It's my party.......

….and I’ll cry if I want to….but not today (or tomorrow). Nope, I like my birthdays everyone, each brings a greater joy to me…..but I can’t wait, ‘til 58 …..it doesn’t seem that old, to me! I guess you have to know that Primary song..oh, well. I can truly say (and I’ve said it for years) I hate Halloween but I love my birthday and I’ve always loved my birthday and I’ve always wanted others to love my birthday so it was a good thing I was born on Halloween because people remember my birthday (but probably they think of Halloween and witches and think…'Oh, yes I know someone born on Halloween"). There was this once when I was in college at Utah State and I bugged (gently reminded) my roomies for months before my birthday and told them how my mom was gonna get me these rough-out boots that I wanted (stupid I know) and they all thought I was pure-dead crazy until the day they arrived. I couldn’t even wear them to school because we couldn’t wear jeans to school back then, only dress slacks or dresses but I got my wish and I loved those bad boys and had them for years down in the storage room until they got thrown out with a bunch of other DI stuff. They were always a symbol to me that if you let someone know what you want and are persistent (nag) enough about it for long enough you usually get it (or not). Back to Halloween (I digress). I’ve always been a witch at heart so that on those days that I really do turn into one, I know deep down inside…”this is the real me”. So a toast to the witch in me tomorrow and to my mom and dad for bringing me into this world and giving me a good life and lots of birthday parties (all with a Halloween theme, ugh!!) and, BTW, I never wanted to dress in ugly costumes; I always wanted to be something fairly normal like a princess, Cinderella or the lovely Egyptian dancer at the top of the post (I’m sure I hated the belly-show outfit. Can’t believe I would even put it on. Somebody did a nice job on the tin-foil head-dress).



I also want to pay tribute to Halloweens past and acknowledge that even though it’s been a weird holiday to me, I’ve gone along with it and tried to support the kids in all the stupid costumes they wanted, so when I hear of a mother that says her kid doesn’t want to wear a costume, I’m thinking “embrace it and be thankful”. If there were more kids like that in the world, we could possibly do away with a very STUPID HOLIDAY. I think my favorite way to celebrate Halloween and my birthday is to run away to Disneyland but there’s a part of me that knows I have a moral obligation on that night to keep my porch lights on and divvy out the candy, and most years I do that but once in a while, if the lights aren’t on it doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m not home.....the candy's probably gone (or I'm in Disneyland and since I get in free on my birthday next year, I'm just giving a "heads-up" now that the lights probably won't be on).

I don't wanna seem too insensitive....

…..about the big THREE FIVE, but it’s coming right up, in fact. Kyle Scott Wells has a birthday and I’m givin’ a shout-out to my first-born (poor kid) who did turn out pretty good inspite of being the front-runner and experiment of our parenting skills for the family. Ya, we did a lot of things wrong (please forgive me Kyle, for that time I threw you across the room along with everything else on the dresser drawers) but we must have done some things right because (and it’s not just because I’m the mom) this kid turned out pretty darn good. He has a huge heart and would help anybody (and he does, sometimes too many at one time) and has talent out the yang-yang. He had to grow up pretty fast back in 7th grade when his dad almost died and he had to take over and he put up with a lot of “crap” in that very vulnerable time in his life but ‘I’m just sayin’, I think he came out on top. He hit the ground runnin’ on that chilly October afternoon 35 years ago in Moscow, Idaho and hasn’t stopped. He definitely has always paved his own way in life, not needing any handouts (oh, except the time that he wanted a job and they wouldn’t hire him so he just worked for free until they did hire him) and he’s always been willing to try anything, including trying out for the lead in a high school musical and GETTING IT….for cryin’ out loud. Best Curly, bar none….’I’m just sayin’….Complicated, yes, good lookin’, yes, (some have said the younger version of Mel Gibson, just in looks though) hard workin’ guy, definitely….am I braggin’ yes, but I’m the mom and this is my blog. To Kyle as I wish you a Happy Birthday: Thanks for being willing to raise your hand when God asked who wanted to come to this family first….that’s probably why you were so quick to raise your hand back there when they asked who wanted to go to the new 6th grade class they were forming….and you had 4, or maybe 5, teachers that year before November. That was a memorable year. This is turning out to be a long blog but you are my firstborn and were an only child for 2 years and 4 months. You really did have a bumpy ride through your K-12 years and you didn’t start out liking school much. There was that time when you wanted to stay home and being the smart mom that I am, I told you that it would be fine but you would have to call the teacher and tell her. So, you and Jason looked up the number of the school and called Mrs. Caso. From my end I heard you say to her…”I don’t care”….I asked what your teacher said. You told me she said “I will miss you.” Did you go to school that day, I’m not sure but I do remember a time that your dad made you work hard enough that you wanted to go back by noon…..but the remarkable thing is that years later, when you learned to love learning, if asked “what do you want to be when you get out of school” your answer would be 36. And I’m so glad you are “still in school” and I’m glad you get to share your love of learning with the next generation. I love you, son. I’m going to celebrate “you” and I hope you will too. You’ll always be my engineer with an MBA, a Ph.D and the best son/brother/grandson/uncle/husband/father any of us could ask for. Be kind to yourself this week….sneak away to Pine Valley and go fishin’….(and while you’re there, could you turn the water off and winterize the cabin? Thanks.)

I don't like the color of these stickers.....

....I just like the red ones better and sometimes I wonder why I vote, but, sad to say, this is probably the real reason that I do which was from a list I found that you may access by clickity clicking on my "I Voted" sticker. It was #7 on the list of Top Ten Reasons to Vote: Fashion. You get to wear an "I Voted" sticker -- definitely fashionable. O.k. call me shallow but I do love collecting the stickers (and proudly displaying them on the visor of my Corolla) and actually, the sticker just symbolizes to me that I did my patriotic duty and that feels good. It's the cumulative effect, I'm sure because I've always figured that one vote's not gonna really make a difference but if a million voters feel that way, then it does make a difference so there you have it. I voted and I'm proud of it. I was actually in the mall for other reasons, not sure what they were, um......but there it was, center court: Vote Early!!! No lines....so I did and I'm done. How about you?

Pomegranate Gold.....

....the tools of the trade for transforming this exotic juice into a work of jellified art. Every year I would get the sour ones (dark red seeds) from Grandma Rose's bushes. Everyone else loved the sweet ones for Dixie Salad but I loved to have dad and the boys squeeze the juice so I could make this beautiful jelly. Grandma's house sold but Cynthia and I went by last year and no one had taken the fruit from the tree so we knocked on the door and asked if we could have it. We practically filled up the back of her Suburban and I came home and squeezed them all by myself. I've made jelly throughout the year but had 5 quarts left and since I have no pomegranates this year, (we haven't ventured over there to see if they've been harvested) I thought I better get it made before it spoils on me so here are the fruits of my labor this balmy night. Ya gotta love the sounds of those jars snapping......good stuff. (this picture shows a sweet pom....I prefer the sour ones but haven't been able to obtain any as of this post. I got these off a neighbor's tree just to show the fruit for my Martha Stewart -type blog post. She surely would have had the real thing but I'm doing the best I can with what I have at the moment and hopefully the week will not end without me finding the "real" ones). Pomegranate Jelly....it's a good thing.....
FYI - some pomegranate facts: http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pomegranate.html

There are angels among us.....

......and I've always felt that statement to be a bit "cheesy" but apparently I'm feeling one today as I haven't cried over this little kid for a very long time but I'm misty-eyed today thinking of this picture and my 4th little son that's missing. Twenty-eight years ago this very day I started into what I thought was false labor 3 weeks early with my 4th baby (not knowing it was boy #4) and went into the hospital for an ultrasound the next day only to find no heart beat. Little David Barber was declared dead and I was wheeled in for a c-section and my perfectly-formed little baby boy was stillborn. The only emotion I can remember is intense "disappointment" and I felt really empty arms for a long time after. We lived across the street from Scott's mom at the time and were very busy building up a new veterinary practice, fixing up an old home and getting established in our neighborhood and ward so our time was well used up but still there were empty hours that I filled with tears wondering what it would be like to raise him and have my 4 little boys. Even now, as I see kids his age I wonder....would he be married, would he be struggling through school, would he be happy. Mason's the one that didn't get to have a little brother but the other day told me that's why he gave McKay "David" as a middle name in honor of the little brother he didn't get to have while growing up. So, as I continue on my "glass half empty/half full" saga, I'm choosing to feel 'half-empty' today and say that for sure, I'm grateful for what I do have and I do have some pretty great children but let me shed a tear today for this one that I didn't get to have. I miss you, David Barber Wells, stillborn October 20, 1980.

It's always fun to see my deer neighbors....

.....and they were actually hiding tonight, this night before opening day of deer season but this picture is from the last time I was up there and they came out in droves and walked right up to us as if to greet us and say "....hello neighbor, it's good to see you now where's the food." They are pretty friendly neighbors, I must say. Aw, the memories of the deer hunt...grandma's Pine Valley home cookin', grandpa's jokes, the cold crisp air and bright orange sweatshirts to keep us from getting shot at. We just wanted to try to revive some of the good times and as Kyle and I took the kids for a walk up around the circle I could feel the ghosts of deer-hunts past....just a little bit.

Let's hear it for the garbage man....

....you know the old joke about the woman in her house slippers and robe running out as the garbage truck drives away yelling "am I too late for the garbage?" and he says..."no, just jump right on...." That's how I felt last Wednesday when I silently declared my own "Garbage Man Appreciation Day". The day before, I had purchased 2 boxes of these.....you know at Costco, you can't get one box of anything....well, I proceeded to have 1/4 of the box gone by 10:00 a.m. and as I was doing my hair, I heard the garbage truck and knew if I didn't get that blankety blank box of chocolates out of the house, I would have it finished off by noon.....so I ran outside and there he was, just pulling up at my house and I ran over to him and shoved the box in his face and said ".....I have to throw these away." He said, "I'll take care of that for you" and he went on his way. That's it. No more to this story. I just know now when the urge to buy gets to me, there'll always be someone to give it to....at least on Wednesdays. I better be careful what I buy the other days of the week.

Wisdom from Shirlee.....

....."this too shall pass" was her motto and she was always so mature for her years. She was my BFF, Shirlee Esplin that was taken away from us way too soon....36 years ago this month as she was heading home to say goodbye to her folks before heading up to Montana to be a nurse on an Indian Reservation she was killed in a terrible car accident. She was an amazing girl and signed up to be a Candy Striper at the hospital before I was even considering putting away my Barbie dolls and roller skates. More often than not, we would have to wait for her to get off work at the hospital before we could start the party. In this picture, she is in her working whites (far left) as we're celebrating something with our fake champaign. She always knew who she was and what she wanted in life and had boys following her around clear back in elementary school. I'm sure she was proposed to at least a dozen times and had actually broken up an engagement to pursue her dream of being a nurse and going to practice her craft where it would be meaningful. She was an amazing person.....we all knew her favorite colors, purple and yellow and her motto ('this too shall pass') and she always lived life to the fullest and didn't let anything pull her down. She had goals and fulfilled them....Rodeo Princess then Rodeo Queen. I got to accompany her to many parades and she had an amazing confidence that I always admired. She knew her animals and participated in stock shows around the area from a very young age. While the rest of us went to Dixie College, she headed to BYU where her nursing program was waiting for her. She was a beauty, inside and out.....gone too soon but left a legacy. Shirlee, I miss you. Come visit me again. (I used to have vivid dreams and feel like I'd had a wonderful adventure only to wake up and realize it was just a dream). If anyone happens to read this entry that has memories of Shirlee, please e-mail me at wells@infowest.com. Thanks.

The reunion fun did end.....

.....aw, it was such a great week-end. I've talked to several of my class-mates and we've all come to the conclusion that it's hard to put into words how much fun we had together. There's just a comraderie in our class that puts a smile on your face whenever you see one of your friends from long ago....so, today I've been thinking a lot about my classmates, feeling like I just didn't get to spend quality time with enough of them to satisfy me. Actually, I'm feeling empty and pessimistic today.... (a little sleep deprived as well and I'm sure that doesn't help).So I got thinking about the concept...."is the glass half full, or half empty" as mine's feeling pretty empty right now when it was so full this past week-end. I ran across this little "half empty, half full" test online that I took and found out that I'm in-between. These are my results:

You can be optimistic, but you may let pessimism get in the way of achieving your goals at times. You want to see the good in people and situations, but there is a part of you that is distrustful and afraid that things will not turn out the way you hoped. Practice making a conscious effort to be more optimistic and good things will happen. Realize the power of positive thinking and try to see the bright side of every situation.

I'm going to get a good night's sleep tonight and practice my "positive thinking" exercises tomorrow. How about you?

The fun never ends......

.....and I couldn't resist putting this picture on of our "mini-reunion" of all the girls of the old 5th and 6th wards. Our boundaries were quite big then and took in the whole east side of town and one time or another we were all in one of these wards.

It didn't rain on our parade.....

As part of our class reunion, we rode in some old cars in the Dixie College Homecoming Parade. I've added a few pics. My mom was on the Bookstore float for her 29 years of working there. Also, some random pics from the play at Tuacahn that we attended on Thursday and our Ice Cream Social last night. There's not a one of us that feels as old as we really are, especially when we get together and talk over the good times we had at good ol' Dixie High School......Class of '68...When Comes Such Another....

One Wild 'n' Crazy Kid......

......is the proud owner of a dental practice in Hurricane. How could I have ever guessed that this little baby that came 3 weeks late, had the cord wrapped around his neck in my womb and was supposed to be watched throughout his life for "brain damage" would now be a dentist.....but...he is and I'm proud of him. Thirty years ago this very night I was bawling my eyes out wondering if he would ever be born. I suffered through one more day (which will be tomorrow) and then the next day, October 10, I called my ultra-conservative religious (Seventh Day Adventist) doctor and told him something had to be done and something was. They did an amniocentesis and found out this kid was almost a month old and rushed me in for a c-section. He survived, wrinkled and blue, and my #3 boy would live to wear that number on his basketball jersey and baseball uniform many a time. So, Mason.....I know 30 seems old but it's not....it's just that "real life" is a little tougher than that dreamworld you've been livin' back there in Kentucky so just know that you are well on your way now and can't turn back. Is that encouraging? Probably not and when you think life is really tough and little McKay is bein' a pill, just come on over and read some of my journal entries. That shirt we bought for you way back when tells the true story of what you put me through but it's all worth it and you've given me some really good times....many more than those tough ones. Happy Birthday on Friday. Enjoy the journey.....exciting times ahead. From your ever lovin' Mom.

Just tell me.....why do people run marathons?

I go every year and I'm totally amazed every year and every year I find myself thinking "Maybe I could do this....." then I realize....I wouldn't want to do this. But really, deep down inside, I wish I wanted to do this. So, I wonder why the thousands that I saw today, killing themselves in the pouring rain, really want to do it year after year. I wish I could have asked every one of the thousands that I saw. But, I can only wonder. Maybe it's the attention they get when they are done....remember when you were little and you played baseball or soccer in the heat but it was all worth it to see what the treat mother brought.....Kyle and Joel seemed to like their treats. Could that be it? Or is it the medal? They are pretty cool and it would be quite nice to see them accumulate year after year....or maybe it's because it's a family thing....it really does bring the clan together in a big way.....or maybe they do it just because everyone else is doing it and they don't want to be left out. I know Mason is thinking he wants to do it next year. But why, I ask why? If there's anyone out there that can give me a heartfelt answer, just maybe....I'll consider it.....no, I won't but dang,I have to admire those who do it.

October is here and with it comes.....

.....a lot of birthdays. Mason has his big three oh and Kyle his big three five......I'll pay tribute in later posts to these boys but want them to know that even though they were both born in October, they'll always be my "boys of summer".... Nothin' I love more than watching my boys play ball. I was able to catch one of Spencer's games while in Kentucky this past week. Best of all was the game they all played together this past summer during the softball season while Spencer was visiting with his family. This post is not about softabll though, it's about birthdays, October birthdays and along with Kyle and Mason, I lost a little son David in 1980 and I always remember him during this month as well. Mine, of course is at the end of the month and as I always do, I'll wish myself a happy birthday and celebrate my mother for giving me life in a later post. I hate halloween but I love my birthday so watch for more about me later. But on this day, I want to acknowledge my friend Cynthia. She is my good neighbor and friend. She feeds me and listens to my whining and has all the answers. She lets me go to her Oregon beach house and there is much more that I can say about this good woman but let's just say, Happy Birthday Cynthia and leave it at that.

On this day 6 years ago a good man was called home.....take a moment to remember my good dad, Hal Sullivan. Not only was he my dad, he was my children's grandfather and my mother's good husband who loved life and hated growing old. So, have some nibs in his memory and use one of his "grandpa-isms", tell one of his jokes or be on time in his honor. He would love that. We miss you dad.......

Home again, home again, jiggity jig.....

It was a fun 10 days with my Kentucky family and I've put together a few pictures to show what we did. I mainly went so Shana could chaperone Laynee's 4th grade trip to Pine Mountain for 5 days so I was in charge of the 3 boys while they were gone. They had a great trip and I had a good time with the boys. On Saturday, we packed in a yard sale, a soccer game and a carnival. The weather was great after they had the wind the week before and were without power for a week up until my arrival on Saturday so everyone appreciated their time outdoors enjoying the coming of Fall. All is well in Kentucky....they are all happy, busy and doing good things. If you get a chance, ask Spencer about his new church calling. He's pretty pumped.....