Kelly's Family

Apostle Visit

2011-04-11T13:29:00.001-06:00

Elder Christofferson came to speak at our stake conference on Sunday. In the morning at 7:30am the youth were all invited to listen to Elder Christofferson and shake his hand. What an amazing experience! The stake conference meetings were great! The Provo Temple President and his wife spoke in the adult session on Saturday. Elder Wade, new general authority, accompanied Elder Christofferson and spoke too. We are so blessed to live where we can have these kinds of experiences!

Congratulations to Tyra & Caled Hustedt and Will Drake! They will all be graduating next week!

Tyra is Expecting!

2010-11-11T15:04:00.001-07:00

We are excited to learn that Tyra & Caleb will be parents in June! They are such a cute couple and they will be great parents! Of course that means that I will be a grandma! I am so blessed!

I went to the temple yesterday. As I arrived a woman greeted me and said, "I prayed that you would come!". I looked at her, I didn't recognize her. She then continued by saying, "The weather is bad, today". I was grateful that I could be the answer to her prayers that people would come to the temple even though the weather was bad. I really felt good about going to the temple. Again, I am blessed!

Nathan & Emily are Married!

2010-08-22T09:30:00.005-06:00

Nathan and Emily married on July 31st in the Draper Temple. It was a beautiful ceremony and a wonderful day! The man who sealed Nathan and Emily was the grandfather to one of Nate's companions from the mission. That was a pleasant surprise. My parents and Scott's parents were able to attend the ceremony as well as many aunts and uncles. Emily's family came and her parents attended and so did her 2 married brothers. We filled the largest sealing room in the Draper Temple. After the sealing we took family pictures outside of the Temple. Lunch was catered at Ruby River restaurant in Provo. The reception was located at the Church buildings just north of the Orem Costco. The reception was amazing! The gym was decorated beautifully and the detail was impressive. Emily's family put a lot of effort into making this a special reception. BYU ice cream with a selection of toppings were laid out to be eaten by the guests. Everything went perfectly! We are so pleased to have Emily a part of our family!

Two weeks later the family traveled to Flagstaff for another reception. The reception was located outside the Institute Building. Again everything looked great! It was fun to visit with Emily's family under less pressured conditions. While we were there we attended the Grand Canyon branch for Sunday meetings. Tyra lead the music and the boys passed the sacrament. Another great experience!

Wow, Summer Has Just Begun!

2010-06-02T11:29:00.003-06:00

James and Jacob are at EFY this week. The house is very quiet, its kind of nice. Nate and Emily had engagement pictures taken last week, they just got the proofs yesterday. Those tow are soo cute together. Emily is so good for Nate! Emily's family will be coming for a visit this weekend so we can plan wedding stuff. Tyra and Caleb leave for their internships in New York on Friday morning. Tyra is in school this Spring term, she will take her finals early and leave. I'm glad that Tyra and Caleb will come back for Nate's wedding (July 31st) and reception in Arizona (Aug 14th). I'm really excited about our growing family!

Nathan is Engaged

2010-05-22T11:43:00.005-06:00

Well this is old news but I haven't added it to the blog. Nathan is engage to Emily Fisher and they will be married July 31st in the Draper Temple. Emily brings out the best in Nathan. I am having so much fun watching Nathan be in love for real. This marriage will bring another great addition to our family!

Life is Good!

2010-03-30T12:05:00.002-06:00

Life is good! Easter is this weekend and so is General Conference! My father is recovering from quadruple bypass surgery. Both Tyra and Caleb have internships in New York over the Summer! Johannah is increasing her talents by learning Tahitian dancing and performing in public. Tyra was awarded with a 3rd place trophy in the National Latin Ballroom Dance Competition. Nathan is dating a fabulous girl, Emily and I have her phone number ;) . Josh and Andrew also competed in the National Ballroom Dance competitions. Kate has read the whole Frog Princess series (7 or 8 books). And the twins can drive.

I have been teaching 3 classes this semester. Best students so far! I have also been involved in developing a 10 month Mentoring course for ICAPGen. In addition, I teach 3 of the monthly classes which are geared towards helping a person prepare to become an accredited genealogist professional. I am involved in the National Genealogical Society national conference that will be held in Salt Lake the last week in April. I will be teaching one class, coordinating the "Ask an Expert" area and creating the ICAPGen Booth displays.

I am excited about a new series that recently aired. It is called, "Who Do You Think You Are?". To watch past episodes go to : http://www.hulu.com/who-do-you-think-you-are .

Happy New Year!

2010-01-03T08:14:00.002-07:00

We have enjoyed our holidays and now we are back to the beginning of a new year. We have been in Provo 10 years now. Three of the kids are attending BYU, 3 are in high school and 1 in middle school and 1 in 6th grade. I will be teaching 3 sections of Beginning Family History this Winter semester. I taught only one section last semester which turns out to be a great blessing. Between Nathan's illnesses, doctor and hospital visits and my illness and regular life with the family, I was stretched further than I could handle. I look forward to this new year with new opportunities and new adventures. I feel very blessed that my Heavenly Father has watched over me and my family this past year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-28T08:17:00.002-07:00

As I made food preparations this holiday I had time to think about my blessings. I am thankful for many things, especially my family. I am grateful for Johannah's helpful hands in the kitchen, for Jacob's drive to put up holiday lights, for Kate's never ending energy and Scott's helpful clean up of the kitchen. And those thankful things were just for one day. I have many other reasons to give thanks continually. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that loves and protects my children. I am thankful for the ability to most of the time to see challenges as blessings. I am grateful for the opportunities and blessings that come into my life regularly. I try to keep my eyes open and see the blessings around me. I am surrounded by my family who continually make me stretch to see beyond what I think I know. Most of all I am grateful for my savior who saved me with his own blood.

Nathan and some of his Struggles

2009-11-13T07:23:00.003-07:00

I realize I have left out a post about Nathan. This past semester has been very difficult for him. He started the semester and the same week was diagnosed with strep. He was on antibiotics for a week. About a week later he was sick again. We returned back to the doctor and Nathan was again diagnosed with strep. This time a longer strep test was taken to determine the strep strain. Nathan was again placed on antibiotics for 2 weeks. At this point Nate dropped some classes and became a part time student. He got better then about a week after he got off the antibiotics he was sick again. We returned to the doctor. He was tested for the flu in addition to strep. He had strep again. This was Monday. He was given another kind of antibiotic. By Wednesday Nathan was worse, as if the antibiotic didn't help at all. By this time Nate was staying at home. I took Nate to the doctor on Friday. Nate was given a shot of a strong antibiotic, they took blood for testing and he threw up in the office. Poor guy was so sick. The doctor asked that Nate schedule to have his tonsils out. I made an appointment for the following Tuesday with the Ears, Nose & Throat specialist. I insisted that Nate be scheduled right away for surgery. They took him on Thursday. The surgery went well. We came home Nate's friends brought food. Everything was going great. Nate got a call from his doctor and was told that the lab work came back and he has Mono. Poor guy! On Thursday, the day of the surgery, I noticed that I began breaking out in a rash. By Friday night my rash had spread and was worse. I was taking Bendryl to sleep. On Saturday I went to urgent care to find out what it was. I asked them to take a blood test because my son was just diagnosed with Mono. The quick test came back that I have not had Mono in the last 2 weeks. My rash was a virus. They gave me meds to help. Saturday night, Sunday morning Nate began to bleed bright red. We finally called the ENT doctor at about 5:30am. We were instructed to have Nate gargle with salted ice water for 20 minutes. The bleeding stopped. Early Monday morning about 1:30am Nate started bleeding again. He gargled and waited until closer to morning then we called the doctor again. We went to the doctor's office and Nate was given a big shot in the mouth and the doctor cauterized the bleeding. All was well until that night. Monday Nate began bleeding a lot with clots coming out. He tried to gargle the bleeding continued. I called the doctor at about 9:30pm. We ended up going to the hospital ER. The doctor met us there and Nate was preped for surgery. After surgery the doctor said that Nate was bleeding from the side that he had cauterized earlier that morning. He was able to fix it and because it was so late, he told us we could stay until morning. Nate was taken to the 6th floor and he was in so much pain he could not sleep. So we talked for all hours of the night. About 7:30am we left for home. It was now Tuesday and I had to teach in a few hours. Boy was I tired! Everything went well until Wednesday evening. Nate began to bleed again. He gargled with ice water and it slowed or stopped. The bleeding came and went until Friday. In the mean time my blood test results came back to say that I have had Mono but do not currently have it. Who knows maybe I gave it to Nate. Friday I called the doctor again and asked to be seen. Nate was so mad, he did not want to return to the doctor again. We were in the office for about an hour. The doctor removed the blood clots and cauterized the bleeding areas then waited 15 mins and removed the clots and cauterized again. The doctor ordered a clotting factor blood test. He said that in 20 years he has had only 2 patients bleed more than once and both ended up having a clotting factor problem. We took the test. The results came back normal. The end result was that Mono was causing a difficult recovery for Nathan. Monday we had an appointment to follow up at the doctors office. All was well. At this point Nate had missed so much school we asked for a medical note so that Nate could withdraw from school. He had not been to classes for weeks. That was about 2-3 weeks ago. I feel like I am still recovering. Nathan, however is doing better and getting lots of rest.

ICAPGen Conference

2009-11-13T07:00:00.003-07:00

This past weekend was the ICAPGen Conference that we have been planning for the last year. The theme was "Becoming An Excellent Genealogist" and was held at the BYU Wilkinson Center. We offered 50 classes in 5 different tracks. The attendance was just at 170. The conference was a lot of work but very rewarding.

ICAPGen stands for the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists. This is a non profit organization which offers credientials after rigorious testing in a geographic area of choice. I am accreditated in U.S. Midwest. I am working towards another credential in U.S. Mid Atlantic. I hope to be ready to submit my application in January or Feburary of next year. I am also working towards a Spanish credential, but not quite ready with my project yet.

Josh went to Sadies this weekend too. This is a girls choice dance and he has been excited about it for a while.

October General Conference

2009-10-08T10:36:00.002-06:00

Here I am in another month. Time is flying by me. So much is happening I rarely take time to post. I must say that I really enjoyed General Conference last weekend. We listened and played. On Sunday we had a couple of students over and later had dinner with friends. The friends were mostly friends of Nathan and Johannah. After dinner we played games. What fun it is to be together!

Monday night Johannah invited her family home evening group to come over for a BBQ and games. Another night filled with fun. I really love having a large family! I feel very blessed.

Wilma Bernice Akins Youngman Shelton

2009-09-17T09:52:00.005-06:00

My grandmother died yesterday afternoon at 4:30pm pacific time. She has suffered from a variety of aliments and about 4 weeks ago signed up for hospice. My father tells me that this time she was ready and wanting to move on. My grandmother has been close to death before, but she was frightened and not wanting to die. After my family planned her funeral several years ago she recovered and enjoyed a few more years of life. My grandmother died at the age of 88 years and 13 days old. Grandmother wanted to be buried by her parents in King City Cemetery, Gentry County, Missouri. There are no longer plots available nearby so she will be cremated and her ashes buried with her parents. The memorial service will probably be a week from Saturday in northern California. I am planning to attend.

Yesterday, I took Andrew to the temple for the first time. He turned 12 years old in May and we have planned to go all summer but never got there. Yesterday was a beautiful day and the two of us took family names and did baptisms. It was very peaceful in the Provo Temple Baptistry, almost too peaceful. We got right in and there were very few participating in baptisms. Andrew received lots of personal attention. What a great experience!

Education Week & School Begins for the Kids

2009-08-20T08:33:00.003-06:00

I am teaching 3 classes everyday at Education Week. Andrew & Kate went back to school yesterday and James, Jacob & Josh went back today. Summer flew by so fast! Johannah and I will begin again at BYU in about a week. We've had to make some changes with our new schedule, like go to bed and wake up early. Life is great!

Tyra is Married!

2009-08-17T20:53:00.002-06:00

We had a beautiful wedding on Friday! Tyra married Caleb in the Draper Temple. What a great day! We were surrounded by family and friends that made the experience special. Tyra was beautiful! Tyra and Caleb will be gone for about a week. We miss them but know they are having a great time.

Tyra is Beautiful!

2009-08-01T21:49:00.004-06:00

Friday morning Tyra had bridal photos taken. We went to Memory Grove up in Salt Lake. The photographer was fabulous. Tyra was absolutely beautiful. Her dress is a simple design with an organza layer. She wore a bolero with an upturned collar and a pearl necklace. Pictures will follow shortly. I guess I should Mention that I sewed the dress and was up until 4:00am completing the final touches.

Tyra is Engaged

2009-07-15T07:30:00.002-06:00

So much has happened in the last couple of weeks. Tyra got engaged to Caleb Hustedt. They will be married on August 14 in the Draper Utah Temple. They have been dating for more than a year and are so cute together. Wedding preparations are well underway. Engagement photos were taken last week and announcements will go out this week. We have shopped for a dress and concluded that wedding dresses cost alot. So, I am making Tyra's wedding dress. ;)

Tyra and Caleb found a basement apartment earlier this week. They will live very close to campus on the west side. Excitement abounds at every turn as we help them make plans. Tyra's reception will be held in a neighbor's back yard and parking will be at the church.

Oquirrh Mountian Temple Open House

2009-06-12T10:49:00.003-06:00

We attended the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house today. What an amazing experience! Scott and the 6 kids at home all went. It has been awhile since we have had a family outing all together. We dressed in our Sunday best and drove the 30 minutes to the temple. The temple is situated in the middle of a new neighborhood just west of Jordon. In fact as you stand in front of the Oquirrh Mountain temple you can see the Jordon River Temple just northwest. The tour begin with a short film on the purpose of temples. Missionaries were present to answer questions. We entered the temple through the front doors and began a serpentine path through the baptistry in the basement, the dressing rooms and brides room on the first floor, the chapel and ordinance roomsand celestial room on the second floor and finally the sealing rooms on the third floor. A short presentation about eteranl marriage was given as we sat in the sealing room. The entire temple was gorgous the central chandiler was remarkable in both size and beauty. We conluded the tour and entered a large tent set up outside where refreshments were served and music played softly in the background. I strongly encourage you to visit the Oquirrh Mountian Temple with your family.

More visits to the doctor's office

2009-06-06T09:50:00.004-06:00

Josh came home from Youth Conference with an ear infection. He was in so much pain, I took him directly to the doctor. The doctor gave him horse pill antibiotics. The good news is that he is improving.

The next day Andrew injured himself at soccer practice. Jacob called us and told us that Andrew was bleeding and we should come get him. It seems that Andrew tripped while doing a training circuit and cut himself just above his eye. It was lucky we sent Jacob to practice with him. I took Andrew directly to urgent care while he protested loudly that the doctors were just going to torture him and give him stitches. He was right. Andrew got 7 stitches and a black eye.

James & Jacob ran to Krispy Kreme this morning at 6:30am. Their goal was to get a donut for every "A" they received this semester. They ran about 4 miles out and 4 miles back. On the way back they carried the donut box containing 14 donuts.

June

2009-06-04T09:31:00.002-06:00

The older boys had Youth Conference this week. Andrew tried out for a soccer team and made it. James & Josh begin ballroom dance camp. Johannah & I signed up for a Photo Shop computer class. Wasn't summer suppose to slow down? It seems that our days are packed with friends and fun.

Last Week of School

2009-05-27T07:32:00.003-06:00

Memorial Day, last week of school for the high school kids, soccer games, banquets, parties and graduation. It's only Wednesday and I hope to survive this week. Nate came home Monday and continues to disrupt the smooth school day routine. Nate did work on repairing the boat for a while, until he needed a part. So he invited friends over playing wii for hours, then he planned an outdoor movie party in the backyard. The movie started at about 9pm and the school children wanted to stay up to the end. I rounded up the last group of school children at 10:30pm after thinking they were all asleep in bed. Those of you that know me know that 10:30pm is past my bedtime. If we can just make it to the end of this week all will be fine. The twins keep telling me that class this week is optional and they shouldn't have to go to school at all. Hmmm.

End of the School Year Fun & Two Bithdays

2009-05-19T06:20:00.004-06:00

Sunday Johannah spoke in church and also at her seminary graduation. It was so nice to have family there, Scott's parents came to honor her achievement. I also got to see Nate, we had a nice short visit. He looks very scruffy with his beard.

The end of the school year is approaching fast. I just found out yesterday that school is out for Kate & Andrew this week. The other kids will be finished next week. High school graduation is next Friday. Still need to get Johannah's graduation announcements out, she just needs to choose a photo she likes. Along with all of that Josh's birthday was yesterday and Andrew's birthday is today. I have an end of year party for Andrew's class today and Andrew has a long book report and an immigration paper to finish by tomorrow. Lots going on at our house.

I forgot to mention that Senior Ball is this weekend along with the Father and Son Campout, Ballroom social and a race that Scott and kids are timing Saturday morning.

Mother's Day

2009-05-13T07:33:00.002-06:00

Mother's Day was Sunday. Nathan called me in the morning. It was so nice to hear from him! Scott gave me special foot massage lotion. The kids took turns rubbing my feet. I love to have my feet rubbed. :) The kids gave me a new set of dishes I wanted. Tyra & Caleb came for dinner. The only thing missing was a game night.

I am so happy to be a mother and have eight wonderful children!

Women's Conference

2009-05-08T13:46:00.002-06:00

Last week my sisters came to visit and we attended Women's Conference. What a fabulous experience! It was so nice to visit with my sisters and eat great food. We enjoyed all the classes and of course the shopping. Oh best of all was the service booths and service projects. Notes and handouts for these can be found online at: http://ce.byu.edu/cw/womensconference/archive/sharing_stations.cfm. The weekend ended all too quickly. Thanks to Scott for picking up kids from school and taking them to appointments. I think I will have to make this conference an annual thing. Attending this year was so much more enjoyable because I didn't participate as a speaker.

Hair Cuts

2009-04-10T07:45:00.003-06:00

I cut Kate's hair last week. It is now shoulder length and all one length. She really likes it and it looks so cute. She sometimes wears her hair with a headband. So cute!

I cut my hair short. I like it, the kids are getting adjusted to it.

Johannah also got a hair cut yesterday. It's a little longer than shoulder length. It is layered and cute.

I will post photos after finals. ; - /

Josh

2009-04-08T19:12:00.000-06:00

Josh has rented a tux for Junior Prom.

Conference Weekend

2009-04-07T07:19:00.002-06:00

I always look forward to General Conference. I love hearing the messages and seeing the leaders speak. Unfortunately, not all of my children feel the same. I spend time beforehand preparing snacks and quiet activities for the younger children in hopes of a less disruptive session. This year I bought some hat looms and yarn. We begin the Saturday morning session with a Pop Tart breakfast. This was exciting we have never before had pop tarts for breakfast. Then everyone started a hat and quietly worked on the hat for much of the time. Next I took out the bingo cards and skittles. During the afternoon sessions we had snack food: crackers & dip, jerky, cheese ball and jelly bellies.

Tyra and Caleb came over on Saturday. Nathan and Whitney came on Saturday and Sunday. After the sessions on Sunday we had a turkey dinner. Nate invited over more friends to share dinner and play Swashbuckled (Fun pirate game). It's always nice to have family and friends around.

The messages were inspiring. I can't wait until they come out in print so I can study them. Yesterday, I spent the whole class time reviewing General Conference with the students. I really enjoyed their insight.

Another Week

2009-03-31T07:32:00.006-06:00

Last night we went swimming for Family Home Evening. The kids love to go to the BYU indoor pool. The boys like the high dives. They challenge each other to jump off the highest dive (25 feet) that is only open for a few minutes every hour. I noticed a funny thing last night as I watched Andrew and James each ready to jump off the short dive. Their swim trunks were exactly the same color and style except that Andrew's were covering his knees and James' were a little short. They were wearing the wrong suits. I don't know if they ever noticed.

Tonight for Young Women's the laurels will tie a senoir quilt for Johannah. Rather than just sewing 2 pieces of fabric together, I pieced a quilt top together. Her chosen colors were black and white. I really had a tough time sticking to just black and white. I'm not quite finished yet, I will need to spend some time this afternoon finishing the edges and sewing the back on. I'll have to take a picture and post it.

Josh is busy planning his Junior Prom date. He has lots of ideas. He was shocked to find out how much it will cost for just 1 date.

Well, Kate got a hair cut last week. She looks really cute. Her hair is now shoulder length. She has been wearing it to school with a headband. Very cute.

Be Strong in the Lord

2009-03-24T07:16:00.006-06:00

Yesterday the high school kids were out of school. They spent most of their time playing video games on the computers. Nathan even came over to play for a while.

As I was thinking about a lesson for family night I thought I could incorporate the idea of video games. At the beginning of family night I asked the boys how they win the game, how they keep strong and powerful. They explained how to get extra men and gold and food and shelter. This was a great lead in to the lesson I had planned. I had read a talk given by Elder M. Russell Ballard, entitled, "Be Strong in the Lord". We began by reading Ephesians 6:10-13 (take unto you the whole armor of God). Elder Ballard says, "I like to think of this spiritual armor not as a solid piece of metal molded to fit the body but more like chain mail. Chain mail consists of tiny pieces of steel fastened together to allow the greater flexibility without losing protection. I say that because it has been my experience that there is not one great and grand thing we can do to arm ourselves spiritually. True spiritual power lies in numerous smaller act woven together in a fabric of spiritual fortification that protects and shields from all evil." Elder Ballard lists 6 things that will help us build our own spiritual chain mail.
1 - Protective Power of Prayer, D & C 10:5
2 - Procective Power of the Scriptures, 1 Nephi 15:24
3 - Draw on the Mericiful Grace of God, Ether 12:27
4 - Watch Yourselves, Mosiah 4:30
5 - Don't Waste the Days of Your Probation, 2 Nephi 9:27
6 - Reverence Invites Revelation, D & C 6:12
Elder Ballard says, "The Lord has given us specific doctrines and principles that show us how to clothe ourselves in the armor of God so we can stand against the powers of evil...As with chain mail, you need simply to add small, individual pieces of armor each day through prayer, scripture study, focusing on things that matter, and acting in a reverent manner."

End of Semester

2009-03-21T10:06:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was the end of the semester for the younger kids. Kate & Andrew got out of school early yesterday and we went to see "Bedtime Stories" at the dollar theater. Johannah, Josh, James & Jacob have Monday off.

Thursday we went to a ballroom fundraiser. We ate luau food and watched a Polynesian dance program. Nathan, Tyra and Caleb came.

Josh asked a girl to Junior Prom. This is Josh's description. Andrew dressed up in dark clothes and was placed in a box that looks like a giant sized crayon box. He walked of to the door with a frozen cube of butter with a "J" taped to it. Then he walks away. 15 minutes later he comes back with microwave popcorn package that has a note that says, "Now that I've buttered you up, I'd explode if you would go to Junior Prom with me." Also the letter "O" was attached to the popcorn. Then he walks away. 15 minutes late he comes back with the reset of the letters of Josh's name and he walks away.

St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-18T06:36:00.003-06:00

We began the day with cinnamon rolls and sent the kids off to school. I had planned to make a green dinner with "monster soup" (split pea soup), but some of the kids made a fuss. I suppose this is expected when there are teenagers around. A leprechaun brought gold coins for the kids at dinnertime.

The weather has been so beautiful. I hope it lasts! On Sunday I was released from the Young Woman's as Laurel Advisor and given the calling of Visiting Teaching Supervisor. There is about a month left of school and I am looking forward to completing the semester. I have a list of projects I would like to work on during the summer.

In the last few weeks I have read the Eragon series. The series begins with the book Eragon which is about a boy who by an odd chain of events hatches a dragons egg and becomes a dragon rider. There is a movie about this book, but as always there is much more to the book than the movie. The second book in the series is Eldest. This book is filled with magical creatures and battles. The third book in the series is Brisinger. The journey continues and the confrontation of good and evil takes place. These books are written by Christopher Paolini and each is about 500 to 700+ pages long. I enjoyed the story but now have to wait for the fourth and final book in the series to be published.

Wacky Dinner

2009-03-16T11:42:00.003-06:00

Last night we had a wacky dinner. We do this about once a year but the kids would prefer to have one more often. We invited our neighbor friends over, they also have 8 children. We served lasagna, french bread, salad, jello, corn, broccoli, carrots, brownies and strawberries. Each item is placed on a list with cup, fork, knife, spoon and napkin. The word for each item is disguised and everyone chooses 5 items to be served to them, per course. We had many goofy combinations the meal was fun!

Tyra and Nathan are at it again. I wish they would stop playing tricks on each other.

Spanish Women & Textiles in the 1700's

2009-03-13T07:00:00.003-06:00

I went to Spain 2 years ago for a field study to research in the Archives. One of my purposes for going to Spain was to examine the records and figure out what textiles were being described in the marriage inventories, death inventories and wills. Besides genealogy, I have an expertise in working with linen and weaving. I needed to learn about the materials and stitches used in the needle work listed in these old inventories. I asked the older women in Spain to show me examples of the stitches and items that I had seen mentioned in the records. I also went to many ethnographic museums that held household items from history. I discovered many things, but one of the most exciting things to me was that the women used a stitch on linen called Desilado. This is similar to Hardanger where linen thread is removed leaving open boxes and the remaining threads are woven together in a pattern. I think Hardanger is my favorite kind of linen work.

I am now working with a history professor to write an artile about these women in historic Spain. Two weeks ago I was invited to give a one hour presentation to a BYU History class about my findings. The presentaion went well and another history professor was in attendance and had many other research ideas that could stem from what I have done so far. In June I will spend 2 weeks working on the final draft of my article. This history professor is writing a book about different aspects of culture in Spain in the 1700's and has asked me to write a chapter about the textiles. I am very excited about the many opportunities before me, especially working with things I love.

Home at Last

2009-03-10T07:28:00.003-06:00

I love sleeping in my own bed! Last night Scott, Kate, Andrew and I arrived back to Provo about 1am. We made a trip to Anaheim last week. On our way back we stopped in Las Vegas to see my sister and her kids. We headed north to Provo about 4pm. As you can tell it was a long drive. We hit a snow storm and traveled slowly.

Today I will play catch up on everything. This morning I went to unload the dishwasher and it had the clean load of dishes I put in on Wednesday. No one bothered to empty it and wash dishes while I was gone. Silly high school kids!

I'm Alive, I Think

2009-03-02T13:14:00.003-07:00

Well its been over a week and I have been so sick. I have now finished my antibiotics and can now talk. I still have a cough but I feel much better. It's about time too! I have too much to do I can't slow down.

This week I will teach my students about census records. I also have a research presentation to give on Wednesday. I will be speaking about the women of Garganta la Olla in Spain. I have extracted information from marriage and death inventories and I have an interesting collection of the belongings of these women. Oh, did I mention that I'm working in the early 1700's. My focus is on the textiles these women made and passed on to their loved ones.

The kids are doing great and the older children are preparing to compete in the Dance Sport competition in couple weeks.

Sick

2009-02-23T11:23:00.004-07:00

I've been so sick the last four days. It's been years since I've felt this sick. Today is my first day back and I am surprised at how weak I feel. I am scheduled to teach class this afternoon. I have high hopes, but I've lost my voice. Maybe I will be able to talk by 2pm today. I feel so behind on everything and today is Monday. Monday is always a day I start running. There are so many things to do at the beginning of the week. After school Andrew will get his staples out and Kate will see the doctor about a skin rash.

Congratulations Johannah!

2009-02-17T17:09:00.002-07:00

Johannah just found out she has been admitted into BYU! Wooo! Whoo! We are so excited for her!

Staples Are Better Than Stitches

2009-02-17T08:49:00.004-07:00

Scott took many of the children snow boarding over the long weekend. They arrived home yesterday evening. Andrew came in first and went straight to the shower. Nate came in next and said, "Okay Mom, don't freak out or anything, but Andrew got cut up with the snow board. Oh, and there was blood everywhere, but he's fine now." How am I suppose to react to that. I don't think I over react in injury cases. I'm a trained EMT.

After Andrew exited the shower I asked to see his injury. He had a about a two inch gash on the left side of his head. It was not bleeding but it was gaping. Andrew said he felt all right and did not want stitches. Well what is a mother to do? I took him to Urgent Care. On the way there Andrew began to hyperventilate. He did not want stitches under any circumstances. Fortunately we had a very nice nurse and she helped us take a photo of the injury. She explained what would happen and told Andrew he probably would get staples instead of stitches. As soon as she left Andrew let me know that he did not want any staple stuck in his head. After the numbing gel and shots of a local anesthetic Andrew received 9 staples. He was surprised that he did not feel any of them. Of course we took another photo of the staples before we left. On the ride home Andrew told me that it was not as bad as he had imagined it would be.

I'm just glad that Andrew was wearing a hat or the cut would have been worse. I'm also grateful he was not cut on his face or other unprotected area. The injury could have been a lot worse. I am grateful for life's little blessings.

Heart Messages

2009-02-16T09:29:00.003-07:00

I thought I would include a few of the heart messages that are posted on the wall in our house.

Kate likes making cookies for me. - Josh
I love James just because. - Andrew
I love Nate because he is not like Jacob & Andrew. - James
I love James because he lets me win. - Jacob
I love Andrew because he smells like butterflies. - James
I love Johannah because she lets me hang out with her friends. -Josh
I love Mom because she solves problems. - Kate

Its fun to remember that we really do have a lot to be thankful for especially the people in our family.

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-12T16:21:00.005-07:00

Valentine's is on its way! We have a tradition of cutting out hearts and writing nice things on them. Some years I buy gel pens and glitter so we can decorate them and post them on the wall in the dinning room. That is how it is suppose to work. To encourage nice thoughts and actions I fill a jar with candy and offer one piece for every nice note. I soon had to limit the notes to 10 a day, per person. That makes it so you can write one for each family member per day. If everybody does that its 100 notes. Some how we always run out of candy before we run out of heart notes to write on.

Since Valentine's Day arrives on a Saturday this year I am planning a fun breakfast. Better than the Denny's breakfast some of us had earlier in the month. I will serve cinnamon rolls, eggs and sausage and maybe pancakes. Fun, fun!

Contact Lenses

2009-02-05T18:53:00.003-07:00

Today I took Tyra, Johannah & Josh to have eye exams. They all had changes to their past prescriptions. All have complained of blurred vision in one eye or another. We had to update our contact supply and of course every eye had a different prescription. Tyra is the winner at the strongest correction, then we have Johannah who now has one eye worse than the other. Finally we have Josh. Have you ever watched him looking out of his glasses? He naturally moves his eyes to avoid all the scratches. Today Josh received his first set of contacts. He did better than Johannah the first time. His eyes watered but he got them in. With Johannah , Tyra & I spent hours trying to help her put the contacts in her eyes. Finally we left the office with only one contact in.

Next time you see Josh notice his beautiful eyes, no longer hidden behind his scratched glasses. ;)

25 Random Things About Me

2009-01-31T15:29:00.002-07:00

1. I love being a mom, but sometimes it's exhausting.
2. I hate scary movies.
3. I've been to Rome twice.
4. I was a taxi driver in Alaska.
5. I have 8 children between the ages of 10 - 21 years.
6. I was born on Halloween.
7. I like old photographs.
8. I was a Librarian for 2 years, therefore I love Children's Literature.
9. I love family gatherings.
10. I love Asphalt Pie with double the caramel.
11. I don't like to ride roller costers.
12. I love the smell of lavender.
13. I love listening to my children laugh.
14. I love to teach, especially family history & genealogy.
15. I ran the St. George marathon.
16. I like mysteries like: Sherlock Holmes, Cadfael, Hercule Poirot & Monk
17. I love to learn, I am taking 3 college computer classes this semester for fun.
18. I like to sew costumes.
19. I was certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
20. I like to write but I am not very good at it.
21. I love doing cross stitch and drawn thread work on linen.
22. I'm a terrible housekeeper, but a great mother.
23. I have the most awesome children!
24. I read a book a week.
25. I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for my good life.

Great Books I have Read this Month

2009-01-30T08:46:00.004-07:00

I have read Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. This book was good and then it was great. The story is about a boy who is in prision for stealing the Kings own seal. He brags that he can steal anything. The adventure begins as a man of power wishes the services of the thief. There is a twist at the finish which is unpredictable. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good tale. The second book in the series is The Queen of Attolia. In the first book we learn that the Queen of Attolia is a hard, cold and calucalting person. In the second book we learn that she is ruthless. This story also has an unforseen twist which keeps you anticipating the further happenings of Attolia. The third book in the series is the King of Attolia. Through a twist of happenings the reader is intesnly interested in future of the King of Attolia.

The next book I am reading is Twice Upon A Marigold by Jean Ferris. This is the second book in the series. The first book Once Upon A Marigold is an entertaining fairytale with comedy and tragedy. I read this one to both Kate & Andrew. The main character is Christain, a boy who lives with a troll and serveral large fun loving dogs. Christian begins p-mail (Pigeon mail) with a girl that lives far across the valley. Lots of fun action. The second book begins where the fisrt leaves off. So far its good.

Chinese New Year

2009-01-27T06:57:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, we celebrated Chinese New Year. Jacob and I prepared orange chicken, beef & broccoli, egg rolls, stir fry veggies, rice and panda express sauce. Pillows were set in the living room and the coffee table was covered in a red table cloth with chopsticks at every place. Nate, Tyra & Caleb came to eat with us. We couldn't just begin because kids were arguing over who got to sit where. Specifically, Andrew (11) and Nate (21) were fighting over the same spot. Nate wouldn't move. Andrew told him he had to move because Andrew had already licked his plate. Who licks their plate before there is any food on it? Well, I guess Andrew does. Dinner was great! We ate so much food.

Moms and Doctors

2009-01-22T21:33:00.000-07:00

In the last 12 days I have been to oral surgeon with Tyra to have her wisdom teeth removed. She only had 2 but it was very difficult. In the mean time she had a well check doctor appointment with a new doctor. I returned with Tyra to the oral surgeon after 5 days because she had an infection. In the mean time I took Nate to the emergency room for a painful episode which turned out to be another kind of infection. And again yesterday I took Tyra to the doctor and she was diagnosed with a skin infection. Now also during that time I have been to the orthodondist twice and the pharmacy more times than I can count. Oh, and lets not forget that Andrew woke up at 4am on Monday with the flu. Poor kid threw up again on Tuesday night after a wild ride with his scout leaders. Isn't being a Mom fun? Really, all Moms want their kids to be health and happy. If there is something wrong they worry and try to fix it. That's just what Mom's do.

Who ever heard of oiling things?

2009-01-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

James - "I think we should oil things so they don't show fingerprints."
Mom - "What do you mean? I've never heard of anybody oiling things to get rid of finger prints."
James - "Mom everybody oils things so they don't have finger prints, like walkie talkies."
Mom - "Don't you mean wipe off finger prints so they don't show?"
James - "No, Mom. They do it all the time in the movies. They oil things."
Mom - "James what are you doing with that napkin?"
James - "I sprayed it with Pam and I'm oiling your cell phone."
Mom - "Ahhh!"
James - "No, really Mom everybody does it."

Calendar Shopping

2009-01-16T10:31:00.000-07:00

On a cold and snowy evening I went to buy a new wall size calendar. My shopping companions were James and Jacob (a dangerous combination). I had been to several office supply stores and they no longer carried the size I needed. I went to Staples and asked for directions to the calendar section. The large calendar was not found. I was so sad and frustrated. I really needed the large wall size to fit everybody's schedule and activities on. James and Jacob were running up and down the aisles, or was that exploring? At last they thought they had found something. Up on the highest shelf, laying flat, with only the spine showing looked like a large calendar. There were other items piled on top. I could only barely touch the spine if I jumped. So I went to get help. The sales associate brought a ladder and as we entered the aisle there were James and Jacob, looking guilty. One was on the shoulders of the other trying to reach the hidden item. They succeeded, and yes it was a wall size calendar. I was happy to have this shopping expedition over. I went to purchase the item and was surprised to know that the price was $25.00. That's more than $2.00 a page! Okay, I grumbled. It was snowing outside so she put the calendar into a very large bag and we left. It wasn't until after dinner that I realized that I hadn't checked the year on the calendar. Maybe I bought last year's calendar again. That would explain the reason for the calendar being tucked out of the way. Oh no. Now I must say I believe in miracles. I was so grateful that my calendar was for this year!

It's Cold!

2009-01-15T08:48:00.000-07:00

It's cold again. I am so ready for temperatures above freezing in the morning. We still have lots of snow on the ground, but at least the walkways are clear or snow and ice. I can't seem to get my high school kids to even take coats to school in the morning. They wear tee shirts and think they will be fine. I keep telling them that one day they will wish they had a coat. It will be the day they have to walk home after school. Brrr.

Where are my socks?!

2009-01-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

Where are my black socks?! Today is freezing and I need to wear a skirt to school. I bought some long black socks just for days like today. I can't even find one! I have searched the laundry room 3 times and the sock bucket and my closet. I've looked on the floor, in my drawers. It's been weeks since I last wore them and I have at least 4 pairs! I've run out of time and I am wearing...black soccer socks with white stripes. I have to teach today! No fair!

New Year and Back to School

2009-01-05T07:09:00.000-07:00

Monday, not just any Monday but the first Monday of the new year. It's also the coldest Monday at 7 degrees. Today the kids go back to school, the college kids begin a new semester and Scott & I begin new classes. It is unusual that we all start on the same day. I usually have some quiet time to organize and prepare after the children begin school. I am looking forward to the many exciting adventures this new year will bring. There are so many possibilities. I do know that Johannah will graduate from high school and hopefully begin at BYU. All the children will advance a grade in school. The rest is a mystery to be savored and enjoyed.

New Year's Eve

2009-01-01T08:31:00.001-07:00

My family is changing as the children grow older. We usually plan an evening of food and fun before kids leave to late night activities. This year we had the food, set out buffet style downstairs and we sat together watching a movie as kids came and went to their various activities. When the movie was over we only had the two youngest children at home. We could not finish the evening without at least three fun activities. The first was a bubble blowing contest. The second was face shaving with shaving cream and a plastic knife. Kate and Andrew took turns. The third was filmed midget fun. Kate and Andrew combed each others hair, did jumping jacks and sang songs for the camera as midgets. I'm sure I fell asleep long before midnight.

Sunday Dinner

2008-12-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

I love the times my family is together. Sunday I had both my college students over, they went to church with us and we ate dinner together. The family felt so complete sitting all around my huge table at mealtime. Before we ate we took family pictures outside in front of our big beautiful bare tree. It's been more than 2 years since we have had a family photo with everyone present.

I know that this year and even this coming month will bring many new changes in my family. Nathan will move out today. He found an apartment in Tyra's BYU ward. BYU begins next week. Johannah will graduate in May. And the twins think they can get their Learner's Permits and drive. Yikes! I am glad that we can cherish this journey together.

Kate's Birthday, Christmas Eve

2008-12-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

Christmas Eve is always an emotional day for me. Ten years ago on Christmas Eve I went to the doctor for a regular pregnancy check up. Later that same day I had an emergency C-section. I had no idea when the doctor sent me to the hospital for observation that he really meant that I was going to have a baby that day. Kate wasn't due until the end of January and all my kids come late so I thought she might be born near Valentine's Day. Scott was home tending the other seven children, the oldest being 11 years old. I called to tell him the doctor wanted me to go directly to the hospital with no stops in between, all I could think about was that the Christmas shopping wasn't finished. I went directly to the hospital, but stopped in the gift shop for a moment because I hadn't yet eaten breakfast. I grabbed a snack and headed upstairs. With the large medical file in hand I gave it to the nurse in the Labor and Delivery area. She looked at the file and her eyes opened wide. She grabbed my arm and told me that I was going to have a baby today. People began rushing all around me and soon I was in a bed with an IV and nurses were padding the side rails with blankets. I asked what the purpose was for the padding. The nurse told me it was just in case I begin to have a seizure.

I don't remember exactly how it all happened but Scott arrived and delivery options were presented to us. This baby was very small not like my 10 pound Andrew the pregnancy before. This baby had stopped growing because of damage to the placenta, she was estimated to be about 4 pounds. I had known that something was wrong when I didn't seem to be growing bigger and she seemed to be less active. She was still for long periods of time. These are the reasons I went to see my doctor that week. The first time I brought all seven children with me. School was out and I had no where to drop my children off. After the nurse took my blood pressure multiple times and in multiple positions, the doctor asked me to return in 2 days without the children. That was Christmas Eve day. I didn't understand the significance of blood pressure readings at this time.

Entering the surgery room I was extremely worried, not so much about Kate (I was too ignorant to know that I should have been) but about whether or not the anesthesia would work properly. I tried an epidural with the twins, it didn't work at all. I tried it once more because of back labor, with Andrew and one side of my body became numb. I don't like hospitals, needles, and the smells associated with them. I never wanted to have a C-section. I just knew that I would feel everything. This time they would use something different and faster. The surgery room was filled with people and my arms were strapped out to my sides. The baby was delivered quickly and she was escorted out of the room.

The following minutes or hours as it seemed were the longest of my life. I suppose that the doctors were sewing me back together. It took forever and I was so nauseated. I kept heaving with every movement. Eventually I ended up in the recovery room. I can remember being freezing! When I asked about the baby I was told that she was doing better than I was. She was breathing on her own and seemed to have all the right reflexes. I was not recovering as the doctor's expected. My blood pressure did not return to normal, but remained high. I was restricted to my bed, no lights, no phone and no company. I was hooked up to a blood pressure monitor that took my blood pressure every 15 minutes. How unrestful! I demanded to see my baby. I nursed her and she did very well considering she was only 4 1/2 pounds. I relaxed considerably with her near. Finally the nurses allowed me to breastfeed her regularly.

I received injections about every 4 hours, of something to help keep my blood pressure down. Alarms went off as the drug wore off and a new dose was needed. I remained in the hospital for about a week. Kate was 3 pound and 11 ounces when we were discharged. A home nurse was assigned to visit at least twice daily to check on my condition. I was on 10 times the normal dose of beta blockers and ace inhibitors just to keep my blood pressure close to 150/100. I didn't understand at that time how close to death I had been. It wasn't until I had follow up visits with my regular doctor that I began to understand the gravity of the situation. Scott had been worried about having 8 small children, four of which would be in diapers. I could never have left my small children at that time. Of course that is if I had any say in the matter. I am grateful I was spared. My greatest joy comes from my children.

Reading Christmas Stories

2008-12-16T07:39:00.000-07:00

Last night we read Christmas stories by the light of our Christmas tree. We usually start this tradition at the beginning of December and try to read every night until Christmas. Sometimes we light a candle and the children watch the flame as I read. I bought a new book called, A Christmas Dress for Ellen, written by Thomas S. Monson. I love this book. I could hardly read the book outloud. I had to stop several times to compose my cracking voice. I think the best part of the story is that it is a true story. This book is going to be an annual tradition.

Encourage, Guide & Love

2008-12-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

“Too frequently, women underestimate their influence for good. Well could you follow the formula given by the Lord: ‘Establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God’ (D&C 88:119).“In such a house will be found happy, smiling children who have been taught, by precept and example, the truth. In a Latter-day Saint home, children are not simply tolerated, but welcomed; not commanded, but encouraged; not driven, but guided; not neglected, but loved.”
Thomas S. Monson, “The Spirit of Relief Society,” Ensign, May 1992, 101-102

I just had to post this statement by President Monson. I believe as mothers we can have such a great influence for good with our children. I like the words he used about children: encouraged, guided and loved. These are mothering words. I have tried to come up with a consise family motto. This is my rough draft: "Encourage, Lift & Inspire".

Gingerbread Houses or Christmas Boxes

2008-12-08T07:28:00.000-07:00

After years of experience making gingerbread houses with my family I have added a few short cuts to the preparation and execution of this annual tradition. I now buy multiple boxes of graham crackers, and more cans of premade frosting. We use paper plates for the foundation and plastic knives for the spreading of frosting. I buy about 10 different kinds of small candies.

This tradition has become more of a competition about who can have the biggest house with the most candy used. We should really call it Christmas Boxes. Each house is built more like a fortress with a hollow center where the candy is hidden. Who ever has the most candy with out the house collapsing is the winner. Our houses are not for decoration but for consumption within a day.

This year we had a couple extra guests who went about buliding the traditional houses. They were frustrated because the frosting wouldn't harden and hold their candies in place. No one told them the "rules". Even with frosting difficulties their houses were the beautiful.

St. Nicholas Day - December 6th

2008-12-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

Saturday we found wooden shoes filled with small treats, a candy cane and an ornament. The wooden shoes represent our dutch ancestry and the custom followed by many in central europe. St. Nicholas brings candies to good little children and coal to the rest. For our Saturday fun activity we made chocolates in molds. I love my big table! We all fit comfortably around with plenty of room for the chocolate stuff. I noticed that some children took their time and made beautifully detailed chocolates while others made a mess and smeared chocolate on each other. I had to create some rules like, no licking the molds with your tongue. You would think that I had little children that wouldn't understand the importance on not licking public things. But no, it was a 14 year old who couldn't figure out why licking was not allowed.

December 1st

2008-12-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

It's December 1st! I love the Christmas holiday! Over the weekend we put up the Christmas tree and put lights on it. The children are excited to begin reading stories around the tree tonight. A tradition we began when they were tiny. We read short stories and a few longer stories like "A Christmas Carol". I like to add to our collection every year.

Every year, I look for ways to bring "Christ" into our Christmas celebration. For this reason I am irritated by the "greedy gimmies" that seem to infect our family. I try to encourage the children to think of others (like their siblings) and what they would like to do for them, rather than what they want for themselves.

Pilgrim Party

2008-11-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a Pilgrim Party. What fun! We dressed up as Pilgrims, the boys wore button up shirts with vests and the girls wore long skirts with aprons and white blouses. We also had a Thanksgiving feast at my wonderfully large table, we ate lots of good food like turkey and ham. We played games like "ships & sailors", "pucker up" and "thankful charades". I think we spent most of the time laughing. How fun! Pictures forthcoming ;) I am so grateful for my blessings!

Where's the milk?

2008-11-24T08:52:00.000-07:00

Do you ever begin Monday morning without milk? That's a problem when at 6:30am kids want cereal for breakfast. I guess I miscalculated how much milk would be needed to get us through the weekend and Monday morning. Knowing that milk would be an issue I got up a little earlier and made pumpkin pancakes for breakfast. It would have seemed a treat, but I had also made them for Sunday morning breakfast. Some of my children are grouchy in the morning if the routine is off just a bit. The children eat while I read scriptures to them. Off they go to finish getting dressed. This morning with 2 minutes before the van leaves, one of my kids was wrapped in a towel just hopping out of the shower. How is this possible he was awake and finished eating breakfast more than 30 minutes ago? He ran to the van with shirt, shoes, backpack and lunch in hand. He just barely made it. You would think this is a rare occasion, but alas it is not. Almost everyday his exit is the same. This morning we can blame it on the milk.

Mom!

2008-11-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

"Mom I can't find any underwear!". I'ts 6:30am and the high school kids are getting ready for school. About once every two weeks one of the boys finds himself without underwear. I often wonder how this is possible. I do laundry 6 days a week. I used to wash about 20 loads a week, now with only 6 children at home I only wash about 15 loads a week. Still ... where does the underwear hide? James came up with a story once about how squirrels come into his room at night and shred his underwear. I think he has part of the story right. The underwear can be found on the floor of his room, not in the laundry bucket.

Family Fun at Thanksgiving

2008-11-20T12:03:00.000-07:00

I am planning a Pilgrim Party with my family. I spent some time this morning sewing costumes for the event. I hope Thanksgiving will take on new meaning as we learn about our Pilgrim heritage. Over the summer I discovered that we are descended from the Fuller's that arrived on the Mayflower in 1621. I love being a mom!

It's Morning

2008-01-24T06:39:00.000-07:00

I've been up since 6 am. Time to get the gang off to school. The process take about 2 hours every school day. The high school group leaves for school at 7 am. Johannah is a self starter and is usually out of bed right away. Josh loves his sleep! He has a harder time separating himself from the mattress. The middle school group leaves at 7:30 am. James is an early riser, Jacob is not. Jacob insists that he should be woken up just one minute before morning scripture study. We try to read together at 6:45 am, every morning we have a different mixture of children. The grade school kids leave at 8 am. Kate gets going, eats breakfast and takes a shower. She will even make lunch for her older brother Andrew. Andrew needs a little tender coaxing. He is such a loving snuggly child.

My older kids on on their own. Tyra lives at home and is responsible for herself. She gets up much later than everyone else. I think she planned her college classes that way on purpose. Nathan is in Texarkana serving as a missionary. He is grown and doesn't need me by his side in the morning. I'm very proud of the man he has become.

This morning it is cold (10 F) with snow on the ground. I love the light in the sky just before dawn. Everything is soft. As Josh left for school he said, "Mom, I love you!". What a wonderful morning!