Shaleen Ford

2011-06-22T08:40:00.000-07:00

Getting ready for camping.

2011-05-17T18:15:00.000-07:00

Gotcha

2010-11-17T10:29:00.001-08:00

2010-11-17T07:01:00.000-08:00

Theses boys are pretty self sufficient. They make sure that what they want gets put in the grocery cart...and then they go looking for it at home. It is getting harder to hide anything because they just keep growing.

View from my front window

2009-10-21T20:44:00.000-07:00

Cowboy and Power Ranger

2009-10-21T20:42:00.001-07:00

Test video

2009-10-19T09:16:00.000-07:00

Heber climbing

Test pic

2009-10-19T09:15:00.001-07:00

Test

2009-10-19T09:14:00.001-07:00

Sent from my iPhone

Email blog test

2009-10-19T09:13:00.001-07:00

I can blog from my phone

Sent from my iPhone

2009-10-19T09:03:00.001-07:00

Mobile blog test

2009-09-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

Cascade Springs to see the fall colors. We just went to Adam's 20 year reunion. It was a fun weekend.

2009-07-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

Wow!
Mom you look good.
Mother of 9, G-ma to (almost) 41

2009-07-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

GIRLS NIGHT
JULY, 2009

2009-07-11T18:35:00.000-07:00

AQUARIUM ACTION
JULY 2009
CHILL

2009-07-11T18:32:00.000-07:00

Smith Clan
at Mn. Zoo

Heber never
gives up hope

2009-07-11T18:30:00.000-07:00

Sariah and the Twins
Minnesota Zoo
July, 2009

2009-07-11T18:26:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
HERBER AND PARLEY
4 YEARS OLD
AND STILL ALIVE

2009-07-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

Willard turns 7
Parker Lake, Minnesota
Summer Volcano Cake

2009-05-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

Heather counting the grey hairs in Shaleens head...while Scott looks on, blissfully ignorant of aging.

2009-05-13T19:44:00.000-07:00

Willard (29 min.) Hannah and Dad (30 min.) ran a hilly 5K. The rest of us cheered. HOORAY

2009-05-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

This beautiful painting of a barn in Heber was my Mothers Day present from A.

2009-04-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

Spring Break Campfire

2009-04-27T15:51:00.000-07:00

Who needs a bed, when you can sleep on the kitchen counter...Oh Willard...to be young and carefree.

2009-04-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

2009-04-22T13:58:00.000-07:00

Day at the Farm in Salem, Utah

2009-04-22T12:16:00.000-07:00

Grandpa and Parley Racing Cars! Yes the Christmas tree was still up ( I have now taken it down....Christmas is over)

2009-04-22T11:40:00.000-07:00

The day that G-ma and G-pa came to play.

First, they fixed my front door handle, which has only come off once since.

Next Gpa and Heber cleared snow away from our driveway and the entire neighborhood.

G-ma helped Sariah sew a pioneer dress.

They came to Hannah's choir concert...and then they went to visit other grandchildren and spread more joy.

2009-04-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

Girls Scout Cookies
We had a good experience this year with cookie sales. The weather was nice and all the people were friendly. We didn't buy as many ourselves and we managed to pay for everyone to go to girl scout camp. Hooray.

2009-04-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

Adam becoming one with Princess... at Carisa's farm

2009-03-23T17:19:00.000-07:00

A father - son right of passage. Rockband!

2009-03-23T17:16:00.000-07:00

Hannah is not enjoying mom's sarcasm.

2009-03-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

Shaleen and Ginger

2009-02-02T12:01:00.000-08:00

2009-01-20T13:38:00.000-08:00

AJ and Heber

2009-01-03T20:29:00.000-08:00

The hat says it all!

2009-01-03T20:22:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve Pajamas from Santa and Grandma!

2008-12-12T13:21:00.000-08:00

The twins cracking each other up.

2008-12-03T16:27:00.000-08:00

Parley getting lifted and tossed by Dad

2008-11-15T19:31:00.000-08:00

Lava Hot Springs, Idaho...floating down the river.

2008-11-15T19:22:00.000-08:00

That's the end of the story. They all lived happily after.

2008-11-15T09:51:00.000-08:00

The Vampire and the Dragon. You can always tell a vampire by her ageless beauty and pale white skin. A dragon is marked by the happy grin it wears before it attacks you.

2008-11-15T09:43:00.000-08:00

Cornbelly for Halloween Fun!

2008-11-15T09:35:00.000-08:00

Sariah is the elf princess for Halloween.

Rachel was Mia from Princess Diaries

Willard was a Ninja that never stopped moving.

2008-11-15T09:32:00.000-08:00

Sariah at a swim meet...Breast Stroke! Go Sariah!

2008-11-15T09:28:00.000-08:00

Rachel got Baptized October 26, in the American Fork canyon river.

Family were there in abundance

Adam and Aaron built a beautiful damn. The water was up to Adam's knees

2008-10-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

H and P...Keeping Mom on her toes.

2008-10-22T08:33:00.000-07:00

Trip to the Fire Station, Parley, Heber, Harrison

Summer was the Firewoman

Heber played dress up

2008-10-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

CRAZY HAIR DAY
Alpine Elementary

Hannah has princess sparkle living in her hair

Sariah has a tree growing out of her hair

Willards hair just wants to be free

Rachel is holding a branch prisoner in her hair

2008-10-04T20:51:00.000-07:00

Rachel gets full marks for this sunny outfit. Rachel did a great job helping in the house and loving her sisters and brothers. We also want everyone to remember what a D looks like in preschool.

2008-10-03T18:34:00.000-07:00

Hannah sings on the new album "there is Joy" she sings song 4 and 1st verse of song 5. Have a listen.

2008-10-03T18:16:00.000-07:00

Yes We Can
The Twins are big Obama fans.

2008-10-03T18:15:00.000-07:00

BEAT BEETHOVEN
Adam, Hannah, Rachel and Willard ran a 5k (3.2 miles) where the goal was to finish before the end of Beethovens 5th symphony (32 min.) One person dressed up as Beethoven kept the pace and they all finished before him. Hannah sang in a choir performance afterwards and Rachel and Willard both had soccer games. Adam has been running with them 3 times a week 1-2 miles.

2008-10-03T18:07:00.000-07:00

For Rachels' B-day we all went to a restaurant called "The Mayan" where natives put on a show and dove off of cliffs into the water below. The kids loved the spectacle, except Heber. He was scared and waited in the lobby with Adam till the show was over.

2008-10-03T18:02:00.000-07:00

Rachel celebrates her 8th birthday with an early morning Oreo cake with Cheese Whiz (Mom is great, she gives us orea cake)

2008-10-03T17:55:00.000-07:00

Fridays mornings are dedicated to cousins. Today we went to Aunt Heather's house to help collect eggs from the chickens and go on a walk to the park. Watching the toddlers try to chase the chickens back into their house is quite humorous.

2008-07-10T20:02:00.000-07:00

2008-07-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

Mom and Me in Minnesota.

2008-07-09T06:54:00.000-07:00

The current project in Corcoran, Minnesota is a new deck. Mckay and Taylor Elwood are the conscripted workers.

Tamara and Shaleen shop for the hordes with 3 toddlers, summer rainshowers and attack musquitoes.

The mini-men, Preston, Willard and Hunter work on their own wood projects in the backyard.

Heber and Shariff lend a hand and some encouragment to Grandpa Smith. Go G-pa Go!!!

2008-06-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

Heidi is here for Caryn's wedding. It was held in Cathy and Darrel Redford's yard. An enjoyable time was had by all.

2008-06-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

Last day of school. Heber and Parley waiting for the kids to get home. Sariah and Hannah excited for summer to start. Actually, not that summer has started I'm not sure they are quite as excited. Swim team carpool at 6:30 am. Hee Hee

2008-05-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

Danielle and John Bailey and Shaleen and Adam Ford NYC 2008

2008-05-30T15:52:00.000-07:00

Shaleen and Adam in NYC for adams b-day!

We had a wonderful weekend on the town. Ate at Nobu, Peter Lugers, Clinton St. Bakery and Cupcake Cafe. We walked/ran in Central Park, and saw Wicked.

2008-05-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

I'm going to NYC this weekend. Adams birthday present. We are going to see Wicked and eat in all of the yummy restaurants. School is out in one week. We have odd weather going on. It was really hot and now it is cold...I'm wearing a sweater and my kids just came in from the backyard and put on their coats. Sariah and Hannah are going to be on swim team. 7am practices during the summer. I am going to potty train Heber andParley soon. Heather, Summer and I had a girls night last weekend at Zermatt in Heber (with Sariah to watch baby Naomi). The husbands brought the kids the next day to swim. I think we wore our kids out pretty well. I'm excited to see Heidi in a few weeks...more later

2008-05-12T07:29:00.001-07:00

Mothers Day

A time to remember what my mom taught me.

Humility: As a young 3-4 year old I was sure that I was smarter, faster and sneakier than my Mom. I was sent to my room for a nap/quiet time. I lay down for a few minutes then opened my groundfloor window...took out the screen and stepped over the window ledge. I couldn't believe what I saw...Mom was laying on the ground where my foot was going to land...How did she know?

Next time I was sneaking out, I looked out the window before opening. All was clear. I went to the gate that led to the front of the house. Opened it...Oh no. Run! There she was. I was sure I could out run her, but somehow she was just as fast as me. I couldn't believe it. She was foiling all my plans. I remember laughing, but I was shocked. She was old, I was young and fast and unstoppable. Yet somehow she was a step ahead.

I do remember one successful escape. 1 in the morning before easter. I was determined to put on my easter bunny costume and go to the park and hide eggs. I figured this is what happened every year. I was just part of the process. Mission accomplished.

Now when my kids wonder how I know exactly what they are planning and the devious thoughts in their minds...I don't spoil it by telling them I was once a kid too. I just tell them that I have eyes in the back of my head and I can hear everything. Luckily all my kids sleep on the 2nd floor and wouldn't dream of climbing out their windows. But really, my Mom told me that someday I would have kids just like me...and she was right. Which has always weighed heavily in my mind...causing me to wait to have children until I was 27. (I didn't mention the fact that I have put double bolts on all my doors and yes, the police have brought more than one of my children home at various times of the day and night)

2008-04-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

school picture day...curls!

2008-04-21T13:20:00.000-07:00

Bruised and battered the twins show off their scars!

2008-04-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

Oh yes, and don't forget the girls. They are starting to do their hair and put on jewelry (and lose their jewelry). I appreciate their help. They are wonderfu contradictions of playing in the rockpile for hours and then taking a long bath with smelly soaps. They stay up late reading books to each other and writing long entries in their journals. They have fun reading to the boys at night and wrestling. I love the girls.

2008-04-21T13:03:00.000-07:00

Willard, Parley and Heber and growing up! It is fun to have a trio of boy around. They swordfight with my pancake flippers and splash around in the tub....afterward streaking to their rooms. I love my boys.

2008-02-12T11:37:00.000-08:00

So let me tell you a little bit about why I like the Wii Sports Games. I have a 5year old boy who races around doing all of his jobs and tries to find ways to be helpful, until he has enough points to earn wii time. We only have one game, the sports game. You can play tennis, golf, bowling, baseball and boxing. His favorite is boxing. He is good at this. You have to duck and punch and move to avoid being knocked out. After a boxing session, he is usually sweating. But there is more. You get to create and play with a character that you have created and that is pretty cool. Actually that is the only part my girls really enjoy doing. But for Willard I think it is more. When you play these sports you can do it alone or with someone. The game provides an audience. There is a crowd cheering for you while you are playing and then if you win...great, if you don't try again. Actually our wii is all in Japanese so maybe Willard is learning addition language skills that I'm not even aware of.

2008-02-04T19:45:00.000-08:00

Same blue eyes, but different features as they grow into their own personalities. Parley (on the left) has thick hair that goes one way and grows very fast. Heber (on the right) has light fluffy hair and he doesn't mind having it brushed or gelled. Don't try that with Parley---his hair is perfect just the way it is, there are no improvements that can be made. I took heber with me in the car to run an errand and Parley stayed home. Heber asked about every 30 seconds where Parley was. They look out for each other. Always getting an extra treat or toy for the brother to hold. They settle most of their disagreements with minor fighting. They love having each other to be with. I know it won't always be this way...but I want to remember these moments before they change. My sweet boys.

2008-01-29T17:37:00.000-08:00

Don't worryWillard, someday you might not mind so much.

2008-01-29T17:34:00.000-08:00

Cousin Joy! Toria Smith & Hannah Ford

2007-12-07T16:21:00.000-08:00

I love it when Heber falls asleep in his highchair. He starts nodding back and forth until he finally lands in something. Today the twins skipped their afternoon nap. Instead we had one bloody nose, two naked toddlers, one poopy diaper...without the diaper. Today I put clean sheets on their beds and bought them new blankets...they love to break these things in early. This weekend Adam and I are celebrating 13 years of marriage.

2007-12-06T09:49:00.000-08:00

It's hard to resist posting this shot of Parley. He is so innocent and unaware of how much he will probably resent this picture when he is a teenager. At least he's reading a pretty advanced book for his age.
Shaleen

2007-12-04T20:33:00.000-08:00

Self portrait as I sit at the computer and let the kids ramble around the house.

I've been more creative and excited about Christmas this year. I've already found the stockings, put lights on the house and allowed the singing Santa to be plugged in. I might even get Christmas cards done. I found a Jazz christmas album that I love...it is festive, yet relaxing (target).

Adam and I stayed up till 10 pm putting up a new bunk bed for the girls. I am so glad that we have an Ikea in Utah. Rachel sang "zip a dee doo dah" for Alpine Elementary Idol and she's in the 2nd round. She's got a lot of spunk. Hannah is wearing really worn out pants to school everyday and she cannot find new ones that are comfortable. Holes and stains only seem to give her clothes a more lived in look. I'm hoping she grows out of this phase soon. Sariah has developed a better eye for what matches and is presentable and its fun to see her picking out clothes to wear. Willard told me the other day that he made a new friend at school...her name is violet. I asked if she was his 'girlfriend". He looked at me funny and said...of course she's a girl. Her name is "violet". Ah, he is still so sweet and innocent. Speaking of not so innocent. The twins and the dog are like a threesome that follow eachother into mischief. There is no lock too high that cannot be reached with a tall stool.

These are the thoughts of the day...Shaleen

2007-12-04T18:33:00.000-08:00

The First Day of December in Alpine, Utah

Rachel Ford gets dressed for the day!

2007-02-27T12:23:00.000-08:00

I recently published this on the "tales from the crib" blog. It is a blog written by group of women who at one point lived in NYC and most of us have since moved away.

Is there still magic at Disneyland?

I suppose there is a different kind of magic for different ages and personalities. We spent 3 days in February at Disneyland/California Adventure, with great weather and low crowds and had what I would call a magical/succesful experience.

I remember Disneyland as a place of awe and giddy excitement. I went several times as I was growing up. I wondered if we had waited too long to take our children (it has always seemed like more than I could handle). We recently took our children to Disneyland for their first time. Our oldest is 10, then 8, 6, 4, and twins under 2. Before we left I heard my 8 year old daughter say that she would rather go to grandma's house. I thought maybe they were too old for Disneyland and since we have never talked about it and nurtured excitement for what they could experience, it would not be magical.

My 4 year old boy, W, sat next to me on the "Tower of Terror". His eyes were wide and as we got off the ride and walked outside he looked to the left and to the right and thoughtfully asked me " Mom, are we back on our world?" Oh, Thank You Disney (California Adventure) for a precious memory. He insists that "Tower of Terror" is his favorite ride, but he wouldn't go on it more than once. There was his magic.

My 8 year old girl, H, loves to sing and act. We visited the Disney Animation, Sorcerer's Workshop (in California Adventure)...mostly to let the twins run around in an uncrowded area. They have many computers you can do fun things on. H got to tape her voice singing and talking as Ariel and then listen to herself as part of the movie...that was so cool! It is a magical thing to actually be in a movie. Thank you Disney!

Another really neat experience happened at the Jedi Training Academy in Tommorowland, in Disneyland. Several times a day A Jedi Master Arrives on stage and picks out several younglings to become Padawans and train them as Jedi's. Well, W, really wanted to do this and waited in the designated area for the show to start. All my children were waiting with him. When they started picking kids--so few, from so many. My oldest daughter, S, picked up her little brother as high as she could until he was seen and got picked. (I found this moment quite magical ). W got to fight the real Darth Vader (way cool) and Darth Maul and several storm troopers. Thank you Disney...and yes, W's souvenir from Disneyland is his Certificate from Jedi Training Academy and a Light saber.

Well, Disneyland has changed over the years and I'm happy to say that it was still magical for me (25 years later). My favorite ride has always been Space Mountain... It still is. Except now you rock with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. One of my childrens favorite quotes from Disneyland has become "No matter what planet you are from, get ready to ROCK... in 5...4...3...2...1 AAAHHH" Thank you Disney for making this ride Rock for me and my children.

Because of Stroller passes, DH and I both got to ride everything. The twins were terrified, yet fascinated by the characters that were walking around Disneyland. I also really liked the Aladin show at the Hollywood Pictures Backlot.

6 year old daughter, R, took the Pirate Oath while we were going through New Orleans Square "I swear to run from any fight I cannot win and win any fight I cannot run from". R also wondered why Cruella De Ville asked me "Are all these from the same litter" when we went to take our picture next to her. The ride R picked first, when it came her turn, was the Haunted Mansion. We had told her that a ghost would try and sit next to her so the ghost could come out of the ride with her and leave the Haunted Mansion. She really wanted to see if ghosts were real (there was a hint of possibility). I think R is at the age of unbelieving. Not quite the 4 year old who really thinks its possible that we could be on another world. But not quite the 8 and 10 year old who are excited to be a part of the whole experience and make it good for others.

I can say that it's never too late to go to Disneyland. But the experience is different for children of all ages (as they say). I haven't asked my 8 year old if she would still rather go to Grandma's house than Disneyland. I wonder what she would answer? I'm glad we finally did it. We will go again...soon.

2007-01-24T18:14:00.000-08:00

Tales From the CribThe maker of Top Ramen died this week. An entrepeneur from China, he ate his product everyday and lived into his 90's. My children and I paid tribute to him and remembered him fondly today while we read his obituary in the Economist magazine. Our favorite is chicken flavored, as was his. Top
Ramen is one of the few foods that my children can make by themselves and all like. I am grateful to this humble man who failed at several business before perfecting Top Ramen...He spent a year in a room in his home working on the perfect recipe. Truly this is a product that reaches across nations and has touched the lives of many. When I was growing up I was not allowed to eat Top Ramen at home (it was on my Mom's list of foods that are not healthy enough to eat). So whenever I went to my friends' homes this was always my first choice. Well, I hope we can all remember Top Ramen man this week and remember with fondness the first time we ate our noodles a little too early and burned our mouths and learned to always add an ice cube.

2006-12-25T20:50:00.000-08:00

Heber and Parley both (almost) looking in the same direction...worth a mention.

2006-12-25T19:12:00.000-08:00

shaleen ford

2006-12-25T17:01:00.000-08:00

shaleen ford

Christmas Day is almost over. The children enjoyed themselves. My husband feels a little housebound, but otherwise happy. I feel that after christmas let-down, mixed with anticipation because tomorrow is my birthday. I have arranged to have a family dance at a cool studio with mirrors and a wood floor. I'm looking forward to this. I love to dance. This is my gift to myself. It isn't every year that a woman celebrates the 8th anniversary of her 29th birthday. Happy Birthday to me.

2006-12-19T20:45:00.000-08:00

shaleen ford

2006-12-19T17:09:00.000-08:00

2006 Adam ran for the Utah State Senate. Adam lost (6 year old daughter Rachel commiserated “Dad you came in second, I’m proud of you”), but did better than any Democrat in Utah county in the last decade.

Shaleen does what she does…only with more grace and wisdom. She makes it all happen on the homefront. She can be heard to tell her DH (dear husband) as he leaves for work in the morning. Climb ladders! Bring bacon!

Willard wants to go to work so he can climb ladders too.

Moab July 2006

Willard (4) overheard some adults talking in the halls at church about what they were going to do with some chickens that they won at the Alpine Fair.
One adult says to the other “do we need a rooster?” The other adult replied “ you need a rooster if you want to have babies.” Willard tried to clear up the matter “We have babies and we don’t have a rooster.”

Rachel is becoming more like me (Shaleen) everyday. She is the child that my Mom threatened me with when I was younger and making my mom’s life crazy.

“Shaleen, someday you will have a child just like you…you just wait.” When Rachel is at her most devious 6 year old self, I find that I can’t hold in the laughter because I’m seeing me.

Several months ago she cut her hair quite drastically. She then walked through the house very nonchalantly and with a look of satisfaction on her face. I confronted her and said “Rachel, you cut your hair.”

She looked at me with disbelief and said: “How did you know?” As I came to find out, after each cut she had carefully flushed all of the evidence down the toilet. If there was no evidence then there was no proof and no one would know. I remember having similar thoughts as a child…and a similar haircut.

Rachel brings us all much JOY!

Hannah (8) recently got engaged in acting class while performing a scene from Tom Sawyer, unfortunately this wasn’t Tom’s first engagement so she broke it off (even after sharing her gum with him).

Hannah’s career path at the moment involves something to do with spying. The CIA is jealous of her spy gadget collection.

Hannah was baptized by her Dad in the river just above Aspen Grove and Sundance in June…brrr.

Hannah and Sariah were in the school play "Treasure Island" at Alpine Elementary

Sariah is recently 10 and got her ears pierced (it was either that or get a dog).

Sariah seems to respond to music and wants to have small pieces of plastic in her ears so she can hear the music all the time. Kids these days!

Heber and Parley were born June 28, 2005 in American Fork, Utah.

Heber and Parley (18 months), are unique individual boys.

Heber (firstborn) wants to laugh with the world and be a part of the joke. Parley... is more reserved and watches everything carefully. Heber recently broke his leg and is on his second cast. The boys don’t look alike.

The children enjoy their Dad best when he reads to them at night (chronicles of Narnia and the Enders series) and when he dances with them in the kitchen.

Monument Valley, Utah 2006

Highlights of this year include: Adam and Shaleen going on a 10 day cruise in the Caribbean,

BYU beating U of U in the “closing prayer” pass, and, … nothing else is coming to mind.

God Bless You….Everyone!