A few random pictures

Some of Tara's birthday gifts.  Iceskate earrings and a scarf.

She's changed a little since turning 13.  She came home and said she raised her hand 3 times in social studies and was called on all 3 times.  I told her its because her teacher's in shock....she hasn't said "peep" all year.  Tara says she's trying very hard to not be shy anymore.  (It's really killing her, but she keeps trying).  She has assignments every week for sunday school class now.  This week was to pray for a missionary experience.  She said..., "I'm just going to ask Kristin to come." and she did....and Kristin came.  She brought the missionary experience.  Makes it look so easy.

This is our dining room table while it is freezing outside and Dad's out of town....the perfect playground for now.  It's the first time in a long time all 3 kids have sat around and been content with each other.  Yay for legos and all the possibilities!

Gene's car covered in ice Friday- am now calling AAA 'cause it won't start.....yay for winter!

Last weeks weather snow covered porch.

What do beehives like doing?  I have no idea, they don't really tell me.......they really don't have any interests.....just like smiling and talking in soft, sweet voices!

Emily's BFF necklace made by her friend.  She thinks this is the best way to wear it!

She forgot her reading book and was so extatic to realize she could download it on her kindle.  It's a beautiful thing catching up on 5 chapters ofThe  Lion,the witch and the Wardrobe.  Yay for technology at the tip of our fingers. ( I just would have had to take the ZERO back in my day!)

What do you get when you cross a boy and a pinewood derby car?

Well, it's not always a clear answer.  Last year we put those two things together and got a very pretty green car and a very sad boy with TOTAL loss........every single race-it was a losing race. 

Tears, a walk in the hallway, a pep-talk, a congratulations to each opponent= a sad boy for a long time.We had to name this the bat car since there was already a "batmobile" registered before we got there. 

It was a perfect 5.0 oz. weigh in.

All the cub scouts in a row.

waiting for their turn.......buddy against buddy......it's tough.

And the race is on.....sorry about the poor cell phone recorder quality......Jake starts out on the left.

 

....two gorgeous girls waiting in the icecream line.

Pure (temporary) happiness can be found in a bowl....

But, mostly it's found permanently with friends that like you no matter what.

This year crossing a boy with a pinewood derby car =happiness and 4 total wins. Including one very close race to determine the winner.  I mean it really was a win by a hair.  Oh, so close.

We brought along last year's car to race against this year's just incase there were losses again.  But, we didn't need it.

A Big Chill

So, we had an exciting end of the week....after alot of rain, it snowed!!!!

We got out of school early Thursday...and it was cancelled for Friday-which was Tara's 13th Birthday!

So, we decide to stay cold....and go ice skating!

We tried making white chocolate snowflakes to decorate her cake.
The first attempts were terrible....but the end result was ok.

The Batmobile is done. There was a little better child participation this year, a little less stressful for everyone.  But, we had to finish it early since Dad was going to be gone.  I think it turned out well.  We will see if we can beat our total loss record from last year at the pinewood derby this week.

You can't see too well, but both have lost the same tooth on the upper left.  ....

Skating for the first time requires so much concentration.  He surprised us all when he decided to join the group getting instructions in the middle of the rink.  He wanted to go but was sad they had already started.  I told him to wait for the instructor, he just went....blazing his own trail through the on-coming traffic!  He did it without falling .....grabbing on to Tara desperatly when he arrived.  When he got back 10 min later, he was sobbing......I asked if he was hurt or if he fell....."No!  But I almost died!" 

 

 

 What to give a teenager?  Candy!  You can never go wrong with candy!

 

We had a really great week.  We had the sister missionaries over for dinner for the first time in years.  They haven't been in our ward for a long time.  They were so much fun.  One is from Canada- Gene always loves to talk to Canadians since he served his mission there.....ay!

Girls basketball practice for the church team has resumed.  Tara was actually happy about trying again.

We went to the Mother Daughter Book Club, read the book "When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead.  It was a big group this month and we played a version of $20,000 Pyramid.  This was delayed because of the snow but turned out to be tons of fun since there was no school. 

Tara went to Night of Knitting- which was another fun night of movies and tag for just the Young Women.  They stayed up til 10...too late for me...but, Tara says she could always stay longer. Ahhh...to be young again and not feel such severe punishments from staying up late. (and not have too much required of you the next morning so you could sleep in!)

Tara's choice of birthday dinner was Chili's.  We talked about how we'd be happy on the CH-CH-CH diet of cheese, chicken and chocolate.

Then, of course, the birthday party was at the IceChalet (where Gene skated as a youngster).  We had our own warmed party room to gather.  It was great for those who got chilly or needed a break.  About half the party hadn't been skating before, so we got an instructor for about 20 min. to get the basics down.  Tara was proud she didn't fall once -not for lack of trying.  Her friend Brooke's new nickname for her is "Stretch"....and it is official.  Tara is now taller than I am.....I was really hoping she would slow down a little...but, it seems she's still stretching. 

Emily spent 2 afternoons with her friend Alyssa coming up with ways they could make money...what for you ask?  for charity.....which one?  Alzheimers, lukemia, orphans......there are so many....they just want to give and give.  They made little boxes out of old Christmas cards and are wondering when they can hold a garage sale of all our stuff.........."Not 'til Spring", I said!  But, was touched that they were being so thoughtful together. 

Gene spoke in our ward today...his high council assignment is always in our ward the first of the year.  He always does a great job- I just ran him to the airport.  He'll be in Chicago until the 30th, ugh!  Cold time to be in Chicago- and a long time to be gone. 

Other than Emily' s sore throat and some rug burns, everyone is healthy and well.

 

Universal Studios with the family

The sign above says "The Adventure Begins".
We flew from Knoxville to Orlando via Atlanta with no troubles.  We met up with family (the Harts, Mom and Dad and Jonathan's family)  at the Loew's Pacific Resort on the property of Universal---meaning just a water taxi ride away from the action.

Our hotel rooms were all together.  I'm sure a few of our neighbors weren't thrilled about the noise level.  We were so happy to be together.  Saying "see ya later" to my parents who are headed to Akra Ghana-Africa for a few months as service missionaries and taking medical equiptment and teaching classes on audiology (Dad). 

The first night we enjoyed a meal together- pool side. 

Gorgeous train and gingerbread village in main lobby of hotel. 

The fire lighting ceremony and hula lesson.  Coconut, pineapple, coconut-coconut pineapple-pineapple!

Oh yeah, it's still Christmas week....kind of forgot with the waterfountains, palm trees and warm weather.

 

The first morning we got a special treat- one of the first into the Universal Islands of Adventure park.  Hogwarts castle as the sun rises= way cool.  What was not so cool= how scared we were riding that ride inside the castle!!!!

Definately not expecting all of that!

Hogsmead, is an actual restaurant.  Looks exactly like the movie inside.

                                    Butter beer moustaches.  Really super foamy and tasty.

A little better shot of the castle and smiles-during the not crowded time. 

There was one fan of dinosaurs in the group.  Unfortunately was too tall to ride the swing ride and none of us were willing to get wet on the river raft ride....it was too cold that morning.

Someone got to meet Spiderman and have his photo taken for a comic book.  "I wish I was Spiderman" he said......"too bad nothing is real."  this comes after a rough year of finding out how many characters are not what he thought.....Santa, Toothfairy, oh too many to list.

The Spiderman ride was way fun- We did that one twice!

 

There was a wise one to make a shirt for a "Thing 3" and even 4! 

 

Suesslanding was just perfect for our age group.  One fish, two fish ride, carousel, cat in the hat spinner ride, above ground train....it was our favorite.

As you can see, the sun came out, jackets came off and in the distance you can see the "Universal" globe while we wait for our water taxi/ferry boat.

Oh yeah, out of order photo......we saw the live show of the Grinchmas.  Very cute, musically delightful and real "who" noses....

Cousins Marisa and Kayla with Tara and Emily enjoying a time of sitting after hours of not.

Jonathan, Diana and Simon-who was the star/entertainer of the trip.  There are some fantastic things that 3 year olds say.....and amazing abilities to sleep through earthquakes.

Day 2 we went to Universal Studios.  We were there when it opened.  It was rainy off and on....but, it kept the crowds away.

There were a few happy kids with tickets into the park.

The kids' favorite ride this day was Woody's train.  That's Jake with his arms straight up.  They rode this one about 6 times.  They had to stop when a kid (not any of ours) threw up on the train.  Yuck!  Time to move on.  My favorite was the ET ride....you sat on a bike and it really felt like you were flying!  Gently flying, not screeching through the sky like in Harry Potter world.

How much do we love Barney?  Not at all, but it was fun to pose like him.

Saw the amazing animal show with animals they use in movies.  The talking pug in Men in Black, the fluffy puppy in Proposal, the falcon they used in Harry Potter, more from Beverly Hills Chuaua.  So fun to see the talents of our four legged friends.  Our favorite was the pig who wore the sign, "I let the dogs out"

 

 

The EB from Hop-saw the whole gang of characters later on at the character parade.  Dora, Diego, the cast from Despicable Me (that ride was fun), Shrek (got spit on with that ride)The Lorax, Sponge Bob ...and others.  Men In Black was the best ride-shooting aliens with laser guns.  Uncle Jonathan was the "hunk" star in the Disaster movie they were filming. 

Half way through the day we need a break-and food.  Panda Express and TCBY!  Then hit the pool for some sunshine while some napped, others kept playing, waterballoon  toss, hula hoop contest, ping pong.  There was no time to sleep for those under 18!

beachball tossing and following cousin Simon!

These chocolate frogs are solid chocolate.  How did that heavy thing ever hop itself out Ron's traincar window?

After Despicable Me movie you get to boogie with a real Minion to "Boogie Fever"

After a break, we went back to see the Christmas parade with all the inflatables, bands, christmas performers. 

 

Day 3 was a repeat of Day 1 beginning at 6am (to beat the crowds again)  We crawled home about 1:30pm....kicked off shoes, dropped backpacks and fell asleep.  Some of us longer than others. (Personally it was a 3 hour nap).  We spent the evening together at dinner in the wok restaurant....where they cooked the food for you while you watched.

 

Then it was up at 5:30am to catch the plane home.  Wow, what a whirlwind trip.  Thanks again to all the family to make an effort to get together.  Best Wishes Mom and Dad in Africa. See you in August-or there about!