Sunday, December 31, 2006
Mallory's Performance in "Arsenic & Old Lace" -- Old News is New News, Right?
This is my first attempt at posting pictures onto this blog, so here goes. This is old news, but these pictures have been stored on my camera for months now because we were having computer problems and I didn't dare download them until I had a "secure" home for them. I now have that so I thought those of you who were not able to make it to see Mal's performance in "Arsenic & Old Lace" might enjoy seeing these pictures of her. She just did a wonderful job in this performance and her and Whitney especially played well together in these parts. If I did it right, her pictures should be in our Fotoki Album.
Friday, December 29, 2006
It's Official!
I received the formal verbal offer last night and I have officially accepted a summer internship with Oregon's largest employer... Intel. I just have to pass a background and drug test (We'll see how that goes.... all those poppyseed muffins i ate over the break might come back to haunt me) .I will be working there June 18th through September 7th. Nothing too exciting really, it's mostly just nice to have a better option than "current status" for the summer. The future is still unclear, but at least it's bright. We feel very blessed.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Interesting article from CNN
I found this interesting, in light of the conversation Zach, Travis and I had with Mom and Dad. Even I was a littl shocked by the data. here it goes :
Reality check: 95 percent of Americans had premarital sex
NEW YORK (AP) -- More than nine out of 10 Americans, men and women alike, have had premarital sex, according to a new study. The high rates extend even to women born in the 1940s, challenging perceptions that people were more chaste in the past.
"This is reality-check research," said the study's author, Lawrence Finer. "Premarital sex is normal behavior for the vast majority of Americans, and has been for decades."
Finer is a research director at the Guttmacher Institute, a private New York-based think tank that studies sexual and reproductive issues and which disagrees with government-funded programs that rely primarily on abstinence-only teachings. The study, released Tuesday, appears in the new issue of Public Health Reports.
The study, examining how sexual behavior before marriage has changed over time, was based on interviews conducted with more than 38,000 people -- about 33,000 of them women -- in 1982, 1988, 1995 and 2002 for the federal National Survey of Family Growth. According to Finer's analysis, 99 percent of the respondents had had sex by age 44, and 95 percent had done so before marriage.
Even among a subgroup of those who abstained from sex until at least age 20, four-fifths had had premarital sex by age 44, the study found.
Finer said the likelihood of Americans having sex before marriage has remained stable since the 1950s, though people now wait longer to get married and thus are sexually active as singles for extensive periods.
The study found women virtually as likely as men to engage in premarital sex, even those born decades ago. Among women born between 1950 and 1978, at least 91 percent had had premarital sex by age 30, he said, while among those born in the 1940s, 88 percent had done so by age 44.
"The data clearly show that the majority of older teens and adults have already had sex before marriage, which calls into question the federal government's funding of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs for 12- to 29-year-olds," Finer said.
Under the Bush administration, such programs have received hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.
"It would be more effective," Finer said, "to provide young people with the skills and information they need to be safe once they become sexually active -- which nearly everyone eventually will."
Wade Horn, assistant secretary for children and families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, defended the abstinence-only approach for teenagers.
"One of its values is to help young people delay the onset of sexual activity," he said. "The longer one delays, the fewer lifetime sex partners they have, and the less the risk of contracting sexually transmitted disease."
He insisted there was no federal mission against premarital sex among adults.
"Absolutely not," Horn said. "The Bush administration does not believe the government should be regulating or stigmatizing the behavior of adults."
Horn said he found the high percentages of premarital sex cited in the study to be plausible, and expressed hope that society would not look askance at the small minority that chooses to remain abstinent before marriage.
However, Janice Crouse of Concerned Women for America, a conservative group which strongly supports abstinence-only education, said she was skeptical of the findings.
"Any time I see numbers that high, I'm a little suspicious," she said. "The numbers are too pat."
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Reality check: 95 percent of Americans had premarital sex
NEW YORK (AP) -- More than nine out of 10 Americans, men and women alike, have had premarital sex, according to a new study. The high rates extend even to women born in the 1940s, challenging perceptions that people were more chaste in the past.
"This is reality-check research," said the study's author, Lawrence Finer. "Premarital sex is normal behavior for the vast majority of Americans, and has been for decades."
Finer is a research director at the Guttmacher Institute, a private New York-based think tank that studies sexual and reproductive issues and which disagrees with government-funded programs that rely primarily on abstinence-only teachings. The study, released Tuesday, appears in the new issue of Public Health Reports.
The study, examining how sexual behavior before marriage has changed over time, was based on interviews conducted with more than 38,000 people -- about 33,000 of them women -- in 1982, 1988, 1995 and 2002 for the federal National Survey of Family Growth. According to Finer's analysis, 99 percent of the respondents had had sex by age 44, and 95 percent had done so before marriage.
Even among a subgroup of those who abstained from sex until at least age 20, four-fifths had had premarital sex by age 44, the study found.
Finer said the likelihood of Americans having sex before marriage has remained stable since the 1950s, though people now wait longer to get married and thus are sexually active as singles for extensive periods.
The study found women virtually as likely as men to engage in premarital sex, even those born decades ago. Among women born between 1950 and 1978, at least 91 percent had had premarital sex by age 30, he said, while among those born in the 1940s, 88 percent had done so by age 44.
"The data clearly show that the majority of older teens and adults have already had sex before marriage, which calls into question the federal government's funding of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs for 12- to 29-year-olds," Finer said.
Under the Bush administration, such programs have received hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.
"It would be more effective," Finer said, "to provide young people with the skills and information they need to be safe once they become sexually active -- which nearly everyone eventually will."
Wade Horn, assistant secretary for children and families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, defended the abstinence-only approach for teenagers.
"One of its values is to help young people delay the onset of sexual activity," he said. "The longer one delays, the fewer lifetime sex partners they have, and the less the risk of contracting sexually transmitted disease."
He insisted there was no federal mission against premarital sex among adults.
"Absolutely not," Horn said. "The Bush administration does not believe the government should be regulating or stigmatizing the behavior of adults."
Horn said he found the high percentages of premarital sex cited in the study to be plausible, and expressed hope that society would not look askance at the small minority that chooses to remain abstinent before marriage.
However, Janice Crouse of Concerned Women for America, a conservative group which strongly supports abstinence-only education, said she was skeptical of the findings.
"Any time I see numbers that high, I'm a little suspicious," she said. "The numbers are too pat."
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Las Vegas Bowl
Invitation to all-
Thursday, December 21st, at 5 o'clock in the PM BYU will be playing the University of Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl. All Evertons in the Portland area are welcome to come over to Hip Hop Hollie's house to watch the game. We will have tortilla chips, ice water, and plenty of holiday cheer.
Email me if you are planning on coming by.
I know we are Oregonians, and watching the game from a 97124 zip code...but there will be absolutely no cheering for the Ducks. If you plan to cheer for the U of O don't bother showing up. That is all. :)
GO COUGS!!
The Real Christmas
I remember reading this talk a year or so ago. Mom and Dad reminded me of it last night, and I thought I would repost it here for all to enjoy. Truly great words to keep us in the right spirit this Christmas. Happy Christmas to all, and to all a "see you later".
-Zach
The Real Christmas - BYU Devotional - Howard W. Hunter
Christmas is a busy season. Streets and stores are filled with people making last-minute preparations. Travelers on the highways increase, airports are crowded—all Christianity seems to come to life with music, lights, and festive decorations.
A writer has said:
“Of all holidays there is none that enters so fully into the human heart, and stirs so many of the higher sentiments. The thoughts, memories, hopes, and customs linked with it are bound by antiquity and nationality collectively; and by childhood and old age individually. They embrace the religious, social, and patriotic sides of our nature. The holly and mistletoe entwined among the evergreens, the habit of giving gifts to those we love, the presence of the Christmas tree, the superstition of Santa Claus, all combining to make Christmas the most longed-for, the most universal, and from every standpoint, the most important holiday known to man” [Clarence Baird, “The Spirit of Christmas,” Improvement Era, Dec. 1919, 154].
The Origin of Christmas
The season is steeped in tradition, and its roots stem back in history. The commencement of the holiday lies in pagan worship long before the introduction of Christianity. The god Mithra was worshiped by the ancient Aryans, and this worship gradually spread to India and Persia. Mithra at first was the god of the heavenly light of the bright skies and later in the Roman period was worshiped as the deity of the sun, or the sun god—Sol Invictus Mithra.
In the first century [before] Christ, Pompey carried on conquests along the southern coast of Cilicia, in Asia Minor, and many of the prisoners taken in those military actions were brought captive to Rome. This introduced the pagan worship of Mithra to Rome, for these prisoners spread the religion among the Roman soldiers. The worship became popular, particularly in the ranks of the Roman armies. We find today, in the ruins of the cities of the far-flung Roman Empire, the shrines of Mithra. Mithraism flourished in the Roman world and became the chief competitor of Christianity in the religious beliefs of the people.
A festive season for the worshipers of the sun god took place immediately after the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year—the time when the sun stands still after its annual dip into the Southern Hemisphere. The commencement of its climb from this low point was regarded as the rebirth of Mithra, and the Romans celebrated his birthday on the 25th of December each year. There was great merriment on this holiday—festivals and feastings, gifts given to friends, and the dwelling places decorated with evergreens.
Gradually Christianity gained a victory over Mithraism, which had been its strongest rival, and the festival day celebrating the birth of Mithra was used by the Christians to commemorate the birth of Christ. The pagan worship of the sun, deeply rooted in Roman culture, was replaced by one of the greatest festivals among Christians. Christmas has come down to us as a day of thanksgiving and rejoicing—a day of good cheer and goodwill to men. Although it has an earthly relation and significance, it is divine in content. The ancient Christian celebration has lived continuously through the centuries.
The Meaning of Christmas Today
How is Christmas regarded today? The legend of Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, the decorations of tinsel and mistletoe, and the giving of gifts all express to us the spirit of the day we celebrate; but the true spirit of Christmas lies much deeper than these. It is found in the life of the Savior, in the principles He taught, in His atoning sacrifice—which become our great heritage.
Many years ago the First Presidency of the Church made this significant statement:
“Christmas, to the Latter-day Saint, is both reminiscent and prophetic—a reminder of two great and solemn events, which will yet be regarded universally as the mightiest and most wonderful happenings in the history of the human race. These events were [foreordained] to take place upon this planet before it was created. One of them was the coming of the Savior in the meridian of time, to die for the sins of the world; and the other is the prospective advent of the risen and glorified Redeemer, to reign upon the earth as King of kings” [“What Christmas Suggests to a Latter-day Saint,” Millennial Star, Jan. 2, 1908, 1].
In Paul’s short letter to the Galatians, he showed great concern over their apparent disbelief and their forsaking of his teachings regarding Christ. He wrote to them: “But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Gal. 4:18–19). In other words, Paul expressed himself as suffering pain and anxiety until Christ be “formed” in them. This is another way of saying “in Christ,” as that expression is used by Paul repeatedly in his writings.
It is possible for Christ to be born in men’s lives, and when such an experience actually happens, a man is “in Christ”—Christ is “formed” in him. This presupposes that we take Christ into our hearts and make Him the living contemporary of our lives. He is not just a general truth or a fact in history, but the Savior of men everywhere and at all times. When we strive to be Christlike, He is “formed” in us; if we open the door, He will enter; if we seek His counsel, He will counsel us. For Christ to be “formed” in us, we must have a belief in Him and in His Atonement. Such a belief in Christ and the keeping of His commandments are not restraints upon us. By these, men are set free. This Prince of Peace waits to give peace of mind, which may make each of us a channel of that peace.
The real Christmas comes to him who has taken Christ into his life as a moving, dynamic, vitalizing force. The real spirit of Christmas lies in the life and mission of the Master. I continue with what the writer defines as the real spirit of Christmas:
“It is a desire to sacrifice for others, to render service, and to possess a feeling of universal brotherhood. It consists of a willingness to forget what you have done for others, and to remember only what others have done for you; to ignore what the world owes you, and think only of … your duties in the middle distance, and your chance to do good and aid your fellow-men in the foreground—to see that your fellow-men are just as good as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts—to close your book of grievances against the universe, and look about you for a place to sow a few seeds of happiness and go your way unobserved” [Improvement Era, Dec. 1919, 155].
In his contemplation of the Christmas season, James Wallingford penned these lines:
Christmas is not a day or a season, but a condition of heart and mind.
If we love our neighbors as ourselves;
if in our riches we are poor in spirit and in our poverty we are rich in grace;
if our charity vaunteth not itself, but suffereth long and is kind;
if when our brother asks for a loaf, we give ourselves instead;if each day dawns in opportunity and sets in achievement, however small—
then every day is Christ’s day and Christmas is always near.
[In Charles L. Wallis, ed., Words of Life (1966), 33]
A wise man has said:
“The most amazing thing about the Christmas story is its relevance. It is at home in every age and fits into every mood of life. It is not simply a lovely tale once told, but eternally contemporary. It is the voice crying out in every wilderness. It is as meaningful in our time as in that long-ago night when shepherds followed the light of the star to the manger of Bethlehem” [Joseph R. Sizoo, in Words of Life, 33].
It has been said that Christmas is for children; but as the years of childhood fancy pass away and an understanding maturity takes their place, the simple teaching of the Savior that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) becomes a reality. The evolution from a pagan holiday transformed into a Christian festival to the birth of Christ in men’s lives is another form of maturity that comes to one who has been touched by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Find the True Spirit of Christmas
If you desire to find the true spirit of Christmas and partake of the sweetness of it, let me make this suggestion to you. During the hurry of the festive occasion of this Christmas season, find time to turn your heart to God. Perhaps in the quiet hours, and in a quiet place, and on your knees—alone or with loved ones—give thanks for the good things that have come to you, and ask that His Spirit might dwell in you as you earnestly strive to serve Him and keep His commandments. He will take you by the hand and His promises will be kept.
I know that God lives. I bear witness of the divinity of His Son, the Savior of the world, and I express appreciation for the blessing of having upon the earth a prophet of the living God.
-Zach
The Real Christmas - BYU Devotional - Howard W. HunterChristmas is a busy season. Streets and stores are filled with people making last-minute preparations. Travelers on the highways increase, airports are crowded—all Christianity seems to come to life with music, lights, and festive decorations.
A writer has said:
“Of all holidays there is none that enters so fully into the human heart, and stirs so many of the higher sentiments. The thoughts, memories, hopes, and customs linked with it are bound by antiquity and nationality collectively; and by childhood and old age individually. They embrace the religious, social, and patriotic sides of our nature. The holly and mistletoe entwined among the evergreens, the habit of giving gifts to those we love, the presence of the Christmas tree, the superstition of Santa Claus, all combining to make Christmas the most longed-for, the most universal, and from every standpoint, the most important holiday known to man” [Clarence Baird, “The Spirit of Christmas,” Improvement Era, Dec. 1919, 154].
The Origin of Christmas
The season is steeped in tradition, and its roots stem back in history. The commencement of the holiday lies in pagan worship long before the introduction of Christianity. The god Mithra was worshiped by the ancient Aryans, and this worship gradually spread to India and Persia. Mithra at first was the god of the heavenly light of the bright skies and later in the Roman period was worshiped as the deity of the sun, or the sun god—Sol Invictus Mithra.
In the first century [before] Christ, Pompey carried on conquests along the southern coast of Cilicia, in Asia Minor, and many of the prisoners taken in those military actions were brought captive to Rome. This introduced the pagan worship of Mithra to Rome, for these prisoners spread the religion among the Roman soldiers. The worship became popular, particularly in the ranks of the Roman armies. We find today, in the ruins of the cities of the far-flung Roman Empire, the shrines of Mithra. Mithraism flourished in the Roman world and became the chief competitor of Christianity in the religious beliefs of the people.
A festive season for the worshipers of the sun god took place immediately after the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year—the time when the sun stands still after its annual dip into the Southern Hemisphere. The commencement of its climb from this low point was regarded as the rebirth of Mithra, and the Romans celebrated his birthday on the 25th of December each year. There was great merriment on this holiday—festivals and feastings, gifts given to friends, and the dwelling places decorated with evergreens.
Gradually Christianity gained a victory over Mithraism, which had been its strongest rival, and the festival day celebrating the birth of Mithra was used by the Christians to commemorate the birth of Christ. The pagan worship of the sun, deeply rooted in Roman culture, was replaced by one of the greatest festivals among Christians. Christmas has come down to us as a day of thanksgiving and rejoicing—a day of good cheer and goodwill to men. Although it has an earthly relation and significance, it is divine in content. The ancient Christian celebration has lived continuously through the centuries.
The Meaning of Christmas Today
How is Christmas regarded today? The legend of Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, the decorations of tinsel and mistletoe, and the giving of gifts all express to us the spirit of the day we celebrate; but the true spirit of Christmas lies much deeper than these. It is found in the life of the Savior, in the principles He taught, in His atoning sacrifice—which become our great heritage.
Many years ago the First Presidency of the Church made this significant statement:
“Christmas, to the Latter-day Saint, is both reminiscent and prophetic—a reminder of two great and solemn events, which will yet be regarded universally as the mightiest and most wonderful happenings in the history of the human race. These events were [foreordained] to take place upon this planet before it was created. One of them was the coming of the Savior in the meridian of time, to die for the sins of the world; and the other is the prospective advent of the risen and glorified Redeemer, to reign upon the earth as King of kings” [“What Christmas Suggests to a Latter-day Saint,” Millennial Star, Jan. 2, 1908, 1].
In Paul’s short letter to the Galatians, he showed great concern over their apparent disbelief and their forsaking of his teachings regarding Christ. He wrote to them: “But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Gal. 4:18–19). In other words, Paul expressed himself as suffering pain and anxiety until Christ be “formed” in them. This is another way of saying “in Christ,” as that expression is used by Paul repeatedly in his writings.
It is possible for Christ to be born in men’s lives, and when such an experience actually happens, a man is “in Christ”—Christ is “formed” in him. This presupposes that we take Christ into our hearts and make Him the living contemporary of our lives. He is not just a general truth or a fact in history, but the Savior of men everywhere and at all times. When we strive to be Christlike, He is “formed” in us; if we open the door, He will enter; if we seek His counsel, He will counsel us. For Christ to be “formed” in us, we must have a belief in Him and in His Atonement. Such a belief in Christ and the keeping of His commandments are not restraints upon us. By these, men are set free. This Prince of Peace waits to give peace of mind, which may make each of us a channel of that peace.
The real Christmas comes to him who has taken Christ into his life as a moving, dynamic, vitalizing force. The real spirit of Christmas lies in the life and mission of the Master. I continue with what the writer defines as the real spirit of Christmas:
“It is a desire to sacrifice for others, to render service, and to possess a feeling of universal brotherhood. It consists of a willingness to forget what you have done for others, and to remember only what others have done for you; to ignore what the world owes you, and think only of … your duties in the middle distance, and your chance to do good and aid your fellow-men in the foreground—to see that your fellow-men are just as good as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts—to close your book of grievances against the universe, and look about you for a place to sow a few seeds of happiness and go your way unobserved” [Improvement Era, Dec. 1919, 155].
In his contemplation of the Christmas season, James Wallingford penned these lines:
Christmas is not a day or a season, but a condition of heart and mind.
If we love our neighbors as ourselves;
if in our riches we are poor in spirit and in our poverty we are rich in grace;
if our charity vaunteth not itself, but suffereth long and is kind;
if when our brother asks for a loaf, we give ourselves instead;if each day dawns in opportunity and sets in achievement, however small—
then every day is Christ’s day and Christmas is always near.
[In Charles L. Wallis, ed., Words of Life (1966), 33]
A wise man has said:
“The most amazing thing about the Christmas story is its relevance. It is at home in every age and fits into every mood of life. It is not simply a lovely tale once told, but eternally contemporary. It is the voice crying out in every wilderness. It is as meaningful in our time as in that long-ago night when shepherds followed the light of the star to the manger of Bethlehem” [Joseph R. Sizoo, in Words of Life, 33].
It has been said that Christmas is for children; but as the years of childhood fancy pass away and an understanding maturity takes their place, the simple teaching of the Savior that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) becomes a reality. The evolution from a pagan holiday transformed into a Christian festival to the birth of Christ in men’s lives is another form of maturity that comes to one who has been touched by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Find the True Spirit of Christmas
If you desire to find the true spirit of Christmas and partake of the sweetness of it, let me make this suggestion to you. During the hurry of the festive occasion of this Christmas season, find time to turn your heart to God. Perhaps in the quiet hours, and in a quiet place, and on your knees—alone or with loved ones—give thanks for the good things that have come to you, and ask that His Spirit might dwell in you as you earnestly strive to serve Him and keep His commandments. He will take you by the hand and His promises will be kept.
I know that God lives. I bear witness of the divinity of His Son, the Savior of the world, and I express appreciation for the blessing of having upon the earth a prophet of the living God.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Mom Is Requesting Pictures.....Please!
We had a death in the family the day after Hailey's wedding.... Yes, our hard drive on our computer died and with it, took all of my pictures I have taken for the past two years. You are all probably aware of my weakness with computers and backing things up properly, well...., I've learned a very tough lesson this time.
I truly am grieving like this was a death because I cannot replace those memories, so I'm sending out a plea to all of you, to help ease my remorse, could I get copies of any or all pictures you have stored of my grandkids or family get togethers, or activities you were each involved with, your weddings and engagement pictures, etc., anything since December of 2004? I've heard there are online sites that we can all post our pictures and share with each other. One I heard of is called "Photodump.com". Maybe that would be the easiest way to get them to me. I love pictures so much and I would probably do anything for you in return if you do this for me.
Love you all!
Mom
I truly am grieving like this was a death because I cannot replace those memories, so I'm sending out a plea to all of you, to help ease my remorse, could I get copies of any or all pictures you have stored of my grandkids or family get togethers, or activities you were each involved with, your weddings and engagement pictures, etc., anything since December of 2004? I've heard there are online sites that we can all post our pictures and share with each other. One I heard of is called "Photodump.com". Maybe that would be the easiest way to get them to me. I love pictures so much and I would probably do anything for you in return if you do this for me.
Love you all!
Mom
Monday, December 11, 2006
Music Test
This is a test, this is only a test. This is my first attempt at posting music.
I hope it works!
Christmas Song - Lindsey Pool
I hope it works!
Christmas Song - Lindsey Pool
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Picture Problems
This Monkey is laughing at me... he is saying mean and hurtful things because I can't figure out why we can't upload pics to our blog.
For those of you who are interested it is possible to post pictures on our blog, you just have to get them from somehwere else on the web right now. The actual uploading itself will have to be done on Fotki.
For instance... this picture of Kayla is on the Fotki... To post pictures from Fotki
just:1. Go to our Fotki account.
2. Find the photo you would like to post. (or upload it if it is not there.... see previous post "Photo Albums")
3. Right Click on the photo you wold like to post.
4. Click on "Copy Image Location".
5. Paste that location into the Photo URL field on the new post screen.
You can do this with any picture on the web. It doesn't need to be on our Fotki to work... hence the monkey :)
Hope that helps.
-Zach
(UPDATE!!! <12-08-06> I think the picture uploading works now... Check it:
So There you Have it... i don't know what went wrong, but it's fixed now!
Monday, December 4, 2006
Another Great Video... Holiday Style!
I saw this one last Christmas, and thought you might like it. Perhaps this will help Dad see that it could be worse. Mom could require this kind of light setup every year :)
I promise... this is my last video post... for a while.
Happy Christmas.
-Zach
Sunday, December 3, 2006
James Taylor Christmas
Heard it. Love it. Can see Dad playing this 100x during the holidays. Might be worth picking up.
www.jamestaylor.com
T
Buon Giorno!
Hey Fam,
Just got back to the states last night. Absolutely wonderful trip. The weather was fantastic: no rain, only really cold at night, usually sunny all day long. Art and ambiance, great people, and incredible food-- just about the perfect trip. Check out our pics on the family Fotoki site.
See you all next weekend. Ciao!
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Greetings from Snowy Seattle!!
Hello All!!
We are trying to stay warm up here, and are very much enjoying the "snow days"...which include a shortened work day!!
For those of you not aware, we received roughly 6-8 inches of fresh powder last night. Issaquah was hit harder than a lot of the surrounding area, and the streets have been covered in ice.
We took the kids out to enjoy some of the snow, and took a couple pictures. McKay is now smiling on command...but it isn't a very relaxed smile. We are still working with him on that. The had a great time with the snow. Kayla tried to make a snowman, and McKay just picked it up and threw it.
We are looking forward to seeing most of you this weekend.
The Garvins
In Honor of Hailey and Drew's Wedding...
I decided to hack into the blog as Zach and change the coloring scheme. I know that grey isn't one of Hailey's colors... but it was hard to pick something that didn't look bad... and I know that this isn't the right shade of brown -- but I didn't have a whole lot to work with :)
I am very excited for you guys and can't believe that the day is so quickly approaching!
I am very excited for you guys and can't believe that the day is so quickly approaching!
Friday, November 24, 2006
Christmas list and more..........
Hey family! Thank you Zach for starting this blog and telling me how to use it. I'm new to the blogging world but think this is a great idea. Trav and Mar, I miss you guys and just wanted to say congratulations really quick on the news of having a GIRL! I can't wait and I'm sure you guys are excited. I hope you guys are having fun in Italy, I wish I was in Italy right now!
(I re-posted Hailey's christmas list as a comment on Mom's Blog entry, just trying to save a little space. You can view it by clicking on the comments link on the bottom of Mom's Christmas List entry.)
(I re-posted Hailey's christmas list as a comment on Mom's Blog entry, just trying to save a little space. You can view it by clicking on the comments link on the bottom of Mom's Christmas List entry.)
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
All together now!
It appears that we have 100% participation now. Thanks everybody for signing up. Lets start BLOGGING!
... You might be thinking to yourself... what the heck do you write about in a blog anyway? What I am looking for is anything and everything. If you think of something funny you'd like to share just post it. Remember some childhood memory and feel like reminiscing? Write a blog. Lets use our creative writing skills and make this a virtual playground for our words and thoughts and feelings! That was cheesy.... but I think you catch my drift.
-Zach
... You might be thinking to yourself... what the heck do you write about in a blog anyway? What I am looking for is anything and everything. If you think of something funny you'd like to share just post it. Remember some childhood memory and feel like reminiscing? Write a blog. Lets use our creative writing skills and make this a virtual playground for our words and thoughts and feelings! That was cheesy.... but I think you catch my drift.
-Zach
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Christmas Lists
Hi Family,
I love that we have this family blog and all the possibilities it presents for us to stay in even closer touch and share some cool things with each other.
My request for all of you is to come up with your annual Christmas Wish Lists that you usually get to me this time of year. I thought it would be a great idea to post your wish lists on this blog so that everyone can have access to the lists when you are trying to pick out gifts for the person/persons on your list. Because of Hailey's wedding, this year is going to be especially hectic so it would be extremely helpful to have these wish lists as soon as possible. Input your lists as a comment to this blog entry. Just click on the word comment.
I love my family oh, so much!
Mom
I love that we have this family blog and all the possibilities it presents for us to stay in even closer touch and share some cool things with each other.
My request for all of you is to come up with your annual Christmas Wish Lists that you usually get to me this time of year. I thought it would be a great idea to post your wish lists on this blog so that everyone can have access to the lists when you are trying to pick out gifts for the person/persons on your list. Because of Hailey's wedding, this year is going to be especially hectic so it would be extremely helpful to have these wish lists as soon as possible. Input your lists as a comment to this blog entry. Just click on the word comment.
I love my family oh, so much!
Mom
It's a Girl!
I think most of you know by now, but wanted to post the evidence anyway. For those who have as tough of a time interpreting these things as I do, this is a butts-up shot that proved our new arrival will be a she. We're still reserving the right to change our mind, but Mar and I think we've decided on a name: Darcy Grace Everton.
T
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Posted Pics of Peru and Bolivia
Hey Fam,
I'm already converted to the family blog thing. Zach wanted me to post my pics from my trip to Peru and Bolivia, so I've done so at our family Fotki site (thanks for setting that up Zach).
Here's the link
Friday, November 17, 2006
Naughty and Nice
Announcing the 2006 Everton Christmas List. Here are the match ups...
Travis has Zach
Margaret has Kimball
Melissa has Hailey
Kimball has Mallory
Zach has Drew
Ksenia has Melissa
Beau has Travis
Hailey has Beau
Drew has Margaret
Mallory has Kyle
and
Kyle has Ksenia
So send your Christmas wishes to the family member that be. And MERRY CHRISTMAS!
T
Travis has Zach
Margaret has Kimball
Melissa has Hailey
Kimball has Mallory
Zach has Drew
Ksenia has Melissa
Beau has Travis
Hailey has Beau
Drew has Margaret
Mallory has Kyle
and
Kyle has Ksenia
So send your Christmas wishes to the family member that be. And MERRY CHRISTMAS!
T
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Photo Albums
Okay. So I have been trying to explore the depth of this system we have here. I thought we'd be able to post albums somehow, but that doesn't seem to work. But I have opened up an rkeverton account on www.fotki.com . So when you want to share photographs with all of us, all you need to do is log onto our fotki account and upload your pictures there. You can upload many at a time so if you have hundreds worth, you can put them online in huge chunks. I'd recommend about 50 at a time. Depending on your connection speed that should take about 90 seconds per batch.
in the interest of demonstration, I took the liberty of posting Me and Ksenia's Wedding photo's... well most of them. I'll put the rest up soon. Just click this handy dandy link and.... VIOLA! Pictures :)
For those of you want to log in and try uploading pictures you can access our account with this information:
Login ID: rkeverton
Password: tmzbhm (first initials of all the children... duh)
In order to upload pictures just follow these simple directions:
1. Once you are logged into www.Fotki.com, on the left side of the page, click on 'Photo Albums'.
2. Then Click on 'Create New Album'.
3. Fill in the necessary information to label the album (not all the fields are required) and click 'Create Album' at thhe bottom of the screen.
4. Now that you have a new album it should show up on the screen. Click on the 'add photos' link. This should take you to a screen that will give you different options for uploading.
5. The easiest one to use is the Windows XP Publishing Wizard. Click on the 'Fotoki.exe' link and follow the directions to download it.
6. Now install it by clicking on the Fotoki.exe icon that should've been downloaded to your desktop.
7. From here it is easy. You go to the file folder where the pictures are that you want to upload. Highlight the ones you want. Then under the 'File and Folder Tasks' section there is a link called 'Publish this file to the web'.
8. Now follow the directions in the wizard, and soon, your pictures will be posted.
Have fun!
in the interest of demonstration, I took the liberty of posting Me and Ksenia's Wedding photo's... well most of them. I'll put the rest up soon. Just click this handy dandy link and.... VIOLA! Pictures :)
For those of you want to log in and try uploading pictures you can access our account with this information:
Login ID: rkeverton
Password: tmzbhm (first initials of all the children... duh)
In order to upload pictures just follow these simple directions:
1. Once you are logged into www.Fotki.com, on the left side of the page, click on 'Photo Albums'.
2. Then Click on 'Create New Album'.
3. Fill in the necessary information to label the album (not all the fields are required) and click 'Create Album' at thhe bottom of the screen.
4. Now that you have a new album it should show up on the screen. Click on the 'add photos' link. This should take you to a screen that will give you different options for uploading.
5. The easiest one to use is the Windows XP Publishing Wizard. Click on the 'Fotoki.exe' link and follow the directions to download it.
6. Now install it by clicking on the Fotoki.exe icon that should've been downloaded to your desktop.
7. From here it is easy. You go to the file folder where the pictures are that you want to upload. Highlight the ones you want. Then under the 'File and Folder Tasks' section there is a link called 'Publish this file to the web'.
8. Now follow the directions in the wizard, and soon, your pictures will be posted.
Have fun!
I'LL GIVE IT A TRY
I never have thought of myself as a blogger. This isn't much of a first note, but it's a start.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Welcome One and All!!!
Hello! Glad you found your way here! This is the Robert K Everton Family Blogspot... barring some sort of veto by the namesake.
During our last visit to the Utah, Travis and I were discussing how cool it would be to have a place to make posts as a family, and post pictures for family enjoyment. I like the google interface, so I've gone ahead and chosen a place to make it happen. I'm still learning how this all works, but hopefully we'll get you all up and operating on this thing very very soon.
I'll e-mail you with directions on how to do what.
-Zach
During our last visit to the Utah, Travis and I were discussing how cool it would be to have a place to make posts as a family, and post pictures for family enjoyment. I like the google interface, so I've gone ahead and chosen a place to make it happen. I'm still learning how this all works, but hopefully we'll get you all up and operating on this thing very very soon.
I'll e-mail you with directions on how to do what.
-Zach
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