Quote Of The Day

Today our quote of the day comes from spunky little Ava:

"Boys are SO muh-scusting!"

She learns quick this one...boys really are muh-scusting
(and don't you forget it!)

Growth Spurt Mania!

Can you even believe this?  Tanner and Ava are beasts!  They have both grown 2+ inches in 2 1/2 months.  Wow!!!

You may need to click on the picture to see it a bit better.

Kindergarten + Soccer = Hysterical!

I'm sorry, but watching kindergartners play soccer is seriously funny!  I'm not sure Tanner's coach thinks it is as funny as I do though.  I laughed and laughed and laughed watching footage of his soccer practice from last night.  At one point, Tanner started pretending he was a soccer zombie!  Good times, good times.  This morning I got an email from his coach asking parents to please step in and help.  Coach Joel could definitely use some assistant coaches on his side.  That poor, poor man....bahahahahah!

Today I picked up a VERY excited Tanner from kindergarten.  Curious, I asked him how his day was...here is our conversation that followed:

Tanner:  My day was AWESOME!  You will never guess...today I almost got a sticker!
Mom:  Well, congratulations buddy.  That is great!
Tanner: Yeah.  You get a sticker if you are really, really nice and good...and I almost got one (this he says with a quiver of excitement in his voice and a huge smile on his face)
Mom: Well, I'm proud of you for almost getting that sticker.

Tanner wants me to add that he had music today and that he got 10-High Five Awards today (doubtful) and almost got a prize from his school (this one I believe)

.

"Tanner Story 2" By Tanner

so how is tanner going? good. and i would like it if you did something for me. so what is the thing? and i would like it if you came for a party, and i would Think and that is...

 The end.
By: tanner

(tanners story 3 is coming soon)

(I had Tanner read his story to me so I could put in the appropriate punctuation)

A Little Sunday Music

This is one of my very favorite...well, I guess you could call it a hymn.  It is Psalm 148, written by Gustav Holst.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings it better than anyone.  I gives me goosebumps whenever I hear it.

Story Time With Riley

And now, a story by Riley, "Battle Collection"


I Want To Share This So It Has Ninjago Spinners,Lot’s Of Weapons. The Good Side Has  A Knight,A Bad Guy Who Is now A good guy, And A Very Brave Soldier. The Bad Guys Are Darth Vader, a shadow trooper, and a general.




                                                          bye bye

oooooppppppssssss i almost forgot the picture. make sure to look at it. It is Sssssssssssssssssooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll.       

                                now
                                     bye bye.

Story Hour With Tanner

It's time again for another story by Tanner, "b-t"

i have a fend his mane is b-t he is a very nice he doesnt talk and he love me and he is a bee and that is the end  

b-t 2 is tanner and b-t  

(translation)

i have a friend his name is b-t. he is a very nice he doesn't talk and he love me and he is a bee that is the end.

Tanner told Todd the other night that b-t is his imaginary friend...but he doesn't talk much.

Ava Meets Annastacia Couture.

Ava recently got a package in the mail from her super talented Auntie, Annastacia.  Ava was in heaven!  The very next morning, Ava was decked out in Annastacia Couture...and she looked adorable!!!  I quickly snapped a few pictures before we headed off to Ava's class...aka, the gym.  The pictures are horrible, but you get the idea.

We have worn variations of this outfit many times and always get a lot of compliments.   Ava insists on wearing the headbands and bows on a daily basis...she especially loves to wear them on days when they don't match at all.  But hey, she's a girl...that's her prerogative!

The Story of the Day

The boys have been really into writing their own stories lately.  They REALLY love to write the story and then put it on my Nook.  Well, that is all great and good, but I don't really want a 7-year old or a 5-year old (who, by the way, has a pension for BUYING random things when given a chance) playing with my Nook.  So, we have come to the conclusion that their stories must be "published" instead of putting them on my Nook...aka, I'll put them on the blog.

Without further ado, here is our story of the day: "the pizza story 2", by Tanner

so wen the pizza sed noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo  wen that happened the pizza act caze in the tume and that was caze and that was the end  


Let me do a bit of translating here...

so when the pizza said, noooo.......... when that happened the pizza acted crazy in the tummy and that was crazy and that was the end.

This concludes "the pizza story 2". We'll see you next time for 'The Story of the Day'.

Back to School!

It's that magical time of year...when the kids go back to school.  You can't see it, but I am doing a happy dance as I'm typing this.  Riley started 2nd grade and Tanner started Kindergarten.  Both of my boys are super excited to be going to school, which makes my happy dance all the sweeter!

It's Boba Fet's first day of 2nd grade!

Riley had to wear his Plants vs. Zombies T-shirt on his first day of school.  He was super excited to

show it off!

Mrs. Hickel, Riley's teacher.  She was a 1st grade teacher last year and already knows Riley.

He is really excited to have her for a teacher.  She is super nice AND has one of the

top reading assessment ratings in the state!

Yay for school at Green Springs!

I couldn't very well get Riley a Plants vs. Zombies shirt and not get Tanner one too!

This is Tanner's teacher, Ms. Wood.  This is only her 2nd year of teaching!  She is super nice and kind of a waif of a thing...I hope she can handle Tanzilla!

Tanner was so excited to start kindergarten...and just kind of wanted me to leave so he could get on with it!

I predict great things to happen this year at school.  

My kids have been watching "Gnomeo and Juliet" lately.  Today I mentioned that this little cartoon is based on a very famous play written by a very famous man.  When Riley asked what the play was called and I told him "Romeo and Juliet"...he replied by saying, "Romeo and Juliet...that is so weird?"  And here I thought 'Gnomeo' was a little strange...Hmm, who knew?

Ava and Rufie

There are so  many darling kids Ava's age at church...but Ruth, aka Rufie, is Ava's self-proclaimed "best friend".  Whenever she sees Ruth, the first words out of her mouth are, "Rufie is so adorable!"  And I have to admit, she is pretty cute.  It is so much fun to watch them playing together.  They get along so well, you would never know that they are only TWO!

Who's That Girl?

It's Minnie Mouse meets Hannah Montana

Tanner's Fireworks Monologue

Beethoven or Bust!

Today marks the end of another concert week, as well as the end of our 2011-2012 season.  This season has been so amazing.  Everything was amazing, from our new performing arts center, the people we got to meet (and sing for...Placido Domingo, Patti LuPone), down to the music we were able to sing.  We sang Braham's Requiem, Maller's 2nd Symphony, Handel's Messiah, and now we finished it all off with Beethoven's 9th Symphony.  Amazing!  Here is a youtube clip of our dress rehearsal this past Thursday.  It's a small clip, but shows the pure wonder and awe that is "Ode To Joy".

Doing It Tanner Style

Yesterday Todd took the kids swimming.  At one point, the whistles blew for the kids to get out of the pool so the adults could swim in peace for about 15-minutes.  Todd set Riley and Tanner up with a thing of Pringles, and they started happily munching away.  Todd looked up a moment later to see that Tanner had parked himself next to this older handicapped gentleman.  Without even looking at this man, Tanner reaches in to the Pringles can and hands a stack of chips to him.  The man, of course, grabbed them quickly and started eating them.  When the man had finished his chips, Tanner again reached in and gave him another stack.  Eventually this man started "talking" to Tanner in totally incomprehensible speech, and Tanner just looked up and said, "Your welcome."

This child of ours never ceases to amaze us...and it's not always a good thing!  This time, however, it was a happy amazement.

The Casts Are FINALLY Off!

After many LONG weeks, Riley finally got his casts off.  Hooray!  I happily bid those non-waterproof walking casts adieu...and good riddance!

While we were waiting to get them off, we enjoyed playing some Wii...I mean, is there a better way to pass the time than playing tennis and bowling on the Wii?  No.  No, there is not.

Riley thought the "saw that only cut your cast and not your skin" was really cool.  And as soon as they started cutting his casts off, Riley busted up laughing.  Apparently it tickles like crazy...who knew?

Now it is only pools and sprinklers and summertime fun for us.  There will be the weekly physical therapy appointment thrown in there as well, but we won't let that mar our fun!

Having Fun

Today marks the first day of Tanner's summer camp at the local YMCA.  He came home so excited!  He loved it.  When I was asking him all about his fun morning, this is what he said:

Tanner: It was so fun!

Mommy: Did you get to go swimming?

Tanner:  Yes!  Welllllll, my teacher got mad at me because I wasn't listening, but don't worry...(and now he whispers)...I still had fun.  (snicker, snicker.)

Todd and I then commenced to heave a big-old-sigh.....followed of course by a lecture about how we need to listen to our teachers because they are just trying to keep us, and everybody else, safe.

But don't worry...(and now I say with a whisper)...I don't think he was listening.

Xbox Nosebleed

The kids favorite game lately has been Plants vs. Zombies.  Since they only get Friday night and Saturday to play they're pretty serious about it.  I came down and found Riley had taken matters into his own hands with his nosebleed.  There is dedication for you.  Made me laugh!

Play-Doh Bad News

Conversation today with Tanner

Tanner:  (comes in to the room with a ball of  Play-Doh) Guess what the bad news is about me and  Play-Doh?

Mom: What?

Tanner: Sometimes I eat it.

Mom and Dad: Tanner, we don't eat  Play-Doh .

Tanner: Well, the good news is, that I only eat it at school.

Well, if it's only at school, then it's okay...not!

Happy Birthday To Me

Well, I am officially 33-years young...(and I don't look a day over 32!)  I had such an absolutely wonderful, fantastic, couldn't be better birthday, and I have to blog about it.

A few weeks ago, I received an email from the director of the Kansas City Symphony Chorus, Charles Bruffy, telling all of the chorus about an opportunity to sing in a choral festival event featuring Craig Jessop as conductor.  The deadline to apply already had passed, but Charles said there were still openings.  Well, singing with Craig Jessop was something I really, REALLY, wanted to do, so I called the number immediately.  And wouldn't you know it, I got in.  All I had to do was say that I sang with Charles and I was in...no audition necessary.  It turns out that several of my chorus friends wanted to participate as well but didn't get in because the women's section was full.  It is truly a miracle that I was able to do this, and I am so thankful!

We were a chorus that was only together for a day and a half before our concert...needless to say, it was a little stressful...or at least, it should have been stressful, but Mr. Jessop is such a wonderful conductor, that even though the music was difficult, even though we struggled, even though our time together was short, he made it so enjoyable.  It is the mark of a great conductor to be professional, to expect great things, and yet not take the joy out of singing.  Craig did just that.  It was wonderful!

Though I had never met Mr. Jessop before Friday, he has a history with my family.  When he joined the Tabernacle Choir years and years ago, the secretary of the choir sat him right next to my dad.  There they sat, together in the Mormon Tabernacle, singing together and becoming good friends.  When I introduced myself to him as Sara, Tom's daughter, he just took my hand and said, "Your father is a dear, dear friend."

We sang amazing songs: Gustav Holst's "Psalm 148" (one of my grandpa Ken's favorites and oh so beautiful); Benjamin Britten's "Festival Te Deum" (very difficult, but also the most rewarding to sing);  a jazzy spiritual "Let Me Fly" (so fun, but let's face it folks...I sound like Minnie Mouse, not a black slave workin' in the fiel'); several Mack Wilberg arrangements (or as one lady in the choir knowingly called him, 'Mick Wahlberg'...I didn't correct her because it was too funny!) "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need", "Redeemer of Israel" and, of course, our big finale, "Come Thou Fount".

I feel like I have connected several dots in the musical legacy that my family has left me.  I have sung with Bob Bowden, in the Tabernacle, with the Mormon Youth Symphony Chorus.  I was able to meet Jay Welch, a former Tabernacle Choir director, and one of my dad's favorite people.  And now, I have sung with Craig Jessop...and we sang in none other than the RLDS temple, currently called Community of Christ.

Such a great weekend.  Thanks to Todd for taking care of things here at home while I sang my guts out.   It was a fantastic way to celebrate turning 33!  (and might I add that I came home to a clean house, my broken Nook exchanged for a new one, and a gift card to Barnes and Noble to fill my Nook shelves with books!...Really, could it have been any better?)

Ava Girl

It's photo shoot time! Ava is quite the little diva.

The Beach...That's Right...THE BEACH!

So how was your Memorial Day?  Ours was great...we spent it at the beach and we didn't even leave Kansas. Yep, you heard me right...THE BEACH!  Apparently there is a beautiful lake just a short 10-minute drive from our house with a fantastic beach...who knew?  We sure didn't.  The kids loved it.  Even Riley who had to stay on the deck in the shade and play iPod for 3-hours loved it.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day has taken on a whole new meaning for me.  It was 4-years ago today that I woke up and knew that something was wrong.  3-months later, I was diagnosed with MS.  It's been a bumpy ride, but so far, so good.  Today I am grateful for the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.  At the same time, I am also grateful for my health.  Happy Memorial Day to my friends and family.

Riding A Bike

Thanks to Daddy, Tanner can officially ride a bike!  The child was totally ready....It only took him 1-day to master the art of riding a bike with no training wheels.

Yay for summer!!!

Remodel Central

We've been doing a bit of a remodel on some rooms in our house.  The upstairs bathroom, our bedroom, and our laundry room.  (The laundry room is still under construction and not ready to see...yet...hopefully tomorrow I can snap a picture of the finished product!)

First off, the bathroom.  This room was ORANGE when we moved in...that's right, orange!  We painted it...and hated it...so we painted in again.  This time, thankfully, we love it!  I think you will too.

Before

After

It's a slight improvement!  :)

Now for the bedroom.

Before...holy cow!

And After...Love it!