Let it snow!

Well, it snowed again. After all the rain the last few days, it was only fitting that we should be dumped on some more. We woke up to about a foot of snow. I like snow. I really do. But I like it in the mountains and other pretty places, like Salem pond. These are just a couple of pictures at the pond that I snapped today. I love all the snow in the trees!


This is my street... not so pretty!  Please let it snow in all the pretty places and not on my street.  Thank you!

Beautiful Music

The big recital day has now come and gone! The kids are glad it is over. They did a great job, even though they think they didn't. I am constantly amazed at their talents. I have seen great improvements over the years. They have surpassed my abilities in fewer years and demonstrate great skill and potential! Now if we could just improve the attitude!
Jayson played "Chromatic Polka."  He did a great job even if he forgot a couple of notes!


Bryce played "100 Years."  For a minute, we wondered if that was how long it was going to take him to set up his music!
Amaya played "Waterfall."  I love this music... it is beautiful!

Keep practicing kids and keep playing beautiful music!

Arrow of LIght

Last night Jayson and his best friend Kyle were awarded Cub Scouts highest award... the Arrow of Light. They have a wonderful leader who makes cub scouting a lot of fun. Last night's ceremony was no different.

Bro. R. has this magical urn. As he talks to the boys about their accomplishments, he has them put things like "Powdered Bobcat", "Essence of Wolf", "Crushed-up Bear" (all powders) and so forth into the urn. There is no water in this urn, but when they start to stir it, it magically becomes a liquid.

Then they get to "CHUG" it down! They love it!
Congratulations Jayson! We are so proud of you!

New Year's Multiple Choice Quiz

A prize will be awarded to the first reader who gives a correct answer to how this happened to Bryce.




Here are your possible answers:
A. Got hit in the eye in latest cagefight match (but he won).
B. Was trying to catch a Brett Favre bullet pass.
C.Put his eye too close to the scope on his first time shooting Dad's high powered rifle.
D. A high speed sibling chase through the house caused Mom's potted plant to fall off the archway in the front hall.
E. Got a little crazy with the Wii Remote trying to make the Mario Kart go faster.
F. Mouthed off to Mom, and Dad had to put him in his place.
G. He stole an old lady's shopping cart and she hit him with her purse.
H. Wiped out on a snowboard which then hit him in the face.
I. Was trying to do this trick.
J. Attacked by sharks with frickin' lasers on their heads.
K. Tripped and fell down the stairs while walking around with his shoes untied.
L. Bryce and Jayson both got those big green Hulk fists for Christmas and this is the result.
M. Hit in the eye by a canned ham dropped from the top of a building by David Letterman.
N. Elbowed in the eye by his dad starting a leaf blower (this really happened, but to Jayson not Bryce).
O. It turns out you're not supposed to put marbles in those mouth-powered marshmallow guns (Jayson is now grounded).
P. New model Super Soaker Zero Degree shoots icicles instead of water.
Q. Bowling injury, related to tragically poor bowling skill.
R. Was attacked with a broom by crazy old Mr. Bartleby down the street while collecting fast offerings.
S. It turns out this is the tragic potato gun accident foreseen by Grandpa Bingham.
T. The pool volleyball scene from "Meet the Parents" was accidentally reenacted at this week's Scout activity.

Make your guess and check comments for the correct answer.

Happy New Year

Our New Year's Eve was spent with Jared's family this year.  We had a lot of fun, but it was a little crazy for a few hours.  We had six kids under the age of 4 running around.  We started off with a wonderful dinner of pizza for the kids and sukiyaki for the adults (some of which were not very adventurous and a little negative about the whole thing).  We then played some Rock Band and Cookin Mama.  About this time, most of the little kids left for the night.  The rest of us played games, Wii, and had yummy, chocolate fondue!  At midnight, we continued the tradition I began almost 20 years ago on my mission in Spain.  The traditional stuffing of grapes!!  You stuff one grape in your mouth with each of the twelve strikes of the clock at midnight.  If you can accomplish this, you will have a very good and prosperous new year!   This year, the only grapes I could find were a little larger than normal.  This made it especially challenging... and messy!  Amaya and her friends participated prior to the youth new years eve dance.  They got them in, but couldn't chew.  

Sorry there aren't more pictures of our evening, but everyone knows how bad I am at taking pictures!

Happy 2009 everyone!!!

The day after

Christmas morning, the kids unwrapped a letter from Jared that told them that the nice "man in brown" would be delivering "Rock Band 2" the next day (Dec. 26th).  The kids were thrilled!  Later that evening, Jared realized that the shipping address he had entered was at his office, which would be closed.  The morning of, he talked to "Brown" and found out that it would be delivered between 1-2:30 pm and left at the appropriate time to sit in his office and wait.  Around 4pm, he noticed "Brown" across the street at the bank, aka his former office.  He then wonders if he accidently sent it to his old address and goes online to investigate.  Sure enough, that is what he did.  He runs outside in time to see the truck drive off.  He goes across the street...no package delivered to the bank.  He jumps in his truck to try and catch "Brown" and gets stuck in a snow bank.  By the time he gets out, the truck is gone.  But wait... Jared calls "Brown".  They get ahold of the driver.  He is in Springville.  Jared goes to Springville.  Jared saves the day.  Jared gets home by 5:30pm.  Not quite how we imagined the day.  Rock Band, however is a huge hit!  We played for 5 1/2 hours.  
Next time Jared, leave the shopping to the women!

Merry Christmas!

We would like to wish a very, merry Christmas to all our friends and family (and random people who may be stalking our blog). We are so grateful for our wonderful family and friends and feel truly blessed. We are grateful for our Savior, for his life and his atoning sacrifice in our behalf. What a wonderful time to celebrate!

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: 

and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called Wonderful, 

Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting

Father, The Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9: 6

"Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who condescended to come into this world of misery, struggle, and pain to touch men's hearts for good, to teach the way of eternal life, and to give Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. How different, how empty our lives would be without Him. How infinite is our opportunity for exaltation made possible through His redeeming love."

President Gordon B. Hinckley