February Already!

2012 is flying by fast!  My tulips and daffodils are peeking out ...the weather has been most unusual and we enjoy our early morning jogs with no ice or snow!

Birthday dinner at La Jolla's for Genet...loved the trees and lights

Film crew...we saw them on the way up to Aspen Grove and then at the ski course

Cross Country skiing at Youth Conference...it was icy and my camera didn't do good in the cold so this is all I got

Young Women Get Together...Laura in the green moved ( El Presidente) This is our last hurrah

  We were asked to speak about dating and marriage at our ward's youth conference.  We got to go skiing with the youth and then when they were fed and tired, we gave our workshop.  I don't know how effective we were but we sure enjoyed being with everyone!

We had a last hurrah dinner with the leaders the next week.  We put Lynn in charge of the games and she came up with some pretty crazy contests. 

I forgot to take a picture of Pete, Kate, and his parents.  They came to dinner on Sunday and Peter told us about his internship to Uganda.  He was able to travel back to Jo-burg and Cape Town on his way home.  He met with two of Bryce's missionary companions.  We pulled out this picture of Bryce and Pete to show to Kate.  These are some of the clothes Bryce brought home for the girls.  It was a wonderful visit!  We are grateful for great friends.  I hope February slows down!

A Very Short and a Very Long Weekend!

Winston ...he is growing fast!  We are so grateful to have this little one where we can watch him grow.

 I just put that picture of Winston in because it is so cute.  Sister Dahl told us that they have 30 something grandchildren.  It gave me perspective when I asked what she does for Christmas.  She used to make them all pajamas but she doesn't have the time anymore being in the Provo Temple Presidency.  Even though there are many times that I wish we had more, I am truly grateful for the grandchildren we have and feel blessed to have Goggle + where we can watch them play and talk to them. 

We were all so hungry and grateful to finally eat.  Thanks to my great kids.

 

 

Kim, Wynette, President and Sister Dahl, Sister and Elder Leavitt

Stake Conference is the same time every year.  Our stake has it in January.  It hits us like a snowball in the face...so glad to have snow but right after the holidays...splat!   It is something that Kim stews about and it just hangs over us as we look forward to, contemplate and pray that all will be in order, be uplifting, and what the Lord wants.  We were so "tickled" when the Leavitts said they would spend the Saturday night at our home.  It motivated us to order new carpet for our 35 year old house that has the original carpet.  However, we don't get it in till this week when all is over.  Oh well. 
We were so uplifted and strengthened by this past weekend.  As always, it is a great blessing, a joy and pleasure to associate with the members of our stake.  We had so much fun with the Leavitts and learned much from them.  One story that he told about Elder Nelson of the 12 was that he likes to go skiing on Mondays ( 87 years old) and that most people don't recognize him because of goggles, etc.  When someone happens to talk to him and recognizes him because of his voice, he is happy to visit. 
I was very surprised when asked to answer one of the questions the youth had written for an early morning Sunday youth meeting ( I was even more surprised they all came at 7:30a.m.) was something that I had been impressed with in my scripture reading that week.  I turned right to it to give my answer to a question of "How can I be forgiven" or "How can I know I have been forgiven?"  I was very grateful that the Spirit had emphasized certain scriptures I had read earlier in the week.   It feels good to have it done, with everything going smoothly and wonderfully and a little sad also that it is now just a memory.  

Bitter with the Sweet but Mostly Just Sweet

Brooke reserved the Club House for everyone to eat after Winston's blessing.  

It was nice and roomy and the food was delicious.

Winston's blessing talked about living up to his name sake ( his middle name is Bryce)

Got to stand in front of the South African flag...we fly it on Bryce's birthday and his death date every year.  It just reminds us that he loved Africa and it's people.  These are some of his friends that came to help us celebrate his life.

Once There Was a Snowman...Bryce's favorite FHE song.  We made it for Leif because it was his birthday.  He loves the snow about as much as Bryce but I don't know if anyone was addicted to snow as much as Bryce.

 Bryce usually would finish his letters home with:  bye; Love; so bye then; have a good week; ok bye.  Right before the 7th I was feeling a little sad reflecting on him being gone and I just wanted him to know how much we loved and missed him.  I said a prayer and looked at  his letters home and asked that I could find some comfort.  It was kinda like opening the scriptures and asking for something to help.  I just picked a page and his ending phrase was one that I don't think he wrote except this one time and it read: " Sincerely and yes forever, Elder C. "    I was happy.                                                                                                  

Some more of the gang helping us celebrate Bryce.  We are watching videos of Bryce.  

 

 

 

 

Bryce's friends are so good to remember us on this day and always cheer us up and now wives and babies are coming too.  It is great.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's Lookin' at You 2012! Bring It On!

New Year's Eve at the Voorhees house. 

I don't truthfully know how many years we have celebrated New Year's Eve with the Voorhees but it has been since Dallin was little.  They were visiting from Houston and so we all got together and played games.  We brought yummy meatballs...cranberry sauce and chili sauce simmered in the crock pot--mmmm.  However, I didn't taste them until the next day because Kim and I decided to keep doing the "light diet" and it was definitely dark outside.  We played "Famous People" where you write the name of someone famous, put it in the pot, divide into teams and try to get your team to guess the famous person.  The next round, you get to use 2 words to get your team to guess the same names.  The last round you can't use words ...only charades.  My favorite charade was Dave trying to get his team to guess Florence Nightingale.  He loaded up a pretend needle and shot himself in the rear.  Priceless as he silently yelped.

This is Spencer playing the "sign" game...few of us shared in this talent!

The end of the game pose

 New Years Day found us working hard in the morning moving Christmas boxes into the garage, and moving beds around.  We have a "taco" bed that no one seems to appreciate.  We moved it into Dallin's room since he seldom sleeps there and moved our bed downstairs into Bryce's room.  We are having company in a few weeks and instead of buying a new bed, we traded our bed with his bunk beds.  It seemed much cheaper than buying a new bed and a was a great work out. 

 For fun we all went bowling which is a New Year's tradition!  I can't say that any of us are getting better but we always have fun.  Then because  we were in Provo  we had to get JDawgs.  They are the best.

Then we played Bocce ball.  Amazing...outside in the nice warm weather.  That is a first for sure. 

Dallin was happy to have some competition with Whit...we are not in the same league.

The sad event of the day...it was warm enough to check the hives to find out how they were--they weren't.  No one was home!

It is hard to believe another year has gone by.   We made a list of highlights of 2011.  I won't record them here but this blog is for my kids mostly...the far away ones and a reminder that they should write down their highlights too.  It is great to think...aha--I did do something.   Here's to 2012.  Holy Cow. 

Good Bye to 2011 Our Boring Family Christmas Letter...Boring Can Be Good

This is our family minus Winston.  These pictures are the one time my family was together in 2011.  Whaaaaaa.   Good-bye 2011--here's to more get together in 2012!

Here are a few things that happened with our family:     2011 This was a pretty quiet year at our house.  I can live with that. 

Kim continues to work as Business Manager in the Chemistry Department at BYU.  He enjoys the people he works with and I enjoy all the perks that come with being at BYU.  Kim and Dallin meet as often as possible to attend the Devotionals and eat lunch together. 

Dallin is studying Computer Science and Japanese   (dual major) and works in Information Technology Department.    He comes to dinner on Sundays …I am grateful we can feed him because sometimes it is the only time we see him or hear from him.  We went to Japan a year ago!!! and traveled with Dallin after he completed a mission in Sapporo. 

Brooke and Whit ( South Jordan, Ut.) had their first baby ( Winston Bryce Anderson) in October.  October is a popular month in our family for boy’s birthdays. ..like Tyler, McKay, Dallin and now Winston.   He is pretty cute.   They are enjoying being parents and it is fun to see.

Tyler is finishing up his Doctorate in Learning Sciences in Indiana.  Natalie delivered baby Spencer Kim last January.   He is one BIG boy and we were happy to be able to spend time with Tyler’s family when he was born and when they came to Utah in July for a wedding.   ( Eli is now 6 and Sharon is 4).

Kira left Tucson where she has lived for 4 years, and went to New York this past summer to work at an inner city camp as their nurse.  She decided as long as she was so close she would also go to Greece and Italy for a month.  She is now working at Utah Valley Hospital in same day surgery. 

McKay is in China teaching English at a university.  He has a blog for anyone interested: chinasayshi.blogspot.com    He is having some great opportunities and adventures.  He rides a bike a lot and is getting really good at Ping Pong.

I do love this season of reflection, thanksgiving, and gathering of family and friends.  I am grateful that Jesus Christ is in the center of it all.  We hope you have had a wonderful year also and we send our love and gratitude for your friendship.  

Kim and I are doing the “natural light diet” during the holidays to remember Bryce.  He came up with this idea when he got home from South Africa to not eat unless there was natural light outside.   He wanted to lose his “missionary pooch”.  It worked.       We hope that 2012 brings blessings, joys, and great things to you and yours.  Please keep in touch and visit when you can!  We would love it.  Happy New Year!

Sleding at the Cabin videos

This was a wild ride from the top of the mountain down to the tubing hill.  We had special inflated tubes that were sweet. 

The Most Magical Time of the Year...Christmas!

Our Christmas officially began with the Stake Leadership party.  We met in a beautifully decorated home and had dinner, sang lots of Christmas carols which brought such a great spirit in, and then Kim talked about the scriptures and how they have blessed our family.  President Blair talked about family traditions...one was to make a snowflake each year which they hang from the ceiling.  

Then we went to Whit's family cabin.  We were wondering if there would be any snow.  There was enough and we had a great time playing in it.  My family came up on Friday to eat, sled, break a pinata and have the traditional White Elephant exchange.  No tears this year.  Maggie opened a hot chocolate set and said: " I will NEVER trade THIS!"  She was a good sport when her GRANDMOTHER swiped it.  

Dallin catching some air...jumping shot

Loading up the snowmobiles for the day

My sister sledding down the hill

Taxi service back up the hill

 The hill doesn't look that steep but we caught some good air and went pretty darn fast!

Pinata movers in the balconey

Maggie trying to get that pinata

Dallin trying to finish the sleeping Don off

Our balcony group shot

My mom all ready to get on the snowmobile...layers!

Christmas Morning...no shut eyes for Kim!

Christmas Eve at the cemetery...the entire place was lit up!

Christmas Night...the Heater's old home with everything lit up!

 After church we headed to Brigham City to spend the rest of the day with Kim's mother.  She can't get out at all and so we visited, ate food again, and did a puzzle.  Pretty quiet day.

Christmas visit to the Smiths

Family Home Evening..setting goals and building our strengths.

We tried our hand at making snowflakes...Dallin did the Y.  We talked about SMART...or setting goals and how to achieve them.  Specific goals, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time bound. 
Some of the highlights for this year for me and Kim:  seeing Dallin and McKay enjoy our "used" ping pong table, McKay going to China and sharing all the interesting experiences there, the miracle of all our family being able to "chat" on Google together each Sunday no matter where they are, going to Indiana  for Spencer's birth and blessing, Winston's birth, being all together during the summer at Whit's family cabin, Payson Temple ground breaking, and a successful bee year and harvest.  As I am want to saying...It doesn't get better than that!  Here's to 2012!