Who's Who On Carrie's Burden

I should probably start off by explaining why my blog is called "Carrie's Burden." (Yeah, I probably should have done that a long time ago.) When Brian and I were dating at BYU, he had a huge duffel bag that he bought while he was in Germany. He was showing it to me, and wanted to demonstrate how big and sturdy it was. "I'm sure you could fit in it," he said, and soon I was in the bag, strapped to his back, with my little head poking out the top. His roommates took some pictures of us, and they told me to look sad, 'cause I was stuck in a bag. Brian strutted around the apartment (only the front rooms, of course) hollering, "Carrie, the burden!"

He still likes calling me that. He likes the double meaning that either I am the burden, or just that I have to carry the burden. So when I was starting my blog, he suggested that I call it "Carrie, the Burden." I said a quick, "No thanks," and altered the name for my own use. So I suppose that the burden falls upon me to chronicle the crazy events in the Jacks household, which I don't mind at all.

And just in case anyone is wondering who the people are that comment on my blog, I went back a few posts to check out my commenters, and I'll tell you who everyone is. (They're in the order that I found them. If I've spelled your childrens' or husbands' names wrong, I'm sorry.)

Tonya: Tonya is a super sweet lady in my ward who emailed me asking how to start a blog. She told me she was Blake's mom, and that he was in Alyssa's Primary class. Well, I knew who Blake was, but I had never seen his mother. So it took me a few posts and watching in sacrament meeting to figure out who she is. On a great side note, her husband was just recently baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Yea!

Shaille': Shaille' is Casey Claypool's wife, and Casey goes to school with Brian. We love the Claypools! They usually look after our cat when we're out of town. Last time Casey called to let us know that the cat had pooped all over the living room, and from the way he was reluctant to bring up the bad news, we thought she had died. Appparently she missed us a bunch, and we've decided that from now on she's going on vacation with us. Shaille' is a super scrap-booker, and I would love to see the memory books she made for her grandparents. I need to have her over sometime so she can show me how to use the Scrapbook Factory program...

Brooklet: Brooklet is one of my best friends, Brooke, who I met in the first grade. She was in Mrs. Woodcock's class, and I was in Mrs. Rodriguez's class. We went in to her class one day to sing songs with Mrs. Woodcock and her guitar, and I noticed that Brooke had the coolest Crayola Caddy in her desk that I had ever seen. I don't remember exactly how we became friends, but it turned out that she was a member of the church also, and we've been friends ever since. One of my favorite memories of Brooke is when we went to San Francisco for choir. Brooke is always so fun to be around, but I just remember that trip as one of the times she was at her best. I've got pictures of her sticking out her belly, trying to be fat, pretending to be a bum sleeping on a park bench, etc. Brooke's husband is going to dentistry school in Pittsburg, so she's way far away right now. She has two beautiful little girls, Claire and Morgan.

Kimberly Nicole: Kimmy is my little sister, who is currently attending Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington. She's the youngest in our family, so instead of having the normal two parents that everyone else has, she's got an extra five people telling her what to do and how to live her life. She takes it rather well. It's already pretty cold in Cheney, so she's been eating soup a lot. She called me last night looking for some fun things to do, because she and her roommates were bored. So Kim, did you dye and cut your hair last night? I'm dying (okay, pun wasn't intended, but it's there all the same) to know!

Hawkins Family: The representative from the Hawkins family that comments on my blog is Cali. Her husband, Nate, goes to school with Brian. We felt pretty bad when we got our cat, because her name is Callie, too. We debated for a while whether we should change it or not, because we didn't want Cali to think we named a cat after her. From everything I've seen, Cali is quiet, and patient, and just generally nice in every way. She mentions sometimes that she gets upset with the kids or has bad mothering days, but frankly, it's hard to believe.

Kim: The easiest way to explain Kim is that she's Bryant's mom. I saw Kim at school activities, and watched her perform in the Joseph Smith play the stake put on last year (she was Joseph's mom), but I never really met her until we decided to have a preschool together. Alyssa, Bryant, and a little girl named Alicia were our pupils and the mom's all took turns teaching each week. Kim played on a coed softball team for church, and she was great! When our ward played against her team, I purposefully wore a skirt so I wouldn't have to play (I HATE playing softball), but they needed another girl, so I sat out by first base looking all girly and wimpy while Kim was hitting, catching and throwing balls as well as the guys. Pretty cool!

Katie B.C.: Katie B.C., otherwise known as Katie Bleazard Chen, is also one of my best friends from home. I met Katie in the sixth grade, in Mrs. Watkins class. It was the second day of school and I had forgotten my get-to-know-you assignment at home. I thought the teacher would think I was a flake and a horrible student, but it turned out okay. We needed to partner up, and even though I didn't have my paper sack with me, I partnered with Katie anyway. She was wearing a pretty cool clip in her hair. Anyway, turned out she was a member, so we had even more in common than we thought. Mrs. Watkins always commented that we did everything together. Then in high school, when she would randomly see us, she was surprised that we were still such good friends. Wouldn't she be even more surprised to know that we went to Disneyland together last spring, fifteen years after meeting each other? Katie's husband just graduated (or is about to graduate?) from medical school in California and they'll take off to Minnesota for residency next June. She has the cutest little girl, and she's also thinking of getting her doctorate in food science? By the way, Katie is Jason Bleazard's cousin, who happens to be a first year at Pacific University College of Optometry. (Wow, Kate, looks like you got the longest write-up.)

Shells: Shells is Michelle. I don't know her married name, but she used to be a Harker, making her Brooklet's older sister. My favorite thing to do when I went to the Harker's house growing up (besides hanging out with Brooke) was to watch all the sisters clean up the kitchen and quote the movie "Clue." They could recite the whole movie! I also love how the Harkers are incredibly quick in a conversation. I remember one time we were sitting in the kitchen, talking and one of them said (it was either Michelle or Monica) "Speaking of bringing things up...Lance, could you go get the such-and-such from downstairs?" My older brother had a huge crush on Michelle when he got home from his mission, but apparently she thought he was a nerd or something, because she wasn't all that interested. She's married now, just moved somewhere, and has a cute little boy. (Yeah, Michelle, I spy on your blog.)

Camille: Camille is also the wife of one of the students here at Pacific. The first time I met Camille was when we had a game party at our house during our first year. I remember thinking that she and Kevin were hilarious. She's got two cute little girls, Macey and Allyson. Allyson is only a few months old, and Camille is known by a few women in the Council Creek ward (she's in second ward) as the lady who looks like a super model while pregnant. I was in a presidency meeting for Young Women's and all the pregnant ladies were talking about getting fat and stuff and someone said, "...that lady in second ward who looks great. She's so skinny and she just has this cute big belly." I knew she meant Camille, because the truth is, she did look great. Lucky.

Anonymous: Anonymous is my older sister, Christina. She used to blog, but now she doesn't, although she does check mine sometimes, especially when I call her and tell her to look at the pictures. Christina is the person I call when I'm having a lousy day, or when I just want someone to talk to while cleaning my house. I call her for advice, for support, etc. I can always count on Christina to be furious at something when I am furious, or to at least understand that I am furious. She's the oldest in our family, and has done a great job of setting the example of how to be a good person. She has a strong testimony and has always made the right choices. She has six of the most well-behaved children I have ever met. Every time I've been pregnant, she's been pregnant with me, and it's so nice to call someone who knows just how rotten you feel, or who has great advice.