Go Cougars!

For the first time in 12 years, BYU beat the University of Utah in their rivalry football game. We Cougar fans were elated! My friend (Pablo), who is not LDS and cares little for sports, bought these two BYU masks for me. He is currently in a wheelchair due to some health issues and I've been helping him get in and out of work during the week.

Pocatello Temple Open House

On Thursday, Sam and Grandma took the children up to Pocatello, Idaho to attend the open house of the newly-completed Pocatello Temple. Sam commented that she has never attended a less-crowded temple open house. They had a beautiful experience.

Look at that handsome young man, chillin' with his hands in his pockets. Love it. Cute girls, too.

Unbeknownst to Sam and the others, my Dad and his sister (Aunt Audrie), who lives right down the street from the temple, also visited the open house on Thursday. Neither party knew the other was there on the same day. Because there were so few people at the open house that day, when Dad and Audrie finished their tour of the temple, they decided to go right back in for another tour. They, too, had a beautiful experience.

Douglas's first piano recital

Douglas participated in his first piano recital yesterday. He looked good and he played his two songs perfectly.

I took a picture of Douglas prior to going to the library where the recital took place.

Penny and Diana wanted their pictures taken by the piano as well.

I love Douglas's face in this photo. The people in the photo were the performers at the recital. Douglas's teacher is the dark-haired lady in the middle of the photo.

Regular smile this time.

Post-recital treats.

Utah State Fair

Grandma, Grandpa, and Kate took Douglas, Penny, and Diana to the Utah State Fair this week.

Daniel tiger, FHE on the mountain top, Diana's affirmations, Penny on the rings

Playing dress-up with Penny and Diana.

Penny and Diana using Sam's weights as cell phones.

Diana always comments on "the balls" on top of the mountain, so this week we did FHE (Family Home Evening) high on the mountain top at Francis Peak. We didn't realize how cold it would be when we arrived at the peak. We only had two small blankets for three cold children.

We made it to the balls! "The balls" are actually a radar and air traffic control station.

Douglas used the BYU flag in an attempt to stay warm.

Sam taught the children about affirmations. They try to say their affirmations whenever they brush their teeth.

The Convertible

I earn quite a few free rental car days through work. The free days expire at the end of each year. So, I decided to rent a convertible for one week to let the children have some fun. I ended up taking most of the neighborhood children for rides on the freeway and driving (while sitting on my lap) in the church parking lot.

Taking Penny and Diana out for a ride.

My favorite part of this one is when Penny says, "Dad, your hair is not blowing in the wind because you don't have hair." 😁

Taking Douglas out for a ride.

Classic Douglas. Always singing a song. I love that he's singing a church song. He belted out this same song at Penny's soccer game the other day. Funny boy.

I bought some traffic cones and took the kids for driving practice in the church parking lot.

Some of the other neighborhood children joined in the fun.

We also used the cones during a recent visit to the home of Granny and Grandpa Ogden.

Penny trying to lift the cone to her mouth.

Penny, Diana, Daniel, Grandpa

Yesterday I switched the convertible out for this Dodge Challenger, which is brand new and much more powerful. American muscle - gotta love it.

You might be thinking, "Why is Daniel wasting free rental car days when someone else (a family member, perhaps?) might need them?" I totally agree with you! Unfortunately, the rules state that I, Daniel, have to use the free days.