Vampires?

Are Vampires Real?

Check out these famous vampires:

(Can you name them all?)

All right, you caught me. Vampires aren't real. The last one isn't even very famous. He's my dad. He may not be a vampire, but he sure does get blood frequently. And he says he feels much better once he's had some. He's been going through quite a bit of blood lately. (His own blood is not doing the job, you see.) It's worrisome but . . .

. . . at least he's not a scary vampire. :) Here's to good health Dad!!

Just a Boring "Run of the Mill" Update

I don't have any fancy schmancy photos to add . . . at the moment . . . but here's what we've been up to (in a nutshell).

Anna will be getting braces soon! Spacers go in on Aug. 27th and braces on Sept. 3rd.

Daila is going to a formal pre-school and doing well. We all started school on Aug. 13th.

I am teacing 4th grade for a few months while the teacher is on maternity leave.

We went to the Magic House on Aug. 12th as a family. It was Ben's first time. We all had a blast and I'm glad we could do it together. The girls earned free tickets for that night through the St. Louis County Library summer reading club. (I also have read a ton of fabulous books over the summer. It's been fun.)

We have spent a couple of weekends down in Sullivan to spend time with the family; especially my sister Paula and 4 of her kids (who live in California but drove out for a visit).

Ben surprised me with a weekend alone together. He arranged babysitting for the girls at Grandma Hamblin's house and we drove to Branson. We raced Go Carts, waited in traffic, went shopping at flea markets, watched some hilarious girls practicing on their mopeds they had just rented, waited in traffic, shopped at the outlet stores, waited in traffic, soaked in redneck crafts (like a whole line of jewelry made out of Confederate flag beads), watched Harry Potter, ate at Olive Garden for free (funny story), and stayed at the same hotel we originally stayed in on our first trip to Branson as newlyweds 10 years ago. All in all it was a very relaxing and enjoyable trip. We were so laid back and easy-going the whole time. No deadlines, no responsibilities. We didn't even mind the traffic. :) We just kicked back and enjoyed each other's company. Oh and the new Branson Landing is beautiful. That was a fun walk. I think I can post a picture of the awsome fountain there.

Well that's about it. We've been incredibly busy and away from home a lot. So I've got to get off this computer and clean up the house. But we've managed to squeeze in all sorts of fun things all summer long. But . . . guess it's back to work now. ;-)

"She Bought Me Because of My Beautiful Legs"

Thanks to my awesome sistah Paula for posting this story on her Facebook profile. I hope she doesn't mind me stealing it, but there's nothing like hearing a story from the source. I knew this story but never thought to write it in "interview format" like most stories are told. Paula is brilliant! :)

Well I hope you all enjoy this story told by my dad to my oldest sister describing some of the events around how my mom and dad first met and fell in love.

"She Bought Me Because Of My Beautiful Legs”

Paula: So, Dad, I don’t remember how you and Mom first met. How old were you?

Ted: Well, I was born in ’37 and got married in June of ’63, but I didn’t hit my birthday yet in ’63 cuz I have a late birthday in December. So how old was I?

Paula: I don’t know, I’ll have to count on my fingers and toes. Um …. I think that would’ve made you about 25 and turning 26.

Ted: Yeah, I think you’re right. And mom is four years younger than I am.

Paula: So when did you two first see each other? Was it at church? School?

Ted: Yeah, it was at church. She bought me because of my beautiful legs. You remember that story…

Paula: No, I don’t remember! (laughter)

Ted: You don’t? Well, we were trying to raise money for something so they had a slave auction. You remember those blackboards on wheels? That would come down to a level just about to the middle of your thigh? We had to stand there with all of our legs bare, and the girls would bid on us. We’d hear, “I want THAT one, with THOSE legs.” Then we’d have to be their slave for a week and do anything they wanted. Take them shopping, whatever … and mom bought ME … because of my beautiful legs. She didn’t know whose face went with the legs! (laughter)

Paula: That’s awesome! I think I vaguely recall this story, but not that well. It’s been a long time.

Ted: Well, I DO have awesome legs. I mean, gee, you oughta see ‘em!

Paula: Mmmmm….?

Ted: (loud laughter)

Paula: Maybe that’s where Locey got his. He runs very fast and has pretty nice legs. Very muscular.

Ted: Oh, yeah, mine are muscular.

Paula: Uh huh! And the rest is history, huh?

Ted: Yeah, the biggest thing was that I had a car. It was an old clunker, but it ran. She always wanted me to take her shopping so she wouldn’t have to carry the groceries back. She was waiting for a missionary, so she wouldn’t date me or anything. But I would take her all over the place and be her slave.

Paula: Even after your week was up?

Ted: Yeah! Well, we had a good relationship which was helpful. I’d tell her I would do something for her, that I didn’t mind taking her places, whether it was to her botany class or just, wherever.

Paula: So, when did you two start dating?

Ted: She wouldn’t date me … so I started dating her roommates! (chuckles) One time I was sitting outside her apartment with one of the girls she roomed with, we were sitting in my car, when LaWana came walking down the sidewalk. I said, “Oh, look ~ there’s LaWana.” Well, this girl had really long hair, so when she turned her head to look, her hair flew around in front of my face. I had been chewing gum at the time, so when she flung her hair around, some of it ended up in my mouth, just as I was chomping down. When I opened my mouth, my gum was gone. It had ended up in this girl’s hair! So when LaWana walked by my car and glanced inside, she saw our two heads bent down, close together. She didn’t know we were trying to get gum out of her roommate’s hair. It looked a little more intimate than that. (Dad keeps chuckling throughout the telling of this story!)

Paula: I seem to remember you telling her that the Lord would provide for her missionary, and that she shouldn’t worry about him because the Lord would provide him with a woman.

Ted: (laughter) Yeah, I remember when she – (LaWana enters the room)

LaWana: What are you two talking about?

Paula: You.

Ted: We were talking about you, and how you bought me because of my beautiful legs.

LaWana: Yes. That was a good purchase, wasn’t it? I have a good eye!

(My mother then came up behind my father, who was sitting at the dining room table, and gave him a hug around his shoulders. He reached up and held her arms while she bent her head in towards him. It was a beautiful moment.)

[Thanks again, Paula. We will all be anxiously waiting for the next installment of your recorded stories with Dad. :)]

Six Flags: Girls' Day Part Two

A Day at Six Flags

The 5 year old boy I am watching for the summer is spending the day with his friend, so the girls and I decided today would be the perfect day to use their free Six Flags tickets. The weather is still supposed to be nice and we had so much fun kicking off our summer with our girls' day in Nauvoo, that we figured we'd do the same thing today at Six Flags. (We actually went with our good friend April and two of her sons, but we still consider it a "girl day summer kick-off" activity.)

Here are a couple of highlights:

1. The view from the top of the giant ferris wheel.

2. Daila and Brody were so cute. Daila wouldn't let go of Brody's hand (or Anna's) until the ride came to a complete stop.

3. Six Flags has a great playground and lots of smaller "roller coasters" but I had a hard time getting any good photos with that kind of action.

4. Daila with her Super Girl cape she "won" at a squirt gun booth.

5. Super Daila and Brody to the rescue on their trusty steeds!!! Daila and Brody rode the carousel a few times while Anna and Jane rode the Log Flume a few times. Daila really enjoyed the Log Flume, but by the end of the day she was losing interest in thrills.

6. Riding the train around the park.

Summer Kick-Off in Old Nauvoo

I was called to teach a Pre-K class for summer school this year. It was such a blessing. I had lost 2 of my babysitting clients and the call came at just the right time. I had a lot of fun and it reminded me of how much I liked teaching the "little guys". July 17th was our last day and we (the girls and I) are soooo excited to have a few weeks of summer to ourselves.

Last Monday we decided that we needed something to look forward to, so we planned a girls summer trip to Nauvoo. I had a Young Women Presidency meeting for church at my house Friday night so we decided to leave early (6 am) Saturday morning and go to Nauvoo, Illinois. We got home around 2 am Sunday morning. It was a blast! Here are some photos of our adventures:

No one fell back to sleep like I had expected so we had to make more stops and it didn't take long for them to decide they were so hungry their tummys were hurting. So we laid out a blanket and had a picnic breakfast. The weather was beautiful! Not humid at all and the high was in the mid 70's. So with the cool wind, the girls were chilly all day long.

We went to Carthage first and took some photos while waiting for the tour groups ahead of us. (Pageant season is always a busy time for Nauvoo.) This is a statue of Joseph and his brother Hyrum. Anna and Janae were very interested in the stories of Nauvoo. I told them how Joseph wasn't the only person who died here; his brother was shot while trying to protect his little brother by holding the door against the mob. Would you do that for your sister?

They had lots to think about. They made a mental list of questions and I told them to listen during the tour to find the answer to two specific questions: Why did the mob come after them? and Why weren't they in the cell? This is the well where Joseph's body landed after falling from the second story window above. Ah ha! Now I've got them where I want them and it's just where they belong! (I had to reassure Daila that it wouldn't "lock her up" for real.) This is the debtor's cell where Joseph and his companions spent the first night.A "window" from the dungeon cell (which is actually on the second floor). The walls are 3 feet thick! This is where Joseph was first put. It gets very hot in there and the jailer, sensing that Joseph was not a hardened criminal, he moved them to the debtor's cell on the first floor.The infamous bullet holes. This is the original door the mob shot through to attack Joseph, Hyrum, Willard Richards and John Taylor. The hole Janae is pointing to is the one that probably killed Hyrum. There is another hole above the door knob where they thought the lock was and then the hole Anna and Daila are pointing to is where the lock really was.More picnics. We stopped for lunch at a picnic site along the Mississppi River after leaving Carthage.The river was gorgeous. I was really enjoying the scenery, the unusually cool wind, and the peace and quiet . . . but the girls went to the warm car as soon as they finished eating. *sigh* Guess it's time to hit the road again. ;) We made it to Nauvoo! (Don't ya just love how her sisters posed Daila?)
Waiting for the wagon ride. We all loved the wagon ride. It was one of our favorites of the day. Daila loved the horses (Tom and Jerry), Anna and Janae loved the narration which was full of interesting facts, and I loved seeing all the sites without getting in and out of car seats or strollers. Anna and Janae all cozied up on the wagon. (I think I might have to go again at Christmas. I went to Nauvoo once in December and there was such a peaceful spirit there. And the old fashioned decorations are charming.)

Now please sit back and enjoy your virtual wagon tour of Old Nauvoo.

Can you imagine putting all your possessions into this wagon?!

The midwife's cabin must not have been enough to hold Daila's interest. ;)

Two of Joseph's residences. The Mansion House is on the left.

The house my great great great grandfather built (which was sold to Lucy Mack Smith when the Saints went west.)

After touring many houses, we were all ready for a break. Do you realize how hard it is to keep a 3 year old on the "right" side of the rope and her greasy hands off of historical artifacts? I'm glad I thought to stock up on Airheads, Daila's vice. :)

So a little dinner and a sensory break at the park and we were ready for the pageant!

Learning the Scottish Highland Fling during the pre-show festivities, demonstrations, games, and crafts (including take-home sock puppets and puppet show).

They "build" the temple on the left throughout the course of the show. The temple on the right is the real deal in the background.

The Nauvoo Pageant was truly inspiring for me.

My beauties. I'm so glad we were able to experience the spirit of Nauvoo together. Stay tuned for more summer adventures. :)