Kids Really Do Say the Darndest Things !

The other day one of my seven-year-old piano students came to the door bearing a Christmas card. She shyly gave it to me and said: You can't open that until Christmas ! I said: Okay, fine--I won't ! Then she said: But you can open it right now if you want to ! I asked her if she wanted me to open it and she said: Yes. So I did. It was a cute card and inside it held a coupon for a free car wash at Supersonic Car Wash. The 'works' it said. She was smiling and said: You have a new car don't you? I said: Yes. She said: Yeah.....and it is really dirty ! You need to clean it ! I started laughing and told her that we would use this coupon to do just that very thing. Then she said to me: And don't worry that we spent money on that---we didn't !! My dad has tons of those--he gets them for free---so we just gave you one of his ! Didn't cost us a penny !

Holiday Moves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Some of the men in my family

Four generations of men-Pat, Miles, Spencer, Ryan and Grandpa Wilkins







The ever-so-proud Papa with Ryan.
What a smile !

Our three little grandsons-from youngest to oldest !

3 things

Kristine tagged me way back in September ! Yeah---I know---I'm slow ! Age does that to a person ! So here goes the answers to the tag of '3 Things' :

*3 favorite last purchases: Our new car; new couches; and a new rug.
*3 fears: I'm afraid of dentists; large crowds; and falling.
*3 favorite movies: Prancer; Anne of Green Gables; While You Were Sleeping
*3 facts about me: I'm very bashful when in a crowd; I like to be home when it is dark; I love to mow my lawn.
*3 things I can't live without: Cookies; a yard to work in; animals
*3 things on todays list: Dentist (my greatest fear); Costco; pay bills.
*3 favorite dishes: Anything Mexican; lasagna; scalloped potatoes
*3 places I have lived: Paul, Idaho; Roswell, New Mexico; Provo, Utah (and P.G.)
*3 favorite TV shows: Designed to Sell; What Not to Wear; Decorating Cents
*3 places I have traveled: Hawaii; New York; Nauvoo
*3 favorite desserts: anything with apples in it; cookies; coconut cake
*3 things I would buy if money weren't an issue: Greenhouse; an addition on the house; trip to Switzerland
*3 wishes: Prettier feet; some granddaughters (nothing against the grandsons--just want balance ! ); another road trip.
*3 people to tag: Emily, Rachael, Allison

Ahhhhh.........Fall

I have officially decided that Fall is my favorite time of year. Used to think it was Spring----but the colors of Fall have captured me this year and so it wins out !

Facelift

When women want a feel good thing---they go shopping or get their haircut--go to a chick flick. What does a house do when it wants a 'feel good thing?? Well--it gets a facelift !! It gets a newly painted door; painted handrail; painted shutters;painted numbers; and new light fixtures ! (Shutters and light fixtures are on their way ! ) Watching shows like 'Designed to Sell'; Curb Appeal; Decorating Cents----well that just gets me motivated to do lots and lots of things. Patrick shudders everytime he sees me watching such shows because he knows what is on the way !

Who Has Quirks??

Quirks?? I was tagged by Rachael and supposed to list Patrick and I's quirks?? Do Parents have those?? I have had to think long and hard about that........thus why it has taken me so long to reply. So here goes.....

Patrick's Quirks:

1. He picks his fingers incessantly !
2. Brushes his teeth until the enamel is gone !
3. Will brake on the freeway for a wrench, nail, or any other 'tool'--of which he
already has plenty of !
4. Gets lost telling a story because he takes off on a side trip that eventually
leads him back to the story !

Marlene's Quirks:

1. Very impatient--want things done sooner than later.
2. Dirty floors REALLY bug me--have to vacuum and sweep every day--sometimes twice
a day !
3. My face turns red whenever attention is focused on me---HATE THAT !!
4. I do not use the dishwasher nor do I have a cell phone--I have not advanced
into the modern world !

Think that will suffice for quirks from the old folks? I'm sure the kids can add to the list---and no doubt will ! So feel free !

Miles Rigby Cox has arrived !

Road Trip -- Back East or Bust !

Alrighty--Here's the Dirt !

Well, I have successfully proved that I am computer illiterate !! I attempted to answer Rachael's blog--and finished all of it--then I conveniently did something and lost it and do not know how to bring it back up ! So--a second try I will give this !

1. What is his name? Patrick Michael Box
2. Who eats more? Well, when I am home all day long--figure it out for yourselves !! When we go out to eat--definitely him.
3. Who said 'I love you' first? Honestly---I do not remember--it has been too many years ago !
4. Who is taller? Definitely Patrick--by about 5 or 6 inches.
5. Who is smarter? Do we even need to ask that one???? Who helped the kids with their homework ?? It wasn't their mother when it came to Math !!!
6. Who is more sensitive? Patrick is a big softy--really. He cries over a lot of things--even movies !! But I like to think that I am sensitive, too.
7. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I sleep on the right side, the left side, the middle, the top , and the end !! Does that leave any room for Patrick??
8. Who pays the bills? Now--really---most women do that ! The men remember after the fact--so who wants all those late fees??
9. Who cooks more? More?? I can count on one hand the times Patrick actually cooked ! And I am not counting hot dogs and macaroni and cheese as cooking either !
10. Who is more stubborn? Well---he will say me--and I am stubborn--but I think he is. I will bend sometimes--he usually does not.
11. Who is the first to admit they are wrong? Definitely not him--that Box pride gets in the way of that !
12. Who has more siblings? He does---6 in their family and only 3 in mine.
13. Who wears the pants in the relationship? You know men--they think they do ! But secretly--we women are controlling everything making them think that they are !
14. What do you like to do together? Man oh man---lots of things. Traveling and seeing different places. Going to a good movie. Institute. Babysitting the grandkids.
We loved watching American Idol together this season--I finally got him hooked ! And we even like to watch 'What Not to Wear' together !
15. Who eats more sweets? When you say 'cookies' and I'm around---need you even ask that question?? When it is chocolate--definitely him, though.
16. Guilty pleasures? Hmmmmm...that one---ice cream for me. Can't really answer that one for him---
17. How did you meet? We met in my sisters apartment the first time. We were in the same branch at BYU. I was not impressed the first time I met him--at all. In December, our branch had a dance and I was being pestered by a young man. He was getting pretty out of hand and I could not get away from him. Patrick stepped up and asked me to dance to get me away from him. He was my Knight in Shining Armor after that !
18. Who asked whom out first? Patrick asked me out shortly after we met. We went to the BYU Folkdancers Christmas Around the World.
19. Who kissed who first? Patrick did--but not on the first date--the second date.
20. Who proposed? Patrick drove from Roswell, New Mexico all the way to San Francisco where I was with my sister and her husband. He came at the time California was having a water shortage and I had not showered for a few days ! Lovely though I was--with my pigtails dripping from grease--he proposed over-looking the San Francisco Bridge. Very romantic !
21. His best features and qualities? Well, a lot of people will not agree with the first one--but patience. Not while driving--but most of the other times. Especially with me. He is a hard worker. He is funny when he allows himself to let himself go. He loves his family. He is very friendly.


Okay--so that is over with ! Are you satisfied Rachael??? Now Emily Elizabeth Box Cox--let's hear from you !

Our New Little Grandson

Where Have the Years Gone?

Today my 'baby' is 21 years old ! Hard to believe that she is a grown woman and married and living her own life. She is out on her own--not being stuffed into a cradle and being the 'baby' while her brother and sister play house ! So Happy Birthday Rachael ! You have grown into quite the young lady.

Red Fish

Yummy !! Who wouldn't want one of Patrick's specialties? Late night blackened-crispened Polish sausages !! What---no takers??

Red Fish

Behold the great fisherwoman!! She caught the biggest fish this year (actually the only fish !) We do hope that she scrubs those knee pits after playing in the lake !

Red Fish

Red Fish Lake

Ahhhhh.......Red Fish !! We look forward to it every year--and this year was as spectacular as ever ! We were three fewer as far as family members go. Spencer and Alli and Aaron were not able to be with us this year. We did miss them--but we did not let that stop our fun ! The lake did not break the ice until May 19th this year---so needless to say--the water was very, very cold this year. We were not as brave and daring as usual because of the colder temperatures. But we did enjoy kayaking; paddle boating; catching fish and just sitting on the dock. Marmoo--the one terribly afraid of water--over came a fear of hers this year, too. She jumped from the dock into the lake--and we are not talking the wading section of the lake ! NO ! We are talking --the over-the-head-section of the lake ! Thanks to Pattycakes hand-holding and convincing talks--Marmoo jumped into the water and actually did not drown ! She nearly drowned Pattycakes instead attempting to get out of the water ! Poor Pattycakes--what a trooper he was. And now--Christopher---I did it !!!! So there !!!

Strawberry Days

Another year of Pleasant Grove Strawberry Days has come and gone. We celebrated it by staying away from the Mammoth parade ! We went to American Fork where it was quiet and peaceful. Patrick bought himself a router to help with his new-found hobby of furniture making ! We did, however, partake of the Strawberry Days rodeo. It was enjoyable for the most part. Spencer had entered the wild cow milking event and that was a thrill to watch ! Crazy men out chasing an even crazier cow ! The lucky cow that Spencer and his group drew out came out like a bullriding event ! Bucking and kicking the entire time ! Needless to say---they did not make it to the first place belt buckle ! Maybe next year? Next year we want to see Bennett in the Mutton Busting event ! Watch our sheep---here he comes ~!

Papa's Truck

Our first day of watching Bennett went by smoothly without any problems. He is such a good little boy. Marmoo and Bennett played until Marmoo realized just how old she really is ! I understand very clearly why we have children while we are young !

Papa stopped by to visit for a few minutes and Bennett wanted to sit in the truck with Papa. He really wanted to go for a ride---but Papa did not have the time right then. So just sitting had to suffice.

Father's Day

Father's Day this year was spent up at Chris and Emily's. Christopher received a new barbeque grill for his father's day gift--and it had to be tried out first thing ! So burgers it was and good burgers, too ! Papa's little Bennett gave him a treasured Papa's Day gift. The joys of grandchildren ! In one month, we will have the first ever Box grandchild and in two months, we will have another Cox grandchild. Can life get any better?

Don't Be Too Shocked !

Due the the high demand and interest in our lives--we have decided to join the ranks of those blogging ! Now I know that it is hard to believe that two people as old as we are can grasp the knowledge of technology ! But just you wait ! We will have pictures and all kinds of things on this blog--once we figure out how to do it ! Our lives are so full of excitement and entertainment that you all should be awaiting anxiously our next blog !