Wintery Idaho!

Well, it has been a nice, relaxing vacation. We haven't been anywhere because it has been snowing almost constantly. Yesterday was white-out conditions and it is still coming down. Zack has been out of school for both days because the snowplows couldn't get to some of the rural roads here. He has been sooooo disappointed that he's had to stay home (NOT!). Anyway, here are a few pictures of our adventures. Here is Madi, Zack and Gabe on our first evening here.


Zack and Madi out for a walk yesterday. You can just barely see anything! Madi said she felt like a marshmallow being all bundled up like that.


After the sun came out, we actually ventured out on the snowmobiles for a little bit. We weren't out long because of the wind chill, but we all had a great time. I understood what Madi meant by feeling like a marshmallow, though. (Although you won't see pictures of me here!)

Here is Zack and Madi heading out. Gabe rode for quite awhile with both Dad and Alan, and then John and I went out together. The first thing we did was go up over the bank onto the field where we could let loose, but we overbalanced and tipped right over. We were laughing so hard and then I couldn't find firm ground to get up, so I kept falling back down! It was such a comedy of errors! We were really glad no one had the camera on us then! But, after crawling out of the snowbank, John got us going again, and we had fun out there on the flats. I think I would really enjoy going on snowmobile trips to the mountains, Yellowstone, or any other place like that. I didn't drive myself yesterday because I didn't have any goggles, and my glasses were so fogged up I couldn't see where I was going. It would not have been a good thing! But, under more prepared circumstances, I would really enjoy it.

Anyway, that's our vacation so far. We hope everyone is safe and happy back home. We will be back in Salt Lake tomorrow afternoon, and then Madi will be spending the weekend with Sara while John, Gabe and I go to St. George for my music conference.

Winter Vacation!!!!!

Well, one of the most hectic weekends for me is now over. My schedule for the last 3 days has just been absolutely crazy! But the State Honor Choir is now just a memory -- one that I hope my students will cherish. They were in rehearsals for 6 hours on Friday, and again for 3 hours yesterday before the concert. My students have had a wonderful, although intense, musical experience, and the concert was just the culmination of the whole thing. When the whole thing was over, though, I had to drive from Salt Lake (Cottonwood High) back to Tooele, and back home again. It was after 10:30 last night when I got home. This morning we got up and packed and drove to Shelley and Alan's. It was a nice drive, even though there was some snow. We were ahead of the big storm, and we have simply enjoyed relaxing and watching it snow. I can't believe how much snow they have here!!! I will take pictures of our adventures and put them on the blog soon.

January Blahs

Just wanted to keep updated a bit, but nothing is really going on here. Just lots of snow and lots of errands out in that snow. One more week until our vacation -- I'm really looking forward to going to Idaho and then to St. George. Talk about going from North to South! I really need the time off from the students. I had really become the Wicked Witch of the West in some of my classes before the end of the last term. Now I get new students, and I get a new start as well. It will be great to do it with a large break. We'll take lots of pictures and do a big update on our vacation.

Here's a Good Laugh:

I got these from a friend of mine. I got a good giggle out of them (and believe me, I needed one today).

FORGET REDNECKS; THIS IS WHAT JEFF FOXWORTHY HAD TO SAY ABOUT UTAHNS!

--If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Utah.

--If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Utah.

--If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Utah.

--If 'vacation' means going anywhere south of Salt Lake City for the weekend, you live in Utah.

--If you measure distance in hours, you live in Utah.

--If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Utah.

--If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' and back again in the same day, you live in Utah.

--If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both unlocked, you live in Utah.

--If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Utah.

--If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in Utah.

--If the speed limit on the highway is 75 mph -- you're going 80, and everyone is still passing you, you live in Utah.

--If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in Utah.

--If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Utah.

--If you find 10 degrees 'a little chilly' you live in Utah.

Several years ago, someone sent me a list of things about living in Carbon and Emery Counties. If any of you know of this list, I would love to get my hands on it again.

Gabe's silly Dance

Gabe had this silly little toy from McD's. He would do this dance every time he had it on. Just thought we'd share. Turn down the music at the bottom in order to hear what Gabe is dancing to.

Catching up

Not much has happened this week, although I can't get rid of one of my classes quick enough! There are about 10 boys that are absolutely incorrigible, and they are making my life quite miserable. Only 4 more days!!!! Then I get a whole new class of them. A new start can make all the difference, though. The end of our term out in Tooele and Granite districts is next week.

I am looking forward to the Honor Choir experience again this year. I am taking 16 students to participate in this statewide event. If you would be interested in a great choral concert experience, come to Cottonwood High School on the night of the 26th. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. These may be junior high students, but the combination of the music and the conductor creates an experience much more mature.

The day after the concert, John's vacation begins. We are going to go to visit Shelley, Alan and Zack from the 27th to the 30th. Then we will get home, rest a bit and then go to St. George for the music conference I go to every February. So, not much has happened now, but there's lots coming up.

Here are a few pictures. I'm catching up on several things at once.









This one is our famous cat: Lalo. He just fits in this sink! And this is one of his favorite places to nap.








Gabe and Jonas got to see a real hobby train set! They were absolutely fascinated!

This is entire set-up: 5 tracks set up beyond the house, all with trains on them. The one Gabe and Jonas are standing by is the only one inside the house.

Gabe was really taken with all the new babies at the hospital. Here he and Leslie are holding Baby Leah while the rest of us were adoring Baby Esme. He simply wanted to hold the new babies.



















Madison with Baby Esme.











A couple of Christmas pictures and the aftermath.

The first week back to school -- and the last 2 weeks of our term. I get to switch most of my classes out then, and I am really looking forward to that in some cases. It means I will have about 200 new names to learn, but I usually get them down within a couple of weeks. John has hired a man from our ward to work on our new bathroom downstairs. It will be so nice to have 2 bathrooms in our house, and one I don't have to go upstairs for. It is all framed in and part of the plumbing put in, but now they will start on the sheet rocking. I'm not looking forward to the mess, but I am really excited about the final product. Nothing else exciting happening, except that the storms have started: more snow. Be careful out there.

My sad attempt at poetry

Happy New Year!!!
The end of our vacation is at hand.
It's back to the grind, back to the "band." (boooooo)
Here's hoping that all will have a great year,
And know that to us, each of you is dear.
Keep in touch.