Bring On The Snow

 The girls are diehards when it comes to the cold and have been waiting very patiently for the snow.  We caught Reese out on the trampoline for the first frost.... and then, not to be outdone, the little ladies bundled up for this next shot.  (I know, I know, where are the parents???-- Obviously caring more about getting a good photo).

So on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we made our children put on actual cold weather clothes and we headed up to the mountains for our yearly tradition of playing in the snow and hunting down a Christmas tree in the wild.

Even though we brought hot soup, hot chocolate and lots of cookies, Reese filled up on the white stuff.  We found the best sledding hill and Byron brought the snowmobiles with this little sled that fit Holland, Greer and their two cousins-- Katy and Lindsey.

 We all went on lots of snowmobile rides and he carted the kids around in this sled... with only a few minor tips and dumps.  The picture below is of Melissa-- my sister-in-law Dana's best friend B.M. (before marriage). 

My honey and me... 

We went up with Doug and Dana and family and Ron and Elly and their son, Mark.  My parents stayed home with Kean-- thank goodness.  It was coooolllldddd.  By the way, we did not come home with a Christmas tree.  We looked somewhat, but spent much of our time playing.  Oh darn, guess that means we'll have to go up again!

Prayer Request

Since I have been the recipient of many of your prayers (and I personally know the power of prayer), I could sure use them on behalf of my cousin.  Lance Leavitt left my Aunt Pat's home at about 3pm on Thanksgiving Day for a hike.  My Aunt lives in the foothills above Salt Lake City-- the hills that lead up to the imposing Wasatch Front.  Lance never returned.  He has Epilepsy and while he has only had four seizures in the past 9 or so years, we are worried sick for him.  As you know, the weather has been just awful up there and this not knowing what happened to him is eating his family alive.  I'd love for his wife Casey, son and two daughters (one is only 10 months old), to feel the comfort and power of your prayers.
Thanks---
L

I Couldn't Make This Stuff Up If I Tried....

Here in Boise, it is expected to be one of the coldest Thanksgivings ever.  Last night, the prelude to the really cold storm blew through.  I woke up to the sound of tiny pieces of ice hitting against our windows and doors.  Moments later, I heard Reese and Greer (who share a room) arguing.  Mind you, it was probably 2 or 3 in the morning.  Byron and I wondered out loud if they were talking in their sleep-- but what are the chances that both of them would be conversing rather loudly while still sleeping?
I dragged myself out of bed (I am waaayyy too old for this) and stumbled to their room.  Apparently, Reese had accused Greer of "tooting" loudly and that she needed to stop.
Greer protested back-- saying she wasn't, hadn't and didn't.
Then Reese asked rather crossly... "who's making all that noise then?"
Mystery solved-- it was the storm-- the ice and wind banging against the window.
If anyone should get yelled at-- it should be Mother Nature-- for tooting!

Divine Intervention

Isn't it interesting how you just so happen to randomly run into the one person who can say just the right things at just the right time? 
Today Kean had some testing done at the hospital (blood work for his Thyroid and an in-depth hearing screening).  Let's just say I walked out of the hearing screening near tears and a bit depressed.  I know he can hear and I had expected this to be one test we wouldn't need to worry about-- well guess what?  He failed miserably.  His ear drums are not vibrating and he had zip, nada, zero response to the hearing tests and cues.  The Doc thinks he must have a goopy build up of fluid inside his inner ear-- so we will next see a specialist and likely face surgery and tubes.  I know, not a super big deal-- but can I just have one doctor's appointment where they don't find anything wrong????
Anyway, I stopped off at the grocery store on the way home (and somehow between the store and my house, I lost a bag-- grrrr).  While shopping, I ran into a friend, who just so happens to have a 14 year old boy who has Down Syndrome and Autism.  In the crush of shoppers trying to beat the storm due to arrive tomorrow and prepare for Thanksgiving, we stood and talked.  Dana R. told me that when she had her son, the doctors and nurses told her to just survive the first two or three years-- that those years are full of medical appointments, tests and plenty of scares.  And then it gets easier. 
It was exactly what I needed to hear-- that, and plenty of more words of advice and encouragement and empathy.  She's been there, done that and done it with grace and composure and most importantly, she's still sane.  I surely think someone up above placed her in my path.  And for that I am grateful.

 My parents watched the three loud girls so we could have quiet at the hearing test.  They made yummy Thanksgiving sugar cookies with orange and chocolate frosting.  After his long day of being poked and prodded, the girls rewarded Kean with a chunk of a cookie.  I think he thought he was in heaven.

Love Letters

Dear, sweet Greer was Student of the Week this past week.  Words can't begin to express how excited she was about being spotlighted.
I took Kean and Reese down to her school yesterday to see her in her glory.  Greer had to make a poster full of pictures of her long life.  Her teacher had her talk about each picture.  Then she let the kids ask 5 questions.  Guess who was question asker number five?  Yup, the uninhibited, rarely intimidated Reese.
Then each student wrote a love letter to Greer.  They are hilarious.  I never knew there were so many spellings for the word very:  veary, vary, varry, verry...............  Or nice.  Did you know its more common spelling is nise?
Anyway, my second favorite letter to Greer was from a kid named Zack.  He wrote:  I like you because you are smart and very (read the word very 31 TIMES) nice!
My first favorite was from her dad.  Knowing it was her special day, he left her one for when she got up

 to go to school.

                    What a keeper-- the letter and the Dad!

Things that go bump in the night...

What I would give for a string of solid nights of sleep with no interruptions. On Monday night we came home from the funeral service and got the kids right to bed.  Even Byron and I were in bed and asleep around 10!  At about 1:30 in the morning, I hear Reese get up and go into the bathroom.  But that was it.  Since I didn't hear anything else, I decided I'd better drag my ragged self out of bed and check on her.  As I walked down the hall toward her room, I was hit with the smell of rotten eggs.  I told her I'd be right back and headed down the stairs, where Holland, Greer and our dog, Zoe were sleeping.  The smell was much worse down there.  I turned on the kitchen light, and yep, just as suspected, our gas stove was on the light position.  Propane gas had been pouring out steadily for 4 HOURS!
I quickly turned it off, opened doors and turned on fans.  It was so bad, I woke up Byron and we went around and checked to make sure all of the children were still alive and conscious!  We figured Greer had hit the stove lighter with her foot and turned it on, when she had hopped up on the counter to get a glass for water right before she went to bed.  Yikes!  Neither Byron, nor I could sleep the rest of the night.
Then last night we had another "episode"... this one wasn't life threatening, however.  Reese and the girls had all gone to bed around 8:45.  It was now 10:30.  We thought they were all snug in their beds-- WRONG.  Byron and I were just getting ready to head upstairs when we heard Reese at the top of her lungs start yelling for Greer (they share a room and sleep barely 5 feet from each other-- if that).  We looked at each other, and wondered if she was having a nightmare.  Nope.  Reese had been awake the entire time-- playing while Greer was out cold.  When Reese finally decided it was time to go to bed, she called over to Greer to tell her goodnight.  When she didn't answer (HELLO-- she was in a dead sleep)-- Reese started yelling her name to get her attention!!!  
I swear, sometimes I wonder if she does these things on purpose to drive us crazy!

Make-Up and Speaking Up

 You know when it's a little too quiet in the house and you know something is not right with the world?  The three girls had disappeared for a while and then suddenly came out with Reese in a new outfit, clip on earrings, a new do and lot of makeup.

As a family, we had quite the interesting experience last night. First the background:  our sweet friend, Mary Virginia Simplot Christensen passed away at age 86.  She is Mary K and Jeanie's mother.  When I was in the hospital last year, they visited me many, many times.  And I remember each time, Mary would sit and hold my hand.  She was kind, gentle and very loving.  This picture was taken of her last April on the day we blessed Kean.  There was something special between Kean and Mary.  She had a very soft spot for him.

Last night, a memorial service was held for Mary at the Holy Apostles Catholic Church.  Mary's daughters asked me, as part of the service to spend 5 or 10 minutes speaking about what I, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) believe about what happens to a person after death.  My friend Ali, who is Muslim, spoke after I did.
I have to level with you, I haven't been that nervous in a long, long time.  I don't usually get nervous about public speaking-- but geez, combine talking about the very personal subject of religion with speaking in a massive Catholic Church -- I was capital A-fraid.
I ended my remarks by having my three girls come up and sing I Am A Child Of God.   They practiced and practiced and even though they said they were nervous too, they did a beautiful job.  It ended up being a very sweet experience.  But one I'm so very glad to have behind me!