Before and After

Alayna's Solo

It’s beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas!

Marisa

It has been wonderful to have Marisa home. She was busy this week with all her doctor appointments to complete her mission papers. She will have to have her wisdom teeth taken out this summer and is definitely NOT looking forward to that.

She also went to eat lunch at school with Alayna.

Solo Time

Alayna auditioned for and got the solo in the Grace Notes concert this week. She practiced really hard and did an amazing job. I am surprised at how fearless she is. Bob will post the video later today. Her teacher acknowledged her during the concert and told everyone about her OPUS accomplishments and even said, “It’s no surprise as this runs in her family”. I thought that was very sweet!

Snow Day

We did have a crazy snow day. (See post below for a more detailed account). But we did get to spend time together playing clue and eating goodies that arrived! We also made homemade tortillas!

After the Snow Storm

1^st Time Ever in Limousine

Our friends (one who drives limos as a side job) took us out on the town to see some amazing Christmas lights!

Why I would KILL for a Snow blower

Why I would KILL for a Snow blower

We had a huge blizzard hit On Wednesday night into Thursday. When I woke up (from sleeping in, insert a giant Hallelujah here), I decided that shoveling needed to be done right away since we got over a foot of snow and I knew if we didn’t clear it now it would freeze over and be even more beastly.

I dressed appropriately: workout pants, compression socks, $1 Wal-Mart boots, a ratty thermal shirt, Tyler’s coat and Tyler’s hat. I was truly a beauty to behold. I asked my childeren for help, they all looked at me like I was an alien with a purple head. Tyler summed it up when he said, “Mom, it’s our day off so we shouldn’t have to work”. Good thing I didn’t have the shovel in my hand yet.

I shuffled my way out and started shoveling the foot of snow which I joyously found had an inch of ice underneath. After I was out about an hour, Bob made Tyler and Alayna come out. Part of the problem is that Bob can’t shovel because of his lung problems and we can’t afford a snow blower. Personally, I feel that when you move to the sucky state of Iowa, (that’s right-I said it) they should give you a welcome gift of “The Amazing Snowblower”. It should be a law.

We had huge gusts with 55 mile an hour winds and it hurled small pieces of snow into our faces which felt like daggers. It hurt. We kept plugging away. My nose was running down my face and then my snot froze. I resembled the guys in Dumb and Dumber….made me even more attractive. Alayna slipped and fell and then I found her just laying there eating the snow. That’s helpful. Then I turn around to Tyler who could NOT decide what to wear. Apparently snow clothes have to be the most comfortable. He kept “going in to change” which is code for “Mom, you freak, I don’t want to be out here with you”. He ended up with Sanuks, 2 pair of socks, workout pants, a coat and Bob’s face mask hat which pulled Tyler’s face and looked hilarious. I will say that for a strapping teenage boy, he wasn’t much help.

One of our neighbors took pity on us and helped me finish the bottom part of the driveway with his snowblower. I almost cried, but they would have frozen to my face along with the snot so I refrained. I took a hot bath and a nap, especially now that my back is dead, only to look out the window to see the driveway and side walk are covered again. Stupid, stupid snow.

There’s No Place Like Home

There’s No Place Like Home

The best news is that my family is whole again! Marisa arrived last night and we are so thrilled to have her home again. I have been feeling strongly about making this Christmas even more about family time, making memories, and being together. In light of the tragedy of the shooting this week, I am even more convinced that is what we should do. I have found myself in deep reflection over how much my family means to me. I truly feel blessed this holiday season.

Alayna has had quite the week. Her orchestra performed at Barnes and Noble and she did such a great job! She also auditioned for and got the solo for her Grace Notes concert this Thursday!

Tyler also had a great week! He had his big debut with the high school show choir on Saturday night and the 3 girls went to go see him. One of the boys in his group wasn’t loud enough so Tyler was chosen to sing in a duet.

Kayla has her very 1^st date (since she turned 16)!!! She is going out with a guy in our stake named Blake on Friday. She LOVES her photo shopping class. She is so gifted!! She is using the photo she took and painting it onto the computer. Here is a picture of what she has done so far.  She has so much talent!

 

Dog-sitting:

The Talented Boy and the Cookie Tosser

The Talented Boy and the Cookie Tosser

Tyler had a huge concert this week!! He played with the band and sang with the choir. He was also supposed to be honored for OPUS, but his conductor forgot. Oh well. The concert was great and we are proud of him and all his talents!

On Friday, Kayla, Tyler, and Alayna helped with our Stake Nativity. It has grown to become quite the celebration. I think about 1,400 people from our city came. Anyway, Kayla and Tyler worked the children’s room, helping kids to dress up and take pictures. Alayna got to go help Sister Kent in the refreshment area. I heard she did a great job and was a huge help. However, at 1:00AM, she woke me up covered in throw up (so was her bed). Apparently she had “too many” cookies at the nativity! What a goofball. She is feeling much better now. This a picture of her that she photo bombed with another family- she’s a wise man holding a sheep.

In Other News:

Marisa comes home Saturday and we can hardly wait!!

I had an interesting week at school. My boss passed out at home Tuesday night and got a black eye. She was so ill she missed 3 days of school. So, I covered 2 out of the 3 with no subs to help. Had to show my tough side a lot.

Christmas tree, Contacts, and a Cool Birthday Date

Christmas tree, Contacts, and a Cool Birthday Date

We are a little slow getting up the Christmas tree, but we did get it up. We called Marisa and put her on the iPad on the couch so she could be there with us- she thinks we are pretty crazy!

Tyler finally got contacts!! It took a couple of days for him to figure out how to get them in and out, but I think he has it down now. It makes life much easier in show choir (to not have his glasses sliding down his face!)

Bob had his birthday Monday!!! He turned 44. We had a fun little celebration and he opened presents (but I didn’t get pics). Bob and I went out to dinner, did some Christmas shopping, and went to Coldstone for dessert. We had such a fun evening and I just love that we still do dates. I think you must be doing something right if your heart still flutters, right?

Alayn made the 5^th grade Honor Fitness Roll!

Kayla loves her Photoshop class and I hope she will be able to share some of her projects soon.