We have had a really wet summer this year. Many an afternoon, my kids have spent indoors due to the deluge of water outside. Last week, instead of complaining about the rain, we decided to embrace it. And WOW did we have fun. I think the pictures speak for themselves.
Can you guess what this post is going to be about? Our little Layton is one lean mean eating machine. You wouldn’t know it by looking at him because he is so tiny, but this child can put away the food. Notice the very fat cheeks and empty plate? His cheeks are full of the pancake that he scarfed down in less time than it took me to cook another pancake. He was so hungry that he came begging for another one. Looking at his little sad eyes you would think that he had been going without food for days and was pleading for just a little more to fill his empty belly. It really is crazy how much he can eat. Some days I think he eats more than Mandy who is twice his size!
and sat down beside her him.
Dallin thought it would be fun to make a spider and try to scare Mandy.
It didn’t work. When she found it she just grabbed it and laughed. But it’s the thought that counts, right?
This picture represents my earliest memory of childhood. I remember laying on the couch with my Big Pa. By the time I came along, my grandfather was in his seventies and was crippled so he spent much of his time lying down. And he would let me lay with him. Funny thing is, I’m not even sure this is a real memory. You know how after you have heard a story told to you over and over you get a picture in your head of that event and somehow it becomes real to you. This may be the case for this memory because Big Pa died just after I turned 2. But, because this story is special to me, I’m just going to go on believing that I really do remember it.
Even though Big Pa passed away when I was 2, as you have seen from all the posts this week, Mama Doris is still going strong. Unlike this single memory that I have of Big Pa, I have a whole lifetime of memories of her. While growing up, rare was the day that I went without seeing and talking to her. She has always been an influence for good in my life. I love her and am so glad that she is my grandmother. And for Dallin, Mandy, and Layton, she really is a GREAT grandmother.
What’s a party with out party favors? To thank all those who came to the party, we handed out candy bars wrapped in some of Mama Doris’ favorite quotes. She repeats them to us all the time. She is 90 years old and I think she has a better memory than I do!
These are some close-ups of the quotes. Many of them you have probably heard before. Do you know who said the quotes originally?
A few other quotes that she loves that didn't get put on the candy bars are:
I wept in the night for the shortness of sight
That to someone’s need made me blind
But I never have yet, felt a tinge of regret
For being a little too kind
There is a destiny that makes us brothers,
None goes his way alone,
What we send into the lives of others,
Comes back into our own
And one of my personal favorites:
Quiet people aren’t the only
ones who don’t say much.
One thing that Mama Doris is famous for is her impersonation of Minnie Pearl.
She's mighty spry for a 90 year old!
And if you don't know who Minnie Pearl is, well shame on you! No really, you can read about her here.
P.S. Sorry for the bad camera work, but Layton was sitting on my lap and he sometimes makes things a little difficult!
Mama Doris’ birthday party was the place to be last Saturday night. There were so many people there. It was fantastic. There was so much love in that room.
This is Mama Doris’ only living brother, Uncle Pete, and Aunt Caroline.
Seriously, there were so many people there. Even my brother Cliff showed up! Don’t you just love his smile? His nick name isn’t Mr. Ed for nothin’ ya know.
Can you believe that Aunt Becky and Kylia were worried that there wouldn’t be enough food because we were doing it pot luck style? Bahahahahahahahaha
If you left hungry from the party, it was your own dang fault!
Even my mother-in-law came. Whew, she’s a brave woman! I think she still might be experiencing the after affects of the culture shock!
And Jaren, this picture is just for you. Love you!
Really though, thank you for your help. And Kylia you need a huge shout out! Do you know that I didn’t even get a picture of you? What the heck was I thinking? Thank you though for all you did. And thank you to Leslie, Gyll, Gayle, Gretchen, Uncle Jon, Aunt Mary, Charles, David, Sherri, Lynn, Paul, Lori, Brian, Meris, Terah, Drew, and everyone else that helped out with setting up, cleaning up, providing entertainment, and decorations. Leslie painted this banner. Isn’t it awesome?
Simply amazing how many people were there!
The cakes looked great and tasted great too! Thanks again to Kylia!
The evening was also full of entertainment. Zach and his brother Jacob were fantastic!
So good in fact, that even Mama Doris got up and danced.
And you know my kids. They never miss any chance to dance. Just look at Mandy shaking her little booty.
One act that I really enjoyed that evening, was Paul and Lori singing “Snow White Dove”. Once you listen, you’ll understand why Mama Doris loves to hear them sing so very much. She requested this performance special. It is also rather comical because my cousin Paul is a goof and I love him!
And even though people were supposed to bring their covered dish as their gift, some people brought gifts anyway. Mama Doris loved every single one!
There was one other performance at the party that was extra special, but I think it deserves it’s own post, so stay tuned tomorrow.
