Happy New Year!

Geography Bee 2010

Just before Christmas break Noah was able to participate in the school Geography Bee. I felt sorry for several (MOST) of the kids involved in the competition because the teacher who was reading the questions was not pronouncing the places correctly and he was making the questions impossible to answer. Noah got out by the 4th round- and although disappointed, he did a great job...too bad the teacher didn't pronounce his questions correctly either.

The Christmas Dance

Valesca and Robby heading off to the Christmas Dance.

We wish YOU a Merry Christmas!

We always take a picture by the tree after we decorate it, but this year we had a terrible time...all of the pictures turned out fuzzy. We tried it again a few days later and this was the ONLY one that wasn't all fuzzy! We hope you all have a joyous holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

Principal Pride Award

Noah came home with a new award the other day. Congrats!

Carl Bloch Art Exhibit

I was privileged to see this exhibit of artwork and altar pieces down at BYU. Can I just say that this man had a real talent and he paints people that really look like people. I was touched as I viewed and studied the paintings and I am so grateful to have been able to see them in person. I wish I could have taken photographs of the paintings, but they would not do them justice anyway.

Tabernacle Choir with David Archuleta

Friday evening we spent with the Tabernacle Choir, David Archuleta, President Monson and about 20,000 other people at the Conference Center. The performance was wonderful! We were truly LUCKY to receive the coveted tickets.

Noah's Christmas Performance

Noah and his 6th grade class did a great job performing their Christmas program this year!

King of Cheese

Brad has been reading all about cheese making and decided that he was going to give it a try. This is a picture of his first attempt at mozzarella and it tasted wonderful!

Will you go with me to the Christmas Dance?

Yes, there is another dance coming up this weekend, and Valesca was asked to it with this poster on her locker at school. She answered by making a crossword puzzle for him. This is not a formal dance-in fact, they went shopping and will be wearing matching pajamas...it should be fun.

Valesca Christmas Vocal Concert

Valesca has been taking voice lessons the past few months and she performed at a Christmas recital a few days ago.

Christmas Band Concert

The performances this year were WONDERFUL! The band classes are so popular that beginning band has over 100 students...so for the performance, there were so many people coming to watch that we had to stand against the back wall and actually couldn't SEE any of it until people began to leave. I guess you are there to HEAR the music instead of see much of anything.

Wii Are Family

We have made it this far in life without having any kind of gaming system in our house. We didn't want our kids to be obsessed with the virtual world and not be a part of the real world. I didn't want my children to choose to not participate in life because they thought that the video games were better than "real life". I didn't want to hear "let's go home so I can play video games" or "I want to stay home and play games instead of...". But Noah and Elijah have been diligent and saved enough money to buy a Wii by themselves. Instead of forever hearing "it's my Wii, I bought it and you CAN'T play on it", we decided to have the whole family contribute an equal amount to purchase it and we set up some rules that the kids mostly came up with to regulate playing time. So far it has worked. I hope that it continues to be a FUN part of our home that isn't overbearing or a substitute for more important things.

The Whos down in Whooville...

Last Saturday evening was our Ward Party and we had a wonderful performance of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. I was assigned to dress as a Who and helped entertain the crowd. It was fun and my family didn't even run away from embarrassment (like last time). The roast beast was pretty good too.

Kids and Christmas

A fun evening with Mom and Dad

It is our family tradition that when a child is baptized they get to go out to a special dinner with their parents. We took Elijah to the Mayan restaurant. We hadn't been there for many years and there have been some changes since we had eaten there last. Elijah really liked the cliff divers and all of the "ambiance". We are glad that he enjoyed himself.

It's Great To Be Eight!

This was one of my practice invites for Elijah's baptism yesterday. It was a wonderful day and he was so lucky to be baptized with several friends.

These were the fun cupcakes I made for the the open house we had after the baptism.

A hug and a kiss from a REAL Christmas Angel

This morning I was shopping at South Towne Mall and was stopped by a girl (perhaps in her teenage years or early twenties). She was so excited because she was at the mall today and got to see and talk with Santa...this girl was intellectully disabled. She wanted to give me a hug- much to the dismay of whomever was with her. I asked her if she told Santa what she wanted for Christmas-her eyes became wide and bright and she made a noise that I could not understand, but I was told "yes". She gave me a kiss on the cheek and another hug. She wanted to share her JOY with me, she wanted me to feel just as happy as she did. Her guardian was so apologetic for the hugs and kisses of a stranger, but I am a better person for it. This girl didn't know who I was, nor did she care. She was simply sharing what she had with anyone who came into her life. I am grateful for some pretty powerful hugs and some of the best kisses ever from someone I don't even know. I hope she has a wonderful Christmas, and I hope that I can follow her example and give and love more freely.

(I wish I had a picture of HER, but the photograph is a representation of this wonderful girl!)

EBAY-ok

For the past month or so I have voluntarily added extra stress to my life by offering for sale some of the things we don't need or use any longer. I have sold a few things on KSL, but the majority I have sold on EBAY. Our old stuff has been shipped as far away as Argentina, Japan, Canada and Ukraine. The only reason I have been doing it is because there are free listing fees until January. I think that I will leave the Ebay stuff to Brad from now on...although the extra money is appreciated.

A Christmas Gift a Little Early

What a wonderful surprise when my brother-in-law came over and installed our Christmas gift. I am having a fun time learning how to cook with this oven that actually works pretty well. The other night I actually cooked 2 things in 2 separate ovens for dinner and it was WONDERFUL! Having an oven that works well sure makes me happier around meal time. Thanks Armand for the early Christmas installation...it has been sitting in our bedroom for 2 months just waiting to be used. I love it!!!!!!!
PS- Thanks to my other brother-in-law (Mark)for selling it to me and yet another brother-in-law (Lyman) for helping to move it from my car into the house.

Priesthood Preview

Sunday we got to go with Noah to his Priesthood Preview for all those young men who will turn 12 next year. Aren't they a handsome bunch!

Day after Thanksgiving Activities

If I did much in the way of shopping, I did it online in the WARMTH of my home where it wasn't as crowded or stressful and I scored FREE shipping. When I did venture out, it was after 10:30 am to pick up ONE thing in the ads and to another store to get my FREE 8x10 picture. After lunch we went and got FREE Slurpees (thanks to Facebook). Brad and the kids played games- then later in the day Brad's brother came over and we showed him how to play Ticket To Ride. That evening I went to get my FREE CD at RC Willey. Thank goodness for FREE stuff and a day of relative relaxation.

A Beautiful Sabbath Morning

We awoke to the snow covered landscape this past Sunday morning. Many of the trees had not lost all of their leafs, and limbs were found all through the neighborhood.

Thanksgiving Daily

I used this in my Young Women's lesson a few weeks ago. Today I am thankful for the many blessings that I have been given...especially pipes that didn't freeze during the night.

Happy Thanksgiving!

...I'll go home with Bonnie Jean

We had a wonderful experience as we attended the Bingham High production of Brigadoon. We enjoyed learning about "Heather who is on the Hill", and how "It's almost like being in LOVE".

The performance was cancelled last night because of the storm- and it will be performed next Monday if you want to catch it.

Go Bingham Blue!!!!

Valesca showed her school spirit last Friday by getting someone else to work for her, spending money on a ticket to get in to Rice Eccles Stadium, finding a ride with her friends, sitting in the cold and cheering her heart out for the Bingham Miners as they WON the State Football Title! (again)

Happy Birthday to my "youngling"

My little guy is growing up and turning 8 years old! Happy Birthday! You always make me smile and I love how you tell me goodnight and how you say goodbye when you leave for school each morning. You are one of the greatest people who have come into my life and I am blessed to have you as part of my family. I love YOU!

PS- I hope you liked your Oreo Birthday Cake.

Secret Star

We opened the door this week and found this fun package from a neighbor who was doing a secret service- boy were they YUMMY!

Note in a Bottle

After Elijah's party we had some cousins who helped us assemble "Thank You Notes in a Bottle" to those who came to the party. It was loads of fun. The bottle held a Note (of course), some sunglasses, a flip flop keychain, some pictures from the party and a cool Star Wars watch.

Come Surfin' with Me

Yesterday Elijah had a party for a very FEW of his friends--he had a hard time choosing who he would invite with the number we gave him.
Had some sweets.

They colored their own bucket hats- some budding artists here.

Played some COOL games like...blowing bubble balls across the floor, beachcombing, limbo, fish*fish* shark, candybar game and more.

A truly GNARLY time was had by all.

Surfing Birthday Party

Just getting ready for the party. Thought I would share the dessert with you guys. Wish me luck!

Bingham Ball

Valesca and Braden showing off their masks as they head to the Bingham Ball.

Happy Birthday to my tallest child-so far

Oh, my boy Joshua. How could it be that you are 15 years old? You are my only child that obeyed and was born on the day we had scheduled...no problems, just a really high pitched cry.

This year you requested chocolate cake, chocolate frosting with dippin' dots inside the cake- and being the mother I am, I followed through and you were actually SURPRISED!
Thank goodness you are taller than me, but I am still getting used to all of those whiskers and the hair that is just a little too long.


Fifteen????? I know you want to get your learners permit next week, but you are just going to have to wait a little longer.

You are so sensitive to those around you (unless it is your brother) and you really care about others. I just don't know why you decided to like everything that I like: Reeses, Divinity, Fudge, Shrimp...now I have to share. (ha ha)

And after all these years, you still look just as good in a bow tie. Happy Birthday young Jedi. May the Force be With You!