# Chateau de la Tobler

## Friday, September 30, 2005

### Keryn! The musical

When I was in Colorado two weeks ago, LaDale and I did a CD swap. We each borrowed six of the other's CDs. So over the last several days, I've been enjoying the soundtracks to the Lord of the Rings, Disney music, Celtic music, etc.
It's a funny thing, but I've noticed that I'm more cheerful and less frustrated when there is music on in the house (just to clarify, the Baby Einstein videos don't count). Maybe it's just the newness of this particular music, but I'm sure having a lot of fun with it. My imagination, which has sometimes languished with the kids and all, seems to have more to work with.
I think I need a soundtrack in my life. Or maybe a musical. When I'm chasing Ezra around trying to change his diaper, I could be accompanied by "Ride of the Valkyries". Or when I'm washing dishes I could hear "Whistle While You Work" or "A Spoonful of Sugar". Or when I have to get up in the middle of the night when Mercy or Ezra cries, it would be "Carmina Burana". And when Ezra's doing something he knows he shouldn't, the theme from "Jaws"...
What about you?

### RE: Arabella

What a darling little girl! Just look at all that hair. I am already jealous on behalf of my cue-ball-headed girl.

## Thursday, September 29, 2005

### Woncrux and patronus

Okay, I have not been slacking, I just have not decided what to be. I finally decided on a woncrux. I think it would have a locket for my luck. That way I could put it around my neck or anyone else that needed it. I think that would work very well. About the patronus, I have decided on a horse. A beautiful sleek horse. I don't know why but I have always thought that horses were beautiful but can be very dangerous. I hope you are all very well and happy.

### David and Amy's little girl

Jenafter could not get this to work, so she sent me some pictures email. I am now trying to get this picture to work.

### Together again

I wanted to make it public how excited I am that I will be traveling back to Vegas today to be with my beautiful wife and my 2 adorable kids. I love them a ton and I miss them. I am as excited as I have ever been. So if you hear of a crazy person who runs to his car at ASU, it's me trying to get home. Love you all.

## Wednesday, September 28, 2005

### My woncrux

I agree with both Keryn and Caren. I need my woncrux in both my house (so I won't get broken into) and my car (so I won't break down) so.... (drum roll please)- My woncrux will be in my phone. It goes everywhere with me and would work (in my perfect world) even when the phone is turned off, like in the library or at church and when I am using it, like when I talk to my beautiful niece Heather as a reward for finishing her homework. (If you ever want a high, be someone's reward. It's amazing!) So, there you have it and just for kicks, I think I will name my wonfonecrux Howard, because I think a saved the life of a great guy named Howard. :)

## Tuesday, September 27, 2005

### My woncrux

That's an interesting question, Caren. What if I saved Julia Child's life (okay, I know she died, but just go with me here)? I think that my good luck would have to go into a wooden stirring spoon, so I would always have fabulous luck in the kitchen (Bradley would say I need all the help I could get). But if I saved Martha Stewart's life, I would have to use a...hmmm...a flower arrangement for a woncrux?
Slightly more seriously, though, I think that I would either have to copy Caren and put my luck into my car--there are some seriously scary drivers out there--or I would put my luck in my house. I am always worried about leaky pipes (my friend Shirley is having to re-do her entire basement right now), or fire (darn that Little House on the Prairie episode), so good luck in my house would be a great peace of mind for me.

### TV in car

> P.P.S. So Keryn, does this mean that you have bought a TV for your car?

Nothing so fancy. Laptops, man, laptops. Honestly, it made the trip about three hundred percent easier. And the dramamine made it so Ezra wasn't carsick...but we know that it wasn't the medicine that made the trip easier because we've used the dramamine before, and it was still a hard, long trip (home from Durango for the Ross family reunion). So, yes, I'm a convert.

### new qotw

So in thinking of the most recent of the harry potter books. Horcruxes are things you can put part of your soul into when killing someone. The {hor} part being oh lets say short for horrible. Well what if you were to save someone's life, and put good luck into an object {instead of part of your soul}. What would the object be? We will call this a woncrux. {won being short for wonderful}.
my answer:
I think the object i would put it in, is our car. That way we always would have good luck, in driving on the road. {safety from accidents, flat tires, etc.}
this is quite a different question, so bear with me and have fun with it.

### RE: QOTW

I am glad that I have the opportunity to defend my rubber chicken patronus. I will have you know that no dementor will stand a chance against my rubber chicken. Not only does it mean everything opposite to what a dementor stands for, but my patronus also doubles as an added held when combatting boggarts. My chicken can fly and through itself towards danger. It is better then any carrier pigeon in delivering messages to my friends in the Order of the Chicken. My rubber chicken stands for all that is inside of me. This is my defence.
P.S. If any of you think this is on the verge of ridiculing the books, then I am sorry you feel that way. Keep on smiling ;-)
P.P.S. So Keryn, does this mean that you have bought a TV for your car?

## Sunday, September 25, 2005

### President Kimball on Prayer

I read the following quote which is attributed to President Kimball. I think there is a version of this quote in "Faith Precedes the Miracle."

> Now, we find many people critical when a righteous person is killed, a young father or mother is taken from a family, or when violent deaths occur. Some become bitter when oft-repeated prayers seem unanswered. Some lose faith and turn sour when solemn administrations by holy men seem to be ignored and no restoration seems to come from repeated prayer circles. But if all the sick were healed, if all the righteous were protected and the wicked destroyed, the whole program of the Father would be annulled and the basic principle of the Gospel, free agency, would be ended.
> If pain and sorrow and total punishment immediately followed the doing of evil, no soul would repeat a misdeed. If joy and peace and rewards were instantaneously given the doer of good, there could be no evil-all would do good and not because of the rightness of doing good. There would be no test of strength, no development of character, no growth of powers, no free agency, no Satanic controls.
> Should all prayers be immediately answered according to our selfish desires and our limited understanding, then there would be little or no suffering, sorrow, disappointment, or even death; and if these were not, there would also be an absence of joy, success, resurrection, eternal life, and godhood.

## Saturday, September 24, 2005

### QOTW

Okay, this will be short and sweet since it is 10:00 in the evening here and I have to be at church tomorrow by 8:30. But, I felt like I needed to get this in before a new week started, so here goes. I've decided my patronus would be a panther. For one, they don't scare me as much as a swarm of wasps, which is what I first thought of, or a wolf, which I thought of next. I was thinking of things that scare me, but I was getting scared of my patronus and decided that would not be a good idea. Panthers can be scary creatures, but only when they need to be. (I know that it true with wasps and wolves, but bear with my childhood fears). They are quiet and blend in with the environment, watching and waiting until the time is right, then they strike. There you have it: a panther!

## Thursday, September 22, 2005

### Flashback to September 17, Tyler's 22 Birthday!

Okay, Keryn asked me to put something up here in honor of Tyler's birthday, and I spaced it. But, even though it's a little late, here it is now.
Tyler was born Sept 17, 1983. He's the oldest of four children, with about a ten year span between him and his youngest brother. He was born in Orem, but spent most of his childhood in Northern California, where his dad inherited a small towing business. His family moved to Las Vegas when he was about 12. The year he turned 14, Tyler served on the student council at Canon Middle School and was also a part of STATUS, where he met Jim Shoop. Jim, of course, invited him up to Leadership Camp and that is where he met the love of his life (me!). Of course, you should know the rest of this story, so here's some tidbits about Tyler that you may not have known.
-He loves sports and he loves to play all of them. He was on the wrestling team, the football team and the volleyball team in high school, although the first two he didn't continue with after his Freshman year.
-He's very smart, especially in math. He skipped Pre-Calc to jump right into Calculus his Senior year of high school, getting a 5 on the AP test.
-He loves being social and makes friends easily, especially with children (although you must already know that).
-He has always loved speaking Spanish, even before his mission to Guatemala. Now that he speaks it fluently, he keeps trying to convince me to learn it so that our kids can grow up bilingual. He always says that he can express himself better in Spanish than he can in English.
-He has a desire to travel the world, starting with a trip to Guatemala so he can visit all the families that he grew to love while serving there and also to introduce me to them as well.
So that's Tyler in a nutshell. He also loves playing games and hanging out with the people he loves. He is a wonderful husband. I honestly couldn't ask for anything more than what he gives me each day. He had a good birthday and I hope everyone learned a little bit more about him. Have a wonderful day everyone!

### Okay, bare with me here...

Hey everyone! It's been so long since I've even looked here that I had a lot of catching upu to do! I'm at Keryn's house right now, doing laundry, and Keryn and kids are napping. So, I thought I'd take a minute to update everyone on how Tyler and I are doing.
Tyler is loving his new job, almost as much as I loved it. He may grow to love it as much, but only time will tell. He's feeling slightly overwhelmed sometimes at the workload and I musts admit that it's more than I ever had to do. Not only is he new, but he taking on more responsibility than I ever did except when Diane was on maternity leave. But he's handling it all very well. He also enjoying his classes and is trying as hard as he can to keep up with everything. I try my hardest not to distract him.
As for me, I'm still on the job hunt. Apparently, I'm not as qualified to do what I want to do as I thought I was. Oh well. I'm giving it the rest of this week before I start looking at retail stores for a job. But, as Mom and Dad have told me time and time again, any job is better than no job. So, Monday I'll start applying just about everywhere in the city that I can. In the meantime, I'm home most of the day, so if you ever want to talk, give me a call. Our number is 801-378-5338. I'll welcome the conversation.
That's a brief update on us. Of course you all know by previous posts that Tyler's birthday was last Saturday, September 17. I'll put up another post all about him for your reading pleasure. =) I love you and am thrilled to hear that Dad is home and recovering, however slowly. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

### And...

Happy Autumn Equinox!

### Happy Golden Plates Day!

Joseph Smith--History 1:52

## Wednesday, September 21, 2005

### Happy Angel Moroni Day!

Joseph Smith--History 1:27

## Monday, September 19, 2005

### Ode to Baby Einstein (a post in poetry)

Of all the words I've had to eat thus far
"I won't have a television in car"
Have tasted the best
And left no regret
And kept my sanity without scar
*************
Without the knowledge
Of his relativity
Ezra loves Einstein

### The Penguin Patronus

I think my patronus would be a penguin. Partly because I am slow and I waddle (when pregnant), but I can be really stubborn and I try to persevere to the end. But mostly because the mental image of a penguin waddling up to a dementor and wacking at it with short stubby wings gives me the giggles. And my reaction to danger is often quite funny retrospectively (just ask Telima about the coyotes).

### Ahoy, maties!

Shiver me timbers and blow me down, but I've a whale of a tale to tell ye, lads and lassies! It's National Talk Like a Pirate Day! Some landlubbers from Albany came up with the idea, and a chief landlubber named Dave Barry wrote a column about it. Avast and avaunt, but she only comes just once a year on September 19, so make the most of it, me hearties! ARGGGGGH!

## Sunday, September 18, 2005

### new question of the week

The majority of this family If not all, have read Harry Potter. {Maybe some of you have already pondered this, but humor me anyway.} So the question of the week is:
If you had a patronus what would it be?
Some may think it has to be mean, or majestic. My answer is that mine would be a raccoon. Blame it on watching Pocahontas a lot lately because Adam likes it. The raccoon's name is Meeko. When i think of raccoons, i think mischievious at times, quick and very resourceful. When i think of being faced with danger or you know a soul sucking dementor I think of scurrying away and doing whatever i need to to be safe. So there you have it my long answer.
I still contend that Samuel's patronus is a rubber chicken, he, he, he. {just kidding} He will more than likely have a different answer.

## Saturday, September 17, 2005

### Just catching up

I thought I'd write and catch up to everything that is happening right now. Happy anniversary to Mom and Dad and happy birthday to Tyler. I know that as of today we have passed both but I guess is still isn't too late to say I was thinking about you all during those twenty-four hours each of those events lasted. I have to admit, I love this blog if only to this reason, for news and such. I hope that everyone is doing fantastic right now. We are starting to cool down a bit here in Colorado Springs and some (some) of the trees are starting to change colors. When Keryn was here, the two of us went down to Hobby Lobby (which it like a Michaels or a JoAnns) and spent way too much time walking through the Christmas stuff. We finally had to leave because we were just getting too excited about the coming holidays. I am thrilled to think about who I will get to see during Christmas. Two new babies and a host of other children, not to mention their parents. I hope the next few months pass quickly (Although not too quickly because fall is my favorite time of the year and I need to enjoy it while it is here). Well, I love you all. Thanks for reading my inane notes on this blog. I love reading what everyone else has to write. (And I don't usually think they are inane- Okay, I haven't thought any of them were inane). Talk to you all later!!!
LaDale

### Happy Birthday Uncle Tyler!

Kip and Adam just wanted to wish Uncle Tyler a Happy Birthday because he's pretty old. {just kidding} We hope you have a great day.
love,
Adam and Kip

## Wednesday, September 14, 2005

### Dad is home!!!!

I know that I have called and talked to most of you about the fact that Dad is home from the hospital but it is so exciting to me that I just have to say it again. He was released from the hospital today and I am so glad. Dad is free from seeing the doctor for one week. We have an appointment for next Wednesday to see where we stand for now. As you all know, we really won't know anything for almost two more months.
Okay, now for the lighter side of life. I am going to answer Caren QOTW. I think that I am either a Mounds or a Almond Joy because "sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't". Trust me sometimes I feel like a nut and sometimes I don't. (Don't ask me what it feels like to be a nut because unless you have felt it you just can't understand.)
Love you all.

### QOTW

Okay, what candy am I? I'm a, you know, a what do you call it, a whatchamacallit. Mostly this is because I can't think of what else might work. I would love to be called a Smartie, but I believe that is only true some of the time. I thought maybe I might have a little fun with a hot tamales, but that's all in dream land. Nerds, maybe that, obviously was not the best choice for public post. So, in the end, I'm just a whatchamacallit and we'll leave it at that.
from,
Magillicuddy

### happy anniversary to mom and dad tobler

happy anniversary! Happy Anniversary! Happy Anniversary!Haaaappppy Anniversaryyyyy! Happy, happy, happy, happy,happy Anniversary! Happy, happy, happy, happy happy anniversary. Pretend that you hear the tune going with this.

### Another RE: QOTW

So, I think Caren put it way better then I ever could. I would have to modestly say that I am indeed "A Big Hunk." There is just no way around this fact. I look in the mirror and I can only see the handsomest man in front of me. I never realized it before. I am a "Big Hunk."
Now to deflate the head and answer for real. I would say a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. This is because of those old commercials asking various people how they eat their Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. It seemed that no two people ate it the same way. To relate this to me, I always tried to do things my own way, or just in a different way. So that is me, a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup.

## Monday, September 12, 2005

### RE: QOTW

After much extensive deliberation (about 2.5 minutes), I have decided that I must be good, old-fashioned, horehound candy. You know, that stuff that they give out for free at the Beehive House in SLC, the stuff that tastes like cough syrup.
Just kidding.
I have decided that I must be Dinosour Eggs, those delectable treats from Willy Wonka that are no longer available. I sure LOVED dinosaurs when I was younger. I was one of those kids like the little boy in the Jurassic Park film. They came in little packages of two (I don't like to be without Brad!), and since they were about dinosaurs we of course had to give each color a different type to be. If I remember correctly:

> orange = Brontosaurus
> blue = Diplodocus
> green = Triceratops
> red = ????
> yellow = Tyrannosaurus Rex

Now I'm not so sure about some of those. If you have any corrections, feel free! Anyway, back to the QOTW--one more thing. Dinosaurs are extinct. Dinosour Eggs are extinct. And since I just took a shower, I'm extinct!

### new question of the week

okay taking into account the ad slogans and the name and everything else that goes along with a candy or candy bar,{ for example: Skittles is taste the rainbow, rainbow being several varieties, could mean you're well rounded.Another example is Mr. Goodbar, i think the key focus would be on the good, as in doing good or being a peace maker. Or it could be something you like, for instance Keryn likes rocks, so she could be Pop Rocks. Keryn probably has her own answer for this one though, I was just having fun being able to use her as an example. There are so many meanings or characteristics you could come up with for candy.
So the question of the week is
what kind of candy or candy bar would you be?
My answer:
I think I would be a Nutrageous. It's more in the name than anything else that I identify with because I'm a wacky nut. Those who have lived with me can testify to this, i'm sure.
I'm sure Samuel will possibly have his own answer to this but in my opinion he's a Big Hunk!

## Friday, September 09, 2005

### Re: Haircuts by the women in my life

I wanted to add my own little comment on the haircuts. I thought it was very ammusing how Keryn always was so nervous about cutting my hair. Now Caren is the nervous one. I have loved my haircuts, probably because they are free. Sure they take longer then at the barber shop but I think the social interaction I had with Keryn and the time I get to talk to Caren are well worth it.
P.S. We will start advertising 'Caren's Parlor' in a month or two if anyone wants to make reservations. $50 a half inch or $100 for a haircut. I think this is quite resonable since it would be a house call and with the gas prices as they are... :)

## Thursday, September 08, 2005

### my boys are growing

cute pictures of ezra and mercy, they sure are growing!
So Samuel came home this last weekend, because of it being a long weekend! Yea we were all excited! Especially Adam shouting daaaaa! from the top of the stairs as soon as he saw Samuel at the bottom. It was adorable Samuel remarked just today actually that both boys have grown and Adam grew at least an inch in the last 3 weeks. Sure enough i jumped on grandma's scale with kip and it was in between 130 and 131. {it's not digital, so you're never really quite sure.} So i put kip down and weigh myself and do the math. Wow kip weighs between 18 and 19 pounds! He is my big boy! But if you ask him he will say he's starving.
Keryn would be so proud by the way, {because she was our barber when we lived in utah} Samuel and I have bought a set of clippers and I have actually cut his hair twice now. He has to talk me through the complete process of course {because i have no clue} but it's fun and i'm developing more skills. Let me tell you it's nerve racking to cut someone else's hair.

### Treatments are done!!!!!

Okay,so maybe I should have said "Treatments are done for now!!!" Dad had his last radiation treatment today. I am so very happy. The Dr. said that the physcial effects of the radiation will be completly gone in 12-14 days. That is the best news yet. Because he has not had any chemo or any really bad radiation reactions, we are hoping that he will just begin to get some of his strength back a little more each day. We are defintly going to Salt Lake City for a week at the end of the month and for conference and dad should have back most of his strength by then.

### More cuteness from the Ross home

I was downloading some pictures from our camera and couldn't resist sharing a few. Here is my Mercy girl taking her Sunday nap on Daddy. I just love her little rosebud mouth.
And here's my little painter. Emily and I were painting some wood things and Ezra was so angry that I wouldn't let him participate. So we got out the paint by water book and he went to town! He had a great time.
And finally, here are my two adorable kids, laying down on Ezra's bed. Ezra loves his sister, and she loves him right back.

### Amusing myself by misreading

So I was reading LaDale's post about her new sofa and I read the sentence:

> I looked around and took their catalog and scrammed.

Except I read it as "I looked around and took their catalog and screamed." Then for a couple of minutes I amused myself picturing LaDale in a quiet, rich, genteel furniture store looking through a catalog, seeing the prices, and dropping the catalog on the floor with a shrill scream of dismay. It was a great picture. Imagine my disappointment when I re-read the sentence to discover that the word was scrammed.

### Answer to QOTW and life in general

Okay, I know!! I know less about oil than Keryn, so I will have to agree with her on all matters concerning this subject. I was listening to a report on NPR that talked about some kind of formula using corn oil, or was that corn husks or something organic. The man talking about it was saying he'd had a pump with the stuff for quite some time but only two nor three people would use it. Recently, the numbers have increased to from fifteen to twenty. So, I guess you never know. I hope something gives soon. I certainly feel very blessed I don't have to travel hours or even almost an hour to get to someplace everyday.
Now on to other challenges, like something to sit on. I went sofa shopping today! I have always had mixed feeling about shopping. I hate the shopping part, but I kind of enjoy having whatever it is I eventually buy. I've been meaning to go since I got into the apartment weeks ago and finally decided I couldn't wait any longer. I headed over to a big warehouse and spent about an hour looking at everything they have to offer (or at least everything on the floor, did you know that you could pick your style, size and color of just about anything in there???) Overwhelming to say the least. Well, I found something that I liked but decided to wait and think about it because it was a little more than I was thinking. I went to another place close to my home that I've driven by quite a few times and have seen their advertisements. Well, as soon as I walked in I knew I was out of my league. One dining room chair was about $400. I was the only one in the store and covered with people wanting to help me. I looked around and took their catalog and scrammed. Anyway, I ended up going back for that first sofa and know I am excited to get it. It will be here Saturday. Well, that's LaDale's life right now.

## Wednesday, September 07, 2005

### Dad's health

Okay, here is the latest on Dad. We had an appointment with Dr. Ellerton this morning. We are finished with all treatments as of about noon tomorrow. Dad did not have chemo today because his counts were so low yesterday (30 for platelettes), however he is feeling better so we did not have to go in for fluids or vitamins. As of now, dad will be going in once a week for blood tests and we have an appointment on Oct 5 with Dr. Ellerton and at that time we may or may not set up a time for a PET scan. I think it will be too early but we shall see. I really think that we will not have any answers until sometime in November. The Dr told that now is the time for dad to gain back his strength before we see where we go from here. We are hoping to see each of you during this time to somehow. I love you all.

### Re: Keryn rocks

Ah, gee, I'm blushing!
Bradley and I would love to eventually own a hybrid minivan or SUV. Then I wouldn't have to feel quite as guilty owning a big car, because it wouldn't be such a gas guzzler (like the late, not-so-great, yellow van. Jen and I would spend $70 each to fill that sucker up each month. It got about 8 miles to the gallon).
And, Caren, I adore your QOTW. I love seeing what other people in our family think about random cool stuff.

## Tuesday, September 06, 2005

### keryn rocks!

She brings up some excellent points
i didn't even take into account hybrid cars into my questioning.
Keryn I say your two bits are brilliant!
I am so glad you guys are willing to humor my question of the week portions of this blog.

### RE: New QOTW

Caren, your question was:

> My question is how long do you think it [oil] will take to run out?

I think I have a much different take on it than your professor. I actually don't think we will stop using gasoline anytime real soon, and possibly not within our lifetimes. According to some friends in the oil and gas industry, we really aren't going to "run out" any time in the foreseeable future. We just keep getting better and better at getting the oil and gas out of the earth, and there's a lot of it. That doesn't answer another question, however, which is: Should we keep using it? Given the pollution, ecological impact, etc., I'm pretty sure we shouldn't. At least not as much as we are now.
Your second question was:

> what are we going to use to fuel our cars or will we all switch to electric?

Bradley and I were just talking about this the other day. The biggest problem with electric cars is the size and weight of the batteries. If we ("we" in the generic sense, because obviously I am doing so much to contribute to this science...) can break the size barrier, maybe we will be using electric cars. I would put my money on hybrid cars, though. We've got that technology going, it uses both electricity and gas (we've already got the gas stations), and it's turning out to be very popular.
That's my two bits. Or whatever it's worth.

### RE: Old Question of the Week

I knew I was taking too long to think out my kitchen utensil answer. Now there's a new QOTW! But before I take a stab at an answer to the new question, here's my answer to the old one:
An electric mixer.
Why? Because I can get some jobs done quick (you should see how fast I can unload a dishwasher or change a dirty diaper). Because I get bogged down when a task gets too thick (like bread dough), and go r-e-a-l-l-y slowly (like my thesis, which, thankfully, is picking up some steam). Because I like to have a lot of tools at my disposal (the whipping tools, the beating tools, the blending tools--it was sounding a little like a torture inventory for a second there) like my family, my friends, my ward, etc. And because I like electricity!

### question of the week

I had a professor in my community college i went to a few years back say that he full on expected that we would see the end of gasoline in our lifetime, and most likely our parents would see the end of it in their lifetime. This comment had come about from a discussion about gas prices going up and how expensive it is to fill up our cars with gas, etc. {currently speaking in some places it's already over 3 dollars a gallon.}
I think we probably will see the end of gas and probably have to resort to another source besides electric cars.
My question is how long do you think it will take to run out?
i think 5-10 years from now.
if you so desire to answer another question, what are we going to use to fuel our cars or will we all switch to electric?

## Monday, September 05, 2005

### Amy was in labor on labor day!!!!

luckily she was able to be induced at about midnightish maybe a little past. Arabella Marie Tobler made her debut at 10:01 a.m. on labor day. 6lbs 14 oz and 19 inches long. Mom and baby are great. She has dark hair and dark eyes. It looks like david and amy got their harry, ron, and hermione after all.

## Sunday, September 04, 2005

### RE: Happy Birthday Dad

I've been thinking about Daddy today too (well, duh, seeing as how it is his birthday), and I have a birthday memory I want to share. When I was in junior high and high school I was on a big cooking/baking kick, remember? (Bradley has a hard time believing that.) I loved to experiment and try new recipes and set the table all pretty with candles and all. Anyway, for Daddy's birthday sometime during these years (I don't remember which birthday), I made a gorgeous cake for him. It had two layers, white frosting, nuts sprinkled on the top...I worked so hard on that cake. I thought it looked like it could be photographed and put on a magazine cover (I was such a modest child!).
So the cake is sitting on the island just waiting for dinner and presents to be over. And we are sitting in the family room. And T.T. (the cat) was...in the kitchen. On the island. With his nose in the cake!
I remember yelling and jumping up, which naturally caused T.T. to jump down. The cake was (mostly) fine, and we still ate it (sorry if that grossed you out). But I still remember being so offended that T.T., who very rarely did anything like that, and relieved that Daddy still was willing to eat it.
Happy birthday Daddy. We love you so much.

### wet willy

Adam has discovered the fun art of giving his daddy a wet willy. Adam was playing aaround his daddy while daddy was laying on the floor. Adam true to form was sucking his 2 fingers. At one point he stuck his still wet finger in his daddy's ear and patted him on the head. Of course this made his daddy laugh so now it's a game.

### Happy Birthday Dad

I know that Mom and Dad aren't celebrating Dad's birthday until he started feeling a little better, but I did want him to know that I am thinking about him on this day, his birthday. Can you believe that it is September 4th already? Can you believe that it is only September 4th? This summer flew by part of the time and dragged by at other times. Regardless, I have to say that I love September 4th, 2005 because not only is it my Dad's birthday but it is also Fast and Testimony day and the day in Relief Society that the president choices the message and talks (or at least that our president of the Relief Society and not one of her counselors did). I really enjoyed church today. The Spirit was strong and I was taught things that I pray I will use and not forget. And don't you love the way the Book of Mormon is being read. I love reading it in response to the prophet's request, but I also love that everyone else is also. It's great to here about the different things that people are learning and growing from and it's fantastic to think about how thousands and thousands of saints, all around the world are doing the same thing. You can just feel the power that is there, can't you. Anyway, I love you all. Happy birthday Daddy, once again. I love you!!
LaDale

### Update on Dad

The reason is not the white blood count but the platlettes count. A normal count it about 150 and above but right now Dad's count is 48. They will not give chemo until this number is at least 100. I am mixed in my feelings. If he needs the chemo I want him to get it but if it makes him so sick that he can't have it, I wonder if it is a good thing or not. All the other counts that they watch are down but not dangerously and he would be getting chemo if they were all as good as the others. I love you all.

### Question of the Week

Okay, so here is my utensil. I think that right now (maybe not later and certainly not before but now), I am a spatula. I feel like I am between a hot surface and an equally hot piece of food. I am trying to turn or remore the hot food before the hot surface can burn it. I am trying to help but not too much that your dad gets frustated with me. I just sometimes wish that someone could use this 'spatula' and would not have to think about it just move.

## Saturday, September 03, 2005

### Re: Question of the week

Okay, these kinds of questions are really hard for me. Thank goodness they weren't on the ACT or the SAT. Well I've thought about it and I've decided that I am a flavor injector (which you can buy from Williams Sonoma for $19.00. Just go to kitchen utensils on goggle and you'll find it there. Yes, I needed some ideas. There were some 'cool' ones like a chestnutter or a potato ricer- which I can't imagine what does, or an alligator vegetable dice or a I don't have many kitchen utensils in my kitchen and I couldn't come up with a reason I was any of them). Okay, back to the flavor injector. I think that I am a flavor injector (try saying that three times fast) because I have a hard time just doing something the normal way, especially plain old work. I don't know how many times Mom left the house telling us to get it clean only to come home and find it turned into a scene from a Christmas card or a space ship or Peter Pan's hide out. I sometimes wonder that Mom would leave us alone at all. If we weren't turning something into a fantasy game, we where singing, sometimes the same song over and over again (ABC"s or I'm a Little Pile of Tin). I can't say I bring flavor to everything, but then again, neither does the flavor injector. Sometimes you add other things to the meal for flavor and sometimes the flavor is to the liking of all present, but that's life. Besides, Williams Sonoma lists this under seasonal untensils. Anyway, I love you all.
Thanks, Caren for making me think!!
LaDale

## Friday, September 02, 2005

So i've decided to come up with a question of the day. I sort of did this question of the letter bit when Samuel was on his mission. He humored me so hopefully you guys will too. If not just remember that i'm a nut. Ask mom she'll agree. Anyway the question of the day is.
If you were a kitchen utensil what would you be and why?
{some of you have probably heard this question before, but it's fun to ask anyway.}
my answer to it is, that I would be a wire whisk because it dances everywhere and mixes things together.

## Thursday, September 01, 2005

### RE: Update on Dad

Mema, is the reason he is not having the chemo because his white blood count is down?

### Update on Dad

Dad is not doing real well. He will not be getting a chemo treatment this week and maybe not next week. He is doing well with the radiation. He has only 4 more treatments of radiation and then he is finished with that. If he doesn't have the chemo while he is having radiation then he does not have to 'make them up' , he will just not have them. The tumor is smaller but it is still there. We learned today that it will never, ever completely go away because it is made up of scar tissue as well as cancer cells. But because the radiation makes things other than cancer "light up" in a PET scan, we have to wait 6-8 weeks before doing a PET scan. He will have one sometime in October, until then we will have no treatments and no news. We will let you know anything we find out. We love you.

### Rodney Brown

While I do not know if I know Rodney Brown, there is a very good chance that we are related. My Aunt Thelma is a Brown and my best friend when we lived there was Karen Brown. The Browns (my uncle and his brothers) had a dairy. If the chance ever comes up, you could tell him your mom is also from Coalville area and see what he says. My uncle's name was Reed Brown and he was the Stake President when the old stake center was torn down.

### More pictures

Here are the bathroom and living room, from one angle at least. I have to admit, the bathroom is the room I am the most grateful more after the kitchen. Funny. I would never have thought that, but I have a bathtub again and a shower next to the bedroom instead of on another floor and I can keep all my stuff (toothpaste, brush, curling iron, etc) in the bathroom instead of the bedroom. Finally, the view from almost all the windows and the balcony. I have to admit, the view of the mountains is part of why I choice this apartment complex. Isn't it beautiful. Just wait until it's covered in snow. Well, love you all.
LaDale
Well, I finally have access to the internet!!! Yeah. I actually took matters into my own hands and it turned out easier than I would have ever suspected to figure it out. Yes, there are always those crazy people who say Mac's will do it to you all the time, but oh well. I haven't had many problems, just slight inconveniences and those come up no matter what. Okay, so I am going to try to get some pictures to you of my new apartment. It has four rooms, kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom, but for one person, it isn't so bad. It was a little difficult trying to get my house into a smaller area, but I managed with only a few problems. My closet it pretty full, but since I seldom go in there, who cares.
Mostly it is quiet around here. There was one argument outside my neighbors door and there is a truck that passed once a night with blaring music, but otherwise nothing else. Beside, there used to be a truck pass and sit a few doors down from my house is Vegas that was louder and more obnoxious so who's complaining.
So here is the kitchen which it one of the best parts of the apartment. I am getting used to shopping for food and cooking. It's great!!! The second is my bedroom with a large window that goes to the balcony. Picture from there coming. I can only get two at a time.
LaDale
Well, it turns out these two posts are going to end up backwards. Oh well.

### The Church and Katrina

Hurricane Katrina is turning into a bigger disaster than (most) anyone expected. I am having a hard time even comprehending the misery, lawlessness, and hopelessness of those hardest hit. If I had any extra money, I would send it to the Church's humanitarianism program. Bradley came across this interesting article about the church's response to Katrina thus far. Some tidbits:

> President Christensen said the Baton Rouge temple was undamaged, though it lost its power for a period of time. Of the 43 buildings in the five stakes of his region, most of buildings sustained little or slight damage, except for those buildings in the areas hardest hit—the New Orleans Stake and the Slidell Stake. Because communications has been nearly impossible with those regions, the fate of many of those buildings is still uncertain.
> We received a report that some members were stranded on the west bank of New Orleans and that President Scott Conlin has organized a caravan of vans to see if he can go pick them up.
> This stake has an automated phone system so that the stake president put in a prerecorded message on Saturday and again on Sunday morning that rang into 1700 homes. The message was to evacuate the city. If they weren’t leaving their homes, they were given an 800 number so they could report where they were going to me.

If only everyone could be so lucky.

> When the Church saw the storm danger, “simultaneously we sent supplies to be pre-positioned in those locations to be close to the needs.”
> Bishop Navo had one central message when Brother Lilly handed the phone to him, “ I am so grateful for the Church. I am grateful that Salt Lake had supplies on the way before the hurricane even hit. When you are involved in a catastrophe of this magnitude, you get a whole new picture of the services of the Church.”

The Church's website also reports that all missionaries are safe and accounted for--they were evacuated before the storm.
I've also posted some thoughts about the chaos and anarchy in New Orleans in our political blog, Hot Blava. For the post about the case for well-armed citizens, click here. For some links that I have found informative and interesting, click here.

### Do you know him, Mema?

BYU appoints a new dean of the College of Biology and Agriculture. Is his name at all familiar, Mema?

> Brigham Young University has announced the appointment of Rodney J. Brown, deputy undersecretary for research, education and economics at the United States Department of Agriculture, as the new dean of the College of Biology and Agriculture.
> Raised on a dairy farm in Coalville, Utah, he received degrees from BYU, Utah State University and North Carolina State University and spent two years as a research scientist at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.

Just curious, since he looks to be around your age and is from Coalville. He will be replacing R. Kent Crookston, a man both Brad and I admire greatly.