History Repeating Itself

My little Morgan loves to help Riley mow the lawn and push any type of wheelbarrow or wagon around. In fact, it's one of his favorite things to do. Whenever he stays at my parents house in Irrigon, 9 times out of 10 you can find him pushing their wheelbarrow all over their property pretending he's mowing the lawn and fixing things. Up hill and down hill, through dirt, grass, gravel, and rocks he pushes away. Sometimes in bare feet no less. He will do this for hours on end - rain or shine. It's a trait that makes him the little boy that he is.


I've always remarked to Riley how much I think our children resemble him as a child and also his father when he was little. On Sunday I was looking through an old photo album that one of Riley's aunts made for him with pictures of his dad and his grandparents. It is a true treasure. She documented dates and names and it is a real gift. I had looked at this picture of his father before, but this time I literally got goosebumps. Take a look a this little gem:

This is Riley's father Dwight James Dodson probably around age 2 or so and wouldn't you know it he's pushing an old lawn trimmer. Coincidence? The family resemblance is pretty strong. Morgan asked, is that me?

I never had the chance to meet Dwight because he passed away about 6 months before Riley and I met. Riley and his father were not that close and had a strained relationship most of his life, but I am so thankful for these pictures so that we can look back on his father's childhood and younger years and show our children and teach them a little about who their grandfather was.

Memorial Weekend

While Riley was coaching a tournament in Seattle over the weekend, I stayed at my parents house along with my brothers and their families that were visiting. It was one big party. It was loud and crazy but fun. We talked, laughed, ate, ate some more, ate some more, .............you get the idea. The kids all ran, jumped, yelled, and played to their hearts content. The kids love staying at grandma and grandpa's. One afternoon we headed to the park and played some baseball. It was so fun and I think my brothers and I enjoyed it more than the kids although I am mighty sore today. My parents have also cleared out a space for their fire pit up in the trees and it feels just like a real camping spot. So one evening we grilled burgers and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows and the kids were in heaven. It was so fun. They made sure to give the kids really long sticks so they would stay far enough away from the fire. That was the only night I took some pictures so here are a few:


{Grandpa T. helping Morgan roast his hot dog}

{Morgan declared it was yummy!}

{My nephews Zack and Caleb}

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{My neice Moira and Zack}

{My brother Rich sharpening the end of the

willow sticks. A boy scout is allows prepared with his pocket knife right?}

{My brother Jeremy manning the grill. The burgers were delicious!}

{Morgan just being himelf.}

What a fun time. We came home all tired out last night! It was a great kick off to summer even if the weather didn't cooperate all that much.

Spring Break / Easter 2010

As it turned out, our floors took a little longer than we bargained for and the kids and I ended up spending the whole spring break in Irrigon with my parents. We literally did not come home until last night, just in time to let the kids slide around on the new flooring for a bit and then send them to bed. We are so thankful for everyone who came and helped, but especially my dad for coming up almost every day and working late into the night with Riley. They just worked and worked and the floors look great! All that's left to do is just touch up a few spots and paint the baseboards and put them back on. Easier said than done though, it will probably take longer to finish those than the floor did! Ha.

I was feeling kind of lame that our kids weren't going to get to do anything for spring break, but they ended up getting pretty spoiled while we were there. A few of the fun things they did:

-Went to the "How to Train Your Dragon" movie with my mom

-Helped decorate Easter cupcakes

-My mom bought Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakquel which they've been DYING to watch and I think they watched it at least ten times.

-Went exploring with my dad to the river, the park, and the fish hatchery. They had so much fun collecting shells and being with grandpa.

-Had lots of yummy treats including root beer floats.

-Kendle got to hang out at the school with my mom for a while on Friday and go to their book fair where grandma treated her and Morgan to some cute books. (I think this was Kendle's favorite day of the whole week.)

-Morgan got to go the farm with grandpa a few times

-Morgan played outside every day, even when it was cold and rainy. He had a blast jumping on the trampoline, pushing the wheel barrow around, and occasionally chasing the neighbors chickens out of the yard. He is an outdoors type of boy for sure.

Every morning when I would start to hear the babies fussing, I would get up and go out to the family room and there would be my parents already feeding and changing the babies. They are nothing short of amazing people. I know they were pretty tired from helping with all of the kids this week and I think they deserve a vacation themselves. One thing is for sure, Cooper and Kale absolutely adore grandma and grandpa.

I enjoyed the parts of General Conference I was able to watch over the weekend and hope I can recap the parts I missed. I also loved this movie that played after Saturdays session.

Sunday morning Kendle and Morgan woke me up around 5:30 to see if they could go look at what the Easter Bunny had left them. I made them go back to bed for a while but finally by 6:45 or so I couldn't stand listening to them "pretending to go back to sleep" anymore so I let them get up. Here are a few pictures of them:

As you can see there aren't any baskets in these pictures. I decided to do something a little different this year. Morgan has really been wanting a back pack and since he has been kind of obsessed with the "How to Train Your Dragon" movie, I bought him a cool dragon back pack and made that his "basket" with his cool stuff inside. I found Kendle a cute Eiffel Tower bag from Forever 21 that I knew she would love as her "basket" and she could use it for piano books, going to the library, or short trips to grandmas house. I think they got pretty spoiled by the Easter bunny.

Now we're back to school, routine, cleaning house, and all that jazz.

81

I was looking through some pictures I had recently uploaded onto the computer and forgot that I had these. I put them on our family website, but forgot to post them on my personal blog. They are from my grandmother Katie's 81st birthday a few weeks ago.

{Yummy german chocolate cake}

{Blowing out the candles}

{Surrounded by grandchildren and great-grandchildren}

{Still has the magic touch with all the babies, she's holding Kale}

I can't begin to describe how amazing this woman is. Everyone is always telling her to slow down and not do so much. She was recently her ward's gospel doctrine teacher and now teaches a youth Sunday school class. She helps with most ward activities and get togethers. Three {lucky} missionaries live in the basement of their home where she cooks delicious food and is a warm motherly figure. Her and my grandpa leave at four in the morning to fulfill their temple assignments. She always remembers birthdays and sends cards to everyone {not a small feat in our very large family.} She always has a kind word of encouragement and a "can do" attitude. She is a wonderful example of giving unconditional love and support to all of her family members. My grandparents travel the north west attending sporting events, graduations, baptisms, baby blessings, funerals, weddings, and other important events. That is hard to do at any age, so the fact she is still going and doing all of that at 81 is nothing short of amazing.

Here is one of my favorite stories that tell the most about her character:

As a young mother she was asked to make some rolls for a church relief society activity. She says she did her best efforts in making them and brought them with her to the dinner. As all of the ladies were eating, she overheard some of the older women in the ward asking "who made these terrible rolls?" My grandma realized they were talking about her rolls. Now, I think just about anyone would have become angry, embarrassed, sad, and vowed to never attempt making something like that ever again, and I'm sure she did have some of those feelings. But instead of being offended and holding a grudge, she approached the women and kindly asked if they could teach her how to make wonderful homemade rolls -- and they did. Now, everyone that is acquainted with my grandmother or who has had the pleasure of eating in her home, knows that she is famous for her delicious (and by that I mean DELICIOUS) rolls. The world would be a far worse place without those scrumptious melt in your mouth baked goods.



That story came in handy to me as I had a very similar experience as a young mother who was not overly self confident about her cooking. She has always been such a great example in my life and there are many times when faced with a decision that I think to myself, "what would grandma Katie do or say?"



It means so much to me that Kendle and Morgan have had the opportunity to form relationships with her and my grandfather and make lasting memories.

Kick Off To Summer

*Last Friday we attended an assembly at Kendle's school to see her receive an award for the AR program. You could tell all of the kids were antsy to be out of school, I remember having those same feelings on the last day before summer break when I was their age. Kendle really enjoyed her teacher from this year and her friends in her class and she was sad to say goodbye to everyone for the summer, but she was excited they only had a half-day and that we would be going to the sprinkler park afterwards.

We went and got some lunch and then headed to the sprinkler park to meet some friends and play. It was a great day for that - not too hot, and a little breeze. It was a fun time and all of the kids loved playing in the water and making it shoot out of the different spouts. We were all tired by the time we left. We rested for a little while, and then our family decided to go out to dinner at our favorite neighborhood restaurant. We had a fun time and even Morgan was pretty well behaved. After that we needed to do some shopping for Morgan's birthday and the picnic we were going to the next day. By the time we got home, I was exhausted - but I still had to make a salad for the next day, a birthday cake for the Morgster and some cookies. I was one tired lady. We told Kendle she could stay up as late as she wanted, but I think she was still in bed by 10:30. What a fun day!

*Saturday we attended a big family picnic in Irrigon to celebrate my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. All of my dad's siblings were there except one, and there were lots of cousins for the kids to play with. We had tables and tables of yummy food (my family knows how to do food) and the park was nice and shady in our spot by the river. We were close to the toys so we had no problem keeping an eye on the little ones and it was really relaxing and fun to visit with everyone. I love those types of family get togethers, I think everyone had a great time. Not only were the kids excited to eat homemade ice cream, but then to top the day off some girls were walking this cute little pony around the park and of course all of the little kids swarmed them and the girls were nice enough to let everyone pet the pony. The little girls were so happy about that.

Here are some pictures from the picnic:

(Cousins - about half of us)














(The Terrel and Katie Tovey Clan)













(Morgan downing some pop)













(Kendle and her cousin Alia enjoying some home made ice cream)














After the picnic we went back to my parents house and relaxed for a bit. Then we had birthday cake and sang to Morgan since he turned the big #2 that day! He was so happy when everyone was singing to him and he got to blow out the candle on his cake.





























He is such a cute and fun little boy, he really enjoys life. He opened presents and ate cake, and then we packed our stuff up to go to the aquatic center in Hermiston. My brother and his family came with us along with my mom and my sister met us there after she was done with work. We got there at a good time since it wasn't super hot anymore and the kids had an absolute blast. I think Kendle went down the big slide about 15 times. She loves the water. Morgan thinks he can swim so he tries to just take off and do his own thing too. We were all tired and starving by the end, and decided to pack up and go get some pizza. It was a fun ending to a great day. On our drive home both Kendle and Morgan zonked out in the back seat and slept all the way home. I was so exhausted I could hardly open my eyes on Sunday morning, but it was a great start to our summer vacation!

Busy Bee's

Life doesn't slow down much around our place, this last week of school has been keeping us busy.

Kendle has been enjoying all of the fun things they have had going on. Earlier in the week they had "Field Day", which is where they get to go around and pick different fun events to do. She told me her favorite was the rope climb. Yesterday was "Fly Up" day where they were able to meet their new teacher and visit their classroom for next year. Today they are taking a field trip to the Pasco library (she was excited to take her library card with her, just in case) and tomorrow they are having an assembly in the morning that I will try and attend. They only have a half-day tomorrow, so we will pick up some lunch and head to the sprinkler park to play with some friends.

Riley is coaching the 14 year old girls premier soccer team this summer and he started their practices this week. I've been trying to prepare him for how different it is to coach girls than boys, there is always a little more drama involved and Riley doesn't do drama so it will be interesting to see what he thinks at the end of the season. Hopefully all goes well. I think it will be fun for Kendle to watch these girls and see how good they are.

Friday night we might try and take the kids and do something fun to celebrate school being out. Saturday we are heading to Oregon to have a big family picnic to celebrate my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. They are the cutest couple and it should be fun. It's also Morgan's birthday on Saturday, so we might do something to celebrate later on that day/evening. I can't believe he will be 2! He's not my baby anymore.

I'm off to go shopping and run errands. New books are in at the library for me, I'm so glad!

*On an unrelated note, I haven't thrown up in a few weeks and then yesterday morning out of nowhere - I upchucked right after breakfast. Go figure. Hope it's a fluke.

Santa's part-time job

Did you know that Santa in the off season lives in a little town called Irrigon, OR and takes care of the beautiful park that's right on the river?

You didn't? Me neither. Let me explain.

While my parents had our kids this last weekend, they took them down to the marina and ran into the caretaker, a.k.a. Mr. Claus. Santa and his wife live in the big, neat old house there that I've always admired, and take care of the park while they are having a break from making millions and billions of toys and checking off who's naughty or nice at the North Pole. He even carries around pictures for just such occasions that he might run into a good little boy or girl and encourage them to keep up the good work.

He gave Kendle and Morgan their own picture with a message written on the back. Those pictures are now hanging on our fridge and hopefully will serve as a very good reminder to be good - if needed. Kendle said to me "Out of all the places he could stay mom, he wanted to come to Irrigon!"

HA! That's one memory with grandpa and grandma I don't think she'll forget.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Saturday afternoon Kendle and I had a wonderful time baking and spending time together. If ever there was a little girl who liked to have fun, it is Kendle. She is one spicy little girl and knows how to liven things up. We put Morgan down for a nap, turned on some fun music, and then chatted and mixed and stirred and laughed. There is never a dull moment when she's around. "Lively" is a word that comes to mind. I truly enjoyed those moments with her though and am always amazed at the conversations we can have when we are alone together.

Later that evening after Riley arrived home, our family went to go visit my mother-in-law who's been in the hospital and is now in an out-patient facility receiving on-going care and rehabilitation. It was her birthday and we were her last visitors of the day. She had received many well wishes and had her walls and shelves lined with balloons, cards, and flowers which we were happy to see. Kendle knows how much her grandma Kathy loves to hear her sing, so right when we walked into her room, she went up and put her arm around her grandma sitting in her wheelchair and sang her "Happy Birthday". Kendle can be so sweet, and she is really kind and good with her grandma. Sometimes it can be a little scary when you are a child to see your grandma hurt and sick and it would be easy to shy away from that. From an early age Kendle has realized her grandma's limitations and is an excellent helper to her; for that I am thankful.

Last night we attended an amazing baptism for a little girl who has been coming to church with a family in our ward. The spirit was so unbelievably strong in that primary room, and you could literally see her glowing and beaming. There were quite a few non-members there and I know they felt the spirit as well. I gave her a hug afterwards and I could feel her happiness radiating off of her. As we got in the car to leave the Stake Center, our radio was playing music. Kendle said to me "Mom, can we just turn the radio off? I feel so good right now and I just don't want to hear that music." I thought to myself, "ok, who is the teacher here?" As a mom do you ever have the feeling that you were sent your specific children for a reason? I have that feeling often.

Grandpa T.

I was thinking about my grandpa Tovey this morning and thought I would post one of his favorite poems that he can recite from memory. I can hear his voice when I read it:

Prayer and Potatoes By: John Tyler Pettee

An old lady sat in her old arm-chair

With wrinkled face and disheveled hair

And pale and hunger-worn features;

For days and for weeks, her only fare

As she sat in her old arm-chair,

Had been nothing but potatoes.

But now they were gone, of bad and of good.

Not one was left for the old lady's food.

Of these her stock of potatoes.

She sighed and said, "What will I do? Where shall I send?

To whom shall I go, to get some more potatoes?"

She thought of the deacon over the way.

The deacon so ready to worship and pray,

Whose cellar was full of potatoes.

She said, "I will send for the deacon to come.

He'll not mind to give me some of

Such a store of potatoes."



The deacon came over as fast as he could,

Thinking to do the old lady some good;

But never thought once of potatoes.

He asked her directly to tell her chief want,

And she, simple soul, expecting a grant,

Immediately answered, "Potatoes".

But the deacon's religion went not that way.

He was more accustomed to preach and to pray,

Than to give of his hoarded potatoes.

So not hearing, of course, what the old lady said,

He rose to pray with uncovered head.

She only thought of potatoes.

He prayed for patience, for wisdom, for grace,

But when he prayed, "Oh Lord, give her peace".

She audibly sighed, "Give potatoes".

At the end of each prayer that he said,

He heard, or thought that he heard, in its stead,

The same request for potatoes.

The deacon was troubled - he knew not what to do.

T'was embarrassing, very, to have her act so

About those 'carnal potatoes'.

So ending his prayer, he started for home.

As the door closed behind him, he heard a deep groan.

"Oh give to the hungry, potatoes".

And that groan followed him all the way home,

In the midst of the night it haunted his room.

"Oh give to the hungry, potatoes".

He could bear it no long--he arose and dressed.

From his well-filled cellar taking in haste

A bag of his best potatoes.

Again, he went to the widow's lone hut.

Her sleepless eyes she had not yet shut.

But there she sat in her old arm-chair,

With the same wan features, the same said air.

So entering in he poured on the floor

A bushel or more of his goodly store

Of the very best potatoes.

The widow's heart leaped up for joy,

Her face was haggard and wan no more.

"Now", said the deacon, "Shall we pray?"

"Yes" said the widow, "Now you may".

And he kneeled on the sanded floor

Where he had poured out his goodly store.

Such a prayer the deacon prayed.

As never before his lips essayed.

No longer embarrassed but free and full.

He poured out the voice of a liberal soul.

And the widow responded with a loud "Amen".

And said no more of potatoes.

Would you who hear this simple tale,

Pray for the poor and praying prevail.

Then preface your prayers with alms and good deeds.

Search out the poor with their cares and their deeds.

Pray for peace and grace and Heavenly food.

Pray for wisdom and guidance, for these are all good.

But don't forget the potatoes.


It's just not the same until you've heard it in his lilted southern Idaho accent. His voice has a way of making everything sound more pleasant.

What reminds you of your grandfather?

Katie Tovey, what a lady

Today is my grandmother's 79th birthday. She is a woman that I sincerely admire and respect and I can barely keep up with her hectic lifestyle she's still leading. When I think of my grandmother I always think of self-less service. One of my favorite grandma Katie quotes is "If not me who? And if not now when?" in regards to service or getting a task done. Nothing I could write would do her justice, so I thought I'd just mention a few of my favorite things about her.

-She grew up on a ranch in Idaho and loved riding horses
-She always knows the blunt but tactful way to say things
-She makes THE BEST bread and rolls on the planet
-She is always thinking of others
-She raised 10 children and still had the energy to go to "Jazzercise"
-She makes everyone she comes in contact with feel valued and loved
-She is fun!
-She is a fantastic dancer
-She is always humming a tune as she's going about her days work
-She's taught me that no matter how rich or how poor you are, you still need to take care of what you have.
-She never forgets a birthday, and with a family as large as ours that's an amazing thing.
-She is stubborn and tough, but in a good way
-She always smells like fresh soap and flowers
-She always has an endless supply of treats and goodies for grandchildren and great-grandchildren
-She is a baby expert and I should be paying her instead of a pediatrician
-She never forgets a friend
-She makes 79 look GOOD!!!!!!









I know she will probably not get to read this, but for posterity's sake there it is. She is an incredible person and I hope to be half as great a grandmother someday!