Let Freedom Ring

On the 4th of July, I woke up and my boys had already made Kool-Aid and poured it into fancy glasses to celebrate.  Yes, they drank it before breakfast, and no, they didn't get in trouble, because it's the best holiday!

Killing time in Payson.

 

 

Priceless

We battled, too.  That was a work out!

 

Happy Birthday, Tyson!

 

 Cute pic!

Crew of mischeif makers at the Payson fireworks--my brother-in-law is the Head Pyro at this show, and they did an excellent job!

Yeah...he probably shouldn't have that in his mouth in case it breaks & the glowing toxins come out.

Payson fireworks--the first time I saw the show.  I was pretty impressed!

Breakfast the next day with Jason & Randa's kids. So cute!

Lunch at the Mexican Food Restaurant in Heber.

Night before the parade.

Can't forget the moment of my stark realization that I was the new, proud owner, of this amazing little green man!

 

Getting ready for the parade with our "Patriotic Orcs" as Jodi so correctly called them.

Birthday/Parade Buddies

 

 My mom put together a float honoring my grandma - one of the longest living residents of Heber Overgaard.  She & my Grandpa Zane moved there when they got married in 1949, before indoor plumbing & electricity.  They were the 15th house in the town, and boy did they help build it up over the years.  They're amazing examples of hard work, dilligence, and home-grown-American patriotic Spirit of entrepeneurs & building the American Dream.  They taught us the importance of loving God, Family, and Country!

Grandma's descendents who supported her in the parade!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grandma was the one who told Uncle Russ to keep driving through the Soak Zone...and boy, did we ever get SOAKED!

Hey, Taylor!  If you're reading this, I want to point out the bracelet on my arm from Guatemala!  I told you that I wear the bracelet you gave me so that you can be with us there "in Spirit" to things I know you wouldn't want to miss. :) 

 

 

 

 

 When we sang Happy Birthday to Tyson, he squoze Miles' cheeks as if the baby was singing the words, too. It was hilarious, and Baby Miles didn't even squawk.

 

 

 

His new Ninjago Alarm Clock was a smashing success until he started to use it.  His famous words when he realized what having an alarm clock means, "Well, I really like the look of it, but sometimes I just want to sleep a little bit longer."

Exhausted from the parade. :)  It was their first time being in a parade ever!

"This?" 

It's a Bald Eagle, Son!  WE LOVE AMERICA!

I made Hudson & Miles matching baby blankets last year for the 4th of July, but only Hudson's was finished on time.  Thankfully, my mom brought it up the mountain for me, and I could take a picture of my baby in his 4th of July baby blanket while he's still sort of a baby.

We got RAINED OUT!  I'm talking puddles and wet blankets, and this was the boys' fort to sheild them from the rain.

Inside Joke.

 

Had so much fun with Tina.  She's one of my best friends!  I love my sisters in law!

 

 

My boys are probably the closest thing my nephew has to having brothers, and these 4 have an awesome time together.  Caden is frequently referred to by Tyson as his "best cousin" (like his best friend).  I like having Caden around because he's kind of like a big-brother for my boys to look up to, and they really do look up to him.  It would be so awesome if we could have more Borden cousins around town so we could have more interactions like this, but boy do I thank my lucky stars that we have had all the fun memories with our awesome nephew, Caden.  Now with a new neice in town, the in-town Borden family is growing.  We love cousins!

BIRTHDAY BUDDIES!

This year was Tyson's GOLDEN BIRTHDAY! He turned SIX on the SIXTH!!!!  If getting face painted, marching in a parade, buying stuff, and playing with cousins all day wasn't enough, I don't know what is.  But there's more:  we have "connections" with the fire-works crew, and my husband got to write Tyson's name on one of the fireworks for his golden-birthday.  We had a fun time watching the show, and wondering which one exactly it might have been that had Tyson's name on it. :)  We don't have a picture of Tyson's firework, because there were no cameras allowed in the fireworks zone during or before the show.

 

 

The flag was flown at half-mast for the poor 19 AZ firefighters who died fighting the wildfires the week of the 4th of July.

 

 

The most special part of the show was the end, when after the Finale, one, single, firework was shot in honor of my Uncle Lewis, who did so much to build community and patriotism and service to the town of Heber.  This month marks a year of his death.  We miss him, and so does the community that he lived in.  About 30 years ago, the Heber-Overgaard Fireworks show started out the the back of a pick-up truck by Uncle Lewis and his friend, Dewey, and now it's grown into a huge, community event that THOUSANDS enjoy every year.  (I took this pic from my cousin's blog--my Aunt Mary, some of her kids, and my dad got to sign the final firework--they have a picture because it was from the night before, and I'm so glad they got to have this moment.)  The show has grown becuase people like my uncle, and my dad, and my Uncle Les on my mom's side, and my Uncle Russ, and other patriots from this small town who put together their efforts to grow the show.  I remember being a kid, standing by an orange bucket, holding signs that said, "Lighten Your Pockets, and Light Up the Sky!"  We raised donations for the show every year, and then the Chamber of Commerce eventually took that part over.  It's my favorite fireworks show in the world, because it's a home-grown, patriotic celebration that makes me feel closer to God and family.  I love America so much because of the roots my ancestors have given me.  Every Sunday after the show there is the most patriotic testimony meeting you've ever experienced, and I know with all my heart that this country was founded upon principles of righteousness, and that the Constitution can only be upheld by a people willing to fight for truth and righteousness and defend their rights by standing up and being counted.  "Democracy is not a spectator sport." --Unkown   I also know with all my heart that those who came before sacrificed the things they did so that we could enjoy the freedoms we enjoy, and it would be a disservice to them to ignore that.  It's so important to remember what America was founded upon and to teach our kids the simplest of simple things:  put your hands over your heart, and take your hat off when the flag goes by.  Sing the Star-Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, and My Country Tis' of Thee.  Recite the Pledge of Allegience with pride.  Vote in every election.  Show up to PTSO meetings, or any community meeting that you can to make a difference.  And don't ever miss a 4th of July Celebration!  My dad says he thinks it's a sin to not celebrate the 4th of July--that's how much he LOVES America and the gifts he's been given.  God Bless America.  Let Freedom Ring!

 

I felt the Spirit so strongly at the end of the show.  It was as if my Uncle Lewis was right there with all of us--just like he used to be back in the day on the field, selling snow cones with my Aunt Mary.

The willow tree firework was his favorite, and no one knew what exactly the firework was going to look like until it went off.  I don't believe it was a coincidence that this beautiful firework was the one that went off in his honor.

 

He fell asleep if you can't tell.  :)  He was asleep for, like, EVER!

 

Miles & Cord--growing bigger every year!  They're 1 week apart.  Elizabeth & I had the same due date last year, and now look at our chunky, big-boys!  Don't you love the "God Bless America" sign?  My Uncle Les is the head pyro in Heber, and he also owns the LARGEST American flag that I've ever seen, and it waves above his house every day.

 

 

 Other crazy photos:  Courtesy of Ryan Asistan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BlogHer from Home

Caution:  This post is BORING.  If you care to see my thoughts splattered on this page, please keep reading.  Otherwise, stay tuned for my next update!  :)

I have decided that I would like to be a "published" blogger by being accepted to a blogging network.  I have recently been rejected from the *BlogHer Publishing Network, and that's okay.  Apparently I can try again in 6 months.  I've been going strong as a blogger since 2008, so I'm pretty sure I'll still be around on the web in 6 months to apply again. :) 

So now I have this new goal, and it's honestly kind of a foreign field to me, but that's kind of fun, too, because it's like a new adventure.  I am not sure what my options are.  At this point, I can foresee myself getting in with BlogHer over time by making some minor adjustments to this blog, or I can begin a new blog and try to develop that one in a different way while keeping this blog going, too.  The only problem is that I have a limited amount of blogging time, so if I have too many blog commitments, I might drop one.  I'm pretty partial to this one, since it documents my life.

It's also possible that another blogging network would like my blog as is and would allow me to advertise, opening the path for me to possibly earn some extremely small amounts of income by allowing ads on my page (but I'm not sure if that counts as being a "published" blogger).

While I'm divulging my deepest darkest writing goals & aspirations, I will go ahead and mention that I'm writing 3 children's books (one for each kid).  I do happen to be a member of ANWA (American Night Writers Association), and I do have the goal to be a published author someday.

The future's so bright, I've got to wear shades.  Or maybe I should just pick up a shovel & get working harder.

*In exchange for mentioning BlogHer in my post, I am receiving a sweepstakes entry to win tickets to the BlogHer conference in 2014.  Pick me!  Pick me!*

Prove me WRONG, Bank of America!

Dear President Brian Monaghan,

I have been a Bank of America customer since I got married almost 9 years ago.  My husband has been a customer much longer than that.  I didn't regret my decision to switch banks for very long, and I quickly sank into a groove with the company.  The only bump in the road I've had with Bank of America was a couple years ago when I decided to cut debt out of my life and get rid of my credit card--your customer service department couldn't make the experience clean and easy.  It turned into an extreme hassle to close the card.  But other than that I've been happy, and mostly because I do happen to like my local bank tellers.  I especially enjoy visiting with them at my favorite branch where they know me by name at the DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW.  My regular order goes something like this: "I need to make a deposit, and may I have 3 suckers, please?"  My kids LIVE for this drive through experience, and they know they have to be good while we sit in line if they're going to actually enjoy those suckers.

Recently, with my kids in tow, I ran a deposit through the drive through, and I couldn't miss the extremely large sign on the window announcing that on Sept. 9th, Bank of America will no longer be offering drive-through services.

I'M OUTRAGED!

Do you realize that I go to this branch specifically, because the other two closer to my home DON'T offer drive thru services EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE WINDOW & CAPABILITY?  Do you realize that it's SUMMER TIME, and it's BLAZING HOT outside?  I'm not afraid of walking inside the bank.  I think it's good exercise to walk as much as possible. But I'm telling you, when there are 3 little kids in the car, the amount of time it takes to do ANYTHING is multiplied by exponents!!!  In the amount of time it takes to unload 3 kids from 3 car seats, make sure they still have their shoes on so they don't burn their feet on the sizzling asphalt, look both ways, cross the parking lot safely, and open the door to the bank, I could have had the deposit done in the drive through.  But then we still have to brave the internal bank experience.  It sounds like this:  "Please don't run around.  Don't pull on the polls while we wait in line. Oh, no, sorry, Baby!  I left your sippy in the van.  Be happy, be happy!  Here's a fruit snack.  No, Buddy, you can't have a sucker, yet, we have to wait for 5 more people before it's our turn; be good, or you won't be able to get one.  You're right--that person DOES have tattoos on his arm.  Try not to stare.  We should probably be a little more quiet in here, too.  Don't pick your nose; that's gross.  Oh, it's our turn!  Oh, no!  Where's my deposit?  I thought I put it in my purse!  Okay, here it is.  (To the teller:)  I'm doing great, thank you!  (Back to the kids:) Why are your shoes off?  Put them on again, so you don't burn your feet going back to our car!  Ak!  Please don't lay on the ground.  Let's GO!"

You don't even want to imagine the horror when one or more of my kids (sometimes even ALL THREE) have fallen asleep on the car ride, and I have to wake them up to haul them inside the bank.  Your other customers DO NOT want a wailing, tired kid--or THREE--in line as we wait to make a transaction!

When I asked why the branch was closing down their drive thru, they said it's because ATM's are showing a higher rate of activity.  Well, let's think about this:  ATM's are open 24/7.  Of course they're going to show activity--you can use them any time of night or day.  When the bank closes, customers have NO OTHER CHOICE.  But let me tell you what ATM's DON'T DO.  They don't offer service with a smile.  They don't care about me or ask me how I'm doing.  When I'm the one making deposits for a Small Business during business hours with all my kids in tow, ATM's are not helpful to me because I don't carry a card for the company.  And most importantly to my kids, ATM's DO NOT hand out courtesy suckers for good little boys & girls. 

At this present point in time, Brian Monaghan, I am being reminded that the Big-Ol'-Corporate side of Bank of America does not care about its customers on a personal level.  What do you want from me?  I've given you a phone call, you just got a blog post, you'll be getting a letter from me in a few days.  Would you like a petition?  Would you like a newspaper article?  Would you like me to schedule a mass-drive-thru-day to prove that I am NOT the only one of your customers that feels this way?  What do you want?  My business? 

I'll tell you what I want:  I want Bank of America to prove me wrong.  Show me that you care about your customers on a personal level, and please keep drive thru windows open at the locations that currently still have drive thru capabilities.

Sincerely,
Debra Jo

Who Would EVER Buy THAT? (Choking On My Words)

I am 29. Half-a-year ago, I wondered how much anxiety my internal self would experience on the actual milestone date.  Frankly, on my birthday, from the moment I woke up I didn't have time to waste with having anxiety concerning my "oldness".  I had other matters on my mind.  To understand WHY, you need a bit of background.

Background Info #1:  I hate Sasquatch & Aliens, because there is an ever present part of me (sometimes overwhelmingly large/sometimes extremely small) that truly believes BOTH are real.  Remember this post?

Background Info #2:  There is this little shop on the side of Highway 260 that sells hideous wood carvings of aliens, and other ODD sorts of items that I turn my nose up to.  "Gah!  Who would EVER buy THAT?"  I say as we drive past it.

Now that you know, you can easily imagine my DELIGHT when on the morning of my TWENTY-NINTH birthday, I woke up to THIS:

 

My personal martian "CAME IN PEACE" with birthday wishes and all, but it's possible I stood at the top of the stairs looking down on him, with hands on my hips, as I spoke to my parents in the garage:

 

"That's not funny.  I can't believe you actually spent MONEY on THAT!!!!  HOW MUCH did you pay for it?" I demanded.

 

Mom just laughed and Dad said, "It doesn't matter.  Mom's been planning on buying you one for a LONG time.  Happy Birthday!"

 

 

 

It took me a bit, but I eventually warmed up to my "little green man".  My son, Miles, has liked him from the beginning, since they're essentially the same size.

 

 

My birthday truly was "OUTTA THIS WORLD" as my new friend, whom we have named MARTY, predicted.  My mom thought I wasn't going to take him home with me, so my brother & his friends wrapped him up like ET and put him in my Grandma's closet.  Haha!  Oh, how I wish I had a picture of that.  However, we couldn't leave this treasure behind. 

 

My son, Emmett likes to put glasses on the martian, and climb on him.

 

 

 

Our first prank of all happened within a week of my new favorite possession.  Karly had suggested that we watch the movie FIRE IN THE SKY while we were still in the small town of Heber.  Of course she & my brother, Heber, and all of their friends, Jodi, Biscuit, Ryan, Ian, and Payton, were all up for it.  I truly did have a STELLAR birthday (of which I'll post the other amazing pics of later).  But while I was okay with waking up to an alien, ending the day with aliens was an entirely different concept to me, and I was NOT IN THE MOOD for that on my birthday.  Fortunately the Netflix download didn't work so I didn't have to suffer through a scary movie or hide in another room for 2 hours, and we all played cards instead. 

 

SO, a week later the teenagers all reunited at Karly's house to watch the movie they were jipped on watching.  They still thought my alien was wrapped in blankets in my Grandma's closet, but we had him & couldn't resist the fun.  We essentially dropped my brother off for the hang-out, and then we set our timer for 45 minutes later so we wouldn't get caught sneaking around their house.  Finally the time came and Mitch strapped our alien in the car (I had to take a pic first).  Then the boys & I hopped in the back, and we all drove it to Karly's house in the middle of their movie night to leave it on the doorstep with a sign that said,

"Stay away from phone booths,

or YOU'RE NEXT!"

 

It was classic.  Who would have ever thought that I would end up the proud owner of a wooden, hand-carved, alien, from the notorious little shop of creatures that I have previously loved to despise?  The birthday joke my family played on me really was a funny one, but let me tell you:

 

"THE FUN HAS JUST BEGUN!"