Christmas 2007

Merry Christmas 2007 Everyone!
As the Christmas season descends upon us, it brings one of our favorite forms of water--snow. It's a tradition at our house to heap the snow into a hill in the front yard to create a miniature sleigh run. Our front yard has just enough slope, that with a small hill to start from, the kids can sleigh ride all winter long just outside the door as long as the snow stays on the ground. This example is just one of how "water" has made a big “wave” in our lives this past year.
A few months ago, Mark "dove" right into a water project by resurrecting our old, 50-gallon fish tank. Little did Deb know that the ultimatum to sell the tank or set it up would lead to another hobby--saltwater sealife. (She just wanted room to park the trailblazer in the garage.) The tank is entertaining and educational and definitely adds to the kitchen decor. In addition to his engineering job at HMG, he did many sound jobs. He did several school dances, the monthly Tremonton 30+ singles dances, various stake and region dances, a Soda Springs youth conference, two healing field events, the Scottish Festival and many more. He still has beehives and seems to fit in many other hobbies such as rock climbing, snowshoeing, biking, etc. by being a scout leader.
Deb is "drowning" in her and everyone else's schedule She still coordinates the A+ ALS Computer System (Granite District's Online High School) from home for about 4-8 hours a week and still teaches a few hours a week at the Granite Peaks Kearns campus. She is now the ward's Wolf/Bear Den leader and still attends Girl's Camp every summer as the music/sound specialist. "Tugboating" everyone around to all their lessons and sports keeps her "waterlogged." Lately, for fun, she "sails" around helping Mark with his sound jobs.
Kaelei is 15 and in 10th grade. She "plunges" her whole heart into everything she does. She surprised us all when she announced she was joining the high school swim/water polo team this school year. She might as well grow gills and fins because she sometimes spends more time in the water than she does in bed. She is up around 5:30 a.m., six days a week for practice and spends 2-4 hours a day in the pool. She also runs and lifts weights as part of her training program. She is a natural at swimming has achieved rare rookie times in the freestyle. She can't wait to try water polo in spring. Needless to say, she has become extremely physically fit. Her only complaint is that her new perfume is chlorine. She still plays the violin and piano, twirls baton and dances. She wrote two great songs recently, one for Reflections and one for a personal progress goal. She is also anticipating a 3-month stay in Germany this summer to visit a friend (exchange student).
Brayden is 12 and in 6th grade. He calmly "floats" from one activity to the next. He actually was inspired to become a swimmer before Kaelei by watching the movie "The Guardian." So, last spring we signed him up for the West Valley Aquatics Team. He spends two hours, five days a week swimming. He's also a natural and beat the team's top time in the 100 freestyle at his first swim meet a few months ago. He still holds this year's team record. He gave up baseball and football to swim, but still does basketball, wrestling, snowboarding and plays the piano and trumpet. He discovered motorcycles after Mark decided to buy two of them this past summer. He learned to shoot clay pigeons with a 12-gauge shotgun and went deer hunting with his dad. He is active in scouting and received his 2nd and 1st class ranks before he turned 12. He was ordained to the Aaronic priesthood in November and eagerly participates in his deacon duties.
Jaxzen is 9 and in 4th grade. He "soaks" up information constantly and can come up with the most interesting questions that we sometimes find difficult to answer. He loves to build things out of legos and always has some in his pocket or in a bag to bring with him. He also enjoys shooting guns and riding motorcycle. He finally learned to waterski and hopes to join his brother on the swim team soon. He participates in baseball, basketball and wrestling and plays the piano. He likes to read and draw and he enjoys being a cub scouts, especially because Mom is his leader.
Brookelle is 7 and in 2nd grade. She "sprinkles" us with her talents by playing the piano, singing, dancing, and twirling her baton. She attended a baton competition recently and won two individual first place titles and one second, then won the overall first place title in the basic skills combined events. She was the youngest competitor in the 7-9 division. She still plays the piano and violin, likes to read and draw and was also successful at learning how to waterski.
Nugget is still "showering" us with his drool and slobber. On any given day you can drive by our house and see him peering through gnawed window blinds, convinced that he is protecting us by scaring any threats away with his song-like bark. Oh how we love that bark! Not! But, we do love him.
As for family events, we "doused" ourselves in sunshine during another eight-day trip to Lake Powell with four other families. We spent lots of time skiing, wake boarding, knee boarding, tubing, riding wave runners, and enjoying the instant red, cliff waterfalls created from the flash floods. We love to go boating as a family, however, the old Wardle boat died during our Lake Powell trip and might have to be sent to a watery grave. We also "submerged" ourselves in rustic fun during our annual labor-day weekend trip to the cabin. We rode motorcycles, shot guns, played cards and board games, and hiked a five mile hike for Brayden's scout requirements. (Five miles is a long way when you are hiking steep hills! It took all day!) We also "waded" through youth conferences, EFY, Girl's Camp, School Camp, Scout Camp, Family Reunions, and Lagoon season passes.
If you noticed our address--it has not changed. We have not been "hosed" out of our house by UDOT and the Mountain View Corridor yet. We will hopefully have a few more winters to enjoy our traditional, front yard, snow hill and water in all forms. During this time of year we are more thankful than ever for our home and our family. We enjoy our friendship with all of you and hope this past year has "flooded" you with lots of prosperity and spirit.

Love The Corbridges