Costumes

 I've been scanning family photos instead of writing psych evals.  Here's Chris, age 5, whose outfit of knight's armor, snorkel gear, cape, mittens, basketball shorts, and snow boots really says it all.

Sometimes all you need are a pair of cool sunglasses to set off your outfit (Betsy, age 2).

Sometimes facial hair is what makes the difference.

The nomad look is great for travel, especially if you can take your blankie along as a part of your outfit:
 

Paper bags are very useful in accessorizing (Rob, age 6):

Sometimes a simple sunsuit and cowboy boots along with your doll are not enough--you really need The Look (Amy, almost age 2): 

I wanted to post a great photo of Rob wielding a couple of six shooters while wearing nothing but a cowboy hat, a kerchief over his face, a pair of boots, and his whitey-tighties, but it may be a bit too risque for a family blog.

John Family History

John in cap.

John with Colin (and mama's shadow).

John with little Mary Ann, and aunties Ruth and Donna.

John and Mary Ann.

Hauling wood with Jody, I think 1982. Metamorphosis!

Dave Family History

I miss Dave and Devon. Here are pix that Cindy gave me at Christmas--from 27 years ago. He was (is) such a sweetie.

Bennions 1991

Visiting the Bennion family in Utah - 1991 from Super Acht on Vimeo.

Erich and Robert came to see us soon after we moved to Springville. In 1997 we visited them in Mainz. As Dave says, it's a treasure.

Nostalgia (family history chpt. 1)

Remember our house in Cedar Valley? I'm sick today so instead of doing any work I feel justified in playing with my new toy (Costco digital film scanner $129.00), and I scanned a bunch of images in from when I bought my first camera after my post-h.s. summer job in Arizona. Here we are, September 1976:
Sisters:
Tena:
Cindy:
J.Lynn:
Cool Dad in a hat:
Pretty Mama in the flowers:
The log cabin on the farm, and the old pickup. I think the only thing left in this picture is the light pole:
Farmer Dad:

Cool Price Museum

I think Chris and John were trying to reenact the epic battle of the dinos (above). Not sure. Chris' tag (on facebook) for the photo below is "Pch. Those things were extinct like a hundred years ago, quit pulling my leg. Hold on..."
Dire wolf. The ultimate transformation ambition of werewolves everywhere.
John, mammoth, and tipi:
Utah's newest dinosaurs:
We feel a special affection for the Utahraptor:
Utahraptor, artist rendition. Possibly toy-maker's rendition.

Reagan Worship

I have always been bemused at the idea that Ronald Reagan was one of our greatest presidents. I lived through that era, and remember a very different reality than that promulgated now by our right wing friends. Here is a review of Reagan and the Eighties that seems a lot more accurate to my memories.

Family History Part 1: Sisters (cont.)

Family History Part 1: Sisters

Amy needs family photos for a drawing project at SAIC, so I thought it would fun to post them.

Texting from Chicago South Side Nov 4, 9pm...

8:01pm Utah goes to McCain!! Jamison [Hyde Park, Chicago South Side]

8:02pm too bad. Karla [Provo, Utah]

9:02pm We can hear the screaming from our apartment. Jamison

9:04pm why aren't you out there? history being made. Karla

9:05pm We're going now. You had to have a ticket to attend the gathering at Grant Park. Jamison

9:07pm right. we're watching chicago on tv. Karla

9:12pm Obama! Dave [Philadelphia]

9:14pm [to Dave] america wins. Karla

9:16pm People screaming from cars, honking, declaiming from windows, setting off fireworks. Man just greeted us weeping. "We got a brother in the White House!" Jamison

9:17pm wow. i wish we were there. Karla

9:25pm Awesome, awesome. The air a buzzing humming field. Jamison

9:26pm wow. Karla

9:26pm Watching concession [McCain] projected on massive brick schoolhouse. Little kids, LITTLE KIDS, recording it on cellphones. Jamison

9:28pm take pictures! Karla

9:29pm Ame doesn't have her phone. This is amazing! Jamison

9:31pm i hope you have your camera though! Karla

9:36pm We don't. It's completely dead. We wasted the last three pix on Monopoly. But there will be plenty to look at tomorrow. Jamison

9:38pm love getting your updates. keep em coming. Karla

9:40pm Just noticed the old white haired man beaming beside me is a Catholic priest. Jamison

9:42pm where are you guys? Karla

9:44pm [to Dave] jamison is sending updates from the streets of hyde park. incredible. Karla

9:47pm At an outdoor Obama party in Hyde Park. Jamison

9:53pm Woohoo! Nicolle [SLC, Utah]

9:52pm president barack hussein obama Karla

10:05pm Yay Obama! How do you feel, Mom? Betsy [SLC, Utah]

10:10pm [to Betsy] jamison is texting from chicago. they're at an outdoor party. Karla

We then devolved to actual phone calls. I hope people remember this night later, when the inevitable disillusionment sets in. This is important. This is a tidal change.

Houston, Mike, Texas BBQ, and The Woodlands

We had an 8-hour layover in Houston on the return trip (which turned into a 12-hour layover when our flight was postponed, but the less said about that the better), and arranged to meet Mike Olsen for lunch. But first we drove out to The Woodlands to see the house we were living in 19-22 years ago. The Woodlands has certainly changed. It took a lot of driving around to reorient ourselves, but we finally got more and more near to recognizable street names--Panther Creek Village, Holly Creek Apartments--I knew our house was just behind the apartments, so we cast around, and found it! Number 5 Capewoood Court. The new owner came out as we stopped in front to take photos, and showed us around. The trees are so tall! Here are John and Mike in the driveway: Here is John on the street in front of the house--you kids will remember a photo of you and all the neighborhood kids lined up across this street. We passed the park and swimming pool, and drove into the Sally K. Ride Elementary parking lot.

It was great to see Mike. We drove back down I-45 looking for places to eat, and ended up at a BBQ place on FM 1960 which previously was Luther's but is now Poppa's. I remember eating there with Mike and Liza and kids before. We stayed for several hours, talking about old days, kids, job problems--particularly the drawbacks and advantages of private practice. It was generous of Mike to give us his entire afternoon.