Grandma Silly, Grandpa Chuckles, Mel and Suzie

A nearly perfect Autumn

2011-11-21T15:58:00.010-06:00

OKAY. A perfect Autumn is unobtainable, like any other perfection. But, aside from the obvious objections I would voice myself - not seeing all the families whenever I want to, adjusting to the loneliness that goes with a busier-than-ever husband and only one independent teen at home, not having a teleporter (I guess that's the same thing as the family issue)... It has been a splendid Fall. I'm happy to share my Fall with you - via these few photos and some minimalist narration...

I took Melanie to BYU and, while I couldn't avoid the tears, she couldn't contain her excitement. I think she is happier than even SHE expected...

Suzie turned into a diver and loved it (not discernible from my photos, but true nevertheless).

Weather that was, in a word, idyllic. This is OCTOBER. Yes, our backyard in October was as green and inviting as Spring - enhanced by the colors of Fall. Lots of rain and the bliss of moderate temps until mid-November (and let us not forget tender mercies) made this a gift I gloried in daily.

I saw a long-time favorite singer in concert. That blur is Amy Grant. She sure is a nice person. A very warm & fuzzy evening.

I finally got that shorter hairdo I've been daring myself to get.

Suzie and I took a quick trip to CO to see our Frakes family. As bonus, we saw Ane and Ben Paulsen, moose bugling, gorgeous Fall scenery and still more gorgeous weather. Late October and 70 degrees. I could get used to that.
(P.S. I have rather fascinating footage of the moose bugling. It won't load. Sorry.)

Finally, to preserve this nearly perfect Autumn as long as possible, and to utilize the tree Tim put up a little too early for my tastes, I decorated my first ever Thanksgiving Tree. If he puts it up the first part of November again, I will do it again. I would probably find more ways to make it more Thanks-themed next time...If there is a next time.
Happy Autumn! Happy Thanksgiving! So much to be thankful for. But that would be a really, really, really long post...

Summer, don't go! We didn't have enough fun yet!

2011-09-04T20:41:00.008-05:00

Hogwarts, compliments of Disney World and Mel's early-summer senior adventure

On occasion I've heard someone say, "Summer is just too long and boring. I wish it was shorter." I had to shoot them. Or hurt them (both verbally, of course). I never have enough summer; this one whizzed by, overloaded and overwhelming, with the paradox of so much fun but not nearly enough - or as a couple of the Burton boys said it, we didn't have enough fun yet...
Because feeling overwhelmed makes me forget to pull out my camera, some key events have little or no photographic coverage - like Minot flooding (but that's easy to find online),youth conference, the weekend Tim was made stake president, or Mel saying goodbye to Bismarck and heading for the grand adventure of college life. So, as usual, I'm merely sharing a few highlights of a summer that was, as usual, not enough. Way awesome in every way that counts, but just not enough...

Mel and besties at Epcot Ctr.
Farewell night w/ some favorite missionaries
Flippin' Suze
Glenn's sugar-overload b-day cake at our family gathering
Comparing poundage, by any chance??
A favorite pastime at the "cabin"
A loving attack...
A last "family photo" for the ND Coxes as we've been for 7 years...! (Thanks, Ems, for this and all the other awesome family pics!)
Hot tubbin' for the kid crew
A likely [family friendly] argument...
...And the Red Shirt Coxes at the Bench Branches Reunion, at Nancy & Nelson's place
Mel as Luna Lovegood for her Harry Potter Marathon

The basic reasoning behind national parks...

...and a little bit of ND worth conserving - taken on a hike with a friend, in Teddy Roosevelt National Park
Some Arizona pool time
So tired after one of the many trips to muck out flooded houses in Minot
Oh, look! We did shoot the new stake president (I think he was still shell-shocked when we took some requisite photos to send to church headquarters)
The new Utah residents!

Mel in her new home, the dorms at BYU

One of John Pinette's entries (I think) and Chrys Sandor's sampler quilt, at the Springville UT Quilt show. Impressive to have family members participating in such an amazing show!

Mama Cox with the organizers and a few of those who came to their 35-year class reunion! Oy!

Did I miss anything? Most certainly. And even with all the times I forgot to shoot family history in the making, there are still so, so many fun pictures of family this summer; so minimizing was the only safe way to go...
I would happily take on another three months of summer to do more of what I've been doing for the past three... But structure and duty call, so return to them I must. But thanks, y'all, for the memories!

Easter in AZ, AMI, Visit from the Adamzes; Mel graduated, Bismarck is flooding; The sun also rises...

2011-06-11T18:49:00.023-05:00

This is why blogging more often is important: catchup is not effective. So I will just give you some highlights of the past couple of months, and hope this shares "the smallest part of what I feel..."
Emphasis on feel, not what I have to say. I'll let the images do the talking. And I can't pretend I achieved any balance, so know that there are lots of people and moments I had to leave out. Sigh. This is why blogging more often is important...

Mesa Temple Easter Pageant, entire cast

I've never seen a Hummingbird at rest. I had to include it...

Because the authorities are asking people not to drive around looking and taking pictures, mine are from the bridges as I drive, and not very good. But you can see the mess in detail by going to www.ndfloods.com, or on Facebook at North Dakota Flood Info Center. There are lots of pictures and information from the local media. Great coverage of a sad circumstance. I would go into more detail here, but it's a lengthy telling. Suffice it to say, we will have a destructively high river, more than four feet above flood stage, all summer. We're grateful to be high and dry. And praying for people up and down the river, and all over the country. And all over the world.
The sun will rise, and troubles will ease. But it may be a very long time. This is a time for faith.

Please don't give up on me...

2011-06-06T01:10:00.002-05:00

This quick word post is just to reassure anyone who still bothers to check in, that I will, I really will, post this week. That snow storm picture has to go!! I won't bore you with detailed excuses, but my life really hasn't been my own for the past two months; then, when life began to return to normal, sandbagging Bismarck began. So I really do have lots to share - but I'll probably seriously reduce the volume because, well, I'm lazy. Talk to you soon. With pictures.

More winter storms, More proms, Another year for Tim and Karla, and Goodbye to Abi

2011-04-04T17:02:00.013-05:00

No, we weren't celebrating Christmas again. I think even the snow gets tired of itself, and tries to get creative in these late-winter storms. All the windows were coated, along with outside walls. Once the blasted wind stopped, it was pretty fascinating.

I never get tired of the beauty of hoarfrost. But it's hard to capture. This tree, and all the others, were sparkling like diamonds in the early sunlight. I hope you see more than a bare tree with a little flocking on it...

Mel went to two proms again this year. Though she won't like me posting the pictures (she had a funny expression in every single one), I thought you should see her handsome Minot friend -

- and the group of girls who went and made the evening a lot of fun.

For CHS' prom, she got a gold dress (her heart's desire) that she designed, and a nice guy to take her - a good friend who graduated last year from BHS, so Prom was nice and relaxed.

I didn't take any pictures on our anniversary, and there were no jokes played, so it was a nice, but mellow (maybe slightly boring to some)day. Still, I want to mark the passage of time: 34 years we have been a married couple...No wonder I didn't take any pictures. ;-)

This one just shows my honey being a loving grandpa...Happy Anniversary, TimChucks. We're halfway there (give or take a few) in earth years.

And, Abi. For most of the years we've lived in this house that Tim and the boys built, we've had Abi. She's loving, she smiles, she's smart, she's pretty - and she bites people. She tries to herd them, but that cut it for anyone, including us. So she had to go. For all of you who liked our Abi, here are a few farewell pictures. Mel posed with her, Suzie stayed away. Predictable for their personalities...
Anyway, she's living on a ranch now, with cows and horses and other animals who don't mind being herded.I hope she's happy. Bye bye, Abi.

About Mel, and Suzie

2011-03-07T16:34:00.004-06:00

This girl is busy by choice. From a school winter "formal"

to a "Rave" - black lights and loud music and in this case, a peacock costume;

to the midwinter play (more costumes)

to a vocal recital, she fits it all in - along with church, school work, and work for the all mighty (or at least all necessary) dollar;

...Always with a smile and a good argument for why we should let her try everything.

I think she will do fine at BYU. I'm mentally preparing already. 'Scuse me while I grab a tissue...

And while the pictures do nothing for the energy and fun Suzie exudes, be assured that this girl keeps us moving, and guessing, and laughing.

Not hard to tell who her best bud is. Don't know if she's mentally preparing, but she's definitely appreciating. And of course that's good for all of us.

Ah, caboosies. What would we do without 'em? More pointedly, what WILL I do without them to keep me busy and entertained? Glad it's not yet...

So slow to post: January trip to AZ

2011-02-27T17:00:00.009-06:00

I just need to post.
Tim and I went to Arizona at the end of January - he for business, I for fun - and took Alisa and Karly with us (we drove through Denver and flew home). Although I don't have a great selection of photos and didn't shoot everyone, I just need to share some with you. So without explanation (hopefully you can figure out who's whom), here's my overdue post!

MEL IS A STAR!!

2011-01-16T21:43:00.004-06:00

Ok,not really, since anything can be posted on Youtube. This is from Coffee house last year at Century, but my friend posted it just a couple months ago.
Mother thought it would be nice for you all to see, so here ya go!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WweXXmDOUvU (just copy and paste in your browser)

Yeah mon, Christmas was different...

2011-01-02T18:27:00.029-06:00

So, what do you do when you have a big, loving, wonderful family, but you know you need to share the marrieds and grandies with the "outlaws," as we call them (those wonderful in-laws on the other side), or sometimes just give them space to have Christmas in their own way?
This was an "off" year for us, with no claim on or expectations with any of the married kids. So we decided to make Christmas an experiment, and go on a trip - just the four of us who still live in the cruel cold of Dakota du Nord. Of course, we looked for warmth, and somewhere we hadn't been... We made our plans to spend Christmas on a beach in the Bahamas. By way of Florida.

I wish how it sounds was exactly how it was. But don't assume the worst, either.

I can't say it was paradise, or that everything went as we hoped/expected. The Bahamas were unseasonably cold this year at Christmas (so was Florida and most of the country - no secret there); our Bahamas hotel was a bit of a joke. (Don't ever schedule through travelfun.com or thetourcenter.com; we are sorry we did. That's all I'm saying.) But Tim, aka Santa, fixed what he could, and overall the trip was unique, pleasant, and a great learning experience. And amazingly, we were never separated from our luggage, and only had one flight delay that threw things off-schedule - and it didn't mess up anything important. While I'm probably the first to tell what was wrong, I am also the most verbose about what was great and worthwhile about the trip as a whole. So for intimate details, talk to me. The pictures can do the rest.

The view from the first of many hotel rooms...

Notice the tape on the poor baby aligator's snout, so tourists can hold him safely

The Florida Everglades

That big boy was heading over to give me a kiss -- or to take my face off. The guide was pretty clear which was more likely.
At least it was warm in Florida (it got really cold there after we left)

Tim checking out the first conch shell we found. Turns out the Bahamians eat them, so the shells were all over.

Ah, the sea...

One picture of Mel is Florida, the other the Bahamas. Can you tell which is which?

It did get better... But the irony never went away (this sign, however, was not on the beach, but in the alleged longest freshwater cave in the world). And the mangrove "swamp" (clearest water I've ever seen) was a biggie as well.

But for general appeal, the ocean always won. This particular beach, at highest tide possible, is actually one used in filming "Pirates of the Caribbean." Yeah, we thought so too.

But THIS was what we were looking for. We enjoyed this hotel, beach and slightly warmer sun for a day, before sailing into the sunset back to Florida. (FYI, we didn't go on a cruise; it was a five-hour big-boat ride to and from the island. Don't want any confusion there... We still hope to cruise someday.)

One final comment (you knew I couldn't do it, didn't you?): We enjoyed our trip and are really grateful we could go. Our experiment gave us new experiences and new friends. And we learned a lot, including some things about ourselves; especially this: Christmas is for traditions. Christmas is for families. Even if we have to take turns. ☻ So Smile, Mon! And try to visit the islands when Mother Nature isn't freaking out. Oh, and have a Happy New Year!

SisterFest!

2010-12-19T23:16:00.006-06:00

I went to Idaho for a friend's wedding, and my wonderful cousin Kathy and her family hosted a gathering! My amazing sisters, some super nieces, and a friend from Bismarck who traveled with me (to pick up her son from BYU-I) had an incredible amount of fun in a day and two nights. Though maybe we "didn't have enough fun," every second was a blast, and I'm so grateful we got together! Thanks to the Jemmetts, and thanks to Darcia, Reida, Nancy, Ane, Alta, Kelly, Celina, and Karleen for reminding me what delightful people I grew up with, and continue to have in my life! Though the pictures are only so-so and not very telling, it was definitely a gift I cherish!

Allen and Kathy, the hosts with the most!

The proof that my photographer's cap was not on: I don't have a good picture of Alta, and none of Ane... But trust me, they were in on every bit of the fun...

Steven dealt with all the hormones with a smile on his face!

Karleen and her whopping 4-month old, Kamille

Isn't she just cute like Mom?

Two of the four cousins (plus second cuz Karleen)that took time from their lives to play with us old girls...Did you hide when I pulled out the camera, Ane?

Thanks for the memories - SURE DO LOVE Y'ALL!

Red Alert! Melanie is an adult!

2010-12-06T00:01:00.007-06:00

It's not hard to remember when Melanie came into the world (well, for those of us who are older, that is). It wasn't so long ago, right? Well, reality is this: Mel is 18 today! I can't pretend she's my effervescent, gregarious, articulate little girl any more... But she will always be my effervescent, gregarious, articulate daughter. Love you, Mel-Mel! I know you're going to change the world, in your own unique and clever way. Happy Birthday, Sweet cheeks!

Old girls and weird people (My shortest post ever)

2010-11-14T19:48:00.012-06:00

Mel will have to explain this, but it's proof that she can still play doofus with the best of them... (Stake YW Sleepover)

Popping out of the birthday bag; Suzie, don't do this when you're older, okay?

Halloween party... Redneck parents of the bride. Nuff said.

Fall is flying away, way too fast...

2010-10-05T23:32:00.019-05:00

September was a blur. I want more of my favorite month!

Nate, Alisa and Karly came for a fun visit, and Alisa got her hair cut by my hair buddy DeAn... (For more on their visit, see Alisa's blog!)

Mel said goodbye to her transportation buddy of the last two years (our Chrysler mini-van, a vehicle we no longer need) before I took it away to become the transportation solution of...

...the Adamz family,represented by the "big" brothers, aka silly monkeys...

Whom I happily joined to welcome into the world their new brother, Ethan Timothy!

While in IL, I attended my American Mothers, Inc. meetings in Springfield, the land of Lincoln (and enjoyed the bit of history more than the meetings, I'm sorry to say; but my love and admiration for some of the women increased mightily, thus balancing things nicely);

Tim made AND decorated a yummy cake for my birthday during his quick trip to meet Ethan (and attend meetings of his own in Chicago);

I got Shan out of the house and let the monkeys play at the arboretum; enjoyed the gorgeous weather; watched some of Conference before I left, and made memories that are not captured in photos...

...And got the news about Ben and Emilie's new addition...

Assuring another post before October has flown!

Back to school, haircuts, and stuff...

2010-08-29T22:39:00.011-05:00

Mel and Suzie will punch me for this one, but it has to be posted; an old-fashioned ice cream truck,complete with silly music and everything,drove around our neighborhood all season long. It was their heart's desire to say goodbye to summer with a purchase. They bought their treats(not horribly expensive, actually), and sat in the mild sunshine to eat them and savor their last day of freedom...

...And then it was back to school! Can you tell Melanie is quite thrilled to be a senior? Early mornings and all, she was ready. Suzie, not so much, but 9th grade gets better day by day. (And Tim's part of this post is, well, minimal, but you'll see him easily if you look for him. At least part of him...)

I had to have some change too; so I scheduled weeks in advance so I wouldn't change my mind just for one good hair day (sound familiar to anyone?), and chopped this off. I planned on a big change, but my sweet haircut friend convinced me that, teaching gymnastics, I will still want to pull it up. Plus, I learned I have what the trade calls a "duck butt" -- essentially, a bad hairline on the back of my head - not the best feature for a short 'do.

So, I'm back to same old, same old, but I guess the old girl is comfortable with it - for now.

And what good would a blog post be without a Dakota du Nord Sunset? I acknowledge, this one is rather bland as our skies go, and it is a second or two late (my phone photo was perfect timing), but it was the purity of it that captured me. And though I have no photo to share, the moon,like a big, knowing eye and complemented by the jewel below it that is Mars, has captivated more than one night recently. No wonder I stay up late... I do love this place this time of year. ☺

I caught it!

2010-07-25T15:50:00.006-05:00

You could take a hundred pictures trying to catch lightning, and never get it. I got it, and had to share! My picture is not amazing the way it would be with time-lapse and an amazing camera; mine is amazing because it was pure chance!

P.S. That's Demory in the photo; the little scaredy girl now loves lightning storms, and she and Suz were out oohing and ahhing - the reason I got out my camera in the first place.

YW Camp

2010-07-25T14:55:00.012-05:00

This post won't be long for some simple reasons: No one needs a travelogue on an event that LDS girls all get to enjoy in their own ways; Melanie couldn't go because of the play (a post on that will come later); the pictures don't include very many people my blog people know; and pictures of Camp, like pictures of Trek, only show what you did, not what you felt. And YW Camp, though a lot of fun,is also a lot of FEELING - feeling the Spirit (some for the first time), feeling bonding, friendship and love for others who share you faith; feeling grateful to be included in such worthwhile fun! As a mom, I want to share it with my family. As a stake leader, I want to share it because it was a great success!
Our theme was Courage in Action, which acronyms to CIA, which provides a great spy/mystery/look-out-for-each-other-in-this-scary-world theme. Great pink shirts.

If you look closely at the girl on the right, you'll see it's Sara Sabot - now Steinman, grown up, married, a mama, and having fun as one of the three musketeers, alias awesome Bismarck YW leaders

Suzie and some of her Minot homies, under an umbrella because we got a lot of rain

A sandwich hug - such a frequent occurrence! I'm not sure I/we started it, but it sure works well to share the love!

The pigs in blankets over the fire didn't work that well, but we sure had yummy food overall! From teriyaki chicken to homemade cinnamon rolls, our little camp cook - and all the treats - assured weight gain Suzie needed, but I didn't!

Suzie's is the light blue backside right in front. I went to see what this group of mischevious girls was doing, and found them going around the circle naming favorite things! Ya gotta love those awesome Mormon girls!

The Trek Experience

2010-07-11T16:29:00.009-05:00

So, it's been two weeks, but Mel, Suzie, and the other teens of the stake are still glowing after their major bonding experience in the wilderness of Wyoming.
To tell all about it would be more words than I use in this once-a-month-or-less recording style; if you talked to them personally, they have an equally hard time putting it into a few meaningful words. Phrases like "a-MAZE-ing," "life-changing," "I want to go back" or "I miss my family/friends from Trek" seem to surface; and why not? The bubble of heavenly and mutual affection, uncluttered by worldly distractions and games, is understandably appealing. (Sounds a little like a mission...)
But this post isn't really to convince anyone that participating in a pioneer trek re-enactment is worthwhile; most anyone who checks in already knows that. It's just to say I'm glad I got to share in the rare and wonderful experience our daughters and youth had, and to have a bit of understanding when they speak with fondness about something that shouldn't, in logical terms, appeal to the tech-saturated, pampered generation that came home humbled, strengthened, and changed - hopefully forever.

Now, some visuals:

Suzie with her trek sibs

Mel pulling with her sibs (both girls were usually pulling - yay for them!)
Sister Fife, and Papa Smurf, the trail boss and camp cook (also YM, YW presidents)

A funeral on the trail - for a plastic baby that really brought the reality of loss home for many youth - including Mel, who represented Great-great grandma Martine Larsen; she lost her dad, sister, and brothers - one a young baby.

Suzie, Mel and all the youth enjoyed the dancing, even though it came at the end of the toughest day.

Suzie and Karla in their pioneer clothes on a sacred hill (Mel was already back down the hill, at the handcart, ready to pull, so we didn't get to have her in the picture with us). I was Mel's "ma", a huge blessing for me in our funny trek family!

My Honey, and Other people I can't live without

2010-06-20T20:24:00.014-05:00

Happy Birthday and Happy Father's Day, Tim-Chucks! (They always come close together, so it's usually a big weekend for him...) Here are just a few of the reasons I love you:

You made it possible to have all these adorable grandkids (two of whom are missing from this picture -the two youngest, both girls who are helping to even the score...)- and they keep coming!

You are learning to relax and enjoy the sweet moments...

You're creative, and focus well on a goal... And help teach little people to work with you

You're a fun guy (Once again, the grandchilluns seem to bring it out)

You bought a house with a pool because you knew I would love it! (thank goodness everyone else does too)

Though it's sad we can't all be together all the time (like we were in AZ recently, where we got to welcome our sweet, newest family member),

You've got three generations of love comin' atcha, baby!

So keep it comin, 'cause the fun's just begun!

'Tis the Season...whatever that means

2010-05-02T16:53:00.005-05:00

So, we've got Prom, and soccer games, Stake Conference and stake youth activities, and Tim on the road (or more accurately, the plane) too much... Must be Spring. Notice I didn't mention flowers blooming or birds chirping or anything springing - cuz we live in Nort' Dakota, where Mama Nature is the Queen of Fickle!
Oh, yeah, we've had some 70 degree days; the grass is a lovely green, and the trees are actually working on leaves. But Mel and Suzie have both played soccer games recently in 30-something, windy, poopy weather. And Prom night was rain and wind, with a morning-after temp of 34. Brrrrr. Enjoy your spring elsewhere, y'all, because we are enjoying all of life, but not spring weather. Tim's had it - he's heading for AZ again this week, leaving the girls and me. We must deal with all our obligations and required presence on our own.
Who, me, grumble? Why ever would you think that?
Nevertheless, there are pleasant prom pictures to post, so here you go!

Mel enjoyed showing off her date (a truly nice guy who treated her very well; thank you, Eliot), her hair (thank you Sarah), and her dress, all of which made her (and therefore us)happy.

Mel was in the Trib. And Suzie won at State.

2010-04-04T23:49:00.011-05:00

So, people here in ND saw it, but all y'all who live elsewhere can look it up: Melanie made the life section front of the Bismarck Tribune, but not because she won anything. (Well, I guess it's all in how you look at life. Real life, not the newspaper section...:) The school newspaper that Alisa wrote for back in the day did an issue on teen drinking and drugs; Mel was featured for her choice not to do either, and the Tribune used it Sunday, March 28. So, thanks to Bailey Carlson, Mel had her moment in the limelight just for being herself: a great girl who's living what she knows is right!
If you want to see the story, go to the Tribune's webpage (BismarckTribune.com), search for "Teen lives life the Straight Edge way", and click story. [Or go to the comments, where AJ gives the direct info. Cool,smart kids. Not so much the mom.]There was a picture in the paper - not there in the online version - but it really didn't do her justice.

Oh, and Suzie won first place, overall and in all four events, at the state USA Gymnastics meet. I don't think she was in the paper, though... [Again, if you're really into this - as sibs often are - check AJ's comment for directions to the quite obscure but nevertheless validating info about Suzie's wins. Thanks, AJ! And thanks for pushing me to learn how for another time...]

WAY TO GO, SUZIE!
ROCK ON, MEL!

Whew. Had to get that out of my system.
And just so you know, that photo is a totally unrelated shot in Chicago. Like the L'ego guy next to them?

Have these April Fools really been married 33 years??!

2010-04-01T23:57:00.005-05:00

The aging process is all over us, but in ways that are important we are better people than we were on our first April Fool's Day together. I'm grateful he's hung in there with me, and I'm glad I've hung in there with him -- we sure have a lot to show for our years together!
So here's to 33 more years, my love - on the way to infinity and beyond!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-16T23:27:00.008-05:00

Hey, my family - you remember how the leprechauns would visit and change our milk to green on St. Patrick's Day? (Yes, they still do - much to Tim's chagrin.) Well, in Chicago, the Wee Folk turn the whole river green!

People turn out in masses wearing green in all forms and fashions -- some even combine it with orange.(Do a wikipedia search or something if you don't know the history of Ireland's most Americanized holiday - I'm not going into it here.) We spent the weekend with the Adamzes for Spring Break and rode the train to Chicago for the day, where we saw and did lots of fun things (and skipped many more because it was so cold and rainy), so I thought I would share a wee bit of it with you, though I apologize that the pictures really don't show off the Windy City as it deserves to be shown.

So, Luck o' the Irish to ye (I don't know if that's really very much, but let's not think about that right now), and don't forget your green!

Chicago, as you probably know, is famous for its varied architecture, from modern steel and glass to gargoyles like these guys.

One peculiar shot of "the Bean", a reflective sculpture in Grant Park, right next to the lake. Though this shot doesn't show it, the big-as-a-house object looks like, well, a giant kidney bean - hence the nickname.

The train ride and a trip to the Children's museum provided great diversion from our Nodak winter...

And what use would this post be without the boys?

Thanks so much, Adamz family, for a great time, filled with new experiences and laughs we'll remember a long time!

Grandma talks... And Mommy's a pig!

2010-02-05T16:02:00.006-06:00

Back in the day - a half century ago, maybe less - a guy named Art Linkletter interviewed young children on a TV show he hosted, "Kids Say the Darndest Things!" Well, a half century later, maybe less, they still do!
All grandparents love their grandkids, and think they say funny, cute or memorable things. I'm no different, and I'm here to share a few with you:

Stella calls me "Grandma Talks." Maybe it's a kid-size morphing of Cox = Tox; but it sounds like Talks, and that, well, y'know, fits me!

Andrew prefers Grandma Silly. One day he told his mom, "Grandma calls me Roo." "What do you think of that?" she asked him. "It's silly! If she calls me Roo, I'll call her Grandma Silly!" (Did he know my blog already referred to me that way, or did he influence the blog moniker? I guess it's a little like, what came first, the chicken or the egg...)

One day before Christmas, Charlie answered the phone when I called; his bright, happy "Hello, Grandma!" surprised me (he's too young to check caller ID). I said,"Wow, Charlie, how did you know it was me?" He was silent for a moment, then said, "Well, I'm big now, Grandma!"

Xander's imagination requires a new identity for each member of his family every day, these days. Sometimes they are all Shrek characters, or Star Wars, or some other movie or kid-TV identities. He decides, then that's the way it is all day. The next morning - time for a new identity! He even prays for his daddy at work by the day's designated character name! One day I called and he wanted to tell me the day's assignments, all farm animals: "I'm a duck. Dad's a sheep. Zeke's a ram." I asked, "What's Mommy?" "And Mommy's a pig!" What did Shan think of being called a pig? Well, that was the day's role, so she wore it like a... like a mom.

Enjoy those little monkeys - or storm troopers, or green ogres, or "big", aware, wonderful children. And try to remember all the fun things they say; their lines might become part of the ongoing family dialogue!
(For instance: We occasionally say, "I have muscles - I have diahrrea too." All because of a declaration over the fence to a neighbor, from 3-year old Ben!
~ Or there's "Bookhug!" [pronounced boo-kug] from little Melanie's plea for the whole family and everyone else in the house to get in on a Group HUG.
~ Or, a younger Suzie walking out of a room where AJ and Josh were hiding during a family game of hide'n seek, saying, "I think they're under the covers doing something..."
~ Oh, one more - in honor of Alisa's upcoming birthday. She was ever the parrot of popular media, and these lines of hers verify it: "I think - I think it's my new party dress... It IS!" And a year or two later: "Never underestimate the power of BODY LANGUAGE" with some decidedly grown up hip swivels thrown in for shock value... And her most oft-repeated, in the months before Mel was born: "I'm the baby, gotta love me! But not for long!" There's something slightly scarey in the mixed-up phrasing...) Alisa was right -- Gotta love 'em!

TOMS

2010-01-24T21:57:00.005-06:00

I'm not sure if any of you have heard of the orginization out there called TOMS SHOES, but basically it is an orginazation that makes shoes, and for every pair of shoes bought (or tshirt, or other merchandise), they will donate a pair of shoes to people in the world who have none. Since 2006, they have given 400,000 pairs of shoes. They recently donated 30,000 pairs to those who were devestated in Haiti. To learn more, see their website, www.tomsshoes.com .
Mom and I were just looking to see what you guys thought of it, how you reacted to it. Let us know.
Love you all LOTS!!
--Mel

Holidays linger as sweet memories; photos help

2010-01-18T10:56:00.013-06:00

We bid farewell to our untouchable sunsets - and snow - to spend two weeks in (almost)uninterrupted sunshine with our three families who now reside in AZ: Gibbys, Coxes, and Packards - plus the Frakeses, who drove down from Utah. On the way there (we drove the whole *&^%$#@! way - about 27 hours, though I suspect it could be a little shorter), we stopped in Las Vegas, New Mexico - read that carefully, that's NM, not NV - where Tim's grandparents lived for many years. He was able to find their old house, so you get to see it too...

The house in AZ (an investment property, so don't get all funky thinking we're moving) has a great little display spot - great for displaying Karly, Myles, and other smiling adorable children who missed the photo opp...

Family mob time... I confess, I can never get enough!

Picking oranges from our trees, fresh-squeezed orange juice for Christmas breakfast, playing in the sunshine at a park close by, the beautiful lights at the Mesa Temple...These more than made up for no snow - at least for Tim and me.

In spite of rampant sickness (seems to be part of our Christmas tradition when we gather), we had a wonderful time. Only one hole in my mama/grandma heart: the Adamzes weren't with us. But they had a great visit with Glenn's family, so I try not to grouse. And we did get a bonus visit - Emilie's parents came from California, and they spent New Year's Eve with our mob.
A few more random memories:

Christmas morning, in their new jackets (even in AZ, they needed warmth)

A couple of memories at two different temples...

We drove home through Utah, where we got to take part in Celina Fillmore's wedding! (A Fillmore site will be the place to see Celina and her new husband, and all that goes with a wedding)But my siblings and I were all together, so it was a great time to shoot us in a group hug...

And, though I don't have a picture of it, New Year's Eve was bright and beautiful with a Blue Moon (the second full moon in a month's time- a rare occurance and hence the saying...), my fascination of which has given Mel and Suzie plenty of opportunities to laugh at me. I'm okay with that; I'm pretty sure I'm the only one of the bunch who stepped outside on that bright, clear night to welcome my buddy the moon and the new year at the same time...!
Hope your holiday joys are lingering as sweet memories for you! Make 2010 the best!

A life of extremes...

2010-01-06T11:22:00.007-06:00

From this -

To this -

...in a matter of days is a difficult and jarring switch, in oh, so many ways! Christmas in Arizona, January back at home in ND: life is full of extremes, but it's all good.
Stay tuned (but don't hold your breath - you might turn blue :-/) for a sampling of our wonderful Christmas holiday... TTFN!

Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving

2009-12-16T00:20:00.007-06:00

As Christmas approaches, I simply must step back in time...Way back to Thanksgiving, and share some of the fun we had with Shan and AJ's families. I could journal about each picture, but in the interest of time and -- saving time, I'll let the photos speak for themselves. Enjoy! As usual, just a sampling of a memorable, fun weekend - and the last we will have at AJ and Josh's MN home, since they are moving on. Change is bittersweet, y'know?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to anyone who stops by this blog!

Christmas time is (almost) here!

2009-12-13T19:52:00.003-06:00

I (MELANIE) decided this looked fun (thanks Alisa).
1. Have you started your Christmas shopping?
Started? I don't really Christmas shop...:S

2. Tell me about one of your special traditions.
Christmas music begins after halloween. Even if the rest of my family doesn't do it, I do.

3. When do you put up your tree?
Usually after thanksgiving, but this year it was mostly mom and dad that did it.

4. Are you a Black Friday shopper?
I never have, so no.

5. Do you travel at Christmas or stay home?
Usually travel, unless the rest of the family is coming here.

6. What is your funniest Christmas memory?
Alisa brought up the temporary trash can/toilet. That basically tops all.

7. What is your favorite Christmas movie of all time?
Definately Elf. Hands down.

8. Do you do your own Christmas baking?
ummmm no... :D I help sometimes

9. Fake or real tree?
I don't remember ever doing a real tree, but the romanticism of it seems wonderful.

10. What day does the actual panic set in to get it all done?
I HOPE I'm not panicing since I don't have to do anything.

11. Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?
Nope

12. What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?
Being together, watching kids.

13. What Christmas craft do you like the best?
I made a snowman out of glass balls and a sock and other stuff this year. I was proud.

14. Christmas music, yes or no? And if yes, what is your favorite song?
YES!!!! Secular: Santa Baby, Christmas Time is Here, The Christmas Song( aka Chestnuts roasting on a open fire)
Religious: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Good King Wenceslas, Oh Come All Ye Faithful (especially in Latin) ET AL

15. When do you plan to finish all of your shopping?
....

I realized that most of these questions were not directed at teenagers, but oh well.
So now that you've read this, TAG you're it! Copy the questions on your blog and answer them! It's so fun seeing what everyone's traditions and favorites are!

Happy Birthday to our new Seventeener!

2009-12-08T23:45:00.006-06:00

What can I say about Little Miss Sunshine? She's older, bigger (in that long, lean way we all wish we had), and smarter than when she charmed us all by coming into the world - and reciting movie lines before some can talk - but she's just as sweet and beloved as ever.

First day of junior year; she sure knows how to pose!

Always gathering up people she loves for warm fuzzies and photos!
(Recognize the quilt? It's the one Suzie made...)

Yes, that's Kenneth Cope, who spoke and sang at their big summer event, then gave photo opps to his faves... okay, maybe everyone who asked. ;-} But he's now one of her MANY Facebook friends.

Carl Fredrickson and his house, from UP-- Alias Mel and one of her best buds

I think she has a million photos like this one of her and another best bud during the musical. When someone becomes famous, all those photo duos she's snapped will come in handy...

These pics are only a sampling of Mel and all she has going on... But her favorite thing about her birthday (and there was much to smile about)was that all the married sibs called her! Thanks, you awesome big brothers and sisters, for staying so connected to these much younger cabooses!

A mini - update; more to come...

2009-11-20T12:55:00.007-06:00

When has November been so warm in North Dakota?? Suzie was loving the sunshine and we took a handful of silly pics, of which this is representative. ;-}

Mel's wings, Suzie's wearing them, both are dancing - life is made for moments like this...

As for Mel, she kept busy through the Fall with this year's musical, "Beauty and the Beast", where she was a young girl in the "little town, little peaceful village..." Yes, a chorus girl - but it was better than being a man (last year she was a pirate), and she sure knows how to make her little parts into BIG fun!
I also have to tell you that she made the choice to not practice or perform on Sunday, limiting her options for parts. Tough choice. Awesome kid. No, awesome young woman, and I know she will always be glad she honored whom she honored by her choice.

The lady in the photo is actually her viola instructor, but they are great buds - and it's the best picture I got. Ana M. probably has a roomful of great shots: she went to every show since Ammon was Lumiere... (Speaking of Ana, she took nice photos of Mel and Ammon at his prom last year, but I forgot to post them in a timely manner, so all anyone got to see were her CHS date...So sorry. Now seems much too much later.)
So there you have it. Our Indian summer came late, but it came, and we are grateful for every mild second of it. And, we are ready to PARTY THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS WITH FAMILY!

Happy Birthday to Suzie!

2009-10-27T09:15:00.008-05:00

Our caboose, our final purchase, our BABY turned 14 and loves being a young woman! She thinks she's pretty big stuff, though we all know she's still a half-pint; But she's a pretty awesome person, and I think the whole clan joins in wishing her well (thanks to those who called) as she embarks on the year when she:
~Can start driving (learner's permits are still an option at 14 in ND - but don't worry, she won't be on the roads anytime soon;-)
~Can go to dances
~May have/attend boy/girl parties
~Becomes a Mia Maid
~Finally gets a phone! (I know, sibs, it seems we're spoiling the baby; it IS one of those things that's moved downward age-wise. But it's a convenience for Mom, Dad and Mel as much as a "keeping up with peers" device for her (and she's still got more limitations and less perks than anyone...just ask her!)
Suzie's doing good things in her life. She's got her share of quirks and faults, like the rest of us humans, but we want her to know, as she wanders into the world of more responsibility and accountability, that we love her and are proud of her!
Happy Birthday, Suzie!

After a school choir concert, with Alyssa, her next-door friend from baby-hood, who's an easy foot taller now!

A quilt she made for a YW project, with help from a couple of seasoned quilters in the ward

Basking in the sun: one of her favorite things...

Arizona, Albuquerque, and American Mothers

2009-10-26T21:59:00.018-05:00

Tim and I went on a vacation of sorts in early October, while Mel and Suzie slaved away at school. (Hey, it wasn't my idea to leave them home; they're so stinkin' dedicated...) First, we were with the Gibbys and Ben Coxes in the Valley of the Sun for Conference weekend. Space and the limitations of my photography mean you get less than we did. But it's still worth a peek...

(David was enjoying the cool of the tile floor.)

A peek at the grandies, that is... All the adults were busy, you see. ;-}
And I think it's official enough to mention that, while there, we learned of another Gibby on order! Hooray for #5 for them, 12 grandies for us! Bless you, Emily, through the grunge days of pregnancy...

Then we went to Albuquerque (for work meetings) during the International Balloon Festival!
Hundreds of hot-air balloons in as many designs and from all over the world:

We were there early in the morning, and the views were far better than I can provide for you. Trust me, it was memorable!

So many balloons, so little space on a blog...

That's the moon in the western sky, as the sun was coming up in the east; Mr. Moon actually looked much bigger and more impressive...

And, even though I'm posting no beautiful pictures of New Hampshire in the Fall, I still want to mention my visit there for board meetings of American Mothers, Inc.
The leaves were not yet changed (it was still September-the week of my birthday), and I really didn't spend much time enjoying the glories of NH: we, the board members of this national non-profit organization, were in meetings from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. each day! But it was a great learning experience, and I was reminded again that there are thousands of moms across this country who feel as I do: that motherhood is the most important, most meaningful career of all, and the sanctity of home and family has to be watched over and even fought for by organizations like American Mothers - thus my involvement. A worthwhile cause deserves a little crusading, you know? ;-] If you want to know more, you can check out the website, www.americanmothers.org. The site itself is evolving, as is the organization, because even great ideas have to be marketed well...
Of course, the best organization for guarding and guiding families is the organization that was created by God Himself to help families get Home to Him: the Church of Jesus Christ. Which brings us full circle, to my mention of Conference weekend. Lacking the eloquence of others, and especially of those who spoke with the power of the Spirit, I close my mouth, and my post, with gratitude for a weekend that fuels us for six months. What a blessing!

Travelin' Mama

2009-10-12T21:28:00.002-05:00

I've been to New Hampshire, Arizona and New Mexico - and spent a lot of days at home, I confess, though none of them were empty or boring - since my last post. Since I'm not much for journaling and more of a photo album blogger, I'll leave it at that until I post with visuals. Ta Ta For Now!

Lazy Days of Summer Slippin' Away...

2009-08-23T20:27:00.017-05:00

Whoever coined the phrase "better late than never" didn't yet know of this generation of instantaneousness. The phrase is a dinosaur, along with anything not broadcast quicker than a flea's life. Allow me to make my case in my own wandering way...
The summer has been good for the ND family: with time together with our extended families as well as all our delightful offspring and their most excellent spouses and children; cool weather (but enough hot for a little outdoor enjoyment); our first decent garden since living in ND (zucchini, anyone? Yes, my seed-planting enthusiasm paid off punitively); and the laid-back lifestyle we chose (excluding Tim - he has maintained structure and workaholism against our best efforts), we can hesitantly say we are ready for school to start. (Ummm, well, maybe not really.) But we've shared nothing of our easy-livin' Summertime here on our photo album-blog, and now that the days are shorter and school starts in a matter of hours, it seems a little late.
But I am what I am. So, for your enjoyment (or perhaps just mine), here's a random sampling of those lazy days of summer; if it seems so late it's lame, well, better late than never.
Oops. Fleas are dead all around me.

Tim enjoying his birthday gift. I must love this guy...

The reunion is well-documented on "Bench Branches", our BIG family site. But I had to include one shot of the Red Hoarde...

No, I didn't open my eyes during the prayer. It hadn't started yet. But this is what you get with a room full of little people...

One more of the whole fam damily:

Is Suzie a bookish nerd?

...Or just crazy?? Only her family knows for sure (that she's truly a blend)!

Alisa's visit with baby Karly was sweet stuff...

...as was the invasion of Stella and James, with AJ in tow!

I drove Mel and Suzie (and others) to a MUY especial YW Encampment, where they hung out with Sister Dalton and Kenneth Cope!

Then I took a drive to Laura Ingalls Wilder's childhood home On the Banks of Plumb Creek, near Walnut Grove, MN

Before school could resume, Mel and Suzie had to have Transformer shirts (Not really, it just happened that they both had them and dressed similarly one day; sometimes serendipity takes a hand)...

...And buy popsicles from a real neighborhood, music-blaring ice cream truck - life should always be this good!

clap clap clap-clap-clap, clap clap clap-clap-clap, clap-clap-clap, clap-clap-clap EFY!!

2009-07-12T22:50:00.009-05:00

I know if I don't post immediately, Alisa will start telling me to get my hind quarters in gear. So, without further ado, my slightly condensed version of my week at efy.

Look how cute my sisters are!!! :D (told you I'd post it Alisa).

Me being a midget before Efy.

PIZZA NIGHT!!

This is my company, Become Strong. These are probably some of my favorite people in the world. We all became really close! I love all of them.

Me with all our boys. Nuff said. :)

And the girls. 3 of us(yes, myself included) ended up having roomates not show up, so there were 7 girls and 10 guys in our company--that's unusually small. One guy said on the last night "I was kinda bumbed when I found out we only had 7 girls in our company, but they made up for it in spirituality."

I can't begin to tell you on the computer, and not really in person how much I loved Efy this year. It helped me in so many ways, and my relationship with my Heavenly Father was strenthened considerably. If you would like to know an over kill of details, you may call me up, and I will talk you ear off with quotes, spiritual advice, and funny experiences I had. As cliche as it sounds, I was changed at Efy. I ~~plan~~promise to stay this way.

Happy Birthday to my man - and Happy Father's Day to all you wonderful Dads!!

2009-06-17T19:56:00.008-05:00

Tim did the dishes Sunday night. For those of you who get cleanup help in the kitchen all the time and think that's not worth mentioning, I'm here to tell you it is. Because Tim was one of those husbands who had certain roles that he fulfilled, and the rest were -- well, best left to the wife. He does so much, inside and out, that dishes (one thing he never volunteered for) were not something I ever asked him to help with. He has often helped with general cleanup, in the kitchen and everywhere else, and he's a way better cook than me. But actually loading the dishwasher or washing dishes was a little like folding girls' panties for him: someone else's job.
So why am I telling you this? To acknowledge that he is a work in progress, and every year is a little better. He's 54 on June 18, and I have lived with him for 31 of those years; they haven't all been perfect for either of us. But as we also celebrate Father's Day on Sunday (he gets the two biggies back to back every year), I just wanted to use this space to tell the world (or the few people in it who stop by here on occasion) that I feel very grateful for the goofy, hard-working, duty-bound, creative, honorable, and yes, loving man that is the father of our awesome children, grandpa to our incredible grandies, and just TOO SEXY FOR THIS BLOG - TOO SEXY FOR THAT SONG -- TOO SEXY FOR US ALL!

THEY KEEP LIFE FUN...

2009-06-15T18:50:00.005-05:00

What will happen to Tim and me when we have no more crazy, fun, energetic, ridiculous teens around to make us laugh, push our buttons, and keep life fun?? The possibilities include mushrooms, green peppers and nuts in our food again, but I hope we don't shrivel into sad-faced, dried-apple looking codgers who can't find anything and argue about whose turn it is to say the prayer. ;-? In the meantime, enjoy a tiny sample of the escapades of Supercharged, Sassy Suzie (her friend Taylor is on the tractor with her)and Misaligned, Magnetic Mel-- as different as any two of our daughters could be; but this morning when I went to wake them up they (who have separate rooms) were practically asleep on top of each other. Translation: they are best buds, whether they want to admit it or not.

It seems to be a family tradition...

2009-05-24T19:15:00.008-05:00

So, Suzie was ready for a change, and the change came in the form of a major haircut. Like Natalie, Melanie, AJ, Alisa, and other family members I'm sure, Suzie wanted to donate the 10 inches cut off to Locks of Love, where they make wigs for kids with Alopecia or other hair loss disadvantages. It's a great service, and obviously the best way not to mourn all that fallen hair. The immediately "before" pictures are on my cell phone, so I just picked a random picture that showed off her hair well; the "after" picture is actually the next day, after she fixed it herself. Pretty cute, huh?

We didn't have enough fun, but thanks for two months!!!

2009-05-09T09:10:00.004-05:00

Sam Burton (Elder Burton now), when he was little, would get upset when his mom came to get him from our house (in Roosevelt way back when), because, he would say, "I didn't have enough fun!" What he meant was that he wanted more.
Well, I often feel the same way; Bemarlyles have left after staying with us for two months, and I'm missing them (yes, I go through it with anyone who leaves me behind:-+). But here are some photo highlights of their stay:

Proms and Portland again

2009-05-08T23:09:00.028-05:00

The best place to see pictures of Mel's first prom (since I wasn't here taking pictures) is her facebook;

But they are essentially the same, except for the guy (well, which does make a big difference), her hair (well, done far more professionally for the first one by Emilie), and the pictures of friends and other people she enjoyed during the evening (well, I have none of those and she didn't take any either in the second one). Okay, fine. Not at all the same. But she is her beautiful self in both, so there you have it.
The first one was with Ammon Miller, who family members know is in our ward. The second was a guy from school that she didn't know all that well - and we didn't know at all, but is friends with Cameron Seibold (a great guy, son of friends, whom we trust), so we were okay with it. I have to say it: she was the absolute only girl with a dress that had sleeves and covered her...body appropriately. I'm grateful for her, but sad for the rest. What can I say? Modesty is a rare commodity in our world.

As you can see, Portland was lovely again.
I was there for the national convention of American Mothers, Inc., a group I am now serving as a national board member.
Some explanation of the pictures: the group shot is tiny on purpose, since I don't have anyone's permission to post them, but it and the others are just a sampling of the beautiful Rhododendron Garden where we spent some of our rare outdoor time. (Mostly, we were indoors in meetings.)

And because of that permission issue (I actually took more pictures of my many new friends than I did of flowers and scenery), I had to go with the only one of me - not my best shot, obviously, but the rhodo bush made a nice backdrop...
FYI: While rhododendrons are most familiar as the potted plant or nice bushes in yards, they grow to tree size, and flourish in the moist climate of western Oregon. There were rhodos, such as this last one, that were very old. Sure wish I could look so good when I get old. ;->
I'm holding out on you visually, for the sake of space. Portland was gorgeous in the Fall, and proved that Spring is equally beautiful, and does come on time in some places... I know it rains a lot, but I saw sunny days both times I've been there. I'm just a sucker for a visual feast, I guess.

March went out like a Lion, for sure -- with teeth and claws! And, 32 years doesn't seem so long anymore...

2009-04-02T22:30:00.013-05:00

"We saw these photos", you're saying; "Get off the snow fixation, already," you're saying; "Winter is over," you're saying... Well, I'd like to be saying it ain't so, but winter is back with a vengeance, in a storm reminiscent of the April '97 blizzard -- but this time the flooding and blizzards were together. We're thankful we personally didn't deal with flood, though Bismarck on the lower end did. But all of the snow in these pictures is new as of the past week - most of it Sunday night (Mar.29) and Monday: almost 20 inches in a two-day shutdown. The 16+ hours from Packards that I mentioned in the last post was made possible by the 3 hours it took to go from Jamestown to Bismarck (90 miles) on an interstate that should have been closed... crazy heavy snowfall and slick roads made for the worst driving experience Ben, and even Tim, have experienced. Sorry I have no flooding pictures, but you can go to BismarckTribune.com to see all you want. (Fargo got it pretty bad, De and Kat. I can actually say I'm glad you weren't still there.) We are fractions away from an all-time snow record (101.6 inches), and all around me are people who want more snow, just to break the record!! And we probably will get it. We MUST be in North Dakota!

AND, just so you know, Tim and I have been married 32 years (that number's a little eerie, because I remember pictures of my GRANDPARENTS celebrating 32 years... But I'm not getting old - no way). That's as of Wednesday, April 1 (Yep, we're still April Foolin' around). I have to say, I like the guy better than ever, and apparently he's still okay with me, so here's to 32 more on our way to a million -- that might be just a good start!

For obvious reasons (we're no Brad and Angelina, y'know), we don't do many photo opps; this one is from last summer in AZ, on a camping trip, hot and sweaty... you get the idea. We look lots better clean and primped - and in our imaginations! ;->

I haven't had enough fun...

2009-04-01T14:51:00.007-05:00

Take two days (plus a bit more, thanks to Tim, Ben and the girls taking Friday off), drive 16+ hours, combine four families (if you count us ND Coxes as a separate family), assuring that six of the 16 are two or younger, toss them all in a one-bathroom house, and you've got a recipe for chaos, right?

But it was great. Yes, it was often loud and crazy at times; sure, there was fighting between the twobies; sleep was in short supply; and structure was a notion for another time and place. But, given all the circumstances mentioned, we had a wonderful weekend, sweetened by the sacrifice made by all (the Adamzes drove 12 hours, and Packards opened their home to the mob) to make it happen. We even made it to church on time, and enhanced the numbers for Packards' branch (counting March numbers to try to qualify for a REAL church building--just one of the reasons for this random gathering), and made some fun memories while Bemarlyles are at our end of the world!

Two-year old cousins, moms and babies (Ems & Myles' picture is actually at our house; Ems, why did you hide?), and one of the BANG episodes...

...and dancing toddlers to complete the fun! (There was also a whole lotta shakin' goin' on with the --hhmmpphh-- adults and Guitar Hero, but that one will be left to history - or someone else's post... )
Thanks, Packards, Adamzes, Bemarlyles, and Tim and the Teens for a short but Suh-WEET weekend!

True blogging, like FaceBook, is...

2009-03-16T00:36:00.003-05:00

I've faced a long-approaching reality: I'm the older generation. And with that reality weighing upon me like the 250-pound weights at the Y that I can't lift (and won't try, don't worry - I only do nicely controlled machine lifting, and then light weights, more repetitions - but that's a story for another day - boy, do I get distracted!), I am seeing a techno-trend that I never wanted to acknowledge: you who grew up using computers the way we grew up using bicycles are just better at it.
And while there are plenty of mid-gens bucking tradition and opening FaceBook accounts and blogging regularly, I have had to accept my personal plodding as who I am and who I choose to remain. True blogging, the kind many of our kids, neices and nephews check in on and even do, along with FaceBook, is for the techno-savvy generation, or for those who've proven themselves able and willing to straddle the boundless chasm of those born into the computer age and those who learned as adults. I'm the latter. So don't confuse my minimal contributions with laziness or disinterest. Oh, no. I'm just too darn slow at the process for it to be worth the time, most of the time.
So I just want to know: How DO you all find time to contribute, read, and generally spend time on the computer?? I have no small children, only two teens to keep up with, I don't work full-time, and yet life is never an empty blog page, waiting to be filled... How do you do it?

...And here's a random visual for anyone like me, who needs a picture; Mel is the modest one, with friends, all going to a "Winter formal". I'm withholding further comments... She may want to say more eventually.

I still like North Dakota!

2009-02-22T22:39:00.006-06:00

That's a typical sunrise - and I do mean typical - framed by our porch roof; I never get tired of the beautiful skies here in North Dakota. I wish I had a picture of a sundog, or a pillar, or an aurora borealis (though that's a summer phenomenon - the aforementioned phenomena are ice crystal-infuenced, and therefore winter only), to illustrate my point. But for now, this will have to do.
And though we spent the Valentine's Day weekend in mild weather in Denver (one day was 60 degrees), I am not itching to move there. Not yet. I haven't had enough of the peaceful lifestyle, the 180-degree skies, and even the cold, to want out of this place where the people fill the hole in my heart that family would fill if family could be near. For now, we will love traveling to new places, spending time with our beyond-wonderful families, and seeing the sites; but we will keep going home to North Dakota.

...But here are the daughters we enjoyed, enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells (fine, it's not all enjoyment) of the Denver Zoo.

...And here's Denver's capitol, complete with a goldleafed dome and a monolith reminiscent of Washington's, calulated to impress tourists like us (well, we took a picture, so it must have done its job);

...and three stooges - Suzie, Alisa, and Tim - enjoying the warm day in Downtown Denver;

...and the lovebirds-soon-to-be-parents we went to see!

Thanks, Nate and Alisa, for a fun weekend! (Though we are not buying property by the Rockies yet, we got a different, good feel for your future home.) Wish we could spend every holiday with family!!

The smaller the toilet paper roll, the faster it goes...

2009-02-22T21:54:00.002-06:00

Our mission president, President Cannon, used a toilet paper roll (which had been used already in the meeting to illustrate a bale of hay) to make the point that life seems to race by faster and faster (though he was speaking specifically of their mission nearing an end, it applies to life in general). And so it goes.
As the worst blogger on the block (or in the world), I realize our site is not one visited often because of its... lack of additions. But it seems like a good place nevertheless to express my - what shall I call it but fascination? - of all of you whose blogs I check also too infrequently but who make me laugh, smile, long to be with or see you, or just think. Most of you are packing much more into your days; I am simply moving more slowly and not performing as efficiently. But not because I'm old! Heavens, no, I'm far from that! Simply because it has become my modus operandi.
So why the toilet paper analogy? Because it's passing faster and faster, regardless of what I'm doing!
In my rambling way I'm just trying to say thank you for your fun and interesting blogs; though I check in seldom, and blog even less, I feast when I take the time!

Holiday Time is...

2009-01-06T19:53:00.014-06:00

Relaxation Time...

Little People Time...
(I could have posted fifty here - these will have to do!)

Family Time...

Celebration Time...

And, this year, Winter Wonderland!

Hope Christmas, New Year's, and the downtime were sufficiently delightful to gear you up for 2009!

This is what Suzie does for fun...

2009-01-04T15:15:00.013-06:00

Some people watch TV, others talk on the phone or play on the computer...well, Suzie does those and more like anyone else, but she also does this when she's just hangin'! Here's her backflip in action: (Sorry it's sideways- we don't know why - it wasn't that way until we posted it :-/ Just lay on your side and enjoy...)

The Holiday Season

2008-12-23T00:20:00.021-06:00

Winter came early - and suddenly - with an early November storm that was a forewarning of things to come. Our porch and stairs are buried with every storm...

But Thanksgiving in Arizona was all sunshine and fun! Suzie (and everyone else too, though we only shot the kids)spent time in the sun... Including a quiet moment with David...
...who met his new cousin, Myles......and did his August Rush impression. Mel, Suzie and Natalie also took time to enjoy Gibby's cool piano together...

While Andrew and Charlie enjoyed mud together!

We all enjoyed seeing Martha, Sarah, Scott, and Abra...

...just cuddling and having fun... ...and letting a little hair down. Yes, Emily's alter ego showed up!

We can't wait for more family fun at Christmas!

Let's move to Portland --- October was full -- November is too...

2008-11-10T12:20:00.000-06:00

Anyone viewing our blog knows our kids and the recent excitement in their lives -- new babies especially -- and can check their sites for the delightful evidence. But since most of my October was spent away from home, spending time with Shan's family (who were joined by Glenn's parents before I left), as well as AJ's (she had dental surgery, not a baby, but got a visit from me nevertheless), and though I can't add pictures of Ben's li'l spook (I wasn't there for Myles, but Em's wonderful parents were, so all is well), I will add some views of Seattle (including Dan, Emmi, and their little Reid!)and Oregon, where I went with Tim for just over a week. And because we're well into November (shaping up to be another busy month, for various reasons, including my return to teaching gymnastics) before I even manage to blog the October fun, well... we'll see if I can crow about November before Christmas arrives. Are you (in between the parenthetical phrases)getting the message here, or is clarity even possible from this brain or these hands?? Never mind... On to the pictures!

AJ advertising her liquid diet after wisdom teeth removal - but no chipmunk cheeks!

AJ and Josh both enjoy that James is getting SO big! (But Stella knows he's the little guy - she even tried to help mommy by changing his diaper...)

Here's Isaac showing his Adamz sense of humor; Shan enjoying time with her new baby before returning home to the overwhelming joys found in mothering two;

And the bigger-just-means-better, new improved Adamz family, along with their Bishop and Grandpa Adamz, just after Isaac's blessing.

After spending time with the Packards and Adamzes, I went home to make sure Mel and Suzie remembered me before leaving again... Tim and I headed for Seattle, saw the sites and the sweet little Fillmore family.
Thanks, Dan and Emmi, for spending time with us - and for sharing your honey of a boy!

Let's all move to Portland! I just couldn't drink in enough --it was so beautiful there! (But of course, Autumn is gorgeous almost anywhere...)

I made friends with a 70-yr. old Russian immigrant named Havel the day I visited the rose garden, so I asked him to pose with one of the roses. He was running for public office, but I'm pretty sure his ideas and style didn't win him a position...
One of my favorite things was the Pittock Mansion, a uniquely beautiful home on a hillside overlooking Portland, where the forest literally surrounded the homes and streets. I took hoardes of pictures there, but these are a sampling. Notice the flaming red tree through the glass in the house... So much breathtaking scenery, I was ... breathless. ;-}

Sorry, I still don't have the hang of picture and caption placement. In my next life, I plan to be brilliant...

Happy Birthday to the Youngest! And please don't disbelieve in us...

2008-10-26T15:10:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to Suzie, the youngest of the Cox Clan! Today you enter the teen years: so fun, but so full of pitfalls... You're beautiful, you're good, you're committed, you're strong physically and spiritually, you're talented, and you're the baby of the family! Don't let that last aspect mess up all the others! Know, every day, that you have a large mob of family and countless others who love you and are cheering for you today and always!

This entry is from a hotel room in Portland, Oregon while I'm traveling with Tim and not with Suzie on her big day. (Thanks, Packards and Mel, for making it fun in our absence!)As Mel declared last time, we are the worst bloggers - Dan and Emmi even verified it when Tim and I visited them. The truth hurts, but it's still the truth... Well, I'm not promising to turn over any new leaves, but I am promising there will be a new highly visual entry soon - and it will be worth the wait for anyone who still bothers with us - after I am through traveling and can sit down in front of the computer to update.

This is a different kind of entry for me; why must I always blog with pictures, you may ask -- Why not just some comments now and then, so at least there are entries? Good question, since many of you do that and I enjoy YOUR entries. I guess I have to confess that I am a kid when it comes to reading: I like pretty pictures in books, and I always read the captions under the pictures before I read anything else on the page -newspapers and magazines especially. Yes, the truth is, I am a visual junkie, perhaps even more than a word bird. No wonder I'm no longer a journalist. I savor others' words much more than my own, but feel mine are unworthy without a picture to go with them.

So there you have it. No tag game, just true confessions from an unfocused blogger and computer user. So don't give up on us or cease to believe that we exist. Just don't expect much and you'll never be disappointed! Talk to you soon (with pictures, of course)!

Your healthy dose of North Dakoota

2008-09-28T23:29:00.000-05:00

Well I think we will just admit it: we are horrible bloggers and so(again) the responsibility falls to me to post. These are a bit random, but just some pictures from the end of the summer and beginning of school and such.

Here we are celebrating Xander's birthday with him. It was a pretty good party. :D

These are the sister that were living with us before they were taken out of our area, Sister Kozlowski and Sister Parkinson. We miss them.

A North Dakota storm, unlike any other place. We had hail...well I'll just show you!

Reading Breaking Dawn, yes at the same time. At least we were able to share.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!! For those of you who weren't aware, Suzie started 7th grade and I started my sophomore year, both of us transitioning to different schools.

Here are a couple of Suzie being all cute and sassy. :D
...And her 18 inch long hair!!

(Flash backs AJ??)

And we cannot forget Abi, the most neglected member of our family(though mom would disagree on her being a "member").

I thought you would all like to see mom's reaction to her amazing present. Thank you to all who contributed. It "made her day" (yes, she said that).

Memories...May be Beautiful and yet...

2008-08-17T18:49:00.000-05:00

I got this from Leona (as all you family bloggers already know), and like the idea of trying it. However, you all know I'm not as loyally online, so I won't be as good at it, but I'm willing if you are!

Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on this post, leave one memory that you and I had together. It can also be a family memory - whatever comes to you. Anything goes! (Well, within reason...)

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, no worries. It is, after all, just for fun!

alright alright!...efy and youth conference

2008-08-10T22:01:00.000-05:00

I have had some demands to put up picures from efy and I'm going to put up some from youth conference too. I don't know why you all want to see these so much, and most of them are not candid, but I will try to just pick the good ones. :D

My company's name was may be perfect(the names were all random phrases from scriptures: under a bushel, in the house, common to man etc.). I was rather proud of our flag but unfortunately they gave no awards for flags this year. Our cheer made it into the finals, but we didn't win.(it wasn't that good :D)

This is our entire group the night of our formal dance. Unfortunately none of us got extremely close...sad.

Yupp me and emily vz made it on the cover of the new era(cough cough)

Me and Adam Howard from Bountiful. He is my age and weighs like 10 pounds less than me(he is a wrestler).

Here's me and all the guys. All nine of the guys. Escorting was a joke because we had 22 girls so there were always some girls who didnt get escorts.

This is my roomate, Emily VZ(veazy..I think...the letters are just easier :P). She lives in Minot, and is still in our stake. We grew super close that week since we were around eachother almost 24/7. She drove back to Bismarck with us.

Me and Spencer Fennemore. He was probably one of my favorite guys there; he was a great dancer and really easy to talk to, but sadly I have hardly talked to him...once I think.

Now for Youth Conference. It was a tri stake conference in Fargo with about 250 kids. Unfortunately I hardly took any pictures from the three days we were there. Here are my favorites:

This is Demory Nunley and I at the formal dance. She was my roomate and we were basically inseperable, not too differnt than normal. I wore mom's old homecoming dress and she wore Kim Frakes's Prom dress from this year. Hers was a little hotter than mine. :D(I'd meant hotter as warmer, but you can interpret it however you like.)

Again, before the formal dance. Sara Anderson, Me, and Demory all fit in the backseat whenever we traveled(we somehow managed it with our prom dresses as well :D). It was a good time.

For some odd reason, I didn't really hang out with many people outside of our stake. I do regret that and I think I would have met more if the conference would have been longer than 2 days! However, Zach B..(something), from Fargo, I did kind of get to know. I have kept in touch with him very well(thank you Facebook :D).

Well now that you have had an extreme overload of my greatest and most spiritual parts of my summer, I hope you are satisfied. Of course, if not, or if I didn't portray something well, just ask me and I'll try to clarify.
Love you ALL!
Mel

From Bismarck to there and back again...in less than two weeks

2008-07-21T15:52:00.000-05:00

The first half of our trip!

Camping with the AZ families!

Click on the pictures to see the slideshows

Our excitement is on the other blogs...

2008-06-30T14:18:00.000-05:00

This photo isn't even recent; it's just one of my favorite sunrise shots from our front door. I tried to catch some amazing lightning one night recently, but I didn't take time (and didn't really have the equipment) to do it justice. So, just so those of you who look for something new have something new to look at, here are a couple of ND scenes I love. ;-}
For the real excitement in our lives, check our kids' blogs for the cutest grandies ever! AJ's sweet baby, time with the Byron Bunch and the Chicago kids, and the fun we are looking forward to with the rest in the next two weeks, will all be delightful topics for a later post...

School Year's Ending for Mel and Suzie

2008-06-01T20:29:00.000-05:00

Awards,singing and friends - all evidence of the end of another school year for Cox kids!

Suzie with a couple of her year-end awards; between Mel's and hers, the fridge was plastered!

Mel singing "Part of Your World" at the final concert of ninth grade...Suzie said she did her best ever, and coming from Suzie, that's good praise!

Melanie gathered with a group of good friends (and one stray guy who jumped in for fun)at the ninth grade awards ceremony.

And Suzie gathered with a group of sixth grade friends for a limo ride on the last day of school! (Mel also took a limo ride - hers was a limo SUV...pretty sweet and smooth, girls!)

Also on the last day, Mel invited about a million friends for a ninth grade farewell party... Here are just a few of them through the back window, on the trampoline (obviously jumping, since Mel's hair is flying)!

Have a great summer, everyone!

April Fool's - Here are some real vacation pix!

2008-04-04T13:30:00.000-05:00

Okay, not paradise, but the desert flowers really were pretty, and fragrant too! I took this picture near our hotel room, as night fell.

At least there were palm trees! This is Mel, right in the center of the Palm oasis, in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park - what's scientifically termed Mohave desert, I think...

The silly scenery in our hotel room: relaxing was a great vacation!

Okay, we didn't go to Paradise... But we did get to know what a Joshua Tree is: not a tree, not a cactus, it's a yucca (yeah, yeah, I know - it fits), and it was named by Mormon pioneers, who, in their delirous state, thought it looked like Joshua beckoning them to the promised land. Bless those poor souls...

Not exactly a forest, and certainly not a tropical jungle, but fascinating anyway

Swimming antics with Buff Ben

The Palm Springs skyline at Sunset

Southern Cal for Easter

2008-04-01T16:44:00.001-05:00

Suzie tumbling 4 u

2008-03-09T14:20:00.000-05:00

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Jumping on the recipe wagon...

2008-03-08T14:14:00.000-06:00

Several of you have posted recipes on your blogs; Leona has asked for healthy recipes. So I thought I would join the fun with this rather strange, but really healthy and surprisingly satisfying "stew" recipe. Let go of your stew stereotypes, because this doesn't fit them. It does satisfy the antioxidant "colorful" qualification... Sorry I don't have a picture.
African Peanut Stew

1 T. olive oil; 1 med. red onion, chopped; 1 med. green pepper, chopped; 2 carrots, chopped; 1 rib celery, chopped; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 2 T. peeled, minced fresh ginger; 1 T. curry powder; 1 bay leaf; 1 can (14 1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained; 4 c. chicken or vegetable broth; 1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces; 1 1/2 c. cooked chicken; (opt.); 1/4 c. creamy or crunchy natural peanut butter (so there's no extra oil or sugar); 1/4 c. fresh cilantro, chopped;

5 oz. baby spinach leaves, washed and torn into bite-size pieces; 1/2 t. salt; pepper to taste.

Heat olive oil in Dutch oven or 4-qt. saucepan; add onion, bell pepper, carrot and celery; saute about five minutes, til translucent. Add garlic, ginger and curry powder and saute about 1 minute; do not brown garlic. Add bay leaf and tomatoes, cooking about 3 minutes.
Add broth and sweet potatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer about 8 minutes. Stir in chicken and peanut butter until combined. Cook until thoroughly heated, about 2 minutes. Stir in cilantro and spinach until spinach wilts. Season with salt and pepper. Serves 8 (1 cup servings).

Karla's notes: The recipe substituted shelled edamame for the chicken -- I don't even know what that is. Serving it over rice makes it a heartier meal.

With a low-cal main dish like this, you can splurge and have Alisa's Molten chocolate cakes! Or, for more of you, there's this similar chocolate fix:

Tunnel of Fudge Cake

Cake: 2 1/4 c. flour; 3/4 c. cocoa powder; 1 3/4 c. sugar; 1 3/4 c. butter, softened; 6 eggs; 2 c. powdered sugar; 2 c. walnuts or pecans
Glaze: 3/4 c. powdered sugar; 1/4 c. cocoa powder; 2-3 T. milk or canned milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 12-c. bundt pan.
Combine flour and cocoa, set aside. In a large bowl, cream sugar and butter til light and fluffy; add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Gradually add powdered sugar and mix thoroughly. Stir in flour mixture by hand until well blended, gently stir in nuts (batter will be thick). Spoon batter into prepared pan.

Bake 45-50 minutes or until the top is set and edges begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool upright in pan on wire rack for 1 1/2 hours to allow fudge inside cake to set. Invert onto serving plate.

To prepare glaze, combine powd. sugar and cocoa. Add 2 T. milk, mix thoroughly, adding more only as needed to create smooth but pourable glaze. Spoon over cake, allowing to drizzle down sides.
Serves 20.
(From Minnesota Historical Society, Susanna Short's Bundt Cake Bliss)

Let me know if you try them, and of course if you like them! To be honest, I love the stew, but I won't be making it often until Suzie's out of the house. Anyone surprised? ;->

2008-03-04T14:15:00.000-06:00

Random picture... and Answer to the Book Tag...

2008-03-04T13:59:00.000-06:00

Just to include a picture (everything needs pictures to be interesting ;> ), I picked, completely at random, a photo from Suzie's file without knowing what would show up. Now you tell me if you know what the photo depicts. A different kind of game, I guess (though not too hard, especially for the bighappyfam that spent Christmas together!)
For the Book Tag, I'm guessing I should have posted the book title along with the quote, but I followed Alisa's pattern and the fun of not knowing right away; the book is called The Doctors Mayo, a surprisingly interesting story about the family who created and made a success of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
And now you know why AJ would know the book: we got it from Josh! (Was that your guess, AJ?)
Incidentally, everyone should see that place - the Mayo Clinic, I mean. It is amazing in many ways at on all levels. I've never been in underground tunnels that were full of precious works of art! Enough said for now; visit AJ and Josh, ask them for a tour, and see what YOU think.

About that voting situation...

2008-02-29T14:53:00.000-06:00

I'm still not happy. I probably won't be happy when conventions are over, and I don't know how I could be happy when elections are done. That's what's wrong with truly supporting a candidate who doesn't win, I guess.
Anyway, my alternative is Ralph Nader, who recently declared his candidacy. "What?" you say in confusion; "Who are you, and why are you on this blog?"
Here's the story, as briefly as I can tell it in the 1.5 minutes I have to do so. About a year ago, I read a book by Ralph Nader that changed many of my opinions about him. I would never assume a person could be a good president because he wrote an interesting book (think about what camp that might put me in...). But I liked what he had to say about life in general, and about his upbringing, and what the U.S. once was and still can be, if the majority want the same key elements (which isn't true in the U.S. today).
So, regardless of politics or his campaign, I recommend "The Seventeen Traditions" by Ralph Nader. Add a few essential gospel-based traditions, and you will have an excellent blueprint for family and community life.
I guess the bottom line here is this: politics are simply not going to make me unhappy for very long...

Alisa fired me, but inspired me...

2008-02-29T14:43:00.000-06:00

...And I'm assured pictures are not essential (though much more interesting -years of newspaper work convinced me of that!), so I'm jumping into the "Open to page 123" gimmick. Open a book to page 123. Go to the fifth sentence, then type in the next three. Let people try to guess the book title. Take it run with it if it sounds fun.
Here's my oh, so obscure entry: "Just after he had graduated from medical school he was talking one night with Judge Start, an old friend of his father's. What did he plan to do? the judge asked. After a year or two in his father's office, what then?"
I would go so far as to say I will offer a financial reward to anyone who can guess it, it's that obscure.
AJ, once again, you're more in the know than others (sorry, but that's a hint I didn't wish to give her), so if you get it, the reward will probably not be a cash remuneration... Something good, though, like coming to help you when you have your baby. ;-}

2008-02-03T20:12:00.001-06:00

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

2008-02-03T20:00:00.001-06:00

2008-02-03T19:41:00.000-06:00

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

Celebrity look-alikes

2008-02-03T18:59:00.000-06:00

Early morning artsy stuff

2007-12-19T00:16:00.000-06:00

Okay, okay...

2007-12-19T00:02:00.000-06:00

Our attempts at a photo op were pathetic. That's all I have to say.

At least we are all smiling...

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-18T23:53:00.001-06:00

There's Tim, fat-doggin' with the Thanksgiving guests...It really is the turkey!

Okay, why y'all gotta be like that?

2007-12-18T23:33:00.000-06:00

Okay, okay, so a couple of picture updates a year isn't enough-- is that any reason to post a poll on MY blog to make your point??

Seriously, it has been too long, so in time for Christmas (and in the mad rush before leaving to all be together - yayhaleluiawhoopeehoorayhotdiggitydogyowza!), here is a little bit of more current fluff on us.

Could blackmailing get any easier?!

!$LOTS OF STUFF$!

2007-10-21T15:58:00.000-05:00

NOT candid. I was suprised! anyone else?

Remember folks: Martha's hair has more body than mine. AND mom says I have grown since then....

LOOK AT ALL THOSE CANDLES! It was a pretty hot cake! OUcHY M0MmAS!

Mel's Meme

2007-10-21T15:26:00.001-05:00

Sorry to do 2 posts in one blog, but Alisa tagged me and I like reading them.
We all know the rules: get picked, list 7 weird things about me,tag 7 people-can't say whoever want to...ladedah.

1. My biggest pet pieve is gum. If it is not in your mouth it is a disgusting thing that needs to be disposed of. Ironically I am always the one who ends up stepping on it and have to clean it off my own shoes. If you are a person that throws your gum on the ground or out the window I ask you to please not next time. Put it in some piece of garbage near you and throw it away at the nearest garbage can.

2. The more I study music the more I notice the faults of music I listen to. I think having an intune ear is a blessing and a curse.

3. I get up at 5:45 every morning and go to church, then go to a show choir with my school. To those who went to early morning seminary, this is not that odd, but to most people my age it is insanity.

4. I talk way too much. My family knows this better than anyone. However, my math teaches says I have BIONIC EARS-I hear everything people say, and of course being little miss catterbox (I almost bought a shirt like that the other day) comment on what they say.

5. I hate money. In my eutopia there would be no money and everyone would just give things to people when they needed them. Man would overcome his faults of greed and jealousy and people would live life peacefully. I guess thats what the millenium is for.

6. I over analize things to death. I will go back in my mind and rethink situations and what I could have said instead. I don't laugh at some jokes right away becuase I think there is supposed to be more underlying joke, making me look like a ditz. In school work I get over worked and end up taking too long and looking stupid over something that I really do understand.

7. I love sleep. Maybe it is because I am so lazy and I like that I don't have to do anything, or maybe I like how it relaxes me, but I think it is because there is no pain, and everything is good while you are asleep. Often I don't even remember dreams that I have, but I have dayshavoos(I have no idea how to spell that word) often. Alisa said that maybe this means I am in the right place at the right time. I like that explination.

Wow that was alot harder than I thought.

I don't have very many options left for who to meme, but if these people have time...
Stella
Charlie
Xander
Natalie
Chris
Andrew
David

I know lots of these kids can't do this on their own, so maybe if some of the parents would do it for them, or help them with it, that would be great!

Love you all!

My installment in the ever-expanding QUIRKS game...

2007-10-16T16:46:00.000-05:00

Okay, I've been tagged to play this [meme?] game: Seven quirky things about myself, then seven people to do the same. Here goes...

1) I have worked at all kinds of jobs, from journalism to gymnastics, from deli cleanup to diaper cleanup (daycare), from selling fruit to selling burgers. Never long-term. The only career I've truly stuck with is the one I truly love: domestic engineering! (Otherwise known as wifehood, motherhood, homemaking, and now grandmotherhood.) And it's probably the only one I'll ever really show true tenacity toward, though you never know what else might be out there for a hobby...

2) Sometimes I wake up at night in my own bed in my own house, and can't figure out where I am for a few seconds. Sometimes I even get a little scared momentarily, wondering who's in bed with me... Then the inner lights turn on and I'm fine. Weird, that's all there is to that one.

3) One of my joys in life is that my children are all graduating from college. Beyond my thrill for their personal accomplishments is this: neither of my parents even tried, and though I had big plans to go four years, maybe eight, I never finished. And now I don't know if I want to - or if I even could! It's turned into a fear, I think...

4) I find it nearly impossible to have favorites - in anything. I like so many colors, foods, types of music, books, people, etc. - but I can't seem to develop favorites.

5) Before Gifted and Talented programs existed, I was considered a star in that realm. My scores in the various tests were off the charts, in third grade I tutored second graders and went to reading with 4th, 5th and 6th graders, where I was hilariously beyond the rest. In fourth grade they moved me to fifth grade, and kids in that grade didn't like me much because - I don't know, maybe I was a threat? I got through 6th grade with my nose in a plethora of books; in seventh grade, I got the nickname "The computer who wore a mini skirt" ( a play on a Disney movie of the time, with "Tennis shoes" in place of mini skirt). But it was all a fluke, since I became a math dropout in high school, was nowhere near 4.0 status, didn't finish college (because marriage and children came along- and I think I was too lazy anyway), and my youngest daughter thinks I'm - well, unimpressive... The precocious child became an average Moe. Who knew?

6) I'm a little bit obsessive- compulsive: messed up or crooked rugs bother me, I hate it when people bend the edges of rugs up with their feet, if there is a bug on the wall or floor it drives me crazy until I get it or it disappears from sight, I adjust crooked chairs, and believe it or not (you wouldn't know by my house), I'm a little freaked out when I walk into a messy room. But I don't think I need treatment: I live with and make messes with the best of them.

7) I'm an editing freak. I notice mistakes in most written documents (excepting many of my own), and I mentally edit people's speeches and conversations. Sheesh. But I LOVE dialects, accents, languages, and words. Hence the 7 years of college that I never did... My aim was linguistics. If I overcame my fear, that just might hold my attention well enough to get me out of the house, but only when Mel and Suze are gone, and only if I could work it around time with family. Priorities are priorities.

Okay, now for who I would like to see do this (and who possibly hasn't been tagged already): Shan, Alycia Nelson, Chrysallis, Cami Dewitt, Emmi, Emily and Emilie (though it will be a while for Emily, since their computer is fritzed out).

Sorry I'm inclined to make a paragraph out of a sentence! (That may be too subtle; like mountain out of a molehill, y'know? Is the word verbosity, perhaps? If I were speaking, it would be long-winded; someone with a better vocabulary is welcome to supply me with the right word!)

My love to all who bother to read this - Yomama/Karla

2007-10-08T00:40:00.000-05:00

Okay, so my entry is upside down information-wise, and some of the pictures are from summer; at least they're worth seeing! Here's the scoop on my choices: Everyone needs some Big open ND sky; Aren't the Benches a good-looking bunch? Ben and AJ's four-generations, taken while G'pa Charlie was here with Nathan and Alisa (who I don't seem to have any pictures of during their visit- that makes me sad); and me with two of my early-rising friends who took me to breakfast for my birthday (Madeline was also there and instigated the whole thing, but she was in the other picture).

2007-10-08T00:29:00.000-05:00

Grandma Silly Breaks the Silence at Last...

2007-10-07T22:56:00.000-05:00

Okay, Suzie's entry about the river incident put me a little on the defensive; I need to explain that I didn't choose to save the jetski over the people I love! I simply couldn't help them immediately: I couldn't pull up to the dock without hitting one of them because the current was so strong; I could see they were hanging on and not washing away; the jet ski would have floated rapidly down the river, never to be seen again unless I beached it; and I had to wait til some of the big boat waves calmed down (part of the main problem). Even when I did move in to help them, Shan felt like I was drowning them with the waves I created. What we needed was someone on land, and once Tim climbed up the side of the dock, he was that someone.

Tim was able to take Xander, then I could help Shan up. Needless to say, she was not interested in going in the water again that night. It was a scary experience for everyone. There was only one other time at the river that was so frightening, when I watched a dangerous situation and felt completely helpless: the time with Benches with a bad storm coming on, when Mel went in holding jugs full of water... Both experiences were fuel for nightmares, I assure you.

Now, enough of that! Summer included a visit from everyone (except Glenn), and that equals a nearly perfect summer for this lady! I have pictures from all of the visits, but I'm not going to post that many. Instead, how about something more recent, since any of us have been together?

2007-10-04T19:17:00.000-05:00

Xander and shan came to visit us here in ND. Here is a list of things we(meaning mostly Xander) did: Jumped on the tramp with Auntie Suzie, Got spoiled by grandpa with popsicles, almost drowned with his momma and grandpa in the river, and last but not least, played with the puppy. He is absessed! He would wake up in the morning and we'd hear PUPPY! PUPPY! And we would go to bed at night with Xander wanting to see the PUPPY!

Now, more explaining the drowning situation. It was a warm school-off Monday evening, so we decided to go to the river. Well, It was too full at the Lewis and Clark dock so we decided to go to Misty Waters, Also part of the river. The current was really strong. Grandpa and grandma took Suzie and Mel to a half-covered with water island, then went to get Shan and Xander. Now here comes the scary part, Shan gave Xander to Grandpa and the jet ski started to float away, but shan put her foot on the jet ski and it tipped and they ALL fell in the water! They were holding on to the dock's handles for dear life and trying to stay above the water, which didn't happen often. They went underthe water lots of time and Xander just laid on Shan's arm and was still and not even crying. While they were there Grandma was trying to decide whether to save the jet ski or save the others. She decided to go get the jet ski and bumped it so it wouldn't float off. Then Grandpa finally was able to get up and help Shan and Xander up. So..we left the river about 15 minutes after that . Scary huh?

He is So cute!

Posted by: Suzie..hehe

Mom is taking a long time to post new pictures, so I will...

2007-09-29T04:23:00.001-05:00

So these are not maybe the pictures that these Coxes would choose for themselves, but of the pictures I had of them saved on my computer, there wasn't much selection. I guess I need to take more of them. They are all a little out dated, but they are still cute. At least it is something new.....

Melanie lied :(

2007-07-29T20:57:00.002-05:00

I am truely sorry to everyone who(once) so avidly read our blog.
The reason there haven't been pictures on our blog for over 2 months is due to the fact that our computer is being fixed and is taking an insanely long time to do so.

I promise as soon as occasion permits there will be new pictures on the computer.
Until then, however, you will all just have to suffer the loss of not seeing anything of us.

Again, sorry.

Melanie lied :(

2007-07-29T20:57:00.001-05:00

SOON!

2007-06-24T23:10:00.000-05:00

Hello
This is Mel everyone!
I just wanted you all to stop despairing for the lack of newness on our blog,
for we will be posting soon.
Or so I believe.
We have a large collection of fun photos on mom's digital camera device, which will be loaded on the computer soon.
So cheer up! Put on a happy face!
You will see newness from us very very soon!

Soccer freaks

2007-05-20T15:55:00.000-05:00

Melanie loved her soccer season and is really sad its over.They didn't lose any games, and tied only 1 game all season. She learned so much and feels like she became a better player this year. She mostly plays defense. In the championship game it started to lightning and the game was cut about 20 minutes short. Her team still won, 2-1, but since the game wasn't completed so she didn't quite feel like they won, if that makes sense.

Suzie also loved her soccer season. Their team was nearly undefeated with a couple ties and only 1 loss. She played mostly midfield and forward.

EARS PEIRCED!

2007-05-20T15:43:00.000-05:00

Suzie convinced mom that since she stopped biting her nails, she should get her ears pierced. However, she says its NOT going to end up how it did with Alisa. She really is gonna stop. :D It was also the end of her amazing soccer season.

HAIRCUT

2007-04-15T19:05:00.000-05:00

BEFORE

AFTER

♪The talent show♪

2007-04-15T18:52:00.000-05:00

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

What's up with Mel?

2007-03-18T23:44:00.000-05:00

Don't worry - if you look closely, it's just Howard. And... She may be trying to start a new fashion trend

or maybe she's just having fun with hand-me-downs (or in this case -ups, since they're from a younger but taller friend), but at least her - um- ensemble is modest! Memories are made on Sundays... At least in this house ;-)

Suzie's last Black Gems show night

2007-03-18T23:35:00.000-05:00

Oops, I meant above. See what's below. (I feel so confusing...)

Those crazy young'uns

2007-03-18T23:16:00.000-05:00

The first really nice day, and we find Suzie and Abi soaking up sun. Yeah, Abi loves to snuggle up - or is Suzie snuggling Abi?

Below, you'll see Suzie at her most charming, along with the other Black Gems, at the last show of the year. (Sorry, no performance shots -- no way to get close enough; you'll have to come home for a visit to see her in action!)

Notice the nuts...

2007-03-11T23:20:00.000-05:00

Dad's "shining happy people"

Scenes at the Gibbys after David joined the family- and while Granny was there

2007-03-06T17:25:00.000-06:00

Here's a sweet moment with our new mommy, her new baby, and his biggest fan: "Are you tute? You are tute!"

Who knows if he'll be a thumbsucker, but on his first day of real wakefulness, li'l Davey tried out his thumb. And Grandma caught it! And Natalie is showing off her new gap--losing teeth is fun for a few years...

What sisters do late at night...

2007-03-06T17:18:00.000-06:00

A new box of Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch was cause for a late night silly session for Mel, AJ and Alisa... They may grow up and go away, but getting together (in this case at Gibby's)almost guarantees girls will be giggling. ;->

Three of the Four Musketeers...

2007-03-06T16:50:00.000-06:00

Surprise visits brought these three cousins together at the Gibbys the weekend after David was born. Though size is not the giveaway of the difference in ages, their demeanor is! Charlie is 2 and 1/2 mos., Stella is 6 and 1/2 mos., and David is 1 week! Xander, not in the picture but the fourth member of the Cousinteers, is 7 months and lively as Stella! (See the new blog, adamzwithaz.blogspot.com for updates on him and his ever-lovin' parents...)

2007-01-22T21:17:00.000-06:00

Mel needs to be represented today too; doesn't she look sweet and beautiful? (No? Well, don't worry, she's not emo.) The lock in her face just -- happened. This little room is where she lives since we got high speed... (In truth, we are updating together, and we've argued about what to put on each picture. So consider these additions a joint venture! ;-} )

Shan and Xander's visit.

2007-01-22T20:58:00.000-06:00

2007-01-22T20:47:00.000-06:00

Look how juicy he is! That's Suzie in the bathtub with him in MOM's swim suit.

Grandpa also enjoyed the visit from Shan and "Mr. Xander." Duh! He's a pretty fun grandpa.

2007-01-22T20:33:00.000-06:00

Xander and Shannie came to visit and we took too many pictures, but now we can share a few so you can see him now.

2007-01-22T20:25:00.000-06:00

Harpo Marx? Or Suzie?

Actually, it's Suzie doing her best Harpo - on a Sunday night (of course; as every family member knows, that's when the crazies come out in our house).

The whole weird bunch...

2006-11-16T00:37:00.000-06:00

Obviously, that last one wasn't supposed to be a duplicate, or without words, either. Just more of the learning process. The storm picture was the tornado forming out our back door (it touched down southwest of here about 20 miles) the day I talked to Ben, in Sept. I think; the picture of me was on my birthday, so you can bet I was telling Mel not to take the picture; Tim-- well, it's a Sunday night, that should explain it; Mel and Suzie on the first day of school and one silly day at home. There you go, gang; identify us for the little ones, laugh at us, cry for us, run screaming from us -- whatever seems appropriate...
See you soon!
Hugs, Yomama

Grandma Silly, Grandpa Chuckles, Mel and Suzie

A nearly perfect Autumn

Summer, don't go! We didn't have enough fun yet!

Easter in AZ, AMI, Visit from the Adamzes; Mel graduated, Bismarck is flooding; The sun also rises...

Please don't give up on me...

More winter storms, More proms, Another year for Tim and Karla, and Goodbye to Abi

About Mel, and Suzie

So slow to post: January trip to AZ

MEL IS A STAR!!

Yeah mon, Christmas was different...

SisterFest!

Red Alert! Melanie is an adult!

Old girls and weird people (My shortest post ever)

Fall is flying away, way too fast...

Back to school, haircuts, and stuff...

I caught it!

YW Camp

The Trek Experience

My Honey, and Other people I can't live without

'Tis the Season...whatever that means

Mel was in the Trib. And Suzie won at State.

Have these April Fools really been married 33 years??!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Grandma talks... And Mommy's a pig!

TOMS

Holidays linger as sweet memories; photos help

A life of extremes...

Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving

Christmas time is (almost) here!

Happy Birthday to our new Seventeener!

A mini - update; more to come...

Happy Birthday to Suzie!

Arizona, Albuquerque, and American Mothers

Travelin' Mama

Lazy Days of Summer Slippin' Away...

*clap clap clap-clap-clap, clap clap clap-clap-clap, clap-clap-clap, clap-clap-clap* EFY!!

Happy Birthday to my man - and Happy Father's Day to all you wonderful Dads!!

THEY KEEP LIFE FUN...

It seems to be a family tradition...

We didn't have enough fun, but thanks for two months!!!

Proms and Portland again

March went out like a Lion, for sure -- with teeth and claws! And, 32 years doesn't seem so long anymore...

I haven't had enough fun...

True blogging, like FaceBook, is...

I still like North Dakota!

The smaller the toilet paper roll, the faster it goes...

Holiday Time is...

This is what Suzie does for fun...

The Holiday Season

Let's move to Portland --- October was full -- November is too...

Happy Birthday to the Youngest! And please don't disbelieve in us...

Your healthy dose of North Dakoota

Memories...May be Beautiful and yet...

alright alright!...efy and youth conference

From Bismarck to there and back again...in less than two weeks

Our excitement is on the other blogs...

School Year's Ending for Mel and Suzie

April Fool's - Here are some real vacation pix!

Southern Cal for Easter

Suzie tumbling 4 u

Jumping on the recipe wagon...

Random picture... and Answer to the Book Tag...

About that voting situation...

Alisa fired me, but inspired me...

Celebrity look-alikes

Early morning artsy stuff

Okay, okay...

Okay, why y'all gotta be like that?

!$LOTS OF STUFF$!

Mel's Meme

My installment in the ever-expanding QUIRKS game...

Grandma Silly Breaks the Silence at Last...

Mom is taking a long time to post new pictures, so I will...

Melanie lied :(

Melanie lied :(

SOON!

Soccer freaks

EARS PEIRCED!

HAIRCUT

♪The talent show♪

clap clap clap-clap-clap, clap clap clap-clap-clap, clap-clap-clap, clap-clap-clap EFY!!