Going Back to the Past

With the imminent arrival of the next generation, I've been thinking a lot about documenting stories about our family, and decided to do part of that on this blog. Every week I'm going to post one or two of the old photos that I have on my computer and talk about what I remember about it. I welcome input from anyone else who remembers when the photo was taken and what was going on at the time. (It's REALLY EASY to comment here, and I know there are many family members reading who probably can add to my stories, so I hope to hear from you!)

Since today is Dad's birthday (he would be 69!) my first photo memory will be from his file... (click on photo to enlarge)

This is from the early 1950's. From left to right we have Aunt Jan, Uncle Eugene, Dad, and Uncle Wendell. Notice their clothes and boots behind the tank on what looks like rolls of fencing by the windmill.

I do not know the story behind this specific photo, but I chose it because I have a personal memory of swimming in the horse tank at Grandma's house.

I am the eldest grandchild on the side of the family, and the only one who remembers "the farm". They moved to town when I was five, so it must've been the summer I turned 4 that I remember spending several days on the farm with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma was busy all day with household and garden chores, and I remember her letting me play in the horse tank while she worked outside. After we went inside, Grandma had me take a bath, and the best part was that I got to keep my swimsuit on! :o) (My poor mom, I asked for weeks to bathe with my swimsuit on after that.)

Well, after spending time in the horse tank, then time in the tub, my little hands were wrinkled beyond recognition. Grandma was ironing clothes and when I noticed my hands and showed them to her, she offered to iron them for me to smooth them out. Of course I declined, and she assured me that my hands would eventually return to normal without the ironing.

I also remember helping Grandma set the table for supper, and she told me about how, during the Dust Bowl years, she had to set the plates and cups upside down so they didn't get too dirty to eat off of before the food got to the table.

Okay, Jan and Wendell (and Eugene if you still look at my blog), I'd love to hear the story behind this photo. Any details and memories you can add are appreciated!

Hey There!

I've had complaints that I'm not blogging enough, and I know the reading has been slim the past few months. We've been busy getting ready for Jessica to have her baby, and the garden did really well (I dreamed about canning tomatoes last night - does that tell you about my weekend?), and I've had the privilege of having nieces and nephews here now and again over the summer, but just haven't made the time to tell you much about any of it.

I really want to show you how Jess is setting up the baby corner of her room, but she wants me to wait until we've finished personalizing it, and we can't do that until Baby is here since we don't know if we're getting a he or a she.

I do have a few photos from her baby shower which was held a little over a week ago. Family and friends gathered to wish her well, and she had a wonderful time.

Grace and Taylor were such good helpers with the gifts. Taylor wanted every toy and rattle, saying "This is Tay Rae's". She was in charge of bringing me the trash, and being two years old, wanted to throw everything away. We brought the trash bag home and salvaged quite a lot of tissue paper and a few bows, but nothing major. In this photo, Hannah is decorating Grace's, er, behind while Taylor wonders why that bow wasn't thrown in the garbage bag. :o)

Everyone was very generous, and Jessi had such fun sorting through all of the sweet gifts the next day. Everything is washed now and ready to be put away until they're needed.
Doesn't she look cute? She won't let me post "belly" pictures, but she's looking wonderful. Remember to go fill out an entry for the baby pool. Just click on the red button on the top left column of this blog. It's easy and free, and you just may win the prize!

In My Life...

'Twas a long day of work, housework, then Jessi's dr. appointment in Lincoln, so tonight we're just watching "Biggest Loser" and I'm cruising blogs. I found this little quiz thing here and decided it would be fun.

The instructions are to copy and paste the list to your blog, highlight the things that you have done in your life and then link back to me so I can see your list!

1. Started your own blog
Three years, 11 months ago I started my first blog, Play For A Moment. On March 17, 2007 I wanted to share what we're cooking, so I started Living Dangerously While Eating. I've also contributed to a few other blogs.

2. Slept under the stars
Yeah, but not for years.

3. Played in a band
Just once, in elementary school. Had no clue what I was doing...

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower
I used to get the kids out of bed in the middle of the night and drive to the country to watch the Perseid meteor shower in August. The last time was five years ago when Jess and I took her convertible out and parked it in a cow pasture.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity
Yeah, but apparently I could afford it since our standard of living didn't change because of it.

7. Been to Disneyland/Disneyworld
Disneyworld with Jess and the Benedict High School Band. I'd like for Nick and Greg to be able to see it, too.

8. Climbed a mountain
I love the Rockie Mountains!

9. Held a praying mantis
only to move it

10. Sang a solo
Not on purpose...

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
counted cross-stitch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning
After eating at a Mexican restaraunt - both Greg and I got sick.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables
Oh yes.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight
many times

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
I wasn't ill, but one of my children was. I've truly never called in sick when I wasn't.

24. Built a snow fort
Back in the olden days when we got lots of snow all winter long

25. Held a lamb
Petting zoos are great for this

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse
In elementary school

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
I see the sunrise just about every single day.

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise
Once to Alaska, once to Mexico

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community
South of Amana in Iowa, and kinda sorta in Virginia

36. Taught yourself a new language
not enough to be conversational, but I did teach myself quite a bit of Spanish when I worked at Head Start
Took German in High School since Grandma and Grandpa Regier spoke it often.

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
Money doesn't make for happiness, so no matter what our bank account says, as long as I have my family I'm satisfied.

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance
Followed the ambulance transporting my son...

47. Had your portrait painted
pen and ink sketch drawn...

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain
:o)

53. Played in the mud
mud pies, mud cakes, mud goodies all around

54. Gone to a drive-in theater
I remember my parents loading up all five of us in our pajamas, blankets, pillows, and a grocery bag full of popcorn. Oh, and my first date was to the drive-in...

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business
home day care

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
I was an enthusiastic cookie salesgirl for many years!

62. Gone whale watching
near Juneau, Alaska - there were four whales all together and it was amazing!

63. Gotten flowers for no reason
gotta love those dandelions!

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
Tried once - they finally got the needle in a vein, then took it out immediately. Ugh.

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
I don't think I ever could...

67. Bounced a check
way back in college when my mailed deposit arrived at the bank after my check...

68. Flown in a helicopter
from Skagway, Alaska to Denver Glacier and back. I hated it at first, but then decided it was really pretty cool!

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
a baby doll that my mom named Stacy - don't know where she is now

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
Three times so far. One of my favorite places in D.C.

71. Eaten Caviar
Never thought I would, but it is SO GOOD!

72. Pieced a quilt
does a comforter or several count?

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
Driving it myself, thankyouverymuch! :o)

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book
Been published in a book, but I didn't write the entire thing.

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car
Yes, and it hit 100,000 miles today.

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper
It's York - everyone has their photo in the paper at one time or another...

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House
stood outside the fence and ogled it

87. Nursed an animal back to health

88. Had chickenpox
Had everything - chickenpox, mumps, measles

89. Saved someone’s life
called 911 for my brother - don't want to ever have to do that again.

90. Sat on a jury
had to go through the selection process, but never got called

91. Met someone famous
Tom Osborne - he came into Village Inn when I worked there in High School. He is too famous!

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one
too many...

94. Had a baby
A couple of times. :o)

95. Seen the Alamo in person
It was a little overwhelming to stand there and know that so many people died...

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
I've seen it from an airplane...

97. Been involved in a law suit
only from a distance

98. Owned a cell phone
own it but hardly ever have it on

99. Been stung by a bee
You can read about it here.

Take a Guess!

Jess has just under a month until her due date, so I thought it would be fun to have a Baby Pool. If you want to take a shot at guessing stats, click on the button at the top left of my blog that looks like this one. You will go to the baby pool site where you can easily enter your predictions about baby's sex, birthdate, weight, etc.

I will have a yet-to-be-determined prize for the person who comes closest.

Here are a few facts that may or may not help you:
a. We do not know the sex of the baby.
b. Heart rate is consistently between 140-152.
c. She's carrying high.
d. She's measuring farther along that she is now, so the dr. thinks it will be a large-ish baby.
e. Her original due date from the calendar is October 4.
d. Her due date from ultrasound is October 2.

According to the dr., since it's her first baby, they don't want to induce labor. Even if you don't join in the pool, we'd appreciate your prayers for a safe and healthy delivery (and as close to the due date as possible - she will not entertain the idea that she could go overdue!). :o)

Reading time!

Wyatt has been sick for a couple of days and missed school on Friday. When they came up to watch the football game last night (GO BIG RED!), Leslie brought his homework along. He was tired and didn't feel great, but was kind enough to allow me to record him reading aloud for a minute. (Well, I told him it was for Aunt Tonita!) :o)