TAG

Ok, so I was tagged a while back, but haven't had the time to actually sit down and play along. I was supposed to go to the 4th file of pictures on my computer and then go to the 4th picture. So, are you ready for this...DRUM ROLL...TA DA!

Now I am supposed to tell about the picture. Well, this was taken in 1996 on our wedding anniversary. We take turns being in charge of what we do on our anniversary. This particular year happened to be my year and for some reason I had us go and have a picture taken that evening. I think that my sister came and took it for us- she didn't have a husband or kids yet.

FYI- I borrowed a scanner from a friend and I am in the LONG process of scanning all of my negatives to make everything digital. I am glad that I am doing it. I realize that I took more pictures than I thought. I am having loads of fun in short trips down memory lane. I will be very glad when I can say that "I'm done!", and return to a normal life.

So- TAG- Now it is your turn: Jane W., Sara, Sydnie and Melissa R.

Happy Thanksgiving

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY, MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP. MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP, MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS, MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE, MAY YOUR THANKS GIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS.GOBBLE TIL YOU WOBBLE......... And Above All, Give Thanks to God For All He Has Done!

Our 3 minute newscast

http://www.kutv.com/content/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=ba9cee97-c073-4574-aeff-596830158ebb This is the link to watch the news story last night. Hope it will be available for a while. The text is below.

HELP YOUR KIDS BE RICH
So you want to be rich? It's no secret; everyone has dreams of expensive cars, yachts and lavish homes. And while most adults want to be rich, a recent survey found that 89% of teens say they want to learn how to make their money grow. But can you really teach your kids to be rich beyond their wildest dreams?
We rounded up a team of experts to help answer the question: How can you teach young people to be rich? Lon Henderson from Soltis Investment Advisors says the answer is simple. "You've got to take the time to go through this process with them that allows them to see something, invest in that effort and receive a return. Then very judiciously take those assets and deploy them where there is a savings account."
The concept of a savings account is not unheard of. Most people will open a savings account at some time before they enter high school or college. But only a small percentage of young people will actually save enough money to be wealthy by the time they turn 25. Experts say parents need to be a financial coach for their kids. "If they can understand early on, you know how to manage their money so they are spending less money then they are earning and really budgeting and following that budget, they are able to become rich."
Ann Throckmorton and her four kids already have a plan in place. They are taking advantage of a program available at Utah's Central Credit Union that gets kids excited about saving money. In fact, her 2 oldest children already have a small fortune growing, and they have no plans to spend it.
To learn more on how to save money, you should visit your local bank. For more information on Utah Central Credit Union, just go to their website www.utahcentral.com.

Let them eat cake... again

We had inquiries to see the triangle cake. Well, it didn't look so hot, but it sure tasted good.
Elijah was specific in that he wanted an ice cream cake with little pink flowers around the bottom and a big yellow flower on the top.

The recipient of a great gift

Elijah and I were in a far away part of town that we don't visit very often. He said his throat hurt and that he needed a drink. He was almost in tears. I stopped at a store that I thought would have a drinking fountain. We went in and started exploring the store searching for that thing that would quench his thirst. We found the restroom and a man who was stocking shelves asked if he could help. We inquired about a drinking fountain and he led us to the front of the store where we quickly figured that he was not normally employed at this store. The manager told him that there was not a drinking fountain for the public, but that he could go up to the brake room and get a glass of water for Elijah. Instead the man walked over to a drink cooler, took out a bottle of water, walked to the checkout counter and fumbled to find change in his pocket. Looking and listening I assumed that the circumstances of this man were probably not as good as mine. The way he dressed and the way he searched his pockets made me think that he was probably lacking in income. The way he spoke gave me the impression that he either had a physical or mental challenge in his life. Yet this man wanted to give and sacrifice what little he had for me and my child. When he was counting his coins, I came next to him and told him that he did not need to do this for me. The girl at the cash register and the manager were both confused and somewhat threatening to the man. Apparently it is very much against the rules for an employee to purchase anything unless he is taking a break, so this man was also putting his employment on the line. After he purchased the bottle of water he lovingly gave it Elijah and went back to work. I thanked him and then told the cashier that all we did was ask him if there was a drinking fountain in the store. She then smiled and said, "He is nice", but I don't think that she really even knew the man very well. We walked out the door and I began crying. In fact, I couldn't control myself for about 5 minutes. In the car I said a prayer of thanks for such a wonderful act of kindness and sacrifice, and asked for blessings for this man. I couldn't remember such an act being done for me, except perhaps on my mission. I was very touched. I would like to think that I would do the same for someone else, but thus far, I have probably failed. I need to work on being more Christlike.

Six years old!

We had a birthday party this weekend. Much of the time was spent at Chuck E. Cheese. The birthday boy had lots of fun and has been enjoying playing with all of his gifts.

I opened the ads and what did I see?

Excited when I turned the page of the Seagull Book ads and saw that the CD of my friend Amy VanWagenen was featured as a sale item. COOL! I already purchased mine a month ago and had her sign it for me. Fun to know people who can do stuff like that. I am tooooooo chicken.

Cards, cards, cards

On Saturday I walked past the bedroom and saw that the boys had been laying out Pokemon cards. How did they accumulate this many? And, I was told, that these were only SOME of Noah's. Well, at least it is still an interesting pastime for them.

Triangle Cake?

Friday we had another birthday at our house...and that added another TEENAGER to the mix. I only got to see Joshua for a total of about 30 minutes on his birthday because he was at school, came home, then went on a scout overnighter. We celebrated on Thursday night and again Saturday night to compensate. At our house you get to choose what kind of cake you would like for your birthday. We have had quite a variety over the years. This birthday Joshua came up with the idea of a triangle cake. Let me tell you, it turned out to be a little more difficult than I had imagined. Hope he liked it.

Thanksgiving Tradition

Each year we approach Thanksgiving almost always needing to be reminded of what we HAVE instead of what we WANT. In our family we take time to write down things that we are thankful for on cutouts of leafs and then we string them around as decorations. Some years we have written on one leaf each day, others we do it once a week.

Weekend Company

This weekend we have had some company visiting. His name is Darth Squeeky. We have enjoyed having this little visitor, but are relieved that he will be returning to his place of residence tomorrow.

Lucky winner!

This is the year for me to actually be lucky enough to actually win something. A few days ago I found out that I won the new book "Paper Crafts Gourmet". It has some great recipes and some fun paper craft ideas that I will have to try. What a fun thing to win.

Good Things Utah, again

Had a really good time going to the taping of the show again. The snow made it more interesting to drive to the studio. Here is what we were "gifted".

Winter already?

We don't even have our Halloween decorations down, and this is what we found this morning.

Run, Jump, Rake, Repeat...

This time of year is such fun. The smells, the activities, the leaf throwing.

Youth Choir

Valesca and Joshua participated in a youth choir in Stake Conference today. They did a great job! It brought back memories of when I sang in a choir as a youth and sat in the choir seats next to LeGrande Richards.

Eat, Drink and be Scary

Boooooooo! Our little goblins had a great time TRICK OR TREATING in the nice, warm October air.

The last few years our kids have been taking a written inventory of all candy obtained.

They start marking down when they consume it as well, but that part doesn't stay current very long.