Small town Peach Days

I loved growing up in a small town and I love everytime I get to go back.

One of the times that we were up there this past summer Justin and Corbin were driving down town and there were tons of flags out on the streets. Corbin said to Justin,

"is this why mom is so proud of Brigham City?"

Ya, I love this town!

The calmness of it, the genuine people, the fresh air, the great neighbors, and once a year Peach Days came around!

I remember from a very early age the excitement of Peach Days. It was the greatest day for me next to Christmas and 4th of July. The reason for that is the same as the other two days, the traditions that it brought.

• Sitting across from Peach City with my Family, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins to watch the parade. (and every year I had to hide behind the chairs when the clowns came by)
• Playing in the ditch that ran right behind us when the parade got boring.
• Walking right around the corner, after the parade, to Grandpa's house for Hamburgers fresh from the grill and homemade rootbeer.
• Grandpa giving each of us money to spend at the carnival.
• Walking down the street to ride the merry-go-round and get some cotton candy.
• Noticing the poor cow that was up for auction and didn't know what his fate was. (I was sad about that)
• Going to the art show and remembering how boring it was, but, it was tradition. (I would enjoy it now)

As the years went by and I got older, that day was not the same. It changed. But I will always remember Peach Days as I was a little girl and the excitement it would bring to me.

This was painted by my incredibly talented mom.

And speaking of my mom, she was a contestant in the Peach Queen Pageant, back when it was classy and a big deal. My dad sent this in an e-mail just a few days before Peach Days.

"Then another packer-to-be showed up on the chamber of commerce float in 1967. Jill Holmgren (to the left) was first attendant and Miss talent. We started dating two weeks later. A stunner for over 42 years."

Isn't he sweet!

And that's MY mom.

This year I wanted the boys to get a little taste of Peach Days. Even though it's not nearly the same as it was for me, they still thought it was extremly fun!

I don't think they expected this slide to be faster than the ones at the park.

Especially Taylor!

We chose to go to the Jr. Parade rather than the big one. And I do not remember EVER getting as much candy as they did!

We can't forget the peaches, it's what this day is all about. Thanks to my great parents, they gave us a big box of delicious, home-grown peaches. You can't ever go wrong. Justin and I can't hardy wait for the day we get our very own peach tree!

I turned a couple of those peaches into this yummy pie! Happy Peach Days!

Sad Hand

Yesterday morning we were making yummy popcorn on our stovetop. I just finished popping it, turned off the burner, and ran to answer the phone. While I was just hanging up the phone, (we now had a showing on our home in one hour!) Levi found the empty box of fruit snacks on the counter, climbed up the chair, and put his hand right on the burner that was still way too hot.

As a result:

two + hours of tears,

an attempt to keep his hands cool,

lots of cuddle time,

swinging at the park with Daddy to distract from the pain,

and then a hand that looked like this that night -

And now in the morning, his poor little hand looks like this.

It makes me hurt whenever I see that sad hand. He has been such a tough, sweet little guy through it all. And has been so patient using his left hand for everything. He can hold up to three superheroes in one hand now, color pictures, drag his me-me around, eat his dinner, push the chair to the sink to wash his hands, but then any time his sad hand touches something, the tears come again.

Poor guy.

Luckily, he has an older brother to help him out and give him lots of kisses and attention.

And Levi has loved that!

1st Grade, why?

Why is it that this is how old I think Corbin should be right now?

Why do I feel like Daddy should be there to play with Corbin and not a bunch of 6 year old boys?

and to give him loves when he is feeling sad instead of toughing it out?

Why do I feel like he should want to be with me all the time instead playing star wars during recess?

and go on little field trips in our van with our family instead of on a big yellow bus with 20 other 6 year olds and their teacher?

Why do I want him to have lunch with us and not go to the big lunch room and trade his juice for chocolate milk with his buddies?

Why do I just want him to stay young and innocent for at least another six more years?

I guess it happens to us all and I just have to learn to live with it and enjoy every second that I have got.

But can't it just slow down a little?

Here's to one good year as a 1st grader! He is loving it and reassures me that he will still get to see me in the evenings and on the weekends. Not super comforting, but I am excited for him.

Happy Birthday to a best friend

Twenty one years ago I met a girl across the street who became my best friend. We have done so much together over the years. Playing house, dancing and singing in the front yard, sleepovers, young womens, staying up late and having 'girl's talk', driving, dating, and then driving by the boys houses that we wished we could date, working at the Yogurt Factory, driving to Ogden. And during all this time I would have never EVER guessed that Cami and my brother would eventually fall in love and get married. Even though I already felt like we were sisters, it would become official!
Cami is genuine, extremely beautiful, sincere, happy, hilarious, one of the most down to earth person I know, a great wife to Tyson, and the best mommy to her kids! She is more of an example to me than she will EVER know!
Happy Birthday Cami!!

Packer Family Reunion

Here we are, all 32 of us, as of 2010. What a fun time at the park playing, laughing, sitting, eating, laughing. Quite relaxing.

I love getting to visit with everyone, they all have so much to contribute to our family.

Mmmmm, Monica's rootbeer, our boys are never happier! They pretty much live around the spout during any gatherings.

Mom with two adorable pink girls, Olivia and Caroline.

It was so fun to be a kid again and play red rover. I love seeing how excited the kids would get when their names were called out. I am a littled biased, but I have the most adorable, smart, fun nieces and nephews...ever!

I love my sister! She is amazing, hilarious, smart, and very creative. She came up with a great family Jeopardy game. I learned some great things about some of my family members...Abby sleeps on wheat buckets, Brenton has been held at gunpoint in the middle of winter in a desert, Mom almost drowned in the pacific ocean, Mandi knows each member of our family's eye color, Johnny wants to be a lunch lady when he grows up, someone in our family recently went skinny dipping (and it wasn't a kid)!

As for our little family - can you guess?

• this person starts singing songs at random times.
• this person had a black eye in the past year.
• this person passed out at a guests house during dinner, and no one even noticed.
• this person thinks their dad works at a movie theater.
• this person randomly bursts out singing the theme song to Glenn Becks program.

(did you guess right? in order: JaNae, Levi, Justin, Corbin, Taylor)

Abby...turing 12 in September!!

This brought me back to my childhood.

And now my boys. Landon used to grab me, throw me in the air, and then let free fall. The only difference is Corbin and Tay love it. And yes, he did the same thing to me on this day, and no, no pictures.

We are one crazy, happy family! And I couldn't love them more!

Guess Who's

Where has the time gone? Two, I can't believe it. It seems like two months ago this is what we had?

And now, this is what we have.

Words cannot describe how much we ALL love this boy. He makes our family even more complete, we couldn't imagine life without this

spunky

lovable

precious

energetic boy

of ours!

He has the looks of his daddy, a personality like no one else, an incredibly contagious smile, and little expressions that melt my heart!

Levi copies every word that we say.

I love when he is at my feet in the kitchen or sitting on my lap at the computer and copies every word I say while I am talking to him. And the words that he picks up from a four and six year old...hilarious.

Levi's favorite thing right now are motorcycles.

"Mom, cycoles, cycoles, motocycoles!!"

He loves sitting on our table and looking out our back window onto the parkway and searching for motocylces! And he can spot the sound of a motorcyle from anywhere. The other day I was making breakfast with Levi at my feet and all of a sudden he heard that glorious sound, I picked him up and there was a huge group of Harley guys driving by. Needless to say, it was one of his greatest days.

Levi makes us laugh, and sometimes at his expense.

A few months ago Levi found one of my sewing pins, he picked it up and sat down. I walked in hearing

"ow....ow....ow....ow..."

I looked at him and saw him poking his finger over and over and not having any desire to stop himself.

I think being the youngest child (and maybe the fact that he knows I think he is adorable), he thinks he can get away with throwing a tantrum and getting what he wants that way.

Nope, sorry buddy, not in this house.

The other day we were in the kitchen and he was wanting something so much, I don't even remember what it was. I told him no and so he threw himself on the floor and starting to throw a major tantrum. I just stepped over him and walked to my bedroom. He got up (was just fine), came walking into the bedroom, saw me look at him and then he threw himself on the floor again. Again, I ingnored him, walked away, he followed me and as soon as I looked at him again, he threw himself down. By now, I was laughing so hard inside. This went on for a couple more minutes, and then he finally stopped and it has never happened again.

Like I said, not in the house, buddy!

Levi loves his daddy and he loves to sing, "daddy song". Or at least two words.

I'm so glad when daddy comes home,

glad as I can be.

I clap my hands

and shout for joy

and climb upon his knees.

Put my arms around his neck,

hug him tight like this.

Pat his cheeks and give him

"WHAAAAAAAAAT"

a great big kiss!!

mmmmpppwwwaaa!

Levi's favorite words...

"Daddy go?"

"Bordy" (Corby)

"Tay"

"Watch this"

"Lellow ball"

"bider man"

"four, five, six"

"color"

"Mommy, see"

"Luh, lou" (Love you)

"I'm two"

"Happy Day!"

Levi loves to say hello to lots of people at the stores and as soon as they walk past him he yells, "BYE!! BYE!!!"

And yes, they think it's cute too.

On Levi's birthday he was outside with Justin and this is what he said to him,

"Daddy, wanna see something...AWESOME!" Then shows him how he jumps off a box.

I love when I tuck him in at night and he is not happy about it, all I have to say is bye, bye. He instantly stops crying, waves to me, says bye mom, and lays his sweet little head down.

And of course he has to have with him his other favorite thing. His 'mee-mee' that Grandma Morris made for him when he was born, it's such a comfort for him.

I hope he never learns that it is called a blanket.

Life's exhausting being a two year old...and it's only been one day.

What happens

when you leave this kid alone for 5 minutes

runs straight to mom's make-up bag, that's what.