a glimpse of our day...

I was sitting with Ellie as she waited for her ride to swim team.

She had a few minutes so she picked up her guitar.

sounds of family life

Some of my very favorite days are spent at home...
catching up on laundry...
wiping down counters...
organizing the calendar...

and enjoying the sounds of family life.

Ellie was waiting for her ride.  She decided to pick up her guitar.  I just sat and listened and enjoyed every minute of it.

an escape

We are headed north for a get away...

away from the valley heat and to the beautiful vistas of Bear Lake-

grateful to be with wonderful friends.

Along the way we explored a natural spring off the road.

We live in a BEAUTIFUL state!!!!

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institute

We attended the Intermountain Suzuki String Institute this summer!

It was Kate's second year and Ellie's first!

It was SO FUN having them together!

Ellie loved every second of it…Kate would like it better if it was held fewer days :)

Ellie said after day four I think…

"I wish school was like this!"

They were both stretched and encouraged.

I admire their bravery…trying new and different situations and making the very best of them!

We love ISSI!

road trip to Arizona: iphone pictures

stop everyday...

I stepped into her room to ask her a question.  She had only been home for 15 minutes.  Her uniform was off.  Her feet were up.  She was reading a book on her tiny ipod/kindle.  She had friends, the stuffed variety, close.  Slippers ready at her side.  The scene made me so happy that I snapped a quick picture.

instagram HERE.

a family that plays together...

We have made WONDERFUL changes to family life this year!!!  

Inspired by THIS...we have decided to start this new money/chore system!

We have simplified the checklists we had been doing...

and now their are four boxes a day!

They are able to earn $1-for every year they are old-every week.

If they miss one check they only get half...

and if they miss more than one they get nothing.

They can make up one check by memorizing a poem.

(That reminds me of THIS which I was absolutely love.)

The girls will be responsible for purchasing personal wants...and 1/2 of their clothes

(for each item they choose to purchase they will have to pay for half of each item)

These changes have been good for all of us...

(THE GIRLS HAVE BEEN MAKING THEIR BEDS WITHOUT BEING REMINDED!!!!)

BUT the VERY best part of it---

are family fun Saturdays.

We work hard all week and we NOW play together on Saturdays!

This was the first Saturday play day....

We decided to go to the Leonardo Museum!

We all ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!

We did visit the temporary exhibit---DaVinci...

but their very favorite part was the art area just as you enter the museum.

There was a man presenting that hand makes violins.

It was fascinating to learn from him and the girls were able to bend wood just like is done in violin making.  We can't wait to go back!!!

our advent 2012

I have been struggling through an internal debate on whether to do our advent again this year...

We LOVED it last year...
my very favorite advent yet...
opening a present everyday...
ending every night in December reading on the couch as a family...
no fighting over which book to read!
but it was a lot of time setting it up...
wrapping and numbering 25 books!

and I was feeling lazy~

UNTIL

at Stake Conference today-
Kate showed me this picture on her electronic device
(which was keeping her entertained for the 2 hour meeting)

I don't think I ever looked at this picture after it was taken that night...

It was day 19 of our advent last year.

It was a brand new book for our family.

The Crown On Your Head

It isn't really a Christmas book but it has a beautiful message.

We made crowns that night.

After looking at that picture today I decided to get busy...and start wrapping!

(I am only one day late!)

2.  Good King Wenceslas by Jane Seymour 

(This is our new book this year.  We heard her recite this last year with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  I love the song---and the story was beautiful.)

3.  Christmas Cookies by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

(make cookies this night)

4.  Christmas Every Day by William Dean Howells

5.  The Snowbelly Family by Cheryl Hawkinson

6.  Yes Virginia by Chris Plehal

7.  Only A Star by Margery Facklam

(one of my very favorites)

8.  Sally's Christmas Miracle by Charles Schultz

9.  Lucky Pup's Christmas by Ken Brown

10.  Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear by Don & Audrey Wood

11 & 12.  The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

13.  A Shepard's Gift by Mary Calhoun

14.  The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

15.  If You Take A Mouse To The Movies by Laura Numeroff

(go to the movies...or watch a Christmas movie @ home)

16.  The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern

17.  The Other Wise Man by Henry VanDyke

18.  It's A Wonderful Life for kids by Jimmy Hawkins

19.  The Gift of the Magi by O Henry

20.  Room For A Little One by Martin Waddell

21.  Olive The Other Reindeer by J. Otto Seibold

22.  The Christmas Carol (abridged and illustrated) by Dickens

23.  Come and See by Monica Mayper

24.  Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore

(and the Christmas Story out of the Book of Luke in the Bible)

25.  A Book of Mormon Christmas:  The Nativity Story in picture, verse & song

his fall

On November 7th my father-in-law was installing a light panel in what we "lovingly" call the "shed."   This is his life's work place.  He was standing in a wooden bin (see right) on top of his forklift (see left).  He was lifted approximately 20 feet in the air.  He had a terrible fall (which details aren't clear).  He fell those steep 20 feet and landed on the cement floor while hitting other debris on his way down.

His accident has caused broken bones in two legs, one arm, one wrist, rib, patella and possibly his hand and an ankle.  He also had serious injuries to his face, teeth, cheek and mouth.  Thanks to our good friend Shane + Danny's sister Michel---he went straight to the hospital via ambulance.

He is doing amazingly well considering the distance of his fall.  The medical staff said today that it was as though he fell so much closer to ground level...not 20 feet...they joked that "somebody must have carried him down."  I am not sure Papa feels like he was carried down.  But he did pull through his first surgery well.  Today in fact, the trauma ER floor was talking about how he took the suctioning tube from the nurse as they were treating him and suctioned his own mouth when he first arrived at the hospital. 

His next surgery is tomorrow...his femur plate and another plate in his wrist.  He has a long road to recovery ahead of him---but he is strong and surrounded by many people who love him...a few extra prayers wouldn't hurt.  xo

Hallow-E'en

left: trunk o' treat on 10/30 right: trick o' treating 10/31

"Why do you wait at your door, woman, Alone in the night?" "I am waiting for one who will come, stranger, To show him a light. He will see me afar on the road And be glad at the sight." "Have you no fear in your heart, woman, To stand there alone? There is comfort for you and kindly content Beside the hearthstone." But she answered, "No rest can I have Till I welcome my own." "Is it far he must travel to-night, This man of your heart?" "Strange lands that I know not and pitiless seas Have kept us apart, And he travels this night to his home Without guide, without chart." "And has he companions to cheer him?" "Aye, many," she said. "The candles are lighted, the hearthstones are swept, The fires glow red. We shall welcome them out of the night— Our home-coming dead."

by Winifred M. Letts

ISSI- year one

Intermountain Suzuki String Institute

It was our first year attending...and I hope we go back every year!

There were instructors and students from all over the country and even outside the country (I heard Argentina, Singapore, and Australia mentioned).  It made my 30 minute drive seem like a piece of cake!

Kate and I were able to attend Monday through Friday most of the day and we learned SO much.  (Ellie and Sophie aren't learning music in a traditional Suzuki approach.)  Our friends Jenna and Heather carpooled with us.  Fortunately, Jenna and Kate had most of their classes together!  It was so nice to have friends with us through out the day!

Kate's classes included:

cello repertoire  (Rodney Farrar)

cello technique  (Margaret Lewis)

art class

mastery class  (Mary Walters)

ear tuning

The cello specific classes were our very favorite!  The cello concert was a highlight!  Kate worked hard and learned so much.  We both felt lucky to be there!!!!!

humiliated

"Mom school" began today!  I am really excited about it.  The girls were NOT until we actually had it.  They loved it (we are only one day in)!  We'll see how it goes...I have high hopes.

Our first activity was a journal entry.  We answered this question (that I found here):  What was the most humiliating experience of your life?  Write a short, possibly funny, description of it.

Kate (pictured above):  June 5th 2012  "My most [humiliating] thing is. [When] I had to put on a [funky] hat on and say my favorite color i[n] Spanish.  Kate D"


Ellie:  "One day I was swimming and I threw up.  It was sad. :("
(She had thrown up in the pool (a few years ago).  They had to close it.  A large group of Junior High cheerleaders had just shown up for a party.  Poor Ellie.)


Mine:  "My most embarrassing moment happened in 3rd grade.  I was living in Thatcher, AZ.  Thatcher was such a small town I am not sure if it even had a stop light back then.  I was a student in Mrs. White's class.  I had just come in from recess and felt an urgent need to go to the bathroom.  I nervously approached Mrs. White's desk.


As I remember, she had a sweet but serious disposition.  Due to frustration over her students choosing class time instead of recess time to "use the facilities" she said "no" and reminded me that recess is a better time to go to the bathroom.  I was sent back to my seat.  Not much later, I was called to the chalk board to complete a math problem.  I still needed to go---badly!  I nervously approached the board.  How could I concentrate on a math problem when where I really needed to be most desperately was the bathroom?  Standing at the board, in front of the whole class, my bladder gave way.  I peed my pants in front of the whole class.  It was 33 years ago and I don't think I will ever forget it!"


I LOVED reading their thoughts...and how different all of our answers were!  Sophie was working on handwriting.  She wanted to copy our new "mom school" rules.  Next time I will help her write down her journal answer.

resolve

It's never good, when you have reached the end of the year and can't recall any of your resolutions from the first of the year.  Well, I did add music to our home...improvement in the other areas was very slight.  I hope for a better resolve this year!  I love the newness of a brand new year.  Danny and I had an impromptu talk on the couch on January 1st.  We are excited about our resolutions!

We are going to take greater care of our bodies!  One of favorite friends is Effie Nielsen.  When we were neighbors, Effie had competed and won a weightlifting championship.  See here and here.  She was encouraged to compete by her great-grandson and his coach.  At the time Effie was 90.  (She will be 100 this May.)  I was talking with her in her front yard quite a few years ago.  We were talking about her garden.  She mentioned all of the rhubarb she needed to harvest.  I asked what she did with it besides the obvious pie choice.  "I make rhubarb juice" she said.  "Rhubarb juice???  Does that taste good?"  I responded.  "I don't live to eat, " she replied sweetly,  "I eat to live."  We hope to follow Effie's way of life.  We are going to think more about "eating to live" instead of what we "live to eat."  There wont be any family strict codes...just an effort to do better with a stronger focus on our health.

We will also be outside more (breathing fresh air and working our bodies)!  I have a propensity to hibernate in the winter.  It is not good for my body or my mind.  We started Monday.  We woke up, enjoyed a quick breakfast and headed out the door.  We even found a few friends who wanted to join us on our way.  There will be more walking, hiking, yoga, pilates and even running this year.

We are going to "show up" this year.  Last week we were all gathered at Grandma's viewing.  It had been a slow evening.  It was cold outside.  It was feeling too quiet...even with family surrounding us.  I looked toward the door and in walked one of our most favorite families.  Danny's friend Kenny walked in with his wife Heather and their four children.  They were dressed up in their Sunday best and brightened our entire evening.  I don't think Kenny had seen Grandma since our wedding, yet he showed up.  They are dear friends and taught us a great lesson.  Show up for people.  When we are there for people---weddings, funerals, babies, surgeries, graduations, birthdays...they feel loved.  We can definitely do a better job in this category.

So yesterday when Danny's mom called and needed help in her yard---we showed up.  We were outside in the fresh air, working with happy hearts.  Thank you Parcell family for your good examples.

"Certain qualities, talents, and works which distinguish a man are more readily appreciated when one knows from what nationality he has sprung..."  The Life and Times of Asher B. Durand p. 3

I remember standing by a bus in Argentina when a man asked me, "De donde es?"  He wanted to know more than where I was currently living, and more than my country of origin...he wanted to know my nationality.  That really isn't an easy question...I have lines from many different countries---France, England, Germany, and more...  Needless to say, he wasn't satisfied with my vague answer.

Although there is too much variety to identify with any one country besides the country in which I currently live, I believe there is a great benefit knowing where we come from.  Instead of focusing on places we will focus this year on people that have come before us.  Danny and I brainstormed a plan to create "book of remembrances" like those my parents had when I grew up.  They were covered in hardback leather with strong metal posts.  We are going to craft new books from antique photo albums.  (Thank you Papa!)  We will add pages:  fill it with lined sheets, pictures and family trees.  There will be a section of all four lines of my girls genealogy.  It will be a special place for them to note and write what is important to them of what they have learned.  We can't wait.

I am also going to read a few books to help me learn more:   The Life and Times of Asher B. Durand (a great, great, great uncle) and a few books on the Mayflower (to learn more of the Brewster and Standish family lines from which we are a part).

We are sticking with three areas and keeping them more general rather than strict.  We hope that our small efforts bring wonderful experiences!   Here's to a new year...and a wonderful start we enjoyed today!!!!!!!!
Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!

summer is fading

The sun is going down earlier and earlier...

there is a coolness to the air in the mornings and evenings...

I am looking forward to the routine of school---

but moments like this make me wish that summer would last forever.

summer road trip

July 22-25

two states

windmill fields

Ashley Forest

starry nights

beautiful bridge

Flaming Gorge Damn

a day at the reservoir

she loves her

Sophie didn't want to leave Annie's side during this visit.

It might have something to do with the fact that she downloaded Justin Bieber on her phone...

just for Sophie...

and then billed me later ;)

outdoor concert

Our Friday night began at Sharon's computer- searching the classified adds for convertibles :)

Afterward we headed up the canyon to a beautiful wedding reception. I had forgotten what beauty lies up Millcreek Canyon. The evening was so lovely.

We changed clothes in the car and headed down to Provo to meet Sharon, Jason and our girls to the rooftop concert. Danny and I made it as Joshua James began. We really enjoyed the music-- and the atmosphere! A delightful summer evening~

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red rover...red rover...

red rover…red rover…send Kate right over…

Tonight was one of those nights when I felt like everything is just right.
I felt as though we have planted our little family in the perfect garden…
surrounded by the most perfect people for us.

run walk crawl

WASATCH BACK

June 17-18

How do they do it!?

I have some amazing friends...with incredible abilities!

Like running 8 miles straight up a mountain kind of abilities!

I finally did it...

after signing up three times...I actually did it!

Heather, Brittany, Rebecca, Heidi, Katie and Mandy could not have been anymore fun!!!

It was an adventure filled with great music...good friends...Mandy's costumes...beautiful vistas...energetic people as far as the eye can see!

I had a wonderful time...but I am pretty sure it will be my first and final relay race.

How did I get SO wimpy!?

Enjoying Arizona

My sister Dede and I wanted to attend our Aunt Bonnie's funeral. We piled 3 kids each in her car and drove. Other than one of mine getting carsick, the ride down was uneventful and fun!

Our first day here was even better! Thanks to my sister in law, Annie, we had plenty of fun activities to do!!! The weather is a perfect 100 degrees (heavenly)! To top it off it was my nephew Reagan's birthday!!! To celebrate we:

Toured Krispy Kremes:

Visited Makutu Island (a 3+ story indoor playground):

Made chocolate pizzas at a chocolate factory:

Finished the night off by watching the recent Pirates of the Caribbean movie at the drive-in. It's funny, I don't remember going to the drive-in since I was a girl, living in AZ with the cousins we have come down to see. We need to go more often. We had SO much fun!!!

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