Flashback Friday and Do You Think They Knew it Back Then?

These are my parents in 1968. She was 17 (*gasp!* so young!) and he was 19. They got married the day after my mom graduated from Dixie High School, because that's the soonest that my grandparents would let them.

I wonder if they knew back then how it would all turn out. Do you think they knew they'd have 8 kids, survive their childrens heart surgery and knee surgeries and sports and their daughters divorces and marriages and grandchildren and heartache and joy and much more, all rolled up into one?

Nope - probably not.

(Missing my mom and pop a bit today.)

Flashback Friday: 1980

Me and two of my younger sisters in 1980. I was 10, Jess was 5 and Em was 3. Little did we know, we'd have 5 more siblings when it was all said and done.

This picture was taken on one of our many camping trips. I just love it.

Simpler times.

Flashback Friday: 2008

Thanksgiving 2008 in Pine Valley.

I know 2008 isn't much of a flashback, but this captured moment of my sister Jess with her sweet baby Gavin is just too sweet not to post.

I love them both.

Flashback Friday: Dixie Daze

I have recently reconnected with some LONG LOST Dixie College friends on Facebook. I have a testimony of the goodness of Facebook, but that's another post for another day. It's been fun looking back at all the college craziness. The best of friends!

Get ready for some serious 80's pictures. You have been warned.

Nicole and Matt in 1990. We had already broken up by this point, but were still friends. Disclaimer: we are wearing CHOIR uniforms. I was forced to wear this shirt. It was NOT a choice!


L to R: Erin, Bart, PJ and me. We were goofing off and doing some sort of U2 pose with POPSICLES, of all things. So weird! I don't think I could get my hair that big again even if I tried.

Charlie's Angels! We were in Southern California on either choir tour or a Drama trip. Not sure which. L to R: ME, Shelly, Aurora, Natalie.


This is a Sadie Hawkins dance in 1988. My date Del and I are in the teal shirts in the middle. Good times. Del is now the Dean of Students at Dixie State...time flies! I guess we all have to grow up at some point. I am still waiting!


Pirates of Penzance in 1989. This is Frederick, Mabel, and all the General's daughters. I am in the middle. Can you find me? Dig my bonnet, baby.


Me with really big hair. You are jealous, I know. I could work a can of Aqua Net Extra-Super Hold like nobody's business.


Dixie's production of West Side Story - here are the Jet girls! Woo-woo. I am on the far right in a lovely shade of brown.


Ahh, it's good to look back every now and then.

Flashback Friday: 1975

Me and Zeke. A girls best friend. Best dog ever.

Nicole (5) and Zeke (?) in 1975 - front porch in Moab

Remember simpler days, when you could let your kids run wild through the neighborhood, and you didn't have to know exactly where they were every single second? This was my childhood growing up in Moab, Utah. My mom told me that she use to look out the window, and whatever neighborhood front porch Zeke (full name EZEKIEL. No lie.) was lounging on, that was where she could find me. He followed me everywhere.

My dad lovingly called him "dirtbag." Not sure if he'd appreciate me telling that to the world, but I don't think he reads my blog anyway, so I'm not gonna lose any sleep over it. ;)

Zeke once got into a fight with a porcupine, and lived to see another day. I remember him ambling toward me, all full of quills, me and my cousin Christie screaming and running, and my Dad putting him into the back of our retro-car and taking him to the vet. I didn't expect him to come back. He did. What a dog.

I'm not sure they make 'em like that anymore.

Flashback Friday: Old Friends Are the Best Friends

"It takes a long time to grow an old friend."
- by John Leonard

Rich and Matt. A long history together. Still the best of friends.

Track stars. I think Rich has a blue ribbon in there! Nice.




Scouts! (If you can name some of the others in the picture, please leave a comment!)
Matt is in the red jacket in the middle, and Richard is just above him with the yellow stripe on his hat. Wayne Dill is on the top left in the gray sweater - I think he was one of the leaders. Looks like trouble to me!


The famous "Utah summer." Previously blogged about them living in Utah over the summer. Took the bus to Utah, Matt's Dad bought them a car to use all summer that RICH drove, since Matt was only 15 and Rich was 16. I am digging Matt's hat in this picture. Cool. Is that a Members Only jacket??

Weren't they adorable? They still are :)

"Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you."
- Elbert Hubard

Thank goodness.

Flashback TUESDAY Because I Couldn't Wait Til Friday to Post This Awesome Picture

The year? 1984
The subjects? Richard Ashcraft and Matt
The car? Datsun B210 - total chick magnet
The best part about this picture? short shorts and muscle shirts

This is the summer that Rich and Matt spent in Bountiful,Utah living with Matt's grandmother, working, going to Rich's first-ever concert (Judas Priest), and being the California guys that all the girls swooned over, no doubt. Matt's Dad bought the car for them and Rich drove it, since Matt was only 15. Rich was 16.

Glory days!

Flashback Friday: 2003 and today...My Oh My How Things Change

Here are my little ones in 2003 - Dylan is 2 and Zack 6. We were living in a little apartment in Kanab at the time, just the three of us.

And today - here they are. Dylan is 7 and Zack is nearly 11 years old. I'm not sure I was paying close enough attention - when did all this GROWING happen? Could someone please slow it down for me, just a little bit?


MY LITTLE ONE

My little one whose tongue is dumb,
whose fingers cannot hold to things,
who is so mercilessly young,
he leaps upon the instant things,

I hold him not. Indeed, who could?
He runs into the burning wood.
Follow, follow if you can!
He will come out grown to a man

and not remember whom he kissed,
who caught him by the slender wrist
and bound him by a tender yoke
which, understanding not, he broke.

- Tennessee Williams

Flashback Friday: 1987 and a Tribute to Some Really BIG Hair

The year: 1987.
The subjects: Me and my little sister Jessica.
The offense: Waaaaay too much Aqua Net Extra-Super Hold.
Also, please take note of the Guess brand t-shirt, the jean jacket, and Jess' buttoned all the way to the top shirt. I am sure if it were a full-length picture, you would see some pegged, stonewashed jeans.

I defy anyone to be more 80's than THAT. What a feelin' indeed.

Flashback Friday: Movie Favorites

There are a few movies out there that sort of "define" my growing up stages...you know, when you are scrolling through the TV guide and see a movie you use to love or remember seeing at a certain time of your life, and you get all nostalgic. The movie may not necessarily be an Oscar winner, but there is just something about it that takes you back. Here are a few of those movies that get me feeling all "awwwwwww"- ish:


Clash of the Titans. I have seen this movies dozens and dozens of times. It is SO very cheesy, but I totally love it. I remember watching this when we lived in Moab - we had HBO for a little while and this was on over and over, so we watched it over and over. It is actually the only thing I ever remember watching when we lived there. Most of the time I was outside.

**20 points to whoever can remember the name of Harry Hamlin's character (no googling!)



The Secret of Nimh. I remember watching this with my younger sisters. I believe we rented it quite a few times. Cool and somewhat frightening. Not your typical cartoon - it was a little scarier than most. My kids have never seen it- I am going to have to rent it for them!



Sleeping Beauty. When I was in high school, my Dad was the Bishop and we use to have missionaries over a lot. They were unable to watch movies unless they were rated G - so we watched this again and again with the missionaries. I also remember my sister Jessica and I dancing around singing the "Once Upon a Dream" song. I am sure we both still know all the words! (Hey! We should totally act it out at the upcoming family reunion! Come on, Jess!)



Footloose. I saw this movie with many of my friends. I was 14 years old when this movie came out. I just remember thinking it was SO cool that a movie was made about people who were like ME. (Hey, I never said I was deep.) After the movie was over, I remember running down the main street, dancing away, feeling great. I still feel a little bit of that whenver I see that movie. Ahh, the simpler life...



Ferris Beuller's Day Off. Another one of those movies that definitely defined my generation. Still a classic today. I actually don't think I know ANYONE who does not like this movie. This is the first movie I can recall that they had a "tag" at the end after the credits rolled. I thought it was so clever and funny at the time. Best quotable lines ever in this movie. I have used this one: "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up" several times in my life. (Oh gimme a break. I quote Shakespeare once in a while, too.)




Dirty Dancing. I had this original movie poster over my bed. This was the first VHS movie that I actually bought with my own money. I think my brother and sisters have seen it a million times, too. I loved all the dancing, and I especially loved Patrick Swayze. "Nobody puts baby in the corner." Amen.



Singing in the Rain. I went through a total "I love Gene Kelly" phase. Still love him. He could sing, he could dance, he could act. The perfect man. Singing in the Rain was probably my favorite of all his movies. I am sure I totally annoyed all my college roomies with my incessant musical-watching.



The Breakfast Club. I am a child of the 80's. I am genetically pre-disposed to love this movie, and anything else with Molly Ringwald in it. 'Nuf said.


Ahhh, the memories! Suddenly I'm craving popcorn...

Flashback Friday: July 08

OK, OK, I know that July is not that long ago, but I love this picture and somehow missed posting it....

Zack and my sister Savy have a fantastic relationship. It's more of a brother/sister thing than an aunt/nephew thing. She was here staying with us for most of July, and we just loved having her. Everyone should be so lucky to have a cool teenage aunt or two!!


How CUTE are they?

Flashback Friday: 1970

Yep, look to the right - that's my 19-year old mother, playing FOOTBALL in a CREEK while PREGNANT with me! Now there's something you don't see every day!

On the left, my incredibly beautiful and very young mom with me, just home from the hospital in SLC. Life has just begun. Do you think at this point she thought she'd be a mom of 8 children? I seriously doubt it.

Flashback Friday: 1977

My parents were total hiking hippies. I love it.

Flashback Friday: Back to School 1980

Oh my goodness! I found a picture of me with my Trapper Keeper on the first day of school! Ha!

This is me in 1980...in front of our house in Moab, Utah on 4th East. I would have been going into the 5th grade, I believe. Mr. Warren's class. Did anyone else wear a dress on the first day of school? Is it just me, or do the 10 year old girls nowadays look a LOT more grown up than I did...? Hmmmm. Something to ponder.

This was the year I was the spelling bee CHAMP for the 5th grade. Yea, baby. I beat out a really smart boy named David. He was ticked.

Flashback Friday: 1981

I love this photo! This is me at age 11 with a bit of an attitude, and my heavily bearded Dad. It is one of the few photos that my mother didn't actually label on the back, so I am not quite sure where we are here...somewhere near where we lived in Moab, Utah, I'm sure.

My childhood was spent hiking in all the National Parks and beautiful areas surrounding Moab - what more could a kid ask for? I don't remember watching much TV ever at all as a kid. Childhood memories mainly consist of hiking, fishing, camping, and softball.

As it should be.

Flashback Friday (one day late): 1979

When I was in Kanab last week, I had a great time going through old photos that were just sitting in the furnace room - tragic! I brought a bunch home and plan to scan them onto a disk or do SOMETHING with them to preserve the memories...anyway...I thought this one was funny. I don't know what Jess and I are doing, but we look like we just got CAUGHT.

Dig my boots and my bangs, parted down the middle. I still remember the "Hollywood" shirt I was wearing. I loved it.

I was 9, Jess was 4.

Flashback Friday: 1999

I came across this picture in a box today - I'm so excited that I found it! I took this back in 1999 in front of my Grandma and Grandpa Pratt's house in St. George, Utah. We all used to play in the ditch out front as kids - I remember sending things under the driveway to my cousin Amelia on the other side. We LOVED playing in the ditch.

This picture is of Amelia's two oldest kids Mace and Reed, my sisters Savannah and Ali, and little Zack - about 1 1/2 years old.

The faces may change, but the game remains the same.

Flashback Friday: 1982

Let's go waaaaaay back in time...Here's a picture of a young, TALL Nicole and her fast-pitch softball team. This is the championship softball team from our league in Moab - this picture was taken in Payson, Utah after the state championship tournament - We took 4th place. (Lost a HEARTBREAKER or we would have been in the championship game. I still remember it - a girl named Mona or Myra struck out. Ugh!)

I don't remember everyone's name in the picture, but I do remember some. The coaches are Alex Leech (the woman) and Kelly Cooper - my DAD! He was the best coach ever. He always used to tell me to stop running like a girl. Top row, third from left was Debbie Horton, our pitcher. #23 is Trisha Packard. Next to her is Mona or Myra - the one who struck out. Boo. I am the tallest one right in the middle of the back row - FIRST base was my domain. Next to me in orange is my best friend Nettie Secrest. Next to her is Raquel. The little one by my Dad is Stephanie. I'm not sure about the rest of them...(the two with different uniforms were "pick-up" players. As City champs, we could pick up two players from other teams to go to state and play with us.)

GREAT memories! To this day, I still LOVE the smell of the dirt and grass on a ball field...

Flashback Friday: 2000

The Z-man, back just before I betrayed his trust and brought another one into the house .

Seriously! This is Zack in 2000 - age 3. He LOVED to play in this laundry basket. It was a better than any toy-store toy I could have possibly bought him. It became a boat, a car, an airplane, a cave...the best.

The book on his lap (we still have it) is called Eating the Alphabet and it has several different fruits and veggies for every letter - but really random ones like ENDIVE and KALE and interesting stuff like that. Zack had them ALL memorized. Every. Single. One. (He won't eat 'em, but at least he knows what they are.)

Love this kid!

Flashback Friday, As Requested by Zack

Last night Zack asked me if I was going to do a "Flashback Friday" on the blog today. I told him that I had not done one in a couple of weeks, but would if he wanted me to do one. He said yes, and I believe he wants one dedicated to HIM. So here is another Flashback Friday, just for my little (well, if you call being 5'1 at 10 years old "little...") Zackaroo.

This is a photo of Zack at the sand dunes near Kanab when he was approximately 6 years old, around 2003. I know this because Dylan is 6 now and wears that same shirt...I can tell time by hand-me-down clothes! Impressive, huh??

This next one was taken in 2004 - he was about 7 years old then. I remember that my little sis Savy took the photo. I thought it turned out really cute, although he does look a little dehydrated with the white tongue and all...we were in St. George that day.


I found this photo just the other day. Zack was 1 year old at the time this was taken. We lived in North Carolina and were in the back yard of his Uncle Johnny and Aunt Miriam's house in Charlotte. Ahhhh - such a cute baby.

I love my Zack. He is smart, fun, cute, and definitely the coolest 10 year old I know.