Happy, Happy Birthdays!

We had a wonderful time celebrating FIVE birthdays today: Devon, Aria, Alicia, Keaton, and Marty. Today just happened to be Ari's 2nd birthday, so everyone very sportingly deferred to her big celebration. (Besides that, EVERYONE enjoyed playing with her new stuff!)

Cute BIG kids...

Cute kids!

Christmas 2009

Well, it was something of a miracle... We did it! FIVE round trip airline trips to bring the "outliers" of our family home for Christmas happened without a single significant hitch!! Biggest delays were Kryn sitting in Dallas, TEXAS, for an hour because of snow, and Gregan sitting on the ground in London for 3 hours, AFTER arriving on time, while snow was cleared away for their deboarding? Makes no sense to me, but I'm just happy, happy that everything went soooo well.

Two favorite memories...
1. The grandkids acting out the nativity story on Christmas Eve
2. Every single member of the family singing "Angels We Have Heard on High" - A Cappella - in Grandma and Grandpa's Orem living room. I think Ava liked that, too. Last week she and Aria stayed with me and I still had the David Archuletta Christmas CD playing in the car. She asked me many times to replay the "Gloria song" - her favorite - and she sang right along with it.

These two photos are the same that Amy posted. 'Wish Kryn had arrived one day earlier! But a COMPLETE family photo should be forthcoming very soon...

37 years.... And something NEW in the scriptures!

I can't believe I have been married for 37 years today... That's a very long time... Does anyone remember when being married for 50 years was a really, really big deal? Seems almost commonplace anymore. Really, I am NOT old!! Am I?

In the past week or so, I have filled my little brain beyond its capacity with statistical formulas etc. for an exam on t tests for dependent and independent means. I took a Statistics test yesterday that was especially critical because I need a really good score on it to compensate for my last less-than-stellar performance on a statistics exam. I was SO surprised this morning to read statistical jargon in the book of Alma! But there it was. Several times Alma taught that by very small "means" the Lord brings about the salvation of many souls. I can tell you that, according to Cohen's conventions, "small means" translates to an effect size of .20. I had never considered before the impact that "averages" of any size can have on our salvation!

Clearly, it is time to move on!!! One more statistics test... And a group presentation in Research Methods and I'm DONE!!! Come December 16th at 1:00 p.m., I am going to be a very, very happy girl... :)

So Rudee!

Rudy asked me to take a picture of the plant he sent me. He doesn't think it will still be alive when he comes in December!! :-0

Actually, I thought I had a date with the little girls tonight. But Devon had a flat tire and they aren't sure if they'll make it or not. Tomorrow we are making applesauce! So while I wait to hear if they are coming...

I can't express how relieved I am... This has been a big week. Kinda huge, in fact. I did pass my national boards on Thursday! (The reason for this beautiful plant Rudy had delivered). On that day I also turned in my application to the University of Utah (deadline is November 1, so I had HOURS to spare!!!) And today I took the FINAL for my independent study. I want to say it ALL went better than I deserved it to do. On the other hand, I have worked really hard. Today as I was playing the organ at the temple, I felt all blubbery (fortunately I did keep the blubbers inside...) as I thought about all that has happened in the past year. I felt like I had such a perfect plan for my life. Things haven't turned out the way I thought they "should," but I am confident that Someone is in charge, and it's just awesome...

Okay, I'm still feeling blubbery, so I'm going to sign out. It's that darn CD that I'm listening to, I bet... :)

Half Time...

No pictures to post, but I guess I CAN still check in once a month or so. (Mostly to encourage more of my family to do the same...) :)

I am halfway through the semester. And 90% done with lots of other stuff. It's a GREAT feeling!

'Enjoyed a great visit with Gregan last week (via Skype). 'Don't know when he's going to take time to blog about his life across the lake, but it should be worth it when he does. He's probably too modest to share what he's learned about his cohort of students. It turns out only 3 of the 30 in his group are from the United States. The other two hail from Princeton and Harvard. There were 1000 students that vied for those 30 positions, so he is feeling pretty happy to be there. Especially since some of his instructors are among the best in the field of international development. Kudos, Gregor. BTW, he's very intent on "mastering" the rowing thing - as in a boat in the water. It's a very English thing to do, so he' placed it pretty high on his "to do" list.

I had a fun outing with the little girls and their folks on Friday - went to a pumpkin party and did a little hay ride etc. We are having GORGEOUS fall weather right now. The leaves are awesome - every shade of red and yellow... I appreciate the help Keats, Devon, and Ava are giving me in getting this yard ready for winter!

'Am so looking forward to having everyone home in December... Rudy will be here for 20 days.

A thought by Rachel Naomi Remen:

All we get to keep are our memories. Perhaps the only way we get to keep anything may be to use it up...

Ava turns 4...

Ava is 4 years old! Fun Princess Party... I'm sure her mom will document the event. These are pretty darling princesses. Ari does a good job walking in those "heels!" Ava was showered with princess paraphernalia from her cute princess friends.

Jaron came all the way from Paris to help her celebrate! We had a great time on Sunday at our family dinner/party.

Alicia, Kindy, Tressa and I enjoyed another TOFW event in Logan. Met up with Alicia's mom and sisters and 3 of her Spanish Fork friends. We all stayed at the home of the mom of one of those friends. Always great fun.

The theme for this year's TOFW event tour is "Sweet Assurance." I am sooo glad for MY sweet assurance that "It's true!" :)

I did it!!

Actually, I did TWO things that were on my to do list:

1. I applied for my passport! No question that it will be here long before I need it... (Let's hope that someone we know and love dearly gets his visa before September 22 when he is supposed to leave for England!!!!)

2. I got a University of Pennsylvania t-shirt. It WOULD have been fun to have one that says "NOT PENN STATE," but oh, well. :)

'Pretty funny that one of my reasons to get new shirts was to get out of my navy-blue-Old Navy-shirts and my navy-blue-BYU-shirts rut. But U Penn is navy blue (AND red). Guess what color Oxford's t-shirts are? Yep, navy blue!!! hehehe BTW, Ava was the photographer for that photo.

The other photos are of the girls on Friday nights at grandma's house...

Time out for Spiche...

So...the other night the little girls (aka Ava and Ari) were here.

Nineteen months ago I opted NOT to do the 2-year plan with Spiche's dog license because I was sure she wouldn't still be here past a year. I got a letter from Chief James saying I have an illegal canine at this address, so I try to keep her in the house or our back yard so she won't get picked up and me ticketed. Besides that, 2 little girls are enough to keep track of at the park etc.

So Friday night, we (the girls and I) walked across the street to the park and played for a while. As we came back to the house, I saw a certain snout poking through the curtains AND the blinds in the living room. Obviously a naughty dog was ON THE COUCH, AND into the curtains!!! As we watch her limp along so much of the time, one has to wonder how she even gets onto the couch!

And then she has learned to wiggle through the smaller gate by the carport. If the whole frame is not pulled all the way toward the house, it's possible to push the gate open. One day last week when I had been gone all day, I came home to find NO Spiche! It was after 10:00 p.m. when I finally found her on 240 East, just having a good stroll. And Saturday morning, I got a phone call from Sandy Nelson to tell me Spiche was at their house. I walked over to get her. By the time we got to Perkins'house, she had given her all. Just stopped and panted and panted and resisted my coaxing to keep walking. She was very stiff THAT night.

So she DOES deserve "time out." My challenge now is that I am actually able to get her "out," (since the days aren't so hot any more), but then she goes all the way OUT!

SOME in the family think she's still cute, but... :(

And it begins...

Yesterday I attended my first research and statistics classes. The research methods class has 18 students. One of them is Camille's (Micah) sister! Another student wants to be a social worker with deaf families (does ASL,interpreting etc.) and one student wants to "save the world" in a similar vein as Kryn and Gregan. Another student has 8 children - ages 5-15, including 2 sets of twins. Three other students are also "older" - although I suspect I'm a wee bit older than any of them. So there are more happy commonalities in that class. (As I found with students in my BYU class in the spring).

I have a new (reinforced) opinion regarding Tressa cutting out the answers in the textbook her students will be using this year in her ASL classes. I read the first chapter of my statistics book last night, and I am soooo glad answers were in the text to check my understanding of the questions throughout the chapter! It would have been very frustrating to NOT be able to have immediate feedback as I studied on my own. I'm not sure I buy the argument that "high schoolers" can not use that resource responsibly. It's part of their education... I say, give them that option, and let them experience the consequence of abusing the resource, if that's what they choose to do... Because many of them WILL benefit from it.

Well, I am weeks behind where I wanted to be in my independent study class. And today I begin my gig with Wasatch Mental Health. So hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off....

Great day so far!

Keaton and I just attended the dedication of the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple. Church meetings for the whole of Utah were canceled today so that everyone could attend a televised broadcast of the dedication. We went this morning at 9:00 and Devon and Alicia will attend at 3:00 while the little girls stay here with us.

The talks were all very good. The lights were down, and it didn't seem appropriate to search for pen and paper. But there were at least 3 thoughts that I was particularly impressed with:

1. As youth (or even as adults), we may struggle concerning making wise choices and not being as obedient as we could (should) be. Although those who love us struggle with those decisions, it is the individual himself - or herself - that is going to be hurt the most. When we choose to be faithful, we don't do it for anyone else. We do it for ourselves.
2. It is our choice to be whatever we will be. No one, not even Satan, has the power to determine what we will ultimately become. Only each of us personally.
3. The temple refines us. We are better people when we leave the temple than when we enter it.

I don't remember the names of all those who spoke, but it's always a treat to hear President Monson, President Uchtdorf, and Elder Bednar. I really felt the strength and power of the Priesthood in the services today. I would love to plan a trip to the Oquirrh Temple with Keats, Devon, Alicia, Kindy, and Marty soon!

I learned today that while I was on one of my trips, Ken Swenson was called to be a counselor in the stake presidency! (The spot vacated with President Love's move to Herriman). I had a great visit with him, Debbie, and Reid and Sandy after the dedication. Debbie appreciated getting a "very nice note" from Kindy (regarding their wedding reception).

I loved being able to spend time with my east coast family these past few weeks!!
But I have to say -- there is something very nice about Utah summer evenings. Ava and Aria spent Friday night with me. When it was a little cooler, we spent a long while in the back yard. They loved swinging, playing tetherball, and going down the slide. Ari is the perfect size right now for the little slide and she went up and down over and over. Although the days get plenty hot, I love the cool of the evenings, even on days that have been in the high 90's.

Keats moves to Provo tomorrow. We both start classes at UVU on Wednesday. My statistics textbook arrived yesterday. Last night I flipped through the pages. Pages and pages of numbers and symbols and formulas and stuff and stuff. :( Wish me luck!!

The Church is true!!

Trip to DC and Philly

Well, it happened! I made it to Washington DC to spend a few days with Rudy, Gregan, and Kryn. I'm happy to report that THE TREE in which ALL of the kids have had a picture in, on, or around (close to the Washington Monument) is still there! Last time I was in DC (30 years ago) I never did see the Jefferson Memorial OR the Library of Congress. Both were highlights of the trip for me this time. As was visiting the park where Gregan lived in his car for 8 weeks!
Also, we had a wonderful day in Philadelphia with Kryn. He has a GREAT apartment. We saw the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, the building where the Declaration of Independence was signed. And the University of Pennsylvania campus (NOT Penn State) :) is absolutely gorgeous. The buildings are very old and very beautiful. Lots of history within that Ivy League school. (The University of Pennsylvania also established the first School of Social Work, I learned in the class I am taking right now...)
We also ate Philly Steak sandwiches and had water ice. Yummmm.
I printed 81 pictures of my trip, so these are just teasers. Thanks to Rudy for taking all the pictures! AND for being such a good sport and great host for 4 very packed days!

Matters of the heart

It's good to be home...but I felt like I left part of my heart in Florida. I do hope I get to see that new baby again before she's walking. :) The flower in Merin's hair in this picture was a gift from Kindy (from Hawaii)... Merin's gorgeous in pink, but also in yellow, green, blue... :)

I had a great time in Florida. Damian and Amy are so easy to just hang with. And there is NEVER a shortage of entertainment with Hay and Zade around! I laugh when Amy rolls her eyes at Zade's never ending chatter. One year ago, she was most anxious for him to say ANYTHING! It's amazingly easy to make out just what he's saying, even though his articulation is a "little" lacking. :) He is sooo cute and LOVES life.

As does Hayden! He's such a smart kid! It's hard to believe he is just going into 1st grade this fall. He reads really well, and he reminds me a bit of Kryn and Gregan with the great facts he can recall about all kinds of things - especially stuff that live in the water... Amy's absolutely right when she says he's "over the moon" over Merin. He's a very sweet, tender big brother to her.

Merin was a perfect princess on Sunday. With a mom and two grandmas to get everyone to the church on time, we still left the binky and her bottle at home. But Merin was a little angel all during church. (And had special care from her handsome biggest brother...)

So I headed home yesterday. I had made only fair headway in the book we are reading for book club this month, The Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt. (It's over 600 pages long). But thanks to waits in the airports (especially a 3 hour delay in Dallas - thanks, Keats, for picking me up at 11:00 p.m.!!) and flying time, I FINISHED the book an hour before reaching Salt Lake.

I ended the trip much like I started it - with a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. As I settled back to listen to some of the best music ever written -(on the IPOD given to me by my kids) - and looked down at the valley that soooo many Saints sacrificed so much to establish, I felt absolutely overwhelmed with gratitude and a burning testimony of the reality of the restored Church of Jesus Christ. Keaton and I drove right by the new Oquirrh Mountain temple on Bangerter Highway, and it was stunning. (BTW, I found Parley's discourse about polygamy enlightening - pages 523-528. I know that some of my kids would love reading it). Parley endured as much hardship and persecution as anyone in the Church. He was a tremendous missionary, and a faithful husband, father, and leader... AND a gifted writer...

Other highlights of my time in Florida included attending a fireside featuring David Archuletta, and getting a beautiful new crown (as in tooth) in the chair of my son, the dentist. :)

'Looking forward to the reunion and Salem Days on Saturday!

Heeeere's Merin...and brothers

Is she cute, or what...?
Also included are some pictures of Hay and Zade at a nearby park, Hayden mopping the floor (it should have been a video because he was really rocking out with some music from the TV), a picture of the new dental office (they started the sheetrock yesterday), and more of Merin. These will probably publish most recent pictures taken first.
Merin is 2 weeks old today, and has already retired a whole drawerful of newborn and small baby clothes and nighties. Cute family!