Zack's Farewell

Zack gave his farewell talk on Sunday. We were all incredibly touched by all the people who attended. The love and support for Zack in that meeting and at our home afterwards was overwhelming. Thank you to those who were.

Zack and Julie after it was all over. Phew!

Christmas

Fleming tradtion: Pizza for Christmas Eve 

For Christmas Eve this year, we had our good friends, the McEwens, over. We had Thai, cheese, and barbecue. We had a chicken Mediterranean and black Angus garlic one we didn't get to. Those are in the freezer for another time. Yum! 

Can you find the real cat?

D and H watching an after dinner Christmas movie.

We woke up to snow on Christmas Day.

We had a white Christmas. Love it!

Kids open their presents. 

Opening presents did not have the excitement of years' past. Most of Zack's presents were missionary items and he bought them with us. We already got a replacement car, so there was not a lot under the tree. We didn't mind. It was nice to spend time together eating, playing games, napping, and watching movies. 

Fleming Tradition: Cheese fondue for dinner...

and chocolate fondue for dessert. Yum!

My students gave me a Real Salt Lake plush blanket for Christmas this year. I love it! It was a very mellow, relaxing, and enjoyable holiday.

Unfortunately, Zack woke up this morning (26th) throwing up and feverish. :(

Merry Christmas

Zack puts the star 

Nicole hanging ornaments

Powder takes up her favorite place under the tree with her furry friends.

Merry Christmas!

Good Tidings of Great Joy

“We find the real joy of Christmas when we make the Savior the focus of the season.”   President Thomas S. Monson

We invite everyone to watch the video He is the Gift this Christmas. This video will help remind you of the reason for the season of Christmas. We are grateful for the first gift of Christmas, a true gift of love. This gift was given to everyone when Christ was born. We wish you all a wonderful Christmas with those who are important to you.

Zack's Farewell Talk

Zack Fleming

has been called to serve a mission in

Taichung, Taiwan

for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

He will be giving his farewell talk on
Sunday, December 28, 2014 at 11:00 a.m.

You are invited to attend if able. 

Please call, email, or text us for the church building address. 

He leaves for the Provo MTC on January 7, 2015

Santa Came Early

Since we knew the van was in bad shape, unreliable, and could die any minute, Keith and I went car shopping last weekend. I hate car shopping. We were lucky and blessed to find a good fit at our first stop. Within a couple hours, we were driving home in a 2012 Toyota Yaris. It is a very simple, stripped down version and perfect for a kid car. We believe we got a good deal. The kids have decided to call it Jarvis. We hope this one can last 13 years like the last car :).

RIP Grand Caravan

Back in 2001, we bought a Dodge Grand Caravan. It was already 1 year old when we bought it. We have been driving it for 13 years. It became the kids' car once they were able to drive. Both of them learned how to drive in that car. It is amazing that it lasted this long. When we found out it was dying and to repair it would cost over $5000, we decided it was time to put it out of its misery. 

Gotta love the peeling paint look. 

 So long to the "old man van" as some of Zack's friends have affectionately referred to it.

Teachers are Superheroes

My 3rd Grade Team was Superheroes for Halloween this year. It was simple, fun, and easy. We each had a super hero t-shirt. I had Spidey gloves, but forgot to wear them for this picture. It is so fun to work with people I consider to be great friends. 

 We had Iron Man, The Flash, Spider Man, Captain America, and Super Man. Batman was sick that day and we missed her.

We teach. What's your super power?

Playoffs,Round 1

Real Salt Lake are in the playoffs for the 8th consecutive year. We were able to attend round 1 of the playoff game against the LA Galaxy. RSL was amazing defensively and held LA to only 1 shot on goal. We had 16 shots, but LA's goalie saved the day time and time again for them. It was so much fun.

Game 2 is Sunday night. We are hoping for another trip to the championship.

It was windy and cold during the game, but the sunset was amazing. 

Fireworks to start the game

BELIEVE

Halloween 2014

Keith and the kids have been busy creating props for our Halloween display this year. They arranged everything so the kids and parents virtually had to run the gauntlet passing different creations as they climbed the stairs.

Don't worry, we brought candy to the little kids who were overwhelmed and didn't want to climb the stairs. We didn't scare the littles and only 1 child cried...but it was truly her father's fault.

We had a lot of friends stop by and it was great to visit with them and let their children have a chance to push the buttons for the trick or treaters.

Unfortunately, it was difficult to get pictures of the full effect at night time due to little lighting. They set up many black lights strategically pointing at signs and the glow in the dark paint they used. It really was cool.

This is the gauntlet.

On the left, you have warning signs, a shaking box and orange glowing ghosts in the garage windows. In Zack's room directly above the ghosts, (sorry, no picture) there was a glowing green ghoul.

The box has fake legs underneath so it appears someone is stuck and/or trying to get out. 

The right side of the stairs has a failed experiments section with gravestones, skeletons and ghouls. They would pass the ghoul and graveyard, then a skeleton hand would pop out of a box. 

The graveyard

One of the benefits of not having grass yet is the graveyard looked better in the dirt.

Ghoul with the sign

Skeleton in the graveyard

 After the hand popped out, there was Gordon's garbage can. Keith and Nicole jazzed it up a bit this year for a more powerful effect. 

Popping up garbage can

This looked awesome at night with the glowing red light inside the can.

Bubbling poisonous water and snakes. 

 The trick or treater now must pass the snake cage and then go by the bubbling water. The bucket at the top of the stairs has green, glowing, bubbling water (soap bubbles)  inside of it. Nicole built this prop with her friend, William.

Snake cage

This creation is a cage of sorts with snakes escaping from it. It is hooked up to a tube that shoots air out at your feet/legs as you walk by. We also made a sign which is hard to read in this picture. It says, "In Memory of Gordon Calkins." Keith may not be so into Halloween without the influence of Gordon in his life. Also, the garbage can, box shaker, and fake legs all belonged to Gordon.

The sunset

 The sunset was amazing, so while taking pictures of the yard, I had to take some of the sunset.

They already have a plan for next year. A mad scientist's lab in the garage. Oh the things they can do....

Hogwarts: 4th Year

Once again, my school had their annual Hogwarts fundraiser. It was a lot of fun and we had a great turnout. It was fun to spend some time with my friends away from teaching.

Professor McGonagall, Delores Umbridge, Ginny Weasley, Gryffindor witch, and Tonks

My team (minus 1) Professor Pomfrey, Gryffindor student, Tonks, Professor McGonagall, and Ginny Weasley