Happy Birthday Talden!

Our little Talden just turned 10 years old.

It seems like just yesterday that his beautiful

spirit came into our lives. He has brought us

so much love and joy. I cannot imagine my

life without him. He is so full of love for our

family and he is growing up so fast. I love to

have talks with him about his thoughts and

dreams. He is truly an amazing person who

understands who he is and what he wants in

his life. He is a great son, a wonderful brother

and we love him. Happy Birthday Talden. :)

Talden got to choose what he wanted to
do for his birthday. He wanted to go check
out the mall first because he knew there was
an arcade, playground, food court and game store.
It was raining (misting).

Then he wanted to go to the Library.
They had a special program going on that
had dancers dancing to the beat of the drums.
It looked like this:

For dinner we had pineapple pizza.
We always buy a cheese pizza and add
a can of pineapple. It is the only thing
he will eat on pizza. :)

Talden chose the candles for his cake and made
them into a "10." He also chose his cake...
It was Red Velvet with White Chocolate Almond frosting.

Then he wanted to go bowling.

He opened his cards and presents.
This one is from our bishop and his wife.
They also brought some clothes for Treven that their
boys had outgrown. He loved his new hoodie.

We also went to the "Chutes and Ladders" park again.
This is the lake that is next to it.

New School

Our kids started school last week. They are both really enjoying it. They have great teachers and have met a lot of new friends. It is different from what we are used to though.


1- We had planned to walk them to school and then realized that NO ONE here walks! (The winters must be pretty exciting). They have 920 students in the school (K-4) and less than 50 kids walk or have parents drive them! So the kids ride the bus that picks them up at the front door. I have to admit it is a lot easier for me. :)

2- Also, you would think with 920 students that the kids wouldn't have a lot of personal attention. Wrong again! These teachers are so involved with the kids. On Jacie's first day her teacher called me to let me know that Jacie was a little sad at recess and that she sat with her at lunch and paired her up with a couple of buddies for the next recess. They call and send notes all the time just to touch base.

3- This is a major one! The school endorses a NO HOMEWORK policy! Yes, you read that right. Studies have shown that kids this age don't benefit from homework assignments so the teachers are not allowed to send any home. The kids are encouraged to read 15 mins (30 for Talden) a night and do a study time. They want the parents to help the kids do educational activities, but there is never an assigned "study time." I can't even tell you how great it has been. I have always struggled to get the kids to do homework after a long day at school. The teachers send ideas of things we could do for study time and that helps to know what they are learning at school and what we could reinforce at home.

4- The school has a PTO that is fully staffed and functional! Parents here are so excited to volunteer and help out that they have amazing activities and organization. Coming from a place where finding volunteers is like pulling teeth, I find this rather commendable. :)

5- There are 5,276 after school activities to choose from. (Seriously I don't know the exact number, but there are lots!) Some of the flyers I got today... Basketball, Karate, Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Chess, Ice Skating, Hockey, NASA exploration, Art, Children's Choir, YMCA and the list goes on and on and on. I think it's great that they offer all these things, but it is so hard for our family to let our kids be involved in all of those things.

6- The kids rotate going to music, art, P.E., and spanish class every four days. They love the spanish and art. The goal is for the kids to fluently speak 2 languages before they are in jr. high. (They have elementary k-4, intermediate school 5-6, jr. high 7-8, and high school 9-12) And they also have "Smart" rooms. They have the whiteboards that can capture the writing into a computer program. I can't explain it because I don't understand it, but it is cool. And the kids have their own lockers.

7- This is another big one... Lunch is... $2.85 per kid/per day!!! I guess we can't complain though because the lunches are SO much healthier than they were in Logan. If the kids don't like the entree of the day they can choose the salad bar. They have a salad bar every day that includes soup, salads, and sandwiches. It is $94 for every 20 lunches for both kids. Luckily we were approved for the reduced lunches so it is only $0.40 per kid/per day. That means they can eat for 7 days to every one they were before we were approved. It is crazy the difference, and I feel bad for using the assistance, but I realize that there are times and seasons in our life when we give and when we take. Right now is a time to take.

Anyway, we are excited to have a good year for the kids and hope you are all doing well. :)

Gratitude

I got this in an email from one of my friends from high school (Linsey) that always passes stuff along to me. I usually don't pass stuff along to my friends, but I did like this story so I thought I would post it here.

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end.

They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'

Epilogue:There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

Today is a gift, that is why it is called 'The Present.'

The origin of this letter is unknown, but it brings good luck toeveryone who passes it on.