ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY...

November 13, 1944:

My Dad, James Arthur Layton,

was born in Thatcher, AZ.

He, like my James, had two adoring sisters...Happy Birthday, Dad!

We love you!

The Smartest Thing I Ever Did

This is a post I wrote on October 28th. I didn't post it because I wanted to post pictures with it, too. Well, I still haven't had time to scan the pix and it's time to just post it and add them later.
Also, have a look at my most recent post at FRAMANISCO.

Also, I wasn't kidding about needing someone to explain to me why there are not term limits for senators. WHY? And what do you think?

Today is the sixth anniversary of our engagement. It was one month and four days after we met. Rich had planned a long-weekend trip to Montana to introduce me to his family. What I thought would happen is that (a) he’d take me to Montana to meet the folks and check out the hometown, and then, if all went well, he would ask me to marry him at the big family Thanksgiving shindig the next month in SLC. I mean, we both knew that we need look no further for our mate, we just hadn’t laid out the plan.

Let me back up and tell you that we met at my birthday party, the night before I turned 29. At that party, I received the Magnolia soundtrack, which is to this day one of my favorite CDs. So I listened to it all the time, unwittingly making it the soundtrack of our courtship. I popped it in the van the other night (the only place I really get to listen to music anymore) and took a little trip down memory lane. I remembered that I was feeling a bit like damaged goods at the time as I had just finished sorting through some emotional baggage from the previous year’s broken engagement (and subsequent dysfunctional-on-purpose dating). I just wasn’t in a “relationship place.” But of course, we don’t get to choose when life throws its curve balls, so I choked up and swung my bat, so to speak. But these lyrics from Magnolia captured the mood so well:

So don't work your stuff

Because I’ve got troubles enough

No, don't pick on me

When one act of kindness could be

Deathly

Definitely

You're on your honor

Cause I’m a goner

And you haven't even begun

So do me a favor

If I should waver

Be my savior

Get out the gun

So lah-dee-dah, I’m just enjoying my weekend in Montana when Rich suggests we take a drive on Saturday morning so he can show me around Paradise Valley. We drive around and we stop for Thomas Kemper sodas at the Pine Creek Store (a cabin, really--and I still have the soda bottles in my cupboard). Then we drive up Pine Creek road to a place where you can see all of Paradise Valley, almost to Yellowstone Park. Rich tells me he’d always thought this hill would be a great place to build a house, with this great view. I start yammering on and on about how this other spot would be even better, and I am walking over there, pointing and surveying, when I notice Rich on one knee and I freeze. What’s the first lovely, romantic thing out of my mouth? “What? Not today! What are you doing??” DUH.

So he asks and I accept, and then I put the enormous ring on my finger and say, “I can’t wear this! It’s too pretty!” Seriously—my hands are still way too not-manicured to be wearing this rock. I keep waiting for somebody to shout out, “Hey, lady, why don’t you hawk that rock for a manicure and a nice outfit?” My answer would be, “What, and then break a nail scrubbing the toilet or making dinner? And then get baby barf or toddler poo on my outfit? Why would I want to do that?” It's beautiful! I call my mom and family on the cell phone, and it turns out they knew all along! I tell them about the ring and they've already seen it (Rich emailed them a picture). How's that for being out of the loop? Rich is just grinning and glowing all day long and I can't stop looking at my finger (while enjoying a really fun day with my in-laws...the next day we went to church with them and I got a taste of what I am now a part of--the Livingston Ward Family. People were hugging me and crying and congratulating us like they were all Rich's grandma's and aunts or something).

Anyway, it was a great day and we have been so happy ever since. Each time I reflect on making that decision, I remember how easy it was, and I didn’t know the HALF of what I was getting. Each time I think about it, there are dozens of new things to add to the list of why it’s a good idea to be married to Rich.

Happy Anniversary, Hun! Thanks so much for asking and for putting up with, er, I mean, growing with me ever since that happy day.

The Darlings

Here are some of the photos we took of the kids while trying to get a fun shot for Grandpa Layton's 62nd Birthday greeting...Heidi being silly, James looking worried
Heidi might be pinching James in this shot...
Adoring sisters, patient brother...
Addie kissing James
Heidi and Addie kissing James

(aww, look at that chubba-bubba!)
Heidi modeling the new nightgown she got from Grandma Becky (it was a very belated bday gift cuz Grandma Becky was TDY in April). Heidi loves the nightgown and hates to take it off!

A Bountiful Harvest of Cuteness

Autumn time has been especially fruitful for our family this year. Not only did we get our Sweet Baby James, but a nephew AND a niece, too! I know we mentioned them before, but look how they're growing...

Rich's brother Jess, & his wife Kelli welcomed their third baby, Matthew Hampden Melin, in October.

Here's TJay (the oldest) playing with Matthew.

We are so excited to spend Thanksgiving with them in North Dakota!

My brother Willy & wife Audrey had their 4th baby this month...look at Liam (#2) loving his baby sister, Maeby Lynn Post (#4).
Audrey with Maeby
Spencer (#3) with Maeby (#4).

We are excited to meet these sweet little babies over the holidays, and we love and miss their families!

Thank You

The Common Soldier
Nobody cared, when he went to war,

But the woman that cried on his shoulder;

Nobody decked him with immortelles;

He was only a common soldier.
Nobody packed in a treasured trunk

Folded uniform and officer's fair;

A knapsack held all the new recruit

Might own, or love, or eat, or wear.
Nobody gave him a good-by fete,

With sparkling jest and expensive wine:

Two or three friends on the sidewalk stood

Watching for Jones, the fourth in line.
Nobody cared how the battle went,

With the man that fought till the bullet sped

Through the coat undecked with leaf or star

On a common soldier left for dead.
The cool rain bathed the fevered wound,

And the kind clouds wept all night;

A pitying lotion Nature gave,

Till help might come with morning light —
Such help as the knife of the surgeon gives,

Cleaving the gallant arm from shoulder;

And another name swells the pension list

For the meager pay of a common soldier.
What matter how he served the guns

When plume and sash were over yonder?

What matter though he bear the flag

Through blinding smoke and battle thunder.
What matters though a wife and child

Cry softly for that good arm rent?

And wonder why that random shot

To him, their own, beloved, was sent?
Patriotic hearts, wipe out this stain;

Give jeweled cup and sword and no more;

But let no common soldier blush

To own the uniform he wore.

Shout long and loud for victory won

By chief and leader staunch and true;

But don't forget the boys that fought —

Shout for the common soldier, too.

-Author Unknown

All Honor To Her
He offered himself for the land he loved,

But what shall we say for her?

He gave to his country a soldier's life;

'Twas dearer by far to the soldier's wife.

All honor today to her!
He went to the war while his blood was hot,

But what shall we say of her?

He saw himself through the battle's flame

A hero's reward on the scroll of fame;

What honor is due to her?
He offered himself, but his wife did more,

All honor today to her!

For dearer than life was the gift she gave

In giving the life she would die to save;

What honor is due to her?
He gave up his life at his country's call,

But what shall we say of her?

He offered himself as a sacrifice,

But she is the one who pays the price.

All honor we owe to her.

-Author Unknown

[I found these poems HERE]

Even though you're all still alive (with limbs in tact), I wanted to thank all the military men I know for your service to our country. I also want your families to know that we recognize their sacrifice, too. I have three sisters-in-law who go long stretches home alone with their children while their husbands serve our country, and I want them to know that I admire them-- I don't think I could ever do what you do and hope I never have to! Thanks to all of you, and those who have gone before us, for the gift of freedom.

Behold the Cuteness, part 3

This is James on Sunday, exactly two-months old. James just wanted to show off his Sunday clothes

...and his yawn...


...and his half-smile (that's about as good as it gets, unless you happen to be a very cute great-grandma, in which case he will give you his biggest wide-mouth grin and even giggle for you! No joke! He has done that for my grandma and for a lady I visit teach who happens to be a great-grandma, too. I get big "thank you" grins after a feeding once in a while, but he's saving them up, I think).

Happy Two-Month Birthday, James!

First Tuesday

So , yeah, I voted today. I voted FOR one candidate, and for one initiative. With the rest of the candidates, I was voting against one by voting for his/her opponent...like voting for the "least bad." That's kind of sad. Sometimes I hate the two-party system.

What I hate even more is career politicians. It's okay to have a career in politics (well, I prefer the term "public service"), but will someone please explain to me why there are no term limits for senators? I can't think of a good argument against a two (or even three) term limit. How can you represent a population you're not even really a part of anymore? The KEY WORD is REPRESENTATION...don't get me started.

I love democracy and I love to vote. May the least bad man win!


Oh, PS: I was running thru all the Oprah's I tivo'ed last week and lo and behonld, there was a girl from my mission on Oprah last week. If you saw the episode about the girl who gave birth at home and threw the baby in the quarry, at the end , they had the reporter from Idaho that got the Safe Haven Law passed there, then adopted a Safe Haven baby. That reporter served in North Carolina with me! (CJ, remember Sister Johnston? Remember how she wanted to be Murphy Brown? Well, she is--at least in Idaho ;))

Wannabe

I am up late waiting for some Cheddar Dill Bread to bake. I am having the missionaries and my in-laws over for dinner tomorrow night and I have a very busy day tomorrow, so I started dinner tonight ( what should turn out to be a really good beef stew with three kinds of bread on the side). I'll post the bread recipe if it turns out good.

James is two months old today. It kind of makes my heart hurt how fast time flies.

In the morning I am going visiting teaching with my companion of over three years. Our assignments recently changed and now visit two families who live out in Cokedale. It's a fun drive when the dirt road is decent! We got to choose our message this month and we decided on THIS address given in last month's conference...one of the best messages for anyone of any faith, I believe.

While I've been waiting, I have been taking in some YouTube... I am posting links to two 80's music videos that totally defined (a) my high school musical tastes and (b) more importantly, my fashion sense. Now, I wasn't too into being a Wannabe, but if there was anyone I ever wanted to be (besides Gidget) it was Belinda (this particular incarnation only) or Maria (any incarnation). The hairdo's in theses videos were particularly inportant to me, as were Belinda's sunglasses and hoop earrings.

Ahhhh, great stuff.

Interesting News...I wonder what will happen now?

Good News...

...I've got a new niece as of 9:29am (11/03)!
Welcome to the World,

Maeby Lynn!

(yes, you read that right! Just like the girl on Arrested Development)

Maeby Lynn Post
(with her mom, Audrey)
6 pounds 7 ounces-- 19 inches long--Darling!

Congratulations, Posties!

Halloween

Both girls dressed as witches on Saturday, but Addie wanted to be a cat on Halloween.
Heidi was a darling witch! They scored lots of treats at the Credit Union & the grocery stores, but very few from the neighbors. We only went a few places before we were too cold (and I was too sick--little did I know I would have a nasty fever and GI trouble all night, plus mastitis symptoms, too)...
...so we came in from the cold to snuggle up and watch Monster House.

Here are my three babies: Addie being a Sweet Cat, James being a Grumpy Pup, and Heidi being a Hyper Witch!
Can you hear the cackling? James looks rightfully scared!
Awwww....hope you had a Happy Halloween, too!

Behold The Cuteness, part 2

Look at James, just chillin' on Daddy's pillow.
Our Bubby is getting so big, but we can still barely get a smile out of him! Oh, well--at least his pacifier makes him happy--I've never had a pacifier kid (we've been calling it his "foo"--half of what Sam called his "Foo-foo"--don't ask me why, except I hate the word "Binky").

Today he weighed in at 12 ounds, 8 ounces and he's 24 -1/2 inches tall.
Here's how James celebrated Halloween. Asleep in a puppy costume.