Riley's First Snowman

We finally got some snow around here so Riley and I bundled up and made our first snowman of the year.  Let me also say, putting on snow pants that were bought ten years ago and being 5 months pregnant to boot...no easy feat...who needs their zipper up anyway...?

 She got handfuls of snow from all around the yard and did her best to pack it on.

 Making the nice snowman shape...

 We used carrots for the eyes and mouth.

 CHEEEESEE!!  She was so proud of her snowman.

Another big cheeser.  I had to bribe her with candy to come back inside.  Hopefully the snow will stick around a little longer this time so we can have more fun days outside.

Klondike 2014

Here are some scenes from our 2014 Klondike trip.  We had 14 boys and 4 leaders.  The local Klondike charges $20/person (food not included), which adds up for a group our size, so we decided to create our own.  We left after school on Friday and I took a wrong turn along the way, so we hit the trail head around 7:00.  We hiked in about 1/2 mile- all uphill through snow and ice.  After several trips, we had everything in and the tents set up, just in time for a wind storm to start.  I ended up tying several of the tents to the trees, to keep them in place.  The next morning, after a traditional breakfast of pancakes, we spent the day playing in the snow.  We had a great time and headed home after lunch.

 "Midnight cobbler"  (This was dessert at 11:30 Friday night.)

 Our only tent casualty

 Warming up in the morning around the fire.

 Breakfast

 Our sledding jump

The aftermath

 

Here is a video of Ty sledding down the hill over the jump.

-Brant

Grandma Jacobs

Grandma passed away this morning around 2:30 am.  I don't have a lot of details yet.  She had pneumonia, and both lungs were filled with fluid.  The funeral is this Saturday, Feb. 1st at 2:00 pm in Lindon, Utah.

This quick video is about the chapel where we have church. The stake president who speaks in it is our stake president (we just know him as the guy with the nice suit) and the ice cream man at the end is out there in his truck every time I walk by.

Spring hasn't sprung yet

Another normal week has come and gone here. Kelly is still in NY looking after her mom. For anyone who doesn't know, her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer again and opted to go for a double mastectomy. She had the surgery on Wednesday and it looks like the cancer had not spread into any other parts of her body, so she won't need any further treatments. She just has to recover from this surgery and then get a rebuild in a few months. Other than the usual post-surgery pains, she seems to be doing fine and Kelly will be there for two more weeks helping out. 

We've had a couple of interesting visitors at church in the last month. Linda S. Reeves attended our ward a few weeks ago. I chatted with her about her trip and asked where she was from and the usual. She conveniently neglected to mention that she is the second counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency and I didn't recognize her and as far as I know, no one else did either. Good thing she was greeted and welcomed by about 15 people, so she can report to Salt Lake that we're doing it right over here. Some of you who listen/have listened to KSL may recognize the name Duane Cardall. He was the editorial director and used to read a weekly editorial on the radio when I lived in Utah. He and his wife are the new directors of the visitors' center at the chapel near Hyde Park here. They previously served a mission in DC and six weeks after they got home, the Church called them and asked them to go to London for two years.

A confused tree in the park near our house

I thought this was some kind of sweets, but it's not. Any guesses?

Grandma Jacobs

Grandma Jacobs was admitted to the hospital this week and is now on life support.  They are waiting for her son from Canada to arrive tonight to say goodbye and then they will let her go.  Travis, wanted to let you know but I cant work Viper so this was the next best way.  We'll keep you up to date.

Pinewood Derby and Dallin

 Korbin had a great time and did well. 

Dallin is really fun. He laughs all the time and is starting to sit up. 

More Information

In my mind I had planned to just sneak out the back door of  the church on my last day of employment.  It's not going to work that way.  There have been contractors and church people I have worked with over the years just stopping by to visit and take me to lunch.  I have had phone calls from other contractors calling to wish me well.  I had one locksmith invite himself to my retirement party "whenever it is".  So, here are the details.  March 31st is my official last day but to make it more convenient for people to stop by, we are going to have the "social" on Friday, March 28th.  That's the last Friday of the month.  It will be at our meetinghouse on Mountainview Road from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.  That way people can just call it a day and go home for the weekend.  As of right now we will have pizza and maybe a salad, cookies, and drinks (no hard cider).  I am saying "No Gifts Please".  Now, I would love to have any of you that can make it, come to the party.  Please do not feel obligated or do something bizarre to get here.  You and your families are all welcome.  I would assume it will be mostly visiting.  My boss will be there and usually they present a certificate signed by some of the brethren (depending on how many years you have worked for the church). I will probably say (cry) a few words.  Mom may also and my secretary and two mechanics will probably have something to add.

As it gets closer I am a little apprehensive but mostly excited to get on with the next stage.  I am really enjoying the nice things that are being said.  I got a very nice e-mail form the Lewiston Stake President today.  Maybe I've done a few things right over the years.  On Monday the 31st I'll just show up, turn in my pickup, church keys, and VISA card, then walk outside, get into my new 2013 F-150 and drive off into the sunset.

You're all invited but use common sense.

Dad

Sad News

Just a note to tell you that Larry Ham passed away this morning.  They retired a few years ago and last year moved to the Tri-Cities to be closer to family.  We heard a couple of weeks ago that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (not a good one to get).  This morning at bishop's meeting I heard it was "stage 4", and then during priesthood they announce that he had passed away this morning.  There will be a graveside service in Sandpoint next Saturday.  Mom and I will probably see if we can stay at Kevin or Matt's Friday night and then drive on up Saturday morning.  They were good people and did a lot of volunteer work behind the scenes.  The men were all joking about playing basketball or handball with Larry and how much he sweat and that his t-shirts were always dripping wet.  He will be missed.

Spoonoodles

Kimbre was going through her new "America's Test Kitchen" cookbook when she found a quick dessert called "Nutty Butterscotch Haystacks." As she read of the ingredients, I found a striking similarity to the "Hong Kong Chewies" that Grandma used to make. Here is the final product:

There were some subtle differences between the two, but the end result was still delicious.

January 10th, 2014

Just thought you might like to see what January 10th, 2014 looked like in Moscow, Idaho.  Farmers and ski resorts are starting to talk about a winter drought and what it will mean to winter sports and summer water.  We kind of like it but feel sorry for those who depend on the snow.

I Did It

This week I applied for Social Security, my church Retirement, my Asgrow Retirement, and notified my boss about my final date.  He posted my position on the church web-site and had me notify the four stake I work with asking if they know of anyone interested in the job.  Makes it kind of final I guess.  I'm getting a little nervous and excited.  Wish me luck.

Things you see in the London underground.

Boy are we behind...

We have been enjoying life so much that I just barely got pictures off the camera, and I found some beauties.

 The kids in their Christmas attire.  

 Adria got a camera for Christmas and I just thought this was the best.  She always had it strapped around her waist like a fanny pack.

 THEN, the bathroom construction began.  After living with both bathrooms on the 2nd floor we decided it was a priority to get the downstairs bath finished so you didn't have to walk ALL THE WAY UPSTAIRS.  So the electrician showed up and re-wired half the basement.  

Check out his handy-work.  (Thanks Brant for helping him have confidence!)  

Then today the plumber showed up, ran some pipe through the walls

and even got the tub set.  Funny, he looked just like the electrician.  

It's a Boy!

I had my ultrasound today and we are happy to announce that we are having a boy!  His estimated time of arrival is May 24th.  Whenever we ask Riley if she wants a brother or a sister she always answers with "sister!" so it may take a few tries of convincing her otherwise.

Here's the link to Seth and Peter's house. It went on the market yesterday. They did a ton of work to it. They built a new fence, deck and did clean up work in the yard and planted some things. They added a bathroom to the master bedroom upstairs. The little wall on the left of the fridge used to separate the kitchen and living room. The sink was under the window and now the island has a push button garbage disposal (runs on air instead of electricity, I think...) Everything else is new too.
They did a fabulous job! They have received some appreciative comments from the neighbors who thanked them for cleaning it up and beautifying their neighborhood.

Spa Night

Aimee received a spa kit for Christmas.  Friday night, she had a group of her friends over for spa party.  I'll let the pictures do the talking.

-Brant

Happy New Year!

To stay awake...

we played games.

 I was yellow.

We also watched UP and Wall-E.

 Even Aly managed to stay awake...

and had a great time!

 

Happy 2014!

-Brant

The call...

We got the call about the job for Seth on Monday. Not the call we wanted though...he needs experience in a certain type of testing that larger schools do on their athletes. So it's back to square one. We are grateful for his job in Seattle and he will be heading back there next week. Thanks for your prayers and support.