Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Ramblings and Updates

I haven't sat down and just written up my thoughts in a long while. A REALLY long while. I don't know why it's so hard to blog these days. I'm in the process of getting 2008 into a blog book; I had over 300 entries that year. It's been a bit of work to get it all in a book, but I do love to go back and read it. It's time for me to give a little update on life at this house.

I have been learning how to index lately. Basically it's taking old records (birth/death certificates, census papers, draft papers, etc.) and entering the info into a data base that can be searched online. I'm not a fast indexer because I give stories to every person I do. My favorites are the Southern death certificates. I love old Southern names for one, and two, I find causes of death EXTREMELY fascinating. Not that I'm morbid or anything (okay maybe I am a little), but nothing tells a story quite like a cause of death. I've run across everything from "struck by a train" (and there are a lot of these - watching for trains must have been somewhat of a novelty still in the late 1800's), to gun shot wounds (I imagine all sorts of imaginative story lines for these deaths), to cancer of every body part, to tuberculosis (a lot of deaths of every age from this one, makes me very grateful for immunizations.). Anyway, if you're interested in indexing you can learn more at www.familysearchindexing.org, you may just find a new hobby for yourself.

Bishop H. David Burton came to speak at our stake conference. I was able to be part of the choir. I haven't sung with a good choir (and no, unfortunately ward choirs really don't count - bless their souls) since my college days. I had forgotten how much fun it is. I really am a music geek at heart. It was refreshing, but let me know just how out of shape my poor vocal chords are.

Of course what would updates be without some kid funnies?  Jarom was driving home with Kate a while back and he complimented her very cute polka dotted boots. She gave him a patronizing smile and said "Dad, they don't even match my outfit!" What a little princess we have.

Alyssa has been volunteering at the Animal Shelter a little bit.  I was a little hesitant to let her go because I was afraid her heart would be sad and I didn't want to hear the begging for each and every pet she wanted to bring home.  I think she knows I don't want to hear much about it because she's been good not to say much, but one day she came home talking about a little dog she had bonded with.  She kept saying, "Scene did this, or Scene loved that, etc."  I thought "Scene" was a strange name for a dog, so I asked her how it was spelled. (The animals names are written on the outside of the cages.)  She said, "S-E-A-N".  I died laughing and said, "Alyssa, that's pronounced Shawn."  To which she replied, "Well, that's the most stupid way to spell Shawn ever."  LOL!

And finally, thinking she was sneaking a drink of some apple juice, Halle, took a big ol' swig from the cup on the counter. Instead of juice, she got a big ol' mouthful of bacon grease. Funniest thing I've seen all month long!  I had left it there for it to harden and cool down before I tossed it out.  Oh man was she grossed out. It was hysterical!

Cabin Trip 2012

In March we had our annual Manwaring Cabin Snowmobile trip.  This year we tried out a new location and cabin.  The cabin was gorgeous and huge and housed us all well.  We're a big bunch these days!

We had plenty of time to sit around and "electrocute" ourselves with our many devices.  We had a rousing game of Words going on all weekend long.

The Kindle Fires and iPads were on non stop.

And the big boys, hardly moved from in front to the big screen t.v. playing their war games all day and night.

Even the littles were up on all the hottest items in the cabin.

We did manage to go outside some. There was a great hill next to the cabin for sledding.

We even pulled out the snowmobiles. Here's Halle enjoying a ride from Aunt Emily.

The ladies took a nice ride to Mesa Falls.

I love this shot Becky got while hitching a ride on the back of Katie's machine.

We had great weather with beautiful views of the Tetons.

The kids had an activity night planned where they participated in stations. They took the cameras and got some shots of all the action.

Jamis, Wes, Ellie, Alyssa,  and Truman

The landing on the stairs proved to be the perfect spot for a little reading corner.

The Bean Bag Toss; these kids sure know how to plan a party.  It even ended with awards.

I'm sexy and I know it! Oh Jar...what can I say?

Here's a little cuter shot of someone (Truman) getting ready to go out. Ha! I love little kids all bundled up ready to go. But, I have got to say, that I am thankful my own kids are able to almost get all geared up by themselves. It is a A LOT of work to dress these little guys!

We could not have asked for more perfect weather. The kids loved eating lunch and playing on the balcony.

And as always, we eat like kings at our cabin trips. Here Kevin and Becky prepare Italian Subs for lunch. Mmmm...

When it was all said and done, we spruced ourselves up and the entire family went to church at  Jarom's parent's ward. What a sight we were; we took up and entire side of the chapel.

Playing Catch Up

Prepare yourselves (or rather I need to prepare myself), I plan to get myself back on the blogging wagon.  I can't believe I haven't posted for over 2 months!!  So many fun things have happened, and I want them documented.  So, look for new posts over the next few days!