Draper Temple Open House

Last week, our family went to the Draper Temple Open House. It was an all night affair, but worth it. This temple is special to us, because when they announced the temple was going to be built in Draper, we were living there. We got to witness the beginnings of the construction, then moved to Farmington. The last time there was an open house for a temple nearby, I was pregnant with Zach, so we knew this would be an experience we would want for all our children. The fun part was, we got to meet at the first church we attended in Draper, then the tour ends up in the Stake center next to the temple, which was the last church house we met in while living there. It really was a long process. First, you meet at a church, wait for a video, then watch a 15 minute video, then board buses (think Wendover buses), for the 6 minute ride up the hill. Once there, you are escorted into some tents, (I barely glimpsed the temple before entering) then you end up in the temple. Then you tour the temple, exit out into the tents again, which then again dump you into another church where refreshments are served. Then off to wait in a line for your bus to arrive, then back to the original church and your car. The one part I wish we would have been able to observe more is the outside of the temple, but we'll do that one some other time. When asked what each kids favorite part of the temple was, these were the answers:

Zach: "The Celestial Room"

Hayley: "The Sealing Room"

Justin: "The Sealing Room"

and Tyler: "The bus!"

Oh well, 3 out of 4 ain't bad! If you get the chance, it is a great experience for kids and adults alike! Look for tickets at www.lds.org/reservations

Getting Out of the Smog

Last Monday, on Martin Luther King day, Kris had the day off work, and decided to take the family up skiing. We have yet to take the whole family skiing, because Tyler had not learned how to ski. Kris decided we would go to Powder Mountain, up Ogden canyon. The weather in the valley here was in the low 30's, and smoggy! Once up the canyon, the smog cleared and we all found that we were overdressed! After lunch, we all started shedding layers and enjoyed the sun and clear air. The temperature was in the 50's up there! It was a beautiful day, and everyone enjoyed a great day of skiing.

Zach and Brandon on ski lift

Hayley perfecting the snow plow

Tyler and Daddy

Zach and Brandon boarding and skiing

Justin and Daddy with Hayley in the background on the tow rope

My Little Run-Away

Today we had some drama...

We were sitting around, just enjoying a lazy afternoon, folding some laundry, when Hayley asked if we would come downstairs and watch her ride Zach's ripstick. I did not want to interrupt my laundry and Kris was in the middle of something also. We told her we would come watch her later. This was not the right answer. She continued to whine and beg, which made us more irked by her persistence. Finally, she gave up and stomped off to her room. Several minutes later, we asked Tyler to go see what Hayley was doing, and he reported back that she was running away!

Well, I happen to remember doing the same sort of thing when I was her age. Always empty threats, trying to get sympathy. I would usually head around to the side of the house and hang out there until I would give up and head back in.

I went to check on her a few minutes later, and she was in the process of filling up two large duffel bags with clothes, and packing her blanket and pillow. A few minutes later, she appeared with her load and got her coat on. Being the sarcastic parents we are, we decided to play along. Kris asked her if she had charged her cell phone, and I asked her if Tyler could come along! We also reminded her that it was a bad time of year to run away (too cold and her birthday is coming up!), then we asked her if she had anywhere in mind to go to. She thought for a minute, then replied that she would probably go to the clubhouse (on our swingset out back). I thought that was a good idea, since it was already equipped with a folding chair. As she was trying to manage her load and get out the door, I asked her to wait, I wanted a picture of her to remember her by. She graciously complied, then proceeded out the front door, dropping blankets and pillows along the way. We watched as she rounded the back of the house and trudged through the crunchy hard snow. She reached the clubhouse and flung her luggage up, then climbed up after.

Meanwhile, all of us inside are laughing our heads off and watching the drama. After about 20 minutes, the phone rings and Justin answers. He then brings it to me and it is Hayley (I guess she did charge her phone). She asks me if I can bring her a warmer blanket. I reply by saying that she's the one that ran away and if she wants a blanket, she needs to come get it. Kris, overhearing this whole conversation, starts making "room service" jokes! I then remind her that we are eating in about 5 minutes and she asks me to call her when it's ready. A minute later, I receive a text that reads "hot dinner and a blanket". I guess she thinks we are the Marriott! Right after that, she comes running in and says she needs to go to the bathroom. We end up asking her if she is ready to come back home, and she agrees that she is done "running away."

Our daughter provides us with drama on a daily basis, and it is one of the things that makes her who she is. We're just glad she found her way home (not that we were worried)!

To Blog or Not to Blog...That is the question!

Okay, so here we are in the dreary days of January. Just coming off the highs or lows of the holidays. In a week where the forecast is actually snow free, (yeah, no shoveling!), I sit here thinking of what there is to blog about. All the kids have gone back to school, that's good. But in January, there is just not a lot to blog about. I think about all the resolutions, or more like things I would like to accomplish this year...

• Get organized
• Run in some sort of 5K, 10K, possibly a half marathon (save the full marathon for another year)
• Keep my house clean on a daily basis (not spotless, just maintained!)
• Scrapbook more
• Craft more (sewing again maybe)

These are just some of the things that I hope I can somehow squeeze into my life this year between all my mom duties. Find time for me...

How We Spent Our Holiday Vacation...

• Snow ball fights
  
  

• Tubing
  

• Boys: Ice fishing/Girls: High School Musical 3



• Swimming at Crystal Hot Springs (not too bad actually!)

• Kris and Zach skiing at Snow Basin



• Movie on New Years Day with Grandma and Grandpa and Patsy ("Bedtime Stories")



• Party at friends for New Years Eve (games, Cafe Rio, Wii, Pool...)
  

• Helping Dad frame in the basement
  
  
• Lots of late bedtimes
• Lots of football games (Utes and Chargers, yeah! BYU, not so yeah!)
• Throwing up just once (Tyler)

I think everyone can go back to school/work now. I am exhausted!

Christmas Morn

Well, Christmas has come and gone. We were hoping to be snowed in for the day, but our snowstorm arrived Christmas night. The kids were good this year, and got up when asked (7 am), although Hayley's alarm woke me up at 6:45 am. This was set so she could do her hair for the pictures! Since when did she turn 13?! Anyways, I think the kids all enjoyed their presents and hopefully forgot the ones they didn't get. Here's some pics:

The family enjoying a little Guitar Hero on Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's.



The kids at Grandma and Grandpa's on Christmas Eve.

Hayley with her Dancing with the Stars PS2 game. Watch out Edyta!

Tyler with one of the only gifts from his Santa list - Batman Legos video game!

Zach with Guitar Hero III. We'll never see him again!

Justin with tissue paper?! He was across the room from me, and all I could see was the wrapping paper flying all around me from the other three kids, so this was one of a few that I actually captured of Justin.

Childhood Innocence

On Friday night, we had our Ward Christmas Party. This year, they planned a nice dinner for everyone with a short version of "The Polar Express" (which is the only way to go for this long, drawn-out movie). We were told to wear pajamas. Hayley, Justin and Tyler did for our family, and the rest of us went in our clothes. I don't know about anyone elses ward get togethers, but my kids like to hang out with friends. I have long since given up on trying to keep the kids with us. The only kid that ate dinner with our family was Justin (gotta love Justin!), the rest were scattered throughout the gym with their friends. After dinner, the movie started, and all the smaller kids sat to watch. My older two started roaming the halls with friends. Zach and his posse found a classroom to watch "Napoleon Dynamite" on his PSP. Wish I would have known, cause I like that movie a whole lot more! Hayley and a couple of friends just wandered, giggling like girls do. After the party, it took us about 20 minutes to round everyone up, and I found Zach first who (along with his friends) told me that McKay (a 7th grade neighbor) kissed Hayley! My first question was, "WHERE?!" He answered by saying, "On the head." (That better be it!) I started looking for Hayley and Whitney, along with Whitney's mom. Then, my neighbor came out and asked if I had seen McKay. This immediately sent worry. A few minutes later, I found Hayley (without McKay!), and started asking about the kissing. She confirmed that he had kissed her on the head twice, but that was all. Fortunately, Hayley found this repulsive (since she's only in the 4th grade) and had to come home and take a shower and wash her hair! I think Kris came home and felt the need to check his gun! I do not look forward to the teenage years!