Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The days of yore!

On Father's day we found some video cassettes from years gone by so we popped them into the video camera and hooked it up to the tv. Boy has our family changed. Listening to them talk and the funny quirks the kids had when they were little. It was so much fun watching everyone break the pineta, the grandpa silly string episode is a favorite, the boys looked so cute in their tiny wrestling uniforms. Oh the memories.

Can you remember when Karson and Kayden were little - they were at one time. When the three "little" boys were all the same size? We even have Grandpa Berry jumping rope and barking instructions on how to hold the pineta. I'm still looking for episodes where Grandma Berry takes out Brad's knee . . . oh what fun!

So now my next step is copying them all on to DVD.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

We Love Grandpa

10. He would do anything for his family!

9. Even though he can't to see everyone all the time - it's good to know that he wishes he could!

8. He makes great ice cream treats - too bad the soda shoppe isn't around anymore.

7. He made great camping and fishing memories!

6. He has some great Navy stories - can you really see Grandpa putting his fork into another guys hand for trying to take food off his plate? Surely, not our Grandpa!


5. He gives great 4 wheeler rides. But Beware!


4. Always went hunting! Some trips more successful than others!


3. He taught us the saying "My mouth is dryer than a popcorn fart"


2. He has stood by mom's side through thick and thin! And thin and thick! With that many kids in the house there was never a dull moment!


1. He loves us all - and lucky Grandpa - we all love him right back!

We Love you Grandpa! Wish we could see you more often!

We Love Grandpa Paul


10. He didn't say any bad words when we bombarded him with multiple cans of silly string. (I think he may have thought some)


9. We got to stand on his hands . . . over and over again. We should test this with Preston - can he still do it.


8. He loves Mom unconditionally - who else would put up with the remodeling and the remodeling, and the remodeling. You get the idea.


7. He taught us all, by example, to work - and work hard. How many days until retirement (19 and counting).


6. We LOVE his great stories. The fish zippin' and zappin', the tack on the teacher's chair, the self inflicted tattoo . . .


5. He is dependable and reliable - he'll do what he says he'll do and he'll do it for anyone! Not just for family. He puts up with all of us!


4. His book collection - and he shares. BONUS!


3. His internal clock - you know it is time to go to bed when he starts taking his clothes off.


2. He knows everything about everything and can fix or build anything. Lucky mom! Poor dad!


1. He will now willingly - key word WILLINGLY - bend down so I can give him a kiss!
Love you Grandpa!

Crazy Few Weeks

The craziness started soon after we got home from Canada. Being in the Stake Primary we travel to other wards for their ward conference and the Stake does the singing and sharing time. So I was already to travel to the Plains branch (about an hour away). Well the President called and went on how it was a small branch and I didn't need to come. Well I sure wish I would have went, because Val and I were called into the Bishop's office. Now you know it is for something big when they ask for both of you, so I am going through the list of things they would need Val for. BIG mistake. The Bishop looked at me and said "This if for you". GASP!!! Not good - Warning - Warning - Warning! They asked me to be Young Women's President. WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?!? I'm in the Stake you can't take me cause, well . . . I'm in the Stake (he emailed the Stake President and my Stake Primary President) GULP.

Needless to say I don't remember anything about the speakers, lessons, etc. that day. In fact, I was freaking out so much that the bishop called me back into his office during Sunday School. I have no problem being part of a presidency - just tell me what to do and I'll do it, but for me to tell someone what to do - AHHHH. Now you can't have doubt aka freaking out and faith at the same time so basically put my big girl panties on and get on with it. So if it is going to be me I ask Bishop how bad I get to rock the ward and all the callings. Bishop is so great, he said anyone was free but perhaps not the Relief Society President. Easy thing to agree to!

So the humbling process begins. I need to find counselors. The next Sunday the bishop is out-of-town so I give the names of my counselors to a member of the bishopric. During Relief Society I see them start to pull the sisters out (they reached Bishop by cell phones). I thought I had it right but nope, one sister didn't feel this was the calling for her. Round 2 begins.

On Wednesday, Bishop calls and we "chat" - in the mean time Keston has turned 12 - he needs to see the Bishop so he can be ordained to the Priesthood. Well Bishop is going to Canada on the youth temple trip so he heads over to our house at 9 that night and an hour later emerges. Keston was not thrilled to have to change out of jammies into dress clothes, but he did. So Keston will getting the Priesthood on Sunday. Whew.

Granny and Grandpa arrive on Saturday and we have a great time - we took them to see the movie UP in 3D - that was a great idea. Then Granny and I head to the store while Tylissa introduces Grandpa to the movie August Rush. Dinner at Applebees was great - although the mild buffalo wings are still very very hot! The evening concluded with the movie New in Town.

Now I still haven't heard from the Bishop so I figure no news is good news and my last counselor accepted the call. Well let the games begin. The phone was ringing off the hook for a Sunday morning at the Hemsleys. Off to church we go, they release the current presidency and our names are called and I wish someone would have stood up and yelled NO WAY! Keston is presented to the Ward and whew - no one opposed. Our first experience in Young Women's we observed - I left for Keston's ordination.

Next it was going through the cupboard, our first activity (luckily the Young Men were in charge of that one) and our first presidency meeting. Today we ran the circus and it went ok. But the real question is - my name is not on the back of the bullentin so it's not official yet right?

For Val's Happy Father's Day he got to pass the sacrament with Keston for his first time. Now the joke of the ward is that we have a young man in our ward who is 15 year's old and 6'8''. Keston was briefly standing next to him and poor Keston only comes up to his belt buckle.

Whew - the ride begins and to this I say "BRING IT ON!" Maybe!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Finally

Chad finally got excited about school - it only took 8 months and 3 weeks, but the final week of school he got excited about a project. Last Sunday evening he announced that he needed a life size anteater . . . yep my jaw dropped! So Monday we went on a scavenger hunt through the house and the garage to find anything that would make a great anteater. He worked so hard. Tuesday he spray painted and then we glued on eyes and ears. Chad made the two foot long tongue himself - complete with black dots for ants.


Tuesday he also spent time on the computer researching anteaters - did you know they don't have any teeth? He presented his report to the teacher and came home with an A - both in presentation and project. There may be hope.


His class has been learning about the rain forest. They have made trees and animals. Then the last couple of days his class has been presenting tours complete with very knowledgable tour guides. Some animals in the rain forest at Elrod Elementary are piranhas, camans, elephant (although that one wasn't life size), capuchin monkeys, butterfly, birds, viper snakes, big cats. They were all very specific but I can't spell so you get the general idea.


Now everyone pray that the ambition will last until grade 4.

The Birthday Boy!






Can you believe the red head is 12? Where did time go, it seems like just yesterday he was running around the house and running into the wall! Well Keston had a fabulous birthday on Friday. Val had to go to a wilderness course so we celebrated on Thursday by taking Keston to his new favorite burger joint - Five Guys Burger and Fries - Yummy! The food was delicious! And it is always fun to throw peanuts on the floor.




Next we hit the movie Night at the Museum 2 Battle for the Smithsonian. Great movie, we had fun! Keston got his DSi, that he has been begging for. And because that is all he got I took everything out of the box and wrapped (really bagged) it seperately (the cord in one, the stylis in one, the instruction manual in one, and the game in one). Thanks to all the Grandmas and Grandpas for money so he could by a game.


Friday night was the party with his friends. Boys are so not calm but they had a great time. We all survived (it was a close call for Tylissa) the weekend and yep I needed a nap on Saturday.


Happy Birthday Keston - we love you!