W. STEVEN MARTIN TOY DRIVE

We have a family tradition that goes back about 18 years. It started out when Kay was a policeman for the City of Mesa. A disc jockey named W. Steven Martin decided that children who are in at risk situations always looked upon policeman as the bad guy. So he started the Police Toy Drive. Every year he gets people to donate new toys and then policeman are able to come get these toys and deliver them to children on their beats who would otherwise not receive Christmas presents. Kay participated in this project. In order to get the best selection of toys we would have to go really early in the morning to stand in line. They would give us a ticket and then we would go to breakfast to wait for the toy warehouse to open. The ware house was right next to a Smitty's grocery store who at that time had a restaurant. Well a couple of years later the restaurant closed so there was no where to eat breakfast. We decided we would make breakfast for all the policeman waiting. We now serve around four hundred policeman each year for breakfast. In the beginning other policeman would help Kay and I but now our children are grown and have pretty much taken over the job. Last year Kay and I just watched. After breakfast we are able to still go shop for families. We then go to the Mesa Police station where the FOP provides wrapping paper and lunch. Even though Kay has retired we still find needy families to give to. It is the greatest thing and I believe Christmas would not be the same without it. Our children find out months in advance when the breakfast is so they can make sure they have the day off. Kay suggested one year we not do it anymore. We almost had a mutiny on our hands. So I guess as long as W. Steven Martin has his toy drive our family will be there to serve breakfast.
Sometimes some of the policeman get a little testy if they have to wait a minute or two for there food so I had these shirts made for each of us.

This is one row of the toy warehouse. It has grown in size each year.

GINGERBREAD HOUSES

Every year at Christmas time we like to get together and make ginger bread houses. We have made everything from houses, cars, boats, towers, outhouses, etc... When we are all done we create a town on our kitchen counters. It is great, harmless fun.

Did I say harmless fun?

Every year it is the same thing. Someone ends up a human gingerbread decoration.

Halloween

As Halloween is quickly approaching I find myself once again in a nastalgic frame of mind.

I had a lot of fun coming up with different costumes for my many children. Here are just a few pictures I found.
Tara, Nicholas, Josh, and Jeremy

Tyler, Emily, Keara, and Conner

Tyler, Kay, Emily, and Zachary

Tyler and Grandpa Shepherd

Nichoas, Tara, and Jeremy

Nicholas, Jeremy holding Tyler, Jamie, Tara, Joshua, and Emily

Tara

WASN'T IT JUST YESTERDAY

Tara came over yesterday and needed some pictures of her as a toddler. I found this top picture and it started me going down memory lane. The next picture was taken when Tara graduated from Law school. I can't believe how time has gone. It really does seem just like yesterday

Family Home Evening

So Kay and I decided that we would like to start having Family Home Evening once a month with all our children. We started tonight. Kay read us his favorite book in the whole world. Yes you guessed it. "THERE ARE ROCKS IN MY SOCKS SAID THE OX TO THE FOX." It is a childrens book with a very good message. It was very enjoyable. We talked about gospel principles after that apply. The lesson was short and sweet and followed by peach pie. We missed all our children who were unable to attend.

THERE ARE ROCKS IN MY SOCKS SAID THE OX TO THE FOX

Crepes

So in my family we have what I thought was "a family favorite",which is crepes. It seemed that everytime I made them all were happy and I would always have to make more. I have fed crepes to wrestling teams, volleyball teams and it seems any special occasion they would be the request. I found out a few months ago that Kay is not a big crepe fan. For years I did not know this. Then today came another shocker. Tara called me just before it was time to come over. She asked me what we were having for dinner. I very excitingly told her crepes ( you see I thought this would be a special surprise). I expected her to shout with glee but instead there was a strange quietness. "Aren't you excited about crepes" I asked. More silence. "Helloooo". Tara then replied, "there is no good way to answer that question". I was stunned. "Don't you like crepes." "They are not something I would ask for." I felt it go straight to my heart. First of all Nicholas and Jackie had decided not to come for dinner and I knew that was one of Nicholas's favorite and now there was Tara who after all these years is just now informing me that she doesn't like them either. I tried really hard not to take it personally. After some healing time I decided to make her and Kay spaghetti. It was the best I could do last minute. So on my Sunday dinner table tonight was crepes and all the fixins', orange juice, and spaghetti. Thank goodness for the boys. They loved the crepes.

General Conference

This has been an interesting conference for me. I definitely believe most of the talks have been said for me. It seems to me that the theme for this conference has been to be happy and be grateful. I have not been either one of those for a very long time. I am sad a lot and feel a tremendous burden is always on me. I have been focused so much on my burdens I have forgotton to see the joys in my life. I am going to repent and try much harder. I want to apologize to my family for the way I have been the last couple of years. I have been told by more then one member of my family that I am not any fun anymore. That is going to change. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much. You can see that just by reading my blog. How could I possibly not have anything to be happy about. Thank-you Heavenly Father for giving me the opportunity to watch conference and the intelligence to glean from it.

Our Pets

Since being married to Kay we have had a numerous and interesting number of pets. From birds to fish, goats to cows, chickens to horses and of course dogs and cats and many other things to numerous to mention. At this particular time we have four turtles, a dove, two horses, a cat, and a dog.

On your mark, get set, go!!!

Tyler has become quite the horseman with just a few short lessons.
Here he is riding Star.

Our neighbor Sandy with Star and Winston.

Star is on the left, Winston on the right.

This is Bojangles or as we call him Bo. He is a Cumberland Spaniel. Tyler likes to gel his mohawk and spike it up.

My Other Children

I didn't actually give birth to these two boys, but I still claim them as mine.

Derek and Kristen

Hailey
Ashlyn and Mommie

Daddy's girls

Brent and Heather

Brent, Heather, and Cody

Now son, let's talk about girls.

Before

After