Sunday, November 23, 2008

Family Pictures

Stephanie took some family pictures for us with Tim as the entertainer over at the Opera House. Seemed like everyone had the same idea in mind, the pictures look very cute. Special thanks to Tim & Stephanie for their patience with our crew!!! Leave a comment and tell us which family picture you like!

Cute kid shot

Family Photo #1

Katelyn & Prego Mommy

Family Photo #2

Family Photo #3

Family Photo #4

Football Rivalry!!!


Final - Utah 48, BYU 24
GO UTES!!!
12-0 season

Utah Miscellaneous Stats

Utah is ranked in the top-15 in the nation in six defensive categories. The Utes are seventh in rushing defense (94.9), ninth in opponent first downs (169), 10th in opponent third-down conversions (30.1%), 11th in total defense (284.7), 13th in scoring defense (16.6) and tied for 14th in opponent fourth-down conversions (30.8%).

The Utes rank second in the league in seven defensive categories: scoring defense (16.6), rushing defense (94.9), total defense (284.7), pass efficiency defense (113.5), opponent first downs (169), tackles for loss (6.82) and opponent third-down conversions (30.1%). Utah leads the league in opponent fourth-down conversions (30.8) and is third in sacks (21).

Utah has a trio of all-conference candidates on the defensive line in ends Koa Misi (57 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks), Paul Kruger (50 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks) and tackle Greg Newman (44 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks).

Utah is tied for the longest win streak in the nation with Texas Tech and Alabama. Dating back to last year's Poinsettia Bowl victory, the Utes have won 12 straight games. Utah has won 19 of its last 20 games.

Utah is averaging a school-record 45,352 fans to its home games this season—drawing over-capacity crowds against TCU (45,666), UNLV (45,587), Weber State (45,117) and Oregon State (45,599). With the home finale against BYU sold out, the 2008 Utes are guaranteed to break the school attendance mark of 44,112, set by the 2004 team.

Senior Brian Johnson is the best quarterback in school history. Johnson, who is 24-7 as the starter, broke the record set by Alex Smith (21-1 in 2003-04).
Johnson has 20 touchdown passes this season and 50 for his career, which ranks second all-time at Utah. With five touchdown throws against San Diego State, Johnson passed both Alex Smith (47 from 2002-04) and Mike McCoy (49 from 1992-92) to move into second place. The record of 69 is held by Scott Mitchell (1987-89).

Monday, November 17, 2008

Jed got engaged last night!


Zack's little brother, Jedediah got engaged last night to Aubrey Lucas. He proposed at the Mount Timpanogas Temple. We are so excited for them! They will be getting married this summer in July. Hopefully we will get to meet her soon.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Life is too short

Tucker Thayer was a member of our ward in Bloomington Hills. He died tragically on Saturday night from head injuries after a blank-shooting pistol went off. He was only 15 years old, this is such a sad event for the Thayer family. Our heart felt prayers are for them and their loss. I hope that everything is settled for this family shortly.

Here is the news story from Channel 2 news:

15-year-old Washington County high school sophomore Tucker Thayer died Saturday after a blank-shooting pistol used for a play fired.

Thayer's father, Ronald, says police told him four other students were inside the room when the gun went off. The other students had their backs turned to Tucker then turned around when they heard the shot. They found Tucker on the floor.

Ronald Thayer said he did not know the production used an actual gun and would have told the school to remove the gun had he known.

Authorities say the Desert Hills student died from head injuries. The pistol was found in the students hands shortly before the play "Oklahoma!" was scheduled to begin. The final night of the play was cancelled.

St. George Police Captain Bruce Graham says there were no bullets in the gun, but the gas in it has the same energy that a bullet does.
The boy was taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center, but died later that night as hospital officials were preparing to airlift him to a Las Vegas hospital.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Veteran's Day

Zack and I took the kids over to the Veteran's Day program at Pine View this evening. It was a very moving performance. The students had submitted essays thanking our veterans, which were read in between songs. It certainly made me proud of what others have sacrificed for our freedoms! I would like to thank all those who diligently serve and have served our country for the good of others. This is a great nation! We have been so blessed to live where we can make our own choices and let our voices be heard! I love America! Thank you for all those who have fought for us!!

Veterans Day Facts

The number of military veterans in the United States in 2007 is 23.6 million.

Female Veterans

There are 1.8 million female veterans as of 2007.

16 percent of Gulf War veterans in 2007 who were women.

Race and Hispanic Origin

The number of black veterans as of 2007 is 2.4 million. Additionally, 1.1 million veterans were Hispanic; 278,000 were Asian; 165,000 were American Indian or Alaska Native; 27,000 were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; and 18.7 million were non-Hispanic white. (The numbers for blacks, Asians, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, and non-Hispanic whites cover only those reporting a single race.)

When They Served

There are 9.3 million veterans 65 and older in 2007. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.9 million were younger than 35.

The number of Vietnam-era veterans as of 2007 is 7.9 million. Thirty-three percent of all living veterans served during this time (1964-1975). In addition, 5 million served during the Gulf War (representing service from Aug. 2, 1990, to present); 2.9 million in World War II (1941-1945); 3 million in the Korean War (1950-1953); and 6.1 million in peacetime.

As of 2007, there are 358,000 living veterans who served during both the Vietnam and Gulf War eras. Other living veterans in 2007 who served during two or more wars:
– 315,000 served during both the Korean and Vietnam wars.
– 69,000 served during three periods: World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
– 263,000 served during World War II and the Korean War.

Where They Live

There are five states with 1 million or more veterans in 2007. These states are California (2.1 million), Florida (1.7 million), Texas (1.7 million),New York (1.1 million) and Pennsylvania (1.1 million).

Education

25 percent of veterans 25 and older with at least a bachelors degree in 2007.

90 percent of veterans 25 and older with a high school diploma or higher in 2007.

Income and Poverty

The annual median income of veterans, in 2007 inflation-adjusted dollars, is $36,053.

The percentage of veterans living in poverty, as of 2007, is 5.7 percent. The corresponding rate for non veterans was 12 percent.

On the Job

There is 10.7 million veterans 18 to 64 in the labor force in 2007.

Earnings for women veterans, higher than the $27,272 for women civilians with no military experience is $32,217.

Earnings for male veterans, higher than the $39,880 for non veterans, is $42,128.

Women veterans were more likely to work 35 or more hours per week (84.3 percent vs. 77.6 percent), to work at least 50 weeks per year (73.1 percent vs. 71.6 percent) and to work in public administration (16 percent vs. 4.8 percent) than non veterans.

Disabilities

There are six million veterans with a disability.

Voting

The number of veterans who voted in the 2004 presidential election was 17.4 million. Seventy-four percent of veterans cast a ballot, compared with 63 percent of non veterans.

14 million veterans voted in the 2006 congressional election. Sixty-one percent of veterans cast a ballot, compared with 46 percent of non veterans.

Business Owners

14.5 percent of owners of firms responding to the 2002 Survey of Business Owners who were veterans. Veteran business owners comprised an estimated 3 million of the 20.5 million owners represented by survey respondents.

68 percent of veteran owners of respondent firms who were 55 and older. This compares with 31 percent of all owners of respondent firms. Similarly, in 2002, 55 percent of veteran-owned respondent firms with employees reported that their businesses were originally established, purchased or acquired before 1990, compared with 36 percent of all employer respondent firms.

Seven percent of veteran business owners of respondent firms who were disabled as the result of injury incurred or aggravated during active military service.

Benefits

The number of veterans who received compensation for service-connected disabilities as of 2006 is 2.7 million. Their compensation totaled $28.2 billion.

The total amount of federal government spending for veterans benefits programs in fiscal year 2006 is $72.8 billion. Of this total, $34.6 billion went to compensation and pensions, $33.7 billion for medical programs and the remainder to other programs, such as vocational rehabilitation and education.

This information was collected from the 2008 Census, unless otherwise indicated, and is provided courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Recipes: Using Powdered Milk


Author Unknown

Foods made with powdered milk will have fewer calories and less cholesterol than those made from whole milk. Adding additional milk to the recipe will enhance the nutritive value of the recipe. In any recipe calling for milk, simply add water for the milk called for in the recipe.
Recipes call for many types of milk. All the following can be made from powdered milk.

Whole milk
1 cup water
1/3 cup powdered milk

Evaporated milk
1 cup water
2/3 cup powdered milk

Whipped evaporated milk
Makes 3 cups
1 cup evaporated milk
2 Tbsp lemon juice

Thoroughly chill evaporated milk. Add lemon juice and whip until stiff. Sweeten and flavor as desired.

Condensed milk
1/2 cup hot water
1 cup sugar
1 cup powdered milk

Blend thoroughly in a blender. Can be stored in refrigerator or frozen.

Buttermilk or sour milk
1 cup water
1/3 cup powdered milk
1 Tbsp vinegar or lemon juice

Drinkable powdered milk
To improve the flavor of powdered milk, mix it half and half with 2% or whole milk. Another suggestion would be to try adding a little sugar or vanilla to enhance flavor. Let chill several hours before drinking.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Everything Under the Sun

I just returned from a Stake Seminar called Everything Under the Sun by Wendy DeWitt. It was a lot of information and was very useful for getting your food storage together. She specializes in solar oven cooking but the recipes and such can be used just for regular food storage. Sister DeWitt even went so far as to measure everything to an exact so you'll know how much of each item is in a #10 can, she tells you how to make bread in a jar, and other fun ideas like cakes and long term storage on candies (chocolates ladies, chocolates!!!)

Here is the link from the ideadoor for her booklet from the ideadoor:
http://theideadoor.com/PDF%20Files/RS/EverythingUnderTheSun.pdf

It is 26 pages filled with lots of great and useful information. She is an amazing women who really sought to take the guess work out of food storage for everyone to use. Sister DeWitt will be doing 3 segments on BYUtv this month which are of her seminar. I don't have any dates but I thought it would be useful information if you are interested!

Monday, November 3, 2008

Cost of a child

I found this on Kristy's blog and thought it was great!

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle-income family. Talk about sticker shock. That doesn't even touch college tuition. For those with kids, that figure leads to wild fantasies about all the things we could have bought, all the places we could have traveled, all the money we could have banked if not for (insert child's name here). For others that number might confirm the decision to remain childless. But $160,140.00 isn't all that bad if you break it down. It translates into $8,896.66 a year, $741.38 a month, or $171.08 a week. That's a mere $24.44 a day. Just over a dollar an hour. Still, you might think the best financial advise says don't have children if you want to be rich. It's just the opposite. There's no way to put a price tag on: Feeling a new life move for the first time and seeing the bum of a knee rippling across your skin. Having someone cry "It's a boy!" or "It's a girl!", then hearing the baby wail and knowing that all that matters is that it's healthy. Counting all 10 fingers and toes for the first time. Cupping an an entire head in the palm of your hand. Making out dada and mama from the cooing and gurgling.

What do you get for $160,140.00? Naming rights. First, middle, and last. Giggling under the covers at night. More love than your heart can hold. Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies. A hand to hold, usually covered in jam. A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sand castles, and skipping down the sidewalk in the pouring rain. Someone to laugh yourself silly with no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day. For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to finger paint, carve pumpkins, play hide-and-seek, catch lightening bugs, and never have to stop believing in Santa Claus. You have an excuse to keep watching Saturday morning cartoons and wishing on stars. You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodles wreaths for Christmas, hand print sets in clay for Mother's Day and cards with backwards letters for Father's Day. For $160,140.00, there's no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof, taking the training wheels off the bike, removing a sliver, filling the wading pool, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but is always treated to ice cream regardless. You get a front row seat to history; to witness the first step, first word, first date, first time behind the wheel. You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communication, and human sexuality no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there near God. You have the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Halloween Fun!

Halloween comes but once each year,
To fill our hearts with fright and fear!
Goblins and Ghosts will fly in the night,
The moon will glow it's eerie light.
Children dressed up in costumes for treats,
On Halloween night Ghouls they'll meet!
The scariest thing that could be is clear,
The mister's face in an old cracked mirror!
Not to worry, he will smile and greet,
For Halloween is the only night his heart does beat!

The week of Halloween has been very eventful at our house! We don't see a lot of Zack with his jobs and his church responsibilities so we included him whenever we could get him! We decorated Halloween cookies, carved a "bat" pumpkin, watched Katie in the school Halloween parade, and got a little trick-or-treating in there too.

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Pumpkin Carving

Here we are carving a "bat" pumpkin with Daddy trying hard to carve and make sure the little boys weren't touching the pumpkin at the same time!

No one except for me would even take out the pumpkin guts!

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Halloween Parade


Katelyn's school put on a Halloween parade for all the parents and kids to enjoy! It was more like a chaotic circle on the black top but at least we got to see her in all her Halloween glory!

Katelyn is dressed up as Hannah Montana

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Zack's Costume

Have you ever watched the movie Church Ball or been to a church basketball game? "It is the only brawl that begins with a prayer!"

Rules:
1. No foul language
2. Call your own fouls
3. Lights out and lock up

He got home from a church meeting on Thursday night at about 9:30pm, returned a couple phone calls and then we scrounged for a costume for school the next morning. Better late than never seems to be Zack's theory on getting dressed up for Halloween. Besides the jacket he's sporting, he is dressed up as a Church Basketball player. He's wearing grubby running shoes (he didn't want to ruin his "nice" basketball shoes), a knee guard, colorful reversible shorts (the other side is solid red so I let that slide), a University 11th ward t-shirt from our college days, and his warmers, the church socks he occasionally plays in were just a little over the top so we didn't include those. If I had a little more time, we would have found some crutches for him to limp around on and some really nerdy glasses. Most people thought he was a Ute fan with the red shorts!

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Trick-or-Treating

Here are the kids in their Halloween costumes:
Taylor is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, Joshua is a "pun'kin", William is Simba from the Lion King (but really he acted more like the cowardly lion from the Wizard of Oz), and Katelyn as Hannah Montana (her wig glows!!!)

Friday night we ate dinner and then took off for the evening around our neighborhood for trick-or-treating. Zack brought the stroller for the little boys, which they did not take to kindly to! Katelyn and Taylor were off as much as we would let them, they didn't want to wait for the slow pokes. William and Joshua seemed mesmerized by the whole thing. William is very shy and did not like going up to strangers expecting candy from them. Joshua would walk right into the neighbors' houses if was weren't careful. After they would receive candy from the neighbor they would just look at the person in a dazed look. It drove Zack nuts cause he'd have to drag them away at about every house. Both little boys DO NOT LIKE "SCARY" GUYS!!! One house we went to had four guys thoroughly dressed up in gory costumes both little boys just stood rooted in their spots on the street until the guys took off their masks. These boys are not fools!