Thomas Edison, Eli Whitney, Henry Ford, Rick Jeffs

Rick forwarded the email to me that said this:

Patent File No. 10-0555
We are pleased to inform you that the above-referenced patent application has been filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office naming you as an inventor.


Can I admit to pride swelling within me?  My husband, an inventor.  Honestly, I don't know much about his invention.  I know that it has to do with after treatment in large diesel engines.  What I do know, is that Rick's name is on a patent, and I have to say I think it's pretty darn cool.

20 Miler

On Labor Day we went as a family on a 20 mile bike ride.  It was a fantastic day.  The weather was beautiful, and the ride was amazing.  All the kids did great.  Daniel did get to ride in the bike trailer.  Rick got to pull him : ).  We went on the Rock Island Trail, and because of the new portion of the trail, we were able to leave from our house on our bikes.  We rode 10 miles out, to Dunlap, and rode back.  Before we left we picked up Subway sandwiches for our picnic lunch.  Don't ask me what Dallin's doing in the picnic picture.  He's just being Dallin, that's all.

This picture is in front of the tunnel that goes under Route 6 on our way back home.  We almost lost the lens cap as a result of this picture.  We put the camera on the top of a pole, or stump (I can't remember), and when we picked it up, we left the lens cap.  After going for awhile (at least a mile, probably close to 2), we realized it.  I rode back to see if I could find it, and I did!!  What a blessing!

Fall Soccer

I have so many things I have not blogged about.  I think I'll just go through my photos, share a few and write just a little, to document (my version of scrapbooking), rather than write a lengthy blog post.

Daniel played fall soccer, and had a lot of fun.  He has really improved, made some real contributions to the team, and scored his first goals (milkshake time)!!!  He and his buddy Darren (in the last picture) were the top scorers, and there were several games where any goals scored for their team were either by Darren or Daniel.  Do you see Daniel's blue shorts?  Don't you think red ones would look better?  So do I.  He has them.  Every game I tried to convince him that the red ones would look better, but he didn't want to wear them.  He never could tell me why either.  Once or twice he wore them, but of course I didn't have the camera with me then.  I guess I've learned by #5 that the color of shorts doesn't really matter and to just let it go.  *Sigh*  Most importantly, he had a great time.  One of my favorite things to watch was whenever he, or anyone on the team, did something well, Daniel would run by his coach and give him a running high five. He's certainly enthusiastic, and competitive too. 

General Conference

As always, Generel Conference was a welcome delight, filling my bucket which had somehow gotten depleted again over the last 6 months.  I have decided that as I review the talks from this Conference, I will try to apply what I have learned and come up with something that I will DO as a result.  This morning I listened to Richard G. Scott's talk on the scriptures.  I come away from it with a greater resolve to improve my scripture study.  I also want to memorize scripture.  So, I'm going to start with the seminary scripture mastery scriptures that were once lodged in my brain, and might even still be tucked way back in there....So, if you'd like to join me, this week's scripture is 2 Nephi 2:27, and will be posted on the sidebar throughout the week. 

Happy 5th Birthday!!

These are my nieces, Ella and Sara.  Today they are 5!!  Aren't they so adorable?  Happy Birthday, Ella and Sara!!

15 Years with Big Yellow

Today Rick was awarded his 15 year pin at Caterpillar.  The nicest thing is the additional week of vacation that he'll now get!!  He also brought home this press Release concerning the work he's been leading for the past three years.  It doesn't have his name in the article, but he's been leading the team who has designed the Cat clean emissions module described in the release. 

It's interesting to look back and think about how you've gotten where you are in life, and this was an event that caused me to ponder our Caterpillar story.  The story of how the Jeffs family became a Caterpillar family.  It may include more details than some of you care to read, but I'd like to write it all out anyway.

Sixteen and half years ago, Rick and I loaded everything we owned into a Budget truck and drove it and our little red Toyota Tercel from Provo, Utah to Indiana for Rick to attend Purdue University for graduate school.  I was 5 months pregnant with Dallin, and in order to not start school and have a baby at the same time, we decided to move right after BYU graduation, in April, rather than wait until August when classes would start, and the baby was due.  As a result, Rick needed to find a job for the summer (I was finishing my degree through Independent Study).  He was able to get hired by Caterpillar in Lafayette as a summer intern, and had his first experience working there.  Dallin was born, classes started up, and he was able to get a job with an Engineering consulting firm closer to campus and our home that paid more money, so he left the Cat internship and moved on (or so he thought).  Honestly at the time, he did not envision himself working for Caterpillar.  He's never been super excited about engines, and didn't see many positions he was interested in. 

Fast forward about 9 months, and Rick had completed his first year of his Master's at Purdue, and was enjoying the work he was doing at the consulting firm.  I was happily adjusting to motherhood, and plugging away at my remaining classes for my degree.  Not planning to have another baby, I only had catastrophic medical insurance.  Then I discovered that I was pregnant : ).  We were happy of the news of another baby, but a little concerned about how we would pay for this baby.  About the same time that we discovered this new development in our family life, the consulting firm Rick was working for approached him and told him they were planning to move the firm to Cincinnati, and asked him if he would consider coming with them.  They offered him a job, and to finish paying for his Master's degree at the University of Cincinnati.  I honestly can't remember the order of everything all these years later, whether we learned we were pregnant first, or that the firm was leaving, I can't remember. I just remember it happening all at the sme time.

That's when things began to get more complicated for us.  Never had Rick had any plans of working and finishing his Master's at the same time.  We had imagined that he would be a full time grad student until he was done at Purdue, and then he would get a job and we'd move to the next stage of our life.  We started to think openly about other plans. Were we interested in Rick working full time and going to school at the same time?  Did we want to move to Cincinnati?  Did he want to finish school at the University of Cincinnati?  As we began to weigh the options, we thought "well, if we're considering taking a job somewhere, why not look at other options as well."  Enter Caterpillar back into the picture.  Rick agreed to contact the guy he had worked under as an intern.  I remember him telling me that there was only one position that he would be interested in at Caterpillar in Lafayette.  He made the phone call.  The position was available, and they were willing to interview Rick for the job.  He interviewed, and they offered him the job, and to pay for him to finish his Master's at Purdue.

Now we had a decision to make.  Take the job with the consulting firm, where Rick would be one of the few employees in a company hoping to increase it's size and prestige.  This would also mean moving, and finishing his Master's at a less prestigious Engineering school.  Or take the job with a very large cooperation there, in Lafayette, no need to move, and finish the Master's at Purdue, the #3 grad school in Mechanical Engineering at the time.  Both jobs had mo problem picking me up on the insurance, even knowing that I was expecting.  One little detail I haven't told you yet.  Cincinnati offered a bigger salary, by $5000 a year.

To this date, when I think of agonizing decisions, this is still the one I think about.  It was a tough one.  I'll spare you all the details.  I think it's obvious what we chose.  We stayed in Lafayette, and Rick became a full time employee of Caterpillar.  For the next three school years, he worked and took classes to finish his Master's degree.  We bought our first house, Dailie was born in February after Rick started working at Cat.  We paid $10 for her birth and prenatal care (wow has health care changed). 6 weeks after Dailie was born, I took my last exam for my final Independent Study class to finish my degree.  A few months before Rick completed his Master's, we added Audri to our family.  Believe me, we celebrated!!

Caterpillar has been so good to us.  Rick has had numerous opportunities for growth in his career, within the cooperation.  They have offered us stability during uncertain economic times.  Neither Rick nor I ever imagined that he would hire on with a company and stay there 15 years, but here we are, it's been the right decision, and what a ride it's been!!

Getting Excited for Tomorrow.....

Thompson Family Reunion

Here's a video I put together of photos from the Thompson Family Reunion we attended in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in July.  It was great to be all together, and it was beautiful country and great weather.  What more could you ask for?

Happy Birthday, Daniel!!

My baby turned 6 today.  Happy Birthday, Daniel!!

BYU football cake and Star Wars Lego.  It was a good day for Daniel.

23 Inches All Together

We've been getting haircuts around here.  And donating it too, to Locks of Love.  Eliza was first.  I failed to take official before and after photos, but I found these that will work.

Before

After.  She donated 10 inches of her hair.

Then it was Audri's turn.  As many of you know, Audri's hair had gotten REALLY long.

Before

After.  She donated 13 inches, and still has plenty left.  They both look super cute, and feel good about what they've done.

Way to go, girls!!

First Day of School

So school has started.  Just like that.  We're back to the very structured schedule.  It's good.  It was time, although I'm always sad to see the summer end.  Dallin and Dailie are both in High School this year, Dallin a Junior, Dailie a Freshman.  They are also up bright and early for Seminary.  Until Dallin gets his license (so hard to believe, but will be a relief in so many ways)mid September, I'm up early too, driving them each day.  Dallin is part of the Jazz AllStars again, and joins the combo group as their keyboardist.  Dailie will start back up in dance class soon.

 Audri is a 7th grader at Lindbergh this year, and excited for a new year of learning.  She'll be a Navigator again this year (like Student Council), and can't wait for gymnastics to start back up.

Eliza is the big cheese on campus this year as a 4th grader at Kellar. She happens to have the same teacher she had in Kindergarten, and she thinks that will be strange, but I think it will work out ok.  She is thrilled to be starting a Theater class soon. 

Daniel, the first grader.  Daniel is most excited about Spelling tests. He thinks it's pretty cool that he'll have those this year. 

We'll see what I get accomplished this year.  I plan to get in shape, volunteer at the school, and try to keep my house in a little better order than it has been....

Here's to another year of school!!

Choosing Covenant

I read this poem on Segullah, a blog I enjoy reading, and I really liked it.  I've posted it, as well as the comment I made on the site about the poem.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on this idea.

“the serpent”

you have the power to choose,
he hisses,
wrapping around my discontent with
soothing deception.

he flaunts the power of the gift,
the very gift he sought to crush.
relentless, he presents
option
upon grinding option,
knowing all the while that
I surrendered my gift
years ago
upon the altar.

you were so young,
you didn’t know—
words from the forked tongue,
and yet he bruised Eve’s heel
despite her innocence.

confusion, excuse,
ignorance
fall away, hollow,
as I come to see
the only choice I truly have:

which bondage to embrace

bending my neck, I press ahead,
thankful for the blindness that
enabled me to choose the chains
that bind me safe to Him
who holds the power
to crush
the serpent’s
head.

My comment:  I love this poem. Wow. I have often thought about this concept, especially considering that I was 19 when I used my agency to marry in the temple. I have never wished that I had not made that choice, but I have often pondered on the fact that I made that choice long before I REALLY knew what that choice meant (and I’m still learning). I believe this is where faith comes into play.
The 8 year old, the convert, the 19 year old bride or the 19 year old Elder, all make choices LARGELY based on faith, not knowledge.
“And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.” Alma 32:21
How Satan would love for us to abandon faith, and try to go on our knowledge alone. He knows, just as our Father in Heaven knows, that our knowledge will never lead us to ALL the right choices. The difference is the direction they desire to lead us. Satan desires for us to be miserable like he is. Our Father in Heaven desires our eternal joy, as He has. They both know how to get us to their desired goal. Satan uses temptations, Heavenly Father uses covenants.
Thanks for the poem. 

Tell me what you think.

18 Years

So, I have a lot to catch up on with this blog, and that may not happen until school is underway, but I wanted to post this picture, taken so long ago.  I use to think that this day would never seem long ago, but now when I look at this picture, I wonder who those kids are.  Sort of.  At the same time is seems like just yesterday.  How is it that time can do that to us? This photo was taken 18 years ago today.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into at the time.  I thought I was so happy and in love at the time, and I was, as much as my 19 year old mind could grasp those concepts.  The happiness and love that I feel today is so much deeper and more full.  I had no idea then that it was possible. 

Happy Anniversary, Rick.

I love you more and more everyday.

End of the Year Wrap Up, aka the Brag File: Daniel

Daniel finished his first year of school.  As the youngest in his class (his b'day is Aug. 28), the full day of school was an adjustment for him.  But, he did it, and in the end, loved going to school.  We recently went to the library and picked out 10 books for Daniel to read ON HIS OWN.  It's so exciting to watch your children learn to read.  Daniel will even take a turn during family scripture study to read a verse,occasionally needing help on words like exceedingly.  Not bad, not bad at all.  Towards the end of the year, Daniel took a basketball class at the gym we go to.  He LOVED it!!  He ended up taking two sessions of it.  He also played soccer, and LOVED it as well.  This boy loves sports.  Anything really.  Ask him about rugby, he'll tell you how it differs from football.  Anyway, here's a few soccer pictures:

And here's Daniel, touching the temple, so the temple can touch him, on our quick trip to Nauvoo.  He's always getting comments about his hair. It's just hard for me to cut it off, although I did give him a haircut since this photo...

End of the Year Wrap Up, aka the Brag File: Eliza

Eliza has had a great 3rd grade year.  She's really taken off with reading, recently finishing off the Fablehaven series, and then the 7 Harry Potter books.  During the school year, she was part of a Destination Imagination team, named the Sunburst Rainbow Umbrellas.  Here they are at the State Competition:

Eliza played the keyboard for a little dance they did during the skit.  She practiced and pracitced til she could play the little excerpt from "Don't Stop Believing" without a hitch.  Here's the group, ready to go on for their performance:

 One of the end of the year school projects was to do a report on one of the planets, and include a visual.  Eliza completed this cool mobile, using a variety of different balls to represent the planets, each with a tiny label.  She was pretty proud of the final product, and I thought it was pretty cool, too.

And, Eliza played soccer again.  She really enjoyed it, and comtinued to improve.  And....she scored her first goal!!!!!  Way to go, Eliza!!  Her coach liked her in the midfield position.  Here's a few pictures of her in action:

Eliza also had straight A's for the year, and gained a lot of confidence in herself.  We learned that she can get quite nervous, and she learned a few tips for calming her nerves.  Next year, as a 4th grader, she'll be in the oldest grade at the school, so that should give her a boost of confidence as well.  It always helps to be the "big man on campus". 

End of the Year Wrap Up, aka the Brag File: Audri

It's appropriate that today I'm doing the post about Audri.  She got her tonsils and adenoids out this morning.  She's being a real trooper, and so far is not having any problems.  We hope this continues through her days of recovery.

Audri has had a great 6th grade year, receiving straight A's all year long.  She was selected to be a Navigator, by the teacher's, which is essentially the same thing as Student Council.  She enjoyed working on that all school year.  She also earned a spot on the Scholar's Cup team.  This is a precurser to Scholastic Bowl, for 6th graders in the district.  Her team from Lindbergh Middle School won the championship and were recognized at a School Board Meeting.

Audri participated in orchestra this year, and we attended her end of the year concert.  She was relieved to found out at the end of the year that there will be a new orchestra teacher next year at LMS.  She even got to meet him, and she's excited to learn at a little faster pace next year : ). 

I took the camera to the end of the year awards assembly, but- no battery power left.  Ugh.  She received the top 6th grade Social Studies student as well as the top Science student in her homeroom and top Accerlerated Reader in the whole 6th grade.  Great job, Audri!!!

Also, Audri is loving Young Women's and looking forward to her first year of Camp this summer.  Her good friend from school is coming to camp with her.  She has already completed several Personal Progress experiences and is busy working on more.  What a delight my little Audri is!! 

Dailie's Dance

End of the Year Wrap Up, aka the Brag File: Dailie

Dailie has had a great final year at Middle School.  She's officially a High Schooler- holy cow.  Apparently at Dailie's events I remembered the camera, and it had battery power, so I have pictures of her.  Dailie finished the year with straight A's.  At graduation she was awarded the American Citizenship Award, voted on by the teachers and given to one boy and one girl from the 8th grade class for high academic achievement as well as all around good citizenship and nice person.  I am so proud of her, and happy that others can recognize the goodness that I see in her.

She played in the Band and Orchestra at the final end of the year concert as well as at the Courthouse.  She has played cello in the orchestra and bells in the Band, but will be leaving both of them behind to pursue art in High School.

She also had her dance recital, where she danced in 5 numbers.  She is such a beautiful dancer, and I love to watch her dance.  I've decided to try to put a video on here of my favorite number that she did.  This is her dancing on pointe to "God Bless the USA".  It literally brought tears to my eyes as I watched her dance.  She's in white, on the second row at the beginning.

*I don't think this video is going to work right now, and I don't have time to mess with it right now.  I'll publish the post anyway, and maybe I can come back later and get the video on .

End of the School Year Wrap Up- aka The Brag File: Dallin

I have failed to blog about many events and things in the past couple of months.  In an effort to "catch up", I have resolved to do a series of posts titled The End of the School Year Wrap Up, aka The Brag File, doing one post for each child.  Now, I try hard not to boast about my children's accomplishments for several reasons.  One is that I recognize that these are their accomplishments, not my own, and sometimes if I report them, they start to feel like my own, or that I am taking credit for them.  Another reason is that I also recognize (because I've done this) that reading this kind of thing about other people's children can often cause feelings of inadequacy about our own parenting.  I hate to think that I might be bringing to the surface any of those feelings in my fellow warriors on TEAM PARENT.  I think parenting is a very tough and important job, and I don't like the idea of comparing ourselves to each other.  So, with all that said, if you think my telling you what my children have accpmlished this school year will cause you to feel downtrodden as a parent, stop reading!!  However, if you'd like, along with me, to celebrate them for the things they have done, read on- we've got a total of 5 of these posts coming......

Dallin- (I don't seem to have any pictures for this post about Dallin) With a tough schedule for Sophomore year, including AP US History, Algebra 3-4, French 7-8, Chemistry (enriched), English (enriched), and Band, Dallin held onto his 4.0 in High School.  He took the ACT in Feb. and scored a 33.  He was part of the Scholastic Bowl team, and was one of the top 10 scorers of all teams competing in the area.  He also was asked to take an exam as part of a Chemistry competition at Bradley University.  There were roughly 300 students taking the exam, and Dallin came in 2nd place, earning a $100 prize.  He once again played keyboard for the Peoria Jazz AllStars and really enjoyed it.  In May we attended the annual Gala, sans camera- oops, but it was fantastic.  Dallin is moving closer and closer to reaching the rank of Eagle Scout.  He is awaiting approval of his project and finishing up loose ends for his remaining merit badges. 

Dallin continues to amaze me as a young man.  He's kind, considerate, responsible, and lots of fun to be around, not to mention his intelligence.  I really am not sure how I got so lucky to be this kid's mom, but I am so grateful that I am.  it gives me an opportunity to get to know very well one of the world's top notch guys.

For Grandma

A little over a year ago, my Grandma Thompson passed away.  Here she is with my dad, her oldest child, and my Grandpa when my dad graduated with his Master's degree.  You can read my post about her passing here.  Today, Dailie, who is named after her mother, Dailie Opal Cory, took Grandma's name to the Nauvoo Temple to be baptized for her there.  I have known for awhile that this would happen on this day, and at first I was determined that I would go to Nauvoo as well, to be in the temple to witness the event.  As the day grew closer, the challenge seemed difficult.  Rick, Dallin and Audri were all going, since this was a Youth baptism trip for our ward.  That left Daniel and Eliza at home.  At first I thought I'd get someone to watch them, but they each had their final soccer game today.  In the end I decided to stay home with them and take them to their soccer games.  I wasn't sure if it was the right decision.  I felt like it was an important event, and I wanted to be there to be a part of it, but I stuck with the decision.

Today has turned out to be a beautiful day.  In between soccer games, I got outside to get some much needed work done around the yard.  I had purchased many plants earlier in the week, and they needed planting.  The yard needed mowed too.  Around the time that the baptismal session would have started in Nauvoo, I found myself weeding our raspberry plants.  These are raspberry plants we brought back from my Grandma and Grandpa's house 2 years ago.  We're hoping they'll grow into a lovely patch, and for me, serve as a yearly reminder of my grandparents.  As I weeded them, I thought about Grandma.  She was made from hardworking Midwest farm stock.  She was raised during the Depression, and she and my Grandpa are some of the hardest workers I think I'll ever know.  She was very practical.  There was very little frill and fluff to my grandma.  If there was work to be done, then that was what you should be doing, no matter what.  As I thought about that, I decided that Grandma would much rather I was home, working in the yard, weeding the raspberry patch then being at the temple, and I finally felt peace about my decision to stay home.  Perhaps I was rationalizing, and I worried about that, but as I continued to think about it throughout the day, I felt more and more certain that this was where Grandma would have wanted me to be.  Dailie was in Nauvoo, getting done what needed to be done, and I was in Peoria getting done what needed to be done.  No need for me to be there when there was work to be done here.  It's not necessarily how I would feel about the situation, but I'm pretty sure it's how Grandma would have.

She would be pleased with my work today.  I planted 4 planters with Impatiens, 2 pots with geraniums, 4 tomato plants around the lamppost in the front yard, 2 pepper plants in pots in the backyard, mowed the front and backyard, and later after the rest of the family got home, we got the garden planted- 2 more tomato plants, 2 more pepper plants, onions, pumpkins, melons, lettuce, spinach, carrots, zucchini, squash, cucumber, peas, and green beans.  Plus, I got Daniel and Eliza to their soccer games.  Definitely a day to make Grandma proud. 



Why Do You Love Your Mom?

In preparation for Mother's Day, enjoy these cute kids, and what they have to say about why they love their moms : ).

http://www.byutv.org/seethegood/post/What-Kids-Say-About-Their-Moms.aspx

Go Away, Germs!!

These guys are NOT our friends right now!!!

I took Audri to the doctor again today, and found out that she has strep throat for the 4th time this year.  This is really getting crazy, if you ask me.  She has never had it before this year.  Tomorrow we'll see the ENT.  I suspect they'll recommend a tonsillectomy.  We'll see.  I'll keep you all posted.  In the meantime, I'm doing my best to sterilize this house.

On a totally unrelated note, I was elated to hear the news this morning about Osama bin Laden's demise.  Although, maybe it's not so unrelated.  He's a little like strep throat- nasty and hard to get rid of.....

 

 

*UPDATE:  Tonsils, and possibly adenoids too, will be coming out June 14.

Happy Easter

I love Easter.  I love Spring.  And I love the renewal of hope that both of them bring.  I've always struggled with exactly how to celebrate Easter.  I've never been into the Easter bunny, and I don't see any need for a Springtime version of Christmas.  Yet, I want my children to know that we very much celebrate Easter.  We celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Chrst and the hope that it brings to all the world, which is symbolized by all the other Easter things- new life in the bunnies, chicks and eggs, renewal in the Springtime flowers, hope through new life, brightness with all the colors.  And so, some of the traditions I do keep are getting (and sometimes making, but not this year) my kids new clothes to wear for Easter.   Does that really have anything to do with the Resurrection?  I don't think so, but I do it to help them recognize the day as a special occasion.  We do usually have an Easter egg hunt with candy as well.  A little sweetness goes a long way in helping young children recognize that the day is special.  This year we also put strips of paper with scripture references in some of the plastic eggs.  At the end of the hunt, along with dividing the spoils, we looked up and read the scriptures, which were all about the Resurrection.  I liked that, and I think we'll do it again.  All in all, it was a beautiful Easter Sunday.  The rainy skies took a break for the day and let ol' Mr. Sun shine through just for the special day, which was a treat very much appreciated by me.

Here are the pictures of the kids:

Dallin- once my little boy, now my young man.

Dailie- and who said she could turn into a woman?

Sweet Audri, who can't wait to get back outside and climbing trees.

Eliza, who is also growing up entirely too fast.  I just asked her this morning if she could please stay a little girl, since she was my last one.  Alas, she informed me it is not possible.

And, Daniel.  He was SO excited to wear his new suit to Church today and match Daddy and Dallin.

I hope you all had a very Happy Easter!!

Looking at the Bright Side of Things

Spring has not been good to me this year.  We got a little taste of it a few weeks ago, and then it was back to the cold and the rain.  It's like the Energizer Bunny, that cold and rain- still going.  So, the other day as I found myself feeling sad once again, knowing that the weather had something to do with it, I thought of a positive to this delayed Spring.  I LOVE forsythia bushes.  Yellow is my favorite color, and I love seeing them shout out that SPIRNG has arrived.  On a normal year, the beautiful yellow bushes bloom, and if you're not paying attention you'll miss them, because they very quickly turn to green.  BUT, this year, thanks to the on going cold weather (did I really just say thanks for it?) they have stayed yellow for a much longer time!! 

So you see, there really is always a bright side to look on.

His Sacred Name - An Easter Declaration

40 by 40

Rick had a goal to reach by his 40th birthday, and he did it!!  He lost 40 pounds by his 40th!!  I'm so proud of him.  He has worked hard, and is in great shape.  He feels and looks fantastic!!

Happy Birthday, and great job!!

*I know I've been a slacker on the blog lately.  I almost decided to give it up.  Pictures may or may not be coming later.....

Busy Weekend

Seems like it's par for the course around here anymore, but the weekend sure was busy.  Friday night we thoroughly enjoyed the BYU game against New Mexico.  It was payback time for the Cougars who had lost twice to NM during the regular season, and payback they did.  Jimmer scored 52 points, breaking Danny Ainge's all time leading scoring record for BYU.  It was intense and fun to watch it as a family.

Saturday morning, Dailie had Solo and Ensemble contest.  She took a piano solo and a cello duet.  She did great, playing a very difficult piano piece.  She got a 2nd on piano, and a 1st on cello.  Great job!!  Once we got home from that, Rick and I attended a baptism and then before watching the next game, we made ravioli as a family!!  It was the start of Audri's family birthday party.  Rick has been wanting to make ravioli as a family for awhile.  Last week he ordered a pasta maker.  I wish I had taken some pictures, but alas, I did not.  We had fun, and the ravioli was yummy!! 

Then we went to some friends' house to watch the final game of the MWC tourney.  It wasn't so great, but we had fun anyway.  At halftime we had banana splits (Audri's request), and they were yummy.  We kept hoping for a Cougar comeback, but it didn't happen.  Oh well, on to the NCAA tourney, with a #3 seed.  Not bad. 

Sunday after Church and choir practice, Rick and I attended another baptism.  After dinner at home, Rick and Dallin went home teaching to wrap up the busy weekend, while I helped Audri make an apple pie for PI day, a holiday we try to celebrate at our house : ).

Bring on the next week.....

And HAPPY PI DAY!!!

YW, Here She Comes!!

Happy Birthday, Audri!!

Today Audri is 12, and enters the Young Women program at Church.  She is so excited to go, and I can hardly believe my kids are growing up so fast!! 

  

On My Honor

It's been a roller coaster ride this week for BYU.  They started the week ranked #3 in the nation, with the country talking about their possible #1 seed in the NCAA tourney.  It was exciting to think of the prospects of March Madness.  I pictured myself buying National Championship T-shirts for the family.  Then, late Monday night just before heading off to bed, Rick and I switched the TV to ESPN to see if they were saying anything about BYU.  Just before Rick changed the channel, I saw, scrolling across the bottom of the screen the words BYU... suspends... Brandon Davies...honor code.  I told Rick to go back to ESPN, and we watched and listened in shock as the story began of the lead center, BYU's big guy, the top rebounder. 

The rest of the week has been rough for BYU, to put it mildly.  Tuesday night they lost badly to New Mexico.  They were never ahead the whole game.  Their shooting was awful; New Mexico's was wonderful.  The team appeared to be shaken.  Then, the news articles really started coming.  Suddenly the national discussion includes BYU's Honor Code, including the utter astonishment by a sex-crazed nation that there might possibly be a university in the United States where college students AGREE to live by an Honor Code that prohibits premarital sex.  And disbelief and respect that a univerity would choose to stick to their guns and suspend a top athlete just before the NCAA tourney. 

Brandon Davies didn't do anything illegal.  From what I've read, he didn't get his girlfriend pregnant, and was not accused of rape.  No one had to know what he had done.  He turned himself in. 

That's why it's called an Honor Code.  Honor.  Something that has largely been forgotten about in collegiate sports (let alone professional).  Something that most people in the country have given up on, and if they haven't given up completely on it, they merely cling to it as an ancient ideal that our ancestors once lived by.  Very few seem to realize that it is possible to still live in this day and age with Honor. 

The media has had it's say about this event.  For the most part I have seen positive articles on the subject.  Writers are shocked and pleased to see that there is a school that would take a stand like this.  "Refreshing" is a word I've heard used over and over again.  Just don't read the comments to those articles.  That's where the nasty nature of our society comes through in full force.  Here are a few quotes from some of the articles I've read:

"The admiration is for a school in the seductive environment of big-time college sport to live by its word, no matter the pain. How many other places have taken the easy way out?


The record books and trophy cases are full of 'em, as the NCAA investigators keep busy. It can be the land of nods and winks; an unfortunate mirror of a society where personal accountability has become no match for the quick fix."


"Maybe the most amazing thing about this story is the support the students and fans are giving the administration. I talked to dozens of rabid fans before the New Mexico game Wednesday night. These are the kind of fans willing to camp out in the cold for three days to get tickets to a basketball game. Every single one of them said they support the university's decision to dismiss Davies. They realize it most likely ruins their Final Four dreams, but that doesn't matter to them. The code they live by is far more important. And no matter what you believe, that must be respected."


I am more proud than ever to be a Cougar, and I'll still be watching for great things in the tourney (if you know me, I never give up on the Cougs).  I hope they hold their heads up high, dig deep, and play the best ball games of their lives.  They've got to do it without Brandon Davies.  They've got to do it for Brandon Davies. 

With Courage.  With  Honor.

A Winning Day!!

This morning I came down the stairs and announced: Today is a day for winning!! 
I am a prophetess : ).
Eliza's Destination Imagination team competed in the Regional Tournament, and as 3rd graders competing against other teams made up of 4th and 5th graders, they took first place!!!  They will be competing in the State Tournament April 9.  Unfortunately, I did not take the camera, so, no photos.

While Eliza and I were waiting for the awards ceremony for her competition, the rest of the family left.  Dailie went to hang out with a friend so they could get ready for the Stake Super Saturday (their first stake dance!!!!).  Rick, Dallin, Audri and Daniel went to watch THE GAME.  BYU vs. San Diego State.  I instructed Rick to send me updates throughout the game.  I was bummed that I was missing it.  The only time BYU was behind, was at the very beginning, when SDSU went up 2-0.  What a game!!  They did it again!!

BYU 80  SDSU 67

Later in the evening, Rick and I went to pick up Dallin and Dailie from the Super Saturday.  We arrived about 25 minutes before it ended, and had a lot of fun, "spying" on them, watching them have a great time with great people.  It was great to see them dancing and having a enjoying themselves. 

What a winning day!