Little Drummer Boy

Christian was named "Rookie of the Year" for the percussion section at the Marching Band Awards Banquet a week or so ago. What an honor!--especially since Christian's percussion director is extremely picky and extremely demanding and extremely good at what he does. He called Christian "extraordinary" and spoke very highly of him during the presentation. Needless to say, Dave and I were standing there like peacocks: all proud and stuff. Christian was Mr. Mellow just taking it all in stride. Charmer. The percussion section with their fearless leader, Mike Huestis

Christian doing what he does so well

Christian (center) always hitting his mark

To update you about the Bands of America Grand National Competition, American Fork placed 14th out of 92! Totally awesome! The band missed being in the top 12 finals by eight-tenths of a point. Crazy, huh. The band played the best show they ever have, and they should be nothing but proud of themselves. They were only one of two bands at the competition from the western part of the country. The styles between the east and west are way different, and it was obvious that the judges were not quite sure what to do with this exceptional band from AF who displayed a ton of musicality, precision, and discipline, as opposed to the more Broadway-ish, dramatic, and theatrical stylings of the eastern bands. In any event, AF totally rocked our world! GO CAVEMEN!!!!! GO CHRISTIAN!!!!!!!!!

New Product From Pepperidge Farms!

It comes six to a box.

Waaaaaaayyyy more than enough, don't ya think?

Utah 48, BYU 24

Dear Utes,

I'll admit it: you win.

Somebody Has a Birthday Today!

She is very beautiful

She is very smart

She likes Thai food and cheesecake

She hates wasabi and soda pop

She is a published author and a produced playwright

She loves foreign films

She hates rap

She would rather cook than go shopping

She would rather read than go shopping

She would rather jump off of a cliff than go shopping

She has a big heart for the underdog and those in need

She has a stunning smile and an easy laugh

She is a caring, loving wife

She is soon to be a tender and devoted mother

Who is this amazing person?

SHE IS MY BEAUTIFUL, SMART, CARING, LOVING, TENDER, DEVOTED, AMAZING DAUGHTER,

THAT'S WHO!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEY!

I LOVE YOU!!!

You can barely see it, but please take note of the ever-present bow squished onto the left side of Ashley's bald little head. It was the bane of Dave's existence whenever he pulled dressing and grooming duty.

"How much longer do we need to glue this thing onto her SKULL???"

"As long as it takes for her to grow some hair."

"I hate to break it to you, but by the look of things she'll be twenty years old and I'll still be sticking this pitiful little bow onto her head."

"Now you're just being ridiculous. I'll have made some new bows by that time!"

"Well, I'm sorry but I'm putting my foot down--I don't want my daughter resenting me in the future for applying potential toxins to her hairless head every day."

"Okay. But I'll just warn you that those old men at church will start calling her an unusually beautiful little boy again, even when she does wear lace. It's your call."

"Fine. Hand me the Epoxy."

Baby Love

Ashley was showered with darling and thoughtful gifts for Baby Kimball at an awesome party my sister Marian so kindly threw for her. We have about six weeks to go until we get to see and hear the little guy. Ashley looks beautiful--she will make the sweetest mommy, and Kimball Jordan is going to be the CUTEST grandchild ever! (Sorry to you other grandmas out there, but it is what it is . . .) Ashley with Grandma Pauline

Ashley's former roommate, Rose

Emily, Bethany, Ashley and Judy (the aunts-to-be, mommy-to-be and grandma-to-be)

Grandma Bea, Rexine (in the back), Marian (greatgrandma-to-be and great aunts-to-be)

Aunt Gail, Zebediah, Rachel and Alison (great aunt-to-be, 2nd cousin once removed on the paternal side once removed from the great uncle's great great grandnephew's 3rd niece with a little salt and pepper thrown in for good measure, and so, yeah. And Rachel and Alison are 2nd cousins or great-aunts-to-be or whatever, I DON'T KNOW! You expect a lot of me. (I hate genealogy . . .)

Ashley is holding an outfit Jordan wore as a baby. Can't you just see him in this?

Tons of darling outfits were given to Baby Kimball by Grandma Judy

Yeah! A stroller and carseat all in one nifty box!

Baby Kimball gets to bounce and swing while mommy studies

A surprise for Ashley! Her dear, dear friends Rachel, Christine and Tina, living in Wisconsin, Indiana and New York City, respectively, sent a gift to me to take to the shower for them. So very thoughtful and kind!
Yeah! It's a play gym that Kimball will absolutely love! Those friends are the best!

I am getting so excited for the baby to come! When will he come, you ask? Ashley has been told by her doctors that it could be December 26 or January 3. So, I'm taking bets. We're going to play, "Guess the Day of the Marvelousness and Amazingness and Wonderfulness." My guess is December 30. Cm'on and chime in! If you're the winner you will receive a delicious chocolate cigar. Or a live puppy. Your choice.

Sean is Looking Paper Thin These Days . . .

Wow! Are they feeding those missionaries in the MTC enough food? Sean looks like he could blow away in the wind, don't you think? I mean, look at those abs--as flat as a pancake! And he looks ready for a shootout with Doc Holliday on Main Street in Dodge City. "Ready? Draw!" Do they allow that sort of thing in the MTC these days? Who knew?

So The Cookie Posse asked to come over to make brownies with me the other day, and while the brownies were baking, I cracked the whip and made them, er, invited them to make some cards and notes to send to Elder Sean in the MTC. Pretty darn cute.

By the time we divided the brownies up among us, there was nary a crumb left for Sean. BUT DON'T PANIC!--I whipped up a batch of fudge with white chocolate chunks (which wasn't nearly as good as the brownies, but, it was chocolate nevertheless) and sent that off to Sean along with these darling best wishes from The Posse. And I'm pretty sure that if he takes the time to read through all of these notes and cards, Sean's amusement quotient should be satisfied for quite a while. Some of them are pretty hilarious.

BOA Champs!

The mighty American Fork High School Marching Band competed in a regional Bands of America competition in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago and came away the CHAMPIONS!!!!! Their history as winners is stellar; for the past decade or so the band has dominated all of the state competitions quite easily. However, they have never placed higher than second place in a regional BOA competition, so this is humongously ginormous!





Christian is the third drummer from the left. Look at him. Isn't he so darling! Yay Christian!









This is Christian with his friend Andrew. Andrew's mom and dad went to the competition, and his mom took these awesome pictures. Thanks, Ellen! (I would have gone too if I didn't have a big hunkin' primary program to direct. But it's all good. Ellen and Rick delivered our hoohas and screams pretty well I think!)


Mr. Miller looks on with great pride. In the background, you can see Sean's close friend Parker who is an assistant to the band.







This is the entire drumline. Left click on the picture to play, "Where's Christian?" A crazy bunch, they are!















They will soon be off to the Grand National Bands of America Competition in Indianalopis, Indiana. This one is the superbowl of all competitions, the world series, the BIG KAHUNA. The awesome director of bands, Mr. Miller, says he is gunning for a top twelve finish. I think they have a great shot at making that goal! GO AMERICAN FORK!!!!!


The kids were pretty proud of their medals, and rightly so! Hundreds and hundreds of hours have been devoted to the band, so this win is very much deserved. AWESOME!

My Work Here is Done.

Last week I tried to vote early at my "vote-early-polling-place-cuz-you-know-the-lines-are-gonna-be-wicked-on-election-day," but found the wait to be excruciatingly long there--at least as long as a regulation football game. In other words, way, way, waaaaayyy too long. So, today I had nightmares of standing in at least a six-hour line to cast my one little vote, but found that election day is my lucky day. I was in, out, and on my way to some shopping therapy in about four minutes flat.