Happy Father's Day

Grandpa Sterling always called Vaughn "Smilie". I think for a while he actually thought his name was..."Vaughn Richard Sterling Smilie Hixson".

Leap Year

I love the questions children ask....

When Craig was very young, seriously he inquired,

"Mom," he asked, "When is the next Leapfrog year?"

Let it Snow

While driving one morning during a heavy snow storm, large fluffy flakes were falling on the windshield. Vaughn and Aaron were spellbound quietly watching the the snow flakes hit the glass then immediately be swept away. "Look," Vaughn said, "The windshield wipers pop the snow bubbles."

Scouts

It was time for Scout camp so Kevin went to see Dr. Gibb for his physical. Betty, Dr. Gibbs nurse, asked, "What's your blood type Kevin?" With out any hesitation, Kevin answered, "Decaffeinated!"

I'm Sorry!

The year Shauna and Chris were married, 1986, they were attending Utah State University. Shauna got a job checking at Smith's in Logan. As she was leaving at the end of her shift one day, a young oriental woman rushed up to her and affectionally put her arm around her, "Oh, how are you, it's so good to see you", she said. Shauna having no idea who she was, and didn't know her from Adam, replied, "I think you must have me confused with someone else." Blushing the girl suddenly apologized, "I'm so sorry, you Americans all look alike!"

Labor Day Holiday

"No!" Dad said over and over, as Aaron was trying to talk him into going some where fun as a family, to celebrate the Labor Day weekend. Nothing sounded fun to Dad.

"I bet all the people on the block have gone some where fun", Aaron said as he became more and more frustrated, "Except Brother Roderick and a few other senior citizens."

Crib

CRIB

For years it sat up in the rafters of our garage along with other dusty forgotten items. What else do you do with an old crib after seven babies have put on miles of wear, the finish chewed off, not to mention that after this long it doesn’t even meet code. But you can’t bring yourself to part with it. So you tie it up in an old mattress box, hoist it up and everyone forgets about it. But I never really forget. In the rush of the coming and going years.. I glance up occasionally keeping the memories bound up in my heart like the crib… tied up in bungee cords laying up there in the rafters.
After years of accumulation the garage is filled with things no one really needs, or wants for that matter. Richard resolutely decides to find a day for a clean sweep. After making plans with Brenda and David to bring their trailer… they set a date and went to work. Under Richard’s direction one thing after another was tossed into the trailer. Finally he came to the crib, and then is when I voiced my plea not to make that decision yet, perhaps a later time. But NO! He was on a roll he had made a decision and there was no stopping him. Finally the trailer was filled, ready to head for the dump.
I’m not sure what created the necessity that “I” ride to the dump with David and the kids. I suppose I was the only person home with proof of Bountiful City residency. “Why do I have to witness this unfairness?” I sat in the back on purpose, hoping my tears would go unnoticed.
It was done! It was over! There was nothing that could change it. David brought me home then headed for home himself.
What took place after that; I wasn’t to know for at least four months. When David arrived home he told Brenda, “ I feel terrible for your mom because she was crying all the way home from the dump.” Brenda has always been a softhearted sweetheart and also someone who can make things happen and happen quickly. She called her brother Craig and told him they had to hurry to the dump and find that crib. He met her there and with a sad story to the gatekeeper, they were allowed to go search for their moms’ old crib, the very crib in which both of them had spent the first years of their life. Finally, after a near hopeless search, they spied the yellow mattress… there, there was the crib! Lovingly they began gathering it up, when an on looking couple who, coincidently, were also disposing of a crib, said to them, “If you want… you can have ours, I think it is in better shape.” The couple was impressed as Brenda explained the purpose for the frantic scavenger hunt. The crib was then taken home to hide in Brenda and David’s garage.
Brenda had a plan and David went to work with his wood working talent. By Christmas the old crib had been cut down to scale and had become an incredibly, beautiful, doll crib.
Brenda made a small mattress, tiny bumper pads and blankets, bought seven little dolls, 2 girls and 5 boys, put them affectionately in the crib and placed a large box over the entire thing, ready to present as a gift to me.
Christmas day 1998, all the kids came, not wanting to be left out of the surprise when the large wrapped box was delivered.
I have had surprises in my life, but none to compare before or since. When the box was lifted off and there in my own family room stood the abandoned crib.. in miniature, My Crib! The overwhelming shock couldn’t have been more powerful than had my mother resurrected and stood beside me. All I could do was bury my face in my hands and weep.
That was for certain, the most thoughtful, selfless and caring gift I have ever received.

Ants! Ants! Ants!

In 1978 we make the big decision to add on to our house. It was a fun and overwhelming undertaking. Much good has come because of it. Ever since the day we moved into the house in 1967 we have been pledged with ants. We tried every possible method to rid our selves of them but nothing worked. The day the big machinery came in the back yard and began digging the hole, made us wonder if we were doing the right thing. Richard was out helping Paul Tucker, I was in the house trying to keep the kids out of the way.

"Ya got to come here and see this!" Richard opened the door and yelled, "You'll never believe it."

I stepped out the back door and Richard and Paul were standing there starring at the foundation. With one large scoop of the backhoe, it cut into and exposed the largest aunt colony condominium I had ever dreamed possible with I'm sure, millions of aunts. It was at least 3 to 4 feet in diameter. We could have tried every insecticide know to man and it would never have touched our ant problem. Paul scooped the entire thing away and we sprayed and powdered with everything we had. For 30 years now we have been ant free. Just lately have I seen a little strange ant here and there. Oh Dear, I wonder where their resort is being built now?

What's the matter?

One day Vaughn was feeling a little sad. Trying to make him feel better we started asking him questions. "What's the matter Vaughn?", But we got no reply. More questions followed, "Are you sick?" Silence. "Are you sad?" Still nothing. Then Scott said, "Well then, you must be alright!" Then Vaughn looked up saying, "I have a matter, you just have to guess it."

Dad!

When dad reads the newspaper he spaces out the world. The kids needed to ask him a question, so tried to get his attention. Shauna called, "Dad!", but didn't get through to him. Then Scott called, "Dad!", but still no response. Craig called out even louder, "Dad!", but nothing. Then they all at once called together, "DAD!" Finally he looked up from his newspaper very impatiently, and yelled back, "Will you kids stop fighting!"

Happy Valentines

Craig was trying to think of an original date that wouldn't cost a lot of money. I tried to give him some ideas and suggested making Valentines and taking them to the rest home to give to the lonely people there. He wasn't very impressed with my idea. Giving one more try to convince him, I asked "How would you feel if I were in a rest home and some sweet caring selfless young people gave me a Valentine?" He looked at me with a noble kind of look and answered, "I'm not going to put MY mom in no crumby rest home, then smiled as only Craig can and said, "I'll put you in the best one there is!"