Digital Citadel

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Aquarium

Last year I had a season pass to the zoo and went sixteen times. This year I don't have the pass and I have only been once so Jocee and I decided to take her two kids, Milly and Brejdan, to the zoo. Unfortunately, we were not aware that this Saturday morning was Trick or Treat at the zoo. Picture hundreds of kids lined up in costume waiting to get in, half of them crying. Needless to say, we decided not to go to the zoo and instead went to the Living Aquarium. We had to convince Brejdan that he didn't want to see the "Mountain Tigers", no they are not mountain lions, but mountain tigers. (I have never been to the Aquarium before and it was a lot cooler than I was expecting.) Brejdan had a blast. He especially liked the "Sea Racers" (or sea rays). Jillian spent the entire time texting (typical teenager). Colby came with us, he is so good with the kids. I love the photo of the two of them hanging on Colby. There were jack-o-lanterns in some of the tanks and it was funny to watch the fish eating the pumpkins. We were leaving and everyone else had gone out to the car when Brejdan noticed a parrot in a room without any kids in it and the workers there were kind enough to have the two parrots in the room go through their tricks. They offered to allow Brejdan to hold the snake or the hissing cockroach. He didn't want to have anything to do with them.

Jillian's Piano Recital

I have to admit that my sisters are amazing, all three of them. This past weekend Jocee brought her two kids and Jillian up so that Jillian could play for the Utah Music Teachers Association. She had competed earlier this year and scored a Superior +, which means she was invited to come and play. She did a fabulous job! (Someday when I learn how to use my camera I will be able to take videos to post)

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Friday, October 17, 2008

One Year Anniversary

It's hard to believe that mom has been gone for a whole year. In some ways it seems much longer and in others much shorter. We are all doing great but we do miss her a lot. She was one of my best friends and I have missed her wisdom and her wit. You never realize how much you rely on your mother for advice until she is no longer there. It is the simple things that you miss the most, like calling her up to ask her on what temperature do you cook an 11 pound roast that you need done in four hours.

What I remember most about my mother was her love of people. She loved everyone, and I mean everyone. It took forever to go anywhere with her because she would always run into at least ten people she knew, or, if she didn't know anyone she would talk to the person standing in line next to her and find some connection and they would suddenly become a good friend. She didn't know how to use the word "no", if someone was in a tight spot she would help them out, regardless of much she didn't have. Sometimes I would have to get after her because she would let people take advantage of her but, luckily for everyone, she wouldn't really listen and she never changed. I remember when I was younger I saw her putting $20.00 bills into envelopes with cards that she wouldn't sign when she knew someone was in a tight fix. What impressed me the most is she would do this when she was stressing about having enough money for one of my siblings birthday presents. If you have ever received some money anonymously, there is a good chance that she was the one who sent it.

The other thing I remember most about my mother was her courage. The first time she was diagnosed with cancer she never once whined about what she was going through. The only time she really was upset was when she lost her beautiful hair but even then she went to 'Vegas and bought several wigs where all the showgirls got their wigs. She got two brunette wigs and one blond saying "I want to know if blonds have more fun and now is my chance to find out."

The second time she was diagnosed and when she was so ill she told me how everyone kept commenting on how well she was taking it all. She said, "People don't understand why I don't say 'Why me?' Well, when you say that you are really saying 'Why not you?' and I wouldn't wish this on anyone so I won't say that." This just shows you what an amazing women she was.

I don't know that there will ever be a time that I don't miss her but I am very glad that we got an additional ten years after her first diagnosis of cancer. That was a difference of Jillian being four years old when she was first diagnosed and Jill being fourteen when she died.

While no one can replace my mother, my family is very blessed to have several "second mothers" who have been so great to help us and take care of all of us. We love all of you and appreciate you filling in since mom can't be here (you know who you are).

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Jordanne Homecoming

I realize that I am WAY late in posting this. Before we left for Hawaii Jordanne made Homecoming Royalty. She looked beautiful and dad was the proud father down on the field during the Homecoming football game. I have to admit I was impressed that all of the of the girls on the royalty,except one, were wearing modest dresses (of course the girl without the modest dress on won). Two of Jordanne's friends made the royalty also, Whitney and Sara.

Dad found out about the royalty first and the early morning breakfast, where they wake the royalty up and take them to breakfast in their pajamas, was Friday, the same day D.J. got married. Poor Jordanne was woken up early, dragged to breakfast in her pajamas and taken to school where she then had to leave to come back for the wedding festivities. She was not expecting it so it was a great surprise for her.

Jordanne's date was named Jordan also so it was Jordan and Jordanne going to the dance together. We all laughed at that. Jordan is a Sophmore and this was his first formal dance. He was a nervous wreck, it was so cute! When he was putting the corsage on her wrist his hands were shaking.

Jordan's father was being made a bishop the following day so his mother made him come back to hishouse with Jordanne so all the extended family that were visiting for the event could see her. As Jordanne came walking into the house she said, "Don't you look pretty, and your dress is modest. Thank you for being modest!" I guess she was really worried about Jordanne's dress.

I have to admit I was pretty proud of her hair this time. Jordanne showed me a music video on YouTube of Taylor Swift in "Love Story" and asked me to do her hair like that. I think I am pretty close. Of course it is not hard when she starts off as beautiful as she is.

Loads of Hawai'i Photos

As many of you know, either from hearing it first-hand from me or from reading this blog, I despise slide shows--particularly the ones with music. This won't stop Jessica from posting more in the future, but at least I can offer people the freedom to choose for themselves once in a while. I uploaded most of the photos we took while in Hawai'i. We still have three cameras (one digital, two disposable underwater cameras) to work through so there will certainly be more ... eventually. I have added captions to many of the photos, if you have questions, post a comment on the relevant photo and there's a chance one of us will post a reply.

http://picasaweb.google.com/colbyw/

More information on our adventures can be found at the following locations:
Volcano National Park
Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tours

If you so choose, you can also peruse the other photo collections. By the way, the VW Beetle is for sale.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Guessing Games

Okay, here is a game for everyone. The first one is to count how many mosquito bites I have on my leg. I stated in a previous posting that they are vicious and I mean it. I have been eaten alive like never before. This leg is the worst but the other one isn't much better.

Second, which side of this picture is the ocean and which side with the sky?