{ utah part 2 }

While we were in Utah we were able to attend the Draper Temple open house. Before they dedicate the temple and start the temple work they allow the public to tour the inside. It's a beautiful temple located at the base of the mountains.  Because of parking issues at the temple we took a shuttle to get there and the boys ears were popping.  We are so used to sea level!

{ utah part 1 }

We just returned from a busy week in Utah. Last Wednesday we got a phone call that Pa, Marcus' father, passed away. It was completely unexpected. Pa was at work when he suffered a heart attack. By the time his co workers found him he was already gone. We never thought his call to return to Heavenly Father would come so soon. It still doesn't seem real. Pa was an amazing man. To say he loved the gospel would be an understatement. He lived and breathed the the gospel. If only we all were that diligent! Here are a few pictures of my handsome father-in-law.

The family in a refugee camp in Thailand (Marcus is the one with the huge head)

Pa with his head shaved for a Buddhist traditon

Pa in a recent trip to Laos

Ma and Pa in Maine with Jordan

{ chopped }

{ Dongjun }

I'm so late posting this! For the past 2 weeks we've had the pleasure of having a house guest from Korea. His name is Dongjun, but we call him Jun (pronounced "June"). He's 18 (19 in Korea) and will only be staying with us for another 2 weeks. It's only a short stay but we have had a lot of fun with Jun here. We have a very active and crazy house and Jun has adapted very well! He even will pacify the boys and play PS3 with them over and over! The boys love him! It must be because he's one of 3 brothers also! I trust that the Simagna House will be an American experience he will never forget!

{ snow }

Yesterday we took the snowmobile over to Mimi's hill for some snowboarding, snowskating, and sledding. Of course we all couldn't fit on one snowmobile so Tanner, Jordan and I pulled Charlie and Caleb in the sled. Let me tell you, sledding is so much more fun and easier with a snomobile! You don't have to walk up the big hill!

{ happy 2009 }

We had a nice quiet New Year's Eve. Marcus, I and the boys (and Charlie, Caleb's best friend) had our own little party to bring in 2009. First we all wrote down out 2009 resolutions. Jordan's had a very interesting illustration. Then we played Imaginif..? and drank sparkling cider and ate. At midnight we counted down and watch the ball drop in Times Square, NYC. The boys all blew their horns and screamed. It was a fun night. The pictures are not that great because I took them on my iphone.

{ family newsetter }

Here's the family newsletter my mom sends out. I had to simplify it for her. She always wants to write a book on each family member. I told her, "Mom, no one cares that Jon published a book, Jerry moved in, Laura goes to Harvard, or that Dad has a bulging disc in his back. They just want to see how old and fat we are."