I am Like a STAR

Jeff is a STAR, or a Star ranking in BSA. He earned 7 merit badges and his Star ranking last night at the Court of Honor. He has worked hard to get all the service hours, merit badge requirements and projects done. He even was MC for the event. Big night for my "baby". I can't believe how big he's getting!!

I have to say how grateful I am for our troop. There are at least 40 boys if not more. Most of them received a MB or 2 last night. The Priests are almost all Eagle Scouts and such good roll models for the younger boys. The YM leadership is stellar and do great things of the boys. You can feel the respect and appreciation the boys have for their leaders. For a gal who grew up in Alabama with 10 youth total in our ward, I really appreciate a strong youth group. What a blessing!!

Good job Jeff!!

So exciting!!!!!

We have super fast internet!! That may not be a big to you, because you have it. But it is so note worthy to me that I'm BLOGGING about it. WE HAVE FAST INTERNET!!!!!!!! We have been suffering with satelite internet for 5 years. It is unpredictable, slow and limited. It doesn't work when it's raining . . . sometimes. It doesn't work when it's really hot . . . sometimes. You can't use YouTube or Netflicks or any downloads of any kind. Ha, you'd be tied up for weeks.

But not any more folks. We have COHO internet as of today and I'm shouting for joy. YEA!!!! I can blog before the hours of 11pm and after 5am. (I use to only download between those hours.) Yea!!

Bend '11

Our annual trip to Bend! Ben has a CE course each year at Mt. Bachelor. We tube, ice skate (kids first time), ski, eat, and chill out in the condo. It was great weather, lots of snow, sweet powder, sunny traveling, and the lil' kids are easier every year. Yea!!

The lil' kids loved tubing if they were together. We took Jack down the big hills initially and he was NOT a fan!! Molly was miserable on the lil' hill until her pal joined her and then they were both happy as could be. Silly ones!

These hills are steeper than they look. Wow, you fly down that hill!! I'm so grateful they tow you up with a cable. I would dread hiking up.

We tried ice skating at Sun River for the first time. It was a hit!! Jeff and Hannah loved it and were both really good! Jack wanted NOTHING to do with it until the crowds cleared out. Molly loved, loved, loved it. She went around and around for an hour and 45 minutes. Jeff and I took turns holding her. She just kept telling us "faster", "faster", "more", "more. She could of gone all night. Very cute!! So were the little skates. Adorable!

We got 6" one night. Big deal for us "rain" people.

Warming up in the hot tub was a must many times a day.

Ice cycles and snow ball fights were on the agenda of course.

Ben and the big kids had a great day on the slopes. "Best powder ever", so I'm told. The lil' kids and I saw Tangled again. I was the ONLY person out in a mini van. I was lucky to get home on their snow packed roads. Now I see why so many people have four wheel drive in central Oregon.

Where is Mason??

You know how grateful you are because the kids are playing in their room and leaving you alone. You think in the back of your mind you'll probably pay for it, but it's worth it for a few moments of peace. Well, the lil' kids were playing in their room for a LONG time one day. When they came to tell me they couldn't get Mason, I wasn't alarmed. Our cat is a master of avoidance with the kids. They wanted to show me what they did and pulled my arm to their room. I found every toy they owned, every pillow, and every blanket and piled it high in front of the dresser. They said Mason was under all of it. AHHHHHHH!!! Under this heavy pile of stuff? I quickly started digging to the bottom, but couldn't find the cat. I heard a small meow. Where was he?? In the bottom drawer, stuffed in with all the pants. Poor kitty!! I guess he wasn't as good as I thought he was of avoiding the kids.

Jeff's First Sacrament Talk

Jeff was asked last Wednesday to give a talk on Sunday. He was ADAMANT that he wouldn't do it!! After a long talk with dad, he agreed. They worked on it a couple of days. He was very nervous, but didn't give any more resistance to doing it. He did a great job!! He read every word, but hey, beggars can't be choosers. He did it!! You could see the relief on his face when he sat down and Ben and I gave a big sigh of relief as well. Whew!!