We need to blog again!

So Julie informed me that we need to blog again now that life has slowed down a bit. I agree totally! 2010 has been a busy year for everyone and it's not even half over. First, Grandpa's passing, then Julie's wedding, Matt going to Dubai, Jake graduating, Marie graduating, Mom and Dad's MAJOR remodel, and the list keeps going. I'm not feeling very creative today so I hope you all like this topic. When we were cleaning out Grandpa Yamane's house I could just picture so many moments and memories. It got me thinking about pictures. So this week let's all share a photo that we love and that brings back a memory.

I love this picture! Look how cute we are and totally cubby! I miss when being cubby was cute! But this picture is what I remember most about the house in Sunset. I always remember playing in the hallway. It must have drove mom crazy. Isn't that strange that I remember the hallway. I remember playing there with friends. I think there's another picture where I'm doing my hair with every barette I own and I think Matt was with me. I remember Dad hiding behind the door to his room and scaring us. I remember when Matt pooped in the tub and locked himself in the bathroom. Mom standing in the hallway threating him and telling him to open the door. Jake laying in the middle of the hallway with his pillow sucking his finger.

You don't have to post a photo if you don't have it but describe it to us!

Love you all, please post.

Jules, Juju

Julie... What can I say about my baby sister? Well her eyes still freak me out when she is sleeping and yes I have had many one sided conversations over the years that end up with me getting really close to her face and saying "Julie are you awake?" Needless to say I would end up leaving throwing a pillow in her face. It is crazy to think that she is getting married now and all growed up! Just remember Jules I am your favorite brother. And I will always lay on you when you are some how sleeping through the chaos that is our house. Oh one quick story for you Mitchy boy. When you want to freak her out just turn off all the lights and in a deep creepy voice say, "there once was a man with curly hair that likes to eat little Julie's!" That used to get a great reaction for me. Give it a try.

Shoot... He has a girlfriend... and she is gorgeous!

Shortly after I had decided that Jake was the cutest and most charming fellow around (At this point Jake and I hadn't even had our first date... or exchanged numbers.) and that I was destined to have japanese children... in walked Jake... with this dark haired beauty on his arm! CRAP!!! How do I compete with with that?! Of course I was hysterical in trying to figure out what my next move was going to be in order to steal back the future father of my children. When I walked down to say hello and meet "her" I was beyond relieved when he introduced his "girlfriend" as Julie... his baby sister. Hallelujah! Never was I more happy to hear that wonderful news. 2 years later and one stinking, cute japanese baby, I am happy to now call Julie my "baby sister." I really am glad to be a part of the chaos that is the Yamane Family. I welcome Mitch into the circus ring with a warning: There is still time! Ok I am just kidding. Technically Mitch was in the family first... wait... Thanks a lot Mitch! Where was my warning when I needed it!? :)

New Topic - Julie

So Since Julie is growing up and getting married I wanted to talk about my little baby sister. I guess Julie can tell us something about her too. Anyhow, I remember being so excited to get home from school to see my baby sister. Mom would actually let me babysit her by myself. I remember one day I tried to lay her in my doll's cradle (the same tiny cradle that is still in the basement). I put her in there and was so proud of myself. I turned away for a second and the cradle tipped Julie right out. She cried and I felt sooo bad! Sorry Julie, I may have given you brain damage! Julie slept in my room for a long time. I remember that I hated it when Mom and Dad would make her sleep in her crib because she would cry. So I would climb in her crib and sleep with her so she wouldn't cry. That was when she was a baby but later I became less empathetic. She always slep in my bed with me and she would wake me up by hitting me on the head with her bottle. Then I would get up and fill her bottle back up. One night I remember being fed up and I put her in her crib which was down the hall in her room. She cried but I was tough and I went back to my room. Then I hear a loud thud and the crying gets closer and closer until it was right outside my door. Well, I tried but she won. I let her back in bed. I loved having a sister. When she was little she would do my hair but for some reason she didn't like doing my hair when she got older :) Everyday I had to choose clothes that would match something that Julie had or she would cry.  Now she's all growed up! Crazy how time flies!

Grandpa Yamane

Last week I watched up with grandpa. The day before mom told him that I looked just like Russel but I don't think he knew who that was. We watched the movie while mom dad and Marissa and Marie were at Graces dance recital. After the movie I asked him if he liked the movie and he said yes. The day after mom said that when she went in that she asked him if he thought that I looked like Russel and he said yes.

/Mark

Grandpa Yamane

Something that I will always remember about Grandpa was that he always had smart pills at his house. They were always in a jar by the lamp in the front room by the window. Whenever we would go over there he would only give us those smart pills when he was there. It was always right after he would flex his biceps and we could see the huge baseball that he had. It was a lot of fun.
I also remember when I had the chance to go on a business trip with Pops. I was pretty young but Pops was going to be gone for my birthday and somehow I got to go with dad. Well he was working all day and I got to spend time with Grandpa and Grandma Yamane. It was a blast because it was all for me. They took me out all day, but one day in Grandpa took me fishing to the fish farm. Which now that I am older I realized that they charged per fish I pulled out of there. Before we went grandpa and grandma got me a new shinny spinner. Grandpa new that having a reel was going to be pointless at the farm, so he tied a long piece of fish line to the end of one of his poles and away I went. I caught dozens of fish. I would sneak up to the edge of the water and drop my line in and WHAM they were all over my new spinner. Grandpa and Grandma just let me go at it. It was a total blast and I'll never forget Grandpa forking over all the money for the fish I pulled out of there. He never really cared about that stuff. He was just trying to make a grandson happy. I remember when I was in High School and my rodeo broke down again. Grandpa paid for the repairs so that I wouldn't have to ride the bus or get a ride from anybody. He didn't mind how much it was, but was helping me out. He is pretty soft spoken about most things, but one thing is for sure he has taken care of us. It has been a blessing to have Grandpa staying at Mom and Pops' house. We have a chance to get closer to him. Thanks Grandpa.

Grandapa Yamane... And His Genetics

Well, being that I have only been around for a little over 2 years, I don't exactly have tons of memories with Grandpa Yamane. The one thing that I do know is that he loves his family. I love that he lights up when he gets to see the little girls and more than that he actually likes to hold them... even if he gets clocked in the head with a spoon by Lucy. I know that he is a hard worker. The first time I met him I was sitting at the bar in the kitchen. I remember noticing his callused hands and thinking about all of the hard hours he must have put in to provide for his family. The most important thing, I think, that he did was raise a good and hardworking son who in turn raised a good looking and also very hardworking son... that I married and while we are on the subject of hands... Jacob has very nice ones too! So in the end I guess the thing I am most grateful for are Grandpa Yamane's genetics. Even though I don't have very many memories of grandpa Yamane I look forward to making memories with his posterity! :)

Grandpa Yamane

How exciting it's my first time posting on the blog! I know you all have been looking forward to hearing my many words of wisdom, so here I go....

Since I am the second youngest I don't have too many memories with Grandpa Yamane. As I was thinking the first thing that came to my head was obone. I can remember Grandpa picking us up and taking us to the church in Ogden. Even though I'm not much of a dancer (who would have guessed?), I remember having a lot of fun. Well, mostly hitting each other with the towels as hard as we could while "dancing". Although the dancing was fun, the best part about it was definitely after. I can just remember Grandpa taking us to Farr's after every practice. Just about every time Grandpa ordered green pineapple ice cream, and just about every time it grossed all of us kids out. To this day I still haven't tried it and I don't plan on it! Haha

I wish I remembered more about Grandpa, but I honestly don't. I was just too little. I'm grateful for the opportunity I have had to get to know him better these past couple of months.

~The one and only Marissa~

Grandpa Yamane

I wish I could remember when Grandpa was more happy when Grandma Yamane was alive, but I was too small. I haven't ever really thought Grandpa really cared that much for me, because he never said much. Lately though he has really talked to me more. He has told me how proud he is of me. He tells everyone that comes to see him about the honors I have received for school, the violin, and soccer. He smiles every time I walk in to say hello to him after I come home from school, or any time I go in to his room. I'm so glad that I have had a chance to better get to know the man who gave me my daddy.

-Marie

New Topic- Christmas Memories, Traditions, presents, etc.

I have been such a slacker these last few weeks. But I know that everyone has been busy too. Let's share some favorite Christmas memories. Can I also get those who didn't talk about Grandpa Yamane to write something for his Christmas present.?

Some of my favorite Christmas memories:
My very favorite tradition is Christmas eve with the Childs family. I know that some might think that the Christmas program is too long but I love it. It is the perfect start to our Christmas. I love being with family and feeling the spirit of love and of Chirst. I love Granny's presents. Not because they are everything I ever wanted but because I know the love and sacrifice with which they are given. Nothing is better than being with my family. It's amazing to think how different the Christmas party is now.

My favorite Nativity we did was the year that Julie was Mary and Dad was the giant Joseph. Remember the year that we had our own Christmas trees in our rooms and Santa left our presents under them. Matt and Jake came running up stairs to see what Santa brang and ran right passed their presents.

Mom and Dad always made Christmas magical. I knew when Christmas came that I would get everything I wanted. I learned from them to make Christmas special and to give gifts that will make others smile. Now my favorite part of Christmas is finding the perfect gift for those I love.

There are so many great memories of the Orlando trip. I'm still amazed that everyone was able to be there. Life gets so busy that to get all us together was truly amazing. Here are just a few of the memories that still stick out.

Grace on the first night at DisneyWorld watching the fireworks and the saying "Its all so magical". That made the whole trip worth it already and it was just the first night.

Grace on the airplane rides to Orlando. I think she had as much fun on the airplane rides as any of the rides at the parks. She had several people on the plan laughing. I could keep going with Grace stories but I'll stop here.

It started raining, as it did everday, and Sarah and I started to run for cover. I was pushing Sam in the stroller and he kept screaming. He had hardley made a sound the whole trip (except at night when we trying to sleep). We finally found some cover and Sam continued to scream. We removed the cover from the stroller and found the reason for Sam's crying - he was soaking wet. In the process of running for a place to get out of the rain, a portion of the stroller cover must of lefted up and Sam was completely soaked.

Mark going to down a large water slide and Cindy at the bottom repeating "you don't have to do it baby, come down baby, you don't have to do it....."

For anyone that rode in our car I'm sure you remember Sam crying on the way home everynight. He would start at the same spot everynight and cry until we got home.

Lastly, Jake and I making one last turn on the biggest slide they had. We listened to a kid in front of us for an hour telling his friend how many times he has gone on it, it isn't scary, he is the fastest, etc. As it was his turn he started to go and then turned and tried to grab the top of the slide and then yelled "Oh gosh", gravity took over and he was swept down the slide.

Mom's Family Vacation Memories

We have had so many vacations together. I am not sure where to begin.

Dad and I would give up having about anything just to take a vacation with our children and now even with our grandchildren. Since we have always felt this way we have always gone somewhere each year. I love our memories of the early years going camping. I know we didn't do a lot because mom doesn't appreciate using outhouses but our trips to Yellowstone are high on my list. Looking for flowers and animals. Remember when granny and grandpa Childs went and we used the CB to communicate with them."Animal House to Road Ranger". I have never come home from a family trip and said Oh boy I am so glad to be home. I have always come home and wished that our time away would have been longer. You kids are great fun. Remember how Matt loved the Sequoia National Park trip. He couldn't believe how big the trees were and little Marky had been taught not to puts rocks in his mouth and when were around the campfire we figured out that he thought the name for rocks and sticks was actually cacaw because that was what we said when he puts things in his mouth.

I don't know how many Disneyland trips, Sea World, Zoo's, Yellowstone and Colorado to Utah trips we have made actually maybe too many to count.

One time when we went to Colorado Springs with dad while he worked I took you kids to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. We had such a good time that the memory is magical in my mind. I cannot remember how many times we fished but I do remember Julie catching the only 5 in fish one time and she was three. We laughed and laughed because she wouldn't let her dad take it off the line and dragged it around for hours. And well yes your mom never was able to touch a fish and take it off the line.

All the amusement parks, scary rides and Universal Studios. We have had many fun times together. We can't even begin to count soccer trips. But thanks kids for helping dad plan more vacations. He is good at it and loves to plan. He used to even plan our bathroom breaks into the schedule but unfortunately he didn't tell our bladders to cooperate. All of you even most of the new family knows about Dad and his planning skills. Granny and Grandpa Childs have even experienced his skills.

I loved Hawaii with Dad. My favorite memory is snorkeling while holding his hand. The fish were amazing but I was too scared to not hold his hand. That is the way my life has been. I could fly on a airplane because Dad held my hand. He has been with me on every scary ride I have been on and he is my protector, provider and best friend. He is the best dad any of you have ever had and all of our favorite dad ever.