Great Family Flicks

Looking for some good movies? I don't watch movies a lot because there's not a theatre here. I don't usually reserve the latest movies early enough, and I don't have time, but this weekend I managed to fit four movies into my schedule and got some ironing done while I enjoyed them all! Each one of these movies inspires, shows what really matters in life, and teaches life lessons for all ages to learn by. I have to say that I just love Greg Kinnear! He is so versatile in his acting roles!

GhostTown is funny, heartwarming, and makes you realize how important it to treat others well every day.

Flash of Genius is based on a true story. How one man's invention was taken by the Ford dealership. His persistance nearly ruined his life, but in the end he got what he deserved. Money isn't what matters in the end.

The Boy in Striped Pajamas is set during WWII times. A young boy makes friends with another boy in a concentration camp not knowing they are not supposed to be friends. Teaches tolerance for differences and how wrong some choices are.

The Express is another true story about Ernie Davis winning the Heizman Trophy during a time when segregation still existed and even in sports, things were not always fair or right. Dreams can come true no matter what your background or experiences have told you.

Saturday Chores

Don't you just love the not-so-positive feedback received when it's time to line out the chores for the day? You can see how excited Abby is about chores! Thank goodness her sweet and tidy friend, Chesnee, was here to assist them with her fine organizational skills!
My girls have too many clothes to keep track of even though there are days when they have "nothing to wear", so I told them they needed to muck out their closets and get rid of clothes they don't wear or have outgrown. Abby has an aversion to anything pink, so out went all the pinks. I miss those cutsy, princess days when they would wear anything mom wanted them to. They are growing up too fast!

Discovering Delmar

After living in Lincoln County for nearly 8 years, we finally rode out and looked through the ghost town of Delmar. What once was a booming mining town of about 7,000 people and the county seat now sits remains of buildings and houses that give a glimpse into the past to a time we cannot comprehend living in. It was interesting to walk around, look inside the foundations, read the markers, and imagine what it must have been like living so primitively in the 1870's when the town was in it's prime. My dad would have loved this outing with us. Evan pulled out the 22's and let us practice our sharp shooting skills, only to be outdone by the Range Master himself every time. Check out Taylor's outfit. Let's just say she should stick with aiming the guns!

Mother's Weekend at Dixie

Whitney and I had a great time together for the annual Mother's Weekend at Dixie College. We started out Friday afternoon with some pampering. . .facials, pedicures, retail therapy, dinner and a great chick flick. On Saturday morning, we met on campus for breakfast and the keynote speaker, Max Rose, (a favorite professor of mine). He told us to not let the frogs and toads of life get us down like one of the ten plagues. In his usual Max style, his words were humorous, inspiring, and encouraging for all ages. Then we attended some workshops, and came back that evening for a luau. It was a lot of fun to be together and get a taste of Spring in sunny St. George! I am pleased to say that I won a prize for being one of the youngest mothers in attendance!

First Signs of Spring!

Well. . . I made it through January; February flew by, and now March is definitely here coming in like a lion with very windy days. I've hardly made time to blog our happenings. It's been a busy month with basketball games out of town and in town, Girls' Camp meetings starting up, YW's, and fundraising for the DC trip, in addition to all the other usual craziness around here. I just count my blessings that I always have something to do and can never remember being bored. I love that the days are becoming longer and Spring will be here before I know it! Coming home from school today, I noticed that my neighbor's daffodils have popped out! What a cheerful bit of color they are on a cold, blustery day! I love daffodils! They always promise of warmer days ahead. Just four weeks until Spring Break! Yahoo!!

Go Utah Jazz!

Great Grandma Ruthie and Grandma Linda have always been loyal Jazz fans, so for Christmas we purchased tickets for them to see a live game. Evan and the grannies traveled to SLC and stayed with Uncle Gordon and Aunt Colleen in Holladay. They had a great time cheering as they beat Oklahoma. Grandma Ruthie got hugs from the Jazz Bear, Thurl Bailey, and Chase Mannon as they filmed the pre-game show. It was quite an event for these two Jazz fans!

My Favorite Sweethearts

This post is dedicated to my favorite sweethearts. . .my Mom and Dad and Evan's Mom and Dad. Being the sweethearts that they are, they all married in February. They have always been and continue to be the best examples of TRUE LOVE that I know. The playlist for this month has songs from their day and songs that remind me of them through the years. (Sorry Deon, Beetles have their songs protected or I'd have included them also!) Stay tuned. . . pictures will be coming soon!!

Are You From Dixie?

24 years ago,(has it really been that long?!)I was extremely excited to receive a scholarship to Dixie College! I couldn't wait to attend college "where the summer sun spends the winter". I still love the contrast of the red hills against the blue skies. Back in the day...before "political correctness" Rodney Rebel was our beloved mascot. We had such school spirit as we cheered at games, sang at celebrations and tried to get an education.

Little by little, good ole Dixie College has grown up and changed with the times. They are now Dixie State College-affiliates of University of Utah-with many more programs to offer students. With those changes also means saying good by to some favorite traditions, one of them being the Rebels as a mascot. Whitney sent me a text today to tell me of the news. It's a little bit sad to this Dixie alumnist. The new symbols and name just aren't the same. Are you from Dixie? Let me know what you think of the new logo and mascot.

Chicka Playing Basketball

Pep talk from Coach Soderborg. Chicka is #12.Run down the court.Dribble the ball.Rest on the bleachers until she goes in again!

My Mother-The Cat Woman

This is a picture of my mother with two of her three felines! After being in the hospital during both Christmas and New Year's with first a broken tib-fib, then an infection, Mom was more than ready to go home to her cabin and sleep in her own bed.

"Tut"-her oldest is the fluffiest cat(White Persian)all sprawled out purring as she pets "Max"-(her half breed Savannah cat) as he is also purring. "Jazzy", the naughtiest cat of all (pure-breed Savannah) was probably out plotting her revenge for being left for the holidays.


All cats are content to have mom home again. As for her, well she has graduated from a walker to a cane and is planning on going to Mazatlan soon to finish recuperating on the beach! Sounds rough . . . she deserves a nice vacation after having to spend her holidays in the hospital! Pssst! Anyone want a cat or two? It was not fun cleaning up after her rebellious cats!

Won-Tons for New Year's Eve

In keeping Sue's tradition of making won-tons for New Year's Eve, Kirby and Evan decided they could do it better than the women...so we let them take over! I think they should start a new cooking show for guys. Any suggestions what to call it?!

Will I Make It Through January?

Life is good, even if it is January. I have never been a fan of this month, perhaps it's because of one or more of the following reasons:
1. The let down after Christmas.
2. Back to reality instead of lounging by the fire reading a book or watching a movie.
3. Most tragic events in my life have happened during this month.
4. Had enough of the snow and cold.
5. Hating the extra weight from over-indulging during the holidays.
6. Back to school and testing begins.
7. Broke from over-spending during the holidays.
8. Hate scraping ice off my windows each morning.
9. Family grumbles cause all I want to eat is warm soup.
10. Students need retraining after two weeks off from school.

P.S. Am I the only one who reads my blog? That's okay cause I do talk to myself, I may as well write to myself. Just wondering.

Remembering My Dad - Grandpa Lyle

I love you Grandpa, clear up to the sky;
And I will tell you the countless reasons why.
When I got my grades, he would write a note,
And every time on the note he wrote:
"You take after your Grandpa, Whitter-doo!
Keep it up and I love you!"
He'd sit for hours in his big blue chair,
Then I'd walk by and out of thin air,
He'd kick my rear end and laugh 'til he cried
And then I would run and wait and hide.
A morning in Brookside resulted in breakfast,
And what we didn't finish he would eat,
Eating contest and wars, he had us all beat.
Looking out on the porch at the two great ponds,
Feeding the fish was great fun and we were quite fond.
Riding the 4-wheelers was always a treat,
Around and around the circle 'til the sun brought the heat.
Grandpa's a legend, a hero to all,
And he'd pick us up each time we'd fall.
I'm sure he's in heaven, flying with pride,
And if you could ask him he'd say, "It was a good ride."
I love him so much, and I miss him a lot,
But I know for sure, he will not be forgot.

Written by Whitney Jo
January 2004

Back to the Grindstone!

It's tough getting back to work after two weeks of wonderful! This is really what the idiom means!


I'm thinking this is what the students must feel like on a Monday after a holiday as well.

Go See This Movie!

We went to the matinee movie, Marley & Me today and loved it! We laughed and cried more than once. We could certainly relate to this beastly labrador that was such a part of the Grogan family! If you've read the book, it follows it quite well! (That rarely happens!) A great flick for the whole family to see!

Why I Believe in Santa!

(First click on "Grown-Up Christmas List" for music, then click on each page for a full size view of our great memories!)
My Dad--The "real" Santa

Twas the Night Before Christmas

 
(Click on collage of pics to view larger)
We were all letting our delicious dinner settle before starting our other traditions. As I walked around the house with camera in hand, I noticed what everyone was doing to pass the time. Whitney-texting Trent, Taylor-drinking a Pepsi, Abby-coloring a picture, Evan-playing golf on the Wii, and I was admiring the warm glow of the house, our beautiful lit tree, Bears painted by Sue several Christmases ago, and stockings hung by the fire with care. I admired the handmade quilt made by mom last Christmas knowing she must spend this Christmas Eve in the hospital after surgery to have her leg pinned from taking a fall while diligently finishing her Visiting Teaching. Then I reminisced of jingle bells and a hearty, "HO! HO! HO!" coming from outside when my dad would arrive after playing Santa all evening during our childhood years and thereafter for the grandkids. No other Santa can compare!

While everyone was else was occupied, I stepped outside to watch the falling snow and reflect on the many blessings in my life and how grateful I am for a loving Heavenly Father who gave his only begotten Son to atone for our many mistakes, weaknesses, and sins, and gave us the plan of happiness, and the greatest gift of all--that of being able to be forgiven, to know we will be together hereafter with our loved ones, and the key to everlasting joy.

My heart is full of hope for the future, faith that things will always work out, and abundant love for my life, my family, friends, neighbors, and so many people who make my life better just by being in it. The rest of the evening was quiet and peaceful as we carried on the rest of our traditions of reading the Christmas story from the scriptures and opening one gift (pj's) and now waiting for the kids to get to sleep so we can finish up the day.

We had a good turn out this morning as my 5th grade class participated in Wreaths Across America locally while our 6th grade students were decorating at Arlington Cemetery. We want to make this an annual tradition. The kids enjoyed placing wreaths on the graves of known Veterans in our community.Later today it began snowing. This is our first snow of the season! By evening, Abby and Pepper were playing in the soft, white snow while Taylor was inside wishing her sore throat would go away!

Happy 44th Birthday, Evan

Wasn't he the cutest little boy ever? That's the same sweet baby-face with blue eyes that I fell in love with years ago. Never heard him play a guitar, but he has many talents that keep our family going strong! WE LOVE YOU! THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO FOR YOUR GIRLS!

These are a few of my favorite things....

Coke...and a smile! Any season--it goes with everything!

Hot cocoa! Warms the hands and the heart on cold winter mornings & nights.

I love eggnog during the holiday season diluted with milk and a sprinkle of nutmeg on top! Mmmmm!

Pero-(my Mormon coffee!) It is one of the calorie-free drinks I love!