It's all about Randomness

One of the children left this gorilla costume out and Kyle, for some reason, felt the need to squish himself into it (then call for me to help get him out of it.) The next day when his friends heard of his feat, they had to test their nimbleness with the same task. So, we see Garret trying, but not quite making it:

And Kjirk, who was determined to get it over his shoulders (regardless of pain or common sense) with Garret's help:



It is just not possible to take the tough guy look seriously with a size 6 child's costume involved.
Garret, Kjirk & Kyle


May 17th was the Jr. Lilac Parade in Spokane. Kalene was a drum major for the Mead Middle School band.



If you look closely, you can see her behind the saxaphones and in front of the drums. If you count over 2 saxaphone players from the left

This May Todd harvested his first turkey. Here he is in front of his huntin' truck with Zachary.

Here's Todd with his second turkey of the season. He harvested both of these up at the property.

Zachary brought this little gem home from cub scouts. He also brought a box with other miscellaneous car parts that no one else wanted. I thought when Scott went away to school I would have a little reprieve from car parts accumulating in my house.


March 31 was the first day of Spring Break. Aaron went on a road trip for the week with Todd. Aaron was excited to get dressed up like his father and even did his hair. He enjoyed working with Todd and came away with more appreciation for how hard his father works to provide for us.

Aaron was excited to go with his father, but Zachary didn't look quite so excited about staying with his mother.

Here I am March 31st. Hoping all the work at the gym is paying off.

Todd saw this truck in Seattle and snapped a picture. It was particularly poignant since we recently found it necessary to reprimand Kyle for duct taping Zachary to the post above the pony wall.


Scott sent the following picture to my phone with the title "You are my subject and cheese is my canvas."

Obviously those kids are up late some nights. He said he was set to snack on this block of cheese when he stated that he had a block of cheese and a knife - what should he carve? When a friend suggested his mom, Scott got right to it.

Now that I have released this picture, my secret is out. It is obvious to all that I am the muse who inspired a famous depiction adorning the entrance to millions of Ladies' Rooms!

It's all about the hair!

Kyle, AKA mullet boy, was sport'n a fairly shaggy do. Thanks to Bishop McKinlay for suggesting the "party in the back" match up to the "business in the front."

For those who think this distinctive hairstyle originated in the 80's, pull out your ancient greek earthenware and Homeric Hymns. W.H.D. Rouse's book of Mythology, "Gods, Heroes, and Men of Ancient Greece", contains the following passage in the story of Theseus:

"some warriors of that day used to keep the front of their heads shaven, so that their enemies might not be able to catch ahold of it in battle. They shaved off their beards, for the same reason... They left their hair growing behind --why, do you think? Because they did not expect to run away."

This passage demonstrates not only the mullet hairstyle, but also mulletude and aggressiveness.

Other countries and cultures have been afflicted with this cosmetological faux-pas as well.
A sampling of the mullet in various languages and cultures:

Argentinian - Cubana or Porra
Reference to the alleged popularity of the haircut among Cubans. Also called "Colectivero" in reference to public bus drivers.

Bosnian -"fudbolerka"
Indicating the mullet's former popularity with soccer players.

Brazilian - Chitãozinho e Xororó
Reference to the singers who started using this haircut in Brazil.

Canadian English - "hockey-hair"
Reference to the haircut's popularity among ice hockey players.

Chilean - chocopanda/chocolo/"choco"
Reference to the ubiquitous public transportation Chocolito Panda ice-cream sellers sporting such a haircut. It is also called a "Zamorano", after Iván Zamorano or "Pichanguera" or just "Changa"("pichanga" is an informal soccer match in Chilean slang), because of the great number of soccer players who use this haircut. This haircut is also popular among the lower classes and gangs.

Colombian - Siete (seven)
Because the hair on top and back form the image of a number seven. Also known as Paisa due to its popularity in the northwestern region.("paisas" is a name for Colombians from that region.)

Croatian - fudbalerka
Literally "footballer (hair)", a reference to its popularity among soccer players in the 1980s.

Danish - Bundesliga-hår
Refers to its alleged popularity among Bundesliga soccer players, or alternatively, svenskerhår (Swede-hair), referring to its former popularity in Sweden. For the same reason, it is also called hockeyhår (hockey hair), because of the large amount of Swedes who can be seen on the ice rink sporting a mullet. It is also called nakkegarn, meaning "yarn by the back of the neck".

Another English - "Missouri Compromise".

German - "Vokuhila"
Meaning "vorne kurz, hinten lang" (short in the front, long in the back).

Austria - "Nackenmatte"
"nape rug" (also used in South Germany).

Greek - "Χαίτη" (Hety) or "Λασπωτήρας" (Laspotiras)

which means "Mudflap".

If anybody reading this is currently sporting a mullet and feels that I am in some way demeaning their grooming, don't get your "achy breaky" shorts in a twist. Put your Pat Benatar record down, check your digital calculator watch and note we exited the 80's nearly 20 years ago. I'm just saying...

Here is Kyle before:

during,

and after.


I wish I could say the mullet was his first hairstyle mis-step, but alas, that would be incorrect. Last year he had a strong desire for a permanent. Just in case he ever tries to deny this, I documented the evening.

His desire may have been strong, but the odor was nearly stronger!

In the previous photo you see Scott looking on. It was an approving look, but he has proven time and time again that his judgement on hairstyle is extremely poor, leaning to deleteious. We will just go with his most recent example.

Scott came home for a 10 day visit between semesters this April. I picked him up at the airport and he was wearing plaid and a knit carhartt beenie, pretty normal for him. Then he pulled off his cap to reveal that he had his head shaved in an, hmm, how to put this tactfully, an "elder-cut." Not as in the missionary type of Elder, but as in elderly! Yes, the boy had his head shaved bic smooth with the exception of a ring of hair from ear to ear. I was not pleased with what I saw, but not shocked either. Here's the kicker; he did it because he had to get a new drivers license picture taken. That's right, the boy marched right up there with that hairstyle like all was normal, and got his picture taken. I guess the man taking the photos was not so amused since he was wearing the same hair style but not by choice.

People send a kid to Berkeley and get back a long-haired liberal. I guess if you send a kid to BYU-I, you shouldn't be suprised to get back a mature-haired concervative!

As soon as he got his licence renewed, he shaved off the rest of the hair. There was a reason this boy was blessed with thick hair, he does not have a pretty head. By the end of his visit his head felt velvetly and we were hoping it was long enough to not get thrown off of campus.

It's all about Birthdays

We got back from the Christmas trip and got Scott off to school in time for the run of birthdays!

Zachary turned 9 on January 10th.

Scott couldn't be here but he got Zachary puppy slippers he really wanted.

Kalene's birthday was next on February 1st. She turned 14. I didn't get a picture of the blue sweater Scott gave her or the appointment for contact lenses from Mother and Father.

Kyle's 17th birthday was next up on February 3rd. Scott sent him some plaid shoes which he loves. They don't exactly match the plaid shorts Zachary gave him, but that does not mean he doesn't wear them together.

Kyle's future's so bright he needed these Oakleys!

It's all about Scott

Scott flew home from our California Christmas and the rest of us drove. The next event was to pack him up and send him off to school in Idaho. Here he is in our driveway all packed up to go. Looks like he is ready for study time with his two sleds doesn't it? Zachary is standing beside Scott and Aaron is on the truck. They were sad to see him go and quite worried about how he would remain entertained while away, so they snuck a game-boy and some games into his supplies.

The following pictures show that winter semester has the potential for some fun times too. There are sand dunes located near Rexburg which make ideal snowmobile terrain. He still rides like crazy idiot boy. I attribute this to his posession of the y-chromosome. The y-chromosome is obvoiusly an x missing the arm of reason! Last year Scott broke his back in a snowmobile accident. I must credit that at that time he wasn't doing any crazy stunts, but you would think he wouldn't be up for a repeat of that ordeal - I know I'm not!