Melissa Makes Everything Fun

Melissa (my older sister, closest in age to me) and I made sure to coordinate our trips to Idaho. We had always planned to be there at the same time for about two weeks.

These two girls played in Marci's camp trailer
for an entire afternoon. It was NOT a cool day,
they were as imaginative and cute as could be.
THANK YOU Marci for use of the trailer!

Basically, Melissa makes everything fun. There was one day I was really grouchy and Melissa kept saying, "What are we going to do to pull you out of the dumps." I think I was too distraught to care, but sure enough, she did it. I can't even remember just how, but she did.

Our kids get along great which is another bonus. In fact, I think all of the cousins get along well together which is so fun to see and maybe another reason we all just kept wanting to extend the family reunion another day :-).

I can't hardly stand this picture.
Cousin Love for sure - saying good bye to Savannah :-(

Some of the fun memories with Melissa's family in particular:

1. Running/Biking: we biked around the twin lakes just days after a huge fire burned a large section of fields on one side of the lake. We biked through Banida and then back home. Melissa fended the dogs (I think in three different places) for me. She's always been good that way, looking to protect little sis. I imagine there was some teasing about my attempts to "yell" at the dogs.

2. Just like in days of the past, we had a fun game night with the Mumfords. Carson beat Duke's Katie, which I can't believe (Perudo was the game, so fun) because she was really set up to win.

3. We teased Dad and got in as much special time with Mom as we could. I think this year my family kept better control of our ice-addiction, which didn't give Dad as much ammo to bug us :-).

4. We took our kids to the Twin Lakes, which is the first time I think I have EVER sat on a "beach" blanket (touching shoulders) with my sisters Marci and Melissa.

5. Going to church with family is always my favorite part of trips. Now that I'm so old, I think we must overwhelm the Clifton ward. There are so many of us. Yet, when other neighbor families visit home, there are also so. many. of. them. too. So, I guess it all evens out.

6. We took a trip down to Logan to relive some of our old haunts. Always an Aggie :-).

7. The top item on our list was to try and do a big hike up the canyon. And, that we did. For some reason, I wore my "city" clothes (which Melissa razzed me about) and that hike isn't the easiest, btw.

Wind Caves Hike, Logan Canyon

Melissa's kids are rock-stars just like their mother, they motored up and down the mountain like it was nothing.

8. Gaga Ball -- have you ever heard of it? You wouldn't believe what a fun and entertaining game this is. All I can say is, "google" it. The Fuller kids (and Uncle Erik, and Aunt Melissa) LOVED this game.

9. Callie and Sadie entertained themselves on more than one occasion. The day we went hiking, these

sweet little girls, babysat themselves in the basement. We told them they couldn't bother Grandma, and they didn't. I think Grandpa gave them some goldfish crackers (we were gone from 1 in the afternoon till after 8) and maybe a Popsicle. He invited them to come up to the park when he needed to go outside, so he could keep an eye on them. He is a great babysitter :-).

10. Martin Harris Pageant -- Tawna set this up a few months ago. It was a rather windy evening, but fun to sit next to family and enjoy a pageant honoring an early church member.

My favorite way to enjoy Lagoon -- up on the sky ride, preferably all day. 

11. Lagoon -- Would you believe Melissa talked Janie and I into going to Gagoon (Jay Moyle coined that phrase)?! Amusement parks are on the bottom of my bucket lists. But, again, Melissa's spunky

Just refueling. 

So Much Fun!

personality helped us endure. I even screamed on some rides. The kids are still talking about Lagoon.






12. Melissa's Family - I love them all.

The Thankful Game

Friday Night Biking 

This morning on the way to school, Callie and I ended up making up a fun game. She was complaining that I was making her walk so I started saying things like, “Callie, how about instead saying, “Thanks Mom, for making me breakfast” or another of the things done to make her life better.

However, every single line I came up with, Callie added an “even though”. So, she would repeat what I asked of her and then add on something like, “Thanks for making me breakfast, even though you made me have milk in my oatmeal.” She did this so consistently that by the time we got up to the park, I started laughing. By the time we got to the crossing guard, she was smiling too so we switched roles and she started coaching me on what I need to be thankful for. One of the first things was, “Thanks for marrying Dad”. So, I said, “Thanks for marrying Dad, even though he is a big teaser.” We have decided to call this the “thankful” game.

“Thanks for taking us to Idaho . . . .even though

we didn’t get to stay at Grandma Moss’s longer”

“Thanks for signing me up for gymnastics . . . .even though

I didn’t get to be in the jets class.”

“Thanks for taking me on a Disney Cruise . . .even though it has been

So long, I am starting to forget how fun it was.”

“Thanks for letting me have so many stuffed kitties . . . .even though

What I really want is a real cat.”

I love my girl. This past Friday, as she biked up to school, I was behind her when she rode full-throttle into the back of a neighbor's hummer's trailer hitch. I was caught off guard and immediately worried she'd hurt herself and then aghast that she did it in the first place. In full Neil Fuller fashion, I asked her why she had done that. She simply answered, "It wouldn't move".

So Many Fun Pink Tents

Last story, Friday night I cajoled her into biking down through the park to dance class to avoid the 5:00 Friday evening traffic. It ended up seeming like we were in some kind of parade. Callie asked, "Why is everything so pink?" It turns out, we rode right through the finish line of that day's, "three-day Race for the Cure" route.

Look at the bags I was carrying!
She wasn't embarrassed of me, I don't think :-). 

Fight's On: Oregon Coast 10-Me 1

Yes, that's right, I declare war.

Ocean Shores Aug 2010

I have lived here for 12 years and make a trip to the coast about once a year. We have gone down to Neskowan, Rockaway, Cannon Beach, Seaside, Ocean Shores a couple of times, Forks/La Push/Rialto Beach, up to Victoria B.C. and finally I'm even counting Port Angeles in this fight. So, maybe the score isn't quite 10 to 1, but close.

Neskowan 2006

The one thing I know for sure is there has only been one time that I can remember having a warm day at the beach - THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

Spring Break on Seaside April 2013

C'mon weatherman, what is the problem here? When we've gone over mid-winter break, I cut some slack (Cannon Beach), I mean it was winter after all. Spring break on Seaside was perhaps wishful thinking a few years ago. But, August 26th, are you kidding me?

The whole drive down to Rockaway a few weekends ago, I was blissfully content with the outlook and the day ahead. The sky was a gorgeous blue, the temperature outside was living up to its promised 75 degrees or above. Ahhhh, we were FINALLY getting our turn.

It was even Darren's birthday.

We pulled into Rockaway Beach to meet my sister Jess, who was standing out to greet us with her son. Well, they were both wearing swimsuits, but she had on a jacket and her beautiful hair was flying all around. Oh no!! What could be happening?

Rockaway Hopefuls August 2017

It was a WINDY day at the beach, and I'm not talking about a nice warm Florida breeze, I'm talking about the sand-in-my-veggie-platter type of breeze.

My youngest doing a pretty good beach plank
August 2017

Yes, the water and waves were incredible (they really were), the scenery breath-taking really (I love how Oregon beaches seem to have some kind of rock structure sticking out of the water), and Erik dug a really cool gigantic hole in the sand. The kids managed to have some typical beach experiences. I just couldn't get over the fact we had been stymied yet again by that ole- Pacific Ocean Beach.

To top this story off, Darren somehow and by some kind of Pacific Ocean Beach beast, got a terrible (and I mean terrible - like his feet have been swollen all week) sunburn from his shins down to his bare feet.

Hawaii 2008

This fight aint over yet -- ahh, I just thought of a redeeming trip. It was Hawaii. OK, there was also a California trip with a good beach experience. Pacific Ocean Beast hasn't gotten the best of me just yet.

Rialto Beach - maybe La Push

(oh, and the one good Pacific Northwest Beach experience I can remember is when I took my kids clear out to Forks where we spent the day, I'm sure that was August too).                                     →→

We are Family - Inspiration from the Mumfords

I love spending time in the Clifton Cemetery. Melissa and I headed out to exercise about the same time and I knew she would power up past the Cemetery so I just hung around up there for a long while before she came back.

One of the observations I made this year was on the headstone of our wonderful family friends, the patriarch and matriarch Gid and Betty Jo Mumford. Instead of listing only their biological children on the back, the Mumford children chose to have li
sted both child and spouse, for example, "Ron & Carol".

I realized the significance of listing the names that way, based on my personal interactions with Betty Jo. She always made me feel special and important in her life and there is no doubt she and her husband embraced their children-by-law with open arms. This is what family is all about, no biological marker needed.

Over the few weeks of being in Clifton, I recognized how my Mumford peers, Duke, Lincoln and their spouses Katie and Hollie are carrying on the legacy of their grandparents and uncles who have passed away (two uncles: Murray and Jeff, both of whom made positive impacts on my family personally and the Clifton community).

"I'm perfectly clean" - Carson after scout camp where
he shared a tent with the Mumfords

My children have become friends with the younger Mumford generation and enjoyed time down at the farm. Melissa's son also went down and helped milk cows. My son went to scout camp with two of the boys. We had a fun family game night (Lincoln even remembered who won the game last summer and made a big deal out of my Kinley being able to carry on the winning tradition).

On the last Wednesday before school starts, I was there when the Mumfords hosted a final "Rounders" softball game for the community. Apparently, every Wednesday during the summer, everyone is welcome to come up to the softball fields, under the lights (see how modern Clifton has become), and play for an indiscriminate amount of time. They made hot dogs and served root beer floats.

Lincoln pitching to an enthusiastic Callie

I pictured Uncle Jeff pitching balls with a big smile on his face and Mur playing the bases (my dad played first base, seems like Murray played second) like they did when I was a kid. Seeing this tradition and legacy teaches me incredible lessons about what it means to be family.

Lastly, the day or two before we left, Lincoln and Hollie hand-delivered a case of peaches to my parents. Of course, they made it seem like the peaches were for Kinley because she'd helped herself to quite a few while down at their house. That is just the way they are -- make everyone feel welcome and loved. Kinley still talks about those delicious peaches and how she wishes she could have brought some home to Washington. Thank you Mumfords!!

Summer 2016: In the beginning . . .

Happy Fathers Day! (He would be surprised to find all the wrapped Trader Joe meals left in the freezer for him to discover at home)

I'll admit, heading southward to the airport and Janie's house after such a joy-filled 50th Anniversary Celebration, I felt overwhelmed at the thoughts of sticking around another six weeks. Yeesh to the Imposing Moss Family.

We first spent the day in Logan with Darren's newly-returned-missionary nephew, which was just so fun. He delivered an awesome talk, full of confidence and faith.

Then, we headed down to Janie's where she wasn't expecting company. I still feel bad about adding stress to her overflowing plate. But, as always, she handled things like a champ and accomplished what she needed to do, even with the Imposing Moss Family.

Before Darren boarded the plane, we wanted to create a fun family memory so we stopped at Thanksgiving Point and did the ropes course at the Museum of Curiosity.

The pictures show a fun-filled morning in Lehi. I am glad Darren stayed an extra day. The part about this that I especially want to remember is that he wanted to be with me on the 20th of June which is a significant day for me.

The next morning, I went out for a jog. I took the path towards my nephew's school, which I felt pretty comfortable taking. The first run in this mountain setting was truly and literally breath-taking. I couldn't keep enough air in my sea-level-happy-lungs. I saw a guy ahead of me fiddling with his baby's stroller. When I passed by him, he called out, "Hello Colette". It was Cousin Clark!! What a great surprise! He was nice enough to keep at my pace for the rest of the jog and we had a great visit. He lives just a few blocks from my sister. Fun was had by all :-)