About Our Families
Janelle's Family
Both of my parents are from California. My mom joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when she was a teenager. When my dad was serving a church mission, his family moved to the town where my mom lived. My parents met their, but also lived near each other while in college before they were married. My dad was a customer service representative for homebuilders and my mom was a teacher and school administrator.
My parents raised my 2 younger brothers and I as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The principles and teachings of this religion were taught and followed in our home. However, as we became older, we were able to choose our own path and my parents are very respectful of our individual choices.
Growing up, we were expected to respect one another and others. My mom was a teacher so we weren’t allowed to get away with much. She definitely understands kids and loves teaching them. My parents always discussed how to teach and correct us. They always strived to support one another. We couldn’t play our parents off of each other. My parents definitely determined how to teach and correct us based on our individual needs and personalities. What was effective for one child may not have been effective with another child. My parents always taught and corrected us out of love and were never mentally, emotionally, or physically harmful.
My parents always tried to teach us principles that would benefit our lives and were always very loving. Even though my parents were a little stricter than others, we were able to let loose and have fun! We knew that our parents loved us! Looking back, I know that my parents sacrificed so much for us to have an enjoyable and stable childhood.
I have 2 younger brothers and 5 nieces and nephews ranging from 6 months old to 13 years old. We are excited to have a new nephew on his way in May! They all live close by and we see them on a regular basis. We enjoy getting together and having fun!
Favorite Memories
- Every Friday night we would either have pizza or go to Sizzler restaurant. Afterwards, we would rent a movie and watch it together.
- One summer, my grandma taught my brother and I how to make grilled cheese sandwiches. Every day for the rest of the summer we made grilled cheese sandwiches for breakfast and watched the original “Parent Trap” movie.
- During the summers, we always went to swimming lessons and swam at my grandparents house. We had many swimming parties and BBQs.
- One year, my parents saved all their extra money so that we could go to a family reunion in Colorado at a Dude Ranch! We rode horses, learned archery, swam, went on a train, and other activities.
- My brother and I were in college at the same time. I went to BYU and he went to BYU-Idaho. When he got engaged, I rented a car and drove to Rexburg to meet my sister-in-law. We had so much fun going out to eat, watching movies, and going to the temple together! It even snowed and it was so beautiful!
Fun
Facts
- We had 2 Boston Terriers growing up. Our first dog Petite was given to us by our grandpa. One day, he just showed up with a dog and surprised us all (even my parents)! Our second dog was Bandit. My dad brought him home snuggled in his jacket (we discovered quickly that he had fleas).
- Growing up, we went to Disneyland every year for a day or two.
- My grandpa’s name was Robert, my dad’s name is Robert, and I married a Robert.
- My dad would always bring us cartoon character popsicles after work. He told us that he bought them at a secret place (the gas station)!
- We hardly ever got to drink soda pop, but my grandpa always had soda at his house and little packages of cookies! The first thing we’d do at my grandparents house was to drink soda and eat cookies.
- My nicknames growing up were “Nell, Nellie, and Nell Bell.” One night around Christmas, I was listening to Christmas music and trying to fall asleep. The song “Up on the Housetop” came on and I was so excited because my name was mentioned in a Christmas song! “First comes the stocking of little Nell, Oh dear Santa fill it well, Give her a dolly that laughs and cries, One that can open and shut its eyes.”
Rob's Family
My dad grew up in California and my mom grew up in Ireland and Wales. They met while my dad was serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My mom became a member of the Church and my dad’s family sponsored her so that she could come to the United States to go to college. My parents were just friends for many years before they dated and were married.
My siblings and I were raised in a religious home (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). For as long as I can remember, my parents taught me to be honest, to treat people with respect, and to do unto others as you would have them do to you. I remember both my parents having trouble with business partners. To my recollection, my parents would always do their best to be as honest as possible.
My parents felt that obtaining a good education was extremely important. As a result of their pushing us to do our best, all of my siblings are very successful. They tailored this to each child as we all had different strengths and weaknesses. For example, I was born premature and my physical and mental growth wasn’t what it should have been until I was around 12 years old. At the time, they knew that obtaining a B or even a C grade may have been the best I could do at the time. Those grades would not have been acceptable for some of my other brothers or sisters.
I have 2 older brothers, an older sister, and a younger sister. I have 20 nieces and nephews ranging from 5 years old to 25 years old. My siblings live close by with the exception of my youngest sister who lives in Colorado. However, she often comes to Utah to visit and we try to go visit her.
Favorite Memories
- Going to Lake Powell every year camping, riding wave runners, and water skiing.
- Dressing up as Superman and insisting that everyone call me Clark Kent.
- My dad was a professional singer and sang on cruise ships. I was able to go on cruises with him.
- Many of my siblings have birthdays in the same month. They would have a group birthday party and would all receive presents. When I was little, I didn’t understand why they all were getting presents and I wasn’t. My parents always made sure that I had a new little teddy bear until I was old enough to understand that it wasn’t my birthday. I still have a couple of these teddy bears.
- On Christmas day, we would dress up in nice clothes and wait for my grandparents to come over to open Christmas presents. My dad always video tapped us opening presents.
- My dad was gone a lot for work. Sometimes, when he came home, he would pick me up from school in the middle of the day to take me snow skiing so that we could spend some time together.
- When I was a child, I loved paying people money. When I wouldn’t go to bed, my family would tell me that if I went to bed that I could pay them my coins. I was so excited to pay people money that I’d go to bed.
Fun
Facts
- My grandparents lived around the corner from us.
- All of my siblings are either nurses or doctors.
- Both my grandparents served in World War II. My grandpa was in the marines and my grandma was a Wave and taught Navy pilots to fly.
- My dogs growing up loved my grandpa. If they got out of our house, they would go around the corner to his house to visit him. If he wasn’t home, they would sit on the front porch and wait for him to come home or for us to come and get them.
- I was born premature. My mom was on bedrest and everyone was worried that I wouldn’t make it. When I was born, my grandpa wrote in the snow, “It’s a boy!” I still have the little onesie that they put on me. I didn’t have a name for a while because my dad was gone at work. My birth certificate said, “Baby Boy Harkness.” My parents soon decided on my name, but didn’t update my birth certificate for a couple of months.
- I love the house that I grew up in! There were so many secret cubby holes. I’d go hide in them to play with my toys or to read books.
Some people are worth melting for.
Olaf (frozen)
