My Son, The Musician

Last night was Thomas' piano recital. He played "Hungarian Dance #5" and "A Thousand Miles." I can hardly believe he has only been playing for three years. He picked it up so fast. Then he started playing the drums and picked it up really fast. Then he started playing the guitar and picked it up really fast. Here is a little mini concert just for you . . .

Announcement Photo

Kim's Graduation Announcement Photo

And Thanks

And thanks again Grandma for helping me get my laundry caught up while you are here.

She even sorted the sock baskets.

A Piano Project

On Kim's birthday when we were driving to Red Robin for dinner, Todd and Thomas spotted an old piano dumped in a pile of junk sitting on the side of the road.

Todd could hardly wait until dinner was over to go back and check it out. He decided it was worth salvaging. We went home for the pickup truck. Todd and Thomas headed back out and then decided to get Travis to help out. The three of them loaded the piano up and brought it home.

Grandpa had a good look over it yesterday and said the bones (I can't remember the real words he used) of it were in good shape. So off to Home Depot they went. And the work begins . . .

The Part We Missed

Our day was very full today.

Jean'a graduation started at 4:00pm. At 3:45 I picked the younger kids up from school and then at 4:00 I picked Thomas up from piano lessons. We came home to wait for Todd who had taken Niko to the doctor. We were running very late but still wanted to get to Jeana's graduation. We had barely left the house when Tracey called to say it was almost over.

Here is a picture from Grandma and Grandpa's camera of what we missed . . .

Jeana singing the National Anthem!

They came over to our home after. Thank goodness for video recorders. We got to see Jeana sing! It was incredible. She hit this high note that I don't think I have ever heard anyone hit in my entire lifetime.

Here is Jeana with her mom and dad at our home. We made her put the cap and gown back on for pictures.

Then Grandma had to line the men up once again to see who was the tallest.

5th Grade Graduation

I don't remember having a graduation ceremony when I graduated from elementary school.

Can Erica really be this old? She is so petite.

The Class of Graduates

Getting her diploma. Notice how the podium says class of 2015.

Dad, Mom, Erica, Grandma, Grandpa, Jamis, Niko

Graduate Lunch

Grandma and Grandpa came to town for Kim and Jeana's graduations. Yesterday they took them (and their parents) to lunch at Olive Garden to celebrate. I forgot the camera so I used the cell phone again.

Grandma painted each of the girl's portraits as a graduation present. They are beautiful and really capture the girls.

Here is Kim's picture.

and Jeana's.

First Vote

Yes, I totally embarrassed my daughter. It was her first time voting and I whipped out my cell phone to take advantage of this blogging photo opportunity.

Memorial Day 2008

Todd got up early to finish putting rock in the front flower beds.

Kim made a road trip with Amanda to Rexburg to see Travis.

Thomas went to a Bourne Movie Marathon with friends.

I spent most of the day vacuuming carpet edges, washing dirty hand prints off the walls, and other miscellaneous cleaning things that I don't get to in the normal daily routine.

In the evening we attempted the traditional Memorial Day Barbecue. Todd's grilling, was interrupted by the traditional Memorial Day weather. A huge storm rolled in . . . rain and hail and wind and lightening and thunder . . . so we enjoyed our hamburgers inside as the rain pelted the windows.

We also had tickets to the speedway in the evening, also cancelled because of the weather.

After everyone went to bed, I spent the next several hours cleaning up Jay's throw up, 3 times in 3 hours. I put everything in the laundry room sink and decided to wait until morning to wash in case he threw up one more time. After the third clean up session, the smell was so overwhelming that I started up the washer.

Jay is also our sleep walker and sleep talker which seem to increase when he is sick. Pair that up we the fact that he watched Men in Black just before bed. Each time he awoke incoherently to throw up he would be ranting about aliens and guns and then . . .

geoGreeting

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

More fun with Google Earth. Create your own geoGreeting here.

Music Meme

What is the last song you listened to? Our Song

What is the last song you sang? I Am A Child Of God, sung with Niko just before he went to bed.

What song frequently gets stuck in your head?
That's How You Know
We're All In This Together
Daisy, Daisy Give Me Your Answer, Do
Oh, I should just stop there. I always have some song stuck in my head. The worst thing is when I get a song stuck in my head and I can't remember (or never knew) the words.

How do you listen to music most often (pod, radio, etc)? Todd's IPod Touch (my own playlist), late at night when the kids are in bed.

American Idol: fantastic show or overrated? Depends on the season. Last season I watched almost every show. This season I have only watched bits and pieces.

I tag Jeni, Tracey, Jenn, Angela, Delsa, Kim, Jeff, Rachel, and Cate.

Kim's 18th Birthday

Breakfast in bed.

Surprise dinner with friends at Red Robin.

Making her own cake.

Impromptu wind surfing.

Making a wish.

Posing with friends. We see what happened to the sheets after wind surfing.

Someone leaned on the water dispenser button on the fridge during the pose.

Having her cake and eating it too.

Meme

What's in your pockets? Chapstick, fingernail clippers, receipt, ponytail band, a dime, a mexican coin, library card

Who can you talk with for hours? Lois Meyet

What sounds great today? Sleep

Do you wear any jewelry? Usually only my wedding ring. I have worn a watch everyday of my life since I can even remember. It died last December (I think). I never replaced it.

What do you have too much of? Fat

What song frequently gets stuck in your head?
That's How You Know
We're All In This Together
Daisy, Daisy Give Me Your Answer, Do
Oh, I should just stop there. I always have some song stuck in my head.

How do you listen to music most often (pod, radio, etc)? Todd's IPod Touch

American Idol: fantastic show or overrated? Depends on the season. Last season I watched almost ever show. This season I have only watched bits and pieces.

A Jazz Concert

Tonight I was at a Jazz concert at the high school. I sat next to the choir director from Kuna High School. I asked her if she had a choir student named Jeana Andersen, my niece.

"Oh, yes! She is very talented. Actually, she is the most talented high school student I have ever had. She has such a smooth high soprano voice. She is really good at the classical, opera music. If she pursues it she will definitely make it. She got the talent."

Wow!

At this same concert, my daughter, Kim sang a scatting solo . . . amazing. She is so fun to watch sing . . . the smile, the moves, and, oh, that voice!

Clean Clothes

Oh, the laundry tales . . .

For several weeks, our washing machine has been on the blink, literally. In the middle of the wash cycle everything would stop and most of the lights on the display would blink . . . and blink . . . and blink . . .

I should insert here the many tales of trying to get the machine to run its full cycle and get our clothes clean over the next several weeks . . . but I will skip to the good stuff.

Finally I consulted the trouble shooting section of the manual. Apparently you can diagnose the problem by checking which lights are blinking. Ours was a draining problem.

Let me just start by saying I am very grateful to have a husband who is handy and good at fixing most anything. Todd started with the basics, like checking for kinks in the hose and putting a snake through the wall.

Still the lights blink.

Todd pulled off the top and bottom front panel. There was a drain cap right in front. As he turned the plug, water started to poor out. Everyone started to grab dirty towels and pile them in front of the washer.

He pulled out the plug. No wonder it wasn't draining . . . lint, hair, rocks, plastic bag, Legos, coins, a broken pencils, bobby pins, a pony tail band. I guess I need to check pockets a little better.

And no more blinking lights!

I'm on my third load tonight. I don't think I have ever been this excited to do laundry. Clean underwear for everyone tomorrow!

Mother's Day 2008

Sleeping in is way better than breakfast in bed!

Handmade cards and coupons good for kisses, hugs, help with dishes, making my bed, and babysitting.

A coupon from Todd to make the headboard for our bed that I have been wanting.

An e-card from the Newmans that made me laugh and smile 'til my face hurt.

A card and chocolate from the person who most recently calls me mom. He seems to impress me a little more each day.

Happy Birthday, Todd!

Am I really married to a man that old?

Prom # 2

Today is Prom #2 for Kim.

Coming home from the day date.

Getting ready with best friend, Amanda.

All ready except for the dresses.

With date, Rick.

Kim, who is quite tall herself, is wearing 4 inch heals. Notice the height difference?

Happy Birthday, Lyle!

Happy Birthday to my brother, Lyle (a few days belated)!

Let's see what photos I can dig up on you . . .

A Note from Jay

There's nothing like a note from one of your children to make your day!

Here's the translation in case it is to hard to read in the picture.

Dear Mom,

Thank you for cooking dinner for us. Thank you for helping me have a good day. I hope you have a good day. I really like you and I want to be like you, but not a girl.

Love,

Jay

Boyfriend

What to even say . . .

She is turning 18 and graduating from high school. After 2 years of double dates and group dates . . . cute boys . . . crushes . . . good friends who are boys . . .

Then Travis comes in. Best friends who decided they liked each other a little bit more.

Yes, we like him too.

Is a mother ever ready for this?!