Issue 176

New Zealand Family

This weekend we were able to visit with our dear friends, family really, from New Zealand. Auntie Hoki and Uncle Owen have been family friends with my side of the family for over 60 years. They became our adoptive Grandparents in New Zealand and we owe much of our wonderful experience there, to them. We hadn't seen them for two years, (since the last time they came for General Conference) and the children had been asking weekly for those two years when we would see them again! Auntie Hoki brought lollie's for the children and we had a wonderful time catching up and remembering wonderful times. We will miss them dearly until we see them again.

Issue 175

First Week on the Job

 Steve started his first week at his new company in New York meeting with a couple big clients with one of his business partners. He promised Janey this picture of the 9/11 memorial. He came back from New York and went straight to Summit County to work with his other business partner. I love this picture of him working at his business partner's office on a plastic chair and TV table. It's the epitome of a start up company to me! Steve loves his new job and had a very intense and rewarding first week.

Happy Birthday Steve

I can't believe Steve L. is 15! We went to the theaters to see Captain America to celebrate. Happy Birthday Steve!

Sweet Ellie

 Ellie and cousins playing in the calk at Grandma's

Ellie on her Daddy-Daughter date this week

A Big Week for Daniel

Daniel began fencing this school year and loves it. He takes from a Russian Coach who is amazing and works them very hard. Daniel has a talent for fencing and won all his matches this week. It will be exciting to see him start to compete.

 Daniel also received his First Class Scout rank advancement and 6 merit badges. It took many months of work, especially the swimming part. Steve also earned his Boy Scout Gold Palm.

Daniel was also crowned a King in his Shakespeare class. To be crowned he finished listening and watching 17 Shakespeare plays in the last two weeks. The idea is to be immersed in the Shakespearean language, like learning a foreign language. At first he didn't understand the plays but by the end he was really enjoying them because he knew what they were saying.

Issue 174

A New Adventure

Steve starts his new job in the morning! He's already in New York and will be waking in 4 short hours to prepare to meet with a major client. After two months of crazy roller coaster ups and downs while securing the job, it's finally official. He has joined his two former bosses as a partner in their new company that they formed at the beginning of the year. Steve is the Senior Vice President of Training and Consulting. We are so proud of him! He will travel some, but be working from home when he's not. This will be an exciting new adventure!

Issue 173 Sheep Dog Championship by Whitney

Every year Soldier Hollow host a sheepdog trial competition. Specially invited world-class sheep dog herders from across the globe attend as they compete against each other to win medals and advance to the National Border Collie Association's World Championship. This year we attended and watched several pairs go at it. Racing against a twenty-four minute timer the handlers remain stationary as he or she directs their canine counterpart with whistles, directing them across the hillside. They must first retrieve two separate herds of sheep, directing them between two posts. Then the full herd is maneuvered across the hill and through two separate gates to finish in a marked circle. Then the handler, using a shepherds crook without actually coming in contact with the sheep, works with the collie to separate out five of the sheep that are wearing red collars. This is much harder than it sounds due to the herding behavior that keep the sheep almost inseparable. Assuming the timer hasn't already expired, the pair then direct the five collared sheep into a small pen on the other side of the hill, while preventing them from rejoining the remaining herd of thirteen standing by. Without the gate touching any of the sheep, the door is closed by the lucky shepard and the crowd cheers. The judges tally their scores while the exhausted and overheated collie plunges into the provided tub of water.
Along with the omnipresent bagpipers, camera crews filming a documentary entitled "Away to me" added to the atmosphere as the giraffe necked camera swiveled around to keep up with the contestants. Other exhibitors including the Salt Lake counties' K9 unit also presented classes and demonstrations. It was a fun-filled day of enjoyment that I would recommend to everyone.

The Silver Beaver

Saturday we had the chance to see Steve's Dad receive the prestigious Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver award. It is a high honor in scouting that recognized a life full of outstanding service in scouting. Andy came straight from a scout camp where he was training other leaders, which just goes to show his dedication. We are proud of you Grandpa!

Knight's Summit

Knights of Freedom is a club, like scouts, where there are a ton of groups and each group meets together every other week to learn about famous men in history like Christopher Columbus, Davy Crockett and a ton of other people. In Knights of Freedom we also learn about the knightly virtues and once every year all of the groups come together for two days and we get swords and shields. We learn 5 knightly virtues. Things like learning to work as a team, earn a weapon, prove yourself in battle, go on a quest and other stuff. At the end we fought a lot of bad guys. My favorite thing about the summit was the big battle at the end.

Issue 172

2011 First Day of School

Daniel and I have the opportunity to spend the whole year this year, one-on-one. 12 years old is a critical development time for those with dyslexia, and we felt the best choice was to spend a year focusing on his education. We had a wonderful week of long walks, goal setting, biking to the library, reading "Where the Red Fern Grows", going out to lunch. The harder stuff will start this week, but the focus our first week relationship. Here's to a great year!

Janey started 4th grade this week! She finally gets to fulfill her life long wish of riding the bus everyday. It was strange to see her off for the day, after having her home for so long, but she is bright and loves her new teacher.

Ellie also started first grade this week. Above is just before her first day. Below is just after returning from her first day. Ellie has a wonderful new teacher and is doing great with her reading.

100 Meter Swim by Daniel

For scouts, to earn my 1st Class Rank I had to swim 100 meters and I trained for two months. I finally got it passed off and I felt tired after I had done it. It felt awesome to get it done after so much time practicing my swimming.