More of Christmas 2008

We went with Uncle Jared, Aunt Breanne, cousins J.T. Lexie and Ridgey, along with Aunt Nanana and Matt to check out the Christmas lights in Rocklin, they were beautiful as always, but the streets were packed.

Christmam Eve we spent with Kendel's brothers and sisters doing her mom's annual party. There is always a DVD game exchange we do. Of course lots of finger foods to munch on and wonderful company. We played "Catch Phrase", and boy were we loud. It was so much fun playing that game with a huge group of people. Though it does get very chaotic it is enjoyable.

This Christmas was so much fun. Emma is old enough to grasp the concept of Santa and was a good girl this year. She got a lot of new clothes and toys. She especially loved her new "tap shoes", that is what she calls her pretty black dress shoes. We don't know where she came up with that, maybe because of the sound they make. It was so fun watching her walk out into the living room to see if Santa had come. He brought her a V-Smile console, she was really excited that it has a microphone and her own writing pad.

After our Christmas morning at home, we went to Papa Lynn's house to have breakfast and do our cousin gift exchange. That was a lot of fun. She got a ton of books, and a new movie and from cousin Timmy she got a Disney Princess tea set. That is the most played with toy she got this year. We set it up when we got back from Papa's and she has had more tea parties with Grandma Dory and Aunt "Maymee" (Amy) than I can count. Cousin Hadrian of course was not at all interested in playing tea with her. He was too interested in his new dump truck that Emma got for him.

We were supposed to go up to Great Grandma Pat's with Papa Marc, but Emma was not feeling well and Kendel decided it would be best if she stayed home. So when they got home we went and visited Papa's house where Emma got a new drum set from them. Now that and the tea set are her favorites. We have a video of her playing, it is so fun to watch.

Emma with her new "tap shoes" ~ Emma the rock star!

Playing tea party with Aunt "Maymee" ~ Hadrian playing with his new dump truck.

Kaelynn, Davin and Amanda at Lynn's for Christmas ~ Emma and Lexie bundled up warm to look at lights.

My Uncle Greg

I saw this post on my sister's site and wanted to put it on mine. My Uncle Greg was born with the severest form of Spina Bifida and my Grandparents were told he would not live very long. Now at 51 he has his own successful business that he has been doing for many years. He is such an inspiration to me, even with the hardships that he has had to endure he always looks at the brighter side of things.

Greg Eschler shines shoes at the Ogden Marriott here is a video of him, sorry there are a couple commercials in the beginning.

Grit & Polish / Spina bifida can't keep Greg Eschler from shining on, and on
Tuesday, December 16, 2008

By Scott Schwebke

Standard-Examiner Staff

OGDEN -- Each weekday before the crack of dawn, Greg Eschler dresses for success.
First he dons a pair of business slacks, a crisp white shirt, a natty black bow tie and suspenders.
Then at around 6:45 a.m. herolls his wheelchair out the front door of his Clinton home, down a handicap-accessible ramp and makes his way to the curb.
From there, a state-operated paratransit van whisks him away to Ogden's Marriott Hotel, at 247 24th St.
It's inside the hotel that Eschler, 51-- who suffers from spina bifida, a congenital birth defect involving the spine -- really shines.
For 18 years, he has helped hundreds of guests, first at the Ben Lomond Hotel and then at the Marriott, put their best foot forward at his shoeshine stand, dubbed The Polished Image.
Two customers at a time can get their battered boots and unsightly oxfords spiffed up at the stand, located off the Marriott's lobby. A shine costs $3 if a customer keeps his shoes on, $4 if he takes them off.
However, the chance to converse with the always affable Eschler is free.
"I'll ask where are you from?" said Eschler, revealing his favorite ice breaker to put patrons at ease. "I've had customers from France, California, Texas and England."
For some customers, a visit to Eschler's stand is a trip down memory lane.
"Sometimes I'll get a customer who will say, 'I remember back in the 1970s ... that shoeshines were 50 cents,' " said Eschler, who considers his occupation a lost art.
He established The Polished Image in the lobby of the Ben Lomond Hotel in 1990 at the urging of a job coach from Enable Industries, an Ogden nonprofit organization that helps disabled individuals obtain employment in the community.
"I thought it was great having my own business," Eschler said, recalling the elation he felt when the shoeshine stand opened.
However, his parents were initially less enthusiastic. "I went home and told my mom and dad and they asked, 'Are you crazy?' " he said. "They were afraid of what customers would think. They didn't think it would be a profitable business."
Eschler said his dad, who died in 1999, always remained somewhat skeptical of his occupation, but his 81-year-old mom, Ruth Eschler, with whom he lives, has become his biggest supporter.
"Mom was OK after I got started," said Eschler. "She said, 'You're doing fine.' "
Ruth Eschler said she's very proud of her son, adding that at birth doctors gave him only two years to live.
"I don't know that I could have the attitude he had, had I been in his shoes," she said. "He's done very well, and people seem to like him. He's pretty good at conversation and can talk the leg off somebody."
Eschler moved his shoe shine operation to the Marriott in 2003. A few months ago, Enable Industries built him a new stand to complement renovations at the hotel.
Brigit Pack, director of sales for the Marriott, described Eschler as the "heart of the hotel."
"He has a very loyal following from hotel guests as well as several local clients," she said. "He's just wonderfully pleasant and greets everyone with a smile. It's so warm and inviting to walk through the doors and see Greg, who is so happy and cheerfully willing to assist with anything."
Sometimes Eschler voluntarily takes on duties at the Marriott beyond his shoeshine responsibilities.
"I have seen him pick up trash, hold doors open for guests and carry luggage on his lap," Pack said.
Eschler is a big Brigham Young University football fan, so when the team stayed at the Marriott when it played Utah State University in October, it presented him with an apron and hat with the school's logo.
The gifts were a reward for the service he provided to the team the last time they visited the hotel, in 2006.
"He was very excited," Pack said.
Steven Hill, an Enable Industries job coach, said Eschler is a shining example of the positive contribution that disabled workers can make.
"I hope people in the community will see that people who are disabled are willing to work and can make some of the best employees," he said.
Hill is so impressed with Eschler's skills that he regularly pays him to polish his shoes. "He doesn't give me a discount," Hill chuckled.
Through trial and error, Eschler has managed to perfect his shoeshine technique.
The first step is to thoroughly clean the shoe with saddle soap. Then two layers of polish are applied and removed with a brush before the shoe is finally buffed to a high sheen with a shammy.
Eschler's stubby fingers are nimble, enabling him to polish a pair of shoes in about 5 minutes. He has shined as many as 19 pair in a day.
One of Eschler's biggest job challenges is maintaining a sharp appearance.
"My poor mom tries to figure out how to get black polish out of white shirts," he said with a chuckle. "If there is anybody out there who knows how to get black polish out of white clothes, please let us know."
Eschler is proud of his solid work ethic and that customers know when he misses a day at the Marriott. "They say, 'Where have you been?' " he recalled. "It makes me feel good."
Eschler doesn't mind talking about his disability and recounted an incident in an Ogden store in the early 1980s when he was still able to walk with the help of leg braces. He overheard a mother chastising her young son for asking why Eschler had such an unusual gait.
"I told the mother, 'Don't ever scold that child,' " Eschler said. "That little child asked a question and that little child is entitled to an answer. I turned to him and said, 'I was born this way.' "
Still, Eschler occasionally gets discouraged and questions why God allowed him to be born with a disability. But those dark moods never last long and soon his spirits are as bright as the sheen he puts on scuffed shoes.
"Sometimes I really feel that the guy somewhere up there (in heaven) doesn't like me," he said. "Then I will snap out of it. I've had a pretty good life."

Christmas 2008

Decorating our Tree

Well we lucked out this year and found a tree at WiseBuys for only $9.98 (and yes it is real). I was afraid that it would not be very good looking, but I must say I think it is worth more than what we paid.

Emma had fun watching and helping us put the lights and garland on the tree. She was excited to see the assortment of different ornaments we have. I pointed out to her the ones that were hers and she put them on the tree. When we were done we turned on the lights and she gasped "oh mama, cistmas yights so butool".

Thanksgiving 2008

Gobble, Gobble

Every other year the Ivey side of Kendel's family gets together for Thanksgiving. This year we held it up in the Nevada City Church. A lot of Kendel's Aunts, Uncles and Cousins were there. Though some were missing it was nice to see everyone together.

It is amazing how big this family has grown, yet how we are all able to keep in touch as much as we do. All of Kendel's brothers and sisters were able to make it this year, which made a perfect opportunity to get a big family picture. Though the sun was our enemy and blocked out my family's faces, I am sure my brother will be able to do something creative to include us. The family picture of Patrick, Kendel and Emma turned out adorable.

There was lots of Turkey, wonderful stuffing and of course pies. Banana cream is Kendel's favorite, Emma loved her Chocolate one, and Patrick couldn't stop raving about Grandma Crowell's Apple Pie.

Emma had a lot of fun playing with her cousins and her 1st cousins once removed. There were a lot of them for her to play with.

Lexie and Emma playing in the puddle. ~ J.T., Laurie and Emma watching a movie.

Emma enjoying her pie. ~ Kallie Jane, Emma and Alyssa sitting up on the stage.

Aunt Di and Kelsey enjoying the game of "I have never..." ~ Jared srambling to get a seat.

Aunt Nanana and Ridgey ~ Emmi and Lexie playing "Fish"

Two Darn Good Looking Pirates!! ARGH!

Daddy decided to dress up like a pirate with Emma this year. Aren't they cute?

Carving our Pumpkins!

Emma had her first pumpkin carving experience. She enjoyed watching Daddy take the seeds and guts out, but was hesitant when he asked her to do it. Though it didn't take long for her to dive right in. She enjoyed helping Daddy carve a silly face into her pumpkin and watching him carve a "scary" face in his.

Ready for Trunk or Treat

Patrick, Emma and I joined my mom's church for "trunk or treat". Emma decided to dress up as a pirate this year. She chose that the beginning of September and has not strayed. She had a lot of fun. Her cousins Rachel and Alyssa were there too. Aunt Melanie took her over to where they were playing a game and Emma was the second one to win. She won a cupcake (that daddy ended up eating :P ) Cousin Alyssa was so tired toward the end she started to fall asleep in her daddy Aaron's lap.

Bishop's Pumpkin Farm

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Emma and Patrick went to Bishop's Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland, CA. Emma had so much fun she couldn't tell me fast enough everything they did. She got to ride a pony, feed the goats, and take a train ride. There is a "bounce" place that is covered in hay so she and daddy jumped on that. They came home with a small pumpking for Emma, and medium sized one for me, and a large one for Daddy. Hopefully we can make this the start of a family tradition and next year we can plan so I can join them.

4th of July 2008

This year for the 4th we had a barbeque at Grandpa Lynn and Grandma Kelleys. It was a lot of fun. Most of my cousins were there and we got to go swimming.

Aunt "Nanana" and Emma ---- Grandpa Lynn and Emma ---- Emma and cousin Lexie

After the barbeque we met up with Grandpa Marc, Grandma Claire and Uncle "Monkey" (Tristan) to let off our fireworks. That was a little scary at first but I ended up loving the sparklers.

Uncle "Monkey" and Emma ---- Daddy, Emma and Grandpa Marc