Zoo Lights

I've wanted to go to Hogle Zoo to see ZOO LIGHTS for a couple of years now and finally made it there this year. The Coke rep for Harts brought by some free tickets so now was the time.

Rachael and her friend Briggs joined me.


I was disappointed that I didn't get to see the elephants, especially Baby Zuri, they weren't out. But we did get to see the triplet tiger cubs. They are as big as their Mom
We watched the giraffe's eat from a Christmas tree.



The Christmas lights were fun and enjoyable.


We did the "Do You Measure Up?" check

I think they both measure up just fine.

I didn't see the real elephants, but did have my picture taken with one.

It was a COLD night, but Hot Chocolate from Starbucks had us warmed up in no time at all.

Christmas 2010

It is interesting how Christmas has evolved at our house. Early in our marriage, the kids were up and r eady to see what they had gotten from Santa, VERY, VERY early. Then a couple of years later, we had to drag them out of bed when Rachael woke up. Now the older kids are all gone, and Richard and I have a leisure morning waiting for Rachael to get up. I am sure a few years down the road things will change some again.

Santa did find his way to our house and we all got things from him. We had fun opening our presents from each other and enjoying our surprises.



Richard got the family a new waffle iron for Christmas and it was a BIG hit. He made us waffles for breakfast. I didn't realize how much I've missed having them since our waffle iron died a while back, until he cooked them for breakfast. It was a GREAT gift.

We spent the afternoon at my parents in Bountiful, opening presents from them and playing a card game called "Five Crowns". We had a lot of fun, I think we may need to get that game for our house.

The grandsons were here when we got home so we watched them open some presents and then played games on the WII with them the rest of the evening.

Christmas was GREAT!

Merry Christmas!

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord:


May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!

Christmas Eve 2010

We've had a GREAT Christmas Eve. Grandkids here, Reitz family party, working with Rachael on her "Closet" in the basement (More on this to come in the future). Richard cooking a wonderful roast for dinner.

Opening a present on Christmas Eve.
One my favorite things to do on Christmas Eve is to drive to Alpine and see the Luminaries lining the streets.

Then a bit of a drive to look at Christmas Lights.

.75 for a cup of Hot Chocolate

Austin, Sean, and Bryton had a HOT CHOCOLATE stand on Christmas Eve. They set it up on the corner of our street. They had a good time and earned $35.00, so they each got $11 and gave the rest to Richard because he made the Hot Chocolate. The boys spent their hard earned money on lunch at McDonalds. Oh to be young again.

Winter Guard begins

Rachael is a part of the American Fork High School Winter Guard.

Winter Guard is what the Color Guard does during the winter. They perform with their flags, rifles, and sabers inside the gym. Tryouts were held in the middle of November and Rachael will again be a part of the Open Guard. The Guard Director - Tiffany Miller - brought in someone to help the girls learn their show. They spent a Friday and Saturday one weekend and then a Thursday, Friday and Saturday the next weekend working with Poncho Torres learning the show.



I only saw a rough 2 minutes of their 5 minute show and already can hardly wait until it is all put together to see the whole show.

I wonder how they will use the big pole in the show??


This is the kind of pictures I get when someone doesn't want her picture taken any more.

Regan Lindsay Blanco

God saw you getting tired
and a cure was not to be
so he put his arms around you
and whispered,
“Come to Me”

With tearful eyes we watched you
and saw you pass away
and although we love you dearly
we could not make you stay.

A Golden heart stopped beating
hard working hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us
he only takes the best.

Regan - We Love You! We Miss You!

Rest in Peace - Until we meet again.

A Day with Ryan and Tammy

We spent the day after Thanksgiving with Ryan (Richard's brother) and his wife Tammy. We had breakfast together at a little Mexican Restaurant in Deming, New Mexico. For me it was a little weird having chips and salsa at 9:00 in the morning, but Richard, Ryan, and Tammy ate them right up. Then we drove to Silver City and visited the Military Cemetery where Richard's Mom and Step-Father are. We left a Christmas wreath as a reminder of the love that we have for them.

There is something about a National Military Cemetery that truly makes one proud to be an American. All of those white headstones for those who have served our country - who have to maintain the freedoms that we enjoy. I am so thankful for those who have served, My Dad, Richard's Dad and Step- Dad, Ryan, Regan, Regina and many of my uncles. THANK YOU!

With Silver City being about 1000 miles from our house, we know that we won't get to the cemetery often so we are glad that even after the long drive to Deming, we went ahead and drove another 50 miles. Mom and Harold, we miss you! We Love You!



We then went to Old Town Silver City and walked up and down the Main Street. We watched a horse drawn wagon go up and down the street and when it came by one time Rachael and I jumped on. It was a fun little ride.

We ended our day back at Regan and Shyla's for Thanksgiving Dinner leftovers. Yummy sandwiches and pie for dinner. We had a another nice visit with Regan and Shyla.

Here is a picture of the three boys

( I just couldn't win with the pictures - Ryan has his eyes open, but his tongue out, then Ryan and Regan have their eyes closed. There is probably a friend out there who could teach him how to photo shop and get a good picture)

Thanksgiving in Deming, New Mexico

We did the "over the river and thru the woods" thing for Thanksgiving, and headed to Deming, New Mexico. We went thru the snowing roads in Utah, to the wet roads of Colorado, spent the night in Cortez, Co. Back onto the snow packed roads of Colorado, into snow packed roads in New Mexico, finally onto dry roads of New Mexico and arrived in Deming. We checked into our Hotel and changed our clothes and made the mad dash to Regan and Shyla's just in time for Thanksgiving dinner at 2:00.

We got to met Regan's daughter Emily for the first time and her cute family. We'd met Bethany years ago, but she also had a family now. Richards brother Ryan and his wife Tammy were there also.

Shyla

Regan



Aunt Tammy with Aaron and Hannah (Bethany's kids)


Uncle Ryan with Trix


Zak (Emily' son)


Bethany and Emily.

Rachael had lots of fun playing with the young cousins.


We had plenty of Good Food, Good Company, Good times and Good Memeories. Thanks Regan and Shyla for putting up with all of us. We had a GREAT time!

Sushi night at R C Willey

While eating dinner on Wednesday, Richard told me that he had heard on the radio that R C Willey was having a Sushi demonstration and asked if I wanted to go. I have not eaten Sushi, but he has it on a regular basis at his work. I thought it might be fun and when I looked on R C Willey's website to get the details it said they were also giving away TV. So we dropped Rachael off at Young Women's and headed to Orem. We found where they were doing the demonstration and watched while they made some Sushi. It looked much easier than I expected, Richard tried lots of different kinds, I had some with shrimp and some with cucumber. It was better than I thought it would be. We found the box and entered our names for the TV, then wandered the store, day dreaming and wishing. Lots of fun things I would buy if I had unlimited money, but since I don't I found a massage chair and sat down. What fun . . . just enjoying the massage, it even had a piece that you put your legs in and it massaged your calves. I think I was in heaven!

The drawing for the TV was going to be held after they verified that there was only one entry per person in the box, so we finally came home. We'd been home for about an hour when my phone rang and guess who it was . . .YOU ARE RIGHT . . .R C Willey telling me that I had won a 32 inch flat screen Coby TV




Richard picked our new TV up the next day on his way home from work, it sure looks GREAT in our bedroom.

Thanks R C Willey

November 17, 2010

FINALS - Bands of America Regional Competition

It all comes down to this. All the summer practices, early mornings practices, after school practices, band camps, bruises, jammed fingers, fund raising. . . the final performance.









The band gave it their all. They looked great - but so did 9 other bands, they all gave it all they had. In the end the 10 Finalists bands returned to the stadium.


Medals were given to each of the division champions.



The American Fork High School Marching Band and Color Guard received SECOND PLACE.


What a fun group of girls!!


Mom and Dad are so proud of Rachael and the time she has put into something she enjoys so much! Rachael - WE LOVE YOU!!


November 6, 2010