We've had a weird winter (I think that's what you call it?) with unseasonably warm temperatures and hardly any precipitation, most of which has been rain. The couple of snow storms we have had prompted us to take some family sledding trips to a nearby park on the hillside. Even Faith loved it! December 1st we had a crazy windstorm (no rain or clouds or thunder) with windspeeds topping out at just over 100mph (Category 2 hurricane). Most homes in our area sustained a good amount of damage--downed trees, power lines, and fences, as well as torn-up roofs and siding. We thankfully came through with very minimal damage.
About a week after that storm another similar storm was predicted so the city worked with the local churches to organize a huge neighborhood clean-up on Sunday. Church meetings were shortened or canceled (a la Brigham Young and the Martin handcart company) and we were assigned to groups and areas to clean up. Those with trucks and trailers made revolving trips between the neighborhoods and the temporary dump site (city park) as everyone (even kids) worked to haul out any remaining debris that could potentially become projectiles in the coming storm. It was a sight to behold!! I don't believe I've ever seen such an amazing and cohesive city-wide volunteer effort--not even after Hurricane Katrina, though that does come pretty close. What a testament to the quality of people we live with here!
We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving at the home of Derek's aunt and uncle in Mapleton with his local siblings and their families, plus some of his cousins and their families. Of course we had to do our own Thanksgiving feast a couple of days later at home with just our family. As much as we love to get together with extended family, the kids like to cook our own version and have plenty of their favorite leftovers in the fridge.
Christmas Eve we got together with local extended family and enjoyed a short nativity program featuring music from the cousins. We enjoyed a relaxing Christmas day with shortened (and later) church meetings, and lots of fun family time especially trying out our big present this year--an Xbox 360 with Kinect. That was a shocker for the kids, especially after we swore up and down for years that we'd never get a video game system. But we finally decided that our kids just spend the time playing on the computer anyway, and we'd rather have them up and active while they're playing video games.
My parents came to stay with us the week before New Year's. We enjoyed eating out and going to movies with them (War Horse was one of our favorites). They are always so generous with us. We had a little New Year's Eve party with hats, blowers, movies, treats, and watching the NY apple drop. We're always glad when they come visit us.
Derek:
1. Wrote a couple of grants that weren't funded, but is waiting to hear back about one that has a pretty good chance.
2. Hired Li Li, a co-worker of his from Alabama, to work on the project he carried over from UAB. She's really sweet and will be very helpful for Derek.
3. Regrets having to fire another vet tech for incompetence. Is working on trying to hire a full time vet.
4. Has spent some time recently working on various car problems. Things are quiet for the moment...
5. Is attending a work conference up in Park City this weekend.
6. Christmas loot: DVD, new MP3 player, jammies + slippers, weed whacker cuz I broke the old one trying to help him out. That's exactly why I shouldn't ever mow or trim the lawn. =)
Aly:
1. Got a much longed-for Nikon D3100 DSLR camera for Christmas, and a Shark Navigator vacuum cleaner (which she loves) for her birthday.
2. Took a trip to California and stayed with her parents for the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show. She and her parents drove up to Santa Barbara and enjoyed an afternoon at the park and dinner with her brother.
3.Wore an event monitor for one month and of course experienced no new tachycardia episodes. The most likely culprit was the allergy meds she had been taking.
4. Was invited to join a new design team, Creative Memories, that pays well and has a lot of assignments for her. (Thus the lack of family blog updates.)
5. Is in the middle of her first online 4 week workshop (card-making class)--it's going well, and is lots of fun.
6. Enjoying activity days twice a month, and playing piano every other Sunday in primary. Her piano skills are improving--and she's grateful for the chance to practice.
James:
1. Submitted a query letter to an agent that runs a volunteer blog where she selects submissions that have potential and critiques them on the blog for all to learn from. We're still waiting to see if his gets selected.
2. Had a fun 14th birthday party at Boondocks (their favorite local fun center) with his friend from school, Sam. He got some money, and a remote control helicopter.
3. Was ordained a teacher (along with Jeffery), and both sets of grandparents were able to attend.
4. Has grown so fast that he's at least as tall as Derek now.
5. He started writing a new fantasy/adventure book.
6. Christmas loot: Xbox games, book on writing teen fiction, jammies + slippers, DVD.
Jeffrey:
1. Was selected to participate in the Davis District Honor Band and really enjoyed that.
2. Got the best score in his school on the American Mathematics Contest again, and took 4th individually, and 2nd as a team in the Northern Utah regional math competition. He and his school team will be competing in the state competition next month.
3. Enjoyed his 14th birthday party at Boondocks with his friend from school, Owen. He got some money and a lego tie fighter. He expressed his disgust all month long at having a December birthday.
4. Played Flight of the Bumblebee for the school Solo and Ensemble Band Festival.
5. Both boys passed their Eagle Scout boards of review after Christmas. They are officially Eagle Scouts and will receive their awards at a court of honor in the spring.
6.Christmas loot: Xbox games, jammies + slippers, book about military aircraft, DVD
Ashley:
1. Landed an ensemble dance part in her ballet studio's production of Cinderella. She's such a lovely ballerina!
2. Got her bottom braces on and her spacer taken out. She's relieved not to have that thing on the roof of her mouth anymore.
3. Has become a true pre-teen: she's much more social--talking to friends (Jade and Paige) on the phone and getting together with them, a little bit sassier too.
4. She can play some simple songs on her violin now. It's fun to hear her practice.
5. She won 4th place in her school science fair.
6. She sang a solo and performed a dance in the 6th grade musical program at school.
7. Christmas loot: Quad, jammies + slippers, music stand, watch on chain, money
Lexie:
1. Her teacher recommended her for the Spectrum Program (a special enrichment classroom at another local elementary school). She tested for it and we'll know in April if she's been accepted or not. She is very excited about the prospect of being in an advanced class and not being so bored at school--even if it means changing schools.
2. She got her own ukelele for Christmas and we've enjoyed hearing her play several songs very well. She's been taking group lessons at school for two years now and has gotten pretty good.
3. Got her hair cut short. She says she prefers that and that it suits her better. I agree--it's cute!
4. Enjoyed a surprise playdate with her friend, Savannah, one day after school.
5. Was cast as Astrid the Viking and Fiona in her Up With Kids production of Rapunzel.
6. She lost two teeth.
7. Christmas loot: Ukulele, jammies + slippers, new comforter + sheets, paints, money
Faith:
1. Asks for a yih-yoh (video) several times a day. Her favorites are: Rio, Dora, Home on the Range, Monsters, Inc, Mary Poppins
2. Enjoys occasional playdates with her friends, Cooper and Logan
3. She loves to do things by her self. "Fay-fay do it!!"
4. Recognizes Santa and loved to point out all the Christmas lights when we drove at night over the holidays.
5. She prefers mommy to anyone else.
6. Strips down to her onesie most days, no matter how many times I re-dress her.
7. Has recently discovered the wonderful world of dress ups, princesses, and dancing.
8. Loves to get into things she knows she shouldn't and make big messes, ie carmex, mascara, liquid soap, etc
9. Christmas loot: baby stroller, lego-type blocks, new comforter + sheets, pony set, bracelet, tricycle
Well, that's more than enough. Hopefully I won't let so much time go by before our next update. Hope you're all well--we love and miss you!!
(Click on the images to enlarge)
No comments:
Post a Comment