Thursday, September 27, 2007

My dad can fix ANYTHING


One of those things that kids say. Apparently Holden says this and much more about his daddy at school. We had parent-teached conferences this past weekend at Holden's school. You know...to make sure he was coloring in the lines and playing well with others.


The teachers say that whenever they ask a more difficult question that the kids don't have an answer for, Holden pipes up to let them know he will ask his daddy, because "my daddy knows EVERYTHING!"
When we came out of the school the sun was shinning bright, but was nothing compared to the beaming smile on Nate's face knowing that he is "that dad" that knows everything. What more affirmation could a daddy ask for.


Tales and Tails

We have an addiction. We can't get enough of it and I happy to say I have a friend who has the same problem. I HATE being addicted to something alone. Everyone needs a crack buddy, don't they? Our crack comes in the form of a beach called Boracay.

I am sure there are better beaches....somewhere in the world, but I doubt it. This past trip there was by far the best. Maybe it was because we took Lani (yaya tinkerbell) along. Maybe it was because it was "off season" and there weren't near as many tourists. Maybe it was because it wasn't nearly as hot as it usually is. Or maybe, it is because it is like Disneyland: the happiest place on earth.

We went on an island hopping tour this time. We took a tricycle (our first), which can miraculously fit two American adults, one child, one yaya, the driver, the boatman and the candlestick maker, to the other side of the island to hop on a boat.
We stopped along the way to do a little snorkeling, Holden was even a trooper and fed the fish and snorkeled a bit. Nate was a show-off and headed to the bottom to bring up one of the blue starfish that dot the bottom of the ocean.
Then we went off to visit two caves; the first of which you climb down and through a very narrow spiral staircase to the ocean. Everything was peachy as we moved to the next cave. Again down the steep stairs and across a bridge that is about knee deep in water and through a VERY narrow cave. SO narrow and short that Nate was clawing through on his hands and knees. It was truly "Filipino size." Into the water we went but after a while...everything started to itch...painful itching and stinging. Everyone is out of the water. Jellyfish is what they told us. Pouring fresh drinking water all over ourselves we head back through the claustrophobic cave to the water bridge when the guide yells for us to stop, be careful, snake! WHAT!?! I yell back at Nate that there is a snake to which he responds "whatever" thinking I am telling him that so he will pick up his crawling pace. I grab Holden unsure whether or not to turn around and high tail it back to the jellyfish or encounter the snake. This snake, is it IN the tunnel with us? Is it headed our way? I don't know. Because all the guide said was....snake! Luckily Lani was with us and the guide came over to help us around the snake which was half in, half out of the water. Safely across the bridge I asked the guide if the snake was deadly. The response: "yes ma'am, one hour," and then he makes a slice across his throat with his index finger with the sound affect of "keeek." GREAT!



Ever since we have moved to the Philippines, we have talked about getting certified to dive. Ah, but time. Precious precious time has prevented us. We stopped by a dive shop to see how many days it would take and decided to do a trial dive where they teach you the basics, take you down 10-12 meters one on one for as long as you have air. It was a fantastic experience now we're on a mission to get certified, then maybe we will get addicted a new beach...but I
doubt it!

The date that time forgot


When "we" were pregnant with Holden, Nate had hopes that he would be born on his birthday...September 11th. In addition to that not being the greatest day in America, I kept telling Nate that in the long run he really wouldn't want to share his birthday. Holden was born exactly a week later and Nate's birthday still gets a little forgotten. Take for instance this post...a few weeks late...and AFTER the details about Holden's. OOOPS.

We happened to be in Boracay (AGAIN) and we surprised Nate at breakfast with a couple of little cakes from the Lemon Cafe. In addition there was a cake waiting for him when we got home as well as two more at his office. I guess that takes care of the next 3 years!

Notice the age and the date.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Helpless

We returned from vacation today to find out that while we were away my uncle died. He wasn't sick, he wasn't diseased, he wasn't old. He was young and vibrant and loving and full of life. And life...well life isn't fair. It is volatile and precious and taken for granted every day.

I was fortunate enough to grow up close to this uncle...he was like a father to me. He was my mom's oldest bother, his name is Steven Neal Simpson, and he is the kind of person that everyone admires. There was always a smirk on his face. He was genuine. He was fun. He was humble. He was talented. He was kind. He was generous. He was loving.

He adored his wife, he respected his wife. They had an ease about their relationship. Nate and I would often comment, that it was a relationship to emulate. Steve has two daughters whom he admired greatly. He puffed with pride when he saw them. He teased them the way only a father could do. He had pictures of them all over his dental lab. There is nothing more unfair in my world right now then that these three remarkable women; Jan, Brooke and Brandi will have to go on with their lives without him.

At times like these, it is hard to be away. Hard to comfort the ones you love. Hard to believe that this is really happening. I hope that they know our thoughts and love are with them at this difficult time.



Steven Neal Simpson, 60, of Blackfoot, died of injuries sustained in a motorcyle accident on Sept. 8, 2007, just north of Preston, Idaho.

Steven came into this world on Oct. 24, 1946, born to Shirley Peterson Simpson and Keith Boothe Simpson. He was born in Burley, Idaho, and made his debut at a whopping 10 pounds. He spent his early childhood in Burley, St. Louis, Mo., and San Diego, Calif., while his father pursued his dental degree and completed his Navy service. The family located to Blackfoot in 1954 when Keith opened his dental practice. Steve quickly made Blackfoot his own, making friends along the way. Steve was a gifted athlete in his younger days. He played first string football, basketball, and baseball throughout his high school career. He graduated from Blackfoot High School in 1965. After a year at Utah State, he joined the Navy in 1966 during the Vietnam conflict. He served mainly as a radioman on the USS Constellation and at the naval base in the Philippines. He was honorably discharged in 1969.


Steve, encouraged by his dad, decided to attend dental laboratory school at Portland Community College in Portland, Ore. He graduated in 1974 with an associate's degree in dental laboratory technology. While in Portland he met and married the love of his life, Jan Merre King, who was also attending PCC. They were married in Beaverton, Ore., on Sept. 1, 1973. After completing school, Steve packed up his new bride and returned to his beloved Idaho. Steve started his career with Treasure Dental Lab in Idaho Falls, learning the trade from Barry Treasure. Always a quick study, Steve decided to start his own lab in Blackfoot in 1975. He first worked out of his basement and then in 1976 moved his lab to the Simpson Dental Clinic and named it Parkway Dental Laboratory.
In 1983, he and his longtime friend, John Buzzard, combined their two labs to create Parkway Dental Lab, Inc. That partnership remains to this day. Steve excelled at his profession, and many dentists recognized his artistic talent. There are countless dental prosthetics in place up and down the valley that his hand has touched.


Steve and Jan were blessed with identical twin daughters on July 22, 1982. Brooke Merre was the first born, with Brandi Jean following five minutes later. Steve's daughters were the light of his life, and he provided them with constant love and support. In 2002 Brooke married Cleve Colson, and Steve quickly adopted him as his own. Steve's love for his family was his crowning achievement, and its strength will sustain them forever. Steve had a passion for photography and loved everything outdoors. His younger years were spent hunting, shooting, and fishing. As the years progressed he enjoyed many different sporting activities, such as boating, bow hunting, golfing, ATVs, and finally, motorcycling. Cleaning, polishing, and then hopping on his Yamaha seemed to bring him the most satisfaction. He was always planning the "next trip".


Steve is survived by is wife of 34 years, Jan, his daugther Brooke and son-in-law, Cleve Colson, daughter, Brandi, mother, Shirley, and mother-in-law, Gene King. He is also survived by his brother, Mike and his wife Kathy, sister Susan Heyer and her husband Chris. He has one niece, Melissa (Nate) May, and two nephews, Caleb and Holden. He has many aunts, uncles, and cousins as well.
Steve was preceded in death by his dad, Keith, and his grandparents.He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and attended Jason Lee Memorial United Methodist Church.


A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007 at the Jason Lee Memorial United Methodist Church with Reverend Gay Jeffery officiating. The family will meet with friends and relatives from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007 at Hawker Funeral Home and again for one hour prior to services at the church.In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Jason Lee Memorial United Methodist Church, 168 S. University Ave., Blackfoot, Idaho 83221.Military honors will be presented by the Stewart Hoover American Legion Post No. 23.




Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Hair and lack thereof

When it's hot here, it is HOT. When it's not hot here, it is still HOT. Shaving ones head seems like a great way to stay cool, and I guess since it works for Nate, he thinks Holden should do it too. YEAH RIGHT.

Holden insists and whines and cries every time he gets a hair cut that he doesn't want it cut like daddy. It may be because Nate teases him about it...but that is a battle for another day. Holden's friend on the other hand, is enthralled with Nate's "hair cut" and insisted that he have the same cut as "Holden's daddy." So...here we have it folks, Nate's proud moment.



UPDATE: Holden STILL doesn't want his hair cut like Daddy.