Extended Joos Family FHE

So Monday morning we work up, packed up and then went to Aunt Beverly's place to pick up Mom. While we were there, my assistance was needed so Beverly could shut down her computer. She had been trying to show Janet some geneology pages, but was unable to find the one she needed and lost the place where she was working. She had so many applications open that the bottom task bar was full with several bars and each of them had about 5-7 documents pulled up in each of them. I started closing them and she was so afraid that I was going to lose all the work she'd done on them. I closed them and saved them as I was doing so and assured her that I wouldn't lose anything that was pulled up. I just hope that nothing was lost before I got there, and that she can find it when she goes to work on them again.


But then we were off. Back on the road and up to Idaho we went. We had an enjoyable drive and it seemed so fast. We finished reading that we had started on our way down, and we even put Janet to sleep. I wonder how late Aunt Beverly kept her up! Or I'm just a boring reader. The later could really be the cause. But before I knew it we were in Blackfoot and dropped Janet off and picked up the scooters that we bought in Boise and off to Idaho Falls we went.

We got to IF and got settled into the basement of my parent's and had finished assembling the scooters, just in time to pack up to go to Derek's, my brother, place for our Extended Family Family Home Evening. It was a great evening too. It was good to be there. My mom gave the lesson and it was on our own personal ministries. It really got me thinking about what it is that God would like me to accomplish while I'm here on earth.

After some wonderful donuts for dessert, we got to hear some great karoke from Derek's clan!! Boy do those girls love to sing!! Oh and don't forget how Kallen is starting to get on things.

So again, I have some video clips that are loading well. So stay tuned.

Sunday December 16th

After a wonderful night sleep at Chuck and Cheryl's, we got to sleep in (Well maybe mostly me, Chad' took Janet to her sister's Aunt Beverly's since we didn't wuite make it there the night before to drop her off.) Then we went to Sacrament meeting with Drew and Ali (Chuck and Cheryl's son and daughter-in-law). Drew's Sacrament meeting was at 11am and that allowed for Chad and I to visit my brother Brek again that afternoon. So since Derik, Kim, and Megan went to Provo for a homecoming talk by one of Derik's companion's from his mission. So Shayla and Shandarae came with us to Drew's house and we got to see their new house and all the work they've completed on it. We also go to meet DUKE. Their Burnese Mountain dog. It was fun. This is the type of dog that I decided I wouldn't mind having (as an outside dog of course). The picture on the right is an example of a Burnese Mountain dog. CUTE huh!!

So we made arrangement to adopt a puppy when the time is right. So after Sacrament we went back and the girls changed and spent the afternoon with Drew and Ali and off we went to visit Brek.

We were able to go see his new apartment, since we haven't been down to see him since he moved to downtown SLC. We had an enjoyable visit and got to see all the little perks about his apartment that he's been enjoying.

That early evening the entire Larsen family (except for Jordan, since he's still on his mission) gathered at Chuck and Cheryl's and we enjoyed quite the feast. It was wonderful to see everyone again. We ate till we were stuffed and then played games. We played some intense games of Speed Uno that some twist that were fun to try and get used too. It sure took me while. Rachel had to leave early so she couldn't show Drew up, but watching the two trash talk was great entertainment. Rachel even called after her little get together just to see if she had to come defned her title!!

Then Stacie and Kenny came over after his family's get together and we played Wizard. It's a trumph game with 4 wizard that are the unltimate trumph and 4 jesters that are zero and I actually really enjoyed. My dad would be so happy!! We played a round of that and decided to go over to Stacie and Kennny's place to see their newly decorated nursery for their expecting little girl. It was very cute and we spent the rest of the night just chatting away. We really had so much and fun and didn't want to go back, but we were so tired and needed to get to bed. So we just need to be closer to them in the future so we can have more great evenings like that!

Decmeber 15th-Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert

So from New Plymouth we made our way to meet more Christensen family for the Mormon Tabernacle concert!! We made our way past Burley (we didn't even have time to stop for a visit!! How sad!!) and then headed south to Salt Lake City, UT!!! We were meeting Mom Christensen, Derik & Megan Christensen, Shandarae Williams(nieces and nephew), and Kim Jensen( Derik's date) for the concert. I had made arrangement with my brother, Brek, to meet for dinner and we came up with game plan of what would be some good restaurants to go to, but they all had long waiting time. So our big plans to stop for dinner before we went to the concert were crushed and then we left our plans into Brek's hands cause we couldn't even get reservations for one reason or another at any of the places we'd picked. So our concert was 6:30 pm and lasted about 2 hours. We were so hungry and new it'd be worse by the time we got out.

But we went to the concert and loved every minute of it. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Temple Square Orchestra and Bell Choir performed with the King Singer's from England. I can hardly wait until it comes out on PBS to be seen again. It was wonderful and we even had dancers to watch during a few of the numbers. I only had my cell phone so the picture of the set isn't that wonderful, but it was spectacular and we decided it would be worth putting in for tickets every year!!

But I do suggest that if you go, don't have it on the night that a Jazz game or another ballet!! We took about 50 minutes to drive 3 blocks to Buca di Beppo's the restaurant that Brek was kindly enough get us all reservations for. We didn't walk cause it was really cold out side and I already had blisters on my feet from the walking we already had done, but I'm sure we would have made it there faster had we gone that route. It was painfully slow, especially to start with because we sat with in the 5 car lengths from were we started for over 30 minutes of the travel time. And who could forget when Derik got caught in the intersection on a red light and almost ran over some pedestrians trying to get out of the way!! Here's Buca's during the day light, just down the street from Brek's apartment!!

We were all starving by the time we to got the restaurant, but we enjoyed the food(the lemon chicken with artichokes was my favorite), but it was even better to spend some time with Brek! We don't seem to see him as often as the rest of the family since he lives right there in SLC and not closer to home.

Brek also gave a great Christmas gift of 2 buddy passes to fly on Delta sometime in the next year!! Thanks Brek!! We're so excited to actually be going somewhere for a real vacation!! That means I really need to get my new passport with my new married name!! Anyone been a great vacation that you would strongly suggest?

So I think we left the restaurant about 11:30 pm and still had our drive to South Jordan to stay with the Larsen's (Chad's cousins). They were gracious enough to put us all up for the night and we didn't get settled until about 1:30 in the morning!! What great sports!

Christmas Vacation Begins Dec 14th!!!

So after a stretch of nights (Dec. 12-13th) and Chad's crazy week of finals (One test each of the 5 days of finals week), we finally headed out for our Christmas break. We packed up the morning of December 14th after Chad's last final and headed to New Plymouth to stay the night with Kreal, Stacie and the kids. It was nice to be able to show up at early evening and not late at night like it is usually when we go to visit. We had such a great time babysitting Collin, Alyssa, and Landon, while their parents got out and had some time for themselves and did some Christmas shopping without them. We had some wonderful games of Hide 'n' Seek (in the house this time), where Landon would always go and hide under his bed. Not predictable at all!! But the following to movies show some of these games.

I will eventually get all the movies uploaded. so stay tuned!!!

After a few more games with the kids like you'll find in the videos below we resorted to coloring. Anything to get them to start calming down.



After a little too much playing, Collin became not too very happy about a little coloring book and crayon episode with Alyssa. He fell asleep in the rocking chair as he listened to story time as I read to Alyssa and Landon. Chad then took over the entertaining as I cleaned up kitchen from dinner, when all of sudden there was a big thump!!! Collin had fallen out of the rocking chair!!! Hilarious. He went to bed well after that, but all Chad could say was that he wishes he would have seen it happen (His back was to Collin at the time). You better believe that Alyssa didn't leave that part out (Chad's wishing he had seen it) the next morning when she was telling their parents about their night. It was just great to be there and sad that we already had to leave the next day, but on to next planned activity!!

Christmas Card Party- December 7

So after a few more night shifts this week, a few of us girls from work had planned a little get together so we could: first- socialize, and second-make our Christmas cards. Notice how the first was to socialize and not to make cards. but we need that excuse.

Now there was weeks into this planning process. First trying to find a day that the majority of the people who planned on making cards was a feat in itself, but well worth the day. Anita Parrott and I even ordered some cute Christmas stamps and other items from Stamp' Up. We were pretty please when we got our stamps, but really had to put them to work

So Anita, Anna Henderson, and Tina Tenney all met over at our house on Friday around 10:30 am. We had cookies and other munchies out and then set off to work to get our Christmas card completed.

Tina already had her cards made and showed us here cute christmas trees made from ribbon that zig-zagged up the card to form the trees. Very nice!! So she just started working on other types of cards. Tina the over acheiver!! GEEZ! Make us look bad. Okay maybe only make me look bad, cause Anna brought out some cute little snowflake stamps and her papers and got to it. She just went to work and eventually came up with a great idea. Anita had already made her prototype card a week before, but had already decided that she needed to emboss most of the things stamped on the card due to her shiny finish on her cards. So away Anita went too.

So there was I sitting there without an idea and I sat there really until we went to Papa Murphy to pick up the pizza. Really and how convient that Paper Pals is right next. door. So I finally got my black craft pad that I could emboss with too.

So we went back cooked the pizza, enjoyed every bit of it!!! And then I decided I might as well help Anita and Anna with their embossing, since all my ides were striking out! We had such a blast and I really wasn't ready to see an of them leave.

Eventually after everyone else left, and it was only me. I finally came up with an idea and went to work. I worked on it that night and the next to complete them all. But I really liked this design and was very happy with them. I still think that I'll have to come up with more to get all the family and friends covered. I guess I need another card party!!

Hot Cocoa Fest 07

For the second year in a row, Mike and Jenn Barnes gather a big group of us for the new yearly tradition of hot cocoa and apple cider with goodies. Here they are after making all the cookies!

Here we are with Amy and Madilyn Harper (with Kelly and Drew Hanks and Holly Merckley in the background) posing for the camera!!

Here is Rachel Hanks and Madi playing in the middle of the circle.

We had a great time just chatting with everyone around for the first while, but we did have a large game of Catch Phrase. Again it was Men vs. Women. It just happens to be the easiest way to get even teams. But who will forget the awesome charade act that Traci Woodard gave as she's gave her clues!! I especially like the garter belt action. She too cute!! It makes it so much more enjoyable. Or even Chad Hunts clues, I don't even now how to explain, but they are very concise and well thought out. So not like my rambling when it's my turn.


Tracie and Ben Woodard, Jerica and Carter Platt, Camille Rupp and Lillian Harper.(Above)
(Below) Brian Rupp, Ryan Merkley, and Chad Platt hanging out in the kitchen near all the apple cider and hot chocolate!!

Crystal Adams made this adorable candy train. It was so cute that no one ate it. But Jenn was excited when she became the adopted owner of it, cause everyone knows she's got a sweet tooth!! We love you Jenn!

So here are Zach and Crystal Adams with Lilly Harper enjoying

After such a wonderful time with games and chatting some went to go sledding on the hill next to the Barnes, but Chad and I were so tired we called it a night along with a few others!! But what an enjoyable evening!!! Way to go Barnes.

Visiting Teaching-Thursday, Nov. 29th

So this is the first month that Kim Mower and I get to be in a new visiting teaching group with the newest member of our ward, Grace Huo. (I think that is how she spells her last name) Grace was just baptized at the end of October and I haven't had much time to really get to know her between working and our trips out of town. But I was able to go pick her up from her work at the Civil engineering lab (Sloan Hall) and brought her to our house and met Kim here. On the way home I got to know Grace a little more. Grace is from China and has lived here for about 3 months in the United States. (Her english is great for only 3 months, I'm so jealous that I can't speak another language that well) Her and her boyfriend came over together from China and then she started taking the discussion and attending the single's branch. The missionaries were ready to ask her to be baptized, but were a little apprehensive since she was living with her boyfriend, when she told them she was married the week before. What an amazing girl! So her and her husband, who is also getting his master's in civil engineering too, live in the Steptoe Apartments. Her husband spends long hours at work in the lab too, and a guess isn't too interested at this time in gospel. I'm sure that Grace is being a great example though.

So right about the time that I turn into our driveway a cop has his lights on and pulls in behind me. I was really embarrassed thinking that I'd done something wrong as I was talking to Grace, but turned out that I had a headlight out. It just happened to be Doug Andersen, the neighbor just on the next street up that lived at Wil-Ru apartments the same time that we had. Very nice guy that gave me a warning. It still was very embarrassing.

But turns out that Kim had a nice story too. She had her daughter Lucy with her and had pulled into the driveway made her way up to the front door, rang the door bell and was on her way back to the car to get the cake for our treats, when she hears this lady addressing Lucy. She thought it was our house, but had made it up 2 houses to the other tan house with the same floor plan. So she met our neighbor Stephanie and is wondering what Stephanie thought as she opened the door to find a little girl deposited on her door step!! I'm jsut glad I wasn't the only one that had a story!!

Night shift starts- Nov. 27-28, 2007

So this is the first week that I started to work night shifts again. My boss, Laure' Larsen, asked me and my fellow coworker Tina Tenny about helping filling in on nights for Bud Fisher that ended up taking a job in ER. I decided that I might be able to help out for a little while since I was given my holiday request off for 2 weeks in December and 1 week in January. I'm very spoiled. I realize that it's amazing that I got to have this same amazing schedule last year. This make it so I can go home with Chad and be there the entire time that he has off school too.

So I am schedule for 2 nights and week and then 1 project day of 12 hours that I can do throughout the week as it fits in my schedule!! I have really enjoyed the night shifts. I love the pace that is usually there and to get to know the people that work on nights better.

I really miss seeing Chad in the evening for the few hours that we usually have together and I'm just grateful for the day shift position that was opened for me when I moved here, that makes me not have to do this too long. I do find it hard to motivate myself to go in other than these nights to do my project time. I found that the few days after my shifts, I get that horrible stomach ache quite frequently that I get when I'm sleep deprived. I'll be glad to get rid of that when I'm finished with the nights. But the kicker is to get in and complete my project time too!! Maybe next week will be better as far as that goes.

Post Thanksgiving weekend-Sat Nov. 24th

So I was relieved not to have to go to work on that Saturday. I was in need of a major rest. So I slept in a little, but having worked early the previous 3 days, it was a little difficult. Since we had snow on the roof and it was no longer safe to put up the rest of our Christmas lights, we decided to change all the Thanksgiving decorations over to Christmas stuff.

We went through the boxes of stuff and we didn't really feel like we had much to put up. It was quite disappointing. We were both sad because we really want a Christmas tree, but figured that having a Christmas tree up for maybe 2.5 weeks wasn't worth the effort (and the money). We couldn't even find a fake tree that looked decent without having to spend an arm and a leg. But we did find a great sale on some cute pine garlands that are flocked just enough to look like they had been snowed on to put above our cabinets in the kitchen and added some lights for the final touch. It made the house look so much better and complimented the light boxes I had made at our last Super Saturday.

This only took us the morning to do and so we started to work on projects. (So I decided that if I was going to get into this craft thing to make a little extra money, I needed to finish some of these things that I've been meaning to do forever.) Chad was sick of studying, cause he got plenty of that while I was work during the week, so we got into some of the projects that I've had in boxes for years. So out came the FAMILY block letters that needed painting, and Chad went to work!! (See the picture on the right.) And I worked on my Easter Welcome Post Topper that I've had forever too. We got both of the things painted and then over the next few weeks I got them sanded and put totally together. I was pretty pleased with how both turned out. (This picture doesn't have the carrots that I painted to hand on the nail, but oh well) What a productive day! I love those.
Here are a few other pictures of the family with our cute pine garlands and lights behind them!!

Sunday brought about another busy day, since it starts at 9am for Chad's meetings and then me practicing the organ before the meeting starts. It was an enjoyable day and the Thanksgiving talks were great. Crystal and Zach Adams and Brian and Camille Rupp all spake. They did a great job. Then in Relief Society, Kelly Hanks gave a great lesson using the Conference talk by Jeffrey R. Holland, With the Tongues of Angels http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=493785aa6bf22110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1. It was absolutely wonderful. She let us listen to most of it and just had open discussion the rest of the time. Made me really evaluate and realize I need to do better! Overall, a very great Sunday!!

Thanksgiving 2007

So back to Pullman we came, so that I could go to work. I had 3 very busy days at work. It wasn't quite what I had expected, cause last year it was pretty mellow! Darn it people should not get sick on Thanksgiving.

So Thanksgiving was not your typical day for us. Chad was at home and planned to come and eat lunch with me, cause we get a complimentary guest turkey dinner at the Red Sage Cafe. I was so busy at work that I got around to eating around 2:30pm. Not only was it late, but they stopped serving the turkey dinner at 2pm. Thanks to the kitchen and Deborah Watkins, the clinical coordinator, two meals for Chad and I were brought down to the ICU and waited until I had time to eat. Something I'm really thankful for this season is a patient husband!!! He was getting pretty hungry by that time. Poor starved guy. It wasn't quite as great as the homemade eatings that we are both used to and for sure we missed being with our families at this time of year where we are so blatantly aware of how much of a blessing our wonderful families are to us!!

The whipping cream that topped the pie today was that we had friends from our ward that came over that evening and brought pie and leftovers from the dinner they had earlier in the day. We had an intense game of Pictionary, Women vs. Men. It was a fight to the finish, but the men succeeded to win the game. By the time that was completed, everyone was pretty tired, including to me. I collapsed into bed, just in time to get up and work again in the morning.