11.10.2008





Here's the collection of our Halloween photos: The Hippies (make love, not war!), the Sumo with his best friend Jeff, the unfinished witch (Sydney refused to even wear a headband, let alone any make up or colored hairspray that day), and our Ironman with his two friends.

10.21.2008

An awesome poem from Jen Nielsen

F A M I L Y 

I ran into a stranger as he passed by, 
'Oh excuse me please' was my reply.  
He said, 'Please excuse me too; ! 
I wasn't watching for you.'  
We were very polite, this stranger and I. 
We went on our way and we said goodbye. 
But at home a different story is told, 
How we treat our loved ones, young and old. 

Later that day, cooking the evening meal, 
My son stood beside me very still.  
When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.  
'Move out of the way,' I said with a frown. 
He walked away, his little heart broken. 
I d! idn't re alize how harshly I'd spoken. 


While I lay awake in bed, 
God's still small voice came to me and said, 
'While dealing with a stranger, 
common courtesy you use, 
but the family you love, you seem to abuse. 
Go and look on the kitchen floor, 
You'll find some flowers there by the door ! 
Those are the flowers he brought for you. 
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue. 
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise, 
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes.' 


By this time, I felt very small, 
And now my tears began to fall.  
I quietly went and knelt by his bed; 
'Wake up, little one, wake up,' I said. 
'Are these the flowers you picked for me?'  
He smiled, 'I found 'em, out by the tree. ! 
I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.  
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue.' 


I said, 'Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;  
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way.' 
He said, 'Oh, Mom, that's okay. 
I love you anyway.' 
I said, 'Son, I love you too,  
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue.'  


FAMILY 

Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company 
that we are working for could easily replace us in 
a matter of days. 
But the family we left behind will feel the loss 
for the rest of their lives. 


And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more 
into work than into our own family, 
an unwise investment indeed, 
don't you think? 
So what is behind the story?

10.20.2008

A Halloween Dinner party




Travis and I were invited to a reading of Tyler and Brenda's latest plays: Hallowevil. We had refreshments, some 'homemade' bubbly and some fine company. It was a nice change from our usual dates of dinner, movie, whatever. I felt a little out of place, being the only hippie amongst the witches and such.

10.13.2008

The kids' pumpkin winners



Every fall, our local Albertson's and the Lehi parks & trails committee puts on a pumpkin contest to local would-be farmers. Usually the winners of the heaviest, biggest, prettiest pumpkins are entrants with huge, 300 pound gourds. And, there were over 50 entered last year. This year, there were only 17 and our three kids all won a prize! Sydney won the heaviest, 106 pounds, Jacek won the third heaviest, 95 pounds, and Stockton won 1st place prettiest. The kids came in to see me at work on Saturday flashing their certificates and crisp $100, $50 and $40! We all helped with the garden, and the kids helped water and weed them throughout the summer. Jacek's best friend and his sister also won some awards and money. I was told that half of the entrants were kids from our neighborhood. I have a feeling there will be many more next year (we have to brag a little!)

Big 5 Stockton!



Betcha can't tell what Stockton's favorite gift was?