Reunion

Our Family Reunion will be held in St George and Pine Vally, this summer, On June the 12th we will have a temple session for those who want to go. I have wanted to have a session with my children and their mates at one time. We plan to do this and anyone who wants to attend is welcome. On Friday and Saturday, the 13th and 14 we will go to Pine Valley, to Elva's cabin. We will do church on Sunday for those who stay.

PS.
If you are planning on attending then please leave a comment to that effect.
Larry

January 24, 2008 1:32 PM

I know Grandma wanted this posted, but she put it as a comment

0ur Family- continued

When we lived in Romeo, where Larry was born, Donnie had rheumatic fever and had St Vitus Dance which caused him to have great tremors. He couldn't hold a spoon. He had a priesthood blessing and was instantly healed of the st vitus dance.

While we lived there Arlo had a pinched nerve in his spine and was in terrible pain. Richard, Arlo's brother and his wife Roxanne and Gerald Lynn came to visit us there. Larry and Gerald Lynn were both blessed at church. When Richard and family left, they took Arlo to Grand Junction to the veterans hospital and left him there. He was there in traction for about a month and then they moved him to Denver, where he had surgery on his back. He was home in about 2 weeks.

While he was in Grand Junction, I moved us to Manassa. In Romeo he had worked for Thales Smith. and the house was no longer available to us. Arlo wasn't very happy about that, but he learned to love Manassa.

Donnie recovered from the rheumatic fever and was active all of his life.

In Romeo is where we lived when the snake bit Kent. Nona and Audrey were at our house when that happened. Calvin must have been with you boys. You were playing in an irrigation ditch which ran through that property. I did't know what kind of snake it was that bit him. We took him to the doctor and he said if it had been a rattle snake it would be swollen. He didn't seem to have any after efects of it.

Our Family vacations

The one thing that we enjoyed together with Arlo being there was time spent in the mountains. When Kent was less than a month old we went to the mountains and camped out. We slept in sleeping bags and cooked on the camp fire. I don't remember the place that we camped but I do remember being in the mountains. We spent a lot of time camping out and then later spent time at the cabin. The cabin proved to be a great investment for us. I still like to go there. Our reunion there was great. We have owned it for many years.

One time Barbara, LaRue, Doris Faye and I took all of our children in one car and went to Los Alamos, to visit Keith and Erma. That wouldn't be possible today because of seat belt laws.

One time we took the VW pickup and went to Pueblo to visit Nona. The car broke down and we had to find a ride home.

When Bonnie Lynn had to go to Denver for a check up at the hospital, I took all of you children and we went several times. We went to the movie in a round theater, "It's a Mad Mad World". All of us laughed so hard we cried. Sometimes we went to a resturant where there was a toy train running around the room, near the ceiling. Can any one remember other things that we did?

FOSS

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) is of great value to me. Even though many times the cost of the software is at no financial outlay, the value is great. You may not know what I am referring to when I address FOSS. I will elucidate.

There are some people in our society that take great pride in their work and are willing to share with others. I have the highest respect for the people that have enabled this movement.

Some of the programs that are available because of the FOSS model are:

1. operating systems
1. linux
1. red hat
2. suse
3. ubuntu
4. and 100s more
1. BSD Unix
   
2. office applications
   
1. openoffice (word processor, spreadsheet, database, graphics)
   
2. koffice (word processor)
   
3. gnumeric (spreadsheet)
   
4. GRAMPS (geneology)
5. KOOKA (scanning and OCR program)
6. program manager
   
3. graphics applications
   
1. GIMP Graphic Image Manipulation Program
   
2. digiKam (photograph organizer)
   
3. InkScape (vector graphics)
   
4. WEB
1. FireFox (web brouser)
   
2. apache (web server)
3. chatzilla (chat program)
4. Thunderbird (mail client)
5. and many more
   
5. Multimedia
   
1. amarok (audio player)
2. BEAST (synthesizer)
3. xine (video player)
4. and many more
   
6. GAMES
1. too numerous to list
7. Programming Languages
1. PERL
2. GCC Gnu Compilers
3. Python
4. PHP
5. Ruby
6. and many more
   

Many of the programs that I have used and like on linux (I like and use linux because I have grown weary of the tactics that MicroSoft has used to cheat me out of my hard earned money, and linux works better) are available for MicroSoft/Windows. Openoffice and GIMP are available to use on M$/Windows.

I have heard people say that their computer hangs up and they need a new one. That is not the case. The computer is not at fault. Commercial software companies have more and more delivered software that is to their own liking and not for the users best interest. One of the notable things that has happened recently is the Windows Genuine Advantage, which is appropriately named, because the advantage is only for MicroSoft to market distribute MicroSoft Windows.

At no risk you can try a LiveCD with linux loaded on it. You do not have to install it on your computer's hard drive to just try and see how it works.

The list of applications in the numbered list above can all be found on the internet for no cost. The programs are usable and are in many some are better than the commercial counterparts.

I like GIMP, which is like PhotoShop
I like OpenOffice, which I think is better the MicroSoft Office
I like digiKam for photographs
I like FireFox for web browsing better the Internet Exploder by Micro$oft
I like PERL for programming

If you are wanting to edit images to put on the BLOG you can download GIMP from

http://www.gimp.org/

and you can get around having to pay hundreds of dollars for an office automation package by downloading openoffice from

http://openoffice.org/

if you add to them FireFox you can posture yourself to liberate yourself from the vole MicroSoft

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

I would recommend that you try a LiveCD of UBUNTU linux if you want to just test and see if it all works for you, without having to modify your computer.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD

The link above has instructions for downloading and creating a LiveCD so you can just test to see if you like linux and not have any costs or commitments while you try it.

Try the applications, GIMP, OpenOffice, and FireFox. You will like them, and the price is right.

Pesky bug?

When I lived in Littleton and worked at Martin Marietta I fell in with a group of people that would exercise during the lunch period. I became rather dedicated to exercising. For a long while I would run 3 miles during the lunch hour. I was slow, but persistent.

There were times that I could not keep up with the others in the group, as they were built like, well ..., runners. One day I headed down to Waterton Canyon, where the South Platte River would come down from the mountains. This day I went cross country and headed straight down into the canyon across the yucca and prickly pear encrusted slope just outside the company property.

I thought I felt a wasp or something such as that bite me on the left calf. I reach down and swatted across the back of my leg in order to hit the pesky bug away. To my dismay it was not a bug. I had to calculate for a while just what happened before it all becaame clear.

With my right foot I had placed it next to prickly pear and broke one pear loose from a plant. As my right foot passed my left leg it embedded some of the prickles into my calf. As I felt the sting I swatted it with my right hand. Now I had to extract prickles from my right hand as well as my left calf, and also from my right shoe.

Things are not always what they first seem to be.

How to post pictures to the BLOG

There are only a few steps required to post a picture to the BLOG.

1. Print this set of instructions so you have them handy
2. Get a pencil to check off each step as you progress along

1. log into the blog
2. create a new post
3. put a title in the title block of the post
4. have (a) picture(s) on your computer in a directory that you know where it/they is/are
5. on the frame around text entry window for the BLOG is a button that looks like a landscape with sky -- push the button and a new window will pop up
6. in the text field below the "add another image" hyperlink post the location of the file on your computer. You can do this in one of two ways
   
1. copy the location of the file from a file manager and paste it into the text field or
2. click on the browse button next to the field and navigate to the location where the picture is located
7. after you have identified the location of the photograph file on your computer then you can add more, up to 5, before you send them to Blogger so you can have them in your article
8. scroll down on the post image window (the one that popped up and you entered the location of the file) and select a layout for the image selecting the round dot below the type
1. none
2. left
3. center
4. right
9. I recommend that you choose none (my preference), but your mileage may vary.
   
10. scroll down again on the post image window and select the "UPLOAD IMAGE" button
11. wait for the image to upload
12. another window will pop up and status when the image is uploaded
13. when it/they is/are uploaded then click the "Done" button
14. The picture(s) will be placed at the top of the edit window on the post create page
15. you can move the picture in the window
1. You must have blank lines before and after the image to assure that the edits do perform correctly, and the cursor needs to be on a blank line when you do the post described later.
   
2. select the picture
3. cut the picture by pressing the "DELETE" button on the keyboard (or the ctrl-x, hold down the "Ctrl" key on the keyboard and simultaneously press the "x" key on the keyboard)
4. the picture will disappear
   
5. move the cursor to where you want the picture
6. hold down the control key "Ctrl" and simultaneously press the "V" key on the keyboard
7. The picture will appear where the cursor is
16. When you have your pictures posted then you can post them to the BLOG by pushing the "PUBLISH POST" button below the input window.

A True Story

Someone wise recently told me that truth is a relative thing colored by our memories and experiences. This is a true story, or at least some of it is true and some of it has been retold so many times with a little color, that I'm not sure any longer what is truth and what is color.

When I was about a real youngster, my cousins and I wanted to go to the mountains to camp out. Mother had a lot going on and so did Aunt Laura Mitchell, but they put their heads together and came up with a scheme that would allow them to accomplish the things they needed to do and would also offer us the opportunity for a little mountain adventure with a minimum amount of risk. Mom was to take us to the mountains and leave us with camping gear and enough food for two weeks. Aunt Laura was to come and pick us up at the end of the adventure and take us home.

Mom took us to Aspen Glade which was a free camping ground at that time. We found a good camping site near the Conejos River in a small grove of trees and Mom left us with a hug and a kiss. I don't think she even looked back as she disappeared in a cloud of dust as she drove away and left us for our boyish conquest.

The freedom was wonderful. With no parents to tell us what to do and what not to do, we proceeded to do some things that would have gotten us a good licking had Dad known what we were doing. Mitch and Mike and Donnie and I took the air mattresses from the sleeping bags and headed for the top end of the campground. We swam and played and floated down the river on our air mattresses.

The meals for the first part of the week were not memorable. They were the ordinary hamburgers and hot dogs and potato chips and the such. Later in the week, however, the meals were a little more unforgetabble. As our larder diminished, we began suplementing it with what we could "borrow" from other campers who were not careful with their supplies. I remember one day wanting something more exciting to drink that river water. About all we had left was orange kool aid and Karo Syrup. They make a horrible combination. We searched for wild strawberries. I found one or two, but they were so small they were hardly worth the bother! We were able to find quite lots of wild onions. They were small but really packed a wallop and left a horrible odor behind.

Mitch, Mike and Donnie were all older than I. They were having a ball. It wasn't so fun for me after a while. I was hungry. I was tired. I was homesick. One day, while the three of them were of doing boy things, I went for a walk downriver to the ranger station. I tried to be brave and was going to tell the ranger that I wanted to call my Mom to come get us. A huge lump formed in my throat, and the tears began to flow.

The ranger was kind and reassured me that all would be OK. There wasn't a way to call home, but he took me back to the campground in his really official looking truck and wearing his official looking uniform. Somehow, that was reassuring to me.

The Parker family was having a reunion that day. The Ranger talked Bud Parker into giving me a ride home and letting my family know that they needed to come and retrieve their abandoned kids.

Memories, guess which one this is

The road was plagued with deep craters that were created by the rain; along with the craters were the rocks that were embedded pass the earth's surface. Some of the rocks protruded high enough in the road that driving over them caused a forceful jarring of my whole body. Once I felt this, it brought a strong realization that I was just moments away from one of my favorite places.

After we made the wide turn near the big pine tree my eyes coundn't help noticing the colors of the family cabin. It was a log cabin that had been carefully crafted with white mortar that surrounded the red painted logs. This unique distinction had been forever imprinted in my mind along with the numerous memories that have taken place there. Upon arriving I could smell the aroma of pine trees and I could hear the distant sound of rushing water. My first stop would be to look over the fire pit and see what changes occuried while I was gone. The hours spent by the fire pit were one of my favorite times, even with the game of trying to escape the choking smoke. The songs and stories that were shared made the smoke bearable.

Not far from the fire area was the outhouse. It was far enough away that you followed a path that lead up to it. This trip always seemed to be a cold one. (and surprising if aunt Bonnie was there) The other side of the cabin had a steep trail that led down to the swift Colorado river. I would brave the trail often. Once by the river bed, I would explore the grounds for flat rocks that could be skipped across the waters top. At times I would dangle my feet in the cold water and get lost in watching the waves plow passed anything in its way.

Inside the colorful cabin was three rooms that were draped off with cloth doors. Each room had a bed or two. The main room consisted of a kitchen table and chairs, a stove that was heated onlywith burning wood, a large white sink, and a small refrigerator. This room also housed two couches and a few comfy chairs in which I lounged around in after a long day of hiking, fishing, and playing.

I remember the log beams that spanned the inside length of the cabin. These logs were brouwn instead of the red that decorated the outside. They had a few nails that poked out long enough to hang lanterns on. Often my grandfather would tease about hanging me on one of those nails. Even long after he passed on, those anils made me think back to joyful teasing that my grandfather and I shared.

Okay humor me. I took a childrens literature course over the mail and for one of my assignments I had to write about a place I had been to. Of course the cabin was the first place I thought of, I have had so many fond memories there, with those I love. How lucky I was as a child to have a loving family who had access to a cabin near a river in the beautiful mountains. I wish my children could have memories like these. Instead they will remember how mom dreaded going out on the boat with all the other boaters. If only I had my own lake.

Some of our family activities

One thing we did more than anything else, is camping and later going to the cabin. We had some wonderful times. Because Arlo loved fishing and hunting so much, those are some of the things that we did. One year, LaRue and Harold had gone to the temple and on their way back, Harold's mom came with them. We went to the mountains and camped for several days. We picked raspberries and built teepees. Those were fun times

Hansen grub

This is the Hansen family clan. We are trying to stay alive over here in the drowning snow, I didn't think one could drown in snow but we are. And we have yet to have a snow day, I guess our houses have to be totally submerged in the snow before that will happen. We are all doing well. We aren't too involved in extra-curricular activities other than tubing out our back yard. The kids are doing well in school. Adam is in 7th, next year he will attend Junior High, Aubree 5th her last year of Elementary, Katee 3rd grade, Riley 1st. Gary is busy with his job with Gramoll Construction. And Danette is an author-wanna-be. We have loved living in Wellsville even though we feel like we live in the snowflake that the who's do in who-ville. We have enjoyed having land, we see deer out our back window often. And we regularly see hawks and owls, in fact we suspect that one of them scooped down and ate our cute kitty that Katee is holding in the picture. We had it for three weeks and then it was gone. We do have another Cat, named Coco. We also had a fuzzy bunny that roamed the yard (because we couldn't catch it so we left it out of its cage) but it froze in his hole under the rocks. How sad. So you could say we are now pet owners.
Our lives aren't too exciting. So there you have it.

The hansen family update

Homes we lived in

When Arlo and I were married, we lived in a little house that belonged to Isabel. Isabel was living in Arlene Barber's house for a time. We lived with Grandma Vance for a short time. We lived in 2 rooms that belonged to Charles and June Vance. That is where We lived when Daddy died. That is where we lived when Doris Faye came to live with us.

Before Donnie was born, we moved into a two room house belonging to Ed Guymon. Arlo worked for Ed for several years.We lived there until after Bonnie Lynn was born. Then we moved back to Grandma Vance's house.

Then we moved to a house that belonged to a man named Ross, it was between Sanford and Bountiful Colorado. Arlo worked for a man named Gyling.

Then we moved to the house in Romeo area. That is where we lived when Larry was born. That is where we lived when the snake bit Kent. Arlo worked for Thales Smith on his farm. While we lived there, Donnie had rheumatic fever and Saint Vitus Dance. Arlo had a bad back and went to Grand Junction to a veteran's hospital and was there for two months. Then he was transfered to Denver, where he had surgery on his back.

While he was in the hospital, I moved us to Manassa. We lived in Lucille Jackson's house. When Arlo returned from the hospital, he wasn't able to work for a while. I went to work at the school hot lunch. When Arlo was able to work, he went to work for Boyd Pagett, at his service station. We bought a small house across from Maggie Weston. we lived there for a few years and then sold it and moved into the house on third street. We lived there the remainder of the time we lived in Manassa. That is where we basicly raised our family.

October Conference

October each year, for some years, Mom would go to conference. For one week we were on our own. Dad gave orders and we did what he told us to do. At the end of the week, Mom would return home all pumped up from and excited to tell us about her experience at conference.

She would always bring home books. I enjoyed reading a new book each year as she would try to find a book that was especially for each of us.

One year, I was home from the service and Mom was going to conference. I told her that I was especially interested in the book whose cover you see to the left. I have a soft spot for poetry, and this book of poetry was really special to me.

Mom was off to conference with the sisters from the church that she was travelling with. I went to conference that year with a group of youth. We went into Deseret Book and I saw this volume. I bought it. We ran into Mom on Temple Square. She told me that she had found the book for me and that she had bought it.

I didn't need the book any more since Mom bought it for me. I gave it away. Mom knew that I had the book and didn't need it any more. She gave her copy away. When we both got home from conference, she had a book for me, but it wasn't this one.

I told Betty about this story years later and she laughed and was touched. She bought this copy for me one Christmas. I have enjoyed sharing it's poems with my children at special occasions in their lives.

Conejos County Gas and Oil

About the only thing that was constant in our lives from the time that I can first remember was the old gas station, Conejos County Gas and Oil.

The earliest memories I have are of Bonnie riding on pickup runner boards to get to go to the garage. Dad worked for Boyd Pagett. Dad would drive the gasoline delivery truck, fix tires, pump gasoline, service automobiles, and other general labor. I remember going to the garage when Boyd owned it, but those memories are not very vivid.

What I do remember is pulling weeds. Yup. Pulling weeds. I liked to go to the garage and get treats. There was a pop machine and a glass cabinet with candies and items for the garage. I liked to get a soda pop and a bag of peanuts. The customary way of drinking pop was putting peanuts in the glass bottle and drink the pop as it metered out the peanuts. To earn the pop and I candy I was given the task of pulling weeds. My appetite for sweets was diminished after a half hour or so.

There were extra boxes of candy stored away for stocking the candy cabinet. I was allowed to restock the candy cabinet and in turn could have a candy bar. My favorite was Oh Henry.

In the office there were these old desks that appeared to be old school desks. These were chairs that had an attached platform on one side, where you could slide in and sit with the table in front of you. The desktops were carved with dates and peoples initials. I must admit that I made my additions.

That was a dusty old place. The streets in town were not always paved. The dust raised by the automobile traffic must have had a little breeze that pushed it all into the garage.

There were bulk products that we dispensed. The oil that was used to change oil in cars and trucks was stored either in the reservoirs with metered pumps on them or quart cans. It was fun to watch the oil salesman pouring oil into dispensers.

The perimeter of the whole office area was encircled by v-belts for alternators, generators, water pumps, and air conditioning pumps. The office occupied only a small portion of the building. There were tires stored also. We sold Gates tires and Gates belts.

The tire machine was out in the garage next to the large garage door. The door had 3 panels. One panel opened against the office and the other two panels had a hinge that connected them and they articulated together to the other side of the opening. The floor was a bit lower than the sidewalks. When I was a bit older I was the master of the tire machine. I changed many tires with that old machine. It worked by attaching the center of the wheel that held the tire to a hub with a large nut that had a tapered face on it. The taper would center the wheel on the machine. There was a spring loaded pin that would fit in one of the lug holes on the wheel to keep it from spinning. The head of the machine was ratcheted so it would spin one direction but not the other. A set of bars with specially shaped ends made up the rest of equipment for tire repair.

We also had an assortment of hammers, wedges, and steel bars for manipulating truck and tractor tires. Back in those days we used inner tubes in the tires to hold the air pressure.

I remember spending a few hours on the river on some of those tubes.

In the back of the garage was the shop where the mechanic would do more major type work.

Half way back was the grease rack. The rack would raise vehicles into the air to allow easy access to the bottom of the vehicle. The grease rack was bordered by a greasy table with drawers and grease and oil dispensers.

We used cloth rags to wipe excess grease (of which there was plenty). The rags were collected for a period of time and then would be cleaned by a commercial cleaner from Alamosa.

Delivery and sales people would come visit us to stock our cabinets and equipment. I wish I had some pictures of all this.

I learned to weld by trial and error. We had a stick welder and an oxy-acetylene torch.

Great Grandchildren,

Our first great grandchild is Matthew. I can't think of the order they came so I will do them by families. Don and Gloria have Jason and Becky, Adam, Aubree, Katee and Riley. Then Brandi, Austin and Jacob. Kent and Betty have Matthew, Luke, and Ashliegh and Hannah, the twins (Riley and Carly), Aubrey, and Chloe. Bonnie and Emery have Amber, Michael, and Maegen, Alex, Anthony, and Riley. Larry and Jeanette have Bradly, and Leslie. All of these people are our heritage from the Lord. We hope to get to keep all of them.

Our Family

I have wanted to add more but have had a hard time getting on the post. After Marcy was added to our family, we got Danette, She has been a great joy to me. then Cory, he was our first grandson. Andrea and Robert and Shandi and Emery J, came along, Arlo, Craig, Brian, Julie, Monica, Anita, John Henry, Debra, and Eric, When we got Betty, we got Brenda and Ed. This is all of the grandchildren that belong to Arlo and Me. My grandchildren are my pearls. I love every one of them.

Return to 3rd Street

The yard was overgrown with weeds and the windows were boarded up. I was frightened almost to death and afraid to let it show. The older kids in the neighborhood were conducting tours and it wasn't cool for me to show my fear.

I ducked my head and entered cautiously into the house that we considered haunted. The rancid smell attacked my nostrils and I strained to adjust to the light as particles of dust hung and danced in the rays of light that entered between the boards on the windows. We went into the pantry where food had been left by the family that had abandoned the house. Someone had broken a glass jar of peaches. The sweet smell of the syrup was inviting, but the environment was not.

I nearly turned and bolted when I began to hear strains of organ music coming from the darkened doorway to my left. I could not show my uneasiness so I followed my playmates as they entered the dining room.

I was aghast as I saw him hanging there in the arch between the living room and the dining room. His head listed to the left and the arms of his flannel shirt hung limply to his sides. The fingers of his gloves fit loosely. He had only one boot on his right side. His left pant leg was pinned up. There was a crutch laying on the floor beneath him. My terror was overwhelming, but my determination to appear tough was stronger.

I don't remember how we got out of the haunted house that day. I do remember the anxiety I felt as we spent our first night in the house.

The house had belonged to a Dominguez family, but they abandoned it for some reason.

The house was auctioned to satisfy the debt for back taxes and my parents decided to buy it. There was not a single pane of glass in the house that was whole. Every window had to be replaced. Brooms and dustpans were replaced with scoop shovels and buckets to remove the dirt and rubbish that had accumulated in the years since the house had been abandoned. Spider webs were removed from the corners of the ceilings that sagged from the weight of the dirt resting upon them. Plaster on the walls was cracked and fragile. It fell with just a touch.

We moved our furniture into the house. Lace curtains had been prepared and hung in the living room. Wax was spread on the unfinished hardwood floors. The room at the northwest corner of the house right off of the living room was assigned to the boys. The worn boards of the floor had been painted with battleship gray paint. There were two beds in the room. One double bed where my brothers slept, and my single bed.

As night approached, the shadows across the walls and ceilings began to lengthen. There was a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling of the bedroom. As long as the light was on, I felt secure, but the time finally came that light was turned off. I was warm from the beautiful patchwork quilt laying over my twin bed, but my heart was chilled as the shadows under the beds darkened. I was afraid to hang my hand over the mattress for fear that some unseen being would grab it from underneath.

Sleep finally overcame the fear. When I woke in the morning, all was well.

January Musings -- by Larry

It has been a while since I have written a regular family letter. I don't know that I can explain why I have not taken the initiative to write, but it seems to get harder and harder to write.

Jeanette has been teaching seminary for the past 2-1/2 years. I amaze at the effort she puts into preparing and thinking about seminary. We get up at 4:45 in the morning to make sure that Debra and Jeanette get to seminary in time to make sure things are prepared. They go hop in Grey and head to the church at about 5:30.

While Jeanette and Debra are gone to seminary I am riding my stationary bike and listening to the History Channel. After working up a sweat I go get some breakfast and then go to the shower. Now it is my turn to get ready to go to work. Around 6:00 I head out the door and say goodbye to Eric, who is mostly lethargic lying on the couch.

I, owe; I owe; so off to work I go. I work all day and return home to play.

Eric and Debra are both doing well in school. Debra is involved in Choir. Eric also sings in choir. Eric likes soccer and played in a team last year, he participates in school soccer too. Debra has some fine art that she has produced in the recent past. Both of them are examples to all of us.

are you there Hansens?

I would like to verify that those in Wellsville got lots of snow!

The one on the left is snow in the back yard... the black spot is the trampoline. I hope no one falls off! the one on the top right is the front sidewalk. I am thinking this pile is even higher than the one Andrea got a few years ago! the one on top left is their mailbox, in case you want to send a letter.

Like Father, like son

Here is Cory's toy he got this last fall, 2007. I remember when Cory was little, just old enough to talk he would call his father's motorcycle the 'hudden-hudden'! How they both loved to ride those motorcycles! Then I remember the time that Cory had an accident dislocating his hip on the way to Farmington on his week-old red 'crotch-rocket'. I am very thankful we still have a Cory with us today. He is a special son. ... and has a special family.

Additions to our family

As the years went after we got Gloria and Marcy we also got Danette and Cory in our family Also Kent Married Phyllis and Andrea and Robert were part of our family. Bonnie married Emery and over the years, Shandi, Emery J, Monica and John Henry came too. Then Larry married Jeanette and we got Arlo, Craig, Brian, Julie, Anita, Debra and last of all came Eric. There were some changes in our family and we got our dear Betty and Brenda and Eddie. Then came the next chapter. We got great grandchildren. Like I said that is another chapter, for another day.

Model 97 62 Winchester .22 Caliber Rifle (without a compass in the stock)

This is a picture of a Model 97 62 Winchester .22 Caliber Rifle. My father's three sons all had a go at this thing. Donnie shot a hole in mom's bed with it. Larry (I) borrowed it without permission.

Larry (that's me) and Tim Haslett were out with the .22 rifle one day (without permission) plunking at things. We went out of town to the southeast.



We shot at rocks and cans and other things. There was a bird up in the tree about 50 feet up. Plunk! The bird rotated around the branch on with it supported itself. I must have hit it.

About that time we noticed a big red truck in the distance. It was my dad in his delivery truck from Conejos County Gas and Oil. Of course he recognized me. He came to inquire as to our activities, but before he could get there I dropped the rifle in the bottom of the dry ditch to try and hide that I had it. I am not sure if he knew I had the rifle or not, he may have known, but he told us to stay out of trouble and told me to get home. I left the rifle there with the intent of coming later to get it.

Irrigation in town is performed by running water through open ditches in town and then backing the water up with small dams or headgates in the ditch. It was somebodies time to water, and water was turned down the ditch. The rifle was still there. I retrieved the rifle, but not before it had developed a irregular coating of redish brown material. It rusted!

I took the rifle home and told my dad what had happened. He did not seem to surprised, and he told me to fix it. I bought some bluing, cleaned the rust, and reconditioned the rifle. I used this rifle extensively after that.

This is what I remember it looked like.



Kent received the rifle. Donnie and I already had our times with it.

Donnie

Donnie and his friends did many things together. These are some of the things that I remember.

Ed, Red, and Fred (Eddie Holland, Donnie Vance, and Freddie Holman) were on the church basketball team. They had uniforms with those names on them and they thought it was cool.

Donnie was nicknamed "Stump". He and his friends had acquired some illicit beverages for boys their age. There was an old apple tree next to the house that had died. The tree was hollow. He placed the stash in the cavity of the tree thinking it was safe. Dad found his cache and decided to get rid of that old stump and set it on fire. The fire was enough to heat the concealed liquid and cause it to burst.

Donnie liked to hunt. One day he was emptying the 22 rifle in our parents' bedroom when a cartridge in the chamber discharged. The bullet went through the bed and into the wood floor.

Bonnie Lynn

This was one of the first times that I tried to say something significant and nobody was listening, not much has changed. I am so proud to be a part of the Arlo and Gatha Vance family.

This was one of memorable moments of our family outings at Wolf Creek pass. If sombody would have listened then they may have heard some wisdom. That's why we are such a miss-informed bunch.

Now listen and I will try to enlighten you. I like the blogg only I think it should be more like bologna. Love you all and I would love to add my two bits. Bonnie...........

The Years Go By -- Marcy, Our First Grandchild

The night Marcy was born was an exciting time for Arlo and me. on July 23, in the middle of the night, Helen, Gloria's mom called us and said they couldn't get hold of Donnie. He was working for the phone company and was staying at a hotel in San Luis. The people at the hotel said he and his working buddy had checked out and we we drove to San Luis to try to find them. We went to the hotel and they told us the same story.

We drove all over San Luis and didn't find their Phone Company Truck so we started to leave there when a pickup from the Phone company was stopped at a stop sign and we talked to him there. He was going to the hotel to see where his crew was. We followed him to the hotel. He demanded to see the room, where they had been. They were there in bed.

Donnie went home and Marcy had already been born. She was born on th24th of July. Her Grandpa Vance said she was "A real live Mormon, born on the 24th of July. That was quite a day. We went back home and put our float in the parade that day.

The Kids

Andrea Vance-Hurtubise-Dixon and Family Current Events

Uncle Larry asked me to write about some of the things that are going on with my family!

I don't know how to do that currently, I guess. Other than the regular hum-drum of our days, nothing is really "going on" with us!

Let me think.

Matthew is now a sophomore in high school. He is doing very well in school! Matthew's always been kinda quiet when it comes to friends and he usually doesn't really go anywhere. He's been coming out of that shell and going out to do more things with his friends. Luke seems to always tag along, not only because he likes hanging out with his bigger brother, but because Matthew's friends have siblings the same age as Luke! It's nice to see that they have a good relationship with each other and do things voluntarily with each other!

We found out in the fall, through a Kaiser doc, that Matthew MAY have scoliosis. Matthew had an appointment with an orthopedic doctor with Kaiser on Wednesday last week 01/30/2008. Doc says that it doesn't look like scoliosis, but rather another form of curvature to the spin. Scoliosis curves to the right, his curves to the left. He said something else may be going on to make it curve to the left and we now have to get an MRI done on his whole back, in three sections. I wasn't impressed with the doctor and I wish that I would have been better prepared with questions for him. But basically what I got from the visit is that there isn't any kind of treatment that would help it, other than surgery to fuse the spine. I DON'T WANT THAT FOR MATTHEW! He hasn't complained about his back hurting. I've always been the one worried about the "hump" on his back. I really need to get in gear and figure out what kind of exercises can strengthen his back so that he will not have a life of pain! I worry about the jobs that he'll be on his feet for long periods of time! I'm very proud of Matthew and his strengths!

Luke's in Sixth grade and has been struggling with school. I don't think that he's struggling with understanding the work, but completing his homework. Working full-time makes it hard to have the energy to stay on top of his school work and then having two homes and two different ways of dealing with his parents, he's manipulated us to believe that he's doing ok. After parent teacher conferences, and hearing ALL his teachers say that he's missing the majority of his work, that he's a smart kid, and they know that he can do 100% better, that he flies under their radar; I've made him keep a planner and then I've had to make him have his teacher's sign it so I know we are all on the same page! Matthew was always so disciplined in getting his homework done, I would take his word for it and Luke just isn't Matthew and I have to remember that! As far as I know, for the last month, he's been doing better. But he's been trying to get me to let him go to his friends houses, when I told him he had to show me for a month that he was doing better and progressing before he would have that priviledge. Other than school Luke is a sweet loving young man and I am very proud of him!

Ashleigh's in the first grade, loves school and is always playing like she's a teacher! I love to listen to her mimic her teachers and pretend to give lessons. She wears out her whiteboards writing her classmates names; writing math problems; practicing her spelling. She's had a little bit of trama this year just before Christmas, due to the death of a classmate. The story has gone national, I don't know if you've read about it or not!?

Jeff has the kids every Wednesday, Thursday and every other Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Those little breaks help keep us all sane. The kids need their Dad and he sure makes sure that he is there for them when they need him!

I myself am still at the same job I've been for 13 years now. I work for a Law Firm in southern Longmont. Our firm is making a move and it is way over due! Looks like we will be moving downtown.

MONDAY!

I wake up every Monday morning with the thought! THIS BED IS SO WARM, I WANT TO STAY IN IT ALL DAY LONG!

However, I must get up and get ready for work, so I can make the cheese to support my babies!
I try to get ready but it doesn't always work out on time. I seem to drag my feet!

It's snowing today and I'm not looking forward to the commute back home! Our office is also making a change and I feel like dragging my feet on that one as well, but know that I cannot!

I wish you all a good day!

Snow ball fight anyone?

Anyone ready for a snowball fight? How about snow angels, or a snowman building contest?

due to the snowy weather Don had to stay home this past week and work around Kanab, instead of going out of town. But who knows how long that will last?

Hansens' have snow waist deep at their house. I was told if it keeps up today they will not be able to find their mailbox! Does that bring back memories of Colorado?

My first day in a foreign country

The first day of of my mission in Mexico was one that I shall never forget. I had done quite well in the Language training mission in Provo. I really talked good Spanish with the other missionaries, but experiencing the language and the culture in Mexico was something that I was not prepared for!

I arrived in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon where everything moves at the speed of light. The bus stops were crowded and the bus stopped in a screaming cloud of dust. Everyone packed themselves onto the bus, and it launched itself in another cloud of roaring powder.

My first assignment was in Torreon, Coahuila.

I traveled there in anticipation and when I arrived, they spoke a version of Spanish that I could not understand. I felt helpless. I arrived in Torreon with the hope that there would be someone there to greet me, but there was no greeting party at the bus terminal. I had the address of my first companion scrawled on a slip of paper in my pocket.

I grabbed my suitcases and hailed down a taxi. The gentleman driving the taxi was kind, but he talked in a brogue that fell on my ears like jibberish. He helped me pack up my luggage and we were off.

When we got to the address, the windows on the west side of the building were boarded up, and my heart sank. I was in a foreign country where I couldn't understand the language and I was so unprepared for solving problems in a country where I could not communicate.

I handed my wallet to the driver and let him take what I owed him. When I think about that now, it makes me shudder. He could have really taken advantage of this foolish young gringo, but he didn't. He took only the fare and he handed me my wallet and drove away.

I was just about to succomb to my despair when the door of the house opened and my new companion came out to rescue me. What a wonderful feeling it was to have someone I could lean on that had been in the country for a while and could navigate the city so adeptly.

I went to bed that night much more secure and a little wiser. I had more faith in mankind because of the kindness of the taxi driver. I was now ready to embark on an experience over the next two years that would strengthen my commitment to my Savior, that would teach me about the goodness of the people in the world and that would enhance my gratitude for my own wonderful country.