For Your Birthday

Dylan,

Another year has come and gone. I can't believe it, but somehow you've gone from being our Big D to a little man. Where did the time go? It's as though we were helping you walk one minute and now you're off and running. It's been a wild ride and one I wouldn't live without.

This year has been one of new opportunities. Going off to preschool and learning about new things, with new people. You've adapted so well to your surroundings. We always knew you would, still it's been fun to watch you have this experience. Have fun at school - it's a great place to see the world and make friends. Look to reach out to others and make them part of your life. You''ll always be happy when you're sharing with others. The lessons you learn in the earliest grades as those that are most important for your life.

It's been so fun watching you love your brother and sister. I already know that you want to be part of the action. Seeing you jump right in with older kids and making your presence known is a trait you certainly possess. Never lose that sense of adventure and a willingness to mix things up. People who sit on the sidelines usually end up with regrets - be part of the game.

D - you are a wonderful boy who can bring a smile to the faces of those around you. I know you have touched my heart and brightened my spirit. I love you. Happy Birthday.

Daddy

Shredding it at Mountain Dell

One of the things I like most about my calling in Young Men's is the fun times we get to have with the kids when we're all together. Once a month we pack up both the Young Men and Young Women for an evening of fun. This month we headed up to Mountain Dell for a little late night sledding.

My favorite part of the night was taking Kennedy with me. She loves hanging around the older kids and, fortunately for us, they like her too.

We had a total blast tonight. The hill was slick and sent us down at some pretty good speeds.
I'm not going to say I kept up with the teenagers, but Kennedy and I managed to hold our own. Even better, no one got hurt - always a plus when you're rocketing across ice on a piece of plastic.

Thanks for being my sled partner Dede!

Science Experiment

Winter time can be a pretty boring time for the kids.  With bad weather outside, there wasn't a lot going on for us yesterday.  One good thing about the weekend's storms was it finally cleared out the inversion and we had a "green burn" day.  So we fired up the stove and the kids performed a little science experiment.  Take a look:

Hiking Time

Yesterday we took advantage of our trip to Southern Utah and headed to the red rock.  My dad had mentioned a few short hikes that would be perfect for the kids.  So, we packed up the van and headed to Silver Reef to explore the country.

I knew Alex and Dylan were in for sure when we learned that the first hike we went on was to some dinosaur tracks, fossilized in the rock.  It was awesome.  I can't really remember the name of specific species, but the fossils looked like a large bird.

Since our first trail wasn't very long we continued our trek and headed up the next canyon.  I think our final destination was a waterfall, but we were really just happy to be outside.  The kids played on the rocks, jumped over the streams, and had a total blast. 

In the end we had to call our hike off a bit early due to darkness, but no one cared.  It was great to breathe some fresh air and get outside for a change.

Nana's New Knee

For years my mom has struggled with her knees.  She's known for a while that she would end up doing a total knee replacement at some point in her life.  For the past couple of years, stairs have killed her and it's tougher and tougher to get around.  So, when she told us she was ready for the surgery our family was excited for my mom.

We were fortunate that my work schedule had me teaching in St. George this week.  I could complete my trainings and still have time to be there for the surgery.  She went under the knife earlier this morning and after a couple of hours it was over.  She slept much of the afternoon and by evening - they had her strapped up to machine that would keep her knee moving.  It's unbelievable how quickly the hospital gets people moving.

Surgery is never easy, but my mom is committed to the process - especially the rehab that will follow.  I know she can do it.  She's a tough lady who can accomplish anything she put her mind to.  Good job Mom - we'll have a race in a couple of months!