Ashy's baby brother Coach

Ashy seems to be enjoying his baby brother Coach, well at least he hasn't tried to intentionally hurt him yet. It is hard for Ashy to share his mommy, but I think or at least I hope he will get use to it. I guess next week is the test - Nate is going back to work and so the two boys are all mine. Scary, but at the same time I am up to the challenge. Thank goodness I have a good role model to look up to if mom could take care of five kids under five I can definately take on two kids under two. And if I can't I can take comfort in the fact that mom is near by to Help.

Cousin Fun

We had a great time in Utah seeing you. The kids talk about you all the time. Yesterday we were reading the ABC picture book that Mindurs and Nerseyfers made us. Superkid saw a picture of Uncle B and said, "Uncle Brian, I love him! His Mommy's name is Grandma!" When we look at the pics we took on the trip the kids race to yell out everyone's name. The biggest regret we have living out here is that the kiddies don't get to know the family as well as they should.

I remember going up to Grandma's house on Sunday nights for cheese toast and starlight mint ice cream. All of the cousins my age and I would beg to spend the night at Grandma's. We usually got our way. We wore Uncle Richard's huge T-shirts as nightgowns and Grandma would let us sleep in her big bed altogether, while she took the smaller bed in the blue room. She would tell us the Mary Fielding crossing the plains story (and always make the point that Mary beat that rude captain into the valley -you go girl!) or the story of her dog Bongo (literary privilege on the dog's name) pushing her into the river. There was one memorable night in that big bed that I had a broken leg (and a BIG cast). Which also meant that I was relegated to sleeping on the edge. That didn't keep me from getting a good night's sleep. Unfortunately at everyone else's expense. I never lived that down among those who shared the bed with me that night. In the morning we would usually have cold cereal for breakfast, but not until we had a full glass of orange juice. I never understood why it was such a task for Heather to finish a glass of delicious juice. I had no problem gulping mine down. But the most fun was playing with the laundry shoot. We dropped all kinds of junk down that thing. I can even remember trying to convince younger cousins to take a ride down the shoot. Finding snails in Grandma's front yard was also a good time. We would see who could make the biggest stack of snails or race the snails to see who was fastest. Not to mention how much fun it was to throw snails at passing cars, at least until one time a driver stopped and ratted us out to Grandma. I used to think that only rich people had snails, because Grandma had so many and I never saw any at our house!

These are the things that I hope for my kids to experience with their cousins. We are just happy to get out there as often as we can. I will never forget how much fun Abizella and Ashy had together this time around!

"The Keeper of Relics and the Tellers of Stories".

Family: Cindy responded to my last letter with the playful comment "that none of it was about me!" Now we all know Cindy... and it is all about her. But I got to thinking I never have really told Cindy or any of you why I love you (beyond the fact that our relationship could be considered an accident of birth). The older, and wiser, that I become makes me realize how special each of you (both children and spouses) are to me and Mom. Though you may think our lives and conversations are about Murphy and Real Estate it would surprise you to know how often you pop up into our conversations.

The ancient Scot Dewars were charged by Saint Filian in the 8th Century to be "the keeper of relics and the tellers of stories". Through the generations it must have been very important to the ancient and modern Dewars to keep this charge because I remember as a small child the rich stories and humor that my Mother told me. She did not read to me from fairy tales or bible stories. I have a rich treasury of family history taught by her about stories of her Mother and Father and Grandparents she never knew. One of her stories was of one of her great great grand Fathers being the first man to put whiskey in a bottle. I thought this was a funny story until we went to the family reunion on Prince Edward Island several years ago and found that it was kind of true. One of the Dewar's did invent the "Dewar Flask" and the thermos bottle and was Knighted by the King. So with that great Dewar memory each of you have been blessed with remember the charge to be the "keeper of relics and tellers of stories".

Now back to Cindy. When I think of Cindy I see a beautiful little girl, curious about everything and diving headlong into what she believed. Remember those glorious days at Brighton when the snow and sun could not confine our Druid souls to class rooms or matters of great consequence. There she would stand at the top of the lift facing unknown pain and fear as she looked down the steep ski run. She would get that look of determination on her face put her mittened hand in her mouth and fearlessly conquer the steepest of challenges. Nothing stops her when she puts her mind to a task. Cindy has always been the Davis with the creative spirit that solved problems and faced life on her terms. I once wanted to play a duet with her. I had the music transposed by Sister Burton into a key that would be compatible to both flute and trumpet. The problem was that Cindy does not count beats and measures and such. She plays music like she lives life. She trusts her instincts. Her music is beautiful because it is her music. It may not sound like anyone else. It is Cindy. I really love Cindy.

"we can talk or not talk for hours and still find things to not talk about"

During the last week I have been thinking of things to say about Cindy,
at the risk of eulogizing her I have remembered good times and bad. The
time that her and Jenny held me down when I was eleven and smeared
Rubber Cement on my legs comes to mind. In case anyone was wondering, it
is not cool to have shaved legs in the 5th grade. However, fonder times
appear as well.
Like the trip that I took to Seattle with Mom and Dad. Cindy, Shane,
Mom, Dad and I went up to Victoria and had a marvelous time. I think the
most impressing thing about the relationship that we all have with each
other was evident when the whole family was here for Jenny and Matt's
wedding. I rode with Cindy and Shane to get family photos done and even
though we do not talk on a regular basis, we still had plenty of things
to talk about, from Music to Movies to old stories; there was never a
dry moment. I guess that's the great thing about being a Davi, "we can
talk or not talk for hours and still find things to not talk about" --
Best in Show.

No Part-Time Passions

Upon meeting Cindy, it's immediately clear she's a girl who knows what she likes... and most admirably, she's fiercely loyal about it. When she gets behind someone or something, it's for life -- no partial commitments or part-time passions. Whether her loyalty is to her family, friends, or her favorite cosmetic product, Cindy's a supporter for life. That's what I love about Cindy. Plus, she's a great tour guide and is really proud of her new hometown.

Crazy? I Was Crazy Once

Dad has always been the master with words. I am sure you will all agree that words are his tools of the trade. Just as a carpenter uses a hammer and nails as the tools of his trade, words are definitely Dad's tools.

We love to visit with Cindy and Shane in Seattle. Both Cindy and Shane are excellent hosts for each visit putting up with their old Mom and Dad finding new things to do.

Every trip includes several trips to the local Lush Store and if you are lucky enough to be visiting another city were there is a Lush Store, you get to go to that store too. By the way, Cindy runs an amazing store!

Cindy is a "true believer" in every endeavors she engages in, whether it is Lush, Victoria's Secret, Origins etc. She dives right in with her whole heart and soul.

That has been a trademark of her life. As a small child, she was committed to many causes. She knew early on she loved the hair/cometic industry. When Cindy was bare old enough to start fixing her own hair, ( I think it was the beginning of the second grade) I was not allowed to touch it....and she didn't want anything to do with the big floppy bows I liked to tie in the other girls hair. She knew what she liked and it wasn't my beautiful bows!

Cindy walked on her tippy-toes for most of her really young life. I am not sure why she did, but she did. She loved to dance and sing. When Mindy and Cindy were very little, Mindy was far more verbal and Cindy was far more physical. Mindy would sit on the floor and tell Cindy what she wanted from the counters or cupboards and Cindy would "monkey up" and get it. They were both, with the help of Steve, the masters of much mischief!

Cindy was the maestro of the trampoline. NO ONE loved the tramp more than Cindy. From the moment we got the tramp, it was home to her. She could barely walk at the time.

One of my favorite memories is Cindy really had no fear. She loved to ride on the front of Uncle Dave's motorcycle with the wind blowing in her hair, laughing and having a good time. She was only 3 or 4 at the time.

When Cindy and Mindy were toddlers, we would go to Jack and Zella's to swim, again Cindy had no fear. We had to watch her like a hawk because she would walk around the deck and step off into the pool. It didn't matter if she was at the shallow end or the deep end. She loved the water and wanted to be in it. It was a good thing that Mindy was shy of the water and didn't want to go near the pool, so it made it easier to be vigilant in watching Cindy.

During the years she grew with the same dogged determination. At the age of 12 she wanted to have a part in the Musical at Salt Lake Community College. It was going to be the first step to Broadway. She drug me to the day long auditions. Before the day was over, we had Dad at the auditions and we all ended up auditioning together for roles in the Music Man. That was a wonderful couple of months practicing and performing the show. That is where Cindy met Shane.

Music and art have always been important to Cindy. I loved her flute playing and her beautiful singing voice. She strived to perfect her talents. Cindy's art always had a twist. Then there was the year she had the "joke of the day" to tell at each family dinner.

I still often repeat the famous poem Cindy taught us all...."Crazy?...I was crazy once"....Well, you all know the rest.

I am sure we can all agree, life has been improved having Cindy brighten our lives.

Love you all, Mom

Fun Times with Fun Cindy

We actually talk about Cindy a lot at our house. Cindy came to visit us last August. Now Superkid will ask things like, "Is that Aunt Cindy on the phone?" and, "Did my Aunt Cindy give me this?" (see what kudos visiting us gives you around here?).

When Cindy was out here visiting, she created a game with Superkid and Abizella where they would stand on the couch and throw themselves into the air with their arms thrust out like Superman while Cindy would yell, "Superkid!" or "Super Abizella!" and then they would land on her Aerobed and bounce and giggle. Actually, I don't know who was laughing harder, Superkid and Abizella or Cindy. Cindy loves playing with the kids. She doesn't just play for a little bit and then move on. She really enjoys the kids. She has a natural, fun way of coming up with fun stuff to do. She is a big hit around here. I just wish the kids could play with her more.

We love you Cindy! Come visit us again soon, and bring Uncle Shane with you this time!
Love, Missy