The weather for this year's live Nativity at church was just miserable. It was 20 degrees and rainy. However, Abby got the chance to be Mary (with Nephi as Joseph). Quinn was an adorable shepherd--too bad the photos weren't better. Emma was an angel but I didn't get a chance to take her picture. I worked in the kitchen and enjoyed it because it was nice to do something different. Kip missed participating because he was in Hong Kong again this week. Evidently the weather was much better the second night.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Abby & the Harp
Abby played the harp for the high school's annual Madrigal Dinner. She (and 2 other musical groups) played during the intermissions for the dinner courses. It was a lot of playing for her and she really had sore fingers by the end of the evening. She did a wonderful job and it was the perfect setting for a harp.
This week she will also play for the faculty breakfast at the High School. It is great that she is getting so much performance time!!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Thanksgiving
We spent the day at our friends, Justin, Sarah and their family.
Great food, enjoyable company, fun games and activities. Just what the holiday should be.
Emma made the rainbow jello. She did an excellent job and everyone loved it. Thanks to Laura O. for a new thanksgiving tradition. We also continue Kip's family tradition of "Bingo" after the meal. We play for candy bars.
Another one of our favorite thanksgiving traditions is Sweet Potato & Apples, thanks to Andrea for this fantastic recipe. (much better than the marshmallow dish, sorry Grandma)
'08 Headlines: October, November, December
It has been an interesting fall. Kip's work is very stressful and he is trying to juggle two pieces of the project-- the US implementation and the planning stages for Hong Kong. He was also released from the High Council (which is a great calling because his time was very flexible) and called to be the Stake Young Men's President (which requires a lot more meetings and less flexibility). He loves working with the youth and he has great counselors, but it has been a bit overwhelming for all of us. A happy thing though--he finished his ticket for Wood Badge. A great thing to have done!
Kip's calling meant that I was released as Stake Primary President. I had been in four years and had really enjoyed the work. I am now teaching Sunday School for the 15-16 years old. Abby is in the class and they are great. But, I'm finding I have a lot more time to fill. For two years now I have been working for my friend, Shauna, who owns a custom window treatment business. But business is slow because of the economy. During one week in August I was released from Primary, laid off from my job, and my last child went to school (after 19 years with a preschooler at home). Wow. It was all a huge change. I have done a lot of reading and practice the harp more. I've completed a lot of home projects and I'm trying to enjoy all the free time because I know it won't last.
Kip's calling meant that I was released as Stake Primary President. I had been in four years and had really enjoyed the work. I am now teaching Sunday School for the 15-16 years old. Abby is in the class and they are great. But, I'm finding I have a lot more time to fill. For two years now I have been working for my friend, Shauna, who owns a custom window treatment business. But business is slow because of the economy. During one week in August I was released from Primary, laid off from my job, and my last child went to school (after 19 years with a preschooler at home). Wow. It was all a huge change. I have done a lot of reading and practice the harp more. I've completed a lot of home projects and I'm trying to enjoy all the free time because I know it won't last.
New Suits for the men in the family. (See Nov. 22 blog for the story of Kip's suit). Quinn couldn't wait to geat dressed just like dad.
Emma continues to make great progress on the harp. This fall we had to switch harp teachers because Ms. Suzanne moved out of state. We really miss her. Both Abby and Emma have had several opportunities to perform this fall. I think the best reaction comes from Kip. He loves it when anyone is practicing.
Emma continues to make great progress on the harp. This fall we had to switch harp teachers because Ms. Suzanne moved out of state. We really miss her. Both Abby and Emma have had several opportunities to perform this fall. I think the best reaction comes from Kip. He loves it when anyone is practicing.
'08 Headlines: July, August, September
Kip had a really great opportunity to watch the US Olympic trials in Omaha. He went with his friend Frank whose daughter was swimming in the trials. They had a lot of laughs and enjoyed some spectacular swimming events. It really made the Olympics in China all the more exciting for all of us.
July was EFY for Abby and Girls Camp for Kari & Abby. Kari worked in the kitchen and Abby was a Stake Youth Leader.
Emma and Kari also spent a couple of days in Cedar City, Utah with some of the female relatives in Kari’s family. We met to donate Great-Grandma Redd's beaded "vestie" to the historical musuem in Parowan where she was born. It was great to be together and we loved attending two plays at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
August was our 22nd wedding anniversary. We have always wanted to go to Mackinac Island, Michigan and so we took advantage of Krista being home for the summer and left for a few days. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery and being together. Mackinac doesn't allow motor vehicles so we took our bikes and explored the island. Our bed & breakfast was very quiet and restful. We even went dancing at the Grand Hotel. (Remember the movie "Somewhere in Time"). The Grand also has one of the longest front porches in the world.
Kip really loves driving so we ended up driving completely around lake Michigan. (1220 total miles). The Upper Penisula was like a different country and even has it's own vocabulary. The shipping locks at Sault St. Marie were interesting as were the many water falls. We enjoyed another very lovely Bed and Breakfast and had a great time together.
In August Krista headed back to BYU. New schools for Quinn and Emma and lots of color guard practice for Abby.
July was EFY for Abby and Girls Camp for Kari & Abby. Kari worked in the kitchen and Abby was a Stake Youth Leader.
Emma and Kari also spent a couple of days in Cedar City, Utah with some of the female relatives in Kari’s family. We met to donate Great-Grandma Redd's beaded "vestie" to the historical musuem in Parowan where she was born. It was great to be together and we loved attending two plays at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
August was our 22nd wedding anniversary. We have always wanted to go to Mackinac Island, Michigan and so we took advantage of Krista being home for the summer and left for a few days. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery and being together. Mackinac doesn't allow motor vehicles so we took our bikes and explored the island. Our bed & breakfast was very quiet and restful. We even went dancing at the Grand Hotel. (Remember the movie "Somewhere in Time"). The Grand also has one of the longest front porches in the world.
Kip really loves driving so we ended up driving completely around lake Michigan. (1220 total miles). The Upper Penisula was like a different country and even has it's own vocabulary. The shipping locks at Sault St. Marie were interesting as were the many water falls. We enjoyed another very lovely Bed and Breakfast and had a great time together.
In August Krista headed back to BYU. New schools for Quinn and Emma and lots of color guard practice for Abby.
'08 Headlines: April, May, June
The winter was COLD. We thought spring would never get here. But, I have a friend who loves to work in her yard and she helped me make a plan for our yard. We spent a lot of time this spring buying and planting new bushes, trees & flowers. It is really coming together.
In June, Quinn graduated from preschool and Emma graduated from Elementary school. Our stake youth did a pioneer reenactment trek. Abby found it to be very hard but very rewarding.
Our family vacation this year was a trip to Cedar Point in Ohio. It is an amusement park, water park & beach. We rented a great little cabin near the park and had a blast. Emma surprised us all by going on every roller coaster (and they have some of the world’s fastest and highest coasters). Best of all it was a time for us to be together and get some rest.
The first week in May Kip and I went to New York City for four days. It was a reward trip from Kip's employer. Highlights were some amazing restaurants, a boat trip around Manhattan, dinner and a show at the “Blue Note” jazz club, and three broadway plays. It was very memorable.
In June, Quinn graduated from preschool and Emma graduated from Elementary school. Our stake youth did a pioneer reenactment trek. Abby found it to be very hard but very rewarding.
Our family vacation this year was a trip to Cedar Point in Ohio. It is an amusement park, water park & beach. We rented a great little cabin near the park and had a blast. Emma surprised us all by going on every roller coaster (and they have some of the world’s fastest and highest coasters). Best of all it was a time for us to be together and get some rest.
'08 Headlines: January, February, March
January was spent finishing up our kitchen remodel. It is so nice to have new appliances. I absolutely love the extra space on the countertops and cabinets. My favorite thing is the Brazilian Cherry floors. They are a fabulous variegated color. On the down side, this floor is are harder to keep clean than the old floor (because they are darker in color) but I still love them.
It was a long time coming, and a lot of work but we are thrilled to have it completed.
It was a long time coming, and a lot of work but we are thrilled to have it completed.
Krista’s boyfriend, Alex, spend a lot of time with us. He helped on the kitchen, was a huge part of Abby getting her 50 hours of practice drive time and really became a part of our family. One of Alex’s passions is cars and he has taught us how much we really don't know about cars. Krista came home for his mission farewell and he left in April for the San Fernando CA (Spanish speaking) mission.
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