My Legacy

The trombone legacy lives on!

This makes me very happy.  Elinor has started her summer band program and she is diligently practicing.  It helps that she has her own built in private teacher at home.  She was signed up for the beginning never-played-before class.  But in the whole first hour they learned to put their instrument together and play a note.  I told the teacher she needed to be in the intermediate class and I'd just help her a lot at home.
I guess it's the homeschooler in me.

Look what I found at a garage sale this weekend!!

SCHOOL DESKS!!  They were 5 bucks each so I figured if the kids didn't like them I could probably sell them or just get rid of them.  But so far this kids are loving them.  They are quite sturdy and comfortable.  We are on summer break and so the kids have a very lightened school load.  They must do a bit of math and read for an hour.  All three waited until late at night to get their math done, so here they are.  Sometimes they are more cooperative at night than during the day.

Even the little boys like to sit in them to watch their episodes of the Magic School Bus.

They also discovered it was fun to jump across the tops of them, but I had to put an end to that.  My public school past forbids such behavior.

The little kids had a play dough afternoon and this is what Faith came up with.  The green antenna things are corn on the cob pokers.  Another thing I really like, although I find a little freaky, is Faith's arm muscles.  She is working so hard on building up her strength so she can do her aerial.  She is doing 150 back handsprings in sets of five every day.  Pound for pound she is by far the strongest member of the family.  Freaky strong.

Snakes, Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails

Abe took the three boys on our ward's Father's and Son's Camp-out up Diamond Fork Canyon Friday night.  This is very near to Red Ledges, Clark's all time favorite reptile hunting grounds.  It was reported to me that Cannon did an admirable job of following in his brother's footsteps in catching snakes and lizards.

And this made him quite popular amongst the little boys.

Here is Cannon with Jake and Ryder-- his best little neighborhood friends.  They play together quite a bit and the other day Cannon was being rather grouchy with his siblings.  I told him that maybe he needed some time away from his friends so he could remember how to be nice to his family.  He very calmly explained to me, "But Mom, I love my friends more than my family."
Oh, I see.  Yes, that is exactly why you need a little more time with your family.

Clark's reptile collection is at an all time high right now.
It kind of grosses me out, but I will admit that he is doing a good job of taking care of them all.  I think he should start a business where he goes around to schools, libraries, fairs, birthday parties and such, showing his collection and teaching about reptiles.  We'll have to work on that.

George was so happy to be going on the camp-out.  This was his first and he stuck pretty close to Abe, but he loved it.

Here with Abe and Clark is Sam.  He is a twelve year old in our ward who has a special relationship with Abe.  Sam is autistic and Abe taught him in primary for several years.  Sam loves Brother Fox and Brother Fox loves Sam.

The little boys enjoying their pancakes and sausage in the morning.  Abe was grateful they got a good night's sleep.

Clark and a few of his fellow deacons hunted reptiles, hiked and learned to gamble.
Mmm..hmm.   You read that right.  He learned to play blackjack and gambled with candy.  Oh, well.

It's good for the boys to get to go be boys.

June 2013 Piano Recital

If you've ever sat through your own child's piano recital, you know the relief you feel when it is over and they've done a good job.  I know they feel relieved too, but I think it's worse for the parent.  Selfish?  I don't think so.  Sometimes I tell the kids they don't have to worry because I'll worry for them-- then they can just relax and play well.

Now imagine that feeling 24 times over and you'll understand why I slept very well last night after our spring recital was over.  This picture is missing three of my students who had to leave early.  They all played very well and I was so proud of them.

We had a theme of folk songs from around the world.  The first song I chose for them and then their second song was their choice of a song they have played since the last recital.
 Elinor played "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" and Mexican Hat Dance.  She did them both memorized and beautifully.

Clark played "Maple Leaf Rag" and "Mission Impossible".  It's probably about time for Clark to move onto another, more advanced teacher.  In his own words, "Mom, having you as my piano teacher is kind of like being a grown up and still living in your basement.  I'm not really out in the real world."
Fair enough.  Although you do in fact live in my basement and are not in the real world.  And you're home-schooled to boot! But I think I hear what your saying. 
Truthfully, I'd love for him to take from another teacher who can really push him and challenge him, but he'll have to decide if he wants to put in more effort.

Bethany played a very fun "Alouette" and "The Legend of Madrid".  She played beautifully and had hers memorized as well.  And she had to do double duty because she played a Vivaldi concerto on her violin as well.  Her new teacher hasn't done a recital and I'm not sure if he plans to, so we took matters into our own hands!  I'm mean that way.

It really is almost painful how cute these little girls are.  They all did great!  Faith played "The Galway Piper" and "The Greatest Show on Earth"-- memorized and with no mistakes.  She does a great job of practicing and it paid off.

I have no lessons to teach this week.  We can all use the break, but can you believe that they all were drawn to the piano like moths to the flame today.  And this was me, "GET OFF THE PIANO!  I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR THE PIANO AT ALL TODAY!"
 I just couldn't take it. 

Ob-La-Di...

It finally happened.  Faith is seven and she finally lost her first tooth.

The piano man came to tune our piano this week.  The kids were mesmerized watching him work.  He was very kind and understanding and let everyone have a turn to play the piano while it was open.  I teach so many lessons each week and I've known for some time that the piano was out of tune, but I just hadn't taken the important step to call a guy.   I'm having the same problem in calling a dentist.  We all need to go, but our insurance changed and so I need to find a new dentist.  Why don't I just call another one and make an appointment?  I don't know.

 There is a lot of piano practicing at our house because we have our recital coming up this week.  Everyone is understandably tired of playing their songs, so we'll all be glad when it's done.

 Clark and friends enjoying their monthly D&D night.  Your eyes are not playing tricks on you. That is indeed a girl in the picture.  And a cute girl at that.  Oh yes, times they are a changing.

I don't post nearly the amount of pictures of Elinor and Tae Kwon Do as I did with Clark.  But she keeps on trucking along working towards her black belt.  Back when I was gone on my trip she successfully tested for her Jr. Red belt.  She loves Tae Kwon Do and considering how easily distracted she gets during the day working on school work, she stays remarkably attentive and focused during Tae Kwon Do.

This is also from when I was gone on my trip.  I suppose when the mommy-cat is away, the mice will play.  Abe took the kids to the monstrosity known as Scheels to ride the ferris wheel.

And to the Dinosaur Museum...

Oooh... scary.  Wouldn't you agree that it is so sad my children have trouble expressing their emotions?

And he also let Clark keep the scorpion that he caught on a scout campout.

And they went out to eat a lot.

And by now it should be readily apparent that dad is way more fun than mom.  I guess I've known that for a long time.  

Cannon's 5th Birthday

Cannon turned five this week.  Sigh.  This means he's more like a big kid and less like a little kid.  We enjoy him so much and everyone in the family was looking forward to planning his birthday party.  He decided on a Star Wars theme.  A little visit to Pinterest, several trips to Walmart, a few hours of work, a lot of wonderful friends, and wah-la!  A smashing Star-Wars party and one very happy 5 year-old!

We started with our pizza lunch and cupcakes and ice cream.  We all needed sustenance for what was coming.

The lunch time entertainment was a table full of 4 and 5 year-olds telling nonsensical knock-knock jokes. 

We had three areas of Jedi training.  Here is Cannon trying to navigate his way through the asteriod field without touching any of the asteroids.

Bethany was in charge of practicing using the force with magnetic gloves and paper clips.

For flight simulation the kids had to make paper airplanes and fly them through a hanging hula-hoop.
Once they had successfully completed their Jedi training they were awarded their light saber.  Things were about to get really exciting!

These Jedi's obeyed the rule exactly and "solemnly" followed me outside for their light saber practice time.

They even had the self control to pose for a picture before the mayhem set in.

I told them they were just practicing and they weren't real bad guys so not to hit too hard. 

 But then the real bad guys showed up!  Clark, Bethany, Elinor, and Ben (Elinor's friend) came to ambush the little kids.

Clark was a popular target and I must say, he was such a good sport and so much fun with the kids.

How long could Clark stand up against such a force?

Not very long.

It didn't end well.

Bethany tried to outrun them, but in the end she too succumbed to the force of the Jedi's.

There were remarkably few injuries.  Especially since I loaded their pool noodle light sabers with wooden dowels.  I felt there needed to be some level of actual potential danger involved to make it exciting.  Abe thought this wasn't such a good idea.  But I assured him it would be fine.  Then it turned out that Abe needed to work today and he wouldn't be at the party.  Suddenly actual, dangerous weapons in the hands of 13 five year-olds didn't seem like such a good idea.  Thankfully, a skinned knee was the worst that happened.

After opening presents it was time for more battling.  This time it was blue vs. green vs. orange light sabers.

I couldn't have done the party without the big kids helping.  They were the entertainment.

To calm things down a little we played Jedi, Jedi, Sith (duck, duck, goose).

Did you know there was a time when I wasn't sure how I felt about having more little boys? 

What was I thinking?  I can't get enough of these two.

And I'm quite taken with the man-child as well.

May the force be with you.

Cannon, we love you so much!  You are a ray of sunshine in our family spreading your good cheer everywhere you go.  Happy 5th birthday!