Trip to SLC

We made our annual trip to Utah a few weeks ago. What a beautiful place Temple Square is at Christmas time. It was short time, but we were able to see everything we wanted to. We even had snow!

We went to This is The Place monument and were able to walk through the little town that they have built up there. Emma even got in some snowballs!





On Sunday we were able to go to the Spoken Word. Kendall, my dad and the boys were able to be in the conference center with the choir while the taping was happening for the actual broadcast, while Emma and I were in the conference center theatre.



After the broadcast we went over to Temple Square and took some pictures.





I can't think of a better place to be to start the Christmas season than with my family on Temple Square at Christmas time. What a wonderful spirit you feel on Temple Square.




Here is part of the talk written by Lloyd D Newell at the Spoken Word:

" At this festive time of year, we go to great lenths to assure that we have a happy holiday. Family traditions take on special meaning as we prepare favorit foods, light candles, hang ornaments on the Christmas tree, and sing the carols of the season. We do all this because we want to have a "good" Christmas. But how do we really judge theq uality of our celebration? We might consider the cost and number of gifts we give or recive. We could compare our elaborate decorations with those of our neighbors. Is our Nativity scene larger than the one down the street? Does our Chirstmas tree have more lights? Or maybe we could judge the quality of our Chirstmas by things that are harder to measure but more important. Do our friends and family feel remembered, included, and cared about? Are gifts lovingly given withou exceeding the spending limits on credit cards? Is the focus only on fun or on the real meaning of the season? Successful holidays are determined not by the size and expense of the production but by the little things that may even go unnoticed - the light in the eyes of a child as he wraps a homemade present, the smile and laughter of one who is often lonely, the joy of lovingly seving someone in need. When the material gifts are worn out and forgotten the memories of love and the feelings of joy will still be cherished."

First day of Kindergarten

Last week Thursday E and I went to preschool orientation. She was able to explore the room and meet some of her classmates. She met her teacher, colored her name tag and listened to a story called "The Kissing Hand". The story is about a raccoon headed to school for the first time and his mom gives him a kiss in his hand, so if he ever feels lonely or sad remember that his mommy loves him. E gave me a kissing hand that night before bed.




On Friday, it was the first official day of kindergarten. She was soo excited. We made a cold lunch and got all ready to go to school. We got to school on time and went to her classroom. She emptied her backpack, found her seat, looked up at me and said "Bye Mom". She was totally ready to go to school. We got her picture taken with her new teacher and she is excited to go to school every day!

As summer was at a start, I was ready for her to go to school full time. As summer was coming to a close I was ready for her to start school. Then as the time came to drop her off, I wasn't quite sure that I was ready for her to start school. I now realize that both of us were ready for her to go to school, it's just hard letting your baby go. There will be many times in both of our lives when neither one of us will want to let go, but will realize that it is best in the long run. My hope is that this is the beginning of her enjoying many years of school.

Fishing and first day of school (Cody)

Fishing

This summer I did the Fishing Merit Badge at scout camp. I had to catch two species, but the lake only had one species. So I talked to my uncle to see if he could take me fishing and he agreed. So about a week later we went fishing out of the Blaine Harbor. I was very surprised when I caught a few sharks and a half eaten fish by a shark. It was an amazing experience and was very, very fun.

First day of school

The first day of school was really cool but all we did was get to know the teachers. I like all my teachers but my favorite teachers are my band teacher, language arts teacher, and my social studies teacher.

Fragrance Lake (Cody)

My mom, my brother, my sister and I went on a 4 mile to Fragrance Lake. We started our hike at 12:00. We headed up the hill and we hiked up to the viewpoint first. It was a really cool sight. We could see out to the San Juan Islands. We met this guy that had a dog and they were really fast going up the hill.

Then we went up the hill even farther and headed to Fragrance Lake. When we were hiking even farther uphill to go to Fragrance Lake it was really hard to climb the hill, but then it leveled out and got easier to hike. We ate lunch when we got to Frangrance Lake. The water was kinda more and there were fish jumping out of the water.

After had our lunch and walked around the lake, we headed bak to the car. It was fun, because we ran most of the way down the hill.

Scout Camp (This is Cody)

We had to wake up at 4:30 in the morning I was really tired but I made it all the way to scout camp awake.

Some of the Merit Bagdes I worked on at camp are the Basketry, Fishing, Swimming and Woodworking. For the Basketry merit badge we had to weave a round basket, a square basket, and we also had to help make a camping stool which I actually had fun with.

For the Fishing merit badge I had to learn the safety rules and about knots to tie the hook onto the line. Then we got to fish for the rest of the week. I finally caught a fish on the third day at 9:30 at night. I cleaned the fish and then cooked it and ate it. I finally ate it at 10:30 that night.

For the Swimming merit badge I was scared and didn't pass the swimming test on the first day, then on the second day I was even more scared so I didn't even get in the water till after the class and I passed the swim test. On the third day I caught up on the stuff I missed on the second day. Then the fourth day I had to jump in the water fully clothed and I was scared about that too so I finished the merit badge later in the day, but at least I finally passed!

For my Woodcarving merit badge we did all the safety of knives the first day then on the second day we just did carvings of branches that fell off trees. Then the second through fourth day we worked on a little project, which was a carving of a canoe, that I finished on the third day.

One of the hikes I went on was to a place called rock garden and there were rocks bigger than the dining hall and the dining hall is really big. The other hike we went on was to a waterfall called Crystal Falls, the water was really cold and some of my fellow scouts jumped in.

I met a new friend at camp this year. His name is Mr. Andrews, but I call him Mr. Steve. He encouraged me and knew that I could pass the swim test and even get my swimming merit badge. He is a very nice man.

I had a BLAST!! I can't wait til next year!

New Years

In the middle of Christmas and New Years we were sad to see our good friends move to Eastern Washington. We have been friends with them since they moved here. They have kids about the same age as our kids and they were/are good friends. We will just have to keep in touch long distance.

We took the kids to see Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Squeakuel. We went to the theatre down in Burlington (much nicer than up here) and they all 3 enjoyed that. It was E's first time in a movie theatre and she did pretty good.

Our friends came up to visit with us over the New Years holiday this year. It was great to see them. The men took all 4 kids bowling and I think they all had a good time. C even won!





My girl friend and I were able to get away and go shopping one day and get facials another. Our husbands even found a babysitter and took us out for dinner the last night that they were here. It was a great visit and I am excited to either go see them or for them to come back here.

Christmas

We had a good holiday this year. We were all sad about missing our grandpa/great grandpa but we made new traditions and enjoyed each others company. We had Christmas Eve dinner at our house this year. I cooked my very first prime rib dinner and it was delicious. Kendall's parents and my dad came over and he had a very lovely evening.



After dinner Kendall and I continued our tradition of watching White Christmas and I actually stayed awake for most of it this year!

In the morning we had our usual breakfast of ham and cheese crosaints and had our own little Christmas morning opening presents and having fun with all of our new gifts.






In the early afternoon, my dad, my sister and her boyfriend came out and we had a wonderful ham dinner. After we opening presents and ate the kids and their aunt played their new game of Mousetrap and Kendall and my sisters boyfriend played a 2 hour game of Checkers. I watched.

Overall we had a great time and started new traditions.