Hero of Daily Life

I saw a sign the other day that said, "Dad, Hero of Daily Life." I thought that fit Carl to a "T" because, without him getting us through each day, Scott and I would be lost! I always like the month of June, because, since it is his birthday on the 19th and Father's Day soon after, I get to buy things for him that he can't tell me he can "do without." I have had fun choosing some things that I think he will like, but would never buy for himself. Nothing too big, but it is the little things that count, right?!

Anyway, Carl/Dad is the hero of our lives each and every day. Who else would:

• Get up at 4:30 a.m., shower, fix lunches, get breakfast things on the table for us, feed baby lambs, feed and water the animals, let the dog out and back in, put reminder notes of things for me to do on the table, read the scriptures, put in a load of laundry, and get to work by 6:00?


• Work hard at a job he really doesn't like that wipes him out 10 hours a day, to provide for his family for 33 years?


• Come home to feed/water the animals again, check to see if I remembered to take care of the things on my list, put in another load of laundry, thaw out some meat for dinner, fix or help to fix our meal, take care of the dishes on the days I can't convince him to let me, go mow the lawn or weed the garden or flower beds or putter outside, get Scott ready for bed, take care of my leg for 1/2 hour, take time to talk to his daughters, and THEN finally sit down for a minute to read the paper and get to bed by 9:30 so he can get up and do it all over again?


• Fill his Fridays and Saturdays with work, work, work, on the lawn, the house, the cars, etc. so they don't fall apart?


• Take turns going to church the entire 3 hour block, get dinner started, help get Scott ready for church, take us to church and wrestle Scott for an hour, dinner and dishes again, maybe get a nap in, and finally relax enough to read the paper and maybe watch some TV, take care of church responsibilities?

Whew! That wore me out just typing it! He is amazing! And rarely complains, can you believe it? Now you know why he is our hero, and why I love June. They don't come much better than my husband. I love him and honor him and pledge to take some of that load off of him this coming year. He deserves a looooooooooooooooong vacation where he can fish, hike, camp, and just sit. Hopefully he can work in more than one of those this summer. Until then, Carl, Friday and Sunday are your days, and you won't have to do anything that you don't want to! You are a great husband, father, grandfather, son, brother,and friend! You are my hero!

A "Deeeeeeeelicious" Daughter

As Michele Lee, my baby (always have been, always will be!) turns 23 years old, it makes me look back on all the joy that she has given to us through the years! She was born during a hard time in our life, when we were traveling back and forth to American Fork every weekend to pick up Scott on Fridays and then to return him on Sundays so Dr. Madsen could continue trying to decrease his seizures. (That's a whole other story!) Anyway, we did that for one year, and lo and behold in the middle of that year, our sweet little Michele was born!

I remember when you were born and Dr. Mortensen announced that you were a girl...I said, "She can't be!" and he said, "Well, you can come and look at the plumbing if you want to!" I was sure you were going to be a boy, and then we would have 2 and 2...but that isn't the way it turned out and, boy (hee, hee) are we glad! You have always been such a joy to us! When I first looked into your dark brown eyes, and saw all of that black hair, I fell in love with you, and have been ever since!

The only problem was, that we didn't have any girl names picked out. You were going to be Jonathan, but that obviously wouldn't work. While I was in the recovery room and your dad was upstairs waiting in my hospital room, we both were trying to think of what to name you. One name came to me, and I even had a middle name ready when I was wheeled to my room. Dad had a name ready, too, that he had seen on the plastic hospital bag with lots of boy and girl names on it. Guess what? We had each picked out the same name!!!! I couldn't believe it...and so you became Michele Lee a couple of hours after you were born.

Right away you fit into our family. Scottie called you "Baby" and still does! Your big sisters loved to hold you and take care of you. You were the icing on the cake of our family. I can't tell you how much happiness you have brought to us, in a time that we really needed some laughter! You were always hilarious and said the funniest things. A few that I remember well, I will share here. Maybe your sisters could add some in their comments!

When you were barely old enough to talk, we were all at the dinner table eating, and all of a sudden you looked at me and said with a huge grin..."This is deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelicious!" I wish I could remember what you were eating at the time so I could fix it for you on your birthdays!

Another time, once again at the kitchen table, you were cracking us up with all your funny sayings, and I said to you "Where did you come from?" and you just looked at me and said matter of factly "Shopko!" What a hoot you are!

And then there is the famous time that you made all of Lewiston laugh. You remember it, but I think we should share it here with our readers, don't you? We were on our way to Bear Lake with the van all packed with the swimming and picnic gear. There was hardly room for us all, but we managed to pack everything and everyone in. You, being the smallest, got the honor of sitting in the middle of a blown up inner tube shoved in the back (this was before the seat belt laws were in effect). We had to stop at Theurer's market for something at the last minute, and Dad ran in to get it. It was a hot day, so we had all of the doors open to keep us cool while we waited. All of a sudden, from the back of the van, and at the top of your lungs, you yelled "I'm constipated!" We all turned and looked at you and then started laughing until we cried. It took us a minute to realize you meant that you were "claustrophobic." I still laugh until I cry every time I think of that!

Thanks, Shelly, for being such a wonderful daughter, sister, niece, aunt, wife, and now mother. All of us are so lucky to have you in our family. We love you forever. Don't worry when Dad says that he wonders if Shopko has a return policy. We won't let him send you back! You are a keeper!!!!!

Kelsey Marie Sisson...You Are GREAT!

It is Kelsey's 11th birthday coming up on Tuesday, June 9th, and I wanted to tag all of you who read my blog and who know Kelsey to say a few words to and/or about her! So, tag, you're it !Please make comments here:):


To my beautiful Kelsey,
You were my very first grandchild and I was so thrilled when you were born! You have been a joy to me since you were born and I know that you will always bring happiness to my life. I remember when you were a baby, you didn't like to be cuddled too much in my arms....darn it....but, I soon learned you liked to be held facing out so you could see everything that was going on! We loved having you come for a visit last summer and we will have many more of those times in the next few years! You have always had a special bond with your Uncle Scott, and he sure does love you! It has been hard for us to have you live so far away....Germany, Washington, and now North Carolina, but Utah is in your blood and will always be here for you!

Grandpa, Scott and I love you and can't wait to see you again. Until then, keep being happy beautiful, and terrific! Happy Birthday!

Advice From a Ladybug

Spot new opportunities.
Spend time in your garden.
Be well-rounded.
Enjoy the wonders of nature.
Don't let the small things bug you!
Keep family close by.
Be simply beautiful!

Some Very Interesting Facts about Ladybugs for Those Who Care!:

*There are nearly 5,000 different kinds of ladybugs worldwide and 400 which live in North America.
*A female ladybug will lay more than 1000 eggs in her lifetime.
*A ladybug beats its wings 85 times a second when it flies.
*Ladybugs chew from side to side and not up and down like people do.
*A gallon jar will hold from 72,000 to 80,000 ladybugs.
*Ladybugs make a chemical that smells and tastes terrible so that birds and other predators won't eat them.
*The spots on a ladybug fade as the ladybug gets older.
*Ladybugs won't fly if the temperature is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
*The ladybug is the official state insect of Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Take a Look

I just got my new bed frame and armoire set up. Thought you might like to see what it looks like. I've been waiting a long time to get our bedroom set up differently and now I am on the way. I will add new pictures as it all evolves. Would love to hear what you think of it!

South to Utah!

Our northern family from Alaska came south for a visit this month! What a great time we had, getting to know our little twinners and to see Jenny & Devin! Thank you, thank you, thank you for coming to share with us. The only thing that would have been better would have been if the North Carolina troops had been with us....don't give up---the day will come when we will all be together in one place again!!!

We had some great memory makers during the 2 weeks they were here. We found out that twins draw a BIG crowd! We've never had so many visitors: Mark & Bodell Esplin, Grandpa Pehrson & Lois, Janice, Kathleen, Grandma Hartley, Aunt Roberta, Cousin Becky Story, Cousin Clarissa Pehrson...to name a few! After 2 parades, a picnic up the canyon, shopping sprees, celebrating Mother's Day (Jenny's first!) and Devin's 29th birthday, and bottle feeding 2 little lambs...whew...we couldn't have packed more into those 2 weeks. And we found out what Jenny & Devin's favorite midnight treat is...Casper's ice cream!

Little Lindsey & Dylan are as precious as they look in their pictures! Lindsey learned how to roll from her back to her stomach...with Dylan getting ready to try it when he gets home. They nursed Dylan through a UTI (urinary tract infection) the first few days he was here, and I think we sent them off getting ready to get their first teeth! All together it was a wonderful time with lots of laughter and not enough game playing, but good times! Can't wait for the next visit at Christmas!





















There is nothing greater than the love that we have for our family members, whether near or far. We love all of you and treasure the times that we can have together!

Being a Joyful Mother of Children!

Today, on this day of days for mothers everywhere, I want to honor the mothers in my life. First of all, my special mother who has been a solid rock for me all of my life and a great example of what motherhood means through all the stages of life. I drew on many of the ways that you raised us, Mom, as I was raising my own children. There's a few things I stayed away from, but I think that is what life is about also, taking the best from your own experience and building on it so that each generation gets better and better. So it is a true saying that "Home is where your story begins." Thanks for a wonderful beginning, Mom. I love you.

And then I want to thank Carl for being the father of our children and supporting me in trying to be the best mother that I can be. Motherhood only got better with each new baby added to our family. And, although there are many trials involved in raising children, there is so much more joy. Each stage of motherhood is so fulfilling. I think I am going through each one at the same time now...mothering, nurturing and caring for Scott; observing, supporting, and encouraging my grown daughters who are now mothers; playing, loving, and adoring my grandchildren. Motherhood is the greatest joy I can think of.

Watching my own daughters and sons-in-law love, care for and raise my grandchildren is yet another joy of motherhood. What great mothers they are!! Their children are very, very lucky! What I want to say to them is take the best of how you were raised and then build on it and become the best mothers that you can be. Just think down a few generations and we can build exemplary mothers of our great-great-grandchildren! Most of all, sweet daughters, be "joyful mothers of children!" I love you!