Christmas Post 2012

Oh no! The Mayans were wrong! Because the world didn’t end I DO have to post a Christmas letter!

Actually the real reason is that my last day of school was December 21^st, and I haven’t had time before then. But, hey, blaming a long dead ancient civilization is so much more interesting. 

Krysta: Graduated as a Dental Hygienist and is grateful to have a job working 2 days a week.  Some of her fellow graduates don’t have work yet, so she is glad to be able to work, pay off her loans, and not have to study for any more finals. She also teaches piano to add to her income.  She went with her cousins to visit NYC right after Thanksgiving and had a great time in the city.

Kevin: Graduated from Alta High and attended one semester at Utah State where he studied calculus so much his roommates started to say he was dating “Cali.” However, since his dorm apartment seemed to be the gathering place, he got plenty of time hanging-out with his fellow students. He has been called to serve in the Ohio, Columbus Spanish speaking mission and will leave on February 6^th.  The talk he will give in church before leaving on his mission (formerly known as a farewell) will be held on January 27th.

Erin: Just got her driver’s license and is happy that Kevin finally brought the kid car back from college. She has also attended every high school dance since finally being old enough to date. She and two friends went on a road trip this summer to visit every temple in Utah. They all figured that their parents would have to say yes to a road trip that included temples.  After some hesitation and several conditions, she finally got permission.

Camille: Loves to collect clothes and participates in stealing her sisters’ cute clothing.  All four girls wear about the same size, which makes for some interesting mornings at our house. She looks forward to the One Direction concert this summer (tickets which she purchased LAST summer) and being in high school next year. After protesting that she really didn’t want to go, she ended up enjoying a road trip with Rachel and mom and dad to see Mesa Verde.

Rachel: Enjoys her last year in elementary school as a 6^th grader.  We repainted and decorated her bedroom a few months ago.  This month Rachel had to move out and share Erin’s room so Kevin could have his own room these last few weeks before his mission. (We are sure Kevin is thrilled with his pretty, yellow, horse decorated accommodations.) Rachel is looking forward to joining the Young Women’s program in a few months when she turns 12.

Curt: Has added a few grey hairs from teaching Erin how to drive and from supervising the morning clothing wars between the girls.  He still works for Extra Space as a treasury manager. He also spends a lot of time as ward executive secretary.

Sydna:  I still teach 7th and 8th grade math at Elk Ridge Middle School. I am also taking some online graduate classes to get a library media specialist endorsement. I enjoy serving in Young Women’s with the Mia Maids (13-14 year olds). All of my activities keep me busy. Consequently, the house is rarely clean and the laundry is never done, but…I blame it on the Mayans. 

Merry Christmas!

December Events

Kevin enjoyed his time at Utah State and did well in his classes earning all A's.  He and his roommates designed the poster below for a contest in his dorm.  Kevin drew the Aggie bull in the corner, and their combined creativity won them the grand prize of restaurant gift certificates.  The perfect prize for a dorm full of hungry boys.

 Kevin also enjoyed visiting the Logan Temple every Wednesday with his friends.

Apparently, the girls in the dorm will miss Kevin and his two other roommates who are leaving on missions.

For my birthday, Curt planned a surprise get-away to the Marriott downtown. After eating cake and ice cream at home, we went to Lamb's for dinner and City Creek for Christmas shopping.  It's always nice to have a break and time away no matter how short!

Rachel graduated from DARE and thinks her shirt is cooler than any the other kids got.  Thankfully Kevin was home and able to go and take pictures with his new missionary camera. She is thrilled obviously.

Verl had a reception for his photography exhibit at a library in the Avenues. It was fun to go see his work. He has all of his own equipment so he can print, frame and mat his own photos. I am excited to have a few of these on my wall soon.

We are thankful for temples

Thanksgiving break started off with us taking Kevin to the temple for the first time the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. We just had the three of us in a not very crowded temple, so it was a nice experience. My mom and dad came up for Thanksgiving and Kevin was able to go back to the temple a few days later with them.

 (Clones)

Verl and Sanae invited us to their new home for Thanksgiving where we had one of the best meals ever.  Not only did we have all of the traditional foods, but we also had salmon and authentic chow mein.  Yummy!

We rounded out the weekend by playing games and decorating the house for Christmas.

Demotivational Posters

I've blogged about these before, but it's time for another go-around. Part of me likes a motivational poster, but most of me likes the Demotivator posters better. You can blame my cynical, sarcastic side. For whatever reason, the following made me laugh. I've copied the statements that were included with some of the posters; these people share my type of humor. Enjoy.

Life can be difficult. But if you work hard, keep a positive attitude, and meet your challenges head on, you’ll find that it can also be extremely painful.

 Some customs have been handed down generation by generation, all the way back to our forefathers. But remember: our forefathers were actually pretty stupid. They wore those dumb powdered wigs and everything.

Hey, that's me (except I'm not blond and I don't like those kind of heights and I like Apples not PC's and I wish I was that thin, and Utah has the best scenery...), and I blogged about this very trip!

 Just because you’re hearing voices doesn’t mean you’re crazy. It could just mean that your television set is on. If it’s not, then yeah, you’re crazy. 

 Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I took the one that happened to be on fire. That, sadly, has made all the difference.

Keep your eyes on the prize. Just like a mouse, fixated on that tasty bit of cheese waiting in the trap.

Fall 2012

Fall is a great season and we filled it up with some fun things. 

Erin being asked to Homecoming

Ein and her Homecoming date

Sharla's 50th surprise party

The Deer Hunt.

This was my view for most of the day. It was fun to ride the 4-wheelers all over.

Such beautiful open country.

Besides the cows, we even saw deer this year, but the bucks were too far away and the rest were does. We did see a big coyote bounding down the hill. Curt was tempted to shoot, but Rachel thought it looked too much like a cute fluffy dog so Curt resisted.

These beautiful maple trees are on a tree farm near our house.

Queen Phish

For Fall Break, we took a quick trip to Idaho to visit my Grandma. She will be 100 in January!

We spent the night at Lava Hot Springs, so we went for a night time soak in the hot pots.

 The next morning we ate at the cafe and then went searching for souvenirs. Kevin is carrying a rug we found for our family room downstairs. Now we just need to paint, get furniture, frame some pictures, find curtains....but at least we have a rug!

We dropped Kevin back in Logan and decided it was as good a time as any for him to get a flu shot. Matter of fact, we got all the kids a flu shot. It was a memorable way to end the vacation.

After the flu shots, we headed to the Bluebird on Main Street. This weathered sign is in the back of the building. We loved the yummy sandwiches, pasta, and peanut butter pie! A shout out to the Pie Dump in Garland, Utah, also. Home of really delicious rolls and pastry; love the fun cafes and mom and pop restaurants.

Curt had actually eaten at the Bluebird when he was young on a junior high band trip. He accidentally walked out without paying and was too scared to go back and tell them. Fast forward 30 plus years to when we ate there as a family. He gave the hostess $20.00 along with an explanation. She was surprised, Curt's guilt was relieved, and now he is finally an honest man.

Here is Erin's answer to the Halloween Dance. Speaking of Halloween...

Krysta was a rag doll.

I was a pirate. 

Rachel was a dark fairy.

And the rest were party poopers!