February 2007

February 1^st is Grandpa Stout’s actual birthday, but we planned a special 70^th birthday party for him on Saturday the 3^rd.

Ricky went to Amber’s birthday party all day on Saturday. He came home with a cool sword he bought from a store in the mall. Brian babysat while we went to the adults’ birthday party at Grandpa Stout’s house.

Cindy organized the party, and she gathered photos and messages for a special book to present to Dad. The theme of the evening was dinosaurs. She brought posters of dinosaurs with Dad’s face scanned into the picture of the dinosaur’s face. One poster read: “Welcome to Geriatrics Park: be sure to visit our 70 year old fossil.”

All the siblings and spouses were there which made it extra nice. We enjoyed being together after so many years of missing out on these fun family events.

We got several pictures with Wendy, Cindy, Tim, David, Heidi, Rick, Dad and Mom Stout.

We had fun visiting and playing a game in which Dad was given trivia questions about what happened the year he was born (1937). He answered correctly almost all the questions, and we learned some new things.

Dad told some funny stories, such as the time he was mission president in Kobe, Japan, and President Hinckley visited the mission, and they were treated to a fancy 7 course meal, complete with raw oysters. Dad recalled having to eat all of Mom’s oysters, and then hearing President Hinckley ask him, “Now President Stout…how long would you say we have been friends?” He then proceeded to ask Dad to eat all of Sister Hinckley’s raw oysters, and his as well. Then the host said, “As soon as President Stout finishes his oysters we can bring out the second course…” He was feeling quite ill by the time he ate all four helpings of raw oysters! What a great guy!

Dad requested that “his girls” sing his favorite song, “I wonder when He comes again.” Unrehearsed, Shauna, Wendy, Heidi, Cindy, and LaNae did a terrific job.

Wendy made Dad a “cake” made of tropical fruit, and a sign on top that said “70,” which caught on fire before we finished taking pictures and he could blow out the candles.

Isaac Arnoldsen, love’s Allen’s cell phone.

Earlier in the week on Dad’s real birthday, David made Dad a cake for his birthday, and decorated it with 70 candles!

Dad only took 6 or 7 tries to blow out all 70!

We watched a video tape of the Super Bowl with Rick and Shauna’s family for Family Night on Monday the 5^th. Megan showed us a youtube video called “Maths,” and we about died laughing.

LaNae took the children to the Legacy Center pool after school on Tuesday the 6^th.

Wednesday the 7^th Tim turned off the alarm clock and lay in bed (not a smart thing to do). We slept in, and Tim almost missed his 8 o’clock class at Waterford!

Rick was a guest at Cindy’s Wolf Cub Scouts den on Thursday the 8^th. He taught them about Japan. Tim and LaNae checked out “Murder on the Orient Express” and watched it for a date on Friday the 9^th.

Amy went to Giullia Sosa’s birthday party, and she got to dress up like a princess on Saturday the 10^th. Tim and LaNae attended the Church’s World Wide Training Meeting. They were excited to see their friends Takashi and Naomi Wada, who where part of the training broadcast. In the evening Tim and LaNae attended Waterford School’s 25^th anniversary dinner held at The Utah Museum of Fine Arts on the campus of the University of Utah.

LaNae took Rick, Brian, Todd, Lorin, Carson, and John to Preston’s birthday party on Tuesday the 13^th. It was at Allen’s parent’s house, and the boys played football in the backyard.

LaNae stopped by the oriental market, and picked up some ingredients for Tim’s Japanese class sukiyaki project. LaNae also got some hi-chews candies for the kids’ Valentines treat!

LaNae made a special dinner for Valentines Day.

Tim’s ninth grade Japanese class made sukiyaki on Friday the 16^th.

They learned about how to make sukiyaki in their Japanese textbook, and wanted to make it at school. It was a big treat for them, and Tim says it even tasted good.

Brian attended the winter campout called the Klondike Derby on Friday and Saturday the 16^th and 17^th. His patrol built a sled for the dogsled-type race that is the highlight of the campout. The sled was made of bent aluminum conduit, mounted on skis. About 380 scouts in about 40 patrols competed in the race offs, and Brian’s patrol was one of only four patrols to qualified for the finals. In the final race each team had to travel 75 yards to a pole, turn around the pole and return to the starting point. Brian’s patrol arrived at the pole first, and rounded it with the other patrol hot on their tails. They had a 20-30 yard lead, when a lead runner from a competing patrol accidentally stepped on our sled’s ski. The boy got was dragged to the ground, tangled in our sled, and dragged for about 20 feet, screaming. Our boys realized he was getting hurt and called an “all stop.” While untangling the boy, two teams passed Brian’s patrol, including the tangled boy’s patrol. After the race, Brian’s patrol had taken third place.

Brian’s patrol was disappointed about not taking first, but they stood tall, as a special commendation of scouting spirit was awarded to their patrol. Brother Schaefer, one of the Asst. Scoutmasters observed, “Our boys grew a foot today!”

Luke has begun saying a lot of words! He says “Amen” at the end of prayers, and he will point to what he wants and say “please.” At school they teach that there is play time and work time (study time). When it is study time, they say “Time to work” and Luke gives the teacher his toy and pays attention. Then they can get him to repeat words and do activities. At home we have begun using “Time to work” when we are trying to communicate with him. He responds well, and we are thrilled with his progress!

LaNae has been very involved at Luke’s autism preschool, Giant Steps. The Salt Lake Tribune did a series of articles on autism and they asked for permission to take pictures of him when they were at his preschool. Here is a picture of Luke we found at www.sltrib.com .

Giant Steps is a terrific preschool, with an ideal teacher-student ratio of 1:2. We are concerned, however, about kindergarten next year, as there are only two or three teachers in classes of 12 students in the autism kindergartens in the Alpine School District.

LaNae has been involved in lobbying Utah lawmakers during this session for more education funding for kids with autism. She is on the Giant Steps board, and was asked to go speak with one of our representatives (Kenneth Sumsion or Howard Stevenson) on Friday the 16^th. They have a 2-hour lunch break and she was able to talk with them during this time. Right now Utah has a huge budget surplus, and as autism has been in the media a lot, “…it’s best to strike while the iron is hot,” LaNae says.

After school on Friday Tim took Rick to Amber’s house, and he took Amy to Alyssa Prigmore’s birthday party. After the party Amy stayed for a movie night at Alyssa’s house. Tim went to the BYU library until it was time to pick them up.

Tim and Rick visited Wyatt and Lisa Bingham on Sunday the 18^th. Lisa’s father was visiting and we got to meet him. Lisa’s sister Karen was also there.

Monday the 19^th was Presidents’ Day, and the kids were out of school. Uncle Rick and Aunt Shauna’s family invited us to go see the movie, “Bridge to Terebithia.” LaNae took Brian, Todd, and Amy to the movie. Rick went to see Amber and Morgan in Orem and Tim stayed home with Luke.

The Rollins boys from across the street came over for a play date on the 21^st.

Luke had a field trip to the Bean Museum at BYU on Friday the 23^rd. It snowed hard that day. LaNae went with him. He didn’t like seeing the animals at all and we spend part of the time in the car trying to calm him down, but at the end, he did calm down and was fine during the presentation of the snake, lizards, and turtles that they gave downstairs in the auditorium.

Amy had a tea party for her stuffed animals.

Amy also made some jewelry out of paper.

Sunday the 25^th it snowed. Brian’s deacons quorum president and patrol leader came over and issued him a calling as the troop’s Chaplin’s Aide. Brian will be responsible for calling on someone to pray at scout activities, and he will need to prepare and share a spiritual thought at each campout.

Amy had several play dates with Abby McCandless and she got to hold Abby’s new baby sister, Sophie. Rick went to Tyler’s house in Cedar Hills several times. Todd played with his cousin John Stout almost every day and Brian and Megan hung out together a good part of February as well.

We did some pruning on the trees and bushes outside our house.

The last week of February was very busy for Tim, with finals to give at Waterford and two big papers for his doctorate classes due the same week.

January 2007

Since New Year’s Eve was on a Sunday this year, we decided to try something new. Rick, Amber, and Morgan went to a fireside where President Hinckley and Elder Holland talked to the youth of the Church. The rest of us went to the Arnoldsen’s for dinner. We came home at 9:00 hoping to go to bed early so that we could get up for a sunrise service. We did not get much buy in from the children, so Tim stayed up with them to ring in the New Year.

At 7:00 am, January 1, 2007, we got everyone up for bacon and eggs, pancakes and orange juice breakfast. Tim brought out the new journals he had gotten for everyone and we each wrote some resolutions and thoughts for the coming year. It was rather cloudy and so we really didn’t get to see much sun (at the sunrise service), but we enjoyed having the morning together anyways!

All the kids had to go back to school on Tuesday, January 2^nd, but since Waterford’s break went for another week, Tim didn’t have work until the 8^th.

The temperatures were very cold, but we didn’t get much snow. The torsion spring on our garage door broke in half and a repairman had to come out and replace it for us. He said his busiest time is in the winter.

Amy’s birthday party was on Friday the 12^th. She wanted to plan it herself and didn’t want to have a particular theme. Everyone arrived at 5:00 and we began the party by making a craft. Eilee, Alyssa, Katie, Hannah (cousins), Emma Garrett, Abbie McAndless, Abbie Reeves, and Rachel Morgan came. Megan and John Stout were there too. We ate pizza for dinner and then everyone went downstairs for the piñata.

Everyone got a chance to hit it. Here is a picture of Amy giving it a good whack.

Scrambling for candy and toys

The next game was the traditional Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

The tail went in some interesting places.

It turned out to be a tie so the girls ended up sharing the prize. We cut the stickers up so that everyone could have some.

Amy asked her dad to tell some of his famous (and favored) bedtime stories and so he told two. The girls loved it.

Next we sang Happy Birthday to our little seven year old girl and everyone ate cake and ice cream.

Amy helped decorate the cake

Amy got some very nice gifts from Grandparents, family and friends

Waterford asked Tim if he could do a long-term substitute for a teacher who is getting her Master’s degree and had a conflict with her schedule. Tim agreed to teach sixth grade English on Monday mornings. The teacher will be grading the papers and making the lesson plans, so Tim will just teach the class.

On January 14^th, Brian gave an excellent talk in Sacrament meeting. He memorized the whole thing and got lots of compliments on it. Cousin Wendy came over for Sunday dinner and we had a nice visit with her.

The kids were out of school for Martin Luther King Day on Monday, the 15^th. Amy went to Jentrie’s house to play in the morning, and then Jackie came over to play in the afternoon. Rick went to Orem to see Amber and Morgan. Todd played with John.

On Friday, January 19^th, we left right after school and went to Spanish Fork for Hannah Prigmore’s birthday party.



















She had a penguin party and Heidi made another amazing cake!


















Eilee and Amber came home with us afterwards to play for awhile.














The Beus’ have season tickets to the Jazz games, so when one of Lorin’s favorite teams—the Miami Heat, was in town, and it happened Dave was unable to go, Cindy asked Tim to take Lorin. The Jazz barely lost, and it was a fun game.

Lorin enjoying the Jazz game













On January 20^th, LaNae went to Stake Women’s Conference. Janice Kapp Perry’s daughter, Lynn Christofferson, spoke and played several musical numbers that she had written. She is every bit as talented as her mother. A few notes from the conference:

Lift your mind higher

Let your thoughts soar

‘Til the pull of the world has no power

To weigh you down anymore

Think of all that will truly inspire

Lift your mind higher

This next song was written when her oldest daughter went on a band trip to Washington DC. It was absolutely beautiful and LaNae cried her eyes out.

The day has come for you to go

I recognize your restlessness

I’ve taught you much of what you know

You flutter first and then you fly

Part of me will fly away with you

Part of you will stay with me

Within my nest

You’ve had brief chances to explore

That left you eager to see more

Enjoy the rhythm of the wings

Yet in that endless span of sky

Be careful where you choose to fly

Part of you will stay with me

You will always be a welcomed guest

I am trusting you now to the Father’s care

For when any sparrow falls he is aware

I’m grateful to be so blest

To have sheltered you in my nest

Carmelle and Lloyd Newell also spoke. He does the Music and the Spoken Word program on Sunday mornings. Our Stake President spoke at the end. It was a great meeting.

Right after the meeting, LaNae went to the Legacy Center because they were having a 20% off sale on the year family passes at a Health Fair. The special ended at 1:00, so she got there just in time. The pass allows our whole family to use the pool, track, weight, rock climbing, and cardio facilities there.

On Sunday, the 21^st, Rick and Brian had their Court of Honor at the church. Rick earned several merit badges and is just one badge short of getting his Life rank. Brian earned several merit badges and advanced to Star rank.

Brian pinning on the star pin on Mom

Rick receiving his merit badges

On Monday, the 22^st, Luke went to the pediatric dentist. He has no cavities!

Our next door neighbors, the Robertsons, had a new baby boy on Luke’s birthday. They named him Ashton and he was almost eight pounds.

The 23^rd was Luke’s birthday. It was also the day that LaNae volunteers at Luke’s school. They had a little celebration for him there and Aunt Heidi came by and dropped off a present and wished him Happy Birthday.

Spencer Rollins from across the street and Marcello Sousa from just down the street came over for a birthday party. We had pizza and they played on the slide downstairs. We sang, had birthday cake and ice cream. Luke loved it. He got lots of nice gifts from Grandparents and friends.


Luke and Rick on Luke’s five year old birthday














Luke enjoying his ride on bouncy ball toy

Luke playing with a balloon














The 25^th was Pack meeting for Todd and he was awarded four Webelos pins.

The kids were out of school on the 26^th and we went swimming at the Legacy Center. Brian went on a campout with the Scouts. They got to sleep in real Army tents with stoves in them. Brian had a blast.

On Saturday, the 27^th, Tim took Rick skiing at Solitude. It was Rick’s first time. They had chocolate lover’s day there with plenty of hot chocolate, candy bars, strawberries dipped in chocolate etc… the hills however, were a bit steep for a first time skier.

Brian chose to do a vortex experiment for the Science Fair using dry ice, clear plastic panels, and a blow dryer. His teacher gave him a 100% grade for it.

He was a bit under the weather for the actual Science Fair this year.

It looks just like a tornado



















Wednesday, January 31^st was LaNae’s birthday. Tim brought home roses and they went out for lunch at an Italian restaurant. LaNae opened her gifts from her mom and dad and put on the new pajamas she got for her birthday. The family made a nice dinner of taco salad.













Todd made the cake and helped decorate it.



















Then he hunted for candles and found just enough. It made quite a fire!














LaNae received lots of nice gifts from family and friends. Thank you!!!

January was a big month for birthdays in our family!