Time Out!

I'm getting my tonsils out today, so I won't be online for a while. You all better update your blogs while I'm gone, so I have something to do when I'm on the mend!

Birthday Girl!

Happiest Birthday to my Nic! Hope you are having fun visiting the Motherland! Hope to see you soon!

A Facelift

Sabra,
I revamped your page and gave it a new look. A few of the links to other blogs do not work...they were not the same as the name you had on there. Hope you can fix them. Enjoy!
Joanie

Roughing It!

I hate camping! No, I loathe camping! Whatever the strongest word in the world for hate is...You can apply it to me and camping! My dad wanted me to have this picture some time ago, and I've been deciding what to do with it. I finally decided posting it on the blog would allow for all of us to enjoy it!

The summer of '87 (pictured above) my energetic and ambitious parents decided to buy a van and take the four of us kids camping across the country. The beauty of it was that my parents and baby sister, Joan (turned one that summer), had the privilege of sleeping in the van while Katie, Kelly, and myself (12 years old) pitched a tent EVERY SINGLE NIGHT! No worries. We were well trained in the art of pitching a tent and tearing down camp. Before the trip Dad would run little drills and exercizes like timing us on who could roll up the bags fastest, neatest, and most graceful. We were trained in the fine art of sweeping out the tent on our hands and knees with a little, straw hand broom. We were also trained to withstand any type of weather that came our way. We pitched a tent in a hail storm and tons of rainstorms. The highlight of our day would be the search and discovery of a KOA campground in the next city. We would sing, "KOA is on the way!" The camping lasted about a month. Then we arrived at Grandpa Richie's in New York where we were allowed to sleep under roof (sort of). We actually were allowed to sleep in the screened in patio. Have you ever been to NY in the summer? It's not the place you want to spend your nights outside trying to sleep? I'll take a dry heat any day! Once Grandpa Richie was done with us we headed back home! I think Mom and Dad were wearing thin. We were home in under two weeks, and I remember a hotel or two on the way. I'm surprised they didn't give us the van while they slept in the hotel!

Third Time's A Charm!

I couldn't let the day end without saying something about the fathers in my life. As some of you may know I've had a few! My first father is somewhat of a mystery man to me. I knew him only seven years. He's my mysterious cowboy. Then there is my second father who adopted me when I was about to turn seven. He's my sweet father with a kind, gentle heart. Both of those fathers have passed. This takes me to my third and final father...My dad, Michael Downing! I love this guy, and he loves me. I always say when it came to dads they saved the best for last! I'll have to do a post someday on being adopted, but for now I will just say a major disadvantage of being adopted is questioning where you belong and if you are loved as an equal. I can say without doubt that my dad loves me like his own, and that's saying a lot! Trust me! He's never let me feel less than or different than, and for that I love him! The greatest gift you could ever give an adopted kid is security. I am secure in my relationship with my dad, and secure relationships don't come so easy for me.

I also have to add the many other lesser gifts my dad brought me when he joined the family. I say lesser, but they are still important none the less. He brought me music! He taught me to love all kinds of music and never limit yourself! He shared with me the love of reading. The man reads multiple books at one time. He was an example to me of a truly converted member of the LDS church when I needed to see one! He showed me that it's okay to be silly (dressing up for events other than Halloween, playing practical jokes, dancing and farting in public). He taught me how to pitch a tent in the rain and take it down while being timed. Which reminds me he also gave me the gift of siblings. One of the greatest lesser gifts he has bestowed upon me is that it's not okay to quit! He raised kids who know how to work! Best of all, he brought me the word "friggin'" all the way from Staten Island, New York! It's just a part of our vocabulary now, but when I first heard him say it I almost cried. My little Mormon ears had never heard such language!

I friggin' love you, Dad!

So Far So Good...

June 13th, 2008 marks 11 years of marriage for Bob and I! I'm not sure I can put into words how fortunate I am. I could if I were alone, but I am wiping noses, cleaning up messes, listening to problems, and trying to type all at the same time. Bobby Lemmon is the most loyal, kind, generous, supportive, patient, and loving husband. No one else on this earth could put up with me the way he does. He makes me his first prioritiy in life, and that's what makes our marriage work so well!

The Ricker!

We finally cut Buddy's hair. If you are a child of the 80's he might remind you of The Ricker!

River Rats!

I was trying to keep my neighbors anonymous, but I can no longer hold it in. I have to post some pictures of them with us at the river. They are the main reason we bought the boat. Bobby has wanted a boat since we met, but I was raised in an anti-river, anti-dunes family. Our friends the Acosta's are always talking about how fun the boat is and telling us to get one. Tuesday night I told Bobby I was okay with getting a boat and by Friday we had one in the driveway! I'm deciding on what to ask for next!