Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Thanks!

Dad's was a Happy Birthday! Thanks for your helping make it so! (These pictures are backwards in order.)

Fire Hazard!




TIME OUT!

Due to some feedback about the blog and idea, I am considering changing the format a little. Stay tuned, but for right now we are:

***UNDER CONSTRUCTION***

I am leaning towards random people every other week instead of chronologically every week. Tell me what you think at kodykong@yahoo.com

-Kody

Sunday, September 27, 2009

From Kody:

From my blue book. Reasons I love Dad:
  • The way he desperately tries to get rid of my blankey
  • "Kody Tyler Newton reporting for pay sir!"
  • How he talks and flirts with all of the girls that call me
  • The way he reached for his belt when he was going to punish you
  • The intense golf games we had (and how he never made me pay when I lost to him)
  • The way he holds on tight while riding roller coasters
  • How I was walking into the red bathroom one morning and he suddenly woke up and said, "Oh, sh%$@!"
  • That night we stayed up late playing golf on the Nintendo
  • When he leaves his comfort zone for me
  • "Bonding"
  • Daily pork chops
  • The old 50's music we listened to while texturing the ceiling
  • "Never in my life did I ever think I would ______" (the way he always told us he never thought he would do something right before he did it - Blue Jays baseball game, Disneyworld, Hong Kong, etc)
  • Grocery shopping with him because we got pretty much whatever we wanted
  • The way he doubted but still laughed at my answering machine messages
  • How I could read his mind sitting next to him on a bench in the Sacred Grove
  • His love for cashews (and willing to share)
  • How I could always trade him my quarters and dimes for dollar bills
  • Tuna and crackers
  • Slow motion fighting
  • How his favorite movie is "The American President"
  • How he's always scared to go bowling with me because I'll beat him
  • How he always went outside to smoke
  • When he made KAYSI always pop the white pores on his back
  • His big construction dreams (backyard, bathroom downstairs)
  • The stories he would tell me of the old days (necking under the bridge in Moab)
  • His principles on how boys should never hit girls
  • The punishments when I did
  • When he'd offer me Coke...only when I felt like I was going to throw up
  • The photo where he looks more like Superman than I ever did
  • "Cotton picker!"
  • "16 tons, whadda ya get?"
  • The times he let me take the Celica
  • The fact that he's always the last one to open a present on Christmas day
  • How he used to hide his Coke underneath his desk in the den
  • How he always referred to the movie "Mr. Baseball" when I would slurp my noodles
  • How the first time I saw him run was to catch our tee time
  • His Elvis obsession
  • How he's the fastest to ask for directions
  • When he talked trash about his 3 point shooting skills
  • His desperate attempt to teach me table manners
  • How good of a driver he is (and how much he wanted me to be, too)
  • His voice when he prays
  • How his whole cd collection was the Titanic soundtrack
  • The R rated movie we would watch once in a while
  • The way he would gamble for us (with our money) and never won anything for us
  • The blessing he gave me before the state track meet
  • How he still wears my Rock Springs All-Star hat sometimes
  • His Coke decorations in the red bathroom
  • When he bought me Star Wars Episode 1 on video
  • How he got up around 6:00 am to go the Palmyra temple dedication with us
  • His willingness to always lend me a tie (and his bad taste in ties)
  • His claim to be the only Wyoming State Champion in the family
  • His attempt to switch from Coke to Sam's Choice
  • Golden Corral
  • His love for those black licorice candies
  • How he sat on the stairs until I fell asleep (when I was transitioning to sleeping in my own bed)
  • His big huge towels he used to call "his"
  • How he was so nervous about getting his patriarchal blessing
  • The one letter he sent to me on my mission
  • The look on his face on Christmas day when he realized he was debt free
  • How he was my chaperon when I got married and he was as nervous as I was
  • The epic golfing duel while everyone was watching on the second day of the Newton Cup
  • How he always tells me that they have Creamies in the freezer
  • The way he laughed during "The Bucket List"
  • How he sings "Yankee Dankee Doo" when he is holding my kids
  • The way he teased me about getting my 52 inch TV instead of his 37 inch
I love you Dad

From Kori:


More Classic Dad-isms:

  • "I love you worser."
  • Licking his finger and putting a big, wet smudge on your glasses.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

I've Got the Best Birthday Ever

I think Grandpa's birthday is the only birthday that I ever remember every year. That might be coincidence or because it's the same day as my birthday (give or take a couple of years), and I love that. This year for my birthday I wanted to do what I wanted to do. People kept making suggestions for things to do, and I almost agreed to a lot of them. I actually did agree and then changed my mind. We finally decided to go out and get fried rice and then go bowling, both things that I wanted to do. I wanted the day to be all about me, and it was.

Thinking back on that now, I feel a little selfish. I called Grandpa around noon to wish him happy birthday and asked him what he was going to do. He told me that Tammy's family and Brandon's family were going to come over for a nice dinner. I asked if they were going to do anything fun and have a party with everyone, and he told me no party just dinner. Then he started telling me about how someone else's birthday (I think Jet's) was on Saturday and how Braelen's baptism was this weekend too. Thinking back on it the next day, I realized that's just the kind of person grandpa is. On Friday all I could think about was myself and how I wanted the day to be about me. But grandpa, all he could think about was making the day not about him. Making it a day about family and a weekend to celebrate the accomplishments and days for the people he loves most. And I think most of my favorite memories about grandpa are similiar to that; he loves his kids, his grandkids, and his great grandkids. It shows in every move he makes.

And that's why I love grandpa.

Brit

From Denny:

For the past 10 years or so, Dad and I have been able to enjoy private get-togethers in Las Vegas. I always seem to have 1-2 trips there per year and it generally is not too hard to talk Dad into coming. In the beginning he weaseled me into paying for airfare to bring him down. Now he's usually willing to drive; uses the excuse that he's visiting clients along the way.

We have always had a fun time in Vegas. During our first trip we golfed and rode the "Big Shot" on the top of Stratosphere. During one trip he joined me for dinner with a group of Nextel employees. It was an upscale Asian restaurant. He wasn't sure what the calamari and tuna tartar was but he liked it. At least until I told him he was eating squid and raw tuna. During our last trip Dad tried my tofu for the first time and did not run out screaming.

Our favorite places to eat in Vegas are In 'N Out Burger and the carnival buffet at the Rio. Remarkably, we can fill out plates 3 or 4 times during dinner and he and I will never eat the same thing.

Dad likes to gamble. He approaches it differently than I do. For me it is a mathematical exercise and so I don't mind playing games where I have a reasonable chance of winning. The fun is playing the game and not the money. I cannot get myself to risk more than $40 at a casino. Dad, on the other hand, is looking to change his life. He dreams of the big win. So I will head to the blackjack table and Dad to the slots. He believes that there are ways to figure out which slots are going to payoff. Looks for location. Looks for poor old women that have put a fortune into a machine and have walked away. He believes the machine is ready to burst.

We've enjoyed company on these Vegas trips. Ramie joined us once for a NASCAR race. We got to stay in a new wing at Mandalay Bay that trip. What a great room. (BTW...Ramie is just a crazy gambler...doesn't really care if he wins or loses...just enjoys playing different games). Bryan and Britni have joined us as well. I remember Bryan spending a lot of time with Dad at the slot machines. Bryan didn't play; he just wanted to spend time with his grandfather.

The last time Dad and I were in Vegas I decided to forgo blackjack and hang out with Dad at his slot machines. Unlike Bryan, Dad shooed me away. Seems he had hit a nice jackpot while I was gone and noticed that his luck ran out the minute I showed up. So I was forbidden to sit with him while he played. Of course, he hit another decent jackpot the moment I left.

Dad seems to enjoy Vegas. Something about the bright lights, hustle and energy. But he has decided that the slot don't pay the way they do in Wendover.

A few years back Dad mentioned that he's always dreamed of sitting down at the poker tables. He remembers playing poker as a youngster and being quite good at it. During our last trip I convinced him to try a little Texas Hold'em tournament at the Sahara. The best thing is that it is only a $40 buy-in and you likely get to play for at least 2+ hours. Dad sat down and instantly made friends. And he held on for a couple of hours before he was knocked out. I followed a few minutes later. During break one of the players from his table came over and told me that Dad was getting dealt great hands (high pairs...he eventually was knocked out with Queens) but that he was misplaying them. He would let too many other players see the flop and then bet his strong hand after someone else had already made their hand.

One of the reasons why Dad has always joined me at Vegas is because Dionne has had little interest in going. Well, that seems to have changed a little. Since Dionne and I have been to Vegas twice this summer (and all I hear from my youngest daughter is that she wants to move to Vegas), there may be some competition to share my room in the future.

From Patsy:

  • Another quote: "Your Mother barks at the moon"
  • Another incident: It was Dad that went back to pick up Downi when we left her at the rest stop on the way to Flaming Gorge. When we got to the Gorge I counted heads in the water and there were only 5 out there instead of 6. when we realized Downi was not there, we were stuck in some soft mud. Dad hitched a ride back to the rest stop to find Downi (which he did Thank goodness).

Friday, September 25, 2009

Your Birthday Present from All of Us


Here is the link Mom:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQjfpb8NbtM

Just the 11 of Us

70 Memories of Dad

Denny

1. Being rescued in a swimming pool after Aunt Vi pushed me in

2. Watching dad play softball at the old field at Midvale Elementary

3. The bedrooms with the coolest closet that he built for Ramie and I

4. Playing Intellivision with Dad

5. His ping-pong tournament with Scott's dad

6. Going to dad's old office at standard where he was in charge of this humongous computer

7. Caddying for Dad when he won the men's association championship

8. Working for dad and doing general ledger and small business taxes

9. Listening to dad go cold turkey at Christmas

10. Watching Dad feel the spirit at the sacred grove.


Ramie

11. Sizzler and all you could eat shrimp.

12. Late night HBO movies with dad.

13. We drove out to California and stopping at most of the casinos along the way. We really enjoyed staying up late that night in Wendover and were working as a team against the house. We lost. I remember driving under the lights in Reno and thinking oh yea this is awesome, we’re gonna get ‘em ...but again, we lost.

14. I have always enjoyed the golfing with dad ... He is my only scratch partner ... My ego can't take getting out driven by at least 80 yds by everyone else. (I realize jax and briston out drive me by now).

15. I remember dad would find the time to watch most of my baseball games ... It was very nice having his and mom's support. I know my kids don't always look forward too the ride home after a game with me but there is no better time when your child scores the winning run or makes that winning goal.

16. One day we built a ramp for our skateboards and, after a couple of tries, I broke my skateboard in half and without question dad took me to the store and bought me a new one

I appreciate all of the things dad has done for me and I could not ask for a better father.


Tammy

17. Spending hours, days, weeks trying to finish the basement--learning that I loved construction. I remember Dad letting me put up my own sheet of sheetrock and I got to sign my name at the bottom.

18. One summer I stayed up almost every night watching TV with Dad late into the early morning hours and sleeping in the next day. I still enjoy doing that once in awhile.

19. I worked very hard babysitting to buy my own clothes when I was in junior high. I remember clothes shopping in Salt Lake with the family, and when I ran out of money, Dad bought me a couple pairs of pants I liked, even though I know he didn't have any money either.

20. I still can't believe that he agreed to take three extra little girls, at least two friends, and his family in his brand new van to Granite camping. It was a memorable trip and crazy!!

21. When I was probably 9 or 10, I got to sit on Dad's lap and steer the car on the highway during one of our trips.

22. We all remember coming home from dates and seeing Dad hanging out the front door smoking. I used to like buying the exploding cigar fireworks and sneak them into his cigarettes. He didn't like it very much, but I always thought it would get him to stop smoking. I was very proud of him when he finally made the choice to quit.

23. He was my inspiration for starting out as an accounting major in college--I loved numbers (of course it didn't last long). Every year I call him with tax questions that he graciously answers.

24. All the many times Dad taught us wrestling moves (especially the starting position) and would wrestle with us.


Brandon

25. Staying home from Church to watch the Cowboys play with Dad.

26. Dad being coach and chauffeur to my church basketball team.

27. Caddying for him when he won the club championship because a new rule made it so I could not play. I felt like we won it together.

28. Going to his office in Salt Lake was a treat because I could get a bottle of orange soda out of the fridge.

29. No matter how good I thought I was, I still couldn't beat him at horse after he got "warmed up from his spot".

30. His reaction was so calm when Mom made me call him to let him know I had just wrecked the car. I had just walked many miles with the fear of that conversation in my mind; it was not what I expected.

31. While on my mission I got a $20 check from the Stake for Christmas, it had Dad's signature on it. That is still the best present that I have ever gotten.

Finally starting to realize how great a Dad he was and still is.


Downi

32. Changing out the CV joints together in my blue honda.

33. Not letting my friends get out of my driveway because he would talk their ear off.

34. Teaching me how to make rigatoni with bacon and onions.

35. Encouraging me to get a "4 year degree, not a 2 year degree".

36. Teaching me how to check the oil on all my road trips.

37. He stayed up with me all night at my bed when Ana died.


Marni

38. I still play slow motion fighting with my kids.

39. Neil thought it was funny when we were playing with the walkie-talkies and dad made us say "over" every time we ended our sentences.

40. I thought it was funny that anytime Neil bought me flowers dad would give him a strike and warn him that with 3 strikes he is out. It was mostly because he said it made him look bad.

41. If dad was sitting there too long, he would jump and say we needed to exercise and then proceed to do 10 jumping jacks.

42. After dad made a joke, he used to say, "I made a funny!"

43. When I see George Foreman, I think of dad. They both look like teddy bears with big grins. That's how I like to remember dad.


Kori

44. Trying to wake Dad up on Christmas morning so we could open presents

45. The highlight of our Flaming Gorge trips would be sneaking up on Dad and dunking him off his floating mattress.

46. The pink watch he gave me in elementary school that I really loved just because it was a gift from him. After it stopped working, I saved it for years in my jewelry box.

47. The 2 hours that he spent with me in the front yard teaching me to throw a frisbee

48. He took me to watch the "Work and the Glory" in the theatre and he had a perma-grin on his face the entire movie.

49. The Daddy/daughter dance at church where he taught me to Jitterbug.

50. The first father’s blessing I received (and the first he had given in a long time) was to help me decide if I should go on a mission and one crucial one later about marrying Gene.

51. We were passing through Mesquite to go see the Fish’s. He was pretty excited about the buffet and saw a guy heading to the end of the line where he was going. He started chatting, making conversation about the meat and so on, busily anticipating dinner, when he got to the end of the line and realized that it was a huge wall mirror. He had been talking to himself.


Kody

52. Dad comes flying down the street, screeches to a stop, and jumps out of the car. He spots the kids that wanted to beat me up and starts running after all three of them. I have never witnessed anything so heroic in my life.

53. Singing “Sing a Song of Cities” at the Newton Reunion with my wife.

54. Playing many hours of golf on the Wii in Kansas.

55. Watching Tin Cup with him after he told me he liked it so much (I was 14 and it was rated R)

56. Giving his testimony for the first time at my farewell and how nervous he was.

57. Before Sadie Hawkins dance, he made a list of rules that my date had to play by. It said that kissing was optional.

58. Whenever he would make Rigatoni’s, he would always make a pot without onions for me.

59. In addition to reporting for pay, with dollar bills he would always make me put my fingers around the dollar and catch it quick enough RIGHT when he dropped it. I could never catch it.

60. The story he told me of HIS wedding night on the way home from my bachelor party.

61. We went to Titanic together in the theater and I had heard about the nude scene beforehand. I knew it was coming up so I was going to go out of the theater. I asked Dad if he wanted to come with me and he said, “That’s okay.” I proceeded to tell him that there was going to be nudity and that I didn’t want to see it. Asked him again and he told me he’s fine. I visited the concession stand by myself and had to smile at my Dad the whole way.

62. When he escorted me through the temple for my first time, he had to be taken to the side because his robe was on backwards.


Kaysi

63. Dad talking to everyone and anyone in the stores and any public places

64. Getting paid a dime for working on his back

65. Constantly throwing wet rags at each other

66. Reporting for pay countless times and making sure that everything was just perfect

67. Eating pork chops together at midnight. This is many spouses’ first memory of their in-laws—up way too late eating ham and soft boiled eggs.

68. Dad going through every name and adding “George, Henry, Mary…” before finding the right name

69. Carrying me home across the street when I was too afraid to spend the night at Melissa's house

70. And no one can forget Daddy’s best quotes: “Your mom wears commando boots to bed.” “What else do you want, eggs in your beer?” “Baby, baby, baby!”

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Reasons I Love Dad - Happy Birthday Dad!

Dad turns 70 today and we wanted to share our greatest memories of him. Here are some of mine:
  • Golfing in Cheyenne and how no one was on the golf course because it was too WINDY! The wind was probably 50-70 mph, but after a bit of discussion, we decided to play 18. Some of the worst golf I've ever played but it was also some of the funnest.
  • The shot 20 yards over water that he splashed.
  • His long putts.

Dad putting from about 40 yards out.

-Kody