Ward Talent Show

These pictures were taken right after we got dressed up to go to the big ward talent show. Christopher's picture is not here because he was busy finishing feeding his rabbits.



We had a fun time performing at the Talent Show. We spent all week learning the song "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" in 7 different languages.

The Languages we sung were:

Spanish
Portuguese
Italian
French
Japanese
Tagalog
German

and of course, English...so I guess that makes 8 languages!
Each of the kids sung the their favorite language as a solo first, and then we all sang it together. Angel sang it in Spanish all by herself, Courtney sang it in Japanese, Dorathy sung it in Italian and German, and Christopher did Italian and Portuguese. And we all sang it a second time together. It ended up feeling VERY long on stage. I hadn't really thought of that part when we were practicing it!!!



We suffered a bit of stage fright on the night of the talent show, but we made up for it with pure cuteness! The kids each got to make the flag of the language they liked best. That was the best part of getting ready for the performance; we all enjoyed making those flags!

We also performed it for neighbors and for Grandma and Grandpa.

That night at the Talent Show, Dorathy also danced with her young clogging group, the "Clogabaloos" and I got to sing a song I wrote myself accompanied on guitar. Very fun!

You Like Hats? I'm MAD about hats!

So my Hubby Scott is a HAT guy! He loves hats, and always has.

He aspires to have a fine collection someday. But right now, he mostly has baseball style caps.

Everywhere you go in my house, you'll find his hats strewn everywhere, so the kids enjoy playing with them and wearing them. I'm so glad we finally hung up a "hat rack" for Scott's ever widening stash.

Now that he has a bald Noggin, he doesn't go anywhere without a hat! So if any of you see interesting hats for sale, send the info (or hats!) our way!!!

Moms

I feel so blessed to have my Mom and my Grandma so Close By!

This Picture was taken on my Grandma Jean's 84th birthday! We got to sing her some songs and give her some cards when she stopped by. We were just sad that we didn't have a cake ready!
My Mom is a sweet and noble lady! She is always doing nice things for other people. My Grandma is an amazing person with a glowing testimony! My Grandma Jean wrote her own personal history about 15 years ago, and it has been a blessing to me in my life to read about all the things she has experienced and the trials she has overcome. She is a great example to me and she gives me hope that I can overcome the tribulations in my own life.

Thankyou Mom, and Grandma, for all you have taught me!

Athena's 8th Birthday Party

My Niece, Athena, turned 8 years old last month, and we celebrated at the carousel park. Her mom made this fantastic Carousel cake! Too bad the wind was too strong to get the candles lit.
Baby Julianna's first ride at the Carousel! I thought she'd be frightened, but she LOVED it!

I had to stand by Julianna the whole time with my hands around her, so I didn't get to take pictures of any of the other kids. But it was a wonderful day! All the kids enjoyed it! The carousel Park is a gem. I should go there more often. But a once or twice a year is all I can manage.

The endless possibilities of Creativity!

A friend of mine had this video posted on her blog, it is a must see!

So uplifting!

This is my favorite talk ever given by Dieter F. Uchtdorf,

check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLlnq5yY7k

It is truly astounding to think about, and the truth of it resounds in my soul!

What my kids think of me

I posted this on facebook, but I wanted to post it here as well...

And I am officially giving up the nicknames for my kids. It's just too hard for me to remember. Most of the people who read my blog, know their names anyway, and it was confusing for them. *phew* I'm relieved!


It's interesting to hear my kids point of view!


(Christopher, 10 Dorathy, 7 Courtney, 5)

1. What is something mom always says to you?

Chris: I love You
Dora: Go do this! Go do that!
Courtney: you have to have a time out!

2. What makes mom happy?

Chris: Doing my chores quickly without complaining
Dorathy: Giving you hugs and kisses, doing my school stuff without being asked.
Courtney: When I clean my room

3. What makes mom sad?

Chris: When I ingore you, especially when you're asking me to do my chores
Dora: Fighting and calling bad names
Courtney: When I don't do everything you say

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

Chris: when you tell me funny jokes
Dorathy: When we play hide and seek and you hide like, in plain sight because you don't fit anywhere!
Courtney: When you tickle me and give me zuberts

5. What was your mom like as a child?

Chris: loving and fun
Dorathy: Creative and Friendly
Courtney: you were sneaky and lied about eating your vegetables

6. How old is your mom?

Chris: 37
Dorathy: 35
Courtney: 30

7. How tall is your mom?

Chris: 5 feet
Dorathy: 6 feet
Courtney: 40 feet tall

8. What is your mom's favorite thing to watch on TV?

Chris: Howl's Moving Castle
Dora:Family movies & General Conference
Courtney: Church on TV

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

Chris: Cleaning up and then watch movies with Daddy
Dorathy: Computer stuff and reading a good book
Courtney: Do stuff on the computer

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

Chris: Being the most wonderful Mom in the world
Dora:Writing Books
Courtney: baking

11. What is your mom really good at?

Chris: Loving children and having fun and taking care of babies
Dora: Being mom and helping us and cleaning
Courtney: cooking

12. What is your mom not very good at?

Chris: lying
Dora: Drawing
Courtney: cleaning up and cooking at the same time

13. What does your mom do for her job?

Chris: taking care of the family
Dora: Taking care of us!
Courtney: cooking

14. What is your mom's favorite food?

Chris: homemade soup
Dora: vanilla ice cream
Courtney: Peppers!

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

Chris: surprising us with hamburgers for dinner
Dora: Doing something nice for us...like cleaning our room for us!
Courtney: when you put something in our room, like a surprise

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be

Chris: the little mermaid!
Dora: You're like a cross between Pocohontas and Mulan!
Courtney: My little pony

17. What do you and your mom do together?

Chris: be with me!
Dora: have kid of the day time together (A date with just Mom)
Courtney: bake bread!


18. How are you and your mom the same?

Chris: we're both human!
Dora: we're both girls.
Courtney: cause we're girls!

19. How are you and your mom different?

Chris: I'm a child, and you're a grown-up
Dora: Your hair is long, mine is short
Courtney: I'm blonde,your hair is black
.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

Chris: you take care of us and love us and give us kisses
Dora: you help us with things
Courtney: when you give me hugs!

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?

Chris: he's your husband!
Dorathy, he's funny when he picks you up!
Courtney: When he tickles us

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

Chris: home!
Dora: Grandma's house
Courtney: to visit her Mom

I love Oregon!

I love Oregon!

I few days I was struck by the beauty of the place that I live. I was beginning to take it for granted. Spring is so lovely, and I am enjoying all the wildlife.

While I was outside with the baby, I could hear birds in the trees, and the wild turkey's gobbling across the street. I saw a hawk high in the sky, and could hear all my little pet rabbits nibbling at their water bottles. The chickens were scratching in the garden, and all my daffodils are in bloom.

We saw two baby deer across the street this morning, and last week we saw a giant sleek raccoon sneaking across our front lawn. Lucy, our dog, keeps chasing the snake out of the garden, and in the evening I can hear all the tree frogs croaking happily in the wet twilight.

I LOVE OREGON!!! I love how filled with wildlife and flowers and green it is! 6 months of rain is worth all this green loveliness. I am SO excited that warmer weather is on the way!