Linden Ward Valentine's Party

 This year, our ward had a party where you signed up with other couples and you were responsible for everything for your table.  We were with Scott and Heidi Hastings, Greg and Julie Dunford and Jerry and Joan Hunter.  The decor was nicer than any other we saw.  We ate malaysian chicken on wild rice, spinach salad with fruit, rolls and chocolate mousse with raspberry sauce. Delicious.  Joan's daughter is a chocolatier and made 8 special chocolates (sitting in the middle).

The conversation was very nice. We laughed much.  There was also a deejay and a dance following.  Scott and I danced a little, but mostly we were able to visit with friends.

Goodbye, dear Jojo

Jojo started to swell in her abdomen and get skinnier everywhere else.  She was quite old and couldn't run and chase after rabbits or go up or downstairs anymore.  The vet said that she had a tumor in her stomach, and it ruptured and she was suffering.  We were able to say goodbye to her before she was put down.

I have to admit, sometimes I was annoyed by her, she wasn't house-trained and shed like crazy, but she was a constant in the lives of our kids.  They couldn't remember not having her.  She provided protection for our family and was a great running companion.  She was someone to go to when you needed to cry, she sat and loved you (and licked your tears).  She was loyal to the end.

Kill the World..............With Kindness!!

This week at institute, the teacher asked if anyone of us had a family moto. Well, I very enthusiastically raised my hand and said "Kill the world, pause, pause, pause with kindness".  I sat so proud of myself.  A few others said theirs, and then it hit me, it sounded a little lame.  Sorry, family, it's really not lame but more of an inside joke that I couldn't explain in a religious class.

Sloane's Ski Trips

Sloane asked Santa for skis this year.  Here she is with her Salomon 155s.  She goes with her Jr High on ski trips every Wednesday for 5 weeks.
I understand she shreds the slopes.  She goes up to the Black Diamonds and goes straight down at mach speed.  No fear, I guess.  I just hope there are no broken bones in store for her.  She prefers to ski while Scott and Sydney like to snowboard.

Andrew lost his first tooth!

Finally! We thought it would never happen. Andrew's tooth wasn't even very loose last night. This morning he woke us up telling us his tooth was out. He worked very diligently, hoping to get some $$ from the tooth fairy. BTW, he's 7 1/2!

Happy New Year 2012

We welcomed the new year with fun, fun, fun.  Scott and I went to Ron and Lisa Reed's house.  There were about 5 couples and amazing food.  We watched Brian Regan's "I Walked on the Moon", laughed our guts out, then played canasta.

The Tuck family used to play canasta ALL the time.  In fact I remember when we were moving from Sioux City Iowa to Denton Texas, after the moving truck was loaded, we played canasta on the floor. 

We also played it in Taipei with Ralph and Lisa Thompson.  Good times...

Anyway, we picked it up again rather quickly and smoked everybody.

We really had a very good time!

Christmas 2011

We have been very blessed this Christmas spending it with Grandma and Grandpa Tuck and Uncle Brandon, Aunt Amy and Lawson, Mallory, Miranda and Evelyn. The weather was very white and beautiful for the visit. We celebrated the season and family togetherness by playing in the snow, seeing "We Bought A Zoo", attending church services, and playing games--oh, can't forget opening presents. Santa was very good to us this year, we must have ALL been on the nice list.

You'll shoot your eye out!

Christmas PJs! Lawson, Evelyn, Mallory, Miranda, Sloane, Sydney
and Andrew above all comfy and ready to watch Mr Krueger's Christmas on Christmas Eve. I can't begin to say how wonderful this Christmas was with family visiting.