Sunday, May 25, 2008

18 Years of Memories

Okay folks this posting is intended to be an interactive posting of sort. Cheryl and I celebrated our 18th anniversary Saturday. We went out to dinner and as usual Cheryl in an attempt to create discussion began one of her lists: "Share with me a good memory you have in the last 18 years" So almost two hours later as we pulled into the drive we were still sharing some of the good times with each other.

So I am going to list some of our memories and as you read them and you think of some of your own, please share them with us in your comments. I think that you will find out as we did that the last 18 years has been worth it all!

So here are the memories in no particular order:

1. First date and meeting Cheryl's folks at the basketball game. Dorothy knew I was going to become their son-in-law.
2. Second date, the next day, driving up the canyon and showing Cheryl the project I was working on at the time.
3. Vacation to England, Wales, and Scotland.
4. Building our dream home.
5. Selecting our first lot in Highland and our realtor couldn't believe that we picked the same lot without conversing with each other.
6. Observing Cheryl's waggle as she addresses the golf ball.
7. Paul McCartney Concert in Tempe: running out of fuel nearly at Mount Carmel and coasting into Kanab
8. Jenny and Rachel's Weddings
9. Family Canada trip: Frost Heave Signs, Jasper Cabins and glaciers.
10. Having all of our children at the temple for Taylor's Endowment.
11. Learning about Horsemanship with Rachel which included: learning to ride a horse, purchasing a horse named Sister Vester, cost of boarding a horse and hauling the horse to shows.
12. Skeleton racing: first experiencing the race ourselves (Jeff, Matthew, and Jim) and then Taylor showing us all how it is done and winning third in the Junior Nationals.
13. We can dance: Jenny's dance lessons, school dance activities and the awesome trip to New York.
14. Beau our faithful friend and family pet: Can you recall when he was small enough to sit on the dashboard of my vehicle when we would go out and check the night shift?
15. Beau is a sled dog: We all enjoyed the times he would pull us on the sled. It was the inability to control where he went with the sled that caught us all off guard.
16. Deep sea fishing in Cabo: We looked forward to the opportunity and were more grateful for when it ended. Something to do with those Frost Heave Signs again.
17. A night at the R&R Motel, let your imaginations run wild with this one Cheryl and I will be happy to share but trust me it's not what you think.
18. Get-aways to Little America and the Grand America
19. Disneyland vacation: a foreshadowing of the "Frost Heave" signs we would experience in Canada and Cabo.
20. The night before my heart surgery and our family council.
21. Our Honda Prelude: our first family car that barely held all five of us.
22. Kidnapped by Cheryl to Nauvoo for my birthday. She was so excited about the trip she let me know a day ahead that I would be kidnapped.
23. Boston trip and the getting to know Issac Davis better.
24. Our Kirtland trip with John, Rachel and Gabe and our acquaintance with the Deschamps.
25. Taylor's mission tour to Vancouver.
26. Birthday celebrations with crazy cakes and crepe paper.
27. Surprise birthday parties for Jeff and Cheryl. Cheryl is still mad about me not taking her to the parade of homes for her 40th surprise party.
28. Births of Adyson, Gabe and Lexi.
29. Papa's sign
30. Sailing in San Diego.
31. Jeeping in Moab. You're just going to have to hold it Rachel.
32. Other trips to Washington D.C., Savannah, Atlanta, & San Antonio.
33. Neighborhood block parties at our home and the Harris home.
34. Serving in the Bishopric, family pulling faces to make me laugh while on the stand, ward parties, and blessings received.
35. Halloween costumes: Mom, don't call the police it's Jeff in that hideous outfit and the old twin folks.
36. Cheryl meets the clan at Kevin's birthday party, yes those our my children with painted faces and screaming like Comanches.
37. Driving to Garrison, how would Cheryl and the kids ever find Garrison without Dad's map?
38. Christmas mornings and surprises that were totally unexpected.
39. Remodeling the basement: remember it always feels better when you swear.
40. Playing this dumb game.

This is only a "few" of our memories and is not intended to be inclusive. Remember to share with us some of your memories we have had as a family over the last 18 years together. We look forward to more great laughs and tears.

9 comments:

Rachel said...

1. Taylor roller blading with Beau
2. Foreign exchange students: Carol & Sabrina - "my heart will go on"
3. Christmas eve at Tepenyaki with Nana and Grandpa
4. Fishing trips . . . and catching no fish.
5. Family drives.
6. Laughing during family prayers
7. "dad? Dad? DAD!!!!"
8. McDonalds breakfast after orthodontist appointments
9. Saturday breakfast at McDonalds
10. Trying to talk Dad into Gandolfos for breakfast and not McDonalds
11. Going to McDonalds anyway
12. Sam McGee & mucklucks on Christmas morning
13. Strada, funeral potatoes, & ham
14. Surveying the back yard
15. Teenage drivers - I think all 3 of us had a car accident? All though I think mine was the most memorable.
16. Beau eating the rocket engine
17. Beau eating hair scrunchies
18. Beau eating sprinkler heads
19. Sneaking Beau upstairs and into our beds when he was a puppy, oh and on the couch too.
20. Taylor's baseball games

I could go on and on, but all I'm going to say is we've had some great times! I loved reading your list and realizing that the list wasn't about things, it was about time spent together. That's what really matters in life! Love you guys! Thanks for being great parents and creating great memories with us!

Jclyde said...

Great job Rach! Cheryl and I had some of the same comments and then you even had a few in addition to ours (i.e. Laughing during family prayersjj and Sam McGee).

Yup, you're right it's about spending time together. What of the lines in the new Indiana Jones movies says something to the effect: How much time is lost in waiting.

Cheryl said...

Great additions, Rach! This is so fun. We have had a fun stroll down memory lane.

MCC said...

Need to know the story on the R&R motel! Either here or on the family website or maybe we will hear it next time we come to Utah -- we can take you out to dinner...

Jclyde said...

"Nobody knows what goes on behind close doors". I believe that is how the song goes.

Remind us when we are in Hawaii and we'll share the story and have a laugh or two.

The Boyacks said...

1. Your wedding, literally cracking up on the temple steps as the photographer said everyone laugh. I did just that.
2. Your wedding, when Kevin B. explained that we were step cousins and that meant that they were a step ahead of us.
3. Your wedding, Matt singing kiss the girl.
4. Your wedding, Taylor wanting to go on the honeymoon.
5. Moab trips - spent jeeping.
6. 12 year old birthday and the special treat of going to Sunday Brunch with you.
7. Dad and me playing the Guess what game.
8. Sleeping in each others room on Christmas Eve
9. Waiting at the top of the stairs Christmas morning
10. Cheryl 5 thankfuls, when we started to complain to much and of course always on thanksgiving.
11. Crazy birthday cakes that Cheryl always made - favorite Rachels horse cake, it was a little gross when the horse coral was not clean.
12. Being home alone and Beau being a great company and having all the lights on.
13. Painting bedrooms - especially sponging rachels room.
14. Ordering - Dad had to know what everyone wanted before getting to McDonalds.
15. Ordering - no substitutions, Dads rules not the restaurant.
16. Diddo Sam McGee and Mucklucks a Christmas tradition!
17. Watching three amigos with Dad, there are a few shows that when I see them on TV I have to stop and watch they remind me of growing up - I dont know if we laughed harder at the movie or at Dad watching the movie!
18. Taylor catching the garter at Rachels and my wedding.
19. Driving to dance every week with Cheryl made for good talks
20. PPI on fast sundays


I could keep on going - I keep on thinking of lots of fun things, but a lot of them were already mentioned. Hopefully I added a few. I am thankful for the two of you and the time and energy that you put into raising us. I know now that it is a lot of work. Thank you and I am thankful for all of these memories. They making the last 18 years so much fun.

Jclyde said...

Good comments Jenny, It all brings back great memories. However, I still can't forgive you and Philip for bringing the movie "Rat Race" over to watch right after my heart surgery. It still hurts to think about laughing so hard.

Love DAD

Cheryl said...

Gee Jenny, I hate to burst your memory bubble, but it was YOU that was more adamant about joining us on our honeymoon! You all wanted to go on the trip to St. George with us! Nana and Sue saved the day!

Cheryl said...

Gee Jenny, I hate to burst your memory bubble, but it was YOU who wanted to join us on our honeymoon the most! You all wanted to go to St George with us! Nana and Sue saved the day!