Chuck This...

This one is for you Mom (Brian's Mom)...We love you!!!

It’s my Mom’s birthday this week and, well, let’s just say she is three decades older than me (do the math if you so desire). For her birthday she asked that we take her for a fun family bowling event followed by a nice family dinner. Apparently, Chuck a Rama is the restaurant of preference for many of our local older citizens (I refuse to label my Mom just yet as a senior citizen). Mom’s partial reasoning is that Chuck a Rama is just a quick convenient choice where people can get whatever they want whenever they want (the choice is yours, right). I ask myself, "Isn’t that how all restaurants operate?" When it comes to Chuck a Rama, I believe there is a yet an undiscovered gene that remains dormant until you reach 60 something. At which point there is an irresistible urge to eat at large buffet style restaurants before 4:00 p.m. with all children and grandchildren in tow. I don’t get it yet, but I expect I will someday. I usually try to make the best of it by enlisting Coleson and a few unsuspecting nephews into a professional scone eating contest (bunch of amateurs).

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Updates on the basement

We have been requested to show our latest basement developments. The drywall is done. We have primed and painted the ceiling. The most exciting thing is our fireplace rockwork is done. It looks awesome. Brian and I actually made our own mantel -after seeing the price of real ones, we thought i bet we could make our own for a lot cheaper, we've watched enough HGTV to do it ourselves. I started painting around the fireplace because I was so excited to get color on the wall. I was told to wait until the baseboards are up before I do more. My sister-in-law helped me pick out colors-thanks Jill. We ordered doors and lights, so we just have to wait for those and pick out carpet and tile. I had to break the news to Coleson this week that we had to push back the delivery date of his furniture until the end of February. So hopefully in a month we will be able to post pictures of a finished basement.

The Power of Friendship...

Ammon has a special friend! Please click on the link to read all about it and see their picture. Shayla and Ammon!

Eagle Fireworks...

Last night the hometeachers were over and we got talking about New Years and doing fireworks. Later that night Coleson said, "Can we get some eagle fireworks?" Some what? "You know, eagle fireworks." What? "Eagle fireworks, the kind that go really high and do big explosions!" Oh, you mean "illegal" fireworks. "Sure, can we get some of those..."

Unfortunately we don't have access to eagle fireworks, but I'm sure there will be plenty of people in our neighborhood with those. Happy New Year!!!

This Feels Awesome...

What a great month! Thank Heavens for Christmas and the wonderful spirit it brings. On Saturday we took Coleson to the furniture store to pick out his bedroom set. When we walked in Coleson was instantly greeted by Chris (one of the store managers) and taken to the children's section. Coleson was very impressed that there were donuts for breakfast and everyone already knew his name. Stacey was Coleson's helper for the selection process and he picked out a desk, dresser drawers, and a bunk bed set ("Ammon can sleep with me in my room now!"). It was an awesome morning and the people there were just amazing. As we were checking out Chris came over and talked with me about the selection process. Approximately 600 letters had been submitted and the committee spent about 9 hours reading all of the letters and narrowing the field down to 40 letters. They then spent another 6 hours settling on the 10 winners. He said when they read Coleson's letter and looked at the pictures everyone on the Committee started crying. Apparently, Coleson was the first kid they called and when they put him on speaker phone with him cheering and yelling everyone started crying again. These are such good people, and they've done something very special for our boy that we could never pull off.

On the way out of the store Summer was getting emotional again, and I guess Coleson finally had enough. "Mom, why does everyone keep crying?" Summer told him that she was just so grateful that he was recognized in such a way for everything that he has done for her and others, but especially Ammon. She always wanted to make his new room very special, essentially a place that was just his and a place that he would love to be. Now that all the bedroom furniture was covered she felt like she could really go all out and do some special things in his room, just to say thanks.

Primary on Sunday was great. During singing time the leader had previously asked five kids in Jr. and Sr. primary to select an adult they appreciated and why they appreciated them. The adults selected were simply asked if they could come to Primary that day and had no idea what was going to happen. The powerful lesson was on how it feels to give gifts, not gifts like an X-box or PS3, but gifts of kindness and thanks that don't require money. Apparently, Coleson was selected to pick a special adult that he wanted to spotlight. He selected Steve our home teacher. Steve's whole family was in primary because they were supposed to leave right after Sacrament meeting to attend another function. Steve had no idea why he was there or what was going on. When the leader asked Coleson to come forward and tell everyone who he picked, Steve was in complete shock. Coleson said he wanted to highlight Steve because he is always so nice to him, he always tells him thanks when we set up chairs on Sundays, he's our hometeacher, and he's Coleson's friend. Ammon attends singing time in Primary now, so Summer was sitting on the front row with him while all this was going on. Summer didn't dare look up because she didn't want to get all emotional, and Steve was already to that point. When the leader asked how Steve felt all he could emotionally say was, "I feel Awesome!" (Coleson said Steve kept telling him "this is so cool" over and over). I was in the hall with Brynn as Steve and his family left. He said he had rarely felt this good and was surprised that it was all Coleson and we had nothing to do with it; and we really didn't (Autumn, his wife, said they were going to go cry in the car now). In the Sr. primary session Summer was surprised when she was selected by a wonderful young girl to be spotlighted. Other kids selected a surprised parent, neighbor, or friend. The last young girl selected her primary teacher and actually got really emotional when she started talking about him. The entire event was a powerful experience and I've not done that great of a job describing it. The whole lesson was a great reminder of the powerful influence for good we all have on children, no matter our calling, our position in life, or our financial means.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!