Todd Turns 18!

Our Todd just became an adult!  

He is a delight to have around and we are grateful he's ours!

Todd had a few friends over for his birthday.  It was a full day, so we decided to make it Todd's birthday WEEK.  We had two cakes and ice cream to celebrate.  

18 things about Todd...

1.  He chooses good friends and he is a good friend in return.

2.  He is a good reader

3.  He fulfills his responsibilities at church.

4.  He always pitches in at Saturday morning chores and does a good job.

5.  He is an awesome tuba player (and trombone player for that matter).

6.  Todd has a natural ability in Japanese.  

7.  He is a great host and puts together great parties!

8.  He always looks nice (especially his bow ties!).

9.  Todd has amazingly beautiful blue eyes.

10.  Todd is a fantastic brother to Luke and takes good care of him.

11.  Todd is a gentleman.

12.  He has a good understanding of the gospel.

13.  Todd is passionate and persistent when there is something he wants.

(A good thing to have in life!)

14.  He is a very hard worker.

15.  Todd is creative and good at ceramics and art

16.  He is kind

17.  Todd is ambitious-he will go far in life!

18.  We are grateful to have Todd in our family and love him to pieces!

The roses are in bloom!

It is amazing to me how the roses pop open all of a sudden.  My favorites are the orange ones on the far left, but the red ones smell fantastic so I like them a lot too!  God has truly given us a beautiful world!!!

Luke-"I want car, please!"

Pretty much every day at some point, Luke will ask to go in the car.  Once we get in there, he will tell me where he wants to go.  It can be the park or swimming, but usually it is to get something to eat.  His favorites are yaki soba, frozen yogurt, french fries with BBQ sauce and ice cream.

Father's Day 2014

This week Tim has been working up in Salt Lake as an Advanced Placement Exam Reader.  We had to make Father's Day Breakfast early this year!  We made an omelet, toast,  mango, plum, bacon, and a pineapple coconut drink.  He got the two Hobbit movies, some treats to munch on while he watches the movies, an iphone charger, Rick gave him a wooden Connect 4 game, and he got tickets to the outdoor Scera Shell Kenny Loggins concert in August!  Can't wait for that!

Rick and Kelsee made him tako yaki for dinner only they used crab meat instead of octopus.  DELICIOUS!

Tim is the best dad and husband anyone could wish for!  We appreciate all the work he puts in to making our family run, providing for us, and the importance he places on doing what is right.  He is fun to be around.  We love him very much! 

Happy Father's Day!

Tribute to my own father...

Since it is Father's Day, I want to add a few words about my own wonderful dad.  He taught me so many wonderful things.  When I was 11 years old, our family moved out to a large ranch mostly I think so we would have a place to learn how to work and to grow up in a good environment.  My parents made many sacrifices on our behalf.  I learned to love music from my dad and to learn the words of the hymns.  My dad had hundreds of memorized sayings that I memorized too and they have helped me in difficult situations throughout my life.  Sayings such as, "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still."  My dad loved us all unconditionally.  He was a scouter and made sure my seven brothers all got their Eagles.  He has the same devotion to making sure the grandsons all earn their Eagle Scout Awards as well.  He raised 10 kids to love the Lord and he was a great example.  I love you DAD!!!

Rick bought his first car...

Rick found a car on KSL.  It is a 2002 Toyota Camry.  I think he is having LOTS of fun in that car!

Saturday morning chores...

We finally found a system that is working well so far.  I have to share it!  Each member of the family picks a color.  It takes a couple of hours but then the whole house is pretty clean.  Gotta love that!!!

Saturday Cleaning

1.      Hard Surfaces

1. Apply general-purpose cleaner to the cleaning cloth or paper towel, not to the surface.

2. Wipe surface clean.

Hard surfaces include the following:

•  Door push plates and handles

•  Tables

•  Piano keys (only the keys)

•  Chairs and benches

•  Handrails

•  Countertops

•  Telephones

•  Sinks and faucets

•  Painted walls (spot clean as necessary)

2.      Fabric Furniture

1. Check canister in vacuum to make sure it is not full.

2. Remove large pieces of trash before vacuuming.

3. Vacuum fabric surfaces and crevices.

Fabric furniture includes the following:

•  Sofas

•  Chairs

3.      Glass and Mirrors (in every room, including bathrooms)

1. Apply glass cleaner to a cloth or paper towel.

2. Clean glass and mirror surfaces.

3. Wipe metal, plastic, and ledges around windows and mirrors.

Additional information:

•  Clean from top to bottom.

•  Focus on removing smudges and fingerprints

·        Includes cleaning the microwave

·        Includes wiping the front glass on the oven

4.      Wood Furniture and Trim

1. Using a dry dusting cloth or fluffy duster, dust furniture and trim, including:

•  Door frames.

•  Chairs.

•  Baseboards.

•  Picture frames.

5.      Wastebaskets

1. Dump small amounts of trash into a larger collection bag. If trash is wet or smelly, do the following:

A. If wastebasket is dirty, apply general-purpose cleaner to a cloth or paper towel, and clean the wastebasket.

C. Leave one extra bag in the bottom of each wastebasket.

D. Replace bag. Tie a knot in the bag if it is larger than the can.

2. Put trash in the outside dumpster.

6. Toilets (use gloves)

1. Flush.

2. Apply general-purpose cleaner to the inside of the toilet (do not flush).

3. Use a toilet brush to scrub the inside of the toilet.

4. Apply general-purpose cleaner to a cloth or paper towel.

5. For toilets, wipe the top, then the bottom, of the toilet seat.

6. Wipe the outside areas of the toilet.

7. Flush.

•  Wash hands after cleaning toilets

6.      Tub

Use a bathroom cleaner and wear gloves. 

Wipe down the tile walls and scrub the bathtub clean

Polish faucets with glass cleaner and paper towel

7.      Mop bathroom floors

8.      Restroom Products

Items to refill and replace:

•  Hand soap (refill or replace)

•  Toilet paper (replace empty rolls)

•  Tissues (replace when empty)

10. Carpet Floors

1. Check vacuum bags to make sure they are not full.

2. Pick up large debris before vacuuming.

3. Vacuum all dry carpeted areas.

4. Vacuum carpet mats.

5. When finished, wind cords neatly.

11. Mop floors in kitchen & laundry room

12. Outdoors

During seasons without snow, do the following:

1.      Pick up trash and debris on lawn & garbage can areas

2.      Mow the lawn

3.      Sweep walkways

4.      Pull weeds

During seasons with snow, do the following:

1. Pick up trash and debris on lawns & garbage can areas

2. Shovel walkways.

3. Spread ice melt on shoveled walkways. Do not use ice melt in place of shoveling.

13. Clean out cars, vacuum, wash outside of vehicle