James, Sophie and Petunia

GREAT CONCERT

Who is this cute horn player??

The Ogden Holiday Parade!!

For all of you who didn't go...

good choice it was way too cold but thankfully very short.

I (Anne) went down just to take pictures of the Marching Band

before it started.

The Ogden Marching Band wanted to out shine all the other bands

in the parade (literally).  They added lights to the 

truck and trailer to their instruments and even them selves.

The other marching bands, Roy, Weber, and we think Northridge combined just to 

try and beat the Ogden Band.  

They didn't because Ogden rocks the hardest!!

Taylor "Boss" and Reese "Probie"

Now, I'm not sure what Star Wars has to do with a Christmas Parade,
but it was the coolest float.  

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

Okay, we're driving home from Salt Lake Saturday night after a wonderful concert at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square -in which this cute guy . . . .

. . . . just happened to have had a solo with the Wasatch Master Chorale -
and we're listening to Sirius Satellite Radio station 003 which I now call

ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS!

I've been listening to Christmas music for a few days now - you know, FM100 and Kosy, which just happen to play the exact same songs over and over and over again - just like last year, and the year before that and the year before that.

So, this is a nice change, new artists, new songs I haven't heard before 

BUT  . . . .  some of them were a little much.  

I listened to Barry Manilow back in the day, but boy, he sure can ruin a good traditional Christmas song.


And Chicago - actually they were okay, love their sound, they do fine with Christmas.

Even James Taylor.

And I really enjoyed the Transiberian Orchestra's rendition of Tchaikovsky's "Nutrocker".

But . . . when Barenaked Ladies does Christmas - really, do they actually have a Christmas album?

Or Chris Brown - and yes, Anne had to explain him to me - R&B rap Christmas??

And the artist we can't remember but sings a song about how much he hates Christmas - - -

So, when the traditional channel gets a little boring, tune in the ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS for a holly jolly Christmas.

BRYCE CANYON

Manja an Bryan stop next at Bryce Canyon






And once again it was FREEZING cold - we just happened to be at the highest point in the park when the storm rolled in - wind, rain, pellets, snow.

Yep - everytime we stop at Bryce it's winter!!!

Hurry up and take the picture, we need to get back in the car!

HIKING IN SNOW CANYON

Bryan and Manja spend the weekend in St. George for the band competition and to visit with Carly and Jeff - Hiking in Snow Canyon - fabulous weather!!



Lava tubes -
Jeff of course was the only one willing and able to climb around in them.

Then Bryan and Jeff decide to take the trail less traveled back to the car - up the rocks.

FAVORITE HALLOWEEN PICS

CHARLIE BROWN
BUMBLEBEE

Shout out to Taylor and the Ogden High School Tiger Marching Band

The first of Taylor's senior year "lasts" has now been completed. The marching band competed in their last competition Friday night in St George. Prior to this last performance he served as master of cerimonies at the annual friend's and family performance this last wednesday at Ogden High. Telling jokes and thanking the many who assisted the band all year long were amoung the responsibilites he had that night.

Each band member invited someone to shadow them during the opening set of their performance. Anne joined Taylor on the field this year. She didn't get hit or go down, but Taylor almost went down as his "probie" went down and Taylor almost landed on top of him. (As section leader Taylor lead the mellophones through out the year, and with our families enjoyment of NCIS the other mellopone player became "probie" and Taylor became the "boss".)


With twice the number of marchers on the field it gets pretty crowded. Avoiding tripping, falling, being impailed by an instrument or bumping into one another was the challenge, and gives the shadower a good feel for what marching band members go through everyday.

During one of these performances we were also able to get some close up photos. In their last performance in St George the band took second place. We are not sure if we will miss towing trailers, pulling speaker boxes around on carts or staning in the rain, but we will miss watching Taylor march. Will it go on? Only time will tell. Watch out Utah Marching Utes, Taylor just might be on his way.

Bottom line we are proud of Taylor and the dedication and commitment he demonstrated to the Ogden High Tiger Marching Band.

This blog posted by Bryan, your comments and feed back are appreciated.

Good-bye Sister Daniel

Good luck in the -- (brrrr)

Minneapolis Minnesota Mission

Future sister missionaries??