Feb 27 - Wood Badge Beads

Tonight we had a court of honer for Troop 616.  Tyler got another 5 merit badges (I think he has got 34 now).

Durning the meeting I also got my Wood Badge Beads.  This was a long process for me, as they make you work to earn your "tickets".

There is a long story behind Wood Badge that I will spare you from (be happy to tell you, but I don't want to type it).  Part of finishing the training is "earning your ticket".  This goes back to British soldiers having to "earn their ticket" home after fighting in the war (the army did not pay for you to go home).  So in Wood Badge you have to "earn your ticket".  You have to complete 5 tasks (that have to be approved).

My ticket items included:
1.  Finishing a wood working project for Wendy (this is the manger scene posted in December)
2.  Read the New Testament
3.  Taught the diversity principle "Stereotyping" to Troop 616
4.  Read the biography of Lord Baden-Powell (who started scouting).  {Dad this is a very good book that I need to get to you.  It is called "Baden-Powell The two lives of a hero"}
5.  Start some kind of Journal - which turned in to this blog.

So as I have earned my tickets, I will no longer be posting on this blog.  I am finished, done, etc.

Below are some pictures of me getting by award.  Dr. Charile Call was my troop guide and he is presenting the award to me.

And one more question ........  Is there a beaver in the house?
(you have to have gone to Wood Badge to understand this question)

The trouble with, "A place for everything and everything in its place" is that there's always more everything than places.  
Robert Brault

Feb 26 - Mission Calls (and go BYU!)

Today we had a Bates Family Home Morning(?).  We got together and had a lesson on missions.  All of the grandkids got mission calls.  They also had to do door approaches to the adults (not sure this helped them go on a mission after what Wendy did ...)

We had a good time.  Had a good lesson, ate some pizza and then went home to watch BYU beat SDSU.  Can't wait for Wednesday night, as I will be at the BYU vs. New Mexico game!

Tyler got called to the Uganda Kampala mission.

Mariah got her call to Minnesota Minneapolis mission

Micah got her call to Missouri St. Louis mission

Hard to believe that this will be happening in our family sooner then I will be ready for.


People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.  
Dave Barry

Feb 25 - Missing Hockey

I miss watching hockey.  They took off the Colorado Avs games from the Fox Sports Network a couple of years ago and I have missed watching their games.  I know they are having a bad year, but I still would not mind watching them play.  If you get the chance, watch a game for me.

Dad - still love the picture frame you made for the signed Sakic Avs jersey.  

People who snore always fall asleep first.  

Author Unknown

Feb 24 - Blue and Gold

Tonight we had our Blue and Gold banquette.  For those who have not been in Cub Scouts, it is the birthday celebration for Scouts.  We do a dinner and have pack meeting.  It is our most formal pack meeting of the year.  It was a good night.

This is a picture of the center piece we had to make out of stuff on our table.  Micah is the one on the left (or is it right).


Never do anything that you wouldn't want to explain to the paramedics.  
Author Unknown

Feb 23 - SLEEP!

Tonight we moved from the downstairs to our new bed.  It has warmed up and I got a good night sleep.  It felt great to get into a warm bed and sleep in the same room where my clothes are.

It was also great to talk to Jody and Grandpa Welch today, as they celebrated their birthday.

Everything is funny as long as it is happening to somebody else.  
Will Rogers

Feb 22 - Mr. Jack Game!

Micah and I have been wanting to play a game for several days, and tonight we found a few minutes to play.  We played a game called Mr. Jack.  It is a two player game where one is Jack the Ripper and the other one is trying to find out who he is (now that I type this I am not sure if this is a good game....).  Anyway, the object is (1) to escape (if you are Jack) or (2) find out who Jack is.  It is a fun game and one that we enjoy playing.

Thanks Becky for letting us know about this game.


The odds of going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one.  
Erma Bombeck

Feb 21 - New Bed - not quite yet

We got our water bed mattress on Saturday and we filled it up.  This is a picture of the process.  It filled up quickly, but it is taking forever to heat up.  We have had it filled for two days, and it is just above 66 degrees.  I am not sleeping in it until it hits at least 80!  I laid down on it and could only last a minute or two.  Like sleeping on ice!

Tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe and he'll believe you.  Tell him a bench has wet paint on it and he'll have to touch it to be sure.  
Murphy's Law

Feb 20 - Elder Clark

Today we had Elder Clark come to our Ward Council meeting.  It was great having him come, but a little scary, as he is the President of BYU-Idaho and our Area Authority.  But it was a wonderful experience.   He did not say much during the meeting, just watched and listened.  At the end he shared three scriptures with us on the purpose of Ward Council meetings.  It was a great learning experience and he had great things to say about our meeting.  These are the scriptures he shared ...

Jacob 5:60, 70-72
D&c 43:8-9
D&C 29:4-7

It was the second time we have had Elder Clark come to our ward.  The first time he came to a sacrament meeting (that I happened to be conducting).  It was great sacrament meeting.  We went through our normal program, and at the end I asked him to share a few words, but he wanted to first hear from the Stake President and then he shared his testimony.  I had a few days notice, so I gave warning to our speakers to not take up too much time.  They at first were very happy, but when they found out the reason why they need to take less time, they wanted to know if it was too late to get new speakers.

Anyway, below is a picture of him from the LDS web site.  This will have to be the picture for today.  

Feb 19 - Tyler still hurting ....

On Tuesday Tyler and I went to shoot some arrows at a local archery range.  Tyler has a bruise on his are from where the string hit his arm.

The Teacher's quorum has been working on archery for several weeks, but Tyler missed a lot of that (as he was still a Deacon).  So he did not get the "training" on how to shoot.  As you can see he has a good reminder of how to hold the bow.

He and I did have a good time at it.

I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes. 
~ Anonymous

Feb 18 - Micah's Birthday Party - again?

I think that Micah has been celebrating her birthday for the last week.  Today she had a party with some of her friends.  

Below is a picture of her cake.  It has a golf tee on it and it says "Hole in One".  She really likes this cake.

I didn't make it all the way through third grade for nothing

From The Rescuers Down Under movie

Feb 17 - Wendy fixes Dinner

Wendy fixed dinner tonight!

Wendy had her PAT meetings tonight so she was gone all evening.  Mariah had a school event and went to dinner with her friends.  So that left Dad, Micah and Tyler to fend for themselves.  The kids did not want my "Mac and Tomato" special, so we went to Wendy's for dinner. (get it?  - Wendy fixes dinner - it is funny because it is a play on words).


Scarecrow: ‘I haven't got a brain... only straw.’
Dorothy: ‘How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?’
Scarecrow: ‘I don't know... But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?’
Dorothy: ‘Yes, I guess you're right.’
Wizard of Oz

Feb 16 - More snow?

The weather has been playing tricks this week.  We had a couple of nice days this week, I think we even got over 40 degrees on one day.  Felt like summer!

Today that ended, as it got cold and, as you can tell, it even snowed a little.  When is spring coming?

Bed update .... Wendy is still on the air bed, she is getting a little sleep.  I am still in the hide-a-way.  When will we get our bed?

"Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains"
Nuke in Bull Durham (baseball movie)

Feb 15 - Mom gave up

It has been over a week without our bed.  We have tried a hide-a-way bed, but that did not last long.  Wendy gave up and went to one of our air beds.  Hopefully she will get better sleep on this.  The hide-a-way is not very comfortable.

Below we see Tyler on the air bed playing the Playstation.

When are we getting our bed back?

"Husbands should be like Kleenex: soft, strong, and disposable"
Mrs. White in the movie Clue

Feb 14 - Micah's Birthday

Happy birthday Micah,

It is hard to believe that 10 years ago Micah was born.  She has been a joy everyday.  She has a great smile and a hugh heart (maybe being born on Valentine's day had something to do with that).

Below are some pictures of her opening up gifts.

"Inside every older person is a younger person - wondering what the heck happened."
Unknown

Feb 13 - Gift from Primary

Today the bishopric got a Valentines day gift from the primary.  Nothing like a big cookie to make your day!

"My Mama always said, 'Life was like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get'"
Forrest Gump

Feb 12 - Mariah and Micah

Today was a big day for Mariah and Micah.

Micah had a visit from the Sugar City Bates family and they dropped off some birthday gifts.  Below is a picture of Micah with one of her gifts.

Mariah also had a date tonight for the Sweetheart Dance.  A group of her friends asked some boys to the dance.  We had about 8 youth at our house and they ate lunch (they served breakfast) and played games for several hours.  Everyone went home about 4:00 to get ready for the dance.  Mariah left about 6:00 and she says she had a good time.  I know there is not pictures of the group below, I was given orders not to take pictures and embarrass Mariah in any way.  I did get a picture of her as she was heading out the door for the dance.

"Oh, no.  It wasn't the airplanes.   It was Beauty killed the Beast"
King Kong screenplay

Feb 11 - Flowers for Mom!

Today, Wendy got flowers in the mail.  I guess I need to find out who is sending her flowers.

"To create a little flower is the labor of ages."
William Blake

Feb 10 - Getting ready for Mariah's Date

Mariah has a date on Saturday.  It is a dance at school.  Wendy is helping make some of the flower arraignments (I can't remember the name of the flower that guys wear .... and if I could I know I would not be able to spell it).

Sleep update .... things are not going well, we are still in the hide-a-way, but I think Wendy will not last long.  She is ready to get out the air mattress.

"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine"
Rick Blain in Casablanca (played by Humphrey Bogart)

Feb 9 - Another Frosty Day

Another cold and frosty day in Idaho.  Got a couple of close up pictures of the frost on a bush.  If you look close, you can see the flakes of the frozen frost.

I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.  I fear something terrible has happened."

Obi-Wan - Star Wars

Feb 8 -Netflix Fan

I feel like I need to let everyone know that I am a fan of Netflix.  I love the fact that I can stream movies or TV shows from my Play Station 3.  It also works on my iPad and iPod.  We also get movies mailed to us (when we mail one back).

Big Fan of Netflix!

"Ten percent of nuthin' is ... let me do the math here .... nuthin' into nuthin .... carry the nuthin' ..."

Jayne from Firefly

(This is a shout out to the Firefly / Serenity fans)

Feb 7 - Leak in the Water bed!

Last night we found a leak in the water bed.  We tried to patch it, but it ended up being a good size hole.  We ordered a new mattress, and it will take 10 - 14 days to get.  This means that we are sleeping on our hide-a-way beds.  We will see how long that lasts until we get out the air mattress.

"We ain't got no wall"
Lavern and Shirley TV Show
(mom, this one is for you)

Feb 6 - Super Bowl!

We did not do anything fancy today for our dinner.  The Super Bowl was today, so we just had some chips, dip, etc.  I was not feeling well so I stayed home from church.  Today also marks the 4th year of our Bishopric.  The only reason I remember the date is because of Super Bowl Sunday.

Anyway, hope everyone had a good day at church, and for those who watched the game, I hope you had a good time.

"Football is like life - - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority"
Vince Lombardi

Feb 5 -Clean out the Fridge?

Wendy went to the cabin to help get snow of the roof.  I was not feeling well yet, so I got to stay home.  So what does Wendy ask me to do?  That is right - "clean out the fridge".  I don't know about you, but this is something that you just don't drop on me while you are walking out the door.  It takes planning and a good strong stomach (I did mention that I have been sick the last few days - right?).

Below are some pictures of our "task".  Tyler and Micah helped me.

"Your pictures in my wallet and I'm sitting on it.  And if that isn't love, I don't know what is."
Frank Burns on M*A*S*H

Feb 3 - Sick (Dad stayed home from work)

I was not feeling too well today, so I stayed home from work.  I think this is the first sick day I have had in years (two or three at least).  I was feeling about 88.7% so if I had something that was pressing I could have gone, but I did not want to make others sick.

I have taken my medicine, got some food in me, and taken a nap, so hopefully I can make it to work tomorrow.

Tonight we had dinosaurs for dinner.  They tasted a lot like chicken.

All this has happened  before, and it will all happen again, but this time, it happened in London.
Narrator Tim Conway in Peter Pan (1953)

Feb 2 - Last Day of School!

Today was the last day of school for me!  I went around telling the kids this and they were not too happy.  Not sure why, but I guess it has something to do with them going to school until the end of May.

We also got a new lamp for our front room.  I guess that we needed more light.

You're gonna need a bigger boat!
Jaws    Screenplay by Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb
Note:  This line was not in the original script and was ad-libbed by Roy Scheider

Feb 4 -Basketball Poster

We put up a poster of the 2009 and 2010 BYU Basketball team.  This poster has most of the signatures of the BYU players.  It even has Jimmer Fredette autograph on it.  We have a good friend down in Provo who got us this picture.  We also have the football poster, and a lot of the player's autograph on it.  Maybe this will be worth something some day?  Possible college fund for Micah?

"They say that nobody is perfect,  Then they tell you practice makes perfect.  I wish they'd make up their minds."
Wilt Chamberlain

Feb 1 - Guess whats for Dinner

Tonight I ran over a Jack-o-lope and so I brought it home.  We put it on the wall and also cooked it for dinner.  Many people say that they are not real, but if you have ever been to Wyoming or Idaho, then you know better.

I kind of like doing the quote thing last month, so I think I will continue it for a while.  No one complained about it.  I think I will stick to pop culture quotes for this month.

'If he'd just pay me what he's paying them to stop me robbing him I'd stop robbing him!

Butch Cassidy, played by Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Jan 31 -Lighthouses

A couple of days ago, we put the below pictures up on our wall that leads downstairs.  It has only taken us 11 years to figure out what to put up there.  I guess we had to wait for just the right pictures.

The one on the left is of a lighthouse in Oregon.  The middle one is of a light house in Alaska.  The one on the right is a saying by Thomas Monson, you guessed it, about lighthouses.  

There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost, but what its beckons light can rescue.  It beckons through the storms of life.  It calls, "this way to safety; this way to home."  The Lighthouse of the Lord sends forth signals readily recognized and never failing.

President Thomas S. Monson

Jan 30 - Tyler a Teacher

Today Tyler became a Teacher.

He is very excited about his new responsibilities.  He has done a great job in the Deacon's quorum but, as most things do, it had to come to an end.

Tyler - one great thing about becoming a Teacher, is that you are (and always will be) a deacon.  It is a great responsibility to hold the Priesthood of God.  Make sure you remain faithful.

Join me, and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son.

Darth Vader to his son Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

{Think about it ........ it is true on some level.}    

Jan 29 - ?

Have no idea who in my family took the below picture.  It is of the movie Tangled.  We changed out one of our posters last month (cheap art).

Any way, it is a great movie if you have not seen it.

This one is for Wendy ....

Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

The frumious Bandersnatch!

Through the Looking Glass

Lewis Carroll (1872)

Jan 28 - Tyler Birthday Part 2

Tonight we celebrated Tyler's birthday.  Below is a picture of Tyler talking to the Grandmas in Colorado.  Grandpa Welch was at a basketball game (where else would he be on a Friday night in the winter).

We also got a picture of Tyler blowing out the candles on his cake.  Hard to believe that he is getting older. 

 A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away ......

George Lucas

Star Wars Opening Title

Jan 27 - Tyler Birthday Part 1

Today was part one of Tyler's birthday party.  Becky, Grandma, and Grandpa Bates came over to give Tyler their presents.  He is opening a picture of the Savior (sorry, I did not get a picture of that).

Tomorrow is Tyler's real birthday and on Saturday he is having a party.  So he get to celebrate his birthday for three days in a row.

Celebrate good times, Come On!

Kool and the Gang

Jan 26 - Photoshop Night

Here is a picture with 4 different effects on it.  Still learning about photoshop (and I think I will be for a long time).  There is a lot to the Photoshop program.

Tonight was the second night of my class.  Two down and one to go.

You may have to zoom in to see the details of the picture.  I also had to remove the date on this picture (it was in orange in the lower left corner).  I did not spend a lot of time removing the text, so it does not look that great.

Prove yourself brave, truthful, and unselfish, and someday, you will be a real boy.
The Blue Fairy in Pinocchio (1940).  Screenplay by Ted Sears.

Jan 25 - Human Fossball

Got to love Tuesday night church activity when you play human foosball.  I think every kid had a "ball" (get it ... ha ha).

We have awesome youth in our ward.

"They're GR-R-REAT!"

Tony the Tiger

Kellogg's Frosted Flakes

Jan 24 - Frost

I have seen several pictures of frost on trees on many of the blogs, so today is our turn to post some.

We had frost on trees until about 4:00 pm.  At my work, we have a park near by and the all the trees were covered.  It was also very foggy, which is why the frost did not melt off until late afternoon (around 4:00 pm).

Wendy took these pictures.

Because of the frost, I thought a quote from Robert Frost (US Poet) would be appropriate.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
"The Road Not Taken (1916)