Valentine's Day

OK I know it is way past Easter but these pictures have been on a different camera and that is why I have been so delayed in posting.... We had a great Valentine Date, snowshoeing up the canyon. It was so spectacular that we had to take the girls up on the following weekend. What a beautiful winter!

Clogging at Thanksgiving Point

Last weekend the girls had their first real clogging event this season - it was a competition at Thanksgiving Point. The team danced really well it was fun to watch.

6th Grade Valentine's Dance

So AB participated in the big 6th grade Valentine's Dance. They practice for months learning all sorts of dances and social skills. She learned everything from the Cha Cha to how to politely cut in on a couple that is already dancing. This is one of the most talked about events of the entire school year or school career. AB got a new dress and had to curl her hair up all cute. Oh my they are growing up...

AB before school

AB at the dance.

Cha Cha anyone? - Sorry about the poor quality. Does anyone know how to get better quality video? It looks great on my computer but when I upload it to google it knocks the quality down. I actually rendered this for web streaming and think that was a mistake.

More of Life in Peru

I haven't posted in a while - I will try to update things over the next few days. Between my job and classes life has been pretty hectic. My current class ends the last Thursday of March, so I'm hopeful that things will get better in April. Also our PC's hard drive failed and it is still in the process of being replaced - so I'm working on the Mac. I like the Mac but it is a little like teaching an old dog new tricks. I think I need to do a Microsoft commercial - "Hi I'm 42, I blog and I'm a PC!" Anyway, I digress. Elder C just sent us a picture CD of mission life so here are just a few of my favorites....
Elder C in the Jungle...

Picture of suri - the worms they eat...

Cheers with suri..

Thumbs up.

I guess you burn a tie when you have been out for 1 year...

No comment needed - from the boy who doesn't like snakes.

Yurimaguas - his current city

It rains almost everyday in the jungle.

When it rains it makes mud.

Looks just like Elder C to be dancing with the kids.

Family in Pucallpa.

The reason he is serving in Peru...



I could post a ton more - they are all so fun. Just know he looks great and truly is having the "best two years" of his life.

Beest Mom and Getting God

As most of you know Tom ate a peanut butter cookie while on a business trip a few weeks ago and ended up with Salmonella. He was on his back for 12 days, very sick. One day in an effort to make Tom feel better Miss M wrote some notes and put them on our pillows. If laughter is the best medicine then these were great. I always knew I was the "beest" mom and Tom need to get "god". FUNNY! Actually come to think of it Miss M is a pretty good phonetic speller - maybe she wrote exactly what she meant........

It's snowing like crazy this morning!

Sadie and I went out for our 5:30 walk and it was snowing like crazy - but so beautiful. About halfway through the walk, Sadie had so much snow stuck to her legs she could hardly lift them. I was laughing so hard. Sadie had quite a workout - 4 miles with huge ankle weights. I think she will sleep all day and probably be pretty stiff tomorrow.


This is her after she had been in the house a while and it started to melt off!

Healthy Eating

My cousins and I are having a health/weightloss competition and so yesterday I decided to try out some new healthy recipes. The food looked so nice on the plate that I just had to take a picture. It is Orange Chicken with Brown Rice, Broccoli with Lemon-
Garlic Crumbs and Citrus Beet Salad. It was really good - let me know if you want the recipes.

Sweethearts Dance

Saturday was the Sweethearts dance at Lone Peak. This is a more casual dance, Doodle went snowshoeing in the morning and then to the dance that night. She had a wonderful time with a great young man. Another dance, same picture - different boy!

Life in Peru

Elder C is doing great in Peru. He sent these pictures right before Christmas - they are great. Attached is also a note he wrote to his buddies who are serving around the world.







Hello!!!
How´s it going Armored Knights!! I don´t have much time but I want you all to know that I love you so much. I am right now in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon jungle hours away from everything, it´s so chill. I just barely got here from my last area that was also in the jungle and it was the best thing ever. I was only there one change, but we were able to baptize 6 weeks in a row. The Lord is helping us. This is His work. He is preparing His children to hear and accept this glad message. Time goes by so fast, I can´t believe it, enjoy every second as a full-time servant of the Lord because it really is the best thing ever!! I know that this church is true and the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that I have been called by God to be a representative of Jesus Christ and I know that I am in EXACTLY the place that He wants me to be. Our Heavenly Father is mindful of every single one of us, spiritual gifts are real. Seek them. I love you all. Return with honor. Every day.
Much love,

Elder C

The Italian Bistro

For Preference we opened a small Italian Bistro in our home. Doodle and a bunch of her friends brought their dates over for an evening of fine dining. T(in his white gig tuxedo)was the head waiter and I was the head chef! We had the other girls work as servers. The place looked great and the girls had a blast. We had lovely menus with a variety of choices. It was fun, we served about 20 that night - but I won't be opening a restaurant anytime soon!

7 is a magic number

Miss M turned 7 the other day - her and Elvis share the same birthday! I can't believe that she is already 7. We had a fun but rather low key day, presents in the morning and cake in the evening. But, before bed Miss M commented that it was "Better than she had even hoped."

Each year on this day, I pray and wonder about a birth mother that is half a world away. I'm grateful that she decided to carry our daughter full term and then left her safely in a place where she would be found. Miss M was left hours after her birth. I pray that she knows Miss M is safe and happy. I wonder if she thinks about her? If she could even imagine how beautiful, smart and kind Miss M has become. How quick witted she is, and how her laugh is infectious to those around her. For a seven year old she has quite a sense of humor and uses it to impress and charm those around her. We are very blessed to have this child in our home. Happy Birthday Miss M!

The Amazing Shrinking Slippers

These are the slippers before...



So a few weeks ago Granny dropped off a big box of yarn from about 30 years ago. I have been wondering what to do with it - then I found the perfect project - SLIPPER CLOGS! These are the most amazing knitted slippers ever. The girls and I have never really been knitters aside from a scarf. But with the help from a friend and an old box of wool yarn we made these cool felted slippers. You knit them and they look so huge that they could fit Hagid - then you throw them in the wash and they shrink down and turn into amazing FELTED CLOGS - like the kind you buy at REI or Kirkhams. Check out the before and after pictures. They were so fun to knit. If anyone wants to learn - let me know!

These are the finished project..... (Doodle and Boo have been knitting too)