We Are All at Work

Last Friday night Bethany had her orchestra concert up at BYU-Idaho.  As much as we would have loved to have been there in person, it wasn't feasible.  Fortunately, they live streamed the concert so we got to watch it in the comfort of our family room.  For various reasons, Bethany decided to participate in the University Orchestra rather than the audition only Symphony Orchestra (where most music majors are).  This ended up being an excellent choice for this semester.  She landed herself in the first chair as Concert Mistress and had several solo parts. 

The longest solo was a dream come true for her.  She was so happy to find out the orchestra was playing "Ashokan Farewell".  A favorite piece she had played before, but not the solo part.  Much to Bethany's disappointment, the director had told Bethany earlier in the semester that she, herself, was going to play this solo part. However, five days before the concert the director was ill and she gave the solo to Bethany.  Of course, we aren't happy she was sick, but it was a dream come true for Bethany.  According to Bethany, "I just knew I was meant to play this solo!"

We are so happy she has had a good first semester of school.  She will take markedly fewer credits next semester and hopefully find a little better balance, but she's done it and we're pretty proud of her!

Meanwhile, Elinor and Faith were at a swim meet.  It's been a tough couple of months for Elinor with swimming as she is dealing with an injured rotator cuff in her left shoulder.  She's resting it, doing physical therapy and seeing a chiropractor.  So hopefully it will heal of soon and she will come back stronger than ever.  If anyone has any more good advice for her, please pass it along!
It's been almost a year since Faith switched from gymnastics to swimming and she is loving it and dropping times all over the place. 

The Butterfly Biosphere at Thanksgiving Point is probably Peter's favorite place in the world to be.  He just loves it!

Last Saturday Abe was working, the boys were at Nutcracker rehearsals, and the girls were at a swim meet.  It was Peter and Greta and I for the day.  Which, I must say, is a real treat for me to get to focus just on them. 

A visit to the goats while we waited for museums at Thanksgiving Point to open.

The butterfly landed on her head.  This child's hair-- oh my!  How did we get a child with hair struggles like this?  I know I'm completely spoiled, but the mullet is really something to behold.  I think she is going to get a short haircut soon to try to even it out. 

Not awkward at all.

Butterfly Biosphere, lunch at Costco and shopping errands with my two little companions was simple and sweet.  Mind you, by the end I did need a break from Peter's ceaseless stream of consciousness talking, but mostly I enjoyed them both immensely. 

I'm sharing this slightly inappropriate picture just because she is so naughty about getting into things these days and we think everything she does is funny and cute and we are creating a total little monster---- Greta called this "My Work".

Christmas Came a Little Early

Do you know what this means??  This means Clark will be home before my milk goes bad!!!!!!
Mind you, milk never has a chance to go bad in this house because we always drink it before it could possibly expire.  Nevertheless, theoretically, Clark's missionary service will expire before this milk does.  HOW WONDERFUL!

Clark had his final Mission Leadership Conference a couple weeks back.  We are so excited to get to know the new and improved Clark after the experiences he has had the last two years. 

And because Clark is coming home, and we have such an exciting and full holiday season, and because Thanksgiving is late in the month this year, we decided to get on our holiday cheer sooner rather than later.  We threw caution to the wind and started celebrating Christmas before Thanksgiving. 

In the words of Lucy Van Pelt from Peanuts, "What about the Christmas Queen, hmm?"  We're so lucky to have our very own Christmas Queen, who calls the shots and makes sure Christmas is done right! And in the words of William Shakespeare, "Though she be but little, she is fierce!"

They cut snowflakes.

They put up the tree.  I didn't get pictures, but we even made masses of yummy gingerbread cookies and took them around to neighborhood friends.  The funny thing was almost nobody was home-- we were trying to share our Christmas cheer, but I guess people just weren't ready yet!

Greta had her cousin Juliette over to play for a few hours on Monday.  They were so excited to both be wearing cat shirts.   It's the little things.

Impromptu family dance parties make like much better.  Elinor is a big Kpop fan.  I do not judge you if you don't know what Kpop is.  I sort of wish I didn't know.  It's Korean pop music.  Elinor LOVES all things Asian.  She sometimes refers to herself as the "Caucasian Asian".  She dreams of an Asian modeling career.  Asian dramas are her favorite shows.  So, anyway, Elinor is the inspiration for this Kpop dance party. 

They are too much fun.

Happy Nutcrackering To All!

'Tis the season to be in The Nutcracker!  Cannon and George have been so busy running to an from various Nutcracker rehearsals, in addition to their regular classes.  They didn't do the professional Ballet West production downtown this year.  Which was sort of really wonderful to not have those rehearsals in the schedule, and also sort of sad and we've missed being a part of that magical show.  Hopefully next year we will be back.  Instead, they were in the Ballet West Academy production in Provo this past weekend and they will be in a Oquirrh Mountain Ballet's community production here in a couple of weeks. 

This past weekend with BWA, Cannon was Fritz and a lead Russian dancer.  George was a party boy and and Bon-Bon.
For Oquirrh Mountain Ballet, Cannon will be the Nutcracker Prince, and George will be a party boy and a mouse.
The good thing is they love it!  Besides occasional mentions of sore feet, and walking like old men when they get up in the morning, they are quite tough and don't complain.  And I am especially impressed with their responsibility in organizing their dance equipment and clothing and packing their lunches or dinners for really long rehearsal days.  So basically, ballet is doing just what I hoped it would for them.

Abe and I and the older girls enjoyed a lovely evening at the ballet together.  It is an understatement to say I can't believe our good fortune in having such delightful young ladies in our family.  Bethany arrived home from school for the Thanksgiving break on Tuesday evening.

We felt so fancy going out to eat at Chick-Fil-A before the ballet (it rhymes!).
Once again, I can't begin to tell you how happy it makes me to see their beautiful faces smiling together. 
 Peter and Greta played at my cousins' house in Provo during the show.  The same cousin who welcomed Cannon and George to crash on their couch after the first night's show so I didn't have to drive them back down for an 8:30 am call time.  That was so nice of them on both counts.

A little blurry, but no matter.  It was a perfect evening with my favorite people.  The first night I went to the show by myself and as soon as the lights went down and the magical Nutcracker music began, I knew that was a sound that would bring me joy for the rest of my days.  It's Christmas, it's my boys, its the reward for a lot of hard work and commitment, it's time with family enjoying the season.  I never would have guessed what a special place The Nutcracker would have in my heart. 

Rocking the STEM World

George is up to his old tricks again-- making treasures out of trash!  This time it was a cardboard trampoline.

When your mom just won't give you enough video game time with the Switch, you make your own cardboard Switch.  The cool things is the side controllers slide in and out and there is even a little cardboard memory card that fits in a slot in the bottom. He's a clever little lad.

Paper cup pyramid. 

Water bending with a balloon and static electricity.

Adventures in blowing bubbles.

Testing out the new copy machine.  I appreciated Mr. Rogers' reminder to appreciate Cannon just the way he is:)

A building project for their tech class for school.

And it actually plays in tune!
As a homeschooling mom, I don't consider STEM to be my strong suit.  But I don't know, I'm feeling like Foxes rocked the STEM world this week!   

I Feel Powerful

I am not what I once was.
Well, sometimes I fall off the wagon and behave as I once behaved.
But mostly, I am reformed.
I am a recovering nail biter.

When I was four or five years old, I was playing with my sister and a neighbor girl at the girl's house in Olympia, WA.  I remember we were sliding down a slide into a kiddie pool.  This girl's name was Andrea, (pronounced an-DRE-a) and she was first to tell me it was "bad" to hold up your middle finger.  Which really has nothing to do with this story.  By this age I was already an avid nail biter.  Her mother saw me and told me I should stop biting my nails or else I would end up liker her-- unable to grow my nails, even if I tried to. They just wouldn't grow.

Her statement haunted me for years.  I decided my cause was hopeless.  I might as well bite them, because I was past the point of  return.  I had ruined my nails and they wouldn't grow anyway. 

When I was about 10 years old my dad made me a deal.  He would pay me $4.00 for any nail I could grown out long enough to see the nail over the top of my finger palm facing me.  I couldn't do it; not even for the outrageous reward of $40.00. 

As siblings often do, my older sister and I would play fight during church.  I might draw silly pictures of her or pinch her.  Yet, I was helpless for what she could, and regularly did, do to me.  She wasn't a nail biter.  She had claws.  Five deadly little weapons per hand.  She would dig into my arm with her sharp, long nails-- leaving crescent shaped divets.  I had no defense,

When I got married I got acrylic nails put on for my bridal photos and the big day.  They were beautiful and my sister said, "You have such pretty hands when your nails are long."  It made my skin crawl to have them on.  I bit them off on my honeymoon.  Did you know you can bite off acrylic nails?  Oh, yes, you can.

When I got pregnant with Clark, I was a new creature!  I was inspired to be the best possible parent.  What kind of parent doesn't have the love to discipline themselves to stop biting their fingernails?!! Not me!  So I did it.   For three months, while Abe and I were in Washington D.C. doing internships, I stopped.  It was a miracle!  As it turns out, my nails could grow and they were lovely.  But it was not to last. 

I returned to my gnawing ways.  I accepted this "flaw" as part of me.  I could make really good homemade bread.  I always read to my children.  I taught piano lessons.  I regularly exercised and was a good friend.  We all have shortcomings and this was mine (or one of mine).  I determined I could live my whole life happily with ugly, short, jagged fingernails.

One day a couple years back, I was talking with a close friend, at her house.  This friend is very well put together.  She has her own struggles as we all do, but she always has beautiful, well-manicured nails.  As I complimented her on her nails, I related my life-long struggle and acceptance of my nail-biting.  Her husband, (also a good friend) admitted that he used to be a terrible nail-biter, but he had stopped a couple years previous.  Now, I like her husband a lot.  He is a teaser and a bit of a smart-aleck and a lot fun, and you have to stay on your toes around him. 
What the heck?  If HE can stop biting his nails, then I CAN DO IT!  Perhaps a strange place to find my inspiration, but I'll take it.
This friend enjoys doing gel nails and is really talented.  She offered to help me resist biting by putting gel nails on.  Gel nails are basically really hard, really durable nail polish.  At that point I would rather stick needles in my eyes than let anyone observe my nails close up.  So embarrassing.  I told her I'd be back in a couple of weeks (once my nails had grown a little) and then we could try it. 

Friends, it has worked.  With the help of my friend and gel nails, I no longer bite my nails.  I have beautiful, long nails.  My sister was right, I have pretty hands with long nails.  An-DREA-a's mom was wrong and right.  My nails can grow long, but probably break more easily once they are long.   My dad still owe's me $40.00.  I haven't forgotten. 
But then again, When I was ten, I made a deal with him, that if he would give me a piggy back ride, then I would take care of him in his old age--- which old age I agreed was 45 years old.  So I think we'll just leave well enough alone and I won't bug him about the $40.00. 

The benefits of my nails?  How is my life better because I now don't bite my nails?  I feel powerful.  I feel powerful because I have discipline and self-control.  I said I would do something and I am (with the help of my friend) doing it.  If I can master this comparatively small thing, I can tackle bigger things.  My hands look lovely (or at least lovelier) and that makes me feel more confident.  I like not feeling ashamed, or like I need to hid my hands.

Finally, I feel powerful, because now I have five deadly little weapons on each hand.  I'm please to say I have not attacked my sister in retaliation for the scars she left on my arm.  I consider that a sign of my healthy maturation.  But in "encouraging" my own children,  I had no idea how useful and effective slight pressure with a claw hand on the back or head could be.  Yes, I feel powerful.

A Most Excellent Weekend

It had been a while, so it was a delight when the middle kids busted out the old Lego robotics kits.  They were getting along and using their brains and working on projects together. 

In the thick of building...

...their finished project.  I like the opened peanut butter lid right next door.  I also like the pack of Uno cards on the background.  Peter is the Uno Czar these days.  He's always after an opponent to play with him.  He's actually pretty good.

George did his own building and programming with the Lego WeDo.  We've gotten a lot of mileage out of these Lego robotics kits. 

While getting ready for church this morning, we found a rather large tear in Cannon's shirt.  Abe has a hard time getting rid of old clothing.  So when he is finally ready to part with something that is irreparably worn out, he always rips it up.  Partly so that he won't be tempted to try to keep it longer, and partly because it's just fun to rip things up. 

And maybe it's even more fun to rip up your church clothes:)

Of course what the older brother does, the little brother is sure to follow.
Peter dropped some truth bombs on Abe and I this morning. 
Truth #1:  If your heart is like a sponge it is soft and it can suck up the goodness and love.  If your heart is hard like a rock, then it can't suck up the love.  That is one freaking awesome Primary teacher he has.
Truth #2:  If you do all bad things, then Jesus can't talk to you.  But if you do even one good thing, then he can talk to you again.
I love how his giant soul in a little body resonates with the truths he learns.

Bethany came home this weekend for a Miss Utah workshop.  These are the 46 ladies who will be competing for the job of Miss Utah at the end of May.  Bethany is top row, 5th in from the right.  I went with her for the orientation/workshop.  Lots of of good information and a lot of wonderful experiences in store for Bethany in the coming year. 

Bethany is the current Miss Riverton and the other two gals on the left are former Miss Riverton's who will now be competing with other titles.  The wonderful lady on the right is the director for the Riverton competition.  

A fun weekend and always a treat to have Bethany home for a visit.

And once again, what the older sister does, the younger sister is sure to follow

A grown up daughter falling asleep on me like the old days a wonderful feeling.

And waking up with the youngest little sweetheart snuggled up beside me is heaven on earth.

Leaves Are Falling All Around

A couple summers back we chopped down our huge, dying tree in our front yard.  When I say we, I mean our hardworking, resourceful, knowledgeable  friends, the Schramms, let us help them cut down our big tree.  You'd think the amount of leaves would have markedly decreased, but it doesn't seem that way.  I swear, the leaves just keep piling up!  But there are some advantages to lots of leaves.  Leaves make for the best fall play!
I love this picture of Peter belly flopping in a big pile.

 Cannon takes off.  I love George's cheering expression.

The ever brave and daring George.  Note Cannon the photo bomber.

Faith helped Greta jump.

Jumping off the trampoline into a pile is great fun.

Side note about Peter's clothing.  He and I recently purchased his shirt and pants at Savers.  He loves them and doesn't want to wear anything else.  He only takes them off long enough for me to wash and dry them and then he finds them and wears them again. 

With the threat of winter weather on the way, it was time to rake up the leaves this week.  It was a big job!

And it was enjoyable.  It was perfect fall weather and Faith, Cannon, and George were very helpful as we filled lots of garbage bags.

 The labors of the front yard.
A couple days later we did the backyard as well. 

We knew that old tree stump had to be good for something:)