Memories of Yesteryear

It's my mom's birthday tomorrow and my sisters and I decided to put together a slide show, featuring family pictures. My mom is currently in Georgia taking care of some property there and is kind of far from my Dad (in California) and the rest of us spread throughout the USA (i.e. Virginia, Florida, Utah and Texas) We thought she would enjoy some memories of us. My sister sent me some long forgotten pictures from our childhood

My parents engagement picture. It was taken in my grandparents side yard. I used to play in those trees. Every Easter my grandma Larsen would get all the grandkids chocolate or sugar eggs with their names on it and they usually ended up among these trees

One of the wedding pictures. That is so typical of my dad. He's always been a silly one. I think one of the most common phrases in our house is/was "Oh Dad, you're so silly."

My older brother David, probably about 18 months or so, outside my Grandparent Durtschi's house in Ogden Utah.

This looks like Christmas, and based on the furniture, I think we're at my grandparent Larsen's house. From Left to right in the back it's Elisabeth (my sister just a year older then me), David (the same cute boy in the picture above, but a few years older) Me ( I would have been about 2 1/2) In front is my little sister Becky (I say little, but most of her life she's been taller then me)

I think my mom or dad took this picture because this is the state they liked us in best...little kids are so cute...especially when they're sleeping. See those big white teddy bears in the background. Elisabeth and I got those for Christmas one year, they still have their hats and look fairly new and the red pajamas I have on were from the same Christmas so there is a very good chance that this was Christmas night the year we got those bears. Those bears were very well loved. I used mine as a pillow for years, until it started really falling apart when I was in high school.

Another sleeping picture. I spent many a happy hour in my mommy's lap being rocked. And as my sister Elisabeth mentioned in one of her posts, even when we were too old to be rocked we would still try to climb in her lap for some hugs and once the rocking chair was too small we would climb into my parents bed. I'm not sure who my mom is rocking in this picture, but my guess is that it's Becky and here's why....my mom is pregnant, but the child is too old to be me when she was expecting my sister Becky and too young to be me when she was expecting Sarah. Also if you look closely at the fingers you can see a little finger sticking out on the side of the child's face and sure sign of Becky who loved to suck on her middle two fingers. I could be wrong...

The Famous Carmel Popcorn and my grandma Larsen. The little kid sitting on the counter sharing the popcorn with my grandma, is my sister Sarah. You can see Elisabeth behind my grandma and my brother David with his back you and my profile next to my brother.

Here we are, several years older and at my grandma Maren's house. She's my great-grandpa Durtschi's wife. She lived in Midway Utah and I loved going to visit her. She had a player piano that we would spend hours playing. It was so much fun. Our two favorite songs were the bumble bee song and Unchanged Melody. I received that conductor hat that year and I loved it. I wore it as often as I was allowed, until my head got too big (yeah, yeah I have a big head...don't rub it in)

One of my favorite Halloweens. My brother David found this huge pumpkin and carved out the bottom and gutted it and placed it one his head as a costume. It reminded me a lot of the headless horseman in the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

One of the oldest family pictures we have. Aren't we cute!? Doesn't Katelyn look a lot like her mom when she was her age?

Katelyn: age 3

My how we have grown! Family picture from 2 years ago.

Thank you for taking this walk with me down memory lane!

Cherry Blossoms!

It's that time of year again. SPRING! I love this time of year when everything is coming back to life. I love flowers and bird singing and I even don't mind the rain. Last year I didn't make it up to see the Cherry Blossoms during the day, so this year we planned on Sunday between conference sessions...the weather was a little wanting, but it was an impressive sight anyway. There were tons of people and I'm glad Brian was driving...Thanks Brian!

Here are just a few pictures to share. :)

Jessica's camera has some great pictures...someday I'll get them from her.

The 80's -- Big Hair, Layered Socks and the best Cartoons

So I thought I knew my 80's cartoons, but apparently I don't. Try your luck...

80's Cartoon Quiz You scored 6 out of 10 Take the 80's Cartoon Quiz Quiz at Quizopolis.com

Annapolis Adventure

So Cat, Mel and I got into our heads to go to Annapolis. I mean really...it's the state capitol of Maryland, why not spend the hour in the car to go see it....unless you get lost and then it's about 3 hours, but never fear we did make it eventually.

The Capitol Building.



One thing that surprised me was the number of bricks used. I'm so used to seeing new state capitols, such as Utah, California, Oklahoma, which are made out of or at least covered with granite.
My new Friend

Crab hats...come on, admit it, you would have tried them on too!

Mel took a picture too, but she wouldn't give me a copy, but don't worry, I'm sure there will be just as equally embarrassing/blackmail type pictures in the future I can post.

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One of the objectives of going to Annapolis was to visit the Naval Academy, however due to a lack of government issued IDs we weren't able to go, but we walked by and stared through the fence.

Another disappointment was the fact that the public harbour was under construction. This was the closest we got.

Seeing that we didn't get to most of the things we wanted to do in Annapolis, a return visit is already in the planning stages. Probably once it warms up a little more.

New Years 2008

Happy New Years! I can't believe it's 2008. Time flies. W e decided to forego any big dances or parties and headed over to Reed and Brian's apartment for New Year's Eve Olympics.

My Cat, Mel and I dressed up for the occation. Cat lent me her beautiful green dress. We were a little over dressed for the occation, but we had a wonderful time.

Reed planned several 'Olympic' events. Everything from Apples to Apples to Donuts on a string. Each winner recieve a 'gold' (aka Reeese Pieces Cup), 'silver' (aka a hershey's kiss) or 'bronze' (aka a rolo) metel according to their rank. I won the silver in the water panting event. Cat won a metal in the donut eating conset and Mel something in the random questions of 2007 event.



"We're bored and waiting for everyone else to arrive"

That's the problem with arriving on time...


Art contest: We all water panted our favorite vacation and then the judges decided who won.







Donuts on a String
I'm practicing. Look how big my mouth is :P
Do you think it will fit?

On your mark...get set...
Go...

Apples to Apples contest



We watched the ball drop in Times Squar And toasted the New Year with Martenelli's

Welcome to 2008!

Sunset from a Plane

On my way home from Utah my flight left later in the afternoon so by the time I left Chicago after my layover the sun was setting. It was amazing to see. I took a few pictures (as did the gentleman in front of me) It doesn't do it justice, but you get the idea.

Before and After

So I've wanted to donate my hair for a really long time, but my hair grows so slow it took me a while to get it long enough that I was willing to cut it, however this Christmas I decided it was long enough. On Dec 27th, while I was home for Christmas, I donated it. And here...here are the before and After pictures. I didn't like the cut at first...she did it completely different from what I said and the picture I showed her, but the cut's gown on me and I like it better.

See, not too bad. I should find the picture I showed the lady who cut my hair...I still think I want to try that cut, but I will have to let my hair grow out again first.