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| Kevin Hamilton Famiy Agoura Ward Directory 1985-86 |
Sorry...I don't like to write long blogs but...just a glimpse of daily Hamilton family life in the past...if you have some time...
I was transcribing an old journal I found this week. We had been married 7 ½
years... 3 little kids...
December 30, 1985, Monday
I was sick with the stomach
flu. Visiting teacher, Kathey Mackay
showed up unexpectedly, cleaned my house and took Matthew for a few hours. Ryan
and Michelle went to the park with the Lewis Family. None of them knew I was sick, just happened
to show up. It sure helped out. Had a short family night. Kathey also fixed a dinner for us. Matthew seems to have an incredible appetite. Every hour he has to have something to eat.
He favors cookies, but will eat almost anything.
December 31, 1985, Tuesday
I felt better today, Matthew is
sick with diarrhea and eye infection.
Ryan has a sore throat and 100 degree fever. We started unpacking from our Seattle trip.
We came home Sunday night (Mom watched the kids). Kevin and I sat down and wrote out goals for
the New Year after the kids went to bed.
We watched a videotape, had some chips and dip and apple juice and
celebrated the New Year. Then went to
bed.
Goals for the New Year 1986 – The Kevin S. Hamilton Family
1. Family Night – once a week
2. Family Prayer – once a day
3. Temple attendance – once a month
4. Get out of debt – pay off all credit cards
5. Savings account - $2,000.00
6. Finish kids bathroom
7. Bedroom furniture
8. Kitchen furniture
9. Family trip – summer time
10. Plant a garden, fruit trees and roses
11. Add to years supply – complete a 72 hour kit
12. Keep family journal
13. Sunday family scripture reading
14. Reading to kids
15. Outside play yard
16. Clean side yard
January 1, 1986, Wednesday
Kevin got up at 5:15 am and left to
go skiing with some of the church kids.
I stayed home and took care of the kids.
We did some window shopping, played at the park and just relaxed. Kevin got sick with the flu about 2pm on the
ski slope – managed to finish the day and drive home (3 hr. drive). The kids were really good today. They made their beds, cleared their plates at
lunch and dinner without me asking. I
hope these may be good habits blossoming.
January 2, 1986, Thursday
Ryan, Michelle and I organized the
toys today. We bought some colorful
plastic bins and sorted all afternoon.
We threw out a lot of broken toys and collected garbage the kids
had. Kevin came home a little early
tonight and built three shelves in Ryan’s closet. Michelle and Matthew stood up
on buckets to watch Kevin saw. I painted
them after everyone went to sleep.
January 3, 1986, Friday
We thoroughly cleaned or picked up
the house today. I did all the washing
before my cleaning crew got here at 1 pm. I pay them $35 and they work for
about 2 hours. It’s the best thing I’ve
done. I feel so good when the house is
clean. I took the kids to Carl’s Jr. for
dinner. Kevin picked up the babysitter
and we went out to a movie and dinner.
We had a great time.
January 4, 1986, Saturday
Today Kevin gave me the day off
since New Years he was gone. He let me
sleep in as he fed the kids breakfast. I
had basketball practice at 10:00am and Ryan and Michelle had doctors
appointments the same time. Ryan’s ears
were both infected. Michelle was
fine. Kevin and I took the kids to the
doctors and then I took off and ran all my errands, did some shopping and just
relaxed. I came home about 4:30pm and we
all went to the church for several baptisms of friends. We came home and Kevin fixed dinner, grilled
cheese sandwiches and leftover soup, got the kids ready for bed, clean the
house and did the dishes. I had a great,
great day!!!
January 5, 1986, Sunday
We started the new time schedule
today. Church meetings started at
9:00am. Matthew wasn’t too happy all through church. He cried a lot. I sat out
in the foyer with him almost every meeting. We took him to the doctor when we
got home. By then, he seemed to be in a lot of pain. Both his ears were infected and he had an earache.
By afternoon he had a fever, which lasted shortly as the medicine started
working. We had a new family over for apple cobbler and ice cream. They moved in 2 weeks ago and needed some
friends. They live in a small trailer in
Malibu Canyon and he’s a truck driver. They seem very nice.
January 6, 1986 Monday
Ryan started school again. Matthew really is starting to talk. All day he kept practicing saying “yes” and
nodding his head. He had a hard time
saying the “ye” before the “s”. He kept
pulling the stool to the counter to eat last night’s apple cobbler. Michelle made her bed and dressed without me
asking her this morning. It was a
sunshiny beautiful day. I went to
exercise class this morning, and then practiced basketball. We went to my folk’s house for Lisa’s
Farewell dinner. She leaves Thursday for
Austria. At the church by myself, Matthew
and Michelle watched and cheered and clapped each time I made a basket. I’m
playing on the Ward team Wednesday night and hadn’t touched a basketball for 12
years. I think I did fairly well at
practice.
January 7, 1986, Tuesday
Michelle had Tiny Tots from 9:30 am
– 12:00pm. Kevin came home early
afternoon to help Ryan finish his pinewood derby car. Ryan and I painted it and
put some star decals on it. After dinner
we went to the church as a family and watched and raced in the Priest Quorum
Pinewood derby race. Ryan’s car came in
second after several close rematches.
January 8, 1986, Wednesday
Went to exercise class then
practiced basketball by myself at the church.
Picked the kids up from school.
Ryan had gymnastics from 3:00pm – 4:00pm. I played basketball at the ward tonight on
the Ward Women’s team. I made 2 out of 3
baskets. I was really nervous. I hadn’t
played for years. Most of the players
are girls just a few years out of high school.
We won.
January 9, 1986, Thursday
Met Kevin for lunch and looked at
cars. Went to the temple with April and
Bob Leder. After the temple we went out
to eat at the Flaky Jakes Restaurant where we saw a wooden plaque with a J. D.
Hamilton Apples sticker on it. Kevin is
going to talk to the manager to see if we can purchase it. It was part of their restaurant décor.
January 10, 1986, Friday
Morning exercise class – then
practiced basketball by myself. Taught a
piano lesson after school. David Lewis,
Ryan’s friend spent the night. Kevin
took Michelle on a date to buy her some new tennis shoes. She dressed up – she looked so cute. Then he took her to dinner (at McDonalds- her
request), then an ice cream cone. The
boys and I went to McDonalds for dinner too.
January 11, 1986, Saturday
Had a Women’s basketball game at
10:15 am at the Stake Center. I played
more – I am still a little rusty. I’m
glad I’ve been practicing. I didn’t make
too many points. No one seems to pass to
me yet. We won 33-13. We’ve had a beautiful sunshiny warm day. Cool nights.
I transplanted the strawberry plants.
Kevin fixed a lot of things today and cleaned up the garage, took down
the outdoor Christmas lights. The kids
enjoy having him home. We went to an
adult Stake Conference meeting at 7:00-9:00pm then went to a surprise birthday
party for Spencer Mackay. We had to
dress up 80 or older. It was fun. Didn’t get home an in bed until 1:30 am.
January 25, 1986, Saturday
Kevin ran in “The Great Race of
Agoura”. It was a 10K run. There were a
lot of runners from all over Los Angeles.
Kevin finished about middle.
After the race, we (girl friends) took Amelie Lawler to lunch for her
birthday.
January 26, 1986, Sunday
We met a new family today. The Krans’. They have been in the ward for a
short while but not active. They are nice.
We invited them over for family night.
After church we went over to visit the Lockyers.
January 28, 1986, Tuesday
A very sad day. I was cleaning the house and turned on the radio
to listen to some music. I heard the
tail end of a special report of the space shuttle launching. I called Kevin at work to ask him what
happened. It and it’s seven
passengers/crew exploded a minute after take off in the air. I couldn’t believe it. A school teacher was on it and Ryan and other
school children had been following it closely.
Many even watched it on T.V. as it blew up. No one knows what happened. Kevin and I watched the news and saw film
clips of the blast off and the explosion. It was a very empty feeling.
February 3, 1986, Monday
I took Ryan out of Gymnastics today. They raised their fee to $61.00 for a month
(2x week). I felt bad about it. His teacher called and showed quite concern
for Ryan and said he really needed it. I
decided to put him back in Wednesday for a while and see how it goes. Money is a little tight because of medical
payments. Matthew and Ryan have been in
and out of the doctors for ear infections in January and insurance pays only
after the deductible $100 each. It adds
up quickly. Plus we got a last hospital
bill of $1,300 for Matthew birth in the mail that needs payment on.
February 4, 1986, Tuesday
Michelle changed her ballet class
today. She is taking tap/ballet
class. Her teacher said she is really
good in ballet and is far above the others in her class. She needed a challenge. Her class meets Tuesdays 3:30- 4:30pm. Cost is $27/month.
February 5, 1986, Wednesday
I took the kids to get their
pictures taken this morning at Sears.
There was no school. I’m glad I
only do this once in a while to get them all ready and keep them clean is quite
a chore.
February 8, 1986, Saturday,
I had a Basketball game at the
Stake Center at 10:15 am. Our women’s
team won. I just started
basketball. I’m not a great player but
I’m getting better with each game. Kevin
and the kids watched. After the game I
had to do some shopping and baking for Sunday.
The Primary President asked 4 of us to cater an open house. She bought our coupon at the ward auction
sacrifice dinner in November that offered this service. As it happened, 2 of us ended up doing most
of it. One had a baby and the other girl
had strep throat. They did some baking and dipped strawberries for us but we
did everything else. It was a lot of fun
however and we made a lot of great stuff.
February 9, 1986, Sunday
Today I tried to go to Sunday
School and Relief Society with Matthew but he just wanted to go outside. It was a gorgeous day. I didn’t blame him. He is so ready to go into the nursery. Only 3 more Sundays. I took him in for a little while today. He had no problem. Kevin was called and set
apart to be the young men president.
February 14, 1986, Friday
Valentine’s Day
Kevin gave me a card and a
balloon. I took him to lunch at a
benefit luncheon that a friend was having for their non-profit family
counseling organization. We then took
off about 4:00pm for Lake Arrowhead. A
lot of rain and traffic. Because of the
many fires this year a lot of flooding is expected. It started to snow when we got up the
mountain, but it didn’t stay.
February 15, 1986, Saturday
Lake Arrowhead Cabin
Still raining and raining
hard. The day was nice and
relaxing. Kevin built a nice fire and we
filled the day with reading books. The
kids played, went outside in the rain and found large puddles to soak themselves
in. I put their clothes in the dryer
twice today. Their boots were soaking,
but they didn’t mind. Matthew is quite
the busy one. He didn’t stop moving or
exploring all day. He’s fun but very
busy. He eats a lot too. He eats every meal twice and snacks in
between. He understands what I tell him
and is really big into saying “me” when I ask, “Who wants this or that?”
February 26, 1986, Wednesday
Kevin and I helped chaperone the
Priest and Laurels ski trip at Mammoth.
We left after school and drove up in four big cars. There were six chaperones and 18 kids. We had 2 condos they split us into. Mom kept Matthew, he was sick with diarrhea
and an ear infection. Ryan stayed with
the Lewis’ and Michelle stayed with the Lawlers and the Leders.
March 1, 1986, Saturday
Last day skiing and the best! We drove to Bishop and had dinner at the
Sizzlers. We picked up Matthew on the
way home. Mom told me while he was there
he had gotten into airplane model glue and Jenny’s valium pills. They found one pill in his mouth. He had a few hours of the day where he tried
to walk and would fall down. Mom kept
him awake all day until the drug wore off.
Matthew was glad to see us. We
got home late about 12:30pm after we dropped everyone off. We were sure tired.
March 2, 1986, Sunday
We picked up Michelle at Leders and
Ryan at Lewis’. We were sure tired today.
The kids missed us.
March 3, 1986, Monday
Matthew “ran away” today. After my exercise class, we pulled in the
driveway and went into the house through the garage door. Michelle and Matthew were behind me. I ran in and hurried and changed out of my
leotard so I could do some shopping. In
less than 5 minutes, I was heading out for the car calling for Michelle and
Matthew. Michelle came, but no
Matthew. He had never made it in the
house. The garage doors were wide
open. I ran in the back yard and checked
through the house and checked toward the park and saw him across and down the
street sitting in the gutter of the street.
I was so relieved to find him. I
need to really watch him now that he thinks he can wander off by himself.
March 6, 1986, Thursday
Ryan woke up with an earache. I took him to the doctor and he found both
ears infected. Matthew also got his
polio and Dtp shot today. We had a very
nice program at Relief Society Homemaking meeting. It was on the life of Emma Smith. It was very touching. We also had a nice dinner.
March 20, 1986, Thursday
It’s been a busy week. I’ve finally got all the children in bed and
it’s 9:15 pm. I’m tired but need to
write a talk for church this Sunday.
I’ve been trying all week to find some time to myself but have been busy
with church callings and babysitting other children after school and emergency
drop-ins all week. One day I had 8
children until 6pm. I finished the ward
newsletter and got it to the printer Wednesday.
That take up a lot of my time when Matthew is asleep (he likes to be
involved in all my projects, so I wait until he is napping or asleep at night
so I won’t have to ignore him or get mad at him when I’m working). The newsletter is a great missionary tool and
activation also. I thank the Lord for giving me the talents and skill to do it.
I enjoy it and really feel like I’m
serving the ward. Today I baked and
decorated a cake for Duff Lockyer. It
was his 18th birthday and at the ward auction last November I
submitted a “decorate a custom B-day cake coupon” and the Bishop (Lockyer) got
it. It came out really nice. I made a mound on top with a skier and trees
on it. Duff is a skier and enjoyed it. It was chocolate with chocolate mousse
filling and whipped cream. Right after I
finished it Matthew invaded my kitchen when I wasn’t looking he dropped my
glass mixing bowl on the floor. It
shattered and sent glass and whipped cream all over. I mopped it all up and
hurried out the door to take the cake to Lockyers. They invited us to dinner. It was very
thoughtful of them. I was very tired and
had not even begun to prepare our dinner.
Duff enjoyed his cake. We came
home and Ryan went into the kitchen to get a drink of water and dropped a glass
on the counter, it shattered and I cleaned up the floor again, plus the
counter. All I could do was to
chuckle. I was too tired to get
mad. Ryan felt bad, but I assured him it
wasn’t a favorite glass anyway. He read
tonight for me in his bed. It was the
first time I could see he was sounding words out. It was as though a light was beginning to turn
on in his head. He wants so bad to read
and tries so hard. I think this finally
may be the time for him.
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| Ryan 61/2 years, January 1986 Gymnastics Competition |
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| December 1986 Melony and Blake's wedding reception |
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| Ballerina Michelle Belle 1986 |
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| Matthew - guilty of all of the above |
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| Grandma Keysor - "It wasn't me!" 4 Generation picture with Grandma Lucy Meyer Forsgren |
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| 1986 Basketball Queen! Go mommy! |
