Our little snow bunny

Emma can hardly wait for it to snow. She keeps asking when the cabin will be built so she can go play in the snow. This will be the first time we have ever been able to spend some time in McCall during winter. (Sounds like Emma wants to spend the entire winter up there.) It is also the first time Emma has had snow pants. So far she has worn them every day since we purchased them. Steve's glad she's getting use out of them. As you can see by her mittens being on the wrong hands and upside down-she's also in the independent stage, not that she's ever had any other stage in her life.
As an aside-I am more than happy with the Fall weather we've been having. It is absolutely beautiful! And-I'm super grateful that we will have a warm cabin to go to after playing in the snow so we can thaw out and drink hot cocoa.

Go Cougars!!

We took a family trip to Utah this past weekend. Steve's birthday was Saturday so part of his gift was to attend the BYU football game. We spent most of Saturday milling about campus...showing the kids where we met, eating lunch in the Wilk, purchasing BYU memorabilia, and explaining that a college is a LOT of buildings-not just one like their school. Emma was thrilled about the Y on the mountain and everyone loved going the the SWKT observation deck. The highlight for me was Training Table of course. In fact-we made it there 3 times in 3 days!
Steve took Hayden with him and the rest of us went to the Fun Center in Sandy. Everyone had a blast! We woke up to snow on Sunday-in October?! Our "vacation church" was a tour of Temple Square and the Conference Center on Sunday. The snow was exctiting but made for a long drive home. The freeway was closed from the border up to Burley so we had to drive to Pocatello and then home.
I think Steve's favorite part of the weekend was Emma singing the BYU fight song..."the Cougars of BYU. Rah, rah, rah rah rah. Rah, rah, rah rah rah. Rah, rah, rah rah rah. Gooooo Cougars!"

A 12 step program

They're hidden everywhere....in my nightstand, under the couch, by the piano, in the car, in the endtables, by the television. I'll admit, I'm addicted. I gathered all of them together. The grand total=34 sudoku books and 1 electronic game. I need a 12 step program!

The Merc

Here is our local market. You can get just about anything there-food, lumber, liquor, sporting goods, plumbing supplies, miscellaneous hardware, and so on. Definitely no Wal*Mart, but good enough for a quick trip for milk or gas. I have yet to meet a cashier that has all their teeth.

Family Council

WOW!! Obviously Sunday afternoon family council is one of the highlights of our life! Even Steve looks bored to death. However painful it seems-it must be done or our crazy life is becomes out of control real fast! It is actually one of my favorite times of the week. It's a time to connect with the kids and Steve, to make sure that we all know what each member of our family is doing so we can support them. It is a time to celebrate everyone's accomplishments and encourage those who struggle. It's a time for evaluating the path we are on-and make adjustments as necessary. It's a time to reminisce and laugh with kids who want to hear stories of when they were little (like that was so long ago). It's a time, that even with all the bad attitudes, gives me a glimpse of heaven to come.

NY on 9/11

Steve was on a business trip for the week and flew home out of La Guardia airport on 9/11. He said all of Manhattan was full of memorials, parades, and other remembrances. He wished he had more time to visit Ground Zero. The highlight of his trip-or rather the biggest adventure on his trip-was stopping in Queens to gas up the rental car. Fortunately it was in broad daylight, but even then he wasn't 100% sure it was safe. He brought all the kids these classic shirts. We missed you and glad you returned safe and sound!

OMD??

Dallin has been playing the violin for 2 years and he still is not sure if he likes it. He enjoys playing his pieces, but does not like his teacher to correct him. He says, "She's too bossy. If she can't treat me with respect then I am not going to violin!" But every week, he toughs it out again. Hayden has been playing the piano for 5 years, but in 6th grade you have to do band or orchestra. Since he is in the 8th grade math class during band, he had to take orchestra. But-I think he would have chosen that anyway. All 3 boys in our neighborhood play the cello. It is quite the sight to see them all struggle to get on the bus. We are so proud of our musically talented boys!