Winters in Utah...

Is it safe to come out yet ? April will be here in about 30 hours (red-flag number one ) and I am not feeling Spring. I have been on 4 trips to sunnier climes since New Years . I have no true desire to ski or frolick in the snow. When I am home I hibernate and like it. Church members think I am inactive and friends see me as a social misfit. Yes I am taking my zoloft. No I am not suffering from depression. Anncy-oh yeah. Here is the thing..nice,warm temperatures are in my . I can't deny it and ,worse, I can't seem to change that. Allright it is more than weather. I am a California at heart. Yeah I know the 50 birthday thing is right around the corner and I have been pondering over lots of items. But I am not all freaked out over it, honestly it is just another day,another birthday, another fragment in my life. And if the genes that run through my make-up and family tree have anything to say about it, I am just half way around the track!! I grew up where sunshine ( not to be confused with 100 degree heat ) made me happy. Winter was rain storms. Sandals could be worn 10 months out of the year. Accacia trees bloomed in February. Evenings were mild. Everything was mild. Oak trees on softly rolling hills, covered in green grass. The very though makes me want to cry. I love the mountains here, I truly do..but they don't have fog rolling over them! Am I homesick? No, that really isn't the case. Home is my little family of 11 these days. For the past 25 years,and I am more than happy with that ( so don't go reading something that is not there between my lines!) so what am I searching for ,rambling on about ? I want moderation in my life, moderation in everything. It is not all about the weather..it is like the weather.

Tagged Again..

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8 Favorite TV shows

1.No Reservations
2.Living with Ed
3.The OC reruns boxed set edition
4.Rob and Big
5.ER depending on the season depending on the year..but yeah I am a fan
6.Gilmore Girls
7.Travels with Samantha Brown
8.The Office

8 Things I did Yesterday

1.Got Denver off to his German final
2.Had my visting teachers over
3.Preston got up in my lap and took a nap while us sisters chatted.
4.gathered up the kidlets and toured the Draper Temple
5.Received a little blue and green something from LLBean in the mailbox-hey thanks
6.Made artisan bread and roasted tomato soup for dinner
7.Watched 24 with Kevin but I was lost on several subplots
8.Took a hot bath..of course!


8 Things I am looking forward to

1. Watching the fourth season of The OC with Dallin, will you Hurry up Please
2.Having Kerriann get her drivers license.
3.Having the stress of the Bank of America takeover, through.
4.Going to southern cal with the whole fam-damily next week!
5.Finding my Secret of Roan Inish movie before March 17th.
6.Sleeping with all our windows open again.
7.Making another loaf of artisan bread
8.Getting over this allergy/sinus/unable to wear my contacts, disaster.


8 Favorite Restaurants

1.The Grill Room at Sundance
2.The Deli at Sundance-eaten outside
3.Mamas Fish House
4.The Sugar Shack, sounds healthy, eh?
5.The Mandarin
6.Woodside Deli
7.Petes Harbor
8.Dukes


8 Things on my wish list

1.To radiate health.
2.Raise a little flock of chickens, about half a dozen.
3. To not have to throw any more parties
4.To be in a Bollywood movie or go to India or both.
5.To have Kevin get the dang package from BofA and be Happy
6.Like Devin to live in a warm climate.
7.To sleep like a baby... a good baby one that sleeps through the nigh so that I can wake up one morning and say, WOW..that was the Best night sleep I have ever had!!
8.To have 8 more wishes..of course!

Olivia Walton..my hero

I have been thinking of "passions" and how it is great when someone is able to truly live their own. Individual passions come in So many ways, it is really amazing. I think alot of people would go crazy living so closely with Kevin and hear him go on and on and on and on about financial matters. It is certainly not my thing but I love to see him come alive when he gets into the intricate parts of numbers/money/mortgage banking et al. I enjoy watching him Enjoy! And everyone has their own passions, or are looking for them as Dallin says-but he Has them,oh yes he does. Naively I use to associate passions to careers, as if that was the only way to achieve them. Since I have been "lounging" around for the past quarter of a century..does that mean I am without passion?! Hardly. I believe it started back at Sandy Roberts five-sibling household. I liked the idea very much ( despite the fact that her two brothers were mean.) One of my very favorite movies was ,"Yours,Mine and Ours" with Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda-yes, that truly captured my attention! But "The Waltons" drove it home. Ironically I doubt it was a show that I asked other people at school,"did you catch last night's awesome episode?!" I am sure I kept these feelings pretty close to the vest. Olivia Walton had it all. Maybe being poor wasn't my dream, and definitely not having the inlaws live with me was included in the ideal vision. But Liv-as John liked to call her- was great. Even though it was during the depression, their house was cool and the property was so private ( location,locaton,location.) Her children adored her. They respected and listened to her. Darn that Liv, she made motherhood look so easy. They never showed her pregnant, but I bet that was easy for her too. She didn't look frumpy. she didn't look like she had given birth to seven children. She was a mother,yes, but Olivia Walton was feisty and independent. I liked the way John looked at her..he loved Liv deeply and realized that she ran the home.John had a raw -appeal of his own. I was young and probably didn't use those exact words about him..but I knew. Life wasn't without it's problems...Erin was a brat and needed to be slapped, JimBob was a short whiny kid that grew into a stumpy man ( and it was too unbelievable that he could get that cute a wife!) MaryEllen was downright annoying, and Elizabeth was only cute the first two seasons. But they weren't my kids..mine would definitely be better ( and they are!) JohnBoy was quality though ( Dallin is my Johnboy.) My passion was to have lots of children, be home with them, call all the shots and have a husband that looked at me like John looked at his Liv. Others may not want this life, but as for me and Olivia Walton-well,we are content.

Dalboy turned 19. Nineteen great years with the guy. We had a good celebration..alot to celebrate about Dal. I thought about putting on a Bob Dylan soundtract as I rambled on here but I just couldn't bring myself to it. Individual tastes only go so far. And being an individual has to top my list of things that I so admire about Dallin. People who truly know this guy love him to pieces. Others just don't understand him. The Amish have a word for their 18 year olds that go and find out for themselves ifthey want to live the life their parents lead are what they want for themselves..I think it is called "walk-about"..no, duh, that is in Australia. Well, ok then..many cultures have this tradtion. But not this LDS community we live in.Dallin did it anyway and ,you know -good for him. Dallin has to find out things for himself..not because it says so in some manual or because his parents say,"this is going to be the Way it is." Reminds me of his Dad ( or someone...) He is strong, he is honest with his true feelings,he is going to do what is right. Life holds many decisions,trials,deep joy..he is going to be ok. His "walkabout" has not included school or a job...but I have been able to spend a precious year with him. Good-Luck,Bad-Luck?!! Well it has been great luck for me. Happy Birthday..I love you dearly.

Favorite Things of 2008 purists be warned..the movie and music from"across the universe"..I think it is better than the original Brits.. Kundalini yoga beats a therapist any day ..the green planet channel and BBC in America ..creamy amaretto at subzero ..being able to send Denver to Waterford..Not drowning in Tibble Fork Reservoir ( keep watching you back Kendra-villainous laughter )..the "John Adams" miniseries-Thomas Jefferson was perfect.. Finally getting to Mackinaw Island and not being disappointed at all, thanks Kevin!..Ruth's Diner up the canyon ( no, wait that is a re-find )Being amazed at the beauty and spirit that exhist at Harpers Ferry..How hard it is to be released from Young Womens..

Harrison is sleeping like the cat,under the Christmas Tree.

Daughter of Haggrad straightens her hair..one of her many "doos"

The snow just keeps falling and falling and falling.

Lingering Favorites Lake Tahoe..Sundance..perfect summer nights in Utah...a snowy christmas in Alpine..Anthony Bourdain..driving my mini..the boys baseball games..being with Preston..sleeping in (which can mean 8 o'clock )..bookstores..being with Kerriann at s camp... Rainstorms...Chelsi and Ashley screaming "Bobalin"-makes me feel loved...

Hank and Winston..my shadows.. this photo is for you Sue!!

Totally fun picture Kevin got for me this summer.

Books of 2008 ( ones I finished , because I am a snob and they have to be outstanding to finish ).."The Zoo Keepers Wife".."Farewell My Subaru".."The Secret Life of Bees" (reread ).. "The Road".."Living like Ed".."Harvest for Hope".." The Twentieth Wife".."On s Mountain"

Our Year in Pictures

Dallin got into the uncle role quite easily. Not only can he pack the baby around,he can incorporate yoga moves smoothly into the routine.

Kelly and Harrison riding the inner tubes.

Good Morning Boys!!

Harrison, Denver and Lake Tahoe. Bliss.

I love to see Porter smile. It is so genuine. He doesn't smile at Counterywide..sad."The Office" makes him smile, so does wakeboarding, german shepherd puppies, expensive fast cars and of course, Preston and Devin. Don't even get him singing "Mama Mia" songs-his big smile would break his face ( or something like that!)

This is the house I grew up in . We drove by and it was empty ( in transition to sell.) We built the house in 1960 and moved out in 1973 . The next and only other owner died this past summer.Unbelivably they hadn't changed a Thing in the house,and since it was empty it was like walking back into my childhood. I loved every minute of the experience. I wish everyone could be that lucky ( and that generally isn't the way things go for me!!)
Woodside, California



Ah, this is my little . Kerriann is my buddy. I took the three darling daughters ( plus Preston who is a given ) out to cousin Courtney's wedding in Portola Valley.That is where this picture is taken. She is an incredible aunt-just ask the big guy there. But wait, this just in, K-Ann was named "student of the week" at her high school out of thousands of kids ( well,maybe a couple of thousands.) Whatever, this is big stuff to her Ma. I have waited 10 years for a Haycock kidlet to get up on that marquee and if you don't think that I am going to take her pic in front of that sign when her name comes up on it-then you don't know me very well. In fact, check back on this blog later. Way to go little sister!





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A rare photo of Devin these days without the little guy in her arms.Isn't she beautiful?! No, she is Not named after Devin Shepherd..she is just a sweet concoction of Deb and Kevin. Perfect little mom,precious daughter. A true blessing to have her live close by us.

Obviously we are not going in chronological order. This was at Kelly and Bo's wedding on the 4th of January. A very happy day for us!! The family took a vote when we got the pictures back...and no more Casper-the-Ghost winter weddings. I think ..June ( but not this coming one!) in Hawaii!!

Kelly was a gorgeous bride. Bo was cute. They were high school sweethearts He went to Brazil to serve a mission. Kelly went to the BYU and a few months down in Brazil to work in an orphanage.When he returned two years later, older, wiser and-if possible -even more cute..they decided to get married. Who can stop this progress? Who would want to?

And then, in the middle of the year ( see, no rhyme or reason to this order ) Dallin went and graduated from High School.Yes, Virginia there Is a Santa Claus!! Look at his face , that is pure,unadulterated JOY. This was a huge cause for celebration!! Onward and upward big guy. We all love you like crazy!

Devin put this picture on here.I hadn't seen it and I loved it immediately. It captures our family's mood at Lake Tahoe. One of my favorite places on earth. Notice my brand new son- isn't he darling?! No, not baby Preston-that is my new grandson. My new son Bo..he came to us on January 4th of this year ( and best of all I didn't have to labor over this guy!) Plainly, you can see that he is special. Bo is a "keeper". He makes Kelly smile and makes me laugh. How lucky are we to get two great sons ( Porter joined us in 2005..more on him later ) because I know that it doesn't always work that way!! I would have hand-picked these guys..wait, maybe I will take the credit for that. And I am definitely choosing a gal for Dalboy, he struggles in this area ( except Sally..more on her later..kidding.)