The Mullins Megaphone

Could be the best day of the year - boating fun on Jordanelle

2010-07-19T15:56:00.000-07:00

More fun from the past six months

2010-07-12T07:01:00.000-07:00

At the Japanese Garden in Portland.

Random pics from the months I 'forget' to blog

2010-07-11T21:16:00.000-07:00

Emme and her best friends - the E-girls.

Emme got this little yeti for riding, and loving, Expedition Everest.

Happy Birthday to Jake! Seven-year-old.

Jake's birthday party - making marshmallow shooters.

Fun with cousins

2010-07-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

At the cabin

2010-07-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

Watching Nascar with Grandpa.

Orcas Island camping

2010-07-11T14:50:00.000-07:00

Watching the Eastsound Fourth of July parade.

Paddleboating on Cascade Lake near our campground.

From the top of Mount Constitution.

In-N-Out Burger in a snowstorm

2010-01-04T22:24:00.000-08:00

The funeral

2010-01-04T22:08:00.000-08:00

Pallbearers - Todd Sorensen, Darren Nordfelt, Steven Nordfelt, Doug Smaellie, Greg Peterson, Tyler Sorenson and David Mullins
The great-grandkids

My grandma's sisters, Aunt Phyllis and Aunt Veone. I like this picture because there is an empty chair there.

My dad with Jake, Kennedy and Jack.

Pallbearers

My mom and dad.

Jake and other great-grandkids.

Releasing the balloons - a nice tradition.

Pointing up to the balloons.

My dad Brice, and aunt Marilyn and Janice.

Flowers from the grandchildren on the casket.

Me and my dad.

Grammy's through the back door - my talk from my Grandma Maxine's funeral

2010-01-04T22:03:00.000-08:00

Grammy’s Through the Back Door
Or “What Would Your Welcome Mat Say?

After the drive from Salt Lake that seemed like it took so long, we would finally arrive at the crest of the rise that looked out over Gunnison and Centerfield, wind our way through the towns, and then, finally, a left turn, then a right, to arrive at my grandparents red brick home in front of the Sorenson Dairy. We would park in the big driveway and then head to the back door.

Did my grandparents’ house even have a front door? I know it must have, but we never used it. But as I think about it, it’s a pretty good way to live your life, with the comings and goings through the back door. It was as if they had a mat that said “Back Door Guests Are Best” or rather “Welcome! Come right this way for immediate grandparenting—meaning games, adventure, listening ears, attention and love.”

From the back door, Grammy and Keith could see your arrival through the large window into their home and were always waiting with open arms, love, and most importantly for a grandchild, treats.

From the back door, you could be pulled into the kitchen, with all its delicious goodies: rolls with homemade jam, mouth-watering turkey, frog-eye salad, and red salad. We grandkids used to fight over who got to sit at the end of the island in this great fold-out-chair-slash-stool. My brother Tyler remembers Grandpa Keith laying down in front of the washer and dryer and taking a nap.

From the back door, you could literally tumble to the play land that was the downstairs. We slid down the steep carpeted stairs on our tummies, again and again and again. I remember, after a growth spurt, hitting my head on the short ceiling, and wishing I could revert to sliding down those slippery stairs again. Once downstairs, toys, games, puzzles, books, a doll house and the pool table welcomed. My brother Lance remembers playing Uno with Grandma and Grandpa and also playing Rummikub with Grammy. She liked having her family around and was genuinely interested.

From the back door, you could enter the garage, with the treasures it held. For the grandkids, that was more treats, especially homemade pies in the deep freeze and sodas in the fridge.
From the back door, you could scramble to the backyard, to play in the haystacks at the dairy and, the best, out to Flicka’s paddock, hoping for a ride. I remember Twinkle Toes – the pony that bucked all of us off several times.

From the back door, you could see proof of years of hard work at the dairy – symbolized by two pictures of little boys dressed as farmhands that hung in the kitchen. I remember venturing out into the mountains to cut down a Christmas tree, also camping trips in their camper to 12 Mile Canyon, plus fishing and hunting.

I think I didn’t even realize at first that Grammy and Keith’s home had a front door. I don’t remember ever using the front door, except maybe as a backdrop for a family picture. I was startled once when someone knocked and came inside. It must have been a new home teacher. I’m he learned real quickly the right way to go.

It was a long way from that door to my grandparents’ mission in New York and South Africa, but they bravely departed and returned with honor, for which, as a 10-year-old I was so proud. My little brother Lance said, “I remember when they were leaving on their mission and I remember when I was on my mission, dad sent me their journals from their mission in South Africa and I read those and they were a good source of strength for me on my mission.”

But no matter who you were - in her back door easiness, Grammy was always willing to share the products of her endeavors and her love: homemade jam, especially my favorite and my husband’s least favorite – BEET; her handmade quilts, I am the happy recipient of one wedding quilted masterpiece and four crocheted-edge baby blankets. I often wished I could’ve attended “Grammy” camp to learn how to make beet jelly, chocolate cream pie, I’ve tried to teach myself how to crochet those blankets like she did, but it’ll be a long time before I reach her level of skill.

When you left that back door, you didn’t leave with an empty stomach or empty handed. Depending on the season, you left with homemade divinity, fudge, secret Sorenson recipe Rice Krispy treats and my favorite, marshmallow popcorn balls. She always tried to make sure we were happy.

I’m sure that back door welcomed more than just family—there were friends, neighbors, ward members, missionaries and more.

It says in Alma 34:32, “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.” I’m proud to have watched my grandparents labor diligently to raise children to the Lord, be good examples to their grandchildren, stay steadfast in the Gospel and be an example of enduring to the end.
Grammy has done what Paul said in 2nd Timothy: She fought a good fight, she finished the course, and she kept the faith.

Yes, that back door is closed, but just for a time. Let me express thankfulness for the Plan of Salvation, that the darkness of death can be dispelled by the light of Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the Resurrection, and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” I will miss Grammy, as I still miss Grandpa Keith. But it brings me peace to know that I will be able to see them, together, again. I am thankful for our eventual Resurrection, which through the blessings of the temple, allows our family to be together forever.

Allow the Savior’s words of comfort to his disciples in John 14:27 bring reassurance to us, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

A history of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" I compiled for some folks at church and cause it's my mom's favorite Christmas hymn

2009-12-24T17:22:00.000-08:00

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”

One of America’s best known poets Henry Wadsworth Longfellow composed the words to “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” on December 25, 1864. His beloved wife and the mother of their five children, Frances (Fanny), had died 2½ years earlier in a fire and his firstborn son Charles received a crippling injury in the Civil War. Filled with sorrow over his wife and son, and weary over the war, Longfellow sat down to his desk that Christmas Day, and heard the church bells ringing.

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

The poem was called “Christmas Bells” and originally contained seven stanzas, two of which referred to the Civil War and were omitted from the hymn. The remaining five stanzas were slightly rearranged by John Baptiste Calkin, who also wrote the memorable tune.

I thought how, as the day had come

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along th’unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Fanny died July 10, 1861, the same year the Civil War broke out. The day before the accident, she recorded in her journal: "We are all sighing for the good sea breeze instead of this stifling land one filled with dust. Poor Allegra is very droopy with heat, and Edie has to get her hair in a net to free her neck from the weight."

At their home overlooking the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Fanny was trimming some of seven-year-old Edith's beautiful curls. She decided to preserve the clippings in sealing wax. Melting a bar of sealing wax with a candle, a few drops fell unnoticed upon her dress. The longed for sea breeze gusted through the window, igniting the light material of Fanny's dress-- immediately wrapping her in flames. In her attempt to protect Edith and Allegra, she ran to Henry's study in the next room, where he frantically attempted to extinguish the flames with a throw rug. Failing to stop the fire with the rug, he tried to smother the flames by throwing his arms around her -- severely burning his face, arms, and hands.

Fanny Longfellow died the next morning. Too ill from his burns and grief, Henry did not attend her funeral. The trademark full beard of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow arose from his inability to shave after this tragedy.

And in despair I bowed my head:

“There is no peace on earth,” I said,

“For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

The first Christmas after Fanny's death, Longfellow wrote, "How inexpressibly sad are all holidays." A year after the incident, he wrote, "I can make no record of these days. Better leave them wrapped in silence. Perhaps someday God will give me peace." Longfellow's journal entry for December 25, 1862 reads: "'A merry Christmas' say the children, but that is no more for me." However, hope for the family and the country were on the horizon.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men.”

In 1864, Longfellow saw down at his desk and heard the church bells in the distance, inspiring the solemn and earnest words to the hopeful carol.

The Civil War ended less than five months after that Christmas Day, on April 9, 1865, and Longfellow’s poem reflected the country’s despair over the war, while ending with a confident hope of triumphant peace.

Till, ringing, singing, on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Hilarious ... been looking for good holiday cookie recipes. My mom used to make these when I was a kid, but I'm sure her recipe didn't read like this.

2009-12-07T22:45:00.000-08:00

Boiled Raisin Cookies

Nostalgia must be my middle name

2009-12-07T14:38:00.000-08:00

Emme puts the Dec. 1 ornament on the advent tree my family used when I was a kid. I inherited it a few years back. I'm pretty sure my mom made it at a homemaking meeting a couple of decades ago. I love it!

Jake in 2007 and Jake 2009

2009-12-07T14:35:00.000-08:00

Then and now...2007 and 2009

2009-12-07T14:29:00.000-08:00

Hawaii!

2009-12-02T10:34:00.000-08:00

Trick-or-treating

2009-11-15T17:40:00.000-08:00

Clay Mullins, Dave's dad, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009

2009-11-07T18:00:00.000-08:00

Quiet time!

2009-11-07T17:19:00.000-08:00

Ward Halloween Carnival

2009-10-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

Dave's uncle Mike and aunt Mickey

2009-10-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

Our latest trip to Walt Disney World

2009-10-24T10:22:00.000-07:00

Jake and Emme boogie with June form the Little Einsteins.

Kate's first pair of Crocs - Disney style.

With Grandpa Clay

2009-10-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

Emme gets her face painted at Hollywood Studios

2009-10-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

Kate watches a little video

2009-10-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

Dave's dad Clay, and family

2009-10-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

The Mullins family

2009-10-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

Back row: Ray, Tim, Dave, our nephew Clay (Ray's son)
Front row: our niece Stephanie (Ray's daughter), Sherry, Clay, Shirley

Kate plays in the craft room

2009-10-24T10:03:00.000-07:00

Our new office...

2009-10-24T09:57:00.000-07:00

Kate plays with Mommy's birthday balloons

2009-10-24T09:38:00.001-07:00

Jake caught mid-jump

2009-09-14T22:57:00.000-07:00

Emme first day of her last year of preschool

2009-09-14T22:53:00.000-07:00

Labor Day visit to the Glass Museum in Tacoma

2009-09-14T22:47:00.000-07:00

The Dale Chihuly Bridge.

A quiet rainy Saturday morning

2009-09-06T20:11:00.000-07:00

Jake's first day of first grade

2009-09-06T19:59:00.000-07:00

Hiking to Snoqualmie Falls -

2009-09-06T17:36:00.001-07:00

King of the world!

Emme is modeling her adventure hat.

I just love Kate hanging out back there in the backpack.

Dave helps Jake and Emme climbs over the fence past the giant warning sign.

Fun with the cousins

2009-08-24T23:43:00.000-07:00

Lance, Ashleigh, Kai and Rori come for a visit.

Snoqualmie Falls

Riding the Ducks in downtown Seattle.

Rori and Kate, peas in a pod.

We took a ferry from Edmonds to Kingston. Another beautiful day.

At our favorite - Willis Tucker Park in Snohomish.

The "twins" push the other "twins" in swings, on the shores of Lake Washington.

Dancing to the music

2009-08-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

The girls have got rhythm

2009-08-24T17:06:00.000-07:00

Does this mean Kate is a toddler?

2009-08-12T17:27:00.000-07:00

Emme birthday party with crazy/princess hair

2009-08-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

A Pioneer Day hike around Silver Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon

2009-08-01T12:35:00.000-07:00

We visit the new LDS Oquirrh Hills Temple Open House

2009-08-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

Looking straight into the sun with what looks like prison bars across our bodies. Hmmm...

Actually it was really nice to be in a temple with my young kids. That won't happen again for a long time. Makes me look forward to the new Vancouver Temple opening in a couple of years, and beyond.

Kate is not sure what to do with her birthday cake

2009-08-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

Kate's b-day bash

2009-08-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

Here comes cousin Rori

Emme turns four! Happy Birthday to my beautiful princess!

2009-07-31T23:20:00.001-07:00

Kate's first birthday cake on Emme's b-day!

2009-07-31T23:16:00.001-07:00

Who thinks we watch too much Scooby-Doo?

2009-07-31T23:00:00.000-07:00

Mill Creek Canyon BBq Dave's 40th: Pie Pizza, Key Lime Birthday Pie, and S'mores

2009-07-31T22:52:00.000-07:00

Enjoying Bear Lake

2009-07-31T08:07:00.000-07:00

The cousins in the tub.

Emme with cousin Kimberly.

Tough guys! Jake with cousin Andrew.

Cousin Kennedy, Emme and Jake try to push Kennedy's uncle Donald in frigid waters. They were successful!

New baby Ella Bella Cinderella

2009-07-31T08:01:00.000-07:00

My brother Tyler and his 3 week old baby Ella.

He'll always be older than me. HAHAHA! The Big 4-0.Happy Birthday to Dave!

2009-07-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

Watching the fireworks from our WW3 of a neighborhood. They were going off everywhere.

2009-07-08T00:10:00.000-07:00

Our 4th of July tradition, riding our bikes in the Bothell children's parade

2009-07-08T00:01:00.000-07:00

3rd of July party in the backyard

2009-07-07T23:59:00.000-07:00

Sunburned and happy from an awesome 4th of July weekend!

2009-07-07T23:56:00.000-07:00

Mountain mama status confirmed

2009-07-07T23:52:00.000-07:00

We bought a dehydrator and have been dehydrating 30 lbs. of cherries. Yummy! Now we're moving onto strawberries and apple fruit leather. This was after canning 24 pints of strawberry jam. I'm even getting picky about the pectin I like. Hint: Pomona Pectin is the best for low-sugar jam. And yes, we made the ever helpful Jake take off his shirt.

Great pic of five of our Mullins nieces and nephew

2009-06-30T14:51:00.000-07:00

Congrats to our best buds Rick and Char on birth of baby Benjamin

2009-06-29T14:26:00.000-07:00

One more of Emme at cheerleading camp ... can you guess where we went to dinner after?

2009-06-27T23:48:00.000-07:00

Just a fun Saturday after the zoo...

2009-06-24T20:08:00.000-07:00

Emme at cheerleading camp. She's a natural.

2009-06-24T19:50:00.000-07:00

Part of a day at the zoo with Agler kiddoes

2009-06-24T19:43:00.000-07:00

Karate Kid Jake performs the mini kata

2009-06-24T19:25:00.000-07:00

Kate loves swinging

2009-06-24T19:20:00.000-07:00

Last day of Kindergarten

2009-06-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

Jake rules the potato sack races at field day

2009-06-24T19:07:00.000-07:00

Kokanee Field Day

2009-06-24T19:06:00.002-07:00

Plum-tuckered by summer

2009-06-24T19:06:00.001-07:00

Writers Celebration-last week of kindergarten, sort of doubled as graduation

2009-06-24T19:02:00.001-07:00

Emme gets a birthday bike

2009-06-15T17:23:00.000-07:00

Weekend trip to California, including Disneyland

2009-06-15T17:18:00.000-07:00

We like Mickey, but we LOVE GOOFY!

The Kokanee Carnival

2009-06-15T17:14:00.001-07:00

Apparently, one cotton candy is just not enough.

Emme wins!

Kirsten, and Kate, ran the skee ball game.

Another low tide day, this time at Marina Beach in Edmonds

2009-06-15T17:07:00.000-07:00

A baby octopus! Wow!

Yummy. I guess...

A Memorial Day/Low Tide Day to Larrabee State Park near Bellingham with our friends, the Wrights

2009-06-15T16:59:00.000-07:00

The purple ochre sea star; there were hundreds on this beach. This was one of the lowest tide days of the year.

Jake makes a new friend.
So does Kate.

Emme with Grace.

Jake and Emme sing Jonah was a Prophet at the Ward Talent Show, an encore performance

2009-06-11T08:10:00.000-07:00

Bing-Shameless Plug!

2009-06-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has launched Bing - a new search engine to replace live.com. Actually, they don't call it a search engine, they call it a "decision engine."

But I really think you should try it out, make it your home page, because, every day, the site features a new background picture and they are amazing. I wish I had that job, picking the pic, I mean.

Here's one from this week.
Try it out.

Of two minds-the new tween Dora

2009-05-29T14:57:00.001-07:00

I'm really of two minds on this one.

Does Dora really have to grow up? Can't they just create a new character, another cousin perhaps, like Diego? Also, I think Nickolodean did themselves a big disservice by releasing just a silhouette of this image. It looked like this 10-year-old Dora was wearing a very short skirt or mini-dress. It she a Brat(z)? (I do like how her head is in proportion to the head of her body. My husband says the younger Dora has an HoUS (head of unusual size!).

On the other hand, after our kids reach a certain age, say 6 or 7-years-old, the quality of the programming geared toward them diminishes rapidly and can be wildly inappropriate. You go from something educational and fun like Sesame Street, WordGirl, Dora, Diego, or many of the Disney shows, to what? Spongebob? I let my 6-year-old son watch Spongebob once in a blue moon. He know I don't like it and tries to convince me that I should like it. And where do we go from there? Straight on to pretty violent stuff like Ben 10 or right on up to tween/teen fare like Hannah Montana.

So it's refreshing that there might actually be some programming for the 6-10-year-old age.

So good luck new Dora. Growing up can be challenging. I'm sure my girls will love you.

For me, I'll sure miss Boots.

Emme's answers

2009-05-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

For Mother's Day, Emme's preschool class compiled a darling book with pictures from the year and art by the student. They invited us mothers to a "tea" and we got to sit down and look at the book. Here are some of the events they chronicled:

What's your favorite thing to do at preschool?

I like to do girl stuff (there are 8 girls and 2 boys in her class).

What are you thankful for?

My toys.

What gift would you give to Jesus?

I would give Him my Cinderella Barbie.

If you were a snowflake floating in the sky, where would you land?

In the water.

If I were a kite, I'd like the wind to blow me to ... Salt Lake City.

If I had $100 ... I would buy another unicorn.

It's Spring!! Everything is growing and so are you. What do you want to be when you grow up?

A princess.

(For Mother's Day)

I like my mom because ... she paints my fingernails, she gives me snacks and she loves me.

My Mom makes the best ... muffins.

My Mom gets upset when I ... wake her up.

My Mom loves to ... go swimming with me.

I love that this experience provided me the opportunity to ask these questions I never do but should. I loved hearing what she likes to do with mommy and I resolved to do more of them more often - Kirsten

Emme's preschool wraps up for the year

2009-05-26T13:39:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Lamoureux and Emme
Mrs. Monson and Emme
Emerson, Emme and Lily
The whole class

Peas in a pod

2009-05-26T13:37:00.000-07:00

Daddy shares his treat with Kate

2009-05-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

The sun finally shines on our corner of the world

2009-05-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

Who are the cutest babies in the whole wide world, the whole wide world, the whole wide world - sing with me now

2009-05-26T13:25:00.001-07:00

Visiting the Tulip Festival in Skagit County

2009-05-26T13:18:00.000-07:00

Swimming lessons

2009-05-26T13:15:00.001-07:00

Emme's last Music Together class

2009-05-26T13:11:00.000-07:00

We've been doing Music Together since Jake was 9-months-olds. He graduated out a few years ago and now it's Emme time to move on. We will miss it and Miss Summer, our wonderful teacher (who has appeared on Broadway!). Here the girls are with our friends Marie and Jillian.

Emme started taking gymnastics this spring

2009-05-26T13:10:00.000-07:00

Emme and the Emmas

2009-05-26T13:09:00.000-07:00

Emme plays once a week with these two girls, both named Emma, and sometimes another girl from preschool comes, her name is Emerson.

Jake in his kindergarten class

2009-05-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

His teacher is Kayleen Terrell. She was Ms. Fawcett, but she got married at the end of December. His class is pretty small and his best friends are twins Nicholas and Alexander, and at the end of the year, he made friends with Christian.

The birthday that never ends ... finally, Jake's birthday party, at the end of April

2009-05-26T12:58:00.001-07:00

An easy-going Scooby-Doo-themed party at the Northshore YMCA. What else!?!
Wonderfully thoughtful gifts.

An oh-too-good cake. Love that Costco. What a deal!

In memory of Bishop Hazelton.

2009-05-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

Sad news...The bishop of our ward in Ohio (Hamilton Ward), Bishop Denny Hazelton, died last week while riding his motorcycle. He crashed the motorcycle, but he most likely had a heart attack just before the crash. He was 53. His wife, Christine, has been battling cancer for many years. Condolences to Christine, and sons Andrew and Brian

Hiking at the Red Cliffs

2009-05-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

Kai, Emme, Jake and Kennedy

With Grandpa Brice...

At our traditional Dutch Oven cookout at the Red Cliffs near St. George.

2009-05-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

With Aunt Grandma Wendy. Very pink pic.

The year of the caterpillar

A rainy St. George Easter Egg Hunt - it was over in about 3 minutes!

2009-05-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

Emme and her crazy hair under the crazy lights at our favorite Southern Utah restaurant - the Bit and Spur

2009-05-19T11:43:00.000-07:00

Hiking in Zion National Park

2009-05-19T11:42:00.001-07:00

Emme and Jake got crazy hair at the St. George Arts Festival

2009-05-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

More from In-N-Out Burger, which we visited at least 5 times in 3 days.

2009-05-19T11:37:00.000-07:00

First French fries at In-N-Out Burger-which is which

2009-05-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

(Left) Kate at In-N-Out Burger in St. George

(Right) Jake at In-N-Out Burger in Arizona

Jake and Emme in their adventure hats at the Dinosaur Museum in St. George

2009-05-19T11:31:00.000-07:00

In front of dinosaur tracks.