Carter is awesome!

The last day of school, the 5th grade class tied quilts for Primary Children's med center. Carter, Kyle, Ryan and Cameron got to work and in a couple of hours finished three quilts.

These four friends are good for each other is so many ways. They are all smart, funny and good kids. Carter is lucky to have such good friends.



When it was over, the fifth grade made 32 quilts in one day. Then Carter and his friends (and a couple of girls) went to PCMC to deliver the quilts. Carter didn't give me details but said it was "cool". This sounds like a news worthy story...look for it in the next WJJ-- we've got connections.

Holiday Dance

Anja's dance class does a little performance for Christmas. No special costumes--just holiday pajama's. They do have to wear their hair back in piggy tails with ringlets. Keeping her hair curled is always the challenge. Not sure how my one and only girl got the crappy, thin, flat hair. Rich has a ton, I have a ton, Carter has enough for three people and Jensen's grows so fast we get it cut every three weeks. Oh well, lots of hairspray.
I recorded her warming up to her dance song-- not the real performance but thought I would post it.

Preschool Christmas party

When you are three, you get to enjoy Santa more than once.

And you get presents from your peers.

Nice.

Candlelight Christmas

 We tried something different this year and attended the Candlelight Christmas at This is the Place park. The pioneer village is filled with candles, carolers and old fashioned holiday fun. We met a couple of reindeer and

even visited with Father Christmas.

In one of the houses there was a Nice and Naughty list you could choose to place your name on. Jensen decided to be brave and put his name on the naughty list-- which earned him a few pieces of coal. Then someone told him to taste it..jackpot!! It was hand dipped chocolate!

 We wrote letters to Father Christmas and then crumpled them up and threw them into the fire--a tradition many pioneer children participated in.

We also learned there weren't Christmas trees in their homes because there was only one per community; usually housed in the school house. We learned to dance around the tree and even learned that saying Merry Christmas wasn't appropriate-- it's Happy Christmas.

Lastly we visited the "live" nativity full of real animals, noises and smells. The actors were dressed in realistic costumes and it was cold. The mood was somber and night was filled with the quiet singing of Silent Night. It was very humbling and powerful.

Once in a while..

..the Lord lets you see things come full circle. Often we don't see things come around until time has past and we can look back with a fresh perspective.
Rich and I were granted a glimpse today.
A couple of years ago a young man, D, came to work at Rich's office. Luck would have it that the two men became friends and one day connected the dots realizing D and his family lived down the street from my parents. Over the next few years D and Rich would spend many lunch breaks talking religion, about the stresses of raising a family and the blessings that come. Slowly, with the help of those in his ward, D gained a testimony and was baptized. Our families became good friends. Rich and I were blessed when we witnessed his family sealed in the temple. Then, life took an unexpected turn and D and his family moved to Washington D.C. where his wife is being trained before moving to Asia--ultimately China. The decision to move was stressful, difficult and had D up many nights. The move was hard. D became a stay at home dad while his wife worked on her Chinese language skills in anticipation of the move across the ocean. But, the Lord's hand was in this. Soon D reconnected with his great uncle who lives on the east coast and asked if there was any sort of family tree information connecting certain names with certain generations. This man in his 90's pulled out an old book recounting D's Chinese ancestry going back 18 generations--a book no one seemed to know existed. There were over 300 pages of details, pencil sketches, important dates and life histories written down in one place just waiting for the right person to find them.

D showed Rich and I pictures of the book tonight. After he left, Rich and I started talking. For the past 600 years this family tree has been waiting, watching, and praying for the one person who would be prepared to bring them into the gospel. It has taken 600 years, one young man and his testimony to bring them from obscurity to the fullness of the gospel. One young man who can see that his interactions with friends in high school who were members of the church were good- his neighbors who didn't care that he wasn't a member but befriended him sincerely-- his wife who let his testimony grow slow but strong-- one young man who was willing to let go, believe and grasp the rod to change the course of his posterity for the past 600 years and next 600 to come.

Tonight's visit was by far the best Christmas present Rich and I could have ever asked for. Seeing D strong, humble and valiantly obeying the quiet promptings of the Spirit filled us with joy. There is much work to be done-- but the rejoicing in heaven at this time must be exhilarating.

Preschool Christmas program

There were 14 songs, 16 three year olds and about 100 family members including my boys who were REQUIRED to take off their headphones and listen.

Anja is in a private pre-k program that focuses on education through repetition and music during the first year then moves to a more academic format the second year. One of the things that attracted me to this program is the amount of fun they seem to have while learning. The Christmas program was proof that there's always time for fun at school.

Bywater Christmas Tradition

 It's one of the very first gifts we open in December--packages from grandma Bywater. It's really not a secret what's inside. One of two things, Christmas shirts or Christmas pajamas. We don't care; we love them both..

PJ's!!!!

Then there's a "jingle" at the door and in walks Santa. We sing a few songs, we make a few jokes, then we get down to business. The scary thing about this Santa is--he knows your name and what you've been up to--good and bad-- you can't lie. He just KNOWS!

Some are old pro's at this tradition.

While others are a little unsure.

But in the end, we all have smiles and candy.

Some even get kisses.

Grandpa's Birthday..and the fish cake

How does that saying go? "Let them eat cake!" Well you only turn 60 once so we celebrated dad's birthday with a custom made cake complete with Koi fish (notice "Mobi" on top). The entire thing was edible--even the bottom gold stand--and we loved it.

We gathered at a local restaurant for dinner. Dad knew about that part but didn't know about the cake.

The fish were so life like cutting it was a little creepy.

eating them was down-right wrong! But, they were tasty. By the time we all had our piece of cake it looked like a sushi cake!

It was fun and we hope grandpa had a wonderful night! We have a couple of years to plan grandma's cake.

Temple Square Lights

 It's December in Salt Lake City... ya' have to go, it's tradition! (and I've secretly wondered if it's required to keep your temple recommend). So we bundled up the little darlings and headed downtown. Anja was giggling. It was funner than sitting at home playing Uno with her brothers.

 It was warm on December 10, 2010 (around 40 degrees) which is HOT for SLC this time of year. The snow was gone and there wasn't even a cold breeze. Remember, Anja only wears skirts--notice the skirt--and she likes glittery things--in this case twinkling lights-- so there must be reason to "pose" for a picture. This explains her stance.

Loved this picture with the temple behind the boys. It was so sweet.

Now comes the story I'm recording for my son someday to read. I've stated before how amazed we have been at Jensen's grasp of the Gospel at such a young age. I'm amazed and worried. I really don't feel qualified to answer his questions or continue to teach him at the rate he seems to want to learn. This was one of those nights that confirmed these feeling but also gave me great joy.

As we were walking up to see the statue of Christ with about 300 other people, Jensen stopped just as we walked up the ramp and saw the walls painted with celestial bodies, stars and clouds. He stopped so suddenly the people behind him stumbled. I looked back and saw his hand clutch his chest. I turned and asked if he was alright. With tears in his eyes he said, "Mom, it's like I'm coming home." There was no music playing, it was loud, it was crowded and somehow, my Jensen was so touched by the Spirit, he felt like he was "home".

When we reached the top of the ramp he walked to the front of crowd and fell to his knees in front of the statue. Anja followed him up and all I could do was stand with the strangers gasping at the little boy in blue kneeling at the foot of the Christus statue. It didn't last long and he quickly stood up when his brother joined him. I walked up and stood next to all three explaining the importance of the statue. Jensen didn't speak. He just nodded like he had heard this before and was agreeing.

Then we headed to the Nativity. At some point during the performance I notice Carter putting his arm around Jensen to comfort him. I snapped this picture but didn't interrupt the boys. When it was over I asked Jensen what he was feeling (thinking he was feeling love for the Savior). "Mom, there were thousands of people in Bethlehem when Jesus was born, right? That means there were hundreds of shepherds too. All those people were so close to seeing the Savior, but they didn't. I can't imagine how they felt once they found out they missed him."
This was not the direction I expected our conversation to go. I was humbled and in shock at the thought this little seven year old boy put into the Nativity. Honestly, I don't know that I've ever wondered how those who "missed" Him felt. Jensen wondered and felt sad for them.

Lastly we ended up at the temple doors. It was a wonderful night that went beyond my expectations as a parent. Jensen feels and sees spiritual things many adults miss. He is somehow programed to always be "in tune" to these things. In RS we talked about gifts of the spirit the day after this experience. I couldn't focus past the first three gifts. My Jensen seems to have tapped into these gifts at a very young age. I can only imagine what this year will bring once he is baptized and the full gift of the HG is on him.

IT'S REAL!!!!

On Thursday, December 9, 2010 Endeavor Hall became a reality. The State Charter Board accepted our application after a long debate, very tense moments and even the pledge of the equity of our houses as a bridge loan. I started this journey 14 months ago and it has been a rough road full of up's and down's. Thursday was a day to celebrate. It was a miracle.


The original three: Becky Deppe, Jennifer Perry and Nichole Coombs



I was so lucky to have two wonderful friends give up a Thursday morning to come sit in the audience and silently cheer me on as we presented our application and had our feet put to the fire. When I got home my cheeks were streaked with black and my eyes were red--and I found this on my door. Chantelle and Stacey are wonderful. They have been on this journey with me, for good and bad, and have listened patiently when I've vented, bragged and been heart broken. They are the kind of friends I hope to be. I've been a taker and not much of a giver for the last 14 months but they are still there...thank you so much.

My mom once told me there's no such thing as 50/50 in marriage. Someone is always picking up the extra when one person is involved in something else and that's what makes a marriage work. Lucky for me, Rich has been picking up the slack during this project. I have spent so many hours at the computer late at night writing, thinking, working and waiting for the inspiration to hit. I could not have done this without him. Thanks babe. I promise one day I'll be a "normal" stay at home mom/wife..actually, no I never will be. Besides, we like the wild rides, don't we?

Christmas Ballet

Last year we started a new tradition with the wonderful moms and daughters in our ward. We set aside time and we all go to see Molly Mouse at the Rose/Wagner Theater (adapted version of the Nutcracker). This year was the ballet's 10th anniversary so "Molly" hosted a birthday party after the performance.

 We got all dressed up in our fancy dresses and headed a special lunch. We ate wonderful food and had to act like "ladies" by using manners and putting napkins on our laps (Anja was the youngest of the group and was a bit of a Nazi when it came to the napkin rule).

 Waiting for the show was so hard!

 Lucky for us we "know" the right people who snuck us back stage to meet Molly before the show. HUGE DEAL to Anja!

 There were 18 of us this year so we took up the whole row!

 At the birthday party we got to see Molly again.

 Because she "knew" Anja Molly came over and gave her a big hug before leaving the party to get ready for the evening performance.

Our magical day ended with cup cakes. It was perfect. I love my girlfriends!!