What does Geo-caching, quacking geese and turtle hunting have to do with each other...?

They were out Friday evening family activity.

Erin's dad, Keith, was visiting from Hutchinson and after having dinner with us Friday took us hunting for geo-caches with his GPS. Geo-cache hunting is a fun family activity. You look up the latitude and longitude coordinates on the internet, then use your GPS to locate the treasure. We found a cache next to a large boulder in Farmington canyon. It contained several small dollar store type items. Madison picked the pink fingernail polish (BIG suprise and left a hair bow. Michael wrote in the notebook the date we found it and then we put it back by the rock.

We also fed the geese, which turned into a great photo op with the sun setting in the west. The kids loved it. Emry was even brave enough to let the geese eat out of her hand.

That wasn't the end of the activities. Matthew and I took Preston and Luke to look for the turtle on the Legacy pathway. There are several small streams that feed into the salt marshes. The streams are full of little fish, frogs and one very LARGE turtle that we have seen a couple of times.

All in all, it was a great weekend, but Matthew and I were both exhausted Sunday.

Two for the tramp please...

Mother's Day '09

I tried to put captions with the pictures, but the font wouldn't change to a bigger size so you could read it. The first picture is actually a picture of a picture the kids gave me for Christmas. I loved it the first time I saw it and since D. was with me that day, it was added to my Christmas list. The best part about the picture isn't hanging on the wall though. Each of our 10 children gave me a copy of their testimony of what the temple means to them. I have read over them many times since last December and every time I do, I am grateful for righteous children.

For Mother's Day this year I got a jar full of joy. It is the World Famous Malley's Chocolate Fudge Sauce from Ohio. I have had a spoonful everyday for dessert after I eat lunch. You are supposed to put it on ice cream, but why add extra calories when you could just have a second spoonful of chocolate.

Mike and Erin gave me Sheri Dew's latest book "Saying It Like It Is". I have used it several times in seminary. She has her own quotes from talks and stories about her life. The book also has pictures she has taken traveling around the world, as well as pictures of her own family. One of my favorite quotes from the book:

The Holy Ghost is always the Teacher anytime, anywhere Truth is Taught. That is His Privilege, That is His Stewardship.

Lala and Caleb gave me the workout video and equipment. They were not trying to hint, it's just that the new health teacher in the family is trying to encourage me to be healthy. Thanks Lala! (She knows how much I am enjoying the Malley's fudge sauce)

Danielle knew my perfume supply was getting low, not that she ever uses any of my perfume, but I am grateful to be restocked with my favorite scent.

I have told Aubrey for years that I wanted peach trees in the backyard. It was a great surprise to get 2 of them. In the background of the picture is the lilac bush the kids gave me the first Mother's Day in this house. It has continued to bring me happiness of spring as it blossoms, filling the air with its sweet scent.

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It's official, Michael is a Certified Mechanical Engineer

Matthew and I always told our children that they could be anything they wanted. They are intelligent, hard working and motivated. They have all chosen different paths. Michael's path took him to Kansas for a time, long enough to become a police officer and most importantly, find Erin. He was a wonderful policeman. He learned to have great compassion for the weak and injured. He learned more than ever to listen to the Spirit to protect himself and others. "Rabbit", as Mike was known on the street, knew when to chase and he knew when to stop. We missed him while he was gone, but we were at peace knowing he was doing what the Lord had told him to do.

I often notice personality traits, or inflections in the voices, or a twinkle in the eye of our children and it reminds me of someone else in our family. With Mike, I have watched him fix something or carefully pack away his tools, or clean his car and I am reminded of my dad. It is such a wonderful compliment to him that he has many of the fine qualities of my dad. Perhaps I am creating something that really isn't there, but I find great joy in thinking that part of my dad lives on in Michael. Though my dad didn't even graduate from high school, he alway knew how to get things done. Michael is much that same way. So, to Michael, CONGRATULATIONS, on a job well done. Your dad and I couldn't be prouder and I know Grandpa is cheering you on!!!

Not your mother's 'Pi'

If you throw a tennis ball out of a car going 73.4 MPH and you catch it as it bounces off the car coming toward you at 71.9 MPH, how fast was the grasshopper flying that just got smeared on your windshield?

You don't know?

Neither do I...

but my son, the engineer, can tell you.

Mike's senior project was on display at the University of Utah Wednesday. He, along
with several other team members, created a hydro-electric turbine that charges batteries which are used to propel a large raft up a river. They received an A and were nationally recognized. Way to go Michael!!!!