A New High

After bowling with Special Olympics, Jena joined us for one more game of bowling as Gary and I were bowling on another lane.  Her games for the morning were all three under her average, but I guess it was all for practice as she then bowl her new all time high score "128".    She was one happy bowler!  We have a tradition of posting the scores when new highs are done, so here she is with her score sheet posted on the honored spot--the refrigerator!

Our Week in Review

For the first time in over a year and only the second time in about 10 years, Gary went on a business trip.  He headed to San Jose for team meetings and team "building" time  (that means going out to eat at fun places and playing bocco ball for an afternoon.)  He left on Monday with a cold--never fun for a plane trip--and came home with a chest cough and feeling a bit "under the weather" as they say.  Hopefully he gets better by tomorrow.....we are having five families over to celebrate our "belated" Chinese New Year" for Family Night.
I had lined up the usual busyness for when he was gone and got a lot of spring cleaning done while he was gone.  I also stayed up late reading a book which I usually don't do much any more as my eyes really don't work that great past 10 or 11 at night.  However I got caught in the story "Lost Gate" by Orson Scott Card.  If you like the science fantasy type book, you would probably enjoy this book.  Warning..it is part of a trilogy and I don't think the other ones are published yet.

However, I missed him...more than I expected.  With all of the traveling Gary did early in our marriage, I usually did fine when he was gone.  I have just gotten use to having him around now.  I am the one coming and going and he is usually here, minding the fort.  Jena missed him as well and gave a daily count down to when he was getting back.  We were happy when he was back and life was back to our "normal".

Jena is busy with her play practice at the junior high.  She is loving it.  She is in the mission band of "Guys and Dolls".  I am in charge of the treats so I have hung out during parts of the practice.  It is so great to see her a part of the cast and interacting and feeling a part of that group.  The performance is on this coming Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  We are excited.  Watch for pictures next week.

Jena's ski lesson was the past Thursday.  As we left the junior high it started to rain and by the time we got to Snowbasin it was pouring.  Jena said she still wanted to ski, although I wasn't even sure if her teacher would want to take her out.  Terrie was willing and off she went, skiing in the pouring rain for 2 hours.  I stayed inside most of the time, stepping out from time to time to wave at her.  She ended the lesson with big smiles and wet clear though.  Her hands took forever to get warm.  Apparently her gear is best for keeping you warm in the snow not dry in the rain.  She was very proud of her self.  She was the only one of the afternoon lessons that showed up to brave the rain.  I don't know if that is something to be "proud of"...it might mean she is a bit 'crasy" about skiing.

As soon as Gary was home, he headed off to go bowling with his sister, Valerie, and her husband bowling even with his cough. Jena joined him after play practice and they all had great time.  Then Jena bowled Saturday morning with Special Olympics.

I often have pictures to post of Jena but I took this one of Ben with one of our dogs, Mowgli,  Jena took the next picture of Ben working on his computer in our kitchen.

Other Hall news  Jessica is a proud owner of a new (to her) car.  She said that it is exciting to have a car with power windows and air conditioner that works.  Scott and Chantel are busy with the usual--school, work, the gym, and other life stuff.  Tosha has been working lots of hours serving at Cracker Barrell even though it hasn't been very busy.

And that's the wrap.  Have a great day.

A winter walk

When I drove car pool this morning, I realized that it was a very mild day outside so decided to take a walk outside for exercise instead of using the elliptical in the basement.  It was beautiful despite the gray skies.  It was about 40 degrees or so.  We have had a very dry winter so far with just a few snow falls.  It makes the pictures look more like late fall instead of winter in Utah.

Wet path but no snow

Left in the field for the winter

Can't see the mountains in the back because of low lying clouds (east)

Can't even see Antelope Island which is much close to the west.

Ducks enjoying the water.  In late December, this pond was coverred in ice, but the mild temps have melted it all.

Blue skys coming in from the west.

For those of you who miss snow, there is the only trace I saw on my walk.

I personally am not a big fan of snow.  I like it fine on the grass just not on the roads and walks.  However I do understand the whole water cycle facts and know we definately NEED snow not just for the skiiers but to drink and water our yards in the summer.  So start snowing...well, not right now.  We are going to our annual Hong Kong Reunion-Chinese New Year Dinner in Salt Lake with many of our old friends tonight and as I mentioned I don't like snow on the roads.

Walnut Grove Pinewood Derby

After months of anticipating, weeks of building and practicing, we had our Pinewood Derby for our scouts yesterday.  (which is why I am too tired to doing anything on my list today and am catching my blog up to date instead).  All of that anticipating, building, etc....was done by Gary.  After the practice beta test with the High Priests in October, Gary has been looking forward to making this a great event for our 28 Cub Scouts.  My goal is always to have no Cubs cry during the event.

After some nervous moments and a bit of a delay for Technical Difficulties (poor Gary),  everything slid into place and we were able to run a fast moving pinewood derby.  All cars ran down all four of the tracks in a collection of 4 different heats.  The times were all done by the computer----no fights about stop watches (so nice).  The computer kept track of the times and the calculated the winners at the end.  We had decided to not give awards to the individual finishers but to the den with the fastest total times.  We did announce the top car in each den, but then had the dens come up as they were announced as third, second and first.    It was fast and fun and even with the delay, we got done just after 8:00 which is great for 28 boys with four races each.

Here is some of the sights but no sounds from The Walnut Grove Pinewood Derby 2012:  (I was busy manning the starting button so didn't take many pictures.)

The Pit area

Put the cars on the track.  each boy did their own.

The famous "Bacon" cheer for awards given during a break

Gary with his other Webelo leader and their cars

The Webelos

And for dessert, I took the idea from my Plano Ward (I believe my friends, Robynn and Julie did them):  Our own tire donuts.  The boys loved them.

Thanks to Debbie, the Primary President, who helped me decorate 144 donuts for this event.

Did I mention that we are exhausted today!  But in that good way!

(We are curious if the dads were disappointed to not really know where their son's car ended up overall,  We will see if we get any feedback in the next few weeks.)