Mom Visits Chicago

It's great having Mom visit here at Scott and Ali's house. Of course the upstairs furnace would choose this week to stop working, and the weather would be unusually frigid, but she's wandering around the house lugging a space heater and wearing her rice baby. The highlight so far has been the morning she accidentally brushed her teeth with Noah's toenail fungus medication. Priceless.

You goat, girl!

Omi

We are pleased to announce the arrival at the Old Rock House Barnyard Annex of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. They were born to Comely and Rupert (?) on Friday, November 7, 2008, at 2:30 p.m.

The birth was announced, somewhat incoherently, by neighbor and fellow goat enthusiast Jared Thurston, who had observed the blessed event on his way through the alley after school.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Omi
Just taking a moment to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to the ones for whom I am most thankful. I thank Heavenly Father for you and pray for your happiness every day. Bless you all.

A plea for pictures

Omi
Since no one else has volunteered to do the family calendar this year, I am planning a very simple one (similar to Dad's last year) with just one picture at the top. I would like it to be a collage of all of the grandkids. Call it a "Cousins' Calendar." Could each of you please email me the latest good picture of your kids, either singly or in a group? The one Kimball posted below of Ellie will be fine for the purpose, for example. The latest school picture would do well, too. I will need a high resolution so I can get a good print. Please imagine that the head of each child will be printed at about three inches tall, and I need 150 dpi at that size. I am also making board-books of the pictures for Christmas presents for the youngest kids. Thanks so much. I love you all.

Overweening intellectualism foments familial dysfunction

Omi

This morning I read the following couple of paragraphs in Mormon Times, a supplement to the Deseret News:

A family oriented reality television show developed by Brigham Young University and broadcast by KBYU-TV and BYU TV -- what sounds like a contradiction is actually far from the combative, confrontational style of many so-called "reality shows" and the oft-portrayed dysfunctional family.

Instead, "Real Families, Real Answers" shows families dealing with issues such as strengthening marriages, dealing with family finances, managing emotions, and avoiding and overcoming pornography as well as interjecting scholarly commentary.

Is this a problem in your family, as it is in ours? Can you not resist the urge to interject scholarly commentary? As is well known from the works of Soren Kirkegaard, a tendency to overrate one's intellectual prowess can lead to hubris. I think we should all watch this program religiously to overcome our educational snobbery!

Isn't this the most beautiful girl ever?

Christmas Petition

I am petitioning that next year we choose one person/family to give to for Christmas. Although this has been a great run, and we all feel so kind to give things to each other, and it is nice to get lots of gifts on Christmas, I think it might be a good time to change. What do you think? We would have to figure something out for the calendars each year. Let's talk (or leave comments, etc....). I hope this isn't offensive. I am actually rather excited about what I am giving everybody this year. But, perhaps it is time.
From Beebs, the Utahn.