Boys and their Bikes

Dave has been absolutely itching to go on a bike ride ever since we got our little kiddie trailer last November. Well, the weather has finally cooperated enough (and Sammy is now over the weight limit on the trailer) for the boys to take their bikes out.

We had such a blast (and a fantastic laugh) trying helmets on Sammy. Most of the ones we looked at were quite girly. I couldn't bring myself to buy a pink, purple or flowery one. Dave eventually found this Cars one.

Sammy was super excited to "try on" the trailer and get out of the house.

We only went around the block once, and Dave loved every minute of it.

Sammy on the other hand really enjoyed the 30 second ride down the street...until he went over a bump and the trailer hit Dave's back wheel making a loud grinding sound. He's quite the startleable little fellow and began crying. Luckily, I was riding right next to him and was able to distract him long enough for us to finish our short ride.

We are all very excited for the next 8 months of bike-riding weather!

I Love You...Because you Sing!

Tonight Dave sang his heart and voice out at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square as part the mens chorus Because We Sing. Dave's dad Lynn, and my uncle Dan also sang. It was seriously SO good. They dedicated the concert to President Hinckley because they were at rehearsal the night he died and several of the songs were his favorite. Even Craig Jessop conducted Battle Hymn of the Republic and You'll Never Walk Alone. It was powerful...and then...there was Oompa Loompas. And who doesn't love Oompa Loompas?

Near the end of the concert the men transformed into Oompa Loompas to the delight of many small children and all the women in the audience. They were adorable. At the risk of my free life, I took this short video (and yes, I broke the law to get it and didn't dare get anymore than this). Can you find Dave, he really blends in, so it's like "Where's Waldo." Good luck.

Unfortunately, I was too chicken to get the really funny stuff later in the song such as: men twirling like ballerinas, chanting the Oscar Meyer weiner song and the coconut-clacking-horse-riding-knight care of Monte Python.

After it was over, Adorable Abby said, "I want them to sing the funny song again."

It was a perfect collection of songs that highlighted true manhood. The spiritual, serious, strong, brotherly, funny, cute and loving. (I Love you Dave, and not just because you sing...but it is a bonus!)

A Slice of Heaven

Welcome to the world

Nathan L. Droge

February 20, 2008

9 lbs. 4 oz.

21 inches

Congratulations Byron and Elizabeth! We are so excited to have a new little nephew...

...and first local cousin!

Visiting with you makes our hearts smile. We are thrilled to have you here: happy and healthy. Thanks for bringing a little slice of heaven with you.

Farewell Elder Droge

Lubbock, Texas is going to be a lucky place for the next 2 years. Elder Droge enters the MTC this Wednesday, February 20th as the 5th missionary in the Droge family.


Sammy is sad to be losing one of the best babysitters in Davis County, but we know you will do a fabulous job serving the Lord in Texas. Have a fun adventure Adam!

These I Love

I LOVE...

being greeted after a long day of work with this face.

I LOVE...

hearing my little, content pterodactyl.

I LOVE...

making this boy giggle.

I LOVE...

watching this man cuddle up on the couch with that blanket.

(yes, its one of Sammy's and it's too small for him!)

I LOVE...

hearing my husband sing made up songs to his little boy. Like the following (sung to same tune of one of Sammy's toys):

"Oh little Super Sam

please don't start to cry.

We're going for a car ride

with your mom and I."

OR

"Okay Mr. Sammy,

we're going to visit grandma now.

But first we're going to the store,

to get some milk from cows."

OR

Any of the other millions of little made up songs that just make me smile! I had to be quick to get those lyrics written! When asked about his songs, Dave said, "I sing the same tune about 8,000 times a day so I don't remember many of the lyrics."

Thanks for making my heart smile Love.

I LOVE...

this man and those flowers!

Thanks babe! I love you forever!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Samboy and Simba

Our son loves our cat.

Our cat loves our son's toys.

And thus a relationship was born.

Pretty much anytime Sammy is playing on the floor, Simba is close by.

Sometimes, Simba thinks he is a baby too and tries to fill in the part. With his early morning "wake up calls" which wake up the whole house at 7:00 am, Dave rolls over and asks, "Is it your turn to go get the kids or mine?" So imagine my surprise, when I walk in to Sammy's room one morning and find this:

And thus, Simba was kicked out of Sammy's room for eternity and banished to the basement. (Actually, Simba sleeps in the basement at night or anytime we aren't home during the day, or anytime he's being especially pill-ish.)

Nevertheless, when these two are together, they have a grand old time.

We've even caught Sammy "calling" to Simba with little grunts. He loves to pet and touch and GRAB Simba's fur. You decide if Simba appreciates it or not.

(Never fear, no Sammy's were hurt in the making of this film.)

Samboy and Simba.

Simba and Samboy.

That's the way it is.

(Props to you if you can figure out the children's picture book I'm alluding to.)

Presidential Succession

Hey Giants fans (Yes you are all allowed to hop off the pats bandwagon and onto New York's -- what a game),

Well today I gave the lesson in Deacon's quorum and I learned some things about presidential succession that were very interesting to me, so I thought I'd share. Page references are from the church history religion manual.

• Spring of 1844, Joseph Smith is impressed that something is going to happen, so he hastens to get the Q12 their endowments before the Nauvoo temple is complete. This ensures all priesthood keys are in the quorum "now if they kill me you have got all the keys and all the ordinances and you can confer them upon others, and the hosts of Satan will not be able to tear down the kingdom as fast as you will be able to build it up." pps 273-274
• September 1898 -- Wilford Woodruff passes away and Lorenzo Snow is visited by the Savior in the salt lake temple. He is instructed to immediately reorganize the first presidency. This ends the practice of 2 to 3 years before reorganization. Interestingly enough, President Snow only lives 3 more years. What type of problems and uncertainty might have come about if he had died before reorganization of the first presidency? The Savior directs this church! pps 452-453
  
• April 5, 1900 -- Apostolic seniority clarified. In a meeting in the salt lake temple with the first presidency and Quorum of the twelve, some things are decided: The date a person enters the quorum of the 12 decides his seniority; upon death of the President, the counselors resume their place in the Quorum according to this seniority. Interesting fact: Brigham Young Jr. was ordained an apostle before Joseph F. Smith, but entered the Quorum of the 12 a year after him. Without this clarification, in 1901 Brigham Young Jr. would have become our 6th president. pg 453

These important events really come in to our mind in a time like now. I'm glad the church is led by our Savior. I'm glad his house is a house of order. What comfort it gives me to know that in the next couple days we again will have a prophet called of God to lead this church. The gospel just makes sense. If it doesn't "You haven't thought about it long enough!"

Have a great week!

--Dave

Celebrating Life

Sweet. Joyous. Glorious. Tender. Tearful.


These are the feelings flooding my mind today and all week as we have celebrated, yes celebrated the passing of the prophet of God.



In fact, when I first learned of his death, I really wasn't taken by surprise. I wrote the following in my journal last Sunday night...



"I saw the hand of God today as he called home the 15th President of the Church - Gordon B. Hinckley. I heard the news and my reaction - a smile. What love this man had for the children of God. What an example he was to me in my formative years. And what influence he's had throughout the world. He will be greatly missed, but I don't feel sad. On the contrary. I feel the need to rejoice. He is HOME! He is in the arms of his loving wife. His work will continue here as we live as we should and follow the next prophet."

My mind is drawn more to President Thomas S. Monson and his emotions at losing a friend and brother in the gospel. Not to mention the tremendous responsibility he must be feeling as President of the Quorum of the Twelve. I have always known "Hinckley and Monson" as a major part of the leadership of the church.



I am so grateful for a living, breathing, inspiriation recieving prophet of God. And while we celebrate the life of a magnificent man, we also look forward to the continual presence of a prophet of God on Earth! That is comforting!!!

--Michelle

Because we Sing -- Concert coming 2-23-08

Remember the concert that Michelle did at the tabernace last fall? My Dad and I (as well as uncle Dan DaBell) are singing in the men's version and our concert is coming up. It will be really cool and you will be glad you came. There may even be one song that we make such fools of our selves you just might cry..

For those of you who don't know, it's a choir that Merilee Webb does and its a lot of fun. This choir will have 220 men, and Merilee is even getting Craig Jessop (sp?) to come and lead a couple of the last pieces.

Anyway, it's Saturday February 23rd, 7:30 pm at the Assembly hall on temple square. no ticket required, so you may want to be there just after 7 to ensure a seat.

Here is the link for the february calendar:
http://www.lds.org/events/ConcertsFebruary2008.pdf

--Dave