Thinkin' about you today mom....

Hey - you said I didn't have any idea what you did all day long - and then I found one of your day planner pages and now I know. I believe you forgot to add..... talking on the phone! Don't worry - I'm cleaning my own basement (: Love ya. Nic

Sorta corny but true....

"Oh hey mom - is the corn ready?"
"I dunno, havta ask Eric"
"So should I plan on someday in the near future?"
"I dunno, havta listen to the racoons - they know when it's ready"
"Ok mom - see you on Monday"

And so the ritual begins - maybe - but then again you never know. Sometimes I get up there to help get the corn harvested and they already have it stripped, cooked, sliced and in the freezer. I HATE that because I always want to help do it with them! For the past 1,000 years, or so, our family has grown corn. Well, mom and dad have grown corn - enough for most of Cache Valley. We set up the tables in the shade and dad would strip the stalks and the grandkids would shuck the corn. Gma would have the big pots ready and then Gpa would sharpen his knives. He had an old white knife he would use - hardly had any metal left on it he sharpened it so much - but he could probably cut your arm off with it in one swipe! (Never argue with Gpa during corn season) (Sharpening the knife with spit and a sharpening stone is another long story....) After we cut the corn off - Gma would come out with another heaping pile of cobs and exchange it for the cut corn. The ladies on the inside would scoop the corn into perfect sized packages and also run the ice cold Pepsi out to the cutters. All of this had to be done before the flies came out or the Grandchildren would learn new words that you won't hear in PRIMARY! After all of the tables were squirted off from the corn juice, and the last big blue pot was left drying on the back porch - it was off to Hyrum Dam for swimming and then back for a hot dog roast in the fire pit. There are some memories that have burned a hole in my memory bank - I back it up and replay it often. My dad's hands are quite still, and his eyes distant, but you can get his heart beat up a tiny bit if you say - 'Dad - let's get the corn done, can I get you a Pepsi?" Mom - thanks for always planting corn - I know it's a pain - but it's a beautiful thing - and a wonderful memory.
Hot buttered corn on the cob - and lots of salt - pass the napkins!
Here's my second favorite way to eat my veggies...

Our Mom was the GRAND MARSHALL!

Well - Mendon City picked a winner this year for their 24th of July Pioneer Day Celebration Grand Marshall for the Parade. June Murray Hill Bowen - 7th great granddaughter of Alexander Hill, one of the original settlers of Mendon. Mom looked so beautiful and we were so excited that she was honored. She was riding in a velvet seated carriage with a driver (Mr. Perry - actually Bishop Perry from the Logan 17th ward). He looked amazing with his top hat on and great big smile. He really got the crowd going with "Look at this beautiful Grand Marshall!" The rest of the story is that Mom could not be found and the parade was starting in 7 minutes. We looked everywhere for her. Finally Terri said - "You might want to see if the car is still in the garage." That sent fear in my soul because that would mean that something was wrong and she was dead in the bathroom naked in the bathtub and that would NOT be a pretty sight for the Grand Marshall! When I arrived home to find the car in the garage my heart sank. But then out of the car came MOM - she had decided to take a little tiny nap while waiting for the parade to start. Pretty soon she'll be microwaving little kitties.... HELP! But non - the - less - it was the social stardom that only my mom could create in a town that loves her so very much. Congratulations mom - by the way - I do believe you are the oldest pioneer I know....

The rest of the day found Terri auctioning off her beautiful hand made quilt from the quilt guild she's from. (It was amazing!) Erin taking on the battle of the wards. Brandon starring in "7 brides for 7 brothers" at the Barn Live Theater. Eric calling out the championship games at the ball tourny. Heidi's co-ed team winning the tourny and taking home her own personal Tournament Award trophy for being so amazing. Other events were, a farmers market run in Logan for amazing bread and earings - ya weird but true. A 20 mile bike ride for Ashley and I and Ryan's first time riding - of which he was very good at! Oh, and also my 30 year class reunion from Sky View High School - Class of 78. Lyle Archibald was there - he was my first silly kiss - he now looks like President Monson - oh my. Fireworks and glowsticks finished off a perfect day. Picture perfect - mom... mom.... mom.... wake up - you are suppose to be in the freaking parade in 5 minutes!!!!!!

We love our Scotish Ancestors!

Well - it's Pioneer Day in Utah- July 24th - and only in Utah. Eat your heart out other states - but the Lord sent them here instead. (Other states were not as nice you see....) (Wait - I think we did get an official apology...) A couple of years ago I found this special headstone after looking and looking and looking in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. It is my mom's 8th generation grandfather - Alexander Hill Sr. - and his wife Elizabeth Currie. Since I live in Salt Lake and the rest of my ancestors are all buried in Cache Valley -I have adopted this headstone and sacred ground as my own. I take candles to this site on Christmas Eve - that's a freaky thing - but very spiritual as well. I take things on Memorial Day, and his birthday. I'm planting Lily's this fall and they will bloom there next year. This particular Memorial Day - there was a new plant there and I was curious to see who was also taking on MY relative. So this Pioneer Day I took our 10 generation line and laminated a card and attached it to the headstone with Red, White and Blue ties. I have included my e-mail and asked for anyone to contact me if they are related. I hope I get a response! Anyway - Mom to honor your Pioneer Heritage - I'll include pictures from that site. The Anchor on Alex's headstone represents his place in the Royal Navy - a captain of a 94 gun ship. He was a great seaman - and yet he came to the USA and was buried in the SLC desert of sort. But if it wasn't for him - I wouldn't be here.... Lucky me. I am grateful for all of their sacrifices and hope to live up to all they they would want me to be. I know - my mom has lived up to that!

60th Wedding Anniversary

Crap - could someone help me with tweeking these sideways pictures? Note... Pix is Fixed... I couldn't do it so I just posted the picture - I love this tender picture! Eric, (and Terri) and I hosted a 60th Wedding Anniversary Party for Mom and Dad. We couldn't take the rest home out of the party - so we took the party to the resthome... you know what I mean... We had so many wonderful people come to visit and reminisce. We wholeheartedly thank all those that came to share this special day. It was held on the actual day of their Anniversary - June 28th, 2008! We were a little nervous that no one would be able to come - and then the room started filling up with all of the people that our parents have loved for so many years. I'll just post some pictures - hopefully right side up... for you to enjoy.Top to Bottom: Dad's family came! Mike, Suzan, Gary and also Uncle Clair came - I just missed that picture by a minute... Uncle Bob passed away several years ago. It meant so much that their families came. Next is a picture of my mom (and dad's actually) and her best friends from South Cache High School. They are fondly known as the 'Suck and Tuck' bunch - because when they have their pictures taken they stand sideways and suck and tuck their tummies in for the picture! (I have documented proof of this..) Next is Dr. Keeler from the Utah State University Poisonous Plant lab where dad worked for the government. Dr. Keeler was a kind and loyal associate of my dad's. He was dad's best fishin' buddy and they always spent time on the lake. Next is a picture of Colleen Hardman and Jean James. Jean is my mom's right and left hand - and dearly loved by our family. Colleen is a part of the Mendon Gang that my parents were a part of - many of the gang came and supported Mom and Dad. Next is Justin and Doris, Bruce and Lottie Anderson - representing many dear friends from Mendon where our parents have lived for over 50 of the 60 years of marriage (The military had them moving for a while..) Eric is an amazing son and brother - it was a difficult day for him but his true colors of love and kindness came through and he visited with Uncle Mike and Aunt Lorraine Bowen and had a good time all around. Then - the Great Grandbaby boys, Andrew (with his mom Bethany) and Charlie (with his aunt Heidi) turned dad into a giggling silly man - Daddy LOVES babies - and he especially loves these guys. We had wedding cake and cold lemonaid for our guests and spent several hours talking, laughing and crying. Many people had not seen dad for a while - but their tears just expressed their love for him and for mom. Hey - Mom and Dad - we're proud of you! Way to go on 60 years! Our love and prayers are for the Lord to constantly watch over this love of yours.

Always - and forever...

It's not easy to gather up busy family members to have a photo shoot. Let alone at a rest home, and having grandpa whistling through out the shoot. But we did it. These are a few of my favorites and I thought mom would like to share them with you all. Mom and dad were married in the Logan Temple on June 28th, 1948. They had Eric and I (Nicole) - we both have been married to our spouses in the Salt Lake Temple. Eric has one married daughter Betsy - who married David in the Logan Temple. My son Matt married Bethany in the Jordan River Temple, my daughter Ashley married Mike in the Salt Lake Temple and Mandy married Ryan (M) in the Salt Lake Temple. Brandon has been through the Logan Temple for his mission and this fall my so Ryan (H) goes through the temple for his mission. Thank you Mom and Dad for setting the standards high - and for all of the love over the years encouraging us to stay close to the church. You were right - it is the only way. Ok - Heidi, Kate and Erin - you are next! Make Grandma and Grandpa a promise!

HAPPY PAPPAS DAY!

Ok - so it's not just Pappa's day, it's Grand Pappas day too! Just wanted to show off proof that Eric and I have spawned (with our respective spouses) 9 beautiful Grandchildren for Mom and Dad to love. We actually love them all - most of the time! As you can see - our dad is 99% in another world - but we know his heart is 100% true blue to all of us. He would always ask the grandkids, "Are you going to amount to anything?", and they would always answer, "You bettcha!" Dad - you amounted to something - you amounted to everything we ever dreamed in a dad. Happy Fathers Day! (and to the other fathers in the family, Eric, David, Del, Matt - may you all get chocolate cake today!)