I still have memories of my elementary school choir and band concerts at Christmas time and at the end of the school year. Of course I thought that the choir (which I sang in) sounded fantastic, but felt sorry for my parents for having to sit through the squeaky band performance. Well, now I am the parent sitting through the band concert, and they still sound a little squeaky, but I couldn't have been happier to be there listening.
ashley
May 24, 2012
May 14, 2012
Mother's Day 2012
"I hope that my dear sisters throughout the world - grandmothers, mothers, aunts, and friends - never underestimate the power of their influence for good." - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (attached to the See's chocolate they passed out to all the Relief Society women at church)
After getting to sleep in and shower, uninterrupted, this is what I walked downstairs to, along with a sparkling clean family room and kitchen thanks to Lauren:
After church photo session. The three littles had drawn pictures of me in Primary and when they sang in Sacrament meeting they held them up at the end. It was very sweet to see all the Primary kids beaming and waving at their moms.
After a great day at church, we enjoyed salmon, corn on the cob, green salad and cool whip-cottage cheese-jello salad for dinner. Emily and Lauren did the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen (my favorite part!), and we walked up to the water tower to see the goats that have been brought in to eat the vegetation for fire-proofing purposes. (It doesn't take much to entertain us around here:) Scripture study, prayer, and Daddy put the kids to bed. It was a great day!
April 17, 2012
March 04, 2012
Science Camp -Take 3!
I got to attend 5th Grade Outdoor Science Camp for the third time last week, this time with Ashley. It's been two years since I blogged about my time there with Lauren (I didn't blog about my first time there with Emily in 2008). I'm still impressed with the Chaparrel to Ocean program run by the Ocean Institute and the Lazy W Ranch. And as always, it is more than entertaining to watch the way the 5th graders interact with one another, and my daughters in particular. Ashley was certainly a queen bee in our cabin (or at least, so she thought). I chaperoned a great group of 7 girls (we had an 8th, but she threw up at dinner the first night and got sent home).
We spent Monday in the rain and hail at the Lazy W, but that didn't stop us from trudging around looking at the local foliage in the chaparral ecosystem and checking out the different types of rocks that made up the hills around us. We even went on our night hike, stomping through puddles as we walked with our hands on the shoulders of the person in front of us, with our eyes closed, using our other senses.
Tuesday the weather cleared up for us to explore the oak woodland and riparian ecosystems, as well as have our bonfire and cabin skits in the evening (can you say freezing!).
And then Wednesday, we headed down to the Ocean Institute at the Dana Point Harbor for tidepooling, a boat excursion, and fish dissection before the kids loaded back on the buses and home. (I took off after the tidepools to make it to Maren's Patriotic Performance at the school. Not so sad to miss that boat ride after my experience in Hawaii :)
An ochre star that was marooned way up on the rocks. Our instructor placed it back in the ocean.
It was a great time with Ashley. Now I get 4 years off until it's time to go with Maren. Craig will finally get a chance to go with Nathan when it's his turn in 2 years. Phewwww!
February 14, 2012
December 15, 2011
Christmas Countdown: Day 15
Crazy Hair Day!!!!
I helped with Maren's first grade holiday centers today.
Gingerbread house constructing was the primary focus in Nate's third grade class today.
Lauren and Nathan had a Christmas piano recital at a local assisted living facility. Maren made friends with this sweet lady who let Maren wear her Mrs. Claus apron. I love watching my kids interact with seniors. They are not shy at all and easily converse with the grandmas and grandpas. It warms my heart.
"And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of His coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before He cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day." -Helaman 14:3
December 01, 2011
Thanksgiving 2011: The Crafts
Ginger bought several crafts for the kids to do on Thanksgiving Day from Oriental Trading Co. Maren and Ashley both made a "GIVE THANKS" banner, wove a placemat, made a scarecrow necklace and a wooden bead necklace.
Maren made me a matching necklace. Sweet girl!
November 29, 2011
Thanksgiving 2011: The Turkey Trot: 1K
Next up... The 7-11 year olds running the 1K
They're off!
Emily in the rhino was the turn around point.
Here comes Nathan for second place with Ashley hot on his heels for third.
The top three - Nathan, Emmett, and Ashley. Way to go!
November 04, 2011
Happy Halloween 2011
Halloween went on for days around here. Friday night was the school's First Annual Mako Monster Mash which Craig took the kids down to. Saturday night was our ward's Trunk or Treat. And then actual trick or treating on Halloween night. Phew! All that for a silly holiday that I'm not even sure why we celebrate!
Ashton (Nerf Warrior) and Nathan (Harry Potter) ready to go on Halloween night.
Maren wanted to be Rapunzel from "Tangled". I happily bought her the costume and wig. I'm just grateful to have one more year with a little girl who wants to by a princess for Halloween. This could be the last year :(
Ashley wanted to be a Barbie. She even spent her own money on a blond wig, which she wore for part of the night at the ward Trunk or Treat, then decided it was too hot and itchy. This is where Mom gets to say "I told you it was a waste of your money to buy that wig!" :)
Lauren (recycling her costume from last year) met up with her friends in the neighborhood for trick or treating Halloween night.
Emily (as a cowgirl) and her friends at the ward Trunk or Treat.
Maren and friends at the Trunk or Treat.
Emily (as Anikan Skywalker) and Alexa (as Darth Vader) on Halloween night. They went to a Halloween party at a friend's and trick or treated in that neighborhood.
Nathan and his 8 pounds of loot! Craig bought it off him and Nate bought himself some Lego Ninjagos.
Our neighbor, Jenna, with Ashley and Nathan, organizing their candy.
Fun nights! Glad they are over! Counting down the days til our annual Thanksgiving trip to the desert!
October 02, 2011
our month in review
I just didn't have it in me to do the 12 of 12 this month. So how about 12 photos (give or take a couple) of our activities in the month of September?
Labor Day - Ashley and Nathan rode their bikes while Craig jogged from our house down to the beach. I think Ashley's face says it all. They called me to come down and pick them up and we went and got doughnuts and hot chocolate as a reward for their great efforts!
Maren and Malia after the first day of school, cooling off in the Galland's pool.
Ashley is playing soccer for the third year. Her team is the Bazookas (for bazooka bubble gum). She actually is complaining about playing, so we reminded her that it was her idea to sign up, we've already paid the money, her team is counting on her, and she doesn't have to sign up again next year:)
Nathan and Ashley quit tae kwon do at the end of the school year in June. Nathan wanted to start jiu jitsu with his buddy, Ashton. Nate loves it! He likes that they learn "take downs" and wrestle on the floor. He is all boy!
Alexa, Racquel and Emily - First day of seminary - Day One of the next 12 YEARS! (for me at least)
Emily and Lauren wanted to have a photo shoot on Emily's birthday. We went down the road to the fake guard booth and the girls flashed their best smiles and struck some sweet and silly poses while I tried out my telephoto lens.
Emily is running on the cross country team at the high school. She loves it and is improving her race times.
Craig celebrated his 43rd birthday with his own personal mini triathlon, Hawaiian shave ice, and dinner at Wahoo's with the fam.
We sang and had cake the next day with the Hoffmanns, Christian Macey, and the elders from our ward.
Same people, different party! We sang and had cake for Emily's birthday two weeks later. Emily went around all day on her actual birthday singing Taylor Swift's "Fifteen". Emily says 15 definitely feels different, but maybe it's because she also just started high school and everything is new. She can hardly wait to get her permit in 6 months! And she is already picking out the truck she thinks she's getting next year :)
Well, there's our month. It was jam-packed.
And there is lots more to come this month!
