We stopped at my brother Willy's house to crash on Sunday night/Monday morning, and my other nieces, Ally & Isabelle, came over, too. Willy had to go work in California and Melanie had to go to school, but Addie, Ally, Belle, Liam, Spencer, and Heidi had a fun time playing until we left at lunchtime to head home.
We got on I-15 Northbound and came to a complete stop about 10 minutes later. We couldn't figure out why we were totally stopped, so we turned on AM radio and learned that the Presidential Motorcade was heading out to the Air National Guard station so Dubya could get on his plane and fly to Mountain Home, Idaho. We got to see Air Force One take off, but I couldn't get a good picture cuz we were going 80 mph by then. Kind of a fun final adventure for our trip.

Back in the Saddle

We made it! 2,000 miles and lots of sun, big gulps, freeways, and FUN! We got home at 8pm last night, unloaded (that took 2 hours), and went to bed. I still have tons to do today, but pictures and stories are coming soon. Here are Addie and Heidi modeling their mouse ears and some of our booty from Ikea.

"Goin' Out West Where I Belong..."

I beheld something that made me sick and terrified as I watched last night. Has anyone seen "My Super Sweet 16"? Oh. My. Stars. Let me just say that if I had a trillion dollars I would not treat my kids like that. And if for some reason they were that nasty at age 16, you can bet your bottom dollar (and ALL OF MY TRILLIONS) that kid would be at BRAT CAMP in two shakes. Sick and WRONG! What is wrong with parents in their 30s and 40s just worshipping their kids? Holy heck, it makes me sick and I'm starting to feel like a minority because I am not in love with my kids (I LOVE them, I am not IN LOVE with them) and I take my job of creating decent adults VERY SERIOUSLY. Super Sweet 16s and all the other crazy parenting does not a decent adult make, no matter how much money you have or don't have or what ever. UGH!


On a lighter note, "Life In A Northern Town" will be called "The OC" this week as we head down to Newport Beach for the temple open house, then Disneyland, then Cousin Brent's WEDDIN', so sorry about the hiatus. If can get online I will, but if not, there will be some fine pix and stories next Tuesday. Happy Trails.

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY: My mom was born!!!

August 15, 1951--a week before my grandparents' first anniversary-- in Monterrey Park, California, my mom was born. She's been called lots of things, like a sunshine, a force to be reckoned with, a spoon (by gramps), generous, and most of all, FUN (remember those color-coded personality tests? My mom was like straight-up yellow). We sure love her and hope she has a super 54th birthday. To celebrate, here's a (chronologically backward) photo essay I'll call "Me and My Mama."

There we are in 2001 in my honeymoon suite after our wedding reception in Tucson. Rich likes her so much, he let her come and help us open presents! I like her so much, I let her wear my Duke shirt!

There's mom in all her grandma glory with about half of her grandkids (the younger ones) in August 2004. She loves being Nana and the kids love her back!

That's Liam, Nana with Jake, Heidi, Spencer, Melanie, Ally with Jack, Addie, and Isabelle...thay all wish you HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NANA!

Mom and Me

Here we are at Campland on the Bay in San Diego. I had just performed with my little song-n-dance group, "The Pioneers of Music," and mom was one of the chaperones on our California tour in the summer of 1985. I was 13 and 3/4, she was almost 34, JUST LIKE I AM NOW! HOLY COW! (ps: for you long-time readers, I once promised a picture of my mullet if I could find one, so here you go--the mullet in all its glory...and braces to boot!)

There's my mom, making turkey sandwiches to send me back to Provo on Thanksgiving weekend 1991...Love Her!

Spirit of '76: Mom and Her Posse

Long time ago when we were all Laytons, living in Armpit, er, I mean Pocatello, Idaho-- that's mom at 25, holding Lisa & Laura (b.1974) and out in front are half of Willy (age 4) and me (age 5) sporting my own hair tragedy. Dad had that green chair til yesterday, I think. Mom, you're so cute!

Mom & Chubs, 1971

This scrunched-up picture is of my cute little 20-year-old mom and me. Mom has the best hair!

Casa Melin

In front of the house: Rich, Heidi, Jamie & Addie

Thank you everyone who came and helped us build our home. Every little bit helped and we are so grateful.

Guess What We Did Yesterday?

A bunch of Melins gathered at Sacajawea Park for a little BBQ and stories from Great Uncle David (he is the baby brother of Richard's Grandpa George--only three siblings remain from that generation--Grandpa George died in a rodeo accident in 1950). It was fun to see all the genetics and hear the stories of "The Swedes down the valley." Sadly, the weather did not cooperate--it was in the 40's on Friday and Saturday, so the freak cold snap put a damper on the festivities, but the gang still had fun.

And The High Temp Was 49 Degrees!

Dad Melin cooked up some burgers and dogs to go with the smoked turkeys and fried chicken. When we thanked him, he said, "Really, I'm just keeping warm!"

Addie showing off her Melin Eyes (Seriously--we saw so many hooded blue eyes) and her name tag that says "Addie Melin--Tom is my Grandpa."

Addie and Heidi tried to get warm at the heater--see Heidi's cold runny nose?

Look at this beautiful Melin family! They are ranchers down the valley and every single one of the 11 kids was home schooled, most were born at home, and they all work on the ranch. They also have a band and hold cowboy worship services--I have read about them in the community calendar. Jim (the dad) is my dad-in-law's first cousin.

My Interview

Brooks got interviewed and now she's interviewing me! Here are her six questions and my answers. If you want to play, follow the directions at the bottom and leave a comment.

1. How did you and your husband wind up living in Livingston, Montana?

Well, it’s pretty simple, really. This is his hometown, and we got engaged up on a mountain near here. We both love it but (you may have heard) there are no jobs in Montana, so we never thought of living here.

But then there was 9/11, the birth of our first daughter, and Rich’s subsequent lay-off during my maternity leave. And then there was me not being able (emotionally/spiritually) to leave my baby to go back to work and Rich taking a job with a company that went under 8 months later. Not a good year for us on the financial front. After the second job disaster we knew we had to do something permanent and we prayed for a true, lasting opportunity. Rich’s parents called from here begging for help at the Insurance Agency they opened 25 years ago, and we came. Rich got his license (he has a degree in International Business from BYUH, but had been working as a professional Photographer and designer) and we moved to Livingston in October 2002.

We lived above a dental office on Main Street until July 22nd, when we moved into a sweet little house we built ourselves, so I guess we are staying. Y’all plan a Yellowstone Adventure and come see us!

2. Name your top 10 favorite albums from high school (they don't have to be in order, just whatever 10 albums you think were the best)

Oh, man. I’m thinking hard. In no particular order…

The Dream Academy- The Dream Academy
Listen Like Thieves and Kick -INXS
Document- REM
In My Tribe & Blind Man’s Zoo- 10,000 Maniacs
Head on the Door- The Cure
The Queen is Dead—The Smiths
The Joshua Tree- U2
Shelter- Lone Justice
Blood and Chocolate-Elvis Costello
The Pretty in Pink Soundtrack

…okay, that’s 12, but it’s all good.

3. What are your hopes for your daughters as they grow up?

What a loaded question, Brooks! That Rod Stewart song, Forever Young, always comes into my head when I think of them. I am trying to put it succinctly, because my heart is full of a million little prayers for them.

First of all, I hope they feel loved and secure.

I hope they can come to an understanding of their own relation ship to God, Jesus Christ, and this world—an understanding that gives them hope, confidence, and love in their hearts.

I hope they grow a keen sense of right and wrong, of decency, and of empathy. I know that a lot of empathy comes from one’s own hurts, but I hope they only ever hurt enough to learn empathy, but not enough to be bitter or scarred.

I hope they will be full of love—love for themselves, love for us, love for others—and that they are moved to help when they see a need and share what ever they can.

I hope they really come to know and love themselves, and that they can live out their lives doing things that they are good at and that they enjoy. This of course requires an education and lots of opportunities to figure out what they love and are good at.

I hope they will live with integrity—I hope they decide what they really believe in and then have the moral courage to live it with passion, what ever it is.

I hope each of them meets and marries someone who loves, adores, and serves them as much Richard does me. When all is said and done, our marriage is/will be the crowning achievement of my life.

4. How strictly do you follow the rules of Mormonism that have to do with diet? Do you drink caffeine?

Well, the “Word of Wisdom” as it’s called, has really been a blessing in my life. It basically prescribes abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea (herbal is ok) and moderation in all other things (very little meat, etc). I suppose the fact that I am overweight is evidence that I am not following the spirit of the law (moderation), but I fully adhere to the abstaining parts. I do drink caffeine when I feel like it—hot cocoa & Diet Coke—but I try to be reasonable and not do it often enough to be addicted. Caffeine Free Diet Coke with cherry syrup in it is one of my favorite things, but sometimes I am in the mood for an icy Coke, straight up, and I drink that, too.

So I am on the “Molly Mormon” side of the spectrum, but there are Mormons who interpret the law even more strictly, avoiding any form of caffeine (oh, no---do NOT take away my chocolate, people!) or not eating meat. I do firmly believe the body is a gift to be respected and maintained as such.

5. What is your favorite John Hughes movie and why?

Oh, jeez…this is hard. The Breakfast Club is so very timeless and probably the best movie for that reason, but I get torn between Sixteen Candles and Pretty In Pink for my personal favorite. I saw Sixteen Candles on my thirteenth birthday and it was monumental for me—it still just kills me. I must have seen PIP 20 times at the dollar movies in the summer between 9th and 10th grades. It’s so great, and I love the soundtrack, but 20 years later (maybe I am a crotchety old lady) but it gets a little pouty and dramatic at times. So I guess my vote is for Sixteen Candles.

6. What are you currently reading?

Besides the Care Bears Bedtime Treasury? Not much. The Book of Mormon, as usual. I am skimming through The Seduction of Hillary Rodham, waiting for more Nick Hornby to come in at the Livingston Public Library. I read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius in June and it was a fun read, but kind of overrated. And too many F-bombs for me.

Want me to interview you? Just follow these steps
1. Leave a comment below with the words 'Interview me'.
2. I will respond by asking you six questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers.
4. You will include this explanation in the same post.
5. When others ask to be interviewed, you will ask them six questions.