Families can be together forever

I have been compiling a little personal family history of my parents, grandparents, and great grand parents. It has been so fun to talk to Great Uncles, and Aunts, and get some information about family members I never got a chance to meet, and those I barely knew. This recent surge of family has led me to this blog here and now, I really have an amazing family! They are all so loving, and wonderful! I am sad I am not around most of them often enough! I wanted to kind of chronicle a short little blurp about each member of the fam. Brace yourself, this could (and probably will) be very long! haha

Dad-Well what can I say he is my dear old Dad. He is the hardest worker I know, and has always worked hard and played hard. He always has some sort of project he is working on (and involving the family with). Growing up we butted heads quite regularly, but being older (and thousands of miles away) I have come to respect and love him even more. I have been able to step back and see his love for me! I really do love my Dad! I am glad we have become closer over the years, of my parents he is the chatty one, the one I talk to for hours. He just got an iphone, so his favorite new thing is to face time with me. So fun! :) 

Mom-She has always been the best example of staying strong in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Growing up I watched her pour over her scriptures, learning something new each time. I am so grateful for her example of what a good member of our church should be doing. She always encouraged church attendance, and fulfilled every calling she has ever had to the best of her ability. I was always grateful for her love and mercy when I had a head butt with Dad growing up. I am forever indebted for all of the help she has given me over the years, and the unconditional love and pride she has conveyed to me. 

Little Bro-He was the biggest pain in my neck growing up. Always torturing me, teasing me, fighting with me. It was pretty rough. We fought like cats and dogs. Road trips were the worst! The consisted mostly of "He's touching me!" "She's on my side!!!" I could not wait to get out of there. Now that we have both matured...A LOT I can honestly say that I am proud of the man he has become! Jeremy is one of the kindest people I know. I realize now that when we were younger he just wanted to hang out with me, but of course being the cooler older sister I pushed him away. I think we both missed out on a great friendship. I am glad that we can love each other from afar though! 

Sister-In-Law Heather-Honestly I haven't even met her yet which is a shame! I might have to revise this after we finally meet, but from what I have seen on facebook and heard from my family she is awesome! She makes my brother so happy, and that is what is most important! She is an amazing cook, and loves her family! I can't wait to meet her and find out more for myself! She has quickly bonded with my awesome family!

Niece Lexi-Don't know her yet either, but from what I heard she is the sweetest little girl, and she has a heart of gold! Can't wait to get to know her as well! 

 Nephew Tristan-He is the cutest little newborn ever! I didn't think i would be the kind of aunt to pull out my phone and show kids off, but with him I just can't help it! I love him already!

Aunt Brenda-She was always my favorite aunt growing up! (shhh!!!) I loved going to her house and hanging out with her playing with my cousins! I LOVED it when she would french braid my hair. She is so loving! I absolutely love seeing  her because she makes me feel like the most beautiful niece in the world! :) I remember her working at Dairy Queen forever, I used to think that was so cool! She is so bubbly and excited! I love talking to her. I loved listening to her sing! Especially when she would sing Celine Dion songs!

Cousin Nicole (coco)-I love Nicole! I wanted to be just like her. I always thought she was so cool. I remember her introducing me to hip hop, rap, and R&B music. I thought it was awesome! She always greets me with a huge hug and smile, I will always be her little cuz! I remember when we were little we would go to Grandma and Grandpa Hobbs and "bake bread", which consisted of us taking a slice of bread out of the bag, breaking it into little pieces, rolling them up, and putting them on a pillow (baking sheet) then under a chair (oven) to let them cook. haha good times! I am so grateful for her love! 

Cousin Aaron-He was always way nicer then Jeremy, but him and Jer were always the best of buddies. They would play video games together, go catch animals together, they did everything together. Aaron was always so much more mellow, and kind then my own brother. I loved it when we would go visit Aunt Brenda's house, and I remember playing Mario Cart with Aaron, Nicole, Marshall, Terry, and Jake! So fun!

Grandpa Hobbs (Lee)-I loved growing up just around the corner from my grandparents. It was always so fun to ride my bike over and hang out for a bit. I loved it when Grandpa would cook "hot cakes" his specialty! He loved it when we would come visit! We loved playing card games together and visiting. I loved family gatherings at Grandpa Hobbs' house when we would all get together and play cards (his favorite was Oh Heck), and drink soda, and visit. He loved camping, and hunting!

Grandma Suzie-I don't remember much of her, because she died when i was in kindergarten, but I remember her always in her dark room to try to get rid of her migraines. Other then that I have been told she was the most loving woman! She was so generous and kind. She loved her family, and was a great cook. She was a wonderful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I wish I would have got to have her around longer!

Great Grandpa Homard Hobbs-He was a hard working man, and held many jobs throughout his life. he was most remembered for being a farmer and a rancher. he loved to hunt and fish, and took my Dad and uncle on fishing trips when they were growing up. His sons would say he was onry, but his grand kids absolutely loved him! He would spend time with them, and give them money every time they came to visit. It sounds like the Hobbs temper started with him (or perhaps his father, and so on), but from what I have heard he was a great man!

Great Grandma Artie May Hobbs-I really don't remember much about her, but I do remember we would go visit her, and we loved her! Her house was always so fun. She had a huge yard, and it was fun to play. She was an amazing cook, and would let you rummage through her fridge. She had a kind heart, but was also hard working. She was previously married before Grandpa, and had three kids from her first marriage, then had four more Hobbs kids. I don't really know Dale or Jack too well, but Bob and Loraine are awesome!

Great Uncle Bon, Aunt Deena, Cousins Randi and Josh. Uncle Bob is so loving and fun! I remember visiting Bob and Deena and just having a blast! Bob is quite the talker. He has some great stories. Deena has the best laugh! It is so infectious! I don't remember hanging out with Randi while Jeremy hung out with Josh. good times! I love my grandpa's brother! Talking to Uncle Bob is one of the reasons I decided to write this blog! He is so awesome!

Great Aunt Lorainne, and uncle Jess-I loved going to visit Lorainne and Jess! they were the fun part of the family! I remember one camping trip to Arizona Beach in particular that Nicole and I would wait for Aunt Lorainne to get drunk, then BEG her to sing "The Little Blue Man" I could not tell you anything about the song now, but we sure loved it! haha. We would beg her to have one more beer so she would sing it to us! haha. Her and Jess are so fun, and loving, and I remember their daughters Deb and Dianne were so kind as well. It is so great being part of an extended family! :) 

Step Grandma Bobbie and her kids (Rick, Doreen, Dave, and Russ)-Bobbie is an amazingly sweet person! She was the best woman for my Grandpa Hobbs in the later years of his life! I am so grateful these awesome people are in our lives! Doreen is the only of her children I really got to know, and she fits right into the Aunt mold! She is always telling me how beautiful I am, and I love being around her! She always made me feel at home and welcome in her house. These are the best people that happened to our family! 

Great Uncle Darrell and Aunt Nona-I LOVED visiting them in Sacramento! They are amazing people! Darrell is funny, and he reminds me a lot of my own Dad, only more loving haha. Nona is awesome! I loved shopping with her! Something my own mother didn't like to do was fun with Aunt Nona!

Second Cousins Kacey and Kelly- Absolutely love them! Kelly and I would always say "best cousins forever"! We got along like two peas in a pod! We always said we would open a salon together and I would do hair and she would do aesthetics. Fun times! I loved Kelly's spunky personality and sense of self. I love these cousins of mine!  It is so crazy how times change and now Kelly is a wife and mother! 

Great Grandma Eldora (Kacey)-I didn't know her, but I grew up hearing what a shame that was! She LOVED my dad! He was the favorite grandchild. He could do no wrong in her eyes. Aunt Brenda told me she was a hip grandma, they used to trade jewelry when Brenda was in high school. She was an amazing waitress at Wong's in her later years and actually got my dad his first job at Wong's. I wish I knew her!

Great Grandpa Duff Konopasek-He was the third husband of Kacey (they had no children together so technically we are not blood related). He is the reason we have Uncle Darrell in our family! I never knew Duff either, but I hear he was a good man, he owned a heating business. 

The Baker Clan! David, Susan, Jim, Mike, Dale, Bill, Mom, Nancy, Beth. :) Loved the Baker gatherings! Always lots of laughter, and cousins! I'll try to go one by one by family. 

So David, the oldest I don't have a picture of his family, but they didn't live in Klamath Falls, so I didn't know them very well. I really don't know much about his family. I remember he has a son and a daughter that are a little older then me. 

Aunt Suzie and Uncle Gene-I loved going to their house because Aunt Suzie would go all out for holidays! I loved her cow themed kitchen, and the dolls she had. It was always so much fun to go visit! 

The Badker Family! Cousins Jenean, Rick, and Ryan and their families. Honestly I don't even know most of their kids! I remember when Justin Shannon was born going to visit and getting to hold him! I remember Bailea Rick's daughter too. She was always fun! I was the flower girl in Jenean and Kevin's wedding. Awesome picture from that! haha

 Uncle Jim and Aunt Elaine-Jim loves airplanes! I took my first ride in an airplane with him in his small plane. He also loves remote control planes, and I remember he used to have a hawk. Aunt Elaine is a jokester! She is funny! She also taught me in seminary for two years I think. She did not like Elyse and I in seminary together! haha. I always loved being around their family. I remember when they used to live behind the drive in theater and had a play ground right behind their house. So much fun!

Baker kids and their families: Shirley, Ann, Guy, Tad, Jackie, Marie. I never got to know Shirley too well because she was out of the house and married by the time I came along, but I loved hanging out with Ann, Jackie, and Marie! I remember my first year of seminary Jackie was a senior and I used to ride with her from the church to the seminary building. I love Jackie, I always wanted to be just like her! Ann is just like her mom, so funny! I love talking to her! I was so glad she came out to Utah this summer, and actually helped me get my job at my salon, and I cut her and Ellie's hair! Tad married Megan, and before they moved Megan was my Beehives leader. We all LOVED Meg, she is an AMAZING cook! She is so much fun, and so sweet!

 Uncle Mike and his wife LaDonna, Aunt Juile, Cousins Allison and Amanda-Uncle Mike is so funny! I love it when he tells stories! I love Julie too! I loved seeing her at church all the time! I think I am closest with Allison and Amanda of all my baker cousins. We were the closest in age. We were also in young womens together. Allison is hilarious! I remember playing that game in their back yard where you throw the velcro ball, and catch it on the velcro mit. Haha, random memory, I also remember sleep overs with the girls and painting our nails together.

Uncle Dale-I don't have a picture of him by himself either, but I remember one trip to Medford and I wanted to ride with Uncle Dale because he had a red corvette! I thought it was so cool! He introduced me to LeAnne Rimes on our litte trip! So fun!

Uncle Bill, Aunt Nancy, Cousins Krystaleia, and Kinsley. I love my little cousins so much! I remember babysitting Krystaleia every day, and I couldn't wait to get home to play with her! We used to dance to music in my room, go on walks around the neighborhood, blow bubbles, pretty much anything she wanted to do I would do with her! She was the best baby! I remember this blow up green alien that I won from a fair or something Krys loved! I didn't get to know Kinsley too well because I moved away when she was still pretty young, but those girls are so adorable! I am so grateful my uncle Bill got amazing children! He is awesome! As most of the Baker fam, he is funny! He loves riding motorcycles! Aunt Nancy is so nice! I was so glad she became part of our family!

Aunt Beth-I could not find any pictures of her, but I found some of two of her daughters Alisha and Jennifer, there is also Christina! Visiting Aunt Beth in Utah was always so fun! I loved it when she would take us to Temple Square, or a Jewelry show! It's always so much fun to hang out with Aunt Beth! She has been a big support in my life! I am so grateful for her! I remember visiting on one occasion, and hanging out in Alisha's room, and she had a poster of a Tiger, and I thought it was so cool! She also had a bunch of string knotted bracelets and taught me how to do that, I was obsessed with tying bracelets for like a year!

Aunt Nancy-Also don't have a picture of her, and I don't really know her that well either. She has lived in California as long as I can remember. She would come to visit from time to time, but not super often. I actually feel like her since I live so far away from the family and rarely go visit.

Grandpa (Carl) Baker-He LOVED puzzles! The best part of going to visit him was the new puzzles and toys he would buy! He also had lots of fun bikes, and scooters for us to play with. He played the harmonica, and I loved his player piano. He was quite the jokester. I remember when he first got the piano he set it to play and started pretending to play along! I remember him always watching Wheel of Fortune. haha He was such a loving and fun grandpa! I loved the swings in their back yard as well! Another random memory I have is of Grandpa barking like a dog. He was really good at it! haha

Grandma (Leila) Baker-Grandma hand made me a Christmas Ornament every year until her hands couldn't do it anymore, then she would just buy them. I loved getting our yearly ornaments! Grandma made me cute knitted blankets, and is always excited to hear about my life! She reminds me a ton of my mom! I loved looking around in the toy closet at some of the toys from my mom's childhood! I also Loved her sewing room, and attic where the kids rooms are. The roof is slanted, and it gave it an adventurous feel! I loved visiting Grandpa and Grandma! I remember at family gatherings I LOVED to pass out the desserts! So grandma would plate the cake and ice cream or whatever it was, and i would go around asking what people wanted and bring it to them. I felt so special!

Great Grandpa Wallace, and Great Grandma Avilda Baker-I never knew either of them, and I don't know much about them. 

Great Grandpa Norman, and Great Grandma Eleanor Harvey-I don't remember Gr Grandpa, I think he died before I was born, but I remember visiting Gr Grandma a lot! She lived by the Home and Martin Church, so every time we went to church I thought about her. :) She had a lot of fun nick knacks to look at. I remember Mom was always so good about remembering to visit her. I remember her and Jeremy doing a lot of yard work in her yard one summer too, and I remember us cleaning the inside of her house together, and helping her tidy up.

Well I think I am done! unless I forgot someone, in that case..WOOPS! :) I love my big funny family! I can't wait to go home and visit everyone! :)