Monday, November 24, 2008

Jennifer

Life really can get away from us sometimes. Eric and I have been doing a lot of reflecting lately. I think it all happened about a month ago when we took Jennifer to the DMV to get her learners permit for driving. I had mixed emotions about the whole thing--freedom, she can now take herself to school activities that are 22 miles away and oh my, my baby is driving! I have to admit she is doing very well in her driving but wow where did all the time go.

We live in a tiny town in southern Utah that is perfect for young teens who are learning to drive. Main street runs the length of the town and is about a 1 1/2 miles long it is great for the hand full of 15-year-old kids who are practicing to get their drivers licence. The towns people are all pretty patient when they figure out it's one the the towns student drivers, I do love living in a small town. :) Eric had her drive home from wal-mart the other day (13 miles, they took the back roads and avoided the freeway). Her experience with that wasn't as wonderful. People didn't like having to go 30 mph, oops. She was pretty nervous but she did it!

We put Jennifer in High School and one of the classes she is taking is art. The students semester project was to draw a large picture for an in-school art show, Jennifer drew a wolf. Eric and I were amazed as we watched her drawing come together. When all the students drawings were finished her teacher framed them and had them placed around the school for the art show. Jennifer's drawing won the student choice award, She is pretty excited about it.

She also is taking a physics class where the students built mouse trap cars and then raced them. She had so much fun building it. On the day they raced them Jennifer's car won the Longest distance award. She worked so hard on it and had great ideas!

I wish I had pictures of her drawing and her mouse trap car but they are still on display at her school so I will post them when we get them back.

Chicken

Some of Jacob's favorite words to say are hi, bye, and chicken (he loves fried chicken.) He has been talking up a storm lately and is having so much fun putting words together to make phrases. Well, lately he's been putting his three favorite words together so he will say "hi chicken" or "bye chicken" and wave at us adorably. I know he has no idea what this phrase means in our culture, to him he is just putting two of his favorite words together to make a 'fantastic' phrase.

For Thanksgiving we are going up to Northern Utah. I am so nervous he will see our loved ones and say "hi chicken". I can imagine the puzzled looks on their faces as we work hard to explain his exploration of phrases.

Toddlers really make me laugh!

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Wonderful Weekend

Eric and I had a fantastic weekend! A couple weeks ago we got a call from one of Eric's closest friends wife.

Scott was going to be turning 40 and his wife Sarah wanted to throw him a surprise birthday party. We of course had to go. Scott Shupe's family took Eric in to their home to live with them in the mid 80's. Eric left for his mission from there, came home, met me, and only left their home when we got married in 1992. He has so many wonderful memories with the Shupe family and they hold a very special place in my heart as well.

Eric and I decided to go up to Ogden for the party alone, no children. My mother in-law very lovingly offered to check in with the children and take them to church on Sunday. So Saturday early afternoon we packed our little beat up Geo Metro and made the 4 1/2 hour journey up to Ogden. It was a wonderfully quiet trip and Eric and I had a great time talking and actually finishing conversations, oh it was great.

Scott's surprise party was at the Timbermine restaurant in Ogden. Eric and I hadn't been there in almost a decade but it was just as fun as we remembered. Scott was very surprised to be led back to a place where he was greeted by many old friends and all his close family. It was so fun to see everyone and catch up on what Eric's old friends were doing now.

On Sunday morning we knew we had to get home but Eric and I had to stop by Temple square before we left. We were really hoping to be able to make the broadcast of music and the spoken word. We were so excited, we made it a half hour early so we were able to hear the choir practice. The program was absolutely amazing. I have always loved the Mormon Tabernacle Choir but I have never heard them live. It was so moving to hear them sing praises to the Lord. :)

After the broadcast we walked around Temple Square, ran into many wonderful missionaries, oh how I love the Lord's missionaries, and watched a film about forever families. We left there feeling so up lifted, revitalized, and ready to get back to our children.

The ride home was not as smooth as the ride there. The weather got pretty bad and being in a tiny, light geo metro did not make things any easier. We hit strips of freeway where we were right next to enormous semi's and the hail and wind blew so heavy we could not see at all. EEK!!! We were so thankful for the clear skies of southern Utah.

Our trip really was wonderful though. We were able to reconnect with good friends, spend some great time together as a couple, and be reminded of Gods plan for us and how our family can be together forever.