A Skate with Kate

 Kaitlyn's elementary class enjoyed an ice skating field trip during a beautiful snowfall today. Kaitlyn fell many times at first (most of which seemed on purpose to me), but became more confident and smooth by the end of the hour and a half. And, against her mother's wishes, she ate handfuls of snow.

Happiness

David O. McKay, 9th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, taught these Ten Rules of Happiness. I love them, and believe I need to read them daily.

1. Develop yourself by self-discipline.
2. Joy comes through creation- sorrow through destruction. Every living thing can grow: use the world wisely to realize soul growth.
3. Do things which are hard to do.
4. Entertain upbuilding thoughts. What you think about when you do not have to think shows what you really are.
5. Do your best this hour, and you will do better the next.
6. Be true to those who trust you.
7. Pray for wisdom, courage, and a kind heart.
8. Give heed to God's messages throught inspiration. If self-indulgence, jealousy, avarice, or worry have deadened your response, pray to the Lord to wipe out these impediments.
9. True friends enrich life. If you would have friends, be one.
10. Faith is the foundation of all things--including happiness.

"Gingerbread" Houses

Another Christmastime tradition: our graham cracker house decorating party.
This year the Vigil and Muldowney Families joined us.
Everyone enjoyed the night made some pretty impressive candy houses!

Time to Decorate

The Monday after Thanksgiving, with Christmas music to accompany us,
we decorated the house and tree for Family Home Evening.

Annual Tree Cutting

The day after Thanksgiving we drove to Buffalo for our annual Christmas tree cutting event. Grandma and Grandpa Bass visited this year and decided to cut a tree too, and drive it back to Utah. I guess Wyoming has the best trees! They did find a nice looking one...even if it took three men to get it back to their truck. Uncle Mark and his family came too. We didn't freeze this year, kept the children fairly close to the vehicles (no challenging treks back), and even remembered hot chocolate.

Hunter's New Face

It took Hunter a couple of weeks to talk me into taking him to get an eye exam. He told me he wanted to get some contacts. I put him off. Well, I wasn't sure he really needed any, AND we just signed up for vision health insurance (which will start in January). Yes, I am a miser.

When Hunter came home from school two days in a row with small headaches because he was using a friend's glasses, I realized I needed to take his request more seriously. Our optometrist had an opening in two days. We discovered Hunter definitely needed glasses and I felt humbled once again as a mother. We walked into the office at 4:30 PM and left at 5:30 PM a little poorer, but with a pair of glasses on a bright-eyed, smiling boy.

What is early?

Being the last week of school, Naomi and I have attended concerts, talent shows, and classroom open houses. One day my plan to walk to the school didn't work out, so we drove and arrived ahead of schedule. Naomi asked a frequent question, "Mom, are we late?" I replied, "No, we are early." She wondered aloud, "what is EARLY?" I explained, then laughed to myself...'my daughter is four and at last knows what the word early means'.

Cowboy Kent

While shaving this morning, Kent decided to experiment with his facial hair. He enjoyed the many looks, without comment, he received at church today. Only one friend shared his opinion, "Kent, I am sorry to say this, but that is UGLY!" I don't believe it will stay this way for more than a day or two- even if I need to help him get rid of it.

It is always better to keep up...but, I am catching you up to our May.

Hunter sang, "Be our guest" and other tunes with the 5th grade singing/performing group. They went on tour to the care centers in the area.

We discovered Kaitlyn aspires to become a tooth fairy when she grows up- to give money to poor people. She is the only one in her class to make it through the 1st grade without losing a tooth. I think the tooth fairy is someone she (day) dreams about.

Beginning in the 1st grade, students in the elementary schools can take violin, keyboarding, or technology for 30 min. a week. Kaitlyn played some "twinkle variations" during an end of year orchestra concert including MANY elementary school children in the area. Thanks to a loaner from some friends, she played on the only pink violin- she made sure we knew that fact.

Hunter and Michael enjoy their sucker reward after great piano recital performances...which began minutes after returning from the Father and Son campout, and showers of course.

We said so long to a great missionary, Elder Mackie- the Cali surfer boy. On the occasion of his last day in the area, he wore this brown polyester western suit with brown and white boots (all purchased from a thrift store).

Mother's Day- I thoroughly enjoyed Breakfast in bed and sleeping in.
Naomi recently said to me, "you are a glorious name...you are mother!"

Hunter (red tie) sang with his elementary choir
as all of the elementary honor choirs joined for one performance.

Hunter's birthday marked 11 years of parenthood.

Hunter's first science project- our first as parents. He titled it "More or Less"-
tested the effects of friction on a rolling steely down 5 different tracks.

Family Home Evening Gardening

Kent prepared the garden area while the children and I cleaned various parts of our home and yard. Then we gathered for the planting of potatoes, carrots, peas, and spinach. The children love to help and we hope the seeds will love how they were planted and grow for us. One of our neighbor boys helped us and asked if he could pick the peas with us and eat some when they are ready. Mid summer will bring some yummy pea eating.

To be or not to be

The 181 Annul General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints took place this past weekend. This talk was one that both Kent and I especially learned from.

A snowy Spring Break.

We drove to Utah for Spring Break, which actually took place a week before Spring began. We enjoyed the great privilege of spending two nights at Kent's grandparent's cabin with some of my family (just one part of a great week visiting family and soaking in their love.) We walked in on snow shoes, dragging our food and clothes in on sleds. Our belongings took a spill just as our sled crossed the small bridge, dropping into the river. Kent made a quick save and the warm fire later at the cabin dried our clothes.
We went sledding one morning. We also played games, ate, read, ate, and had one girl's night of a little Zumba...thankfully, after all the yummy eats.
This is a picture of my sisters and I. They are so cute and fun to hang out with. We definitely need more girl time together.

Happy Birthday Kent!

Before we left town for Spring Break, Kent locked his office up tight- even the windows. He loves to play practical jokes, and feared a weeks absence during his birthday offered too much opportunity for those needing to "pay him back". As you can see, someone at the college knows how to pick a lock. They did get him, but in a nice way. Little thoughts and birthday wishes attached to ribbon hung from the ceiling, with toilet paper strung here and there. He works with some very nice people. Perhaps it will rub off on him :)

January 2011

Hunter and Michael participated in the annual cub scout snow day. This is their troop- they are standing on the far left.
Kent enjoyed some fishing on the Big Horn and some ice-fishing with the kiddos.

We attended the annual Snow Day on January 1st with other members from our church. Temperatures on the mountain may have reached a high of 10 degrees that day. With everyone bundled up, we surprisingly lasted for a couple of hours. The Ranchester Branch always provides hot chocolate, chili, hotdogs, cinnamon rolls, etc. (a definite bonus and help when it is so cold out). Here is Kaitlyn taking a lunch/hot chocolate break.

Hunter zipping down on his new sled- too fast for me...I bailed the one time I tried this type.

Michael and his nice rosy cheeks.

Kent and I with Naomi. All smiles for Naomi this year.
We are still around, still enjoying life, & still getting out of the house now and then.

Pre-Halloween

Halloween is in the air. We actually have a few decorations on our porch this year- besides our jack-o-lanterns that we carve every year. Our elementary school PTO had a rummage sale to unload Halloween decor no longer used. I let the children choose some items and we came home and hung them up: some lights, a spider web, "enter if you dare" sign for our door, and a couple of skeletons.
Kent and I enjoyed a Halloween Party with friends. Ann is a regular blogger, so I thought I should take advantage of her post that related to us :). Check out the link and her fun pictures.

One Week Left

School starts in less than a week for our kiddos...probably time for a summer update, before summer is over. Our first outing together this summer was in June- camping in the Big Horn Mountains. We only stayed over one night, but returned home dirty and smelly enough to make it worth our time! (I can't seem to find the underline button- I am not underlining on purpose.)

Our last camp-out with our fun hammock. I picked up this little hammock at Camp Thunder Ridge (one of my college summer jobs). It brought many hours of entertainment for at least a few summers of camping. This was it's last day...it became too holey for use.

The children took turns riding in the back of our truck on the dirt road.
This was their first time, and last time (I hope anyway).
Our mini-van wouldn't make it to the final spot...so we took the truck too.

Here is a gorgeous picture of us after one night in the great outdoors.

Pike!

Kent's latest catch...fly-fishing near Colorado Springs. He and Mark have had a week full of meetings and classes for their yearly Facilities Manager conference. They used their one free afternoon to fish a river nearby. They caught a few trout. Then Kent half fished, half wrestled this pike in. Not very pretty as far as fish go.