Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Halloween Eve
I don't care about the "guilt trip email". I post it on my own time. I play by my own rules. That having been said, I am sorry it has taken me so long to get on this thing again and I feel really bad about the whole deal. I am going to school at Weber State and I live in Ogden, UT in one of Kyle's houses. All has been going well with school and with my involvement in school. We had our institute dance last friday and that went really well. I went as ed McMann and the Publishers Clearinghouse. There was me, a camera man, and a girl to present the giant check for $10,000,000 and lots of balloons. Photos will be posted soon I hope.
I recently applied for a postition on the Student Fee Reccomendation Committee and just heard that I get the position yesterday. Pretty excited about that opportunity.
It was good to see many of you last night for FHE in the Holbrook home. I love spending time with my family. I was particularly happy to see my favorite little girl and little boy in the world. Those two are a delight!
22 more days till we leave for AZ!
Monday, October 29, 2007
ibmom & GMA
I don't know what happened to my post this a.m. but see it did not make it, so I will try a shorter version. Stayed home yesterday from Church cause I had flu like symptons and my teeth and mouth hurt a lot. Feel better and the dentist said they are cankers in my mouth. I am just getting ready to take a test on the BYU humanities. Last week, I wrote a couple of essays on Hamlet. Dad is cleaning out our VCR cabinet and found Hamlet by Mel Gibson. We both watched it. It was done very well and helped me on the essay questions. I'm on Lesson 4 of 17. So Brynley, I doubt that I'll finish by 7 weeks. Dad has agreed, he won't golf on Thanksgiving day, and we'll have to see what's on their calendar for Fri. & Sat. The winter people are coming back and it seems good to see the golfers out. The course just opened today after 3 weeks of overseeding. Dad is scheduled for tomorrow. Kyle can work on dressing as well as getting our Christmas things out. We'll have lots of time for movies and cards and golf. Love you all ibmom & gma
2nd post for Oct. 19, 2007
Welcome Family
Arizona here I come, in just a couple of weeks, I'm so excited! Love you all!
Three weeks till Mesa!
It's been many Mondays since I last posted, so I guess it's time to post again....and, if Katherine is going to be blogging now, I better step up to the plate and contribute too!
Thanks for dinner last night, Ma and Pa. It's always nice to get a free meal on Sundays. It was also fun to play fink until I pulled a major choke job and ended up in third place...now I know how the Cleveland Indians must feel.
Jodi and I are taking the day off tomorrow, so I'm super excited for that. I think we'll go hang out at Ikea for a few hours and maybe go to a movie.
I'm so excited to go to Mesa again! I'm glad that the first day of November is a Thursday...that makes it so we get to go to AZ one week earlier. Yeah! We'll be arriving Wed. night and we'll fly out early Monday morning. I guess I'll have to find a TV somehow to watch the Utes beat the Cougars this year.
MPH
Katherine's in the house!!
Things are going great for us. We are hoping to have a hole dug on our house sometime this week. Abby and Spencer are growing up too fast. Everyday it seems like Spencer is saying new words and Abby is loving preschool. Spencer hates to see Abby go to preschool and cries almost everytime I drop her off saying, "Abby back."
We are so sad that we will not be going to Arizona this year for Thanksgiving. We had so much fun last year! Abby is still talking about going to see G.G. and G.G.Pa. Hopefully, we will be able to go in the years to come.
Love ya,
Katherine
Monday, Monday
I had a wonderful weekend. I love my family and appreciate every contact I have had with them. Here's my hi-lights. Not in order.
1. I am teaching a teacher-development class in our ward. I had 20 in attendance yesteday. It is proving to be a great way to get to know some people in the ward.
2. Speaking of our ward, we now have the finest young women president in the Church.
3. Our home now has a firm foundation. I am still predicting a March 6 closing.
4. I am excited for FHE this evening. I am not sure what we'll do. My guess is that we'll go to some cool place and cook hot dogs and have a lesson.
5. I will be disappointed in a major way if I do not get to see a little chicken and a little Monkey this Wednesday1
6. Mom and I went to the dollar movie and spent an arm and a leg on pop corn and pop. The name of the Movie was Hair Spray. My favorite part was when I was holding hands with the lady at my side. It was corny with a capital corn, but fun.
7. We had a wonderful meal at the Pivot Apartment. Thanks to Mom for the cooking and to Jodi, Matt, Kyle and Bryn for coming on over. I love to be with ye.
8. I just discovered that I have 8 days of annual leave to use up before the end of the year. One of them will be the day before Thanksgiving. I will get somebody to cover my class and I would like to leave on Tuesday evening if it is possible.
9. Grandma Poll had a pretty bad week with headaches and high blood pressure. She has always seemed so healthy and is feeling much better now, but keep all of the grandparents in our prayers.
10. Speaking of prayers, I read Ether 2 yesterday and wondered how a man like the Brother of Jared could go 4 years without prayer. I read a commentary that said he probably didn't go four years without prayer, but possibly 4 years without sincere prayer. The pray without all of your heart concerning your people prayer (1 Nephi 1:6). It was a good reminder to me. We all need to pray for all of us.
I love you each and all
DAD
Being called out by Jodi
The update on our house is that this is the week of a small hole to be dug. It's been a long time coming, but I think everything is ready to go now.
The kids are excited about Halloween. Abby is going to be a chicken and the little dude will be a monkey. They've tried on their costumes many of times already.
I've got a new calling to be the family history Sunday School teacher in the our new ward. That's great, but I've never done any of that before. Well, that shall soon change as my class starts next week. Dad is going to accompany me to the Family History Library on Wednesday. Thanks to Dad to helping his poor, uneducated son with this new challenge.
I'm out.
rp
Oh Canada!
This is me and Gail at a restaurant with some waiter...hey we're in Canada!
Classes went well, and we always have really fun with our hosts there. Then this weekend I taught all the way in Draper UT. So I slept at Brynleys house that night. I'll be honest I'm glad she got a great job right here in Utah, cuz I could not handle her moving out of this state!
Friday I'll be going to Kansas City for my last trip of the year. Yeah! That is good news, cuz I'm ready for a break. I most likely won't have to go on a work trip again until Feb. Soooooo, all those going to AZ for Thanksgiving....I can't wait!!! What a fun tradition and thanks Gma and Pa for always having open doors for us to come down...you have not idea how much we all look forward to this. I know Cory and Rhonda can't make it this year:( What about you Joel....any luck we'll see you???
Love you all, must be getting back to work. I'm taking tomorrow of cuz I'll be working again this weekend and a girl need some time off!
Monday, October 22, 2007
School, School, school, I love to school
ibmom & gma
A whole week since I've posted and "life keeps happening." A really nice day of Church yesterday. I so appreciate going to church. I wake up some days and just don't feel well enough to go. Our whole Branch is like that. But we are getting winter members back. Talked with Jill a couple of times yesterday and she didn't even say they had talked at Church. I appreciate her as my 'Garue' on the Computer. Something as simple as double spacing. I think I've got it down. I wrote one of my essays on Hamlet, and just one more essay and then I will be a quarter through with the Humanities class. I got to thinking about that Shakespearian Festival we were with you in Cedar City. We saw one of the worst of Shakespeare. Does anyone remember the name of it? Was it "Much Ado About Nothing"? Anyway after reading the Hamlet in the book, about 60 pages, Dad discovered we had Hamlet in our VCR's by Mel Gibson. So we both watched it. It made the whole thing come to life and was that much more interesting. Incidentally, Dad is cleaning out our VCR and DVD cabinets. We find we have a lot of VCR's from early vcr day, when they were so expensive, so we would put as many as 3 on a tape. We left some of the advertising and it's hard to get to the third movie. But we also found out, there's not much swearing or dirty words or nudity. Those with too much or that above, got thrown out. The rest, he's going to see if he can edit them and get the adv. off and only one per vcr. We have a machine that does it, but is not working too well so we may need another one. Anyhow, we found a couple of oldies, but goodies we want to show at Thanksgiving time. One is
"Joseph and the Amazing Coat of Many Colors" with Donnie Osmond. A good Musical from London. The other is "Pollyana" with Haylee Mills. It's a kid's show, but has such a good moral.
Dad and I are going over to our Dr. to get a Flu shot today and then he has an exam. He wants to get off the Lassix if possible. His feet and legs were swollen badly and now thy're just swollen, but not badly. Well as Abbey would say, "I can't talk with you any more cause I'm busy." Got to get back to my studies and redo Dad's medicines.
Kyle can make dressing like he did last year. The golfing is available for nine holes for 3 people. Love ya all lots. ibmom and gma
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Visiting Uncle Koggle-
Dad and I had the rare opportunity to watch the munkins this weekend and have an overnighter. So we took them to a gazillion parks, one of which had Uncle Koggle playing soccer. We watched him score and he brought over some cool little kid water bottles and they loved that. We then went out to a groovy all-you-can-eat Pizza place with Kareokee! What a treat to have some time with Kyle even tho the time went quickly. The kids love to be with him and we had a great time.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Landmark Day
What a week. I just had a whole week out of school and I was so motivated to get all caught up, and well, here it is Monday night and I don't know how I'm going to get the things done I need to for tomorrow and Wednesday. I believe I have said similar words before, and somehow I'm still alive. I suspect Wednesday will come and I will still be breathing. The break from school was good, and my work schedule was very different. I worked a lot in the evening and had mornings off. I remembered that I really like sleeping in. I did get to go on a small hike and enjoy some lingering leaves, the trip to park city was very fun with Jodi, (thanks for taking the day off) and I even got a work out in and made minimal progress on my homework. Well, it is hard to have my best friend gone, but what a blessing it was to have Jodi here for a couple of months. I'm sure our roommate Jess is having a hard time too. Thanks to those who came to my house last night for brownies and well, just brownies, it was fun to see everyone!
Today was an extra special day because I went to the gym and ran a good hard run, and my legs are a little sore because it's been a while, but just normal sore, not somebody just whacked me with a hammer in the quads sore. So I am happy to report that I am healed from the small endo experience on mom's birthday. Yep, I think it was worth it.
School is probably not on my list of favorite things to do right now, but I think I can make it just 8.33 weeks left. That's doable right? Today I was sitting in class and just couldn't stomach it any more so I took a break. A couple of laps around the building and a few phone calls to some hit men and i was ready to sit in the classroom again. I'm sure I'll see the rewards of this venture one day.
I am enjoying work and it's keeping me plenty busy. I went in today on my day off just because I know this week is going to be extra busy. I am anxious to have a couple of months under my belt and a couple of people working with me. I really enjoy what i do and the people I work with, there is just a lot to do right now. Well, I think that is more than anyone of you want to read, so sorry about that, but I do love you guys! I'm sure excited to make those Arizona mashed potatoes!
ibmom & gma
I didn't get a blog in last night, but neither did anyone else but Jodi. Glad she mentioned Thanksgiving, cause we will need help from you all. I'll give out assignments according to when you are coming.. I'll do the turkey, gravy, and pies. Jodi & Matt will set the tables, including bringing the green table in from outside, if we need it. Brynley can do mashed potatoes or a jello salad. I'll have the ingredients. Linda will do rolls. Jill, Gary, & Troy can do the vegetable (Canned corn) and a fruit tray. Then we all do the cleanup. Allison hopes to be there with a new baby, Jocelyn. They came over last night with our two adorable Greats. Ryan, Kathryn, Abby and Spencer, can you make it????? Sure hope to see you and see how far advanced Spencer is from: "Whas at?" I miss those two little ones. I don't think Cory & Ronda will be here, but I'll keep at them. And I'm sure Troy will be here too. I guess The Diamondbacks lost last night. We had to turn it off cause Allison and the kids had just come over as the Rockies made a home run and brought two others in. The Rockies really have a good team. Got to get busy with breakfast, breathing machine, indexing and BYU, in that order. Love you all more than the sands and stars at Bear Lake, ibmom & gma
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Shopping!
Hello family,
Sorry I have not posted since Africa...sometimes after such a fun event like that, it seems lame to write about everyday activities. Put today was sure fun. I took the day off work and Bryn and I went to Park City to go shopping. I got some great new luggage and some fun new outfits. It was fun to hang out with Bryn and spend money too. I have two more trips planned for work this year, and them I am done traveling for work this year. I like to take Nov. and Dec. off from traveling as it is a busy time of the life, so no fun to be away from family at that time! It is a down time for me at work, so I have to keep motiviated to get ahead for next year. Tomorrow I will be at the Utah Home Show demoing stuff for my company...a bit boring really, but if anyone wants a free ticket to the home show, give me a call...cuz I'll be working it:) Conference was good this year. Matt and I found out we actually listen better if we keep ourselves busy, so during the Saturday sessions we began painting the playroom in our house. Boy, Abby and Spencer are really going to love thier new room when we are finished! Its fun updating my house, and our theory proved true, because I can remember all the talks from Sat, but not very many from Sunday...funny how I work sometimes....oh well...guess I'll catch up in the Ensign on some of the talks you guys mentioned. Love you all...
Oh one thing...what are everyones Thanksgiving plans. Now that we are closer, it would be good to know what everyone is doing. Brynley, Matt and I will be flying down on Wed. night very late and leaving on Mon. Morning very early. We may need a ride that night if anyone is driving up, or we may just get a car for the night...we shall see what is going on. That's us...what about everyone else???
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
I rode a HORSE!!!
I went to a friend's 55 acre ranch outside of Kansas City where she let me do everything with this horse. Altho she picked the hooves for rocks, I think I could learn to do that as well. I was in heaven...and I think Flicka really liked me too. It nuzzeled my shoulder and rested his head there. I think we connected. It was soo much fun...I loved it. Thanks for letting me share.
Fall Break rules!
Brynley
Monday, October 8, 2007
I apoligize that the past couple weeks, I haven't posted anything on the blog. The month of September was very busy for me as I was in 5 different states for 5 different functions in the one month. It was really nice this past weekend being home to be with my wife and children and being able to listen to conference.
Our house hasn't started yet. Apparently there were some problems with trying to fit the house on the lot as our lot has several strange requirements that would make it difficult to fit any size of house on it. Fortunately, everything is just fine now and the plans are off to the engineer. Our builder is toying with the idea of entering the home into the Parade of Homes. We're still trying to get more information as to how this will benefit us.
Abby and Spencer are both doing well. They both love being at their grandparents house as it's just another opportunity to get what they want. Abby puts her grandmother Loos to bed every night and then comes racing down to go to bed herself. She's eating very well right now and doesn't have her tummy problems that she had for the first couple years of her life.
The 'Little Dude' has got to be one of the funniest kids I've ever met. He is just so funny and he knows it! Like Abby used to do, he now talks in the third person, but calls himself "dude". However, his eating habits have been awful lately and so we're trying to figure creative ways of getting him to eat something besides Fruit Loops.
I've been released from my Bishopric calling and have received a new calling in our new ward. I'm going to teach the geneology class for the ward as the bishopric is going to call members to attend my class who they'd like to see more active in temple work. Many of the members have let their recommends expire and the hope is to get them more involved in the temple work and help them feel the Spirit, so that they will have the desire to go back to the temple. Of course, up to this point, I haven't done one ounce of temple work. So needless to say, I've got a lot to do before the class starts in a couple of weeks. But I'm excited to learn something new and might use some of you as resources who have had much more experience in this area than I have.
Well gotta run for now. Go Diamondbacks!!
rp
Te Damos Senor Nuestras Gracias
So wasn't conference awesome? I loved Elder Worthlin's talk about charity and love. What kind of message is so important that literally nothing would keep you from delivering it. Elder Nelson then exemplified that love as he was there to support his dear friend through his talk. How special was that moment?
My favorite talk that got to me and I needed was Elder Oaks talk about Good, Better and Best. I am keeping pretty busy, but for me I need to made sure that I am not just busy for the sake of being busy, but I need to fill my life with those best things that are the most enriching for me. Great message.
I wish that it wasn't conference weekend, but rather conference week sometimes. Until then I guess I will have plenty of time to focus on what they told us, which is nice to know what the priorities of God are for us.
I did enjoy having some good family time this week with Dad, Kyle Bryn, and Jodi. We have a pretty cool family when it comes right down to it. I appreciate all the examples that my family sets for me.
School is going well and I am truly blessed with wonderful opportunities to serve others and share my testimony vocally or otherwise. As most of you know, I am in charge of marketing all the major events we have at Weber. I told them up front that I am unwilling to promote any events that do not uphold high morals and values. They have accomodated my requests and I count it as a blessing from God that I am able to keep my responsibilities despite my stubborn ways and unwillingness to participate in such activities.
Have a great week Fam!
-TroyBoy
That was the week that was
1. Thanks to our four children who spent Conference Sunday here at Apartment #4. It was so much appreciated. I love Conference Weekend! Nothing strengthens my testimony more than hearing the leaders of the Church share their testimonies. I am determined to continue my study of their words until the next Conference. I loved how I felt in Priesthood Conference while President Eyring was speaking.
2. Thanks to Troy for inviting me to attend the temple with him on Thursday evening. It had been way too long since I have been to an endowment session and way too long since I had a one on one with the T. I am so excited for all of the opportunities opening up for Troy.
3. Thanks to Brynley for calling me on Saturday morning and giving me the opportunity to coach 3 soccer games in one wet and cold morning. No greater complement could come to a parent than to be thought of when one of their children are in need. It was good to get a feel for Brynley's new job. I think it is a great opportunity for the Brynster. Let me know if you need help again.
4. Thanks to Abby for calling me yesterday and inviting me to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house. I love to play with Abby and Spencer! It was good to see Ryan and Katherine also.
5. Thanks to the love of my life for watching "24" with me. I look so forward to marvelling at Jack B. while I apply lotion to my 2 favorite feet. We have almost finishesd the entire series. What's next? The Office? - I doubt it. Thanks also for your calls from Kansas City.
6. Congratulations to all fans of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Yesterday after the morning session of Conference, Jodi, Kyle, Brynley, Troy and I discussed the idea of preserving important family memories. Troy suggested that we each make of list of 10 or so of our most treasured memories-spiritual and otherwise and that we write up our memories and that we print them and bind them. I am making my list this morning and am committed to doing my share and a little more. If we could each take a few minutes every Sunday it wouldn't take long for us to have a significant family journal. President SWKimball said, "What could you do better for your children and your children's children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, you recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved?...Maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity." (SWK-Teachings, p. 350-51) This morning I am going to my Mom and Dad's place to try and help them with their histories. I am anxious to help them, partly becauses their history is my history-and each of yours.
I love my family
Sunday, October 7, 2007
ibmom & gma
There are fewer and fewer blogs on this system. Hey guys, the goal was to post every week. Jill sent me a cute e-mail about a mom's job. But there are only 2 mom's that contribute to this blog so the rest of you must have time. I suggest a subject that each of you can use for your next blog, soon. Conference was so good and it would be good if each of you would speak about your favorite speaker, even if you can't remember his name. This afternoon conference had a Doulglas Callister that talked about service. He talked about his wonderful mother and how she had raised him so well and how she must of been a travel agent for "guilt trips." When she was 60 and was on her death bed, her son asked her if she had anything or any place she might have wished she had gone. She simply said "I wish I had served more." He said she was the epitamy of service. Always had a Church job and a casserole for someone. He then said "What is service and why is it so important?" Then he told of visiting a new chapel in Africa. It was not completed. A little 3 year old child came up and tried to talk to them. His wife had a piece of wrapped butterscotch candy that she took from her purse and gave to him. Then he and his wife went in and toured the building. When they came out, the little boy was there with a few more friencs that also wanted some candy. Sr. Callister had no more. The little boy went to her and asked her to open it for him. Then he gave a lick to a friend, and to another until they all shared the candy. That's what service is helping one another. The temp was just 60 degrees this morning and up to 80 now. We've kept the doors open all day. Hope to hear from more of you. Love ibmom & gma
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Love My Family

Wednesday, October 3, 2007
9 weeks
Sleeping Bag
Number one: Has anyone seen my sleeping bag? It's a green sleeping bag in a red stuff bag.
Number two: Why doesn't anyone write on the blog anymore? I know, I'm kind of a hypocrite because I missed like 3 weeks straight, but honestly, we've really been slackin'.
Number three: Which bear is better?
Love,
Kyle
PS: In case you didn't hear, I accepted my offer with American Express. I'll probably be starting sometime in August. I'll be in New York City for the first year and then I'll probably spend a year abroad. I'm pretty excited for the whole deal.