My Dad ... The Man Who Would Give Anyone the Shirt off His Back

Ok... so if you know my dad you know he is quite a character. From the spelling of his name IVon (yes that is capital I, capital V and don't get that wrong), to the way he answers his phone "Walls Summer home, some are in and some are out, who would you like to speak to?" he is a very unique man.

But I think one of his most unique and wonderful characteristics is his generosity and life long giving. My mom and dad were always so incredibly generous to anyone in need -- they gave their money, their time, their home and most importantly their love to anyone in need. I have so many examples, most of which I will not share because he would be embarrassed that I did not keep them private. I will be forever grateful for his giving nature and what it has taught me and my children.

Today he had the grandkids come over and he gave us money to buy gifts for the Women's Shelter Candy Cane Program, The Road Home and The Family Connection Center. We piled in the cars and went shopping. The kids had a great time picking out gifts for mostly teens (apparently they get lots of stuff for kids/babies and not a lot for teens) and it was a great opportunity for us to talk to them about the kids who are homeless, or in a shelter away from an abusive father, or just are lower income and don't have all of the things we have. We added some cash to the bags of presents and one car headed up to Layton and the rest of us headed downtown. What a great example to me and to all of his grandkids.

This is the type of thing he did over and over growing up. Just a few examples that I don't think he would mind me sharing:
* He always gave poor people money on the street or often would buy them dinner.
* He brought a homeless guy to church with us and told him if he'd come to church he'd buy him a bus ticket to wherever he was trying to get.
* Every year our family did a Sub-for-Santa for someone and now every year he has the grandkids do a sub-f0r-santa or he gives a needy family money.
* Anytime a missionary goes out he always gives them money, and if he hears me talk about a missionary going out in my ward he often gives me cash to give to them.

Thanks dad for teaching us the importance of giving and sharing... I know 20 years from now my own kids will think of you when someone is in need... and hopefully they will follow in your footsteps.

Polar Express 2009 -- A Fun Christmas Surprise

In following Hess family tradition, we planned a Christmas surprise for the kids. A few months ago we got tickets with the Mayfields for the Polar Express. We didn't tell our kids... good job Mayfield kids for keeping the secret... we didn't tell them until we were pulling up to the train station, although we gave them lots of hints along the way.

Bundled up in robes and jammies -- we had a great time. With hot chocolate, dancing servers, elves, reading of Polar Express, Santa and Mrs. Claus a great time was had by all. We even drove by the North Pole during the trip.

Cameron had a new robe, just like the little boy from the Polar Express movie, and was so fascinated by every little thing. Great Christmas memories!!!!

Top 10 Things I Loved about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert

Ok... so I couldn't narrow it down to just 10 things so I've added a runner up category and two #1s.

(Runners up... Kenzi getting "heeled" and losing a shoe while rushing into her spot. Wandering through the mazes under the Conference Center and Temple to go to dinner. Kenzi getting up the nerve to talk to Mr. Weeden, the librarian the kids love... he is in the MoTab. Watching the great choir give all of the little kids high fives and "elbows" as they walked past one another in the hall. Hearing Mac Wilberg tell the tenors they were a little flat on one note in one song... how the heck can he hear that with everything that was going on! Sitting with the kids and the choir in the Conference Center after the last performance while they all enjoyed the organ solo and watched the dancers and Christmas tree come up.)

10. The Conference Center... it is so beautiful!
9. The abundance of women's bathrooms at the Conference Center. I've yet to ever wait in a line for the bathroom there.
8. The amazing production.. 139 kids, 380+ Mo Tab, 50+ orchestra, 50+ dancers, bells, etc. The number that ends in 'O Christmas Tree' with the dancers and the tree coming up from under the stage. WOW!!
7. The Holly & the Ivy with Natalie Cole
6. David McColllough talking about and introducing his wife of 50 years... so sweet!
5. Watching the cameras pan the faces of the choir kids and seeing parents and choir directors getting so excited.
4. The spirit that amazingly beautiful music brings to my heart! I love, love, love Christmas music!
3. Kenzi getting to meet and take a picture with Bronco Mendenhall. And totally cool Bronco giving her his BYU bracelet he was wearing when she told him her dad was a big BYU Football fan. (He was so cute to Kenzi!)
2. The Organ Solo ... so great!
1. Watching sweet Kenzi's face on the big screen singing Angels in their Realms of Glory. I cry whenever they sing that song and to see Kenzi on a close up singing made my heart melt.

The Other 1. The presentation after the concert with President Monson, Natalie Cole and David McCollough. President Monson talked and thanked both of them... saying "the five most important words... we are proud of you ... and the two most important words... thank you." Natalie Cole then talked and said how impressed she was by the Mormons and the amazing experience she had. She thanked President Monson for the family history information he gave her and said how grateful she was we share a common faith in Jesus. David McCollough then talked about his wife and told a little history story about John Adams and a discussion with Ralph Waldo Emerson. He said that we need to have more ambition in order to succeed. Not ambition to gain power or money, but ambition to excel. He then said that during the past several days he had seen such a desire to excel and that the Tabernacle Choir, along with things like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Marshall Plan as an American icon and all that they contribute to the history and meaning of our country. President Monson seemed to be welling up with emotion while the two of them talked. President Monson and Natalie Cole hugged and then the choir sang "God Be With You Til We Meet Again." Natalie Cole fought back tears the whole song and it was very touching. Val and I decided the Sunday morning broadcast is one of the best concerts because you get to see all of the "cool" stuff at the end.

I'm sure this whole experience has meant much more to me than Makenzie, but hopefully someday she'll realize what an amazing and unique event she was able to participate in. What a wonderful Christmas for all of the kids who got to participate.

Gone Baby Gone... and within 2 1/2 minutes of posting

I finally broke down last week and bought a new car (well new to us). Can I tell you how nice it is to drive up a hill and have the transmission actually shift -- and to have kids in the car and not worry that we might not make it home?

Anyway... I posted the old Durango on ksl.com this afternoon and within 3 minutes someone called, met us to look at it and bought it a few hours later. On the phone he asked if we would hold it for him until he got there. I gave him disclaimer after disclaimer with all of the problems it has and he assured me he was a mechanic and would know what he was getting. (Horrid memories of the car buying stalker Dave and I had to deal with when we sold our CRV 15 years ago!)

I laughed thinking it was just a fluke we happened to get called so quickly. Well... not so much I think. Before I could get home and mark it sold on ksl.com I had 3 more calls about.

Apparently, there is quite a market for an SUV in pretty good exterior/interior condition -- but major engine problems.

Goodbye Durango that has so many great memories... we won't really miss you at all!!!

I have to agree with this... and my own opening night photo fun!

You may know that I'm not the biggest Twilight fan of the world... won't go into all the reasons here, but I do love the hysteria involved. So I joined my great friends who are Twilight Lovers for opening night 12:40 am movie. A bunch of us went to dinner at 10:00 pm and we had a great time despite the New Moon hangover for the next two days. (For the record, I'm Jacob all the way...)

I actually told Dave the morning after I went to the movie that I know it is totally hypocritcal but if he and a bunch of his friends went to a midnight show to watch a bunch of young girls I'd kill him. My cousin and I and the check-out ladies at Dick's also had this discussion the other night, and then Dave found this on the internet ... we laughed and laughed!

A few photos of our Twilight night are below...My great friend and Twilight LoverDinner at Z'Tejas

Merry Christmas to you...

Ten-year-old Kenzie Hess sings "Merry Christmas to You" Saturday with the One Voice Children's Choir at The Gateway to kick off the holiday season in SLC.

(Michael Brandy, Deseret News)

Love this picture from the Gateway Lights on Concert on Saturday night -- it was on the Deseret News website Sunday morning. I wasn't able to go because I was with Lauren at the temple, but Kenzi sang a solo on a beautiful Christmas song Masa wrote this year.

The part Kenzi sings is a verse "if He (meaning Jesus) were here I'm sure He would say... Merry Christmas to You, I gave that feeling to you..." and continues on from there. I love the look on Kenzi's face -- she takes words very seriously when she sings and I knew exactly what she was singing just by the look in her eyes.

Happy 12th Birthday Lauren!

Lauren and Cory -- Bountiful Temple 11/21/09

Yesterday was Lauren's 12th birthday... how in the world has 12 years passed since she was born? I still remember the 1st time we saw her as they brought her in the room all wrapped up in a beautiful white blanket. It was definitely love at first sight!

When we got home at midnight Nancy Wright had put pink balloons all over the yard and my family came over. Dad brought a cake -- that Pugsley proceeded to eat by sneaking up in the kitchen and climbing on the counter while we were all oohing and aahing over Lauren. The choas has continued to this day!!!

For her birthday Lauren wanted to do baptisms for the dead. Her cousin Cory (who also just turned 12) and Cottles, Walls and Grandpa joined us. Knowing that this was the kind of event my mom would "pop in and watch" and remembering the other times Lauren was at the temple during her sealing and Kenzi's sealing made this a little emotional for me. Dave, Uncle Mike and Jim (Cory's dad) helped do the confirmations and baptisms so it was especially cool to watch Dave baptize her!

Cory and Lauren loved doing baptisms and Lauren asked if we could go back next week!

So Lauren... my energetic, neat freak, organized, intelligent, beautiful pianist, extremely giving and generous, good money saver, good cook, athletic, enthusiastic, great back massager and incredibly loving baby girl... Happy Birthday!!!

Mom -- You are the most Beautifulest Mom in the Whole World... Even when your hair is messy!

I love that at one point in their lives all kids idolize their moms! When Kenzi was in preschool at least 3 times I day she would say "Mom, you are so beautiful! Dad is so lucky to have married you!" I think I heard that from her every day for about a year.

So this morning Cam and snuck into our bed and about 6:00 am he woke up, looked at me and said, "Mom, you are the most beautifulest mom in the whole world... even when your hair is messy. I love you, I love you, I love you!" This random, but welcomed comment was followed by a big kiss, a huge hug and then turned over and immediately fell back to sleep.

Too bad my kids grow out of this stage!! (Except for when they want something and they know if they start the sentance with "beautiful mom" their chances of getting what they want increase significantly... )

Cameron -- AKA Rocky Balboa

This afternoon I got the call you dread answering... "Stephanie, this is Debbie from Oak Hills. Cameron fell on the playground and cut his head. I'm pretty sure he'll need stitches, can you come up right away?"

I rushed up and the secretary met me in the parking lot -- I think to give me a heads up that he was pretty bloody so I didn't freak out. (Fortunately, little Kenzi had two sets up stitches in her head and I know that heads can blead a ton, even if it isn't that bad.)

CAM HATES BLOOD!!! He could chop off a limb and not care... until he saw the blood.

I walked in and Cam's teaching was holding him, blood all over his face. He was pretty upset. I peaked at the cut and wanted to barf. They told me he would definitely need to go to the ER, not the Dr. office.

He screamed the whole way up, but again, I think mostly because of the blood. I was really calm until I called Dave... well then came tears.

We got to Primary, got in there and after they put lidocaine on his head he calmed down and could finally tell me what happened.

He was running across the playground to go in from recess and ran right into another kid. Apparently, he was knocked to the ground and fell right on his head.

The cut was about 4 cm. and pretty deep -- deep enough you could see a bit of the skull. It slightly ripped some covering between the skull and skin so they gave him an antiobotic just in case in get infection.

He ended up with 29 stitches -- 3 on the bottom, 5 in the middle layer and 21 on top! He was so brave -- he didn't even have to be put under. They just wrapped him up like a little burrito and he watched TV. They had numbed his head, but he was so good. It took about an hour to clean and stitch him up.

While we were waiting Dave showed him pictures of Rocky Balboa -- now he thinks he is a cool boxer.

When we got home we had several wonderful friends and Granpda bring over treats/prizes/notes and send him GET WELL wishes. We really do have great people surrounding us!

So... thanks to the nice people at Primary, to Cameron's teacher who I'm sure went home with blood all over her and to our brave Cameron!!

Makenzie the Brave and Weapy One: The Story of Tonsilectomy

For the past 3 years Kenzi has battled multiple cases of strep -- 2-4 per year and several tonsilitis. After seeing the Dr. last week, we decided it was time to take the tonsils out! Thursday morning Kenzi, Lauren and I made a trek to the outpatient surgery and Kenzi had her surgery.

She was so brave going in. She wasn't nervous at all. Lauren was "wigging" out and Kenzi just laid there as they gave her an I.V. and told her what would happen. Lauren kept saying "it is ok Kenzi, it is ok" over and over and Kenzi kept saying "I know, it is fine."

She said she counted backwards from 100 -94 before she was fast asleep.

After the surgery -- she turned into the sweet, weepy child. When they took me back, she burst into tears and said it scared her when she woke up. She didn't know where she was or what had happened. She would stop crying when the Dr. or nurse would come in and then when they would leave she would get these big tear drops again! But, she wasn't complaining at all!!!

She had asked the Dr. if she could keep her tonsils so they had them in a jar. Oooeewww, they were sooo gross we decided to just take a picture and leave them there. The Dr. said her adenoids were really gross as well and she had "goop/bacteria/mucus/gunk" in them. I'm guessing she is going to be a much healthier Makenzie this fall.

Thanks for a high tolerance for pain and pain medication, she has done great. We've had so many nice family and friends bring popsicles, icecream, flowers, balloons, drinks, etc. The night before surgery she picked out 10 movies (many of which were Hannah Montanna episodes) and she has spent lots of time watching movies and playing games.

Today she actually showered, ventured out with me to get a Keva and is feeling much better. She has a way funny voice today and prefers just to use sign language.

Good job Kenzi!!!

The End of Preschool

Cam is officially 5 years old and just finished his year with Mrs. Wing. Lauren and Kenzi went there too -- and I actually told Pam to put him on the waiting list for 2008-09 when I was pregnant with Cam. Pam ended up being Cam's first official "crush"... and what better person to have a crush on. (Early in the year one day I saw Mrs. Wing at a church thing and she told me how much she loves Cameron. I told Cameron that and he told her the next day at preschool that "my moms says you are in love with me!" And his adoration for her has grown throughout the year.)

Anyway... it has been a great year and Cameron has loved ever minute of it.

One funny story involves two of his best friends -- Paige and Keaton. (Cameron loves Paige and they are so funny to watch. They have planned to get married someday if they can just over the Utah/BYU rivalry in a way without one of them not mad and in tears. When we go to the store they hold hands, they take care of each other -- and like all couples they have their drama too.) Misty told the story so well... I'm stealing from her blog.

Cut to Misty Mayfields blog.

"Paige adores Cam. Can you tell? She loves him so much that she doesn't want to share him with anyone else, which becomes a problem when you have 10 other kids in school with you who just might want to play with him, too. Enter Keaton ....Cameron and Keaton are friends, too, which frustrated Paige almost the entire year. She called Keaton her "worst enemy" and would report to us at dinner that she'd had a wonderful day when Keaton was absent or that she'd had a horrible day because "my best friend went home to play with my worst enemy!" Drama, that child. She was finally able to come to terms with Keaton by the end of the year and decided that he wasn't so bad after all. We haven't had a 3-way playdate or anything yet but we'll see. Baby steps." END MAYFIELD BLOG

Cam is such a sweet, loving and kind litte guy.. we love you!

Merry Christmas!

The past 2 weeks have been full of school ending, soccer tryouts, yard work, field trips, painting and ... yes Christmas Carols!

The choir puts a song on the FM 100 Christmas CD each year and Masa wrote a great new song. The brave girls both tried out for a solo part -- and Kenzi ended up getting a small solo in it.

We all went down to a beautiful recording studio in Alpine yesterday and they recorded for it. It was fun to watch them with the headphones and watch how the producer mixes the tracks, has them sing it once normally, once with "young voices", once enunciated and then they will mix it all together.

They played games while each group was recording and just had a great time. The kids in the choir are such good kids that really support each other.

I really love this choir... and Merry Christmas!

Our Home Science Project... with a Sad Ending

A couple of months ago I was weeding and went to pull a weed -- only to be surprised to find a nest under one of our plants. We soon discovered a quail had built a nest and laid 16 eggs.

Unfortunately the nest was right next to our front door, with kids in and out all day. It was also right by a sprinkler so it go wet ... a lot!

We watch as she and the dad spent day after day protecting the nest, warning each other when people would come and fighting off the enemies... our cat, 13 kids in the neighborhood, and a blue bird that seemed obsessed with trying to get their eggs. All of the neighbors would come over and check out the eggs and I even received "warning" phone calls when our neighbor would see the kids getting to close.

We've watched as the mother would "kick out" an egg or two and then break them open to find them empty or a dead little quail fetus.

We watched them in the morning after they had to fight off the cat or the blue bird try to clean up the nest area from their feather.

During the past two weeks the eggs have dwindled from 16 -- down to 3.

Saturday morning we woke up to find the nest empty (actually kind of cleaned out) and the last three eggs "kicked-out."

We were all so sad we didn't get to watch any of the babies hatch and wander around the neighborhood. I'm so sad for their weeks of work -- and no little babies to show for. I'm so sad our daily "quail" update is over.

Sorry little quails!

A Spanish Opera -- set in Atlantis .... Kenzi's 3rd Grade Opera

Ok... I have ever said how much I love Kenzi's teacher Miss Merrill? She is amazing in many, many ways. One of the best things this year was their opera they did in cooperation with the Utah Opera Festival.

They wrote the story, had it translated into Spanish, created a new score, painted their own scenery and helped design the costumes.

AMAZING!!!

I was one of the pianist for I went over once a week and played the piano and watched the whole thing evolve. The kids did a fantastic job and it was so much fun!

Suessical

Lauren and Kaylee Lyman joined 50+ other kids in a great production of Suessical. Lauren was Thing 1 and Kaylee was a Bird Girl. They had a great time and really did an amazing performance. A fun (if not extremely hectic) way to spend our winter months!!

Star-Spangled Banner at Real Game

A few weeks ago about 15 kids from the choir were asked to sing the Star-Spangled Banner at a Real Soccer Game. It was a beautiful night and the kids were amazing! Kenzi was one of the lucky ones to get to join them. A few pix from the night.

A couple of weeks later about 40 kids from the choir did the Star-Spangled Banner again. What a great experience for all of them -- and a lot of fun for us that went to watch.

Isn't it cool to learn to .... CLIMB THE LYMAN'S TREE!!!

There are certain milestones in a little kids' life that fascinate me. Some of Cam's have been:
* Learning to read words.
* Discovering his shadow (I used to love to take walks in the sun with him as he chased it around.)
* Riding a bike for the first time -- loved that with all my kids.
* And finally for Cameron ... climbing the neighbors' tree.

For years he has watched from below as his sisters climbed, played and hung out in the tree. We have a family rule -- if you can't get up and down yourself, you can't get on it.

A few weeks ago ... with a little encouragement from the new neighbors'... Cameron mastered the art of climbing the tree. He has scratches all over his back, legs, arms and stomach, but he loves it!!! He spent a solid week in the tree and now has entered the world of the BIG kids. Good job Camo!