Now on to Happy New Year!

It snowed and snowed yeterday. it stopped us from going to my sister's in Utah. Bummer. I have to check the weather to see if we can go today.

Yesterday was a great day. The kids were all happy. That made me happy. I was sooo happy. We got a new Popcorn Popper from my mom and microwave popcorn from Dan's mom. So happy. My sister, Margie, gave us scarves, hats, a shirt, a plastic carrot and some "coal" to make smowmen! I love it. Also, some Snow Art stuff. You paint the snow with it. The kids are excited to try it out. Dan's mom gave the kids a snow block maker and a snow ball maker. A form, I guess you would call it. The boys tried that out last night. They work really well. Kristin got a Jewelry Box and the movie "Tinker Bell". She also got a new Scripture Case. Tyler got a Calvin and Hobbes comic book and Legos. Brent got shirts, a soft sweatshirt, speaker wire, a flash drive and legos. Rebekah got a Journal, "Scripture Scouts: The Articles of Faith", A Princess hand held game thing, and some princess crayons. In her stocking she got some Campbell's soup that has Princess shaped noodles--Ariel, Cinderella, a castle, a shoe--She screamed!!!! It was so cute. I hope I got that one recorded. I got a Kitchen Aid mixer and Dan is getting his Baby Grand Piano fixed. We should get that next week on New Year's Eve. That is his Christmas, Birthday, Father's Day, Valentine's Day.... Hopefully, we will have kids starting piano lessons soon.
We had a huge breakfast of eggs, bacon, biscuits, gravy and hash browns. Dan loved that! I took a 3 hour nap. We watched movies and just had a nice relaxing day. We are so grateful Dan has a job and that we are healthy and warm and happy and that we have each other. We hope all of you are happy and healthy as well. Now, let's move on to that Happy New Year!

Hurray for Tyler!

Australian Christmas Bush

Tyler had a two page type written report due yesterday and he did it! It was about Christmas in another country. He chose Australia. There had to be illustrations and everything. He did the research--I just helped here and there. He was so excited to have it done. Success! He had to find a Carol from that country. They have a Aussie version of "12 days of Christmas" and "Jingle Bells" Here is a little of "Jingle Bells"

Dashing through the bush

In a rusty Holden Ute

Kicking up the dust

Esky in the boot

Kelpie by my side

Singing Christmas songs

It's summer time and I am in

My singlet, shorts and thongs

Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Jingle all the way

Christmas in Australia

On a scorching summer's day

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Christmas time is beaut

Oh what fun it is to ride

In a rusty Holden Ute!

And on from there. I thought that was pretty fun. Santa comes on a Surf Board or Boat at the Beach. It is a busy day at the beach and with camping. It reminded me of what our Memorial Day is like (in California, I guess).

The week before the essay was due, he had to memorize the 50 states and capitals. I thought he was going to melt down right in front of my eyes, but he pulled through and got it done and then did a victory dance--which was running down the stairs to turn on the computer and play!

He started Webelos last week and loves that. We haven't worked on the requirements with Scouts, but he loves going and I like that he learns good stuff.

So, hurray for Tyler for getting the job done! Way to slam it!

Let It Snow

The first snowball has been thrown! The ground is covered and it is still snowing. It looks so pretty out there. I will put off thinking about driving in it until I enjoy it a little longer. Brent drove for the first time on Saturday. We purposely put him in Driver's Ed during snow season so that he could learn from the Professional. Thanks to my Hairdresser for the idea.

The dates were all fun last week. Friday night was Dan's work party. Dinner and a bit of dancing. We didn't win any door prizes, but Dan's brother won a Shop Vac and the table centerpiece. Lucky. It was great to get out on the dance floor again. We didn't last nearly as long as we used to at Stake Dances. That was hours of fun. It is always great to dance with my honey. I usually ask him what he wants to be when he grows up because I remember asking him that at a Stake Dance once. Back then he said, "Something with computers because that is the future."

Here are some snow pictures from last year. I believe this was the first Saturday in October. It snowed for hours and the kids had to go out and play in it. This is Kristin and Rebekah with the beginnings of a Snowman.

The Snowman got so big, that Dan had to go help them put it together. And who has time to dress warmly when your kids need you?

Those blue poles in the background are the trampoline poles. We don't use the net, but the poles let us know where the hole is. : )

Well, have yourself a Merry Little Christmas Season! We are eating our Gingerbread House before Christmas instead of after so it is more fresh--Dan made that request.

Who loved their Turkey?

I did! We BBQed and it took an hour and a half too long! So, the family was waiting over at Dan's parent's house while we waited at ours for the turkey. We finally took it out of the BBQ and put it in the oven at the parent's house. But, when it was cooked, boy was it good! Worth the wait.
We don't do the early morning shopping. We enjoy our sleep. Dan put up some drywall in the basement and the kids and I decorated for Christmas. That was great fun. I love Christmas Lights.
Now, it is back to the daily schedual. I am so happy for on-line shopping. I am almost done with my shopping because of it, and I only went into one store.
How about some dates this week? Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, we have Christmas Parties or Meetings to go to. love that Christmas Season. This should make up for a few dates we missed over the last couple of months.
Have a great Christmas Season!

Not As Happy Monday

I'm drowsy today. One more day for the weekend would have been nice. OK, I am being negative. The truth is, once I get a nap this morning, this week will be great! Only 2 days of school and 2 days of work for Dan. He has Wed-Fri off like the kids do. We are going to go to the Museam of Idaho and see the Displays about Pharaohs as a family onWednesday. Should be fun. Then ,we have Thanksgiving with the Lewis Family here in Rigby with Bar-B-Q'd Turkey. Yum, Yum!

Now, about this last weekend, I still agree with myself that it wasn't long enough, but--IT WAS FUN! My sister, Margie was here. We did stuff. Girl stuff. We set up a blog for my family, for one thing. We are tracking our exercising together and encouraging each other. I am having fun with that already! Then, after helping Dan by getting the Christmas Lights untangled, we were off to see--wait for it--TWILIGHT! We both had a great time there. I totally loved discussing the ins and outs of the movie with someone who cared! I loved the "glitter effect", but I wish Edward would have been smiling. Flying through the tree, great! Edward saving Belle in (what was the name of that town?) Awesome. Should I say that I wish they would have done a better job on the movie? I guess I said it. I will see it again, though.

But then, Margie, Kristin and I went to see "The Forgotten Carols". Oh wow. Emotion. I saw it the first year it came out while I was at Ricks College back in 1991. I have listened to the tape every year since (now I have a CD) and I have the book. Seeing it again live was a dream come true. I love the power of a live performance. I loved sharing that with Kristin. She loved it, too. And then Margie! She drove up her to see it with me. Thanks, Marge! She saw it when she was in College in St. George, Ut on the 10 year anniversary. She loves it, too. Margie and I did not want to leave the Theatre, but there comes a point in time when you have to move on. So, we did. She bought the book, I bought the CD, and Kristin had the program and we stood in line to get our stuff signed. Next year, I would like to take Dan. I think I could come up with someone to take every year.

Happy Friday

How about those Rigby sunsets, huh? One evening, Brent and Kristin came running in and told me there was an "emergency" and I needed to bring my camera right now! This is what they showed me. We were living at Dan's Parent's house (the first 6 weeks we were here). We walked down to the end of their street and took pictures. We get good shows like this often.
I remember sunsets like this from living in Rexburg going to college. Gotta love it.

It is a very happy day! I actually feel good today. I have been struggling for a few weeks now, and the fog is lifting! I have been using an Essential Oil called "E-motion" and it is really helping. I also went to the Chiropractor this week and got rid of some nausea and dizziness symptoms. You gotta love that.


Also in the happy spot, I found the post I thought I deleted, so I added it back in. It is under the post about Tyler. Today is his "Friends Birthday Party". They will be building with Blocks, Legos and Dominos and setting up army men. Does that sound fun for a 10 year old boy?


Another happy spot, Margie comes tonight! Oh, happy day! Tomorrow I won't be in charge of chore time. Oh, double happy day!


Let's see if I can come up with more happy spots--Everyone is Healthy! Dan gets home an hour early on Fridays! The weather is beautiful outsides! Dan will be putting up the Christmas lights tomorrow! I love Christmas lights. Some people around here already have them up. I was discussing Lights with the Chiropractor and he pointed out that when the weather is good, that is when you put them up. So, maybe that is why people already have them up. Who knows what the weather will be like next week!


Gosh! My mind just went blank, so I guess that is all for today! Make it a great weekend!

Tyler is 10

Happy Birthay, Tyler

Tyler on the "Dumbo" ride at Disneyland

Tyler and Brent on a Fire Truck Game at Legoland

Tyler and Brent love each other!

Tyler turned 10 on Monday. I didn't think I would be sad to see my children get older, but when I think back to how little Tyler used to be, I get a strong sense of nastalgia. He used to climb up the entertainment system and into the washing machine. He would do a "no-no", and then turn around and smile at me, and all would be well with the world. His smile still lights up a room. He still loves a good "scratch-back". He loves to creep around in the over-grown bushes "hunting". He plays really well with Brent and Rebekah. As strong as the sense of nastalgia is, I wouldn't change the growth in him. He watches out for Rebekah more than he teases her. He loves to go to Cub Scouts. He helps make lunch for school in the mornings. He gives lessons during Family Home Evening. Yep, I could never give that up. He still likes snuggle time and a bedtime story. He loves to wrestle with his dad and his brother. And if he does a "no-no", when he smiles, all is right with the world.

San Fransisco February 2006

I found the post that I thought I deleted!

OK here are some pictures from the past.







Dan took this in Pacifica, Ca. He needed to get a passport to go to China for work, and he had to stay overnight for the process and I got to go with him. We stayed in Pacifica because we had talked about moving there once and we wanted to check it out. It was very beautiful, as most coastal towns are. We spent some time sight seeing in San Francisco while we waited for paperwork and here are some of the pictures.







Another cool picture by Dan.




Aah. I miss the beach!




Where does nature come up with this stuff?!



I love the purple house. This one is not so much Nature as Nurture.


We stopped at a bakery where they shape bread into all kinds of stuff. On the left you can see a bear and on the right, a crab. I don't remember what is in the back.




And here is a crocodile. There was lots of fun stuff. The bread mixers were almost as tall as me. They were on the second floor and you could see them from down below and outside.


Here is some classic San Francisco city scape. I had alot of fun with the camers-we bought it about a week before we went on this trip.
The Golden Gate Bridge. I remember when my parents took our family to Berkeley to see my Uncle Bob and we went across the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a thrill.

Lombard Street. The curviest road in the nation.

Somebody emailed me this picture and I thought it was great. Smiles just happen. So, just smile!

The Half Way Point

So, we are halfway through the week. Dan figured out how we could Instant Message each other, so we did that a little yesterday. I have been able to "talk" to him more during the day than I usually do, so that is fun. At his regular job, he does not have access to the internet because work is all top secret. He can't tell me what he does at work. Only that something good happened or that not much happened. So, while he is away at training in San Francisco, he has the internet access so we can IM during breaks.
Rebekah was home from school Monday and Tuesday, but was back on the job today. Now she has lots of (you guessed it) homework. First grade homework isn't too bad. Today, Tyler needs to do a Science Project that is due tomorrow. I have not been able to absorb any Science to help him, so we called in the troops-Brent. It turns out Brent is studying the same subject as Tyler, just at a college level! So, between the three of us, I'm sure Tyler will get an "A".
It is rainy and grey today. Most people don't like those kinds of days. I do. They feel cozy to me. I call it a "Casablanca Day". A good day for a good movie. I can turn on the gas fireplace and watch out my many windows as the rain comes down. What do you like to do on a rainy day?
Any good movies out there? Yes, I am going to go see Twilight--with my youngest sister, even. I am trying to wait patiently. That same day, Margie and I will take Kristin to see "The Forgotten Carols" by Micheal McLean. I really can't wait. It will be great to have some girl time.
OK off to a Dr apt for Kristin.
Hugs and honey, Karen

Another Adventure

So, I thought now that I know how to post pictures, I would share the adventures of our family with you. Today is a very calm day, which is nice to have. Brent spent the night at a friend's and the girls are having friends over in a while. Tyler will call someone after chore time. This is unusual for us because we are usually so busy on Saturdays. Chores, homework, errands. But today, not so much. Dan is preparing to go to San Francisco for the week for some training for work.
What have we been up to lately? Homework and more homework. Did I mention homework? Moving on from that, homwork. Oh. I already said that. The problem is, I don't remember doing anything besides that. Maybe some laundry.
Dan is Elder's Quorum President. I just got called to teach in Relief Society. My first lesson is next Sunday. I am nervous and excited.
Last night for Family Movie (our Friday night tradition) we went to a friend's house and watched "Night at the Museum". Very funny. I hate that there is a cuss word in it.
OK. I am off to add pictures and have fun with all of this