I'm from Spanish Fork, formerly a small town.
In some ways, they're still behind the times. There's no Wal-mart, no decent grocery store besides Macey's, no Target...
Anyway, they've got this great splash pad at a place we used to call North Park. I went there with Mandy in June, but FINALLY got my photos onto my computer.
I loved 1984/1985.
I was a big kid. I was in third grade (still my favorite elementary year). I have so many memories from this age.
We moved the summer before school started and I began a new BIG school. I was miserable. I had started my education at a small school that had (gasp!) only one class per grade. I had been with the same kids (with few exceptions) for three years and now I was a tiny little fish in a huge pond, scared and lost.
Bless my mother for her mercy. She allowed me to transfer back to my beloved Rees School for one last year. I cried when I heard the news. Had I ever been happier?
Awesome things from that year: a class camp-out (can you imagine?) and a 3rd-5th grade sleep-over at the school. All rewards for reading excellence.
It was in 3rd grade that I was reborn into the world of music. We had a reading station in which we'd sit in pairs under a sheet-covered table and through head-phones, listen to homophones or some such thing. One day my friend Ben brought in a Cyndi Lauper tape and we listened to the intracies of language in "She-Bop." Ben, despite this odd new-wave beginning, has been influencing my musical choices for over two decades, may he rest in peace. "You're the Inspiration" by Chicago was our song, in my mind anyway.
My teacher was way awesome. She was full-blooded Navajo and she taught us songs and sign-language from her culture. She was an excellent and dedicated teacher (and she still remembers me).
My sister was born in 1984. I still love baby Mandy like nothing else. I treasured her as if she were a perfect doll that lived and breathed and belonged to me. I changed her diapers and delighted in her growth and accomplishments. I wonder if my mom ever felt a bit robbed by my taking Mandy completely over. I did my best to teach her to sit up, to talk, sing and write her letters. Although there's definitely a generation gap wedged in between us, I love grown Mandy and mama Mandy like crazy. I do not know what I'd do without my sister.
This is all on my mind, because I just realized that Dane is in third grade now, that favorite time in my life. I worry because I'd been into boys for years at this point (though he seems blissfully uninterested in girls, the whole of his class being just friends). I hope that he's having a great time. I hope that he feels as alive as I remember feeling. I loved recess and I loved reading, so we're the same there. But he gets math and is quite good at it. There's a big difference. He has been with 60% of the kids in his class for 2 1/2 years now. He seems confident and like he's learning what Dane is all about. For as much as he dislikes working hard, I'm impressed with how he can when it is needed and has even learned to be pleasant about it. I embrace his big-kid-ness.
Isn't that a great brother/sister picture?
My sister rocks...with moon rocks.
Grandma Cindy wanted to take the grandkids to the Clark Planetarium to see Space Pirates. In the interm, I hung out with my little sis and (mostly) sleeping Zealand.
The kids loved the movie and had a great time together.
Later, at the food court...
Sweet, chunky, smiley boy and by all accounts an easy going baby, we are so glad he is in our family and for the remarkable and beautiful changes he has wrought upon my little sister. She is a beautiful mother. All I can say is, wow, Mandy.
This week has been a bit of a doldrums week.
Monday: Gynecologist
Tuesday: I don't even remember what happened other than Bryce and I went somewhere while Ella was at preschool. Didn't we Bryce?
Wednesday: I felt a bit stir-crazy and we left the house at 9:30. We ran errands. Then we met my mom, Mandy and Zealand at the airport to say good-bye.
While Mandy and Mom used the restroom I said to Ella:
"Let's go! If we leave with Zealand right now we'll be able to get out of here before they notice."
"Mom," she said reprovingly, "that wouldn't be nice."
Then the moment was gone. I blame Ella. I coulda had that little guy.
We spent the rest of the day running errands and we even got to visit Cam in his employer's parking lot. Bryce hasn't been there since he was riding backward in an infant seat, it seems. My husband is so cute. You could light Paris with his smile. It's so nice to see him in the middle of the day. In sunlight. A good thing.
Last evening was spent in the same way as many of you. I covered boxes with white paper to hold the Valentines that my kids will receive today for their Valentine's Day parties. Dane asked me if I bought those "little Valentines" for his class. I said that I had. "Good," he replied, "I want to use those for everyone but "S" (a girl in his class). He made her a heart. Drew and colored a long-stemmed rose, cut it out and taped it in the heart, now folded. Then he wrote her a roses are red poem (Dang! I forgot to read the end). I was busy assembling the other Valentines so I let him do his thing, but then he said to himself outloud "No, that's going too far." He had writen 'XOXO' on the card and was trying to erase it. I helped him do it more thoroughly. Then he told me (and I really am quoting him) "Those exes and ohs aren't really appropriate for 2nd grade. They appropriate just for letters to my family and stuff." Great moral compass kid!
Thursday: So far, so good.
Ella had a lovely party and she really looked so cute today.
She's doing great with preschool and today I learned that she knows this:
Zealand held court at our house again today.
Could you die? Look at that face! The cry that comes later is just as cute.
Isn't my sister the most beautiful mother?
but I got to hold him first!
Mandy arrived on February 2nd to BIG smiles from my kids awaiting her in the van as I loaded her "cargo" into the infant seat. I was pleased that the kids were as excited to see Mandy as they were her ADORABLE baby.
Zealand is very bright-eyed and alert. He's starting to give some sweet smiles and he has the cutest cry, but it rarely makes an appearance. He's very mellow and peaceful. Mandy is so blessed with him. 
Isn't he cute?!?
We can hardly wait to see him on Saturday and all feel a little sad for missing him. :( 
I hope you're having a happy monday and if not then here are the Happy Mondays for your listening pleasure.
Zealand Lane Ingram
6 lbs. 8 oz
The loving parents
I miss him so much!
I'm just gonna share a sweet, sweet moment and call it good.
No, we didn't capture the moment anywhere except our hearts and now, here.
I love Mandy and I know she'll be an amazing mother to my nephew. No one could possibly love him as much as she does already, but I hope to offer some healthy competition in that regard.
Well, in less than a week, my little sister, my only sister, is moving to Georgia
blessed me with a little sister after two brothers. I've left her a lot, being 8 years older, but now I guess it's her turn.
