Intorducing our Foreign Exchange Student---Meli

We are so excited about our foreign exchange student from Germany----Melanie, who goes by Meli!!!  She will come and live with us starting August 17th  and live with us for the school year 2013-2014. She will be a sophomore in school.  She looks so adorable!!!!  And I like her already.

When we were reading the different students profiles I knew she was the one to come and join our family.  It was really funny because I didn't mention this to Kara and she picked the same girl.  Kind of a coincidence, but I think unlikely. Considering we were looking at countless profiles.  I was very touched by her letter and the letter her mom wrote.  I could tell they were both gems!  I always believe certain people come into your life for a reason. Our family is  so happy to show Meli around Utah and hopefully a couple of other states.   We hope we can make her transition as easy as possible to be living in the United States.

She will be going to a different high school than Kara.  She will be going to Salt Lake City Performing Arts school in SLC.  When I found this out I was a little worried, but a friend and neighbor of mine has had foreign exchange students for a couple of years and they all have gone there.  Anyways, Evelyn committed to drive Meli to school each day (it is on her way to work) and Meli can either wait for her, with two other foreign exchange students that will be going or they can ride the trax right by our home.   We will see what works best for her.  

Below is a cute picture of Meli and her brother.  They are really close.  Isn't she BEAUTIFUL!!  Luckily, she will be able to Skype with  them and talk with them on the phone.  I am already impressed with Meli and her family.  They seem so close and such a kind, good family. 

Here is a picture of Meli's cute family.  They are on a skiing, snowboarding vacation.  Hopefully, in the future we will be able to meet them all.  Kara is so thrilled to have Meli come.  She was a little sad when she found out she couldn't go to the same school, but the school Meli is going to is an excellent school.  So  much so, that Kara actually wanted to go to it too!  
We are excited to meet you in August Meli!!!!!!!!

Happening with kids!

 Spencer and his friend Anne went to the Festival of Colors in Spanish Fork.  They have this every year and it represents the beginning of new life.  It is at the Sri, Sri Hadna Krisha Temple.  For several years Coby has gone to it.  He would have gone with Spencer if we weren't out of town.








Last weekend Coby participated in the Model Arab League.

 The competition is similar to a role-playing game where students act like the leaders of their assigned country by making proposals and resolving issues. These issues ranged from chemical warfare between Syria and Israel to passing a resolution on the creation of robotic camel jockeys.

Because Coby lived in Jordan and speaks Arabic he had a great advantage.  There were people from all of the the United States, with a total of around 150 people.  Coby got an award there.  He got 2nd place or Honorable Mention for the way he acted in the Regional Competition.
 

 Below is a picture of him and some of the other students who won awards.

Here is a a picture of the group he was in.  

Happy Easter!!

We didn't celebrate Easter like we are usually do.  Next week is our families official Easter celebration, but I want to wish everyone a very Happy Easter!!

Our little mini trip!!

This weekend we went to Island Park, Idaho and into West Yellowstone, Montana.   We had our timeshare for a whole week, but I couldn't get that much time off work, since I just barely started and  Coby didn't have any break from school.   Sadly, both Spencer and Colton had to stay home and work. It is so hard to get the whole family together when you have adult children.

It was actually fairly warm in SLC and we went to colder weather, but it was fun!

 We stopped by the temple in Rexburg and to go by BYU-Idaho.  Too bad we didn't realize we were going or we could have stopped and seen my nephew Johnny.

 This is the apartment Matt lived in a LONG time ago.  It was brand new then.

 Someone had put this on the snow. 

 Coby and Kara in front of the Grizzly Bear and Wildlife in West Yellowstone.  

 This was the bear in the gift shop.  I have never seen one like that!

 I am pretty sure I have my eyes closed in this one. 

 We saw a lot of grizzly bears.  A total of 9 in all.  There were adorable.

 They also had a wolf exhibit too. 

 At the exhibit they hide food all over.  The bears look all over for it.

 In this picture they put a cantaloupe high up in the tree.  And the bear was determined to get it.  This bear weighs in around 1100 pounds.  He was huge!

 We explored the whole city in West Yellowstone and we went to a great little diner that had yummy food.  Actually, all the food we had was very tasty while we were there.

 We went to church on Sunday morning and it was the cutest chapel.  There were so many visitors there.  I actually ran into a young man who is married now with cute kiddos from my old ward.  It is a small world.  Most of the windows at the church couldn't be seen out of, because of the snow piles.

 This is the huge snow pile that was in the church parking lot.  And some silly kids who thought they would try to go up it.

Here is the cabin we stayed at.  It was very nice and comfy and had a gorgeous view of the gold course that was covered in snow.    We had a very fun trip exploring the beautiful world we live in!

Things to remember for next trip:  Bring snow gear, bring my snow shoes, this would have been a great place to go snow shoeing and snowmobiling.

More Prom pictures

Do you ever stop missing them....

Happy 73rd Birthday to my Dad yesterday.  This day always seems to sneak up on me. As always it makes me think of my dad and how much I miss him.  Does it ever stop?   My brother Matthew's family is in Seattle this week for their Spring Break.  Below is a picture of them bringing flowers to the grave and doing their best to remember him.  Or maybe know him, since none of them have every met him. 

As I have said before, my dad would want me to smile today. To chase away the Sad. To look at his grandkids and let them know they are cherished.  And to know, with unwavering faith, that he is here, no matter the distance.

Today 28 years ago is the day my life forever changed. This is the day that my most favorite person in my world, at that time, died. My life has never been the same again since she passed on.  I miss her so much.  I use to think that in time, this feeling would go away, but it hasn't and probably never will. I miss my mom anytime someone talks about what their mom does for them. I miss her when I wake up and when I go to bed. I miss her as I look at my children and imagine the spectacular Grandma they don't realize they would have had and how involved she would have been in their life.  I miss her at any of the  milestones that happen and I miss her advice and just her silliness.  Kara is the age now, that I was when my mom died. It is hard to believe, because she feels so young, but I was that young!

As I said at another anniversary, On this day mom, I want you to know of my love for you--my gratitude for being your daughter. We all now work to live the kind of lives that will take us to where you are. You set the standard and we are trying to reach it. after you left, I prayed and asked you to wait for me there. Someday I will feel your hugs again and hear your voice. Until then, I will wait. I will think of you and teach my  children all that you taught me. I will wait.....
I love you mom

It is beginning to look a LOT like PROM!!!

 Prom morning---Kara had to be ready for her 10am prom date activity.  Unfortunately to at least me, it snowed last night.  So Harrison let Kara know that she should bring some snow clothes.

 For her day activity they had a brunch, played games and hung out.  Kara came home around 1:00 and my friend Falon came over to help us do Kara's hair style right after. We did it in my bathroom since it had the most mirrors and I was plucking her eye brows and then I did her make up.   Thank you so much Falon, you are the best!!!! 

 First picture with her prom dress on.

 Her hair in the back.

 Side view

 Kara was struggling to put the boutonniere on Harrison. So Matt helped her.  Kind of silly. 

 Before Harrison came over, Matt took pictures of Kara and I, but only with his cell phone so they are kind of small. 

 The corsage he got Kara was BEAUTIFUL!!!!  I loved it.  It had a pearl bracelet around the beautiful flowers.

 The 1st awkard picture before the dance.  They were kind of in a hurry to go where they would be having professional photos.  I am sure they will be pictured out by the end of the evening.  I can't wait to see the rest of the pictures from the day activity that one of the dads took and also the pictures from tonight.  I am so excited for Kara!!!    More pictures to follow!

   

Harrison has his license, but you have to wait 6 months before you can have another driver in the car so his mom was driving.  Which frankly made me happy since the dance is all the way in SLC at the U of U campus!!!!