A Spanish Opera -- set in Atlantis .... Kenzi's 3rd Grade Opera

Ok... I have ever said how much I love Kenzi's teacher Miss Merrill? She is amazing in many, many ways. One of the best things this year was their opera they did in cooperation with the Utah Opera Festival.

They wrote the story, had it translated into Spanish, created a new score, painted their own scenery and helped design the costumes.

AMAZING!!!

I was one of the pianist for I went over once a week and played the piano and watched the whole thing evolve. The kids did a fantastic job and it was so much fun!

Suessical

Lauren and Kaylee Lyman joined 50+ other kids in a great production of Suessical. Lauren was Thing 1 and Kaylee was a Bird Girl. They had a great time and really did an amazing performance. A fun (if not extremely hectic) way to spend our winter months!!

Star-Spangled Banner at Real Game

A few weeks ago about 15 kids from the choir were asked to sing the Star-Spangled Banner at a Real Soccer Game. It was a beautiful night and the kids were amazing! Kenzi was one of the lucky ones to get to join them. A few pix from the night.

A couple of weeks later about 40 kids from the choir did the Star-Spangled Banner again. What a great experience for all of them -- and a lot of fun for us that went to watch.

Isn't it cool to learn to .... CLIMB THE LYMAN'S TREE!!!

There are certain milestones in a little kids' life that fascinate me. Some of Cam's have been:
* Learning to read words.
* Discovering his shadow (I used to love to take walks in the sun with him as he chased it around.)
* Riding a bike for the first time -- loved that with all my kids.
* And finally for Cameron ... climbing the neighbors' tree.

For years he has watched from below as his sisters climbed, played and hung out in the tree. We have a family rule -- if you can't get up and down yourself, you can't get on it.

A few weeks ago ... with a little encouragement from the new neighbors'... Cameron mastered the art of climbing the tree. He has scratches all over his back, legs, arms and stomach, but he loves it!!! He spent a solid week in the tree and now has entered the world of the BIG kids. Good job Camo!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Dave loves baseball! Let me just repeat that one more time, Dave LOVES baseball. I've never been able to figure it out, but he claims it has more strategy than any other sport.

We went to San Fransisco and Monterey on our honeymoon, and surprisingly there was a MLB game while we were there. (Think that had anything to do with where and when we went?!!)

For Cameron's birthday Dave took him to a SL Bees games. We generally go to a few every summer, but this was a "man only," go to watch the game not to jump in the bouncy house, baseball game. They had hot dogs, bought a hat, a ball and tried to catch the balls off of first base. Cam came home with a big story about catching a ball with his bare hands (but of course it still had the tag on it so I wasn't fooled).

A week later Cameron took Dave to a SL Bees game for Dave's birthday. Dave and Cameron got new mits for their birthday so they took their mits, hats (Cam got his signed by the Bee) and had another father and son outing. Cam was so excited he was still wandering around the house at midnight!

They've been playing catch and baseball every day since and Dave taught Cameron how to throw to ball against the stairs so he can play catch with himself.

I'm pretty sure when Dave retires he and John Ferguson will be at the BYU games during the fall and the SL Bees games all spring and summer.

Happy Birthday Cam -- 5 Years Old!!

Cam the Man
Kerri and Jonah
Singing Happy Birthday
The cool race car cake -- designed and decorated by Lauren!
Our great friend Karen!
Cam with one of his favorite presents -- artichokes (or moraccas as he calls them) from Lorie.
Cute little Anniston
Our good friend Livi!
Great cake Lolo!
Uncle Rob was a little tired, they taped his glasses and he didn't even wake up!
I'm 5!!!
Cam and his police stuff from Lauren.
Breakfast in bed... or in the living room!
Sweet Cam loving Lauren's presents she gave him!
Trix -- the breakfast of choice for Cam

Cam turned 5 on April 26th -- how can that be. He was a little disappointed his birthday was on a Sunday, but it turned out just make it a 3-day celebration.

Saturday night he got to choose dinner of his choice. Bratwurst, artichokes (Cam wanted a whole one to himself) and donut holes for dinner. Yum, yum!

Sunday he had breakfast in bed, Trix was his choice of breakfast, and then openened presents. After church the whole family came over for a big party.

Race Cars were the theme and we all raced cars and had prizes on Cameron's track. Lauren designed and decorated and awesome race car cake (with real race cars) and he loved all of the attention and presents -- from cool race tracks, Indiana Jones wii, a great new nerf cool bball, a fireman set, tons of guns and pirate stuff to reading/phonics books, a frog house, artichokes and cash... he loved everything!!!!

Cam is such a loving sweet little boy. One night he went around the room and gave me and my sisters all back rubs. He loves to snuggle and tell his mom how great she is -- and then can run out the door with weapons and chase and "shoot" all of the neighbors. I love our reading games, watching him play Indiana Jones on the wii, ride his bike and hurry and do his jobs before I ask him just to surprise me. I love how he wants to follow Jesus and "not Satan -- he is so stupid" and how loving he is to his sisters. I love how he idolizes Dave. I love everything about you Cam!!!

Race for the Cure ... I love this Race!

Lauren and Me... before the race ... she was too fast for me to run with!

Some of the kids!

Kylee and Lauren

Barton Creekers and Friends

Sarah and Lauren

Cam after hitting the "stuff booths"

The Russells and Hess'

Kenzi putting our race stuff on Grandma's grave

I love the "Race for the Cure" 5k. My sister Jenn and some of my nieces started doing it several years ago in honor of my mom. Lauren and Dave joined her the next year and Lauren has been doing it ever since. Last year I decided I needed to do it with my family and some of my friends joined in the fun.

Today was the big day today and as always despite the chaos and crowds, there is just something amazing about this race. I start the morning in tears thinking of my mom, watching the funny shirts and sweet "in memories of" and am amazed at all of the women in pink who are survivors or currently going through breast cancer. There are young and old, big and little and a sea of pink all together for a great cause.

Lorie and her family were there today, Dave's sister and Trev and Katie and about 15 of us from church, neighbors, friends, etc. The weather was perfect and everyone was smiling. As I ran/walked/jogged I was inspired by the people, the great slogans and the fact that in this crazy, screwed up world we live in, there are just a lot of people that want to support and love other people.

Thanks Jenn and Lauren for starting this great tradition. And mom... Happy Mother's Day!

"I said a little prayer and..."

I know we've always been told we need to have the faith of a child and I've definitely seen that incredible faith in my children. Each of my kids seem to have a spiritual gift and goodness in differerent ways, but my sweet little Kenzi's faith never ceases to amaze me. Her unwritten "motto" (which she doesn't even realize she has) is to pray and have faith first, and then go on from there. But always, always, always pray first.

The other morning she woke up with a headache and feeling like she was going to throw up. Lauren had been sick for two days earlier in the week so I assumed she just had that. She went back to bed and said she didn't think she could go to school that day. (And... Kenzi isn't one that pretends she is sick to miss school... she'll pretend she is sick to get out of housework, but not for school.) I told her to rest and we'd see how she felt at lunch. I then told her I was supposed to "substitute" (just for 15 minutes) in her class that day before lunch.

About 20 minutes later she came downstairs and told me she was feeling better and that she could go to school. I was surprised, but glad that she wanted to go. She got dressed and we were getting ready to take her to school. Before we got in the car I asked her if she was sure she felt good enough and was she sure she wanted to go to school. She assured me she was fine and then said, "Mom, I said a little prayer to Heavenly Father and he answered it because I feel better!"

And unfaithful mom thought "oohh, I hope she doesn't get sick at school so she will know her prayer was answered." I think my faith was hope for her faith not to be disappointed, not really faith that a little prayer really had made her feel better in 15 minutes.

Ever since she was old enough to talk about Heavenly Father and prayers and faith, she has been like this. If I had a dollar for every time she has started a sentance with "I said and little prayer and ...." I'd be a millionare. When she is about to perform a song and is nervous, when she is sitting in the bathroom throwing up in the middle of the night, when she has just gotten in trouble and is feeling bad, her first words to me are "Mom, can we say a little prayer so Heavenly Father will help me not be nervous, or stop throwing up, or forgive me." She melts my heart and makes me want to be more faithful.

I remember my sister-in-law (who is really faithful like Kenzi) told me one day when she was holding Makenzie as a baby that there was just something special about her spirit. I think she was right! I often remind myself to be more like Makenzie. Thanks Kenzers!! You really are an amazing example to me.

Why I Still Ski...

Ok, so these posts are a little dated, but I'm a little behind on the blogging.

I love to ski! Not because I come home at the end of the day and my legs are like jello and I did great runs all day long... (those were the great high school and college days) because except for the yearly Oracle Deer Valley Ski day I'm generally on the beginning/intermediate runs with my kids.

But there is nothing more beautiful than the mountains in Utah... especially when there is an inversion in the valley.

These pictures were taken on an icky, January inversion day. It was 20 degrees in the valley and we were surrounded by "soup." As we drove up the canyon the inversion cleared and we watched the thermostat hit 40 degrees.

My cute kids and friends and hubby, great snow, beautiful mountains, fresh air... why wouldn't I still ski?

One of my favorite places ... two of my favorite times!

I love the cabin -- there is something great about every season. But I think two of my favorite times are New Year's Eve/Christmas Break and Conference.

1. New Year's. What could be better than tons of snow, jumping off into the deck onto snow piles, sledding up and down the roads, skating at the outdoor rink, eating all evening on New Year's (not worrying about driving around on the roads... once we make it to the cabin through the snow), banging pans at midnight, popping bottles of sparkling cider and laughing at those who snored their way into midnight (Cameron and Dave this year!) with the cousins and family ranging from 5 - 82! I love this family tradition and hope my kids think this is a great way to spend New Year's for many years to come.

2. Conference. There is no way I could get my kids to sit down and listen to all 4 sessions of confernence if we were home, but for some reason at the cabin they do. Well.... sit down, I'm not sure always listening. Usually we are up there with just our little family on Saturday and then Saturday evening other family members join us. We always go out to dinner or to take out after the priesthood session and start Sunday morning with a yummy breakfast (french toast with homemade hot buttermilk syrup this year). There are Conference bingo games, note taking, coloring contests of the picture that best depicts conference, some napping, some shushing... a short hike or trip to feed the ducks betweeen sessions ... I LOVE IT!!! (Oh and lots of snacks!) I love conference anyway, but being up there with my family and snuggling on to couch in such a beautiful setting makes it all the more wonderful.