Our Temple

What a wonderful summer it has been as we have been so focused on "our" temple. (Even Aleise calls it "my temple"). Kevin spent every week practicing with the youth for the dance performance and we spent two full days working in the temple during the open house. The first day we spent five hours serving refreshments in the stake center and then were able to clean the whole temple after it had been closed for the night. That was a neat experience to be handed cleanser and a rag and be set free to clean everywhere in the building. The second time we worked, we got to usher in the temple during the tours. The neat thing about that was that we weren't in one spot the whole time but got to serve in several different places inside the temple. We started out in the foyer area and ended the night in the celestial room. What a special experience! I heard one little boy, when told to be quiet and not talk, say to his Grandma, "Because this is God's house?" Grandma said yes and the little boy looked around and said, "Where is God? Is he in his car?" He decided if he didn't see God he must not be home and if he wasn't home, he must be in his car. Too funny!
We were able to attend the open house several times with family and friends. It is so beautiful! I love the little things they do to make each temple unique and to reflect the area in which it is erected. Ours has lots of references to water and canyons because of Shoshone Falls. The overall motif of the temple is the Syringa, the state flower of Idaho. It is in the windows, in the crown molding, on some of the wallpaper, cut into the carpet in some places, just everywhere and it is really beautiful. One of the rooms inside the temple has a gigantic mural that covers all the walls that was done by Leon Parsons, a local artist, and it depicts the magic valley area. It is amazing.
When the temple was first announced in 2004 I was excited because it meant that it would be so much easier for me as a mother of small children to be able to go to the temple. I had no idea of the spectrum of other blessings that I would come to realize as the temple was built. How thankful I am for it!! Being able to watch it being built has increased my realization of my Heavenly Father's love for me. We would always drive past it every time we were in Twin to watch the progress. And the open house has really strengthened relationships in the community as we were encouraged to invite our friends to come tour the temple with us and people were able to talk with us about it and gain a greater understanding of our beliefs. As time for the dedication drew near, President Monson asked that we prepare our lives for the temple, to be worthy of it and of entering it. He asked that we do what we needed to to repent and forgive and be better. I was able to teach my children so much about the temple and the importance of being worthy to go inside someday and about living in such a way that we can be together forever and my relationship with them and with my Heavenly Father grew. Today I was able to take my son to the dedication of "our" temple to see President Monson and listen as the prophet of the Lord blessed the temple and the people of this area. Now I look at the temple and I think of the future impact it will have on my life. It will probably be the first temple my children go to. I have goals to spend lots of time there. And, as saints in the area live worthy of a temple in their midst, the blessings of heaven will continue to be poured out upon all the people of this area. Oh, God is good! And we are blessed beyond measure.

I saw him!

Obviously I was not very close, as this picture is all grainy after I cropped it, but I got to see the prophet this weekend! President Monson was here for the dedication of the Twin Falls Temple. I had the wonderful opportunity to usher at the Youth Cultural Celebration on Saturday night when the prophet was there. Other visiting authorities present included President Eyring, Elder Cook and Elder Costa. I was given the chance to go as an usher at the last minute and I was so excited! President Monson and the other authorities rode into the arena in golf carts and the prophet spoke to the youth for a few minutes from the stage before taking his place in the stands to enjoy the show.
We took the whole family and went to the dress rehearsal/performance that the youth did on Friday night. It was so much fun! They were practicing while people were arriving and I was having serious doubts about them pulling it off. But they were amazing!! I was so impressed! That is one thing that always moves me is seeing big groups of people united for one cause, especially when it is a cause of Christ that brings them together. It always brings me to tears and this performance was no exception. Thousands and thousands of kids (and many many leaders) worked so hard on this program all summer long and they did a fabulous job! The performance was held at the fair grounds in the rodeo arena but you would hardly recognize it as such. A dance floor was built using at least a semi load of 1 1/4" tongue and groove plywood attached to 2x4s. Sod was hauled in and laid in all the area around the stage. Giant tv screens were set up on either side of the stage and a huge waterfall was made to represent the theme of the event: Living Waters. Amazing!! It was an awesome experience and one I am sure the youth of this area will never forget!

First Day of School

It came much too quickly but come it did. School started on Wed. Aug. 20. I had to work pretty furiously to get the school room organized and everthing ready to go. And we got to go shopping at WalMart with the whole rest of the world who just realized Tuesday afternoon that school started the next day! But Wed. morning we were ready to go. I have a fifth grader this year. Hard to believe! He is in the advanced learners program and gets to learn fun stuff like keyboarding and spanish and American History to 1865 and read stuff like Don Quixote and the history of Mulan. Hope I can keep up!
Emily is in 2nd grade and will soon be reading chapter books like a breeze. She is excited for history and of course, science with Grandma. Noah is just excited for school. He asked me, "So do I get to do real school today where you write on the chalkboard and I sit at the desk and get my own schoolbooks and stuff?"
We had our annual back to school cooking project after schoolwork was done. Every year we make some kind of school-related treat and take to our friends and neighbors. This year we made cupcakes with mini chalkboards and erasers on them. (Thanks again, Family Fun!) They turned out super cute!

Camping

All of us at the Lake

I did it. I survived camping. For three days. In a tent. I am glad we borrowed the tent, rather than buying one, because I am not sure I want to use it again, but the kids had a great time. We got off to a late start. If you call leaving at 10 p.m. a late start. Picking out a campsite and setting up the tent in the middle of the dark night was tricky. And the little ones were scared so they wouldn't stay in the car. I tried to help set up the tent while holding Aleise in one arm.

We got camp set up, though and it all turned out well. It was nice to get away from all the distractions of normal life; phone, tv, computer, housework. The kids had some time to just play with each other, which was nice. They aren't often content to do that at home but here there wasn't really any choice. And I think we found out that we all do really love each other after all.

Noah and Emily at Lake Cleaveland.

The water was freezing, so Porter and Kevin gathered up a bunch of big rocks and made a little pool. It was surprising how much warmer the water was there.

Sisters on a hike.

We took a quite a little hike one morning. The beginning was uphill through the underbrush and Noah kept saying things like, "This is tough, guys. You have to act like a boy to hike this trail. Be tough like a boy because this is a hard hike!"

Splashing in the summer rain

First Haircut

Tiggers' hair has been such a mess this summer. He has been hanging out in the weeds behind our house and his coat is a big matted mess of june grass and stickers. We tried brushing it out, and he would be patient for awhile but the stickers were in pretty deep. I called the vet to ask him about shaving Tiggers. He said he could do that for...$140. Are you kidding me?! For a cat! I decided to try clipping the bad spots myself but succeeded in taking a big nick out of his side. I called around and found another vet that would shave him for $60. He had to stay overnight and then came home looking a little like a lion. He was very embarrassed about his haircut and kept hiding but Porter did manage to snap this picture. You can't see the end of his tail, but he has a big tuft of hair at the top. It was worth it in the end, I think.

We are done with swimming lessons!

Noah grew a lot since last year and was finally able to touch the bottom of the pool! He passed level one and had a great time playing in the water.
Emily passed level 2 this year. She still likes playing games best but has become used to putting her face under the water. She loves going inthe deep end and jumping off the diving board.Porter was in level 4 this year and he is a great swimmer! His teacher worked him hard and he slept really well at night. His best stroke is the breast stroke. He learned the butterfly and the dolphin kick this year. Wish I could do that!
We always love swimming lessons and look forward to mornings at the pool followed by lunch in the park. A great part of summer!

A Weekend with the Cousins

Spudman weekend has become a traditional family reunion at our house and we look forward to it every year! This year was kind of sparse in attendance but we had a lot of fun. Friday afternoon we took Jeremy's family to see the Twin Falls Temple and then met Paul's family back at the house. The rest of the night was devoted to preparations for the race the next morning and the usual carb-loading dinner. With Mom and Dad gone, I got to serve as support personnel for the racers, taking them to drop off their gear and then delivering them to the race the next morning. The cousins just had lots of fun running wild and playing together, as you can see. These pictures are for you, Mom and Dad George, we sure missed you!!Noah and Brayden hanging out in the pool. This was before the kids decided it would be a good idea to combine playing in the pool and playing in the sandbox by bringing the sand to the pool!
Little orphan Aaron, whose mom was in Germany running a marathon the same day his dad ran the Spudman. Isn't he a cutie?
Emily and Sara playing in the sun
How many kids can you fit on a stick horse?

And the Winner Is...

Kevin competed in his seventh spudman triathlon this year. It was a difficult year of training for him, the difficulty was in finding time to train. I think he was only on his bike twice this year and that was riding to and from Albion for a family reunion the weekend before the race. Still, he didn't drown and he was able to win the coveted George family "Big Spud" award (a Mr. Potato Head that is passed along to the winner each year with the winner's name and time being recorded on the back). He finished with a time of 2 hours, 31 minutes and 39 seconds, which is very respectable and only one minute behind his personal record. So I am sure that he has big plans for next year...after he rests. I am proud of him for his commitment and for taking the time to pursue a hobby that takes so much endurance and personal motivation. Me, I only run when I am in danger. Way to go, Kevin!!
Kevin and his brother, Paul, the only one who raced with him this year.