Saturday, March 24, 2012

Pictures from what should have been our Festival of Color outing

Deon requested pictures from our Color Fest ....

Jenna had other plans







Last minute date with a dear friend, Ty S.  Group date.  Driver (not Ty) took a turn too fast ... jumped a curb, hit a tree and then the pole.

Ty and Jenna were the most injured.  Ty has a banged up face and broken wrist ... but was oh so darling in the hospital with his cheerful attitude.  His attitude matched Jenna's happy bubbly attitude.  She was upset, don't get me wrong.  Upset that she wouldn't be able to take a normal shower for awhile.  Jenna broke both feet.  She is having surgery on her feet tonight.  A plate in her right foot .... three broken bones.  Screws in her left foot ... ligament damage.

6 weeks in a wheel chair.  Oh boy oh boy!

Festival of Colors

Yes.  We.  Are.  Going!

We will be covered in color (colors will be thrown ever 2 hours ...)

Stay posted for pictures ...


Wednesday, March 21, 2012

A ray of sunshine to arrive ...

I had the amazing opportunity to be Brittany's Primary Chorister ... her YW Advisor and her YW President while living in IL.

My heart broke when I heard of her accident just over a week ago.  It has been at the front of my mind, in the bottom of my heart and in the tears I have shed.  She is a living miracle.  She is a ray of sunshine - and continues to touch those who come into her hospital room.

She continues to touch and teach those who come in contact as I came across this post her brother put up regarding her progress.  It is the Brittany I remember in Beehives and Mia Maids with her colorful pens and notebook taking notes during the lesson -

"Pondering a passage of scripture can be a key to unlock revelation and the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Scripture can calm an agitated soul, giving peace, hope and a restoration of confidence in one's ability to overcome the challenges of life. They have potent power to heal emotional challenges when there is faith in the Savior. They can accelerate physical healing." - Elder Richard G. Scott
She will be spreading her sunshine and touching many more hearts when she arrives in Denver for spine rehab.  I am looking forward to seeing her (and her Mom) again.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

music to my ears

It is music to my ears to hear my boys working together on their chores and yelling, "I love you" over the noise of the vacuum.  Ahhhhh ... they could write me a symphony

Monday, March 19, 2012

He can too fly

This morning on the way to school, Kendall was asking about our Spring Break plans.  He wanted to know if Dad was going to come along.

I said, "Yes, he is flying."

Kendall matter-of-factly replied, "Mom, you know Dad can't fly.  He doesn't have wings."

Oh boy does he make me laugh.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Not so wise

Julia is having her wisdom teeth removed tomorrow.  I had scheduled for them to be removed (along with a "tumor" -  abnormal bone growth/density in her jaw - at the end of April, but her wisdom teeth have been causing a bit of pain and starting to come in.

I wish I could be there to take care of her ... she will be in good hands.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

I caved

With the threat of higher gas prices ... I caved.

Kendall loves it and asks to ride on it with Daddy when Daddy comes home from work.


John searched and searched for the best deal.  I love craigslist

Monday, March 12, 2012

It's not easy being green

We have had some colds running through the family.  Saturday while doing some errands one of the kids mentioned that they had "green boogers" in their tissue the other morning.

 John quickly instructed, "Oh, green is not good."

Kendall jumped in "But Dad, green is your favorite color."

Saturday, March 10, 2012

YES ... Julia

I MADE IT INTO THE BYU MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM!!!!!

this... is what happiness looks like :):):):):):):):):)




It is an understatement to say it has been extremely difficult for Julia to wait to get into the music program at BYU, Provo. She went from being top in her high school and in the state of CO to being just another great musician (she scored 98 out of 100 on her All State audition ... which is one of if not the highest score last year ... no one got a perfect score).

Character building. Patience building. Humbling. As a Mom it has been difficult to see her doubt herself and want to quit. But it has been joyful to see her pick herself up and carry on. To dig deep and seek for strength.

I did not doubt. I knew she could do it.

Julia started BYU last Summer Term so that she could take the prerequisite class to audition for the school of music education program.  She auditioned. 

It is not an easy audition. 

She had to turn in a portolio.  This portfolio included essays - including answering questions about why she wants to be a choir director (her amazing cousins - Erin G and Christina S helped her edit them to perfection).  It also included a section of "all about me" ... they didn't want it to be focusing on music - they figured the applicant loved music.  So we got creative. 







The portfolio also required a DVD with three video taped solos and a 10 minute video of them teaching a musical concept to three or more people.

The audition also included two live solos.  An interview with a panel.  She was told that no freshman has ever made the program, ever.  She was disheartened. 

She auditioned again last month - February. She felt confident with her solos. She felt she did horrible in the interview - she felt they were picking her apart. She told them that she will be a Junior credit-wise come April and that she has completed all of the GE requirements possible without getting into the program. At the end of the interview they asked for a DVD of her Enchords group she formed and directed while in high school.

She called me. In tears. She felt frustrated.  I told her not to worry.  If things didn't work out, she can audition again in July. No big deal - (although it is).  If she was going to stay and go Spring and Summer ... then yes, it would be a big deal. I told her that it was a good sign if they asked for a DVD of a few of her songs that she directed/performed with Enchords. Thankfully - I as a paparazzi Mom - had all of her performances. I even sent Jenna in last year with the camcorder to record some of her rehearsals with the girls ... just a gut feeling that she should have some footage.

I told Julia not to worry ... I would find the footage on the computer. Thank goodness for John's computer skills. I have filled up most of the drives on the computer with pictures and video ... he was able to search and find the videos ... thankfully I knew the dates of the performance to narrow the search (thank you blog!).

Since I had the footage, I put together a 4 minute clip of Julia working with the girls during rehearsals (warm ups, parts, tapping out beats, picking solos, etc) and then 4 of her favorite songs/performances - Under the Willow, Goodbye/Lullaby, I'll Paint  You a Rainbow, and Deck the Halls.

She turned in the DVD to both Sis. A and Dr. B.

She was supposed to find out March 1. She was so nervous. She asked me to keep my cell phone on me just in case the notification came in. I did. Nothing.  I stopped carrying my phone.

I get a call nearly a week later (yesterday just after 2:00 - on my way to visiting teaching). Julia said she heard her e-mail ding letting her know she had mail. She pushed it off and then thought ... maybe it was the letter from the school letting her know if she did or did not make it. She checked.

Julia is beyond ecstatic. She received a letter congratulating her on her hard work and inviting her to be in the school of music with an emphasis in education.

It is an amazing feat if you ask me. Over 100+ students auditioned. They only accepted 12 students total ... 12 students for music education in choral, orchestra or band. She was one of 4. No freshman has ever been accepted. I guess you could say she is not a freshman, but in the eyes of the school of music back in July, she was a freshman even though she was a Sophomore in credits. She is only 18 years old.  And to think she auditioned only twice ...

I knew she could do it. I always have.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Budding musician

His sister Julia sings.

His sister Jenna is addicted to Harry Potter (she sings too).

He is definitely related to them.

Here he is singing on the toilet ... to the theme song of Harry Potter ... singing the word "Mom"

Sunday, March 4, 2012

How he hears it ...

I love it when Kendall hears things differently - and we discover it.

Today in the car we were talking about the transportation the girls will be using for their summer jobs. 

Mopets.

Later today Kendall and Kerst were have a disagreement.  Kerst then refused to let Kendall help him make cookies.  I reminded Kerst of a song we sing in Primary ... Kindness begins with _____.  Kerst rolled his eyes as I reminded him of the song and then sang it.

"I want to be kind to everyone for that is right you see.  So I say to myself, remember this: Kindness begins with me."

When I finished the song, Kendall looked at me and said very adamantly,  "No it doesn't.  Kindness doesn't begin with "P", it starts with "K".

I wonder what else he is hearing differently.  Now that he is learning to read and spell, I'm sure we will be discovering more of these cute moments ...