The Jackson Party

Like I said on a previous post, Shane's grandma passed away on January 3rd. The funeral was held on the 9th and was a very nice tribute to Grandma T. After the family dinner at the Church, we decided that we should all get together before Doug and Lonie had to go home. We don't get to spend much time with them since they live in Oregon. Our kids just enjoy each other so-o-o much. Distance is sometimes a real curse. Anyway, Shane had finished our basement the day before Thanksgiving so we had the room and the Wii!! We decided to gather on Saturday the 10th. Everybody, (with the exception of James and Karina and their kids, and our kids that don't live with us), was able to come over. We picked up some croissant sandwiches at Costco and everybody brought something yummy to share. I put together some crafty things for the little kids to do but the biggest draw was that Wii. Some of the kids and most of the adults have never played the Wii. We got it from Santa for Christmas and have absolutely enjoyed the heck out of it. It's a good thing I have to work full time or I would probably need shoulder surgery because of the intensity of some of those darn games. Anyway........what a blast!! It was so wonderful to have K.C. with us again. We cherish our family moments.

Cambria, K.C. and Jarom

Crazy Joe, Sweet Tee, and Beautiful Cambria

Uncle Doug surfin' the net.

Jake and his 'tude!!

Jake and his special Grandma!!

Joe, Tee, Cambria, K.C., Jake and Jarom

and Logan

Joe helping Danica Wii bowl.

Aunt Desi, Aunt Lonie and Sierra

Dustin and Emily

Leora, Chelsea, Trent, Cambria, Jordan, Morgan,

Shane, Grandma and Logan

From the top left: Chelsea, Desi, Breanna, Leora

Dustin, Logan, Danica,

Alex, Emily and Lance's face

Grandma, Sierra, Lonie, Shane, Chelsea

Morgan, Dustin, Logan and Alex

Jarom's Turn!!

Fun to be with our cousins: Emily and Danica

Rayman Raving Rabbids is HILARIOUS!!!!

THIS IS GREAT!!!!!!

A Little About Me and Us

I am a mommy and I love my children...all 17 of them, including the grandchildren. I love to be with Shane more than anything in the world. We love to go on road trips...love the Oregon Coast...love to go on cruises...and love to sit down in our newly finished basement and play the Wii with our kids. I love to change my hair color. Probably too often but I want McKenna to get good experience and I don't want to be gray (actually white). Joe is 12 years old and in the 7th grade. More about Joe on the right and down the side of this blog. Jake is 10 and in the 4th grade. (Also more about him on the side.) These little boys are the light of my life. K.C. is 17 and a junior at Payson High School. We love him and miss him more than he will ever know. Ben and Brittany live in Clinton with their precious 4. Too far and visits are too seldom. Brandy is just working on her life. She is successful in her line of work and lives in Murray. Too far and visits are too seldom. Megan and Stephen and their 2 sons are living in Cottonwood Heights with Steve's folks right now. The Chicago thing didn't turn out to be what it was supposed to be so finances have been a bit thin. Too far and visits are too seldom. All of our children are wonderful, working on being the best they can be and we love them so.
I am so into people. I love the elderly people I care for. I love babies. I am too loud and too opinionated. I rage a little too easily but then ask forgiveness quickly. I love to play the piano. I love to fish. I love to go camping. I love Grandma Day. I love sleeping with Shane. I love sleeping. I love Christmas. I love Valentine's Day (even if Shane doesn't--another story--bad memory for him.) I love to have parties at our home. I love our friends. I love Gardenias. I love to talk on the phone. I love to cook. I hate to do laundry. I love the way clean clothes smell, though. I hate confrontation. I love my mom and her new husband, Wayne. He is good to her and makes her happy, so it's all good. I miss my dad so much that it hurts. I love my brothers and their families and we never see each other enough. I love Shane's folks and his siblings and their families. They have such a wonderful family. So much love and never contention. I really love that about them. Shane's grandma just passed away, which is sad, but when the whole family gathered at our home for food, games, fun and sharing the love...it was amazing. We even got K.C. here. Too bad James and Karina weren't here but man, what a blast. I don't love Disneyland but I can handle it every couple of years or so. I do love the ocean and the mountains so the Oregon coast is my favorite, although it could be warmer. I love to spend time in the canyon, in our trailer, next to a river. I hate sleeping in a tent. (Another story-another bad memory. Ask Shane if you need more info.) I love my life. I never thought 20 years ago, that life would ever be more than just a struggle. What a difference a divorce makes!!!! :-)

Figuring it out...

I don't have a recent picture of all 17 of us. The only good one, with K.C. in it, is the one I put above but it is clear back in 2005. My goodness, how things have changed since then. Just wanted to see how things would look if I did it myself with no help from Megan or Brittany. I guess I need to suck it up and take all the help I can get. I'm just writing this to me anyway...so who cares? :-)

The Beginning of the Blogspot World

OMG!!! That's "gosh" for anyone who thinks I meant something completely opposite than what I meant. I am going to attempt this......I've decided to branch out......try something new......more than the facebook page I just put on the net.......more than the occasional message I forward on my email. You know..something different. Something that is way-y-y-y out of my comfort zone. Blogging! 1 year ago, when my SIL, Teresa, talked to me about her blog, I thought she had developed some new disease.....and being the wise and worldly RN that I am, I couldn't figure out what the crap she was talking about. Then, Megan and Stephen moved to Chicago and started a blog. Not a disease, but a wonderful way for us to stay connected to their sweet family. Even though the whole Chicago thing was a complete scam.....their blog was precious! We enjoyed every minute of it and I am grateful that they were able to stay just a computer away. So here goes.......