A slice of heaven and a glimpse into my youth- Part 1

A slice of heaven and a glimpse into my youth

Feb 20

Another week of insanity has come and gone and I often wonder how we do it all. I think retirement will be a very welcome relief! It’s probably sad that I can tell you the exact amount of days we have left of school.

Valentine’s Day

We had an amazing Valentines Day! I decorated the table with my china and crystal and we had a heart-shaped pizza with sparkling grape juice!

(Alayna’s REAL Valentine!)

(Valentines in French from Kayla)

Pioneer Breakfast

This week the 3^rd grade had their big pioneer breakfast. Each child is allowed to invite one VIP and I am honored to say that Alayna chose me! So, we had a fun breakfast of Johnny cakes, sausage rolls, and biscuits with honey. Then they presented a sweet little program about pioneers and Laura Ingalls and then they topped it off with square dancing. Alayna was in heaven and thought it was the best day ever!

Solo and ensemble

Tyler had his trombone solo on Tuesday and did a great job. I have only really heard him with the entire band so it was nice to hear him alone. There is a huge “Murphy’s law” story that does along with that whole experience too, but I will just leave it at “we survived!”

A slice of heaven

On Thursday, the snow started to melt and the temperature actually climbed to 65°!! Everyone came out of their houses- during the winter you forget people actually live in your neighborhood. Anyway, Marisa and I took this as an opportunity to work out outside so we did a walk/run around the neighborhood. It was amazing to breathe fresh air that didn’t freeze your nose hairs and feel actual warmth on your face! Since the snow was melting, everything was very muddy, so we took it as great practice for the Mud Run and purposefully ran through every puddle and pile of mud! It truly was a slice of heaven.

The younger three didn’t come with us because they were all home sick…AGAIN! Stupid germs that have taken up residence in our house!

Masterworks and orchestra concert

Marisa had 2 different concerts this week. The first one was the annual Masterworks concert where the top orchestra combines with the top choir and they perform a major classical work. This year they did Mozarts Grand Mass in C Minor and it was beautiful!

She had her symphony orchestra concert on Thursday which again was amazing. They played :

“Also sprach Zarathustra” fanfare by Strauss (which Bob will post)

Two numbers by Tchaikovsky

Mars, the Bringer of Wat by Gustav Holst (My fav of the night)

Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah by Camille Saint-Seans

Feeling bad for penguins and my love/hate relationship with February!

Feeling bad for penguins and my love/hate relationship with February!

Feb 13

I feel so bad for penguins! Ok, so they have a wet suit resembling a tuxedo, but do you REALLY think they aren’t miserable? One only has to watch “March of the Penguins” to know how much standing in a snow storm, protecting an egg, has got to suck. Well, I was just thinking this week that if they knew that sunny, warm beaches exist, they would all hop off that ice and swim like crazy to paradise, even risking death by killer whale. I can almost relate…

This week we experienced an entire week of arctic temperatures. A few mornings when we left for school it was -26. That is just so wrong! Even Marisa’s car protested by refusing to turn on and work. I don’t blame it! I doth protest as well. I almost think we should vote and make snuggies an acceptable outfit to wear to work and school. All in favor? One of the primary students summed the week up beautifully when they were singing the snowman song today. When they finished every single primary child was “melted” on the floor except one. When asked why he was still standing, he said, “My snowman won’t melt!”

(Um, thats the tennis court behind that wall of snow.  See the top part of the court??)

I almost cried when the temps warmed up to 40 today. Now how sad is that?? If it wasn’t Sunday, I would totally be out running! The snow is melting and the sun is shining!!

My love for February

One reason I love February is because that is when Bob proposed to me. It was the 18^th anniversary of that proposal on Thursday (Feb 10)! I still remember that day because it was cold and icy and when I walked over to his apartment, I slipped on the pavement and slammed my head onto the pavement. My bow even fell out. And unbeknownst to me, this entire event was witnessed by all of his friends watching out the window for me. The proposal was perfect! His group sang for me and he had flowers for me. Then they all left and he knelt on one knee to propose, to which of course I said yes! One of his roommates, Billy, came in during the actual proposal, eating a pot of food and said “Hey, where is everyone?” Oh the silly memories.

I also love Valentine’s Day! Maybe it’s because that’s around when Bob proposed or maybe it’s because I am a romantic deep down? Or maybe it’s because our last name is “Hart” or because I still love the color pink? This week one of my students said, “Don’t you think it’s funny that your last name is Hart and you are the sweetest teacher here?” Awww! I love it. Yesterday Bob bought me two dozen gorgeous roses. Today he presented me with a Serta memory foam pillow A.K.A. HEAVEN!

Then today, Tyler made us some cinnamon breadsticks and he made one set in my initials for Valentine’s Day. Awww!

(That blob isn't me!  Its a smiley face)

My hatred for February

For some reason February is one of the busiest months of the year. It seems like there is something scheduled every night. It’s not like I don’t like attending everything, it’s just that it makes me so tired. Here’s what we did this week:

1. BOB: The Battle of the Books competitions started this week. I help run several of the matches and I really love it.

2. Band concert: Tyler had a band concert on Tuesday night. He did a great job. We didn’t want to crawl over a bunch of people to get to some seats, so instead we hopped “over” the seats and I have a huge beautiful bruise on my knee to prove it.

3. Dentist appt: Happy to report no cavities this time for anyone. Whew!

4. New Beginnings: The girls had New Beginnings this week for YW. It was a beautiful program and even had a fun scavenger hunt. Both girls spoke about the personal progress program and what it means to them and they did a great job. Marisa is almost done with the program.

5. Meds Mix-up: Bob picked up my four prescriptions. He came home frustrated because it totaled $200!! I found that one of the doctors had called in the wrong (expensive) prescription. So, I raced back to the store and they refused to take it back since we “left the store” with it!!! Argh!!!  Stupid medication!

6. Showchoir Concert: Ok, so I think we have found Tyler’s “thing”. We went to the showchoir concert on Thursday and all our jaws dropped as we watched Tyler. He was AMAZING! He was so animated and can dance like nobody’s business! He even had a huge solo!! Bob will be posting the videos soon so you can see for yourself!

(Tyler is on the far right in the black doing his solo)

(Tyler is on the middle left in sparkly blue)

7. I’m kicking butt in my practicum!

8. Pinewood Derby: Ok, so the “dads” were wanting to get together to have their own pinewood derby. So, Bob built a car, but then got really sick, so he didn’t have time to give it too much pizzazz. But, it looked super sleek and was named “The Night Fury”. Bob won the loser’s bracket! Alayna got to release the cars each time. We were so glad we came to support because they had snacks!

(Pinewood derby cheerleaders)

9. Bowling Meet: Kayla rocks! She got her 2 highest meet scores yet! Go Kayla! We are going to take her to get her fingers fit to her ball next week.

10. ACT: Marisa took the ACT Saturday morning. 5 hours! How gross is that? She did the writing portion too. She did really well on her practice tests so we will see how she does.

11. WPA: Marisa finally got up the nerve to ask David to WPA (Women Pay All). She put the message in blown up balloons and stuffed them in his car. He called 2 days later to tell her yes! It’s Feb 26. Want to hear something cool? She is using material from my prom dress to hand sew in an insert at the top of her dress to make it modest.

(sewing in the insert)

12. Showchoir Tour: Tyler went on the show choir “Sweetheart Tour”. They traveled to 4 retirement homes to perform and also performed in the local mall. He came back exhausted!!

13. Seminary Sunday: The girls participated in seminary Sunday today. Kayla sang “Praise to the Man” with the youth choir while Marisa accompanied them on the violin. It was so beautiful and I cried through the whole thing. I am so proud of them, their accomplishments, and their talents.

14. Kayla: Kayla was set apart today as the Mia Maid class president!

Misc silly pics:

(Making cookies in a cape)

“A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.”(Carl Reiner)

February 6, 2011

Best school week ever!

…well, besides Spring Break and Christmas break! We had a massive storm hit this week with a blizzard. We had an early dismissal on Tuesday, no school on Wednesday, and a delayed start Thursday. It was heaven! I have a new appreciation for snow storms and the joys they bring (more sleep, cancellations, etc). However, driving the next day as well as the shoveling can be a nightmare. I think we helped about 4 cars who were stuck in the snow.

Secret Service

A big family secretly came (they didn’t know we were peeking out of our window) and shoveled our driveway! It was such a sweet and wonderful surprise. I will include a picture of what they left on our doorstep.

Bob

Work for Bob was cancelled on Wednesday because of the storm. He also had a bad cold and ended up staying home the next 2 days really sick. Saturday he went in to the walk-in clinic for a sinus infection. Man- we just can’t get a break!

(Watching TV with dad)

Building an igloo

Alayna got to go over to the Alands yesterday to help them build their snowfort/igloo. Chad was so sweet to go out with all the kids and spend the afternoon building a kick-butt snow fort! Alayna had so much fun! When they were done, all 7 kids and Chad had hot chocolate in their fort. Pretty cool!

Odds and ends

I finished my 2010 blog book! It was huge. I will take a picture as soon as it arrives.

Marisa is asking someone to WPA today- I will let you know how it goes.

Can you believe Thursday will be the 18^th anniversary of the day Bob asked me to marry him? Best decision I ever made!

One of our ward members had a heart attack during church today. Ambulance and fire trucks arrived. Made for an eventful testimony meeting.