Science Project

Ugh! The dreaded science project is always due at the busiest time of the year. Abby's at the tail end for us. Through the years we have tested so many things:
How long flowers will live in different kinds of liquids (Kels)
Which detergents get socks the whitest (Linds & Katie)
What's the most common color of M&M (Ash)
Is it possible to stab a potato with a straw? (Ash)
Does different food coloring make sprite taste differently (Kels)
Which photo developer prints the best photos (Kels & Katie)

This year Abby is doing a taste test on three different foods. Potato chips, tomato soup and chocolate chip cookies. We all get to taste them to see if we can tell the difference between name-brand and off-brand. Lays potato chips and Campbell's soup were the clear winners and Keebler & Chips Ahoy cookies were neck & neck. Considering it's last minute, she and Austin (her cousin) were darn lucky to have been able to get most of it done during their Grandpa's Bday party. Austin did a Dr. Pepper / Mr Pibb taste test on the other side of the table.

We woke up to the beginnings of a snow storm as we left to our church family Christmas breakfast. We had a good time seeing everyone. I hardly like to eat, I would just rather visit :) Kelsie took the ACT again this morning and feels pretty good about it. That could mean she did pretty good or feels pretty good it's done. Either way, she seems less stressed now that it is over.
-Brenda

Happy Birthday Joe

Tonight we celebrated Larry's Dad. Joe is 77 today and this is always one of our favorite nights during the holidays. I feel blessed to have married into this family filled with a lot of good people and memories through the years. Usually we have just the older adults, but this year all the kids came and had a picnic in the family room. We had a pasta bar and spent the evening together. Abby & her cousin Austin took advantage of having this many people in one place and set up their science fair experiments in the kitchen and we all had to take turns being their taste test guinea pigs.
-Brenda

Betty & Joe, Carolyn & Brent, Larry & Brenda,

Scott & Jill, Kevin & Kristen

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California Family

The highlight of our trip to California for me was visiting my extended family on my Mom's side. Just seeing them instantly brought back so many memories. We moved away to Utah right before 6th grade and I missed them. I still do. We chatted away and too soon, it was time to go. The kids really had a good time listening to stories and enjoyed their treats on the way back home. Thank you!! Paul got to talk hunting & shooting with Uncle Sonny and hopefully I will be able to come out for a longer visit sometime this next year.

-Brenda

Top left: Brenda, Aunt Nancy, Aunt Beverly & Aunt Jackie

Top Right: Nancy Jean, Janet, Aunt Beverly, Brenda, Susan & Diane

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Delivering Cookies

Tonight was Young Womens at church and each Laurel came over with a batch of cookies. We filled 10 plates with cookies and delivered them to families in our neighborhood with Christmas singing and hugs. It was a real good thing to do. I love my Laurels!
-Brenda

Pebbles in my Pocket Party

Tonight we had the Pebbles in my Pocket Christmas party for our Orem store. Ashlee, as store manager, planned the party at our place where they could just hang out and be together. We had yummy Cafe Rio, decorated sugar cookies and played games. We know we are blessed to have such wonderfully dedicated employees who love Pebbles so much. We are thankful they are part of our Pebbles family and appreciate all they do. Thanks for your planning Ash!
-Brenda

Kelsie, Courtney, Stephanie, Natasha, Audrey P, Audrey S, Amy, Stacie, Danielle, Ashlee, Brenda, Conrad, Maria, Katie & Danielle

Sleepover in St. George

We stopped in St. George overnight with Scott, Jill and kids. Texas Roadhouse to go and a good game of Phase 10. It quickly turned into show & tell as Cameron showed us all the cool things his body can do. It's always good to get home. Ahhh!
-Brenda

Heading Home

We said an early goodbye to the ones that flew home. We are planning on meeting Scott & Jill and kids in St. George for dinner at the Texas Roadhouse and a sleepover at the condo before going home tomorrow… Abby knew we were going to stop and visit my Aunts and reminded me that I would be on a time limit as she gave me ‘that look’. Call me crazy, but I like road trips. We may be lame, but we have fun. So far we have tried to sing the words of one song to the music of another. Try it. It’s not easy. I have also slowly crumbled a cookie on top of Lindsey’s head without her knowing it. She now has cookie dandruff. It makes me smile. The flowers still look fresh :)
-Brenda