Family Photos

When all of the family got together for the camp out in my parent's backyard, we had family pictures taken. It was the first time since we have all married that we had a family photo shoot. I was amazed when I saw the picture of all of us. We have a large family now, all because of two people.

(click on any picture to enlarge it)

My Grandma and Grandpa

My Mom and Dad

All of the kids

All of the Grandkids, including the two Grand-dogs

All of us

Little Drummer Boy

I had to post this video of our nephew, Daniel, playing the drums. (Actually, thanks Bethany for posting it for me.)

He's quite the prodigy.

I've filed some of his moves away in the old memory bank for my next attempt at Rock Band.

A Great Book

As I was looking through old pictures, I found some from a book that Dwight and wrote years ago.

We moved from New York to Seattle around the time of my brother, Nathan's, birthday. While on the road in our huge moving van, we stopped by a Walmart, where we happened upon the perfect gift- a huge pillow shaped like a fish. We knew that we had to buy it for Nathan, since he loves fishing. As we continued our drive, we decided to write a book for Nathan about how we caught the fish.

We had some unexpected delays on the trip, including breaking down just outside of Omaha, Nebraska. After making a trip to another Walmart to get supplies for our book, the moving van broke down again. We had to stay in a hotel just outside of Wyoming, which happened to be right next to a pond.

We started taking pictures, with no idea what the story would be. While we were taking the pictures, a man came running over from a nearby gas station to find out where we had caught such an incredibly huge fish. I was a little embarrassed when I told him that it was a pillow.

We finally made it to Utah where we finished the book.

So, posted below, is one of my favorite books. If you want to enlarge any of the pictures, just click on it.

The Adventures of KnuckleBilly Finn and His Cousin Shannan Dowa

One day, KnuckleBilly Finn decided to go a fishin'. So he grabbed him a branch and he made him a pole and he went a walkin' down the old gravel road to the wide Mississippi Mud Pond.

KnuckleBilly wasn't fishin' for no ordinary fish. He was after the gator-huge monster Mississippi Mud Fish.

But, the Mississippi Mud Fish ain't no ordinary monster fish. Yuh have to be patient as a tick on molasses and smarter than a cotton gin.

So he a fished and he a fished and he a fished...

On a sudden! Y'all monster huge Mississippi Mud Fish done took the bait hook line and chigger! KnuckleBilly yanked with the force of a mighty rooster! What a terrible fight it started. First, the Mud Fish jumped clean clear of the pond and flew into the tree in order to better study its enemy.

Then, quick as grandma's knittin' the Mud Fish sprung from the tree and took Knuckle Billy by the throat.

But, KnuckleBilly was trained in the ways of Mud Fish Fighting. Employing a seldom used Mud Fish Fighting maneuver called a grab-yuh-by-the-spine-and-jam-yuh-face-first-into-the-

turf-till-yuh-beg-for-mercy-tae-bo-wax-on-wax-and-shine-the-
grasshopper-slamma-jamma!

KnuckleBilly was mighty in skill that day - oh yes!

He tied up his prize real good and posed like a purty spring lima bean for cuzin Shannan Dowa to snap a photigraf.

At first, KnuckleBilly wanted to eat the Mud Fish fresh.

But then he hatched a better plan, to bar-B-Q that Mud Fish with a sprinklin' of red clay nuggets and a touch of the ivy.

What Fer! Outta the blue, that Mud Fish done raised open his suction cup like mouth and yelled,
"KnuckleBilly! Wait, don't eat me! I'm a smart Mississippi Mud Fish and I will bring you good luck if you will be my bestest friend."

So, KnuckleBilly and the Mississippi Mud Fish decided to become fast friends.
"By the way," said the Mud Fish, "My name is Jed."

KnuckleBilly and Jed started on the long journey home together.

KnuckleBilly, Jed and Shannan Dowa was so excited for the big trip. But it was a long trip so they decided to get out the super-half-speed racing bike and travel first class, southern style!

Shannan Dowa peddled KnuckleBilly and carried Jed.

But she was a goin' too slow, so KnuckleBilly took control of the bike and carried Jed.
Shannan hoofed it.

KnuckleBilly got tired of carryin' Jed when there was a perfectly good Shannan Dowa about.

But KnuckleBilly is a headstrong boy on a bike, so Shannan Dowa yelled him to "Don't go yonderly thither, y'all is gonna fall!"
KnuckleBilly yelled right back, "I don't! Watch!"...

Jed now knew he had to be the one to take control of the bike, since it was a might too risky for KnuckleBilly.

Finally, Jed, KnuckleBilly and Shannan Dowa made it home. But Jed was dehydrated as a bucket of corn meal and tater peelins' by the time he made it to his new house. So, he took a snooze like old rumply snail skin.

Then, he played KnuckleBilly in a game of Strateegoat.

Finally, Jed settled down in his splendid new home and lived happily ever after, surfin' the net.

I Really Was There

Here's a video of my Mom on Access Hollywood. I think they did a great job showing how truly brave and bubbly she is.

Look for me peering around her IV tower.

Blooms

We have beautiful blooms in our garden. The volunteer onions grew over three feet tall and bloomed into beautiful white snowballs. The squash is in bloom and there are tomatoes ready to be picked. We also ate our first zucchini of the season this week.

Inside, the gardenia that Dwight gave me for my birthday is in bloom. The scent is wonderful.

My Mom's a Star

This afternoon, I went with my Mom and Dad to my Mom's cancer treatment. As she was receiving her infusion, we got word that Julianne Hough (from Dancing with the Stars) was visiting the hospital and was going to be coming to the infusion center. Just as my Mom was finishing her treatment, Julianne came to pay a visit. She was immediately drawn to my Mom. She talked with her and the other patients in the clinic. She was so cute. She shook all of our hands and told us that a member of her family had battled cancer.

She made her way around the room and the Access Hollywood producer following her around came to talk with my Mom. He was amazed that she had cancer. He was impressed with her positive and upbeat demeanor, and thought she looked great. He talked with us for awhile and they left, after stopping to take some pictures with my Mom and Dad. One of the employees of the cancer center came back a short time later to get some more information on my Mom for the Access Hollywood producer.

A few minutes later another man came over and introduced himself as Julianne's Dad. He said that Julianne told him he needed to go and meet the "spitfire" in the infusion room.

I was so busy trying to get a good shot with my camera phone, that I didn't even think about joining them in the pictures. The pictures I took didn't even turn out that well. I should have been in the pictures and let the news crews do the picture taking. I found the story on our local news channel and they got great shots of both my Mom and Dad. To see the story, click the link below (my Mom's the beautiful lady in green, and my Dad's the handsome man sitting next to her).

See my Mom on the news by clicking here.

See pictures from the Salt Lake Tribune here.

See my Mom (and me) on Access Hollywood here.

I thought it would be our treat to get to meet Julianne, but it seemed to be their treat to meet my Mom. They treated her like a star. It's only appropriate, because to me she is a star. She continues to be a great light for our family.

Audition

On Monday, my sister, Jessica, and I headed to Salt Lake City to pick up wristbands so she could audition for American Idol. She was able to take one person with her, so I got to go and see the behind the scenes action.

We had to be to the Energy Solutions arena at 5:00am on Tuesday morning. It was a long, but fun day. The day started with waiting in line for 2 hours. We were then ushered to the stairs of the arena's entrance so we could film a promo shot. Then, finally, we made our way inside. We did some more promo shots and the auditions started. Tables were brought out and dividers were set up between the tables. Groups of 4 were brought before the producers. Each person took a turn singing (or in some cases, yelling or screeching), and the producer would either have them exit through the "non-winning" door or the "winning" door.

Since we were in one of the last sections, I got to see many of the auditions, including that of my very talented sister, and I was amazed with how easily the producers were able to turn away talent. I was also amazed with how easy it was for them to send someone who had no singing ability whatsoever through to the next round. They would listen to some of these people "sing", and then they would put a clipboard up to hide their face and they would laugh, and then put him or her through. I have often felt bad for those people who audition and get laughed at by the judges, or who get their hopes crushed because they truly believed they had talent. I understand a little more now how some of those people really believe they are good. They stood next to three other people, who could probably really sing and chances are they thought, "Wow, they sounded really good and I am the one going through. I must be super good."

As I watched, I realized even more that we were watching the filming of a TV show. It wasn't just a talent search, but a character search. Jessica and I joked that she could get through, for sure, if she sang off tune, or painted her hair a crazy color, but she stood in front of the producers and sang in her true voice. Even though she didn't get through to the next round, I'm sure she will have no regrets. She did something that no one else in our family has done, and something that not many people have the courage to do.

So, when you watch the Salt Lake City auditions in January, look for us cheering in the crowd.