*****Tomato Horn Worm*****

In our new backyard the previous owners had some tomato plants that they obviously didn't take much care of. The kids were exploring the yard and were excited to find a "caterpillar". I immediately recognized it as the pests they were. For anyone growing tomatoes you know you do not want to find a tomato horn worm anywhere near your garden. Since I didn't care much about the plants I let Megan and Cameron each keep one in a jar. Each morning and evening they would pick tomato leaves for them. It was amazing how quickly they grew. By the end we only had one horn worm left. It was very fat and starting to turn a brown color. I thought it was dying. We asked a woman at the Houston Museum about it. She said that horn worms change under ground. We looked it up online and sure enough she was right. The kids filled a jar with dirt and placed the lethargic caterpillar on top. Within a few hours it dug all the way to the bottom. A few weeks later we came home from scouts late. I wanted the kids to go straight to bed, but they are masters at finding a way to stay up just alittle bit longer. Megan looked into the jar and said, "Mom, the caterpillar turned into a moth." Sure enough the moth had crawled from the dirt and was sitting on top of it with wet wings. Cameron pulled it quickly out and let it crawl all over him. After 30 minutes they let it go outside. I'm sure to have tomato horn worm problems next year!

Texas - Summer Fun

The first few weeks in Texas we didn't know anyone and the kids were tired of helping me unpack. Each afternoon I took them out somewhere. Many times we went to the community pool just down the street. This helped us beat the heat and the kids had a lot of fun together.

"Pan - Cake"

Moving is always such an adventure. After the trouble we had with our movers we were just grateful to eventually get our things. For Doug's birthday our things hadn't yet arrived. I wanted to make him a cake, but I only had a frying pan. I remembered Jeanette making a pizza in a frying pan and thought I would try it out. The cake looked funny but was actually pretty good!

Megan wanted to decorate the cake and begged me to buy the letters that go on top. I let Nathan and Megan decorate it. I laughed when I saw what it said. I asked Nathan how he had decided to write "you're the man". He said that it was the best way he could think of to use up as many letters as possible! I really enjoy the kids as they grow up!

My first crack at it!

After a wonderful internship and experience in Boston this summer, we came back to Ithaca, NY a week after the birth of Malynn Jaroldeen Monson at Mass General. We saw all the sights and sounds of a Boston summer (the perfect time to be there, especially the 4th of July), but we are so happy to be HOME in Ithaca again. We really love it here; the ward, the people, the beauty, the school, our friends, the fun; and we are so sad to be going in May. It is going to swing around before we know it and I don't want to say goodbye to any of it (except for maybe the being really poor and living in an apartment that is more similar to a dorm room).

This month has been crazy busy with Matt trying to get back into the swing of school and devoting all of his "extra" time to the real estate competition team he is on, and me trying to get used to an extra body in the house. Malynn is actually an angel baby, making the transition pretty smooth and even enjoyable. The kids love her and are very gentle and sweet with her. She already is sleeping from about 9pm to 5am and then back to sleep until 8am or so. Another thing that has happened this month was Sienna's first school experience. Only 20 some odd years to go right? She is in a public pre-K program at the elementary school. She gets on the bus every morning at 7:30 and home at 2:20 with a short day on Fridays. She absolutely LOVES it! I don't think there is any other child that is more compatible with school! Oh, and mom loves it too :)

Wow, we have a blog?!?

I didn't know we had this blog site until Bryan mentioned it tonight. This also means I haven't read anything that anyone's put on here; so, I'll be busy catching up as well as wondering if anyone will read the nonsense I'm now writing.

Bryan and I had a fun evening. We first went to the Boston temple for a session and then went to a restaurant to watch the Celtics/Laker's game #3. It wasn't looking good for Boston, so we're now back home.

This picture was taken by a good friend in the ward. I thought the expression on the face of Sienna said it all.

Palmyra...

A few pictures from the Palmyra trip...

Message to Doug and Catherine

See how happy we are? Please don't move anyplace that would take us more than a day to get to you!!! I don't think any of us would survive.

Happy Birthday MOM!

Happy birthday, Mom.

My favorite memory of Mom - I was watching video from the recent visit of mom & Cath and kids. I was watching video of mom making colored eggs with Megan and Jessica. It was really nothing special, but it was a great reminder of how involved mom is in all her grandchildren's lives. I am so grateful that she loves my children and loves to spend time with them. She is such a good sport. We drug her all over the Zoo during her visit and not once did she complain about her back. (And I know it had to be sore, because mine was sore and I don't have back troubles!)

I love you and wonder how I was so lucky to get a mother like you. You are a great example.

Love Laura

Happy Birthday Mom

So! I'm realizing what a brilliant idea it was years ago for Mom to have her birthday be the secret Monson alarm code! For the rest of our lives your kids will NEVER forget your birthday! "4-2-4-8" (Uh oh, I hope Jason Higga or Jonny Wolf don't intercept this email)

Even though some of the siblings didn't have quite as much repetition using the Code as others, after figuring out how to duct-tape the alarm sensors.

But it's a great idea, and don't be surprised someday to come over to my house and have to key in: 12-5-74 to get in. :)

Mom, I love you so much, and have so many wonderful wonderful memories growing up. I remember as a kid being "sick" (I use that term loosely) and you giving me a day off, driving up to Nordstrom's 1/2 yearly sale in Murray, and buying a cool "Pure Stuff" shirt, and then going to Chick Fillet. My first button-up. I also remember a Karate tournament we all went to in Salt Lake, when Matt was sparring this poor kid and did a spinning round-house kick (Jim Woolwin style) and in one fail swoop clocked the living day-lights out of him (I think that was the same tournament where Matt filled out the Scientology card that of course, resulted in the Monsons being the first family on the block to get caller ID). Anyway, after all 5 of us loaded Matt's trophy (that looked like a miniature of the Sears Tower) into the back of the Dodge, you took us all to the Panarama Room at the U of U for prime rib and endless desserts. And of course, who can forget 1986, our Mom taking us to see Ferris Bueller's Day Off off at Carollin Square. I remember you laughing hysterically at Ed Rooney and the rottweiler. Ah those were the days.

You ALWAYS insisted on taking us everywhere. In all seriousness, I always always felt so loved growing up, and had an amazing childhood. We have always had such a happy happy home, and I realize that so much of the closeness and love that we share as a family now, is attributed to the tone of love, and kindness and happiness that you set for us all those years growing up. As I grew up and piece by piece learned the gospel from you, I always associated obedience to the commandments with love and goodness, happiness and the feeling of home because of your loving kindness.

I love you so much, and am so grateful for an incredible Mom, whose faith-filled life of constant service and love to us and others has blessed us immeasurably. Love you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, and SAVE FERRIS! ~

Love always,
Bryan

PS- "So...that's how it is in their family" - Ed Rooney

Hellllloooo From Freezing Boston!

Hey Everyone! HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope everyone's New Year was great. Life is good as always. I can hardly believe I am more than halfway finished with the infamous internship year. work is great, always so much to learn, always so many great experiences. Dad, you should be proud to hear that I am using the Dragon software you bought me to type this. Thanks for the Christmas present, I love it! We must be related :) I think my spelling is the best it has been in my entire life! I will never mis-spell 'coming' again!

We've gotten so much snow out here. I was skiing in Vermont on New Year's Day and it snowed 8 inches while we were on the slopes. We found this great ski resort that I think convinced me I could settle on the East Coast. the name of it is Killington. The resort is operated by the same company that owns the Canyons in Park City. At that base of the mountain is this little village that looked like moms miniature Christmas cottages. So much fun.

I am getting ready for the new year with our Sunday school teachers in our Ward. always a great experience. Below is a quote that I came across while preparing for teacher development, that I love. It speaks to the boldness and preparedness each of us should have in bearing testimony of the restoration:

While in Philadelphia, Joseph Smith was invited to a very large church opened for him to preach in with Parley P Pratt and Sydney Rigdon. Elder Pratt writes, "There was about three thousand people assembled to hear him. Brother Rigdon spoke first, and dwelt on the Gospel, illustrating his doctrine by the Bible. When he was through, brother Jospeh arose like a lion about to roar; and being full of the Holy Ghost, spoke in great power, bearing testimony of the visions he had seen, the ministering of angels which he had enjoyed; and how he had found the plates of the Book of Mormon, and translated them by the gift and power of God. He commenced by saying: 'if nobody else had the courage to testify of so glorious a message from Heaven, and of the finding of so glorious a record, he felt to do it in justice to the people, and leave the event with God.'

The entire congregation were astounded; electrified, as it were, and overwhelmed with the sense of the truth and power by which he spoke, and the wonders which he related. A lasting impression was made; many soulds were gathered into the fold. And I bear witness, that he, by his faithful and powerful testimony, cleared his garments of their blood. Multitudes were baptized in Philadelphia and in the regions around; while , at the same time, branches were springing up in Pennsylvania, in Jersey and in various directions."

-Parley P. Pratt. Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt (Salt Lake City; Deseret Book, 1985) pp. 260-1.

Love you all! Look forward to seeing you all very soon. Which reminds me, is anyone interested in getting a cabin for Christmas next year?