Christmas

FUN

Radio Winner

Konrad always tries to win something from the local radio station on the way to work. Today he was driving Audrey to school and the question was "What was Madonna's first television appearance?" Audrey got through on the phone and said "American Bandstand" and was right. The radio announcer wanted to know if she saw that first appearance and she just laughed and said "I'm seventeen! and my dad told me while we were driving to school" So they won tickets to a play here in town. So, Sara, Konrad and Audrey are trying to get famous too!

Halloween

Meatloaf man in a bread coffin stuffed with cheesy macaroni.

Playing with dry ice.

Middle school gym teachers. (Audrey's friend Carter Fawson)

Halloween was strange this year. We had a kid that threw the treat back at Konrad, two girls on cell phones texting and talking and holding out their bags for candy, two adult women with candy bags and no children??, and little kids arriving at 5:00 p.m. in broad daylight. Gee, we didn't even have the jack o'lantern's lit!

Back from China

Konrad went to China a week ago for the Utah State University Huntsmen Business School.

The Great Wall.

Buying trinkets and goodies.

In the classroom

The Forbidden City

Nice helmet

Erin was seen riding her bike last week in Palmyra, New York. I love this picture. Her new companion, Sis. Shakespeare sent us this picture. Erin says everywhere they go people ask her companion if she is related to William. I wonder how many times she has been asked that.

Homecoming and other shenanigans

Homecoming Float the Student Body Officers flipped pancakes for the crowd. Audrey cute in $100 acrylic sweater.

Father/daughter fall campout (Alison's arms)

Alison being the fashion expert before the date arrived

Waterton Park - it hasn't changed in 30 years

We recently spent a few days in Waterton Park. It was really amazing. The weather was perfect, and we had a wonderful time.

Famous for one minute

She made the newspaper!!!
Yesterday Audrey played in the first Logan High School tournament of the season. Right near the end of the game a photographer with a giant lens showed up, took a picture and asked for her name. We were excited, and by the way, she won both games!!

May Happenings

Audrey won the election!!! She now insists she needs her own car, a new camera and she will be missing a lot of school next year. What?
I finished a project at home this month. I painted the girl's bathroom, and had hardware installed into the tile. My tile man came and drilled the holes. He went through 12 drill bits and I laughed because every picture in the house was crooked after 2 afternoons of LOUD drilling. I am happy with the shelf and the shower rod.
We had a fun long weekend and we made monkey bread on Sunday night. Carol arrived in time to eat it with us. YUMMY.

Audrey's Watching!

Audrey decided that she wanted to run for a Student Body Officer position at her high school . She is running for School Historian (she told me needs a cool new camera - I just stared at her) SO - for the past few days we have been painting posters, making eyeballs out of yoga balls, spray painting giant pieces of money, etc. etc. Funny thing, Konrad and I keep looking at each other and wondering where Audrey is. If she wins, will I have to give her acceptance speech? Her theme is from the Geico commercials where they play that funny "somebody's watching you" song. She has to produce a video and is apparently filming it with her "watching" students in extremely awkward situations. She says it "has to be funny" to win. I haven't seen it so far, but a few of the awkward situations are:
watching someone opening ketchep on someone else
watching a boy reading "twilight" secretly in his room
being in the backseat on a date
knocking on someone's door and staring
etc.



I sewed covers to yoga balls to make the eyeballs and I was rolling around on the floor to stretch them over. The "pupils" were not out of stretch fabric so it was a math problem and extremely frustrating. We arrived at the school this morning at 5:45 a.m. and there were tons of students and their parents at the front. They opened the doors to the school and everyone screamed and rushed to get the best poster spots. Konrad and I were out on the lawn trying to put together the eyeballs and money. I give it one day before the rains and winds and nerdy vandalizers do their destruction.
*(update on the mousehunt - HE LEFT!!! He probably heard me talking and saw the sticky traps - at least I am ready with my arsenal)

Junior Prom

Audrey had her Junior Prom last weekend. As Junior class President she had a lot of stress and planning to do. Konrad and I went and refilled the punch dispensers all night. It was fun. Konrad had a good laugh because one of the high school kids asked me to dance - probably on a dare! I surprised him though and went out and danced. I didn't have a Junior Prom so it made up for it. It was a fun night.

Mousehunt

Well, I am on a mouse hunt today. Last night, right after American Idol, Audrey was finishing up her homework on the couch and out pops a little beige mouse (although we are debating if it is a "vole", it did have large bulgy eyes). She claimed it was staring right at her. Alison and I promptly stood on chairs to get a better look. (When vermin are in the house, being on top of chairs is a good idea) He was mucking around in the fireplace, Konrad turned on the flame, we all screamed but it didn't get him going, just warmed him up I guess. Konrad carefully placed 5 little poison pellets (so we could tell in the morning if he took the bait) and we went upstairs. We had to assure the girls that mice (and voles) really don't jump up stairs, they are after food after all (get that girls - if you don't have food in your rooms you are safe!!!!!) a GOOD rule to follow at all times.

I have to admit I actually tried to wear my slippers to bed, it only lasted about 10 minutes. Just after Konrad turned out the light, about 11:00, we get a phone call. Of course we both do late night phone roll-o-dex in our minds and think, who died? who had a baby? who has a flat tire? or is it just Russell? None of the above, it's Audrey from her room, which is actually just next door. Apparantly, the mouse/vole is in her room and staring at her. HAHAHA. I shouldnt have laughed. She had the light out, almost asleep and then heard a russling, turned on the light; and down on the floor beside her bed, sits the creature (with his big bulgy eyes Audrey noted). We couldn't see him but she said he ran out under her door. Great, towards my room. This is getting sick. So I towel up the door entry to her room, her bathroom and tell her to just try and sleep. I lay awake for a half an hour staring in the darkness with my slippers on!! Finally, I sleep and at 6:00 a.m. we hear a scream. Audrey's alarm went off (she has it across the room) she got up, turned it off, turned on the light and yes, the mouse is running around with his bulgy eyes, trapped by towels keeping him in. She runs to our room, gets between us and says I am too tired to go to school and collapses sobbing between us.
So, I haven't seen the mouse today but I am going to IFA (the local farm supplier) to get sticky pads (to catch him) and those giant lego pellets (that could kill a small dog) to put around by house so no more voles/mice will be happy to come in here. I will post a picture of the capture if you are brave to check my blog later. Wish me luck!

FHE Treats?

Last night Konrad just ran out to get a FHE treat before our lesson. I guess he couldn't decide! Notice the pink fabric in the background? Yes, Junior Prom is this weekend and I am back in the sweatshop.

1st mission picture

Well, we received this picture of Sis. Lee with Pres. and Sis. Hemingway of the New York Rochester Mission. Audrey and I think Erin's coat looks really good. This picture was taken on the very first camera in Western New York. Funny how George Eastman, founder of Kodak is from Rochester, I would have expected a sharper image. Oh well.

Oh, and another funny story - actually quite alarming. We were coming home from Alison's orchestra concert last night, Audrey was driving. We were just coming through a four way stop and two boys were goofing around and they were crouched behind a truck coming the other way through the 4 way stop. Just as Audrey started proceeding the one boy threw himself in front of the car. Of course Audrey totally hit him and he rolled into the ditch, jumped up and starting running. I was super mad, and I yelled out the window and had Audrey keep following him. The kids say when I get really upset my voice turns into a man voice. He wouldnt talk to us, but I came home and called the police. At first I wondered if it was a suicide attempt, but then I realized they were trying to be daring and funny or something. Audrey wasnt as shook up as me, it all happened so fast. Konrad was in the back with Alison and they didnt see him jump out like I did. Ridiculous kid. My only consolation is he was probably really, really sore when he woke up this morning. I have never met anyone that thought it was fun to jump in front of a moving car. Strange.

Concerto Night!

Audrey sang with the LHS Orchestra last Thursday, Donizetti's "Prendi per me sei libero". She was so happy with her performance. I would have liked to strangle the person on the french horn, but other than that it was beautiful.

Alison is 12!

Yes, Alison is our last to leave Primary. She is SO grateful her birthday is in January. She had a birthday party with 12 screaming girls. They found leftover silly string in a box (remember those of you that were at our house for Grandma's party a few years ago?? - that is a fun memory) The clean up was difficult, but after 4 1/2 hours of it the next day, she said it was worth it!

MTC

Well, Erin is in the MTC and we had our first letter! We miss her quite a bit but we are excited to hear of her adventures.

Thanksgiving and Christmas