Monday, January 19, 2009

I STILL HAVE IT!!!!!!


Last October the boy's and I with some of there freinds went to Oak Flats just above Superior to camp out and do some four wheeling. I had told the boys about a job that Dad and I had done in that aera for a rancher in this little valley covered with bermuda grass and a wind mill right in the middle. But to get there you had to go down some wicked switch backs and back up them to get out. We burned up a clutch trying to get of that place it was so bad.



We left camp and we found that valley. It was the same as what i remembered but the road that dropped down in was not the same one i used years before. some one built another way in and it was nothing as rough as the old way. When we got to the bottom i found the old road. Man was it grown over and washed out. As I showed it to the boys they could not belive that i took a two ton service truck up that road with an engine from the machine we were working on in the back.


Well we went on our way but the whole time i kept think of that road and how i wanted to try it! I kept telling myself "You're nuts if you try that"! Well guess What! Yes "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING"!!!!!!!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Merry Christmas!!!!! From Santa!

Two years ago we bought a Santa suit for me because we found out with my size and greying beard at Christmas time when I wore a white tee shirt with my red suspenders I had Little kids watching me like a hawk!



Dad playing Santa at Empire Mach. 1973
Also I guess it is a family Tradition. I remember as child my dad playing Santa. One time Randy, Curt and I went with my Dad to the old Gilbert Ward Building for a ward Christmas party. I was a preschooler. As Dad sat on the stage playing Santa a little boy yelled out "There's Santa"!!!! Of course me being me, I said "No its not, that's my Dad"!! Randy and Curt quickly tried to shut me up.



Dad playing Santa at Stapley's 1955 to 1960.
Tom Stapley asked Dad to play Santa because he was big and Rayles Chapman was gettting tired of doing it. (he had only one legg!!) Dad would pull wrenches for Stapley's untill 2:00 pm, get cleaned up, put the Santa suit on and play Santa till 9:00 pm. Kids from all over the valley would come and see Santa. He did that every year he worked for Stapley's.



Me at the Ward party with Carsyn and Paisley 2008.
This year was the first year I had a grand child old enough to start wondering. I played Santa again at our ward party so Amanda brought Carsyn and Paisley to see Santa. As Carsyn sat on Santa's lap I think she recognized my voice so she just looked strait into my eyes the whole time in wonder. just before I let her down she went to pull Santa's beard off so she could make sure it was Pa Pa. It was hard trying to change and keep it from Carsyn.
We have to lay my suit out so it can dry because I sweat allot in it. it was laying out in the front room one day and Carsyn saw it! She pointed at it and said, "Pa Pa"? I Guess next year we will have to tell her that Pa Pa is Santa's helper.
Some of my gigs have been: Nicoll family party, Ward party, Baker Family party, Chick fil a and Higley High. If you ever want to know what the latest hot item is give me a call.