I Love to See the Temple

Alyssa and I went to the Jordan River Temple today to do baptisms. I love doing that with her!! We were told there would be a 3 hour wait! YIKE!!! But, Alyssa forgot her recommend and we decided to go back home and get it. On the way home I asked her if she still wanted to go back knowing how long the wait was.....she didn't want to decide, so I said let's go back and see. When we got there they said the wait wasn't quite so bad now and asked if we wanted to do family names. We jumped on that! And we were out of there in 1 1/2 hours! not too bad....plus we got to watch these adorable little deacons get baptized by their YM leaders. How cute is that???

Flower Power!

Ames and Emily came and spent Saturday night and Sunday with us. It was so great having them. Emily was so thoughtful. She even brought me flowers! I love that girl!!

Shhh, I'm Reading

I just read an e-mail from my beautiful daughter, Aubry about reading...so I thought I would update this blog with what I have been reading lately. Working in a library at an elementary school, I try to read at least a book a week.....sometimes it is many more than that due to some being picture books. But I noticed over the last school year there is a series of books that hardly ever are on the shelves in our library. Students are forever looking for it and then placing holds on it. SO, I thought "why haven't I read this series?" I started on the first book of Fablehaven last Wednesday and am now on book 3. The characters are so easy to get attached to and I actually laugh out loud at some of the antics and sayings of Seth...the younger brother of the heroine and a 6th grader! (That says it all right there! ha! Especially if you have a 6th grader anywhere near you!) Very good books! Good over evil and all that. Magical creatures that live on magical preserves! and of course...there are the fairies!

Presidents Day Concert

Every year Midvale Arts Council sponsers a Presidents Day Concert at Hillcrest High School. The Youth Ambassadors were there handing out programs and welcoming people. Then they lead the Pledge of Alligence. It was a good concert and was nice and short! Yay!

Valentine Pixie

At work we draw names to be a Valentine Pixie all week. Either we make something or spend only a dollar. Each person fills out a questionaire about their likes and the one drawing a name will use it to help them in getting something each day to surprise that person. Then on Friday--today-- you let the person know who their pixie is. It is way fun and everyone really gets into it! My pixie is the mom of a really good friend of Alyssa...Julie Daye. She works here too. Well today was the last day and she got me this fabulous mug. I love it. She pegged me (no pun intended!!) so well, cause I read a lot.....and the mug is perfect!

It's a Hard Knock Life!

Yesterday is one of my tough days at work. It was made especially long as two of my classes had substitutes. The students really took advantage of that...in a big way!!! They were very disruptive and noisy. One class was so bad that I hit the counter to get their attention and told them that I was very dissappointed. It isn't how we behave when our teacher is here ...it is how we behave when she is NOT here that is important! The last class of the day was Kindergarden....precious and adorable! They are so good and quiet. They quickly get their new books and they actually listen to their teacher! What a concept. (Sometimes I think that the 4-6th grades need to come in and observe the Kindergarden students to see how to behave in the library!) So as this class was leaving...one little girl whispered to me " I fixed your pillows" and she had a huge grin on her adorable little face. We have 2 sofas and 2 rocking chairs in our library....I know, I know...kind of unusual. But she had put 3 pillows on each couch and a pillow on each rocker. We really never put the pillows on the rockers but I left them right where they were! What a reminder ..."out of small things come that which is great". That one act cheered up my day like none other! That one simple act of thoughtful kindness! I love it!! Thank you ,Thank you little Kindergarden girl!

Sunday Dinner

Ames came home for Sunday Dinner. It's the first time he has been home since he moved right after New Years!! It was good to have him. He brought his "friend" Emily. We fell in love with her. She is so cute and adorable. Ken was able to be here as well. And Alex and Alyssa...it was so fun! We even had turkey and mashed potatoes!! We talked and talked at the table then did dishes and watched Court Jester!!! so fun

Lovin' My Blog

Ariella put me onto "thecutestblog" and I am having sooooo much fun with it! yay! And Alyssa showed me playlist.com.......well actually I had an account already cause I have a playlist on FaceBook! ha! Maybe now I will post more regularly! The opperative word is "maybe", Ha!
We are all good. Ken is driving truck all over. Ames moved to Provo and is going to UVU (which he really LOVES). He is in the musical "All Shook Up" and has the part of Dennis at Hale Center Theater Orem. We are excited to see him in it!
Alyssa decided not to move. After praying and fasting ...and much "wrestling", she said she just got the feeling she shouldn't move....that she should be here. Well, I am glad she is!
She is working at Macey's Grocery Store and going to SLCC. She also loves going to the temple and does that quite often. She swears she has the best Institute teacher ever!!!
Check out Alex's blog......he has put up some new stuff!!

New New Day Dawning

I don't think I have been more inspired by a President of the United Sates than I have been by Pres Barrack Obama. I truly believe in his sincerity. I think he really believes he can make a difference. He is smart and hard working. He is only one man though. I pray that he will put people around him that has the interest of the nation and not of themselves. I pray that he is protected and that he will make time for his wife and two little girls! Hail to the Chief!!

A Very Merry Christmas!!!

We are hoping that all our family and friends have a joyous season and that your New Year is Rockin'! We are all healthy and happy ....and yes, even loving the snow! ha! At least for now....cause it feels all Christmasy. I even shoveled snow yesterday! ha! And sang Christmas Carols the whole time!! We are getting ready to move Ames and Alyssa down to Provo! (Sad, sad day for me!!) They will be going to UVU...at least for the winter semester. Who knows where it will go from there!
Alex is in his own place and loving it....he is so way busy with work....which is good, cause not many people can claim that nowadays!! He has his fingers in so many pots that it is hard to keep up! ha! He is one very freakingly talented guy!!
Ken is driving truck and loving it enormously! He goes all over and at times it is hard to keep up with it all. I am "with my by myself" or very soon will be and struggling with that. So...any of you out there...call me, e-mail me.........I would love that!
My other kids have blogs and the links are here! Check out Alex's, he has some of his work on it! Amazing!!
Have a wonderful time of year!!! Merry Merry!!!
(Ames was asked to sing at the grocery store where he works....Macey's. They had a 2 day open house and he sang for about an hour. The loud speaker in the background is hilarious as well as all those Ritz crackers!! ha!! Enjoy!!)

Election Night

OK
I haven't kept up with this very well....
But, nevertheless....some info on the fun times we had on Election Night. I admit there wasn't much watching of the returns....ha! And it seems that what we did watch we were laughing at Ames!!! (They vote in Alaska?)
As soon as Barrack delivered his speech we turned on "Singing In The Rain" as Kimmy had never watched it before!!!

Alyssa's project for Youth Ambassador

Alyssa carried her love of reading and theater to the students of East Midvale Elementary...reaching over 7oo children. They learned that "Reading Rocks". She had characters from books come to help share her love of reading. Tom Sawyer...he can pretty much convince anyone to do anything! Peter Pan, Dustfinger and Harry Potter and Snape! The students loved Harry and Snape....who put a spell on Snape (actually Ames slammed against the wall! ha!) They loved it!
She is finished with her project but is thinking about going beyond and helping the Hispanics in our community. We found this amazing website about the library and how parents can help their pre-school children prepare to be great readers! You go Sissa!!!