My grandparents 1-31-11

I love my grandparents.  I wish that I had all four of them still here with me, so that I could see them, and talk with them.  I never knew my dad's dad....Papa.  His name is Ellis Biggs (I love the name Ellis, if I would have had another boy, he would have been named Ellis.  Papa died before I was born.  I have heard how wonderful he was.  When I think of him I think of a gentle giant.  I'm not sure how big he was, but in my mind, I think he was big.  I knew my grandmother, Wona Nora Bellamy Biggs Hamblin ( I love saying her whole name.).  She died when I was in the 7th grade.  I will never forget that day.  Nathan came and got me from school, and when I got home mom told me, and I immediatley asked where dad was, and she said that he was in his bedroom, I was so worried for him, and I hurt so badly for him, because I knew how important grandmother was to him.  My dad is very much like grandmother.  Proper and well poised.  I  have always felt in awe of my grandmother.  She seemed like a fashion grandmother, always prim and proper, and so well put together.  She always called me Becky.  I am in no way a real Becky, but when she called me that I felt like the most important person in the world.  One thing that I remember about her is that she loved to exercise and stay in shape.  I think that's where I got my exercise drive.  She loved to take me over to see my cousins in Phoenix.  She always brought a watermelon to us when she visited us in St. Johns.  At the time she was married to my Uncle John.  He wasn't really my uncle, that was just our special name for him.  He was John Hamblin and they were married for as long as I can remember, so to me he was grandpa.  My parents went to Salt Lake for conference, and one year she met us there and it just happened to be my year to go, so I got to hang out with grandmother and uncle John.....  Priceless.  I loved the stew she always had on the stove when we first drove into Mesa on our visits there.  When I was a teenager I would never want to do anything wrong, because I knew that grandmother was watching me from heaven and I didn't want to dissapoint her.  In my prayers I would always tell Heavenly Father to tell my grandmother "Hi", and that "I miss her so much."  She may have died when I was very young, but she made a huge impact on my life.  I cannot wait to see her again, and hear her call me "Becky"

My mom's parents are Rudge and Ruth Hiatt, and I am so blessed to have them still living.  I am so glad that my parents made a huge effort every Christmas to take us to Mesa so that we could spend this special holiday with them.  When grandmother was alive we had Christmas morning breakfast over at her house with all of the cousins.  We had porkchops, eggs, and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.  Oh the memories.  I remember waking up Christmas morning, and coming down the stairs at grandma Hiatt's house to see what santa brought.  Christmas is so magical.  Grandma and Grandpa would be so happy for whatever we had received.  I always knew that I would get some sort of clothing from grandma, and I was always excited to see what it was.  I was always a bit sad when grandpa would tell us that he would have to leave to go and do rounds at the hospital, but I remember being so proud of him, and his ability to help other people.  I loved it when grandpa would get my sugar (a term used in North Carolina for kisses)  I always knew that I was his favorite.  I'm pretty sure that everyone else thought the same thing.  I loved learning to cook from grandma.  Her method of cooking was to put whatever you thought would taste good into the pot.  Yum.  I am pretty proud of some the things that I can do in the kitchen just from watching her.  We always felt so welcome at their house.  I loved seeing them in Pine, and having our reunions there.  I couldn't wait to get out of the car, because I knew that they both would be so happy to see me.  They took me to Lake Powel at least one year.  Grandma made all of the food before hand, froze it and then took it up in coolers.  Man we ate good.  I remember that we had real lazagna.  I remember every year grandma taking me school shopping.  She taught me how to take care of my clothes.  Grandma always kept up with the styles.  It was fun to have her tell me, "no that's not instyle, pick something else"  I always liked to tell people that my grandpa was a surgeon, he made me a bit prideful, but I think that could be counted at the good kind of pride.  One of my favorite things about my Hiatt granparents is to see them at our Pine reunion.  In the past they have done their Hill Billy act, which is pretty Ha-larious, but my most favorite part is to hear their testimonies, and for them to tell us how much they love us all, (and our family is humongus).  At the end of the weekend grandpa always leaves us with his blessing.  This is a memory that I will always, always treasure.  One year he sang his favorite song, and I couldn't stop crying.  I think now that I'm getting older, I appreciate things like that more.

I love both sets of grandparents.  I am so happy for the legacy that they have left me.  They all have influenced my life in a big way.  I am so grateful they have all lived their lives close to the Lord, and have shown faith in the gospel.  What they have given me, is something I hope to pass to my children.  And I'm so wonderfully blessed with parents that want to be and are being these kind of grandparents to my kids.  The Lord is so very kind. 

Here are some pictures of when my sisters and mom got to go on a quick trip to Mesa to see Grandpa and Grandma Hiatt.  Things are a bit different now that they are older, but oh so very precious I hold each moment I have with them very dear.

Love, my KidDos!!!! 1-28-11

Oh how I love my babies.  They make me laugh and they make me happy.  It is such a joy to be their mom.  I was just thinking that I should write, it's such a joy ride to be their mother, and I think that would be more appropriate, because that's exactly what it is at this casa, a joy ride.  I love it when we're sitting around the dinner table, and everyone is there and we are just chatting.  I love it when we get a little carried away and we start laughing, and then that turns a little uncontrolled.  I love it when my family plays the movie line game, because it's not just straight lines that come from a persons mouth it is pure acting.  Scott and I have often commented about how we don't even need to see the movie anymore, because we just sat through it.  We even get the singing and dancing.  I love it when I'm in the other room and I can hear the kids talking to eachother, like their talking to a best friend.  Infact that is what is happening right now with Dallin and DeWitt.  They are each making their own nutritious meal of tortilla and cheese, called a cheese crisp, and talking and saying movie lines.  Oooo I just went in to take a picture, and they were making fun of me for doing a play by play of their lives on the blog, and said that no one would want to read it, but hum.....I do:-) 

Allison is in Carefree, AZ at a tennis coaches training seminar.  She has been hired by Pima school to be the assistant tennis coach in the spring of 2011.  She is so very excited, and even better they were so very excited that she accepted.  They didn't think they would have a chance at getting the Awesom Allison Evans, miss state champion herself to coach for them.  So it seems to be a win win situation.  Allison is playing her second year for EAC.  She moved home this last semester, which I'm so happy about.  It's good to have all of my kids back together.  I know it won't last forever, so I'll enjoy it while I have it.  Allison is currently on the FHE board with Sean Williams in her singles branch.  Which is also Dallin's branch.  She and Sean plan an activity and a lesson, she has done one so far and has been a huge hit.  I picked this picture out special to put on Allison's part of this blog, I know she'll be so happy about it.

 Since I don't have a picture of Allison in Carefree, this is what she gets:-)

Dallin is one busy boy.  He is coaching 15 or so kids in tennis, he has his own business in our backyard.  Pretty convenient I'd say.  His class schedule at EAC is pretty crazy as well.  He has two night classes that are at least 4 hours long.  I pack him a dinner two nights a week to take to school, It's kind of fun playing the young mother again.  He is currently taking a temple prep class, because when he receives his call in about a week, he'll beable to go to the temple.  He is the Elders quorm secretary in his singles ward. 
 

 Dallin's dinner, lunch box

DeWitt also lives the busy lifestyle.  Today is a Saturday and he is in Tucson at regional tryouts for choir.  He loves to sing, and dance, and we love watching him in his choir concerts.  DeWitt is a starting defender for the Safford HS.  He is very good and he is so much fun to watch.  He keeps the team pepped up and excited.  The coach let him play striker in one game, and as soon as he was put in he was given the ball and took is straight to the goal and made it,  Scott and I were going crazy along with the team.  They were screaming and yelling for him, and they all crossed their hands above their heads.  DeWitt started this...I don't even know what to call it, it's like a high five of sorts.  DeWitt is working towards his eagle scout award and is pretty close.

Lillian is our computer wiz!!  She has an apple computer that was provided to each 8th grader to use during the school year.  She does most of her homework on that.  She makes the most awesome power points and video homeworks for her classes.  I have been 100% impressed.  She has been voted most creative in her 8th grade class for the year book, and she has defeniatley earned that recognition. She is on the year book staff, and she is also an office aid.  She makes her own really cool flower headbands out of material.  She uses any material she can find.  Infact she is not adverse to using clothing.  Allison had given her this really cute dress.  Allison thought she was giving it to her as a dress, but Lillian had a different image for it.  The next morning as we were sitting around the breakfast table, I asked Allison if she liked her dress on Lillian.  Allison looked at Lillian and didn't see her wearing this really cute blue and white striped thing, and so I said no, look in her hair.  Lillian looked down and smiled, and she said "I'll make you one Allison"  Allison was a little miffed, but couldn't contain the smile, and appreciate the craftiness of her sister.  One more thing about Lillian's craftiness.....She was told to make an animal cell for school, so she came home and made a cake and baked it in two different glass bowls, and then proceeded to make it look like an exact replica.  She had top ramen, and sprinkles, and tootsie rolls, umong other things.  I was simply amazed.

Our little Polly bear had another super challenging game.  They played the biggest, best team in the league.  They didn't have the refs on their side either, so Polly had to get creative.  Scott actually said that it was better for her to play good, big girls, and also to have to fight against the refs, because, she has to rely on her own skills and creativity.  She showed her stuff too.  We didn't win, but it was good.  Polly was a dribbling fool.  She was weaving all over the place, and piviting, and just making it look good.  We were happy that Grandpa and Grandma Susan, Isabel and Grandma Sherry were all there to witness the Awesomness of  Polly.  She has been sick off and on for the past two months.  I feel so bad for her, she really gets wiped out.  Finally we took her to the doctor and they tested her for mono, flu, and strep, and she had none of those thank goodness, but she still feels crummy.

Here is Polly's "feel sick" hairdo.

Some fun things going on in January 2011!!

Polly got a beenie made especially for her by grandma Susan.  She looks like a model.

I was asked by Sister Ann Woods of The Gila Valley Arizona Temple to work in the laundry.  This is my first day.  I loved it.  I didn't realize how many different ways there were to fold a towel.  I work on Firday mornings from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.  It's long, but what a place to hang out.

Scott is Polly's basketball coach for the second year in a row.  He is so good.

I don't know why, but the pictures are very blury.  Polly is such a natural at basketball.  She is very competitive, and has great movement.

Oh man, oh man this game was so very intense!!  Grandam Sherry said that she was going to have a stroke.  DeWitt kept yelling, well we were all yelling, it made it more fun.

Polly has a good support group!!

Dallin running across the court to offer support to the coach and team.

 This was the ending score, 18 to 19 we were 19 and with 3 seconds left we were all going a bit crazy.  Polly was in defending with her life, and it worked.

Now Polly gets to tell the excitement of it all.

THE DAILY DUTIES!!!  Instead of "chores"  we call our house work, "daily duties"  the kids have more fun with this and they even recite a movie line from Nacho Libre...well something about duties, so this is the kids doing their daily duties.  I guess Allison got out of them today, because I don't have a picture of her doing it.

Lillian and Polly organizing the store house.

 This is Allison on Sunday soon after her talk.  She was wearing a checkered black and white skirt, a red top and a black jacket.  She looked so beautiful.  She is living at home this semester instead of the dorms and so she changed her records to be in the Safford singles ward with Dallin.  She spoke on the 3rd Sunday about the 1st article of faith.  She did an amazing job.  She had lots of scriptures and she delivered it with ease and comfort.  I was so proud of her.

Lillian and DeWitt have gotten the crocheting bug.  This is Lillian's sock, that she is working on.

DeWitt is finishing up his scarf.

His really Awesome beenie!

DeWitt and Lillian woke up at 5:00am to go to the temple on Saturday.  The four kids go there often.  It won't be long until Polly can go, that will be such a great experience.

These are some of Dallin's mission pictures.  He is such a handsome nice looking young man.  It's hard for me to believe that he is already to this point in his life.  He will have his interview tonight Tuesday Jan. 18, 2011 and then turn his papers in tomorrow, Oh what a glorious time.  I love having such wonderful righteous children. 

Fun on a no school holiday!! 1-17-11

These pictures really should have been at the bottom of the post, but I have been so excited about blogging that I didn't even let the day finish before I blogged.  So this is DeWitt with his beenie that he was getting so frustrated with, but oh well worth the pain, it tured out so great.

Lillian practicing her mean ground stroke.

Dallin coaches tennis and so Polly and Lillian get to take advantage of his mean skills.

Our very yummy steak dinner

Sitting in the hot tub.  Dallin was taking the picture so he's not in it.

Love the fire, and that guy.  So you got to see the day backwords.

Oh the fun we have when we don't have those school people spliting our family up:-).  We really do have a good time together, and I like that about us.  Today is Martin Luther King Holiday, so thanks to him, we get a day off of school and work. Yipee.  So we took the long hike over to the "Animal Kingdom" to do some bow and arrow target shooting.  We set up boxes for the targets.  No we didn't use the chickens as moving targets as DeWitt suggested.   Here Lillian is trying her hand with the bow.  She was a super shot!

Polly takes aim

and suprised herself at her strength.

Allison has pretty perfect form.

Scott showing us his skills

Oh dear me, I think that I'm better at shooting pictures than arrows.
The stinkin string hit my arm and made me mad.

Taking a bit of a break

to push Hildago around

Allison:  "mom, why do you always stay on the side of me when you are taking pictures?"

Me:  hum...I don't know....so I don't get shot in the FACE!!"

So here is Allison demonstrating taking a picture straight on.....Scarey

 These are funny pictures, because...Scott has a compound bow, I think that what it is called, neither Dallin nor DeWitt could pull it back, so they tried together.

DeWitt was determined!

Allison gave it a shot.

Oh, but Scott succeeded!  Wow my man, he's got some strength!

Lillian is our official photographer

Allison and Polly using their dramatic side.

taking aim. 

It's a good day.  Scott and I went shopping at Safeway, one of our favorite dates.  Scott is playing Karthtic a tennis match, and we are getting ready for a steak fry.  We are going to eat by the outdoor fire and then sit in the hot tub.  Oh what a day.  I love days like this.

Since this is my journal too, I have to write something not related, but super funny.  DeWitt is sitting in the liabrary with me.  He is sitting on the couch crocheting his beenie.  He is at a very frustrating spot, and he keeps making grunting growling noises, I just ignore him, or tell him that he can do it.  So Polly walks in and right at that moment he yells "argh, I hate this, so Polly calmly says as she is walking out the door, "so quit!"  DeWitt laughed, it was classic.