Special Olympics Polar Plunge

 Each year, TDAmeritrade employees participate in the Polar Plunge at Utah Lake to support Special Olympics.  The past 2 years, the News crew had Robert waiting in the hot tub while employees 'plunged'  but this year he was 'plunging' into the ice cold water with them.

                                                                          Head first dive

                         He said it was soooooo bitter cold that every part of his body hurt.

                                                        Done.....now headed for the hot tube.

BYU Celebration

Spent this morning at Kneaders celebrating Aubrey's admission to BYU

Go Cougars!!!

BYU ACCEPTANCE

Aubrey has worked hard for years now in anticipation of this day.  

She took hard classes, missed a OneDirection concert to take the ACT,  studied, stressed, and today made all that hard work and effort completely worth it.

10:30 pm Logging into her BYU account to check her 'STATUS'.  Robert had been in New York all week and when his flight was delayed 2 hours, we wondered how many hours would pass between 'knowing her status was available' and actually 'logging in to check it'.  No need to worry, as her notification of status did not hit her email account until almost 10 pm and she and Robert arrived home at almost the exact same time.

So happy for her!  She was not always sure she wanted to go to BYU, but after staying on campus the past 2 summers  for Cheer Camp, she decided that was the 'one and only' place she wanted to attend college.  

Happy Sisters, and her University of Utah boyfriend, wrapped in her BYU flag.  She will be such a great addition to the Cougar Nation!

Chad & Aubs

Chad & Aubs have been friends since the womb.  Chad's Mom Stacy, was one of my special Young Women leaders and life long friends.  As a youth, I never imagined having a baby at the same time as Stacy, but I was pregnant with my first when she was pregnant with her last - and here they are now as Seniors in High School.  

Chad flew up from California to go to Sweethearts with Aubs.  They had a great time swimming in the Homestead Crater in Midway and going to the dance,  It was fun to hear about the differences between Bingham and La Canada High School.

These are two great kids, and we're glad they got to enjoy this dance together.  

Sweethearts

Aubrey & Chad at Bingham Sweethearts

Emi @ Dr. J's

Why when I take the kids to the Dr. do we usually leave with a different problem then we came with.  Emi was in for her excema - switching up her steroid creams as spring arrives, but left with some heavy duty medicine for her lungs.  

Update:  2 weeks later, her legs and lungs are doing much better.   

Valentine's Day Hike

We LOVE to hike,  Valentine's Day is not usually a day when can head up to the mountains for a hike, but this mild winter has given us lots of unusual options this year.

We headed up behind the University of Utah, above Red Butte Gardens.

Such a great view!

Love these hiking partners

Loved being able to spend the afternoon together hiking in the mountains, minus the snow.

Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt

One of the highlights of 3rd grade is being able to participate in a Wax Museum.  Brenna has been thinking for months about who she wanted to learn about and represent at the Museum.  After reading a variety of books, she decided she wanted to be Eleanor Roosevelt.  

She was an extraordinary woman and individual, a crusader, willing to fight for human rights and the betterment of society not just here in America, but throughout the whole world.  She served willingly and used the positions and influence she had to make important changes to help and support people.  

Brenna is working to develop many of the skills and qualities that made Eleanor a great leader and role model.   Such a cute Eleanor Roosevelt!

New Piano

Lindsay had outgrown the digital piano and needed a new instrument.  We looked at and tested out about 20 baby grands before finally deciding on this one.  

It sounds amazing and it has been getting a lot of use.   Mom realized she can still plunked out a few hymns, Aubrey is back playing popular music, and Brenna decided to start up lessons again with Mary.  It's been a good investment so far.