Harry Potter Trivia

I have a love affair with Harry Potter.  I've read all 7 books many times.  I adore them.  Love the movies.  Love the characters.  Love talking about it with other lovers.  When I was a leader in Young Womens, there were times when the first part of my lesson was devoted to talking about the most recent book or movie (because the Laurel class was full of devotees).  I have to say as excited as I am about part one of "The Deathly Hallows" coming out in a few short weeks (AHH!!!!), part of me is quite depressed about it because it means after just one more movie, it's over and done. Nothing new to look forward to anymore.  So, in honor of the movie coming out in less than a month, I thought I'd share my list of character names that have the same letter for first and last names.  I wonder if JK did this many on purpose?  Without further adeu, here is my list:

*Manerva McDonagall
*Severus Snape
*Mad-Eye Moody
*Dudley Dursley
*Peeves the Polterguist
*Nearly Headless Nick
*Poppy Pomfry
*Dedalus Diggle
*Pansy Parkinson
*Padma Patil
*Parvati Patil
*Luna Lovegood
*Colin Creevey
*Bloody Baron
*Moaning Myrtyl
*Cho Chang
*Gregory Goyle
*Florean Fortescue
*Ted Tonks
*Salazar Slytherin
*Rowena Ravenclaw
*Godric Griffindor
*Helga Hufflepuff
*Bathilda Bagshot
*Gellert Grindelwald
*Peter Petegrew


Can you think of any I've missed?

Fall Break Weekend

We had such a great fall break this past weekend.  On Friday, Me, Mike, Jess, Brad and the boys headed down to SLC to walk around beautiful temple square and shop at the Gateway.  We then headed down to the Romneys to spend the night and the following day. It was so fun to see their "new" house after their 2 month long remodel.  It's amazing!  On Saturday morning, Mike and I joined Rick for a grueling hike to the "Y."  It was a killer, but I"m so glad I did it as it's something that's been on my bucket list for awhile. We then ate a yummy breakfast in their nice, new dining room, then we all 8 went on another hike to Stewart Falls!  This one was much easier, and so beautiful with the fall colors.  By the end of that hike, I was ready to rest.  But that was not to be, as the Romneys then sponsored a fun fall party joined by the Caspersons and Searles.  We had a great time playing kickball, four square, around the world ping-pong, pumpkin carving, and eating a delicious meal.

 

Thanks, Romneys for planning so many fun activities in a short time!  It was fun to be together with everyone! Now back to reality tomorrow. . .

Weekend Fun

My friend Nan and I hiked this gorgeous mountain last week.  I was in heaven!  It was so beautiful.  There's nothing better than being out in nature.  It was a strenuous 10 mile hike that took us about 5 hours. I can't wait for our next one.

The day after the hike, I had a wonderful weekend spending time with Mom, Janet, Von and Carol in Yellowstone Park and Jackson Hole.  Mom had the brilliant idea of taking a trip down memory lane, since Yellowstone is where we spent our summer vacations growing up.  It was so fun go to all the old places and enjoy talking about all the fun times we had.  It was neat to stay at the historic 100 year old Old Faithful Inn.  The weather couldn't have been better, and it wasn't very crowded anywhere.  In Jackson we attended the Bar J Wranglers, and thoroughly enjoyed that.  It was a great get-away made possible by Mom.  Thanks again Mom!  It was so much fun. We missed you Ann.

Yummy produce, fun hike, and good reading

One of the best features of our house, I feel is our backyard, and in our backyard, my favorite things are our fruit trees.  It is sooo divine to take just a few steps, and pick a lovely, delicious piece of fruit to eat.  I also love our garden which Mike so lovingly plants and tends.  Here are some pictures of what we're enjoying right now.  If you're worried that I won't remember you when it comes to giving away the pears and apples, don't be shy to let me know you want some!

Yesterday Jess, Brad, Ann and Trace joined Mike and I on a delightful hike to Temple Fork Saw Mill. The leaves are changing, and I dare say that you won't find a more beautiful sight in very many other places of the world than fall in Logan Canyon. . .

I just finished reading Pride & Prejudice for the first time.  I've loved the movie for years, but never attempted the book.  Now I'm wishing we all talked more like this. . . "we must stem the tide of malice, and pour into the wounded bosoms of each other the balm of sisterly consolation." or "and though she was not very sanguine in expecting it, the application was a something to look forward to." or "no arguments shall be wanting on my part, that can alleviate so severe a misfortune; or that may comfort you, under a circumstance that must be, of all others, most afflicting to a parent's mind." and lastly, the most eloquent way of putting someone in their place. . . "Allow me to say, Lady Catherine, that the arguments with which you have supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged.  You have widely mistaken my character, if you think I can be worked on by such  persuasions as these.  How far your nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs, I cannot tell; but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine.  I must beg, therefore, to be importuned no further on the subject."  Go Elizabeth!!!  I love her!  And I love, love, love the love story between her and Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Labor Day weekend

We have had a really fun-filled Labor Day weekend.  I uploaded my pictures in the wrong order, so I'll start with today and go backwards.  This morning, we ate a delicious big breakfast at home, then went on a fun bike ride along the Logan river trail.  Jake missed out because he had to work on the last day the Aquatic center was open.  He felt really bad about it---- we then joined the Ericksons, Caspersons, Petes and Bundys at the Skeens for lunch and some games and visiting.  We dropped by the Griffin farm on the way home to show Brad around, and came away with some good produce from the garden.  We stopped for a Zeppe galata on their opening day.  We're so excited they're in Providence now.

We had a fun time going swimming to the Logan pool after a hot day of camping/hiking.  It was extra fun that Jake was working, especially when he got to catch the little kids coming down the twirly slide.We had a great time camping with everyone we were with today with the addition of Carol, Tanner and Taylor for a few hours.  Friday night we ate delicious tin foil dinners, and played ultimate frisbee in the pitch dark.  It was a little crazy, but fun.  On Saturday, we played more games, and went for a hike to Rosys mine.

We had a never-to-be-forgotten experience seeing a rattlesnake in real life.  After our hike on Saturday, we were driving back to our campground, and the kids could hear the snake in the rocks off to the side of the road.  We stopped to check it out and take pictures.  The camp host came before long with his shovel, and we got to watch while he wacked the snakes head off and buried it, (since the snake can still bite 24 hours after he's been decapitated!  Who knew?) then he cut his rattler off and gave it to Caleb.  The snake body was still moving for an hour afterwards.  It was quite the show!  The picture below the kids in the pickup is when we first saw the snake, and the one on top is after he'd been tortured.

After such a great weekend, it will be extra hard to get back in the swing of school and work tomorrow!

Week at a glance

We had the pleasure of having this little one come to stay for a day and night this week.  She is so good, funny, entertaining, and adorable that we all just adorel her.  We miss you Lydia and hope you'll come again soon!

Here's Cam playing in his first high school football game this past Wednesday.  He started at cornerback and did a great job.  His team killed Bear River 54-14. His number is 1.  In the two pictures below, he's the one tackling the guy with the ball.

Jessica returned last Thursday from her 2 months stay in Deleware and NY as a nanny.  We're so happy she's home!  She had a wonderful experience, but is glad to be home (I think mostly to see Brad, her cute boyfriend)

I've had an excuse to lay around and read, read, read these past few days.  I had oral surgery on Thursday to get an implant on a tooth that had to be pulled, and also had a blood blister looking thing removed from my  bottom lip.  Between getting to go to sleep during the procedure, and the stitches in my mouth and lip, I've been kinda out of it, and in a bit of pain.  It's a good thing I haven't had much going on, and I had the latest in the Hunger Game book series to read- Mockingjay.  Although I had to reread the previous book, Catching Fire first since it had been 6 months and I'd forgotten much of it.  So, two 390 page books read in the past three days makes for some lazy days!  It's been great, but I"m ready to get back to normal life now!

Last week with the Hatch's

Yesterday we all went to lava hot springs for the afternoon and had a lot of fun.  Here are Cam and Jake plunging off the 33' platform.  There are pictures of the rest of us doing the same, but I can't figure out how to get the pictures all together (sorry Ky, I know you showed me but it isn't working. . .)

 We four had a good time attending the Bountiful temple Thursday night.  We're wanting to attend as many different temples as we can (especially the ones in Utah) so we thought we'd try and squeeze this one in before they left.  I'm so glad we did.  What a beautiful place!  We loved it.  We enjoyed visiting with the newly engaged Teresa and Brad afterwards in their awesome home.

We had a fun last week with Kylee and Brody.  The four of us (plus Salomon the dog) went on a great hike from Green Canyon ending at the Wind Caves in Logan Canyon.  It was a beautiful hike, and a good workout, and fun to spend that time together.

I want credit for jumping off this scary high jump.  It wasn't easy, and I only did it to impress the kids. . . I don't think I'd do it again.  I was impressed with Ky for doing it

because she was very scared too.

. Today Kylee and Brody loaded up and headed back to Arizona for Brody's last year at Thunderbird.  It was so hard for me to see them go after the fun three months we had together.  I will miss so many things, I don't think I can name themn all- but I'll name a few.  I'll miss Kylee making yummy new recipes for us.  I'll miss seeing them both in the living room on their computers.  I'll miss being followed around everywhere I go by Salomon (OK- maybe I won't miss that, but I will miss being greeted by him at the door everytime I came home).  I'll miss rook games.  I'll miss watching TV together.  I"ll miss badminton, croquet and beach volleyball.  I'll miss hikes and bike rides.  I'll miss going for mornings walks with Ky and Sal.  I'll miss them being there for extended family fun.  I'll miss our good conversations.  I'll miss laughing together.  I'll miss going out to dinner.  I'll miss them doing chores around the house. I'll miss seeing the guest room with all their things in it.  I'll miss them coming to church with us. I'll miss their excitement and enthusiasm over everything we did.   OK- that's all I can do without making myself even sadder than I already am.  Luckily we have Jessica's return to look forward to on Thursday, so we won't be too sad for long.  Thanks Ky and Brody for adding so much fun to our summer.  It would have been very lonely and boring without you!!!  I love you both. 

Notice Cam and Jake running after their car.  A tradition we copied from the Romneys!