What Are Some of Your Favorite Childhood Memories? ~ Day 10

What Are Some of Your Favorite Childhood Memories? ~ Day 10

 Oh gosh, these questions that make me go back and really think are tough!  But I guess that's a good thing to do once in a while, right?  Hah!

Here are a few of the things I can remember right off the top of my head:

• Having 10 Samoyed puppies in our house!
• My cat Lightning (Mow)
• Camping at Tony's Grove when my Dad built a bridge across a little stream
• Camping in our little camper 
• Going to Lake Tahoe with my cousins Bill and Mike
• Going to the Redwoods
• Fishing pretty much every weekend with my Pa
• Grape bubblegum
• My doll with blonde hair (can't remember her name but I took with me everywhere)
• Going to my Grandma Mae's house (it was Grandpa Ed's too!)
• Our silver Christmas Tree with the colored wheel light that turned.
• All of my dance lessons - (tap, ballet, baton, drill)
• Mae and Ed bringing Shelley to visit us when we  lived in Sparks, NV. She would twirl me around by my one hand and one leg and that was the most exciting thing in the world to me.  I wouldn't be able to sleep for days before they came just due to the anticipation.
• Going to visit my cousins Bill and Mike in Sacramento (Aunt Dixie and Uncle Rich)- catching mini tree frogs in their backyard field, eating at Food Circus, playing mini golf and riding go carts, James Bond movie marathons, picking out a toy after eating at Food Circus, the smell of their soap (weird, but it's one of those memories!) I always cried when we had to leave to go back home.
• Visiting my cousin Shelley in San Diego - shopping in Tijuana, jewing them down, taking Candi on long walks in the bad part of town with my bro and we didn't even know it, Sea World, the beach, driving there in my Grandpa's nice new car, Reese's Peanut Butter cups (Shelley always had a stash!)

 

A few of the 10! Our dog Queenie actually gave birth to 12, but two died.

 

This is Prince on the left. ↓ We got to keep him.  Queenie (his mom) is on the right.

Puppies everywhere!

The above photo is of me and my brother.  This is where we lived that I remember getting the purple grape bubblegum from our babysitter.  I think it was Eureka or Concord CA as well as this one ↓

My cat Lightning.  He had 9 lives!  Loved that kitty!

 

Camping with my cousins Bill and Mike.  I think Queenie ↑ wants my Ding Dong!  Bill looks like he wants it too.  Odds are that I gave it to Queenie.

Me and Jerry with my cousin Shelley.  She was my favorite person on the planet while I was growing up.  She passed away from MS a few years ago.

This one ↓ is a much better picture of Shelley.  She is with Bill and Mike and my Grandpa Ed photo bombing in the background!  hehe 

I added this photo ↓ because I look so much like my niece Paigley in it. She is my brother's daughter.

 

 We did a lot of fishing!  The photo on the upper left is with my brother Jerry and cousins Shelley and Bill and Mike.

 

 

We did a lot of camping with our cousins too!  Bill and Mike are with us in a lot of these photos.

Another fishing trip. ↑  WOW!  Check out how well I match in the one on the left!  Thanks Mom!  hehe

There's that silver Christmas tree again and I'm holding my favorite doll.  Wish I could remember her name!  She walked though!


Hanging around at my Grandma Mae's house on Country Club Drive

This is my Grandma Mae and cousin Shelley (and Uncle Lothar) when Shelley and Dale lived in San Diego. 

We did a lot of jeepin' trips!  It scared me to death when my Dad would drive us up those really steep hills!  

My 8th birthday with my Dad and Aunt Dixie on the right

We seemed to always go to Ghost Towns

Our camper!  Lot's of good memories in this!

I'm wearing my cousin Shelley's majorette hat here.  She was the majorette at this time at Bonneville High School.  She was my idol and I wanted to be just like her.  I grew up to also be the majorette at Bonneville and I even wore her costume that she used to wear!  I didn't wear the hat though, at least not that I remember!  

I took tap and ballet for many many years.  The black and white costume one is a recital picture of our dance to something about Me and My Shadow. I'm the third one in.

I also took baton lessons and drill lessons for MANY years as well.  We performed at the Utah Stars in the Salt Palace and had competitions at Lagoon every summer.  

 I was what was called an All Star.  We were the ones that performed a lot.  Drill, baton, and flags.  It was a lot of fun and I have really good memories of all those years spent in class and practicing and performing. Not sure how my Mom kept up though while working full time.  But I am so grateful she did.  Thanks Mom!

 This is a really bad picture (sun in our eyes, no one really smiling, pretty sure no one knew when it was being taken) but it's the only one I have and it brings back some great memories for me.  My Mom was not an avid picture taker (unfortunately) like I am and so I don't have a ton of pictures from my childhood - dang it!  But this was taken in California on one of our many summer trips to Sacramento to visit my cousins.  Such great memories with my Aunts Dixie and Sharon, Uncles Rich and Lothar, cousins Shelley, Bill, Mike, Candi & Tiff, and my fam...oh, and Ralph the dog! 

We've Adopted!!!

Yes, it's true! We've finally adopted! It is something I have been hoping and waiting for forever! Thankfully the long wait is over!

Introducing KIT KAT!

Isn't he precious???? Oh, I LOVE him!
He struts around like a King. We almost named him Ramzeys.

This ↓ is his ride home with me. He was in an enclosed box, but escaped within seconds. I put him back in the box and put my purse on top, but he still got out! He was climbing on the dashboard and all over the car before we arrived home. I finally set him on my lap knowing that would be safer. He liked that and started to just purr....

Those of you that know me and Dave well, know that this is some kind of a miracle. Dave is NOT fond of cats. In fact, he dislikes them as much as I LOVE them. BUT... I felt like this sweet little guy was meant to come to our home and so I just did it. No divorce... yet! Dave was not thrilled with the idea and wasn't super fun to live with for a week or so, but he has gotten used to the idea now ----I think. Or not... either way, this little guy needed US! And we needed HIM!

I know those of you that know Dave are in shock here, so here's how it happened.

I was Christmas shopping in Riverdale at Sportsman's Warehouse and as I was going to my car, I had a powerful feeling to go into Petsmart and check out the cats. I will do that occasionally, though very rarely, just to go see them. Cats have always made me happy and I needed a boost that day, even though I was real short on time. I tried to talk myself out of it, but something pulled me in. The cages were full of cats that day and I enjoyed just talking and playing with them. This little guy was in a cage with his brother (who was a runt) and their card said: Three Brothers. The third had been adopted. The card also said that they had been dropped off and abandoned in an South Ogden park and left to fend for themselves. I was just drawn to him. I think it's because he reminded me so much of my cat Lightning I had growing up. After a while, the worker came in and asked me if I wanted her to get him out. I said, "Sure, why not."

It was love at first sight! We played a bit and he climbed up on my shoulders and just laid there for a bit. I was immediately smitten! I wanted to adopt on the spot. But, I also wanted to stay married! So I decided to test the waters and called Dave and asked him what he would do if I brought home a dog. He likes dogs a little more than cats, so I figured I could measure his reaction to that and have my answer. If I had said I was bringing home a cat, there would be no discussion. He just said, "Not a good idea." Hmm...

So I walked out of that store empty handed thinking that if it was meant to be it would work out. The next day was Thanksgiving and they were closed. I just kept thinking that he was meant to be mine. I decided that if he was still there by Black Friday, I was going to go get him. I went shopping with my son Taylor in the morning and even bought a cat bed and a little cheap cat house. I figured if he was gone, I could return them. I bought the little house because I was pretty sure he would end up in the garage if I did get him. I explained it all to Dave and he gave me a long list of why we can't have a cat. Number one being McKay is allergic to them. I knew that, but was sure he would be okay if it was a garage or outside cat.

Later that afternoon, I called Petsmart and asked if he was still there. They told me that he had been adopted. My heart sank. I felt bad, but figured that was how it was meant to be and was grateful he went to a good home. Then the lady said, "Wait, you do mean the one with the cute little orange face?". I said, "No, I mean the white one." She reponded with, "Oh, Joe?" As soon as she said "Joe", I KNEW he was supposed to be mine. Long story, but basically Jo is my nickname and it sealed the deal for me.

I ran in and told Dave, that I was going to go get the cat and he could support me or not, but I was going to do it. He just gave me one of his "looks", but it didn't damper my determination. I arrived at Petsmart and I knew when I saw him, that he was to come home with me. I didn't have a single doubt in my mind. I took care of all the paperwork and loaded him in my car (in his box), and the rest is history! I have not regretted it since!

Skyler was also home from California for the weekend and informed that if I brought a cat home that it wouldn't live long and that he would not visit me at home anymore. Like father, like son! I was actually more concerned about that, than Dave's reaction. But it didn't take long for Skyler to also like this guy. He even said, "I don't mind this cat. He is not like other annoying ones." He even let him fall asleep on his lap! That was a sign right there it was supposed to be!

He loves to chill on Taylor's shoulders. So cute!

As far as McKay goes. He had a few sniffles the first day or two, but I bought a hypoallergenic shampoo for the cat that is supposed to prevent allergies. I bathed him the second day and McKay hasn't had any reactions to him since! SO SO happy! McKay isn't super fond of cats either and I guess HE is the one I should have worried about. He likes to torture the poor thing by holding him up in the air, among other things! The cat is so mellow, he just dangles. It doesn't bother him too much. I think McKay secretly loves him, but just doesn't want to admit it!

Taylor on the other hand, really likes him. Taylor loves all animals like me. Allie came over to check him out, and she loves him too! I even caught McKay petting him and being nice to him!

He has this thing for necks and shoulders. It's really comfy and soft to have him just sprawl across your shoulders. He is just such a mellow and nice cat. He doesn't scratch the furniture or crawl on the counters. And he purrs nearly non-stop. I think he is happy he has us too!

What a guy!

He is about four months old.

This is me with my cat Lightning when I was a little girl. I had him for 17 years!!! Can you see somewhat of a resemblance? I can!

Gotta love my Kit Kat!!!

I honestly believe Tyson had his hand in this. That is just something he would do for his Mom. Thanks Tys!