Update on The Wheat Doll

I thought you'd like to know that The Wheat Doll has won a couple of awards lately. A couple of weeks ago I heard that it won one from the IRA, International Reading Association, in the primary fiction category. That's an award for new writers, given to either a first or second book. It comes with a $1,000 prize. Jeff and I are taking a brief trip to Minnesotta in May to attend the awards banquet. Today I heard that it won another one called a "Spur" award. Spur awards are given in different categories to literature that captures the "spirit of the west."
Pretty exciting, huh?

Hehe

There once was a girl from Beaver
Who married a boy from Green River
They ran off to school
They thought it was cool
But her family rarely sees her.

Another version

There once was a girl from Beaver
Who married a boy from Green River
He took her to Duke
She thought she would puke
Now she chases him with a cleaver

The vine that ate 1053 cedar knolls S.

How knew there was so much mass in the vine, some of the roots were as big around as my wrist

#1 slacker checking in.

Actually when I have been trying to get on our blog the tool bar to sign on and to "new post" has been absent from the screen. So its not that I haven't been trying. I wanted to show out first outing of the spring when Tyff and Siennah were here for a visit two weeks ago. We all headed down to red cliffs for a picnic and the traditional hike up to the pools. We had a great time. Siennah enjoyed the view from her backpack on top of Papa. I have to say that I am her favorite. She sure is cute and very smart we loved having them here for a visit. Jason was away in Georgia on business. We missed having him here with us. Here are some of the pictures we took on the hike. Love you all. Ron and Family

limerick

How's this for a limerick. It's not green, like in money, but sorta green like in funny.

My husband was born on March seventeen
They call it the day you celebrate green.
His ma wanted to name him Little Pat
His siblings said, "we'll have none of that"
So they all voted "Merrill" in one loud scream.

limerick

Geopolitical lesson for the day

Sharing borders with International heavyweights Iran, Turkey and Georgia, Armenia is best described as the “eye of the storm”. The country, slightly smaller than Maryland, claims to be the first nation to embrace Christianity. In fact, legend has it that Noah’s Arc landed somewhere on Mt. Ararat and that Noah himself founded Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Between the 4th and 19th centuries, Armenia was conquered and ruled by Persians, Byzantines, Arabs, Mongols and Turks. In 1936, Armenia reluctantly became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. In 1988, tragedy struck. The Spitak Earthquake killed roughly 25,000 people and destroyed multiple towns in northern Armenia. Two years later, Armenia declared its sovereignty from the Soviet Union and became an independent nation. Today, Armenia has roughly three and a half million people and the citizens enjoy the fruits of democracy. Ten years ago, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints sent the first missionaries to Armenia. We are thrilled (slightly nervous) that Derek will be honored to join such a young mission.

A limerick

It's me again. The newspaper had a limerick contest for St. Patrick's day. They invited people to write limericks on "green stuff," as in money, and send them in. They picked some winners and printed a bunch of others in the paper. I read them, then, for some reason, my subconcious caught hold of the idea and I woke up the next morning with the beginnings of a limerick in my head. Since it's too late to send it to the paper, here it is.

There once was a banker named Joe.
He'd never seen numbers so low.
When hands were put out
Joe joined in the shout,
"I want a piece of that dough!"

What do you think? Would it have won a prize? Maybe we should have a family limerick contest. Would that get people posting on the blog?

Calling all slackers

Boy, what a bunch of slackers we've been lately. Notice I said we. I'm including myself in that. I know things are happening out there. Let's hear 'em.
I'll put in my two bits, but first,
Happy Birthday, Dad.
I'll tell you about my forum experience last week. It was an annual Forum on Children's literature at UVU and this year I was asked to do a workshop, which meant I didn't have to pay to attend. Score! The key note speaker was Shannon Hale. She's a Newberry Honor winning children's writer from Salt Lake and is very entertaining to listen to.
My workshop went pretty well. I talked about finding inspiration in true sories and used my picture book and short stories as examples.
It was nice to get out and meet lots of great people. The bookstore sold a few of my books, too, so I guess I made a few dollars. Not a bad way to spend two days.
On Sunday we found out that our stake is splitting. That probably means the end of my calling, which is kind of sad. I've enjoyed it and learned a ton. But maybe it's time for someone else to have some fun. I'll know more next week.

Chris made a cute video of the kids. Let me know if you can't watch it because we didn't want everyone to see it and tried to put some privacy on it. Click here.

Playhouse

I could report on Jack being 9 months old but it would sound just like Taylor's report on Michael (except the height and weight measurements). So I have downloaded some pictures of the most exciting things that have happened in our lives the past few weeks.

We have wanted to get this play set for the kids for a long time. It took us a while to save up for it but now we have it and all they want to do is play in the forest on the dead trees that have fallen over! Isn't that just how it goes? Actually, they love their new play set and have actually had a few days to play on it. We had snow on Monday and school was cancelled for two days but by the end of the week it was 80 degrees outside!

Chris and I got our bedroom painted and have FINALLY purchased some bedroom furniture. We have been married for almost 13 years and have just now got the bed! We have enjoyed it so far but I haven't had time to put anything in "my" drawers.

I was looking on the Deseret Book email newsletter this morning and they were advertising a new Cookbook called "Worldwide Ward Cookbook". They had a sample recipe posted which was similar to a recipe Christi has for Sweet & Sour chicken legs. It was sent in by Linda Robinson from the Buenos Aires mission. (I'm sure it is the same Linda Robinson we know) She had this to say about it. "We spend a lot of time feeding the missionaries so I asked one Elder if there was anything special he would like. He asked if I knew how to make the "Little Pink Chicken" and I told him I would call his mother & find out. She gave me the recipe and it has been a favorite of ours ever since" Here it is:

LITTLE PINK CHICKEN (Sweet & Sour)

2 large chicken breasts
1/2 tsp garlic salt
cornstarch
1 egg beaten with 1 tsp water
1 C sugar
1/3 C vinegar
1/3 C ketchup
1/4 C chicken broth
1 tsp salt
2 T soy sauce
Cut chicken in pieces & sprinkle with garlic salt. Let sit 1 hour. Dip in cornstarch, then beaten egg. Fry in hot oil until brown. Place in casserole dish. Combine sugar, vinegar, ketchup, chicken broth, salt & soy sauce. Microwave 5 min., stirring half way through. Pour over chicken & bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes or until sauce is thickened. Serve over rice.

9 months already??

Today was Michael's 9 month check-up, and we are happy to report that all is well! Weighing in at 23lbs 11ozs and 30 1/2in long, Michael tops the charts for his percentage. The nurse usually makes some joke about how we must be starving him cause he just isn't big enough. HAHA. Tyff said that he has just about caught up to Siennah.


Michael loves to clap and dance while he watches his Baby Einstein movies. He pulls himself up on EVERYTHING!! The couch, chairs, tables, our legs, his crib, the dog... anything his little hands can get a grip of. Chevis has the sweetest heart and just lays there and takes it. With two teeth now, Michael loves to eat. Some of his favorites are Mac and Cheese, and any fruit. He also enjoys feeding himself, and is getting really good at picking up food with his cute little fingers. With how nice the weather has been these past weeks, we have been able to go outside and play. Sunday was Michael's first time out since last year and he seemed to really enjoy it. Watching his face the first time he touched the grass was priceless. At first he liked it, then he wasn't so sure of it. This Lowe house is definately full of Spring Fever. We can't wait to take him camping now that he actually takes notice of his surroundings and what we are doing.

If you look close you can see a tooth.

We don't really have anything new to report about us. Brendon has had a few chances to go snowmobiling, which has been great therapy for him. Hopefully he will be able to squeeze a few more rides in before all the snow melts. Me on the other hand can't wait for the snow to melt. For my birthday last month we loaded up the wheelers and went to St. George for a nice, warm, sunny wheeler ride. It was great and almost as good as last year's birthday we spent in Cancun. We also just got a new computer cause our old one finally crashed for the last time. We are still learning how to use it. We hope all is well with everyone, and we want to see some more posts!

Brendon is the one on the right.

Sigh of Relief

In my calling in the Stake Relief Society, I help get together two big activities a year, a dinner for the Relief Society General Broadcast and a Humanitarian Aid day. In my position on the middle school PTA, I do two book fairs a year. Doesn't sound too bad, does it? Two big things a year for two different organizations. And it probably wouldn't be too bad except that they coincided this year. Twice.
The reason I'm breathing a sigh is that I'm done. I just finished a week of book fair followed by Humanitarian Aid day on Saturday, where we fed over 200 sisters, completed 190 hygiene kits, tied ten quilts and made 76 receiving blankets. Phew.
In other news, I've decided to cancel my family history project because of lack of interest and input on the part of everyone except for my dear mother. Thanks Mom.