Our Trip to Baltimore February 15-19, 2008

Garrick and I went to Baltimore with four other couples and our advisor for our Young Farmer and Rancher State Committee. We went to the YF&R Leadership Conference.

We didn't get a picture of our entire group until we were on the way home, So here we are in front or our gate for American Airlines in the Baltimore. Troy and Jodi Henri from Panguich. Wade and Mandi Garrett from Nephi. Seth and Misty Wall from Mona. Rowdy and Jonelle Fitzgerald from Camas. Garrick and Holly Hall from Cove. Sterling Brown works for Utah Farm Bureau.

We had a beautiful view from our room on the 18th floor of the Marriott. Baltimore is a beautiful city!

Camey was so nice to let us come to her house for dinner on Monday night. It was so fun to see her and Kristen and their families ( we were sorry Kevin was out of town). Camey lives about 35 minutes away from Baltimore, so Mark (Kristen's husband) was nice enough to wait for us after he got done working to give us a ride out to Camey's. Camey fed us a wonderful dinner- it was our favorite meal of the entire trip! Then Camey loaded all her kids in her vehicle and gave us a ride back to our hotel. It was so nice of them to take time to see us. It was so fun to visit with them and see a peek of what their lives are like.

The night of the Banquet they had this ice sculpture that said Got Milk.

Our table at the Banquet. At lunch both days, we were split up based on a symbol on our name tags. Even husbands and wives did not sit together. It actually turned out to be a great opportunity to get to know other people from around the country. It was good to find out what they do in thier states.

Jonelle and I were so impressed with the fancy dessert- yummy chocolate mousse served in a chocolate cup flag thing.

On Monday we went on a tour to Getysburg. We have acually been there 2 other times but we learn something ney every time we go. WE also got to see an orchard farm and a dairy farm. THe dairy farm uses robotic milkers.

Our hotel was very close to the Aquarium. WE spent a coupl of hours there one morning, and we were all wishing our kids were there with us to see the sharks and the dolphins!

Some Way Cute Kids!

When I was making Valentines yesterday, I noticed that I don't have many recent pictures of the kids together. So, they all looked so cute this morning in their new shirts CeCille gave them for Valentines, I decided to take a few pictures. Trevor was so funny, because he wanted to be in every picture. He was feeling pretty cool in his new shirt. He even had to try it on last night, when the girls tried on their new shirts. The girls had to wear dresses today for the Valentines Tea, and they were not too excited about dancing with a boy!

Our Love for President Hinkley

Well, it has been a week now since I learned that President Hinkley had passed away. CeCille called from Hawaii and said they had been in the visitor's center when they heard the news. When I hung up the phone and told my family that President HInkey had died, I felt so sad, and I was crying. Rachel said, "Mom, its OK. It's just part of the plan." I know Rachel, but I will still miss him. I have spent a lot of time throughout his past week thinking about why we loved him so much. I was up late Sunday evening with Trevor, so I watched the documentary by Carol Makita. Then on Monday, the KSL Radio dedicated the entire day as a tribute to President Hinkley. I listened as people called into the radio to share thoughts, feelings, and personal stories. Saturday, of course we watched the TV before, after, and during the funeral. Then today, I have been sick and didn't go to church or to Anthony's and CeCille's house with the rest of my family. So, I have been watching more tributes to this great man. I just can't get enough. I love to learn more about him. I love to hear him speak. I love to watch his example. I just don't want it to end. To watch him and listen to him, helps me feel better about myself and the world. He was such an optimist, and that was contagious.

He became the Prophet when I was a senior in highschool, and Garrick was in the mission field. Our entire "adult" lives, he has been our prophet. One very special experience I had was at Brandt's reception. President Hinkley was walking down the hall, and we were in a room off of that hall. He looked in there and waved and smiled to us. Wow, the feeling I had, is one I will never forget. I felt so strongly that he was our prophet, and I must have also felt his love. I remember that Rachel was giving her first talk in primary as a Sunbeam that next Sunday. She memorized a talk about President Hinkley and about her mom getting to see him and the feeling her mom had when he waved to her. I have had that same feeling many times since then when I have seen him in person at conference, and even when I have seen him on the TV. The spirit always confirms to me that he is the prophet and that he loves me.

Well, those are just a few of my thoughts about this extraordinary man. I asked my children to tell me some of their thoughts about Ppesident Hinkley:

Rachel said: I liked his sense of humor. It seemed like in every talk he gave, he made me laugh. In Hong Kong he told the people that when he first came there 30 years ago, he thought their language sounded like chicken talk. Everyone laughed.

I loved his love for the Book of Mormon, and how he challenged us to read it by the end of the year. That was the first time I remember reading it all the way through with my family.

Last conference, his talk was about Joseph Smith and how he translated the Book of Mormon and how this church has grown since then. I loved how he said that musicians can play or sing a song over and over, but a speaker is expected to come up with something new everytime he speaks.

We will miss him, but I am glad he can be with his wife, becasue he missed her so much.

Kaitlyn said: I like how much energy he had. Elder Tingy told a story about waiting in the elevator for President Hinkley at the chuch office building and when President Hinlkey got there he said, "You go ahead, I'll take the stairs."

I feel like President Hinlkey loved me and everybody and his family and Jesus.

Hannah said: You are the bestest prophet. I love you 'cause you are so nice. I loved your funeral. You are the best.

New Years Questions 2008

Well, each year for the last 4 years I have had the kids all fill out a questionaire on January 1st, or soon after. I'm embarrassed to say that this year it did not take place until January 20th. But, it did happen, and here are their answers (it is always fun to see how they change from year to year) You can see last years responses in January 2007 archives:

What was your favorite thing about 2007?
Rachel-Dad winning the discussion meet (getting the 4-wheeler) and playing the violin.
Kyle-Being able to raise my own calf.
Kaitlyn- the 4-wheeler and Ranger
Hannah-the 4-wheeler and Ranger
Trevor-my loader for Christmas
Holly-Our Trip to Washington DC last February

What is your favorite thing to do?
Rachel-play with my tamagotchi
Kyle-Feed Lazy (his calf)
Kaitlyn-Play with my doll
Hannah-Play with my doll
Trevor-Scoop things up with my loader and climb on the bathroom counter and empty the shelves in record time
Holly- Take pictures of my kids.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Rachel- A Mom
Kyle-a Farmer
Kaitlyn- a Singer like Hannah Montana
Hannah- a Dancer
Trevor- a Farmer
Holly- a better Mom

Who is your best friend?
Rachel- Robin Christensen
Kyle- Drew Glover and Caden Barlow
Kaitlyn- Teagan Ward and Maddie Leak
Hannah- Morgan White and Harley Poulsen (friends at preschool)
Trevor- Abbey Sadler (in nursery) their moms want them to be friends
Holly- Garrick (it has been expecially fun traveling with him so much lately)

What do you want to learn this year?
Rachel- Math and sew doll clothes and cook
Kyle-how to shoot a gun
Kaitlyn- Read chapter books
Hannah-Write my letters and read
Trevor- to talk
Holly- Sew doll clothes with Rachel

What are your goals?
Rachel- get 150 AR Points
Kyle-get 100 AR points
Kaitlyn- get better at basketball
Hannah- getting myself dressed and picking up my own clothes and toys
Holly- Read the Book of Mormon every day.

We will post Garrick's answers when we get him to fill in the answers, or when I decide to fill in his answers for him!

Hannah's and Mom's Snowman February 1, 2008

I think we got about 8 inches of snow yesterday. Kyle was really hoping they would cancel school, but honestly the wind didn't blow, and it was a beautiful day once the roads were cleared. Hannah has been wanting to build a snowman, and it seemed like the perfect day. SO when we got Trevor to sleep for his nap, she and I went outside to attempt to build our snowman. Rob and Kelsie had given the kids an awsome snowman kit for Christmas, but we had never had the right kind of snow for building a snowman for the whole month of January. This snow was not perfect packing snow, but we made it work. Hannah had to keep Missy (our dog) out of the way while I built the snowman. Then she helped me get it dressed, and the head only fell off once. We got some pictures before Missy slowly started destroying it. Hannah kept going back outside and gathering up the things Missy took off. At least Missy did not chew them up or run off with anything. By the time the kids came home from school, there wasn't much left. When we told Kyle we had made a snowman, he just laughed. He said, "I saw a small pile of snow out there and thought you might have tried to build a snowman." He later finished it off by driving over it with the 4-wheeler.

Kaitlyn's 100th Day of School Celebration January 31, 2008

The Lewiston Elementary First Graders celebrated their 100th day of school on Thursday.

Kaitlyn made a necklace with 100 beads, and wore 100 glasses and a head band with the numbers counting to 100 by 10s. They put 100 kids in a room and read 100 books.

Each student was supposed to bring a collection or a group of 100 of anything. Rachel and Kyle both nailed 100 nails to a board in the shape of 100 whan they were 1st graders. Kaitlyn decided she would have more than 100 Hannah Montana stickers. Thanks to the Christmas gift from Stephanie, she did. It was great, because Kaitlyn was so excited about her idea and actually wanted to go to school that day.