20 July 2008 - Chicago

Hello everyone,

Well, I'm back from my week in Chicago, and fitting in a quick update before heading off to Washington D.C. I was in Chicago for a training class on a data mining software package called Clementine. I'm using it in my teaching now. My classes were held in the Sears Tower, which is right in the financial heart of Chicago.

Today we had a baptism in our ward. I took my turn in welcoming them to the ward during the baptismal service. As I was speaking, I shared with those in attendance the fact that as I walked around Chicago this week, I saw many wealthy people, people getting in and out of limos, staying in fancy hotels, and eating in very expensive restaurants. But what I also saw was that very few of them looked very happy. I then shared with this newly baptized family that I believed that this was because money cannot buy happiness. The father of the family was so happy after his baptism that he could hardly sit still. I told him that happiness only comes from our Heavenly Father's plan, and that families are central to that plan. We can't take our money with us, but we can take our families, and that is what brings us true happiness in our lives.

Part of my trip to Chicago was supplemented by some time with Joanne. Her mom arrived at our house on Monday, and on Wednesday afternoon, Joanne flew out to Chicago to spend the last two days there with me. I had surprised her by buying tickets to see the musical Wicked!, which I highly recommend if you can catch a performance of it (click the pic).Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Grandma was setting the bar high for summer entertainment. In addition to taking the girls back to the Children's Museum, she also took them swimming.
And the girls had a summer day camp at Mingo Creek Park. Madeline waded in the stream with Grandma while the older two were at day camp.
Joanne even got in on the action before leaving for Chicago.
They also spent plenty of time on the swing set too.
Tomorrow we'll head to Washington D.C. for some meeting I have there, followed by some time with Jerry, Danae, Karl, Jolene, Rebecca, Jeremy, and all their kids. It'll be good to see some family, even if they are all on Joanne's side of the family ;-)

Best wishes to all,

Matt, Joanne and girls

13 July 2008 - Children's Museum

Hello all,

Well, I do admit I've gotten behind in updating my blog. It's been a pretty crazy couple of weeks. I won't go in to all the details, but this week leading up to my departure for a week in Chicago was very busy for me. We had a very sad tragedy occur in our ward this week, which both required some of my time and took its toll emotionally on me, as the bishop of the young lady and her two children who were killed. They were not active in the church at all, but I still have struggled to deal with my role in her life and the senselessness of what happened.

Aside from that sadness, we did find some time for some happy events, include a visit to the Pittsburgh Children's Museum, which the kids always enjoy. This is Jessica in the ant farm.Emily is being an abstract artist here:
Madeline is more of a realist in this painting:
I also got the climbing wall done on the playhouse. We obviously still need to paint the whole thing. I've still got to work on the windows and sand box too.
Other than that, I can't think of any other news. We're keeping busy and staying happy.

Best wishes,

Matt and family

6 July 2008 - July 4th

Happy 4th of July!

We had a good 4th of July week. We always miss being closer to family on holidays, but the neighborhood had quite a festival, so we had a good time getting to know people better. They had a pretty amazing fireworks display, which the girls were afraid of (mostly Madeline), and lots of sparklers. The older two girls were not afraid of the sparklers.

Emily made Patriotic fruit skewers for the holiday, but Joanne said the star fruit was too sour to eat, so that part just looked pretty. The rest of the fruit was tasty.It has been a bit rainy this week, so indoor play, including this puppet show, was required to keep the kids from going nuts.
We worked on the master bathroom a bit more, adding a new recessed vanity.
The girls also got to go to the zoo in Pittsburgh, which they thought was fabulous. The kids with them are Emma and Chase Stephens.
Jessica thought it was cool to get a picture of this Doree fish (from Finding Nemo).
I guess that's about it for our week. Hopefully you all had a good 4th of July too.

Matt & family

29 June 2008 - Back Home

Hi everyone,

Things have been pretty quiet since our return from Utah. We did the usual things one does after returning from vacation -- laundry, yard work, etc. Our neighbor Faith was really glad to have some kids to play with again after two weeks away.

On Saturday, we went to a graduation party for a young lady in our ward who has recently earned her Master's degree. Afterward, we had a dinner and spent some time with our friends Don and Eveldora, who we haven't seen for a long time. It was good to reunite with them.

This is a picture of Madeline cranking the handle of a wishing well at the house where the graduation party was held. She was mesmerized by it.I guess that's about all for this week. Gratefully, it was a pretty quiet week.

Take care and have a good week,

Matt, Joanne and girls

22 June 2008 - Utah (Week 2)

Hello everyone,

Well, I got a little behind on the blog during this week trying to get back on track after returning to Pennsylvania from Utah. We had a good trip, but we're also glad to be home.

We had a family photo shoot at Murray Park with all of the families from my parents side. After the photo shoot, we let the girls play in the park for a while. This is Madeline with cousin Megan.Here is my mom and dad with all of their grandkids.
The girls were good sports about the photo shoot, and we got some good pics.
On the Saturday before our trip ended, we went to the mountains near Cedar Fort to ride four wheelers. The kids did a decent job immediately finding an old fire pit and getting filthy in the dirt and ashes.
Don't I look awesome in a motorcycle helmet? Madeline looks better than me I think.
We went to the Thanksgiving Point dinosaur museum with Grandma Fails. The girls had a lot of fun there.
We even got to watch a 3-D Dinosaur IMAX movie, and look cool doing it.
We spent Tuesday at Temple Square in Salt Lake. We rode the train to the city and walked around the grounds and the Main Street plaza.
We also got to see my old mission president, Elder Claudio Costa, who currently serves as a member of the presidency of the Seventy. We had a very nice visit with him for an hour or so, catching up on the goings on in Brazil and discussing common friends. He also gave me some good advice about being a bishop, which was greatly appreciated.
We went swimming almost every day of our trip. This was taken under the bucket dumper at the Scera Swimming pool in Orem. Madeline is in the pink swimming suit just to the left of the waterfall.
That's about all for the trip to Utah. We were glad we got to see so many of you while we were there.

Best wishes,

Matt, Joanne and Girls

15 June 2008 - Utah (Week 1)

Hey everyone,

Well, we made it to Utah on Tuesday, and were glad, for the first time in more than four years, to have a direct flight from Pittsburgh. We were able to work with my dad on some projects, and spend some time with our families this week.

This photo is of Jessica, Megan and Emily at Hogle Zoo on Friday.The girls are always game to read with someone who's willing, and Grandma Fails is always willing.At Grandma North's house in Midway, a dip in the ditch was a good way to cool off.Even mommy got in to cool off a little.
Here are all three of the girls on the bridge.The girls got a little silly.
We took a family photo with my dad and Grandma North. Joanne was taking the picture.
All the girls got to ride on Grandpa's new 4-wheeler. I did too, but the ranger that stopped me didn't like where I was riding it. So we mostly had to stick to the yard.
Afterward, we went to Orem and went swimming in Oma's pool. After swimming, we went to fireworks at Orem SummerFest.

Happy summer!

Matt & fam

08 June 2008 - Piano & Playhouse

Hi all,

I finally got the pictures from the girls' piano recital. This is their teacher, Suzanne Price, with her four students. The boy is her son Ben, who is Emily's age, and the little one in the red dress is her daughter Courtney, who is not a piano student.
Here is Emily in action.
This was the best shot we got of Jessica, though she's done and walking away and not playing in this photo.
It has been super hot here this week. We got out the limbo sprinkler to cool off a bit.
The playhouse is coming along. I got some swings, a tricky bar, and a roof on it this week...
And also some walls and a railing for the balcony. I still have to secure the railing a bit more (kid proof), add some windows, and a rock climbing wall, but that will have to wait.
We're looking forward to heading to Utah for our trip this week. I'll post some more from there.

Matt, Joanne and girls.