Answers in the Scriptures

Today, Andre & Ivan gave their first talks in Sacrament Meeting. Andre's was about keeping the commandments. Ivan's was about searching the scriptures. Jim helped Andre with his, and I helped Ivan. We read about how all of life's answers could be found in the scriptures. He wasn't sure if that was true or not, so we decided to do an experiment.

We were in the kitchen talking while Ivan was washing the dishes. I asked him to think of something that he might not find an answer to in the scriptures. He said: "Why do I have to wash these dishes?"

So I looked in the topical guide under "Work". I found 1 Thessalonians 4:11. It said: "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;"

He used that in his talk. It was a big hit!

Lexie

Yesterday, we had to say goodbye to our dog, Lexie. She's a good dog. We've had her for 7 years - since she was a baby. But... She attacked our mailman.

She'd never done anything like that before. She would bark like crazy whenever anyone came to the door. But if she could just get a chance to get a whiff of whoever was there, she was perfectly happy. She really liked just about everybody she met.

She loved being with her family. She wanted to always be wherever we were. She would whine like a baby if any of us went outside without her. She would lie down in front of the door at night until everyone was home. But her favorite person of all was Daddy. She would just go nuts when she heard his truck coming up the street, then hurl herself off the porch to greet him as he got out of the truck.

She was often a pain, though...barking when we didn't want her to, pushing open the screen door to chase a cat down the street, not coming when she was called, shedding her hair all over the house, getting on our bed when we weren't home. But she was a good dog. She loved sleeping with the kids, and they loved playing with her. She was getting really good at catching a frisbee. She love wrestling with Jim. She loved the snow. It was so entertaining to watch her catch snowballs and run with her snout down in the snow like a snowplow. She would bark at the snow shovel and loved to have the snow thrown on her.

So, anyway, we took her to a shelter where we were assured that they would find a good home for her. Likely a place where she can run around and maybe chase a few sheep. We could have kept her, but we could no longer trust her. We had always told people that she would never bite anyone. We couldn't do that anymore. We didn't want to take the chance that it would happen again and face the option of putting her down.

We are all very sad now. I got teary-eyed all day today wondering how she is doing and wondering how long it would be before she forgets us and learns to love a new family.

But on the flip-side, the kids are already asking me: "What are we going to name our new dog, Mom?"

Balloons at Sunrise

Over the 4th of July weekend, Provo holds its Freedom Festival. Part of the festivities is the hot air balloon launch.
We had never been before, but I love hot air balloons so I made everybody get up super early and go see it.

It was pretty cool.

Too bad they weren't offering rides!

Andre had an assignment to write a poem using all of his spelling words.
He was having a bad day.
This is his poem:

Bad Day

All day, one word echoes inside my head

"All your hopes are dead!"

I feel like my life is cut in halves.

My soul sings sad solos

While the leaves rustle below my feet.

I know what it's like to feel defeat.

My heroes call me zeroes.

I see dark clilffs and pale scarves

Around necks as dry as potatoes

And I hear sad songs from old pianos.

Folks' hate flows like lava from volcanoes.

Even the sheriffs shun me for days

Where the sun's rays are as red as tomatoes

And as low as the cellos

Or howls of the wolves.

No ratios or stereos play good from the studios

Or on the bookshelves.

Dear friend, to avoid thee

And believing yourselves

Or end up like calves.

Sad.

His teacher said, "WOW!"

So did I.

Winter is Here!

Today we had our first "real" snow. It was beautiful to wake up to, and even more beautiful when the sun came out this afternoon and made the snow sparkle.
I didn't get a picture of it, but I found this one that I really liked.
(Besides, I really, really needed to update this blog. I'm sure you were all getting tired of looking at Max's face - as handsome as it is!)

Happy Birthday, Max!

Isn't he handsome?I can't believe my little boy is 15 years old!

Sundance

Last weekend, Nikita & I went up to Sundance with the sisters in our ward for a Relief Society Retreat. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! We hiked up to Stewart Falls.

We got right up to the falls, and eventually went right into them.

We rode the ski lift up into the mountains.

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect weekend.

Disneyland

Well, we FINALLY got our family do Disneyland. Jim and I hadn't been in 20 years, and the kids had never been at all. We went with Kerri & Emily, and Vera, Dylan & Kiersten.
We spent the whole day there. Sixteen hours is a long day, but it was fantastic! Being with family made it extra fun!
We went in August and I'm just now posting the pictures.

Tower of Terror with Kiersten & Vera.

The little kids opted out of this ride.

Andre getting ready for Buzz Lightyear 3-D.


Ivan & Max watching the High School Musical parade.

Max & Mickey

Nikita & Mickey

Ivan, Andre & Dylan in the skull cage on Tom Sawyer's Island.

Carpinteria Beach

We took the kids and the cousins to Carpinteria Beach. It was a perfect day!

Ivan, cousin Dylan, and Andre.

Ivan , Andre, Dylan, Max and Nikolas.

Max and his little cousin Nikolas are best buddies.

Bryce Canyon

Entering Red Rock Canyon, heading into Bryce.

Our first view of the Hoodoos.

The Boys

The hike we were about to take down into the canyon.
(Notice all the switch-backs!)



These trees were growing out of the barren ground, straight up through the rocks.

Resting halfway down the canyon.

Bridges on the path.

Notice how the trees are growing at an odd angle.

Great views, huh?

All that hiking really took it's toll!

We had such a great time! I'd forgotten what an amazing place Bryce is!

(Be sure to see the video in the following post.)

Bryce Canyon

This was such an amazing hike. And this view was just an average one compared to all that we saw there.

Don't Panic

If you come into the house at night, sit down at your computer, and hear an odd hissing behind you...you may have one of these on your back: Don't panic. And don't let anyone squash it! Just calmly go back outside and have someone brush it off. It's really harmless!

Birthday Boys

July 17, 1998

June 18, 1990

Seems like it was just yesterday.
Has it really been 19 years?
Happy Birthday, Nikita...you'll always be my Baby Girl!

Ivan and Andre are 10 years old now. You'd think they'd be growing out of the "stuffed animal" stage, wouldn't you?
Well, last week while they were away at camp for three days, I took over the task of cleaning out their room, top to bottom. I ended up with two bags of trash and two and a half bags of stuff to donate to D.I. One bag was just stuffed animals and other stuffed "characters". I was sure they wouldn't miss them. They had a huge tub full of them. I know which are their favorites and kept them. I only got rid of the ones I thought they didn't play with. What do I know???

Today, they decided to play with them. And guess what?
"Mom.....Where are the 5 little dogs with the big heads? Where is the gray seal...the rainbow seahorse...the honeypot bears...the ballerina mouse...the girl duck...etc, etc, etc...........???"

Luckily I hadn't yet taken the stuff out of the house. I got the bag, looked inside, and realized that they knew exactly EACH AND EVERY ONE of the toys that I had taken!

Well, I suppose if they are all that important that they know them all individually, they deserved to keep them! Luckily they didn't ask about any of the stuff that I threw away!

How time flies.....

Just got a new scanner. Still trying to figure it out.

(This does not look at all like I wanted it to.)

Graduation

The Graduate

She spotted us in the crowd.

Nikita and her girlfriend, Christina.

Andre was all ready to graduate. My parents came down for the big day.

Aren't we the proud parents?