Picking Sticks!

Picking sticks was a right of passage for us.

After the first few days, you didn't care that you got a paycheck.

You just wanted to be able to stay at home again.

I think that these two may have got an earlier start than some of us!

But by the time it was their turn Jana, Jared, Kara and Karli were married and gone.

Kaelen was probably on his mission.

Kyle and Garyn were out working the cows.

So the task fell to these two.

But they were proably just happy to be treated to a Slurpee afterwards.

Good memories in the making.

And now they have fields to look over and appreciate.

Dad's dream come true.

Consequences

Mom and Dad always believed in consequences.

For EVERYTHING!

But I guess it turned out okay.

But I noticed over the years that they got a little lenient.

So I would have hated to see what they would have done to us if we got kicked off the bus as Kasey and Korlyn did way back when.

Their consequence?

Walking all the way home from Prariedale Elementary.

In the cold and snow.

Now as a parent, I think, AWESOME!

But those boys were tired when they got home.

What is that? About 5 miles?

What grades were you boys in?

And why did you get kicked off the bus?

Family Pictures Over the Years

Oh how photography has changed.

How we have changed.

And thankfully, how clothing has changed!

Enjoy a walk through time.



This may be the only time Jared and I got along as children.
Don't we look happy?



Someone should have taken the curling iron away from Mom.
I imagine Jana got hit with a comb or two for this picture.




So many things wrong with this picture, the biggest one being Kara's hair
paired with Kara's glasses.
The rest of you did all right.
Well, there are Kaelen's glasses.



Parent Teacher Conference - Gone Awry

I don't recall this happening very often for us girls.

I think the pressure of Jared and other boys down the line erased a lot of pressure for us.

But parent teacher confereces left us madly cleaning Jared's room.

We knew the impending doom and we knew it would accompany a trip upstairs.

Just to check his room and see if it was a disaster - we tried to avoid this.

Later it was the other boys.

But us girls? - Never!

We brought home excellent report cards.

In the words of Dad's teacher - "You done good Mel!"

Heads Up For Landry

Dear Landry,

I just wanted you to know that the apple doesn't always have to fall far from the tree.
You have choices here.
Karli and I will help you.

Love,
Aunt Kara

Okay, I guess it's not that bad to follow after her. She was pretty darned cute!

Pioneer Days

One of my favorite childhood memories has got to be Pioneer Days.

I loved camping out, usually at Brophy's ranch, Westwoods or McKee's down by the river.

I remember the whole ward being there - at least it seemed like it.

Karli barrel "racing" with Shalako.

Watermelon and sodas cooling in the stream.

The primary games organized by Sister Germer, Peterson or Schumann.

Bro. Roblyer telling stories.

The men playing horse shoes.

The food! Why is it always the food for me?

The tents and sleeping under the stars.

And of course the Primary costume parade.

Oh, the fun we had.

Dandruff

A common childhood ailment in our household was dandruff.

But it did not stand a chance against our mother and her tools!

Of course another necessary element were these boys :

I imagine they have fine looking scalps now thanks to Mom.

The Dogs of the Past

We have had many a dog at the Gulbranson household/farm over the years.

The earliest one I can recall was probably Muffin.

Why name a dog Muffin?

Well being a St. Bernard, what other name could you come up with?

Then there were April, Maggie, an entire congregation of lab/mixed puppies.

And of course Cassie.

How can we ever forget Cassie?

I'd be interested to know how many dogs have come in and out of our childhood home.

Most of them left via the highway ...

These two...

 It's been almost 40 years since these two got married.

40 YEARS!

And their still willing to pose for a picture!

I had to catch myself ...

Sometimes I feel like Nephi,

Having been born of goodly parents.

Then I feel badly for my own children.

But at times, more often than not, I have a blast from my past.

For instance.

This last week I had asked and asked and asked Tate to do something.

Put away his clothes and clean his room.

Is that to much for a 7 year old?

I didn't think so!

After coming into his room and finding it in even worse condition before I let loose.

It all came so quickly.

Something so familiar.

Flowing so easily.

I was half way through when I realized ...

I AM MY MOM!

"Tate, that is it! I have had enough.

Next time you do a job half way,

I will drive you half way to lacrosse practice and see how you like it."

Do any of you remember hearing that exact phrase.

Only input whatever practice, YW, Cubs, etc you were going to.

Ahhh, the memories!

What do you find yourself saying to your kids that comes straight from the book of Mel and Kathi?