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.

Pi, Prom, and a Perfect Mission Call

Pi, Prom, and a Perfect Mission Call

We had such an exciting week full of great stuff!

Mission Call

Our most exciting news is that Marisa received her mission call this week! We were able to hook together via Google Hangout and see her open her call live. She even had several kids from her ward come see her open it! She has been called to the Fortaleza east mission in Brazil! She reports to the MTC in Brazil on August 21. She is so very excited and we are so excited for her!!! What an exciting time to be a missionary!

She also had the opportunity to go to the Festival of Colors yesterday with some friends from BYU. We hope this has prepared her for the color run!

Happy 17^th Birthday Kayla!!!

Happy Happy Birthday to Kayla who turned 17 this week! We can’t believe how quickly time passes by! We made her favorite fettuccine alfredo for dinner and had her giant cookie.

Her best friend, Merritt, turned it into a birthday week by dropping off a gift each day. It was so sweet!

She was also asked to prom this week by a sweet guy in our stake, Ben Gilbert. The doorbell rang and there was a balloon bouquet and flowers. The note said to let the green balloon go if she said yes, and the red if she said no. Alayna tried to talk her into letting the yellow one go. Anyway, she let the green one go and I think he was pretty excited. He and Scott came in to hang out with her for a while. So, now we are trying to get a dress for it. I am so excited for her!

Her friend, Blake, also did something sweet for her birthday. Kayla had been telling him that she has bad dreams a lot lately and that she often experiences sleep paralysis (where she is awake but can’t get her body to wake up). So, he made her a dream catcher that she hung above her bed. How sweet is that?

Congrats to Alayna

Alayna auditioned for the talent show by playing in an orchestra trio and singing a solo acapella. She found out Friday that she made it into the talent show with both numbers!! She is so very excited!

She also had two friends spend the night Friday night. They made this huge “Littlest Pet Shop World” in the kitchen which entertained them for hours. They also watched “Wreck it Ralph” and “Rise of the Guardians”. They spent lots of time jumping on the trampoline and painting the clubhouse. For breakfast they made green pancakes with chocolate chips. I think the whole party was a great success.

Easter

Life of Pi

I HIGHLY recommend this movie! We watched it as a family in 3D on our big screen and I think its one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen. We just loved it! Marisa- we will get it for you to watch when you get your wisdom teeth out!

Breathe, show choir, and a spring break from heaven!

March 24, 2013

I started reading this book Breathe. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where there is an extreme lack of oxygen so everyone has to live in a bubble where oxygen can be regulated. It was an intriguing subject, but the book really sucked so I stopped half way through. Anyway, last night Alayna started running a fever, had aches and chills, and her throat hurt. It got me to thinking that 1) Why can’t we catch a break with illnesses? And 2) Maybe we should build a giant bubble around our home that regulates the air, filters it, has decontamination showers that you take every time you enter the home, etc. I think I will start looking into that…

Tyler had his final showchoir finale last night. He looks so awesome up there and we are so proud if him! It sure is a lot of work, but I think he has found a place where he really fits in.

Alayna went to try out a bass this week. She has debating changing to the bass from the viola. The only issue would be cost since its like 3 x more to rent a bass than a viola. Her teacher gave her a cello to bring home and try out. She is still trying to decide.

I had an amazing week. There are few things in life better than spending Spring Break home ALONE. I know…I am weird. But I was able to work out, get stuff done on my list of things to do, finish my Masters class (with 100% I might add) and actually relax. It was heaven. I even cooked- my family was shocked. I also came to the conclusion that I could be an amazing stay-at-home mom without the kids.

(Sour cream banana bread)

(White chocolate raspberry rolls!)

Marisa was able to spend sometime with the Harts when they came up to celebrate birthdays and see Jared in the Men’s Chorus. She also spoke in church today and I bet it was awesome!

It’s the Little Things

It’s the Little Things

I’ve noticed over and over again this week that it is the little things that count.

1. I am extremely grateful for my health. That might be shocking since I have a chronic illness which I am pretty sick of, but after having such a violent stomach flu for so many days, well, I am grateful.

2. I woke up this morning, and guess what I saw? My tulips are coming up! That gives me hope (even with a storm hitting tonight.) I think hope is huge. Hope for warmth, sunshine, and beauty once again.

3. Bob went with Kayla and Tyler to the Nauvoo temple yesterday. Corey had given us family names to do so Bob wanted to be there to do the actual baptisms. Marisa also went to the temple this week.

4. A kid at Linn-Mar chose to take his life this week. I used to sub him and he had been in Tyler’s classes before. It seemed so sudden and he was so young. It made me hold my kids a little tighter this week.

5. I surprisingly got some spring cleaning done. The kids actually look forward to doing their room each year. We rearranged Tylers and I think it feels like it has more space now. Kaylas bedding looks great. I will take another picture when I get the curtains up.

Alayna's 5th Grade Program

Tyler's Jazz Band Feb 2013

Dates, Diseases, and more Snow days

Stomach Virus of DEATH

There are very few times in life when I have felt that death would be a preferable option to what I was going through. This weekend was one of them. Tyler got very sick Thursday night, throwing up constantly and couldn’t keep anything down (or in). Then he ran a high fever with aches and chills. He was so miserable and I felt so bad for him. He didn’t get out of the couch bed for 3 days. I took disinfecting VEY seriously sterilizing and washing every single thing he came into contact with. It wasn’t enough.

We went to church on Sunday morning and I felt “off”. I went to take a nap, but started getting sicker. Stood up and threw up 8 times over the dishes in the sink. My poor family who had to clean it up!!! That evening I got much worse: couldn’t keep anything in or down and as I lay on the bathroom floor I wished for death. All day Sunday and Monday I spent on an air mattress watching TV and didn’t move, because yes even sitting up could make you barf.

Alayna and Kayla both thought they were getting it yesterday but seem fine today. I pray its gone for good and will never enter this home again!

On a happier note:

Marisa had a fun date this weekend with a guy named Aaron. There was food, a magician, jigglers, cotton candy, etc. She said she had a great time.

Bob and I also had a great date this weekend. We went o Fazolis for lunch and then went to see “Jack the Giant Slayer” which we loved!! Then we went to Orange Leaf for dessert. It was a well deserved break.

Snow Day, again?

I think I have actually lost track of how many snow days we have had. This winter has been ridiculous. Of oucrse, I don’t mind the snow days where I get to hang out in my jammies all day and sleep and read- it’s the fact that I don’t get paid. Our neighbor came to our rescue again so Alayna and I only had to shovel for 30 minutes. Have I mentioned lately how much we love our neighbors?

Alayna and Tyler programs

Alayna had her 5^th grade arts program this week. I got to see several displays of her art and they put on a wonderful program about jazz. She did a fabulous job on her speaking part and blew us away with her solo. That girl has no fear and I am so proud of her!!

While I was at Alaynas program, Bob attended Tyler’s band concert. I am not sure if he got any pictures of that or not. Tyler had band and choir auditions this week to see where he is placed for next year. No results yet. But he is in the marching band and is super excited about that!

Other things of note:

I fifnished my ePorfolio and got 100%!!! What a huge ginormous relief!!!!

Alayna had her friend, Summer, over for a sleepover. She is a very sweet girl and they made Kayla, Tyler, and Merritt all breakfast in bed.