Memories

I've seen this on so many blogs lately, it must be traveling like wildfire in the blogosphere. Seriously, none of the people I saw it on don't even know each other. But I thought it would be a perfect post to schedule on the week I'll be out of town. Hopefully you haven't done it ten times already. Here are the rules:

1. As you comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember.

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Of course, some of my commenters don't know me in real life....so surprise me. Or don't comment, which is what I'd probably do.
Thanks guys!

Ode to My Missing Pink Pencil

You weren't my favorite color
(That designation went to blue)
But when it came to faces
I really needed you

To render subtle skin tones
On children's faces fair
without your gentle influence
That glow just wasn't there

Orange, red and warmest brown
Suggested sunny days
But without a breath of softer pink
Youth's blush was lost in a haze

Of harsher hues
And shades too bright
-Peach is much too orange
Magenta just not right-

I suppose I'll have to settle
For a gaudy substitute
until a later day
when I can buy a replacement for you.

Companionable Silence

No, I'm not an idiot. I know a kid Joshua's age can choke on a sucker. But he actually found one of hers after Halloween and had it half gone before we saw him! He eats them better than she does....and she didn't even like them until she saw that he enjoyed them so much. This was candy from the Fourth of July.

Vacation: a forgotten detail

So, I forgot the most important detail for my post about vacations and reunions: the drawing I did inside the car on the way there (circa 2001):



Not too bad, considering how hard it is to draw in a car. With pen. Obviously thats me in the bottom center (wow, I still wear those sandals), my youngest brother to my left, Thain to my right. There's Jimmy with his rebel hair up on the left, with Kiera to his right. Did anyone else have one of these gargantuan vans?

We didn't start buying big roomy vans until we were older.
Before that, we had no less than three VW vans (that all malfunctioned spectacularly)


and a classic station wagon. Wow, vacation in that vehicle was no fun at all. My parents tried to put two of us in the back sideways-facing seats, with all of the luggage piled between us and the rest of the vehicle's occupants. I was certain we were going to suffocate to death, especially because the air conditioner couldn't reach us. (Not that we usually had air conditioning on vacation).

When we mentioned it to my mother at one stop, she got all angry and offended, then in her best martyr manner, she sat back there in isolation and let all of us sit up front. It wasn't until the trip home that we decided to squeeze all five kids on the main seat, with mother restored to her bucket seat next to dad. It was squishy, but it sure beat the back chamber of suffocation!

Breakdowns: another wonderful facet of childhood vacations. Maybe this is the reason I'm scared to drive on the freeway by myself: almost every single family vacation included a breakdown in the most inhospitable of conditions. We were often driving through the Nevada desert on route 93 in the hot blazing sun, when we'd have a blow-out, or the engine would overheat.

(yes, this is actually that road!)

Inevitably, we didn't have the right tools to fix the problem, and we'd have to sit and wait for a benevolent stranger to help us out.

The one incident that takes the cake was when we bought a new van just a week or so before our trip, and it completely died in Oregon. We had to buy a new van on our vacation! Luckily, we were in the unusual circumstance of having extra money available, or we would have had to take our new van and head straight home.

Incidentally...we've had our first three cars (since marriage) break down in the middle of the road at least five times so far, on busy I-5, and I-15.


My driving fears are well founded, I say! Of course, two of those times were the tire incidents in March, but still.

Anyway, I've talked enough about this. What memories do you have of traveling by car on vacation?

My statcounter

So many people do posts about their statcounter, I can't resist joining the discussion.
I used to have one of those maps on my blog, the kind that show where commenters came from. But I quickly realized it was pretty inaccurate so I got 'Statcounter'...you can see the widget for it in my side bar. Other people have google analytics, which I'm sure is pretty similar.
What have I found out from this useful tool?

• I get four to fifty-five hits a day. But when you go into the page where it breaks it down, you can see that some peoples' computers continually reload the page, and it counts each reload as a separate hit...so its not really that many people coming around. Plus, certain people recheck it five times a day.
• Wednesdays are the busiest day, and Sundays the slowest. I figure its because the majority of my readers are church-goin' folk, and they probably are busy on Sundays..and bored on Wednesdays.
• Most of my random hits are from people looking for "Baby Drawings" in a google search engine. I get a bunch of these everyday. I finally tried the search myself to see why people kept coming here. Turns out, a post I did called "Baby Drawings" is about seventh down on the page of results, and if you search through pictures, most of the pics from that post are on the first and second page of results too.
• The other high searches that lead people to my site: Fractal images and a Greek Orthodox Icon painting, which were incidentally in the same post about a year ago. Also, I once did a post featuring a hydrangea, and I've had a lot of people viewing that lately. Oh, and there is of course the usual search for "Trees", "Leaves", "trees and leaves", etc.
  
• Besides the 15 or so people who comment occasionally, I also have about six regular lurkers who come at least once a week, and I have no idea who they are. Hi Reston, VA, how are you today?
• I've also found that the Statcounter isn't completely accurate in saying where people are from either. For instance, Someone whom I know is in Utah, it always lists them as New York. Whats that all about? (I know its them from the timing of their visits and the comments on my posts, as well as the archives they choose to look at.) Same for a person in Silver Lake, WA- always says New York.
  
• Some IP addresses give way too much info. Like, some say the name of the apartment building it came from, others will list a university or library. Those located in dorms often have the person's last name or even their student number, depending on how the school set up their computers. Yikes! Kind of scary.

So there you have it. Now you know all that I know about you! But don't be afraid, I probably won't stalk you. And you're welcome to keep visiting.

Catalog Clothes

I love looking at Fall Fashion catalogs. I haven't received anything of the sort in the mail for probably eight years or so, and I had forgotten how much I loved reviewing the fashions of autumn. Until now.

Ever since I ordered myself a birthday present from Victoria's Secret, I am on their mailing list...and they mail their catalogs annoyingly often. Thing is, they don't just have the huge underwear selection that everyone knows about. They actually have some really nice clothes- you know, classy stuff mixed in with the lace and junk.

Its something about the mixture of textures, autumn colors, layers...something about the Fall clothes that are so much more appealing to me than anything Spring or Summer selections have to offer. Oh yeah, probably the more modest coverage has something to do with it too.

And I always ask myself, "Why don't my autumn clothes look like all of these things I like? Hmm. It might be a money thing. No, I'm sure it is. Not to mention being raised not to buy things unless I really need them.

So here is my solution. I'll show you some of my favorite things out of the fall catalog, and you can buy me something! I promise, I will comment on your blog every post for a year. Thanks so much.

One thing that struck me about the clothes this year, is the high waist is coming back into fashion..and its actually on clothes that look good, not the tapered leg ugly things that you usually have to buy for a high waist. They're wide-legged without the annoyingly low waistline. Yes! Plus, they have that stretchy denim instead of the thick stuff. Bonus: 34 inch inseams. Perfect. Check these out... is it weird that I love how they look like pants my mom had in our old photos?


(Doesn't it strike you as strange to have a woman with a seductive expression and her hair blowing sexily, while wearing waist-high jeans? Maybe I will look this way if I buy these too?)




(I'm not sure, but I may like these just because I like the photo. It really strikes me as "end of August meets beginning of September." If I ever had a kid in August, I want to name him August..its cool now because of August Rush, right? Anyway. October would be a good name too. Joseph doesn't agree.)

They also had some very lovely sweaters for sale. I only have one sweater I really love right now, the one I got for Christmas. I definitely need to find it some friends, don't you think?

This is my favorite of all the sweaters featured, I guess because its unique and textured. This color or the camel would be great. Look at the great detailing:



I love the idea of this sweater. But I think I would like it even more with different colors...like moss green and orange or something. Or not:


I love this whole outfit. Its got texture, style, and awesome corduroys with a front seam. I love that. Yes Cardine, they actually had a very nice selection of colored corduroys. I thought of you.


I figured I would call and cancel this catalog before Joshua got to old to start sneaking peeks at it, but Elora has alerted me to the fact that I might have to take this action earlier than expected. One day I was standing in the kitchen looking at a cute sweater in said catalog, and I said aloud, "Oh, this is really cute!"
Elora was standing in front of me and she pointed up at the back of the catalog. "I like that one mommy, I want to wear silly clothes like that."
I turned it over to see what she was pointing at, and to my embarrassment the back cover featured a woman in lacy underwear and a garter belt. Yikes! I quickly turned the page so that she was looking at a sweater too, and inwardly cursed VS for putting skank on the back cover. Oh wait. Its Victoria's Secret. Of course that's on the back cover.

So before I have to cancel it...I really need to get something, don't you think?

Reunions and Vacations

In just a few weeks, we will be going to a week long family Reunion with my family. I am pretty excited, because they have these reunions every two years but for various reasons I haven't been able to attend since before I got married.

As long as I can remember, my family's summer vacations always revolved around visiting my mother's family all around the western United States. But in1991, they decided to make it easier for everyone and just hold a big reunion over four or five days. Its funny how my siblings and I enjoy these get-togethers with people we only see at the reunion..my dad's family all lived nearby, but we couldn't care less if we never ran into them. Isn't that horrible?

And its not like we have that much in common with all of our cousins, but we as siblings were excited to see the aunts and uncles. Weird huh. My grandparents had four daughters, one son, and twenty-three grandkids. Aren't my mom and her sisters cute?



The first two reunions were camping trips in Utah and Wyoming, respectively. They were fine enough, and with myself and my cousin "Paul" being the oldest (he's eight months my senior) it was the perfect outing for all the little kids running around. But as kids got older and parents' backs got more rickety, camping was no longer the solution.

The third event was at my grandparent's home in Lander, Wyoming. It was fun, but hectic, and I think the neighbors call the police a few times because we were too noisy. Then the family got smart. They devised a plan where each family would contribute a set amount each month for the two year interval, then those in charge would find a fantastic place for us all to stay and play.

1997 was one of the best: We rented two beachhouses in Oxnard, California. The houses were actually right there on the beach, as you can see in this photo of my youngest brother "Shnaupy" (He's 19 now.)


We not only were on the beach all week (where I got horribly sunburned) , but we got to go to Universal Studios one of the days as well. Sweet! And you would never know from this photo that I can't swim:



My brother "Jimmy" and I are so skinny. Wow, I can hardly remember looking like that. We are so white too. Do you think anyone knew we didn't really live there? Ha.

In 1999 (aren't you so excited to see more bad vacation photos?) We went to a place called Clear Creek Family Ranch, hidden away in a corner of Utah. That was fun because the staff had activities planned already, the food was taken care of for some of the meals, and there were other guests to interact with. Here's me with my twin brother Thain, engaged in some exciting planned game. Oh wait.. he's not tall enough to be my twin for another year or two:


(sidenote: Isn't my shirt the most awesome shirt ever? I think it says "Peace Love and Harmony". But it was too short, and I eventually had to get rid of it. Sigh.)

The last reunion I was present at was in Nauvoo, Illinois in 2001. We saw a lot of church history sites as well as places where our ancestors had lived in the 1800's. It was pretty cool that we were there while the LDS Nauvoo Temple was being reconstructed:




But honestly, my favorite part of that reunion was the trip there. I felt like we were the Griswolds, viewing all of the Americana this great land has to offer. It was our first trip to Mt. Rushmore, which was smaller than I imagined. Can you tell we're so excited?:




Of course we couldn't pass by THIS place even though we'd been there a few times before. I mean, c'mon, everyone knows This MEANS something:


(Ahem, its Devil's Tower if you didn't know.)

And most memorable of all? We went to Wall, South Dakota. Seriously, this place was the epitome of the kitchy vacation stop. On the road there, at least a hundred miles out, you see signs urging you to stop in Wall. "You must see the Drug Store," they say. Really, they're everywhere.
And what is there to see? A tiny town in the middle of nowhere, with a great and spacious drug store. Inside is a restaurant, a few nickle and dime items, and a bunch of junk on display. I guess its not all junk. I mean...they did have this big stuffed Buffalo:



Right next to a Jackalope. And now you'll know what the bumper stickers that say "Wall, South Dakota" are all about.

Yes, I missed the SLC reunion in 2003 (which I'm fine with) and the big cruise in 2005. But really, what would I have done on a cruise with a baby? Besides, I've been on a cruise already. (Joseph was quite sad though).

This year will be low scale- they're holding it at a rented property near Bear Lake, Utah.

Things will be different this time: My sister and I are both married with kids, and three of our cousins are as well.
My grandpa passed away shortly after Nauvoo, and it will be strange if only because he was the one who shot the home videos, and his voice is synonymous in my head with Reunion.

But it should be good...if my dad doesn't offend everyone by talking Politics and Religion every five minutes. Good luck with that.

Stay tuned for a recap in a few weeks time......

Hallelujah

July 10th. A day like any other. Except...Joshua started walking.

We were able to capture video of this phenomenon moments after it first manifested. The motivation for this burst of gross motor skills? A mini kit-kat bar held by daddy.

Of course, since this day, Joshua has decided walking isn't really for him, but we hope he reconsiders his position. Please excuse his naked legs.







And if you didn't get enough, here's a second video without Elora's interference. Don't worry, its short.




FYI- before we took these videos, I asked Joseph to please pick up Joshua's toys so they weren't all over in the background of the film. His solution was to pile everything in one spot- directly where I was filming. Good job.

Portrait #5: The Sister

Previous Portraits in this series: #1, #2, #3, #4


Upon viewing the photo for portrait#5, I noticed some similarities in features and clothing styles to another of the previous portraits. I soon learned that indeed this was the sister to the girl in portrait #3, even though their eye color is very different.

I started one drawing and scrapped it before it was finished; this one is okay but it is a little large on the paper. (I'm just glad the main purpose of this series is to go into someone's family history, not to look nice grouped together on the wall...though they may very well end up there eventually.)



This girl has brownish-blonde hair with lighter highlights, and stunning blue eyes. I started with the eyes as usual, and while they look dazzling, they are probably a little too intense. (Has anyone seen/read Dune?)




She had a great transparent white bow in her hair that I really wanted to include. Unfortunately, her head is so big on the page that I kind of scrunched the bow up to fit in the drawing, and it doesn't look as cute as the photo. It will probably be cut off if this gets matted. I only used solid white around the edges to keep the transparent look. I also erased some of the dark blue out of her eyes and replaced it with a blue gray. They are still a little surreal though:



She has some really cute freckles in the photo, but I will wait to put them in at the end, once all the other colors are established in her face. But I am putting a lot of bronze-yellow across the bridge of her nose, which seems to imply the freckles even though they're not there yet.
I'm a little worried about her mouth- as I've mentioned before, teeth need to be placed fairly accurately in the mouth even if they're not detailed, or it will look wrong. Her teeth are at a slightly different angle than her lips in life. I think I got the angle right, but I'm not sure her smile is big enough.
Notice that the blue background really bumped up the white in the bow, without my doing anything to it:



At this point I pulled up the photo on the computer to compare, because the print-outs I've been working from have proved to be lacking in detail in the past.
I noticed tons of stuff I needed to fix: her mouth needs to be wider on the left- but the teeth are okay, her hair is too light (as usual), her nose needs to be a tad wider, and I need to define the bulgy (is that a word?) shape under her eyes a lot more.The bow is more transparent than I thought, but I won't worry about that right now. I think I should lighten the eyes more as well.

These small changes to the mouth and eyes really made her look more like the photo..the added colors and freckles helped too. I didn't want to do the freckles too dark and have them look like some kind of blemish, but I hope they're not so light that they're not true to life:


While I finish her sweater I will continually look for any more little things to fix on her face..like how her lips look a little too outlined. But for the most part, I think this looks better than the other two girls I've done so far.
Maybe all this practice is helping me to get back to the skill level I was at in college?

Her sweater started out a little too dark with all that blue, so I tried to warm it up with some orange and brown, while keeping the blue for the shadows. There are still things I could nit-pick over, but I decided I'd done enough:



Not too shabby.

Sleeping Angel

Elora has a daily morning routine.
She comes into my room as soon as she wakes up, be it 6:00 AM, or 8AM, and she climbs up into my bed. There is plenty of room now that Joseph has to work early in the mornings; sometimes Joshua is already there too, but not always.
I used to get mad at her for coming in, but she has learned that she shouldn't come in before the sun is up, and she is very good at being quiet and laying down. One morning I held her hand to show her I wasn't mad at her, and she gave me the biggest grin I've ever seen. Now I hold her hand almost every time - she still grins.
Last week she happened to still be asleep after I woke up, and she looked so sweet in the early morning light that I just had to capture the moment.
Looking at these pictures of my little girl reminded me of a greeting card I sent my sister when her daughter was born; I liked it so much I kept a copy of the 'poem' for myself:

Someday, she'll be a famous pianist.
Or a high school science teacher.


She'll settle down, marry,
have a couple of kids.


Maybe she won't.


Someday, she'll help millions of people
all over the world.


Or maybe she'll travel
Send letters from Africa
Or phone you from Rome.


Someday, she'll be a strong, confident, woman.


...But you'll always remember
The first time you held her in your arms....


Someday, she'll have her own
hopes and dreams


Not knowing that once upon a quiet time
You closed your eyes


And dreamed to have her in your life.

Wiggly Toys and Romantic Trees

We found a new park recently, where we've spent a few evenings as a family. Elora calls it the park with the wiggly toys..I suppose because it has several curvy slides.

It might be more appropriately called " The curvy climbing thing park":





The hanging upside down park:





Or the intense workout park:


Feel the burn!!


Of course, if I were the one naming it, I might go in a different direction. The toys were nice, but what I love about this new park is the trees. Anciently towering, mysterious and shady: this is why I like coming here. Oh yeah, theres a pretty nifty stream too, crossed by a quaint little bridge. Maybe I'll call this place "Romantic Tree Park":





Or perhaps The Rock Skipping Place:


(note my glasses. Stupid allergies.)



How about The Park With Perfect Lighting at Eight in the Evening:

I swear I'm not annoyed. I just look like this.


I've got it. I think I'll call it, "Beautiful".