brace yourself...

...for Caylin's new look!
Before:

During:

After:

January stuff

As we talked with the girls about goals and plans for the year we decided that we would like to have any Friday night that we are all home be make-your-own-pizza night. We're hoping that we get at least 1 Friday a month. We'll see how it goes! Megan, Jeff, and I all like Papa Murphy's chicken garlic pizza, so we stopped by to see if we could buy some sauce. The manager sold us a little bit and then said, "You know what this is? It's just ranch dressing with diced garlic in it." So next time - we'll try it ourselves! (By the way, the chicken we used was Costco's rotisserie chicken, all chopped up - soooooo good!)

A lady I work with told me about Zenni Optical online. The girls and I tried it. You just need your prescription and your pupil distance. You can upload a picture of yourself to "try on" the glasses. These are our picks - it was a great deal and they should be here in a few days.

Habit 7

Sharpen the Saw - The habit of balanced personal renewal...

Habit 7 is about preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have - you.

It's renewing the four dimensions of your nature - physical, spiritual, mental, and social/emotional.

It's time spent reviewing, reflecting...


recognizing and appreciating...

cultivating and enjoying...

the big picture...

and small moments of influence that shape our lives.

Christmas Season 2010

Each year we go to the same Christmas Tree Farm. As much as the location has become a tradition, we look forward to the comment by the older gentleman who runs it. He sees Caylin and says, "Red hair...I used to have red hair like that when I was younger."



No brown paper packages this year - we went for coordinating Hallmark wrap!

We enjoyed spending time with Kyle and Justine, who were home from the military.


Baking...

...too many things all at once!

A quiet Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa Waite's - just 6 of us.
Grandma made oyster stew, Megan made chicken noodle soup and learned how to do the homemade noodles by herself this year, Caylin made potato chowder.


Christmas Eve jammies.

Christmas morning surprises.
I was pleased to find that my girls aren't too big for teddy bears!


Caylin's last big surprise - her own desk!

Fun new look for the girl's bathroom.


Yummy Christmas feast!

Spencer and Nicole and boys were here for dinner and Kyle and Justine spent most of the day with us - it was a wonderful day. We missed Ryan and Ashlynn, but were glad to know they were having a great time with Ashlynn's family in Utah.

Christmas Letter 2010

CHRISTMAS PICTURE AND LETTER DISCLAIMER: I made a list and checked it once or twice, then addressed and mailed about 20, dropped them in the mail and headed off to a Christmas concert with the intention of finishing "tomorrow" - well, I must have tossed my list in the recycle pile because it disappeared! Since I'm not sure who was checked off the list I thought I'd post this season's greetings and hope it finds those interested and those of you who got recycled! (This is Oregon, and we have been encouraged to be green!)

Merry Christmas From the Waite's!

What we’ve been up to the past 2 years …

1… ONE returned missionary. Ryan completed a mission to Southern California. He decided to transfer from U of O to BYU. He quickly got back into track shape and had a great season. Ryan did well in his conference and went on to compete in the NCAA and USA Nationals for Track and Field. We were excited to watch most of his races on live internet feeds.

ONE enlisted in the military. Kyle graduated from high school, worked around here for a while and decided to join the Army. He left this past May for basic training and is now working on his advanced training.

2… TWO kids got married! Kyle & Justine eloped to the downtown waterfront and a local judge. They met at soldier training and were married May 17, 2010 just before Kyle left for basic training. After our initial surprise – we quickly got to know Justine and also fell in love with her. She left for basic training in July and is at a different base for her advanced training.They’ve got some interesting adventures ahead!

Ryan & Ashlynn met last November on a blind date. They were married in the Oquirrh Mtn. Temple August 20, 2010. We really love Ashlynn and are thrilled to add her to our family. She is also a student at BYU and is studying Exercise Science. Ryan is majoring in Communications and would like to coach track on a college level.

3… THREE trips to Utah and back (13 hours one-way). Once in October ‘09 to take Ryan to BYU, once this past April for a track meet, meet Ashlynn, attend conference, then back again in August for a wedding.

4…all FOUR kids home for Christmas last year and now FOUR is the number of people living in our home!

5…FIVE people in this family –including the boys- who are taller than me. Caylin has passed me and Megan.

6… Jeff spent SIX months as the Bishop of our ward before he was called to be the Stake President. It will be 2 years in March that he has been serving in this calling. It has been a time of personal growth for all of us.

7…SEVEN years we’ve lived in this home. There have been times of joy, challenge, and opportunity, times of adventure, excitement, and change…we are thankful for the experiences of these times and look forward with hope for what lies ahead.

8…(well – EIGHT x 4) that’s the number of meals I have prepared for various Stake functions. This includes the past 2 years as Stake YW camp cook. I have enjoyed it and I plan to be back next year!

9…NINE different sport seasons for the girls since last letter - volleyball, basketball, and track for Caylin; cross country, basketball, and track for Megan. Caylin finds that basketball is her sport of choice. Megan loves to run and has earned varsity letters in both cross country and track.

10…last of the TEN hour projects completed in the Young Women’s Personal Progress Program and Megan received her YW medallion last month.

We have been truly blessed and send our love to you at this season of joy!

Ryan & Ashlynn's Wedding

August 20, 2010 in South Jordan, Utah, at the Oquirrh Mtn. Temple, Ryan and Ashlynn began their new life together. It was a beautiful ceremony, quiet and simple. The sealer remarked that these two have prepared to be here at this time and then he spoke of influence, the influence that these two have had and will continue to have on others, and the influences that have brought them to this point in their lives. He spoke of families, of this new family they are creating and of their responsibility and opportunity to go forward together. After they were sealed they were able to look in the mirrors of the sealing room and see that as an individual the image comes a stopping point; with the two of them together the image continues without end. There were also many things that were not said, but were felt. It was a joyful occasion!

We were privileged to be at the temple with Ryan and Ashlynn
and to have so many family members there with us.

Congratulations!

PFC Waite

Kyle has been at basic training in the Army at Fort Jackson, South Carolina since June. He graduated on Aug. 12 and is now in Texas for his advanced training as a Signals Intelligence Analyst. He is at Goodfellow Air Force Base for that.

This is with his company. He's the one in the front on the right with the large dark glasses! All of the soldiers who wore corrective lenses-contacts or their own glasses- were issued a pair of protective prescription glasses - I don't remember what he called them, but he didn't like them very much! He was happy to be able to put on his contacts again.

This is right after graduation, going to spend some time with his in laws. He got his phone back so he was able to call us.

I think it was a good experience for Kyle. One of the best and hardest times there was last Sunday when he got to see Justine at church. It was her 1st time to attend church on the base and his last. It was good to see each other, but hard to leave again. The plan is that when they are both finished with their advanced training they will be stationed together.
Good Job, Kyle! We are proud of you.