Friendship and Generosity

Some friends last forever.  It doesn't matter how often you see each other or even how often you talk.  I recently reconnected with my friend that I've known since first grade (that's like 30 years).  We were with each other through the sticky years of Jr. High and High School (including sewing class and cosmetology school).  To say we understand each other is an understatement.  We didn't talk much through our early years of marriage but we still knew that we were there for each other.  There have been many times when I have called her just because she was on my mind only to find out that something tragic had happened in her family that day.  Or she calls me at a moment when I need it.  She also is great about saying what needs to be said like "You know you hate your hair when it gets like this.  Let's cut it now!".  Or (when we were teenagers) "That outfit doesn't work on you.  Where this instead.".  Or "I saw your flower couches, we'll make mine work in your home." .

Well, she is moved to California yesterday.  I went to her house on Tuesday hoping to be of help to her.  I told her I would scrub whatever needed to be scrubbed.  We did some cleaning, some talking and a lot of laughing!  In the end, I don't know how much help I was to her but I came away feeling very uplifted.  And to top it off, she gave me her beautiful living room set- two couches and a table (thus the "I saw your flower couches...")!  We moved them BY OURSELVES down a narrow, winding staircase and out the front door of her house and onto a trailer.  Then we figured out how to hook up the trailer (her neighbor helped us some) and pulled it to our house!  Just like the old days, always an adventure!  Luckily for us, Allen and a neighbor happened to be here to help us unload the new couches and load the old flower ones on the trailer.  She then took the old ones to DI for me.  Before she left, she took inventory of my living room and told me what I needed to do to make it better.  She has a gift for making people and places better (inside and out).

You want a definition of a true friend and pure generosity, it's her.  She has always been willing to help me and others.  I value her opinion and her faith strengthens mine.  I will so miss her.  I guess that is why email, texting and long-distance phone options are so great, we don't have to loose track of each other.  We can still be close.

 The couches are super comfy and look so good!  We are loving having a coffee table as well.  We spent Sunday building a giant marble run.  Ali managed to use every piece (some were just for looks).  That's 169 pieces!

This is my friends youngest (she has three boys and one daughter).  She is so cute.  She reminds me so much of my friend- in both her looks and her adventurous spirit!

Some "classic" mall photo booth shots of me and her.   They are beauties!!!!



taken in first or second grade



Fourth grade (I think)

I miss her already!

Kate's 9th Birthday

Kate the Great is no longer 8!

Her birthday we did celebrate!

She is still wonderful and fine.

Now she is nine!

I love Kate and her free-spirit ways.  She doesn't wear shoes or socks unless she absolutely has to- like to school.  She always has markers on her hands and she regularly cracks me up with some clever comment or another! 
She asked for a marble run game for her birthday.  We gave her two so she can build giant marble runs.  It's been a really fun toy- I'd recommend it to anyone with kids old enough to not choke on the marbles.

At school, they are studying Living and Non-living.  So for her Valentine box, she had to do something living.  She has an excellent teacher.  At first, she was going to do a cow (she makes really cute cows out of heart shapes), then it was going to be an alligator.  But then she found out that a lot of kids were doing alligators so it became a gold fish.  Perfect!  She modeled it after her gold fish, George.  It turned out really cute!

She designed her own cake.  She did a fabulous job!  I love the details.

Allen's family visited on Saturday.  We went skiing and them celebrated at our house.

My folks visited on Sunday.  They brought the kids.  It was pretty wild.  Kate didn't know that Tiffany, Janie and Jentry were coming.  They snuck in while my kids were out back and hung a giant banner that Janie made.  It said Happy Birthday and We love You and Kate is Great and a lot of great stuff like that.  Then, they all hid and when Kate came in, jumped out and yelled "Surprise!". 

It was a fun weekend.

Science Fair Update and Dance

Josiah made it to the district level with his science fair project.  He did well but is not going on to region.  He is okay with it.  I think it was a great experience being interviewed by the judges at the district competition and it was really interesting to see what other people did. 

Last week was also the sixth grade dance.  It was really fun and very well put together.  They had a nice lunch and then a dance.  At the end, there was a balloon drop with four hundred balloons.  The kids went crazy when the balloons came down and popped them all within minutes!  It was crazy fun (and loud)!

The volunteers did a fabulous job decorating and the D.J. played really great, fun, fast paced music.

Science Fair

Square structures and Triangle structures

It's that time of year again... ya know, the time when we were given a month to do a science fair project.  We usually spend the first 27 days coming up with a MILLION great ideas and the last three or four days doing the easiest one we can think of.  I really do love the Science Fair.  I think its good for kids to at least try the Scientific Process.  This year, thanks to our new fascination with Mythbusters, most of our ideas probably would of ended with either the fire department or the FBI at our door.  We opted for a nice, safe (and boring) Structure Support.  I actually thought it was pretty fun and interesting (Josiah thought it was boring and just wanted it done).  Josiah made square and triangle structures with craft sticks and glue.  Then he saw which would hold the most weight- squares or triangles.  I was surprised by HOW MUCH weight they held.  26 pounds!  That seemed like a lot for Popsicle sticks.  Anyway, we got 'er done and it turned out alright. 

Square held at 23 pounds

Triangle at 26 pounds



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Display board

Josiah's buds- Caleb and Matt (and nice Sarah)

Josiah has the funnest group of kids his age.  I think if I would of taken more pictures, eventually the whole class would of jumped in!  A lot of the boys call every ones mom "mom".  So when I walk into the class, about 7 voices say "Hi Mom!'. 

Ali

Ali and Kate are home from school today.  They have a cold- a yucky,stuffy, coughy cold.  So we are playing on the computer.  Ali got a camera a few years ago.  She wanted to make a blog post from her pictures.  She choose this picture, which I love. She was a lot younger and I like looking back.  Now she is a big six year old!

Ali   I AM  Sick BOO  

Live each day as though...

Picture taken by Josiah with Kates new camera, on Christmas morning.

Kate got a camera for Christmas.  Sunday night, we downloaded all her photos and movies onto the computer.  We laughed and laughed!  She has some great stuff!  She is sort of "invisible" when she wants to be so some of the pictures were a surprise.  There were also a lot of incriminating videos of Josiah.  She has been asking if she can have her own blog.  I wasn't sure about this, for safety reasons but now, I think it might just be too embarrassing for the rest of us!  So the new saying around our house is "Live each day as though... it will be on YouTube!" because with Kate around, it might!

Another amazing day at Snowbird

 Brandon joined us for a blue bird day.  It was lovely weather.  With scenery like this, I can't help snapping pictures.

 This is looking into Mineral Basin.  In the distance is Heber Valley.

This is looking at Hidden Peak from the Baldy Hike.  We are to the east of the tram.  That zig-zag is the beginning of Chips run. 

Looking into the Valley.

You can see the back of Timp in the distance.

This is the tunnel.  It takes you, conveyor belt style, from Peruvian Gulch side to Mineral Basin.  It is 600 feet long and trickier than you think to get on.  They call it a "magic carpet".  It's fun- everyone goes there at least once just to check it out.  We go at least on a year just for kicks!

These are some chutes off the Baldy hike going into Mineral Basin.  We didn't do them for the good powder shots (obviously) but for the experience of it.  It's quite steep but not too scary.  They can get down-right nasty.  Ski Patrol closes them on bad days.  To be honest, it was the first time I have been down them and I probably won't bother with them again for a long time (unless they really are powder).

Josh and Kiley's Wedding

My nephew, Josh, got married on Saturday in the Manti Temple.  It was great, of course.  Josh is a character and always has been.  I tended him a lot when he was little.  He could make me CRAZY one minute and want to hug him and never let him go the next!  All I could say to his wonderful bride when I hugged her after the ceremony was "take good care of my Josh".  Then I was too emotional to say anything else.  I had to take my time back to my shoes so I could get a hold of myself.  The funny thing is that I grabbed a Kleenex for my Mom as I walked into the sealing room.  I didn't think I would need one too!

 These are my handsome nephews.  They are great guys.  They are hardworking, smart, kind and fun to be around.  Tyler and Whitney got engaged on New Years Day.  They are getting married in Manti around the end of April.  Derek will graduate from High School this spring.  How did they grow up so quick?  I am very proud of who they have become.  I have always admired Chris and William (FYI:  Will is a tease and gives Ali fits!  It's great!).  They have done a great job raising their boys.  And their boys have done a fine job of choosing their girls.  Both Kiley and Whitney are AMAZING!

I love the Manti Temple.  Josh and Kiley were the ONLY wedding that day.  It was very quiet there with very little hustle and bustle.  Getting there is easy, parking is easy and we saw two bald eagles on the way home.  Plus, check out the view from the Temple!

View from the front of the Temple

My handsome Dad shaved his mustache of 42 years last Sunday.  The reason... He and my Mom are serving a mission this summer.  They needed to submit their papers with a picture.  He didn't want a mustache to hold up the process.  He looks great!












Josh and Kiley are good sports!  Ali had the classroom Curious George for the weekend.  The assignment is to document what George did while he was with you.  Last time we had him, he went skiing.  This time, he went to Grandma's and Grandpa's and to a wedding.  Ali loves George so much, that she got her own for Christmas.  So, actually, both Georges went to the wedding.  Josh and Kiley took time to pose with them while a long line of people waited and watched.  What great people!

Unusual Weather Occurance

Snowbird posted an advisory on their website this week.  It said "Unusual Weather Occurrence".  Um, It RAINED!  Yup, rain in January at 10,000 feet... then it froze!  It was solid ice.  In fact, on Monday, they didn't run the tram because the cables where covered in ice.  The few lifts they did open were delayed because they were RE-grooming the runs so they weren't as hard.  Lucky for us, it snowed another 12 or so inches and today was pretty alright!  But there was still evidence of the rains.

I don't know if you can tell, but these trees (at the top of Baldy) were covered in ICE.  They were quite pretty but I imagine this is what the snow under the new 12 inches looks like!

Top Tram tower- iced!  Look close- it says Elevation 11,00 Feet

Ice crystals on the tram loading dock

This is the view from Baldy looking into the Valley.  The ridge closest is called the Cirque.  It's one of my favorite runs.  On the far left is a tram tower. 

Solitude

Looking in to Honeycomb Canyon

I went to Solitude last week by myself.  Allen had a hurt shoulder and was out for a few weeks.  Ali came up later in the day with Jessi and had a "private lesson".  Since I was by myself, I snapped a few photos.  The blue skies made for some nice shots!

This tree (and a few more like it) line a ridge that we like to hike.  The east side of the ridge is a permanently closed cliff band.  The west side is a nice slope.  Even a week or two after a storm we can usually find powder out there.  It's got some fun tree skiing too.

                                                                                    This is an old cabin.  Some years there is a trail through a broken wall and out a window.  The problem is that we usually hit our heads on the window frame.  It's smaller than it looks.  It's a good thing we wear helmets!

This is called Fantasy Ridge.  It is located at the top of the resort (just off Summit lift).  You can hike right up the spine and then ski the crazy stuff below!  I've never done this.  Not because I was afraid of skiing the terrain off of it but because I am afraid of the hike up.

Jessi gave Ali and Aedan a private lesson.  Ali learned a lot!  I owe Jessi $205!  Not really, but that is what a 2 hour private lesson costs there!

Best Quote EVER!!!

I saw this quote the other day and I LOVED IT!!!!  It cracked me up!  I haven't decided yet if I'm going to rearrange my blog so that it's a permanent feature.  I really might.  Anyhoo, I thought I'd share it.  Unfortunately, in my case, I think it might be true!

She is too fond of books and it has addled her brain.  Louisa May Alcott

Hope everyone out there has a good day and a good book to read (or at least to think about or look forward to).

Kate didn't always like skiing.  In fact, up until the end of last season, we MADE her go.  Then she discovered powder and tree-skiing (and bringing a dozen donuts helps too).  Ever since then, she's been hooked.  She is an amazing tree-skier.  We have all learned just to let her go first in the trees.  It's funny when someone new joins us and they try to go before her in the trees.  They learn quick where they stand in the pecking order (having someone tailgate you through tight trees in pretty unnerving). 

Skiing brings out qualities in Kate that I rarely see anywhere else.  For example, we'll be standing around at the top of the lift asking "where should we go this time?", and Kate will quickly speak up "I know where we should go.  Follow me!".  Then she takes us on some crazy excursion where she zips around trees and bumps and the rest of us end up crashed or with pine gum all over our mittens.

I was very surprised one day when skiing brought out a competitiveness in her that I have NEVER seen.  We have been skiing this year with some neighbors.  They are great kids and loads of fun to have around.  I wasn't with them on this particular run but Allen told me about it.  One of the boys that goes with us sometimes, is around 14 and already "knows everything".  At this point, he had only been snowboarding a handful of times.  He is picking it up quickly and is pretty good, but he isn't as good as Kate yet.  Anyway, Allen said they got off the lift- its a fairly steep run and I guess Kate just took off and toasted ALL the boys. In fact, Allen said he was a little nervous watching her but also impressed.  He said "I don't know what they said but whatever it was must have really bothered Kate because she showed them!".  Later that evening we were talking and she said "He just bugs me sometimes".  I pressed further and she finally said "He thinks he's better than me and he is not!". 

Kate is truly great!

Power of Women (silent and not-so-silent)

Last week I went to a Bridal Shower for Kiley.  She and my nephew, Josh, will be married shortly.  They are great kids (Josh, you'll always be a kid to me- sorry.  It's just the way it is).  Anyway, As I stood in the kitchen watching the preparations, I was struck by the power a group of women can have.  Watching everyone quickly and efficiently working on individual projects that came together to make a great gathering, I was overcome by the actual force a group of women with a common goal can posses!  It was a power- but not a silent one!  There was plenty of talk and laughter.

And it goes WAY beyond throwing a party.  There is power behind anything women are united in.

Which brings me to another experience recently.  I was at the temple.  Women out numbered men SIGNIFICANTLY!  The female side was literally spilling over to the men's- which was maybe half full.  (I'm not dishing men, I think everyone just does the best they can when it comes to temple attendance.) Anyway, there came a time where we needed to wait.  I saw rows and rows and rows of women silently and patiently waiting for their turn.  No rushing or jabbering, just calmly waiting.  Again, I was struck by the power of women with a common purpose.  We all knew that what each of us was doing at that moment was important and lent itself to something bigger than ourselves.  This time it was a silent power and a beautiful one at that. 

I'm grateful for the women in my life that are such great examples of love, kindness, charity, work ethic,  wisdom, patience, go-getters, strength (silent and non-silent) and the list goes on and on and on...  Thanks to you all.

Happy New Year!!!!

11:30 PM

I wish everyone a great New Year!  May all of our 2011's be full of the good things in life- family, love, friendship, happiness, peace and good health.  And a lot of snow- in the mountains, of course. 

We spent New Years Eve with my family at the traditional party.  There was good food, laughter, and laying around.  Josiah, Kate, Tyler, Whitney, and Tiffany had a great game of Monopoly.  There was a few twists to it that we don't usually play, but of course, it made it even more fun.  It came down to Kate and Tyler.  Kate had a large pile of money (literally, a jumbled pile). Tyler had a lot of real estate.  Kate ended up winning (Thanks Tyler).  William launch a few fireworks for us.  They are really big and REALLY loud when they are that close!  My favorite quote of the night was Vicki; laying on the couch, half asleep/half watching a documentary on ski resorts in Idaho.  She said "We use to be fun.  We'd at least put a puzzle together."  I still chuckle at that!

I like the example my nephews and nieces are to my kids.  They set a standard for how to "celebrate" the right way.  They are happy and fun and content to be with family.  They make whatever they're doing fun.  They laugh and enjoy each others company.  And they pull others in- like friends.  There has been many a New Years party that was family AND friends combined. 

I love spending time with my family.  I laugh so much when we get together.  There is a feeling of belonging when we are together I think is only possible with family.  I had a great time...even without a puzzle.



Haley and Kate

Derek and Josiah