Lakie Day (Fisk Family Reunion)

We came back from our Fisk family reunion last week. I have put together a book for this year's event, I was able to catch a 8x8 book offer from Shutterfly and just pay shipping. I'm excited to get it back and see how it turned out.

This year was held at a home called Valhalla (it means heaven in Scandinavian), they even had a room that said Willkommen til Fisk Haven (Welcome to Fish Heaven). Yes, Fisk is Fish is Swedish...go ahead, I know you want to make a joke or two out of that one.  Anyway, we always love seeing our name in print. But, I digress. We went to Bear Lake, UT and it was beautiful! My husband even thought it would be nice to retire up there. Most of the family went to the lake one day where we rented a boat for a few hours. Elizabeth and I did not make that trip, and that is a subject for a future post. Also included in the festivities were tie-dying our own shirts and a RAVE party in our groovy shirts. I will post the video I made of the rave...it will bring back memories for those that were there, and I have talked it up to a few friends who might enjoy seeing it. One of my little nephews (3) loved the party so much that after the party when everyone was leaving the music accidentally got turned back on and he turned right back around for more dancing.  What is it about this kind of music that makes you just want to party??

There were lots of water activities, guns...balloons...needless to say the kids had a blast with their cousins.  Joe thinks that the family reunion should be a week long! Currently we have been averaging four nights, and it seems to be enough for the adults.

We were very lucky to have Jessica and her family drop by for a few nights, they are actually scheduled to be stationed, with the Army, to Germany. It may be a few years before we get to see them at a reunion again.

My talented nephew makes toy guns out of different kinds of things and covers them with electrical tape. Some of them are pretty realistic looking.  This is one of my favorite pictures of the bigger boy cousins and their guns.

Here are a few pictures of the family with all the offspring, this year the kids out numbered the adults!

Pictures are worth a thousand words, and I could never come up with the right works that explain how much I love my family. The shirts turned out great don't you think?!

Humor me

Lizzy and I were cuddling one night before going to bed, this is what transpired:

Me: I love...(pause), Joe Joe.
Lizzy: **giggles
Me: I love...(pause), Brianna
Lizzy:** giggling again
Me: I love...(pause), DoeDoe
Lizzy:** cheesy grin
Me: I love...(pause), who did I forget?
Lizzy: Me
Me: I love...(pause),...Rusty (the dog)
Lizzy: **smiles that she gets that I'm playing with her
Me: I love...(pause)
Lizzy: Me
Me: Sarah (the other dog)
Lizzy: ** smirking
Me: I love...(pause again), I know I am forgetting someone...
Lizzy: Daddy
Me: Right, I love...(pause) Daddy
Lizzy: **big grin
Me: I love...(pause with a forgetful look on my face)...
Lizzy: ME.
Me: I love...ME.
Lizzy: **hysterically laughing
Lizzy: no, Me...(pause), Lizzy.
Me: Yes, I love Lizzy!
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Something to blog about

I reminisce of a few years past, ok, let's not take "few" too literally, it was more than a decade ago, when I was assigned a young lady, Sally, to Visit Teach.*

She was shy to say the least, our first conversation was labored.  Of course in all fairness, I was a total stranger.  The first call was to introduce myself, find out more about her, and invite her to some activity.  Somewhere in our conversation she mentioned she didn't make it to church because she didn't have a way to get there, so I offered her a ride to some activity that was going on at the time.  I picked her up, and again I had to draw things out of her.  As uncomfortable as it was for me at the time, I am glad I made the effort!  We shortly became fast friends and soon she was staying over at my house on Saturdays so we could go to church together.  Our 'tradition' survived a couple of local moves, she even made a big move to Utah for a little while with me.  Once I moved away to California and she got married to a fine young LDS man our 'tradition' ended. Although the over-night tradition stopped our friendship did not.  Though months could pass without calls, and many miles between us, when we did talk or get together it was as if no time had passed between us.  We make many "friends" in our life, but few "life time friends".  Sally is one of my "life time friends."

I have a testimony of Visiting Teaching, not only because it is provides an excuse to have a cleaner house at least once a month when my teachers come to visit me, but because it helps us make friends with people we might not have made friends with on our own.

I reminisce because she called to let me know she has been called to Relief Society** President in her ward!  A far cry from, but not really very shocking of, the young lady I met over a two decades ago!   Congratulations Sally!!

* An inspired program in the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where the women members are assigned other women in their local area to visit once a month to care for their needs or concerns and provide fellowship.


** A philanthropic (service oriented) and educational women's organization and an official auxiliary of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Their motto is: "Charity never faileth."  1 Corinthians 13:8 The official purpose of Relief Society is to "assist priesthood leaders in carrying out the mission of the Church by helping sisters [women] and families come unto Christ." 

2010 Valentines

For Valentines day this year my friend Stacey and I made our little girls Valentine dresses from shirts we picked up at Target. We added the pink ruffled tutus out of tulle. So simple, so cute! I think mine have worn them every day (off and on) since we made them. Nothing says girly like a little ballerina type skirt! We got the idea here.

I also made the kids school valentines pictures. You'll have to imagine the lollipops in the kids hands. Everyone seemed to love them, especially the teachers. Since Valentines landed on a Sunday we brought some to each of the kids classes. I pirated the idea here.

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School Rewards and End of 2009 Party.

When Joseph was in the second grade, oh so long ago, he was awarded a party at the local mini gran prix for himself and 5 friends. He said he doesn't know what he did to deserve it, but I think his teacher wanted to award him for the progress he had made throughout the year in becoming a straight A student and focusing more on school instead of playing and teasing the other students. I digress.

I FINALLY gave in and took him, he is now in third grade. We took our friends the Clements. What a great time we all had, although another adult in the mix would have made it a little easier. We had 2 adults and 7 kids. Three of which needed to have an adult on most of the rides (one in need of constant supervision or she might run off and get abducted again, and she is a fast little bugger!). Joseph however was tall enough to do everything by himself including the go-carts which he got 1st place in his race, he was so happy. This wouldn't have been possible when he was in second grade, so maybe I shouldn't beat myself up on holding off so long. He has grown a few inches since then.

He kept reminding me the whole time that this wouldn't have even happened if he didn't get the award. So here is a shout out to my Joe who made it possible to have a fun day with some friends. Here are some great scrapbook pages my friend Stacey made to celebrate the occasion. Thanks Stacey!

Also if you'd like to see her post about the day go here. Also Joe has a blog entry as well.


Good job JOE!! ...and thanks for sharing your award!