Oceanside 2012

Family vacation finally arrived!  Car 1:  Brent, Dotty, Sharon and Bran.  Car 2:  Brett, Shannon and Hadley, along with a crib, a stroller, a beach tent and various other necessary items for a 2 month old!  Car 3...actually the "burb": Rox, Shaun, Chase and Keat.  We stayed at Whiskey Pete's on June 14 and arrived at Oceanside on June 15.  Car 1 stayed at Marina Inn in the beautiful 2 bedroom suite overlooking the harbor.  Car 2 and Car 3 stayed at WorldMart, which is closer to the beach and the rooms there were great as well, just not quite the same view.  On Saturday, June 16 we traveled to San Diego to Terri and Robert's home and had a great day playing in the water, visiting the swap meet and eating!  Ter and Robert's place is not only a show piece, but a FUN show piece.  Headed back to Oceanside late.  Had to stop at WorldMart to drop off Shannon and Hadley because Brett had to go do some work and had left San Diego early.  However, it was all a lie.  When we pulled into the parking lot who should appear but BOE, SHAUNA, KENZ AND FINN!!  Boy, was I surprised.
Terri came up on Sunday and stayed for the week.  We shopped, went to the beach, ate and visited.  It was a great vacation!
Entertaining highlights:  Finn and sand-covered anything.  Hadley and her toots!  Kenz and the white donuts. The Wilson Leather Store.  Relief Society grapes at the swap meet...thank you, Robert!  Shaun's prime rib along with Rox's mushrooms and artichokes.  Harbor Fish and Chips and the random man who wanted Shannon's left-over fish taco.
One major "lowlight":  The 4 hour stop on the way home between Barstow and Primm because of the over-turned gas tanker.  HASMAT, CHIPS and Brent couldn't get it cleaned up very fast.

 In SanDiego...stopping to eat.

 Mom (Sharon) and Rox.

 Chase, Finn, Shauna, Boe

 Rox, Brandon.

 Keat...in the handicapped lift.

At the beach!

Hadley and her dad

 Keat, Shannon and Hadley

Brent and Bran

Hadley, Shannon and Brett

Kenzie and Brett.  Kenz learned to glide the width of the pool!!!

 Finn...who loves sand-covered gummi bears

 Kenz' head...where's her body?

Rox and her boys...Keat and Chase.

 Granma Dot and Kenz at the mall

Ter and Mom...cooking!

Little Hadley Has Arrived

Hadley Evanson has made her entrance!  Six pounds 10 ounces, 18.5 inches long with dark hair and a very wise expression.  According to dad, mom did very well.  We got the first text message late last night saying they were at the hospital and she was moving along nicely.  Within about an hour Hadley was here.  I don't know what went on before the first text...I'm sure it wasn't all roses.  I talked with Brett this morning, he was exhausted and said Miss H. had kept them up all night.  Welcome to Parenthood, Brett and Shan.  Now, Boe and Shauna have someone to commiserate with!

Hadley Evanson, April 5, 2012
Oh, Wise One!

Brandon Thorpe Evanson

   Brandon was a cute little guy with a ton of personality.  I'm not sure if it was his hair or the way he slept, but every morning brought a "Hair by Osterizer" hair do.  He also had a habit of storing his food in his cheeks which I suppose kept him fed throughout the day.  Although he always had food, he was a skinny little frit who had trouble keeping his diaper up.  When he was crawling he generally moved with his nose on the floor rather than lifting his head...maybe just too many brains to hold up.  He always found the closest mud puddle.  And when he was born, he was so anxious to get here that he arrived on the way to the delivery room.  What a surprise that was!
   From day one he has been our peacemaker.  The other boys have a tendency to always try to outdo each other, not Brandon.  He has always just gone with the flow and has been happy no matter what was going on.
   He liked his eggs cooked with no crispies.  Whenever he got stressed he'd pull out his undershirt from his collar and snuggle his nose into the undershirt.  If he was really stressed he'd do a little chewing on his undershirt.
   When he was born his dad's cousin, Blair Valgardson, lived with us.  Whenever Brandon got fussy Uncle Blair would hold Brandon's head in his hand with Bran's body on Blair's forearm and he would gently bounce him for hours.  Bran became very spoiled and loved to be bounced on Blair's arm. When Blair moved out, Bran really missed him.

Hair By Osterizer!

Darn those diapers.

Care to join me?

Raymond Brett Evanson

   Brett was born in Provo, Utah and lived there until he was three when his family moved to Malad, Idaho.  During his first three years the Evansons managed Crestwood Apartments on State Street in Provo.  Brett's friends were all college students at BYU.  They often took him up on campus.  Because there was a swimming pool in the complex his parents made arrangements for him to take swimming lessons when he was just a baby.  He learned to bob up to the surface when he was submerged, look around for the nearest bank and paddle to the side of the pool.  It was pretty amazing.  This started a life-long love of the water.

   One day while they lived at Crestwood, Brett's mom (Dotty) was trying to kill a pesky fly that was buzzing around the apartment.  Brett climbed up on a chair by the table.  Dotty told Brett to catch that fly.  It had evaded her the whole morning.  Brett saw it buzzing around in mid air.  He watched it for awhile and then grabbed it.  Dotty couldn't believe he really had it, but when she opened his little hand there was the squashed fly!  He has quick reflexes!

Balancing and waving the flag!

Christmas 1979

Love that bottle.

More water...with Niels Nisson.

First swim with Dad 1978

Blair Thorpe Obituary

    Blair Thorpe, 83, of Malad, Idaho, passed away on November 3, 2010, of causes related to pancreatic cancer.  He was surrounded by his family.
   Blair was born on May 6, 1927 to Edgar and Blodwin Evans Thorpe at the family home in Malad.  He was the third of five children.  Blair spent summers on the farm in Ireland Canyon and during the winter the family lived in Malad.  Blair graduated from Malad High School in 1945 and attended BYU for one semester.  He also served in the US Air Force.
   On August 27, 1952 he married Sharon Bloxham in Downey, Idaho.  Their marriage was solemnized in 1953 in the Logan, Utah Temple.
   Blair was employed by the Idaho Department of Transportation for 35 years and enjoyed working with many good friends.  He retired in 1993 to help care for his daughter Tammy who was battling cancer.  Blair also farmed his land in Ireland Canyon up until 1990.
   Blair was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He was a faithful home teacher for many years and also served as financial clerk and in other "behind the scenes" positions.  He was a great example of honesty for his family and always "told it the way it was."
   Family was the center of Blair's life.  He enjoyed several vacations and reunions with his family.  Blair and Sharon's family home continues to be the center of activity for their children, 22 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.  They will all miss Grandpa at the Rook table.
   He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sharon; children, Dotty (Brent) Evanson of Malad, Ed (Paula) Thorpe of Malad, Terri (Robert) Harris of Logan, Utah, Roxanne (Shaun) Albretsen of Malad, and Gia (Steve) Haycock of Malad; 22 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; and a sister Neva Rae Cambareri of Boise.  He was preceded in death by his daughter Tamara (Tammy) (Mark) Price; siblings, Thurman Torpe, Ralph Thorpe, and Mary Lou Thorpe.
   Funeral services were held Monday, November 8, 2010 in the Malad LDS 4th Ward chapel (20 S 100 W) at 12:00 noon.  The Family suggests donations be made to the Oneida Education Foundation, Tammy Thorpe Price Scholarship Fund, 250 W 400 N, Malad, ID  83252.  Condolences may be sent to www.horsleyfuneral home.com.
   This obituary appeared in the Idaho Enterprise and the Idaho State Journal, Sat., Nov. 6, 2010 (Pocatello)

2005 Blair and Sharon Thorpe
This is not the picture that appeared in the obituary.

This is the beginning of our family history.  As I thought about how best to put a history together, I've determined this is the place to begin.  As I add and you review, let me know what needs changing.  I will add pictures, histories and events of interest to our family.  Brett & Shan, Brandon, Boe & Shauna, and Brad, let me know of pictures you want added or stories from your past you want told.  We'll do this a little at a time and hopefully create something incredible for our family.

2005:  Front Row:  Granma Dot, Grandpa Brent, G-Grandpa Ray Evanson, G-Grandma Myra Evanson
Top Row:  Brandon, Brad, Shauna, Boe, Brett

2011:  Hallee Haycock, Kenzie Evanson, Shannon, Daegon (Shannon's nephew), Brett, Finn, Izzy Haycock

2011:  Shauna, Finn, Boe, Kenzie (Top Pic)
2005:  G-Grandpa Blair Thorpe, G-Grandma Sharon Thorpe
Auntie Ter, Auntie Gia, Granma Dot, Auntie Rox (Bottom Pic)