Bye Bye Jr. High!!

It is hard to believe that Caitlin is finished with Jr. High. It seems like she just started the seventh grade and now she is headed for High School in the fall. She has loved her three years at BJHS. She has been a high honor student all three years and was a member of the Honor Society. She was student of the month last November (have I bragged enough?) and in April we attended honors night where we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Wight House followed by keynote speaker Jill Stevens, who is our current Miss Utah. That's Miss Utah in the picture.During the eighth and ninth grades Caitlin became involved in musical theatre. This spring BJHS presented Beauty and the Beast where Caitlin played the role of Babette the feather duster (I made that costume, ok I've bragged to much!!). She did a fabulous job!! We are proud of you Rosie!!

I Told Her What To Do With Her Freckles

I've been a little blog happy this past week but here I go again. I had a little experience at the gas station yesterday that I thought would be worth sharing. But first I must preface it with a story from the past. When I was quite pregnant with my first child I was a working girl. I worked at the church office building with a lot of other working girls. One girl (we'll call her...Debbie....'cause that was her name) was there for just a short time before leaving on a mission. She was the kind of girl I'd have stayed away from in jr. high or high school. Kind of intimidating, the mean girl type. Debbie had more freckles on her face than I'd ever seen on a face before. One day as all of the girls in the office were going on a break together, Debbie thought it would be funny to stick out her foot and trip me (remember I'm about 6 months pregnant). When I recovered from the trip I looked her strait in the eye and said, "you ever do anything like that again, I'll pull all those freckles off your face and shove them down your throat." Over the years as I've shared experiences of people "bugging" me, my father-in-law has said to me, "Hap, did you tell 'em what to do with their freckles?" So for yesterdays story. I've been going to Chevron on 4th north and 5th west for years to fill up my car. For well over a year now I've meticulously and successfully planned to fill my car every other Wednesday because you get a free carwash when you use your Chevron card and you get at least 8 gallons. Due to the rising cost of gas (Chevron, most expensive) I've been filling up at Costco all winter. But yesterday I decided that I was going to Chevron because my car was filthy and they have the best carwash. Mike decides he's going too. But first, I (Apollonian) have to call Chevron and make sure they still do the Wednesday deal. When the lady answers, I ask my question. She responds "yes". So off to Chevron. After filling our cars Mike and I both go into the mini, mini mart to present our receipts and get our carwash codes. The lady asks, "are you the one who called on the phone?" I give her a big smile (I always try to be a friendly customer) and I tell her that I am. She then goes off on this lecture about how she is sorry but she has no patience for people calling her on the phone. She's there all alone and if the phone rings she has to answer it (I work at a Drs. office and have 5 telephone lines to answer, charts to take care of and patients to check-in, often all at the same time), Mike and I are just standing there listening as she goes on and on, and then she hands us our "free" carwash codes...you know the ones that cost us 3.85 and 9/10 a gallon to qualify for. She continues by saying if we want to know about the carwash, just come in to get our gas and ask about it when we get there. I took my carwash and smiled and said "thanks," then looked her in the eye and added, "I don't want to come in and ask about the carwash, if I'm not going to get a free carwash I'm going to Costco to get my gas." Her mouth was left open and speechless. I think I pretty much told her what to do with her freckles.

I took a quiz.....

....and here's what I found out. Alright ladies I'm looking forward to finding out which Princesses you are!!

You Are Aurora! (A.K.A. Sleeping Beauty.)

Thoughtful and loving. Authority figures probably have been sheltering you all of your life. Thankfully you're a very tranquil person who is content with what life has given you, but secretly you want to know how the outside world works.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Memorial (Sun) Day 2008

A tender moment with some of our family as we pay our repects to two precious children.

The Princess Party

Today we had four Princesses in our castle!! HRH's the Princesses Caitlin Rose, Chelsea Elizabeth, Emily Christine and Rebecca Jane. Princess Emily and Princess Rebecca masqueraded as Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella respectively. And just like in the fairy tale, Princess Rebecca lost a glass slipper as she ascended our grand staircase. We spent an enjoyable couple of hours together eating a lovely lunch (pizza, pink cupcakes and raspberry lemonade), after which we retired to the drawing room where we engaged in a "present" game where everyone was a winner and received a lovely gift to take home. We then embarked in creating a needlework craft suitable for royalty. Finally the Princesses followed clues which led them to a valuable treasure. Princesses Emily and Rebecca "ooohed" and "aaahed" when they made the discovery in the royal milkbox situated on the veranda. An enjoyable time was had by all in attendance and we decided that it must be an annual event.

To Marsden's, Ditty's, and on and on and on......

Archie and Elizabeth Blakeley Marsden


Joseph and Lilian Mullen Ditty


These are the people that I came from. My grandparents. In my lifetime I was only able to enjoy the frequent association of one of them, and that was my Grandpa Ditty. My Grandpa Marsden and Grandma Ditty died before I was born and my Grandma Marsden lived across the ocean in England while I was growing up in America, and although I met and associated with her on a few occasions it wasn't nearly enough. Throughout my life I've heard stories about all of them that have endeared them to me. I think that they were just ordinary people trying their best to live good lives in times that were very hard and to raise their families the best that they could. I think they did a good job. I have always felt an obligation to them to do my part as one of their posterity to bring family together. And although I'm talking about bringing Marsden's to Marsden's and Ditty's to Ditty's, in a way I have always felt that the two families are intertwined because my dads sister is married to my moms brother making Sean, Michael and Patrick Ditty double cousins to Lesley, Archie, Timothy, Alan, Lilian and David Marsden. Ever since I was a child I thought that was pretty neat. In my effort to bring family together I began a tradition in 1985 of a family Christmas party. It began small (in my living room) with just my parents and their children and my Uncle Joe and Auntie Maureen and their children. There were about twenty in attendance. At our last party in December 2007 there were more than 60 family members in attendance including many great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren, of Archie and Elizabeth and Joseph and Lilian. Although I send invitations only to those that live in Utah the party is always an open invitation to any of our family who may be visiting for the holidays. In 2005 my brother Alan made a wonderful DVD with a compilation of party photographs and video set to music in commemoration of twenty years of the family party (if anyone would like a copy let me know I'll be happy to send you one). When my parents returned from their LDS mission to England in 1998 many family members came to visit. The subject of a family reunion came up. I made the comment that I didn't want any of my Grandpa Ditty's posterity to pass each other in the street and not know that they are related. Because of diligent family members who organized and attended three family reunions in the past decade I literally saw that come to pass. My son Andy and his wife were in an office building one day when they passed a young man in the hall. They did a double take as they all recognized each other. It was my cousin Patrick (Uncle Bryan's) who is the same age as my son. If they hadn't attended our family reunions they would have passed each other by and not known that they were related. I am grateful that each of my five children have met all of my aunts and uncles. We've had several trips to the beach house in California that we shared with Uncle Joes, Uncle Roys (Ditty) and Uncle Bryans families, and many years ago my Auntie Margie came and spent a day at the beach with us. My children became aquainted with my cousins' children while playing at the beach. All three of my sons have been to England and stayed at Uncle Derek and Auntie Dorothy's home. Two of them have been to Ireland and spent time with Auntie Jean and Uncle Billy's family. I have pictures of Uncle Roy (Marsden) playing with my children at our favorite waterpark, Cherry Hill. When Caitlin was a little girl she invited Auntie Mavis to come in to her room and play dollhouse, when it was time for Mavis to go home Caitlin stood against the door and barracaded it in an attempt to hold Mavis captive because she didn't want her to leave. Caitlin has been pen pals with Auntie Bea, and Uncle John has encouraged my boys in scouting and shared scout patches with them. I have cousins in England and Ireland and throughout the United States. Informative letters including photos sent in a stamped envelope have always been a good intention of mine but I haven't done it nearly as frequently (seldom) as I should. When I first became aware of "blogging" and decided to start my own blog, I thought what a great way for distant family to check in and see what's going on in each others lives, and then I thought, "hey....I have distant family." So in closing I just want to say specifically to my Marsden and Ditty cousins....some of you I have met only once or twice in my life, others I see once a year, and everyone else falls somewhere in between. But I want you to know that I know who you are, through the years I've thought about you, and I care about you. So please post a comment, send an e-mail or start a blog and share it with us. Who knows, it could be the start of something good!! I feel pretty confident that "wee Joe" would think so.

Ashleigh-o

It was a beautiful spring day on May 13, 1987. I had just been given an epidural and was alone in my hospital room for a few minutes. I glanced out of the window and could see hospital staff participating in a walk-a-thon doing laps around the grounds. I turned my attention back to the room and thoughts of my baby soon to be born. What were we going to name him. All of my boys had names when they were born and we hadn't chosen a name for a boy and here I was about to give birth to a nameless son. I wanted a baby daughter so badly, I had prayed for a daughter, we even had a name for a daughter. Several months earlier, Andy (9) had suggested that we pick a name for the baby that started with A and ended with Y. His reason made sense, Jeffrey (7) and Jeremy (3) both started with J and ended with Y, so he needed someone with letters like his. One day soon afterwards, as Mike and I sat enjoying lunch in a Sizzler in downtown Salt Lake City the cutest little girl toddled over to our table and stopped and stared at us. "Ashley," we heard someone call to her. We looked at each other and simultaneously said, "Ashley! that starts with A and ends with Y." We had a girls name, but did we have a girl? I didn't have much time to dwell on my thoughts for it was time for the delivery room. Mike and my Doctor, Ray Sumsion, both wore masks and all that I could see were their eyes. I will forever have the picture of that moment imprinted in my memory when the baby was delivered and the Doctor started to laugh. He didn't say a word, but his eyes sparkled as he held the baby up for me to see. It was a girl!! A beautiful baby girl. We laughed and we cried. Dr. Sumsion laughed with us and told us that he had never seen a reaction quite like that before. Life with our baby girl was great! Everything at our house turned pink. Her boys (she always called them "my boys") loved her, we loved her, she loved all of us. Life was good. It is obvious by the title of this post that we chose a different spelling for Ashleigh. It was actually my Dad that suggested it. It is the British spelling and I am very sentimental and traditional when it comes to things like that. When Ashleigh was two she had her first visit to the beach house we love so much in California. My Uncle Roy Ditty was there and he sang a little song to Ashleigh that forever more became her song. It goes like this:

A is for apple
B for bear
C is for Ashleigh on a chair
all the world will never, never
know the love I have for my Ashleigh-o
my Ashleigh-o, my Ashleigh-o
the love I have for my Ashleigh-o



Ashleigh loved The Little Mermaid, Osh Kosh B' Gosh, pretties in her hair, sitting on her Daddy's back and eating popcorn with him, her boys, her best friend Morgan, and much, much more. When Ashleigh was 3 years, 3 months and 3 days old she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. It was a shock and indescribably heartbreaking. There were many challenges throughout the next year, but many joys as well. We hoped and prayed for a miracle and although we didn't receive the miracle we wanted so badly we saw many little miracles along the way. Our family was truly blessed during that difficult time. It was on the morning of September 17, 1991 that Ashleigh peacefully left us. She was 4 years, 4 months and 4 days old. As we met at the mortuary later that day to make funeral arrangements I was asked if there was any special saying that I would like printed on the program. I said, "yes ...." I then proceeded to recite the last line of Ashleigh's song. It would seem appropriate to close this post with the refrain of that little song:

"....all the world will never, never know the love I [still] have for my Ashleigh-o...."

BYU Women's Conference

Last week my Mother and I spent a wonderful two days at BYU Women's Conference. Some of the highlights of my two days were daily opening and closing sessions where we heard speakers such as Sheri Dew, Julie B. Beck and President Thomas S. Monson (closing session of the conference). I was also able to attend several classes that uplifted, motivated and encouraged me. I was able to give service and enjoyed entertainment by popular LDS performers including Michael McClean who's music brought me peace and comfort years ago during a difficult time in my life. Walking across campus and hearing the bell tower chime the tunes of "Come, Come Ye Saints" and "We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet" brought joy to my heart and tears to my eyes. A sister who came to my aid with a tide stick (she just gave it to me) when I slipped on the wet grass and stained my pant knees, inspired me to be prepared next year with something "extra" to share with someone in need. And being in the presence of a Prophet of God and then singing my favorite hymn "Redeemer Of Israel" with thousands of women (and a few men) at the close of his remarks was a spiritual highlight. I'm looking forward to continuing the tradtion (this was my second year so I think it now qualifies as tradtion) by attending next years conference on April 30 and May 1, 2009.

Tagged By Tiffany

How to play this game of tag. Post these rules on your blog. List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

3 JOYS
1. My family
2. The gospel
3. The ocean
3 FEARS
1. Dead birds
2. Live birds
3. Dogs on the loose when I'm on my walk
3 GOALS
1. A college degree
2. A completely organized home
3. A healthier lifestyle
3 CURRENT OBSESSIONS/COLLECTIONS
1. I collect thimbles. I've been collecting them since 1992 and I have 103 of them. They are the perfect souvenir to buy when you go on a trip because they are small and inexpensive. Some of my favorites include: a Wedgewood thimble, a thimble from each of my three sons missions, a thimble with my name spelt correctly, a Salt Lake Temple thimble, and a thimble made from a gold foil candy wrapper by my nephew Michael, because as he told his Mom, "Aunt Lesley likes these finger covers."
2. I have a beautiful San Francisco style dollhouse that is built on a scale of
1/12. I have collected miniature furnishings, china, silverware, diapers, a baby pram, silver tea service, etc. I even have this really neat miniature secretary I bought in England with 32 tiny books in it that I've had family members sign their names in, but the wallpaper is still in the package and I finally packed it all away (house and everything) for another season in my life so that I wouldn't have to look at the bare walls and feel guilty that I haven't finished it yet.
3. I have a collection of nativities.
3 RANDOM SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT MYSELF
1. When I attended SLCC a few years back I got 4.0 two semesters (this is a surprising fact).
2. I do not like public restrooms (this is so random). After I wash my hands I turn off the tap with a paper towel or with my arm (if it's a tap you don't have to turn). Then I use a paper towel to open the door to exit the restroom.
3. I am a safety freak (seriously). I've always checked on my kids at night to make sure they're breathing, I don't allow plastic bags in the bedrooms (because when they're asleep and the heater turns on it could blow the bag over to their faces, or in the summer and the window is open the breeze.....same thing), I check the carbon monoxide moniter every night before I go to bed, and when my kids were old enough to stay home without a babysitter I wouldn't let them eat anything but ice-cream while I was gone because of the choking factor. Get the picture? There's more but enough already.

I'm going to tag Lilian, Melissa L., Emily, Melissa T., Stephanie