Snow Day?

It's snowing pretty fiercely and the roads are getting icy. Will that mean a "snow day" tomorrow? It's something all kids (and teachers) in Utah dream of --

Happy Snow Day

by Judy Domeny Bowen (a teacher)

It is snowing white and heavy

And my heart is gay and light

And I know I will sleep soundly

For a snow day is in sight.

Snow is piled upon the bushes,

It is layered in the trees,

And Ted, the weather caster, said

It might drift to our knees.

Happy snow day! Pop the popcorn,

Gonna watch late night TV.

And I just might bake some cookies,

For tomorrow I will sleep.

Yes, tomorrow I'll grade papers,

You never know might clean the house

Happy snow day! Happy snow day!

Gonna sing and dance and shout!

Two A.M. the movie's over,

Guess I'd better go turn in.

It was so fun to watch a mystery

'Stead of grading late again.

Take a look outside the window,

Yeah, the snow's still coming down.

Not so heavy, not to worry,

Nicely covering the ground.

Happy snow day! Oh the leisure

And the simple peace of mind,

Knowing that tomorrow morning

I will face a day that's mine.

It's a gift so unexpected,

A vacation that's unplanned.

Happy snow day! Happy snow day!

There is joy throughout the land!

What! It's seven in the morning!

Where is that awaited call?

Spring out of my sleep-warm bed

And to the radio I crawl.

Turn it on and listen closely,

Oh the wait's so very cruel!

Then they list off every town around,

'Cept mine -- we're having school!

NOT a snow day! I'm in trouble!

I have 30 minutes now

Till my students fill the classroom!

I run panicked though the house.

There is no time for a shower,

Throw on wrinkled shirt and jeans,

Frantic race out to the Chevy,

Hair and face not even clean!

NOT a snow day! NOT a snow day!

What a way to start the morn!

Let us hope that come this evening
Blows a blizzard of a storm!

Happy Birthday Elliott!

It's my grandson's birthday! He is 1 year old. Elliott has dusty dark blond hair, big beautiful blue eyes, long fan-like eyelashes, and eight very sharp teeth! He is a very serious and very smart little guy, he is very cautious, he has a smile that can melt an iceberg, he loves to explore, he can crawl at lightening speed, when he starts giggling he can't stop, he has a thing for electronic objects and stuffed animals, he pushes all objects around as he crawls as if they are trucks and cars, he loves to eat and is very brave about trying new foods and flavors, he loves to be outside, he loves to pound on the piano, he loves to roll around on my bed and plant his face in the pillows, he loves to study my snow globes, he likes to dance in his own style, he lets me rock him to sleep, he loves to play in water in any sink in the house, he holds very still when I put baby lotion on his hands and feet, he loves the bathtub, he is ticklish just about everywhere, and the list goes on and on. I love him as much as I can, and he loves his grandma and that makes me happy!

Utah Basketball . . . . arrggggggggg!!!!!

The Utes just blew another game! The U of U vs. New Mexico game went into overtime tonight, and the Utes got their buts kicked in the end (literally). That's 3 games in a row in the loss column. The Utes seem to get nice leads and then they slip away. The laws of probability imply that "you will succeed proportionately to the number of times you fail". I am counting on this law and others (and the Utes' sweet skills) to turn their games around. I've been watching Utah basketball games, seriously, for 40 years. I attended the first game ever in the Special Events Center (now the Huntsman Center) as a 9th grade student. I feel the Utes have a good team in the works this year -- the shots are just not falling for them, but they will.

They will succeed, yes they will indeed!

Brrrrrr . . . . it's cold!

I think today and the next two or three days will be the coldest days of the 07-08 winter. It's about 7:35 p.m. and the temperature is a very ch . . . ch . . . chilliy 7 degrees.

Not much a-happenin', baby . . .

I need to keep up the blogging habit, but there is not much to report. Life is good. Willie is doing well in school. Elliott is growing and approaching his 1st birthday. The newlyweds are good; Annie and Ross are good; Karl is good; and, I am just my usual self. The grandparents (all 3) seem to be doing pretty well.

We keep busy with homework, scouts, b-ball (Jr. JAZZ and U of U), family, church callings, keeping up the house/wash/etc., and of course the stuff we spend our time on during the day (work/school).

We have our ups and downs and bumps in the road, but all in all life is good.

Year at a glance . . .

January -- Priesthood ordination for Willie (deacon), birth of Elliott (first grandson)
February -- Marriage of Melanie and Justin (niece and nephew)
March -- Marriage of Haley and James (daughter and son-in-law), birth of Conner (great-nephew), great JR JAZZ basketball season ends with tournament championship, Annie begins new job phase (part-time from home)
April -- Dad (Ed) celebrates 78th birthday, birth of Luke (nephew)
May -- Blessing of Elliott, misson service for Preston (nephew), Marriage of Gordon and Jessica (nephew and niece), retirement of dear friend Cindy (trip ot St. George), death of Uncle Glen
June -- School's out, blessing of nephew Luke, basketball camps for Willie (SLCC and U of U), Haley and James buy a home, ASCA conference in Denver (Dad and Willie tag along), drive through Rocky Mountain National Park
July -- Long, hot, month, blessing of great-nephew Conner (trip to Overton, NV), first ever scout camp for Willie (East Fork of the Bear)
August -- Marriage of Alex and Tara (nephew and niece), junior high for Willie, youth football begins, Dad (Ed) in the hospital with hypothyroidism,
September -- 31 years of marriage for Karl and Judy, family trip to Jellystone Park, death of Uncle Bevan, Judy released from RSP church service (after 4 years, 8 months, seven days), Judy called to serve in stake RS presidency
October -- death of LaVerne (one of Judy's "over eighties club" ladies), Ardith one year anniversary with no hospital/care center experience
November -- Youth football ends in the "toilet bowl" (literally), Utah basketball begins (new coach, new look), Karl recruits for new JR JAZZ season
December -- JR JAZZ basketball begins, death of Moria Crawford (Mom's (Jerry) family friend), Dad (Ed) cancer surgery on his nose, Judy to ACTE (Las Vegas), Merry Chirstmas

Happy New Year!

Alaphabet for Life
Accept differences
Be kind
Count your blessings
Dream
Express thanks
Forgive
Give freely
Harm no one
Imagine more
Jettison anger
Keep confidences
Love truly
Master something
Nurture hope
Open your mind
Pack lightly
Quell rumors
Reciprocate
Seek wisdom
Touch hearts
Understand
Value truth
Win graciously
Xeriscape
Yearn for peace
Zealously support a worthy cause
by Renee Stewart