Monday, November 30, 2009

Going Home


Yesterday was a day spent in the car. Mom, Dad, Ryan and I started the day in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, then drove through Montana and on to Rexburg where we dropped Ryan off at BYU-I. We then continued on to Idaho Falls where we picked up Grandma Allen and then headed on to Smithfield. I was going to keep going on to Farmington, but when we got to Smithfield it was about 9:30 pm and I was really tired of driving. Therefore, I spent the night at Mom and Dad's and then drove back to Farmingon this morning. It's good to be home, but it was also fun to be away for an entire week with Peggy and her family!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Montana

Last night we stayed in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, and then continued our drive home today. I have to say, Montana seems to go on FOREVER!!!

About 1/2 way through our drive, we stopped for lunch at a tiny "Mom & Pop" type of restaurant in Deer Lodge, which is located between Missoula and Butte. Deer Lodge is right off of I-90 so it was an easy place to stop and grab a bite to eat.

According to the Internet, Deer Lodge started out as a mining town but it today it is mainly known for one thing in particular...prisons! Deer Lodge is home to the main prison in MT, but it is also home to the old Montana State Prison which has been turned into a museum and is probably the town's biggest tourist attraction. This prison is located right on Main Street across from the diner where we ate lunch.


Saturday, November 28, 2009

Ryan's Birthday Celebration

Ryan's 19th birthday isn't until Monday, November 30th, but since we left Seattle today to take Ryan back to BYU-I, we had a little celebration a few days early. We went to a nice lunch at Mama Stortinis and then came back to Peggy's house for the birthday cake and presents/cards. For his birthday, Ryan got some nice sentiments, a little bit of money, and a couple of tickets to a Washington Huskies basketball game. Right after the birthday celebration mom, dad, Ryan and I got in the car and began the long drive back to Idaho/Utah. What an anti-climatic way to end the celebration :-(

Friday, November 27, 2009

Seattle Temple Trip




Today was a great day! Ryan took out his endowments in the Seattle temple in preparation for going on his mission in February. It was fun for mom and dad and I to be able to be there and be part of the experience.

The Seattle Temple was the first temple built in the Pacific Northwest. It was originally called the Seattle Temple but is now called the Seattle Washington Temple. It was the last temple dedicated by President Spencer W. Kimball and it was dedicated on November 17, 1980. It is also one of 5 temples where the angel Moroni is holding gold plates. That's a little piece of trivia that I did not know until looking at one of the church's websites about temples. The other temples are the Washington DC temple, the Jordan River Utah temple, the Los Angeles California temple and the Mexico City, Mexico temple. The angel Moroni statue is also facing west instead of east. The Seattle Washington Temple is the 19th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving

This year is the first year that we have spent Thanksgiving at Peggy's in Seattle. We had a lot of fun preparing and cooking the traditional meal: turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, corn, and potatoes. I am so thankful for my family and for all of the times that we are able to spend together.





Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Kayla's room

This is a picture of Kayla's bedroom and where I am sleeping during my stay in Seattle. This room has gone through many changes over the years. When Ron was a baby, Peggy and I painted a "train" border around the walls and when Kayla took over the room and grew into her teen years, she took over the decorating. This is the latest color scheme but Kayla is already planning for an update. :)

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Cousins

It's fun to see my nieces and nephews get together and see them interact as cousins. With Peggy's family living in Seattle, Ron, Ryan and Kayla don't get to be with their cousins much. This was a great opportunity for everyone to get to know each other a little better.

L-R: Zach, CJ, Ron, Kayla, Ryan, Chelsey


Monday, November 23, 2009

Movie Day with the Family

This afternoon several of us that were staying at Peggy's decided to go to a movie. The movie we chose was "The Blind Side" starring Sandra Bullock. I really didn't have any idea what this movie was about before it started but I soon discovered that I absolutely loved it! What a great uplifting story!!!

After the movie we had a family dinner with Peggy's family, Mom and Dad and me, and Charles, Christine, CJ and Zach. Peggy made some great lasagna.












Before Charles, Christine and Zach left, Ron and Zach had a few fun moments together.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Ron's Mission Homecoming Sunday




Today was Ron's mission homecoming in church. He gave a great talk on "Thanksgiving" and told about many of the things he was thankful for, focusing mostly on the "people" he is thankful for. After the homecoming we all went back to Peggy's house and hung out for the rest of the day. These are just a few random pics of us hanging out in the afternoon.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Reunion with Ron



Tonight Charles & Christine and their family arrived in Seattle. We had a little get together at Peggy's house. It was fun seeing Ron interacting with everyone again.

Journey to Seattle

Mom, Dad and I drove to Rexburg today to pick up my two nephews, Ron and Ryan, and take them home to Seattle. We are going to be spending a week with Peggy for Ron's mission homecoming and also Thanksgiving. It was really great seeing Ron today for the first time since he left for his mission to Chile!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Student Teacher Open House

Today the Human Resource department of Davis School District had an open house for all those student teachers who are currently in the process of doing their student teaching or those who have recently finished their student teaching and are looking for a job. The purpose of the Open House was to help the student teachers become acquainted with services and programs that Davis School District has to offer such as insurance, evaluations, the Davis Education Association, technology and others. My coworker, Joanna, and I had the opportunity of showing/demonstrating some of the different technology equipment that teachers are getting in ther classrooms.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Going Green

This summer Farmington City took a vote to see how many of the residents would be interested in curbside recycling. Next month, curbside recycling will begin. This is my new big blue recycling can. It was delivered this morning in preparation for the new service. Now if I can just find room in my garage!!!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Good food, good friends!

Roosters Restaurant in Layton has been offering lunch specials to Davis District Employees this month. All meals $9 or less can be purchased for $6. This cobb salad was one of the those specials. It was delicious.

I also got to enjoy the lunch with some very good friends....Vanessa, Jayna and Joanna...girls whom I currently work with at the Technology Center and or whom I have formerly worked with.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Bonds of Friendship

"The better part of one's life consists
of his friendships."
by Abraham Lincoln

pictured L-R....me, Patti Williams, Danelle Nessen, Ellen Stantus,
Jean Parkin, Vicki Corwin
not pictured...Cathi Allen, Lisa Hall, LaNae Gertsch, Colleen Soderberg

This group of ladies are some of my most very special friends! We all met and got to know each other while working at Bountiful Elementary during the 1990's and even though our paths have led us in different directions over the years, we have all continued to stay in touch and our friendship has continued to grow. We have been through many experiences together and have often shared in each other's joys and also in each other's frustrations and sorrows. For the past 11 years we have been getting together for dinners, parties and other occasions. Hopefully we will be able to continue these get togethers for many more years!!!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Saturday, November 14, 2009

From Fall to Winter!!!

Today started out like Fall but quickly turned to Winter, which is NOT my favorite season. Fresh new snow CAN produce some pretty pictures, though.

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Friday, November 13, 2009

My first "owned" home


In 1997 I bought a condo at Carriage Crossing located in Bountiful, UT. It was a small condo, 900 sq feet, and consisted of 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a laundry room, kitchen/dining room, and a living room. It was my first "owned" home and the first place I lived totally on my own. I loved living at Carriage Crossing and had some really great friends and neighbors.

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Thursday, November 12, 2009

Charming Expressionz

This is Michelle from Charming Expressionz in Payson, UT. I met Michelle at a craft fair at the Farmington Fair Grounds. She had a booth set up and was selling cute soldered personalized charms. I couldn't resist having her put together a collection of baubles with my first name initial.


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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

TiVo

TiVo (pronounced /ˈtiːvoʊ/) is a pioneer of the digital video recorder (DVR).

What did I ever use to do without TiVo?

TiVo has definitely changed the way I watch TV. It has given me control over what I watch and when I watch. I like being able to pause a TV show whenever I want and then catch back up by fast forwarding through commercials. I like being able to watch 2 shows at the same time.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Flags Flying at Half Staff

President Barack Obama ordered U.S. Flags on government buildings to be flown at half staff this week as a token of respect for the victims of a shocking Fort Hood shooting massacre that killed 13 people and injured 31 others on a U.S. Military base in Texas. The shooting took place last Thursday, November 5, and the shooter was one of the Army's Majors who was going to be deported to Iraq in the near future. The flags are being flown at half staff through tomorrow, Veterans Day.

Monday, November 9, 2009

This Old Barn

Every month in the Farmington City newsletter a "What and Where Am I?" picture is posted. This old barn was the picture for the month of November. It is located on the east side of Highway 89 and south of Knowlton Elementary School. Here is a poem I found that seems to tell the story of an old barn...

Old Barn
Vance Oliphant

Just down the road... around the bend,
Stands an old empty barn; nearing the end.

It has sheltered no animals for many years;
No dairy cows, no horses, no sheep, no steers.

The neigh of a horse; the low of a cow;
Those sounds have been absent for some time now.

There was a time when the loft was full of hay,
And the resounding echoes of children at play.

At one time the paint was a bold shade of red;
Gradually faded by weather and the sun overhead.

The doors swing in the wind... the hinges are loose,
Windows and siding have taken a lot of abuse.

The fork, rope and pulleys lifted hay to the mow,
A task that always brought sweat to the brow.

But those good days are gone; forever it seems,
And that old barn now stands with sagging beams.

It is now home to pigeons, rats and mice;
The interior is tattered and doesn't look very nice.

Old, abandoned barns have become a trend,
Just down the road... around the bend.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Bountiful Temple

Today was Stake Conference and it was held in Bountiful at the Regional Center. After conference was over, I decided to avoid the long lines of traffic going home and instead I took a drive up by the Bountiful Temple. The gate, which is normally locked on Sundays, was left open for some reason, so I was able to go in and walk around the temple grounds. It was a beautiful day to be in such a beautiful location. This temple has special meaning to me because I was able to participate in and help with the Open House after it was built and before it was dedicated. I was an usher in one of the ordinance rooms.

The Bountiful Temple is the 47th operating temple and the 8th temple built in Utah. It was dedicated on January 8, 1995.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Outlet Stores

Today I went to Park City to shop at the Outlet Stores. I'm not much of a shopper, but I do enjoy having the Outlet Stores close enough that I can go there when I need something. My favorite store is Eddie Bauer. Today's purchase was a pair of corduroy pants from Eddie Bauer that normally cost $60 and I got them for $21. What a deal!!!