The truth is out

Joshua and I had a talk this morning about Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. I let him know that they are all pretend, and that Mommy and Daddy are really responsible for all the middle-of-the-night surprises. I was really worried about his reaction because he has always had such amazing faith in these characters; but to my surprise he was really excited to be in on the secret. He was smiling ear to ear. We finished up the conversation by reiterating that Jesus and the gospel absolutely are real. He took it like a champ - my awesome little man!

American Festival Chorus - Rutter Concert

Allow me to take a moment to shamefully self-promote the choir that Michael and I are in. We are having our first concert on Saturday, November 7th. Each choir member was given four pass-along cards to distribute to friends and family that will enable them to get a $2.00 discount on tickets. I thought I would skip the hassle, and just post the card here. So if you are interested in a wonderful culteral experience, come to the concert! We will be singing music by the composer John Rutter from Cambridge England. Our conductor, Craig Jessop, was formerly the conductor of the mormon tabernacle choir. We will be joined at the concert by the Utah State Orchestra as well as the ache Children's choir. All in all, it should be a great show. Oh, and how often do you get to see Michael in a tux?! It's worth the price of the ticket just for that.

October...already

Do you ever feel like your arms are so full that everytime you see something else you want to pick up you find yourself dropping something you already had, and pretty soon your life looks like a clown juggling to make the kids laugh as he drops, picks up, drops, picks up etc? I'm officially there. Sure I can start exercising, but then scripture reading slips. I can adopt a kitten, but then the yard work slips. I can read a novel, but then my writing projects slip. I can have a Halloween recital, but the dieting slips and I find the needle on the scale creeping up. I can monitor my fertility, but don't read to the kids enough. I can start couponing, but I just don't haved ambition to cook...you get the point. There seems to be a repetative cycle here. I'm constantly trying to do more and better, and constantly falling short and neglecting, so I pick the neglectful aspects of my personality back up just to find I've lost something else... Just like that clown at the circus.
What can you do about that? I guess just laugh - and apppreciate it for the circus act that it is.

happy 63rd Dad!

My dad's birthday was on labor day so we had a party for him at the hyrum park. We were fortunate to have great granma and grandpa Jaussi come, and aunt marian as well. In honor of Dad's many years we baked him 63 mini cupcakes and I made him a balloon hat for the record books. It was a wonderful birthday celebration.

Mt Sterling Stampede

Every year Mt. Sterling has a children's rodea to commemerate the founders of their cute little hamlet. This was our second year in attendance, and it was just as fun as the first time! andrea and her family invited us. Joshua and Emma both participated in the mutton bustin', and andrew and Allie raced in the stick horse races. Andrea and I both made fools of ourselves running after ribons tied to cow's tales, and of course all the kids participated in the critter chase (you catch it you keep it). Joshua caught a rooster - again - which we promptly gave away to Andrea's dad. Thank heavens! Here is a little snippet of joshua's sheep riding. It may not be that impressive, but keep in mind - he did voluntarily get onto a sheep with the intention of letting it buck and roll him. It's the thought that counts, right?

Jaussis and Heros

It was a beautiful late summer day, and Jon, Laura, and Zion were headed straight up Hero's mountain. That's right, they didn't need any stinking trails, just a couple of dogs and camelbacks. If you can see the goal, then you don't need much else, right? The three Jaussi's crossed a river, jumped a fence, and before they knew it they were headed straight up a slope of grass and loose rock. By 10:00 they were half way up. It wasn't so bad without a trail, they said to themselves, it's easy ti pick your way up a mountain. By 11:30 they were almost to the summit. The goal was in sight when Laura heard a low growl from a nearby stand of trees. Laura and Zion stopped and wondered if there were mountain lions in the area. Just as they decided they had imagined the sound, they came upon a chewed deer leg. Eww. Zion went into panic mode, asking in scared tones if they could turn back. But Jon was resolute. Hero's mountain must be ascended, or he would be haunted for ever. So on the trio went, with their trusty dogs leading the way. At the top Zion carved her name on a piece of slate to prove to the world that she had done it. She had climbed the mountain!

After a quick lunch, and a brief photo shoot, the explorers began their descent. This was to be the easy part. After all, wasn't the downhill always easy when hiking? Apparently the rule doesn't apply to off-trail excursions. The descent was brutal for Zion and Laura. They clung to each other's hands and inched down the mountain with clumsy footing. Zion's slender legs were scratched and bloody from falling. Laura's muscles were shaking from the precise exertion of the descent. After a full hour and many butslides the explorers finally made it back to the fence and the river. Victory! Hero's mountain had been tamed by the wildest of Jaussi kind! Now, when Jon Zion and Laura look at that majestic slope, they know that they had it in them to conquer that particular mountain. Watch our Everest, the Jaussi's are looking your way!

Picky Man

Picky Man!

(to be sung to the tune of "Batman")

Doesn't like his food to touch

if it does he won't eat much

Picky Man!

Never eats a single bite

until the temperature's just right

Picky Man!

He's a drinker - milk's the best

two cups or three, he'll take no less

Picky Man!

If he snacks a single bite

dinner's sure to be a fight

Picky Man!

When it's time to sit and eat

he always asks for something sweet

Picky Man!

Fruits and veggies taste just fine

untli you cook them - whine, whine, whine

Picky Man!

Eating is a trying chore

that he simply must endure

Picky Man!