Sous Chefs in the making...

It was Jessica's 9th birthday today and she celebrated by having friends over for a Chef's Cooking party!

The kids wore chef hats and aprons that we printed their names on. And learned all about the different cooking utensils, safe and healthy food prep and even how to successfully separate an egg! Now THAT was fun!

Jessica had a very fun day today! Who knew turning 9 yeras old would be so fun?

Jessica and her friend, Hannah.

Making homemade play dough and being able to create all sorts of shapes was a highlight for the kids!!

The Year of the Ox...

People born in the years 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 are born in the year of the OX. The Ox is thought to be the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. They're quite dependable and possess an innate ability to achieve great things. As one might guess, such people are dependable, calm, and modest. The Ox is unswervingly patient, tireless in their work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint. An Ox person has a very logical mind and is extremely systematic in whatever they do, though they have a tremendous imagination and an unparalleled appreciation for beauty. These people speak little but are extremely intelligent. When necessary, they are articulate and eloquent. Traditionally, people born under the influence of the Ox are thought to be kind, caring souls, logical, positive, filled with common sense and with their feet firmly planted on the ground. Security is their main preoccupation in life, and they are prepared to toil long and hard in order to provide a warm, comfortable and stable nest for themselves and their families. Strong-minded, stubborn, individualistic, the majority are highly intelligent individuals who don't take kindly to being told what to do. Ox people are truthful and sincere, and the idea of wheeling and dealing in a competitive world is distasteful to them. They are rarely driven by the prospect of financial gain. These people are always welcome in small gatherings because of their humble composure and reverent nature towards the host. They are reputed to be the most beautiful of face in the zodiac. They have many friends, who appreciate the fact that the Ox people are wary of new trends, although every now and then they can be encouraged to try something new. People born in the year of the Ox make wonderful parents and teachers of children.

This would be Kenny's year as he was born in 1997! In keeping with tradition we made Korean dumplings, ate a hearty meal, and spent time together hoping the new year would be plenty of the same!

Growing up with a Korean mom I remember Chinese New Year very well! It was the time of year that we would all have to clean out our closets, dust off the furniture, fill the cupboards, and smile all day long!

At the time I thought it was pretty useless. Now as an adult I find myself preparing days in advance for the Chinese New Year celebration and do the same tasks I did back then. Hoping that what happens on Chinese New Year will be a glimpse into what the entire year will be for us!

Seeing old friends in strange new places...

Today was transfers for the elders in our area. Every six weeks I drive a van load of them out to Pensacola, FL where we meet the mission van from Tallahassee, FL and switch out bikes, companions, luggage, and all sorts of other stuff.

Today we had a really full van and one elder took the opportunity to take pictures with my camera to document the day!

It was farewell for a few of the elders as this was their last transfer before heading back home. Elder Crawley seen playing the ukulele sang for the group before saying his final goodbyes.

Today was an especially exciting day because I got to see an old friend from Woods Cross, Utah who is serving here in the Tallahasse Mission! Elder Hill was being transfered to an area close to where we live and we took the opportunity to catch up!

It is an especially good day when you run into old friends in strange new places...

Hawaii Super Ferry at port here in Mobile, AL...

Last November Jessica and I visited Hawaii and while there we got to see the Hawaii Super Ferry docked in the Honolulu harbor. Here in Mobile, Al (where the Super Ferry is built) we have the second Hawaii Super Ferry launched and ready to head to Hawaii! What a fun connection for us to have with a place we love to visit!!!

"Let the good times roll..."

Tonight we took Arnold's mom and dad downtown Mobile to experience a real Mardi Gras parade!!! The GMAC Bowl is being held here in Mobile tomorrow night and the city held a parade in honor of all the visitors here for the football game. We couldn't resist taking Arnold's parents to see how fun these parades really are! We even stopped by the famous Peanut Shop to purchase some warm peanuts to keep us busy while we staked out our place and waited for the parade to begin!

Arnold's mom couldn't get over the mess we made with the peanuts! I told her it was "tradition" to just throw the shells on the ground. We too thought this was odd when we attended our first parade four years ago, but now I guess it seems odd NOT to throw them on the ground! See what a mess we made? For the record, Arnold's mom kept all her shells and hid them in a pipe she was sitting next to!

The kids love a good parade with generous amounts of "throws"! This parade was no exception! We caught beads, hats, footballs, airplanes, stuffed toys, silk roses, Moon pies, and even a box of candy canes!!!

Arnold's dad hated to see any of the throws go to waste! Our umbrella came in quite handy when he could lean over the fence and work anything left behind back over to where the kids could grab it! They thought that was the best idea ever!!!

We finally got to see the fire breathing dragon float tonight! Four years now and we've always managed to miss the parade that highlighted this exciting float! Kenny was in heaven! Unfortunately my camera missed the flames coming out of its mouth, but this gives you an idea of how awesome the Mardi Gras floats in Mobile are!

Today in the Mobile Alabama Sunday newspaper Lisa Nicole was highlighted in an article on the front page of the Neighbors section. What started out as just a small email request to have her name recognized for receiving her YW Medallion at church a few Sunday's ago snowballed into a front page article, personal interviews with a reporter, and lots and lots of attention!

The newspaper editor heard about Lisa's award after we submitted an email request for a highlight to a general website address printed in the paper. (You know like the ones you regularly see in Utah for Eagles Scouts and Young Women alike?) Well, the editor asked for some more information about the award and was intrigued by what Lisa had to do in order to receive the award so he sent a reporter out to interview her for a small piece they do each week called Getting to Know. Its usually just a few paragraphs on the bottom of one of the pages of the Neighbors section that comes out once a week in the Sunday paper.

Well, after an hour long interview, pages of notes the reporter took, and the tape recording of their entire interview the Editor must've decided there was much more than just a few paragraphs to share, because today we were shocked to see her on the front page of the Neighbors section with not just one but two pages of info written about her and two pictures accompanying the story!

We couldn't believe it! And we couldn't be more proud of Lisa! Hope you enjoy reading about it!

Here's the link:
http://www.al.com/news/press-register/neighbors.ssf?/base/community/1231064199145470.xml&coll=3

Headline: Her 4-year project was labor of love, faith
Sunday, January 04, 2009
By JO ANNE McKNIGHT
Correspondent

At age 16, Lisa Nicole Schloemer has accomplished one outstanding goal in her church curriculum, is an exemplary student at Baker High School, a volunteer in her community and, according to her mother, a big sister who sets an excellent example for her younger siblings.

On Dec. 14, Lisa Nicole, the daughter of Lisa and Arnold Schloemer, was presented with the Young Womanhood Recognition Award by Walter Stringer, bishop of the Theodore Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Mobile Alabama Stake — a region that includes several Alabama counties and some nearby Mississippi towns.

To earn the award, Lisa Nicole, a member of the LDS Church in Theodore, had to complete seven "values" as described in the LDS Young Women Personal Progress program.

Girls begin this personal journey, similar to a boy seeking Eagle Scout status, when they are 12 years old and must complete the requirements by age 18.

The values are faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works and integrity. "Each requirement," explained Lisa Schloemer, "is designed to help young women develop their talents and grow closer to God through prayer, church attendance and scripture study."

Lisa Nicole kept a journal as she spent the past four years striving to attain her goal.

"For faith," she said, "I read the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ."

In the "divine nature" category, she chose to compile a memorial scrapbook for twin boys who lost their mother to a stroke when they were only 2 years old. "She was my baby sitter when I was little," Lisa Nicole said to explain why this was perhaps her favorite activity.

After contacting about 100 family members and friends of the young mother who died and receiving more than 50 responses, Lisa Nicole compiled the letters, e-mails, notes and pictures into a book for the twins, now almost 4, and the Schloemer family drove to Salt Lake City to deliver the finished product.

For her individual worth project, Lisa Nicole knitted caps for newborns at the University of South Alabama Children's & Women's Hospital. "I finished 37," she said.

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For "knowledge," she played "I Know My Redeemer Lives" on the piano for a program performed by younger children in the church. The audience consisted of about 200 parents and friends and "I was very nervous," she said.

The most fun of the seven values was "choice and accountability." Lisa Nicole was chairwoman of the committee that planed and produced a dance and workshops for about 150 teens from the stake.

For "good works," she and other girls in her church baby-sat youngsters while their mothers shopped and enjoyed supper at a silent auction fundraiser at Hutchens Elementary School, and then gave their earnings to the school library.

Though church and a Godly life is uppermost in Lisa Nicole's priorities, school is also important.

Currently a sophomore at Baker, she has never earned less than an A in school.

She received the Highest GPA Overall Top Student Award at Causey Middle School when she graduated from eighth grade and was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society at Causey.

At Baker, she served as vice president of her freshman and sophomore classes, has been in the Key Club for two years and has served on the homecoming float committee for two years.

On Christmas Day 2007, Lisa Nicole spent the morning at the Waterfront Rescue Mission handing out clothes and toys to the homeless. This Christmas, she and her family spent the day at the Salvation Army in Mobile, helping to prepare and serve the holiday meal and clean up afterward.

But life is not "all work and no play" for Lisa Nicole.

She loves to travel and has spent time in 37 states. She absolutely "loves" roller coasters, the higher the better, she said. She has downloaded scores of tunes on her iPod, many from the '50s. Among her favorite perform ers are John Mayer and the Goo Goo Dolls.

And, said her mom, "her favorite food of all time is chocolate."

Home of the Throwed Rolls...

Lambert's is a restaurant in Foley, Alabama where you can get some of the best southern food around. The best part is that as the name suggests you can get a fresh baked roll thrown at you as often as you would like!

Fried okra, apple butter, tomatoes and macaroni, and fried potatoes were all on the menu at Lambert's today.

NAS Pensacola Aviation Museum visit...

Introducing Grandma and Grandpa to Taz...

Guitar Hero addiction...

More New Year's Eve Bash photos...

Nothing is quite as sweet as spending the last day of 2008 and the first very early hours of 2009 together with close friends and family!

Michael and the others getting their grape juice ready to toast in the New Year!

Lisa and Theresa Hubbard getting into the festive spirit of the night!

Kenny and Christian getting the noise started!

Cody, Kendal and Noah playing Rock Band.

Celebrating 2009...

Myron (one of Lisa's friends from school and church) brought over his Xbox 360 Rock Band and hooked it up to our upstairs tv. The kids had fun 'jamming' while waiting for midnight to come around!

Elder Russon and Elder Wright getting a quick bite to eat!

Elder Brinkerhoff and Elder Kenk getting into the festive mood!

Michael telling Santa ...uh I mean Elder Loar what he wants for Christmas ... wait a minute! Isn't Christmas over? That's just weird then.

Waiting for the crystal ball to drop over New York city then being rudely interrupted by the Mobile TV station and having to settle for the silly Moon Pie drop or raising or whatever it was. It was lame. Just something else the rest of American can tease us silly folk here in the South about... Darn.

Ringing in the New Year Southern style...

It was hard to resist having a house full of people when we talked about what we would want to do to bring in the new year! Jessica was the first one upstairs with her hat and blower ready to watch the New York ball drop at the stroke of midnight. Unfortunately our silly southern tv station switched over with just about 20 seconds left and we had the unfortunate pleasure of watching our very own 9 ft Moon Pie hung from a crane light up the New year here in Mobile. I was sooooo dissapointed! I should've TIVO'd the New York ball drop at midnight eastern time!

Luckily no one cared and the party continued on! We had loads of fireworks to set off and 200 glowsticks to help start a new fun tradition....Glowstick Wars in the darkness of our backyard! Leave it to a bunch of 19-21 year old men to come up with that one!!! I guess it beats the Roman Candle wars that they started a few years ago. Apparantly there is a rule about the 'handling' of fireworks while living here as a missionary in the South.

The kids table...

The group photo before everyone trickled home...

And it remains to be seen (or heard) if Lisa got her first New Year's Eve kiss at midnight ...hmmmm anyone have any opinions on whether or not I should inquire?

Happy New Year!!!