We didn’t want Mark to be what would amount to be an only child, with the other six children all older, so we decided to have another baby. I was in labor all day on February 25, 1970, but wasn’t quite ready to deliver. Leon stayed home all day from school to be with me and finally in the late afternoon, I went to the hospital. Leon couldn’t stay with me because it was the night of the Mutual Choir Concert and he was the conductor. At 6:25 p.m. I gave birth to a beautiful little girl, 9 lbs 8 oz but no one was there to share the news with. The doctor told me that she had had the cord wrapped around her neck. I was glad I was at a hospital with all available medical knowledge.
After the concert, around 9:30 p.m. or so, Leon and Sylvia came to see me and I could finally show off our little girl. We named her Nancy Elizabeth. Nancy after my sister and Elizabeth after all the heroines in the books I had read. Sylvia and Tricia enjoyed having a living doll to play with and were a great help.
One of Sylvia’s friends, Dixie Hirschi, was having problems at home with her mother and she came and lived with us for a while. During that time we took the family camping in northern California. Sylvia, Dixie and David stayed home; they were all working. We went to Lake Huntington and had a great time. The lake water was so clear but very cold but we all went in anyway. It was a very fun time.
The Orange County newspaper came and interviewed our family for an article to be published in the paper. We were chosen for several reasons: Leon was a local music teacher, our older kids played musical instruments in his band and/or orchestra, and most had had all their schooling in the Garden Grove School District. They took a nice picture of the family to go with the article.
Our Ward had a fundraiser for the building fund and gave most families $25 and asked them to multiply it. We chose to put on a musical program, calling it "Honey Kith & Kin". We asked the Williams, Kaufman and Tolman families to participate. It was a fun evening with choir numbers, trios, solos, instrumentals with my Dad as the master of ceremonies. We were able to double our $25 for the building fund and everyone had an enjoyable time.
We had another fun outing with the family in 1973, this time with Alan, Rob, Doug, Mark and Nancy. We drove to Phoenix and had a great visit with Gina and her family. Then we went to Leon’s folks and borrowed their "Draggin Wagon" a trailer and drove to Salt Lake City. We parked at a place just outside of Lagoon which provided the kids with tickets to the amusement park. Leon would drive me into SLC and drop me off at the Genealogical Library and then he would take the kids to various parks, museums, and Lagoon. There was even an circus we attended and the clown impressed Nancy and she said she was going to marry him. My Aunt Beth, who worked at the Genealogical Library, helped me with my research.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Camping and death of sister Nancy
In California, schools have a week off for Easter. The Easter Week of 1969, we decided to take the family camping on the Colorado River. Sylvia was 15, David 14, Tricia 12, Alan 10, Rob 8, Doug 6 and Mark 9 months. We found a secluded spot, north of Blythe, where there was a quiet inlet next to the river. The children didn’t have to go into the fast-moving river but had calm water to play in. We had a tent, where the kids all slept, and Leon and I slept on the benches in the back of the pickup. It was a very fun time.
We were going to stay until Saturday but decided to go home on Friday. Sad news awaited us. We no sooner had driven into our driveway when our neighbor and friend, Woody Cluff, came to tell us that my sister Nancy had died in a car accident in Mexico. She and her husband Jerry had left their baby Mitchell with the Cluffs, and with the other three children and another couple, the Murrays, had driven into Mexico for their vacation. Nancy had been driving their VW wagon and had hit a rough spot in a construction zone. There had been no sign warning of the problems in the construction zone. The car rolled and Nancy was the only one hurt. She was also the only one who spoke Spanish! She died of a ruptured spleen. My folks said it was so sad to see Jerry come across the border at San Diego carrying Nancy’s purse. It is hard to lose a child.
It was a lovely funeral. The women of the family sang My Plea, the first sacred trio that Mom wrote; Fred flew in from Wisconsin, and a friend of Nancy’s from Peru, now a member, came and spoke. It was hard losing her, such a good friend besides a good sister. We had had so much fun doing things together with our kids, and singing together for church functions.
Jerry was still teaching school with about three months to go. Maryann Cluff came and watched the kids four days a week and I came one day. Jenae was only 5 with Dana, Jerry younger and Mitchell just 7 months old. Nancy was expecting at the time of her death; she had been hoping for a little girl.
We were going to stay until Saturday but decided to go home on Friday. Sad news awaited us. We no sooner had driven into our driveway when our neighbor and friend, Woody Cluff, came to tell us that my sister Nancy had died in a car accident in Mexico. She and her husband Jerry had left their baby Mitchell with the Cluffs, and with the other three children and another couple, the Murrays, had driven into Mexico for their vacation. Nancy had been driving their VW wagon and had hit a rough spot in a construction zone. There had been no sign warning of the problems in the construction zone. The car rolled and Nancy was the only one hurt. She was also the only one who spoke Spanish! She died of a ruptured spleen. My folks said it was so sad to see Jerry come across the border at San Diego carrying Nancy’s purse. It is hard to lose a child.
It was a lovely funeral. The women of the family sang My Plea, the first sacred trio that Mom wrote; Fred flew in from Wisconsin, and a friend of Nancy’s from Peru, now a member, came and spoke. It was hard losing her, such a good friend besides a good sister. We had had so much fun doing things together with our kids, and singing together for church functions.
Jerry was still teaching school with about three months to go. Maryann Cluff came and watched the kids four days a week and I came one day. Jenae was only 5 with Dana, Jerry younger and Mitchell just 7 months old. Nancy was expecting at the time of her death; she had been hoping for a little girl.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Move to California and birth of Mark
In June 1963, we loaded up a moving van which Leon drove and I drove our station wagon. He had a couple of the kids with him while I had the rest with me. It seemed like a very long trip and I was so happy to finally get to our house. The address was 15692 Starboard, Garden Grove, CA. It was a nice four-bedroom home, two bath with living room and a dining room off the kitchen. It also had a two-car garage which never housed our car! In later years we converted it into a bedroom plus storage.
My sister Nancy and her husband Jerry bought a home just a block away and we did many things together. Now that she was married, the 11 years difference in our ages didn’t matter at all. We took our kids to the beach every summer, either going to the beach at Huntington Beach or to Newport Bay. The bay had calm waters and the kids learned to swim there. It was also very nice to be about 45 minutes away from my folks, who lived in Downey.
We belonged to the Westminster 4th Ward and Leon was 1st Counselor to Bishop Persons, who was the Marine Adjutant at El Toro Marine Base. His wife was a lovely Hawaiian lady named Anna. One evening the whole bishopric and wives were having a get-together and it turned out that every wife was a year older than her husband. The Bishop’s wife hadn’t wanted to admit she was older until the rest of us admitted our ages.
We enjoyed taking our kids on trips to the different canyons in the summer and up to Lake Arrowhead in the winter so they could play in the snow. The trouble was that all the benefit of being in the mountains was ruined by the long drives and traffic on the freeways on the way home.
We had six children but I never felt that our family was complete. We decided to try for number 7. While pregnant, Leon did some shopping on his own and bought a very firm mattress. Being pregnant, it was a very uncomfortable bed. He also bought a living room set, on his own, and it was ORANGE. Very comfortable, but horrible color.
For Christmas, 1967, we decided to drive to Colorado Springs to spend it with Leon’s parents. Trying to drive up the Cajon Pass our gutless wonder of a car, a VW bus, just wouldn’t make it. We went back home and turned the bus in for a pickup. We had a shell and benches in the back for the kids to sit on. Leon did some more work and made it so we could all sleep in the back. He rigged up beds, like hammocks, that went from side to side of the back. With the benches and the front seat, we had room for everyone. We also had our dog Tchai (Tchaikovsky) with us, a beautiful white Samoyed mix. He was a gift from the band kids to Leon.
We had a very nice visit with the Honeys. There was lots of snow that the kids enjoyed. Mom Honey had a little dog Cindy and no one could come near her. She was a mean little dog and barked a lot but Tchai didn’t let her bother him! The folks took us to movies and sightseeing. I don’t remember if it was this trip or another one that they took us for a ride on a cog railroad up to the top of Pike’s Peak. a beautiful mountain.
I told my doctor that I had had four nine-pound-plus babies but he said this one would only be about eight pounds. Surprise, surprise. Mark Richard Honey, born July 25, 1968 was 10 pounds even! He was 22 ½ inches and was born at 8:22 p.m. We were thrilled to have another
My sister Nancy and her husband Jerry bought a home just a block away and we did many things together. Now that she was married, the 11 years difference in our ages didn’t matter at all. We took our kids to the beach every summer, either going to the beach at Huntington Beach or to Newport Bay. The bay had calm waters and the kids learned to swim there. It was also very nice to be about 45 minutes away from my folks, who lived in Downey.
We belonged to the Westminster 4th Ward and Leon was 1st Counselor to Bishop Persons, who was the Marine Adjutant at El Toro Marine Base. His wife was a lovely Hawaiian lady named Anna. One evening the whole bishopric and wives were having a get-together and it turned out that every wife was a year older than her husband. The Bishop’s wife hadn’t wanted to admit she was older until the rest of us admitted our ages.
We enjoyed taking our kids on trips to the different canyons in the summer and up to Lake Arrowhead in the winter so they could play in the snow. The trouble was that all the benefit of being in the mountains was ruined by the long drives and traffic on the freeways on the way home.
We had six children but I never felt that our family was complete. We decided to try for number 7. While pregnant, Leon did some shopping on his own and bought a very firm mattress. Being pregnant, it was a very uncomfortable bed. He also bought a living room set, on his own, and it was ORANGE. Very comfortable, but horrible color.
For Christmas, 1967, we decided to drive to Colorado Springs to spend it with Leon’s parents. Trying to drive up the Cajon Pass our gutless wonder of a car, a VW bus, just wouldn’t make it. We went back home and turned the bus in for a pickup. We had a shell and benches in the back for the kids to sit on. Leon did some more work and made it so we could all sleep in the back. He rigged up beds, like hammocks, that went from side to side of the back. With the benches and the front seat, we had room for everyone. We also had our dog Tchai (Tchaikovsky) with us, a beautiful white Samoyed mix. He was a gift from the band kids to Leon.
We had a very nice visit with the Honeys. There was lots of snow that the kids enjoyed. Mom Honey had a little dog Cindy and no one could come near her. She was a mean little dog and barked a lot but Tchai didn’t let her bother him! The folks took us to movies and sightseeing. I don’t remember if it was this trip or another one that they took us for a ride on a cog railroad up to the top of Pike’s Peak. a beautiful mountain.
I told my doctor that I had had four nine-pound-plus babies but he said this one would only be about eight pounds. Surprise, surprise. Mark Richard Honey, born July 25, 1968 was 10 pounds even! He was 22 ½ inches and was born at 8:22 p.m. We were thrilled to have another
Monday, October 6, 2008
More Life in Glendale, 1960-63
I was expecting again and this time our drive to Mesa and Dr. Allen took one hour. I was in labor but one muscle didn’t want to relax and Dr. Allen put his hand inside to massage it. He said I was a real stoic, that anyone else would be screaming! I guess it worked because Rob was born January 21, 1961 at 10:20 p.m. and weighed 9 lb 5 oz. He was a cute, round-faced little boy who had a huge smile when he got a little older. I don’t remember who came to help us out.
We were given a little Pomeranian dog which we named Brownie. The kids loved him and when we moved to California he had to be left behind with the twin neighbor girls. Sylvia really didn’t like that.
Leon received his Masters Degree and started teaching in the Alhambra School District in Phoenix. He would go to two elementary schools a day teaching band. He also played for many musicals that came to town.
Another baby was on its way. My sister Mary came to help out with the kids but she was not much older than our kids. Sylvia was just 8 ½ and didn’t like having her in charge.. Leon and I went grocery shopping one evening and I guess that got things going well. Doug was born the next day at 4:25 a.m. on July 11, 1962 and weighed 9 lb 4 oz. He was my only baby born on his due date. David was a couple of days over and everyone else was early.
My father was the business manager of a Peruvian airline called TAPSA. There were several crashes of their airplanes and the airline went out of business. Dad sent Mom, Nancy and Mary up to the States. Mary stayed with Keith and Gina and Mom and Nancy with Leon and me. Dad stayed to settle up the business affairs. This was a very hard time for him as he had had to identify the bodies of the pilots. He read lots of action-packed books to get his mind off of all he had seen. He then came up to the States and he and Mom and girls moved to Downey, CA.
One day Tricia and Rob went for a walk. They thought they were lost and little Robby suggested they say a prayer. I was proud of the little guy for thinking of that.
Tricia decided she wanted to be a nurse so for her 3rd birthday she got a little nurses’ kit. Later for Halloween she wanted to be a mother. Sylvia was a little more exotic, and dressed as a bride or princess. David was always a cowboy or pirate. Alan wore a Bolivian knit cap and little poncho for his disguise.
After four years in Glendale, AZ, Leon wanted a change and interviewed for a teaching job in California. He accepted a position in the Garden Grove School District at La Quinta High School.
We were given a little Pomeranian dog which we named Brownie. The kids loved him and when we moved to California he had to be left behind with the twin neighbor girls. Sylvia really didn’t like that.
Leon received his Masters Degree and started teaching in the Alhambra School District in Phoenix. He would go to two elementary schools a day teaching band. He also played for many musicals that came to town.
Another baby was on its way. My sister Mary came to help out with the kids but she was not much older than our kids. Sylvia was just 8 ½ and didn’t like having her in charge.. Leon and I went grocery shopping one evening and I guess that got things going well. Doug was born the next day at 4:25 a.m. on July 11, 1962 and weighed 9 lb 4 oz. He was my only baby born on his due date. David was a couple of days over and everyone else was early.
My father was the business manager of a Peruvian airline called TAPSA. There were several crashes of their airplanes and the airline went out of business. Dad sent Mom, Nancy and Mary up to the States. Mary stayed with Keith and Gina and Mom and Nancy with Leon and me. Dad stayed to settle up the business affairs. This was a very hard time for him as he had had to identify the bodies of the pilots. He read lots of action-packed books to get his mind off of all he had seen. He then came up to the States and he and Mom and girls moved to Downey, CA.
One day Tricia and Rob went for a walk. They thought they were lost and little Robby suggested they say a prayer. I was proud of the little guy for thinking of that.
Tricia decided she wanted to be a nurse so for her 3rd birthday she got a little nurses’ kit. Later for Halloween she wanted to be a mother. Sylvia was a little more exotic, and dressed as a bride or princess. David was always a cowboy or pirate. Alan wore a Bolivian knit cap and little poncho for his disguise.
After four years in Glendale, AZ, Leon wanted a change and interviewed for a teaching job in California. He accepted a position in the Garden Grove School District at La Quinta High School.
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