Happy Birthday Elder Fowlks

Can't believe that Daniel is turning 21. But I knew when that day came that it wouldn't be to much longer and he would be home. It has gone by so fast. Not sure HE is ready to come home. I was getting his b-day package ready to send to him and was reminiscing the day he was born and the days months and years to follow and the many trips to the Dr. office because of chronic ear infections. That at the age of 10 months he needed tubes in his ears, he was so little it was hard to let them stroll him away on that bed. Then at the age of 19 months his little trip through the HOT coals on the shores of Lake Powell (not a fun experience at all). Then at the age of 8 his trip off the the house onto his head and the three day stay in the hospital we were very worried for him at that time. With this came many priesthood blessings in his first 8 years of life, I know that his feet are OK now and the blessing when he feel from the house he did not have lasting effects (his sisters may say different). He entered this world and made sure he was noticed and he is still doing a great job with that. The people in the Atlanta GA North mission love him. We have had many people email, write and call to tell us how much he is loved there.

Here are a few pictures

This is a picture of the Birthday Cake that I sent him.

This last picture is a way we could actually wish him a Happy Birthday right on his B-day. I had the girls email these pictures from there homes and then I put this together and emailed it to the Ward Mission Leader (Bro. Jones) in Daniels ward. Bro Jones will print it off and give it to Daniel at church. Bro. Jones is the one who sent that great letter to us on Thanksgiving. I love having contacts with people in his area. It has been fun to be able to help him (Daniel) a little to celebrate his birthdays.

Christmas just the three of us!!!!

Here is our Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning pictures it was just the three of us this year, but it was nice we had a great time. Of coarse there was not the pitter patter of little feet or the screaming of excitement of little voices. But it was quiet and relaxing. We received a call from Daniel to confirm the time he would call on Christmas Day and we talked about 45 mins. then. After the presents on Christmas eve we played a game of Monopoly and Sharise whipped us.
Christmas morning was the same "quiet" we slept till about 8:00 opened presents, had breakfast. We got ready and went to a movie (Marley and Me) great show, the modern day Old Yeller. I got a call on my cell phone from GA. just when the movie was just about over, told Daniel we would call at this # when we got home in about 30 mins. That way it was on our dime not theirs so we talked with him for about 1 1/2 hours it was great hearing from him. He is doing well, we will see him in 123 days or this tues it will be 4 months.

Here is alittle video of our first white Christmas since living in Southern Utah.

Open Open Open

Monday night we got together and let Logan and Raylie open their present from us so that we could see them. We had dinner and then opened presents. It was fun seeing them and their excitement. We are going to have to use the Web cam maybe to watch Carly and Sam (hint hint)
We love all you guys and are going to miss them on Christmas, but I guess we have to share them with their in-laws. :)

Conference Center

Saturday we drove to SLC to take my mom to Body World for her Christmas present. Then the three of us drove to the Conference Center to listen to Desirae play the Grand Piano there in the Lobby. It is very peaceful there and we enjoyed listening to her play Christmas music.

When she was fisnished Mark came with the kids and we bought us some hot chocolate and then we waited for the lights to come on, on the Temple grounds. It was beautiful as usual. Then we went to Jasons Deli for dinner and took mom home. I know it was a long afternoon into the night but she was a trooper and we enjoyed being with her. After dropping her off we went to back to Desirae's house and let the kids open their Christmas presents from us. Sunday after church we made a gingerbread house, it was fun being there with everyone right before Christmas. We had dinner at Grandma Fowlks, Roger and Misty are moving to TX. It was nice to have mostly everyone there for their farewell. Good Luck Roger and Misty with your new adventure.

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!

Monday was a very blustery day in Leeds and in St. George. I picked Logan up from pre-school, I had a hard time getting him in the van he wanted to play in the snow. I told him lets go home and you can play in the snow there. Well can I tell you when we got just past Harrisburg the snow was not sticking to the ground. So when we got to his house all there was on their lawn was the leafs that finally fell from the trees. So in the afternoon when it was snowing to much for Josh to work he went and pick up Logan and brought him out to grandmas to build a snowman. In Leeds it snowed all day long and most of the night. So we woke up Tuesday morning to a winter wonderland. Can I tell you how much fun Ron was having checking out which car would be the safest for Sharise to drive to school, then in his bobcat he was clearing parking lots and the roads and our driveway. I guess when you can't work you have to do something. You can see the top of our car that is the snow that feel we measured 71/2" Tues morning. It was a crazy snowstorm. Now I am ready for the Southern UT sun to come our and melt it all!!!!

I just had to post my Christmas tree and compare it to last years tree. You can go back a year and read about the situation with our tree last year. So this year I was going to have a better tree. We went to Lowes and pick it out of many that was pre-cut. Oh so much better than trudging through the snow. It was still 60* outside when we picked out our tree and it was wonderful. I am a Sun person not a snow person. Don't get me wrong, it was alright for the first and last time to go into the wilderness and pick out a tree. But as you will read from last year Ron forgot to wait for Sharise and I and he found a tree and chopped it down because HE was done with it. I am much happier with this years tree. Last year I had to keep repeating to myself "It is only a tree" Repeated frequently through out the month:)

Making Gingerbread Houses

So this was our annuel Gingerbread making night. We had a great time making the houses. Brittany will be posting picture of her kids and their house soon. This last picture is our house, Sharise did the major part of it I added the fence, Ron came and checked on us every now and again to see how things were going. Check out the faces in the middle picture they are great!!!!