Remembering

Yes, the block-hurling incident will always be a fond memory for me, as well as the shampoo-on-the-toothbrush and cannibalistic-hamsters ones. Seriously though, I sometimes wonder how much of my childhood I actually remember, and it always helps when we all get together and start the "remember when" conversations. It's so much fun. So I hope everybody contributes to this. Some events may be more significant than others, or some may just seem that way. But I'm excited to see what you guys look back on fondly.

I have really vivid memories of our Montoya family camping trips to Highland's Hammock and Long Pond in Florida. I always liked having our extended family nearby growing up and doing things like that was always a treat to me. Building campfires, going on hikes, eating at those plywood tables under the big blue tarp, having Sacrament meeting all by ourselves, canoeing and swimming in scary, weedy water, seeing my aunts without make-up-- all very memorable. :) Maybe someday when our kids are a little older Aaron and I will muster the courage to help them make memories like that, too.

1984

One trip I remember with the Anderson clan is kind of sketchy, but the part I remember most is being loaded into someone's vehicle with a bunch of garbage can lids and such, with the intention of going sledding somewhere. Somebody (I think it was Bryce) got carsick and threw up, which triggered Keith's severe gag reflex and he threw up. Did we even end up sledding after that?

Getting to visit Grandma and Grandpa Anderson's house in California was more than exciting for me. I loved exploring that room with the bi-fold doors and bunk beds. That's where they kept the old toys that belonged to Dad and our aunts and uncles. We'd play in the backyard, digging around in Grandma's flower beds looking for snails and marvelling that they could pick avocados in their very own backyard, or hang out in Grandpa's study and laugh at the "Be a lert" and "Ask me how smart I are" signs. It's fantastic that the sights and smells from my childhood are still there today, which make me recall those trips as a kid and bring the same giddiness when I walk through the door.

1986

I could probably list a dozen other memories without having to think too hard, but I don't want to make this too long.