6.12.2011

Celebrate in Style!

My parents celebrated their 28th anniversary this week. They decided to celebrate with a concert of a selection of songs they've written and arranged over the years. As kids, we were happy to assist in this. We really didn't have to do much planning: put music in front of us and we'll play! It was a special way to celebrate a special couple! Happy anniversary! 





6.05.2011

You're invited!

5.01.2011

Post by Proxy Roxy

Okay, Roxy did such a great job of documenting our recent life, I defer you there for the moment...


(or just click the title…)

3.28.2011

Look How We've Changed!

Picture 1 Christopher Set apart as a missionary
Picture 2 Christopher released as a missionary

3.12.2011

3 Stories

Okay, Story number 1…
Where did this obnoxious fan come from? I'm sitting in my very own living room and have to leave because the noise is too loud. This fan is booing the other team, making noise to distract shooters, whooshing free throws, yelling at the team to play it like they mean it... I can hardly bear it.
Well, okay, since it's Kristina, I'll hang in there with patience...
(She even wears her good luck Aggie earrings I fashioned for her.)

Story number 2… Maybe we depend a little too much on technology
I was going to Lowe's for the umpteenth time today. Searching for a swiveling handle to match the face plate of an antique dresser in Daniel's newly painted room. (Can you say Red rock themes...) An older man asks if I need any help. I tell him what I'm looking for. We slowly start to walk down the varying isles. I realize at this pace (not knowing what was to come) that I had plenty of time for conversation. I ask him about his day. He says the power had just come back on (clue 2, of what was to come). He said it was pitch black for a while. I find my handle, or at least one that will do without special ordering it, and proceed back to the checkout. I hear over the loud speaker a kryptic code for help at the registers. I see lines like I never have before. I patiently stand at the end wondering what is going. Then it hits me... the computers are down. The previous power outage must have blasted the computers. Varying conversations occur with strangers while waiting in line, including one about driving by and seeing Lowe's in Pitch blackness. I run into some old ward members. Nice conversation. Then someone mentions that I should know the price of my handle. What for? As I move one step closer in the line, I realize that those working the cash registers are writing down bar codes of each individual item that customers have gathered in the store. Then, they are passing those numbers to another worker who then runs through the store checking prices, writing them down on a piece of paper, and then bringing them back to the front. Each customer fills out what seems like a purchase order form for the goodies, prices are then written by hand, added with cell phones (not all technology has been wiped out) and then the question arises multiple times, "What is the tax rate?" I can't believe it. I joke, "I know what your next meeting is going to cover!" Then, after waiting what seemed an eternity, my single purchase is multi paper worked, assuring my name and phone number are taken in case some mistake is made, (What? am I going to come back to the store because the charged me 2.07 for a 2.08 item?) Then I say I want to pay cash. Okay who has the key to the drawer? Let's see, 2.07, times the tax rate equals 2.20. Great. I tender them 3 dollars and the poor lad gives me back 60 cents. Now I see why they wrote down my vitals... I mention that 60 cents doesn't quite cover the change. The key bearer laughs, my change is collected then redistributed.
When did we grow so dependent on technology that we can't even make correct change when it is left to us to calculate? And such an easy one, at that..

Story 3…
Okay, special meeting for priesthood leadership. Let's have it at 6:00 am, on the commencement of Daylight Saving Time, the night after a late WAC championship which was watched with a die hard and vocal fan…

Until tomorrow

goodnight, sleep tight

ps
come back in about a week and see how we've changed....

1.24.2011

Revisiting Crocodiles

Kristina wrote a story for a literature assignment at school, so I thought I'd post it for all of you…



Alligators In Idaho

I couldn’t believe it I just couldn’t. My parents told me it was true, but I just couldn’t believe it: alligators lived in Idaho! My parents had planned a surprise for the entire family and seeing the alligators was part of the trip. I couldn’t wait. We were going to Idaho in just one week. I was so excited. My family would go see the alligators on our way home from visiting cousins in Boise, Idaho.

All week I was anxious and excited. I could not wait until the weekend came, and we would leave on our trip. Through that week I packed my suitcase, counting down the days until Friday. When Friday came I woke up and jumped up and down with joy.

That morning we left for Boise. We traveled for four hours to get there, but it seemed like a whole week to me. Once in Boise we stayed at my cousins’ house, and visited with them. We had so much fun. We stayed up and played games all night while our parents were asleep. When the day came that we had to leave I was very sad, but excited that we got to go see the alligators in Idaho.

After we said our goodbyes we got in the car and drove off. It would be only two hours until I got to see those long, green alligators. I stayed awake through most of the ride to Hagerman, Idaho, where the alligators were located. When we arrived in Hagerman I got out of the car and slowly walked up the dirt path. Then I started to jog. I was so excited to see the alligators, and had not realized how far ahead of my family I

was. It was not a surprise when I heard my parents holler, “Kristina, slow down.”

I came back with a slight smile on my face, telling everybody to hurry. They were casually walking down the path, enjoying the scenery, but to me it felt like they were moving at the speed of a dead turtle. My family finally hurried up and thanked me for waiting patiently. I glared at them but then we all just laughed. As I walked past a small stream, my brother teased me and said, “Don’t fall! There might be an alligator in there.”

I looked at him and then kept walking on the path. I knew there couldn’t be an alligator in that stream. We continued down the path and came to a sudden stop when we reached a fence that kept us from falling into a large, natural pool.

As we stood by the six-foot chain link fence we saw something moving in the water. Out popped an alligator. It was long and fat. We stared at the alligator in amazement. As we gazed into the pond we spied more alligators. The pond was filled with bluish green water. Cattails, tall grasses and purple flowers surrounded its banks. As we observed the pond closely, we found at least twelve alligators in the pond. Some alligators were twelve to fourteen feet in length. It was hard to see a few of the alligators because the tall grasses camouflaged them. I thought they were the most fascinating creatures I had ever seen. I noticed one alligator, it was probably thirteen feet long, and it looked like it had found itself something to eat. As I watched the alligator eat a fish, I asked my parents, “Why are there alligators in Idaho?”

They told me this alligator pond was part of a fish farm. The farmer raised and harvested catfish, sturgeon and tilapia in the natural warm water of the hot springs in Hagerman. The farmer had a problem that was solved by bringing alligators to his fish farm. He found that alligators would eat and take care of the fish remains or leftovers that people did not want to eat. Both the fish and the alligators needed to be in the naturally warm hot springs water in order to survive. This farmer also raised alligators for their meat and skins. The alligators were kept in large heated barns on another part of the farm. At the entrance of the farm, some alligators were kept in a hot springs pond, behind a security fence so that tourists could observe the reptiles. My family was standing at this very fence of the alligator pond.

I was amazed at the story my parents told me. I thought to myself, “So this is the reason alligators are in Idaho!”

I watched the alligators move slowly in the water as they stalked the swimming fish. The alligators were long and fat, and looked at their prey with beady, yellow-green eyes. One alligator went slowly into the water, with the snout first, and then it’s long scaly body, and finally its heavy tail. We didn’t see the alligator for quite a long time. My whole family was looking for it then we saw the same eyes quickly swimming through the water, on the other side of the pond.

“Wow!” I exclaimed, “What a sneaky alligator.”

My family took a few pictures, and watched the alligators move to different locations in and around the pond. My parents said, “We better go if we were going to make it home before it gets dark”.

I took one more look at the alligators and we left.

I had always wanted to see an alligator, not in the zoo but in the wild. I didn’t want to be too close to the alligator when I saw it either. My dream had been with me since I was in first grade, and it finally came true. Who would have ever guessed there would be alligators in Idaho!

Happy Birthday, Bill Carter 1-23-1919

Happy Birthday. If any wishes could transverse the universe, I send this one to you.

1.19.2011

Happy Birthday! Karencita, tan lindita!


"Hmmm, do you like my cake?"
"I don't need thirds, I had Parker's, too!"
"Wind, I need wind…"
"No fair, no help from the kids!"
Parker helping Uncle John frost the Schmidgens..
What are schmidgens? The part of the cake left behind when you dump it out. Usually paper thin, then frosted...Ummm, Ummm, delicious!


Just a quick post to share a great day. We started off with French toast, sugar free strawberries and cream for breakfast. Then, a busy day ending in a family dinner at Cafe Sabor! It was great. They honored the Birthday girl with a fried ice cream treat and a quicker than quick rendition of feliz cumpleaƱos a ti. So much fun. Then, after Daniel attended a team dinner/pep talk, and Kristina young women's, we had a full fledge celebration at our house. We honored Frank who had a birthday about a week ago with a Fat Free sugar cake (well, almost fat free, don't count the frosting) and Karen with a Sugar free version of the Chocolate cake. I think I actually liked the sugar free version better. Great cake, topped with sugar free whipped cream, strawberries nuked in the microwave and a special sugar free chocolate sauce. Yum, yum. You can see by the pictures that a grand time was had by all.
Karen, you are beautiful! Everyday more so!

May the year be sweet to your soul.

Roxy and Larry enjoying their corner of the sofa…
Twin Pea Coats... Very nice…
"okay, so I said I'd get you some more... on second thought, get it yourself, these are poison!"

"You are only taller because you are in front..."
"I've got them both beat...plus a shiner for sympathy from the girls"
lots and lots of gifts means lots and lots of love…
A hat to keep the ears toasty…
Happy Birthday, Karencita! We do love you!

1.18.2011

Only A Prayer Away

Karen has been in the studio! Hurrah...
Countdown to CD begins... (be patient!)
This has always been one of my favorites.

1.16.2011