M.I.A.

I guess I have been missing in action for a few months, so this entry is going to be a small novel that is if my brain can remember back to December!! The last entry ended with our escapades at Thanksgiving.

As soon as Jonathan was finished up with classes, we boarded a plane and flew out to Utah and Idaho for the Christmas Holidays. We started our vacation out with Jonathan getting a root canal after his tooth ache had gotten so bad he couldn't stand the pain anymore. Then that weekend we headed up to West Yellow Stone. We took a tour in one of those big "CAT" like tractors, but instead of a cab it had a van attached to the treads. The boys had a great time, because they were able to move around inside the van and look out all of the different windows. We saw so many buffalo, moose and eagles, it really was amazing and I got some great pictures. The landscape was very peaceful and beautiful. The van could only go about 35 miles an hour so it took us all day to make the trip, but it was worth it. I think that the boys favorite part was watching Ol' Faithful blow. It was a bit cold waiting, but once she started to erupt all of the cold thoughts left and all there was, was excitement. It was a good day.

Christmas Eve was a fun and relaxing day as was Christmas Day. We kept it low key and let all of the cousins run around and play. I was in charge of Kim and Sue's gift this year so I spent most of my days leading up to Christmas finishing it off. I have to say that they ended up looking really nice. Isaac and Owen had a "Spiderman" theme Christmas this year, they have both really gotten into super hero's and saving the world from "ALL" danger. We also had a large family dinner with us, the Gilbert's, the Eyering's and a few other people. It was quite delicious and fun to catch up with friends.


The day after Christmas we were able to take a tour through the Rexburg Temple. It reminded me a lot of the Boston Temple. All of the rooms were so beautiful and well built. It was a real treat to be able to have our own personal tour.

Later that week we had a baby shower for my sister Rebekah down in Utah. We had a good time, we all helped out with the spread, which was very yummy. Bekah looked really cute, much better than I ever looked pregnant. She got some cute clothes and baby things, so all in all I would say it was a success. It was also fun to hang out with some of my sisters. That night we made our way up to Salt Lake City to meet up with Jonathan, Isaac and the others for the Celtic vs. Jazz game. We had so much fun, it was such a good game. Winning, I am sure made it that much more fun, but the best part was flying home in Ian Cummings private jet. This jet was so "POSH"!! Isaac turned and said: "little boys like me don't get to do this do they daddy!?" It was so cute and insightful that Isaac understood what an awesome experience that he was having. The pilot even let him sit up in the cock-pit in the jump seat. I am sure it is an experience that he will never forget.

We also go to go skiing up at Grand Targhe. Isaac took ski lessons, I took snowboard lessons and Jonathan just got to go wild on the slopes. Poor Owen was too sick to go with us so he got to stay home with Nana and Papa and play with them. Isaac took to skiing like a duck to water, he had such a great time and he really liked his teacher. He was flying down the bunny hill by the afternoon. As for me, I have to say that for only skiing twice before in my life, I did pretty good on the snow board. It took me a bit to get used to having a board stuck to my feet, but after a couple of hours I was staying up and I made it down the mountain about 5 times before my body said "OK, I have had enough"! I did had a few face plants when the lip of the board got to close to the snow, but all in all I had a good time and now I know the fundamentals of snow boarding.

New Year's Eve was pretty laied back and relaxing and then the next day we drove down to Utah for Will and Jessica's wedding celebrations. We staying in Nephi with Eve and Scott in there new house. We had a good time. Isaac and Owen loved playing with Jessica and Joey. It was fun to hang out like we did when they lived in Philie. Scott was also generous enough to fit us into his busy work schedule, which ended up being a bit embarrassing. You think that you brush and floss well enough and then you come out with Isaac having 6 cavities and Jonathan having 4 cavities. What am I going to do with them?? The good news was that Owen and I were cavity free.

Will and Jessica's wedding was very beautiful. It was nice to meet Jessica even though it was for only a few minutes. The sealing was really nice and full of good advice. I hope that the sealer sends them a letter with everything he said in it. Everyone on the Tanner side is officially married, how crazy is that. We wish them all the best luck as they settle into married life and all of the twists and turns that it takes you on. It was also good to be in St. George were it was warm. We stayed in the condo and was able to visit with family for a couple of days before we headed back home to school and real life. I am sad that we didn't have more time to visit, but the boys were so ready to be back home. With the time change they were going to bed at 10 or 11pm and they usually go to bed at 7:30pm, so they were fried.

January was pretty cold and slow, it basically consisted of us getting insulation blown into the walls of our 1893 home and put in a new heating system as well as an AC unit. We had forgotten what is was like to have warmth.

The first weekend of February took Jonathan and I to Camden, ME where we celebrated Valentine's Day and our 11th Wedding Anniversary (early). We went with a couple of friends from our church congregation. It was filled with great food, relaxation and a lot of laughter. When we arrived home, I became a single mom as Jonathan threw himself into school. He is working on becoming (A.B.D.) "All but dissertation", so we don't see him as much as we would like because of the study groups that he has for his "General Exam" and "Specialized Exam" as well as all of the work he is doing with the cases that he is writing, plus his dissertation writing not to mention the classes that he is taking. Needless to say we will be happy when August rolls around, the tests will be over and we might all go to California to watch Jonathan present one of his papers at a conference there.

In the midst of all of life we packed our bags once again and flew out to Salt Lake City for Julia and Dave's wedding. Elder Scott sealed them, so it was nice to hear his advice to them and the wisdom that has gained through out his life. Julia looked beautiful and all of the events were timeless. We even got to get pedicures and manicures. It was a great time. We also celebrated Sam's 2nd birthday, which was fun. He is such a funny kid. It cracks me up how much he, Isaac and Owen look alike.

March brought us the Butler Elementary P.T.A. International Fair Fundraiser. I was in charge of concessions, which meant that I got to plan, prepair and feed all of the people that showed up. It was fun, but also stressful. I became the only Modbe Fashion Consultant in the state of Massachusetts. Jonathan got sick with a bi-lateral ear infection which left him partially deaf for about two weeks. Then I got sick with a sinus infection, then Isaac came home with a fever, then Owen got the fever, then I got the fever and everything that went along with it and then Jonathan got the fever so we spent the last part of February and the month of March on our sick beds. It has not been much fun.

April 1st brought us Owen's 3rd birthday. He will get his own blog when we have his party. And that pretty much brings us up to date.