Emily Ready for Broadway

Emily did such a fantastic job as Hodel in the Graded production of "Fiddler on the Roof." They had four performances: one on Thursday, December 4, two on Friday, December 5, and one on Saturday, December 6. Thursday she became quite nervous. But I told her that this chance to sing and act on stage was what she wanted, and that she couldn't waste a bit of any performance feeling nervous and scared. She knew what she wanted to do on stage, and now was her chance to shine. And shine she did! It was wonderful. She sang "Matchmaker" (a family favorite...Joy, remember you san it to try out for Encore!) beautifully. And her acting was great, too. William Richardson played Perchik (the teacher Hodel falls in love with), David Kern played Tevye, and Cassia di Roberto played Golde. Stephanie Feder played Tzeitel and Binca Ioshp played Chava. Hunter Wilson played the tailor, Motel Kamzoil.

Heart Murmurs Exam

We had an exam on our ability to audibly recognize heart murmurs, and I aced it.
I could have been a primo cardiologist!

4-1 is on its way

Aupreille and I are ecstatic to announce that Aupreille is 7 weeks pregnant with our first child!!!
We just had our first ultrasound picture of him/her (which I'll post soon) and we saw the heart beating! It was amazing to me, and I felt a tsunami of gratitude. Aupreille deserves a gold star for hiking the entire way into and all around the Havasupai Indian reservation, carrying our own packs, and all this and being pregnant too!

Jared, king of the 21 club

I'm 2 weeks late posting this, but Jared had a great piano recital this month. He performed his 2 pieces without incident (thank heaven!), and then came the award ceremony. He received his gold medal for getting a perfect score on the state music theory test (he knew that was coming). Then he was given the 1st place trophy for most measures memorized during the 2007-2008 school year, out of all of the 50+ students that take from Ms. Ana. 1241 measures, to be exact--printed right there on the trophy. (This was a surprise to all of us). Jared had been first to enter Ms. Ana's 21 club this spring (the group of kids who memorize at least 21 pieces), but I assumed some of the older kids would have a greater total number of measures memorized. His "Mr. lemon-head" grin was going from ear to ear.

1st Year Finished!

Today I donned my Hawaiian shirt and made the trek to campus in the wee hours one last time for my last final exam in physiology, completing my first year. What a year it has been!
As I look at the pile of notebooks on my desk and the gigabites of powerpoint and mp3 lectures on my computer, I am amazed.

Integrity

I married a great woman! This week Christa is at a conference in Chicago where the business development side of her company is getting training on negotiation skills. Some of the activities are designed where two sides are negotiating with each other, and you will always do better if both sides cooperate (expand the pie) rather than try to shaft the other party. The tension comes as both sides have an incentive to stab the other party in the back, each side doesn't trust the other side, so both parties defect and they end up doing poorly (prisoner's dilemma).
Christa's group ended up winning the competition--both teams cooperated and made the best deal. The other team said afterwards that when they heard Christa was on the other team, they knew they could trust them because 'Christa always tells the truth.'
Sometimes we don't see how we are making impressions on those around us: neighbors, family, co-workers, etc. A lot of little actions add up to people's perceptions of who we are and what we stand for. I'm proud of Christa for living in a way that everyone around her knows she lives and acts with integrity. Way to go!

Waffle Irons and a book on CD

I am completely thrilled because today (Sunday) for lunch, i added waffles to my list of things i know how to make!!!! KUDOS FOR EMILY!!! besides waffles theres only box brownies....... ...T-T........BUT this is still a major accomplishment becaaaauuuuuuuuuse mom is still at grandma's house--i.e. i made them completely by myself!!!!!!! yes, there was no one in the kitchen besides me, the ingredients, and the cookbook!! unless you count dad, who was TRYING to help but ended up wandering around the kitchen, occasionally getting in my way. it's the thought that counts, though, right?? ;D

Indiana Jones is back

Last Tuesday Warren did his oral presentation to a couple 4th grade classes on the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (his independent study topic this year). He decided to start off by playing the theme song from Indiana Jones and come running into the room--hunting for a precious artifact. He did a great job with the dramatics as well as the presentation of the facts. The boy's a natural performer, so look out Harrison Ford.

Triumph!

It only took 4 months and Aup flying to Texas but the hunt is over.

There's just something about Texas and being able to find a Wii when you want one.

Jared's masterpiece

Jared has been working on a very large acrylic painting of our new house for the past several months. Last week he completed it and today it was hanging up behind the front desk at the fine art academy where he takes weekly art lessons. His smile was so big it almost split his face in two. We plan on putting the painting in our huge art niche at the top of the stairs with the scripture from Joshua printed on another canvas (As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.) So, if anyone out there wants to commission a piece for your private collection . . . Jared would be more than happy to comply.

First Steps!

This is the triumph of the year for our family so far. Ethan, at 17 months and 35 ish pounds, finally took some steps this weekend! Hip hip hooray! We are so excited, and he has been taking them all day today! My back is rejoicing...can you hear it breathing a sigh of relief? Ahhhhhhh, I can. :)

Rachel's call!

Here's the video--in 2 parts--of Rae opening her call. I hope you all enjoy her seeing her cute facial expressions and all the before/after fun. What an exciting blessing! We can't wait to hear where Spence will go!

part 1: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3786699149220548184

part 2: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5980391611122540897

It will fill the earth...

Bishop Fisher announced that this coming Sunday we would be meeting together with the Kleinwood Ward at the stake center for a special Sacrament meeting with the stake presidency. There are so many strong families in this area that the time has come to once again split the ward. My understanding is that they will create a third ward from the area that presently constitutes our two wards. We are excited to see what shape these wards will take and we are thrilled that the Church is growing and becoming such a strong presence in the area. And as much as we all enjoy being together, it is great to know that our family is helping to grow the church all around the world!

A Professional Paint Job For 1/10th of the Price!

Well I painted a big portion of our downstairs area this week. There were two triumphant parts. The first was that it would have cost about $350 to have someone do it for us, and it only cost me $30 for the gallon of paint (so I actually MADE money!) The second part was the awesome little tip that I wanted to share with all of you in case you ever get the painting bug. :)

I had a guy here working on re-wallpapering our study, and he is also a professional painter, the night before he came, I had taped everything after the kids went to bed to get it all ready to paint the next night after the kids were in bed. Well he told me to put a thin layer of caulk along the tape, you don't put very much, just a tiny bead, and then smear the caulk over the seam so that it seals the tape to the wall, then your paint doesn't bleed through on to the door jambs, baseboards, and crown molding. Since you just have a tiny film of caulk you can't see it at all after you remove the tape.

I did it, and it was miraculous, it seems like no matter how careful you are when you tape, there is always a little spot that bleeds, well not this time! It was awesome, perfectly straight, clean lines. FANTASTICO!

The plague has left...finally!

Well, after more than a month of sickness, today I feel is truly a TRIUMPHANT day, I feel great, and so do the kids, I think we may be over the hurdles that have come our way this last long while! HOORAY!!!! (Knock on wood.) :)

We just got home from having a picnic at the park with some friends and it felt so great to be out and about. The only great thing about being sick is that we get to be reminded about what a blessing our health really is!

Blessings and Hard Work

I just want to publicly say how proud I am of Rob's work ethic and humble reliance on the Lord here at law school. At a school where everyone is very capable and intelligent, Rob decided from the beginning that he wanted/needed to have the Lord involved in his studies. He really felt that if he just did his best and then asked in faith, Heavenly Father would take care of him and magnify his efforts. Rob definitely put in a lot of hours working dilligently, but as the semester progressed he really felt Heavenly Father's hand helping him to understand and process everything he needed to learn.

Yesterday Rob's first semester grades came out and we both feel like Heavenly Father answered our prayers to let all of Rob's hard work be visible in his test grades. We feel like Heavenly Father is confirming our decision to come here and is showing us how pleased He is with Rob's integrity and humility. Way to go, Rob and Thank You Heavenly Father! I just keep hearing the voice of my favorite mother-in-law saying, "F-A-I-T-H, FAITH!! FAITH!!"

She's arrived safe and sound!

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. Anne-Lorenne is healthy and happy! Hopefully she and Laura will be able to come home tomorrow.

Follow the link to see some photos from the hospital today. More to follow...
http://picasaweb.google.com/frere.jacques/AnneLorenne

Victory by accident

Yesterday we finally succeeded in getting Nolan to use a sippy cup. Although it really was a victory by accident. We've been putting the cup in his mouth for the past month or two, and all he would ever do is bite down on it--like it was a teething toy. Yesterday as I fed him lunch I put it in his mouth and he accidently inhaled . . . eureka! His eyes got big as saucers as he tasted the water coming out, and then he started sucking in earnest. I couldn't help thinking that so many of our triumphs, victories, discoveries, etc. happen while we're doing something else--Christopher Colombus, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein . . . So keep on doing good things, because you never know what you might stumble across :)

Emerging from...the pit of despair, cliffs of insanity, inconceivable...

...or the library
As of this last friday, I am no longer an unexamined first year law student!! I FINISHED THE SEMESTER!! (without going insane!) Thank you everyone who has been praying for me during this crazy time. I'm especially grateful for Christa's enabling love and patience--it is so wonderful to have her by my side, adding a much needed eternal perspective to my tendency to over-focus on the matter at hand.
We got back from Brazil on the 27th of December and have lived the life of medieval monk ever since. My first final was on Saturday (Criminal Law), then Monday (Civil Procedure), Wednesday (Contracts), and Friday (Torts). Christa had to be gone for a week on a business conference, and the Lord blessed us with a tender mercy so that it overlapped on finals week where I was on campus until very late anyways.
I'm not sure how the grades will turn out in the end (I've realized certain things are more/less effective for next semester), but I love the feeling that comes from working as hard as you can and then leaving the rest to the Lord. I know that God lives and that with His help we can triumph over all things.

We're leaving on a jet plane....with a semi-potty-trained 2 yr old

This was originally going to be a triumphant entry for the progress Ryn is making with potty training--going really great for the most part (which is a huge step from what I was feeling last Tuesday (Day 1) when I was wondering why any parent in his/her right mind would put themselves through this just to be done with diapers). She is able to make it through all her waking hours (except for 3-4 accidents for the whole week!) getting to her pink bear potty chair--see photo on our blog-- in time to keep her pants dry. She's even been brave enough to move on to pooping on the chair, too (BIG step). So we're pretty happy for Ryn and the 'big girl' she is becoming. "Good job, Ryn!" (sorry Rae)

Our other happy news is that we are leaving France and our days of playing basketball and heading home to the states even sooner than planned. Actually, we'll probably be on a plane in 2 weeks! We have loved being over here and all we've been blessed to experience, but we are 200% ready to move on to the next chapter of our life. We will be in Utah for a few months in Kev's parents' basement (newly finished off to be a separate apartment) and Kev will get his personal trainer certification, work, and start taking some classes towards a degree :). Then we plan on moving down to Houston sometime this summer where he'll keep up the schooling and start building up his clientele of rich retirees to train (like he did that one summer a few years ago--starting with some of the same people, but this time to stay). We are so excited to be closer to all of you, as well as Kevin's family--to be home for Conference, to get to be in Utah with Rae for the rest of her last pre-mission semester, to be planning on MOVING TO TEXAS (which is something I never dared dream) where we will be in the same city as John and Laura, and only a few hours from Joy, D, Matt and Nat!

I have Returned!!

Hey everybody! If going to Habitat for Humanity, helping dig, shovel, hoe, and lay bricks with getting minimal sun burn damage, and returning in one piece counts as a triumph, than I did it! I got home from the airport a little before 5 am and I've been catching up on everything! Don't worry, I'm just about to start writing about the trip on my blog, but note - my blog needs to get included in the family website somehow. Hint hint. anyways, its great to look on this wonderful website and blogs and read everybody's info! Brilliant everybody!

A new champion of Memory!

Watch out Rob! Since Brian got a new memory game for Christmas, it's his favorite game to play. I beat him once (out of 4 or 5 games) this afternoon and his response was, "That's great Daddy! Mommy beat me once, too!" He wins so often and by such a large margin that he'll often ask if you want one of his matches.

Now the problem is that he knows he's good and it is starting to go to his head. Next up for whaddo I do Wednesday is how do you keep them humble?

Try, try again

Last night Laura and I decided we should try to take advantage of the relative calm before the storm and go on as many dates as possible before the new baby comes. Luckily we were able to find a baby sitter and we were off! In the interest of frugality, we decided to do things which didn't require money. Luckily for us, we have several gift cards to a variety of places that haven't been used so we decided to go see a movie. We headed over to the Willowbrook AMC only to discover once we got up to the ticket window that we were supposed to be at the Tinseltown theater in the Woodlands. No problem, there's a game store down 249 that we've been wanting to check out for a while so we head up there. No luck, it was closed. So we decide to go up to the Woodlands after all - if we make it to a movie, great, and if not there are some good bookstores we could enjoy for a while. Well, we make it into National Treasure and are enjoying the movie when, about 30 minutes before the movie ends, a family comes in and sits down next to us. Odd, but that's ok I guess. But as the credits start to roll, the dad looks over at me and asks if this wasn't the 9:00 show? Unfortunately for them, this was the 7:20 show and they'd just spoiled the climax of the movie...

I wasn't sure if this should be in the Triumphant Tuesday section as a motivational story or the Joke Day Thursday section as one of life's little funny moments but there it is. The moral of the story - just keep trying.