Compleats

In case you haven’t already seen, the new line of Hormel Compleats was showcased on The Paula Sands Show on Friday, January 9. This is a local daytime TV program in the Davenport, IA/Moline, IL. Compleats were specifically referenced as a new line of quick, convenient meals that contain protein and carbohydrates for a healthy meal. Although this wasn’t a result of our outreach, it is a nice product placement that highlights the benefits and raises awareness of the new line of Hormel Compleats.

Click the link to access the clip.

It is only the first part, but I don't know how to change that.

Girls Who Have Everything

Claire and her friend had fun singing yesterday. They enjoy playing together and they get along really well. It is fun to get them together (thank you grandma for helping this to happen).

The Best Job!

Yesterday I got played to play. First we met all of the students outside and went sledding.

After sledding we went inside, took off our snow clothes, read some stories, played with toys and had rootbeer floats for "R" week.

After floats, we sang and danced to some activity songs - "Ring-a-Round-the-Rosie," "If You're Happy and You Know It," and a couple of other fun ones.

I got paid to play. What a great job.

Simple Beauty

This morning I woke up to this. It is beautiful.

Oh What A Beautiful Morning

So, I looked at the temperature today and I told Caleb it was warm out. He asked what the temperature was. It is 9 degrees. To put it in perspective... that is 34 degrees warmer than it was last Friday. Add 34 degrees to whatever the temperature for the day is - it is warm. Caleb's reply was, "SWEET!" We are a little warped when it comes to temperatures here.

This is what we woke up to this morning. A beautiful sky with "warm" temperatures. Emily first saw the sky and thought it was beautiful.

Caleb's Recital

Caleb and a friend performed a duet for the recital. They did a good job. It was a busy day yesterday. We sent Brett to church early because he had meetings, and then Amber and I got all of the children ready. We went to sacrament meeting, and then Brett brought Amber, her children, and three of our children home sa Amber could get ready for the trip home. I came home after church (I had to teach primary). We ate dinner and then we went to Caleb's recital. We only stayed for the first few numbers and then we left. We came home to pack up the car. Caleb and I took Amber to the airport and said good-bye.

It was a ton of fun having her here with two of her little ones. My children thought D was a toy. Also, S had fun playing with the girls. Thanks for coming to freezing Minnesota to spend some time with us!

When is it too Cold?

YESTERDAY!

The children were out of school yesterday and today due to cold temperatures. It was just too cold to be outside.


However, today must not have been too cold because the boys decided to go outside and play. Actually, they went out because they wanted Aunt Amber to think they were cool. We were sitting at the table eating lunch and they took their shirts off. Amber told them that they should go outside without their shirts on. They asked her how much she would pay them, and she told them she wouldn't pay them anything, but she would think they were COOL! That was the icing on the cake - they got their boots and hats on and went out to play.

Needlesstosay - it was too cold - they were only outside for about a minute, and neither one could complete their snow angels.

Caleb posing for his favorite aunt (I mean second favorite - Shanel is his favorite - or at least that is what he tells Amber - it is because she is buff and ripped).

Eli posing for his favorite aunt that is visiting.

Crazy boys!

Eli after attempting to make a snow angel. TOO COLD!

Caleb laying in the sun making a snow angel, but wait...

It is cold - his body is realizing that!

WAY TOO COLD!

True Colors

Since I didn't have my camera, I don't have any of my own pictures of the Nutcracker yet. I did get some pictures, but they are on a friend's camera, I will hopefully make a visit there to get them. My friend took these pictures of the girls while they were waiting for the performance to start. (Thank you Vanessa for letting me take your pictures!)

The children all did a great job at the performance. With all of the dancing, there were many numbers to watch. It was a crazy day, but we survived!

The girls doing a nice picture. Too cute!

BEWARE! We Are All Connected

My sister in Alaska called me and asked me if I knew someone name Cajsa. I told her that I did and that we were mission buddies. I asked her how she knew her, and this is the story...

My sister in Alaska has a friend (we'll call her Vikki) in Alaska who has a blog. Vikki was playing on her blog and found a friend's blog (Cajsa's sister). While she was looking at Cajsa's sister's blog, she found a link to Cajsa's blog. Cajsa & Vikki grew up together, and although Vikki is the age of Cajsa's sister, she and Cajsa were pretty good friends.

Well, while Vikki was looking at Cajsa's blog she saw a link on the side to a friend "Dawn Dodge Asay." She clicked on the link and ended up at my blog. Vikki knew that my sister in Alaska's maiden name is Dodge, so she asked my sister if she had a sister named Dawn, and as it goes... she does.

Just Plain Fun!

A White Christmas

So, on Christmas day we went northern Wisconsin to spend some time with some friends. They have a cabin there, and we had a blast. The cabin is right on a lake, which was frozen, and it was beautiful! I think what Brett is trying to say is that it is aw-aw-aw-awesome. You just couldn't hear the last part of it.

Here is a picture of the cabin. I am standing with my back to the lake. On the right, there is the front door, it is light blue. As you enter, there are stairs to the right which go up to the loft (5 or so twin beds up there - the girls slept there with their 2 girls) and stairs that go down to the basement (all of the bottom windows). The bottom windows are all a family room with a ping pong table - there were always tournaments going on, and the mom of the family is the reining champion. Also downstairs there is a guest bedroom with a full bed and a bunk room with two bunk beds (4 twins), and a bathroom. The boys slept in the bunk room with our friends' son. The windows in the front are in the great room. There is a living room, a dining area and a kitchen. In the back of the house is a master bedroom and a bathroom. It was a blast.

Here is Caleb. He wore my boots and used my skis (about 4 sizes too big for him), but he really enjoyed it and did well.

We were able to rent cross country skis, and we went to a candy shop. The thing that was the nicest was the fact that we were able to relax. Not a lot going on, just eating, sleeping, building fires, and playing. Here is Claire on the man-made mountain.

Here we are playing outside. Brett dug a swimming pool on top of the ice, and the children decided to drink it (after he did of course). This is Eli having a drink of ICE WATER.

We also made a snow cave. There was a tunnel through it, and here is Emily inside. They were trying to get it large enough to ride the tubes through it.

Here is Brett rescuing tired children. This little one (Claire's age) wore some sweepers, they were like skis, way out with her father. Brett skied out to them and took off the skis and gave them to her dad. He mom took the sweepers and Brett took the little one. Brett came back, and our friends took off toward the middle of the lake.

We had a wonderful time playing outside. The weather cooperated, it was right around 32 degrees with little to no wind. I think we even go some sun burns.