HAPPY EASTER

Saturday, April 3, 2010

At the last minute, the Primary President in the ward decided we needed to have an Easter Egg hunt for the Primary children. Heidi got the flyers out and there was a pretty decent turn out. Here are some of the pictures of our kids.

Rushing to the under 5 years old area.

Bridger's first find. He wasn't really sure what to do--open it or put it in the bag.

Thatcher showing off his find.
Thatcher, of course, didn't get enough eggs (which he got more than almost everyone else) and started crying and complaining. Fun, eh?


Bridger finding another egg.

Aubrey finding an egg behind the bushes.

Sunday, April 4, 2010.

During the final session of General Conference, we decided that since Bridger was asleep we would try decorating eggs. We hadn't done it for several years due to the younger boys and not wanting to spill. Well, no sooner had we filled the cups up and were ready to dip our first eggs, Bridger comes running in having woke up from his nap. Here are some pictures of the activity. Amazingly, we had no significant spills and very few tears.

Ready, set, go.

Taylor's masterpiece egg.

Bridger dropped his a couple of times--thus the frowny face (on both him AND the egg).

For this activity, Thatcher was all smiles and no tears.

Aubrey concentrating on her multi-color dipping.

Taylor's masterpiece up close and mommy's bee egg.

KARATE - Belt Tests

MARCH 5, 2010

Taylor has been taking Karate since the fall (mainly because Aubrey was taking it and having so much fun). He was a Yellow Belt and it was time for a belt test to see if he is worthy of advancing to the next belt--Orange Belt.

Taylor listening to instructions.

Taylor performing some kicks.

Group actions.

Taylor being awarded his Orange Belt.

Aubrey was supposed to take her belt test on the same night as Taylor. However, she was just getting over strep throat. So she had a make up test the next week--March 12.

Aubrey has been taking Karate for about 11 months and was testing from an Orange Belt to a Purple Belt.

Aubrey at attention.

Aubrey demonstrating her flexibility.

Testing moves...

...more moves...

...and completing the move.

Although Heidi and I weren't able to stay until the end, Aubrey did indeed advance to her Purple Belt.

Probably because they are our kids, but they really seem to have a talent in this and have done really well. Their moves are sharp and very fluid. We are glad they have found something they like as they didn't much care for team sports.

Jeff, Taylor, and Thatcher Go on a Train Ride

I almost had to go to Phoenix for work on Friday, February 19 but that got cancelled at the last minute. Instead, I got to wake up at all hours of the early morning (like 1:00 am, 2:45 am, and 5:45 am) to listen in on several calls. This lasted Friday through Sunday (I ended my latest call at 8:00 pm tonight). I had a break on Saturday afternoon, so while Bridger was napping, I took Taylor and Thatcher on the Frontrunner Train up to Ogden for a few hours and then back. Here are some pictures of our adventure.

Waiting on the Farmington Platform for the train.

"I've got my ticket!"

Still waiting for the train.

Here comes the train!

At Last!

Taylor riding the train to Ogden.

Thatcher riding the train to Ogden.

Arriving at Ogden Station 30 minutes later.

Thatcher didn't much like the sound of the diesel engine.

Heading out to see what there is to see.

Stopping for a donut.

Playing around at the train museum.

Sending a telegraph.

Time to head home.

Heading to the car.

THE END

Jeff and Heidi Go to Phoenix

For the Valentines/President's Day weekend, Heidi and I took a quick trip down to Phoenix WITHOUT THE KIDS--a true vacation.

We didn't have much on our agenda other than to eat at some of our favorite places, see some friends, and see some family. Other than that, we were going to relax!

This was our rental car. They tried to upgrade us at the counter (for more money, of course) from a compact but we refused. However, when we got to the cars, they upgraded us to an intermediate "because we are such loyal customers"--we've never rented from this company before. In the background is one of our favorite places to eat, Fajitas. We had, of course, fajitas.

We got an awesome deal staying at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak RESORT. Did I mention it was a resort! It was really beautiful. A far cry from the snow we left that morning.

Flowers and fountains everywhere we turned.

Heidi showcasing our room; our bedroom that is. There was also a separate living room.

While there we went to three movies...

...at lots of good food (this was the Claim Jumper, another one of our favorites)...

...and saw some of our good friends. These are the Durfeys, Steve and Rebecca. We were in the same ward in Peoria when we lived there and he also worked for American Express in the same department I did.

We met them for a Valentine's dinner at Ruth Chris Steakhouse--more good food.

For Valentines, I gave Heidi a 50 minute massage.

This was one of 5 pools at the resort. This was the one for the rooms in our area.

The largest pool area had a "lazy river". We circled that at least 4 times. That's me on the left in case you couldn't tell. We had several closer pictures but I felt this was close enough.

Did I mention the RESORT also had a water slide. Me again!

One night we went and visited Heidi's Dad's First Cousin. They really helped us get settled in when we first moved down there for graduate school. This is an orange tree in their backyard.

This is a lemon tree in their back yard. They sent us home with a huge bag full of freshly picked fruit. The oranges were a little old/dry but the grapefruits were sooooo good. And, just tonight, I made a lemonade slush with the lemons. It was really good too.

This is the Brower Family--George (kneeling) and Barb (orange shirt), their daughter Lynette on the left with her husband Mike on the far right and his son in the middle. Scott is in the green shirt. We just missed seeing their other son John and his fiancee who flew in the day after.

All in all, we had a really good time and were really sad we had to come back home. A big THANK YOU to Kirk and Leah Jane who came out to stay and watch our kids. After how the younger two were at church, I'd be surprised if they ever came again; even to visit.

Jeff Goes to New York

On Tuesday, February 2 Heidi innocently commented that I hadn't travel for work for almost 1 year or more and asked, "Are you going to travel again?" To which I responded, "There's no reason I foresee for me to travel." The next day I had to call and ask her forgiveness because I was now needing to go to New York the next week for meetings.

Below are some cell-phone pictures of my trip to New York February 8 (Monday) through the 11th (Thursday).

This is the Embassy Suites in Manhattan. I flew out late Monday night and arrived at the hotel about 1:00 am (Tuesday). I was on the 8th floor on the farthest most corner away from the elevators.

This is a view of Jersey City, New Jersey across the Hudson River.

The American Express Tower (office building) is right across the street from the Embassy Suite in the World Financial Center which comprises three buildings. My building is on the left.

Also, when I got there, there was no snow on the ground anywhere. Then, a huge storm blew in on Wednesday closing all the area airports. The irony of the trip was, because of the storm, everyone based in New York had to call in to the meetings on Wednesday while everyone who had travelled in from out of town were in the office there.

Because of the show, I really didn't get to do anything exciting in New York. I was planning on going to a Broadway show or something but instead went to a movie--the movie theater was in the same building as the Embassy Suites; on the first, second, third, and fourth floors.

This is the American Express Tower. On the far left is the new Freedom Tower. It is being built where the World Trade Center buildings were.

This is looking straight up at the tower (on the left). I was on the 26th floor which was right above the ledge in the center of the picture.

The good news was that it stopped snowing on Thursday and I was able to fly home as Heidi and I were flying to Phoenix on vacation on Friday. Many people who had flights on Wednesday didn't get out until Saturday or Sunday.