DANIELLE'S BIRTHDAY

Remember back in November when Danielle had a birthday? Here's a few pictures from that celebration.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KATIE

A new year means a new birthday for Katie. She starts off our year of birthdays. Many happy returns Katherine Sarah.

MEET THE WINDOW WASHER

Dennis sent me this item for the blog . 

(hint to all others that you also can do the same!)

Hi, mom —

Here’s a picture of Ken washing the dirty window between us and the new temple that is going up.

 December 31, 2013. A great way to end the year!

Dennis continues:

It will be called the Provo City Center Temple. We snap pictures of it on our phones every other day or so. Then we’re posting them on a blog. Here’s a bit from the “About” page.

On 17 Dec. 2010, a massive fire gutted the Provo 

Tabernacle. On 1 Oct. 2011, the Church of Jesus Christ of 

Latter-day Saints announced the building would be rebuilt 

as a temple. Ground was broken on 12 May 2012.

We’re Dennis and Ken. We moved into our office on the 

corner of Center Street and University Avenue in Provo at 

the beginning of August 2013. We think what is rising from 

the ashes across the street is pretty cool. So we take 

pictures of it from time to time and post them here.

The website we’re posting the pics at is:

http://templerise.wordpress.com

Love, Jr.

Dennis and Ken moved into their new  offices "vicariously" during the family reunion. When they returned to Utah, most of it had been done, (by their "peeps") but they put the finishing touches on the office space. Note the "balcony" that Ken was on. It's really just there for aesthetics.

A 24-HOUR VISIT FROM KEN

(IF YOU ARE READING THIS, YOU WILL SEE THAT I AM READY TO START BLOGGING AGAIN. IF YOU HAVE SOME NEWS OR PICTURES, PLEASE SEND THEM ALONG AND YOU TOO CAN BE FEATURED IN THIS BLOG.  Woo hoo!)

Now on the short but fully packed visit from Ken. He flew in early Friday morning (12/27) and worked all day in LA and then came to SJC for a short visit. Knowing he was going to be here, I made up a "sonny do" (not a honey do, but my son ny do --get it!) list.

He turned my mattress around, pulled out the dresser so I could retrieve some things that fell behind it, helped with with Dad's iPod and several other things, and then he took me out for dinner. When we go home, we played a game of Rummy and watched Jeopardy (like we always did when Dad was here.) We had to start a new score card with just the two of us this time. We'll keep track of those Rummy games (which happen only when Ken is down here for work) through 2015! 

We got up early on Saturday morning and he pruned the lemon tree and a bush, and helped me repot my sibidium orchids. They needed to be thinned out and replanted. (picture later)

My lemon tree and the bush on the right badly needed pruning. Too bad I didn't take a before picture. 

 We found this really weird lemon and Ken couldn't resist drawing a face on it.

After we finished our work, Ken took me to see the movie, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, but this was no ordinary theater. It was "Cinepolis," a swanky theater that has leather reclining seats, and waiters that take your order for food and bring it to you to enjoy whilst watching the movie! We ordered sushi, a cheese platter, sodas and for dessert, sweet popcorn! What a fun experience!

Yes, the seats recline and you can watch the movie in real comfort (just like at Ken's house!)

After the movie, Ken brought me home and then left to go to his cousin's dental office to have a little work done on his teeth and then return to Utah. Thanks, Ken.

2013 CHRISTMAS IN MAPLETON

Christmas in Mapleton included a Skype call to Hermana Agle (aka Aria) on Christmas Eve, and a phone call to Elder Agle (aka Davis) and a chance to visit for about an hour!

 Opening presents on Christmas morning.

 Looks like JP did alright!

 Mom & Dad's haul. Note the special tea pot set. Ken picked it out piece by piece and chose the herbal teas. It brews (no tea bags here) the tea, and keeps it hot.

 Cool Nathan.

 Sophie's take.

Steven especially enjoying his new leather coat.

SMALL UPDATE

I haven't been bugging anyone to send me things, so not much news here, but I'll post a couple of recent pictures.

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas.  

 January has a new church calling. It has to do with Temple fellowshipping and she will know more after the first of the year. Way to go January.

 Sophie won a trophy and here she is with her Dad.

 Way to go Sophie!

IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME IN MAPLETON, UTAH

What a fun place for Santa to visit.

The train was repainted by Mayra this past summer. Looking good.

 The piano room. Note the ukulele and the hats, and of course the nativity scenes.

 Ken told Sophie they are mistelow, but she wasn't buying it.

 Lot's of Santas.

 Wonderful village.

 Great idea to recycle those Christmas cards!

 They have two of them. (I'm going to try this.)

 Ready to greet you as you walk in.

 Beautiful job in lighting.

Children's Christmas art work through the years.

W O W !