Daddy Daughter Olympics

Brenna and Robert participated in some of their favorite Winter Olympic sports at the Jordan Ridge Elementary Daddy Daughter Night. So Dad and I went to the Daddy Daughter night and it was really fun! We went and held the torch and then went to do some warm-up exercises. We did push-ups and sit-ups and jump-rope. Dad is really good at jump-rope! Then we went to do an activity where you had to jump on the dots there and back and whoever got back first won. of course for us this was too easy, so we decided it had to be on one foot. Most of the dads were letting their daughters win, but dad and I were very competitive. of course he won. Then we went to do curling. You had to slide a Frisbee and wanted to hit the green dot in the middle. Dad won again and we went on to figure skating. Makayla was there so we danced together. Then we went to speed-skating. You had to slide on two paper plates and whoever got there and back first won. I was laughing so hard that I kept losing my plates. he won...again.

 Then we went back to the main room and saw Derek Parra just standing there! we went to talk to him and after he was going to give a presentation. We decided we had already talked to him so we could leave. We went and got ice-cream and it was an awesome night! Also we made up Dab-skiing. The closing ceremony for this night was a motivational talk by 2002 Olympian and Utah favorite Derek Parra.  Read more about him here: Derek Parra 2017

As they finished up their events, they noticed Derek off to the side of the gym just waiting.  They went over and talked with him about the 2002 Olympics, working at Home Depot, and what he's doing now (we see him periodically when we ice skate at the Olympic Oval) No amount of fame or fortune has changed him from the humble, hard working, down to earth guy we have seen around town the past 16 years. Thank you Derek for continuing to share your inspirational story. 

King Benjamin's Address

King Benjamin was a prophet in the America's about 124 B.C.  He prophesied of the coming of Christ, and taught the same truths and principles Christ taught during his mortal ministry 150 years later.  Love, forgiveness, service, obedience, humility, and eternal life. His words can be found in the book of Mosiah in The Book of Mormon.

Near the end of his life, he gathered his family and all his people together around the temple to teach and preach unto them the words and will of the Lord. Mosiah chapter 2 teachers us how the "multitudes gathered and pitched their tents round about the temple every man according to his family.  Every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them." 

Tonight the youth of our congregation created tents in the church building and gathered together to hear their Bishop share the words of  King Benjamin with them.  

King Benjamin out visiting with the people in their tents.

I know wholeheartedly that King Benjamin was indeed a prophet of God, called by God to teach and testify of the divinity of our Savior Jesus Christ, who would come.   I know all prophets testify of Christ - from Moses, Abraham, and Isaiah in the Old Testament, to Peter, Paul, and John in the New Testament, to Nephi, King Benjamin, and Alma in the Book of Mormon, to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young in the latter days and today Russel M. Nelson - each of whom has testified of Jesus Christ, his love, sacrifice and Infinite Atonement that provides salvation for all of God's children.  I know these men to be prophets of God because I have read and studied their words and have felt the peaceful reassurance that these are indeed God's prophets.  

We want to leave you with a few more of King Benjamin's words that were shared from atop the tower. Please click on the link to read more...Mosiah 2 King Benjamin's address

Time to Bowl

Bowling in our family moves so fast, it's hard to capture the joy or frustration with a camera.  Brenna was moving so fast, you can decide for yourself whether she is a  happy or sad bowler, and those feelings change often.

Happy Bowler

Did you see that Bowler

All the bowlers look happy with their final scores :)

But serious about their hamburger orders.....

Fun to spend a Monday afternoon together!

Haircut 4 Kayla

Kayla LOVES her long Moana like hair.  So loves it so much, she doesn't like to have it cut or trimmed.  In fact, it has been years since scissors have touched her lovely locks.  Our hairdresser Jessi has tried luring her with good deals and bribing her with head massages in hopes of one day being able to 'just trim' that luscious mane. Unexpectedly, today was the day.  Kayla said she was ready for a trim....and Jessi snuck her into her busy schedule while Kat was up here in South Jordan.

The infamous head massage as promised

Too long to sit, needed to be a standing haircut

Emi went with her for emotional support

Beautiful

Lindz Prom Proposal

Lindz came home from her piano recital to find a special delivery on the porch. 

This was an easy one - he left his name right on the poster.

She's super excited to go to Prom with Adam :)

Lindz Piano Recital

Welcome to the Life of Lindsay

Get up, get ready & get to school 6:15-6:45

  National Honors Society Meeting 7:00-7:30

School class from 7:30-2:30

ACT prep class from 2:30 -3:30

Drive to Lacrosse practice, change & run 2 miles 3:30 -4:00 

Lacrosse Practice 4:00-6:15

Get picked by family & change in the car perform at piano recital 6:15-6:30

Perform at Piano Recital 6:30

Get dinner - do jobs, practice, scriptures, & homework 

Repeat - minus the NHS meeting & recital 👍

She is a busy girls and strives to do her best in every aspect of her life.  It is always a pleasure for us to hear her perform.  Love you Midl Mill!

Lindsay Sweethearts

                                                      Lindsay & Jeremy - Ready to Dance

The Group

The Girls

Megan. Caroline, & Lindz - Her Bestest Buddies

Post Dance - These 2 danced hard and loved every minute of it!

Disco Skating Day Date

Jeremy & Lindz in their 80's disco attire ready to Roller Skate

Disco Skating with friends is always a HIT!

Baby Kenzington Trip

My youngest sister Ally had a baby girl, Kenzington Bloomer on Wednesday January 31st.  Kenzington is child #8, with her siblings ranging in age from 16 down to 5.  She is a welcome addition to their family, and with Brenna currently off-track, she and I had the opportunity to go visit their family within a few days of Kenzi's birth.

I had forgotten how small and precious those newborn baby's are.  Oh, we just wanted to hold her and love on her all the time (even when she was sleeping, oops)  We also got to help the other kids with their normal routines while her husband Michael had to fly to Pennsylvania to find a new K-9 dog as his partner Zeus passed away soon after Kenzington's birth. (The dog in the video is one of their family dogs, not a trained K-9, though he totally looks like one.)

 It was a great adventure and we loved spending time with those kiddos as as we tried to fill in the gaps while Ally was resting.  I was the official shuttle driver (they have one of those 14 seat shuttle buses) and got them to school on time everyday -- with a little help from their neighbor Ruth.  They all made it to their various activities - volleyball, activity days, scouts, church, school, and mutual, without us getting lost or messing things up.  We love those kids a lot, and appreciate their patience with us.  We also loved being able to serve Ally & Michael, who are always constantly caring for the needs of others.  Bringing a new baby into your home is such a special and sacred time, and we felt blessed to be a part of it.  Love you GUYS!

SoJo Talent Show MC

 

Meet the 2018 SoJo Talent Show MC's - Liv, Emily, & Gavin

Backstage getting ready to 'Get It Started'

Em & friends Opening the Greatest Show 

Livening up the crowd 

Announcing the next acts

Final BOW after the Finale performed by the Special Needs Class at SoJo

We are SoJo Posters

When I visited SoJo Middle School for the talent show today, I noticed new posters hanging in the halls.  They capture some of the Student Body Officers showing their SoJo Pride.  You can see these are BIG posters, so it's pretty fun to see life size pictures of Emily and her friends in the halls.  I asked Em what it's like to have those pics up on the walls, but she says it's no big deal.  

She has quite the face in this one, raising her hand with the big scrunchy on her wrist

We do LOVE South Jordan Middle School.  It has been such a good place for all of our girls.  

We are SOJO