Music Fest

While I was camping in the wilderness, Andrew attended Music Fest at CSI.

It was a week long music camp in which Andrew participated mostly band classes with a little piano and choir mixed in.  He loved it and admitted to me tonight that he wished it could have gone on for another week.  Tonight was the camp's concert in which Andrew performed in the band and choir.

He looked so handsome in his concert blacks, I couldn't help snapping a few pictures.

Part of what made this week so fun for Andrew was having his best friend Barrett attend with him.

Trumpets sound better in groups you know.

 (totally off the subject...my heart raced a little when I realized this shot was way too reminicant of these boys looking like missionaries.  Take away the trumpet cases and add a name tag and these boys would be in buisness.  The next seven years I know are going to go WAY too fast.)

By this time, the boys were sick of an annoying mother snapping pictures and were begging me to leave them alone!

Little did Andrew know, I had the perfect seat for snapping pictures from the audience. 

It was fun to see Andrew perform tonight.  Playing the trumpet is something he really enjoys, and I'm grateful for that.  It gives me joy to see my children succeed and find satisfaction in the things they're involved in.  Andrew asked if I could find a teacher to give him private trumpet lessons this summer.   

(I might not find joy paying for these lessons.)

long time, no write

I've been out of town.

I was at Stake Girls Camp.

I got a second chance to have a good attitude at camp.

I did much better this time.

I think it was because my nickname was better this go-around.

...more to come after I catch up with life in general.

other than...

Other than getting all the free sticky hands, parachute guys, plastic jewelry and other random cheap prize toys you could dream of, the next best perk to having a dentist for a husband is...

having dental gloves in the house at all time.

 They come in really handy when you have to dispose of the dead mouse found on your front porch when you come home from running errands.

I'm guessing the mouse was a gift from the &*^%# cat that likes to mess in my garden.

If he thinks this makes up for the poop...he is wrong. 

 Dead wrong.

Yep, I am the kind of mother that makes my 8 year old take a picture of me picking up the dead mouse.  Anything for a good blog post.

I'm also the kind of mother that takes pictures of the junk food I am feeding my 5 year old at 10 am. 

If you go to the gas station with mom....you're most likely getting a treat. 

I texted Steve this picture this morning with the note, "I've become u.  I'm now buying crap at gas stations.  Lovely."

He texted back, "Welcome to the dark side.  I've never bought fountains- just slushies."

 We hope all the nitrates and sugar our boys are eating this summer isn't effecting their growth.

The additional facial hair around here MUST be a fluke.

Father's Day...I didn't mean to blow it...honest.

Steve and I discussed yesterday how we are crappy at important holidays.

We tend to (unintentionally) skim over the holidays and anniversaries that help us show gratitude to those we love the most.

Such as...

Valentines Day

Memorial Day

Mother's Day

Birthdays

Wedding Anniversaries

St. Patrick' Day (just checking if you were paying attention)

and, most recently as of today-

Father's Day

Yep, I blew it and did absolutely nothing for this darling man.

In my own defense, I started church meetings at 8 am this morning and did not get home until 4 pm after helping my mom serve dinner and dessert to one of the twelve apostles. 

I think this is a legitimate excuse.

(Because scooping homemade ice cream and toffee for an apostle counts as an excuse for anything.)

But I do love this man and am grateful for all he does for me and our family.

He is grand.

Happy Fathers Day Steve!

I love you.

...and I'm grateful you had the insight and wisdom to say out loud that you didn't need a special day from me and the kids- that everyday was Father's Day around here.

...and that you bought yourself a weed-whacker on the way home from the priesthood session of stake conference yesterday and said that it counted as a gift.

But really, no joking aside, Steve and I are richly blessed in the fatherly area.

We love both our dads and are grateful for their goodness, love, example and dedication.

We couldn't ask for better fathers.

Happy Father's Day to both of them!

Thank you for all you do for us!

We love you!

favorite images from the last few days

Still have a thing for this girl in a swimsuit.

Even if it is next year's clearance find that she just couldn't wait to wear.

I need to get a backbone when it comes to Say begging to wear clothes.

Walking home from lessons.

There is a Carter underneath the guitar.

Sitting at swim team this morning and Colby asked me to "take a picture of this."

Got this one too.

Carter is doing so well  at swimming and is improving leaps and bounds.

I'm proud of him!

Naps happen in the summer.

...but how come they have to be in my bed?

Joy Oh Joy!

Andrew is big enough to mow the lawn.

Sharing a chocolate.

 

Snack on the front porch.

Wait a darn minute...didn't this girl just eat a chocolate?

What?

I don't have fudge bar on my face?

 Guarding our house from invaders.

 Besides the dead grass on the left side, this is the best our yard has looked since we bought it.

...we spend a lot of time on our front porch.

Have I mentioned we have pears on our itty-bitty pear tree?

...and about five apples.

Kid Soup

Andrew and Carter started summer swim team today.

It was wall to wall children in bathing suits.

I will be staying the entire hour and forty five minutes, four times a week to keep track of Carter and his  infamous blood sugar.

Why? 

Because this morning he went from 360 to 95 in less than an hour.  

That's why.

(Now if I could just keep him from going to 360.  His morning spikes will be the bane of my summer.)

Tomorrow I will pack more snacks and water bottles to keep the other two entertained, along with maybe some coloring books and an I-pad.

I might have to pack a side of beef too...just to keep Andrew fed on the way home.  I was certain he was going to start chewing on the leather seats by the time we made it to our driveway  Cocoa Pebbles aren't going to cut it for breakfast anymore.

Andrew was moved to the highest swimming group this year.  He was beaming in his new speedo- really he was.  Carter is in the youngest-lowest group and was thrilled I tell you, THRILLED, to be one of the fastest in his lane.  I'm grateful for the confidence builder slow six year olds can be. 

For me...I'm hoping to get tan legs out of this time commitment. 

That and I'll get to wear my new floppy sun hat Steve bought for me in California.  

The Male Mary Poppins

I took my niece and nephews back to Boise yesterday afternoon and ended up staying the night...just for the fun of it.  Steve was kind enough to agree to my last minute (meaning I called him from Boise and asked if I could stay) get away.  I spent the last evening and this morning hanging out with my sister.  I had no responsibility for 24 hours.  It was awesome.

I received this texted picture around 11am this morning with the following words:

"Tears of sadness cause dad doesn't know how to do two piggies."

#1:  My husband did not complain that I left him with 3 kidlets with no warning. (Andrew was with me.)

#2:  My husband not only attempted to do his daughter's hair, but actually did a darling job.  Check out the smoothness of that ponytail!  The part was even perfect.

#3:  I came home tonight to a clean kitchen and dinner being made.

Yep, he's practically perfect.

The male Mary Poppins if you will.

But...practically perfect comes with flaws that will be mentioned only to insure jealousy does not ensue.

Phone conversation from Friday:

Me:  Steve, do you have any plans tonight?

Steve:  I'd really like to go for a topless ride with you in the cruiser.  (pause pause pause)

Me:  (speechless)

Steve:  The car will be topless...you don't have to be.