Age

What is the big deal about asking someone their age? I don't get it. Today I asked someone their age and it was a big deal- I don't know why. Recently I was at my parents house and the topic of "going back to re-live the old days" came up. My brother Mark asked me if I would like to go back to any certain time in my life. I told them that I love getting older. I love that every year my kids get older and funner, I love that I have had another year of experiences to give me more compassion and understanding for others and what they are going through. I love that every year I feel more in control of my future. I love getting older. I am not ashamed of my age and don't think I ever will be. It is part of who I am. The funny thing is anytime someone asks me how old I am- I can't remember. Maybe it's the Alzheimer's setting in.

Lamb day

Gordon, Eleanor, and Jacob at the parade.

Eleanor asleep at the parade.

Isaac ready with his bag to get some candy.

The fire engines. Bridie, Jacob, Adaline, Aiden, and Isaac.

Aiden, Terry, Anson, Gordon, Eleanor, Jacob, Julia, Bridie, Isaac, Ashlyn, Adaline and Elle.

We had another great year at Lamb Day. The parade was just right. Not too hot, lots of candy for the kids and short. We had lamb burgers. This is a weekend we look forward to all year.

James and Matthew's posts

David and Marilyn created a blog a long time ago for my family. Unfortunately nobody used the blog (except for a few entries, some of which are below) and David for got the passwords so the blog is now junk. I wanted to transfer these entries over to my blog so they could be enjoyed. I love to read my kids writing. They are quite good.

The war of whipping cream, James' story

What you are about to hear is the story of a boy, no a man who had to take up arms (whip cream bottles) in defense of his honor his pride and the peace of cloth on his back he called a shirt. This is not the story for the faint of hart. It started with the usual mutual night activity going to the city park. There a boy named James had a good time playing volleyball and soccer. After a fun day of the sports he became hungry and with a group of boys went over to the pavilion for some ice cream. Little did he know that he was about to take part in an event so deadly so intense it had a 100% casualty rate. Once James arrived at the spot he found the ice cream and began to scoop. After filling it fuller than full he proceeded to look for the person with the whip cream.
Finally finding her he politely asked for some of her whipped cream. She nodded and said yes politely, but little did James know he was about to become the first victim of a tragic event that stretched endlessly though the night. After filling James' bowl to the proper proportions she then proceed to move along up his arm covering it in whipped cream. Surprised and shocked James went to find some napkins to clean up. Just then James' own teachers quarm adviser had that exact same lack of service done to him. He responded by taking up a whip cream bottle and spraying all who passed by. Unfortunately the Laurals who were well prepared ( and probably planed this dastardly crime) took out their own sets of whipped cream. The battle under the pavilion was short and destructive. James lifted his ice cream threatening to throw it at all who passed by. Soon the battle moved out to the south of the pavilion. James realized that he was doing no good with just his bowl of ice cream and grabbed a nearly spent whip cream bottle and joined the frey. He first attacked one of his fellow teachers quarm friends. He first came up and drained his whip cream down the kids neck severely damaging (not really) his shirt. After the attack the kid began to chase James trying to repay the favor. Fortunately James was much quicker and evaded his shots of whipped cream easily. James next target was the teachers quarm adviser that started the battle. After surprising him James realized that he was running out of amo and was plastered by the frothy cream.
The scene was chaos. Friend turned on friend sibling on sibling. James ran through the mess dodging rapid fired whipped cream. In search of a weapon he was slapped on the back by a hand full of the sticky substance. Out numbered and out gunned James made an ally with one of his friends. They both had a score to settle with the hand of whipped cream and it's owner so the made an ingenious plan. They got two cups each filled them to the brim then attacked the owner of the whipped cream hand. After that they split up to cover more ground. James was ambushed by a deacon wealding a (you guessed it) whipped cream bottle. After laying a cheep shot to the back James rolled to the ground to find that centrifugal force had kept the remaining water in his cup. With the flick of a wrist the enemy was vanquished. James returned to the pavilion to find every one and I mean everyone covered in whipped cream and ice cream. In the distance he heard Matthew get his revenge then the battle stopped. Everyone cleaned up then they left to the cars this event to be left at the pavilion in the park.

The End.

True Story




P.S.
Matthew cried. Just kidding.

The war of whipping cream, Matthew's story

Today started like another boring day but little did I know that I was going to be part probably of the biggest ice cream and whipping cream fight in the world. So this is how it all started. I went to mutual and we were going to Mapleton city park we played volley ball and hung out, after a while we went to get cotton candy and ice cream and that's where it all started. all of a sudden the leaders were on our back it was crazy. They started squirting whipping cream at us but we ran away, luckily I found my own weapon, a whipping cream bottle that had not been opened. Quickly I got revenge with the leaders, but some of the kids started fighting free for all, everyone was being attacked and attacking. The only words to describe this was INCREDIBLY CRAZY . Then I got attacked by a girl I got whipping cream all over in my eye's it stung, but I had to get revenge, quickly I got my bowl of ice cream, caught her and smothered her in it. REVENGE IS SWEET. I got the bowl and twisted it in the back of her hair. Then ran away. Just to tell you this fight was not the only fight going on other people had their own fights. I quickly got another bowl but the Ice cream was liquid now PERFECT, I thought without sarcasm I kept chasing her but a teenage boy was about to attack me I had to book it, but I spilled my melted ice cream along the way, I was running back to shelter to get more ammo, but they were out of ice cream and whipping cream, water, I thought. The fight was almost over and almost won for me. I quickly filled up a cup of water because in war you never know when your being attacked. By then I was drenched in whipping cream and ice cream so whenever I was about to be drenched by someone I just didn't care about getting soaked any more. I was cornered by bowls of ice cream. I just whacked the bowls down on to their shoes and ran off, because I had my own war to win. The person I wanted revenge on had a 'bowl of ice cream, but I still had my cup full of water and since water has more rang than ice cream you can guess what I did, soaked her. I had won the war. I decided not to give her any more of what I had, thus ending the war so I hid behind James for cover until we left, got in the car and drove home. Boy I had a story to tell.

By: Matthew
P.S.
no body cried, luckily.

Monday, April 26, 2010

The daily drill of James Harkness

My day starts around 6:30. I put my alarm on snooze and stay in bed till around 7:15. By then I look at the alarm clock and hurry to get dressed and fed before 7:45 when I have to leave. At school I drop my violin off at the orchestra room. 8:00 school starts.
My schedule is Chinese, Algebra, English, PE, Orchestra then LUNCH. After a not so satisfying lunch (Usually some three year old greasy french fries and a shapeless hamburger) I go to History then Science. After that I walk home and practice my violin and do any homework. I then look for entertainment like jumping on the tramp hanging out with friends or doing some odd project. Soon after I finish my homework we have dinner after that it's off to shower brush teeth and go to bed.
I wrote this in hopes that someone may find joy in my dull life. Just kidding but I will be expecting to hear from you (my cousins) soon.

Farewell!

Back to school

This week end all of the aunts and uncles came over for Athena's wedding. They all left at the end of the week end. And now we have to go back to school there are a bunch of kids that are popular jerks and some nice friends. there is a lot of gossiping about who broke up with whoever. Some of the kids have real problems like once I saw this one girl crying because she found out that her boy friend didn't like her. Well thats how life goes at school.

From: Matthew

Bridie lost her fingernail.

Bridie showing off her finger without the nail.

Bridie's finger.

Bridie lost her fingernail. Jacob tried to close the back door and Bridie's finger got in the way.

David's family came to visit.

David and Mark on the roof, trimming the trees in fountain green.

The kids watching David and Mark.

Matthew, Grace, Eliza, Adaline, Parker, and James telline ghost stories. The boys slept on the tramp and the girls slept in the tent with Jasmine as their guard dog.

David, Ben, and Gordon on their hike. They started together, but ended with Ben being sent to his room. David sang "I need thee every hour". Gordon sang "Come, Come ye saints".

Julia was a trooper. She stayed the night with her kids and came with us to Cascade Springs. She has morning sickness and hold a bowl to her mouth the whole way down the canyon.

Peter, Bridie, and Katherine

Grace, Katherine, Jacob, Michael, Matthew, and Isaac hitting the batman pinata.

Matthew, Parker, Isaac, Grace, Michael lighting fireworks.

Isaac, James, and Michael at Cascade springs.

James and Eliza at the 4th of July parade.

We have such a good time when the DeBry's come to visit. We stayed up way too late, got up early and went, went, went all day. It's going to take me this week to catch up. We really miss them. Mark and Julia's families cam at different times. I con't think we could have had a funner time.

Swim meet

Matthew

Adaline

Isaac

Matthew, Adaline, and Isaac are all doing swim team this year. This was at a meet against Lehi. We didn't get home until 11 and it started at 7 am. Isaac and Matthew both got ribbons.

Baseball

Isaac

Isaac and his team

Isaac played baseball this year and did great. There just happened to be a bunch of kids we knew on his team. His coach was the best coach any of my kids have ever had. He was so kind and positive and taught the kids great sportsmanship. The mothers and I would have therapy sessions during the games. It was a great season. He sure is an athlete.

Photo shoot

Eleanor

Bridie and Eleanor

Adaline

Bridie

Adaline, Bridie, and Eleanor

My friend took some great pictures of the 3 girls. Everything went great. Even the baby that never naps fell asleep and we were able to get some asleep pictures.