Jr. Grizz

Dax will be playing Jr. Grizz basketball every Saturday until the end of the year. Seriously, the kid has incredible athletic skill. It was fun to watch him at practice, but even more fun to watch his game yesterday. I was surprised to see kids actually make baskets - his team won 38-12.

Happy Halloween!

YESTERDAY

Dax in his school's Halloween Parade. Parents came and watched their kids parade around in their costumes. Dax didn't ever look like he was enjoying himself. He must have been taking his role very seriously.

Arrgh...

Dax asked me if I was going to work like that. When I told him I was he then asked if I was going to come to his parade dressed like that. When I told him I was he said, "Cool mom." By the looks of this picture I can only wonder if he was having second thoughts.

TODAY

Jill - Gary Oaks, Dax - Pirate, Jace - Scooby-Doo

This afternoon was pretty fun. Justin and Jill had to work so the boys and I went and visited all the grandparents. This was the first time Jace had worn his costume and this is the only picture I got of him smiling AND wearing the hood.

Grandpa Ray took the boys around his neighborhood and Grandma Pauline took the boys around hers. I am glad they did because it started to really pour later on. By the time we got home the kids had already had their fill of candy so we just ate dinner and handed out treats. Later, Kristy and Logan came for a visit and the boys were able to enjoy their sugar high together!

Halloween Fun - Work

We had a fun day at work today. Since Logan High went to playoffs (football), the students and faculty were let out of school at noon.

We had a costume and pumpkin decorating contest and I think the students had a blast. It's nice to let your hair down every once in a while and let the kids see that we can have a good time. They came up with some very interesting pumpkins and I had to wonder when the last time (if ever) these kids had carved pumpkins. We truly are their extended family and times like this make me appreciate that I can be a positive part of their lives.

Pappou & Yiayia

For starters, I don't think it's fair that when you finally grow up to appreciate the older people in your life, they are gone. I would loved to have had the opportunity to get to know my grandparents. I would have so many questions for them...

In 1912, my pappou "Gus" immigrated from Greece and my yiayia "Matilda" immigrated from Austria. This was the same year the titanic sunk.

Me (1 yr), Pappou (75 yrs)

Me (5 yrs), Yiayia (70 yrs)

Yiayia's father was a coal miner and he had immigrated before yiayia, her mom and her sisters. Since Price was a mining town, this is where he settled. Pappou's family sponsored him to move to the U.S. because of his age (18) and his smarts. He went to California to join a cousin (who turned out to be a crook), then to Nevada to work building railroads (hated the snakes), and then to Salt Lake City selling vegetables on the street corners. In SLC, he met some other Greeks and eventually he and his new friends decided to go down to Price to make a living working in the coalmines. Working conditions were horrible...

After a short time in Price he became pretty well known for his wit, personality and work ethic. He was told about a confectionery in town, which he later came to own. Shortly after that, he hired, courted and married my yiayia! It was 1920, he was 26 and she was 17!! Then came 13 kids...

Centruy Cafe (once the confectionery)

1992 Platis/Hvala Reunion - Park City

In order of age: Bessie, John, Helen, Nick, Vange, Connie, Mary, Tom, Paulette, Paul (my dad) & Dean
George passed away in '75 and Chris was unable to attend

I spent quite a bit of time with them when I was very little but after we moved to Canada, I only saw them once a year. I remember certain things about their house in Price: the ginormous table and sink in the kitchen, the patio and fire pit (fireplace) in the backyard, the playground near their house, and getting to eat whatever I wanted at the cafe (I also got to sit at the bar and play music on the jukeboxes).

This is me helping yiayia with dishes in her big 'ol sink! I would have been 3 - Jace's age.

Pet Peeve #17 - Republican Recruiters

Please tell me I am not the only person that thinks this is wrong...



Pet Peeve #17 - Mitt Romney called my cell phone tonight

Are you a republican - blah, blah, blah. I hung up. Even though it annoyed me that I got the phone call, it was rather satisfying to hang up on him.

Why is it so dim in here?

I consider myself a pretty bright person. I catch on to most things with ease and have a natural ability to identify problems and solutions to new ideas. I am also pretty good, once I understand the basic concept of an idea, to simplify and improve upon it. When I am presented with something that I cannot wrap my mind around I typically run whatever it is over and over in my mind until the light comes on.

I am waiting...

Mom & Jace

Justin and Dax are away for the deer hunt until Wednesday. This gives me an opportunity to spend some alone time with Jace. Tonight we colored Halloween pictures and watched Cars. He looks so serious when he colors. When I was done with my picture he said, "Good job mom, that looks incredible." Sweet!