Ringo

cousins!

These guys where cracking me up! Now we just need Robert and Rebekah down here and life will be complete!

Personal Private Talk Addendum

I thought I would throw in my 2 cents seeing as I was in the house and therefore was a partial witness to Laurie's personal private talk with dad. I will go along with the first part of your account but add a few notes on what transpired afterwards.

So Laurie had her personal private talk with dad...which of course ended as she stated. At this point, our saint of a mother interceeds to save her child. She probably spent some time talking with Laurie and then some more time talking with dad....helping him understand her situation...explaining that much of what was going on had to do with "age and hormones." So at this point Laurie was invited to reenter the living room....presumably to make peace with her father.

Dad....obviously unable to control himself starts off by saying something to effect. "I know that a lot of this has to do with age and hormones.........but there is nothing I can do about my age or my homones!" At this point he is probably laughing and Laurie storms from the room probably half furious and crying.....and half laughing....(don't you hate it how dad can do that to you) So this is my incomplete and patched memory of the occurence.

Be it known....that many of us have such conversations with our father.....Laurie just found out the hard way the parenting differences in between mom and dad! ......and just so you know...we love you Lou! We think you are beautiful and wonderful!

I honestly don't know why you asked me about my "personal private talks" with dad. I have never had any that were private (though they were pretty personal!)

Well since no one else seems to want to get out here and spill there guts and secrets I will give ANOTHER post. Just realize that in the future our children's children's children will only think there was 1 member of the family who was at all interesting! (Just Kidding :)

Well what I remember (And I don't remember much having learned to block out most of my unpleasant memories) was about the time I started going through puberty I started having "personal private talks" with mom (I also started sending her hate mail poor mom, but that is another story. I dread finding out what my kids have in store for me because I know I deserve a lot)
Anyway anytime I had a problem with anybody I would go and gripe to my mom. I felt ugly and left out and was tired of my siblings who in turn were all tired of me and I hated being alive (Don't know if I ever actually said that but looking back at how much I complained it seemed like I must of felt that at some time) blah blah blah.... Anyway one day during our "personal private talk" I got furious at my mom and declared that I would no longer have my personal private talks with her....I would have them with dad instead.
well I went to dad and promptly started complaining about mom. I probably said two sentences interrupted me and promptly started griping at ME! That is not how my "talks" were suppose to go! The injustice of it all was after he griped at me for awhile (In a very loud voice so everyone at home could hear) he then kicked me out! Feeling wounded and persecuted I then sought out mom so I could have her lick my wounds and had another much needed "Personal Private Talk"

Other runins with dad (Laurie)

The story that stands out the most to me that has to do with dad (And I know everyone has already heard it, but I thought I would put it down for posterity!) Is when I was 15 and I did something very very stupid.

It was the night of a Stake Dance and I was told beforehand to wash the dishes before I left, though I had forgotten about it in between getting dressed and figuring out how to get a friend of mine (who was a boy) to the dance without my dad finding out about it, because I knew he would be furious, and probably with good reason.

I went to the dance and that boy was there, (Though I don't know if he had any fun. I felt so awkward and guilty with him being there that I could barely stand to be around him) forgetting completely that the dishes were left just as before in the sink unfinished. Mistake number 1. Also after the dance I rode home with some of my brothers friends who were going to give the boy I invited a ride home and when we got to my house I got out of the car and I hugged the guy in plain site of the house. Mistake number 2.

When I walked in the door and into the living room where I knew my dad would be waiting I could see right away that he was furious about something. I didn't know it was at me until the remote control Dad had been holding came flying at me missing me by about a foot (On purpose I found out later)

I got an earful. First I was told that I was never allowed to see that boy or even talk to him ever again (That was dads reaction to every boy that I had interest in all through High school though-He even threatened to flunk one guy out of school if he so much as saw him talking to me) and then moved on to the subject of the kitchen. He griped at me for probably 30 minutes before it dawned on me that the reason he was so furious was because I forgot to do the dishes.

"This is about DISHES?" I asked during a break in the conversation
"YES IT IS ABOUT THE DISHES!!!!"
"Well I can do the dishes!" I said which I promptly did

And the conversation was over. That was the last time I ever forgot to do something I was told to do by my dad again (That I know of :)

Tribute to Dad

I (Laurie) was standing by my stove cooking some mixed veggies when I started thinking about school and certain experiances when I remebered an incedent that happened when I was in 4th grade.

In the 4th grade at Pine Forest the Choir teachers from Middle school and have an "audition" for those who wanted to try out for Choir. I have always loved singing and had on occasions song at the school for talent shows with my mom (Today While the Blossoms Still Cling to the Vine-anyone who is acquainted with mom knows this is an old song that she grew up singing) Me singing and her playing her guitar and harmonizing with me. Anyway I thought I would have no problems an went and auditioned pretty confidently. We were told we would would find out who made the Choir in the next couple of days.

They announced those who were in at the last hour of the day right before we were to load up on buses. I listened and listened waiting to hear my name which was never called. I was devastated. Barley holding back my tears I loaded onto the bus and sat by the window and started crying.

Dad at that time was working as an Assistant principle of the Junior high and had bus duty that day. He saw me sitting at my window crying and boarded the bus and took me off. He asked me what was wrong and was indignant when he found out that my little 4th grade voice did not make the Choir and he took me to visit the Junior High Choir directors where he made me audition in front of them. No one was going to tell him his daughter wasn't good enough to be in Choir! After the audition I was assured that come 7th grade I would indeed have a place in their choir (though I am not sure they would have risked saying anything else with my dad right there) and I felt better. My dad had saved the day and made me feel special. I found out the next day that they had just overlooked my name and that I indeed was in the Choir (Of course I have suspicions that they might have received a phone call from Dad)

Anyway I had forgotten that had happened, but I am grateful for Dad saving the day!

Oh Joel, I am sure it was you holding the camera, I mean we all know you were raised by a pack of geese... Or maybe just taught to walk!