week in review

 Morgan played her viola in church on Sunday and did a marvelous job! We had even just picked up a larger viola and so our wonderful pianist worked with her for a couple hours the night before to make sure it was perfect!

 the kids after sledding on Monday, drinking hot cocoa with friends.

Grant having nerve testing done on Tuesday, all the nerves responded - bit more painful than we thought it was going to be.  (after a bit I bet Grant wished they would quit responding as he about jumped off the table a couple of times).  I think Grant and I both kept laughing so neither of us would cry : ) So we are back to physical therapy to see if they can strengthen the muscles that aren't working/growing in his shoulder.  Dr. Bell here we come, again...

Grant had his very first track meet down at BYU.  He ran the 800 meter.  Did average, but it was fun to head to provo.  I have a friend down their building a home and so Ana and I were able to walk though it and make it back to see grant run.

 Yep Grant drove the entire way in the families little blue car.  he still needs 9 more hours of driving time before he can get his license in two months!

 Took Ana, Victor and Ethan to the golf course to sled on Monday.  No school and snow, what a good combo!  Who knows it maybe some of the only snow we get this winter it's been so dry.  We were suppose to get more yesterday, but it rained and it feels like spring is on it's way today.

Troy has been in Argentina fishing the past week and reports that he is sun burned and his casting arm is getting sore.  Pulling in 18-21 in fish is a lot of work!  We miss you!

Victor's 14th birthday

 We keep trying to get Victor to have a friend birthday party.  Who wouldn't want to play laser tag, go to a movie or drive go carts?  I guess it's good he feels safe enough and wants to hang out with us for his birthday.  I just worry about how he doesn't like to socialize with neighbor kids.  He went from teasing and bullying to being teased and bullied.  What to do...  The therapist says we can start pushing him to do things with friends now, they've made a time line of his Ukraine life and he's pretty comfortable with it.  Still a lot of holes. 

So we celebrated his birthday early with cake, ice cream and presents so that we could put Troy on a plane to Argentina to go fishing with his brothers for 10 days.  Again, back to Vic.  We sang, ate and he opened his great gifts.  Did you guess I gave him movie tickets forcing him to invite a couple friends to go to a movie with him.  One day he will thank me for it. Right?

We'll Happy 14th! We love you.

Nerf gun was the favorite gift, good picking Grant.  Runner up between the BYU hoodie and the spy gear lasers.  Oh and Morgan's rocket.

Jr. Jazz Game

 We took Ethan's Jr. Jazz team to a Jazz game last week!  Yeah, the Jazz beat the Grizzlies.  Great game even if we were up in the nose bleed section. 

January

 Making monster cookies

 I was in St. George and got a call from Troy to tell me that Tanya was cooking and somehow created 4 foot flames on the stove that burned the cabinets above the microwave.  Amazing, who knew.  Victor was making fun when I came home so we reminded him that last time he was cooking with Troy (making french fries) the paper towel roll caught on fire.  I think Troy should be banned from the kitchen...

 I forgot to get pictures of ringing in 2012!  Ethan came back up for something and so I had him pop a couple more noise makers to get these exciting 2012 pictures!  It's going to be an exciting year!  I can feel it in the cold, cold air : )

December phone pictures

brought in the Christmas Season with a Spanish Christmas party at the neighbors. Super great food and fun for everyone.  Alma you are awesome!

 Morgan and I went to the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert.  It was wonderful and we loved Jane Seymour's reading of Good King Wensessel (sp?)

 Grant was having back problems so we checked it out and it was his hamstrings and now that we have fixed that we went back today (January) for his shoulder... yep more to come, muscles not holding his shoulder blade correctly.  Fun fun with 6 kids someone is always at the dr.

 I think we tried a panorama picture of the family room

 this was Ethan's Christmas present, but she had a bone disease and we had to put her to sleep, sooo sooo sad.  Ethan was tough and a good sport and is willing to wait until we move in May to get another chameleon.

friendly 7 year old tortoise, Rock, that we met at the exotic pet hospital.  He was very cool and crawled right up on Ethan's shoes begging for a treat.