28 by 29 | #9 Intro

9 // Learn more about my ancestors

Number 9 on my list is really important to me. One thing that has been really encouraged by our church leaders is doing our Family History, or Genealogy. I've kind of had a bad attitude about it, but then I realized I was going at it all wrong. Instead of just searching for names, why not get to know these people I'm researching, and why not start with those closest to me.

For a while now, I've been really wanting to get together with my Grandma Norene and learn more about my Grandpa Stan. He passed away before I was born, so I know very, VERY little about him. In April we  had a Relief Society Activity where we learned a little about the importance of keeping journals and personal histories. I was so moved by it, that I made the decision to ask my Grandma if I could come over sometime and learn more about my Grandpa. For whatever reason, he was just not talked about a whole lot, so there is a lot for me to learn about him.

On Sunday, I was in Cokeville for my niece Lilli's baptism. After the baptism we were at my parent's house eating brownies and ice cream, and my sister Shari started talking about how she hadn't been to the dentist in a while. This led to talking about teeth, and my Grandma just came out with, "Your Grandpa Stan had perfect teeth." As soon as she said that I got a little excited. She went on to talk about him and his perfect teeth. She told us that he never had a cavity in his life, but he did have a false tooth.

Grandpa Stan used to participate in Cutter Racing, which is a race featuring two horses, a driver and a chariot racing together down a quarter mile of track. When it is done on snow they use skis on the sleds, but this particular race, Grandpa Stan was on dirt, so his sled had wheels. As he was racing, a rock flipped up and split one of his teeth vertically. It was replaced with a false tooth.

It wasn't a long story, but it was a fun couple of pieces of trivia that I didn't know about my Grandpa: he had perfect teeth, except for his false tooth, and he participated in cutter racing. I also learned what cutter racing was. Then I was able to learn a little about my dad and uncle. Apparently my Uncle Stan also has perfect teeth, while my dad doesn't. Thanks dad!

As I was getting ready to come home, I gave my Grandma a hug and she said, "I'm looking forward to you coming over so I can tell you more stories." It made me incredibly happy. I plan to write stories here that I learn about him, or any of my ancestors, as well as posting them over on FamilySearch.org. I am so dang excited! I want to eventually also put them together in a scrapbook, which could just be one of my goals for next year.

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Currently | 02.21.14

(Written at Kennan's last home basketball game)

Currently - Week 6
Join me as I participate in Kristin's Currently: Journaling Challenge. What better way to document your daily life by simply answering these seven questions once a week? The best part is you can download that Currently List for FREE over {here}. Since I'm slowly making my way into the paper scrapping world, I haven't printed them off yet, so I decided to just make mine in Photoshop. Quick, simple, and a great way to journal your life in less than 5 minutes. Follow her on instagram and use the #CurrentlyList, plus join the facebook group she created.

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Bucket List | 02.08.14

 Before I got married, I wasn't much of an NBA fan. Sure, I went through my phase in like 4th/5th grade where I was kind of obsessed with the Orlando Magic, but once I got older it didn't really appeal to me a whole lot. When I got married, however, I realized that my husband is kind of obsessed with sports. He couldn't use that term, but I sure would. He is a major Miami Heat fan (since he was little, not a fair-weather fan). I became obsessed with the Phoenix Suns, and their then point guard Steve Nash (back when he won his two MVP's). My little brother Kennan has been obsessed with the Lakers since he was little, and he kind of got me liking them too. Then Steve Nash signed with the Lakers, so it's only natural that I follow him there, even though he hasn't played a whole lot this year. (BTW, Kennan also got Steve Nash's autograph! What? Totally not fair, right?)

Therefore, another item on my bucket list is to attend an NBA game. Preferably one of those three teams, or the 76ers, because that's who my cousin plays for. (Yes, I have a cousin who is an NBA player. It's kind of awesome! Love you Brandon! It's way cool seeing him play on TV. Bummer he's injured...)

Anyway, and if I'm really dreaming big, I'd have to be sitting fairly close to the floor so I can actually see the players. But really, I'd take anything. I just think it'd be awesome.

Bucket List

Can you believe I've never really had a bucket list? Well, that ends now. I'll slowly be adding to it, and once I accomplish them, I'll check them off my list. What's on your bucket list? Link me up in the comments, or on Instagram using #mydailylife_bucket

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Timeless | 02.04.14

This is my nephew Alex and I when I went and visited them in Georgia in March 2010. We had just eaten dinner at Red Robin, and the boys (twins Alex & Aidan) were kind of being stinkers. While we were waiting for our check, I told Shari that I'd take Alex and Lilli out to the car. It had rained like crazy earlier that day so there were puddles everywhere. Instead of getting into the van we decided to jump in the puddles. Lilli had a blast and we had to do our best to keep her from going into the street. Alex thought it was hilarious when we would jump in them and he got laughing pretty hard. It was so much fun, and one of my favorite parts of my trip.

Timeless Tuesday

Even though this blog is supposed to be documenting my "daily life", I feel that the past plays such a huge part in our daily lives, that we need to document it as well. One of my resolutions this year is to take more photos. I primarily use my phone, but I just want to capture everything. One thing I have a hard time doing though, is documenting photos from the past. I love finding timeless photos that just bring back so many wonderful memories, or lessons learned. Your challenge is to dig up a timeless photo that has meaning to you. Either link me up in the comments, or on Instagram using #MyDailyLife_Timeless

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Timeless | 01.28.14

This one comes from about 16 years ago. This is the only "professional" family picture that we had taken of all of us. Isn't it awesome? Oh gosh, my hair, and my overalls! Wow. Not to mention Shari's bangs, and Kennan. Then there is McKenzie who informed me that the reason her hands are like that is because I kept smacking her hands down. Isn't it so funny? When I went home for Christmas, we visited Grandma, who is apparently the only one who has a copy of this photo. We sat around and just laughed at each other and how different we look. Dad has wanted to recreate this photo for some time now, so with us all being home for Christmas, we took advantage. Now keep in mind, none of us were prepared for this, and it was pretty late at night. The photo was about what we expected.

We haven't changed a bit, have we? We all had a good laugh at both photos. One thing that I am so grateful for now days is the ease of being able to take photos. I so wish that we had more photos like these from when we were all younger. We could have some really great laughs. I fully intend to take lots and lots of pictures of my family as they grown up, and want to take some form of  "professional" family photos at least once a year (or at least every few years) instead of waiting sixteen years, though we do have some family photos from weddings, though they aren't the same. I just think about what a treasure photos are. Without them, how else would we remember all these fun things, and recreate them?

Timeless Tuesday

Even though this blog is supposed to be documenting my "daily life", I feel that the past plays such a huge part in our daily lives, that we need to document it as well. One of my resolutions this year is to take more photos. I primarily use my phone, but I just want to capture everything. One thing I have a hard time doing though, is documenting photos from the past. I love finding timeless photos that just bring back so many wonderful memories, or lessons learned. Your challenge is to dig up a timeless photo that has meaning to you. Either link me up in the comments, or on Instagram using #MyDailyLife_Timeless

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Timeless | 01.14.14

 

My timeless photo today comes from December 23, 2013. I was in Cokeville visiting family, and while we were waiting for dinner, my nephew Aidan wanted to go play XBox. Since it was Sunday, Nana (aka, my mom) didn't want him to, so she told him that she knows how much he loves to draw, and I was artistic (ha!) and maybe I'd like to go draw with him. He was so excited, and went into the playroom where Nana and Papa had a table and chairs just his size, plus crayons and paper. So we set to work creating works of art. He taught me how to draw a city with Spiderman (his favorite). It was so fun. I just sat and watched him and his creativity just go crazy, and it was amazing. I loved how thoughtful he was with his art, and how he would get frustrated sometimes, but I wanted him to just keep going and know how great I thought he was doing. I enjoyed every second of it, and really will cherish this moment forever. I'm glad I was about to share it with him. It also made me want to be able to have those same moments with kids of my own someday. Whether it be spending time drawing, or doing something else they're interested in, I want to be there to work with them and continually encourage them to keep going.

Timeless Tuesday

Even though this blog is supposed to be documenting my "daily life", I feel that the past plays such a huge part in our daily lives, that we need to document it as well. One of my resolutions this year is to take more photos. I primarily use my phone, but I just want to capture everything. One thing I have a hard time doing though, is documenting photos from the past. I love finding timeless photos that just bring back so many wonderful memories, or lessons learned. Your challenge is to dig up a timeless photo that has meaning to you. Either link me up in the comments, or on Instagram using #MyDailyLife_Timeless

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