Parlez Vous France Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve, the family gathered and a rousing game of Parlez Vous France ensued.

Adults and young children were quickly eliminated due to the slow mental reaction time and the slow hand eye coordination respectively.

After the large boots, and little flip-flops(who wears flip-flops on Christmas eve?) were removed, the teenagers and young adults heatedly passed the stinky shoes.

The final four were Mason Urmstom(18), Garrett Urmstron(14), Chad Coontz(13), and Mia Urmstrom(12). The final four round brought some controversy when Garrett accused Chad of a throw. "He was throwin' em all over the place!" Armstron said. Coontz remained and Urstom was out.

The final came down to M. Urmston(male) and M. Urmston(female). However through some unknown technicality, an elf official stepped in and did some strange southern ritual which resulted in M. Urmston(female) being declared the weiner. Congratulations Mia, or as they say in France, "le fromage est bon".

Graduations

We've celebrated several milestones and graduations this week. Garrett graduated from middle school. He received a couple awards and they are letting him go on to high school. Who would have thought that the impossible workload of a sixth grader--"there is just too much work to do in sixth grade!!!!"-- would become possible? Garrett learned to thrive through middle school and was very successful. Garrett, WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!!

Talmage has come to the end of his elementary school experience. He will be moving on to middle school. We're sure that Norris elementary will never be the same without an (peter) Urmston there. We've warned the teachers and coaches at Norris Middle that one more is on his way. Talmage, WE ARE PROUD OF  YOU!!!!

Porter, after years and years of school, has graduated from high school. (cue "good riddance" by green day. He has been a reluctant but super successful high school student. The end has finally come. It has been the time of his life. He is the future. He'll look back on these days as the best in his life. It's the first day of the rest of his life. To think just four short years ago he was a naive little freshman. As he enters the threshold of his life this is not the end but the beginning. So spread your wings and fly, the world is your oyster. Porter, WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!!!

A final note, Tanner will be graduating from driving school in August. Tanner, WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!!! (if you make it)

18th Birthday: A Family Tradition

We celebrated the birth of this boy(see picture above) on Tuesday. It was a quiet celebration at home. It was our traditional birthday celebration started almost two decades past.  A month before, the birthday boy says that he doesn't want a party with his friends-- he'd rather just stay home. A couple weeks before, he says he doesn't really care what gifts he gets for his birthday. A week before, his mom asks him what he would like for his birthday dinner. The menu: steak & shrimp(coconut with a pineapple sauce), baked potato, green salad, and rolls. Included is a cup of candy with assorted candies, at least one M& M brand. On the morning of the birthday one present is opened, the package always contains a new "outfit". That afternoon the front room is decorated with balloons and a Happy Birthday sign. We get the dinner ready and eat. At dinner everyone will say a memory they have, or something they like about the birthday boy. After dinner, gifts are opened, then come cake and ice cream after singing happy birthday (we've sung "and many more", and cha-cha-cha versions, but lately everybody sings the last happy birthday in a high operatic falsetto). We finish the evening off with a family prayer with sincere gratitude for the special member of our family. This tradition is so typical and simple, but we're glad we established it early-- its power to unite us as a family is indescribable.On this 18th birthday the power of family traditions have become much more evident to us. The early commitment and investment to this tradition, and others, has paid off and compounded in the form of blessings and family unity. Family Tradition--Just Do It.

These young teenage Americans spent an evening at a formal dance known in some circles as the "Mormal"

Snowman Ute @ BYU

One winter day on our vaction to Utah. We sledded a bit, and worked on this giant snowman. The snowman was about 7 feet tall, with blue eyes, red-dyed carrots for teeth, and twigs for hair. We also put a big red U on his belly. We built him on the BYU campus.

2010 Theme

Give and Give Again in 2010

The theme we've chosen is "Give and Give Again". For us, the theme has a dual meaning. First, in an attempt to be less selfish, "give" means to give to others; to look for ways we can help other people. Second, the "give again" part means that when we think we've given our all, we give more." So whether your goals are spiritual, physical, career, educational, or social, you give everything in your power to reach that goal,

then give a little more.

Give service, give support, give a smile, give time, give kindness, give love, give candy, give 100%, give it your all, give a little bit, give a little more, give friendship, give ideas, give a hug, give a kiss, give a gift, give way, give away, give a prayer, give a hand, give awards, forGIVE, don't GIVE up, give another chance, give your opinion, give a listening ear, give back, give energy, give courage, give strength, Give and Give Again in 2010.

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 28:20
"Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD."
Motto: Be strong and do it