Happy 2011

Yesterday was the last day all of our family were together and I did not make the time for a blog. Autumn and Derrick decided to stay up in our apartment one last night so we played games late into the night. Poor Aubree was so ready to have the games done. She doesn't enjoy the same games that the other girls like so much like "Settlers of Catan" and "Carcassonne". Aubree did enjoy playing "Mexican Train Dominoes" however and a real family favorite, "Pass". We received "Blockus" for Christmas from my sister, Lorna, which we quite enjoyed also. Possibly the fact that we had been playing games for about a week straight was enough to put many of us over the edge. Ed is not a good loser (did you know he was the competitive type?) especially when he doesn't read the rules himself so he depends on others to tell him all the little intricate details of these games. He did learn that this is not a safe thing to do with these games and with his children. I think he will learn to read the rules himself from now on. ^_^

We had a wonderful week preparing for the New Year. Ashley and Aubree stayed down in Provo at Autumn and Derrick's home for the first part of the week. Ed and I worked half days and then drove to Provo to join them for planned activities. On Wednesday we planned that they would all come to Salt Lake and meet us at the zoo. Our family enjoys going to the zoo and there were supposed to be lights and fun stuff at the Hogle Zoo, but it began snowing about 15 minutes before the meet time so we changed plans and everyone came to our apartment for dinner and games. The snow continued so the kids left to go back down to Provo (they had to get back to take care of their dog) and Ed and I waited to make a trip to the airport to pick up our niece flying in from Houston. Her plane was delayed due to weather so instead of the 8pm arrival time it was 1am. The snow was a light but steady snow but it was still my first time to drive the car in snow for many years. At 1am there are not many roads cleared yet, so I did not have too many other cars to dodge on the freeway getting her home, but I am grateful that the few who were out were driving as slowly as I was for the most part. We made it back to our apartment safely but I didn't relax enough to get to sleep until after 3am so I slept in a bit.

Friday we all got together again to see one of our favorite movies "Narnia. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." We were not disappointed. After seeing the movie we began our evening of games, fondue fun (we always have chocolate fondue on NYE)and going over to Temple Square to listen to some of the musical groups that were performing in the Tabernacle and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. We also walked down West Temple Street to see the snowboarders on the ski jump that had been built in front of the Salt Palace. We just watched what we could see for a few minutes and then we stopped in to the Art Museum to look around. They were having Karaoke with some music videos that students had put together. Aubree and I started singing when a video came up that was all cats and to the song "I Think We're Alone Now". We sang without the mics so everyone else in the room started singing too. It was great fun. Then they had us line up and did the telephone game. The first person had to share a New Year resolution with the next person in line and so on to the end of the line. What came out at the end of the line would be projected onto the outside of the building! She said, "I'm going to call my sister more this year" but it ended up "I'm going to yell at my sister more this year". I think one of the people she knew changed it on her...... But there it was projected on the outside of the building with her name.

We went to the Tabernacle and listened to the Kenshin Taiko Drummers (Japanese precision drumming) and then ended the evening listening to the Wasatch & District Pipe Band (bagpipes, drums and dancers). I do love the bagpipes and to hear them in the Tabernacle was great. They finished about 11:45 so we exited the Tabernacle and walked over to the corner at West Temple/South Temple just in time to hear the Nauvoo bell sound midnight and then the fireworks began. They only lasted for a few minutes, but we were with a group of people cheering and yelling "Happy New Year!" through chattering teeth and frozen breath. It was wonderful!! Derrick's parents had joined us part way through the evening which was fun also. I really loved having our entire family together one more time. With a grandchild joining our ranks, Ashley finishing her Master's and trying to get a job in Africa, Aubree graduating and trying to go to Japan, our mission ending next year and returning to The Woodlands, Derrick finishing his Master's and looking for a job.....you know a lot can happen in 12 months. It is important to take advantage of each moment of time we are given.

Last week as I was getting ready to leave the Family History Library to meet the kids
I was asked if I could take a minute and try to help a Tongan Sister. She had come to the library with her husband and two darling children to do a quick search and see what she could find about her family. We don't often get to help patrons, so I was happy to be able to talk with her. She did not know anything about Community Trees and the Tongan Oral Histories that are up online now. I showed her where to go to look and when she saw some of the information that was there, including a photo of one of the people whose history was up, she was very surprised. "There are 3 Tongan Stakes in the Salt Lake Valley, why don't we know about this?", she asked. I had to leave, but she said she and her sister would be back this week and would love to get some help. Of course I told her I would love to help her. I hope they are able to come in. We want these families to find each other!! She does not speak the old Tongan, but her husband does so he would be able to translate these transcripts.

It is a great work we are doing and we are happy to be part of it. So tonight as Ed and I are once again here in our apartment planning our week, we are so grateful for all the wonderful memories we have from these last two weeks. But, there is so much to be done and it is a new year and time to get back to work!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!