Snow Fun

We just had a pretty good snow storm come through here the past few days. It was nothing like Denver had a month or so ago but it was enough for Eric's work to shut down on Tuesday. We were stuck inside for the day since the snow was little pellets and the plows didn't come up our street until late last night but we got lots of indoor projects done. I also volunteered to shovel the snow. Yes, I actually wanted to shovel for two reasons: 1) to get out of the house and 2)I never got the opportunity growing up so I still think it's somewhat fun. It snowed once in Simi Valley, CA and melted off before ten but we thought it was sooo cool. The sprinkler pipes had burst and the water froze so we also had a little ice skating rink to skate on with our shoes.

Yesterday morning, it stopped snowing but we still couldn't get out because the plows hadn't come up our street and we don't have four-wheel drive. Eric was probably sick of staying inside with us so one of his coworkers came and picked him up. Elizabeth, Rachel, and I accompanied him to the end of our street and Elizabeth loved riding in the sled. Rachel wasn't too sure of it so I held her. Once we got home, Elizabeth went sledding down our driveway of ice/snow and had fun. Rachel found her feet and started walking around in the snow. Since it's icy on top, you step on it and then fall in a few seconds later and both girls got to experience falling through the snow and getting snow all over their face. We attempted a snowman but it ended up more like a pyramid.

Here are some pictures of our bundled up girls.





















Here's our "homey-g" daughter Rachel trying on daddy's hat sideways.






















Rachel's becoming a bookworm now as she'll bring a book and tug on your leg until you pick her up and read it to her. She especially likes books about animals like Eric Carle's "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What do you hear?".

Elizabeth still loves her Dora movies but she also likes going down in the basement and riding her tricycle. Sometimes Rachel hops on and Elizabeth takes her for a ride. It's cute to see them start to play with each other, or at least entertain one another for a little bit.

Do As I'm Doing...

I'd like to talk about my trip to California, but I can't make a post without including some pictures or a video. Our daughters are finally getting old enough that they can somewhat play with each other. Here is Elizabeth tonight in her ultra-hyper stage when she's really tired and about to go to bed (I know, it makes no sense, they get hyper when they're tired).



Now, on to the boring stuff. I went to California a couple of weeks ago for a training course at UCLA. I had actually never been to UCLA. It was good to go back to LA again...in some ways. First of all, the whole time I was growing up there was this hotel shaped like a cylinder right off the 405 by the Sepulveda pass that I always wanted to stay at. It turns out that my work put me up there (the less expensive hotels in the area were booked), so that was pretty cool, although the room wasn't really that nice (but I had to pay an arm and a leg for valet parking). Oh, I also got a first class seat from Dallas Fort Worth because we booked the travel so late.

The course was interesting, it was taught by a Scotsman. But nobody is interested in hearing about that. I did take advantage of the opportunity to visit a lot of family and friends (and In-N-Out). I saw my in-laws (yes, of my own free will and volition I visited my in-laws...it's nice when you like your wife's family :-), and they actually fed me dinner. It was really weird being in Simi again. I drove by my old house that I grew up in and I think the saying is true, you can't go home again (maybe that's why they called the cops when I walked in the front door and went to my room).

I also took a trip out to see my brother in Corona. Turns out it took me 3 hours to drive 60 miles (and only one hour back). You know what makes that even worse? There weren't even any accidents. That's just normal traffic! Honestly, I don't know how people live like that. The traffic alone is enough to make me never move back there again (although the weather is great). But it was nice to see my brother and get some good backpacking tips from him.

I also went to the temple. To be honest, that was the one thing, other than seeing family and friends, that created nostalgia for me. It was really a strong sense of nostalgia too. That's where I got married. That's the first temple I visited. I remember youth trips there and personal trips and it is just a beautiful place. My course was less two miles away.

It turns out that three of my best friends from my freshman year in college all live in LA or Pasadena now. For those who don't know me well, my freshman year was a great time in which I made some great friends and really blossomed. It was great seeing Hansen, Larry and Steve again. It really reminded me of a more care-free time of my life. Of course I absolutely love my family and the way things have turned out, but it was nice to be reminded a little of my past.

Okay, I've shared way too much. So it's time for my wife to spill her guts. She has some major news also.

(The Wife) No, I am not pregnant. My major news is my new calling at church--Primary President. Our ward combined with another ward so we have a lot of kids, 81 on my rolls not including nursery and a pretty small room to work in. Today was my first shot at sharing time and the kids actually cooperated with me which was nice. In junior primary it was my own daughter that was having a hard time sitting in her chair and behaving. On her behalf, she is the youngest one in Primary and I think the transition from nursery has been a difficult one. Now that I'm in Primary, I bid Cub Scouts adieu as they go into more capable hands with a full suite of leaders that know what they're doing. I'm excited for the program to work like it should and oversee it from Primary's perspective.