Miss Erika Davies

I come from a large extended family of talented individuals. Most of my 48 first cousins are excellent singers. A lot of us are artists, too. My aunts can make anything. Some of us dabble in painting.

My cousin Heidi makes the most amazing wedding dresses.

I can upholster your car, but I don't want to, so don't ask me.

My cousin Jake has an Etsy shop where he sells his custom belt buckles. So does my niece, Erika. Have an Etsy shop I mean, not make belt buckles. She makes clothing ...AND by the way- sings. Duh.
Only this family member is really taking her talent places. She works very hard.
She's serious. And good. I'd like to think she gets her talent from my side of the family, but you should hear her mother...WOW! My brother did good! He sings, too. Duh.
She's very pretty AND the sweetest person you will ever know.
She is tearing it up in San Diego. If you are ever there for a vacation or anything, you should see her perform. She has her own style and it is all about the VOCAL chords baby! Kinda old, old school, a little jazzy, all Erika.

Just recently, she got snatched up to be in this cute little commercial. You might have already seen it on tv. Check her out. She's not a hiker, she's the singer. Way to go!
p.s. visit her Etsy shop and buy her cd. Nothing like a little plug for family.

Look out for the train

We just missed the train coming down the track behind us.

Cute pose that was totally unposed.

She was a pill to shoot. Right when we got on the tracks a deer showed up and all she wanted to do was chase the deer into the woods. Like she could catch a deer!

Some random house in the town with a beautiful garden. I thought this yard was so cute and we just jumped out and hurried and shot these pics. I call it Kamakazi shooting. If you don't get thrown out of your location you are just not trying hard enough.

My family looks so big and I am missing 4 people! Love the country!

Fourth of July Rodeo

Holy Cow! (pun intended) We had a blast on the Fourth of July! We went to our first Rodeo. Of course Rex didn't want to go but once we got there he couldn't keep his eyes off the arena. Bucking broncos, calf roping, trick riding, and bull riding. Then we saw awesome fireworks. I love the country.

After the rodeo we went home to light some more fireworks. We bought some big stuff in Oklahoma so we used some of it. I think I have created some pyros.

A little rain never hurt anybody

In the Midwest in rains. June is usually the rainiest month from what my farmer tells me. As soon as it stops my little Bee goes out for some fun.

Wait for it...

Wait for it...

Here comes the delightful rain dance of a six year old...

Splash, splash...

Kick, splash...

JUMP!!! Now you have seen the dance. Go and practice at home. I want to see it perfect at the next rain dance recital.

Cereal from a mug

"Keep the doors locked, they blow open."- Hubby


I just ate my breakfast cereal out of a mug. Hey! At least I had a spoon! I think we are bringing a new level of laziness to our family out here on the farm. It could also be that I only have six bowls and one dishwasher that NO ONE will empty.

When I went down to the kitchen to get said breakfast I had to step over a mattress. A MATTRESS on the stairs! I also noticed the kitchens doors were wide open and flies had come into the house. I guess it could have been worse... like frogs, rabbits, or deer in the house. I love the country but there are certain rules, like, shut the doors to keep out the critters. And this rule, keep the mattresses off the stairs.

The other day I slept 'til 1:00...P.M! 'nuf sed.

Catch up

*WARNING* The post you are about to read is all over the place! Discombobulation ahead!

Okay, I know, it has been a loooong time since I last posted. But, hey, I've been really busy. End of the school year activities, softball games, concerts, you know... all the fun you have when you have a barrel o' monkeys. I also found Facebook and Twitter so I have been spending my free (FREE? hahahah) time on those sites. But I'm here right now. Yeah!

March-nothing interesting. Just sports and stuff. No painting.

April- More sports and stuff, was going to do another contest but I got lazy and ...nothing. No painting.

May- Fun galore! School concerts. Student council elections. Both of my girls that were running lost :( I am so sad for them. Mini Me was in a school play and it was delicious. Did you know two years ago she asked Santa for an agent? She really is talented. She had one of the leads and was adorable. Maybe if you ask very nicely I will post a picture of said production.

Then we had class parties, dance recitals, trips, and all that.


May 21-My oldest turned 22! I know what you are saying, "But he's just a baby!" He is so adorable. I am so glad he is home. If anyone knows a super pretty, adorable, tall, blond, sweet girl my son can go out with please let me know. He is so handsome that he puts himself into a bracket with models, homecoming queens, Miss America's, and so forth. He was dating a girl just like that but it fizzled out. But now he knows what he likes.


May 30- I met JANE SEYMOUR!!! Yes I did. It was at Champagne's in Snottsdale. She was there for a book signing and print signing. Apparently, if you are famous you can sell art. Maybe I should get famous first and then become a painter!






Anyways, we talked about painting, and raising children. I think she liked me. Oh! and she doesn't have any brunette kids just like I don't have any blonds. That wicked gene pool afflicts others and not just me- woo hoo! She is really tiny. Like 5'3" and about 90 pounds. And she is very pretty in real life. I couldn't believe it when I read she was 58 years old. She seriously looks 40. She was very nice and she has twin boys the same age as my Mini Me. And she has the sweetest English accent. I wish I were British so I could talk like that. Maybe I will just wake up one day and start talking with an English accent. I could probably only do it until noon. That would be great!




Later that evening my hubby and I went to the temple for our 23rd anniversary. Seriously! Where does the time go? We had a great time. My present to him was that I would stay married to him another year. (I know- I am generous.) He gave me tickets to see Glenn Beck!

June 2-Saw Glenn Beck. It was awesome. He was really funny. Especially when he dresses up like Paul Revere. Glenn is my secret boyfriend. Did I just say that? Keep it a secret okay? Maybe I should get a Paul Revere outfit for Hubby...hmmm.

Tomorrow we leave for Iowa to spend the summer. We were supposed to leave May 25th, then June 1st, then June 3rd, now we leave June 4th. Yay! I am sooo excited to squeeze my 6 monkeys and Hubby into a car and drive and drive and drive and drive and drive across 5 states to our farm. I love it. Are we there yet?

There -now you are caught up. I promise to post more in the future. Or maybe just a pinkie swear to post more in the future.

He's Home!

Well, my first born man-child has come home at last! We were so excited to see him that we made these adorable posters. One arriving passenger said, " thanks for the sign but my name is not Howard."

I think he looks the same but with more whiskers. Everyone else says he is a little skinny. I think he is perfect.

This is one happy Papa. I got hugged first, but since I was holding the camera at the time there is no picture of me getting a big ol' bear hug.

He hugged everyone and then he picked up Bee and twirled her around. She was the only one he missed. Look how happy he is to see her. She is so big he almost couldn't pick her up. I know I can't.

Here we are in front of the house. It was pouring rain when we left and we didn't get a sign made, so my amazing friend Julie made this sign and put it up after the rain stopped and before we got back from the airport. I think I saw a tear from Homeboy's eyes. That was totally sweet of her. Thank you, Julie. Pay no attention to the weeds or the hose. Please.

Here he is. My College Boy. My life is complete. I love him with all my heart.

Second and Third Layer

I have been very fortunate to have found an old photo of my Great-great grandmother Louisa Sheen who was 5 years old when she came to America with her family. She walked across the plains in a handcart company with her little sisters and big sister. Tragically, she lost her 1 year old sister when they were about a month out on the trail. Their company, the Ellsworth Company, was actually very lucky to have been the first handcart company to leave that year. The following groups were the tragic Martin and Willie Handcart companies. Anyway, I have a photo. But, she is not five, dangit. So I have to make stuff up. I guess it doesn't really matter to anyone but me- but I want to get it right. Plus, I think she looks A LOT like my grandma who I love, love, love. Did I mention that I love my grandma?
Here we are with the second layer. I know it is real blurry, but that is just the foundation for the detail that is to come later. The black things are supposed to suggest boots. I'm going to paint long strands of grass over the top of them so we don't don't need to see much. Plus, when I shot B I didn't have any boots for the photo. The white blurs are going to be Queen Anne's Lace. I have been in Iowa during the summer and Queen Anne's Lace is everywhere. It is so pretty. Oh, by the way the sky is Payne's Gray and white. It really looks bluer in person but I think it looks natural. For all you painters out there...PUT DOWN THE CERULEAN!!! Thank you. Third layer. I think I got the dress better but that bonnet is giving me fits. And the curls. And the doll. Oh crap! I haven't even started the grass yet! I am starting to enter the phase of painting my art teacher calls, "the depths of despair". After that phase is "the light at the end of the tunnel" phase. I'm looking forward to that stage. (I actually think skin is the easiest part.)
I put another layer on her face but I need to rework her mouth. She reminds me of the Joker from Batman. I also know I need to work on her eyes, don't send me hate mail, I just couldn't find my 20/00 spotter. For you non painters out there, that's a paint brush with 3 hairs in it. My daughter was really upset that I painted her hair red. I had to make her cookies. Mmmm... cookies.

What's in a Name?

Okay. The name of my blog is Morgen Thruston. Because I am not very clever and that is a good enough name to have. But my family should have some anonymity. So to make it fun and cute and easier to type I am going to give you a run down of my Monkeys' names:

Monkey #1 is Junior because he is named after my man and although I never call my husband by his name, it is just not a cute name and we are trying to be cute, right. We never call him Junior but everyone else does. He is 21 and on a mission right now and so I don't see him much, okay ever, and I just don't write about him, okay? But he comes home December 18th, YAY! Then I will write about the crazy things he does. Maybe we will change his name to College Boy.

Monkey #2 is Married Girl. It was Wedding Girl but since she got married it just didn't seem right. She is only 19 and she's amazing and sweet and talented. She works at a hair salon so go get your hair done by her so she can have some money and move out of my guest house. Just kidding about the moving out thing. I love her to be there. I hardly ever see her at all. Her LAUNDRY on the other hand I see every day. I think I need to buy her a washer and dryer, and some shelves in her closet would be nice.

Monkey #2 1/2 is Married Boy. He married my daughter. He is not officially my monkey but he is accident prone and golden and his children will be my grandchildren so that makes him practically blood. He is also smart as crud and fluent in Spanish and handsome. So, I'll take him.

Monkey #3 is Rex eats Chex. It used to be I-man but he decided this year he was too big to be called I-man. He went to EFY and they gave him this name. Now even his best friend of 12 years calls him Rex. He is all by himself in this sea of girl monkeys. He is really a MONKEY. That boy can flip and pike and tuck and somersault like no other. When he was little I thought he would break his neck. Seriously. He is 15 going on 25.

Monkey #4 is Mini Me. The End. She is exactly like me only organized. Just think how dangerous I would be if I were organized. I would be like Martha Stewart. Only practical and very funny and better looking. That is MM. She wants to be a news anchor. I think she will, too. She is in all advanced classes in school and the other kids look at her papers to try and cheat. Yeah, that's my Mini Me. I remember that. Anyway, she did most of the planning for Married girl's wedding and she is 12! She put together a planning book and did maps and diagrams on the computer. Sometimes, she's a little scary.

Monkey #5 is ....... okay I don't have a cute nickname. Only a dumb one. Peeka. It is short for Pikachu from the Pokemon game and Pikachu is so cute, like her. So maybe you can help me out and give me a new nickname for her. She is very talented and like me. Only she is nicer and is better at making friends. She is like Mini Me but softer and 10. And more patient. I love that about her.

Monkey #6 is Art Girl. Okay, all my girls are very artistic but Art Girl will spend 3 hours wrapping a present. She will make the most unconscionable messes involving art I have ever seen. Paint doesn't come out of things. I have marker on almost every surface in my house. She has a pile 3 feet high in her closet. Yeah, I gave her that ability. But she is good. I think she will be a professional artist when she is about 15. She is 7 now.

Monkey #7 is Bee. She is only called that a few times, she has so many names we can't pick just one. But they all start with the letter B so MM and I just call her B. She is 5 and apparently too big to be homeschooled. I wanted to homeschool her this year but my man registered her for kindergarten without my knowledge and she was so happy. I couldn't un-enroll her. She loves school.

Monkey #8 is the littlest monkey and her name is Fifi. She is adorable and funny and little. Like 10th percentile little. She reminds me of my grandma who was barely 5 feet tall. And she runs every where she goes. That girl started walking and within a week she was running and she was been running ever since. She loves to climb on things, things she has no business climbing on. She also gives kisses a lot. I saw her kiss the mustard bottle a couple of times. Her new favorite word is "No". Don't you love babies?

My husband is not a monkey. He is very forgiving. And a little abrupt. When we were dating, my mom, sister and I thought we would call him "How Rude" instead of Howard and see if he noticed. He never did. So that is the only nickname he has ever had other than "Honey" or "Dad". So I will shorten to H. He wants me to make his nick name "Stud Man" but I think that would make the other men out there with only 7 or fewer kids feel bad. He thinks he is virile. "How Rude"!