The Haunted Wood

"I can't go through the Haunted Wood, Marilla," cried Anne desperately.

Marilla stared.

"The Haunted Wood! Are you crazy? What under the canopy is the Haunted Wood?"

"The spruce wood over the brook," said Anne in a whisper....

....Anne stumbled over the bridge and went shuddering up the horrible dim path beyond. Bitterly did she repent the license she had given to her imagination. The goblins of her fancy lurked in every shadow about her, reaching out their cold, fleshless hands to grasp the terrified small girl who had called them into being. A white strip of birch bark blowing up from the hollow over the brown floor of the grove made her heart stand still. The long drawn wail of two old boughs rubbing against each other brought out the perspiration in beads on her forehead. When she finally stumbled over the log bridge she drew one long shivering breath of relief.

"Well, so nothing caught you? said Marilla unsympathetically.

"Oh, Marilla, how can you be so cruel?" sobbed Anne.

In this circumstance...this picture is not worth 1000 words but I had to take it so that I could use it to show and to describe the thoughts and feelings that I was having.

The other day we had some extra time so we decided to go for a walk which led us, once again, to the place we've named "The Secret Garden". When I find my million dollars (and I mean WHEN not IF) I am going to buy this piece of property because I love to go there with the kids to discover.

As I followed the kids around, each of us discovering what we wanted to, I found...no...I heard the creaking of this entanglement of branches, of trees, this forest of darkness.

I honestly became enchanted with what I had stumbled upon. Instantly, vivid images that my own mind had allowed itself to create from stories, from books that I had read, flashed through my mind. One in particular..."Anne of Green Gables". The obsession had allowed, had caused our family to then take a vacation to Prince Edward Island which is where the story takes place and is where the author had lived . This island had allowed me to see and to discover my own "Haunted Wood".

I sat for a moment as my kids continued to wander and took in the sounds, the darkness, the eerie and morbid beauty of it all. I realized how much I missed these experiences. I had a mother that taught me to read a book with obsession. Who encouraged my mind to wander. Who wanted my imagination to soar.

I try to install these characteristics within my own children and though it may look weird at times, I don't really care! I can't care. The thought of stifling my children's characters, imaginations, and desires scares me to death.

I know that is why we love "The Secret Garden". My children know that they can run around and find new things...new places...new adventures. These are the afternoons that I hope that they will never forget. Never.....

My "Bitter-Sweet"

Let me introduce you to the newest members of the "engaged" world---

Jenny - my sis - and Ashley - my brother John-Charles' girlfriend.

The wedding dates are set for Sept 20, 2008 and Dec 20, 2008 so my Mom is going to be one crazy woman for the next 6 months planning, planning, and more planning.

Since my Dad can get the major hook-up from OC Tanner, the boys sent the girls out this afternoon to get some ideas of what they would like their ring settings to look like.

Now the reason I called this post my "bitter-sweet" is because I am going through some mixed emotions concerning these 2 events.

1- I am so, so, so excited for them both because they are extremely happy and have not doubts that "these are the ones". Stewart, Jenny's man, is perfect for her and he loves her with all of his heart. They are able to work through things in a healthy and mature manner which is something that Jenny has always needed. He will take care of her in ways that she is discovering more and more every day. I love to see her so twitter-pated!

John-Charles is head over heels in love with Ashley! I love to see all of the giddy actions that he does whenever he is around her. She fits right in with the family which is perfect since we can be quite overwhelming at times! She's got it all together and is the luckiest girl in the whole world to have "gotten" my bro!
We love them both...the new bro in law and the new sis in law!
but.......

2- I am so, so, so sad and selfish when it comes to these two. Though their happiness is the most important thing, I want to keep them for myself. Jenny is one of my BFS's and she and I have gone through so many things together that the thought of her moving on without me scares the hell out of me! Selfish...I know but it scares me. When my bro Jake got married, he was a major influence in Carter's life and I cried because I knew that those times were over. Reality...you get married, you have your own life, you have your own kids and you start your own future. Not a bad thing...but a real thing! John-Charles has always been a source of strength in my life and I can always count on him to give me sound and secure advice...about everything! He is so sweet and takes care of me with his random texts expressing his love and worries about me. He is also the Uncle John-Charles that my kids adore.

It's time for them to move on and to begin their their own journeys but the thought of them leaving me in the dust makes me want to cling and hold on to the past. I feel like I am losing them one by one, though I realize that I'm really not!

So like I said..."bitter-sweet"... losing 2-(not really) gaining 2- (really)...
These are the 2 finalists...just the settings at least. Like I said before...we just went to get some ideas so that they can be created at OC Tanner. My Dad's out of town and Jenny was chompin' at the bit to go and start looking!
Jenny...Katie...Ashley

It was fun to go with them and it was even more fun to act dumb and clueless when it comes to "how to buy a ring" since that's another one of the "know hows" that our father taught us...OC Tanner?!? :).

"Yeah....where would you possibly get a single diamond from? Do you already have one?" was the best question of the night. he he he "No?!?"

The only thing that I wish Wedding Dress Shops had, and they never will because they're just interested in selling, but I wish they had someone who told the girls which dresses really did not flatter their figures! I saw so many girls falling in love with dresses that did not show off their "best sides". As much as I hate to be...that's one thing that I am...brutally honest when it comes to that! :(

I am sure that we will go through more of these activities but wanted to say Welcome to the Family!!!

***Lyssa...we missed you but will keep you "posted"! he he he :)

Mixing The Old With Some New...

I am warning you before I start this post, that it's a long one. Lyssa & Jenny...this one is mostly for you since you were not with us but this new family tradition was hilarious so I just had to share :)

Grandma and Grandpa Terry (my parents) decided that they wanted to add a new tradition to the 4th of July activities. We already host the Sainsbury side family party on the day of the 4th, but my parents want to start doing something fun for the grand kids. From now on, they are going to have a big "camp out" down in the backyard the night before. This was the first year that they did it and it was alot of fun! I love watching the cousins interact and I know that memories are being made. These are also the moments that we really miss the Zimmermans (my sis Lyssa and her family who live in Tx) and this year we also missed my other sis, Jenny (who was in Co with her man)


It was so funny because Carter could not wait to get the tent up so that he could mark his territory with his sleeping bag...
Grandpa could not pass up giving his "this is how to" lesson to Kindra about how to correctly build the fire.

My parents have the best yard ever that we have put alot of hours into...both creating and using as we were growing up. Sorries go out to the rest of the Terry family because I have already put dibs on our parents yard when they "pass over to the other side". Even though we were joking around, I think that I've got a good chance of this actually happening. My parents will never move so I will just have to knock down their house and build my own. The yard is worth it! Since I am the oldest...I've got first right so back off everyone!!! :)
Kindra lucked out and she got to sleep in her own tent since I knew that the sleep factor was going to come in handy the next day. In other words, I went home and slept in my own comfortable bed...he he he
...the view of Lone Peak from their backyard...
Growing up we were continually harassed by my father about knowing the correct way to start a fire. "This is what you do...this is what you don't do". However, the lessons were never remembered. Miraculously none of us died. Many tree explosions went down in this fire pit. Many flame jumping competitions were seen. Many near death experiences were seen.

Flash forward to the present day. My Dad put together paper, wood, kindling. etc but what do you think he told my Mom he was running up to the garage to get? That would be what he called "some fire accelerant" aka GASOLINE! He will never live this event down! He did exactly what he has told us to NEVER do! He even started the grass on fire! I caught the perfect pic of him almost singeing his eyebrows...seriously!

It's time for SMORES...line up everyone but not without the "how to" lesson from Grandpa...
...and now for a lesson from Mom... "I am way too impatient so I just place them in the flame, pull back a fireball, blow it off, and pull them off. YUM." So much easier...

This is exactly why I am not a fan of "the Smore concept". Way too messy! BOO to me, I know, but still....

Time for bed...My brothers, Michael and John-Charles, were the "adults of the night" in charge of my kids. (since I weaseled off to my soft bed. he he he) Jake, Nat, Colin, and Abbi camped out too so they were one big happy family!

The next day, we put the tents away, Grandma made us breakfast, and we got ready for the annual "river rafting" adventure. In the back of my parents property is an irrigation creek that we grew up using as our own personal entertainment. We would jump IN a raft and would float down to the end of the street and run back to do it all over again. I emphasize the word IN because that way we would not freeze to death. That water is freeeezing!

...Jake's personal changing area....
I love these 2! They are punks to each other and all that my Mom asked for was "For one day, can you two just be nice to each other both in words and in deeds". We laughed hard at that one. Impossible! They love each other and are not really mean but they love to give each other a hard time...PUNKS! Only the brothers were going to get in the water with the kids this year...and our rafts were flat...so we pulled out some other floatation devices...but they allowed you to get wet. Freezing remember! Notice the garbage bags that he taped to his legs to act as a wet suit. What do you think about their retro, old school swimming shorts!!! Such retards!
...in line to take the plunge...
...notice the sheer panic on my brothers face as he is shoving the kids aside just to get out! Quote..."It hurts so bad! My bones are aching because that water is so f'in cold!"(once the kids are out of hearing range, ofcourse)
They decided to walk the kids down from one end of the yard to the other. The more they did it, the easier it got. Yeah!!! because their legs became numb!!!

Now...it can not be a true Terry family event if there is not some sort of bet or dare usually given and it's usually given by me! I am really, really good at coming up with some good ones! "I will give you each $$$ if you can become fully immersed in the water!" They did it and here's the proof....Michael was the only one who knew that the $$$ was sooooo not worth it!

Kindra and I getting ready to head back over to my parents for their usual 4th of July party...
...John-Charles and Colin eating some grub...

I am not a huge fireworks fan. My motto...You've seen one firework, you've seen 'em all! Of course I can handle the little "family driveway show" so I took the kids up to Trevor's parents home to hang out with their cousins who are visiting from Az.
Kindra, Carter, Jack, and Carson

Carter is the best "cleaner upper" in the whole, entire world!

Overall...such a fun day...long...but way fun! Like I said before...this was going to be a long post but that it was mostly for those who were not able to be there. We missed you and hope that your day was as grrrrreat as ours :)