WHOA! BOY, HOWDY! EXCITEMENT IN MY CORNER....

Well... today's post is a hodgepodge of the last couple of weeks... but I'm going to start with this mornings excitement:

Every weekday morning I teach seminary at the church.  I usually arrive at the church at 6:00 AM.  I was running late this morning and it was 6:08 AM when I got to the church.  My routine is to let myself into the building and then unlocking the doors for the kids before heading to the seminary room.  Today as I began to unlock the doors from the inside, I heard a strange sound come from the closet next to the primary room that is full of all sorts of technical stuff and mechanical stuff to run the building.  I was a bit nervous by the sound, but continued to unlock the door when all of a sudden the fire alarm went off.  I'm glad there is no video of what happened next: I screamed and jumped out of my skin.  I ran to my car and called my husband.  I didn't know what to do.  Scott suggested I call the bishops.  I tried.  Then I waited for the fire department to show up.  When my heroes showed up, I unlocked the rest of the building for them and told them where the sound came from.  They immediately entered the building and came back out to explain to me that a fire sprinkler broke in the RS/seminary room.  I went in to assess the damage.  In only 8 minutes worth of time, there was over 2 inches of water in the room and over an inch of water soaking out into the hallway.  I made an executive decision to cancel seminary.  It was definitely an exhilarating experience!  (I asked if I could take a picture of the heroes that "rescued" me.)

They turned off the lights just as I took the picture.

Fire Fighters are Heroes!

In other news:
A month ago I won the area Toastmasters International Speech Contest.  It was exciting and fun!  I also got to compete at the division contest on Saturday.  I didn't win then... but I felt good about my performance and enjoyed the event.

My speech was called "Cultivating Courage."

Steve, my friend and president of our club, also won in the humor competition.

Scott painted these two AMAZING pictures:

He's never painted birds before.

He really is talented!

Kiara Lea is becoming quite the crochet queen:

And then there is my grandson:

Making homemade playdough is so much fun!

He'd never played with playdough before.

He loved it!

On St. Paddy's Day!

My little red headed leprechaun!

He's a "Rad Little Lad!"

I love this cute grandson of mine.  Apparently yesterday he began singing Jingle Bells and changed the words to "Jesus all the way."  What a cutie!

MY GIRLS!!!!!

Soooooo... my youngest daughter was sad that she hadn't been on my blog for awhile.  I explained that I needed pictures!  Kiara often sends pictures of Skittles, Cody and herself... but I'm lacking in photos of Katia and Skylar.  She obliged by sending me some great pictures!

First: my girls and my grandson volunteered to help someone with her photography.  AND I got these amazing pics:

Katia Rae

Kotten Kandy

Kiara Lea

Key Lime Pie

Red Skittle

The most wonderful grandson EVER!

Then: Katia and Skylar went to the wedding of "Horton" who I will now have to call Elizabeth Greenwood.  Horton was one of Katia's amazing missionary companions, and Scott and I absolutely adore her!  Congratulations, Horton and Greenwood!

Katia and Skylar

Driving to Utah

At the temple with friends

The happy couple!

Both Greenwood and Horton served with Katia on her mission.

I truly love them both and wish them tons of happiness!

This weekend was a girl's road trip to Colorado!  My sister, Shanae, Kiara and Katia went to Grand Junction to retrieve Shanae's car: Newanda.  They had a blast!  All of them seemed to have a good time.  They went to see John Denver's sanctuary in Aspen, Colorado... and while there, they learned that the World Championship for men's skiing was taking place.  They decided to go.  They thought it was exciting and fun.  They also enjoyed Qdoba, saw the new temple construction, and went to see mom's graveside.  There's no stone yet...  Of course, they all expressed their wishes that I could have been there too.... But I'm glad they all had a good time together!

My sister loves her bears!  (Especially her grandson: Bear)

The Grand Junction LDS Temple is supposed to be done in 2025.

I sure love these 3 girls.  (We're just missing GJ's other 2 daughters!)

Kiara, Shanae and Katia

Rocky Mountain High is one of my favorite songs by John Denver.

I'm cold looking at my eldest daughter in the snow.

How are these girls looking so happy with such freezing conditions.

I'm a wimp!

The two Gaydras.
(Gaydra Jean: GJ
Gaydra Shanae: Shanae)

Katia, Kiara and Shanae at the skiing event.

I don't even know?!  Ha ha ha!

I love butterflies!

And I love this sweet girl of mine!

And last but not least, here are some random photos of the cutest, red-headed grandson in the entire world:

Sleeping in his stroller.

Going to Church with Mom and Dad.