Eugene Days in the Yard

I Found these pictures I had taken as a teenager. I’m guessing that it’s around 1985. It shows some of our yard (front and back). You guys might not remember it then because you were little, but we had allot of fun there. It looks like a really hot day by the clothing.

This picture only shows the far left corner of the back yard. To the right is a grassy area with a play fort including a swing that Jeff made in Jr. high wood shop.

That’s Robert playing in the sandbox that was made with an old tire. Paul and he would make roads in it for their hot wheel cars in it. I think that’s a bucket of water by him so he could pour it on the sand and make the sculpted roads hard enough for his cars to run on.

Back by the fence, is Paul with his friend, Patrick Cantrell. His older sister, Christina, and I were best friends. I’m guessing they are playing cars too. They would run them along the fence railing. I took the picture from the deck.

Here is a picture of Robert giving Christina a horsey-back ride in the front yard. I think they are about to go through the sprinkler which is running back behind them.

I remember spending some Saturday mornings weeding that yard with all the rest of you guys doing Super– Saturday chore around me. Then we got to do something fun, like go to a movie, Go to the roller-skating rink. Also Saturday morning, Mom would cook waffles with wheat fresh from the wheat grinder.

(I’m calling Robert “Robert” in this because he absolutely did not like to be called any nick names like “Rob” at the time.)

A childhood memory with Dad

Mom gave me some pictures to scrapbook of an outing we took as children. I only remembered some things and thought it would be nice to scrapbook what our car rides were like since I don't think they are journaled anywhere else, so I took a little creative license.

OREGON WILDLIFE
SAFARI 1980
Jeff was 10, I (Jana) was 9, Paul was 4, and Rob was 2.


THE TRIP THERE

It was a long 2 hour trip, for us kids in the Brown family Station-wagon. Long enough for the usual “Dog Party’s” that went along with most family trips:

Jeff and I argued about Jeff’s “spring legs” that were squishing me. Dad saying, “Jeff, control your legs”, and Mom asking, “Do we need to put your “spring legs” in the trunk?”. Dad asked, “Shall we tie you to the top of the car?”.

Paul would sneeze so hard that it made Dad jump. Then Dad would ask if he had sneezed himself inside out. (Or maybe that was a different trip.)

Robert, who was 2, pointed out 57 Chevys all the way there. He was smart from the get go.

And we joked and laughed and played car games (like the alphabet sign and license plate game, and I see something that…” all the way there.



THE SAFARI

When we got there, Dad got strict and told us, “Let’s be quiet, now!” I think we must have still been having a dog party.

Dad was a professional photographer at the time and had a very nice, expensive camera that he took pictures of the animals with. Funny but he did'nt get any of us. That was probably just because this was a drive through safari. There was a dirt road that we drove on right through their territory. There were no fences or barriers, so we could get right up close to the animals. Dad had rolled down his window to take pictures of them. We saw buffalo, camels, and Zebras, which Dad got some great pictures of. But the one I remember is the emu.

The Emu

Then we got to an emu. He looked so funny to us because we had never seen one before.

Well, that Emu thought we were just as interesting as he was to us, so he came closer to check us out. This was great! It was fun for us kids and Dad got great pictures of him!

The Emu got closer and closer, until he was right at our car window. Dad was still shooting pictures, and getting great shots of him. We thought this was a blast.

Then Mr. Emu stuck his head right in the car window and grabbed Dad’s camera strap!

It became a tug-of -war between Dad and the Emu. And that Emu had a pretty strong grip! Dad finally pulled the camera free, and started pushing the Emu out of the window. He was rolling up the window, which was done with a hand crank at the time. As he was rolling up, the Emu kept sticking his head back through the window.

When He finally had the window up, with the Emu out, I remember us driving off in quite a hurry.

I think we had a little car celebration with yeas and laughter.

(I don’t think Dad liked the laughter very much.)

This is written from the memories of Jana, with creative license due to the time gap between the event and this journaling. If anyone remembers differently, please contact me so I can update the story.

Some Illustrations you probably haven't seen

This tree village was drawn for school. It is actually closer to 20 inches wide.

The two below are just some fun little ones that I did up really quick.

Happy Birthday, Dad -Memories

Denise sent an email so that we all could remember and share stories about Dad on his birthday. I thought it might be easier if we had in on a blog so we can all see the ongoing stories.



"All~
I should have come to you before our family night tonight, but I figure better late than never. For our family night we talked to the kids about Lamar and told stories about him since our kids were too young to remember him. Paul, Becca and I told stories, including the time his bank got robbed by a clutzy bank robber (who tried to jump over the half-door and tripped over it; moved all of the employees away and never got any money out of the drawers; and then left before getting anything from his efforts only to be caught by the police as he was leaving -- he had looked so suspicious a customer who was going to follow him in instead went back out and called police); the time he was carrying something heavy down the stairs and smashed his hand and said, "Oh, oh, oh, swear words!"; how he said, "The older and older I get, the more and more I learn about less and less"; and how he LOVED to read and was a great story teller.
Anyway, I'd love any stories you all would like to contribute so we can tell our kids about him and every year remind them that their Dad's Dad was special.
Denise "





I remember how Dad used to get right down on the floor and play with us kids. When Christina was a baby, Dad had his pop-belly. And he used to lay down on the carpet and ballance Christina on his belly then laugh, and Christina would be bounced up and down on his belly as he laughed. All of us kids laughed too. It reminded us of the sceen in "Hop on Pop" by Dr Seuss. And the harder we laughed, the harder Dad laughed, and up and down on his belly Christina was bounced with her baby laughter stirring us on to laugh some more. Dad made time for us. And those were wonderful times. I wish you could remember it Christina. I can't write it justice now, but it was fun.
-Jana

How Wonderful is the Spirit!

We had Stake conference today. I was troubled about something and needed answers from my Heavenly Father. So I prayed that during this conference I might receive some answers and reassurance that was so desperately needed. During the conference I was amazed as each speaker addressed one of the issues that I was dealing with. And as I listened, I also received personal revelation (specific answers to my questions). And reassurance filled my heart that these answers are true, and that the Lord, and my dear Heavenly Father, are all I need to lean on to receive this direction in my life.

"I Stand All Amazed", perhaps for more reasons than the hymn talks about. But what song could include all the incredible reasons to stand all amazed for the love that He offers me, or the grace that so fully He proffers me.

I am so grateful that I have the Gospel, and that my Lord, Jesus Christ, my Heavenly Father, and the Holy Ghost are there for me every time I ask for their help or comfort. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. Our leaders are lead by God and inspired in what to teach us. Our prophet, Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet seer and revelator, and that Jesus Christ is the head of our church. This I bear witness to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Visit to Kylee and Mia's

I just got back from visiting Kylee and Mia. Mia is so active and intregued by everything. She babbles and giggles and is so much fun to interact with. I took lots of pictures and even a video of her, then my camera stopped working. So I thought, at least I can take the memory card and get everything put to CD. But wouldn't you know, the camera messed up all the pictures so they were unreadable! And I had some good ones to. And the camera is just over it's warrenty time. If anyone is looking to buy a camera, don't get Kodak. I've talked to 3 other people who's cameras died just after the warrenty expired.

I did get to love on Mia and had fun interacting with her. She loves books and to be read stories. She even stays interested through the whole book! Kylee has been reading to her regularly. So now I want to get her more books.

I'm going back there in two weeks. I don't have a working camera now; I may not have any pictures to show next time either. But I will update you on my visits.

Bath Ripples

My friend had also taken these beautiful baby pictures of Mia in the bath. Her camera captured the ripples all around her as she waved her arms in the water. I love how those ripples suround her baby tenderness.