Oh Dear- April disappeared too-

So much for keeping up with even monthly postings-  but if you could see in my head- you would understand why.

So-  April brought soccer, which is way less time consuming than hockey.  It also brought a work change as we added LOL to the workforce- alleviating half of my hours and taking a big load of daily pressure off my shoulders.  It brought a few other events too.  Like a root canal from which recovery seems far too distant.

I returned home from getting Middle back from her California adventures- and turned right back around and headed out to our dentist and then turned around again to get home and within an hour and a half had the trailer loaded up and headed out to camp for Easter weekend.  It was an interesting trip to say the least.  Total dust bowl thanks to our super dry winter and spring.  There were places when my van thought it was expected to be a dune buggy.  And the DR and I worked almost the whole time thanks to his hot spot.  The wind blew like crazy too- so wind and dust.  But Saturday was nicer than Friday- and the DR and I got a minute to ride 4 wheelers- kids went to the dunes-  and Youngest was granted at least part of her heart's desire which was a few horseback rides. The Easter Bunny managed to find us in all that dust.  The patients were spoiled as per usual.  I must have a talk with that rabbit.

General Conference was amazing- so much food for our spirits- I was on the road so much but tried to listen to as much as I could- just couldn't take notes like I wanted-  but I did HEAR so much more that I usually get to because I was ALONE!

Life moves so fast that before I knew it- the TaVaci Spring concert was upon us-  and Youngest had been assigned a solo, which in her teacher's words-  had her name ALL OVER IT- and boy howdy- did she rock it!  She sang part of R E S P E C T-  and she sold it with gusto.  Tons of laughter and applause with overflowing compliments afterwards.  I videoed it-  but then Middle was messing with the camera and recorded over part of it.  (tad cranky about that !!!)  I know there was more that happened- a lot which I won't be blogging about-  getting fed up with our school district for one thing- that would be a whole blog of its own.

I may end up editing this later if my mind gets jogged.

Weekly ReCap- Dec 3-11

Well- possibly one of the busier weeks we have ever had- or at least in a really long time.

Saturday the 3rd there were games in a town 7 hours away. Thanks to the weather and mountain passes, it took closer to 8 going and 9 coming back. Youngest and I stayed home. 

We have had the regular lessons, practices, plus extra for special numbers, and then Oldest decided to scare us by getting sick- so we hurried him in to the doctor to be very proactive and head off pneumonia before it got him again.  So- on Wednesday- we had a dr appt, hockey, piano times 2- ward Christmas party for which I had not one- but two food assignments, Middle and Oldest's SEOP's, Youngest -Activity day.  Fun stuff.

We also threw three haircuts in there on Thursday and Friday, and dress rehearsal for TaVaci Christmas concert- which Middle couldn't do because she and I were on our way for her to play hockey with the team from my birth town.  She hasn't had games in a month with them- so of course it was this weekend.  She played very well-  she plays defense- and had a rating of +2 in both games- which means her team scored two goals while she was on the ice- and no goals were scored against her line.  This is a very good thing.  They tied the first one on Friday night, and won the second one on Saturday Morning.  She and I then jumped into the car and sped the couple of hours home so she could get to the TaVaci concert.

Meanwhile, Oldest and the DR were also doing hockey in Small Town on Saturday morning and made sure that Youngest made it to the rehearsals.  Luckily LOL was here to help with hair or we wouldn't have made it to the concert in time.

Friday we finally forced in time to get the tree decorated- it has been standing in the corner for a week, waiting for someone to love it-, and to get our Christmas decorations out and set up.  Only the 10th-  gee, we are so on top of it  :)

We were supposed to have a company party-  but we said there was no way possible we would be attending that- since it was scheduled for Saturday night and we just had enough going on without traveling a couple of hours out of town just to turn back around and be home that night.

 Middle also had to speak in Sacrament Meeting. The DR spent all of Sunday at the church with Tithing Settlement.

One more week of out of the ordinary, super crazy, and then Christmas will be here.  I am not ready. Can't imagine why.

Filing in some blanks

Cousin Kate's baptism

Clara's Tea Party with Cousin Amy (Clara), Cousins Lucy, Madison, and Addie.

Lights at Temple Square

Lots of hockey-  This one is Middle out in front

This is Oldest- taking the puck down

and this is shooting on net

And- after the TaVaci concert.

What we have been up to...

Last night was the Spring Concert for TaVaci, so we have been busy with the rehearsal and performance, along with the usual spring busyiness. I keep thinking of how much we cut back this year, and why am I still feeling rushed like crazy? Well- this next week should be much more relaxed than last year at the same time.

The concert was good, and Grandma Bunnie drove to Small Town just for the event. She hasn't seen one yet- and she missed the years when Youngest was in the little group and was so very over the top entertaining :)- The girlie patients were thrilled to have her and one cousin come. Grandma and Grandpa L- were so sad to miss it - it is their favorite. One of the reasons that Grandma B hasn't seen a concert yet is because the weather is always terrible. Guess last night was no exception- we had about 4-5 inches or so of snow fall.

And- I may be a tad biased, but I think that girlie in the middle is getting very pretty.

TaVaci Concert

The program theme this year was "An Old Fashioned Christmas".
As usual- Our director outdid herself in creativity and the kids did even better. They get better every year, and my girls are on their fifth concert- not counting the other side performances they have participated in.

Youngest was in a specialty number called Spirit of the Season.

Middle and our good neighbors/friends.



A couple of the friends and our Director.


Some of the picts of the girlie patients from the PowerPoint they had.

and yes- the DR and older brothers are very worried about the future :)

Middle had a duet- she looked and sounded great- unfortunately I don't have a separate clip of her- should have thought to have the DR record her separate on a different camera.

The Christmas Box- Angel of Hope

Last night, Middle and Youngest along with our neighbor/friends were asked to perform a number for the Angel of Hope Ceremony here in Small Town. Last night, the 100th such memorial statue was dedicated in Georgia. It was bitter cold, the wind was blowing, but there were over 100 people who sat there at the far corner of the cemetary with a view of the valley and listened to three wonderfully talented young fathers each perform a song, and our small group of kids representing TaVaci. Two mothers who joined the unfortunately not too exclusive club of mourners of lost children spoke briefly along with a recorded message from Richard Paul Evans. The one mother buried her 21 year old daughter just 6 months ago. I am sure the Outpatient must have known her. The other mother was carrying twins and lost one - she named her Hope. At the end of the program, they invited everyone to place a white flower on the Memorial. The Girlie Patients placed one in memory of their cousins Anakin and Chancy.

What a spirit-inviting way to spend a Sabbath evening at Christmas time. It gave me the chance to think and reflect. One family who was heavily involved in the program are friends whose son died in his early teens. He would be almost 30 now- he was a friend of our nephew, and his sisters are friends of the Outpatient- the younger was his partner in the Junior Promanade. Another family who are even more heavily involved lost their son at 16 in a car accident, he was a friend of the Outpatient's, and had played hockey. Another family is in our ward, and they lost their toddler daughter about 1.5 years ago when she drowned. There were many other families represented there and many others in our community. I will say that having faith in the eternal nature of man seems to make a huge difference in the greiving. I am really glad- and although we nearly became frozen popsicles- that we were able to participate.

Youngest is the pink coat, and Middle is the green coat- she sang the second solo. They had not practiced the solos as they do not sing them in the TaVaci program so I think the girls did great.

TaVaci Concert- Christmas 2008

Last night, the girls had their TaVaci concert. If you have an opportunity to have your children participate in this performing group, I highly recommend it. Of course, we are so lucky to have the very talented daughter of one of the founders as our group's instructor, but she is also the creative mind behind the songs and choreography- so it goes around. There are groups in lots of places, so look them up on the web and see if there is one by you. I know there are some in Idaho and California at least, as well as Utah. Anyway- back to the concert.

The performances are getting better and better, in part because the kids are becoming seasoned performers. There was a larger group than a year ago, so they were plenty loud, and with few exceptions, more professionally behaved. The littlest kids are always a treat because you just never know what they are going to do, and last night was no exception. The older groups sounded so good, you can really tell that most of them have been singing for at least a year now, and can follow parts as well as remember many lyrics and movements.

BUT- most importantly- they had so much fun! And we, the Audience, did too. I had a mother by me comment last night that this groups performances have become her whole family's favorite concerts. She was saving 4 of the first 5 rows (I had the other).

The confidence and self esteem that this group is helping to build in these kids is well worth the cost of time and energy.

There are no major stories of my own patients to relate, they both sang their hearts out and performed very well. The youngest did make sure quite often to watch her grandparents for their reactions to her songs. They did not disappoint.

Traditioooooonnn! Tradition! (times two)

Today I hope to complete another of our traditions- The Nutcrackers! The girls also have their Holiday TaVaci concert, I have to help in the youngest's class, prepare for my Saint Lucia demonstration tomorrow, clean that not self-cleaning house, and do the non-self fold and put away laundry. Not to mention work. So traditions of craziness and over scheduling do abound.

Edited-

I have now completed the Tradition for the day- TaDa! The Nutcrackers- don't worry, I will move them around the house in a minute- there are too many for the poor piano to handle anymore.

HOPE I GET ONE FROM BRAZIL?! Does anyone know if they have Brazilian Nutcrackers?

Life of the Party

Tonight was the concert for the performing group that the two youngest patients are involved in. It was very fun and cute and I am proud/anguished to say that the youngest patient had the audience roaring with her antics! She did a great job- she can sing well- and there isn't a soul that can match her for the dramatics she provided. Her eyes sparkled and flashed! Her dimples were very prominant and her actions were greatly exagerated. I would post a video but - number one- I still don't have a digital video camera- and two- I was laughing so hard at one point that I am sure everyone will think there was an earthquake. The forebearers of the DR. came and Grandpa would have been rolling in the aisles- except that I made him sit in a few seats so I could video. OH- and least I forget- the DR was involved as well- doing a darling Daddy-daughter routine in an ANNIE medley. The next youngest patient did her vocal part very well- and she did her rap solo well too- They did a very good job all in all- although the older of the two was far more professional in her performances- thank goodness. The Dr did diagnose the youngest with a case of inherited antics-itis and attributed it solely to the Grandpa previously mentioned-