February Fun...

Picnic and "tidepooling" at Dillon beach on President's Day!


McKenzie
Suzy and Addison
Nathan, Sydney, Bradley

Finding shells and critters!

Watching the "Tour of California" bike race whiz by- we had front-road seats!

Hangin' out at Castle Park...

and making Valentine cookies for FHE...

Thank goodness for a few days off this month!

Who does Addison look like?

What do you think? We are constantly asked who she looks like. Here's all of us about 4 months or so so you can judge for yourselves. Let us know what you think. Take the poll to the right of this posting.
The pictures are in order from top left, then top right and on down to the bottom: Sydney, Mike, Addison, Suzy, Bradley, Nathan, McKenzie
(Addison is the one with the pink jacket on the green blanket)

The rest of the video of Addison you didn't see... enjoy the laugh!

Thought everyone would get a laugh out of the rest of the cute Addison Video. Should I send to Funniest Home Videos? Ha Ha

Cute video clips of Addison

McKenzie picked as student of the month...

McKenzie (in orange) was chosen as a student of the month at Pleasant Grove Middle school. She was chosen by her Algebra teacher for her academics and kindness to everyone. Here she is with the other students of the month and the principal. Good job McKenzie!

Damage from the storm: Half of our huge heritage oak came down with the big storms we had. Luckily, it fell away from the house! Now I guess the good news is we have some firewood to burn for next year. Mike has been chopping away and the kids have been stacking it.

Sydney and her best friend, Natalie at Natalie's "Movie Star" party, complete with the red carpet! 2/08

My thoughts on President Hinckley...

Our dear prophet joined his wife last week. It was wonderful how long he could continue in his service to God and us. I will never forget the experiences I have had with him over the years. The first time I met him, I was a teenager dusting in the celestial room of the Manti Temple before it was re-dedicated. He walked in and walked over and shook my hand. I remember being awe-struck- not even sure what I would have said, but remember thinking, " I hope he didn't think my hand was greasy from the dusting cloth." I never forgot that meeting as a teenager. He was presided at the re-dedication, where I had some of my greatest spiritual experiences.

The next time I met him, we were fortunate enough to take the Bingham Seminary Council to his office to meet him, since Mike was the Seminary Council Advisor. What a special blessing and a sweet experience. He commented about the flowers and beauty on temple square, asked the youth a few questions, and made them laugh. The next year, we went again with a different group and a new baby, Bradley. I'll never forget him coming over to shake our hands and he shook Bradley's foot and said, "Now, that's a good boy!" We tell him he has to live up to that!!


During the Olympics, we were with hoards of people trying to see him as he held up the torch. (Saw mostly backs of head, though).

President Hinckley came out to California to dedicate our Sacramento Temple, and we were able to be in the temple with our 2 oldest for that dedication and be there when he came out and got in his car. Our kids were so excited to see him in person.

With that temple dedication, came a Temple Jubilee which our youth (including McKenzie) practiced for for months. Watching this program in the events center was an incredible experience. Thousands of our youth screamed for him as if he were a rock star as he came in and waved his cane and talked to them. I wondered what the security guards thought, as this was different than other events they've had with screaming young people. I wondered if they knew the importance of this 95 year old man in the lives of these kids and the lives of millions around the world. This experience has left a unforgettable impression on McKenzie's mind, as well as mine.

I know he was a prophet of God and am grateful I was able to live in a time to know of this great man. He truly was as "the north star, constant". I have learned so much over the years from him and he truly has strengthened my testimony and my desire to "be a little better". I am grateful for the church and for our knowledge that we do have a prophet to guide us. I love President Monson and will learn as well from him.

Dumb Mama!

I used to have a plant when I was a kid that was called a "Dumb Mama" because it dropped it's babies (seeds) on the ground. I called myself that last week when it was crazy hair day and I thought it would be cool to spray some color on the kids' hair, even thought I didn't have colored hair spray. I found some food coloring spray you use to decorate cakes, andd thought it would work, so I sprayed blue, orange, pink and yellow stripes in the kids' hair and sent them off to school. When I got them off, I looked at my hands and the dye was on my hands and I couldn't wash it off. It only came off with bleach. So when I told Mike what I had done, he told me he thought that would be permanent and we'd have to buzz their hair and take Sydney to the beautician. I stressed all day, imagining Bradley going to his Arrow of Light award program like that, and oh no- church! When they got home, we immediately took them to the bathroom, and as things usually work out, the dye washed right out- with plain water! Thank goodness. Needless to say- I did learn a lesson that day- Mom's are ALWAYS right! ha ha

Bradley's Arrow of light!

Bradley got his Arrow of Light award in cub scouting and came home and inventoried all his awards he's received over the past 3 years. He was really excited to get this and even bowed to the audience when it was over. He's a funny boy! He can't wait to start Boy Scouts!

Living dangerously (sledding)

The Sledding party at Corinne and Darrel's property was fun, but a little dangerous!! We are glad no one got hurt, but thank goodness for parents taking turns saying, "Be Careful!!" Even Aunt Jennifer hollered down the hill, "One girl was killed doing this!!" We did have one or two scary moments, like when McKenzie did a flip over Elisabeth coming down the hill, but except for that, everyone had a great time! Grandpa's homemade very long sled is still going strong!! How lucky we are to have such a fun place to go sledding. Thanks Corinne and Darrel!

photos from Christmas

Christmas 2007

Thought I'd share some pictures and thoughts of Christmas this year. We went to Utah and did Addison's baby blessing the Sunday before and had some kids with the stomach flu. Added stress... But it was a beautiful meeting. Thanks Dad, for conducting it so wonderfully. We were so glad to have family there.

Christmas was very fun, with our traditional talent show/white elephant/puppet show/nativity/everything night! It gets longer, but more fun each year. - Maybe it's the fact that we keep growing in number of kids each year! Had to laugh at Mom and Dad's version of "Grandma got ran over by a reindeer." We wondered if Mom really had fallen and couldn't get up.

Christmas morning was really fun, with Mckenzie so excited for her prized piccolo. She can't stop playing it. Her flute teacher had to remind her the main instrument is the flute, and the piccolo is the "fun" instrument. She is now playing it in the band with her flute.