Maryland, Virginia & Washington DC

Mindy and Clinton welcomed Emma Catherine on March 14. She weighed 9 lb 15 oz! I had the privilege of going to Maryland the following week for 5 days!

Regardless of Emma's size, she seemed small to me, smelled so good and was so very soft. I've forgotten a few things about babies... how they like to scrunch up and how tricky it is to change their entire outfit. I did love holding her and having her smile at someone, who I couldn't see, over my shoulder or above my head. She and I spent some time walking together in the wee hours of the morning which was actually quite pleasant.

I enjoyed the time I got to spend with 2 1/2 year old Lizzy. She and I have never bonded like that because the times we've been together my children, her cousins, were there too. She wasn't sure about me at first, but we became great buddies and quite enjoyed each other.

It was a real treat to be able to visit with Mindy and Clinton (almost constantly) and get them all to myself. It was delightful to visit about U.S. History and learn things that I'm sure I should've learned in high school, but clearly didn't. It was just neat to be with that little family. They fed me and housed me and drove me around and provided me with a computer so I could check my email. They're great people.

Mindy felt very well so we went on several outings. We rode the rail into downtown Washington, D.C. I was overwhelmed the minute we walked out of the rail station. The buildings were magnificent with columns and quotes carved into the marble. We walked across Pennsylvania Avenue and down to the White House (the president didn't come out and wave to us).

I had read a biography on Abraham Lincoln and George Washington prior to my trip so that I could appreciate more some of the things I was seeing. I am so grateful that I did that. It gave great importance to the Lincoln Memorial which has the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln's second Inaugural Address, on the walls. We sat at the World War II Memorial for some time and walked past the Washington Monument.

Mindy sat and rested and fed Emma. Clinton, the amazing and most fabulous tour guide, and Lizzy and I did much more walking.

A few days later we went downtown to the National Archives where we saw the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Magna Carta. Simply amazing.

We took one day and went to Mount Vernon, George Washington's plantation. I wish I could verbalize how magnificent this place is, how blessed we are to live in this country, and how fortunate we are to have the freedoms that we have.

I am determined that we need to take our children to Washington, D.C. It's moved to one of the top three places that we need to vacation!

Jeremy is my hero. He spent a week at home with sick children, got the healthy ones to school on time, got Anna to dance, hosted a late night with some of the neighbor kids, did laundry, managed to work, and keep the house tidy. He is the best.

Thanks to Michelle for planting the idea (that I should go to Maryland) in my head last November, thanks to Mindy and Clinton for allowing me to come and play, thanks to my kids for being great and making me feel like I could go, and thanks to Jeremy for encouraging me to go and being happy that I got to take such a remarkable trip. I'm a lucky gal.

**pictures top to bottom: (1) the girls standing at the WWII Memorial with the Lincoln Memorial in the background, (2) Emma and me in front of the White House, (3) Lizzy and me in front of the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building behind that, (4) Mindy, Emma and me at Mount Vernon standing in front of the Potomac River, and (5) me with Emma and Lizzy resting after a fun day

Go Utes!

Saturday we went to the University of Utah basketball game. We had a great time with our friends and enjoyed a well played game. Utah beat TCU, 68-49. Go Utes!

cabin trip

We had a nice, nice weekend at the cabin. Here is our little family at the snow fort, right next to the sledding hill, that Jeremy and the kids built.



My brothers and their families spent the weekend with us and we were fortunate to have enough machines running to snowmobile a bit.



This is Zachary driving us around. He loves that he can drive his own machine.








The snow was packed down pretty good so we were able to hike in and out of the cabin.

The weather was brisk, but pleasant, and sunny--enough to put some color on our faces. We ate good food, played games, went sledding, and watched movies--it was very relaxing and down right FUN!

snow and shorts

It's like spring here this week, but last week we had snow. This is so Griffin, to shovel snow in his shorts.

priorities

I have no less than 8 things that HAVE to be done before I go to bed tonight. My brain is on overload, I've got to do follow up on stuff for the school carnival, come up with some ideas for New Beginnings (my new job is in the young womens), my hallway is full of my scrapbook stuff (on account of my cleaning out my office, but now I don't know what to do with all my pictures and supplies), my inbox in 2 email accounts is full and needs attending to, and my house needs to tidied (by some sweet miracle I have no laundry to fold and put away). Fortunately tonight is the Blue & Gold banquet (cub scouts) so I don't have to make dinner. I worked with a great lady, Joan Reid, for many years who, when on overload, set all of the Priority A's to the side and accomplished a Priority C. So, one of my Priority C's is sitting here at my computer. I'm reading blogs of people who I love. Thanks to all of you who share your lives with me through the beautiful invention of the world wide web.

going swimming

One of the reasons you should go swimming with your very fabulous sister-in-law is because she has an underwater camera. Thanks for bringing your camera, Suzy, and for being an exceptional aunt. We went swimming with a big group of cousins last week and had a ball.

Draper Temple Open House

Yesterday we had the special privilege of going to the Draper Temple Open House with our children, Jer's parents, and our nieces and nephew (here from Detroit). The temple is breath taking, the spirit was strong, and we had the tremendous privilege of talking with our children about the blessings of the temple and about what it means to be a forever family.

In the sealing room I was sitting with Anna, Griffin, and Jane and we were talking about where we would be sitting when they get married. Griffin said to me, referring to his wedding day, "When I'm sittin' here, I'll hold your hand, mommy." It was a choice experience.

highlights

Highlights for January 2009: sledding and fireworks at the cabin with Wright cousins to ring in the new year, Jer & Zachary went cross country skiing, Dad and Linda visited from St. Louis, Zachary and Griffin were chosen from their classes as students of integrity, Zachary received his Bear in cub scouts, Zachary turned 10 (!!!), Zachary and Anna played city rec basketball, Jer had his last physical therapy appointment, got his fancy knee brace, and was cleared to go back to playing sports, and Jer and I went to Atlanta to the Giftware and Home Furnishings Market and had some success (our kids love us going out of town). I'm sure there's more, but these are the highlights. It was a good start to the year!

the rest of December

So the rest of December was full of more fun. The Techmeyer Annual was great--dodgeball, good food, good company, Jemmett cousins, teams, spaghetti and marshmallow buildings, year in review slide show (thanks Michael), presents, visiting, and fun. Thanks Sarah & Neil for all the planning.

Cousin, Naya, and her family came into town for the holidays. Naya was baptized, and it was a special day.


Anna and her Aunt Suzy decided at the beginning of 2008 that they wanted to grow their hair out so they could donate it. They both look fabulous in their new haircuts.

We experienced a first in our family: we didn't have plans on Christmas Eve. We enjoyed a relaxing evening, watched a movie, and then took a long while to fall asleep. Christmas morning we spent at home and then enjoyed the afternoon and evening with the Wrights. The following day we went sledding on lots of new snow. Great times!






My baby brother, James, was home for Christmas (he's stationed in Monterrey, CA in the Air Force learning Chinese). We went sledding together, and he taught us how to play Zachary's newest game, Settlers of Catan, which was very fun!

As we reflect on 2008, we do so with gratitude for good people in our lives, for a loving and supportive extended family, and for the blessings we enjoy as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

where did December go?

We enjoyed Thanksgiving with the Techmeyers and then headed to Boise for cousin Spencer's baptism and cousin Heather's missionary homecoming. It was a delightful weekend.

December has been quick and fun! We enjoyed time with Mindy, Clinton & Lizzy (they were here for a week or so). Zachary and Anna have been playing Junior Jazz basketball--fun for them to play and fun to watch. Anna had a number of dance performances including Festival of Trees, the Christmas recital, and at the Murray Care Center.

Zachary, Anna, and Griffin are all in the school choir. Zachary and Anna both had solos in the Christmas concert and did amazing!

The Christmas piano recital was an enjoyable evening as well. It is very rewarding to watch the kids who practice and prepare well perform well. Our kids were happy with their performances, as were we. Zachary and Anna played a duet together as well as solos and Griffin was the opener with Jingle Bells. He played though his song several times because he liked how it looked to watch the hammers hit the strings.

Our ward party was Return to Bethlehem. Everyone dressed in appropriate attire and had a true Bethlehem experience. The boys were asked to be the wise men for the Nativity and the girls were asked to be the angels. Thanks to mom for all the great costumes.










We scored six tickets to a Jazz game so we drove downtown, had to park a ways away so we walked a bit and then took the train the rest of the way to the arena. We had a good time together. There's something fabulously festive about being downtown with the lights and snow and Christmas music.