NEC - No Empty Chairs: January 2019

Thursday, January 31, 2019

Lunch Date

I had the privilege of checking Grace and Brenna out for a lunch date today. They had been planning this for quite awhile.

They brought the infamous 'Ken doll' with them from Miss Simmons class. I'm sure he was missed while he was gone. So fun to spend time with these girls.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

You've got Snail Mail

Brenna got a letter in the mail today, or rather a letter to the Parents of Brenna Miller. She was excited to learn that she's been chosen as a So Jo Student of the Month for February.

Congrats B!

Minerette Moms

Emily loves to say that Minerette Moms are Extra - Extra kind Extra thoughtful, Extra everything

They love to decorate buses...

decorate doors...

decorate 6 x 16 foot dance mirrors...

throw parties...

serve food...

and they make a great crowd!!

Minerettes LOVE their Moms!!!

Monday, January 21, 2019

MLK Holiday

With Robert and Elan both working today, Aubs & the dogs came up to spend the day with the girls

We worked on our homemade cinnamon rolls skills
Most recipes were making these days come from 'Amber's Kitchen' Thanks Amber!

Dogs got some snow time in. Izzy LOVES the snow - Jett & Tate not so much

And of course this girl got a little extra sleep in

Sunday, January 20, 2019

SKIP

With Robert at the church late tonight, we took a Sunday night drive down 9800 South to see where Elan works. Welcome to SKIP (www.getskip.com)

Salt Lake City-based Skip Checkout implements a system in stores that allows customers to scan items with their mobile devices as they take them from the shelves. Store associates are notified when a Skip user arrives and can monitor their purchases in real time. Once a customer scans all of their purchases, they finalize payment in the app and leave, avoiding waiting in line.

Elan showing us his work station.

Elan's 'Work Station'

And 'Play Station' He was hired on as a Project Manager in early December and he loves the company and people he works with. We love that he works in South Jordan and it gives us a chance to see them more. SKIP - Go Check Them Out

Saturday, January 19, 2019

Saturday = Comp Day

Today's comp at American Fork High School

Our favorite Military Faces

Military Team

Minerette's SWEEP with 1st place in all categories!

Celebrating with her loyal pup Jett!

Friday, January 18, 2019

Given the Machines some Love

Service Day for our machines at the Shop

They got some much needed love, cleaning, and maintenance

New print heads

And lots of internal examinations and tech reports. These machines are so complicated and soooo stinkin' amazing. They are the heart of our business and each of them have over 8 billions hits on them, but with good maintenance and lots of tender loving care, they should been around for a few billion more.

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Many of my Favorite Things

Today was a special day of FAVORITES!

I got to spend the day with Amy

At a beautiful cabin up in the mountains on a snowy day

Overlooking the southern portion of Utah Lake

Listening to Hilary Weeks Sing

and share stories & experiences from her life

and be taught from the scriptures by Emily Belle Freeman.

Seriously - My Favorites

The theme for the workshop was 'Love Your Life' and we focused a lot on intentional living and action-inspiring planning - 2 concepts very close to my heart.

Robert can testify that these are MY FAVORITE THINGS. Amy and I spend a lot of time in the mountains together hiking and snow shoeing, so that's a favorite place for us. I feel like I raised my girls on Hilary Weeks CD's (between Hilary and Kenneth Cope - I think the girls can sing along to every single one of their songs) It has only been in the past few years that I have really gotten into reading and studying Emily Freeman's work. I feel like she is a Master Teacher, and brings tremendous insight and additional perspective to gospel topics and scripture story's and versus.

Amy and I left feeling inspired and rejuvenated, ready to return back to the rewarding, but sometimes difficult lives that we live and LOVE. We will forever be grateful to Robert for treating us to this special day!!!

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Minerette Dance Routine

Now that the season is over, I can go back and post videos of their competition dances.

This night they were performing their 'Dance' category routine at halftime of a basketball game. Emily is usually right in the middle -back. About halfway through the routine (1:13 in) she is lifted up in the middle to do a tilt.

Sleeping Pattern

We've noticed an usual pattern around our house lately in regards to one of our children.

This particular child can fall asleep Anywhere at Anytime......

Entry floor, just inside the front door

Office Floor

Kitchen table

Out in the snow, yes, she fell asleep out there

More floor time. Comp season is an exhausting time of year and this girl is very very tired!

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Earliest & Hardest Comp

This was our Earliest & Hardest competition so far this season. We were up at 4:00 am whipping together homemade Egg McMuffins for the girls and coaches to eat on the 5:30 am bus ride. We then jumped in the car to meet up with parents who got in line at 9:00 pm last night to Camp Out. Sorry we missed that party. We were able to camp out inside the building for the final hours until the gymnasium doors were open to the public. It was then a 'mad dash' to claim the most coveted sections. It was like a scene from a movie with parents running like crazy.

Bingham did not get the exact section we had hoped for - we were still in the front, but not in the center section. The girls dances look good, not perfect, but not bad by any means. This was the first time we had seen the 'Truck Lift' added to Transformers, which looked super cool and fit soooo well with the music.

Robert and I had to leave part way through to attend a friends wedding, but were able to get back in time for awards. The girls did not place well and were pretty disappointed with how they finished. They get very accustomed to wining, so it was hard to lose and especially hard to lose to their arch rivals.

We did find our girl still smiling with the thumbs up for a bit, but by the end, even her silver make-up was starting to smear from tears. It was a tough loss , but they've got 3 competitions left - so time to regroup, look at the what they need to focus on, and get right back to work.

A quick video of their Kick Entry today. We love our Transformers!

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Goodbye Stewart Fam

Tonight we said Goodbye to one of our favorite family's. Trenton, Rily, and Presly are moving to Boise to live with her Mom's boyfriend as they figure out the next steps in their lives. We will miss them tremendously, but are so grateful that our lives did cross paths and for the love and friendship they have shared with our family!

We will sorely miss not having Presly over

to play with or feed or read books to.

What a tender mercy it was to have Rily here when Kayla was called to the Cebu Mission, the same mission Rily served in just a few years ago. She has been one of Kayla's biggest supporters in helping her prepare, and then writing to her as she has served and has experienced so many new things upon her arrival to the Philippines. Not only did Rily send Kayla out with lots of love and confidence, she also gave Kay the small Cebuano hymn book that she had brought home with her, and a list of people to visit in each of the different areas she had served in. We will forever be grateful for our friendship with the Stewart's and hope they will find great joy and happiness in their new endeavors. We love you guys!