We Love to See the Temple

We have loved our opportunities to tour the Draper Temple. We've been as a family and also had chances to tour the temple as volunteers helping with refreshments, working security, or serving as ushers. Our youth were able to clean the temple. Before they working as cleaners, they had a short fireside followed by a private tour given by our stake president. He spent a few minutes in the baptistry, sealing rooms, and celestial rooms talking to them. What a wonderful way to learn about the importance of temples! It's been fun having family come up and stay with us and tour the temple. We feel blessed to be able to participate in this unique opportunity.

Krysta's 19th Birthday

Krysta turned 19 last month. As you can tell the party was in full swing as the birthday song was belted out. At what age do you stop putting the appropriate number of candles on the cake? Curt and I certainly don't have room on our cakes, but when does this actually occur?

Valentine's Love Story

For those of you in the mood for a great Valentine love story follow this LINK. It's a true story, very romantic (and clean) posted by a woman in Oklahoma. I warn you it may be addicting, and since there's already 30 chapters (it's not finished), you may want to wait until you have a while to read. Scroll down to the bottom to start at chapter one. Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy New Year

Below is a list of our "New Year's Resolutions." I didn't have time to figure out my Adobe Elements to change the cat's eyes, so I left them. I think it may help explain her curious hold over our family, however.

Curt: To figure out how our new kitten came to rule the house. [“You can only have a cat if it stays outside….The cat can only be inside if you stay with it.…The cat can only sleep inside if it’s really cold….The cat can only sleep inside every night if it stays in the laundry room….Apparently, the cat can do anything it wants.”]

Sydna: To exercise and eat right every day. Okay, at least don’t eat as much bad stuff. Well, how about just eat and move everyday?
Krysta : To get mom and dad to let her keep her car, rather than just being able to borrow it every so often. Learning to live on your own and pay your own way is expensive. Also, to get a good grade in anatomy so she can get into the Dental Hygiene program.
Kevin : To get taller. At barely age 15 and nearly 6’2”, he has a fear of being considered short. His other goals are to continue getting straight A’s and to eat everything in site.
Erin : To help Kevin get a cell phone. This is NOT motivated by unselfish, sisterly love. She figures if he gets one before he’s 16 (which is the family rule) she’ll be able to get one at an even younger age. She also wants to keep up the straight A’s so she can have bragging rights with Kevin.
Camille : To have a room full of American Girl dolls and their accessories. (or their much less expensive equivalent) Also, she wants to continue to write and illustrate her own stories.
Rachel : To own a horse. She still doesn’t understand why we can’t keep a small pony in the backyard. If she can’t have a horse, she wants to take horse-gymnastic lessons. (Who thinks of these sports?)

Phish (the cat): To continue my reign as the Supreme Couch Queen, Ruler of All I See.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas according to Curt (this was said in all sincerity to Sydna the Saturday before Christmas): "I don't know why you're so worried about getting everything done today. We have Monday, Tuesday, and even Wednesday. We have lots of time." Okay, how exactly do you define "we"?

Three girls "helping" dad with the lights. They just thought it was fun to be on the roof.

Phish thought that we put the tree up just for her to climb. Fortunately, a few squirts with a spray bottle cured her of this activity. Now she just likes to sleep beneath the tree.

Demotivators

You know those motivational posters? The ones with the inspirational sayings? Well, I discovered this website while reading another of my favorite sites. You may have to have a twisted sense of humor, but I find these posters much more entertaining than the ones that are meant to be taken seriously. Here are a few of my favorites.

"Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction."

"When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it's really a meteorite hurtling to the Earth which will destroy all life. Then you're pretty much hosed no matter what you wish for. Unless it's death by meteor."

"If you can't learn to do something well, learn to enjoy doing it poorly."

"It's over, man. Let her go."


There's many more of these Demotivators at http://www.despair.com/viewall.html. Enjoy!

End of October Fun

For UEA weekend we went to Lagoon. The kids had a good time and everyone (except for Rachel and I) rode all the fun "scary" rides. Even Camille braved the big roller coasters. Rachel said that she wanted to go on "Wicked"--a ride that shoots you straight up, sends you straight down, and loops you upside down--but after riding the old, white roller coaster she decided that was enough of an adrenalin rush for her and forgot about the whole "Wicked" idea. Everyone else rode it many times.

Krysta and Kevin rode the Skycoaster--a bungee like drop from 150 feet. Here they are getting ready. They loved it! A few weeks later, Rachel had a field trip to Thanksgiving Point where she got to pet lots of horses. I think the teachers were brave to schedule an outdoor fieldtrip at the end of October, but the weather was beautiful.

Finally, we come to Trick-or-Treating! We have only two official trick-or-treaters left. The others waver between thinking they are too old (which they are) and going out to snag a few pieces of free candy just for old times sake.

Here is Rachie Roo....

...and Millie Moo. Happy Halloween!