Charmayne inquired about some of my other fall memories. I may be the only one who remembers these things ...
Staging a haunted house in the boys room in Missouri. If I remember correctly, I hid under the crib (?) and smeared ketchup on people legs as they walked by. Doug and I had a record player, and we had one of those flimsy, plastic spooky music records. Doug and Rich were also strategically located around the room for scaring. We invited our neighbor friends to tour it. We tried it again in my room in our new house on Gridley Avenue many years later. One of those boys hid in the upper cupboard in my room and threw something big out that made a big banging noise. That's all I remember.
Creating Pilgrim centerpieces. One Sunday afternoon in the old house on Larkin Road, I went into rare big sister-gather-the-troops-for-fun mode and had Doug and Rich help me make Thanksgiving centerpieces. We used empty glass soda bottles (really aging myself here) to wrap Pilgrims we had colored and cut out around. I can still remember how proud I was of our "lovely" Pilgrim centerpieces and most especially felt good about giving Mom and Dad a break from our fighting and their having to entertain us.
Harvesting the walnuts. Do you remember the dreadful year that the orchard could not be machine harvested and we got to try and pick up as many walnuts as we could by hand? I did not appreciate at the time how difficult that must have been on Mom. I can remember her encouraging us and rewarding us with tootsie rolls for every bucket we filled up with walnuts.
The excitement of earning family electronics by helping with the harvest. I was SO excited when we got our disc player! Great memories of great classics like Star Wars and Mom's favorite funny movie with Barbara Streisand that I suddenly can't remember the title.
Course there's also the less than fabulous memory of returning home one Halloween and having Dad say, "The Bishop called me wanting to know why my daughter was at his home dressed like a prostitute." Now, let me explain--Krista had the fabulous idea of dressing up as punk rockers for Halloween one year when we were in high school. I guess we overdid it a bit. In my great naivete, we drove over to Josh's house to say howdy. I don't even think he was home, but Bishop Cook certainly was. I don't even think we went any where else. I was MORTIFIED when Dad told me that. Imagine my reaction when my 12 year old announced Saturday that instead of wearing her vampire outfit (which I might add--I had made four separate trips and purchases to get just the right vampire teeth) she was going to dress up as a Punk Rocker and appeared in zebra tights and a very short, black sheer swim suit cover up skirt (that came with her swim suit). Let's just suffice it to say that she did not take the outfit rejection well and I ended up taking her friend trick or treating without her. (Please remember to enjoy these years of sweet little girls in lovely princess gowns. They pass quickly.)
Monday, November 1, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Creative Costumes
This is a great example of Mom's brilliance and ingenuity. I was so impressed by the way she made the hat and the hook out of a metal juice lid and hanger. What creative genius! I'm so bereft--it's truly a great benefit to blessed with a creative mother and a creative daughter.The little competitor in me was crushed in 3rd grade when my lovely pink princess dress (that my amazing mother sewed for me) failed to secure me a Wilson Halloween costume award. I can still remember mom consoling me and explaining that creativity was the ticket. I went on to win the most creative costume award at Manzanita School for the next four years and the scariest costume award my 8th grade year (when my "peanut, peanut butter, jelly" costume feel apart right in front of the judges--I didn't have too much competition--it wasn't "the thing" to still dress up when you were in 8th grade back in the day--Erica Gallardo won most creative that year for her Fruit of the Loom inspired grape cluster costume--she was covered in purple balloons with an awesome green stem hat). I don't remember any of the other costumes except the one that won me my first prize--my 4th grade tombstone costume. I remember mom had painted 1971-20??. It kind of freaked me out. I lived in mortal fear of not living until the 21st century. It was a happy moment at 12:00a.m. 2000, when I realized the tombstone prediction would be fulfilled. Silly.
These classic Red Suspender's Day award-winning costumes show off Mom's sewing and artistic flair.
My Favorite Picture of 4 Year-old Bob
As a teenager this was my FAVORITE picture of Bob. I deeply appreciated Bob and the service he rendered to me during basketball season. I would come home from practice, tired and sweaty, and plop myself down on the couch in the family room. Bob would be kind enough to pull my clunky high tops off for me and even (brace yourself--this would completely gross out Steve) peel off my two layers of sweaty socks. Bob, you're awesome. Thanks again!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Anticipating More Adventures
We've been missing the latest Bowling adventures and reflecting with gratitude on some of the October adventures of the past. We're looking forward to the next one.
This is my first attempt using our new scanner. We've had to buy a new printer/scanner since our last one died on us. Our computer (that Grandpa Bowling gave us because he hated it--thank you Grandpa, it has served us well for many years) and microwave (which Steve just remarked the other day was one of his very favorite gifts, thank you Mom & Dad. He's convinced that we would still have our gigantic, fake wood-paneled JCPenney microwave if it hadn't been for your thoughtful gift--and he's right. I still miss its gigantic capacity)are also on the fritz and I just found out that our modem is defective and needs to be replaced. This is just cracking me up because we still haven't replaced our stolen electronics. (And just so nothing gets lost in the written word without the real life expression--I really do find the whole thing very amusing. The other day the microwave just stopped. I looked over and there were 14 seconds left. Nathan was zapping lentils and we have had a difference of opinion over how long to zap. I walked over and pushed the start button again--which has always worked just fine in the past when the wave inexplicably stops. Well, the microwave started again but--for the first time--it didn't count down. It stayed at 14 seconds, even though it was continuing to cook. Well, I already thought he'd put it in too long and more than 14 seconds went by. I wasn't willing to let the lentils explode all over the wave to figure out how long it would've gone with out turning off. When he heard the door of the microwave open without hearing the "it's finished" beeping sound, he came running in to the kitchen--"Did you stop the microwave early, Mom?! You know I wanted it to go for 90 seconds!" Smart little detective boy--I had to explain that the microwave really wasn't working right and that his controlling mother was not trying to undermine his desire to overcook his food.) I'm almost afraid to replace our other electronics--everything else seems to be on the blink. The only things (knock on wood) that are currently working correctly are our ClearPlay DVD player and the tv--the two things I would be delighted if they were not working (the tv anyway). I'm a firm believer in the WWII motto "Use It All; Wear It Out; Make It Do; or Go Without." I've enjoyed seeing how long I could go without a functioning printer, but it's become a problem with R & N's school assignments, so alas, I broke down and bought a new printer, but I am SO excited to buy a Kodak printer which costs more upfront but then will save you a TON of money in ink cartridges down the road. (Thank you for that tip Clark Howard!).
Anyway, Happy Fall and thanks everyone for all of the great fall memories going all the way back to driving the 6 siblings trick-or-treating in the station wagon at age 12 when Mom and Dad were vacationing in Hawaii. Shelly was such a great babysitter when you're 12. Now having a 12 year old, I would have a heart attack if a babysitter let Rachel drive especially when I was out of state and especially with my other little ones in the car!
This is my first attempt using our new scanner. We've had to buy a new printer/scanner since our last one died on us. Our computer (that Grandpa Bowling gave us because he hated it--thank you Grandpa, it has served us well for many years) and microwave (which Steve just remarked the other day was one of his very favorite gifts, thank you Mom & Dad. He's convinced that we would still have our gigantic, fake wood-paneled JCPenney microwave if it hadn't been for your thoughtful gift--and he's right. I still miss its gigantic capacity)are also on the fritz and I just found out that our modem is defective and needs to be replaced. This is just cracking me up because we still haven't replaced our stolen electronics. (And just so nothing gets lost in the written word without the real life expression--I really do find the whole thing very amusing. The other day the microwave just stopped. I looked over and there were 14 seconds left. Nathan was zapping lentils and we have had a difference of opinion over how long to zap. I walked over and pushed the start button again--which has always worked just fine in the past when the wave inexplicably stops. Well, the microwave started again but--for the first time--it didn't count down. It stayed at 14 seconds, even though it was continuing to cook. Well, I already thought he'd put it in too long and more than 14 seconds went by. I wasn't willing to let the lentils explode all over the wave to figure out how long it would've gone with out turning off. When he heard the door of the microwave open without hearing the "it's finished" beeping sound, he came running in to the kitchen--"Did you stop the microwave early, Mom?! You know I wanted it to go for 90 seconds!" Smart little detective boy--I had to explain that the microwave really wasn't working right and that his controlling mother was not trying to undermine his desire to overcook his food.) I'm almost afraid to replace our other electronics--everything else seems to be on the blink. The only things (knock on wood) that are currently working correctly are our ClearPlay DVD player and the tv--the two things I would be delighted if they were not working (the tv anyway). I'm a firm believer in the WWII motto "Use It All; Wear It Out; Make It Do; or Go Without." I've enjoyed seeing how long I could go without a functioning printer, but it's become a problem with R & N's school assignments, so alas, I broke down and bought a new printer, but I am SO excited to buy a Kodak printer which costs more upfront but then will save you a TON of money in ink cartridges down the road. (Thank you for that tip Clark Howard!). Anyway, Happy Fall and thanks everyone for all of the great fall memories going all the way back to driving the 6 siblings trick-or-treating in the station wagon at age 12 when Mom and Dad were vacationing in Hawaii. Shelly was such a great babysitter when you're 12. Now having a 12 year old, I would have a heart attack if a babysitter let Rachel drive especially when I was out of state and especially with my other little ones in the car!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
A Beautiful Beginning
It really does go fast! It's wonderful watching the Bruce & Alicia Bowling Family grow. We missed out on celebrating Lily's birthday and seeing everyone this weekend. We are all blessed to be part of such a wonderful family with such noble parents. Listening to Elder Arnold today reminded me of what amazing grandparents we have. I am especially grateful for their example of temple attendance and service.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Dad Doing the 'Do
I love this picture! Don't you just love Dad's attention to detail? I think it's such a sweet thing to occassionally see dads doing things that moms usually do. It's good to see pictures of Uncle Verl. I'm really looking forward to meeting him again in the next life without the constraints he had to endure in this life. I still have a bracelet he gave me that he found on one of his walks in his trailer park. The clasp has long-ceased to function properly, but it always makes me smile.
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