Super fast update

April 25- Super fast update

1. On Tuesday, Alayna had her 1^st viola solo in front of an audience. She did a wonderful job! She had to go first which can be very scary but she was awesome!

2. Our neighbors had a garage sale this weekend…and Alayna being the “lover of good deals” went over and scored some brand new roller blades!

3. Alayna had another slumber party this weekend- this one took place at Super Skate so she was able to use her new rollerblades!! Lets pray for no broken bones!

4. Tyler has a scout campout this weekend and even though it has been beautiful and sunny, I guess it got really cold at night so he only got 2 hours of sleep- so he slept all Saturday!

5. Bob and I finally had our anniversary lunch and even splurged by getting a piece of cheesecake! We also ran a million errands including bulking up our food storage- because that’s exactly what you do after you read Ashfall.

6. We got Kaylas Tennis Team picture and Merritt’s mom is helping to adjust her prom dress for prom next Friday.

Alayna's Talent Show Solo

Alayna Talent Show - Trio

Tyler Jazz Band - 2

Tyler Jazz Band 1

Adenovirus and April Showers

Adenovirus and April Showers

Alayna went to a big birthday bash last week at the Grand Harbor water resort. She came home exhausted and said she didn’t feel well at all. I figured she was just tired from swimming so much and just needed sleep. Monday, I got a call from school that she was sick so we brought her home early. Her face was flushed, she was very hot and dizzy, and she had a hard time breathing. She stayed home Tuesday and Wednesday and finally we had Bob take her to the walk-in clinic on Thursday because she kept getting worse and we couldn’t figure out what was going on. The doctor diagnosed her with “adenovirus”. Never heard of it. Apparently it is known as the swimming pool virus since that’s how it’s usually spread. Lovely. He said she would get worse and then slowly get better. Sure enough, Friday she was worse. However, this morning she got up feeling great and was running all over the place- I guess to make up for lost time. I am so thrilled she is feeling better but wish we could stop the trying of new diseases….

(Alaynas lair for the week)

We definitely had April showers this week. We had massive thunderstorms that shook the whole house (which I loved) and rain, rain, rain. My tulips are starting to grow and the lawn is turning green. And although the temps were cold enough that we actually got hail and snow flurries this week, I am so happy that spring, sunshine, and warmth are on the way. All of Kayla’s practices and meets have been cancelled so its been a very uneventful season so far! We also trimmed our apple trees and are letting the cut off stems bloom inside. It is so cool to watch them grow!

Our 20^th anniversary is tomorrow. We actually celebrated in January with a cruise. But I made Bob some special gifts for fun. First, I made a blog book that chronicles our trip and pictures of us throughout the 20 years! My how we have changed! I have also been keeping every card and note he has ever given me and I put them all in a photo album!

A pretty neat miracle happened- my grandmother contacted me after last weeks blog to let me know she had kept every newsletter I have ever sent her and will send me copies! I wanted to cry! I have several but most were lost in moves and changing of computers, etc. I am so excited to have these copies to make the blog books! Thank you grandma!

Also, dress success! Kayla found a beautiful dress that fits her perfectly! Now we just have to make sleeves or get a shrug. Oh and Marisa, she wants you to curl her hair even though you are getting your wisdom teeth out that morning…lol!

I have also decided to knock off the remainder of my masters classes so I will graduate July 26! You know me, I already contacted my professors, ordered my books and started on assignments. Mainly because I will be doing 12 credits in a 1 month time period. So, don’t plan on hearing much from me the month of June.

(heading to the youth dance)

ALayna “the brave” and iHartbooks

Tyler Jazz Band

Tyler not only told me he had a concert, but he told me he had a solo!! So, I finally got to attend one. Here is the link to the piece they did that featured his solo. He was awesome!! I’m so proud. He also participated in the State Solo/Ensemble brass band contest on Saturday and he was in an ensemble. They don’t know how they did yet.

Alayna, “The Brave”

So, Alayna auditioned for the school talent show. She sang a song accapella and played in a small orchestra group. She was accepted into the show with both pieces. So, this Friday she performed and Bob got to go see and tape it. She sang her solo (with no fear), played in her orchestra group, sang a piece with her school choir group, and participated in her 5^th grade “Harlem Shake”. That night was the Family Fun night at the school, so we went for the family dinner and then sweet, sweet Tyler stayed with Alayna and her friends so they could play all the carnival games. Alayna even won a cake at the cake walk. She also got to go to a friend’s birthday at a waterpark in Dubuque- so she has had quite the week!!

Kayla and the 2 proms!

Kayla has been asked out to both proms which is very exciting! Finding dresses is the hard part. But I am so excited for her.

On my mind

For some reason, the idea of family history, organizing family photos, making blog books, etc has been on my mind a lot lately. I’m not sure why. Bob and I found this cool unique desk that is like a desk between two hooked bookshelves. I set up a “family history/scrapbooking” area and I just love it. What you don’t see are the ten boxes of pictures, newsletters, etc. that I went through and spent hours organizing. It was a fabulous thing to do through conference last weekend and to work on this weekend. I now have it separated into projects that I may not get to until I retire, but it is a start.

How grateful I am that I kept copies of letters I sent out to family! I kept all negatives and pictures. I even found all the letters I kept that I received from siblings on their missions (which I will send back to you for your own history books). I am so thrilled that each of my children will leave this home with a huge set of blog books that chronicle their loves here in our home. As we age, our memories fade, so I am grateful that this is something that meant enough to me to keep up with all along.

iHartbooks

I am working on my new email and new book website which you will all be dying to follow. Bob helped me take pics today. Here are a couple of sneak peeks.