Easter Traditions

It's too bad that I'm posting this MONTHS after the fact - I can't remember what day we did what - but I do know that we get to have two Easter traditions.  First - with my family.  Dying the REAL eggs, hiding them, and rolling them, and then eating creamed eggs.  Some of my kids are even eating it now (I consider it a miracle if everyone eats the same thing)

With the cousins

These two could be siblings!

The meanest egg roller award goes to Skyler this year - he was a maniac!  Fortunately, some still survived and made it into the dinner we ate together!

The next day (I think this was on Easter Sunday) we met Shayne's family at the park.  The tradition: plastic eggs (filled with candy or $) and Grandma always tries to stump the grandkids with a really hard one to find.  We also threw in an intense game of Speed.

I see a little bird in the tree - no wait - that's Clayton!

I love that all the kids participate - even though they are growing up.

Here's Connor trying to find the really hard egg - it was in Grandpa's pocket (if I remember correctly!)

Carson found his egg!

Easter is full of fun traditions and family.  I am so grateful to be surrounded by family and loved ones as we celebrate the most important part of Easter - our Savior.  I hope my boys know how much He means to me and how my heart is full of gratitude as I count my many blessings in our little circle of chaos.

March Madness

Every year I take my clarinet studio to the Clarinet Festival - which rotates to different colleges in the state.  This year we were at Snow College and I had too many students to even fit in my car (which is a good problem).  Luckily, a mom was willing to spend the weekend with us as well and she drove a car load too.  Here we are at one of the clinics - it was a fun year.  Hunter came too, but he was burned out after 1 day and I wasn't surprised. Most of my students that attend have a few years under their belt and he barely had 1 year but I'm glad he came and was thrown into the swimming pool of information.

Even my seniors get overwhelmed...  lol.

Shortly after the festival I had a big change in my jaw/teeth treatment.  Up to this point, I had a screw in the palette of my mouth and it was literally pulling my whole upper portion of my jaw into a new position (and avoiding jaw surgery).  Having this work done - my teeth moved around and weren't quite so straight anymore (sigh) but it'll all be right at the end.  

Here is how my tongue looked and felt for months - it didn't feel very great.

You can see the contraption in my mouth that made eating, swallowing, and even talking very awkward.

The new look - I feel like I'm 13.  (I wish!)

The screw that was in the roof of my mouth.

I coached itty-bitty ball with Skyler and his bed friend, Anzer.  They both love basketball.  Watch out - that Anzer is going to be a monster basketball player someday.

Cole earned his Arrow of Light.  

And he walked over the bridge to enter to the scouting program.

Actually - he didn't cross the bridge - he jumped over it.  

That boy can't do anything as expected. 

And if I remember right - Cole wrote his phone # on the bridge - instead of the date.  He saw numbers and assumed they were phone numbers.  He cracks me up.

Both sets of Grandparents were able to attend - we're very lucky to have them close to us!

Cole with his best friend, Connor.

Cole - and he's actually smiling for this picture!

February

First, these shoes.  Hunter wore them, then Cole, then Danny, and even Skyler.  He wore them till they were too tight and I had to show how used they were - maybe it's proof of how cheap I am but it also shows how great this pair of shoes was!  They lasted through all 4 kids!  And I think they were the fastest shoes ever.

Even though I'm not currently teaching, I still like to attend the annual music educator's conference. This year, a bunch of my college buddies were there to perform in a special French Horn class that Sonja put together.  I didn't take enough pics - but he had lots of late nights and laughing and more laughing.  Love these ladies - Amy, Kamber, Wendy, and Sonja.  I thought I was pretty lucky to hang out with them!

And one other quick pic from the conference.  This is man is a giant in the music education of our state.  I worked with him for one year as staff while in college and I have had the opportunity to continue to learn from all these years while being on the side-lines.  He's awesome and I'm sure he's loving retirement this summer.  Still, I can't imagine him slowing down.  I'm sure he'll still be a super busy man!

Recital time

I do a recital every Feb with my clarinet studio.  I invited Hunter to learn a solo and perform - and he did it!  It was a procrastinated effort - but well worth it.  He performed the March of the Marionette and he rocked it.  He really did.  My dad said afterwards that he didn't realize he would be so emotional watching his grandson perform.  I was too busy playing piano to be emotional - but I'm sure I would have been.  I'm super proud of him and I really, really hope that he continues to enjoy playing.  He's the one who picked clarinet and he's really doing great - of course I'm a proud mama!

Every performer deserves ice cream afterwards.

Valentines Day

This year it was potato soup in a bread bowl for the main course.  And for dessert, Shayne found a cool video on line with this melting chocolate brownie treat that looked yummy.  So, he made it happen for Valentine's day.  I'd like to say I helped - but really, it was all Shayne.  You pour hot chocolate over the hard shell then it melts away to reveal a brownie and the creaminess and choclateyness was a crowd pleaser!

 

And finally - check out TOOTHLESS.  It's a good thing that 7 year olds are super proud of losing teeth, right?  I'm not sure how he ate though...

Freedom from Want

BYU Museum of Art hosted an exhibit of paintings by Norman Rockwell.  I attended it twice - once with the family, because I wanted my children to see it.  And then I went again the next week without children - so I could REALLY enjoy it.  It was awesome.  I especially love the Four Freedom Paintings.  After attending the museum, Grandma and Grandpa came back to our house and we threw together a meal and sat down to eat together.  As I sat at the head of the table, my heart was full - I am one lucky girl to be surrounded by family.