Memories of Mom

I, along with my sister and brothers were able to reminisce about mom this weekend and compile a list of memories we never want to forget. Feel free to leave a comment at the end and share some of your own!

 Here are some of the reasons we love our mom...

• She loved "Trident" Cinnamon Gum, caramel corn balls and coconut anything (especially Alomond Joy's)
• She did not like Chocolate, beef or pork
• She was a great cook unless she lost track of time and burnt the food.  If she was chopping things on the cutting board, and you reached in to steal a bite, she would pretend to stab your finger with the knife. She even got us once or twice.
• She was very creative but not frilly and crafty.
• She was frugal. She would clip coupons and like a gift even more if she knew you got it on sale.  She would never spend money on herself, but would on others. We drank powdered milk most of our childhood.  
• She had a beautiful alto voice and was amazing at her favorite calling as Primary Chorister.  She always sang to her children and grandchildren.  Songs like “My Mommy Said If I’d Be Good” and “The Dummy Line” will be passed down for generations.
• When she set her mind to something she would make it happen.  She taught herself to clog and started her own clogging studio.
• She always had dinner on the table and the laundry done.  The house was cluttered with 6 children, but never dirty.
• She was very supportive of my dad and his work.
• She always had a job, even if it was just a paper route.
• She would engage in “discussions” with her kids until late at night, at which point my dad would come out and say “stop arguing”  mom would always respond “we are not arguing were having a discussion.” And we really were, we were just loud.
• She hated having her picture taken and always had to stand in the back.
• She would drop what she was doing to read a book or play games with her grandkids.  They loved it when she would hum and beat the rhythm of primary songs on their belly as they tried to guess what song it was.  No one could give a back scratch like grandma.
• She hated driving in traffic and unfamiliar cities, and got lost on more than one occasion
• She had an incredible imagination and would tell her children and grandchildren amazing stories she would make up to go to bed at night.  We always told her she should write a book.
• She loved watching movies but only if they had a “Happily Ever After” ending.  If not, she would say “Who would waste their time watching a movie that ended like that!” She loved “Hallmark” movies.  She also loved the T.V. show “Murder She Wrote”.
• She loved to play cards unless she was sitting next to dad who she swore always stole her cards.  She would complain that she never got anything good and then go down and set us all.
• She made the best bagged Turkey and next day turkey noodle soup.
• She started the tradition of Christmas Cereal and sparkling cider next to our stockings and a new Christmas ornament every year.
• She was very opinionated and came off as intimidating, but was really very tender hearted.
• She was great at English but a terrible speller
• She would call us a “Freakazoid” if were being stupid. A jerk if she was mad at us, and a jack…(donkey) if she was really mad at us.
• Whenever we miss-behave she told us she would send us to the orphanage.
• She cried the first time she saw one of her kids drinking caffeine.
• She always wore red slippers.
• She was gullible, especially with her boys.
• She loved to visit and would stay up all night chatting.
• She loved books on tape and Rush Limbaugh and Dr. Laura on talk radio.
• Every year on her birthday she would wish for a million dollars.  Then the economy got worse and she upped it to 2 million
• She was a fierce protector of her children, especially her daughters! When Garrett asked my parents permission to marry me my mom’s answer was “The only reason you want to marry my daughter is because you have such hot pants!”
• She was always looking at house plans and planning for her dream home someday. 
• Fighting over who got to break the wishbone with mom at Thanksgiving.
• She always wore coconut or vanilla scented perfume.