Den, Kat, Tayla and I went to the Draper Temple Open House yesterday. It was a gorgeous day - sunny and warm with the snow glistening on the ground. We drove to a chapel near the temple where we watched a video on the importance of temples to members of the Church. Then we boarded a bus which took us up the hill to the temple. It's smaller than other temples, which is the way the Church is building them now so that they can build more temples and accommodate more people. There is no cafeteria or clothing rental there.

The tour was a silent one with a brochure and signs to follow. I was so impressed with the beautiful chandeliers - I've never seen ones that picked up all the colors like those. Of course the spirit was so strong there. I need to attend the temple more often - good goal for this year.

Afterwards we met Pat at The Outback for an early dinner. Gotta remember not to order the Chicken Fetuccini again - dry and tasteless!

I Got My CCP!

Becky Poulter and I went to Rangemasters in Springville Thursday evening and completed the Concealed Carry Permit class. Mike S., the instructor, spoke really fast, was really funny, and taught us more than we really wanted to know! When Mike was drawing pictures on the chalkboard showing us where to aim on a person, or where to cut with a knife, I couldn't believe we were learning this stuff - it was against everything I'd ever been taught or brought up with.

We got fingerprinted and photographed and I sent all the paperwork into the Criminal Bureau of Investigation the next morning. After a background check by the FBI, I'll receive my card in about two months. This is my second background check - the first one was when I was a volunteer for the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympics - so maybe this one will go a little faster.

Schow Family Portrait

Family photos from Dave & Von's photo booth.

Dave & Von's Wedding

Jessie & I flew to California this weekend for Dave & Von's wedding - it was so beautiful! We attended the rehearsal on Friday and then the wedding and reception/dinner. It was so good to see Robert and Patricia there, as well as Katie and Rob (their new baby, Giovanni, is absolutely darling!).

Dave & Von had a white candle imprinted with the names of the family members who have passed away - a special touch.

They rented a "photo booth" where we could have our pictures taken - so we all scrunched in for a Schow Family portrait. There was lots of dancing (see Robert's moves above) with great 80's music and an over-the-top DJ.

I was feeling a little bit sorry for Jessie at the wedding because she didn't know very many people - until I realized I didn't know any more than she did!

We stayed at Mary's house and between wedding-doings we went to the Winchester Mystery House, spent a couple of hours (not really, but we COULD have) at DSW shoe shopping, went to Valley Fair Mall, and made a last-minute run to Le Boulanger for wonderful sourdough bread and Dutch Crunch rolls to take home in our carry-ons and a couple of sandwiches for us to eat on the plane.

Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful

We celebrated Kat's birthday at Tepanyaki's with a great show as well as good food. Wesley even enjoyed his eel - eek! - he said it tasted like chicken. We're so glad we could get together to celebrate Kat's special day. Happy Birthday, Kat! (and birthday or not - DON'T go with PACO!!!)

Target Practice

Den and I had our first "target practice" date Friday night at Rangemasters in Springville. I shot 75 rounds on my new .38 special - my Christmas gift from Den. We spent most of the evening trying to adjust the laser sighting - it needs a little more work but we'll save that for our next date. I need to go buy some more ammo - 105s this time - the 130s have too much of a kick for me right now.

2008 in Review

In the Doghouse

This is a very funny video - you might want to
share this with you husband!

http://bewareofthedoghouse.com/video.aspx

PIE NIGHT 2008!

A smaller crowd than usual, but a great location and a fun group nontheless! We held Pie Night at Skyler and Chelsea's clubhouse, complete with pool and video room and indoor swimming pool and hot tub. Good eats, too!

Here's something I never thought I'd see in my life time!

And CHELSEA likes my music! She says it's perfectly ME! Yeah, Chelsea!

And Savannah says she LIKES my music - Hooray for Buzzy!!!

Wesley says the music on my blog is weird. I like it. It makes me happy. I still like Wesley - he's a TERRYffic KID!!! I think we'll keep him.

Synchronized Swimming

ɹoɹɹǝʇ ǝɔʎoɾ puɐ sıuuǝp ɯoɹɟ uǝǝʍoןןɐɥ ʎddɐɥ

As some of you know, as part of my calling, I make the programs for my ward sacrament meeting each week.

This week I made a colossal blunder. When I needed a filler image to take up space I quickly typed 'Jesus Picture' in Google and just grabbed the first one that looked good.

I printed them all out and handed them out at church today just like normal.

What I DID NOT NOTICE until halfway through church is that Jesus is holding a WINCHESTER RIFLE!!!!!!!

oops!
Aaron Case
Location: Leesburg, Virginia

Here is the program:

Looking forward to Halloween!

HE'S #1!!!

Dennis took FIRST PLACE in his age group at the "Splash-n-Dash" Triathlon in American Fork on Saturday, October 4, 2008. He was 22nd over all! He beat out a nephew HALF HIS AGE!! That's MY MAN!!!

NO PARENT LEFT BEHIND

You cannot read these and not laugh out loud. These are real notes written by parents in an ALABAMA school district. Spellings have been left intact.



1. My son is under a doctor's care and should not take PE today. Please execute him.


2. Please exkuce lisa for being absent she was sick and i had her shot.


3. Dear school: please ecsc's john being absent on jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33.


4. Please excuse gloria from jim today. She is administrating.


5. Please excuse roland from p.e. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.


6. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.


7. Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part.


8. Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.


9. Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.


10. Please excuse ray friday from school. He has very loose vowels.


11. Please excuse Lesli from being absent yesterday. She had diahre dyrea direathe the sh*ts.


12. Please excuse tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.


13. Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.


14. Please excuse jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.


15. I kept Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping because i don't know what size she wear.


16. Please excuse jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it monday. We thought it was sunday.


17. Sally won't be in school a week from friday. We have to attend her funeral.


18. My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She spent a weekend with the marines.


19. Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.


20. Please excuse mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps.


21. Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover.


22. Please excuse brenda. She has been sick and under the doctor.


23. Maryann was absent december 11-16, because she had a fever, sorethroat, headache and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick, fever an sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn't the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night.

Now we know why parents are screaming for better education for our kids.