Our Own Little Conservatory

Saturday, our house was full of song and dance. Randy tooks Gabs to get her guitar re-strung so that she could keep learning to play. She has a couple of friends that play and have taught her some songs. I hate to brag BUT, she is quite a quick study. So, along with playing the guitar, she sings. I love her voice.

Randy started giving her a spontaneous voice lesson and WOW he really helped her. I was sitting at the computer reading all of your blogs as this was going on and actually got a little teary listening. (that is not unusual for me these days)



Meanwhile, Christi and her friend were putting a dance, that I had taught them in class, to a different song and adding a little more to it preparing for the school talent show.

It was 60 degrees down there, which is freezing cold, but they were burning up. I loved the music they chose.

It made the dance I choreographed seem like a whole new different dance. I was proud of them. I guess I should have taken a video.

Their plan is to teach it to some other 5th graders and have a group perform it for their last year in elementary school. I love when they can do this stuff without me:)

Shameless

O'kay, so I have no shame. This seems to be the quickest and easiest way for my kids to clean up when prompted to do so. (View picture below.) Sometimes I just want it off the floor. I can be somewhat satisfied for a short period of time with this, but not for long.

It is important to me that my kids clean up and maintain their own rooms so this is sometimes what I get UNTIL ........

I just can't take it anymore and get in there and do it myself. I know I should involve them, I can get so much more done while they are at school. They come home and are so pleased. I have to teach them the system, AGAIN and hopefully it will stick for, who knows how long. Hopefully, longer than the last time I organized.

So, we went from this.....

to this......

From this.......

to this....... Anyone have any ideas on what to do with those big backpacks on the top shelf? I know what you are going to say, hang them on hooks, but where?


And this.......

....to this! Ahhh! I feel better now. If only I could have all the rooms in the house done. I will just keep taking 1 day at a time. I did Eliza's room the day before. The teenagers have to do their own. What am I going to do when they are all teenagers and older? I will lose all control!!!

Eight is Great!

Eliza has quite a few months before she turns eight, but at the beginning of the year the Primary holds a special night for all the kids that are turning 8 that year and are preparing for baptism. Here is Eliza with her cousin and one of her best friends. There are 2 other kids that should have been there, but one of them, I won't mention any names, :) got sick right as the program started and had to go home, and the other could not make it that night, SO it was the 3 amigos here.

They played a game to help them learn the 4th article of faith, which was quite entertaining to watch. The kids were so funny. They also heard from the Primary president and our bishop. The kids listened so attentively. They were very reverent. Eliza was so excited to be there. She says she can't wait to get baptized! It is hard to believe that she is getting that big. It was a special night. I am so glad that the Primary presidency decided to do this. It makes it so special for the kids. They ate homemade cupcakes at the end which made it even more special! This event was only for the child turning eight and their parents.

Christiana wanted to be there with Eliza so badly and Eliza wanted her there too, so they begged and sang a song and did a little dance asking me AGAIN if she could come. I let her go and they behaved perfectly. I am glad they love eachother so much. They have a special sisterly bond!

Happy 17th Spencer!!!!!!

How can it really be? I love how Spencer is so easy going about his birthday. He does not ask for much, well really, he doesn't ask for anything at all, so I have to ask him what he wants. He did say he wanted Chocolate Eclair cake which is a favorite in our family. I have been making it quite a bit for birthdays and not just for Spencer. It has layers of graham crackers, vanilla pudding, and chocolate frosting. I think Grandma K. started making it and then we all wanted the recipe.
Spencer hugged and thanked me for his gifts even before he opened them. I got him a few clothing items that he sure could use. I have not bought him alot of new clothes lately. He got a navy blue hoodie, a green and navy t-shirt, a striped polo and some boxers. I love Old Navy for him. It is so afforadable!
Spencer's buddies from church wanted to pick him up and take him to eat for his birthday. They showed up with his favorite candy wrapped in a Star Wars gift bag and a Spiderman balloon. I loved it! Your never too old for Spidy, right?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPENCER!!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year 2010!

We did it again. We all managed to stay up until midnight to bring in the new year. Thankfully, we were prepared with board games, snacks, movies, and Band Hero. (thank you Lauri and Kinley) Watching our kids play Band Hero reminds of one of my favorite movies, School of Rock. Can't you just picture them in funky school uniforms? I think we managed to have the loudest bringing in of the new year this year. Every single person had a horn and wouldn't stop blowing them. Ouch!

We couldn't just keep it to ourselves. We had to share our excitement with the neighbors as well. Brayden was the leader of the pack.

Getting a good picture was nearly impossible, so I had to pose them all at once. It was a fun night!

We pray for a happy and healthy 2010 for all.

Our Anniversary Picture--20 Years!!!!

Christmas Eve

know this is backwards, I did Christmas day first. Anyway, we did things a little bit different this year. We decided not to do the big dinner, just something simple and easy, and not to act out the nativity. If you read my blog from last Christmas Eve it was slightly wild. So, we planned to go Christmas caroling instead. It was pouring down rain, but we did it anyway with umbrellas and wet feet. Before leaving we sang a few songs with Mom playing the piano and Dad leading the music.

We had a bit of reluctance about doing something different. And guess who was the most bothered by it? The teenagers! Spencer and Gabrielle like the traditions. I did not realize how important they were to them. They ended up liking the changes just fine, but we will probably go back to the usual next year. We shall see!