Beautiful Berries

Bountiful Beautiful Black Berries 

& Boysenberries 

& Raspberries

Picked by Me

In my own Back Yard!!

Such a Blessing!

Pardon our noise...

When Scott and I were first married, Scott was in the Navy.  We were two young kids starting out our life together, and we had just joined this huge military family.  Scott was stationed in Oak Harbor, Washington.  We loved this place, and we look back on that time with such fond memories.  

On your way to the base in Oak Harbor you would pass by a sign that read, "Pardon our noise, it is the sound of freedom!"  We quickly learned what that meant, Navy jets and their pilots were in the air often, and you would hear that familiar sound of freedom!  It became a cherished sound to me.

Today is Memorial day, and we celebrated by listening to the sounds of freedom at Mount Vernon Memorial Cemetery.  When the jets flew over our heads this morning and I heard that familiar rumble in the sky, tears sprung from my eyes, and I instantly felt gratitude in my heart for this great country that we live in. I thought about the sacrifices that I felt as a young bride sending my new husband off on a 8 month cruise, and then I thought about the ultimate sacrifices that other wives and mothers felt as they learned that the person that they loved would not be returning home.

Flags were everywhere, and you saw veterans of all ages that had come to remember those who had served, and those who had given the ultimate sacrifice.  It felt like the right place to be, to have the opportunity to look these men and women in the eyes and say, "thank you."

I am thankful to those who have served, Scott was in the Navy, as well as, his dad Harry, as well as, my Grandpa Martineau and Grandpa Cozzens, as well as, Scott's grandpa (bops) and Uncle Rodney (who didn't return home) who were in the Army!  We celebrated and remembered those who have passed, and those who are still living.

While we were there, we met up with one of Scott's mom's friends, Louise Armstrong.  She was there remembering her husband Robert, for the years of service that he gave to our country.

Patriotic songs were sung, bagpipes were played, 21 gun salutes were sounded, canons were blasted, speeches were given, prayers were said, and this great multitude of people that were there were one, as we remembered together.  At one point they played all the different songs of the branches of military, you were to stand when you heard the song that represented the branch of military that you were in.  This little old man that was sitting not to far from us was in the Marines.  When his song came on he struggled desperately to stand.  His daughter helped him get to his feet, and as soon as he was standing all the way, he stood and saluted until the song was over.  It was so touching, tears streamed down my face, and then I watched this sweet old man, struggle to sit back down in his chair.  He served, and is still serving by remembering the sacrifices of so many!

The morning ended with a parachuter who came down with a flag attached to him.  The audience was mesmerized as he came down so beautifully and the flag waved gently in the breeze.  

Lee Greenwood said it best when he said, 

"I’m proud to be an American,

where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA."

Happy Memorial Day!

Kai and I

Over the past week in a half, I have had the privilege to spend a majority of my time with my grandson Kai.  It has been a true joy to get to  know his little personality, this blog is dedicated to things that I have learned about Kai.

Kai is now the big brother.  He loves this roll, you would think that someone so little might not understand, but I really think that he does.  He loves his new baby sister and is surprisingly gentle with her.

Kai loves family.  Jordan came and visited this weekend and Kai loved to jump all over Jordan.  He has a family book that Ashleigh made for him, and he loves to tell me who everyone is.  He loves his cousins Talmage and Everett and I wish that these kids could live closer together.

Kai loves to climb...EVERYTHING!  He is absolutely fearless, there is no obstacle that registers dangerous in his mind.  This is both funny and scary.

When he accomplishes his climbing goal, he always looks at me with such satisfaction!  I can just see his little mind saying, "see, I told you I could do it!"

Kai loves games of every kind.  This game was made up by Mema.  The game is called, "how do you do."  He  would stick his hands through the trees and I would shake his hand and say, "how do you do."  This simple game lasted for a long time, he kept sticking his little hand out to me and saying, "how you do."

Kai LOVES his picture to be taken.  Every time he sees me take out my camera he will say, "Picture? CHEESE"  Such a little poser!  But so much fun to have a willing participant!

Kai is friendly, and can make friends with anyone, even college age kids.  One day we took a walk to the BYU-I stadium.  Once we got there he saw a few kids kicking a football.  He ran right out to them and before I knew it, there was my little 2 year old grandson in the mix with all these college students playing football/soccer!

Kai loves everything to do with Balls and Sports.  So far, I have learned that he knows how to play baseball, soccer, football, catch of any kind and golf.  He knows how to kick goals and he knows how to play pass.  The other day when we were at the stadium and he was playing with the college kids, he actually slide tackled one of the college boys to get the ball from him!  I totally cracked up!  He is going to be so much fun to watch!

Kai has TONS of energy!  But...sometimes Mema has more! :)  We took a long walk one morning and I actually wore him out!

Kai and I have had a lot of fun - I'm grateful to have had some time to learn about this sweet little guy!

Could I really be that lucky?

Could I really be that lucky?  Those are the exact thoughts that came to my mind when I was blessed with a second baby girl.  Because I had c-sections I already knew what day my babies would be born, so I decided to let there be a surprise and not find out whether I was having a boy or a girl.  (this is almost unheard of in this day and age).

I was the oldest girl with three brothers, and so after I had my first daughter, I truly believed in my heart that I would never get that lucky again!  I was so wrong - and I am so happy that I was!

On May 10, 1988 Ashleigh Nicole McKee (now Tataipu) was born.  She was a beautiful baby, milky white skin, and giant blue eyes!  She has added such a measure of joy to our family that can not be duplicated, she is always the first to create family laughter!  Even as a baby she would make funny faces and wait for our reaction.  When all the kids were at home we would beg Ashleigh to do her imitations and the dinner table was always full of laughter!

Twenty four years later, as I think about that special day in May, I no longer think of it as being lucky - I think of it as being truly blessed!

Happy Birthday Sweet Ashleigh, I love you!

Twenty Years Younger!

On my twentieth birthday I went into labor with my very first baby.  I didn't know what I was having, the doctor had told me that my babies heart beat was slow my entire pregnancy and that slow heart beats meant boys.  So...that was what I was expecting.

While in labor the babies heart beat jumped into a new higher speed.  The doctor looked at the monitor and said to me, "wow, that heart beat has really sped up, I think I have changed my mind, you will probably have a girl".  After being shocked by this new declaration, I remember wondering, could I really be so lucky?  I had been the only girl in my family with three younger brothers, and had always longed to have a little sister.

Two days later, I was being wheeled into the operating room after a very long and difficult labor to have a c-section.  My sweet young husband came in the room with me looking sharp in his scrubs!  Within no time at all a beautiful baby GIRL was born!  Scott and I were both so excited, as I was getting stitched back up Scott followed our new baby from room to room.  The nurses later reported to me that they had never seen a father so proud!

Our perfect little baby girl, Heather Quinn McKee (now Wigginton) has been the perfect oldest child.  I would have gladly gone through another two days of labor to have the same outcome of this beautiful baby.

She is now a grown woman, with children of her own, and I marvel that Heavenly Father would have entrusted me with one of his precious daughters.

Happy Birthday Heather, I love you so much!

What an honor!

In this life, there are many things that you can be honored over, such as receiving an award, or being noticed for some act.  But in my opinion, these pale in comparison to the honor of being asked to be a witness to an absolute miracle...the birth of a baby.

My daughter Ashleigh, has given me this great honor twice now.  Two years ago, in May 2010, I was there when Ashleigh's first little son was born, Kai.  On May 3, 2012, I yet again got to be a witness to my first little granddaughter, Avery.  Excitement filled the room as we anticipated her arrival.

Ashleigh received excellent care at Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg Idaho.  We loved the doctors and nurses who made the experience so memorable.  They truly added to the day, their knowledge and dedication to their craft made all the difference!

When Avery made her entrance into this world, it was my honor to capture the event.  I loved these pictures as Ashleigh and Logan (aka mom and dad) were so filled with joy.  They kept looking at each other and would smile and then looked back at their new bundle of joy.  It was so special to witness.

Kai, who is now the big brother made his way to the hospital with Pepa (who by the way had watched him all day and had done an excellent job).  He was so sweet with his little sister, and continues to be.  He's learned to talk to her in a high and squeaky voice that just melts my heart.

Pepa just gazed into this little beauties face, a true gift from heaven!

Ashleigh is having so much fun dressing her all up - each outfit would not be complete without the bow!  Truly - this little lady is set!

What an honor to be a Mema!  I just love every second of it!

Bitter Sweet

Do you ever get tired of posing for pictures?  Chase and Jordan were clearly playing along.  This was a special week - and so lots of pictures had to be taken - my baby boy was going to be a missionary!

This morning, Chase was out of bed first thing in the morning, and dressed and ready for the day to begin.

The Best Western Cotton Tree Inn has been my home for many emotional events.  We have stayed here for college graduations, we have stayed here for visits, and mostly we have stayed here for every single MTC experience!  I have cried many bitter sweet tears at this location.

The day finally had come, and today was Chase's day.  The day that I would be shedding those bitter sweet tears over him.

Taking a missionary to the MTC has changed over the years.  No longer can you go into the MTC and watch all the Mormon Ads and cry every time that they tell you, "family, isn't it about time?"  Now, you take pictures from a distance, maybe the MTC thinks that mom's won't cry!  ha ha - good luck with that!

Note the thrilled look on Chase's face!  He was convinced that everyone was staring at him having to get his picture taken!

We spent the morning thinking of things to do to pass the time while we waited for our allotted time.  Poor Chase was trying hard to think our activities were fun, but truly he just wanted to say good-bye to us and hello to the MTC.

Finally, the time had come, it was time to say good-bye.  We were told that we needed to say our good-bye's before we got to the MTC.  Scott and Chase were giving each other one last hug!

Chase was making sure that all of his bags were in the van and ready.

For those of you who will have future missionaries, this is the new routine.  A nice older missionary meets you at the front gate, and welcomes you on the grounds.  The man assigns your car a number.

Along the sidewalk were numbers listed, and we needed to find our number.  It was so sad driving through this, there were parents and missionaries crying and giving each other one last good-bye hug.

Once we found our number we had elders come straight to our van.  They said to Chase, "Welcome to the MTC elder, what is your last name?"  From there it was, "Elder McKee do this, or Elder do that."  They came to the back of our van and said to Scott, "Dad would you like to help with his bags?"  Scott was more than happy to jump out of the car.

They also asked him where he was going, and continued to be bright and cheery.  Chase had a smile on his face the whole time, I think he was overwhelmed by this super awesome welcome!

They let me get out of the car and say one last good-bye - which was really quick!  One of the last things the Elders said to Scott was, "don't worry dad, your missionary is in good hands now!"

 
And then...I watched my baby walk away.  A true missionary.  It was bitter...It was sweet!

I allowed the tears to flow as we drove away, I felt an overwhelming feeling of gratitude to have yet another MTC experience.