12-31-10 New Year's Eve

Happy New Year!

Our stake celebrated the New Year by holding a bash at our YMCA - swimming, classes, climbing wall, volleyball, gymnastics, hot dogs, nachos, fruit. It was really nice to spend time with all the members of the Tacoma Stake. Sam hung out in the pool, Carly hung out with her friends doing everything, and Gabe paced himself on a treadmill in front of a TV. Daniel and I basically socialized with our friends. We really enjoyed being there.

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My New Year's Resolutions -- I say Resolution very loosely. Nothing is typed out and pasted to the refrigerator, or anything like that. But, I do think on the past year and resolve (maybe that's a better word) to do better in the coming year: Lose weight, become physically fit and be a more physically active mother, keep a clean house -- organized and purged!, show love more easily to my husband, pay off debts and spend money wisely, hold regular Family Home Evening, read scriptures as a family.

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Who knows? Maybe 2011 will the year for me to transform -- into MagnificentMom, WonderousWoman, and SuperSpouse. One can only dream.

Christmas Photos

So happy I didn't procrastinate taking the Christmas photos this year (well, I didn't wait until Christmas Eve Day, so that was an improvement over last year!).

Carly wanted to have a couple of Christmas Cards printed up just for her friends.

Here are her poses. She had to include her little sister and best friend, Rainbow!

Merry Christmas!

12-02-10 Sam's Band Concert

Sam plays drums in the NVI Band. We went to his holiday concert tonight. He really enjoyed having his family and Grandma Martinez there.

Harry Potter Fever!

After spending a lovely day at Aunt Linda & Uncle Jeff's house for Thanksgiving dinner, we headed of to the Pacific Science Center to see the latest Harry Potter Film in IMAX!
Gabe, Carly, Sam, Daniel

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - Part 1

Back To School - Ricks College/BYUI

It's been a few months since I decided to finish my degree at Ricks College (Now BYU-Idaho), and many years that I've been thinking about it! I went through the application process and finally received my e-mail of acceptance yesterday. I was all excited to get going, but I'm required to complete an online orientation, and the first one available isn't until January 2012. So, now I need to wait.

I look back at my college years with fondness. At the time, it was all about dating, not really about education. I was there to just pass the time until I found a husband! Sad, huh? Oh, what I could have accomplished if I would have had a plan! Here is a picture of me with my roommates my first year of college (1984!):

Karen, Jan, Me, Sandi, Michelle

Here are current pictures of BYUI. It's so much bigger and modern than when I was last there. I still have sleepy dreams about attending college-- not reality, just imagined college life where I don't know where I'm supposed to be, missing classes, getting lost, not remembering a locker combination. It's very stressful in my dreams!

Although I have anxiety about taking classes (specifically, Math!), I'm excited to get going! I don't want those two years of college to be wasted. They need to matter! I'm so close.

Trunk or Treat 2010

Boo! Halloween was on Sunday this year. We celebrated on Saturday by going to our church's annual Trunk-or-Treat. Hundreds of candies in less than an hour! The kids love it so much that even Sam and Gabe had to get in the action-- too old for Trick-or-Treating, but too young to be out at teenage parties.

I remember going from house to house until midnight with my pillow case full of goodies. Times have changed so much. It's just not safe to let your kids roam to houses of strangers. Thank goodness for all our friends and fellow ward members taking part in the Trunk-or-Treat!

BLAST FROM THE PAST: These are pictures of our little dressed up Treaters in 2003, the first year we moved to Washington. They attended Aunt Linda's Harry Potter Halloween Party and did the normal Trick or Treating rounds!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2010 Mother-Daughter Weekend

Day 1: Leave our families in SLC, BOI, SEA and depart for DEN (Note the airport abbreviations -- getting in travel mode)! Find Hyatt - Summerfield Suites and off to Benihanas!

Day 2: Downtown Denver Mint Tour, Shopping, Lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, Denver Art Museum, Dinner at Mezcal.

Day 3: LDS Temple Drive-by, Red Rock Amphitheatre, Red Lobster for dinner

Day 4: Shopping, airport, home. Sigh.

Ice-Blocking!

Traditionally, we go ice-blocking right before the start of a new school year. This year was no exception (although Gabe couldn't make it).

A few families from the ward gathered their blocks of ice at Vassault Park, brought a few refreshments (we are LDS after all!), and watched the kids slide! There were a few of brave adults, but alas, I was not one of them.

Happy Birthday, Sam!

Thirteen years old! Instead of having a "traditional" party, Sam decided to have an intimate (ha!) dinner with family and just one friend at Red Robin.

Love ya, Sam!

Ward Campout

Annual tradition! Ward campout at Zions Camp in Belfair WA. Not a lot of members this year, but still a lot of fun!


Gabe swimming.......... Sam hammocking .......... Carly (with Greg & Erica Webb) boating

Since it was Sam's birthday the last day of the campout, we had birthday cake for all on Friday night. Sam loved having the special occasion in his honor!



Gabe and Sam rockin' the dock video

2010 Scout High Adventure

Gabe had the awesome opportunity to go on the Boy Scout High Adventure this year. They went kayaking and camping along the South Puget Sound.

They were in their kayaks every day going from one camp to the next. Gabe would race ahead of the group, then just float and relax. The leaders thought he was asleep. He told me he was just relaxing. They kayaked over 50 miles!

One night they had white salmon for dinner. Gabe said it tasted like steak. He won't try fish, in general, and only likes tuna fish sandwiches or fish sticks. They also had Prime Rib. (Luckily they didn't have to haul their food in the kayaks from camp to camp!)

He had a great adventure!

Budding Volleyball Player

I loved playing volleyball (when I was younger and in better shape!), and was so excited to see my little one go to a volleyball camp this year! Carly rocks the court!

Lincoln City, OR

I'm so happy that my kids were able to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa Vogt in Oregon! (Thanks Mom and Dad for driving from Utah!)

Payton, Carly, Ari................................... Beach view from the D Sands Motel balcony

Jennie & Dad............................................. Jennie & Daniel

A few of the "Vogt" cousins..................... Grandma Vogt & the cousins