life in general

our day off

Let's see, I had intentions of getting up and exercising this morning but decided to sleep for another hour.

We had intentions of going on a little hike mid-morning, but it was raining.

Instead I dove into the boys' room and spent 1 1/2 hours cleaning, organizing, and attempting to de-stink the place.  We came away from the job with a bag full of garbage, everything back in it's place, and a deal that if they keep the room clean for 30 days I will take them to Chuck E. Cheese.

Then we packed into the car and drove into town for lunch at Chipotle.  This is the first time we have gone there with the kids and not brought along Happy Meals from McDonalds.  Today we ordered plain cheese quesadillas for the 3 turkeys and everyone was perfectly happy.  Score.

For entertainment we went to Sleep Country and tested mattresses.  The kids thought that was great fun.  We (mostly Scott) would like to get a new mattress.  Our current mattress is 11 years old and he often wakes up with a sore back.  Our favorite of the day, the Simmons Bonnard Plush (a.k.a. The Heavenly Bed).  Ahhhhh.

A little detour to show the kids the apartment complex we once lived in (2000-2002).  Conner had a hard time believing we actually lived there once, because he has no recollection of the place.  Yep, not too surprising since he was 17 months old when we moved out.

A "like it" or "love it" for everyone at Coldstone.  Thanks to E! for celebrating 20 years, we got 20% off.  Anna was the first one to finish her "like it" and then turned to Scott and said, "It is nice to share."  Hint, hint.

Now we're home.  Doing laundry.  Scott is setting up the kids with some Guitar Hero and I'm about to cut up some pineapple for grilling with a very delicious glaze from Tucano's.  Here's the recipe:

• one half pineapple, cut into spears
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• lemon juice

Warm your grill to medium heat.  Sprinkle pineapple spears with half of the cinnamon and a little brown sugar.  In a small saucepan heat butter, brown sugar, and rest of cinnamon.  Heat until bubbly and sugar is properly melted.  Grill pineapple spears over direct heat about 2-3 minutes per side, turning occasionally.  Each time it turns, baste with a brush of glaze.

Hope you are enjoying your day off!

if I planted a garden

{today Scott and I spoke in church.  so I thought I'd share my talk here.  there's a treat if you make it all the way to the end.}

The prophet said to plant a garden, so that’s what we’ll do.

For God has given rich brown soil, the rain and sunshine too.

And if we plant the seeds just right and tend them carefully,

Before we know, good things will grow to feed our family.

We’ll plant the seeds to fill our needs, then plant a few to spare,

And show we love our neighbors with the harvest that we share.

Oh, won’t you plant a garden, too, and share the many joys

A garden brings in health and love to happy girls and boys!

("The Prophet Said to Plant a Garden", Children's Songbook)

     Isn’t that such a cheerful song?  When I hear this Primary song with the music, it has such a skippy, upbeat feeling . . . I can almost picture children frolicking around a garden, happily pulling weeds, harvesting tomatoes, corn and squash, and maybe even {gasp} eating that squash for dinner.  (I’ve never seen that happen in my house.)

     I’ve been asked to speak on the Law of the Harvest, and more specifically on gardening.

     I want you to know that I am a gardening rookie.  I planted my very first vegetable garden last summer.  A modest 4 foot by 4 foot square garden.  I employed the square foot gardening concept I learned about in a RS meeting so that I could maximize the area in my flower bed.  From our little raised garden we harvested cherry tomatoes, a few cucumbers, a handful of peas, some interesting carrots, one pumpkin, a few beans that didn’t really turn out, but the garden more than made up for that disappointment with it’s plentiful and sizable production of zucchini.

     As we know, the prophets have asked us to grow a garden.

     In the April 1976 general conference, President Spencer W. Kimball said:

    “We encourage you to grow all the food that you feasibly can on your own property.  Berry bushes, grapevines, fruit trees - plant them if your climate is right for their growth.  Grow vegetables and eat them from your own yard.  Even those residing in apartments . . . can generally grow a little food in pots and planters.  Study the best methods of providing your own foods.  Make your garden . . . neat and attractive as well as productive.  If there are children in your home, involve them in the process with assigned responsibilities.”

     There is value in engaging ourselves in the process of sowing, cultivating, and producing food for our own families.  But, from personal experience & thought, I know that there are sometimes barriers that can keep us from “digging in.”  

     I don’t want to lose any space in my yard.  I can just buy this produce at the store and save myself all the work.  I don’t have a green thumb.  

     I turn to the scriptures in D&C 64:33 for some motivation:  Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.  And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

     A few weeks ago the kids and I carefully placed some very small seeds into our garden box, and we are hoping that something great (and orange) comes from it.

     In researching & planning for this talk I talked to both of my parents, to get some of their insight on the subject.  See, there is a strong history of farming on both sides of my family.  They both grew up working in and around fields, having their hands in the dirt.  So forgive me if I share a few stories/examples from them.  

     So when I asked my dad his initial thoughts on gardening he said that a common thought/feeling that continues to return to his mind is the law of obedience.  They currently have a good-size garden.  But they also live in a very rural area and have to deal with a lot of pests.  They have an 8 foot fence around the garden to keep the deer out.  The fence goes a foot down into the ground to deter the gophers, but they still find a way to make it in and manage to pull entire tomato plants into their burroughs overnight.  And the birds continue to wreak havoc on their fruit trees despite netting, reflector tape, etc.  It’s been a frustrating process, but they keep at it and try to stay one step ahead of the critters.  So for him, gardening is a tool in practicing obedience.  The prophet said to plant a garden so that’s what we’ll do.

     A second, obvious reason for gardening is to work towards self-reliance. On providentliving.org under Gardening it quotes President Monson:  “Self-reliance is a product of our work and undergirds all other welfare practices.  It is an essential element in our spiritual as well as our temporal well-being.”  (“Guiding Principles of Personal and Family Welfare,” Ensign, Sept. 1986)

     We know that there is no temporal law given to us that doesn’t also have spiritual meaning.  And achieving greater self-reliance allows us to grow spiritually.  Once our needs our taken care of, we are more capable of offering service to those around us.

     The website continues to say:  “Planting a garden, even a small one, allows for a greater degree of self-reliance.  With the right information and a little practice, individuals and entire families can enjoy the many benefits of planting and tending a garden.”

     In addition to following the counsel of prophets & leaders, and striving towards self-reliance . . . there are many blessings that come from participating in the gardening process.

     We learn about work and the Law of the Harvest.  Galatians 6:9 says “for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” 

     There is work you have to do ahead of time (preparing soil, planting, watering, weeding, pruning) in order to enjoy vegetables and fruit in the summer.

     In my parents stake there are several church farms and the members have a responsibility to tend to them at different points of the year.  Their branch does service work at the vineyard.  In January they go to prune the vines.  Then in August they return for the harvest.  Mind you, this is California and it is quite hot and dry in August.  They pick the grapes by hand and it is not easy work.  My mom always has to mentally prepare herself for this day.  By the end of the morning everyone is literally drenched in sweat, it is dusty outside so the dirt is sticking to you, and on top of that the vines are quite often covered in spiderwebs that they have to reach into all the while brushing the spiders off of their arms and clothing.  (I’m so glad I moved away from home before they started doing that.)  They lay the grapes out on paper in the middle of the rows, where they sit to dry in the sun.  Two weeks later they come back, roll up the paper which now contains raisins and stack them away.

     It is dirty, hard work . . . but they come together as a branch to do it.  There are kids running around singing and playing and having a good time.  

     Spencer W. Kimball said:  “With the arrival of spring we hope all of you will put in your gardens and prepare to enjoy their produce this summer.  We hope you are making this a family affair, with everyone, even the little ones, assigned to something.  There is so much to learn and harvest from your garden, far more than just a crop itself” (“Becoming Pure in Heart,” Ensign, May 1978, 79).

     Along with the work involved in gardening, there also comes a great source of happiness and satisfaction.  As with anything you work for, when you succeed you find happiness.

    

     2 Nephi 5:11 - we did prosper exceedingly; for we did sow seed, and we did reap again in abundance.

     Marlin K. Jensen, in an 2002 Ensign article said:  “I cannot tell you logically why something as simple as planting a garden, however modest, and harvesting and enjoying the fruits of one’s labors is a source of great happiness, but I know it is.  There is ‘far more than just a crop itself’ to be gained, and it can come from a flowerpot, a window box, or a single tomato plant, as well as from an entire garden or field.”  (“Living After the Manner of Happiness,” Ensign, Dec 2002, 56-62).

     I know I get a little burst of happy when I see my seeds sprouting, a bright red strawberry, or a zucchini that keeps growing and growing.

     When we visit my parents house in the summer time the first thing the kids want to do each and every morning is visit the garden (sometimes before I even wake up) so they can see what new things are growing, to check the ripening progress of the plums . . . .  Frequent visits to the garden continue throughout the day and they fill their bellies with fruit.

     D&C 59:18-19 - Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.

     There is a tangible happiness and energy that comes from these things  . . . and God has provided it for us.  We know that He has created the things on this earth to be for our use and enjoyment.

     When we participate in the process of growing things we gain appreciation for nature, for God’s creations, for what Heavenly Father has given us.  From planting a tiny seed, nurturing it and watching it grow into something big and useful . . . we get to marvel at what nature is capable of.  And in that moment we feel closer to it.  More in tune.

     I haven’t been a gardener for long, but I know that many people enjoy it for the quiet and peaceful moments that it provides to think on higher things.  There are also so many experiences and gospel lessons that can be learned through the principles of gardening.

     Spencer W. Kimball:  “I hope that we understand that, while having a garden . . . is often useful in reducing food costs and making available delicious fresh fruits and vegetables, it does much more than this.  Who can gauge the value of that special chat between daughter and Dad as they weed or water the garden?  How do we evaluate the good that comes from the obvious lessons of planting, cultivating, and the eternal law of the harvest?  And how do we measure the family togetherness and cooperating that must accompany successful canning?  Yes, we are laying up resources in store, but perhaps the greater good is contained in the lessons of life we learn as we live providently.  (Ensign, November 1977)

     One of my favorite family memories, related to my topic today, has to do with pomegranites.

     My grandpa was a farmer, and grew a variety of things, and eventually established a business processing and distributing walnuts (one that my dad still owns and runs to this day).  The nut plant sits on a country road just out of town.  One year Grandpa Rene brought back cuttings from his mother’s pomegranite orchard in Overton, NV and planted them in a long row between the road and the nut house.  Each year he’d propagate the trees a little more until there were nearly 150 trees there and they grew huge.  And produced a lot of fruit.

     When I was young I remember my grandma and her sister would harvest the pomegranites in the fall.  In an effort to get something useful from the pomegranites, Grandpa bought a wine press and it was set up in the little orange orchard.  Grandma and Aunt Minerva would cut the pomegranites in half, add them to the giant bin, and crank the wine press.  The juice that came out also had to be filtered to get the pulp/skin out.  From this process they had pomegranite juice, they canned lots of pomegranite jelly, and I even remember some pomegranite jell-o making an appearance now and then.

     A few years ago the trees had become quite overgrown and became more of a problem so they were all removed.  But not before my mom was able to take a cutting from the last tree that Grandpa Rene planted, and then plant it in her own garden.  And it is growing today.

     What I love about this story is . . . I saw an example of work.  This is a special memory for me to have witnessed these sisters working together (and working hard) all in the name of pomegranite jelly.  I also find significant personal meaning in the thought of a tree growing under my great-grandmother’s care.  And how that tree went on to grow successfully at the hands of her children and grandchildren and her great-grandchildren enjoyed the fruit of it.

     From one good tree, one good branch, many things can grow.  So it is in our families.  The strong testimony that was exemplified in my great-grandmother’s life (and other ancestors) has been passed down from one generation to another.  And continues to grow today.

     I mentioned this a bit earlier, but would like to read a little more from Galatians on the Law of the Harvest.  In Galatians 6:7-9 it reads

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  And let us not be weary in well doing:  for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

     The Law of the Harvest is simply that you don’t get something for nothing in life.  The scriptures tell us that as ye sow (plant), so shall ye reap (harvest).

     If you want to harvest testimony . . . you need to sow the seeds of faith now.

     If you want to harvest returned missionaries . . . you need to sow scripture study and regular church attendance now.

     If you want to harvest a temple marriage . . . you need to sow virtue and commitment to covenants now.

     In Mark 4 we read the parable of the sower.  A man went out to sow his seeds.  Some fell by the wayside and were eaten up by birds.  Some fell on stony ground and when the sun came up they withered away because they had no root.  Some fell among thorns, they tried to grow, but the thorns choked the plant out.  

“And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.  And he [Jesus Christ] said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”  (Mark 4:1-9)

    

     We need to be careful of what seeds we are planting in our lives, when & how we plant them, and most importantly where we plant them.  

     Elder L. Tom Perry said:  “Each spring as I look over an insignificant, small seed and place it in well-prepared seed bed, I marvel at how much it will produce.  Then my soul is filled with thanksgiving when I realize what can happen when that small seed begins to multiply itself, and I contemplate my potential as part of the greatest of all creations, man.  I am one of His spirit children.  If a seed can multiply thirty, sixty, or even a hundredfold, what then is my potential if I would but cast out the stones, clean out the thorns, cultivate deeply into the soil for a good seedbed, irrigate, and nourish?  It is then that I realize there is no limit to my potential so long as I conform my life to the Lord’s law of the harvest.”  (“The Law of the Harvest,” New Era, Oct. 1980).

     Our children have a song prepared to sing in just a moment about this Law of the Harvest.  In one verse of the song it says, “I am planting a garden each day of my life and the harvest is mine to keep.”

     We are tending our own gardens.  We have control over what is planted, and how well those plants are taken care of.  In the end, whatever harvest comes of our lives, it is ours to keep.  We have a responsibility to make sure that the harvest is a good one.

     L. Tom Perry:  Let me encourage you to draw close to the soil.  Have your own experience in planting a garden.  Then make application in your own life of this great principle of the law of the harvest.

_____________________________________

Between our talks, the kids sang, "If I Planted A Garden".  They did so good.  Just sounded so sweet.

We recorded this before church, and it took us about 3 tries to get it.  So, as you will see from their long, tired faces they are just about *done*.  Conner's giant eye roll at the beginning is a nice touch.  So while this isn't an accurate representation of the actual performance, you'll get the idea.  (And yes, that's a phone ringing in the background.  There was no stopping us at this point.)

if I planted a garden from Shannon on Vimeo.

If I planted garden, if I carefully sowed.  If I nourished each tiny seed.  If I planted it well and helped it to grow what a beautiful harvest I'd reap.

In my life, like a garden, there are seeds to be sown.  I must choose with the greatest care.  Planting only what's good, so I can be sure only beautiful things will grow there.

I am planting my garden every day of my life and the harvest is mine to keep.  If I plant seeds of faith, of honor and truth what a beautiful harvest I'll reap.

the 20 pound clay project

Conner's 3rd grade model of an Anasazi village . . . you know, the people who built their homes near and under cliffs in New Mexico?  I helped Conner finish his written report and then on saturday I supplied the boys (Scott + Conner)  with a giant block of clay (thinking they'd use maybe a third of it) and ran off to Anna's ballet dress rehearsal.  I should have known better.

 

Upon arrival back home my initial thought was, "wow, they did a great job!"  My second, immediate thought was, "oh great, how in the world is Conner going to get this to school."  Because, it was heavy.  And they constructed it on a glass cutting board.  And most likely it would be raining Monday morning.  

I really wish we had stood on a scale to weigh it, because it was heavy.  Conner's scrawny arms could not support this one bit.  On Monday morning it was dry-ish enough that Scott was able to move it to a cookie sheet.  Much better.  And my fear of shattered glass on the steps outside school were put to rest.

 

I convinced Conner to remove half of the roof so that people could see inside.  He had made fireplaces, beds, and a spear (a.k.a. toothpicks) room.

By the time I picked it up at the end of the school day it was really starting to dry and walls were teetering.  So  I placed it outside and let Conner go at it.  Battle time.  

 

Heaven for this boy.

this is may

Anna came home from preschool with this art project today.

It fits our month of May to a tee.

We have not yet seen any temps that start with an 8 this year . . . 

Our heater still fires up from time to time (our thermostat is set to 68) . . . 

Normal rainfall for May is 1.89 inches.  So far this month, 3.09 . . . 

I have friends that are suffering from seasonal affective disorder {wink} . . .

The good news?  The forecast looks dry-ish for friday when we're planning to attempt family pictures once more.

random 7: may 2010

1.  I looooooove . . . . . this song, this video, this band!  Listening to this has totally made my morning.  Smiling, excited, dancing . . . this totally does it for me.  I'm going straight to itunes and pre-ordering the Eclipse soundtrack so I can get an instant download of this song.

Last month we *almost* had an opportunity to attend a Muse concert (a few free tickets were up for grabs through Scott's work).  But there was a conflict that night.  And now I'm so wishing I could have been there!

2.  So my cute dress that I wore with the eyelet lace tiered slip . . . . I washed it and it shrunk.  I had to sew on a fourth layer of eyelets.  It still looks cute.  And very ruffle-y.

3.  We have family pictures scheduled for tomorrow - outside - and the weather is making me nervous.  Sunny, rainy, sunny, rainy.  But mostly just rainy.  And highs have been around 58 degrees.  The family wardrobe has been carefully put together over the last few weeks, going for a springy look with Anna and I wearing dresses and cute sandals.  I really cannot think about a wardrobe change.  I need to get in touch with the photographer today and see what she thinks.  We may need to reschedule.

4.  I'm taking a little break, or rather a different direction, from Project Life this month.  Instead of daily photos I decided to pick one day each week and take a ton of pictures, record our daily activities, and one spread/layout in the album will feature that day.  I'm sure I'll get back on the photo-a-day gig, but I just needed a little break.

Here's a little collage from earlier this week:

5.  The seeds I planted in my garden are starting to sprout!  And we have 1 red strawberry.

6.  Our summer calender is filling up . . . fast.  June and July, at least.  August is still pretty open.  No sooner had we planned and booked a little 4-day family getaway than Scott came home and announced that he was going to be out of town for the three weeks immediately following that trip.  Aye yai yai!

7.  I want to make this Chocolate Cobbler.  Soon as I get some vanilla ice cream.

 

do your best

Is yellow my color?  I think I quite like it.

 Yep, that's me.  A Cub Scout Den Mother.  

I giggle as I type that title.  I picture a gray woman, up in her years, but still full of spunk & energy, donning a scout uniform with a plethora of patches and beads, instructing a group of boys on pocket knife safety, with a plate of homemade cookies waiting to be served once everyone has shown proficiency on the subject.  Maybe that will be me . . . in a few decades.  :)

For now, I am the newly called Wolf Leader.  I get to work alongside a great lady and provide fun, learning, serving, creating activities for the 8-9 year old boys once a week.  Last week we made pine-cone bird feeders and charts to track our healthy habits like, brushing teeth, bathing, drinking water, and playing outside (gotta keep it simple for these 8 year olds).  This week we'll be picking up trash and making cards for Veterans in a local nursing home.

Really, what a great job is this!

And the uniform isn't too bad either.  I don't think I have ever had a job, assignment, responsibility, calling, etc. that has had a uniform to go along with it.  Oh, scratch that.  There were those 2 years I was a part of the FBLA Leadership in our chapter.  Picture red and black plaid, pleated, school girl skirts.  Doh! -  I guess there were those marching band uniforms too.  So just scratch that thought altogether.

 This, being the 100th year of Boy Scouts (bet you didn't know that!) they are offering a special award that the boys and adults can earn.  I'm looking into this one because I want more patches!  :)

I'm also excited because this is perfect timing for me to be more involved here.  Conner is a cub scout and Payton will be joining us early next year.  We've got almost 4 Cub Scouting years left in our family.

In the next few months I'll be memorizing the Cub Scout motto and oath, attending day camp, perfecting my Wolf ears to encourage silence & attention from the boys, trying to feel comfortable (and not silly) when I hold my fingers in salute while saying the Pledge of Allegiance, and channeling my inner 8 year old boy.  Thankfully, I've had a lot of exposure to this demographic.

fill your bucket

This has been a fill your bucket kind of a weekend for us.  The kind of weekend that just leaves you refreshed, happy, reconnected, recommitted, thankful, joyful, filled.

It's the simple things, the big things, the subtle things, and even the inconvenient things all meshed together that create this sort of a feeling for me.

Things like, getting to see blue in the sky . . . 

In the words of my mom, "happy day!" 

Things like, working together and getting a job done . . . 

The kids and I weeded the front and backyard.  The boys helped Scott clean up and level some dirt on the side of the house.  And we finally planted our summer vegetable garden.

 

green peppers, onions, zucchini, cucumber, tomatoes, pumpkins, carrots, peas, beans, strawberries, and zinnias for summer bouquets.  I love peeking out the window at my little 4x4 garden and sending encouraging thoughts, "grow, grow, grow."

Even the inconvenient, messy things, when paired with time together . . . 

We drove into town as a family to have dinner at Red Robin for Scott's birthday.  We had a good meal, ate lots of steak fries, the kids got balloons.  And the fact that Payton threw up in Sports Authority (on the floor) prior to dinner did not put a damper on the evening in the least bit.

{Car sick.}

Things like, feeling the love . . . 

Mother's Day was full of this with meals prepared specially for me, dishes were cleaned up while I was shooed out of the kitchen, and I received a handful of cards from children expressing their love for me.  How's that for filling your bucket?

 

The kids sang in sacrament meeting with the rest of the Primary.  I especially enjoyed watching Conner guide Anna up to the stand with his arm around her shoulders.  And then he kept one hand on her shoulder throughout the musical number.  Made me smile.

Things like, surprises.  Really good, thoughtful surprises . . . 

I've been wanting a nice table and chairs for the back patio, something big enough for our whole family to sit and eat at.  I found one at a good price a month ago, showed it to Scott and he was not on board.  Much to my surprise, he came home from work one day last week and began unloading the exact table and chairs into our backyard!

 On Saturday, the kids sat outside while they ate lunch and I fell even more in love.  With the table.  And him.

As I mentioned, Scott celebrated his birthday recently.  A few days beforehand I arranged for the kids to spend the night at a friends' house so we could have an evening alone.  He was completely surprised, and I think it made this the best birthday ever.  We went out to dinner, rented a movie, and enjoyed a very quiet house.

Things like, taking a big sigh . . . 

It's amazing how much a little stress can affect your day to day life.  Scott and I both had a little of this removed this week.

Scott received some really good feedback at work and it has made all the difference.

I was released from my Primary President calling.  I loved serving in that position, but as with all leadership positions, I'm sure, there was always an element of mental stress that followed me around.  This week I have felt more relaxed and "present" at home than I have in a while.

And then there's the subtle things, that you might miss if you don't pay attention . . . 

Scott walked in from work on Friday with a dozen of the most delicious cookies from Paradise Bakery.  For me.  I loooove them.  At the moment that he walked in, I was standing in the kitchen popping some brownie bites into the oven.  For him.  I loved this little coincidence.  But I loved it even more because it showed that we were consciously thinking of each other (at work, at home), and finding a way to brighten the others' day.

So there you have it.  My bucket is full.

a glorious name

I know a name, a glorious name.  

Dearer than any other.  

Listen I'll whisper the name to you . . . it is the name of mother.

Mother so tender and kind and true

I love you, I love you!

Happy Mother's Day to all the dear mothers in my life, and a special thanks for their hand in creating our family.

A few glorious names . . . . 

Teresa

Valerie

Neva and Margaret

Mona and Wanda

 

_____________

*note to self:  take more pictures of the kids with their grandparents.  I had to dig and dig and found just one decent picture of my Grandma Neva (from 1988).  But the saddest of all was finding no pictures of my Grandma Margaret (she passed away 11 years ago).  I "stole" the one above from my aunt's blog -- this is my grandma at age 17.  

And I'm sure it's not for lack of trying.  Both of my grandmothers were known to run away from the camera.  So grandma's be forewarned . . . I will be getting pics of my kids with you each and every time we visit!  :)

fur elise

Last month Conner began learning Fur Elise by Beethoven in his piano lessons.  It's one of those songs that is a rite of passage, of sorts, for every piano student.

I remember when I was about his age and also learned Fur Elise.  It was 1987 or 1988.  I was going to be playing it in a recital soon.  One night my family and I were all sitting around watching TV when this McDonald's commercial came on.

Ahh!  What a weird coincidence?  Not only was I preparing to play this song in a recital, but I also had a dumb brother . . . or 3.  (At least that's what I thought at the time.  Now that has all changed.)  Even the big hair and dress for the recital . . . that's me.  I should dig up a picture somewhere.  The only difference?  No trip to McDonald's for me.  The nearest one was 30 miles away.  Instead, I'm sure we had root beer floats at home.

April's Cub Scout Pack Meeting was a talent show and I convinced Conner that he should play Fur Elise.  He finally agreed, which is a very good thing, because his original plan was to do a clown show with Payton.  Picture two boys running around aimlessly, crashing into each other, laughing hysterically, with underwear on their heads.  Yep, had to veto that one.

Here is Conner at the piano . . . 

Fur Elise from Shannon on Vimeo.

project life: april

april 6:  Marie Callender's Banana Cream Pie.  My dinner. Oh the sweet deliciousness.

april 9:  Took the kids on a local "field trip" because school was out.  Our first stop, the pet shop . . . where birds roamed outside of their cages to my kids' delight, a tarantula bigger than the size of my hand freaked us all out, and Conner was so happy he brought along his wallet because goldfish were only 50 cents.  Sorry, mom had to veto that one.

april 12:  Shopping with my girl at Target.  You look beautiful, dahhhling.

 
april 21:  the last day of swimming lessons.  After leaving his goggles at the pool again, we decided it was time to write his name on the strap. 

 april 28:  the kids huddled around the really old desktop, watching Conner play World of Goo, just before bedtime, pajamas on, teeth brushed (hopefully) . . . . winding down.

the kids: spring '10

 

Conner

Harry Potter obsessed.  On the 7th book, The Deathly Hallows.  He has a reading "schedule".  Read 2 chapters at school.  One chapter at bedtime.  If he gets off-schedule he is all a flutter and crazed about squeezing in reading minutes (in the car, before dinner, while he's walking out the door to carpool) so he can get back on schedule.

Goes through daily penny and zipper therapy.

He eats 3 and 4 course breakfasts each morning.  Kinda drives me nuts because it takes forever and dirties up a lot of dishes.  He laughs and says, "what?  I'm a pig!"

Told us a few weeks ago that he is done with the Crakers.  He said, "ya, 4 years is enough of that. I'm ready to move on."  What is the next imaginary world, battle, ____, you ask?  He calls it Kids vs. Adults.

Finished the 4th grade reading curriculum, and is already part-way through 5th grade math.

Summer reading:  Fablehaven

 

Payton

Doesn't tattle at school and I actually got an e-mail from his teacher saying that she wishes he would!  Apparently he has been stepped on head, hit in the face with a jacket zipper, and stabbed/scratched in the neck by a stick and he never tells the teacher.  She finds out about it long after the fact when he appears in class with a new wound.  I asked him about it and he says that he doesn't want to get his friends in trouble.

Conversely, he loves to tattle at home.  :)  It's all about balance, I guess.

Proud of the fact that he went all year without his card ever being pulled.  They have a green, blue, yellow, red card system for behavior in his classroom.

Finished the 2nd grade reading curriculum.

Turning into a great little pianist.  Has his first piano recital next month.

Loves to teach the family home evening lesson and shares a sweet testimony at the end.

Both front teeth are coming in!

Summer reading:  How to Train Your Dragon

 

Anna

singing in the car.  Her favorites are the Chipmunk Song (Single Ladies - although, we do NOT listen to the chipmunks version), the mom and dad song (Don't Stop Believin' by the cast of Glee -- I think she calls it the mom and dad song because there is a boy and a girl singing), and an odd song from the New Moon soundtrack (she especially likes the spanish/native american verses).

writing words, asks how to spell things.  She's got her name, mom, dad, I {heart} you, and cat down.  We had a package of chalk with Scott's company logo written on it.  Anna copied this word onto paper, showed it to us and said, "That says chalk."  A few months ago there were lots of "Happy Valentine's Day Jesus" cards floating around the house.

starting to notice fashion at school.  Mia's light-up skecher shoes . . .Mia wore a jacket all day at school yesterday, so I'm going to wear my jacket all day . . . Can you do my hair like Bailey's?  The comparisons and attempt to imitate is driving me a little nuts.  I do not condone doing anything (hair, clothes, activities, language, etc.) just because someone else is doing it.  We do things because we like it, because it makes us happy, and it works in our family.  Be an individual!

likes to do her hair.  thinks a ponytail looks cute.  is always adding/removing headbands, hair clips, etc.

when I ask her to put her backpack away she stuffs it behind the living room chairs, rather than taking it to her room upstairs.

Instead of starting a sentence or continuing a thought with "and" . . . she likes to say "except". 

Other popular sentence starters:  "And by the way," 

LOVES kitties, and puppies.  And horsies.

Summer reading:  Fancy Nancy's Lemonade Stand and BOB books, set 1