Lots of Ice

   I haven't seen ice like this since our ice storm back in 2006 when Daryl and I were dating.  We actually have icicles which we never really get here.  There was no new snow, but everything froze over.  When we got up this morning and looked out our window we could easily tell that parts of Algona Pacific were without power since all the houses were dark and the stoplight wasn't working. Fortunately we have power.

Fun in the Snow

  Today was pretty much the first time ever that Avery has played in the snow.  Daryl got elected to go take her out while I stayed in with Harper since she has a little baby cold.  We bundled Avery up in two shirts and two pants, stuck her in rain boots, gloves, hat, and my scarf on her and called it good.  She appeared to really like the snow. 

Avery really liked putting snowballs into our recycle container that we  forgot to bring in last night.

Daryl and Avery made a little snowman.

You can get a good idea about how much snow we got by looking at the electrical boxes behind the snowman.

This is not Normal

  Let's get this straight.  I hate snow.  That's one reason I love living here.  Our distinct lack of snow, but if I really miss it, it's up in the mountains where it belongs.  When the snow decides to come down to us that doesn't make Daryl or me happy.  It's supposed to keep snowing all day.  Lucky us.

Children's Museum in Factoria

    Saturday we met Aimee, Karl, and Tyler at a children's museum in Factoria.  The kids of course had a blast.  Avery especially loved playing in the water they had there.  Harper grabbed onto my finger and one of Aimee's finger and walked around a lot more than she ever had before.  

Despite the little smock Avery has on, she still managed to get soaking wet and need her spare outfit.

Harper and Daryl looking very  dashing.

Aimee helping out Tyler at one of the stations.

Consumer Electronics Show

  Daryl and I got home Friday from Las Vegas.  We were attending the Consumer Electronics Show, and we had a pretty good time seeing giant televisions and robot vacuums.  The number of exhibits were overwhelming.  They were spread throughout the actual Las Vegas Convention Center, The Venetian, and the old Hilton.  We came home with a lot of pens, cords, pamphlets, magazines, and reusable shopping bags.  

  We stayed at the Excalibur which is probably the cheapest nice place to stay on the strip, and since we were there we saw the Tournament of Kings.  Unfortunately they didn't allow pictures so you will have to imagine the show all on your own.  We ate Cornish Game Hen and other things all with our bare hands.  The actual show was cheesy, but now we can check that off our bucket list.  

  One day when I was by myself at the Forum Shops I went past a collectibles store and saw Pete Rose there signing autographs and other memorabilia.  I went in and met him, so now my claim to fame can be meeting Pete Rose, and that I saw a genuine pair of Spock's ears from the movie Star Trek  IV: the Voyage Home.

    Also we got to see my brother Phil, his wife Heather, and their two adorable boys Maddux and Aidan.  They live in St. George not too far away, so it was nice to see them.  On the other hand I realized too late that while we were at CES one of my mission companions, Sister Bowen, was at CES with her husband at the same time.  She lives in Alberta, Canada, so this was a perfect opportunity to see her that we missed.  We both resolved to brag more about what we were doing on Facebook, so we will realize we are at the same place at the same time in the future.  I might have to check all my travel plans with her too from now on.

Maddux and Aidan 

Me and Pete Rose!

All the bags we got at CES

Avery's Primary Art Work

  As I mentioned last week, Avery almost always comes running up to me in the Relief Society room after Church is done to excitedly show me her latest coloring page.  She loves to color a lot.  This week was no exception, but it was even  better than usual with the addition of big googly eyes and beautiful yarn hair.  I thought I would take a picture of it before ruthlessly chucking it into the recycle bin. 

I'm a Sunbeam

   When Relief Society was done last Sunday Avery came running in really eager to show me the page she colored like always, except she was wearing an awesome little sign that said, "I'm a Sunbeam."  She was really proud of it, and we heard that she did great on her first day of primary.  Although she was really excited about her little sign, she didn't want me to take a picture after church.  This is the best shot we got.