It's all even......

So, as I was making French Toast this morning, I noticed something very odd when I got the eggs out of the fridge. It was this picture:


What is so odd? Well, first of all, I did not do this. No, my daughter, Krista did it. What's the big deal you ask? Well, it's not that big of a deal, but it made me smile. See, one day a few years ago one of my sisters was visiting. (Identity to be revealed later). Anyway, she was making something and she got the eggs out. I noticed that as she was done with them, she sort of rearranged them in the carton. She likes things even. Hence, the look in the picture. I immediately felt the need to make fun of her.

"Why did you do that????"
"Do what?"
"That thing you just did with the eggs. Making them all...all.."
"Even??"
"What's up with that?"
"Well, one time when I put eggs away they were all at the end and the carton and it was out of wack and I dropped them. So, this way the weight is evenly distributed throughout the carton."

I say, "Plus, it just looks more even and organized this way, doesn't it?" She sort of admitted it looked prettier.

SO, that gets me back to Krista...well, I had told Krista about currently un-named-Aunt telling me about how she arranges all of the eggs in the carton. Guess what, ever since then....this is about what the eggs look like. So, thank you, organized and big OCD older- sister for passing that little oddity right there to my daughter, the next generation.

So, have you guess which sister it is now? Well, I will give you another hint. This sister also does this:

What?? You don't notice the

Alphabetized

Spices.

You don't do this? Well according to my sister, all the cool kids are doing it!! So guess what....I do it too now. Oh wait, no, she did it to my spices when I wasn't looking and so now I feel the obligation to keep them alphabetized so I don't disappoint her. She may just show up at my house and check. She does things like that.

Well, as long as I am pointing out some of the "odd" things this sister does, I thought I might as well point out another thing she does.


Ssshhh...she counts the lines on the road. But then so do I. She likes it when things are EVEN. You may think I'm making fun of her, but I"m not. It's a loving make fun of. Face it, with the Cox girls, you are never safe.

So, here's your clue, people. What child in the birth order likes everything EVEN?? If you still don't have it by now, here is your final clue.....she buys furniture and dogs from the side of the road. Oh, and she also runs to the bathroom after dinner on Sunday, with a sick stomach AND the Sunday paper...you know, when people are doing the dishes.


Okay, now that that's over, on to my next subject. I love it when my family members show me about things that are going on in their lives. I love the everyday of things. I try to get sister #1 to blog but her response is, "I don't have anything to tell...I'm boring". My definition of boring?? No one is in the hospital or using their one phone call to get ahold of you. Wow, that was a ramble.....anyway....

So, I wanted to show you the cute Valentines door hanging I made. And holy smokes, I had NO pattern for this people. I thought of it all by myself. I'm so proud! Isn't it cute?? You don't think so...it's okay...lie.



As a final note, you all know how much I love scrapbooking and family history. But most of all, I LOVE the story. I love history in general. Historical fiction, big fat history books, old journals, etc. Guess what, there is a story in all of us. So, get ready for my challenge coming up soon. Here's a sneak peek of my topic:


Until next time....

I can't leave her out

I pointed out that I had some favorites in my last post, and the NWP (Next Way Paver) pointed out that she wasn't on the list. I don't want to be responsible for another potential topic she brings up with her therapist, assuming she has one, so, I will simply post one of the most gorgeous pictures you will ever see.

This is a picture of Carolyn and Mom in 1958 when Carolyn was just a few months old, most likely at Christmas. She has THE best hair ever. Seriously, what baby has hair like that? In fact, Dad likes to tell the story of when Carolyn was born and he was at the nursery looking at her through the window. Standing next to him were these two older ladies and one says to the other, "Oh, look at that darling little Indian baby with all that hair!" Dad corrects them that she was HIS baby. We're not sure where she gets the hair.

Gosh, I just love this picture of my mom. She reminds me of Grace Kelly in this picture. She was just always so polished and put together. The ultimate of matchy-matchy. And guess what? I have those earrings and bracelet of hers. In fact, I wore them to church two weeks ago. When I miss my mom, I wear her awesome vintage jewelry that is so trendy now, and which she probably got at Woolworth's for a few dollars. To me, it's priceless.

Miss you Mom. And NWP, you're one of my favs, too. ;)

MIA? Not possible....

See the way I like to do things in my life is making things as exciting as possible. Like hoping lots of people will check your blog often to see if you have updated yet. I really do want to update my blog more often, just figuring out how to get pictures in here effectively from the photo manager I use. SO....here's what we've been up to, even though I seem like I've been MIA.

Krista got her Patriarchal Blessing on Sunday. One word: Amazing. Here is a picture of her with our Patriach. Is is amazing, spiritual and adorable all rolled into one:



This is Gracie. She likes to get heat anywhere she can. This just happens to be under the sink in the kitchen. It has been cold, for sure, but seriously, what is it with my pets laying right where I am ALL.THE.TIME?


This is everyday of my life. In fact, it almost needs no words. :) Jordan and Krista just....being. And Krista looks thrilled, doesn't she??


Now, you may think this is an odd picture, but to me it represents a lot. It is my front entry. It's where everyone takes their shoes off. Lots of shoes at the front means there are lots of people in my home. And usually there are lots of shoes that don't belong in my home, which means there are my kid's friends here having fun. It means my life is very full!


Jordan has been on the swim team since the beginning of the school year. He has his last meet today. 3 of his best friends are some of the best swimmers in the area, yet he hasn't been intimidated by them at all. He has done such a great job and has been committed and in his words, "Swimming has kicked my trash". Here's a great shot of him swimming.


It has taken me a long time to take all of the decorations from Christmas down this year. Mostly because I just love them and all my little Department 56 houses are still out. Rachel and I have decided that they are "winter houses" now that Christmas is over. I mean, we've had so much winter, it's appropriate. Anyway, this is the way the fireplace looked for about 2 weeks after Christmas. It was fun with the Nutcrackers that remind me of my mother, and the empty stocking that is Scott's. We missed him so much. Did you get that we missed him? We did, however, get to talk to him for THREE hours on Christmas Day. It was awesome.

I love these people:



Two of my besties, Trisha and Tammie

Rachel at Courage Reins where she volunteers, which is a therapeutic riding center which helps handicapped kids. She also takes lessons here. Here she is with her boyfriend, "Hank". Doesn't she look happy? Um, yes, she would be happy if she was here every single day riding this horse, or any other horse.







AD and Krista on Halloween. They actually cut a hole in the bottom of the cauldron and then when the little kids would come over, AD would pop her hand out of the bottom and scare them. Awesome, huh? I'm pretty sure Mere has videos.

I'll be back sooner this time....promise.

The Way Pavers

I have two seriously awesome sisters. They have both done some amazing things for me over the years (including a few choice events that I worked through during therapy), and since it was Carolyn's 50th birthday last week, I thought I would tell you a little about them. First of all, they both know how very much I love them.

We have a very unique relationship...my sisters and I.(me?) We are all 5 years apart, and I don't remember much about when Cathy lived at home. She moved to college when I was just 7. For being so many years apart, we are all very close. Our children love each other (I think), and we really love to spend time together. Each year we have a "sister's trip" where we leave home and go somewhere fun so we can do things like go to Target and Walmart together,overdose on HGTV and check out every quilt store within a 50 mile radius of where we are at the moment. We buy material for projects we don't finish, but we have just in case (following the brethren's admonition to have a year's supply) there is a fabric emergency of some kind. Like some people take photographs...my sisters and I buy projects and fabric to remind us of our time together and every so often we take them out of the closet/drawer to pet and to remember where we were when we bought it, and where we went to lunch after we were shopping. :)

Anyway....Cathy, the eldest, aka "The Original Way Paver" is constantly telling Carolyn and I that the only reason that we have it so easy in life is because she came before us, and paved the way. Without her there, our lives would have been SO much harder. I mean, she did teenagers and weddings without her own personal W.P. That's right, people...she is the consummate W.P.

So, automatically, since Cathy is the original Way Paver,(hereafter referred to as W.P.) then of course, Carolyn is the next one. Note: not the "middle" W.P. or even worse, the "second" W.P., but the "next" W.P. So, if I have had two WP's before me, then my life ought to be disgustingly easy and worry free, right?? You'd think so.

Really, I love my sisters and admire them so much. They are both awesome women, and we love so many of the same things. Before I came into the picture, Carolyn was the youngest. Doted on by a 5-year old sister, Carolyn had it pretty good, I imagine. She was like Cathy's little doll. Cathy has always been the Chief Mother W.P. (seriously, ask her if you don't believe me.) I'm just glad Cathy was there to pave the way for Carolyn to know how to be a big sister. lol

I was going through some pictures from slides that my Dad, with Carolyn's help, put onto CD's last year, and I've had the best time looking at all these old photos.
As I've looked at some of my baby pictures, it's obvious to me that when I came along I must have really cramped her style. In these photos, she seems to have always had a little bit of an impish grin on her face all the time. The picture below was a Halloween that I remember. I wanted that sucker SSSOOOO bad. I never got one. Imagine that, a whole bag of candy, and I whined because I didn't have a sucker like hers. Go figure.

But, just read Carolyn's body language in the photo. "Honestly, Dad, hurry up and take the picture! My peeps are waiting and I gotta ditch the short witch!!"



My first birthday. I love how the girls are crowding around me and once again posing for a picture.
Cathy: "Look at mommy, Cal!! Look at the camera!! It's your birthday!! What a big girl!!"
Carolyn: (thinks to self)...."let's see....if I bend it back this way, then everyone will just think she fell down or something! I have got to get ahold of this situation, and if it means hurting her...so be it!! I will NOT give up my position in this house!!!! She must always learn who is boss!!!" Okay, so maybe that wasn't what she was thinking. You never know, though.



This last picture is with the girls at Christmas when I was maybe 18 months old?? Not sure. They got Troll dolls. I didn't. Enough said. (Please, for my benefit, notice the smug look on Carolyn's face as she holds the Troll doll just out of my reach! And then, please notice Cathy's unfortunate choice in eye wear.)




All jesting aside, I love my sisters so much. They would do anything for me. They have done so much for me. They love me unconditionally. They have taught me so many things. They are SO generous with their time and talents. The have both offered me life changing advice...some of which I have taken. ;) They are great, virtuous women who have strong, unwavering testimonies of the gospel, and they are doing an amazing job of carrying on our family's legacy. I'm just SO lucky to have 2 such amazing W.P.'s at my disposal when I need them...and when I don't.

To be honest....I'm really glad I'm not Chief W.P. I would really stink at it.