BYU Book Festival

We have an amazing time playing together at BYU. There was so much to do we could not do it all and we were there for 5 hours. We spent an hour and a half waiting to have Brandon Mull sign our books. It was fun to make felted soap balls, and carry around balloon swords and animals while having our pictures taken with story characters. Max liked Darth Vader.... don't put the Curious George picture in my slideshow please. Is 5 too old for Curious George? Sara loved Curious George but would not stand by him. The 4 younger kids bounced at the bounce houses. Katie and Kaleb talked to Obert Skye (Pillage, Leven Thumps). They got to color, create and we enjoyed a great day. Jonathan asked how soon we could do it again. We have to wait another year..... but definitely worth a repeat next year. Maybe Scott will get to go too.

Pirates Tell No Tale

This past week we enjoyed the BYU Children's Creatvie Dance Concert. It is kinda a mouth full. Every year we are amazed at how wonderful it is.

Here is just Katie's group from Dance. They are awesome girls. Sky, the girl in yellow next to Katie is moving. We will miss her a lot. I am sure Katie will run into her sometime in her life again. They loved to play with each others hair. Dark Hair/Blonde Hair.... so awesome they could be friends and have an awesome couple of years dancing together. Sky is beautifully tall and we loved that. Rosie was Katie' s new friend this year. Then there was Sara who has a little sister Katie. Life has it's ironies doesn't it. Katie is already looking forward to next year.

This is Katie in her pirates costume with Captain Jack Sparrow. He looks the part and played the part. Incredible. Katie was not excited to be in a pirate dance when they first started but by the end she loved and owned the dance. We are grateful for wonderful dance teachers and an amazing program. Katie looks a little stiff in the photo (maybe it is the make up, she hates make up) we will see about that in a few years.

Friday Night Date and Mindy Gledhill

So Katie and I enjoy some of the songs of a local singer/songwriter Mindy Gledhill. So when we heard she was singing locally at a burger joint we decided to go and make it a date. I picked up Katie from Dance and we head over to get dinner and watch. Katie did not bring a coat or sweater. We live in Utah... to say the least it was cold and we had to snuggle together to eat and watch. They started the entertainment late... and we were the youngest/oldest people there. Someone nearby may have made a mother comment. However because it was so cold we decided to leave before we could here Mindy sing, but on the way out we saw her and said hello. We also asked for a picture to document this very cold and fun evening. She was so gracious and hugged us and now we have this picture below with Mindy.. So many things to laugh about that night.

Picking out an instrument - A new Drum pleas?

So no drums here but Sara sure enjoyed trying them out. Most of the kids picked an instrument to try. If only their Mom was patient enough to help 5 excited kids practice their instruments. Hmmm....




Every year at the Family Concert series at Abbravenal Hall they have a instrument testing activity. Katie tried the flute 5 years ago and rest is history. She loves to show off every year by "trying out the flute". One and a half years till she can play with a school group or community orchestra.

Boomerang classes

So these iphone pictures do not do justice to the art of making boomerangs. Boomerang making is kinda hard, esp. if Max is absent most of the time and needs to go potty. Yes, then making two boomerang's is kinda tricky. But the end result of a patient teacher and a lot of sanding you get a really cool boomerang. Kaleb's flew, Grandpa, Scott, Will, Elizabeth's, and Max's sort of flew. My boomerang had a mind of it's own. I guess making two boomerangs at once is not really good idea. Did I say the teacher was really patient with Jonathan and Max. It was a lot of fun....

The Scout Office (Max is the Photographer)

Max and Sara took way too many pictures of the scout office the other day. Way too many! But what do you do when your mother spends hours there. Play their computers, chew gum, get really good at angry birds. I hope my time there slows down. I am hoping, but the truth is I will probably spend a lot more time there in the future. I could never have imagined this. If asked to help with scout advancements run the other way.

A Bad Mom Story

So Max this past Thursday had Dental Surgery at Orem Hospital. It could have all been prevented. I let this boy weasel out of letting me help him brush his teeth. He was difficult at the dentist office and I delayed fixing his cavities because I had to go to a pediatric dentist for him. I usually feel like I am a good mom even a great mom. This helped me to realize a lot of things about parenting. And now we are on top of brushing, flossing, flouride, etc. for all the kids. However, Max because the damage was done had to have 7 kid root canals and one tooth pulled. He has 7 silver caps and a healthier mouth. Max was prepped and excited to get his teeth fixed and Sara really wanted to go too. (She did not go!) However, within in minutes of leaving the room with the nurses a nurse came back to ask for clean underwear. Max had fought the anesthesiologist and wet his pants. Poor kid. When I got him back after the surgery and was holding him as he woke up I asked him how he was doing and if he was okay. He told me that "they" had put a balloon on his face and tried to "Kill Him". You do not feel good when your kid says that. When the nurses asked him questions after his surgery he did not answer "Yes" or "No". It was always "Maybe"! I don't think he trusted them. They wrapped a piece of flex bandage around his stuffed animal Ridley's arm to be cute. Max flipped. He quickly unwrapped the bandage and informed the nurse that Ridley was not sick or hurt. He will not be wanting to go back soon. The all you can eat pudding almost made up for it. Almost. When I told him he could eat regular foods he was a little sad. He really liked the pudding perk!