Snow! and a great opportunity,

It has been snowing for over 2 hours now! It is so beautiful. I know those that have to travel in it don't like it, but it is still gorgeous! We probably have 4 inches of new snow and adding! Christina and I will be going in to Logan this afternoon for a chance for her to audition for the Utah Festival Opera. She was called by her ballet teacher to go try out. They will perform Hans Christian Anderson. They need 8-10 dancers and a professional choreographer is coming in from New York City to over see the audition! This will be a great opportunity just to be with a professional dancer!

Brough Party

We had a good time visiting, lots of good food, the Nephite pageant and a big surprise from Tom and Elise! They showed up around 2:00 and surprised us all! It was so fun to see them and how much Olivia and Savannah have grown. They say they are home for good now. They don't have to go back to Arizona. Here we are doing the Nephite Christmas pageant and watching the children get to know each other.

Robert and Natalie Hansen, Anarie and Steven Petroff, Grandma Brough, Lieren and Kent Hansen, Lana Hansen.

Holly Smith on Grandma Brenda Kauer's lap, Danny Kauer, Elise and Tom Petroff, Olivia Petroff, Emily Hansen, Savannah Petroff, Anthony and Trudy Petroff, Bob Petroff, Christina Petroff.

Emily Helm, Savannah Petroff hugging each other while watching Winnie the Pooh.

Holly Smith joining in the fun with Savannah and Emily! It was a fun day to visit with everyone!

Nutcracker Ballet

Christina in her Russian costume ithe the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince.

A group of young men and women who came from the ward to see her.

Christina danced in Special Friends, Snow, and Russian in the Nutcracker Ballet. She really loves this ballet. She thought she would have some time off between this and the High School musical Peter Pan, but NO they start rehersals tomorrow! No rest. It's a good thing she likes to stay busy.

Petroff Christmas Party

Enjoying the pageant!

We met for our annual Christmas party Saturday December 13. We received a good snowstorm that morning, so not everyone came up, fearing Sardine Canyon! We had a nice dinner, enjoyed the pageant, visiting and playing games. Merry Christmas!

Up coming performances

Christina tried out for a part in Sky View High School's musical "Peter Pan". She received a call-back for Tiger Lily, but didn't get that part. She is the first twin as one of the lost boys. She is excited to have a speaking part instead of just being in the ensemble. She also rehearsing for the Nutcracker. It will be Nov. 28, 29 and Dec. 1. She will be in three dances. She loves performing in the Nutcracker. Ballet is one of her favorite things to do. One look at her toes and you will know!

Birthday

I celebrated my 48th birthday yesterday. It was nice. We went out to dinner and then to Sky View High School's "Sky High Players" Variety show. Christina is in it. She performed many dances and did a great job. It was a relaxing day, even though I still went to work!

New Month Tid bits

Halloween was nice and warm, in the 70's and then comes November! We had snow and rain all day today! We have 1-2 inches of snow on the ground at our house. It was so fun to watch it snow all day. Dad is going to dialysis 3 times a week now. He is still very weak and trying to figure out why he is still here. It has been a trying time for Mother, me and everyone else. We just take one procedure at a time and see how things will go from there. Go to my bog and see the fun back ground! Fall is here to stay!

Dad/Grandpa's condition

Thanks to all of you who joined in our Fast for Grandpa. He said thanks to all for your concern for him. He is still in the hospital. The doctors were going to let him go home Tuesday, but when they took the oxygen off, his oxygen level went down below 90. Bob talked to a nurse and said he was concerned about him coming home when his O2 level is so low. She was too. The nurse then talked to some doctors and they decided to keep him in the hospital until they can get some more water off his lungs. Grandpa decided to go ahead and have dialysis. He wants to be able to spend a little more time with Grandma. Grandpa will have surgery on Thursday to prepare him for dialysis. Then depending on how he feels the doctors will release him from the hospital. Please continue to include him in yours prayers. Please pray for Grandma also. She definatley needs comfort right now. Keep in touch.

Christina's new formal.

Christina needed a formal for the High School Variety show she is in, so we went shopping all over town to find her one. The biggest problem was finding one small enough to fit her and then the next problem was finding a modest one. We found this one, which she loves! I will have to hem it, otherwise it fits beautifully. She really likes the back! She will then use it for when she gets asked to a dance.

In the hospital again!

I am beginning to wonder if the VA Hospital is Dad's/Grandpa's "home away from home"! But seriously, I drove Mom/Grandma and Dad down to the VA Hospital Thursday afternoon. He hadn't been feeling well for a week and went to see the Doctor in Smithfield. He told him to go to the Hospital now and not wait. He was having a difficult time breathing. After many tests in the Hospital, they found out that he has a large amount of water on the lungs, which caused his heart stress by having to pump harder to get oxygen. Because of his heart transplant, his kidneys have been under extreme stress for many years. They are barely working. This is one of the reasons his lungs are filling up with water. Plus his leg looked like it was ready to pop, because of so much water retention. After a few breathing treatments, mega doses of lasix, and oxygen, he is breathing much better but still raspy. He will have to be in the hospital a few days.

First Snow fall!

We had our first snowfall on Sunday Oct. 12. It was so fun to see, and very pretty! It snowed maybe an inch or two, but it melted after an hour or two. That's what usually happens the first time around. It has been cold here for the past week. We had a great September! Nice and warm and no frost until October! I am excited because UEA is coming up on Thurs. 16 and Fri. 17, so that means I get two days off from work! Yeah!

Fare well to Jacob!

We went to hear Jacob talk Sunday. He did a great job. He will make a great missionary. He leaves Wednesday to serve the Lord on his mission in Everrett, Washington. Before he spoke, all the family that could, came to Lana and Mike's house for what she said would be a "light" lunch. It was nothing of the sort! We had a salad bar and potatoe bar to choose from! It was very good and very filling. After church friends, and more friends, until the chapel was emptied (along with family) came to visit him. A few of us teased that they all came for the free punch and cookies and then left. But, really, Jacob had a good group to support him. I was able to get a few pictures of the gathering afterwards.

This is Brenda (my sister) being her mischeivious self, mixing up peoples shoes.

These are some of the lucky ones that were able to find there shoes. The guys had the hardest time, because most of them wore the black, dress shoe!

Jacob is there in the middle saying good-bye to some of his friends.

Jacob saying good-bye to his girlfriend Holly.

Lana (holding the camera, Jacob's Mom, Sandra's sister) Christina in pink, Kent (Jacob's brother) standing behind his wife Lieren, Clark (with hat, counsin in-law one of Brenda's son-in-laws)

Conference

We enjoyed our semi-annual conference family dinner. We get together each conference on Sunday and have a big "Thanksgiving" dinner. We use our best dishes and invite Mom and Dad over too. We of course watch morning and afternoon conference together. It makes for a nice day being with family and hearing the words of the prophets. Always inspiring and gives us ideas we can improve on!

Halloween pre-view

Since Tom and Elise are leaving for Arizona, they gave us a preview of their Halloween costumes. It was pretty cute. Olivia makes a cute Bee! Savannah a "dreadful" pirate!

Hutching Picnic, Primary Activities

On Saturday we met at Murray Park for a gathering with the Hutching family. We had a good time visiting, renewing relationships with cousins and eating. It was a nice day until after 3:00 then it started raining off and on. So, we all said our goodbyes until next year. PRIMARY ACTIVITY: I also had a Primary activity that morning in the on again off again rain. We had it in the park under the pavilion because there was a funeral going on in the church house. Our theme was "Heavenly Father and Jesus know my Name." We had a good turnout in spite of the rain. We did the Primary Sacrament Meeting Program on Sunday in Sacrament Meeting. It went really well. It's good to have done so I don't have to worry about that anymore!

A day at the park before leaving for Arizona.

Tom and Elise and family are going to be going to Arizona again for a few months for work, so we got together at the park for a picnic dinner to be with them before they leave. They are leaving Sept. 22 and won't be back until close to Christmas. Olivia is experimenting with crawling. Isn't Olivia the cutest!?! Of course Grandma and Grandpa think she is! Savannah was having a great time on the slide. Anthony would send her down and then come "growling" after her. She would scream and laugh. (Trudy was working and Steven and Anarie were busy with school) Christina being a monkey. Savannah and Anthony in the back. Below they are having fun climbing the chains. It was a nice day for a picnic. We played until it was dark.

Boating

We went boating on August 23 and then again on September 13. It was so fun on August 23. The water was cool, but not cold and the weather was great. Bob and I went with Steven, Anarie, her sister Kelsey, Anthony and Trudy. We tubed, wake boarded and skiied. The best part was playing in the middle of the lake while wearing our life vests. We wanted to go one more time before the weather turned cold. In September it was just Bob, me, Anthony and Trudy. We didn't do much playing in the water this time, because even though it was a nice day the water was a lot colder! But it was so fun and relaxing. We also fished. Ha! Ha! It was more like we put our lines in the water and then listened to the BYU football game. Here are some pictures of each of us being brave! This is Anthony skiing, we apparently didn't get him wakeboarding. This is a Sandra skiing. Brave! This is Trudy. This is Bob. This is Anthony.

More about Christina!!

She had both her big toenails cut on Monday because of in-grown toenails. She handled the pain really well. She is hobbling around with huge band-aid wraps on them right now. We will try to reduce the size of the band-aid soon so she can start walking normal again. She has started singing lessons again every Wednesday and Ballet lessons on Tues. and Thurs. and Company Ballet rehersals Saturdays for four hours, and Jazz classes on Friday. She is also in the School Variety show which practices everyday for an hour. Soon they will start practicing early in the morning before school starts. I don't think she would know what to do without a dozen things to do. She still fits Young womens in there on Wednesday nights. I am so glad she is able to drive now so that I can have a break and not have to be every where she is all the time!

New Calling!

Bob has been called as the Young Men's President. He is a little nervous about this. He had been the 11 year old Scout leader for five years before this. He hopes he will be able to adust for 11 year olds to 16-18 year olds!

Celebrate America Show

The week of September 1-6 was a very busy one for Christina. She went to school until 3:00 pm, then came home and put her makeup on and fixed her hair, then left for Celebrate America Shows at 4:00 pm and got home usually around 12:30 am. It was a great show to see. We went to the family showing (thier dress rehersal) on Tuesday and then Bob and I went to the dinner and show on Saturday night. They served a fabulous buffet, then performed the show which was a very fast paced, high energy show! And then the "Big Band" played songs to dance to for over 2 hours! It was great! Here are a few pictures of the action! This is the opening number "Puttin' on the Ritz". Christina is in the front. You can see the band in the back of some of these pictures. This is the recognition of all the military, firefighters, and policemen. Christina is on the far right, holding a rifle. She would do flips and tosses with it. This picture is during the family show (dress rehersal). They wore these wigs for the hula. Christina did hula so well! Christina is in the center back. This is a dance and song offering all the service men a "Merry Christmas" This is still part of the dance for a "Merry Christmas". Christina is fourth from the guy. This is one of the lifts Christina got to do. Others tried out, but they couldn't do them, so Christina got to be the one to do 3 lifts. She loves doing lifts. After the show, during the "Big Band" dancing, the cast was allowed to dance also as long as they wore formals and looked professional. Christina borrowed this one from Anarie. Christina with Joseph (her boy friend?!) and Nate.

Christina's "Sweet Sixteen" SURPRISE birthday party!

SURPRISE!!

Acadia is the one in the brown blouse, Joseph is Christina's date.

The group of friends having a good time!

Joseph and Christina working to get that par!

Rachel (Acadia's sister) made the sign. Cool caligraphy!

Amanda (fixing her hair) is one of the other girls who helped plan this fun event. They are now at Acadia's house. The dog's name is Star.

Refreshment time.

Must capture this moment on memory!

Christina's friend, Acadia, planned a surprise party for! She started planning clear back in January! She got some friends together and they planned to have a miniature golf game and then go back to Acadia's house for a dance. The friends were invited to bring dates or just come "stag". We got this boy Christina knows from "The Celebrate America show" to ask her out on a date. All along she just thought she was going on her first date! Then when she got to the Celebration Center she found out differently! She had a really good time.

Tabernacel Noon Show-Preview of Celebrate America Show

This is two different Hula dances. They are just wearing their cast t-shirts and black dance skirts. They will have beautiful costumes for the show. Singers in the back ground. With one main singer for one of the dances below. Christina is on the far right in all the pictures. This is the dance "Puttin' on the ritz'" It is going to be such a vibrant show! The crowd here was thouroughly enjoy it!