What's So Funny?

Have you ever gotten the giggles?  I don’t know if that is the best way to phrase it, but I’m talking about when you can’t stop laughing and you’re not even sure what is funny.  I have had this happen to me several times and it's usually when I’m overly tired.  

The worst is when it happens in church.  I know it’s happened probably a handful of times in church but only two clearly stand out.  Once, I was about 18 or 19 and in a singles ward, meaning everyone was about my age or a little older.  A speaker was talking about his trials and even though I knew it wasn’t funny I started to giggle.  My best friend was sitting by me and absolutely no help what so ever.  She felt, rather than saw, me laugh and she started laughing too.  Pretty soon we were both shaking with laugher and I can tell you there was nothing funny but the harder I tried to tell myself that, the harder and louder we shook with laughter.  Pretty soon everyone was turning and giving us dirty looks, which should have made us shrink with shame but instead we laughed all the harder.  It was so embarrassing and I finally had to get up and leave while everyone was glaring at me.

The second time was about a year or so ago, so age 40.  I was sitting with my kids in sacrament meeting during the summer.  We had been staying up late and had woken up early for church.  My mother-in-law was visiting and was sitting by the boys. I could hear the boys laughing and drawing attention to themselves.  The speaker kept looking down at them and it didn’t help that we were on the fourth row.  My mother-in-law was beside herself and so I decided to handle it.  I had everyone slide over and I sat in between Seth and Jeb.  I don’t think I even lasted a minute before I made the problem worse.  Before long, all three of us were shaking with mostly silent laughter.

My mother-in-law, irritated and probably embarrassed, leaned over to Jeb and said, “Well, you won’t think it’s so funny when you are scrubbing the driveway with a toothbrush.” Clearly trying to scare him into good behavior. 

Without so much as a blink, Jeb whispered only for me and Seth to hear, “Only if I’m using your toothbrush.” 

Now, I know I shouldn’t have laughed, but I was a goner.  I felt so bad for the speaker and even felt remorse for those sitting close enough that they had a difficult time hearing the speaker, but when one guy in the front row turned around and gave us a death glare, I had not one ounce of regret. 

You see, this same guy puts on his own show every Sunday while sitting in the front row.  He “massages” his wife’s back in a way that makes you uncomfortable enough you want to look away, but has the same affect as a car wreck, you keep glancing to check for wreckage.  The worst is when I witnessed him EAT HER HAIR! Yes, he put a clump of hair into his mouth and chomped on it!  I was thoroughly entertained and appalled.  He has also eaten a sandwich behind a hymn book on the stand when he thinks no one is looking and when he was leading the music for the primary program he was so outlandish in his body and hand gestures no one knew which show to watch; the primary program or the one he was putting on, so yeah, I didn’t feel the least bit bad.

The reason I bring this all up, or that it is even on my mind, is because this same fit of giggles also happens now and again at bedtime.  Last night as Brett was trying to sleep because he has early work, I just started laughing.  For a good full minute I didn’t even make a sound but my entire body shook with mirth.  I would try to stop and tell myself I was not funny and I needed to stop and then I would snort or just start laughing again.  Brett, bless his heart, just looked at me with part humor and mostly confusion on his face. 

When I was finally done getting it out of my system he said, “You are so weird.”  I love that man!  I try really hard to be a good wife but even I know that sometimes I’m weird.  I love that he knows that and loves me anyway, and in some cases loves me more because of it.  

The little things

                                                 Our first cousin sleep over!
We had these two darling girls of Pam's send the night at our house, and oh how fun!  They were such a joy to have at our house and to visit with.  They had a late night of playing and watching movies and then while I had obligations Saturday they decorated these beautiful cakes to take home.  I hope they know how much we love them and enjoyed having them!  Hopefully this was the first of many sleepovers!
On a side note, last night was my favorite church activity!  I look forward to it all year, March Madness! It is so fun to play 2 on 2 basketball with the youth and adults!  I am not very good, but boy, I have a blast!  This year I got pair with a youth who did great and a women who actually knows how to play really well and she made several shots.  It was so fun and I decided I should go out and shoot with my kids once in a while so I can actually contribute more to my team. :)

A Good Deed?

Yesterday I took my 10 year old daughter, Kaze, shopping for some new shoes.  We were on our way home and passing through Molalla when we came to a stop.  Several cars were backed up, so I strained to see what was causing the stand still.  Three cars up I could see an older lady in a wheel chair trying to cross the street.  For whatever reason, she wasn't using her arms, just the tips of her toes to try and propel herself forward.  She was moving very slowly and it took her probably two minutes to get across the street.  I felt impressed to help.
As soon as the traffic started moving again, I drove a few feet and parked on the side of the road.  I told Kaze to lock the doors once I got out and I ran to the lady who was now stuck in the middle of the next cross walk trying to turn up the street.  I asked her if I could help, and she said yes.  
I began pushing her in the direction she indicated and asked her name and a little about herself.  I am a pretty fast walker so before too long we had gone five blocks.  As we started a new street she yelled out to a friend who came back and talked to us and he agreed to take her where she was headed.  I talked to them both just a little longer to make sure they were all good, and then I turned to head back to my daughter.  
As I turned and saw my van several blocks back I realized my parking job was less than stellar.  I was also further from my daughter than I felt comfortable with, so I started to jog back to her.  When I got in the car, Kaze turned to me and said, "Mom you are the nicest person I know." It made my day and made me happy I had helped.
Later that night, I called Brett to see if he would be on time or be working late.  He asked how my day had been and I related the above story.  Suddenly he started laughing.  My husband is a sheriff deputy and apparently I had been called in.  The report stated; suspicious behavior, a teenage girl was seen walking very briskly pushing an elderly women in a wheel chair for several blocks.  After walking a long time, she pushed the women in the wheel chair to a curb and turned around and ran away.  No report of a third person coming to take her or of me having a conversion with them both, or me hurrying back because I had a daughter in the car.  NOPE. So the moral of this story... from far away... I look like a teenager.

9 months, 1 post

Well because once again I have waited several months to post anything I am just checking up in pictures.  The boys both went duck hunting with Brett a few times, as well as fishing and deer hunting.  Jeb got his first Elk and a deer and Seth unable to go elk hunting but did go deer hunting go a deer.  We have plenty of wonderful meat in the freezer that we have been enjoying.  Seth and Jeb are so much like their Dad.  They enjoy everything about the outdoors.  They love camping, hiking, the beauty of it and yes, the hunt and bringing home the meat.  

 Christmas was wonderful this year.  We went to Utah for Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time with family.  Janey moved to Utah in the summer of 2017 so it was so fun to be with her and celebrate my favorite holiday.  Her Uncle Brian and Aunt Sandi have been so good to let her live with them. She loves them and loves it there.  She also gets spoiled!  They took her and their darling daughter to New York in December and enjoyed plays, movies, shopping, eating out and a limo ride to the air port.  Janey was livin' the dream!

 While we were in Utah for Thanksgiving, Brett and I were able to attend the banquet for Janey's volleyball team.  It was fun seeing her be honored and we were so glad we got to be there for it.

 These were the only two pictures I got from our entire Utah trip!  I am horrible about remembering to take pictures!  I only remembered to take the one of Janey at the banquet because every other mom had their phones out and finally the light bulb went off in my head.
The photo below was on our way home and it dawned on me that I had not taken any pics of such a fun trip... so I pulled out my phone.  I think I got a ready great one for only getting one though!

 In early November we were blessed to be visited by my beauty sister and her amazing husband and stunning son and wife.  It was to celebrate the birthday's of both Shide and Chloe's birthdays. We felt so honored that they chose to come see us for their trip!

 Seth and his deer

 Jeb and just one of his many fish

 Both boys played football and love it.  It was Seth's sophomore year so he played for the high school which is also why he couldn't go on the elk hunt with his dad and brother.

Along with everything else, Jeb loves to bake and is quit good at it. He bakes everything from scratch.

 Kaze's Halloween party at school

Best husband and father award goes to....

After just having our anniversary and now Father's Day around the corner I guess I have really had the chance to focus on my awesome husband and other great men.  I am blessed in my family with six incredible brothers and a terrific Dad.  Then my family grew.  As five of my sisters got married, I was blessed with 5 more great examples of how a husband and father should be.  

When I got married myself, I never dreamed I would marry into a family I got along with and loved as well as my own.  Luckily, my husband's father was one of the best and he produced equally great men.  I being blessed enough to marry one of them.  I love these guys (and the women in his family too)! Not all are showed in this picture because there are more men in his family not in the picture, but nonetheless, I love this picture and the guys in it. 

 Just one of the things I love about Brett and my brothers, brothers-in-law is the fact he takes them camping and hunting.  Often times I stay home and do my projects and this is just his time with the kids. The following pictures are from those trips.

 Oh, and we can't forget the fishing trips... :O

 Duck hunting to bear, Brett loves to include his kids.  I also love how he works with them.  Brett is the gardener and canner in our home.  He is awesome about getting the kids working with him and making it fun.  I can't tell you how many times I have come home to an assembly line with them cutting up a deer they killed, canning pickles or asparagus, or weeding or planting the garden.  He give them chores but most of the time, he's in the thick of it all doing the work right along side them.  It's my believe that's why they all love and respect their Dad.

19 years BABY!

 This past Saturday marked our 19th Wedding Anniversary.  I was surprised by Brett with a trip to the coast.  It's funny because for our whole marriage, we've said we are going to do something for our anniversary.  Then we never do.  It was either too expensive to get away, or it was during a hunt, or the kids were involved in something and we didn't want to miss it.  Sometimes it was just poor planning.
Not this year!  About 5 days before our anniversary, I said to Brett, "Well, we can just hang out at the house and maybe go to dinner or something."
Brett answered, "Oh no we are not.  I made reservations in a hotel at the beach three weeks ago."  I was so excited.  We were actually doing it.  Leaving the house and taking a trip planned by us.  We have been doing couple trips for the past several years but that is because they are planned by my family for a couple retreat.  This year Brett's side did one and we went to Hawaii (I wasn't complaining:) To do a trip all on our own though, initiated by us... first time.  It was so fun! And so worth the cost, time spent, missing some games (sorry kids) etc, etc...

I loved every minute with my best friend.  We kind of looked at each other and said, "why have we never done this?"  Plus, he got a nice hotel and so now we want a new bed.  That one put ours to shame.  We slept better than we have in years. Of course, that could just be that we had no kids there to wake us up. :)

We went to Cannon beach on the Oregon coast.  There are several fun shops that are quaint and charming.  I bought chocolate at pretty much every candy shop just to compare and I would say Schwietert's won.  There chocolates were not only better but bigger, and less expensive.  The Chocolate Cafe did not impress on taste but was a cute store to visit nonetheless, and Bruce's Candy shop was a fun place visit and where we bought candy gifts for our kids.  That is my candy/chocolate review.

I am kind of a food/treat lover so for those of you that also enjoy that sort of thing,  those are my thoughts.  Since I haven't totally left the topic, I should add that we ate dinner at Wayfarer.  Although the menu was fairly limited and had some pretty expensive items, it was delicious and we got out of there cheaper than I thought we would and completely stuffed.  We both had dessert and it did not disappoint.

I can't end this post without including just how grateful I am to the man I married.  He takes such good care of me and his family.  I feel adored and appreciated.  I can't express how wonderful that feels and how blessed I realize I am.  I use to just assume that all married couples were happy and got along great.  I naturally considered that they talked about everything and relied on each other.  I figured the husbands loved and respected their wives and treated them tenderly.  I knew of course, couples got divorced, but I would almost always be surprised when I heard of someone I knew who did because in my eyes they were happy.

As I have aged, I admit I'm still a little naive, I recognize life is not always as it seems.  I have learned to appreciate my relationship even more and work harder to keep it strong.  I love flirting with my husband, having date nights, teasing him, and being his confidant.  I love him more now than I ever have, and that's saying something.  I even get excited when he comes home from work.  I am sure this is largely due to watching how my mom always treated my dad and how my sisters treat their husbands.  I want to be an awesome wife.  I want to pamper my husband and have him feel as important to me as I feel to him.

With this being said, I know it's not easy and it does take patients, mistakes and work.   I pray though that I can be an example to my daughters as my husband is surely an example to our sons.  I hope that one day after choosing well, they will look back and be grateful for a strong, healthy marriage and say, "I knew what it was suppose to look like and how to get it because of you."
I know that is how Brett and I feel about our own parents.  To Brett, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BABE! I LOVE YOU!

 I was not smart enough to pack sunglasses, but with the lack of sun we have had this year... who can blame me.

 a classic Brett face. :)

 view from our hotel window.

 notice he is on the far right.

 I am directing where Brett should stand to take a good picture of the flowers, but he's not listening.

see how cute the stores are?

Brett and I go to Hawaii!

This is our first time to Hawaii and we LOVED it!  Most of Brett's siblings went for his mom's 80th birthday.  I have to say, what a great way to celebrate.  We all had so much fun together.  We went to the big island. There, we played at the beach, did some sight seeing and walked through the rain forest.  One morning when I went jogging there were wild turkeys in the middle of the road holding up traffic.  It was so funny.  It wasn't as funny when I went jogging by a driveway that was blocked by shrubs and a turkey gobbled so loudly next to me I would have jumped a few inches if I could even jump that high.  (note about author, she can't jump)

Above and below are some great pictures I took of Brett with some of his siblings.

This was one of the places we toured. I would totally note the location, but I'm going to be honest with you.  I don't really go for the history and knowledge of it all.  I go for the fun and beauty.  It's not that I don't want to learn at the same time, just that type of information doesn't sink in.  Now if you want to know where we ate lunch and what I ate, sure.  Btw, if you do go to Hawaii and they have a place called "Broke Da Mouth" I highly recommend eating there.

The above pic is of my wonderful sister-in-law (you can really leave the in-law part off), Diane.  I love her and we always have a great time together.

These two beauties next to me are Tara and Anja, my other wonderful sister-in-laws.  We all had so much fun together and Anja kept us in the know with the good places to eat and the local lingo.

                        Us in front of a structure :). Actually, I believe it was considered their temple.

                                                        walking threw the rain forest.

                                          Brett's mom (middle) and four of his siblings.

Great- nice bum sitting on my shoulder.  :) But this was one of my favorites of us three because we had been laughing and we still look so happy.

                                                The house we stayed in.  It was beautiful

Speaking of beautiful... We visited the grounds of the LDS temple while we were there.

Captain cook's monument.  We hiked down to it.  It was a fun little 2 mile hike.  The water was gorgeous there and so clear.  It was a great place to snorkel.  You can see Brett in the water here.

We went out to eat almost every night and several times for lunch too.  I will say one of the best things about the trip was trying new places to eat, new foods and enjoying every one's company.

The day before we came home, Janey had Winter Formal.  This is a picture with her best friend above and her date, Dawson, below.

Jeb had a basketball game we missed will we were gone.  This is his second year to play and it's fun to see the improvement and confidants this year.

He made this shot, btw :)

Just last weekend, I flew to Salt Lake City to celebrate my mom's 80th birthday.  All my sisters and sisters-in-law came, so there were 14 of us.  We had such a wonderful time hanging out and going to Women's Conference together at the Conference Center.

This is my amazing and beautiful Mom.  I love her with all my heart and admire her more than I could possibly put into words.  I would love to be more like her and love spending time with her and talking to her almost everyday.  Pretty much I feel like a very bless lady, having such a mom.

I know by this post I sound like a bum, going to Hawaii and Salt Lake.  I will just put this disclaimer; I don't really go places often because I'm kind of a home body, but I sure wasn't complaining!