and buckled himself up, then he promptly told me where to drive.
"Grandma," he said. "Can we go shopping at Walmart."
He proceeded to tell me Walmart was a really fine store well stocked with Legos and that he had perused the place days prior and he knew just what he wanted.
Wow, I was impressed.  

I really like a kid that knows what he wants. I told him so and then I drove there straight away.
We walked in and he pulled me out a cart and then we headed straight to the Lego isle. When he saw the giant Legos for little tiny kids, he informed me they were dumb and he didn't want any of those. "Ok," I said, and I told him to lead on.
That was about when we turned the corner and hit the mother load. Corbin quickly glanced over all the boxes and the many different styles. They had Legos galore, which consisted of anything from Toy Story Legos to building your own giant airport.
He picked out a Star Wars Lego set that cost 98 dollars. I was choking a little when I told him he had to choose a box where the number under the box started with a "2." He somberly agreed, but not without a big giant sigh clearly filled with remorse. Two seconds later he zeroed in on a smaller Star Wars battle set and sure enough the number beneath started with a "2."
He made the decision so fast I almost couldn't grasp it. "Corbin," I queried. "How in the world did you pick that out so fast?"
He gave me one of those looks, specifically the one where his mouth gets all twisty and his eyes go into a glazed over glare. It's as if his whole body was screeching at me, "Are you for real?" Then his face came to a standstill like, "duh," and he stammered with an upbeat sarcastic vibrato, "Grandma, this is the only box that has Robots in it!" His hands started to fly as the word "Robots" came out of his mouth.
It all made sense now. How stupid of me. I clearly understood and wondered how I could have been so blind?

In Corbins pint sized world life is all about the guys! The photo taken above by Kaedell clearly shows you just what is important to a five year old.
Well, Corbin, you are one fine boy and grandma loves to watch you play. Corbin is a kid that can entertain himself for hours providing you give him some action figures. I have a picture that I've tried to find for three hours now. I give up. The picture was taken at my cabin and everywhere you look there are action figures hanging all over the place. From the cupboard to the decorations, there are little green ninja turtle men suspended everywhere.
Well, I hope you had a great birthday Corbeano! I sure had fun with you today! You are such a cute little boy, good as gold, and everyone loves you! Grandma loves you so much.  I can't believe you are 5. Happy Birthday bud. Squeeze!

Should have been posted on the 24th ---Sheesh!

Happy Birthday Goose!

This year Goose's birthday fell on the day we had to pack up and leave Lake Powell. The day we have to assemble all of our gear and get off the house boat is anything but a fun day. While I'm happy to say we've gotten the system of getting off the boat down to a relatively quick science, it's still an intense day to begrudge! It's always burnin' hot and there are so many things that have to be done before we can pull away and make the long drive home. No one likes it.

This year things went pretty smooth until we made the mistake of climbing in our truck. Twenty minutes into the drive our truck engine went Ka-put! Yup, just after barely hitting the road the engine took on new sounds that echoed in my head worse than any horror movie. Our truck is a Ford! Translation for the day; "Found On Road Dead."

To sum up the whole story, Goose spent his birthday cleaning up a boat, getting off a boat, and if that wasn't fun enough, he then got to spend the rest of his entire super special spectacular day, sitting on the side of the road in the burning hot sun.

After hours of doing that he was then privileged with the experience of being plunked down on a chair in Stan's burger shack till nearly closing time. Did I mention after having such a fun filled day he then got to spend six hours riding home in a cramped car? Well, technically his birthday was over by then so I'm sure he didn't mind.

I took pity on him in the hamburger shop and bought him a shirt that say's "I love Stan's Burger Shack!" In honor of his delightful day! He looks especially handsome in it.

Today though I want to wish the happiest kid on the planet a very Happy Birthday. One thing I love about Goose are his happy traits. Yes, the one's that were plainly visible on that dreaded day we had one problem following another. Goose is always a happy person no matter what. Despite our contrary conditions on his birthday he never once lost his smile or his sense of humor and that's what I dearly love about this kid!

I think he's got a million of my dad's genes flowing in his veins because this boy is by far... first and foremost, always an optimist! My dad was a happy guy and so many times Kelson reminds me of him. I guess he should, after all, he bears his name, Kelson "Keith."

Kelson is a calm child and he has a calming affect on any situation that threatens to spin out of control. He's a kind soul, a peace maker, and wise beyond his years. He's got the heart of a giant! He see's the good in everyone and everything and immediately gravitates towards it and his influence leads everyone around him to do the same. He is the greatest example of living life with a deep appreciation for the spiritual. I think people sense that in him and enjoy being around it. There isn't anywhere he goes that he doesn't come home with more friends. He adopts people at random and loves them like he's known them his whole life. He's got a Mexico mom and a Walmart mom. His family grows every time he enters a new environment. He's just a simple kid that radiates down to earth pure goodness. People love him... especially me!

I love you Goose. You are a great example to your Madre and I want you to know that today! You are always an inspiration to me! Thanks for bringing so much happiness into our lives - into my life! Happy Birthday bud, I love you - We all love you!

Pick a new day, I'll take you out to celebrate for reals - you know - Crowther style! Hugs!

Isn't he cute?

Label this post August 20, 2010

Happy Birthday Caroline

Can we mark this post August 18, 2010? Please!

Wow, I'm a little behind on birthdays again. We just returned home from a really fun trip to Powell. No pictures yet. I've got a ton of updating to do on the blog and time escapes me. Non the less, while we were in Powell we celebrated not one but two birthdays.
Happy Birthday Caroline. I know your birthday was a little bit of a bummer. It's no fun to leave Lake Powell and travel home early let alone having to do it on your birthday.  But I hope you've had a chance to celebrate since then and we'll be celebrating soon as a family.

Caroline is a wonderful daughter-in-law. I tell her all the time I love her like I gave birth to her. Besides being cute, she's spunky, vivacious, and full of life. She's a happy complimentary soul and maybe that's why I never tire of being around her. One thing about Caroline that always draws me in is her ability to love genuinely.  She treats me like gold. When I'm around her I know she really loves me. I can feel it. It's always real and it's always genuine.

Well, I'm so happy she married Gavin. She not only stole his heart she stole mine to the first time I met her. I so enjoy having her in my family! She's a kindred spirit and I love her. We all do! Happy Birthday Cute girl!

Less Than One Year Left

Fremont Studentbody Officers 2010/2011

From left to right:

Brady Craft, Nicole Fisher, Aubree Scott, Des my darling daughter,

Sadie Meyer, Parker Burrows and last but not least,

The tall man in the rear, Tate Lewis

This is it! Come May of 2011 I'll be sitting in the stands at Weber State University. I'll have picked out my seat the second some WSU employee shows up to unlock the door. I'll be sitting somewhere close where I can snap a million pictures. (I'd sit on the floor in front of the procession if they'd let me.) The second I see her file under the archway into the double line procession dressed in her pretty blue cap and gown, I'll jump over the wall like a gold medalist poll vaulter, camera in hand and I'll snap enough pictures to fill up another hard drive. And when they stop to read her name . . . I'll start sobbing like a sad sap. My whole frame will heave up and down and my shoulders will shake like a man with Parkinson's, and the tears will flow steady and so hard the janitors will have to bring every mop in the building. I'll have to put my camera on automatic because I won't be able to see a darn thing for the wall of water that will be cascading down my face.

In a less than a year my little baby girl is going to graduate and I'll be all washed up as a school mom. Pasturized in a split second the minute she grabs her tassel hanging from that square blue scholarly hat of hers and flips it to the other side of her head. That's it ---that's the monumental moment I'll be finished ---done for good so to speak! There are no more to come. No more kids in the house jumping on school busses or dashing to their cars to speed through Plain City. She's it! That's all she wrote! And when the whole event is over, I'm thinking of picking out a pine box and renting a long black hurst to carry myself home in.

Call me crazy if you like, but I'd rather eat rust laden nails than see this era of my life come to an end. I just got the hang of it. I'm polished and perfected now. I know what to scream about and what to let roll off my back like a fat duck in a monsoon downpour! I feel bad, I really practiced on the first ones to come along, but then I got better, and better, and better! Now (for reals) I'm a sheer genius in the field. Someone should hand me my Doctorate in Child Rearing! I'm really, really smart now. I should go on tour and speak to millions of parents everywhere sharing my profound wisdom! I'm seasoned, wise, and extraordinarily perfected in the art. I'm surprised people aren't lining up at my door saying, "Here, take my kid." I'm not joking and I've got some serious hours under my belt. I just know people would pay me top dollar if they could buy my wisdom! Some day I'm going to write a book. I am! I swear!

Today Des came bounding out of the house all dressed in her brand new white student body officer sweater. I was just coming back from running so I didn't even have my camera to capture the moment. I had to make her come back later that day and pose for the picture featured above. She looked so cute!!! She'd put her makeup on, a thing she rarely does and she'd fixed her hair all pretty. No pony tails today! Her face was glowing with that effervescent spirit that radiates from her whole soul. She's shines the brightest light every where she goes. She was late and hurrying as usual. Senior pictures today!

I watched her climb in that clunky blue car of hers. I thought of Goose and Gavin and the days they use to drive it to school. I thought about how fast time slips by and how the best parts of life happen in a fraction of a second and take you totally by surprise. The best parts of life are rarely anything you planned on!

I stood there savoring the moment and then I watched her brown curls fade into the distance as she drove away. I turned and sat down on the bottom step. Yup, I immediately had to sit myself right down. And then I started to cry. I was so sad even the cat took pity on me. She looked up at my tear stained face and came and sat right in my lap. Then I made my bold proclamation. I said, "Sassy," and I grabbed her furry striped face and pulled it close to mine. "I wish I could go back and do it all over again." I meant it too.  I meant every single solitary word! I'd raise my kids again in a split second.  All of them ---every single one of them, are the best kids you'll ever meet! And raising them, oh my, all those years of growing them up and out, well now, I don't care what anyone says, that's the best part of life you could ever experience!

I'm so glad I'm a mother!!! And I'm even happier I chose to have 8 fantastic kids.  I got the best kids on the planet! And if I could have one wish today, I would take this year and slow it right down, freeze it if I could. I'm going to enjoy every minute of it, hold on tight to every second. Savor it with all my senses, like one of those giant jaw breakers. I'm going to take a long time licking the sweetness out of this ---My last year with a high school kid! (Sigh)

IN GOD WE STILL TRUST!

I don't like what is taking place in our country. There are rapid subtle changes taking place, changes very few people are paying attention to, changes that are leading us away from the very freedoms our founding fathers fought to instill and preserve. The other day I received an email. It's an old email that's been passed around a bit, but I really enjoyed listening to the song. The song by Diamond Rio is from a Las Vegas concert they preformed. Following the song, they received an immediate, resounding standing ovation, and continue to do so every time they perform it. Sadly, major radio stations won't play it because it is considered "politically incorrect". Consequently the song was never released to the public. Thought you ought to hear it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAN WITH A DRILL!

The last couple of days I've been putting together my 2009 Blog Book. I've been up to my neck in pictures and loving every minute of it. I've been busy editing and compiling a complete year of my life. Looking over all the images was like reliving the moments all over again, so sweet!

As I opened up the folder printed, "Thanksgiving 2009," I came across this image of Man With A Drill. I love this picture! It speaks right to my heart. I love the man in the frame, I love that he's not wearing scrubs (his normal every day, every minute attire,) and I love my man when he's in his fishing hat. When Man With A Drill puts on his fishing hat, life is good and fun is just around the corner!

Today though I want to wish my hard working hubby a very happy birthday! Man With A Drill works very hard, and I want him to know today how much I appreciate it. I want him to know today how much I love him, (even when he puts his brand new cell phone in his pocket while he wades around in the lake waist deep as he launches the boat.) He's my kind of guy, and I couldn't live without him.

Last night Man With A Drill came to the cabin. Him and Goose did a little shopping in Logan after work and then drove up to meet Des and I. We're in celebration mode now and we're going to continue celebrating clear through the weekend.

I cooked a nice dinner to surprise my hard working hubby. I don't cook as much now it's summer, so believe me, Man With A Drill was very surprised! Deserey made the awesome sign featured up above and she even made two cakes (get her to tell you all about that story.) We were few in numbers but it didn't matter, we still had a really great night. We'll hook up with the whole gang soon to celebrate all the August birthdays, since there's a gazillion, but for now this little party made for a nice evening.

When Man With A Drill comes to the cabin he always travels to his favorite spot, out on the deck, in his comfy lounge chair. He loves to read and since he doesn't get much time to relax, this has become his sanctuary!

Happy birthday honey! I hope you have a really great day. Thanks for all you do! Thanks for all the time you spend working so hard for your family. I know sometimes it must feel like it goes unnoticed, but it doesn't. You have always provided a wonderful life for us. You have always worked so hard to give us a nice life! We love you!!! And we appreciate you!!! You are the best guy ever!

The Great Bug Hunter

The Hunted

The Hunter

Corbin has taken up bug collecting. You should see all the bugs in his box! Every time I drop in for a visit he shows me some new specimen he's carefully pinned. It's cute to see his expression and hear him tell me about his wild hunts and how he caught what ever menacing creature he's pointing at. Just looking at all those creepy little crawly things gives me the willies. He's clearly all boy through and through, because he loves it and it doesn't bother him in the least bit!

Yesterday I was sitting at my computer in the cabin working on some pictures for people. I was politely minding my own business when suddenly a giant black thing flew at me and nearly hit me in the head. I think I screamed before I jumped for the fly swatter. After locating the mammoth winged insect crawling on my window, I gave him a good smack. Luckily I only stunned him because as he dropped near my feet I realized that the ugly black giant was a Great Black Wasp. Yes! Providence! Right there at my feet I realized I had nearly killed a Sphex pensylvaicus!

I quickly went into grandma-mode, ohhhh-ing and aw-ing. I was so proud of myself. I was about to capture an awesome great winged insect for Corbin's collection. What an addition this will make I thought as I ran for a small bottle to haul the creature home in. In all the excitement however I forgot a small detail, I forgot he wasn't quite dead yet.

It was about this time that Darth Vader decided to wake up from his stunned coma and fight for his life. He seriously looked like Darth Vader helmet and all. Even the raspy breathing thing could be heard as he started buzzing at me in a frenzy threatening to sting me at every turn.

That was when Deserey came into the room and started screaming. She was yelling at me, "Mom, he's not dead." He was dive bombing my head and I wondered for a split second what on earth would posses her to think I had no knowledge of this simple fact. Did she think I was swatting wildly at the air for no reason at all? I was totally annoyed at her implication of stupidity in me. "I know that Deserey," I yelled.

"Well, kill him mom," she bolted.

"I'm trying Deserey," I hollered! It was about then that I knocked him to the floor again. Deserey danced wildly as I kept trying to shove him into the bottle.  He was spinning and buzzing and threatening to get loose at every poke. Sadly, now the poor creature is lying dead on a cotton ball. What a way to go!

The Great Black Wasp is also known as the katydid killer. It digs a burrow and places one egg in it. Along with the egg, it places a katydid or grasshopper (some large insect) in the hole. This gives the new born insect something to feed on when it hatches. SICK!

I learned an interesting thing about wasps. Wasps fly with their feet trailing below them. Bees and Hornets fly with their feet tucked up against their bodies. Also no other wasps in Northern America are as large as the Great Black Wasp. Despite the name and the size, the Great Black Wasp has a docile disposition, they really don't like to bother with people. It's only when you knock them out of a cabin window and swing at them wildly with a fly swatter that they get aggressive.

Happy Birthday To The Bug!

I stole this picture from Kyle. He is the composer and the photographer of this beautiful picture. And he captured my beautiful little daughter so nicely, I think he should pick up the camera more often, don't you? Kaedell has grown into such a beautiful young lady, a beautiful person in every way, and I'm so thankful she is beautifully mine!
As I looked through a million photos I have on my hard drive, trying to find a nice picture of my sweet daughter, I discovered my daughters always have a child in their arms. Every photo, always a cute little face in the arms of their mother. I'm going to have to re-think my picture taking!

As I looked for a picture of her all by her lonesome, I didn't have much luck finding one. I did however, soon stumble onto this photo of Eden and Kadie and I had to smile when I saw it. Looking at this picture takes me back in time. Eden is a clone of her mother.
Yesterday I asked Kaedell how old she was going to be today. I could have figured it out all by my little old self, but it was much faster to simply ask her instead of trying to remember; it was much easier than counting in my head. Can I tell you, 31 years have trailed by in the blink of a an eye. And I'm down right sad they're gone! That's another reason I loved this picture. It reminds me of all the years I enjoyed raising my daughter. Yes, 31 years of pure enjoyment.
Kaedell was a piece of cake to raise. Sometimes I think in all reality she raised me! She grew me up into a good mother. It's terrible we have to practice on our kids. I have so many good memories of her growing years. Even the time she gave me a black eye, I deserved it and it taught me a good lesson. I can see my beautiful daughter in a million different memories. They live in my mind and my heart and they are sweet and rich with meaning.
Today though I hope she has a wonderful day. I could go on and on for hours about all her abilities and talents, all the good things she does each and every day. She is so vibrant and alive with strength and capacities in a million different areas. There isn't anything she can't do. She's a talented little girl!
I feel so lucky I get to be her mother, because it's a privilege! And I have to say, I'm so thankful she lives close by. My Heavenly Father knew I needed some kids to be close by. I wish all my kids lived closer. Remember I'm the mother who hates it when my children leave home! I'm also thankful today she's my best friend. I'm thankful she will jump in and do most anything with me.
So Happy Birthday BUG! We all love you! I love you! Have a wonderful day!