Saying Good-bye

Sunday at Provo Temple, the day before the MTC.
Saying good-bye. We want them to go, but saying good-bye is hard.

After lots of hugs, kisses, and a few tears, we let them go on their mission to Greece.

Snow Day!

We awoke to a great surprise on Monday morning. The snow started falling on Sunday evening (see last picture) and it kept on snowing all night. We got a call early Monday morning saying that school was cancelled. We celebrated by screaming, jumping and dancing around the house. I grew up having regular days off for weather, but this was the first time any of my kids have had the pleasure of experiencing a snow day.

We played in the snow, slept, did a little work, watched movies, sat by the fire with hot chocolate, and overall had a great day. It was actually two great days because it snowed all day Monday and we were out of school on Tuesday too. It is sure nice to go back to a three-day week!

Decorating the Tree

It is so much fun to go through the ornaments each year and decorate our tree. It looks beautiful.

Black Friday Shopping

After a great Thanksgiving meal at our house, we drove up to Adrienne's in the shopping mecca of Northern Nevada. We hit some Thursday night sales and were up bright and early Friday to wait in lines at Kohl's and Wal-mart. We were mostly going for sport, but we scored enough deals to make it worth it. This is a picture from Thursday night, while we were still enthusiastic about the upcoming adventure.

In Loving Memory

Today my dear friend Sheri Faught passed away. She had been courageously battling cancer for just over six months. Sheri and I spent so many fun times together. She was an amazing person and I am better for having known her. She was my walking buddy, my Girl's Camp tent mate, my EFY and baseball tournament travel partner. She was an example to me in so many ways and I will miss her terribly. She leaves behind a loving family - her husband and three great children, plus siblings, parents, and in-laws.

I know she is in a better place, free from the pain that had become her constant companion over the past few months. I know she will be able to have peace, rest, and happiness and that her love for those of us here does not end. I know we will see her again, but tonight I am very sad for those of us left behind.

Lauren's Birthday

Ready to celebrate with a fruit flag as part of her birthday breakfast. We spent the rest of the day at a pool party at a friend's house.

Backyard Dinner

Inspired by our dinners at Girl's Camp, our famiy cooked tinfoil dinners and s'mores in the fire pit. We precooked everything when we were making our Monday night dinners, and made them up on Monday. On Tuesday we just heated them and ate them for dinner on Tuesday. They were delicious and it was great after we cooked and ate outside to come in the house Tuesday night - no mess in the kitchen!