Rabbit

We have a new rabbit in our house.  It is a 2002 red VW Rabbit and it is Brandon's. 

Brandon has been working a ton of hours at Clearwater Research and has been saving his money for a car.  His efforts paid off when he found a fantastic deal and was able to buy his first car.  It is stick, it runs great, and he is having fun doing the upgrades on it.  He has been searching Craig's List for various parts and has been pretty successful so far.  He is currently looking for new rims and is eyeing some in Vegas.  He is set when he leaves for college this fall.

Grandpa Hurst

For those of you who don't know Grandpa Hurst, Grandpa was an avid family historian.  He spent his retirement years working at the family history library and helping people with their work.  He loved it.  The family still jokes that you had to watch out for Grandpa Hurst because he would trap you in a corner and tell you about your ancestors.

When I was in college, our ward was big into family history.  At the time I was feeling overwhelmed with my studies and was unsure about adding more.  When I mentioned this to Grandpa he told me there is a time and a season for family history, and that family history is best for old people like him.  I took it to heart and have never worried about it since. A few months ago I got called as a ward family history consultant.  While the bishop was extending the calling all I could think was, "I guess Grandpa Hurst was wrong."

I'm not sure that I have felt the Spirit of Elijah in my calling, but I can say I have felt the memory of Grandpa Hurst.  When I serve at the library or attend in-service meetings I am one of the youngest by 30 years.  This calling is full of "Grandpa Hursts".  Men and women who know more about doing the work than you can imagine.  When I serve at the library, there are 2-3 "Grandpa Hursts" there serving also.  I take my laptop and plunk down right next to one of my favorites.  I soak in the memory of Grandpa Hurst while we silently do our work.   I love it.

I can't say I've found any new names (still hoping Grandpa is working it from the other side), but I have been reminded of the many ways Grandpa influenced me through his family history.  Shortly after receiving my endowment, Grandpa Hurst handed me a stack of 10 family names to take through the temple.  Knowing how precious family names are, and the amount of time it takes to find family names, I still get teary eyed remembering that he allowed me to take part in his work.

As I mentioned, telling stories was a favorite of Grandpa's.  I still remember watching the 4th of July fireworks on the lawn of the Logan hospital, snuggling in Grandpa's arms, hearing him tell me stories about being in the air force.  Or, having him stop by the hospital, family history in hand, and reading me his personal family history stories.

The other day, I did my first bit of family history work.  I sourced Grandpa Hurst's record in FamilySearch, attaching his gravestone to his name.  Miss you Grandpa.

The List

We keep a running list of items we need to buy at the store on our fridge (aka grocery list).  Every once in a while we find unique items added to our list.  Here are a few of the recent ones:

• 8 packages of Chimichangas
• Battlefield 4 (Xbox game)
• An ax
• Dry ice
• Mastiff

Wrestling

Brenna said, "I cannot imagine facing 160 lbs of Harrison coming at you in spandex on the wrestling mat."  That is what his opponents faced this year as Harrison wrestled for the first time.  Harrison was a force to be reckoned with.  What he lacked in experience he made up for in brute force.  He won most of his matches and then came in 2nd at districts. 

Watch below to see him in action, he pinned his opponent in less than 15 seconds. (Harrison is in blue)

Pie

David: "I can't believe you ate that whole pie already."
Harrison: "I didn't."
David: "Well, who else would have?"
Harrison: "Surely someone else had some."
David: "Really, who?"
{awkward silence}

Our Entreprenuer

Brandon came home the other night and informed us he had made the quickest $15 in his life.  He made $15 for only 30 seconds of work.  Want to know how?  By eating a worm. 

Someone had offered to pay him $5 to eat a worm.  Knowing he could earn more, he refused the offer and said he wouldn't settle for anything less than $15.  Two other students ponied up $5 quickly and a large group of students gathered round to watch.  The only stipulation was that he had to chew it and have it in his mouth for at least 10 seconds.  Brandon rose to the challenge and earned his $15.  It was captured on multiple cameras and the video is floating around Twitter somewhere.

Harry

Harrison turned 14 this year.  It has been a great year for him, and a busy one for us.  There are many favorite memories, here are a few highlights of the year.

• One weekend when David was travelling, I asked Harrison what he wanted to do.  The answer was clear: dry ice.  Naively, I agreed.  5 lbs of dry ice later, I was introduced to the many experiments possible.  We did dry ice bubbles, dry ice drinks, explosions, and many more things.  At one point he innocently asked what would happen if he swallowed some dry ice.  Alarmed, I threatened his life if he ever swallowed it, that it would expand in his belly like a bomb.  He then admitted, he had "accidentally" swallowed some.  He then explained that he had some really powerful and painful farts for awhile.  I laughed, and we had a great time.
• We did not use all of the dry-ice on Saturday, and stored the rest in the freezer.  Before leaving for church, I very clearly told Harrison he was not allowed to use the dry ice while I was gone.  I came home to find him smiling like a mad scientist, the sink full of dry ice smoke.  Lesson learned.

• We got a fire pit for our wedding.  Good thing, because Harrison is the #1 user of the fire pit.  A friend had given us a bunch of tree rounds.  When Harrison found these, he chopped the rounds into logs with a hatchet.  That is all we had at the time.  The weekend of the dry ice, Harrison slyly mentioned that we needed an axe and I had promised I would get one.  We headed off to Lowe's.  He was thrilled and couldn't wait to use it.  I was amazed to see Harrison be able to chop the wood with just one swing, wow.

• One evening I heard Harrison running around the house and frantically calling for his dad.  Not finding him, he burst in to tell me that he thought he was in trouble and that there was a man outside threatening to call the police.  A man had brought Harrison home because he and 2 friends had lit a fire in the park and were jumping over it with bikes.  The man was concerned about their house that was near the park.  They had taken lighter fluid from his friend's house to light the fire.  Want to know whose idea it was?  Harrison's, he talked the two friends into it.  He has been suffering as he lost fire for six months because of it.
• Harrison has been working in the office at school as an aid.   He brings them hot beverages and they bring him snacks.  The ladies love him, and he knows it.  We have heard many times how great he is. 
• Brandon found T-Rex in the toy box and Harrison latched on, bringing it with him to run errands.  Do not be fooled by this sweet picture of Harrison hugging T-Rex.  T-Rex makes a squeaking sound when squeezed.  He used this to irritate his parents by squeezing it about 50 times during a 5 minute period.  He got paid $1 to release T-Rex, it is now hidden.