Dad's 80th Birthday Bash

My dad turns 80 on March 14 this year. We wanted to do something special for him, but we wanted it to be a surprise. We started out by hacking his facebook and e-mail, and sending out requests to friends and family. His sister, my Aunt Kathleen and her husband, Ed Pipkin, were able to come up on Friday. Unfortunately, she had posted on facebook a message to her son that led Dad to guess that she would be here. We all had dinner at our house on Friday, and it was great, even if he wasn't totally surprised. On Saturday, we hung out, went to lunch, and got ready for the party. We all went to Goodwood's for a delicious dinner, and came back to our house for cake.


A lady that Dad knew from Santa Ana found out what we were doing and drove down from Logan to see Dad and wish him a happy birthday. They hadn't seen each other in over 30 years, and neither one recognized the other, but the both enjoyed the reunion. Another couple from his ward in Spanish Fork also came over for a bit. We had put together a book of letters from friends and family, and made a video with lots of pictures for him. It was a great weekend!! Happy Birthday Dad, I love you!!!

Maple Mountain --- State Wrestling Champs!!!

This wrestling season started with Ammon saying he didn't want to wrestle. He had thought it out, prayed about it, and made a list of pros and cons. I wasn't going for force him, but I sure tried hard to convince him to wrestle. His coaches tried the whole guilt trip, "you owe it to the team" thing, but that didn't work. Ammon was poised to have a great year and the team was expected to dominate, but that wasn't enough. Finally, a very special coach called Ammon, invited him to his home, and really listened to what Ammon had to say. After about an hour, they were able to work out some compromises, and Ammon agreed to wrestle.

The team went undefeated in dual matches. They traveled to the Reno Tournament of Champions and placed 7th. They took first place at The Rumble, Millard Iron Man, Delta Great Basin Grapple, West Jordan Jaguar Classic, Region 8 tournament and were state champions!! Maple Mountain is only in it's first year, and it was the first state championship the school has ever won. It was so exciting and fun to be a part of that.

Ammon still had some challenges, after all, he is a sophomore wrestling 195 lbs. Almost all of the wrestlers he lost to were seniors this year, since they will be gone next year, that sets him up pretty well for next year. He was one match shy of placing at the Rumble, took second at Maple Mountain Madness, and placed 4th at region. Because of the totally stupid way that Utah brackets the state tournament, he had the first place kid in the first round. He fought a hard fight, and only lost 5-1 to the eventual state champion. He was able to win one match in the consolation bracket, and then lost to the kid who was the number 2 seed, and eventually took third. His overall record for the year was 28-13 with 24 wins by pin. I am so proud of Ammon. He worked hard, and it paid off for him. He had a great year, was part of a record setting, state championship team, and had a little fun along the way. I can't wait to see the great things ahead for him next year!!

Ch-ch-ch-changes....

Twenty seven years ago, I graduated with my bachelors degree in dental hygiene. It was a good career choice. I worked for ten years at various dental offices. I was able to work part time, help support our family, and help Dennis work his way through school. Sixteen years ago, when Ammon was born, I was blessed to be able to stay home to raise our children full time. I never had any desire to go back to work, and have been totally fulfilled staying home. People have asked me if I would go back to dental hygiene, and my answer was always something like, "If it's the end of the world and I'm forced to." I've been very happy staying home with my children and caring for our family and home.

This fall, Jordyn started first grade, and I was home all day. Alone. For the first time. Ever. I got bored. I sat around being incredibly un-productive, and wasted more days than I care to admit. I decided that I needed something different. I started applying for jobs at the schools as an aide or a tech or something. I wanted to be able to be on the same schedule as my kids, be home when they are, and have time to be involved in their activities. I finally was hired last week as a Title 1 Tech at Rees Elementary. I started Monday, with much anxiety and trepidation. After all, how would I ever fit in lunch dates while working 10-2 every day? Would I be able to do all I need to do every day? What about lunch? Would my family suffer? When would I go to lunch?

Well, so far so good. I think I like my job, and I believe that the family is doing fine. I am more organized, and waste much less time. I think this will be a good thing.

Matthew Wrestles?!?

Like all of our boys, Matthew started wrestling in kindergarten. After first grade, my mild- mannered, tender-hearted little boy decided that wrestling wasn't for him. We didn't fight him on it and let him quit. After all, Matt didn't have the aggressive, killer instinct that his two older brothers did. Every year, we'd ask if he wanted to try it again, and the answer was always "no". Last year, he waffled a little, but then decided he didn't want to try to compete with or measure up to Ammon. I tried telling him that everyone knows he isn't Ammon, and if he wants to do something he should just do it. No one would think badly of him if he wasn't as good as his brother. He still chose not to wrestle. This year, he shocked us all by announcing he was going to wrestle. The first week, he had a particularly hard practice, came home super discouraged, and wanted to quit. I wouldn't let him, and by the next day, he was fine.

Matthew went into the season with three goals: win five matches, be the best at his weight once, and be able to do 50 burpies. I am thrilled to announce that he has achieved all of his goals. Matthew has come so far and improved so much in just this one year, and I couldn't be more proud of him. The best part of Matt is his attitude though. He never gets upset when he loses, and he listens and learns to correct his mistakes the next time. He told me that as long as he does his best, he doesn't care what anyone else thinks. How's that for a winner? Even though it was a tough season, and he was wrestling older kids with much more experience and strength, Matthew had a positive attitude. He had fun making new friends and being part of the state championship team. Keep up the good work Matthew, I love you and am so happy you are my son!!

Best Christmas Yet!!

Here's a brief (not really) re-cap of the best Christmas we've had yet, and I imagine they will only get better from here. It all began on December 18, when Jayme got here. Cassidy had to work a couple more days, so Jayme came up by herself. I actually managed to be sort of on top of things this year, so we had some time to play. The decorations were up, I finished Cassidy's stocking, and all of the gifts were purchased and mostly wrapped.


We did some final preparations, grocery shopping and such. Tuesday, we went to a wrestling match to watch Ammon, and everyone was able to be there. On Wednesday, we had a Paparazzi party for Jayme, so we stayed home all day. The party was a bit of a bust, but we still had a fun day, and got some baking done. The girls made sugar cookies, and had a blast. The plan was to be semi-mess free, but that didn't quite work out. Oh well, they had fun, and I didn't have to clean it up. While they were doing that, I made peanut brittle, fudge, caramel, chex mix, almond roca and brownies. YUM!!


Finally, the big day arrived, Christmas Eve! We spent most of the day cleaning and cooking. Thank goodness for my helpers, I couldn't have done it alone. It all went smoothly, and we had a great day. My dad, Scott, his kids, and Rick came over for dinner. It was very nearly perfect.

Martinelli's

Enough food to last for days!

More great food!!

After dinner, we visited and played a pretty intense game of Catch Phrase, it was great fun!

Then we took lots of pictures, here is Grandpa with the grandkids. We had such a fun time with everyone together, it was great!


After the Johnson's left, it was jammie time!! Of course we all had to get new pj's and model them in front of the tree. This year, everyone wanted USC jammies, so we were all matchy, but dang cute!

Jordyn still wanted princess pajamas, Tinkerbell was the closest I could find.

Ammon's sassy "fight on"

Jayme and Cass get in the spirit

Matthew, looking good!

Jenn and Adam too!

Finally everyone went to bed, and it was time to wait for Santa to come!! Jordyn came bouncing in at 6:00 am, to tell us that it was Christmas, and time to wake up! After opening gifts, we had breakfast of cinnamon rolls, breakfast casserole, oj, chocolate milk and egg nog, then I went back to bed! Jayme and Cassidy left to go up to his mom's house, and I got up to get us all ready for church. It was a really nice program, and made Christmas day even a little more special.

After church, we were able to skype with our favorite missionary, Michael. It was great to see and talk to him. He is doing great, and loves what he is doing, but is also counting down until he comes home. We are so glad he is doing well, but most importantly that he is being obedient and is where he is supposed to be at this time in his life. It's a blessing for our family to have a son serving a mission.

The rest of the day was pretty lazy, we napped, played games, watched movies, ate, and basically just enjoyed being together. Jennifer and Adam went to have dinner with his family for a while, but they were here for most of the day.


The rest of the week was spent playing, eating, going to the movies, and helping Jenn and Adam get ready for their move to Massachusetts. Because their apartment was in various stages of packing, remodeling, and cleaning, they mostly slept here. There were a few tears as they left on their big adventure this morning, but I know they will have a great time. I'm so happy for them to have such a wonderful opportunity, but with everyone gone, the house is awfully quiet.
All good things must come to an end, now we can start planning the next one, right?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Annual (or whenever I get around to it) Christmas Letter

Dear Friends and Family,


It's been another big year for the Stone family. For those who missed last years update, don't worry, I didn't do it. We moved into a new home in April 2010, and so the last 18 months have been full of yardwork, decorating, and correcting builder errors (like NO insulation over the master suite). We were finally able to finish the front and side yard this year, yay!!

Now we get to move on to the back yard, but first we have to finish the basement before spring, but more on that later. We have enjoyed our new home, and love the area. It's only 5 miles from our old house, but seems so much more removed. We have a constant stream of wildlife visitors, pheasant, quail, deer, squirrels... Some are more welcome than others, but I have been feeding some cats that seem to have adopted us. They do help keep the rodent population down.


We didn't have much free time this year, but the girls, their husbands and I were able to visit Disneyland in May to celebrate Jayme's graduation from UVU. It was Adam's first time, and the first time that Jordyn could remember, so we had lots of fun. It was also good to be able to spend some time with Cassidy and get to know him better.




Speaking of Jayme, she's had HUGE changes this year. As I said, she graduated from Utah Valley University with a degree in Integrated Studies, emphasizing on dance and english, her two passions. In July, she married her best friend, Cassidy Swallow, and they moved to Cedar city for Cassidy to finish his degree in Political Science. We are thrilled for them, and pleased as can be to have Cassidy join our family. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple, and were able to take a short vacation in Park City and St. George before settling back into reality. Jayme is working as a special ed aide at the Middle School in Cedar, as well as teaching dance at a local studio. Cassidy is working for the housing department at SUU while attending school there.


Jennifer and Adam continue to live in wedded bliss in our old home in Provo. They have both been working full time and going to school full time, so they keep pretty busy. Quite often when they come for Sunday dinner, all we see is Adam behind his computer screen, trying to finish his homework. Adam is studying Chemical Engineering, and was recently able to get an internship with DOW Chemical. They will be starting their rotation in January by moving to Marlborough, Massachusetts for one semester. They will then be coming back home for Spring/Summer semester. Since it would be hard for them to find an apartment for just the summer, and silly to pay for one they weren't using, they will be living with us for the semesters they are here, thus the need to finish the basement by spring. They will do every-other semester for three rotations, going a different place each time. I'm only a little (a LOT) jealous of the opportunities they will have to travel and visit so many places, but very excited for them.


Michael left in August 2010 to serve a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Cleveland, Ohio mission. He is doing great, he loves the work, and loves the people. We have seen much growth in him spiritually and as a person. We are very proud of him, and pleased that he is doing so well.

Ammon is a Sophomore at Maple Mountain High School this year, and will be 16 on the 27th of this month. He is a great kid most of the time, and very involved in social as well as athletic pursuits. He can't wait to get his drivers license, but Dennis and I aren't so sure. He's already wrecked my new (to me) van, on the first day we had it no less, and some of his friends were in a more serious accident. Hopefully that has sobered him to the fact that driving is a serious thing with serious consequences. After wrestling for the high school as a freshman weighing 189, and qualifying for and winning a match at the state tournament, he kept wrestling during the team season. For the first time, he attended a regional wrestling tournament in Pocatello, Idaho this summer and was able to place 2nd in freestyle and 3rd in greco.

He worked hard all summer lifting weights and going to football practice. He played on both the JV and sophomore teams this year, and did really well both defensively as a linebacker, and offensively as fullback. That is, until he tore his quadricep, and was out for a couple of weeks. He was able to come back strong though, and even scored a touchdown in his last game.





He is full swing into High School wrestling now, and looking forward to a great season.

Matthew graduated from 6th grade this past year, and is loving being at the junior high. He has made lots of new friends, and is trying lots of new things.

He played basketball last winter, and did quite well. After all, he does stand head and shoulders above all of the other kids.

He played soccer this fall, and had a fun time, even if his team was pretty pitiful. Sometimes it isn't about winning and losing, sometimes you just have to have fun.

This year, Matthew decided that he wanted to give wrestling a try. He's done really well, and we are proud of him for trying something hard and sticking with it. He's learned a lot, and I can see a change in him from this experience.

Matthew still plays the piano, when I make him, and is taking band class in school this year. He's been able to play the piano as well as learn several different percussion instruments.

Jordyn is six, and in the first grade. Woo-hoo! Freedom for mommy!! Shhh, don't tell her I said that! She loves everything. She loves school, her teacher, and her friends. Jordyn is taking dance class and doing super well, she loves that too!

In the spring, she decided she wanted to cut her hair, so we went with a cute a-line, and she was able to donate her hair to locks of love.

Jordyn also played probably her last season of soccer. She had fun, but just kind of followed the pack around, and didn't really understand what it was she was supposed to be doing. I think we'll stick with dance.

Dennis and I are doing great. Dennis is still corporate counsel for DTI and Liberty Press, and I am fortunate enough to stay home. I have been teaching the 3 year olds in primary for the past year and a half, but was recently released and called to work as humanitarian/compassionate service leader in the Relief Society. Dennis has been working with the young men, but will be getting a change in the next week or so. Our greatest joy is having our family around, we love spending time with them, and seeing the lives they are making for themselves.

At this Christmas season, we are grateful for all of our many blessings, especially for the blessing of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season, may you all find the peace and happiness you deserve in your lives. We are grateful for having you in our lives, and hope you know how much we love and appreciate you.

Love always,
Dennis, Beth, and family

Another Year, Another Stocking!

As you all know, I have continued my mother's tradition of making felt embroidered, stuffed and sequined stockings for our family. Last year I was relieved to finish Adam's on time. This year, you'd think I'd have learned and started Cassidy's earlier, but no. It's finally finished and we now have a collection of 10 stockings hanging above our fireplace. Wonder how many I'll need to make next year???