(this is the other blog that i deleted - it was sapposed to be this weeks blog."
what number are you in the family? what did you like or dislike about your number in the family?" 3 Comments -
mary alice said... I was number 11, i liked that i got to get all the girls hammy downs, i hated that i never got involved in the conversation becuase i was "too young" and i could never stay out late with everyone else June 3, 2007 12:59 PM
alison said... I am number two . . . I always wished I had a big brother. Bummer! June 3, 2007 9:34 PM
andrew ballstaedt said... i am number six. i feel like i was lucky to be one of the middle kids so i was able to see kind of both ends of the family. June 4, 2007 1:57 AM
Andrew,.. You are so right. The middle is great beause being #7 I knew the oldest and the youngest very well. I do feel like I have been lucky in that way. However, I think I have middle child syndrom. Mom said I would sit in my high chair and not make a peep the whole meal. I had a hard time letting my needs known at times, becuase I knew that there were so many other kids that needed thinkgs and how busy mom was. ( I am sure that Mom and Dad don't feel that I had a hard time with that). I never really spoke that much. I remember sitting in the living room on Sunday afternoons and just listening to everyones converstations--never saying a word. I didn't have a lot to say. (that has changed) I got lost in the middle at times. It was fun having so many others before me and seeing what worked and didn't work for them. Taylor wants me to blow dry her hair. I will write later.
I was the 1st and I liked it except for the fact that I really did break in my parents for the other kids as far as dating and High School activities were concerned. They were WAY more strict with me than they were with any of my other siblings. When I was first married it was really hard for me to balance my family at home and being a wife. Because I was the first to leave...my siblings called me constantly and wanted me to come home for everything that I had been there for in the past. I am glad that I have brothers who are married now...it has really helped to relieve some of that pressure. Being the oldest has it's perks...overall, I feel blessed to have the family I grew up with and very blessed to have married into such a great family. I love you all!
We're lucky that Mom didn't have a number 13. That child would have had cowlicks, been cross-eyed, had a humongous head, and wet the bed well into the teenage years--lucky number 13.
I am number 9. When I was in high school, I would just sit there and listen to everyone talk. I'd disappear and fall asleep on my bed, and I don't think anybody really noticed. I felt like Abi did, I think. I like number 9 though. I have lots of older siblings to get advice from--and use their examples--and a good amount of younger siblings.
If you think about it though, there is only a beginning (Amy) and no real end. Though Michael is the last child, it kind of just keeps on going with Jeremy and all the other nieces and nephews.
Sad. That makes me feel sad that you felt like no one noticed. I remember when you were leaving on your mission and you thought no one cared how I hurt for you. You will always be my boyfriend! I love you!
I remembered something funny about us. I remember one time asking you if you thought I was a cute sister--I think I was in 6th grade and would slick my hair back. (ugly)
I love giving you long hugs because you are one of the few who accepts them!
I just spent several minutes typing about this question and I deleted it by accident. I'm too tired right now to rewrite it . . . but I will later. Have a great night everyone! Lexi and I are watching Max & Ruby!
hey alison - that is common to delete stuff - i go through that syndrome all the time. i am going to give you some advice that you gave me the other day - don't delete it. i am depressed now because i don't get to read what you deleted. oh well. tomorrow maybe.
and abigail i will give you a long hug if you really need one.
I really didn't think people didn't love me. I only said that people don't notice so much when I am gone. Maybe after a looooong time, but it is easier to forget about one of us since there are so many of us.
For sure I know that the family loved me. I hope I didn't sound like a poor little victim. I was commenting more on the size of our family that the love that we have for one another.
I LOVE YOU TOO. I just wish you would kiss me on the lips along with those hugs. ;)
I know I overacted. That made me feel good that you thought I noticed you! I was looking through photo albumns the other day and there were a lot of the two of us that were cute. I will have to send them to you.
abigail i don't think you overeacted! as i have watched you over the last few years, i will always hear mom on the phone - talking to you - and you will be trying to find out what people in our large family of 12 need for christmas or for their birthday. you and joe bought that scooter for michael. you sent every person in the family art books for christmas - i think you have a genuine - good - motherly - need - to watch over your siblings. i think you are very sensitive to the needs of others and i think you were doing that with joe; you were worried that he was left out growing up and you wanted to make sure he knew you love him. i think you do a lot of good for our family. you and joe are so giving. you both have alwyas been really nice to me - like when you would let me sleep at your apartment in provo so i didn't have to commute late night back to salt lake after a date. then you would always feed me in your apartment in provo. so thanks.
i was feeling really down the other day, and then i looked at this email alison sent to me of family pictures when we were younger as a family, like when we still had 9 kids living at home and the last 3 hadn't been born. i looked at the pictures of all of us, and it was kind of a special moment - because i felt this longing for our family how it use to be and i missed it - and i realized how all the things i was worrying about didn't really matter - that the only thing that mattered was our family and families. love you aba daba!
the comment i left above can be confusing - i am talking about how i didn't think aba overeacted to joseph ballstaedt when he said he felt like he wasn't very noticed growing up in our big family. then i start talking about abigail and joe wilson and how they have been nice to me - but it starts to sound like i am saying that joe was so lost and lonely and that aba did joe a service by trying to make sure joe new aba loved him. so it might seem like i am talking about joe wilson - but in that first paragraph above - i am talking about joe ballstaedt and then i move on to talk about joe wilson and abi living in provo. anyway, all these joes can be confusing.
Mary, I had to laugh out loud about you liking "hammy downs". That is so cute. They are really called "hand me downs", but I think I might start calling them hammy downs. Don't feel bad, when I first married Brandon, we were eating dinner with his parents and Sheila, his mom, said something about "Chester Drawers". She was referring to a dresser with drawers. She didn't know that it was really called "Chest of Drawers". When you say it fast it sound like "Chester" and that is how she learned it! We all had a good laugh with her! And she was about 55 years old. I love you Mary!
Fist of all, I want you to know what ever number you are 1,5,or twelve, we were all refered to as "Boo boo's" in mom's journal!! (When she would write about us when she was pregnant with us, before she knew if we were a boy or girl and had no name). I thought that was pretty hilarious. In my life, a boo boo means a mistake........but I'm pretty sure we were all wanted. Mom, why did you call us "boo boos? in your journal"
Well, I was "boo boo #5", it says so in moms journal. I think this is the perfect spot for me. I love being in the middle, even though I am not exactly in the middle. I feel like I have been able to get to know everyone. I would like to get to know Michael a little better. Michael is really cool, and I think he has a lot of awesome qualities that boys his age don't normally have (understanding, sympathetic, honest, mature!) Love you Michael.
I'm number three and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it--but I did feel like I got a lot of good gospel teaching from dad and was read lots of books--I'd have to think more about it.
Eliza, you crack me up. that "hammy down" thing was really cute! I know I say things like that...like is it supposed to be "butt naked" or "buck naked" I think the later, but I always get confused.
I never knew I was a boo-boo. I love it. I should read those some day...when i come into town next I guess!
I don't every remember calling you Boo Boos and you certainly weren't accidens. I was so excited every time I was pregnant. I knew another friend was coming that I would love dearly. It was such a priveledge to be your mother. I used to feel sorry for every other woman in the ward when I would bring a new baby to church. I was so thrilled and excited and honored. You were all such beautiful babies. When we had all twelve of you at home I used to say "It just doesn't get any better than this." You were all so wonderful and brought such a nice spirit into our homes. The little ones helped remind us of heaven. Dad is laughing at me. I know it sounds trite but I really felt that way. I love you all. Love, Mom
I was a middle child, number three of six children. I had an older sister, Kathleen, an older brother, David, and three younger brothers--Rock, Noel, and Paul. If Mother and I had only had six children, I would have occupied the space Ann fills (and there would have been no Abigail, Jonathan, Joseph, Christina, Mary Alice, or Michael). My father, who was 15 years older than my mother, often said he regretted that he didn't have more children, but I don't recall my mother ever speaking to that subject.
Since my siblings and I were born within a nine-year span (between September 1943 and September 1952), we all got to know each other pretty well.
In addition to being the third-born, I was also the third to get married. As a result, I never had the experience of not having other siblings at home with me.
I can't remember ever thinking too much about where I fell in the family. I do remember that it seemed to me at the time that my three younger brothers didn't have to work as hard my older siblings and I did. They also seemed to have more opportunities than I did (in sports, pets, cars, etc.) and didn't have to practice the piano as much as I did. My perceptions might have been close to the truth, but I've observed that the same trends develop in most families.
I am the youngest in my family and I was content. I never wished for a younger brother or sister. I did not like being younger than most of the kids in the neighborhood because they wouldn't let me play the night games because I was too young. But there were many things that were fun like dancing with my older siblings, singing together, having David drive me around and pick me up from ballet class. I often was lonely when everyone left for college but mother talked to me and listened to me. I appreciate the good examples that my brother and sisters were to me. The gospel carried me through my lonely times. Heavenly Father answered my thoughts and prayers through the scriptures that I read each night. This was a great comfort to me.
It is amazing how powerful the scriptures are. It is easy for someone to think...its just a book--But the book if Mormon is the word of God. The book of mormon has helped me to at times when i have been lonely, sad, lost, etc. Too. Thank for sharing that mom.
This is so great that so many people are commenting on so many things! I wish I had more time to read everything right now.
I don't remember minding being the 2nd oldest of 12 . . . other than being VERY VERY annoyed when mom would get pregnant "again!" I remember in my teenage years saying, "You’re pregnant AGAIN?" I was so embarrassed by the orange van and stuff like that. I remember flying to Washington DC when we had 7 or 8 children and there were some Catholic nuns on the plane who were commenting about how many children we had. (Ann do you remember how you made yourself throw up when we were about to land or landing?)
Anyway, I did not think it was cool to have a big family in the beginning. I bragged that I was only going to have one child or something (when I was about 13 or 14). Silly girl Alison!
I am thankful that Mom and Dad took responsibility for having such a big family. More specifically, I never felt overburdened by my younger siblings or that I had to tend them instead of hanging out with friends or doing something that I wanted. My memory is that Mom and Dad would hire a baby sitter before they would make me tend.
Poor mom! I'm sure you have all heard this . . . but I remember telling mom . . . "You had these kids . . . you take care of them." She simply nodded and said, "Your right." What a silly and selfish teenager I was.
Being on the older end of the siblings, I was the first to test some of the limits . . . like going to "boy girl parties" before I was 14 and wanting to date so badly I couldn't stand it. I remember Sean Glenn used to call me when he was in high school and I was in middle school. One particular time he called after 9 pm (I think it was barely after 9 pm). Dad told him that I could not talk and to call back earlier next time. I wanted to die! Why couldn't I have been a teenager when there were cell phones, e-mail, and pagers? Bummer.
Mom and Dad were stricter with me than they were with later kids . . . but that's okay because maybe I needed it. I wanted to go to "Duke's Slam and Scam" (a teenage dance club at the Old Mill) when I was in 7th grade. Many of my 7th grade friends were pregnant and on drugs by the time we were in 8th or 9th grade.
My friend, Stacy Wells, and I used to go to the U of U basket ball games with her parents when were in 7th grade. I met college guys on several occasions and told them we were much older. I could have gotten in a lot more trouble if mom and dad didn't set a few limits here and there.
I also remember summer nights on Sundrift Circle--in our bedrooms at 8pm or so (for the night) and watching the other kids in the neighborhood play. I was in elementary school then. I'm sure mom and dad needed a break!
hmmm i guess im number 12. well its really really really wierd because i feel like our whole family was getting on a roloer coaster and everyone got on but i coudlnt casue there wasnt enough room. the reason i say that is because its like i am so young that i dont remember anything and i always here stories about how it was and i cant really relate with it at all.
and i think growing up it was a little hard becuase we live in such an old neighbor hood that theoir arent any kids my age so i really always felt really really lonely becuase i really didnt have any friends but now its alot better. im not saying that its hard to be the youngest because i get spoiled alot. mom and dad really dont even care about anything i do like i really dont have a verfew haha they pretty much gave up and i think i get to do alot of things that the older kids didnt get to do because the financial scene has improved a little bit. also andrew always used to let me hang out with his friends and so it was fun hangoing out with them.
22 comments:
(this is the other blog that i deleted - it was sapposed to be this weeks blog."
what number are you in the family? what did you like or dislike about your number in the family?"
3 Comments -
mary alice said...
I was number 11, i liked that i got to get all the girls hammy downs, i hated that i never got involved in the conversation becuase i was "too young" and i could never stay out late with everyone else
June 3, 2007 12:59 PM
alison said...
I am number two . . . I always wished I had a big brother. Bummer!
June 3, 2007 9:34 PM
andrew ballstaedt said...
i am number six. i feel like i was lucky to be one of the middle kids so i was able to see kind of both ends of the family.
June 4, 2007 1:57 AM
Andrew,..
You are so right. The middle is great beause being #7 I knew the oldest and the youngest very well. I do feel like I have been lucky in that way. However, I think I have middle child syndrom. Mom said I would sit in my high chair and not make a peep the whole meal. I had a hard time letting my needs known at times, becuase I knew that there were so many other kids that needed thinkgs and how busy mom was. ( I am sure that Mom and Dad don't feel that I had a hard time with that).
I never really spoke that much. I remember sitting in the living room on Sunday afternoons and just listening to everyones converstations--never saying a word. I didn't have a lot to say. (that has changed) I got lost in the middle at times.
It was fun having so many others before me and seeing what worked and didn't work for them.
Taylor wants me to blow dry her hair. I will write later.
Abi
I was the 1st and I liked it except for the fact that I really did break in my parents for the other kids as far as dating and High School activities were concerned. They were WAY more strict with me than they were with any of my other siblings. When I was first married it was really hard for me to balance my family at home and being a wife. Because I was the first to leave...my siblings called me constantly and wanted me to come home for everything that I had been there for in the past. I am glad that I have brothers who are married now...it has really helped to relieve some of that pressure. Being the oldest has it's perks...overall, I feel blessed to have the family I grew up with and very blessed to have married into such a great family. I love you all!
We're lucky that Mom didn't have a number 13. That child would have had cowlicks, been cross-eyed, had a humongous head, and wet the bed well into the teenage years--lucky number 13.
I am number 9. When I was in high school, I would just sit there and listen to everyone talk. I'd disappear and fall asleep on my bed, and I don't think anybody really noticed. I felt like Abi did, I think. I like number 9 though. I have lots of older siblings to get advice from--and use their examples--and a good amount of younger siblings.
If you think about it though, there is only a beginning (Amy) and no real end. Though Michael is the last child, it kind of just keeps on going with Jeremy and all the other nieces and nephews.
It just doesn't end that Ballstaedt family.
Joe!
Sad. That makes me feel sad that you felt like no one noticed. I remember when you were leaving on your mission and you thought no one cared how I hurt for you. You will always be my boyfriend! I love you!
I remembered something funny about us. I remember one time asking you if you thought I was a cute sister--I think I was in 6th grade and would slick my hair back. (ugly)
I love giving you long hugs because you are one of the few who accepts them!
I love you!
I just spent several minutes typing about this question and I deleted it by accident. I'm too tired right now to rewrite it . . . but I will later. Have a great night everyone! Lexi and I are watching Max & Ruby!
hey alison - that is common to delete stuff - i go through that syndrome all the time. i am going to give you some advice that you gave me the other day - don't delete it. i am depressed now because i don't get to read what you deleted. oh well. tomorrow maybe.
and abigail
i will give you a long hug if you really need one.
Abi,
I really didn't think people didn't love me. I only said that people don't notice so much when I am gone. Maybe after a looooong time, but it is easier to forget about one of us since there are so many of us.
For sure I know that the family loved me. I hope I didn't sound like a poor little victim. I was commenting more on the size of our family that the love that we have for one another.
I LOVE YOU TOO. I just wish you would kiss me on the lips along with those hugs. ;)
Joe
I know I overacted. That made me feel good that you thought I noticed you! I was looking through photo albumns the other day and there were a lot of the two of us that were cute. I will have to send them to you.
Abi
abigail
i don't think you overeacted! as i have watched you over the last few years, i will always hear mom on the phone - talking to you - and you will be trying to find out what people in our large family of 12 need for christmas or for their birthday. you and joe bought that scooter for michael. you sent every person in the family art books for christmas - i think you have a genuine - good - motherly - need - to watch over your siblings. i think you are very sensitive to the needs of others and i think you were doing that with joe; you were worried that he was left out growing up and you wanted to make sure he knew you love him. i think you do a lot of good for our family. you and joe are so giving. you both have alwyas been really nice to me - like when you would let me sleep at your apartment in provo so i didn't have to commute late night back to salt lake after a date. then you would always feed me in your apartment in provo. so thanks.
i was feeling really down the other day, and then i looked at this email alison sent to me of family pictures when we were younger as a family, like when we still had 9 kids living at home and the last 3 hadn't been born. i looked at the pictures of all of us, and it was kind of a special moment - because i felt this longing for our family how it use to be and i missed it - and i realized how all the things i was worrying about didn't really matter - that the only thing that mattered was our family and families. love you aba daba!
the comment i left above can be confusing - i am talking about how i didn't think aba overeacted to joseph ballstaedt when he said he felt like he wasn't very noticed growing up in our big family. then i start talking about abigail and joe wilson and how they have been nice to me - but it starts to sound like i am saying that joe was so lost and lonely and that aba did joe a service by trying to make sure joe new aba loved him. so it might seem like i am talking about joe wilson - but in that first paragraph above - i am talking about joe ballstaedt and then i move on to talk about joe wilson and abi living in provo. anyway, all these joes can be confusing.
Mary, I had to laugh out loud about you liking "hammy downs". That is so cute. They are really called "hand me downs", but I think I might start calling them hammy downs. Don't feel bad, when I first married Brandon, we were eating dinner with his parents and Sheila, his mom, said something about "Chester Drawers". She was referring to a dresser with drawers. She didn't know that it was really called "Chest of Drawers". When you say it fast it sound like "Chester" and that is how she learned it! We all had a good laugh with her! And she was about 55 years old. I love you Mary!
Fist of all, I want you to know what ever number you are 1,5,or twelve, we were all refered to as "Boo boo's" in mom's journal!! (When she would write about us when she was pregnant with us, before she knew if we were a boy or girl and had no name). I thought that was pretty hilarious. In my life, a boo boo means a mistake........but I'm pretty sure we were all wanted. Mom, why did you call us "boo boos? in your journal"
Well, I was "boo boo #5", it says so in moms journal. I think this is the perfect spot for me. I love being in the middle, even though I am not exactly in the middle. I feel like I have been able to get to know everyone. I would like to get to know Michael a little better. Michael is really cool, and I think he has a lot of awesome qualities that boys his age don't normally have (understanding, sympathetic, honest, mature!) Love you Michael.
I'm number three and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it--but I did feel like I got a lot of good gospel teaching from dad and was read lots of books--I'd have to think more about it.
Eliza, you crack me up. that "hammy down" thing was really cute! I know I say things like that...like is it supposed to be "butt naked" or "buck naked" I think the later, but I always get confused.
I never knew I was a boo-boo. I love it. I should read those some day...when i come into town next I guess!
Love you all
Abi
Dearest Children,
This is Mom using Dad's email.
I don't every remember calling you Boo Boos and you certainly weren't accidens. I was so excited every time I was pregnant. I knew another friend was coming that I would love dearly. It was such a priveledge to be your mother. I used to feel sorry for every other woman in the ward when I would bring a new baby to church. I was so thrilled and excited and honored. You were all such beautiful babies. When we had all twelve of you at home I used to say "It just doesn't get any better than this." You were all so wonderful and brought such a nice spirit into our homes. The little ones helped remind us of heaven. Dad is laughing at me. I know it sounds trite but I really felt that way. I love you all. Love, Mom
I was a middle child, number three of six children. I had an older sister, Kathleen, an older brother, David, and three younger brothers--Rock, Noel, and Paul. If Mother and I had only had six children, I would have occupied the space Ann fills (and there would have been no Abigail, Jonathan, Joseph, Christina, Mary Alice, or Michael). My father, who was 15 years older than my mother, often said he regretted that he didn't have more children, but I don't recall my mother ever speaking to that subject.
Since my siblings and I were born within a nine-year span (between September 1943 and September 1952), we all got to know each other pretty well.
In addition to being the third-born, I was also the third to get married. As a result, I never had the experience of not having other siblings at home with me.
I can't remember ever thinking too much about where I fell in the family. I do remember that it seemed to me at the time that my three younger brothers didn't have to work as hard my older siblings and I did. They also seemed to have more opportunities than I did (in sports, pets, cars, etc.) and didn't have to practice the piano as much as I did. My perceptions might have been close to the truth, but I've observed that the same trends develop in most families.
I am the youngest in my family and I was content. I never wished for a younger brother or sister. I did not like being younger than most of the kids in the neighborhood because they wouldn't let me play the night games because I was too young. But there were many things that were fun like dancing with my older siblings, singing together, having David drive me around and pick me up from ballet class. I often was lonely when everyone left for college but mother talked to me and listened to me. I appreciate the good examples that my brother and sisters were to me. The gospel carried me through my lonely times. Heavenly Father answered my thoughts and prayers through the scriptures that I read each night. This was a great comfort to me.
It is amazing how powerful the scriptures are. It is easy for someone to think...its just a book--But the book if Mormon is the word of God. The book of mormon has helped me to at times when i have been lonely, sad, lost, etc. Too. Thank for sharing that mom.
This is so great that so many people are commenting on so many things! I wish I had more time to read everything right now.
I don't remember minding being the 2nd oldest of 12 . . . other than being VERY VERY annoyed when mom would get pregnant "again!" I remember in my teenage years saying, "You’re pregnant AGAIN?" I was so embarrassed by the orange van and stuff like that. I remember flying to Washington DC when we had 7 or 8 children and there were some Catholic nuns on the plane who were commenting about how many children we had. (Ann do you remember how you made yourself throw up when we were about to land or landing?)
Anyway, I did not think it was cool to have a big family in the beginning. I bragged that I was only going to have one child or something (when I was about 13 or 14). Silly girl Alison!
I am thankful that Mom and Dad took responsibility for having such a big family. More specifically, I never felt overburdened by my younger siblings or that I had to tend them instead of hanging out with friends or doing something that I wanted. My memory is that Mom and Dad would hire a baby sitter before they would make me tend.
Poor mom! I'm sure you have all heard this . . . but I remember telling mom . . . "You had these kids . . . you take care of them." She simply nodded and said, "Your right." What a silly and selfish teenager I was.
Being on the older end of the siblings, I was the first to test some of the limits . . . like going to "boy girl parties" before I was 14 and wanting to date so badly I couldn't stand it. I remember Sean Glenn used to call me when he was in high school and I was in middle school. One particular time he called after 9 pm (I think it was barely after 9 pm). Dad told him that I could not talk and to call back earlier next time. I wanted to die! Why couldn't I have been a teenager when there were cell phones, e-mail, and pagers? Bummer.
Mom and Dad were stricter with me than they were with later kids . . . but that's okay because maybe I needed it. I wanted to go to "Duke's Slam and Scam" (a teenage dance club at the Old Mill) when I was in 7th grade. Many of my 7th grade friends were pregnant and on drugs by the time we were in 8th or 9th grade.
My friend, Stacy Wells, and I used to go to the U of U basket ball games with her parents when were in 7th grade. I met college guys on several occasions and told them we were much older. I could have gotten in a lot more trouble if mom and dad didn't set a few limits here and there.
I also remember summer nights on Sundrift Circle--in our bedrooms at 8pm or so (for the night) and watching the other kids in the neighborhood play. I was in elementary school then. I'm sure mom and dad needed a break!
hmmm i guess im number 12. well its really really really wierd because i feel like our whole family was getting on a roloer coaster and everyone got on but i coudlnt casue there wasnt enough room. the reason i say that is because its like i am so young that i dont remember anything and i always here stories about how it was and i cant really relate with it at all.
and i think growing up it was a little hard becuase we live in such an old neighbor hood that theoir arent any kids my age so i really always felt really really lonely becuase i really didnt have any friends but now its alot better. im not saying that its hard to be the youngest because i get spoiled alot. mom and dad really dont even care about anything i do like i really dont have a verfew haha they pretty much gave up and i think i get to do alot of things that the older kids didnt get to do because the financial scene has improved a little bit. also andrew always used to let me hang out with his friends and so it was fun hangoing out with them.
i guess thats it
michael.
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