December: Young Women in Excellence Night

On December 1st our ward had its Young Women in Excellence program. I had video-interviewed all our young women's mothers asking them what value she thought her daughter exemplifies most, and then created a movie adding music and pictures of the girls. It was really fun. So... since the girls were the stars of the show, we did a Hollywood theme and had them dress their fanciest. The YW secretary did all the decorations and food. It was an awesome night. 23 out of 25 girls came and all the moms but one (who lives out of state) were there!!

She even made star cookies and frosted them and the little note says "YOU are the star of your own PERSONAL PROGRESS"
She made this big poster that has all the values on it and the girls got their pictures taken with boas and walked the "red carpet"
This is my Beehive class. Another 2 have turned 12 since then and we have quite a big group now!
After cleaning up, the secretary gave me all the balloons. So Emily was in charge of them. We got a ride home with Taylor in the Honda civic. The balloons wouldn't fit, so he opened the moon roof and his friend, Markus held on to the balloons tight as we zoomed through the night with them flailing out the top. It was wild! He had his music on and we laughed at all the people who gave us double takes.

November 29 - Taylor is 17!!!

Taylor had a pretty nice birthday if the saying goes "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach!" He got an "unusual" breakfast of eggs, ham and hash-browns plus some acai-blueberry juice. For lunch Uncle Brandon and Dover took him and Sr D. to Saltgrass Steakhouse! Yum! For dinner he asked for chicken enchiladas.

After dinner we went Christmas tree shopping, came home, put it up, strung it with lights and hung the ornaments. We ate some chocolate eclares, and then he opened presents. As you can see he got a football. He also got another workout outfit and a gift card from Grandma and Grandpa Scott. Elder Janis sent him Austin Collie's rookie year football card.

Here is Emily taking a video of the opening of presents next to our new Christmas tree. It's a little blurry, but gives the general glow and fuzziness in the room.

17 wonderful years with this boy! I love you Taylor!

November: Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year, Sr. D, Taylor and Brian played in the ward's annual Turkey Bowl: Aaronic vs Melchizedek priesthood. The older guys won 9-5. Taylor played quarterback 1/2 the game, threw 2 touchdowns and caught 2. Brian converted a ton of 3rd down and 10s to 1st downs. Sr. D did some great blocking, caught an interception and didn't get hurt (his main goal of the game.) He is in black just to the right of the guy in red.

Taylor's in the middle in black, and Brian is on the left in white shirt, blue shorts.

Then it was feast time and I was too busy in the kitchen to pick up my camera and I am SO MAD!! We had Uncle Brandon's family and Aunt Shelby's family and it was a grand time! Here is the only picture I got of the day. It is this darling cutie. I took him on a walk around the lake in the stroller and we fed the ducks and had a bonding time. Love you Tommy!!

We had a nice gathering and went around the room and talked about what we were most grateful for. Aunt Mindy was great getting everyone to play games and we had a great time learning and playing Mafia. I showed Shelby and Mindy a potato bag and they got excited and figured out how to make them and ordered the material for each of us to make several, and I almost created a million dollar potato bag business called The Three Spudetts, but in the end, didn't. Ah, the dreams we have! Anyway, it was a great Thanksgiving!

November: Taylor the Lumberjack

I asked Taylor to cut the trunks down in the backyard and split the logs for firewood. He got all excited when I said he needed to buy an ax. He got all dramatic, put on a lumberjack-looking shirt, donned a Grandpa Stucki hat, and posed:



He sawed the tree till it was ready to go down, but had me come out and video him chopping the tree with the ax, and then pushing it over. Silly boy! I mean, What a Man!!!! Here's a video.

November: Trip to Ohio!

Amy called and asked if I could come stay with her while Greg was out of town for a week. I was able to do it and I said "YES!" So I went and it was SOOOO great!

This is a picture of a tunnel in the Detroit airport and it was cool! It had kind of eerie music going and a light show on the walls. I got familiar with this tunnel because I went back and forth in it because I missed my connecting flight and almost cried, and was put up in a hotel and had an experience to remember and write in my journal about.

Yummy grapes to eat and play chipmunk with. Pinch those cheeky cheeks!!

Ryan liked my old lady reading glasses and wore them around the house whenever he saw them.

Went to the John Johnson farm and took a tour. We were the only ones there. It was a wonderful experience. It was here, in Hyrum (not related to Hyrum Smith) where Joseph Smith received the revelation of the three degrees of glory found in D&C 76.

In the bed behind us is where Joseph was dragged out of and tarred and feathered, then right outside the door preached a sermon the next day. One of his twins died from exposure because of the event. The twins were sleeping on the trundle bed underneath.

Eric really liked playing the game "Angry Birds" on my iphone. This picture just reminds me of my three boys at that age. It took me back.

I held and loved and kissed this baby and couldn't get enough! I love him and miss him so much!!

Next door to the Johnson farm is an apple farm and a store. Amy got a bushel of apples, and she and the boys made apple pie filling to freeze. Eric helped peel/core/slice the apples and the other boys stirred in the spices. I took lots of pictures and video and wanted to make a fun movie with music, but couldn't get the technology to work for me. Rats! I think I got the boys making up a (bathroom) humorous song on video that also brought back the good old days!:)

Good memories of an A+ book report on The Silver Chair, a Family Home Evening playing the game Categories, singing 'In a Cottage by the wood,... come little rabbit, come with me, happy we will be. WHACK! Mmmm! Wabbit stew!" Thank you Amy, Eric, Ryan, Christian and Daniel for a truly marvelous week!

October: Halloween

The pumpkin carving was wild! Taylor and Markus carved their pumpkin to death. Here Taylor has carved an arrow from the pumpkin and is having it point to his pride and glory: his bicep. :D

Taylor dressed up as a missionary for Halloween. Doesn't he look great? Cute companion too!

October: A Nerd Dance and Emily's B-Day Party

Taylor and Marcus: silly boys who went all out for a Stake nerd dance. Don't they look geeky?:D

Marcus wore a long sleeve shirt over his tank to the dance - just so ya know!

Emily made invitations, and planned and hosted her whole birthday party this year. The girls had a blast being together, watching "How to Train Your Dragon," eating dinner and playing games. Emily put on the invite not to bring presents, but they ignored her and got her many nice gifts.