Damron family

Family Reunionin'

2009-05-30T16:00:00.001-07:00

I know it's a little too early to reminisce, but if I don't post these now, I don't know when I'll remember. I'm less than twelve hours away from the experience, but it was a great get together so why not get all sentimental about something we did earlier today?

And a great time was had by all! I think one of the highlights of the weekend was the zip-line. More than a few of us were scared to try, but just like Dallin said (he went first!) "You just have to get your courage up". The sweet sister missionary up there on the platform helped talk me into going, plus the cheers from my family below... and almost everyone in the family ended up flying through the air on a really fun zip line!

Seesters

2009-03-23T19:50:00.001-07:00

I couldn't go without posting a few pics from the impromptu photo session of the sisters. This was a while back, and maybe anyone who isn't in the picture won't get any enjoyment out of seeing these, but it was fun being crammed on that couch. Even if it does take an inordinate amount of time to get 6 people looking the same direction at the same time and all with a face that doesn't look like they are about to sneeze, have narcolepsy. Here's to our photogenic and not-so-photogenic moments.

-Amy

Birthdays for all!

2009-03-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

Well, it may not have been every one's birthday and it was a surprise party for Dad, who turned the big 7-o, but there were others celebrating a birthday in the general vicinity of March 21st. (this auspicious date is actually Bach's birthday too, so we can add that to the list. Rock on Bach!). In addition to Dad, there's Maya, Sophia, Mom and David. A good time was had by all. There was lots of jumping on the Perez's trampoline. Lots of flips, with varying degrees of awesomeness.

There was tasty deserts, kite flying and sleeping (a Damron favorite)

And here's some more pictures with no segway:

Hello Damron Blog, it's been so long...

2009-03-16T20:47:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes it has. But it's spring time, a time of new beginnings so I thought I'd give a go at a blog post. This being the birthday week of the Paul and Kathleen, I'd first like to give them a shout out, and a congratulations if they've successfully navigated to this post. Welcome! What would a post on the Damron family blog be with out pictures? Far be it from me to disapoint my vast fan base. Here you go:

Our family looks good in hats, and suits.

2009-01-08T19:29:00.000-08:00

But wait there's more!

2009-01-03T21:25:00.000-08:00

I guess I'm trying to make up for last time. Here's some more from the family Christmas party. Good times were had by all. At least that's what I'm told. We witnessed Mom recite "Jes fer Christmas" which was the highlight of the evening for me, it was hilarious. Who knew Mom was such a thespian?

Hello blogging world, have you missed me?

2009-01-03T21:19:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if anyone in the family reads this blog, but I felt that six months of neglect was just too sad. So, here are a few pics from the family party.

2008-07-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

Who knew that this little boy (who seems to have borrowed Mickey Mouse's pants - no offense Dad, but I'm pretty sure you didn't dress yourself so you have nothing to worry about!) would grow up to have 9 children and 20 grandchildren (and counting). To think about the small beginnings of those that have gone before us is to think about the possibilities that lie ahead in our own lives. I am sure that the Paul Damron a top that horse, living in Provo would have never guessed that his daughter would be posting this photo on something called the "world-wide Web" for all the world to see. It truly is amazing the things that happen in a lifetime. Who knows what will come of the next sixty years?

Amy

On the Shores of the Atlantic

2008-06-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

One of the most beautiful part of a city that I can think of is the Old Port in Portland Maine. The cobblestone streets, the smell of the ocean just across the street and all the old buildings and no Wal-Mart in sight; just little shops selling everything imaginable. Heaven. So heavenly in fact, that I, wrapped up in taking in the sweet memory of my beloved Portland, nearly walked into a pole. If it hadn't been for my sweet husband who stuck his arm out to stop me. I was actually looking back at the building in the first picture; the Hay Building. Admit it, it's striking enough that you might walk into a pole just gazing at it too.

Green Acres is the Life for me

2008-06-30T18:19:00.001-07:00

Coming back to Maine with Jeff was something I had dreamed of doing ever since I fell in love with him. So finally, here we were, standing in front of the old house that was the scene of my life from age three to eighteen. I had thought about what it would feel like to finally be back at the place; would I burst into tears of joy? sadness? homesickness? Would I cry at all? or will it really not matter that much?

Turns out I didn't cry, but it was good to be back. I think more than the house itself (that has been changed, but I'll get to that) being in the woods really brought me the most satisfaction. Walking with Jeff along the rock wall behind our property, and where Jon and I spent all those hours building a fort, and where I used to come to read when I wanted time to myself. Even though the trees are bigger and the fort is gone, there was a sameness about the forest that was infinitely comforting and familiar.

We did go into the house even though I was hesitant to do so. I didn't want someone else's reality messing with my memories. But in the end, it was cool to see the kitchen remodeled and that huge fireplace opened up. They actually use the brick oven to make pizzas! Some of the remodeling I liked (they ripped up the carpet and refinished those old wood floors, it looks great) and some I didn't (the furniture, the drapes, the wallpaper, hmm....) but it was good. You'll be happy to note that the attic, in all it's non insulated steamy heat has not changed a bit, it's just exchanged it's interior to hold someone else's beloved cast-offs.

So what do you do with a visit like this? I certainly don't want to rewind my life and go back to that time, I like my life now and all I've experienced. But being there filled me with a homesickness, for the air and the trees and the summer. Maybe that is why is important to visit, though I've been in Utah for all these years, Maine still feels like home.

To Life! To Life! Le Chiem!

2008-06-06T20:58:00.000-07:00

I really don't know what I have to complain about. Life is pretty sweet. Maya's baptism, Lola's new puppies. Here's to birth and rebirth, what a beautiful world we live in. It makes me think about the day I was baptized. It was such a simple choice, so obviously right and so comforting and warm in its rightness. I'm afraid the more I saw of this world the harder it was to find simple choices. I learned lots of good and bad things; I found out that heroes fall, history is neither perfect nor easily understood, and there is pain that can't be fixed with a band-aid and a good nap. That is why I think there is birth. Besides the obvious reasons of promoting life on the planet, I think God wants us to be reminded of perfection, beauty and hope. The moment anyone comes out of the waters of baptism they get to feel that feeling (albeit a little less messy) of rebirth, of starting out fresh and new. To see those tiny puppies in my hands made me remember some of this world's absolutes; love is real, God is real and beauty happens every day. So here's to an imperfect world that gives us such a great contrast to really see what is beautiful. And most of all, here's to Maya for making that simple and yet profound choice, and letting us all see one more moment of perfection. Love you sweetie.

Amy

The Damron Tea Party

2008-05-05T21:05:00.001-07:00

After a morning of reveling in the adventures of our predecessors, we rounded it off with a visit to my new favorite lunch place in Salt Lake; The Beehive Tea Room. I've never been to a tea room before, but now that I've been I have no idea what took me so long. It was like a tea party but for big girls (not plus size, just grown up). Dad was a trouper and came along, but I think it was the females in attendance that really enjoyed it (though I'm pretty sure he liked the food too). There was a picture that was too grainy to include here, but I think it says it all. It was of Mom, looking up at the tearoom, perched ever so lady like in her chair with a smile that could have been taken directly from her childhood. When I was little I didn't really know what all the fuss was about with pretend tea parties, but if those little girls saw this tea house in their minds then I finally understand.

The Story-teller's Club

2008-04-20T20:06:00.001-07:00

Family history is not for the faint of heart, or the idealist. If you are going to dig around your roots, expect to find lots of fascinating things, but don't expect to find what you were looking for. I won't tell you what I was looking for, because I am not really sure yet. But I think I was expecting to find a black and white picture of a stiffly smiling person who looks vaguely like a sibling of mine. Not a living breathing Grandmother that I never knew, but who lived a wonderful life in a time where every detail of her engagement and marriage was documented in the paper. She even traced the route of their honeymoon. And she looked like a really interesting person to get to know. There, not what I expected. No hidden treasure, no royalty, but a person who lived and breathed and loved and wrote about it so I could see into that world years later. Family History is a pretty dry term to describe something so great. Every time I listen to my parents or uncles, or second cousins etc. talk about our family I am amazed at how much I don't know, how many incredible people I am related to, and how diverse, challenging, messy, complicated, and different their lives were. So here's to a good story, and ones that just happen to be true, and about those who just happened to carry the seeds of your DNA.

Visit with Aunt Ann or "Sister Kearns"

2008-04-16T07:53:00.001-07:00

Jeff and I went to Washington D.C. over the weekend and I got to see Aunt Ann who is serving in the College Park. Jeff was in meetings all day Sunday, so and a rather blustery and cold day I took the metro out to go to church with Ann. It was great to see her and chat for a while. I'm a bit jealous she gets to live in D.C. I'm pretty sure it's my new favorite city. Yup, it bumped New York right out of the #1 slot. Well, N.Y.C. had a tenuous hold at best on it's ranking for a while now. (ever since the infamous summer of '05). But we now have a new winner! Congratulations D.C. on your new ranking and good luck Sister Kearns on continuing the work and finally getting a companion again!

-Amy

Easter with the Damron's

2008-03-26T20:39:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter everyone!! The Damron Easter egg hunt was fairly successful with only one teary-eyed nephew. I would say we had a pretty good time (of course the goal is %100 happiness, but we do what we can). I learned a thing or two about my nieces and nephews. First off, Maya has great tree-limb balancing skills and it turns out you aren't supposed to climb trees with a cast (who knew?). Second, my nephew Alex is just a few months or so shy of a black belt. A black belt!!!! Which means I'm pretty sure right now I could hire him as a body guard and have nothing to worry about. He's got mad skills. I know, he showed me. Finally, I learned that no matter how many eggs you hide, thirteen children can clear a large yard in about fourteen seconds. Like a great big vacuum cleaner they cleared that yard of everything with that was colorful or sure to bring on a sugar rush(except for the eggs hidden in the eaves of the playhouse - but Ava and I took care of that). Yup, if missing persons were just always dressed in pastels with candy in their pockets, I'm pretty sure we could dispatch a team of little Damrons and find the poor soul in no time. But until then stay close to home (or if you do take to wandering wear pink and bring some fun sized packs of M&Ms) and Happy Easter!

The "Maine Damrons"

2008-03-14T22:38:00.001-07:00

Since my niece Becca just had her birthday and was just baptized, I think it's about time we commemorate the Damron's last stand on the east coast: the "Maine Damron's". My big brother Mark, and his family are the last family connection to our beloved Maine. And beloved is what it will always be for me and most of my family. Being only three when we moved from Utah, lush, green, intensely humid, and beautiful Maine was the back drop of my life until college. I remember summer days floating down the Pennobscott River in an inner tube looking for fresh water clams and watching Danny go up to the pulley that spanned the river and drop in. I remember the covered bridge, where we would get out of the water and drive down the tree lined streets that almost made each road a leafy green tunnel. Yes, most of my pleasant memories involve Maine in it's summery, green state, but winter for all it's biting humid cold gave us great times too. I think about cross country skiing across the fields and into the forest and looking out the window after an ice storm when everything glittered in the sun. I remember digging tunnels and snow caves through our enormous snow banks and even a snow sculpture of a car! Maine will always be one of the most beautiful places in the world to me. So here is a heart felt greeting to my long lost sibling and my favorite state, I love you both!

Amy

Davey Schmavey vs. The Swedish Chef

2008-03-02T12:33:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday Dave!! As I sit back and reflect on this the anniversary of my brother David's birth, I have one serious note to ponder. Could he indeed be the Swedish Chef? Now, upon initial investigation, one would say they bear no resemblance to each other and that one is a human while the other is a muppet. Hogwash, I say. I would present this compelling list of evidence to the contrary. First of all, why is it that one of the most prominent memories I have of him is of him singing the "Swedish Chef Song"? Highly suspect. And now that I'm wise to him, why is it that he won't sing it any more? Hmmm. Also, the Chef doesn't speak another language besides his native Swedish, but occasionally he will let an English word slip. Ha! Caught you! The list goes on and on, but I don't want to belabor the point. There must have been a reason for this dual identity and I wouldn't want to blow too much of his cover. But just one more thing... they have never been photographed together.

Well happy birthday brother, your secret is safe with me... and the people who read this blog.

-Amy

Lucy's birthday

2008-02-26T13:42:00.001-08:00

Lucy’s Birthday – turned 9 on January 16, 2008. She had her first slumber party. Oh, the joy of little girls!

-Pam

Good news from Pam

2008-02-26T12:15:00.000-08:00

I’m a columnist! I have a bi-monthly column, now, in Wasatch Woman Magazine. The publication is owned by Media One. Check it out at any news stand or bookstore!

-Pam

February and hoping for Spring

2008-02-26T08:58:00.000-08:00

It wasn't spring in Germany this day! Kathleen and I are standing in front of a man made lake with an interesting history. The man who owns this home made the lake for his wife to attract wild birds for them to watch and enjoy throughout the year.

Have a beautiful day!

- Dad.

First blog entry from the Damron parents

2008-02-24T16:32:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone. We are happy to send our love and surprises from our home to yours.
Grandma with special gloves for the kitchen.

Mark and the newer boy in our family, Daniel Mark Damron; born in Maine but visiting in Utah this Summer.

- Mom and Dad Damron

New Years with the Damrons

2008-02-24T16:11:00.001-08:00

We had a great get together to start off the year and everyone was excited to see David and Dawn and Cade. And Cade was excited about the snow. In fact, he may have been more sad to leave his little snow man than his Grandma and Grandpa!

posted by Paul Damron

Michelle's Birthday

2008-02-23T21:37:00.000-08:00

It is amazing how indulgent it feels to just sit down and paint a piece of pottery when it's been a busy week! It was great to go to Color Me Mine with Michelle to celebrate her birthday. I don't know what it is about pottery and glaze, perhaps those fumes are addictive, but it was positively therapeutic. Combine that with catching up with my little sis and it equates to a fantastic afternoon! We had a chance to talk about our dreams and aspirations and about how neither of us are quite ready to have children yet and how things have changed in just one year! Michelle will be turning 23 tomorrow, so make sure you wish her a happy birthday. And ask to see her new piece of pottery...

Amy and Jeff's Wedding

2008-02-15T16:14:00.000-08:00

Since I'm the only one contributing to this blog thus far, I don't mind making it all about me. Jeff and I got married on May 10th 2007. We've been married for nine months already! And it just gets better I tell you. Really, marriage is fantastic fun 98% of the time. The other 2% of the time one of us (but usually it's both) is just being stubborn. My real purpose in writing this particular entry is to post some pictures of the blessed event and it's highlights. This will be one of a few postings on the wedding and all the fantastic goings on there. Besides the amazing marriage ceremony in which I suddenly got nervous that I would miss the part where I had to agree to marry Jeff, the whole day was fantastic. It is a good thing we had a photographer though, because I'm afraid my memory of all the little details of the day have already gotten fuzzy. I have introduced myself to several of Jeff's relatives in recent months that distinctly remember meeting me and even having conversations. Ah well. Jeff and I had a small reception, with our closest friends and family. One of my favorite moments at the reception was dancing with my Dad, and the dancing in general!!! All in all it was a perfect day.

Introducing... the Damrons!!! - posted by Amy

2008-02-04T09:32:00.000-08:00

Way back, many years ago a man named Paul and a woman named Kathleen came together to establish the Damron family. And now, here we all are, two parents, 9 children (David, Mark, Danny, Julie, Nanette, Pamela, Jonathan, Amy and Michelle) and their spouses and 20 grandchildren!!!! Yes, just doing our best to keep the world's population growing at a steady rate. Not all are represented yet in the pictures above (from my last post, just be patient, all in good time my friends...

Welcome to the Damron Family Blog!

2008-02-03T20:34:00.000-08:00

Here are a few from the clan: